Warnings: M and hinted Yaoi, some bad language… I own nothing!!

Chap 7: A Rival's Spat!

Ryou took to the streets and headed in the same direction that he and Marik walked in the mornings to get breakfast, knowing there was a store nearby to buy all he needed in food for the two of them and be right back within the hour. Ryou had plans on doing a little cooking and a little cleaning and hopefully by then Marik would up and they could eat together and watch something.

He pulled Marik's jacket around himself more to block out the cool wind, since Ryou hadn't packed a jacket for himself and he wasn't going back to his house to get one on his own. Yes he was smarter then that, to go wondering back to where he was attacked, so Marik's jacket was just fine. Ryou pulled out the cell phone and glanced it over then tucked it safely into the pocket of the jacket.

The rain came down from nowhere and Ryou ducked into the warm shop, hoping it would have stopped by the time he was done, if not he would get wet.

Ryou gasped as he slipped on the tilted floor due to wet feet and glad that he hadn't fallen flat on his face and no one noticed, the almost accident. Ryou glanced about; a few people walked about collecting food and placing what they wanted into baskets. Ryou sighed displeased with himself that he hadn't made a list of what he needed, but then again Marik had nothing in his kitchen that was eatable anyway, so he decided to wonder aimlessly about the store placing in odds and ends into his basket.

Ryou picked out all kinds of things, as he wasn't sure what kind of food Marik liked, but then again someone who ate takeout all the time, shouldn't be too picky on freshly cooked food, right? It was going to be trial and error. "Ryou?" Came the voice that he was really getting to know.

Ryou turned about and there standing before him was Yugi, again. "What do you want?" Ryou bit his lip thinking he may have been a little rude, but this guy was starting to bother him, well, whenever Yugi turned up and left, Marik would be irritable for the day or night.

"I just wanted to talk to you." Yugi placed his hands deep into his pockets and gazed at the floor.

"Last time we talked you upset Marik and inturn upset me." Ryou huffed a little and turned around to continue what he was doing, his eyes scanning the shelving, Yugi followed a few feet behind, watching the people around him and Ryou's back.

"I didn't mean to." Yugi admitted glancing at the things Ryou was picking up and placing into his basket.

"Well you did." Ryou shot over his shoulder and couldn't place why he was really angry with the other; it was as if seeing Yugi triggered something off in him that he couldn't place and made him act in a way he thought he normally wouldn't.

"I just wanted to catch up with you."

"Why?" Ryou asked. "If we, by your words, are the best of friends then where were you when I was in the hospital?" He glanced over his shoulder at a stunned and confused Yugi.

"What?!"

"Don't worry about it, I can't even remember much myself." Ryou sighed, he remembered when he was in between consciousness and unconsciousness, that there had been someone sitting in the room by his bed, who he later found out that it had been Marik. Ryou smiled a little at the thought on how Marik sat there watching over him not saying anything at all, he'd leave and come back again without a word spoken… but where had been all his so called friends his Aunt said he had?

Ryou sighed as something else came to mind something odd. "I saw no pictures of you or me or anyone else in my room to show that I even had friends or that I even know you." Ryou bit his lip again his hand sinking into his pocket and held the cell phone; should he call, Marik? Ryou shook his head, Marik needed his sleep and Ryou could handle this on his own.

"Because, we were never really that close." Yugi sighed and rushed around and stood blocking Ryou's path with his arms held out. "But that doesn't mean I don't like you… you were, you know." Yugi sighed, shifting from foot to the other foot a little nervously. "It was our friends and after everything that happened, they were uncomfortable having you around…"

"So, let me get this straight?" Ryou raised an eyebrow. "You're saying we were the best of friends, but you all decided to ditch me because of something that happened or something I did?" Ryou huffed. "Well forgive me Yugi!" He growled out. "I don't know what happened as I can't remember and everything I should remember is lost to me and I may never remember and the only person who remotely cares is someone I didn't really know to begin with." Ryou pushed by him.

"It wasn't that, it was him, Bakura." Yugi was once again blocking his way.

"Bakura?" Ryou was getting frustrated with this conversation fast and why was everyone bring this Bakura guy up for, so he was meant to be a half of his soul, but Ryou didn't see it and if this Bakura was so damn important, then where was he? Ryou's head was starting to hurt.

"Yes Bakura." Yugi let his arms fall to his sides. "Bakura was just so unpredictable and dangerous to anyone around him and it didn't matter on how many times he was banished, he always found his way back." Yugi shifted on his feet again. "You missed so many days at school and when you did turn up it looked as though you had been through hell and back." Yugi glanced up at him with a sad look that he hadn't been strong enough to lock away the Dark Soul that plagued Ryou's life and made it a living hell.

