Rath- Hello, welcome back to the story.

Set- You okay, Rath-ey?

Rath- Yep. I-I-

Set- Here it comes…

Rath- Why? WHY?! T_T

Set- Perfectionism. The fault of every hikari. Well, mine at the least. Let's not go into that, though. Looks like I'll be typin' this chapter. Have fun.

-We no own Yu-gi-oh-

Rath- SET. GRAMMER. FIX. NOW.

Set- Oh, for the friggin' love of lights, fine, hikari! The hell I'll do to make sure Rath's alright. *continues to mumble*

-We don't own Yu-gi-oh-

Have fun. Ryou got up and ran out of the house, barely fumbling with his keys to lock the door and shoving his wallet, cell phone and directions to his new school into his pocket. He thought to himself as he ran down the street towards his school.

'I do hope the rest of my life isn't like this…' He continued to run down the street, some hair blowing into his eyes occasionally. He ran to the stop sign and paused a moment, hands resting on his knees. A car drove by, a blue one. A stern looking woman, with short slicked brown hair glanced at him for a moment as she drove by. He looked up and made eye contact. Just for a split second, but time seemed to ware on as he did.

Ryou's biggest mistake making eye contact with a mysterious person that looks like she would kill him in a nano-second.

/No, my biggest mistake was listening to you. / He looked both ways, than went off again into a full out sprint.

'Please, move! Excuse me, pardon!' He yelled as he came closer to the heart of the town and people began to fill the roads and sidewalks. There were several shouts of anger behind him, but he ignored it. Or more of didn't notice it. He was too busy fighting with his Yami to care, really.

/Must you be so ignorant? /

S'cuse me, Sir, I mean Lady Polite.

/Oh, yes, I'm sure the rest of the world should be crude and stupid as you are! /

Take that back, Ryou.

/In your words, Yami, 'fuck off.'/

Fine, then. I guess I should. I mean, I wouldn't be of any help considering the fact that you're lost. Lost? Ryou though. I'm not lost… He stopped running and looked around, feeling very foolish. He tried to calm his labored breathing; it was causing him to attract more attention than needed.

/Yami? Please, Yami? Help? /

Only a silence greeted him. Ryou let out a small sob-exasperated sigh hybrid. Why am I always in situations as these? He whined in his head. He walked around, avoiding large groups of large, tough looking people. Graffiti added color to the otherwise dull roads and buildings. He clutched one arm as he walked, not noticing his fingers digging into his skin and leaving bright red marks. Eyes could be felt on him and he was sure his uncomfort showed. His head turned slightly, despite his own warnings of how much of a mistake that was. Once again eye contact was made with the loudest one on the group who was telling some joke that caused echoes of laughter. Brown eyes stared at the lighter ones and then wavered and fell back to the ground. Again? First that woman, but now… They seemed familiar, but from where?

His pace increased as he turned the corner into a secluded alley. He relaxed against the wall and sighed in relief. He bit his lip, and closed his eyes. Thank God I'm alright. He thought, slightly trembling. Oh, dear, I'm going to be late, what are they going to think about me? I haven't been in school yet and I'm already going to be in trouble…

'What the fuck you doin' here?' An angry voice asked. Ryou snapped awake. He yelped and pushed off the wall, tripping over his own feet in surprise. About five men stood before him, all very mad, disgusting and grizzled looking. Ryou was too scared to think and he could feel the adrenaline rushing through his blood. His breathing rate increased again and he could hear his heart thumping in his chest.

'I-I'm, sorry, I was just lost and I-'

'Shut it, faggot!' One man said, a red bandana wrapped around his messy heavily dyed blue mass of hair.

'We don't like intruders, no matter the circumstances, got that, twerp?' Another said; stepping forward, muscles in the unnaturally large arms bulged. He suddenly rushed forward and grabbed Ryou by the neck, throwing him to the ground. He landed in a puddle of muddy water, staining his shirt and splattering across his hair and face. He struggled to rise, but couldn't rise as a foot came down on his stomach, forcing him to lie on his back. He winced and struggled to get up. He felt too vulnerable. Like a trapped animal. But when something is forced up to a corner, it fights back.

His hand clasped onto a piece of concrete and his hurled it at the man's head.

'Holy fu-' Was all he got out before it hit his eye. There was a disgruntled moan and he staggered back. One went to his aid while the rest turned and started to yell threats.

/Yami! Please, Yami, help me! / There was no answer to his pleads. Ryou was on the verge of tears, not at the situation, but at the fact that his Yami wasn't going to help him. He staggered up and held his fists near his face, moving around slightly. I can do this; I can do this… He reassured himself again and again. About two of the four uninjured thugs pulled out switchblades.

'Kid, hope you like pain, cause you're gonna get one whole fuckin' world of it…' One smiled, showing off crooked and yellowed teeth. Two ran after him and both punched, but one fist with a mean looking knife. He ducked between the hands and ran between the two, but not without something to show for it. A red gash appeared his left arm. He grimaced and turned continued to run. Fighting was not his specialty. Yet, he did fairly well in track. He ran, too scared to hear for or look back at the men chasing him. A fence came of before him.

'Oh, no, oh, no, oh, no, oh no!' He yelled. He pushed through the door, but barely, because of the chains holding it. A stabbing pain ripped through his arm and chest as a piece of cold metal scraped his wound. He held back a sob and tried to continue to go through. But something grabbed his shirt, leg and cut.

It ripped him back to the side and slammed him to the ground and then to the brick wall. Ryou's head hit the wall and the world grew dizzy. The hands let go and Ryou stumbled forward. Blindly, he kicked the blur in front of him. It growled in pain and doubled over. Other hands grabbed him and began to scratch with nails and knives. Ryou just gave up, then. He didn't know why, but he gave up and just snapped out. He yelled with all his anger and just began punching and kicking like hell. Once in a while a punch landed, but only was repaid with a punch and kick of his own. He grabbed a knife by the blade, but threw it to a blurry shape. It screamed and fell to the ground.

He looked around and saw shapes lying on the ground. The world blurred further and he stumbled through the alley. The blood continued to drip and his body still ached. The adrenaline in his blood was starting to ware off. It just couldn't go on. He was too tired…there was too much. So, he let his body rest and he just fell.

…

Bakura sat in his soul room. His hikari had to. He had to learn how to take care of himself.

'He must. He has to. He has no choice. It's too late to back down now. He must learn to fend himself. I won't be here forever…'

…

The group of teenagers that Ryou passed continued to talk, now immune to the screams and yells of the city.

'Yo, Cedric? What's up? Y'okay?' Another teen's voice asked.

'No, no, I'm not.' He mumbled, and then followed the path the white haired boy took. As he drew closer he could hear yells and thuds. His pace quickened. He had nothing to fear, he and his gang was the most powerful in the city… A bloody hand fell out of the alley. He ran over to it and was greeted by a jaw-dropper. Five men lay on the ground; moaning in pain and grumbling curses. The Brap gang… He looked at his feet. That white haired person covered in bruises and blood. Cedric turned him over and lifted him by his collar so he could study the boy's face.

'Looks like you're a troublemaker huh? Come on. Wanna go to my place? Feh, why the hell am I even asking…?' Cedric threw Ryou over his shoulder and walked towards his house, ignoring the looks of his friends and gang members.

Set- Okay, bit of action thrown in there, well, review.

Rath- Ja ne. *.* (still recovering)

Set- Oh, boy… Later.