Author Note: This chapter is pretty violent, the reason for the M rating. Don't like bloody scenes? Skip over this chapter

YOU HAVE BEEN WARNED!

Disclaimer: I do not own Yuigoh... Sadly

Chapter 8: the trouble trio

When I woke up I felt happy, content, till I remembered my mother. Oh great, I thought, how many burns does throwing a knife add up to? A lot that's for sure, I thought sighing. "There is always the shadow realm," Yami commented. Only after Cassie adopt me, I thought back. "You and Seto made out last night?" Yami asked. You're going through my head again, I countered. "Okay yes, but still, you didn't mention that last night," Yami pointed out. In front of my dad, yeah, NO, I told her getting dressed. I breathed a sigh of relief, the scars would be covered again. "That's not a good thing," Yami grumbled but I ignored the comment. Then I rushed downstairs, still floating on cloud nine.

"MOM?!" I said when I saw Cassie was in our living room of the small house.

"You haven't called me that in a while," my mother grunted and I glared at her. I almost wanted to point out I was talking to Cassie but Cassie gave me look as if to say 'don't do it'. I motioned to mother but she just shook her head. Defeated I decided just to go get my breakfast.

"Why is Cassie here?" Yami asked me. I don't know why mom is here, but I will find out, I thought back to her. "Mom? That's new," Yami commented. I sent her what happened last night through the mind-link. "Ahhhh, I see, she wants to adopt you. How sweet," she said. Oh shut it, I thought back to her. Sometime Yami could be such a jerk, still, she was my best friend.

"So, Cassie, what brings you here so early?" I asked as I poured me some cereal.

"To make sure YOU, little miss, don't throw anymore knives at me," my mother yelled at me.

"Was that a challenge?" I asked her eyes narrowing. Was she really going to bring that up when I was in the KITCHEN and the kitchen is where I got the KNIVES?

"Okay you two calm down," Cassie said holding her hands up for me and my mother. My mother and I just glared at each other. Cassie sighed to herself, "This is going to be harder than I thought."

"She's the one who challenged me," I muttered.

"Ryou," she said in her don't-start-with-that tone.

"YOU'RE THE ONE WHO THREW THE KNIFE IN THE FIRST PLACE!" my mother yelled at me. My temper broke with those words.

"Bakura-kun calm down," Yami said but it was too late, I was seeing red.

"YOU ARE THE ONE WHO ABUSES ME! I WAKE UP WONDERING IF TODAY WILL BE A BEATING OR A BURN OR IF I WILL HAVE A BOTTLE THROWN AT ME!" I yelled at her and with every word took a step forward. "I FIGHT BACK ONCE AND YOU HAVE TO GET CASSIE TO PROTECT YOU?! WELL LET'S SEE IF SHE DOES A GOOD JOB!" I yelled and grabbed a steak knife.

"BAKURA-KUN PUT THAT DOWN!" Yami yelled but I pushed her out. This was my fight, not her's.

"Ryou put that down," Cassie said calmly but her eyes danced with fear. Fear that she couldn't stop me. For she had never seen me this mad. Normally I was about as dangerous as a fluffy bunny, but not today.

"Ryou now there is no need for that," my mother said. If Cassie was scared my mother was terrified. Then I saw the ring glow and I knew Yami was trying to take over. She knew I was blood thirsty and had no intention to stop until my mother's blood was spilled. No, I yelled at her through the mind-link but it was too late, she had taken over.

"Okay," Yami said calmly and put down the knife. "I think I should remove myself before this gets worse," Yami said and then grabbed my backpack and left.

"NO!" I screamed from inside my mind room. "GOD NO! SHE NEEDS TO PAY!" I yelled and started to stomp around the dull room. Calm down, I'm not letting you out till you calm down, Yami thought to me. I took a couple breathes to calm down, I couldn't help that that woman made me crazed! You should really think about moving in with Seto, Yami offered an idea. "I should, think he'd let me?" I asked her. If he knows what she does and is making you do, yes, Yami told me. No I am giving you control since you are on the bus, Yami said through the mind-link. Then I went from being in my dark mind room to sitting on seat on my bus. Thanks, I though to Yami.

"Don't mention it, I don't want to go to jail," Yami said laughing. Though we both know I didn't care if we did or didn't back there. I think I'm going to ask Yugi if I could spend the night tonight, I told Yami. "Good idea," Yami said.