"I don't get it?" Ryou rubbed at his temple, the headache was becoming worse. "What are you saying?" He couldn't concentrate on the conversation anymore; he wanted to just go back to Marik's apartment before it got too bad. "What is it you want?" Ryou approached the counter and placed everything onto it and turned to the other.

"You managed to get away from Bakura and you ended up in the care of someone much more dangerous." Ryou frowned at him and shook his head disbelieving what he was hearing, Marik dangerous? That was a laugh.

"Marik was the only one there and helped me when I really needed it the most." Sure Marik had been a little reluctant at the beginning, but he seemed okay now. Ryou noticed the woman giving him an odd look as she priced the goods.

"But you don't have to stay with him!" Yugi said as Ryou paid for what he wanted and left the store. "Ryou?!" Yugi stopped no wanting to get wet as Ryou crossed the road leaving him behind.

"Leave me alone Yugi!" Ryou called out over his shoulder.

Ryou was irritated not because of what Yugi had said, but because of everyone around him knew more than he did about himself. Marik knew about this Bakura guy and him and Yugi knew all the people Ryou didn't know and including himself, how was that fair? He was the one that got attacked and what was he left with? Nothing! No face to place on his attacker or a name, no justice at all. Ryou stopped for a few seconds as his head was really pounding and his vision blurred, he needed to get back to Marik.

Ryou gritted his teeth and took a step and then the ground seemed as if it was gone from under him and the world spun about in a dark blur, he fell to his hands and knees and passed out on the walkway.

It had been the feeling of being watched that made Ryou slowly open his eyes and groan. His headache was gone but for a dull ach in his head and he felt more exhausted then he could remember. Ryou's eyesight focused and they widened as he glanced about the room, it was dark and looked to be a bedroom, a nightstand a dresser and posters on the walls, shelves with games and books on them and a few stuffed animals placed about the room.

Ryou sat up on the bed and pulled the covers off him and gasped at having nothing on but for his boxers, now panicked that someone had undressed him while he was out cold was every alarming, whoever it was could have done anything they wanted to him.

Ryou looked about again, he didn't recognize the place at all but for being in someone's bedroom… wait, if his clothes were gone then that meant that Marik's cell was gone as well.

What was he going do? What if the one that had attacked him lived here? What if they had found him in the streets unconscious and brought him back to their house to finish or continue what they had started? Ryou wasn't going to wait around and find out.

He spotted the window across from him, half naked or not he was getting out of here before they noticed he was awake. Ryou scrambled from the bed to his feet and flew towards the window, ripping apart the dark curtains and gasped to find the sun setting already, how long had he been out for? Marik must be wondering where he had gotten too. "Oh good you're awake." Ryou turned about as the door was opened bring with it light from outside the room. "I hope you didn't mind me bringing you back here." Yugi said as he entered his bedroom. "You passed out on the street and I couldn't leave you there."

Ryou was stunned for a second, all the things he had said to the other and Yugi was willing to help him out anyway. "My clothes." Ryou shook his head and wrapped his arms about himself. "Where are they?" He felt to vulnerable how he was.

"Oh, I dried them for you." Yugi walked over and placed the folded clothing onto the bed. "Its been raining most of the afternoon and you got wet."

Ryou walked over and pulled on his jeans, shirt and socks when Yugi had backed away. "Why didn't you take me back to Marik's?" He asked as he pulled on the last sock and did the button up on his jeans. "You know where I live."

"I know." Yugi bit his lip. "Marik's…"

"Ahh, you're awake." Said an old man as he entered the room, he was almost as short as Yugi and there was no mistaking that the two were related in some way. "How about you come downstairs and have a hot drink to help clear out those cobwebs from your head." He said with a friendly smile.

Ryou glanced them over and he reluctantly nodded his head. "Good, I was worried about you when my Grandson brought you home and you slept for so long." He said as Ryou followed them down to the bottom floor of the house.

"I was released from hospital not too long ago." Ryou felt it was safe enough to let that bit of information out.

"Nothing to serious I hope." Said the old man as he entered the kitchen. "But you know hospitals if you can walk and talk, they'll kick you out."

"I'm fine now." Ryou glanced about feeling uncomfortable and that still watched feeling followed him as if the walls or the house had eyes.

"Oh, I hope this is still working." The old man held up Marik's cell phone. "It got a little wet too." Ryou reached out for it and took it from the old man with a thank you and looked it over closely, should he call Marik? What if he was still sleeping or had gone to work? Ryou didn't care he wanted to be with Marik and back at the apartment, Ryou flipped open the phone and was about to press one.

"It's good to see you up Ryou?" Came a new voice and Ryou glanced up to see another that looked almost the same as Yugi. He had the same hair but with more blonde and a mix of colours in his eyes that gave them a dark depth, dressed in jeans and a sleeveless top and bare feet, there was an air about him that Ryou couldn't name. "I was a little worried when Yugi called for some help and to my surprise to find you unconscious."

