4. Peaceful Dining

"Bakura? Are you home?" Ryou calls out quietly when he enters the house. He was terrified of the few times Kura had been home to greet him. The teen shudders at the mere thoughts.

With no clue on what would happen tonight he heads straight to his room and changes from his clean uniform into what seems like a clean outfit. He lies back on his bed that reeks of what happens in the red room. With closed eyes Ry thinks of the last time his master was home.

Flashback

A battered Ryou leaned up against the wall and watched carefully as the dark, angered figure made its way out of his room. The door slammed leaving him stranded alone in his dark room. A lone tear forced its way out of his tired, bruised eye. Today wasn't going well at all. Not long after Ryou had gotten upstairs, he had managed to change half way. Pulling the jacket off gently it left to show the white tank top beneath it. With a relieved sigh, he released the belt and dropped the navy slacks from his waist. A pair of gray checkered boxers remained. He was suddenly shoved forward. Ryou had no idea Bakura was even home.

Ryou hit the wall and stumbled backwards. Bakura intended the boy to back into him, because he walked right behind the stumbling teen. He grabbed his shoulder and threw him sideways and onto the bed. Ryou slowly opened his eyes to find a knife running lightly on his cheekbone. Not only was there a blade, Bakura was straddled over the boxer covered hips. Ryou gasped in surprise and all Kura could do was laugh! He stuck the knife into the cloth of Ryou's tank top, and pulled down. The fabric tore along the blade revealing the boys pale chest. Satisfied, Bakura moved away allowing him to get up.

The violence wasn't paused for long; it began again when Bakura's foot connected harshly with his bare stomach. That's when Ryou somersaulted over the bed landing in an impossible position on the floor. Ryou felt his smirk set on his tortured body; the look that anyone would fear. Then Kura left the room.

He had only managed to crawl back into a corner. Ryou grunted in utter pain while holding back tears.

'Why am I crying? This is nothing compared to every other day.'

Ryou scolded to himself. 'Maybe he's planning another assault for tonight.'

"Bakura!" Ryou began to shout his attacker's name while slowly standing. Blood managed to settle on the walls and off his shirt. "Bakura! Why can't you just finish what you've started? You never leave me here in pain!"

He slowed his catcalls when he heard Kura stomping back up the stairs.

'If I could get him to knock me out, I wouldn't have to deal with this hurt.' But much to his dismay Bakura entered holding the same kitchen knife. 'Killing me would do much better, no more pain forever.'

That's not what he wanted though. Bakura flung the blade in the frightened teen's direction and just barely missed the beaten face.

"Quiet boy, I don't want to hurt you anymore. I have other plans," he snarled as he made his way out once more.

End

'That's what happened last week, but why?' Ryou shakes his head when he feels and hears his stomach growl. He stands up and walks past a pile of clean blankets.

"The laundry? I never did any wash…" Ryou smiles slightly to himself and continues walking. As he strolls, with a limp, down the white halls he notices a large streak of blood just outside the bathroom. Ryou sighs and peers into bathroom.

'I have to clean the…bathroom?' Ryou stares dumbstruck at the spotless washroom. "This is weird." Ryou mutters some more to himself then heads down the stairs.

He had picked up the poem before walking down here and he couldn't help but read it over an over again. The stomach rumbles again when Ryou looks through the cupboards. The pantry held small cans of soup and sauces, so Ryou figures he'll make tomato soup. The tummy rumbles eagerly as while the scents of the food fill the air.

He walks back to the table to eat his dinner. As Ryou reads the paper again he hears the front door open then close. Ryou swallows the last bit of his soup then places his dishes in the sink.

"Bakura, are you home?" Ryou calls out when he enters the entry hall. Even after all the beatings, Ry never hated his guardian. Usually on days where Ryou greeted Bakura, did he not get beaten. The young teen wondered if Kura enjoyed Ryou's company and beat him to cover up something on his mind.

After getting no answer the boy shrugs and checks the door. It is still locked just like Ryou had left it after coming home. He sighs and strides back into the kitchen to do the dishes.

The teen had always found doing the dishes as one of his favorite chores. It may be because Bakura leaves him alone and he has time to think. The hot sudsy water envelops his cold hands sensually. The rest of his body was comfortable in the soothing heat. He takes a grip on the hot water handle but before Ryou turns it, familiar arms snake their way around his torso.

