(A/N: Uh...)
It was early morning when Ryou awoke to the familiar smell of his blood. He moaned when the previous evenings events flooded
his mind. He had seven gashes on his body, making him pale from the lack of blood within his slim body. Ryou managed to push
himself off of his now red and black floor and make it to the bathroom. Bakura was drunk again last night, making his
torture less bearable then before. Ryou cringed, having to use his stiff muscles and bruised tissue was a work out for him.
He made it to the bathroom without crying out in pain, for fear of waking his sleeping yami. The white haired teen ran the
water of the shower and stepped inside. After a short rinse, he stepped out of the shower and wrapped a towel around his
bruised hips. Ryou made his way to his room, and sat himself on his bed. He reached under the bed and pulled out the first
aid kit. Ryou began to clean the deep gashes made by Bakura's knife. After he bandaged himself, he dressed. It was painful
for him to pull the rough material of his jeans over his legs, but he bit his lip and pulled them all the way up. Ryou was
thankful that beating was all Bakura did to him, instead of taking advantage of him. Bakura beat up on Ryou any chance he
could, and for any reason he could find. Sometimes, not even a reason was necessary. Ryou's cuts and bruises were never seen
by his friends, so they had no reason for alarm. Secretly, Ryou wished that someone would notice and help him out, but he
was never fortunate enough for such a miracle. He put on his white sweater and sneakers and crept out the door. It was
Saturday, so he was free from school. The brown-eyed teen was having trouble walking without a limp, but he managed to make
it to the park. The park made him feel safe, probably because no one every found him there. He picked out a tree deep in
the wooded area and sat down at it's base.
He looked at the sky through the tree-obscured sky. He absently rubbed his right arm where the gash was. Before he knew it,
the sun had set. Ryou dreaded going home to face Bakura, but he still left the park. He ignored the pain searing through his
legs, as he made his way home. When he arrived, he sensed Bakura was no longer there. Before he entered, he thought it would
be best to get his mind off of things. He remembered the Domino Swim Hall where he used to swim before. No one ever used it
at that time of night, so he didn't have to worry about people seeing his bruises. He entered his home and climbed the
stairs. Ryou left toward the hall, knowing Bakura would come home to an empty home. That's what scared Ryou the most. Having
his yami go looking for him made him nervous, but before he could turn back, he found himself at the hall. He sighed, and
entered the building through the back. When he entered the locker room, he took off his Millennium Ring and changed into his
bathing suit. Ryou looked down at his bruised body and sighed. He grabbed his towel and headed to the pool. He hung his
towel on the rail and went to the water. He bent down and felt the water. Perfect, he thought. The white haired boy made his
way slowly down the ladder and into the pool. He adjusted to the water stinging his wounds, but none of them opened. He
began swimming, as he felt his muscles relax. Ryou never realized another person enter through the doors. When he stopped
doing one of his laps, his back against the wall, and his arms floating freely infront of him, he felt the tap of a finger
on his head. Ryou's heart sunk as terror began to well up inside of him. His eyes widened as he thought of what was to
happen to him. He crossed his arms on top of his head, and whispered.
"Please Bakura, not here. I promise I won't do this again... just don't hurt me." Ryou whispered, fear evident in his sultry
voice. When an answer did not come to him but he heard the shuffling of feet behind him, he froze again. A voice answered
him, but this voice wasn't cold and hateful like Bakura's. He had heard that voice before, and he knew they were no threat.
"I am not Bakura, Ryou." the voice answered. Slowly Ryou turned around to come face to face with emerald eyes that glowed in
the black shadows. Ryou had never bothered to turn the lights on, because the moonlight soothed him. This strangers eyes
were the only feature Ryou could see, but he knew who had eyes that deep and mysterious.
"Suichi, what are you doing here?"
