Yu-Gi-Oh! Fan Fiction ❯ I Care ❯ Temporary Haven ( Chapter 8 )

Emmy: Ok, I've decided to use some new markings.

 

(Blah) is Hikari to Yami

 

((Blah)) is Yami to Hikari

 

Blah is thinking and occasionally placed as a form of sound speech

 

Blah is writing/emphasis

 

Raven: Also, after the chapter please vote for which story should be worked on next, we're having trouble deciding.

 

 

Temporary Haven

 

Yami could tell Ryou was lost in his own thoughts about his darkness and was a bit distant at the moment.

 

“Yami and Aly are the only two people in the world who seem to care. Bakura will hate me after this and he'll punish me and the others will just pity me. Dad will send a letter and visit once in a while but that'll be it.”

 

“Idiot! You brought this upon yourself you know. You actually told Yami that Bakura beats you! You betrayed Bakura and he will make you pay the price. You're going to get it when you get home.” His evil voice replied.

 

“Yes, Bakura will hate me now…he'll punish me…” Ryou thought.

 

“No, I'll make sure he doesn't,” Yami replied softly. Ryou hadn't known he'd been mumbling everything and still didn't know it. He hadn't really heard Yami's reply either.

 

 

Yami's P.O.V. (Something I will rarely do)

 

It was like that the rest of the way to Yugi's house. Yami had mentally informed his light that Ryou was going to stay with them that night and Yugi had asked the others to leave. What Ryou needed was a safe place to be for a while.

 

((“That stupid, sadistic, horrible, vile, disgraceful, waste of flesh and blood! I knew he would never change! He's still hurting Ryou! You should see him right now! I was asking him about it and Bakura's got him brain washed. Ryou's afraid that Bakura's going to hurt him! Oh how I hate that tomb robber! How can he hurt his own light?!”))

 

(“Poor Ryou,”) Yugi thought back. (“The others are gone now and he will be able to rest a bit.”)

 

((“You should see him now Yugi!”)) Yami cried. ((“He's incoherently mumbling things about Bakura hurting him and being punished and oh it makes me sick!”))

 

Yami looked at the white haired beside him. Ryou's eyes were sad and empty as he gazed off into space. His face had a few tear marks and his arms hung limply at his sides.

 

((“I'm going to have a word with Bakura tonight. We have to stop this.”)) Yugi sent a feeling of agreement and Yami stopped outside the game shop.

 

“We're here Ryou,” Yami said softly. Ryou nodded and Yami led him inside.

 

Up stairs Yugi was sitting on the couch.

 

“Since Yami sleeps in the guest bedroom you can sleep in my room Ryou,” Yugi said slowly. Ryou nodded and mumbled something.

 

((“I'll take him to your room so he can rest for a while,”)) Yami mentally told Yugi. Yugi nodded and Yami led Ryou to Yugi's bedroom.

 

“Ryou you can rest in here for a while ok? Then later we can get you something to eat.” Ryou didn't reply.

 

“Ryou?” Yami asked. Ryou blinked and looked at Yami.

 

“No thanks…not hungry,” he replied. His eyes were glazed over as if he weren't even aware of the conversation at hand. Yami furrowed his brow at the reaction.

 

“You should, it gives you energy,” he replied. “But you don't have to now.” Ryou turned away from Yami and made his way towards the window on the other side of the room. Yami saw his reflection in it. He looked so sad, lost and confused. Yami wished that he could find a way to make the boy feel happy once more.

 

Yami cared for Yugi greatly, they were like brothers, and couldn't understand how Bakura could hurt his light. His light was so kind and sweet…but now…Yami closed the door quietly and returned to the living room.

 

He sighed as he sat on the couch and massaged his temples.

 

“Yugi…can you look after him while I'm talking with Bakura? He seems so…sad and lost. I'm not sure what state of mind he's in right now but…I don't want him committing suicide or anything.”

 

Yugi raised his eyebrows at the last comment and Yami said quickly “Not that he would try to kill himself! It's just that he seems a bit…emotionally unstable. It's like he's totally oblivious to the world around him.” Yugi nodded.

