-slinks in- Erm...My excuse?
I tried to update on the weekend, but couldn't. Just like the other thousands who tried. XD
I shut up now and let you read.
Disclaimer: I own nothing. MUAHHAH! NOTHIN I SAY!
"Malik, you ass, open up!" The Egyptian froze at the angry voice that filtered through the door. "I know you're in there, and I'm not afraid to break the door down!" Malik sighed, standing up off the couch as he wiped away the last remnants of saline water from his face, walking over to the door.
Bakura raised an eyebrow as a haggard-looking Malik with tearstains on his face opened the door, his amethyst gaze focused intensely on the ground. Wordlessly, the Egyptian held the door open for Bakura, closing it gently behind him.
"Geez, it's like the bloody Sahara in here." Bakura remarked, shedding his soaked leather coat. "That's the point, isn't it." Malik said nothing as he took a seat on the purple velvet sofa. "He's gone, isn't he." The demon said, crossing his arms. Malik was silent as he nodded his head.
"Are you going to talk to me?" Bakura frowned for a moment. "You look bloody upset-"
"Of course I'm bloody upset." Malik blurted, his voice trembling as fresh tears stung his eyes. "And if you think I'm upset, you should see Ryou. How could you do that to him?" Malik let out a long moan, his head in his hands. "I knew you were a sadist, but…" The blonde let out a long sigh.
"How… Upset was he?" Bakura looked thoughtful. Malik's eyes widened, his face contorting in rage.
"What… What the hell is wrong with you, Bakura!" Malik stood up, his eyes narrowed in anger. "You want to know how upset he is? How upset do you think he is? You took the one thing he ever cared about and crushed it in a million pieces! He's never going to get over it." Bakura smiled inwardly, but kept his outer shell stony and blank.
"Where is he now?" The spirit changed the topic, resting his chin on one hand in thought. Malik growled.
"Like I'm going to tell you." He spat angrily, his hands clenching and unclenching into fists. "You're not going to hurt him like that ever again. Do you think you're going to be allowed near him?"
"So he's at the runts then." Bakura remarked idly, slouching in the chair and picking at his fingernails. "Figured that much. He thinks he's going to be safe there." Malik narrowed his eyes at the demon, who tapped a finger on his chin in thought.
"Get out of here." Malik breathed, his voice dripping with pure venom. "Get. Out. Of. Here. Now." The blonde stared in hatred at Bakura, who merely rolled his eyes, before stretching, and heaving himself out of the plush sofa.
"I was on my way out anyways." The demon shrugged. "Don't flatter yourself if you thought I was going to continue to grace you with my prescience."
"Oh, shut up and leave." Malik snarled. "If you come anywhere near this house again, I'll-"
"You'll what?" Bakura smiled smugly, shrugging on his black leather coat. "I'm older, smarter, and more powerful than you, Malik." Without another word, the spirit left the apartment, slamming the door powerfully behind him.
Ryou sniffed, wiping at his raw eyes as he stood in front of the shop. Cautiously, the whitenette gazed up and down the street, terrified he would stumble across his demonic darkness. It was a few seconds before Ryou could work up the nerve to bang anxiously on the door, damp bangs hanging in his eyes.
"I-Is anyone home?" The light called anxiously, gazing upwards. The lights were out… "P-Please… You have to open up…" Ryou knocked weakly on the door, the shattered remnants of his heart sinking as he gazed into the dark, lifeless windows of Yugi's home. "You can't be gone…" He said weakly, leaning against the door.
"Did you hear something?" Yami frowned, looking up from his crossword. Sadly, the power was out, due to the heavy rain, and there was nothing left to do. He's drained the batteries from his video consoles, played Patience until he had no patience left, and even done the dishes. Now all that was left was the crossword in the daily newspaper. At least it was challenging his mental skills. "Yugi, I asked if you- oh, right." Yami sighed, making his way over to his host, taking the headphones out of one of the teens ears. "Aibou…"
"Argh!" Yugi jumped, the book in his hands flying. "Yami… Why did you do that?" He sighed, taking the other headphone out of his ear.
"There's somebody at the door." Yami said plaintively, pointing to said door. "Are you going to answer it?"
"And why can't you answer it?" Yugi grumbled, standing up and walking towards the door, "I worry about you."
Ryou gasped at the door was almost opened, and stumbled, almost falling, but managed to regain his balance, his chin trembling. Yugi's eyes widened to an impossible size, a hand raised to his mouth as his violet orbs gave a quick sweep of Ryou's frame.
"B-Bakura, what happened?" He whispered to the teen shivering on his doorstep, swathed in a dripping coat that was at lest two sizes too big for him. "Are you- Oh geeze, come in." Ryou nodded wordlessly, his vacant eyes locked on the ground at his feet. The tears were gone, and all the whitenette had was a hollow, empty feeling inside, like he was numb. He barely acknowledged Yugi gently taking off his jacket, guiding him to the couch. Yami's voice seemed so distant, so far away, and even though he was soaking wet, Ryou didn't feel cold.