Kurama, known to others as Suichi, stepped into the light. The soft blue glow of the moonlight off the water lit up Kurama
and his pink uniform. A smile graced his lips as he approached the side of the pool. He kneeled on his right knee as Ryou
looked at him. "I usually come here to blow steam off, but I decided to watch you. I didn't want to disturb you." came his
smooth response. Ryou smiled a genuine smile to Kurama, which made Kurama smile back. The smile on Ryou's face was suddenly
wiped off, as pain seared through Ryou's leg. Immediately Kurama was at his side, hauling Ryou out of the water in a swift
and painless motion. Ryou looked at Kurama, only to find his green eyes filled with worry. Ryou smiled through his pain,
but Kurama never bought it. He gently brought Ryou to his feet and slung his arm over his shoulder. They made their way to
the locker room, Kurama being soaked from the water that dripped off of Ryou's pale skin. Kurama grabbed the towel off the
rack as he passed it and made his way into the well lit locker room.
Kurama sat Ryou on the bench near his locker. Ryou leaned his head on Kurama's shoulder, trying to overcome the pain through
out his body. Kurama got up and handed Ryou the towel, which he gladly accepted. Kurama sat down on the bench next to Ryou,
and waited for him to finish with his towel. Wen Ryou turned his head to glance at Kurama, he began to speak softly to him.
"Ryou, why is it you let Bakura do this to you?" he asked, a hint of worry in his voice. Ryou looked puzzled. 'How long has
Suichi known this? No one else noticed this before...' "Suichi, how long have you known about this?" he said, totally
forgetting Kurama's question. "In all truth, I've known since he first started. I told no one, so your secret is safe. I
only wish to help you Ryou." came the response. "Why is it that you are the only one that calls me Ryou?" he asked.
"Ryou, I know you call your yami Bakura. I know you don't want to be compared to him, only because of the things he does to
you." he paused. "I also want to help you on trying to defend yourself. I don't like you living with that Bakura. I wish for
you to live with me for a little while... you know, until you get back on your feet. I want to help you."
"Suichi, I would greatly appreciate that. But, do you even know how to fight?" Kurama laughed. "Of course. I would have
never offered if I didn't... Just don't go telling my mother that." he said behind his hand in a whispering gesture, then
winked at him.
Ryou smiled again. He left Suichi sitting on the bench to go get changed. When he came out and put his shoes on, Kurama
helped Ryou out the door. On the way to Kurama's home, something struck him. 'DOES SUICHI'S MOM KNOW ABOUT ME AND BAKURA!?
DOES SHE EVEN KNOW ABOUT ME STAYING HERE!?' "Suichi, does your mother know about me and Bakura?" Kurama turned to him. "As I
said before, I told no one. And to answer your other question, my mother does know you will be staying with us. She just
thinks your house is being fixed up adn you need somewhere to stay. We're on vacation for a month, so you will have plenty
of time to settle before school starts up again." Ryou smiled. "Thank you so much Suichi. I don't know what I would do if
you weren't here for me."
Before Kurama could respond, Ryou fell to the ground in pain. His teeth were clinched shut, and beads of sweat formed on
his brow. Kurama hoisted his up on his back, and began to jog towards his home. Ryou wrapped his arms around Kurama's neck
and shifted uncomfortably.
"What is it Ryou?" he whispered in his ear.
"Your left hand... it's on a bruise. Can you move it slightly?"
Kurama moved his hand and received a thank you from Ryou. When Kurama arrived at his home, Ryou tried to escape Kurama's
grasp.
"What are you doing Ryou?"
"I'm trying to get down. What will your mother think?" he asked while trying to squirm free.
"Stop. You'll injure yourself further. I'll tell her you're tired. Just calm down and pretend to be half asleep." he said.
"What do you mean pretend?"
They both shared a light chuckle, and Kurama went up to his door. Ryou laid his head on Kurama's shoulder and pretended to
be asleep. When Suichi pushed his way into his home, Ryou was very much awed. He loved the feel of Suichi's home, and he
was glad to be living here with a friend that wouldn't hurt him. Shiori made her way from the kitchen to greet her son and
new house guest. She was startled to see they boy half asleep, so she sent Kurama upstairs to but him to bed.
(A/N: Sure... I know, this sucked. Flamers aloud! Will update soon.)