 

“I guess I might as well go now. I'll see you later Yugi,” Yami stood up and made his way to the door. Then stopped and turned around.

 

“If I don't come back for a while make sure he eats and sleeps.” Yugi nodded and bid his yami farewell.

 

 

Ryou's P.O.V

 

Ryou stared out the window, not really looking. He was lost in his mind with only the voices for company.

 

“Bakura's going to punish you. You'll feel the pain that you rightly disserve. You are an idiotic, weak, worthless, coward!”

 

Ryou cringed and felt the scars on his back.

 

“You can't hide forever! He'll get you eventually. You told the Pharaoh he was hurting you. He'll be very upset. If you hadn't told anyone Bakura wouldn't be angry. He hates you now and he'll hate you forever! You're hiding out here when you should be receiving punishment!” the voice hissed at him.

 

“I know, I know, I shouldn't have told. Now he's going to hate me,” Ryou replied out loud.

 

“You have to go home some time and when you do he'll make you pay for your insolence!”

 

“I know, I know! I was so stupid! I shouldn't have told! He's right. I'm nothing but an idiotic, weak, worthless, coward!” Ryou told himself, shaking his head in disgust.

 

“Ryou?”

 

Ryou heard someone talking but he wasn't sure who it was. Was it another voice in his head or was it Bakura?

 

Ryou looked around quickly and found that it was only Yugi standing right beside him. Ryou gave a jump or fear and Yugi jumped back in surprise.

 

“Ryou, who were you talking to?” Yugi asked. Ryou turned away from the multi colored boy.

 

“Where's Yami?” Ryou asked, ignoring Yugi's question.

 

“He-err-he went out,” Yugi replied. Yugi was also bad at telling lies.

 

“He's talking to Bakura?!” Ryou whispered fearfully. Yugi looked like wasn't sure how to respond.

 

“Um…” he said. Ryou felt the anxiety in his stomach grow worse. Yami was telling Bakura everything!

 

“Why don't you take a nap Ryou?” Yugi asked. Ryou didn't reply, he wasn't listening.

 

“Soon you'll have to go home. That's when Bakura will do his worst.”

 

“I shouldn't have told…he'll tell and Bakura will be mad…” Ryou replied sadly. Yugi gave Ryou a worried look although Ryou didn't notice.

 

“Ryou?” Yugi asked loudly. Ryou looked up at Yugi. Yugi wasn't like Yami. Ryou couldn't help but tell Yami the truth. Yugi did not have the special look Yami gave people.

 

“I-I'm sorry Yugi…thank you for your h-hospitality…It's just that I'm-I feel a bit off and I would like to be alone for a bit…” he replied politely.

 

“It's ok,” Yugi said, patting Ryou on his shoulder.

 

Ryou slumped against the wall, held his knees and buried his face into his legs. Yugi was taken aback and not sure what to do. So he grabbed everything sharp and pointy from the room, locked the window and closed the door softly.

 

 

Yami's P.O.V

 

Yami walked briskly down the street, still very angry. He was about a block from his destination.

 

(Yami? Where are you now?)

 

((I'm almost to Ryou's house, why?))

 

(Oh it's just that I'm not exactly sure how to, um, take care of him.)

 

((Leave him be till I return.))

 

(Ok, and you remember not to get too upset. No shadow magic!)

 

((…Fine…))

 

Yami sighed angrily. He would have liked nothing more then to show the ancient spirit a piece of his mind, shadow style, but for Ryou's sake he wouldn't.

 

Yami came to the home of Ryou Bakura and rapped on the door. There was no reply. He knocked harder but still nothing. Yami tried to peek through the curtains but they were tightly shut. He scowled and pounded on the door once again.

 

“Tomb Robber let me in!” Yami cried. There was still no reply. “I know you're there Tomb Robber! Let me in this instant or I'll let myself in!” A few passers by started at Yami but he didn't care. One glare sent the spectators on their way.

