2. Why it's Nice to Meet You

TWO YEARS AGO

Ryou was slowly walking down the street on a cold winter day. He had his book bag slung over his shoulder while looking in the shop windows. They were filled with the happy faces of children lit up by the white, crimson and green Christmas lights that filled the glass. Ryou grinned to his self and continued on his way. No, Ryou wasn't on his way home from school...in fact Ryou wasn't even on his way home. It was a quest to meet his new 'guardian'. You see, he was in an orphanage that only held kids that had no families. He was one of those kids.

Flashback

"Ryou! Come look out the window! It's snowing!"

Ryou smiles and rushes over to meet his best and only friend, Andrew. The other kids just didn't understand him. They've all seen snow before but not this much. Everyone giggles happily then chases each others through the room but they stop in their tracks when they notice a stranger standing at the top of the three steps in the doorway. It was always like this when someone walked in. It wasn't that no one liked it there, everyone just wants something new to happen to them...and maybe even better food may come with it. The man who stood there walks over the desk and makes a request. They could all tell because of the requesting tone in his voice.

"Ah, yes sir I think we have exactly what you're looking for."

Our care taker stands up to look over the kids. Ryou thinks he could've been the only one who didn't want to leave. But that's when his name was called. Ryou blinks in surprise and run up to the desk.

"Yes ma'am?" he asks.

She leads the guy and him into the office apart from the play room. They begin to talk about the paperwork and how he would be taken care of. He can tell that she wasn't listening to what he said but he was.

"Well my friend went through a rough time in work and such. I thought I could help him by giving him someone to comfort him and help him out around the house."

She nods and writes down in her little black book that held the kids records.

After jotting down a few things she says, "Well I think he's the one you want. He has a cute face, very quiet, young..." Then slowing down she looks at him and asks, "How old are you Ryou?"

Ryou answers timidly, "sixteen."

The man nods, "yes he'll do well. I'll be back Monday for him."

'Monday, 2 days until then,' Ryou thinks silently.

Then filling out the necessary paperwork they all walk out of the room and before he leaves the man kneels down to his level. Ryou gasps when he runs his finger along his jaw line.

"Don't worry Ryou. I'll be back."

Then he stands but Ryou grabs his sleeve.

Ryou asks in a low whisper, "What's your name?"

He smiles and answers, "You can call me Malik."

The young teen nods and watches him walk out into the blowing snowstorm.

End

"Ryou?" a voice called out.

Ryou jumped out of his dream and came face to face with Malik.

"Yes sir?" he asked politely.

As if thinking of what to say he blurted out, "well we're almost there and Bakura doesn't know you're coming home with me. In fact he doesn't know about you at all."

The teen blinked his green eyes in surprise, "Umm... who's Bakura?"

Malik mentally slapped himself, "Sorry...it's the first time I've ever done something like this. Bakura is your new guardian."

Ryou swallowed as a nervous feeling reacted throughout his body. He hadn't felt nervous at all until now. Malik stood and led him up toward the entrance to the park.

"He lives in that house at the end. The only thing I feel that I can do to help him is to give him a friend."

The boy blushed at his last comment, "what do you mean as in friend?"

Malik stuttered but before he could answer they were already at the front door. "Let me go in first. He shouldn't be home yet. I think he's working late tonight."

He nodded and stood outside obediently.

Looking out at the park and the moonlight made the snow glisten with small shines here and there. The boy's hair had the same glittery refection making it blend in with the night. That's when Ryou heard a noise from behind. He spun around and came face to face with Malik. His sudden appearance caused him to jump backwards. Malik laughed and pushed the door open wider so he could step in. The entrance was huge! The white walls were clean and laden with abundant pictures. Small in tables endured the honor of small vases and/or decorations of many origins.

Malik closed the door and smirked at his work.

"Don't get the wrong impression. Bakura isn't the how do you say...most carefree person in the world. He takes everything seriously but he's not to square. He'll have a sense of humor when he wants to. Just don't push his buttons..."

Ryou looks at him and nodded sadly while thinking, 'great we're exact opposites; this won't end well.'

Malik disappeared for a second then re-appeared holding what looked like a pair of clothes. "Here. I thought I'd grab you some new clothes for agreeing to come with me. I hope you like them," Malik exclaimed handing him a pair of blue denim jeans and a T-shirt to match them.

The boy took them with smile.

"Thanks. Do you mind if I try them on?"

He nodded and pointed him around the house to the bathroom and a few other rooms and closets. He headed into the closest bathroom and changed into the new attire. As the teen examined his self in the mirror a pair of lights pulled in the driveway. Ryou immediately knew who it was so he exited the room and joined Malik in the entrance hall. He eyed Ryou's nice body up and down and nodded in approval. But his comments didn't last long when the knob begins to rattle and they stood eagerly awaiting Ry's new 'owner.'

Malik steps forward to greet his friend, "Hey Bakura! How was your trip?"

Bakura grunts a reply and shoved by Malik towards the kitchen. He stopped short of the door when he spied Ryou standing there at the bottom of the staircase.

"So Malik did your bitch of a sister finally come visit you?" Bakura laughed as he continued walking through the kitchen door.

Angry, Malik stomped after Bakura, "He looks nothing like my sister! Besides, my sister died in a fire when I was 10. Thanks for reminding me!"

Both guys apologize to each other for their behavior and Malik introduced 'the boy'.

"This is Ryou. He came from an orphanage."

"So? Why is he here?" Bakura asked taking a bite of his apple.