It was early morning when Ryou awoke to the familiar smell of his blood. He moaned when the previous evenings events flooded
his mind. He had seven gashes on his body, making him pale from the lack of blood within his slim body. Ryou managed to push
himself off of his now red and black floor and make it to the bathroom. Bakura was drunk again last night, making his
torture less bearable then before. Ryou cringed, having to use his stiff muscles and bruised tissue was a work out for him.
He made it to the bathroom without crying out in pain, for fear of waking his sleeping yami. The white haired teen ran the
water of the shower and stepped inside. After a short rinse, he stepped out of the shower and wrapped a towel around his
bruised hips. Ryou made his way to his room, and sat himself on his bed. He reached under the bed and pulled out the first
aid kit. Ryou began to clean the deep gashes made by Bakura's knife. After he bandaged himself, he dressed. It was painful
for him to pull the rough material of his jeans over his legs, but he bit his lip and pulled them all the way up. Ryou was
thankful that beating was all Bakura did to him, instead of taking advantage of him. Bakura beat up on Ryou any chance he
could, and for any reason he could find. Sometimes, not even a reason was necessary. Ryou's cuts and bruises were never seen
by his friends, so they had no reason for alarm. Secretly, Ryou wished that someone would notice and help him out, but he
was never fortunate enough for such a miracle. He put on his white sweater and sneakers and crept out the door. It was
Saturday, so he was free from school. The brown-eyed teen was having trouble walking without a limp, but he managed to make
it to the park. The park made him feel safe, probably because no one every found him there. He picked out a tree deep in
the wooded area and sat down at it's base.
He looked at the sky through the tree-obscured sky. He absently rubbed his right arm where the gash was. Before he knew it,
the sun had set. Ryou dreaded going home to face Bakura, but he still left the park. He ignored the pain searing through his
legs, as he made his way home. When he arrived, he sensed Bakura was no longer there. Before he entered, he thought it would
be best to get his mind off of things. He remembered the Domino Swim Hall where he used to swim before. No one ever used it
at that time of night, so he didn't have to worry about people seeing his bruises. He entered his home and climbed the
stairs. Ryou left toward the hall, knowing Bakura would come home to an empty home. That's what scared Ryou the most. Having
his yami go looking for him made him nervous, but before he could turn back, he found himself at the hall. He sighed, and
entered the building through the back. When he entered the locker room, he took off his Millennium Ring and changed into his
bathing suit. Ryou looked down at his bruised body and sighed. He grabbed his towel and headed to the pool. He hung his
towel on the rail and went to the water. He bent down and felt the water. Perfect, he thought. The white haired boy made his
way slowly down the ladder and into the pool. He adjusted to the water stinging his wounds, but none of them opened. He
began swimming, as he felt his muscles relax. Ryou never realized another person enter through the doors. When he stopped
doing one of his laps, his back against the wall, and his arms floating freely infront of him, he felt the tap of a finger
on his head. Ryou's heart sunk as terror began to well up inside of him. His eyes widened as he thought of what was to
happen to him. He crossed his arms on top of his head, and whispered.
"Please Bakura, not here. I promise I won't do this again... just don't hurt me." Ryou whispered, fear evident in his sultry
voice. When an answer did not come to him but he heard the shuffling of feet behind him, he froze again. A voice answered
him, but this voice wasn't cold and hateful like Bakura's. He had heard that voice before, and he knew they were no threat.
"I am not Bakura, Ryou." the voice answered. Slowly Ryou turned around to come face to face with emerald eyes that glowed in
the black shadows. Ryou had never bothered to turn the lights on, because the moonlight soothed him. This strangers eyes
were the only feature Ryou could see, but he knew who had eyes that deep and mysterious.
"Suichi, what are you doing here?"