I looked out the window and saw Japan pass by. Domino was so pretty, I really need to get out more. I mean I hadn't seen anything. What had I heard from some girl? There was a place called Grandberry mall? I think so, that sounds cool. Apparently they even have movies in English as well as Japanese. Maybe Yugi and some of her friends could show me it, as like an outing. "You should bring it up today at lunch," Yami said agreeing with the idea. This made me excited, an outing with friends! FUN! I heard Yami chuckle at my excitement. "Glad to see you feel better," Yami said and you could almost hear her smile in her words. As long as I'm away from the witch women, I thought to her. She laughed at this too.

"Hey albino," some kid said. I turned around and saw some overweight kid with red hair and freckles staring at me.

"It's Bakura," I corrected the kids and turned back around. I heard a couple kids do that whole ooooo think they do. The first kid let out an angry huff.

"It's whatever I say it is, fluffy," the kid said making his friends laugh. Fluffy that brought back memories. No, I scolded myself, don't think of that, I didn't have time for flashbacks now.

"Why you really don't listen do you? The last time I checked I waasnt related to you, AT ALL! So just go pick on someone else," I said rolling my eyes and looking out the window again.

"Hand coming from left, grab it, I wanna see his reaction," Yami warned me snickering. Thanks, I thought back and whipped around grabbing the bullies fist. His expression was priceless and I couldn't help but smile.

"But… but... that's impossible… there is no way you could have known," the bully stuttered. I let go and gave him a slight push, pushing him back into the seat across from me.

"I don't have time for this," I said sounding bored.

"It seems the bunny need to be taught to respect her superiors," the bully said regaining his cool.

"I do hope you don't mean yourself," I said still bored with this whole thing. If someone was going to bully me, at least do it right! The bully looked angered, he looked more like a fat cherry though to me.

"That's it, bunny, you've done it now," he said huffing.

"Oh I'm so scared," I said sarcastically and rolling my eyes. Didn't this guy know my past? He doesn't even have the right to call himself a bully, more like just a moron.

"This guy is HALARIOUSLY stupid," Yami said who was cracking up in her mind room. Yea I know, I thought back. Though I was more bored than amused like her.

"You should be," the guy said and I just rolled my eyes, he was so stupid.

"He's gonna throw another punch, this time catch it without looking!" Yami suggested obviously having fun with this kid. Okay, I told her through the mind-link. When the punch came I was ready. Just like Yami said, I caught it without looking. Then I looked over my shoulder and sighed.

"You're persistent, I'll give you that," I said without any emotion as I let go and pushed back like before.

"HOW ARENT YOU SCARED?" the bully yelled at me.

"Temper tantrum much?" Yami said chuckling at the childish behavior of the bully.

"Listen I have dealt with a million times worse than you. So please, do yourself a favor and pick on someone else before you embarrass yourself," I said to him. The bully finally gave up on me and found a new target. This kids was responding the way he wanted, unlike me.

"How are they scared?" asked Yami. No idea, I thought back to her as we arrived at school. The bully didn't bother me for the rest of the day. Well he wouldn't have if I had lasted the rest of the day.

Smiling I went inside the building to look for my friends. I found Yugi almost instantly. She was easy to find after all, she was shorter than all the other students. Add that to the hair and she was an easy find. Then I noticed she was getting picked on by three older males, or at least I think they were older… "Hey back off," I told them walking up to Yugi and them. Yugi looked up at me with big thankful purples eyes. "Pick on someone your own size for once," I said glaring them as I stepped between them and my friend.

"Like you Fluffy?" one of them asked eyeing me hungrily. I threw my hands up in the air in frustration, the bullies looked confused.

"What's with people and calling me fluffy today, like seriously," I said shaking my head. The bullies looked at each other than shrugged my comment off.

"Move out of the way, fluffy, our fight isn't with you," the second bully said and tried to get passed me. That didn't stop Yami this morning so why should it stop me now?

"It is now," I said firmly and pushed him away from Yugi and I. neither of them would get passed me. For a moment I wished I had brought my pocket knife, which would make this easier. The bullies looked angered and Yugi grabbed my arm as if to tell me not to anger them so much. Gently I shook her off, she wasn't alone in this fight now, she had me. The bullies eyes then got wide and they left.

"Why did they run?" Yugi wondered aloud as I helped her up.

"Because you're not alone," someone said behind us. Yugi and I spun around to look at the owner of the voice. When we turned around we couldn't help but bust put into a grin, the people were Tristand and Joey.

"Guess they are more scared of you than they like to let on," Yugi said laughing. I grinned at her and she slightly blushed and pushed me slightly. This push caused me to laugh but not lose my balance. Then I noticed our group was almost complete except for one person.

"Where is Tea?" I asked the two of them. The duo just shrugged and we turned to Yugi, who seemed closer to Tea then the rest of us.