Ryou didn't say anything but stared at the new comer, Yugi noticed the vacant expression on his friend's face. "You know Yami." Ryou glanced at Yugi and shook his head no. "That's right I'm sorry." Yugi apologized as he remembered that Ryou wouldn't be able to recall any of them. "This is Yami." He was much taller then Yugi and a little taller then Ryou, but not by much.

Yami walked up to him with a smile and said. "It's nice to see you again." He then turned to Yugi; Ryou wondered if this was the person, Marik was talking about.

The phone started to ring and the old man walked out the room. "That'll be for me." He stopped and glanced at the three teens. "Why don't you boys go into the living room? I'm going to be a while." The old man said, Yugi nodded and walked out, Ryou followed him, after Yami had handed out the hot drinks the old man had made.

Ryou glanced over his shoulder and noticed Yami following them, all the hair on the back of Ryou's neck stood up on end and he shook off the feeling of still being watched. "I was a little surprised to hear from Yugi that you had moved schools." Yami said as they entered the living room and offered Ryou a seat on the couch, Yugi made himself comfortable next to his friend as Yami took up an armchair.

"Yami." Yugi said getting his attention. "Ryou has amnesia from an accident a few nights back."

Yami frowned for a moment and turned his gaze to Ryou and said. "I didn't realize." Then he glanced back at Yugi. "I seems that it's going around, Ryou and now you." He said a little concerned, then smirked when Yugi smiled at him.

"You know how accident-prone I am." Yugi waved it off.

"It was just an accident." Ryou said glancing at the cell phone in his hand and glanced at Yami. Ryou wasn't going to tell them that someone that he might know had attacked him. He frowned as their eyes met and Ryou had the same feeling when he was around Marik, but this feeling was uncomfortable as if sitting in a hot stuffy room with no air. "Where is the bathroom?" Ryou asked the dull headache was starting to get to him, again.

"I'll show you." Yugi said getting up and placing his drink onto the small coffee table, Ryou placed his cup next to Yugi's and went to leave.

"You won't need that." Yugi pointed at the cell phone that was clutched in Ryou's hands tightly.

Ryou didn't want to give it up, he frowned at it, he wouldn't be to long anyway, so he reluctantly placed it down next to his cup and then followed Yugi out of the room.

Yugi led Ryou upstairs and down the hallway and into the bathroom. "I'll be in the kitchen." Yugi said. "Just yell if you need anything."

"Thanks." Ryou said closing the door and listened to Yugi leave the top floor, taking in a beep breath he walked towards the sink and turned the cold water tap on and cupped the water in bother hands and wet his face.

In the living room, Yami glanced up as Yugi walked into the room with a soft smile. "Is he all right?" Yami asked his former Host.

"Yeah." Yugi nodded with an even softer sigh. "I'm going to get us some snacks and then walk Ryou back."

"I don't want you walking about out there at this time of night." Yami said worriedly. "We can both walk Ryou back or even me."

"Thanks Yami." Yugi gave the taller male's shoulder a light squeeze as he walked out of the room and headed into the kitchen.

Suddenly the room was filled with ringing from the cell phone on the coffee table, Yami raised an eyebrow as he lent forward, reaching over and picked it up. He flipped it open to press it against his ear. "Ryou, where are…" Yami jumped and hung up on the caller, the voice sounded so familiar somehow… it couldn't be, could it? He thought as it rang again and Yami hung up and turned off the cell phone and placed it back onto the coffee table and sat back staring at it as he tried to workout who had called.

Ryou sighed as he rubbed the back of his neck and reached for the towel, the cool water just about got rid of the dull pain, a few painkillers and his head would be clear. He lowered the towel from his face and gasped as he saw someone behind him, it happened so fast that and Ryou went to turn about but was stopped and forced back towards the sink, Ryou's head hit the mirror cracking the glass and cutting his forehead and the sink dug painfully into his hip.

Ryou whimpered and struggled to get free, but the other was too strong and pinned him easily to the basin and mirror. "Stay away from Yugi, you'll not get a second warning." A low voice growled in his ear, suddenly the pain in his head worsened as images flashed through his minds eye.

Ryou toppled over the coffee table in his living room, texts books fell and scattered about. Ryou hit the floor hard, face first, he screamed in pain that ripped up and down his back as flesh was torn away. He scrambled to his feet and rushed for the door, ignoring the pain in his back. Ryou was grabbed by the back of the neck and slammed into the wall, instantly blood fell from his hairline as he fell to the floor again. "I told you there was no escaping me!" A voice growled.

Ryou fell to his knees as a pained scream filled the living room, but he couldn't bring himself to look up, though he could see the front door from where he was. "On your feet!" A voice growled as arms wrapped about Ryou's chest and lifted him up and was roughly pulled to his feet and pulled up the stairs.