 

Yami tried to open the door but it was locked. “Dammit Tomb Robber let me in!” Yami growled angrily.

 

“Go away!” a hateful voice spat.

 

“No! I'll stay here all night if I have to! I'm not leaving till you let me in!” Yami replied, crossing his arms and stomping his foot.

 

“Fine, wait all night if you wish Pharaoh! I'm not letting you in this house!” Bakura replied hatefully.

 

“Tomb Robber I need to talk to you!” Yami was getting particularly annoyed.

 

“I don't want to talk to you!” was Bakura's reply. Yami detected a bit of drunkenness in the thief's voice.

 

“I'm warning you Tomb Robber, if you don't let me in now you will suffer the consequences.”

 

“Do your worse Pharaoh,” Bakura was daring Yami to get in touch with his shadow magic.

 

“Fine!” Yami was about to call upon the shadow magic when he remembered Yugi's order. His light was very particular about the shadow magic rule. Yami scowled and thought. Suddenly a thought popped into his head. He smiled and took a deep breath.

 

“One thousand bottles of beer on the wall, one thousand bottles of beer! You take one down and pass it around, Nine hundred ninety-nine bottles of beer on the wall!” Yami continued to sing and much to his glee when he hit nine hundred seventy-five the thief began to curse.

 

“Shut the hell up!” Bakura shrieked. Yami continued to sing, and to Bakura's disappointment, very off key.

 

Around nine hundred forty the neighbors began to shout insults and curses as well. One old lady even threatened to call the police. But Yami was persistent.

 

He was about to start Nine hundred fifteen when Bakura cursed loudly.

 

“Fine! Fine! You can come in, just shut up!” he cried. Yami smiled with satisfaction.

 

A moment later the door slowly opened to reveal a scary Bakura. Yami raised his eyebrows at what he saw before him. The normally cocky and composed thief was a wreck. His eyes were blood shot, his hair had lost some of its spike and was mattered, and his breath smelled strongly of alcohol.

 

“Make it quick Pharaoh, I have better things to do,” Bakura growled angrily, giving Yami a glare. It didn't even faze the ancient king.

 

“We need to talk about your treatment of Ryou,” Yami said, crossing his arms and giving Bakura a glare of his own.

 

“What about it?” Bakura asked.

 

“You know perfectly well what I'm talking about! I thought I'd made it clear last time that I never wanted to see him in that kind of condition again,” Yami replied sternly. Bakura scowled and turned away.

 

“Do you really think I care about what you want Pharaoh?” Bakura asked, smirking. “Frankly I don't give a damn but if you'd noticed Ryou has no knife wounds, and is not hallucinating in public.”

 

“Tomb Robber I am serious,” Yami replied coldly.

 

“So am I!” Bakura cried. He stomped into the house but Yami was close behind him. It was dark so it took a moment for Yami's eyes to adjust to the light. When they were he found another surprise. It looked like a hurricane had hit. Furniture was over turned or broken, books were torn and scattered, and there was a fist sized hole in one of the walls. The floor was also littered with beer bottles, some broken, most empty.

 

Bakura leaned against the wall and messaged his temples. “Why do you have to harass me so Pharaoh? Your singing did not good for my headache.”

 

Yami resisted the urge to smirk. “I just can't see why anyone would or could ever hurt their light, especially one as kind and innocent as Ryou.”

 

Bakura did not reply and Yami felt he had struck a nerve.

 

“Why do you hurt him? I'd never even think of hurting Yugi,” he said casually.

 

“You and I are very different people,” Bakura retorted.

 

“Still, why do you hurt him? For your own entertainment?” Yami asked curiously.

 

Bakura turned away from Yami. “Mind your own business!” he hissed. Yami smiled slightly.

 

“Do you take out your anger on him?” he asked, taking a step closer to the thief.

 

“Shut it,” Bakura growled.

 

“Or,” Yami took another step closer, put his face by Bakura's ear and dropped his voice to a whisper. “Do you need your innocent, defenseless hikari to satisfy your own needs?”