"She texted me this morning, she said her bus will be late so go one without her," Yugi said making the rest of us laugh. How did we know she would know?

"Ummm excuse me?" a small voice came. We all spun around to see who was trying to get ahold of me. The owner wasn't alone, there were three girls. The three girls were just a bit taller than Yugi, which made Yugi pout when she noticed this. Our group chuckled at the pouting Yugi.

"What do you need?" I asked the three small girls.

The first one who talked spoke again, "We wanted to talk to you," she said. she seemed to be the leader of the other two girls who just nodded. Could they talk at all, I wondered.

"Umm, okay," I said unsure of the reason. Then Tristan grabbed my arm and turned me around; he looked worried.

"Are you sure Bakura, the bell is about to ring," he said. Tristan was obsessed with being on time.

"It won't take long," the girl said challenging Tristan to keep her from talking to me. why did this chick want to talk to me so badly anyway? That alone was eating me up.

"Me careful I don't trust them," Yami said. They aren't that much taller than Yugi, what is the worst they could do, I asked her. "Never underestimate anyone Bakura-kun," was all Yami responded with. What was with every one?

"I'll be fine Tristan. Besides if I'm not back by lunch look for me, I'm sure I cant get myself in that much trouble," I said waving him off. "I'll meet up with you guys later, tell Tea I said good morning," I told them before letting the three girls lead me away.
"Am I the only one who has a bad feeling about this?" was all I heard as I walked away, the person who said it sounded like Joey. Of all people I would have thought Joey would have seen through these girl's tough girl routine. I shook my head, why was my group so worried? Did I miss something?

The three girl's lead me behind the school which I found strange. "Go now, I don't like this," Yami said sounding worried for me. Why is everyone like this! I will prove that they are nothing but cute little girls, I thought to Yami as I looked them over.
"So what did you want to talk to me about?" I asked them resisting the urge to get on my knees so I was at their level.

"Are you or are you not dating Seto Kaiba?" the girl asked. How had they found out? The other two girl's looked at me in all seriousness, which made them look about as serious as kittens.

"I am," I said. Why did they want to know? The first girl crossed her arms, obviously not happy about this.

"Well break up with him," the girl said glaring at me. Excuse her?

"No," I said glaring at her as well.

"Then you leave me no chose. Beat her down girls," the first girl said and the other two girls broke out in a grin. What did she say?

"RUN BAKURA-KUN!" Yami yelled just before one of the girls ripped off the ring.

"My ring!" I yelled and while I was shocked the other girl kicked me in just the right spot. Down I fell and the torment didn't stop there. The blows continued, I tried my hardest to hide my ribs and face but it was no use, the girls were determined. They were blood thirsty, just as I had been earlier that morning. Somehow on of the girls got her foot between my arms and hit me in the ribs. CRACK! The sound of my rib cracking rang out. Then I started to cough and blood came out. I grimaced at the sight of my own blood on the pavement.

"You're pathetic, I hope this makes Seto see that," the main girl said. The other two girls stopped there blows and I tried to get up. Everything hurt, I had many bruises, a cracked or broke rib- I wasn't sure yet which –but I would get up. It was getting harder and harder to breathe with every passing second. My vision was starting to swim, what was going on? Then it hit me, I had broken my rib. Had it punctured my lungs? "Strike her down," the girl said. I wasn't prepared to be kicked again. The kick landed right in my rib, breaking it further. "You can't get up you useless mutt! Seto will fall for one of us not you!" She screeched.

"Seto. Will. Never. Fall. For. You," I breathed out. Breathing was hard, talking was nearly impossible. "Any. Of. You," I finished trying to stay awake. Sleeping sounded so good right now, but sleeping could lead to dying. I had to live, for Amane.
"KILL HER!" the girl roared. My eyes went wide with fear as the two girls advanced on me. No no no no NO, I screamed in my mind as their blows showered my body. Punches, kicks, bites, you name it they did it. Soon I was bleeding from multiple bight wounds, I was sure that half, if not all, my ribs were broke, my legs was numb and bleeding, not to mention I was coughing up blood. "Leave her to die alone," the leader girl said. Then she bent down and picked up my ring, "trophy prize," she said and then walked off, the other two girls in toe.

"My ring," I said my voice barely a whisper. Just barely saying that sent me into a fit of coughing and the ground became even bloodier. I tried to sit up, move, something, but when I did I cried out in pain. Soon tears of pain rolled down my face, I was going to die. Someone had finally broken me.

