Hello all.

God this is late.

I hate myself... -feels bad-

And I cut this shorter than planned... But I had to post something. I'll try to do a whole chapter over nthe weekend, I swear. xD

Disclaimer: I own nothing...

It was midmorning when the demon awoke from his deep, dreamless sleep, the bright rays of sun that filtered across his face, coupled with the busy sounds of the busy street below that came from the open window dragging him out of his slumber. Bakura groaned, rubbing at his eyes momentarily, before lifting his head off the pillow to squint at the alarm clock that rested on his bedside table. Judging by the silence of the small apartment, and the absence of the young light in his snug nest in the corner, Bakura could only assume that Ryou had somehow dragged himself to school. Good. He hated the young light in his clingy, pathetic state he was in now, he was like a parasite, a hindrance. And besides, he had crap he wanted to do today.

Pulling on clothes, Bakura yawned, ruffling at his hair as he headed into the small kitchen. Just as promised, Ryou had set a plate of cooked bacon out on the counter. Bakura almost smiled at the womanly hikari's antics, but forced it down, instead taking the now-cold (but still excellent-tasting) bacon, setting it on to a plate, and attacking it with a fork. True, he didn't need to eat- He was an disembodied spirit- but for as long as he could remember, the demon had always enjoyed a good feed of meat (It was honestly the only food he ever really ate), and of course, a love of beer was only natural. Not to the point where he got drunk, after all, he was a highly skilled thief, he needed to keep his wits about him, but some of the most fun he had in the past was possessing a younger Ryou's body, getting drunk off of his face, and watching the docile boy try and deal with a tipsy body. Bakura chewed thoughtfully at his bacon, planning out his mental schedule for the day.

Ryou felt sick.

Really, really sick.

It was around 11 o'clock when his hands starting shaking. It now got to the point where he couldn't even hold a pen without it slipping through his fingers. As well as this, the lights vision started to double and grow fuzzy. His head started spinning, and he felt extremely cold, despite his heavy school jacket. The young Briton held his head in one hand, his elbow resting heavily on the table. With the other hand, Ryou toyed with his food, turning the pasta with his fork.

"Are you okay?" Yugi asked his friend, concern etched on his childish face as he gazed at Ryou, his violet eyes narrowed. "Bakura, you really don't look well at all." The bell clanged for lunch to be disbanded, and around them, students rose, collecting their trays and heading for the doorway. Ryou rose to his feet also, taking his plastic tray in pale trembling hands. Yugi frowned, one hand grasping at the lights slim wrist. "Please, sit down, I really want to talk to you."

"B-But..." Ryou stuttered, eyes darting around for an escape. "I-I have to go to class..." the light blinked slightly, trying to cease the blurry, doubled vision in front of his eyes.

"Please." Yugi pleaded. "I'm really getting worried about you, Bakura." He frowned, running a hand through his hair. "You look terrible. I've never seen you so pale, and look at your hands." Ryou lowered his gaze down to his shaking fingers, wincing slightly. "Something is wrong, and Please, Bakura, I want you to tell me, I-I want to help..." He sighed, combing his golden bangs through his fingers. "I'm really getting worried."

"You shouldn't." Ryou muttered, yanking his wrist away as he sat heavily in the molded plastic seat. "I'm not worth worrying about..."

"Don't put yourself down like that." Yugi frowned, worry in his gentle voice. "You're my friend, Bakura, I want to help you."

"I don't want help." Ryou retorted weakly, rubbing at a temple. "Please, Yugi, I just want to be left alone." He continued almost tearfully. "Please." The shorter of the pair frowned, chewing on his lower lip as he gazed at Ryou. He really seemed beside himself, trembling as he wrung his shaking hands.

"Oh, Bakura..." Yugi breathed, pity in his eyes. "What has he done to you?" Ryou was silent, his chin quivering as he gazed down at the tabletop.

"Nothing." The whitenette whispered, brown eyes lowered. "Please, Yugi, just drop it..."

"I know it was a terrible idea to leave you alone with him." The boy muttered, rubbing at his eyes. "Yami said he would hurt you, and I didn't believe him, I thought maybe he wouldn't, but I was wrong-"

"N-No!" Ryou blurted out, his eyes wide in fear. "He's not, he's not, I mean it, he's not, please Yugi..." He pleaded, his breathing harsh and shallow. "Please, Yugi, he hasn't touched me." Yugi merely sighed, shaking his head.

"Bakura, we both know that isn't true." Yugi said softly, biting his lip. "What has he done to you, are you going to tell me?" Ryou sighed, rubbing tiredly at his eyes with a shaking hand. "Bakura?"

"No." Ryou whispered, shaking his head. "No, Yugi, not now." Summoning his strength, the young light stumbled to his feet, wavering slightly. "I have geography class..." Yugi closed his eyes momentarily, a soft sigh emitting from his lips.

"Please, Bakura, I'm getting worried." The younger urged, his eyes wide and pleading. "You look like you're going to pass out, or something!" Ryou sighed, rubbing at his forehead.

"Yugi, I'm..." The whitenette trailed off, his knees feeling weak and trembling. Black spots were flashing in the apex of his vision, and his head felt very light... "Fine." He finished halfheartedly. "Don't worry about me."