"Stay with Marik, there will be no other warnings." The voice was low in his ear snapping Ryou back to reality as he was released and fell to his knees in the bathroom, shakily he placed a hand to his forehead; he glanced to his left and saw the back of someone's heels and legs as they were leaving the room, the bathroom door was left wide open. Ryou closed his eyes for a second, why was everything so unclear? He glanced up to find Yami looking down at him. "Are you all…" Yami's words were cut off as Ryou pushed him over and got to his feet and ran, with a startled yelp Yami fell into the bathtub backwards.

"Ryou wait?!" He heard Yami call out from behind him as he flew down the stairs, reaching the bottom. Ryou spotted the living room and rushed in, to snatch up Marik's cell phone and as he did he knocked over the cups, spilling the contents onto the table and floor.

Ryou spun about his heart racing in his chest as he ran from the room and glanced about, lost for a second on where to run, then Yami was coming down the stairs taking two at a time. Ryou turned and fled the other way, ripping open a door. "Ryou?!" Yugi called out surprised to see his friend running from them.

Ryou burst out of the house and jumped down the few steps and slipped in his hast and landed on his hands and knees, he shook it off and got to his feet and ran.

Marik straddled the bike and placed in the key and kicked it into life and sped out up the ramp and onto the small side street at the back of the apartment building and headed into the city with one person on his mind, the stalking little freak was a good place to start.

Marik remembered where Yugi lived in that stupid little house shop, he ducked and weaved in and out of traffic, hoping he stilled lived there. The house shop was only about ten minutes away… fucking Hosts were more trouble then they were worth.

Marik was only worried because he had been cut off when he tried to ring Ryou and find out where he was, surely the boy was smart enough to know how to answer a phone, unless something happened to Ryou. "Damn Host," Marik growled, they were so gullible and easily lured into situations that weren't of the friendly type, which he had seen first hand with Malik.

Marik soon pulled up to a stop outside Yugi's house and got off the motorbike and approached the house just as the front door opened and Ryou came rushing out in such a hurry and to only fall hard on the ground with a cry, then got back up and ran. "Ryou." Marik braced himself as the boy ran right into him.

Ryou struggled furiously, he managed to pull back and hit Marik, before he saw who's arms he was in. "Ryou!" Marik snapped and shook the boy a little.

"Marik?!" Ryou gasped shaking now realizing what he had done. "Sorry, I'm so sorry!" He was close to tears as the last thing he wanted to do and that was to hurt Marik.

"What the hell were you running from?" Marik wiped the bit of blood from the corner of his mouth.

Ryou just threw his arms around his neck in a hug shaking, Marik grunted at the not so gentle treatment.

"Ryou!" Yami and Yugi came running out and stopped a few feet from the two. "Marik?!" Yami spat out venomously when he saw who was before him and came to a stop in pursuing the boy.

Ryou pulled back and that was when Marik saw the blood on the boy's forehead, Marik grabbed Ryou's chin and tilted it upwards to have a better look, then he narrowed his eyes at Yami as he jumped to conclusions, but then again for Marik it was something that came easily when Yami was in the middle of it all. "Bastard!" Marik moved Ryou aside and grabbed Yami and hit him, hard. The Righteous Bastard landed on his ass a few feet back with a pained cry, Yugi squealed and rushed to help Yami.

"Fuck!" Marik clutched his hand and shook off the slight throbbing pain. "You have no idea how long I have wanted to do that." Ryou didn't move from his spot beside Marik as he stared at Yami and Yugi, wondering why Marik was so angry with them?

Yami sat up and pushed Yugi aside as he got to his feet holding his bloody nose, he trembled with rage, Marik hadn't changed at all. "That was uncalled for Marik!" Yugi shot at him angrily coming to Yami's defence.

"It was a long time coming." Marik spat back, then glared at Yugi.

"Always the bitter one." Yami wiped his bleeding nose the best he could, Marik went in to hit him again. "Whoever gave you a body was most likely just as insane as you are." Yami smirked and the air around them changed, becoming heavy.

Marik stopped and backed up giving Yami a suspicious look. "Ryou if you want to live past this week, you'll leave Marik and never see him again, before he ends up abusing you."

"Get on the bike!" Marik hissed at Ryou as he backed up. "NOW!" He barked when the boy didn't move. "Don't worry Yami I still owe you a shit load of payback."

"Any time Marik, I'll be glad to send your ass back to where it came from." Yami backed up towards the house taking Yugi with him.

Marik mounted the bike and Ryou jumped on behind him and wrapped his arms about Marik's waist tightly, giving Yami and Yugi one last glance as Marik spun the back tyre and turned the bike about and took off down the street.

Yami sighed as he glanced at Yugi. "We had better get Ryou away from him and soon." He said and Yugi nodded his head.

TBC

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