A/N: Chapter 17… yes, it is now here. Ok people. Don't die on me. Heh. Anyways, I hope you enjoy this chapter and send some reviews? It's always fun to hear from my readers! Well, here we go.

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The little pale boy let his eyes wander around the room. He couldn't find Bakura… where was he? Strange… then again he could be playing one of his little games. Again… really, it wouldn't be the first time.

The dark outline finally decided to act.

It reached out and added enough force to it's touch to send Ryou tumbling down the stairs- violently. "I'm right here."

Ryou looked up at the new force to be identified as his dark light. Bakura stepped out of the shadows nonchalantly and grinned. He began advancing down the stairs to finish off the job he had started. Ryou meanwhile tried his best not to move or make any sudden movements. His eyes, unwillingly, grew in fright. How could he not sense that evil standing behind him? How…

Bakura reached the bottom of the stairs and took a step toward Ryou. He knew what he wanted to get out of his hikari… but he didn't know the proper way. Slow torture.. or just … hm… so many choices revolving in his sadistic little mind.

Ryou held his breath and felt as Bakura kneeled infront of him. "Are you afraid little one?" He sounded almost sincere, almost caring, and almost sugared. Except for the fact that there was a cruel smile lingering upon his lips. Ryou twitched and shook his head. Bakura paused for a moment and smiled more….. that just sent a chill up and down his hikari's spine."Well then... we can just fix that now can't we?" Bakura smiled "warmly" a bit more, and before Ryou could formulize the thoughts, a hand was swept across his pale little face. Yelping, the boy tried his hardest not to fall down once again; that would just leave him even more vulnerable. He instead felt a trickle of red blood begin its descent downward...

"C'mon little one... you don't bleed as much as you used to!" A strong hand grasped the tonsoles of white hair upon Ryou's head and yanked him up as Bakura got up. Once both were up, the dark one moved his hand down to Ryou's throat, where he tightened his grip only enough to make it a bit harder to breathe. Of course no lethal things yet.

Ryou shut his eyes and struggled to breath. He could in short and difficult breaths... was he feeling lightheaded already?

The yami smiled and calmly tossed his light into the nearest wall, causing the back of the light's head to bleed. The light yelped once more and fell to the floor, taking in sudden and happy lungfuls of breath. He didn't even mind the hurt in his head, so long as he could breathe...

Another quick blow was delivered, this time to Ryou's side ribs. He supressed his next little scream and doubled over on his side, trying feebly to protect it. This act only made Bakura laugh.

"You think you can protect yourself huh?" He sent another strong kick to the white mage's stomach. The hikari's eyes grew in pain, and blood started to drip out of his mouth. It didn't stop there at all... Bakura was only beginning... He grabbed Ryou and forced him up by the arm, then proceeded to throw him against the nearest wall. Ryou spit out a little more blood and looked weaker to his dark light. Bakura pressed himself against his hikari and grinned at the reaction it conjured. Ryou squirmed uncomfortably and whimpered...

The pale little rose could feel Bakura on him... could feel his warm breath burning the flesh on his neck...Ryou whimpered once more and clamped his eyes shut to blot out the image- but that didn't blot out his feeling. He could still feel Bakura on him... that made him so uncomfortable...

"Why are you so scared little one?"

Bakura's hot breath again. Damn, was it burning through his skin! Ryou whimpered once more.

Without any warning or hint, Bakura dropped and clamped his teeth deep into Ryou's tender neck. He tore open a wound and proceeded to make sure it bruised; a sinister type of lovebite. Ryou gaped and immediately grit his teeth together, wishing he could focus on something else. This torture was too much...

Almost as soon as it began, the bite was over. Bakura retracted his head and grinned, wiping the blood of his light off his chin and lips. Ryou opened his eyes uneasily and in time to see his dark licking at the collected red essence dripping off his fingers.

"That'll do for now."

With that last sentence, Bakura turned and calmly headed up the stairs and into his designated room. Ryou was left to crumble to the floor and recall the emotions and events that had just taken place.