"I do." Yugi breathed, anxiety written in his voice. "You're being hurt, and I can't help you..." Ryou bit his lip, sighing quietly under his breath.

"Don't tell anyone." He pleaded, his voice almost cracking. "Please, I don't want questions, I don't want people to know..." The maroon-eyed boy frowned.

"B-But, Bakura, Y-You can't keep doing this..." Yugi whispered, shaking his head. "I won't let you!"

"Yugi!" Ryou blurted, his chin trembling. "Please, leave me alone, I mean it! He's been doing this for months without you noticing! What makes you think I suddenly can't handle it?" In reality, the whitenette was cracking under the strain, and he wasn't actually so sure he could keep it up much longer, but he could lie if it meant he was going to be left alone. He didn't know why he wanted to be left alone, why he didn't want the only person who could help him left out of the fray. Maybe it was because Ryou, although he was definitely not okay with the current situation, he could never bear to be pulled apart from his yami. Not the other half of his soul, not the one he had an inexplicable crush on.

Jesus. I'm even more messed up than I thought.

Ryou was having trouble concentrating on his algebra homework that night. The small, fine-printed numbers seemed to jumble in front of his vision, making no sense, and his still-blurring vision was making it even harder to focus. So what was it that was stealing Ryou's attention, making him feel dizzy and nervous? A thief, of course.

Bakura smiled strangely from the opposite side of the small kitchen table, his crimson-mahogany eyes boring straight into Ryou's head as he struggled to work away at his homework. What are you thinking? The demon mused, a long, bony finger toying at a lock of silver hair. What's running through your mind as you struggle with your petty schoolwork? Bakura's smile widened as Ryou pale cheeks flushed deeply, the biro pen slipping from his slender trembling fingers.

"I-I..." The Briton stammered, his eyes fixated on the paper before him. "I-I..." Why was it so hard to speak? Why couldn't he just force the words out of his mouth? "I h-have to g-go t-to h-h-have a sh-shower..." Ryou mumbled, slipping uncomfortably out of the chair, his knees feeling weak as the yami continued to stare in his direction. Bakura's grin widened, his crimson eyes narrowing as he leaned back on his chair, his leather-clad feet resting on the table top, his hands behind his head. A deep chuckle arose from his throat as the sound of running water reached his ears.

Ryou sighed, leaning against the wall of the class cubicle as the hot water ran down his slim frame. What the hell was wrong with him now? Had it gotten to the point where he couldn't stand being in the same room with his yami when he wasn't distracted by something? The young light winced, arching his back as he one of the still-tender cutes on his stomach twinged in reaction to the piping hot water. It was the click of the opening door that jerked Ryou out of his lamenting thought. There was only one person it could be...

The whitenette whimpered, shrinking into the wall of the shower, curling into a small ball of protection. Please don't hurt me yami-sama, I'm sorry if I did something wrong, please please please don't hurt me... Bakura rolled his eyes, closing the door behind him as he ventured into the steam-filled room. Ryou was small, huddled into the corner of the cubicle, his fear clearly obvious.

"Why so afraid?" Bakura whispered, absentmindedly tracing patterns into the foggy glass. He grinned, wrenching the door away to expose the shivering teen. Shutting off the water flow, the demon crouched on the wet tiles of the floor, staring at the teenager.

"P-Please..." Ryou whimpered, digging his face further into his knees, shivering as the cold air hit his skin. "D-Don't hurt me." Bakura rolled his eyes, one arm snaking around the young lights shoulders. Ryou whimpered, shrinking away from the spirit as he hoisted him to his feet. "P-Please..."

"Shut up." Bakura said harshly, dragging the young light by his arm as he stepped out of the bathroom. "I'm not going to hurt you." Ryou sighed audibly, relaxing a little under the yami's grasp. "Idiot."

"Th-Then..." Ryou stammered, lifting his gaze to meet Bakura. "Wh-What a-are you g-going to do?" The demon smirked, raising a snowy eyebrow as he met the lights gaze, his free hand straying to Ryou's hair, sifting the pearly strands heavy with water through his fingers. The smaller of the pair gasped, shivering in the cold air. What on earth was Bakura going to do? Here he was, holding him in his arms,- and he was wearing nothing at all, and also soaking wet- Ryou couldn't help but think that this might turn out a bit... Well, sexual.

"This." Bakura breathed in his husky, sensual voice, planting his lips firmly on the lights. Ryou gasped, instantly opening his mouth to welcome the yamis kiss, his hands gently unfolding from his chest to Bakura's hips, the tips of his fingers pressing into the small of the demons back. Bakura was taken aback by the touch, but nevertheless, he deepened the passionate kiss, the lights sweet taste overflowing his senses. Wow. For a virgin, for someone who had only dated twice in his life, Ryou was an excellent kisser. Although he was easily dominated, Bakura couldn't help but feel a certain... Something, when he held the wet teenager in his arms. Bakura didn't know what it was, but it felt good. Ryou moaned, his leg curling around the yami, his slender fingers inching further and further up Bakura's back. The motion took the demon by surprise, his eyes widening in shock. What the hell is going on here? He mentally screamed. What is the brat doing... Where did he learn all of this?

