A/N: I was bored so I decided to continue typing this (even though no one appears to care anymore. Please, if you are reading this, I implore you to review to boost my self esteem!) So, this story gets pretty intense in these latter chapters. I seriously reccommend sticking with this story, as my writing abilities vastly improved from the time I first started writing it (8th grade... 5 years ago...). So please read and review!

Yugi lay shaking on the floor of the living room. His chest was still trickling blood from where Marik's nails had slashed him when he'd tried to get away. He was on the verge of losing consciousness. At least Yami was coming—if that hadn't been a hallucination. He hoped he would get there soon, before Marik woke up again. Yudi didn't think he could take another beating, any slight movement he made sent piercing pains through his entire body. He was lying on his side with his back up against the wall and Marik was sprawled on the couch, an empty beer can in his hand dangling over the side. The hand moved slightly and Yugi's heart started to race. Marik was waking up. Just as he was yawning and rubbing his eyes, the door burst open. Both boys turned, startled, to see who it was. Yami couldn't have gotten there that quickly.

But it wasn't Yami, it was Bakura. Marik jumped up.

"What you you want?" he sneered.

"That," Bakura said, pointing at Yugi, his eyes fiery. Yugi went cold. Was Bakura just here to take him from the coals to the flame? He wasn't being saved after all, just changing captors.

"And why should I give it to you?" Marik asked.

"Because I want it. I need it." His voice was husky and almost desperate sounding.

"Pay me," Marik said simply.

"How much?" Bakura responded.

"Your millennium ring."

"Sorry, that's too much. I prefer to get what I want the fun way." Bakura's eyes narrowed as he advanced on Marik.

"And how's that?" Marik leered.

"Like this," Bakura's fist made contact with Marik's face at the same time as his knee rammed into his groin. Marik stumbled but stayed standing.

"Think that's gonna stop me?"

"No, but this will." Bakura aimed a kick at Marik's side, which the tomb-keeper blocked, laughing. Before he could get his hands back into position, Bakura landed a hook punch on his jaw, wrenching his head back, and followed it with a neat punch to the side of Marik's head. The evil tomb-keeper crashed to the ground, knocked senseless. Bakura kicked his stomach for good measure, and then turned to Yugi.

"You okay there?" He asked.

Yugi shook his head, terrified.

"Here, let me help you. What hurts?"

Yugi tried to find his voice. "E-everything," he stammered.

"Well, let's get you out of here, and then we can check out those wounds. Er, do you have clothes?"

Yugi blushed crimson, suddenly realizing that he was naked. Ne nodded to the couch, where his shirt lay shredded next to his pants and boxers.

He meekly allowed Bakura to dress him after trying himself and failing.

"Ba..kur…a?" Yugi's voice cracked. The tomb-robber looked up.

"Are you going to rape me?" Yugi asked.

"No." Bakura said.

"Then why did you save me?"

"Because Yami asked me to."

Yugi was silent.

"Yugi, he still loves you. He completely forgives you, and wants you back more than anything in the world. I don't know why though, you have been a pretty big ass."

"I know," Yugi winced as Bakura helped him up.

"Can you walk?" the taller boy asked.

"I-I think so."

"Why'd you go it?" Bakura asked.

Yugi couldn't hold it back any longer. His eyes filled with tears and he began sobbing uncontrollably.

Bakura didn't press the question.

Ryou continued walking mechanically towards Joey's place. He didn't fee upset, really, just disappointed. He's somehow hoped Bakura had changed. He thought maybe the tomb-robber loved him enough to keep his sexual desires under control. He knew he would never confront Bakura about it, and he knew Bakura would never say anything. It would be like the whole thing had never happened, except that there would be that invisible wall between them always. That fear, that distrust. Would it even be worth it?

'Ry?' Bakura's voice said in his head. He didn't answer. 'Ryou?' Bakura called again. Ryou stayed silent. 'Ry-kun, I know you can hear me, why aren't you answering?'

'Balura, you'll never hurt me, right?' Ryou finally responded.

'Of course not,' Bakura assured him.

'Bakura…' Ryou trailed off.

'Yes?'

'Nevermind.'

Bakura was silent. Then a few moments later he said, 'I found Yugi. Tell Yami he's okay and I'm bringing him home.'

Ryou unemotionally relayed the information to his companion. They turned to walk home and meet Bakura there. When they were almost there, Ryou told Yami to continue alone. He began walking in the other direction but Yami stopped him, "Ryou, it's not your fault Bakura did that, don't take it out on yourself." Then he let go of Ryou's arm and continued on.

I wasn't going to, Ryou thought.

He turned and ran the several blocks to the Kaiba mansion. By now it was mid-morning. He rang the doorbell, not sure of what he would say to explain his presence. The door opened to reveal Mokuba Kaiba.

"Hi Ryou, what are you doing here?"

"I was… Actually I don't really know."

Kaiba shouted from another room, "Who is it and what do they want?"

"It's Ryou," Mokuba called back, "And, um, he wants to—"

"Talk to Joey," Ryou supplied.

"Talk to Joey!" Mokuba yelled.

"Invite him in," Kaiba ordered.

Ryou allowed himself to be led into the house.