Ryou looked down as if hurt by his comment but looked up at Malik's tone.

"Look Bakura, I brought him here to be a companion; someone who will stay here and help you." He stared coldly with his lavender eyes. Bakura leaned up against his island counter and crossed his arms, "well why the hell is he here?"

"I'm here because I...I wanted out of that orphanage. Besides, I've have no one else..." the young boy answered stepping forward timidly. Malik blinked in surprise at how he stepped up to confront him.

"Alright we can try this. Thanks Malik, I'll be sure call if I have any problems," Bakura admitted giving in. "The boy can stay here for now."

Ryou stepped back in slight fear when he caught a glint of malice in Bakura's brown eyes.

Malik, who didn't seem to catch it, turned back to face him, "Well if that's all you two need then I'll be on his way." Malik backtracked to the door and as he touched the handle Ryou grabbed his coat.

"Malik! Please don't leave him here alone with that guy!"

"What? Calm down Ryou, it'll be alright. You have to give him a chance."

Pulling away slowly he bobbed and said, "I guess so...bye Malik," as the blonde stepped out the door.

The words, "So can you cook?" were heard from behind him.

Ryou thought back to his Home Etc. Class and nodded, "Yes sir. I can cook."

"So, try your skills here," he demanded showing him where everything was located.

Looking through the large variety of food the white-haired teen asked, "What are you in the mood for?"

"Anything. I'll be upstairs." With that Bakura walked up the stairs.

After exploring through the cabinets, Ryou grabbed the box of spaghetti noodles, tomato paste, and sauce from the cupboard. The counter was a black and white marble design with small gold paint splotches mixed in. He set the ingredients on the counter and walked to the freezer to grab the hamburger. Then he tossed it in the microwave to defrost.

Bakura plops onto his bed and sighed.

"Damn it's hot in this house!"

He sat up and grabbed the hem of his shirt. Slowly pulling it off his body he threw it over into the corner of the room. He had on a white undershirt that had been stretched out from all of its uses. The extra long holes for the arms pulled down past his stomach. Revealing the hot body he had. The nice pack with visible hard taunt muscles arched over his abs. Bakura was proud of them. He fell back and thought about what Malik did.

'Why would he surprise him with this boy? Out of the blue he shows up and gives this kid to me. Perhaps he can be a maid of some sort. He works in exchange for food, shelter...yea. That sounds fine. He'll give me whatever I desire or I'll throw him out...food, drinks, entertainment.' He said the last part incredibly slow as if thinking of what kind of 'fun' he liked. After he agreed to his plan, Bakura closed his eyes and slipped into a light sleep.

"Bakura sir, the food is done," Ryou announced knocking lightly on his door.

He jumped out of his sleep and looks at the clock.

"7:38? Fuck, alright. I'll be down in a few minutes."

The boy took his leave of the upstairs and headed downstairs. As Bakura entered the kitchen he found a plate of steaming spaghetti at his spot.

"Looks good...thanks."

He smiled a slight bit and raked his fork through the noodles. Before Bakura took a bite he told the kid his offer.

"Is that ok with you?"

With out any type of emotion Ryou nodded.

Kura growled a slight bit and said, "When I ask you something I expect an answer."

"Yes Bakura, that sounds fine," Ryou replied quickly.

"Good. Now when you finish your food I'll show you to your room and around the house. That is if Malik hasn't already done so."

Ryou shook his head, "No sir he did not."

Both continued to eat in silence.

'Say something to him Bakura! I'm sure this change was also hard on him.' Bakura told himself.

The awkward silence was louder than anything Bakura had ever witnessed. He was too busy thinking and staring at Ryou that he had wolfed his entire meal, embarrassingly fast. But Bakura wasn't much paying mind to that. But before he said anything to him, Ryou stood and asked, "Are you done? If you are I'll go and clean the dishes."

He blinked and looked at his empty plate. "Umm...yeah, I'm done."

Taking his plate, Ryou headed over to the sink. He turned on the hot water and mixed it with some dish soap.

"You're sure you know what you're doing right?" Bakura shouted from the kitchen. After he shouted, he wondered if he had only said it to say something to break the strange stillness in his mind.

"Yes sir. I know what I'm doing," the boy answered turning off the water.

That's when the older man entered the kitchen; again the wicked gleam is in his eyes. Grabbing his shoulders he pulled him backwards.

"Hey! What are--" But Ryou's complaints are cut short when he hit the island in the middle of the kitchen.

"You know what? The depressed act you've had since you've got here is beginning to bother me."

"What are you talking about?" Ry asked trying to get out of his guardian's tight grip. But all went quiet when Bakura's hand struck his face.

To stunned to react Ryou looks up to him in fear and shock. Bakura's look was that of enjoyment. It seemed like it is hard for him to control himself to not to strike him again. "Finish these dishes and I'll show you to your room," he said spinning around and walking out of the kitchen.

Ryou looked the opposite way of Bakura's exit. Involuntary tears surfaced and stung the boy's incredible green and gold eyes. His cheek's pain began to numb over from the heat of the attack. He couldn't tell if he was embarrassed from the tears or if Bakura had hit him that hard. Either way the event occurred so fast that Ry's mind couldn't remember it clearly. It seemed like one of those dreams that you remember so vividly, but only a few moments later, you can't recall anything.

This is how the beatings began. On the very first day, I was slapped and the assaults grew from there. No one knew about what Bakura was doing to me. He had no phones, the door was always locked. The only one key was with him at all times. Malik had to go out on a business trip out of town, leaving me alone with my worst and only enemy.