Ryou sighed as the pair pulled apart to breathe, his eyes gently opening. Bakura gaped at the light, one hand cupping his soft, rounded jawbone. Ryou's cheeks were flushed, his eyes oddly bright, a gentle, genuine smile gracing his finely cut lips. I've never seen him so happy. Bakura mused to himself, combing his fingers through slightly curling damp locks. I never thought it would have this much of an effect on him... Man, this makes it easier than I thought. The demon smirked, running a thumb over the lights lower lip. This is going to be fun.

"Wh-What's going on?" Ryou whispered, finally able to speak coherently, his eyes seeming unfocused. "Wh-what-"

"Shh." Bakura breathed, momentarily pressing his lips against the lights forehead. "Not another word. Not now." He smiled, a small, fake smile, a gentle hand cupping the back of his head. "Just be quiet." Ryou nodded wordlessly, his eyes wide in disbelief. Yami-sama loves me, he really loves me... Oh my God, this is so amazing... the young light sighed, leaning his head against the yamis collarbone. Oh My God...

"You're freezing." Bakura's blunt voice cut through the silence. "Get some clothes on before you kill yourself." Ryou couldn't help but smile at the yamis cold words, his eyes gently drooping shut.

"U-Um what-what are you doing?" Ryou's gentle voice sounded from the doorway. Bakura raised an eyebrow as he turned, rolling his eyes at the light as a smirk crossed his lips. "C-Can I-I sit down?" The whitenette continued, tilting his head slightly to the side.

"Get over here, Ryou." Bakura patted the seat, his smirk widening. What...

"Y-You said my name." The light whispered, his chin trembling, eyes wide in shock. "Y-You s-said my n-name..." He's never said my name before. Never... "Wh-Why?" Bakura said nothing, merely jerking his head to the seat beside him, looking expectantly at Ryou.

"Sit." He growled, his nose wrinkling slightly in a sneer. Ryou squeaked fearfully, almost running towards the yami and sinking into the couch, leaning into the plush back. "Good boy." He said luxuriously, a deep rumble almost like a purr on the base of the throat, stretching out and yawning silently, his arms sprawled across the back of the couch. "Geez, Ryou, you're acting so tense. You need to relax more." The spirit smiled, casting a gaze over to the light, a... smile in his eyes? Ryou blushed, looking down as a deep rose spread across his cheeks.

"You said my name again." Ryou breathed, a wide smile on his face as he gazed at Bakura. "Why?" Bakura rolled his eyes, one arm slung around the whitenettes shoulders.

"Because." He said, dragging Ryou close to him, his nose digging into the lights pale hair. "It's a pretty name." He murmured into the silky tendrils. Ryou sighed, frowning down at his jeans. What is he doing?

"Do you love me?" The question was so sudden, so unexpected, it made the light start, clapping a hand over his mouth. Where on earth did that come from... Bakura frowned, freezing momentarily. Um...

"Yes." What was a little white lie to him? He was a born liar, anyone could see that. It wasn't hard for a falsehood to pass through his lips. Ryou froze, curled into the yamis arms. His eyes were wide in shock, his chin trembling as his lips parted slightly.

"Wh-what?" Ryou hardly dared to believe the single word that Bakura had whispered. It couldn't be true... could it? Did Bakura... love him? Shifting from under the demons arm, Ryou frowned softly, nibbling at his lower lip.

"I love you." Bakura muttered in a deadpan, toneless voice. "Goddamn Ryou..." The light cried out, A strange, choked cry, his eyes wide in an unknown emotion. His chin trembled, his breathing harsh and erratic. No... He couldn't have...

"You can't." Ryou managed to stutter. "You h-hurt m-me so much... Y-You couldn't l-love me... y-you couldn't..." The soft, stammering voice died in his throat.

"Why not?" Bakura said simply, his arms snaking warmly around the lights waist, nuzzling his head into Ryou's hair. He loved Ryou's hair. So soft and silky and smelling of flowers... Usually, he hated the scent of flowers, it was so sweet, and full of life... Ugh. If he hated flowers, then why was the scent of Ryou's hair so sweet, so intoxicating? What the hell was wrong with him?

"B-Because..." Ryou stammered, inwardly relishing the sweet, soft feeling of Bakura's arms around him, his head resting in the crook of the yamis shoulder. "Y-You j-just can't..."

"Do you love me?" Bakura asked simply, his gaze focused on a point in the wall, determinedly looking away from the young light. "Do you?" He repeated a few seconds later, frowning at Ryou's silence.

"Yes." Ryou whispered, his hands tightening into fists. "Oh, God yes. Yes, yes yes..." He smiled, clenching his eyes tightly shut. "Yes..."

"Then why can't I love you?" Bakura said diplomatically, raising an eyebrow as he gazed at Ryou. The light was wordless, his chin trembling, eyes wide in shock. "That's what I thought."

"But.."

"Shut up. I'm trying to watch the television."

Ugh. how crap. -feels bad-

R&R? No? Dont blame ya...