Kurama, known to others as Suichi, stepped into the light. The soft blue glow of the moonlight off the water lit up Kurama
and his pink uniform. A smile graced his lips as he approached the side of the pool. He kneeled on his right knee as Ryou
looked at him. "I usually come here to blow steam off, but I decided to watch you. I didn't want to disturb you." came his
smooth response. Ryou smiled a genuine smile to Kurama, which made Kurama smile back. The smile on Ryou's face was suddenly
wiped off, as pain seared through Ryou's leg. Immediately Kurama was at his side, hauling Ryou out of the water in a swift
and painless motion. Ryou looked at Kurama, only to find his green eyes filled with worry. Ryou smiled through his pain,
but Kurama never bought it. He gently brought Ryou to his feet and slung his arm over his shoulder. They made their way to
the locker room, Kurama being soaked from the water that dripped off of Ryou's pale skin. Kurama grabbed the towel off the
rack as he passed it and made his way into the well lit locker room.
Kurama sat Ryou on the bench near his locker. Ryou leaned his head on Kurama's shoulder, trying to overcome the pain through
out his body. Kurama got up and handed Ryou the towel, which he gladly accepted. Kurama sat down on the bench next to Ryou,
and waited for him to finish with his towel. Wen Ryou turned his head to glance at Kurama, he began to speak softly to him.
"Ryou, why is it you let Bakura do this to you?" he asked, a hint of worry in his voice. Ryou looked puzzled. 'How long has
Suichi known this? No one else noticed this before...' "Suichi, how long have you known about this?" he said, totally
forgetting Kurama's question. "In all truth, I've known since he first started. I told no one, so your secret is safe. I
only wish to help you Ryou." came the response. "Why is it that you are the only one that calls me Ryou?" he asked.
"Ryou, I know you call your yami Bakura. I know you don't want to be compared to him, only because of the things he does to
you." he paused. "I also want to help you on trying to defend yourself. I don't like you living with that Bakura. I wish for
you to live with me for a little while... you know, until you get back on your feet. I want to help you."
"Suichi, I would greatly appreciate that. But, do you even know how to fight?" Kurama laughed. "Of course. I would have
never offered if I didn't... Just don't go telling my mother that." he said behind his hand in a whispering gesture, then
winked at him.
Ryou smiled again. He left Suichi sitting on the bench to go get changed. When he came out and put his shoes on, Kurama
helped Ryou out the door. On the way to Kurama's home, something struck him. 'DOES SUICHI'S MOM KNOW ABOUT ME AND BAKURA!?
DOES SHE EVEN KNOW ABOUT ME STAYING HERE!?' "Suichi, does your mother know about me and Bakura?" Kurama turned to him. "As I
said before, I told no one. And to answer your other question, my mother does know you will be staying with us. She just
thinks your house is being fixed up adn you need somewhere to stay. We're on vacation for a month, so you will have plenty
of time to settle before school starts up again." Ryou smiled. "Thank you so much Suichi. I don't know what I would do if
you weren't here for me."
Before Kurama could respond, Ryou fell to the ground in pain. His teeth were clinched shut, and beads of sweat formed on
his brow. Kurama hoisted his up on his back, and began to jog towards his home. Ryou wrapped his arms around Kurama's neck
and shifted uncomfortably.
"What is it Ryou?" he whispered in his ear.
"Your left hand... it's on a bruise. Can you move it slightly?"
Kurama moved his hand and received a thank you from Ryou. When Kurama arrived at his home, Ryou tried to escape Kurama's
grasp.
"What are you doing Ryou?"
"I'm trying to get down. What will your mother think?" he asked while trying to squirm free.
"Stop. You'll injure yourself further. I'll tell her you're tired. Just calm down and pretend to be half asleep." he said.
"What do you mean pretend?"
They both shared a light chuckle, and Kurama went up to his door. Ryou laid his head on Kurama's shoulder and pretended to
be asleep. When Suichi pushed his way into his home, Ryou was very much awed. He loved the feel of Suichi's home, and he
was glad to be living here with a friend that wouldn't hurt him. Shiori made her way from the kitchen to greet her son and
new house guest. She was startled to see they boy half asleep, so she sent Kurama upstairs to but him to bed.
(A/N: Sure... I know, this sucked. Flamers aloud! Will update soon.)