"No you are not going to die, I refuse to let you," said a shimmery person. Amane, I wondered but couldn't ask. "I am your guardian angel, I shall lend you strength," Amane said. "Just hold in there to lunch, I am sure they will come and find you! Stay strong Ryou," she said. All I wanted to do was sleep, I thought. "NO SLEEPING!" Amane screamed. This at least made my eyes open, but my vision swam. Then came a coughing fit, more and more blood speckled the sidewalk. Soon it would be covered in the crimson of my blood. The darkness was to good to reists. Death, I thought, please take me swiftly, don't make me suffer. Then I fell unconscious.

Death didn't listen to me though. Somehow I regained consciousness just as a bell rang. "YES!" Amane yelled as her shimmery form spun around. "It lunchtime Ryou. They are going to find you, I promise you Ryou they will. Just hold on a little longer sister," Amane said comfortingly. My vision still swam and I was getting slightly dizzy from blood loss. Of course, since I was conscious, the coughing fit started up again. The sidewalk was now specked with more of my blood. Hadn't I read somewhere that if your rib punctured your lungs you could drown in your own blood? Great, I thought, I'm drowning, in my blood. Isn't that a great way to go? I had lost my ring, I had been broken, I was drowning in my on blood, yet for some reason I refused to die? Why is it that I always seemed to live? "RYOU DON'T DIE ON ME!" Amane screeched at me. It's okay, I wanted to say, I am ready to die. I mean, I shouldn't be alive in the first place. Then I heard the muffled sounds of voices, was someone really coming for me?

"Where else could she be Tristan, we have to find Bakura," Joey said. Though it was muffled to my ears, I could tell it was him.

"Back here is creepy though," Tristan argued. I had to do something or they would turn around. So I did the only thing I could, I coughed. That cough sent into a fit and crimson came out of my mouth thickly. "Did you hear that?" Tristand asked Joey. Yes, I thought, come for me please. At least then I may have a chance at living, living and teaching the trouble trio a lesson!

"We need to hurry up, what if that's Bakura?!" Joey said and then I heard them running. "oh god," Joey said when he saw me lying there in a pool of my own blood, barely living.

"Those brats are going to pay," Tristan said menacingly.

"They can wait, first we need to get Bakura help. Go get help, the nurse, and principal," Joey ordered Tristan.

"Okay, I'll be back you two," Tristan said and then sprinted away.

"We shouldn't have let you go. Those girls seemed like trouble. Oh god, Bakura," Joey said looking down at me. I opened my mouth to tell him it's okay, that he didn't know, but only started to cough again. My vision began swimming again and blood came out with each cough. Then I felt a stabbing pain in my chest, yep, my ribs were broken beyond repair, well maybe. Maybe they could fix me up. "Shhh, shhh, Bakura don't try to speak its okay," Joey said soothingly. Wow, I thought, didn't know rough and tough Joey Wheeler could be soothing.

"I'm back," Tristand said and I heard a gasp from both the nurse and principal. At least I thought it was the principal, I couldn't tell. My vision was still swimming and the dizziness was getting the best of me.

"Nurse Shelly, call 911 now," the principal told the nurse. The nurse said or did something but I wasn't sure what. Black dots were now invading my swimming vision.

"Bakura, Bakura hang in there," Joey said and then I was under again. Dang trio, this is all their fault. If only I had my ring, I would be stronger, or my pocket knife, then I would have be able to fight back.

The next part I was drifting in and out of consciousness. When I first resurfaced I was on a gurney. I heard several voices and gasps, some I recognized.

"Bakura," I heard a horrified gasp. That was Yugi, definitely. Then I heard her burst into tears and I felt my heart break. Then the next voice came.

"Oh. My. God," that was Tea, she sounded flabbergasted that someone would hurt me. please, I thought out to her, help Yugi. If I die, I hope Tea would take care of her. Another voice came in.

"She was right, she has been through worse than me,' the bully. I wanted to laugh, of course he would say that, I thought bitterly. Finally the last voice before I went under again.

"Kura," Seto said, "I promise whoever did this will be sorry," he promised. So this was going to help our relationship not hurt it. Well it would help if I lived through this… all I could think at that moment was, take that trouble trio! Then I was down and out.
The final time I woke up- I didn't wake up for some time after this at least –I was in the ambulance. Two people were talking and I caught bits and pieces of conversation. The bits and pieces were abut like this:

"She should be alive…"

"The amout of blood loss alone"

"She's alive for a reason"

"This is the second time something has happened"

"This girl just refuses to die"

"She must be destined to do something great"

With the last sentence my consciousness was leaving me for the last time that day. Was I distend to do something great? If so, what was it?