"Please say something." Yugi whispered gently, struggling to look Ryou in the eyes. "Please… You have to tell us what happened." The light closed his eyes momentarily, swallowing deeply.
"I-I…" Ryou stammered, trailing off as he stared down at his hands Where did he begin? "I-It's…" Letting out a long breath, the light began to explain, his vacant brown gaze locked securely on his trembling pale fingers.
"Oh…. Oh Bakura, this is my entire fault…"
"N-No it's not…"
"Yes it is. I should have told Yami, or at least given you better advice."
"Yugi, stop blaming yourself!" Ryou exclaimed his voice hoarse, and tears he didn't know he had left staining his ivory cheeks. "It's not anyone's fault."
"I'm going to kill him." Yami muttered, perched on the arm of a sofa, his arms crossed and a deep scowl on his face. "I'm going to kill that bastard. Really."
"N-No!" Ryou exclaimed, wiping hastily at his red-rimmed eyes. "P-Please don't hurt him. I-I know he probably deserves it, but please." He whispered, his hands clasped tightly in his lap as he stared at the floor.
"But look at what he did!" Yami raged. "What he did is…" Words failed him. "It just makes me sick, the way he treats you." He finished contemptuously, his smouldering glare fixed at the window, rain still pouring out of angry black thunderclouds. Ryou sighed.
"I…" The whitenette let out a long breath, his face in his hands. "Oh, I don't know anymore. I don't want him gone, but…" Ryou bit his lip. "I should go."
"What- No!" Yugi stood up, eyes wide in shock. "B-Bakura you can't!" Yami was staring at Ryou intently, crimson eyes shrewd and calculating.
"I-I don't want you to get hurt." Ryou said softly, resting his forehead on clasped hands. "Y-You have to understand, Yugi."
"No. Way." Yugi stated vehemently. "He'll just hurt you again, Bakura, you have to understand that."
"And what?" Ryou lifted his head from his hands, a strange expression in his face. "Yugi… He's been abusing me for years. Ask Malik. I can take it, I can." The light swallowed. "I-I don't want to cause any trouble…"
"Bakura, I don't mean to sound rude, but shut the hell up right now. You're not going anywhere and the sooner you realize that, the better." Yugi sighed. "I'm sorry, but it's true. I really don't want you to get hurt again." Ryou sighed, running his fingers through his hair, flicking away the rain-water off his fingers.
"But…" Ryou was near tears. "I… Oh, this is so messed up." He whispered, fresh tears stinging the back of his eyes. "Why was I stupid enough to trust him?" He moaned, leaning back into the couch and staring at the ceiling. "I'm such an idiot."
"Oh, Bakura, don't say that." Yugi said in his soft, gentle tone. "Please." Ryou sighed, pressing his lips together tightly.
"Knock knock." Bakura sneered, banding on the glass door, his head poking into the house. Yugi screamed in shock, Ryou gasped, and Yami stood up abruptly, eyes narrowed and hands clenched into fists, out for blood.
"Who the hell do you think you are." Yami spat angrily, glaring at Bakura as he entered the room, looking totally cool and nonchalant, hands in his pockets.
"I'm just here to collect something of mine." The demon said as innocently as he could. Yami growled, his teeth gritted together.
"You son of a bitch." Yami snarled. "Bakura is not a piece of your property." He was amazed at the audacity of the demon, and he wanted nothing more than to rip the sadist's soul from his body and curse it eternally.
"Yes he is." Bakura smiled, his eyes narrowing to a chilling glare momentarily. "I own everything about him. Now, please step aside so I can claim my property, or someone will get hurt." He snarled, no trace of humor left in his voice.
"You wouldn't dare come near either of them." Yami spat, anger written all over his face. "Leave. Now." Bakura raised an eyebrow, taking a step towards Yami, a strange, twisted smile on his face. The maroon-eyed spirit narrowed his eyes, unsure for a moment. Ryou stood frozen, eyes wide in fear at the demon, his breath harsh and unsteady in his throat.
"You're not taking Bakura anywhere." Yami growled, struggling to keep his fists at his side. "Leave us."
"No." Bakura smirked, and before Yami had a chance to react, he pushed past the ancient spirit, who let out a sharp cry as he fell against the wall. As he righted himself, Yami heard a scream. He turned around sharply, eyes widening and a shocked gasp tumbling from his lips.
"Don't even think about it." Yami growled. Bakura's smile widened. One arm was looped tightly around Yugi's waist, pinning his arms to his sides, and his right appendage held the knife, which was pressed against the teens windpipe.
"You know your greatest downfall?" the demon smirked as he began walking towards the door, the knife still pressed menacingly against Yugi's throat. "You fight fair. Which is all well and good at times, but when you're up against me, if you fight fair, you lose." Ryou was pressed against the wall furthest away from Bakura, his chin trembling, eyes filling with tears. "You're going to let my host and I go free, you're not going to follow us, and you're not going to bother us like this again. Failure to comply brings disastrous consequences, I can assure you." Yugi whimpered.
