Er... Hm. Heheh :rubs back of head: Hi my happy-chans. Long time no see eh?
:ducks from random rock:

I'M SORRY:cries:
Please, I really am! SO much has happened over the last couple of months, I've had exams, my hotmail account buggered up, personal things and SO much work it was unbelieveable:sighs:
BUT! I am back:dances:
Heh, so yeah. I'm so sorry to all you guys, I hope you carry on reading TiPP and I will NEVER EVER take that long again!

So finally, without further ado...

SIX: Where It Hurts The Most

"Onegai... Bakura don't..." the lighter half whimpered, pulling up his knees and backing as far away from the deranged Yami as he could, though the fireguard behind him stopped him from getting any further.

"Don't what Ryou?" the Thief hissed bitterly as he slowly, luringly stepped towards the terrified Hikari.

"I... I'm sorry, I didn't mean to barge in on you and Yami," Ryou said quickly, tucking up his knees tightly to his chest, trying to get into a protective position as the same, nagging fear was eating at his thoughts.

"Oh, I couldn't care less if you came running in here shouting and screaming my dear Ryou," the Yami stated, putting a foot either side of Ryou and leaning down, hands on hips, their faces merely inches apart.

"Wh... What?" Ryou stuttered, confusion heard in his voice.

"Honest. I couldn't give a fuck... But... What DID bother me!" Bakura suddenly shouted out, slamming his hands down and gripping the fireguard behind the quivering light, "Is that it took you a whole damn HOUR to get down here! And I had to put up with that annoying fuck-up Pharaoh and his whore!"

Ryou slammed his eyes shut as his other half screamed in his face, "Yugi isn't a whore! And it isn't may fault! You shouldn't have knocked me out and I would have been down here quicker!" the teen blurted out, his hand slapping to his mouth when he realised what he said.

Bakura's eyes narrowed threateningly.

"Gomen nasai..." the trembling light whispered through his hand, eyes wide as he stared at his darker half, the heat from the fire behind him coating his back in a thin layer of sweat.

Deep, chocolate eyes narrowed to mere slits as he glared down at his light, their faces merely an inch apart. Ryou, expecting the worse, just simply sat there his pupils dilated as he stared directly into the menacing depths of the other, who seemed to be- studying him.

"That wasn't like you Ryou..." Bakura whispered, his hot breath wrapping around the teens skin, "That wasn't like you at all. You never answer me back... Let alone put the blame on me," the dark spirit hissed bitterly.

"I... I didn't mean to say it... On-Onegai," the cotton-haired youth stuttered.

"Hm. But you would have just thought it if not spoke it, am I right Hikari? Though... It does makes me wonder..." Bakura started, moving his hands to the edges of the fireguard Ryou was backed against, the heat soaking the light.

"W-Wonder about what?" Ryou asked timidly when his eyes locked onto the darks orbs, curious as he felt his hands move across the guard behind him, as his chest rose and fell slowly and deeply.

"Why... Whenever that whore Yugi is mentioned..." Bakura started again, "You start being a little BITCH!" the dark shouted, suddenly taking hold of the guard and yanking it from behind Ryou, who cried out in shock when he felt himself falling back, the heat overwhelming.

Ryou opened his eyes, even though he didn't recall closing them, to see his other half looming over him, straddling his hips and one hand behind his back. The light simply stared in shock, mouth slightly open. Did his Yami just save him?

"Why Ryou?" Bakura asked out right.

"Wh... Why what?" Ryou replied, swallowing hard on his dry throat, sweat rolling down his face.

"Why is Yugi so special? Hn?"

"What do you mean...?" the light asked, eyes not moving or blinking.

"You know what I mean Hikari. What makes Yugi so special, you'd risk me doing what you fear most, just to protect that damn whore?"

"Yugi isn't a whore," Ryou said without hesitation.

"You did it again."

The lights eyes widened.

"I think I know what's going on Ryou- my sweet. And oh how much fun I'm going to have with it," Bakura sneered as he slowly let his hand move up the lights back, causing Ryou to move closer to the sweltering fire, though keeping his own hand safe.

"Yami! Iie!" Ryou suddenly cried, feeling the flames flicker against his back, stinging his bare skin.

"Listen to me Hikari, little one, as I'm only going to say this once," Bakura mused, leaning forward, forcing the light back into the tips of the flames, causing him to hiss and yelp in pain at the sharp burns. "If you step out of line, just once..." the Thief started.

Ryou stared into the depths of his other half, watching the flames dance in mesmerizing patterns in the reflection of his orbs. Before their stare was broken when the darker half moved his lips to the light's ear, before teasingly licking down the outline, causing the teen to gasp out.

"I'll get you... Where it hurts the most."

"Yami... What's Yami Bakura done to Ryou-chan?" Yugi started quietly, "I don't understand... You asked him how he could do such a thing..."

Even though Yugi didn't out right ask Yami what he meant, the spirit knew what his Aibou was thinking. "You don't want to know Aibou..."

"Yes I do. Ryou-chan is my friend, and I care about him," the spiky-haired light stated.

"Yugi. It's not for me to tell. I'm sure Ryou will tell you if you ask, and if not... You'll figure it out," the Pharaoh said before walking through the front door of the game shop.

"Ryou!" the teacher suddenly blurted out, hitting her hand down on the desk, causing a certain white-haired teen to jump up, as well as wake up.