"How was your day, Ryou?" Bakura asks rubbing his cheek against his.

Ryou stutters out his response, "I…I'm fine, Bakura."

"Hmm…" he moans.

His strong arms pull him into an embrace. Ryou pulls away to look at Kura's face. Bakura grins mischievously as he pulls him again into a hug.

'Oh my Ra…what's going on?' Ryou wonders puzzled.

Kura controls their bodies and pushes them against the island. His hard, muscular body is pressed alongside Ryou's trembling one. Kura's large hands hold Ryou's down. Bakura brushes his lips against the softest lips in the world. Kura couldn't believe how gentle and silky his lips were. That's when Ryou gasps. Bakura leans closer to his ear and laughs.

"Afraid now are we?" His teeth graze against the tender skin.

"N…n…no…I'm not af…afraid," Ryou states.

His lips meet Ryou's again but he completely kisses this time. Kura's warm tongue slides along Ryou's bottom lip, politely asking for entry. The boy's body goes stiff with shock. Not sure whether to obey him or not Ryou opens his mouth wide enough for the begging tongue. Tonguing the cavern left and right, Kura grins when Ryou moans a tiny bit. Brown eyes drill into the shimmering emerald ones. He releases the lips and trails down to the creamy neck. There he licks a few of the wounds. Sucking on them to break the scabs then lap at the running liquid. Ryou moans a bit more. Then suddenly Kura pulls away and stomps into the living room.

Ryou thinks over what exactly just happened. 'He…just kissed me! Not only my lips...but he also licked the blood off my cuts. What—why—did he do that?'

Forgetting about the dishes, Ry follows Kura into the living room. He plops next to him silently but his guardian doesn't even turn to look.

'He acts as if nothing happened. Maybe I should ask, but if I do then he may beat me worse then usual and I'll never get that again. I kind of…enjoyed it,' Ryou considers while looking out the corner of his eye. As Ryou goes to talk Kura speaks first.

"Ry, I'm hungry. What were you eating? It was good." Bakura looks at his partner with shining eyes. They didn't look mean or innocent but they seemed…sincere even kind. Bakura laughs at his 'joke' while facing the pale boy.

His face could have matched the falling snow at that moment. "Tomato soup, Bakura," Ryou chokes out, shaking.

He clicks off the TV, nodding he stands and says, "Well it was good. Do you mind making me a bowl?" He strides past him, walking tall, and all Ryou can do is nod his head.

"Well thank you darling, that was wonderful," Bakura complements, leaning back in his chair. He scratches his stomach lazily.

Ryou stares at the table while nodding blankly. His eyes seemed glazed over with sickness. Not a viral sickness, but like a stressed.

"Are you going to be okay?" he asks going back to all four legs. He leaned over the table to look ryou in the eyes.

Ryou's is face even paler now. He doesn't answer quickly but then look back into Kura's eyes.

"I think I'm going to be—" Before Ryou can finish his sentence, quick legs carry him to the bathroom where he throws up his watery supper.

Waking sometime later with his head resting on the cushioned toilet seat, Ryou looks over at the door that blocked a little bit of the loud music and the strong smell of alcohol. Ryou takes a deep breath and holds it. He swings open the door and the stench hits him like a brick wall. The odor of vodka is so heavy Ryou could've gotten drunk from it. The music playing wasn't bad, but it was loud, full blast loud. The boy's head hurt as if a baseball bat was taken to the rear of it. Quickly he ran down the carpeted stairs and found the music source. Instantly hitting the 'off' button Kura stopped in his stumbling dance moves.

"Aww, why you did turn off the music?" Bakura asks when he sees him standing there.

Ryou blinks and begin shouting tiredly, "Bakura! Why are you drunk and why is the music so loud?"

"I," he states proudly, "is not drunk! And the music as is peaceful as a water jumping off of the fish," he replies clumsily.

Ryou stares in disbelief at what he just said to him. Bakura walks over towards the boom box, obviously to turn it back on.

"No! No more music. How about we go to bed? Aren't you tired?" Ryou attempts to reason.