 

Bakura spun around violently and grabbed Yami's shirt collar.

 

“I said shut up!” he cried, his blood shot eyes glared at Yami with a mixture of hate and fear.

 

“Well then, what is your reason?” Yami asked politely. Bakura continued to glare at Yami but the ancient spirit remained calm. Finally Bakura let go of Yami and stormed down the hall. Yami followed.

 

“Why should I have to explain myself to you?!” Bakura snarled and he entered the kitchen. The kitchen was the same as the living room. Forks, knifes, spoons, broken plates and cups littered the floor.

 

“I am only curious Tomb Robber, you don't have to explain yourself to me. What I want you to do is leave Ryou alone,” he said firmly. Bakura grabbed the first usable cup he saw and stormed back down the hall, Yami at his heels.

 

“Fine, whatever, I'll stop!” Bakura replied agitated. He pushed open a door and both spirits walked into the bathroom.

 

“You said you'd stop last time but now I'm told, by your light himself, that you are still beating the living crap out of him!” Yami cried. Bakura flung open the medicine cabinet and pulled out a small box.

 

“Will you talk to me?!” Yami cried, annoyed by the spirit's silence. Bakura shot him a glare and filled the chipped glass with water.

 

“Pharaoh, what will it take to get you off me back?! You want me to duel you? You want me to fight you? You want me to spill my guts to you like some depressed teenager?!” Bakura asked, his red eyes mad him look madder then usual.

 

Yami was silent. Truth be told all he had wanted was for Bakura to stop being so violent with his light. His interrogation had been fueled by pure spite.

 

“Because,” Bakura continued, popping four pills into his mouth and gulping down the water. “I'm not some heart broken, depressed punk who got in way over his head and needs to see a physiatrist! I do everything for a perfectly logical reason!”

 

Yami frowned. “So, sending Aly to the Shadow Realm has a `perfectly logical reason' behind it?” he asked. Bakura frowned and set down the cup of water. Yami quickly blocked the bathroom door, cutting off Bakura's only means of escape. Bakura gave him a fiery glare. After a moment he replied.

 

“That was…a m-mistake on my part,” Bakura forced himself to say. “Although if she hadn't attacked me I wouldn't have tried to defend myself,” he added quickly. “Happy now?” Yami was still frowning.

 

“She wouldn't have attacked you if you hadn't been beating Ryou to a pulp,” Yami said evenly. Bakura scowled.

 

“I hate you Pharaoh,” Bakura replied coldly.

 

“Because I made a good point,” Yami replied more like an answer then a question. Bakura's scowl deepened and he crossed his arms.

 

“Well I can't hurt that Aly girl any more, Bastet made sure of that,” Bakura glanced up at the ceiling as if he knew she was listening. “And as I said before, I have a good reason for everything I do.” Yami's frown deepened. “But I'll try not to be as rough as I am.”

 

“Not good enough,” Yami replied, shaking his head.

 

“That's the best you're going to get Pharaoh. Besides, I won't need to be as rough anymore anyway,” Bakura said, a slight smile creeping onto his face. Yami was surprised. It wasn't like a thief to smile to genuinely.

 

“Why?” he asked, genuinely curious. Bakura's smile turned into a smirk.

 

“I told you before Pharaoh, I don't need to explain myself to you.” Yami scowled and Bakura grinned evilly. “Now, I have a question for you.”

 

“What?” Yami asked.

 

“Do you know where my little light is at the moment?” Bakura asked. Yami nodded.

 

“He's with Yugi over at our house. He'll be staying the night,” Yami replied. Bakura's grin turned into a frown.

 

“Why?” he asked, a bit of concern in his voice.

 

“I don't have to explain myself to you,” Yami replied, stepping away to leave. A hand grabbed his shoulder tightly.

 

“Tell be what you've done with my light!” Bakura growled.

 

“Oh look who's so protective all of a sudden,” Yami teased.

 

“Drop it Pharaoh. Why is my light with your pet leprechaun?” Bakura asked. Yami glared at Bakura, very unhappy about the insult towards his light but was able to keep his temper under control.

