Aisha: Hoorah! I'm back.

Lisha: Hoorah! There are lyrics this chapter!

Aisha: You know what that means.

Lisha: DeAtH. Muwahaha...

Ryou: ::sniffle::Y-You people. You hate me!

Aisha: Nah, that's not true. ::group hug::

Fangirls: ::gather in::

Ryou: ::choke:: ::hack:: ::cough::

Ps. I apologize for the abundance of dialouge in this chappie. And the sap... and my lack of knowledge of the justice system...

A cry is heard in the middle of the night

I ran down the sidewalk, maneuvering my way through the darkened town streets. One destination hovered in my mind, along with one person.

I remembered the address; I believe they mentioned it in court. Plus, it wasn't that far away from my own house. Just down to the end and across the street. Second house from the corner.

The breath was leaving me as I reached the shaded house, bounding up the steps. Pausing to catch whatever breath I could, I noticed the curtains drawn, hardly any light escaping them. I leaned against the door, listening for any signs that Ryou could be hurt. I couldn't burst in without a reason. That would only cause me more trouble.

After listening for a while, I backed away from the door, turning to sit on the bottom step. But before I could make it, I caught the faint sound of glass shattering.

And someone screamed.

The neighbors hear but they turn out the lights

Rushing back up the steps, I attempted to force open the door. Just my luck, that it was locked.

"Damn," I said outloud, bounding back down those cursed steps to the door of the third house. Surely someone had heard? Surely someone cared?

No. They probably didn't care, if it had been going on this long. But I could still try. I had to.

I knocked on the door loudly and quickly, begging who ever was on the other side to hurry. And they did, for a few seconds after a woman with shoulder-length blonde hair came to the door, looking a little tired. I could see three kids playing behind her, in front of a telivision.

"May I help you?" she asked half heartedly. I could tell she didn't care to talk to me.

"I think someone's hurt next door," I said quickly, pointing to the mentioned house. "Didn't you hear the scream?"

She shrugged. "No. But, I wouldn't be surprised."

I just stood there, waiting for her to do something. "Well can't you help me? Do anything?"

She pursed her lips and shook her head. "I'd rather not get involved. I have no control over the family next door, so.."

I stood dumbfounded. Ryou's life was on the line, but noone wanted to help? How heartless was this neighborhood?

After watching me for a while, the woman sighed. "Are you done with me, sir? I have children you know..."

I glared as coldly as I could, "Yeah. Yeah, I think I am."

This time I ran to the first house, knocking as I had before. I really didn't have much time. After a few minutes, an elderly lady came to the door.

"I think the kid next door has been badly hurt," I explained, hoping she would understand.

"Oh?" she asked, slowly turning to the other house. "Well I hope they are alright."

"Yes, well, I won't know unless I can get in. Could you help me, please?"

"I don't know how..."

I sighed. I wasn't getting anywhere with these damn people.

"Look, could I use your phone?"

"Why.."

But I gently pushed past her anyways. Spotting the phone, I picked it up and dialed 911.

"911, what is your problem?" Came the voice on the other end. Maybe there was a chance.

"I think the kid next door has been murdered, or badly hurt." After I said this the elderly lady whispered, 'Murder? Here...'

"Okay, I'm dispatching an ambulance along with a sqaud right now."

"Would it be okay if we enter the house? In case we can try to keep him from dying..."

I held my breath as the woman on the other end seemed to hesitate.

"I see. Try not to disrupt the crime scene, please."

"Thank you." I hung up the phone, rushing back past the old lady. After I was outside, I turned back. "Well? Are you coming?"

She seemed to snap to, for she then walked out after me, as fast as she could. Not very fast.

Back up those steps I ran, and once again I tried to open the door, but the results were the same. So I was about to move onto the windows, when I heard someone call my name. I turned swiftly to see Marik, in his car.

"Marik! Thank God, come over here!" I called to him through his window. He nodded, shutting off the engine, then rushing to meet me on the steps.

"What's happened? Is everything okay?" Marik asked when he got to me. I shook my head in response.

"No. I think he's been severely hurt," I explained for what must have been the fourth or fifth time. "Help me get in here."

"You can't do that! It's against the law--"

"I already called the police. They said it's okay." I narrowed my eyes to make a point. Marik just shook his head in defeat.

"Well, are we just going to force it open?" Marik asked pointedly. I threw my hands up in exasperation.

"I don't know!!" I was losing it, and I knew it.

"Ahem."

We turned to the voice at the same time, since it came from neither of us. It was the blonde lady from before.

"I used to watch the house and babysit the kid," she said quietly, pulling something from her robe, "so I have this extra key to the house.."

I stared at the woman for a moment, before grabbing the key. Thank God for her change of heart.

"Thank you very much," I voiced, then turned to place it in the keyhole. After struggling with it a little (my nerves were breaking), the door easily swung open.

Before I went in I turned back to the elderly lady, who was quietly watching us. "Could you stay out here and tell the police where we are when they get here?" She nodded, so I quickly looked to my other two companions, "I want you two to come with me."

So finally, we entered the dimly lit house. To my left, was the entrance to the kitchen. To my right, a living room, and then the staircase to the second floor. I started to make my way across the living room, but didn't get far before Marik called to me again.

"The stepdad is over here," Marik said, stooping down in the kitchen, checking a pulse. "He's unconscious, but he's still alive. Probably passed out from drinking." Before turning back around, I saw him give the man a little kick, while saying lowly, "Bastard."

While the blonde woman went searching for Ryou in the back of the house, I continued towards the stairs, searching for any signs life. I didn't really want to look for signs of death.

The glint of glass caught my eye, and I found what had made the previous shattering noise. Colored pieces of what used to be a vase littered the floor to the side of the stairs. Some of it was on the stairs too, which meant it either fell or was thrown. Most likely the latter.

I stopped before going up the staircase; on the second to bottom step, Chikiyo the plush cat lay there, a light blood stain across it's back. I stooped down to pick it up, but then remembered I promised not to touch anything in the house. Even so, the feeling of dread was ever so present.

And it increased when I reached the halfway landing. There, Ryou lay curled on his side, unmoving.

A fragile soul caught in the hands of fate

"Ryou!" I announced, rushing to his side and lifting him into my lap. I suddenly didn't care for 'don't touch' anymore.

I was relieved when he opened his eyes a little, to where they were half-lidded.

"Uncle Bakura?" he asked me quietly, voice hoarse and strained. I nodded, and he smiled. "I thought it was you... but I.. wasn't sure..."

"The ambulance is coming," I assured, "You'll be alright."

Ryou tried to laugh, but it didn't come out quite right. "You never did before, Uncle Bakura, so don't.. lie to me now."

I shook my head. No, he would be alright. Wouldn't he?

Ryou grabbed the collar of my shirt, bringing me to attention. "Listen... the jury was forced.."

What?

"And the judge was hired.. a fake..."

I couldn't bring myself to say anything, just nod and hold him close.

"Thank you, Uncle Bakura.. because of you, I... meant something."

When morning comes it'll be too late

Ryou, the boy I had recognized as my son, died in my arms that night.

Through the wind, and the rain, he stands hard as a stone,

In a world that he can't rise above.

But his dreams, give him wings,

And he flies to a place where he's loved..

Concrete Angel

Aisha: Ack, I cried at the end of my own fic.

Lisha: Just one last chapter. Which will probably make her cry too.

Aisha: Yup. But guess what? I already have a sequal planned out! Hopefully it'll be done by end of Sept. or early Oct.

Lisha: Maybe for Halloween..

Aisha: Meep!

Please review!! =.=

((Damn ! Removing all my formatting!! Grr..))