"Ryou. You've fell asleep twice already today," Miss Ukai stated, hand on hip, "Why are you so tired?"

Ryou groaned under his breath and rubbed his eyes, "Had company over late Miss," the light lied randomly.

"Hm. Well, ask your company whether staying up late or your education is more important."

"Yes Miss. It wont happen again..." Ryou replied, forcing back a yawn.

Yugi watched from the row behind the other Hikari, a worried expression across his face.

Ryou moaned slightly when he sat back against the chair, groaning at the shot of stinging pain that went through him, the burns hissing against his skin.

The spiky-haired teen noticed his friend cringe, and it only caused more worry to come over him. His eyes trailed round, as he desperately wanted, needed, to talk to Ryou. Shifting slightly in his seat, Yugi leant over to the side, dipping his hand into his bag before pulling out a random piece of paper. Carefully and un-noticeably, Yugi took out his pen and started to scribble something down onto the small, torn bit of paper before folding it up as small as he could. Large crimson orbs locked onto the teacher, as he nervously tapped Ryou on the shoulder.

The other Hikari turned to the side, looking at Yugi from the corner of his eyes. Seeing his friend flash a white, folded note in his hand, Ryou casually pretended to stretch his arm and brushed it backwards so Yugi could quickly put the note in his hand.

Sighing heavily, Ryou unfolded the note and read it.

Daijoubu desu ka? I saw you cringe just. Yami Bakura hasn't done anything to you has he? I know what he can be like Ryou, you can tell me.
Yugi.

Ryou simply sighed again. He was getting quite annoyed with all the questions from Yugi and Yami, though he did care about them, it was still annoying.

The cotton-haired teen grabbed his pen and scribbled down a reply before he absentmindedly tossed the note over his shoulder, not bothering with the teacher looking.

Yugi's hands scrambled forward and he managed to catch the note. Opening it up, the teen read it.

Hai I'm fine. And so is Bakura.

Yugi blinked a couple of times, shocked by the blunt reply he'd gotten. Usually, Ryou would be quite happy when they wrote notes, glad to talk to someone. So, still worried, Yugi wrote down a reply before dropping the note down the back of Ryou's chair.

The chocolate-eyed teen took the note and opened it up.

Are you sure Ryou? You don't seem like it. Please, you know you can tell me.

Rolling his eyes, the Hikari wrote his reply before reaching behind him and placing the note on Yugi's desk.

I'm sure and there's nothing to tell, ok?

Yugi stared at the note, reading it over and over, shocked by the bitterness that came across from it. Though, taking the hint, the shorter teen screwed up the note and shoved it in his pocket, trying to ignore the hurt he was feeling.

The bell signalling the end of the day finally came and Miss. Ukai spoke up, "I want chapters four and five read by tomorrow morning class. And please, as you can see the weather is very bad, so go home safely," she pointed to the window, rain galloping against the glace on a violent rampage, "You are dismissed."

After the teacher's small statement, the class stood up, grabbing their things before they began to file out of the classroom.

"Ryou! Hey wait up!" Yugi called, waving his hand out to said other.

The cotton-haired teen turned at hearing his name, sighing softly when he saw Yugi, though none the less, the teen waited for his friend to catch up.

"Hey," the smaller Hikari said chirpily.

Ryou simply nodded in reply before he carried on walking, slow enough to signal for his friend to follow.

"Ryou, I was um… Wondering something," Yugi started as they strolled down the corridor.

"Yes Yugi?" the light asked, curious.

"Would… I mean, only if you're not doing anything, and I don't want to push you into anything, but if you aren't doing anything then maybe you could so-"

"Yug. Just ask, I won't bite or anything," Ryou interrupted, chuckling lightly.

Said other blushed slightly and smiled, "Um… Would, you like, to sleep at mine tonight? I mean, it was fun last time you came over and maybe it would do you good with a break from Ba-" the teen cut himself off when he realised what he was saying.

Ryou's eyebrows furrowed slightly at realising what Yugi was going to say. He sighed heavily to himself. Of course the light would love to spend the night at Yugi's, and even though he hated to admit it, he could do with a 'break' from his twisted other half.

"I'll see Yugi. I'll check what's going on tonight, and if nothing is happening, I'll come over at around eight. Deal?" Ryou said with a smile.

The other teen nodded, "Great!" he chirped happily.

With that sorted and agreed upon, the two walked through the main doors of the school into the pouring rain.

"Oh… Crud…" Yugi muttered to himself, pulling up the collar of his uniform and hunching his shoulders as the rain soaked the two.

Ryou looked at his friend, before rummaging through his bag. "Here," the light said, handing an umbrella out.

"But Ryou, you'll get soaked!" the shorter one exclaimed.

"It's ok. You have further to go than me," the light said softly, "It's only a small one, but it'll do you good," he added, opening up the umbrella and holding it over the teen.

Yugi smiled greatfully at the teen, "Thank you so, so much Ryou."

Said light nodded, "Hopefully see you later!" he replied smiling, pulling up his collar and shoving his hands in his pockets after waving good-bye.


Ba dum tish! XD

Heh... Was that even worth the wait:cocks head:
I am really sorry though about the delay... Honest. And Catalyst will be updated by the end of this week too:nods:

Please, as always...

R&R my happy-chans! XD

S4K
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