Without answering his simple yes or no question he reached for the knife on the counter. Ryou pulls back a small bit remembering all the wounds he had gotten from that knife before.

"You not think I'm going to use you on this, do you?"

Bakura asks running his tongue over the blade. Ryou refuses to answer and slowly backs away. The knife bearer snickers then places the knife back down on the counter.

"I wouldn't to able to hurt such a purdy thing like you. Don't you have school tomorrow? It's 1AM. I'm sorry I had the music up loud, I'll keep it off."

Ryou scratches a scab on his arm causing it bleed.

"We should clean that up, come on." Bakura takes his hand but Ryou pull away hastily.

"I'm fine. Just keep it down I'm going to bed." Ryou spins around and runs to the stairs.

"Good-night cutie!" Bakura calls staring intently on the boy's rear end followed by another swig from his bottle.

BEEP BEEP BEEP. The familiar, continuous noise of Ry's alarm slowly causes him to move around. Ryou goes through his usual routine; getting dressed, freshening up in the bathroom, and walking downstairs for breakfast. Ryou steps on the kitchen floor to take notice to over thirty beer cans and bottles. About another eight were shattered on the floor and counter.

"Just great," Ryou moans to himself.

The green-eyed teen reaches for his usual apple then his back pack. Slipping his shoes on Ry quickly rushes to the door. A groan from the living room stops him. Bakura rolls over onto the floor, completely incapacitated from his overdose of alcohol.

The paper that contains Ryou's failing poem is still lying on the table next to the couch, where Bakura lays lifeless.

'I wonder if he read it.' Ryou shakes the thought away when he remembers the state Kura was in last night. Taking the document Ryou races to the door. The door handle has a cool sensation in his warm hand. Turning it quietly, Ryou stops when he hears Bakura's moans from the other room. For a brief fleeting second Ryou wondered if he should skip school and stay with Bakura. Suddenly the grandfather clock struck 7. That's when he quickly runs out the door, and then closes it just as quickly.

"And that class is how you get the answer to the polynomials. Do you have any questions?" Mr. Powers' voice rings on dully. He scribbles some more numbers onto the board.

Cindy's hand shoots up in the air, "I do!"

Ry's attention is cut off at that point. He swings open his book to begin his assignment. On problem 14, he's mostly into it. Whiel working, he became oblivious to everything around him. 'This is a piece of cake! Now if I add 34 then divide by 7—' something hits him in the head.

His head shoots up to the person who threw it at me. Yami.

"Open it," he mouths.

Ryou looks back down to the small wad on his desk. Gently unfolding it the white-haired teen reads the words: 'Meet me at your locker after school. I want to ask you something.' When Ryou gazes up to question Yami, he unfortunately meets Mr. Powers looking at him.

"Do you mind?" he asks with his hand out.

Ryou shrugs and hands him the paper. The teacher's eyes trace slowly over the letters, obviously to make sure he didn't miss anything.

"So…Yami what do you want to ask him?"

Yami looks up smugly and says, "Hey Ryou, I was wondering if you would meet me at your locker."

Mr. Powers tosses the note into the garbage then grabs an office referral from his desk. "I want this within the next 3 minutes." The sheet of paper slides gracefully across Yami's wooden desk.

The class continues with their work until the bell rings.

Later that day, with his back to his locker, Ryou waits patiently for Yami to show up. "I'm beginning to regret staying. Bakura will kill me when I get back," Ryou mumbles under his breath.

"Then why did you wait? I thought you said—" Yami began but Ryou interrupts.

"I did say that. But I wanted to know what you needed to tell me."

"Well it's no more important than your safety. I'm worried about you Ry. You always come to school with some sort of wound and you never smile. Don't tell me you haven't heard the rumors around here."

"I'm not going to lie to you Yami, the truth is…well I'm abused by my guardian." Yami's red eyes show the reaction of what Ryou told him. "But listen, you can't ever say anything to anyone! You got it?" Ryou hisses as he runs out the door not leaving Yami enough time to answer

The tri-color haired teen sighs as his boyfriend runs out of the school. 'Don't worry Ry…I'll get you some help. I won't let him hurt you anymore. I promise.'

Me: Gasp...Now what could possibly be going on in Yami's head? Well, you'll just have to wait and see. Thanks for readin'! Updates soon!