Yay! An update! If you're still with me, thanks ever so much! I love you! Here's Chapter 11, read and enjoy! I don't own Yu-Gi-Oh!, don't sue me!

Yugi perched on a stool at the kitchen table, swinging his feet as he toyed with the strands of spaghetti in the bowl in front of him. Across from him, Yami pored over his calculus textbook, mumbling to himself.

"First derivative of x squared over 3 minus 5x…that's bottom times derivative of the top, so 3 minus 5x times 2x, minus top times derivative of the bottom, so x squared times 5, all over the bottom squared…" He looked up to see Yugi staring off into space, forehead scrunched in concentration. "Something wrong, hikari?" he asked.

Yugi blinked adorably, jerking out of his reverie. "Huh? Oh…I was just wondering if Ryou was all right. He hasn't been in class for a few days."

"No…he hasn't," Yami agreed slowly, thinking back to the past week. Granted, the soft-spoken teenager was easy to miss, overshadowed as he was by his more commanding dark side. Still, he had always been there, an unobtrusive presence in the back of the classroom with his head bowed meekly over his desk. Lately, that desk had been empty…as was another one, Yami realized with a sudden chill of fear.

"Yami?" asked Yugi, sensing the spirit's mood change abruptly. "What is it?"

"Bakura," Yami answered gravely. Yugi was confused.

"Bakura? What about him…oh yeah, he hasn't been in school either! But he could be skipping, he skips school a lot anyways. You think maybe he might know about Ryou?"

"I don't think, Yugi, I know." Yami paused, debating whether or not to tell his light, then decided. "I'm afraid Ryou could be in great danger."

"Ryou? In danger? From what?" Yugi's alarm was palpable, and Yami saw the worry rising in his eyes. "You don't think Bakura hurt Ryou, do you?"

"I'm afraid so, Yugi," answered Yami. "Did you ever wonder why Ryou always wears long sleeves?"

"It's cuz he's so thin, isn't it? He said he didn't like showing his arms because they're too skinny and he's always cold."

Yami shook his head slightly. "No, Yugi. Have you ever seen his arms?"

"Well, no," Yugi admitted. "He never even takes his shirt off in gym. Have you seen them?"

"Yes."

Yugi stared at Yami, frightened by the other's somber expression. "What…was there…Was there anything…wrong with them?" he ended timidly.

"They were covered with scars, Yugi," said Yami heavily, looking down at the figures scribbled on his paper.

"What?! But what does that have to do with–"

"Scars made by Bakura," finished Yami. Still avoiding Yugi's gaze, he continued, "I know they're from Bakura. He is a master of knives. I have seen similar marks on his…victims before, in the past."

"You're saying Bakura cut Ryou?" blurted Yugi, shocked. "That can't be! Bakura wouldn't hurt Ryou! Yami, you didn't see them that day in the courtyard! They were hugging each other…"

"Maybe so, Yugi, but things could very well have changed. Bakura is an extremely jealous person," gritted Yami. The last statement seemed to be causing him some difficulty. "The smallest, most insignificant action can send him into a rage, and he gives in much too easily to his darker impulses. Even if he regrets his actions later, the damage is…irreparable sometimes."

Yugi gaped at Yami, wondering what prompted this outburst. Before he could ask, Yami recovered his usual demeanor and spoke.

"Either ways, we have to help Ryou," he stated firmly, looking straight at Yugi. Yugi stared into the spirit's ruby red eyes, finding no hint of what had just happened, and nodded.

"Right. We'll do it together."

Yami stood, extending a hand to the smaller boy. "Good. Now get your coat, Yugi. We're going to Ryou's house."

A little short, but the next chapter should be coming soon, since I sort of know what it'll be about. Did you like this chapter? Hate it? Review please!