Chapter Seven

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A/N - Hi there. Sorry sorry sorry. I know it's been months but the writer's block monster has been attacking this story for months now. Not to mention having four bits of coursework and four mock exams in a really really tiny amount of time. Damn college! Anyway thank you to all who reviewed. This chapter is quite short but the story will get more interesting in later chapters and Anzu's going to cause some MAJOR problems later and you'll find out why Ryou's dad hates Bakura so much. So please bear with me and enjoy chapter seven of My Beautiful Game Shop.

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Ryou staggered back against the bathroom wall. Over in the next room, dinner guests laughed and chatted about goodness knows what while Marik had ushered him away from the guests and proceeded to beat the living shit out of him. Well, Marik always liked risks and Ryou was pretty certain none of those people he had been eating with were going help him. The beatings would continue every week if he didn't pay the stolen money back, Marik had been very clear about that. He was just glad that Isis had been there, otherwise he'd have been a dead man. For some reason that Ryou wasn't sure about, Marik had done his utmost to keep his whole mob identity a secret from his sister. He stared at his battered reflection and tried to clean himself up the best he could and winced with pain as the cold water touched the bruises on his face.
Bakura was going to go mental. He straightened his shirt collar and snuck out unnoticed by anyone.

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"What the hell happened to you?" his father cried worriedly, sitting up in bed.

"I...er...got mugged on the way home." Ryou lied.

"Well, did you call the police!"

"No point, they're too damn incompetent, and besides they don't like immigrants."

"But you can't let then get away with that! That's it! I don't want you wandering around alone at night, no matter what that crazy cousin of yours wants!"

"I know dad." Ryou replied.

"Pegasus called, he invited you to another of his business parties on Saturday. I doubt you'll want to go now though."

"No. I'll go. He probably wants a progress report."

"You need to see a doctor! Those guys really tore you up."

"It looks worse than it is, dad. Stop worrying."

"You know I can't do that."

"Dad? We're opening the shop in a few days. I'm planning a sort of grand opening party. It would mean a lot to me if you came."

"Well, I don't know about that, Ryou. But I'll try? Who's we?"

"Bakura's been helping me out with the renovations."

"WHAT!" the old man shouted and immediately collapsed into a coughing fit!
"What's that little bastard doing back here?"

"Dad! Don't call him that!"

"Why not he's bad news! I don't want you seeing him again!"

"Dad! I'm eighteen. You can't stop me seeing my friends any more!"

"I can't believe you gave that boy work! He'll probably rob the place for all it's worth!"

"Bakura is not a robber, dad!" (A/N - oh the irony) shouted Ryou "I trust him! Why can't you!" and he stormed out of the apartment slamming the door behind him.

Another long walk in the cold to the suburban nightmare that was his uncle's house.
What if Marik was going to be there? He'd get another beating that was for sure or worse, Ryou shuddered, he could get molested by Anzu again!

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"Hey Bakura! Isn't that your boyfriend over there?" sneered Malik as he pointed at the white haired boy across the street. "Ooh and look, he's limping! Someone's been busy!"

"Shut the fuck up! He's not my boyfriend and besides even if I was... hey! What do you mean he's limping?" yelled Bakura angrily.

"See for yourself." said Honda. "Either someone's been pounding him pretty hard or they've finally taken some initiative and mugged that little faggot!"

"Hey! I know you don't like gay and British people, Honda, but that's going too far"
shouted Bakura starting to run across the street.

"Don't say you've changed your mind! If you didn't feel the same way then why did go to that Japanese Nationalist march with me?" but the speech was wasted . Bakura had already gone.

Ryou looked and visibly tensed as he saw his friend running towards him. He looked at the ground hoping that his long hair would cover the multitude of bruises he had been given.

"Hey Ry, what are ya doing out at this time of night?" said Bakura.

"I was just heading over to Pegasus'." said Ryou focusing intently on the pavement.

"You know it's not easy to have a conversation with you if you don't look at me." said his friend sternly and gently cupped Ryou's chin and tilted his head upwards. "HE did this to you didn't he!"

Ryou nodded sadly.

"I'll kill him! I'll fucking kill him!" the older boy screamed.

"Don't say things like that! I won't let you go to jail because of me!" cried Ryou.

"Is he going to be at your uncle's?" growled Bakura. Another nod. "I'm going with you then. If he has a problem, let him settle it with me!" He grabbed the smaller boy's hand and half led half dragged him towards Pagasus' house. No one, not even that blonde psycho of a drug lord was going to mess with HIS Ryou...