 

“He's…in rehabilitation. That's all I'll tell you. You can talk to Ryou tomorrow after school.” With that Yami headed for the door.

 

“Oh and Tomb Robber,” Yami turned to face the spirit. “That's not headache medicine.” The thief looked down at the box in his hand.

 

“Pregnancy Pills?! Where the he-oh yeah…that night Nina came over…” Yami chuckled.

 

“Till next time Tomb Robber,” he said with a smirk.

 

 

Ryou's P.O.V.

 

Ryou awoke feeling stiff and tense. He raised his head and looked around, wondering where he was. Suddenly the memory of Yami's talk came flooding back to him and he sighed. Slowly he moved out of his ball, wincing at the stiffness in his legs.

 

Looking around he saw that it was darker, around twilight. The smell of simmering tomato sauce and baking garlic bread wafted through the room and Ryou's stomach growled.

 

“It has been a few days since I last ate…” he mumbled to himself. Ryou stretched and made his way to the door.

 

“I shouldn't be here...” he thought. “I'm intruding in Yugi and Yami's lives. I don't want to be a bother to them. Perhaps if I just leave now…” Ryou reached for the door handle but somehow couldn't bring himself to open it. For one, he knew he'd probably have to face everybody and explain how he had to leave and for another thing…The smells of cooking food, the coziness of Yugi's room…it reminded him of when his mother and sister had been alive.

 

A wave of sadness went through him as flashes of his family flashed through his mind. The nights they'd spent together at home…mother had read to him and his sister when father was away…stories of ancient Egypt and far away places…

 

Ryou took one moment, and only one, to take in everything around him. He was making a memory. A memory he could go back to in times of sadness. He wanted to remember every smell…every sound…every sensation. The happy memory reminded him of Aly and of her kiss. The image of her smiling face flashed before his eyes and the pain of missing his family eased.

 

Ryou sighed, leaving the happiness of his memories and reached for the door knob once more. But as he was about to turn it the knob turned under his hand and opened on its own. He stepped back in surprise to see Yugi's grandfather staring back at him.

 

“Oh hello Bakura, glad to see you're awake,” he said, also surprised. Ryou swallowed and nodded.

 

“Well Yami's not back yet and Yugi and I are still making dinner. Would you like to help us?” he asked cheerily. Ryou almost accepted the offer, the food smelled so good, and the man was so kind but he shook his head, knowing he had no place among these happy people.

 

“Oh, well, that's ok. If you need more rest by all means take a nap,” Yugi's grandfather replied. Ryou shook his head again.

 

“No, um actually I should p-probably be getting home…” Ryou said quietly.

 

“I thought you were staying here tonight,” the old man said, a puzzled look on his face.

 

“Well actually I-I should get home. Sorry…”

 

“Oh it's perfectly fine Bakura. Be sure to come by some other time,” Yugi's grandfather replied, moving aside so Bakura could leave. Ryou bowed his head in thanks.

 

“Thank you sir,” he said quietly before walking to the front door.

 

“It doesn't matter. I can't hide forever. I might as well get it over with now. At least if I go home now I won't have to worry about it all night and all day.”

 

Once again as Ryou went to grab the door knob it turned before he could move it and Yami stepped into the house. Ryou stepped back in surprise, one again and Yami raised his eyebrows.

 

“Ryou, what are you doing?” Yami asked. Ryou looked at the ground.

 

“I should be getting home…” he began but Yami cut him off.

 

“Nonsense, I thought we agreed that you'd stay here tonight?” Yami said, leading Ryou back towards the living room.

 

“I-uh, I don't want to impose-,” Ryou tried again.

 

“You're not imposing,” Yami said comfortingly. Ryou frowned; he had failed in his plan of escape.

 

“I talked to Bakura,” Yami said softly. Ryou's heart skipped a beat. “He said he wouldn't be as rough anymore. You know, if you want me to I can send him to the Shadow Realm. Just one duel and-.”

