Warnings: Angst, swearing.

Disclaimer: I don't own Yu-Gi-Oh, the title of the story or the title of each chapter. Oh and I also don't own Ryou's pseudonym.

Notes: This is still AU, It's still in Ryou's point of view. It is only one day late. Thanks to my reviewers! You Rock! Oh, I got my first flame for my story Going Straight! W00T! It made me really happy! I was like " I laugh at you!". Hheheheheheheheheeheh!

Fear of the Unknown, Change and Death

Chapter 3

I awoke with a pain in my head. There is a light shining straight in to my eyes even though they are closed. I move my head away from the light.

OW.

Note to self: movement of head is bad and painful. Do not do again.

I'm cold. But there is bright light. Why am I cold?

I move my hand and find that I am lying on a floor. A tiled floor.

Hmmmmm?

I wonder why that is?

Maybe if I open my eyes I can find out.

Ow.

Maybe not.

Additional note: opening eyes is bad. Do not do again.

Slowly my mind starts to work.

Oh god! Shit! Fuck! I have to move. I don't know how long I've been out but if he comes home anytime soon I am dead. And I mean in the most literal way possible.

I push myself up into sitting position. God it hurts. Everything hurts. Moving, breathing, everything. The world is spinning sickeningly even though my eyes are closed.

Cracking open one eye I could tell even though the world was spinning that it was around sunset time, everything was bathed in a red glow (or at least I hope that's why everything is red). So, it's about five or six in the afternoon. Only been out for a couple of hours. That means I have until about midnight or maybe some time tomorrow morning if he goes to a whorehouse. Either way I have very little time.

The world is spinning somewhat slower and I have both my eyes open so I think I'll try and stand up.

Oh crap that wasn't a good idea. Thank the lord for walls.

I use the wall to navigate a path to the front door. I need to get out of here. I need a place to store my things. My father is either going to sell, burn or destroy anything I leave behind. I know where I need to go but in this state I don't know if I can make it.

I stumble out the door and down the front path. I still can't see properly and I am having a very large battle with gravity at the moment. I'm lucky I have lived here so long that I know where I'm going. I use every wall and fence I encounter to hold me up. Fear is the only thing keeping me going.

Fear of what I'm not entirely sure. Fear of my changing life, its all happened so quickly and it so out of control. Fear of the unknown, I don't know where I'm going to go or what's going to happen to me. And mostly I fear death. From my father, from my former friends and from the unknown.

I made it. I have made it to the shop that Malik's family own. It's a small little newsagent but they have garages that you can rent to store things (usually cars) in. I just hope that Isis is working today. Malik has most likely corrupted his parents already but Isis isn't like that. I just hope she doesn't get me beaten and thrown out when she sees me.

I slip inside the store and go straight up to the counter. Thank the Gods. It's Isis. My vision has got slightly better during my walk over here, but even if everything were still as blurry as it was I would sill be able to tell it was her. She always wears the same long white gown (I think it's tradition) and she has the most beautiful long black hair.

"Oh Gods! What happened to you, Ryou?" she asks sounding extremely worried.

I wonder what gave it away? Could it have been the fact that I'm not looking at her properly? That my eyes aren't focused? Or could it be that I'm leaning heavily against the counter.

Wait. God no. Please no.

I have bruises. I know that now. There are finger marks around my neck where he… I can't think about him now.

"Shhhhhh!" I hiss at her "It doesn't matter at the moment! I need your help! Please?" I ask. I plead. I beg. Whatever you want to call it. It's all the same in the end.

"Fine," she concedes "but you will tell me eventually." Ok so maybe she didn't completely give in. Oh hang on. She's still talking. "Malik told me what you've done. Why don't you just take it out? Make life easy for yourself." She asks with, amazingly, genuine curiosity. She's not judging me.

Poor Isis. Your so naïve.

"It's too late for that now." I tell her. It's the truth as well. And honestly I couldn't say that knowing what I do now that I would even want to go back to how things were. Go back and pretend that none of this happened.

"I need to rent a garage," I tell her bluntly. There is no more time for chitchat. I have been here too long and risk someone finding me and beating me to a pulp.

"Ok," She's all business now. "It costs 12.50 a month and I need the first payment upfront. We can't put your name in the books, so, what would you like your name to be?"

" Kazuki Takahashi." I reply "and I'll pay for the first three months now and send you each following payment by post." I tell her as I slide the money across the counter.

She hands me the key and says, "If anyone asks I'll tell them that 'Mr Takahashi' is out of the country. It shouldn't raise any suspicion."

"Thank you for everything Isis. I hope I see you again. I'll post the key through the door tonight, please look after it for me." With that said I ran from the shop, Isis waving goodbye behind me. I can see now but I'm still not steady on my feet. I hate gravity. It's plotting against me. But right now it can plot all it wants, I'm too busy to care.

I need to get my things out of there.

It takes me about 3 hours to move everything using just a wheelbarrow. I even moved out some of my furniture. It's about 11.30pm now and I'm back in my room. On my way back I brought a one-way train ticket to Tokyo. I don't know what I'll do once I get there.

By the window in my bedroom is a backpack with a few things in that I will need and some food and, of course, money. I have a photo of my mother and sister in it as well.

Your going to think me mad now but I'm going to sleep here until my father returns. I not in any danger. He wakes me up when he comes home after an all night bender, usually by falling over something or just by slamming the front door.

I was just jolted awake by the front door being slammed shut.

Right time to make a quick exit.

I grab my bag and climb out my window, holding on to the window ledge, I lower myself down until my arms are completely straight, my legs are pulled up to my stomach so he cant see me from the window downstairs. Reaching up I push the window closed before I straighten my legs and let go of the ledge. I land in a perfect crouch.

He didn't see me. That's good.

I take off running towards the train station. Towards a new life which is, as of yet, undetermined.

Goodbye to everything I knew.

Notes: Can any of you people tell me who is Ryou's pseudonym? I know! Do you? Leave a review and tell me!