"Okay." Yami didn't even have to think about it for a second. "Let Yugi go, and I'll let you and Bakura walk free." Ryou bit his lip to hold back a sob.
Bakura smiled.
"What the hell is wrong with you?" Bakura raged as he slammed the apartment door behind him. Ryou whimpered, eyes lowered to the ground as he began to head off to his room. "I asked you a fucking question." The light cried out as Bakura hit him hard across the face. "Why did you go over there. You know you're not allowed without permission." Ryou swallowed a sob, a hand over his cheek.
"I-I was scared." The smaller of the pair whispered, eyes tightly shut. "I'm very sorry yami-sama. I won't go over there again…" Bakura smiled, one hand lifting Ryou's chin so he could look him in the eye.
"Good boy." The demon smiled, giving Ryou a mocking pat on the head. "Somebody's learning." The light said nothing, still upset and heartbroken after what had happened over the afternoon. As Bakura sauntered casually into the living room to watch the late-night horror movie on T.V, Ryou sank to his knees, his head in his hands. He couldn't start crying again, he was stronger than that, he wasn't going to cry again…
Ryou let out a long sigh, leaning against the wall and drawing his knees against his chest, leaning his chin on his kneecaps morosely. Rain from his white bangs kept dripping in his eyes, and he brushed the strands out of his face, raising his gaze to the ceiling. Although it was quite late, Ryou didn't feel all that tired. He didn't really feel anything. It was like there was nothing but a big hole where his heart used to be.
"Hey!" Bakura called from the living room. "Get over here!" Ryou was silent for a moment, before staggering to a stand, leaning heavily on the kitchen counter.
"Y-Yes, yami-sama?" The light called meekly, trying to shake some feeling into his numb legs.
"While you're up, give me a beer." Bakura grumbled, slouched into the couch. Ryou obeyed, stumbling to the fridge and extracting the beverage. The demon grunted as Ryou set it down on the coffee table, and preceded to leave the room. "Stay." The spirit warned, lifting the glass bottle to his lips. Ryou nodded, treading anxiously to the couch. "Sit." The light gently sat down on the floor, leaning against the couch. Bakura smiled, and his long bony fingers gently ruffled Ryou's long white locks. "Good boy." I wish you wouldn't treat me like a dog. Ryou sighed, leaning his head on the seat of the sofa. He drew his knees to his chest, resting his hands on his kneecaps as he stared at the ground.
"Why did you do this?" The words tumbled from his lips before he had a chance to stop them. Bakura's gentle yet threatening pats stopped for a moment, and Ryou held his breath, eyes screwed tightly shut in anticipation of an angry attack. Instead, all Ryou felt was the gentle tug of Bakura winding a lock of his hair lazily around one finger.
"Why did I do it?" Bakura took another sip of his beer. "Hm. I suppose I… No. I'll tell you later." He concluded, combing his fingers through fluffy silver locks, despite the wincing of the light. "Now don't you worry your pretty little head about it." The demon smiled. "All will be revealed when the time is right."
Ryou said nothing.
"Mmmm" The teenager moaned slightly, rubbing sleepily at his eyes. The last thing he could remember, he was sitting in front of the T.V, not watching it, Bakura still running his fingers through his hair and occasionally ordering Ryou to get up and fetch him another drink. He must have fallen asleep…
Ryou yawned, pulling himself into a sitting position. Bakura's fingers were still entwined in his long hair, so after a moment of wrestling, he yanked them free, frowning at the demon, who lay sprawled out on the couch, snoring slightly. The light wrinkled his nose at the tang of beer that hovered around the demon, and bit his lip, heart jolting in fear. He had to leave. Bakura on a regular day was dangerous, Bakura in a bad mood was deadly, and a drunk Bakura in a bad mood was petrifying. He had to go, and fast. Casting an eye to the clock, Ryou winced. Half an hour until school started. He'd have to run. Pulling himself into a standing position, Ryou gazed down silently at the sleeping demon, a strange feeling welling up in his chest. The light shook his head, before running to his room to change into a fresh uniform. Was he still in love with Bakura, even after all he had been through? Was that it? Was that why he didn't actually feel angry about what Bakura did, just upset and heartbroken? Ryou bit his lip, rubbing wearily at his eyes and struggling to stretch out the stiffness in his body.
School. Ugh. He had to be cautious to stay away from Yugi and his band today, or else he would be in real trouble with Bakura. And although he wasn't afraid, he hated getting hurt at his hands, even if he did bring it upon himself a lot. But what was the point in fighting anymore? What was even the point of living? If it wasn't for the friendship of Malik and the caring of Yugi, Ryou would have very well probably killed himself last night. They were the three people he would give his life for. Yugi, Malik, and his darkness. Letting out a long sigh, Ryou left his small bedroom, closing the door silently in his wake. Without looking towards the yami, he grabbed his school bag off the table, and gently departed the small apartment, sure to close the door behind him.
Ugh... Hate it. Hate hate hate.
R&R anyways?