 

“No. I-it's ok Yami…” Ryou replied. Was Bakura mad? Had he really meant what he said?

 

“Fine…” Yami sighed as the entered the kitchen.

 

“Hi Yami. You're just in time for dinner,” Yugi said grinning. The delicious smell of cooking food filled Ryou's taste buds. Yugi was stirring a pan with sizzling meatballs in it; he had splatters of sauce on his clothes and face. Yugi's grandfather, who was straining pasta, looked up.

 

“So you're staying?” he asked Ryou. Ryou opened his mouth to say no but something stopped him. It wasn't just the fact that people wanted him to stay or that he felt so at home here. He'd heard something.

 

((“Stay…”)) a voice whispered in his head.

 

(“Bakura?”) Ryou asked but his yami didn't reply.

 

“…Yes,” Ryou replied. Yugi and Yami smiled.

 

“Well, now that that's decided how about we get ready. Yami would you mind setting the table?” the old man asked. Yami shook his head and grabbed the plates. Ryou assisted him by picking up the silverware.

 

“You don't have to help, you're a guest,” Yami said. Ryou shook his head.

 

“No, it's ok. It would be rude not to help,” he replied, giving Yami a reassuring smile. The spirit gave Ryou his own smile of understanding.

 

And so Ryou stayed that night. He ate the food that was served to him, for it would have been rude to refuse any. He helped clean up and he sat and watched TV with Yugi's small family. He'd helped Yugi with history and finished his own homework as well.

 

It was strange, he thought. Yugi didn't have a mother or a father. He had a spirit and a grandfather but still they were a happy family, so much different form his own. It was a peaceful night, something Ryou hadn't had in a while. It wasn't anything to special, just a normal day in the life of Yugi's family. But it was the normal family feeling that made the night happy.

 

So as he lay in bed that night, full of the feeling of happiness, he took another moment to make yet another happy memory. It was these times that he had to savor, these times that he had to remember. Those moments of happiness were the things that kept him sane in his world of pain and sadness with Bakura.

 

“If only,” he thought sleepily. “I could share these kinds of moments with Bakura.”

 

XXXXXXXXX

 

Emmy: Wow, a whole chapter without OC. I'll have to put her in the next one. Umm, pasta is cooking downstairs…

 

Raven: Ok. We have a few ideas as to what our next fic will be about. Now remember, just because we're asking you now dose NOT mean we're dropping this one. Heck, this one has quite a bit more left to it! No, we only want to know you're opinion on which story you would think more interesting AFTER this one is over.

 

Ryou: You can't end this story! I don't want to go back in the closet!

 

Emmy: I'd never put you back in the closet Ryou! (hugs Ryou)

 

Bakura: That's what you said about Tobe, and Nawt, and Odd and-

 

Raven: Not helping.

 

Ryou: NO! I can't go back!

 

Raven: Sheesh…Anyway, please tell us which you like better below.

 

A) Something involving Aly's other friends. What adventures do they go on? Perhaps an OC and Code Lyoko adventure or Harry Potter adventure?

B) Ryou's cousins come to town in a flying car. What secrets do these girls hold and why has Ryou never told anyone? He'll have to when his magical cousins start to run amuck in Domino. Basically a Harry Potter vs. Yu-gi-oh thing except they're not in Hogwarts. A humorous story.

C) Series of Unfortunate Events meets Yu-gi-oh. Different? Yes. Ever been done? Probably. I have no real plot yet but it will either involve Mokuba and Kaiba or Ryou and Bakura involved with Count Olaf's treacherous plans. They'll meet Violet, Klaus and Sunny.

 

D) I just added this one. Summery: The YGO gang all get invites to Pegasus's mansion only to find out that something was left to each of them in his will. To get it they must win this one last game. With the help of their partner each person must solve the clues and figure out how to win the game. Things take an interesting spin when certain teens begin to discover clues about their own pasts. Inspired by Clue and the Westing Game.

 

Emmy: Please R&R!!! When you don't I get depressed and play Sims 2 instead of write my fic.