Yu-Gi-Oh! Fan Fiction ❯ Stay In Shadow ❯ Somewhere I Belong ( Chapter 4 )

Chapter 5 - Somewhere I Belong

The light was blinding to Ryou's eyes. It only made the pain in his head worse. He felt like he had been smashed on the head at least a dozen times with a bottle. He groaned and rubbed his temples. He wondered if he was alive or not. Maybe he was on the verge of death.

"Ryou..."

Ryou mumbled a few words, but he barley heard himself.

"Ryou?"

Groaning again, he slowly let his eyelids flutter open. His vision was unclear at first, his head pounding. Ryou slowly sat up and soon the picture he saw through his eyes was clear and the blurring ceased. He caught a glimpse of a hand on his knee when he turned his head and saw a smiling face.

"Yugi?"

Yugi pushed a yellow bang out of his face and took his hand away.

"Hi Ryou. How are you feeling?"

At the moment, Ryou didn't know what to say. He was surprised, shocked, and maybe even a little bit afraid. To why he was, he was not sure.

He looked around, studying the room carefully. It was Yugi's room all right and he was in Yugi's bed. Being surprised, Ryou looked back at Yugi who pulled the chair he was in closer to the bed. Ryou felt his head spin again. He slowly lay down and tried to smile.

"I've been better," Ryou replied.

Yugi nodded. "Well, you'll be feeling better soon. Don't worry. Yami and I took care of your wounds. All you have to do is rest."

Ryou frowned. Yugi was so lucky to have a caring yami. He wasn't so lucky himself. He had Bakura who wouldn't waste the opportunity to hit him. Ryou would have smacked himself. He knew he shouldn't be remembering all that. It was of the past. A painful past.

"Ryou? Are you ok?"

Ryou broke out of his trance and looked up at Yugi whose eyes were filled with concern.

"I'm fine Yugi. Just thinking, that's all."

Turning their attention to the door, the two boys saw the Pharaoh walk in. Yami stood beside Yugi and placed a hand on his shoulder. Looking down at Ryou, he smiled.

"I hope you had a good rest."

"Better than most," Ryou said. "I want to thank you both for helping me. You really didn't have to."

Yugi chuckled. "Don't be silly! You're our friend Ryou. Friend's take care of each other."

"Uhh, Yugi?" Ryou asked. "Not to impose or anything, but how did I get here?"

Yugi looked up at Yami. "Yami saw you walking over to our house. He went to meet you, but then you collapsed on the ground. He carried you in and we took care of you."

Complete silence.

"Hmm...Ryou, would you mind telling what happened?" Yami asked.

"Well I-"

"No," Yugi interrupted. "I think we should let Ryou rest for a little while longer. When he is strong enough then he can tell us."

Yami nodded in agreement and walked out of the room. Yugi then ran his fingers through Bakura's glossy hair.

"You rest now. You'll be all right."

Yugi then closed the blinds in his room and walked out, closing the door behind him.

Ryou was alone again. Though he did not mind this time. He knew he was in good hands and he was glad that Yugi and Yami were taking good care of him, but even so, the memory of Bakura lingered in his mind. Even if it was painful, he wanted to remember. He wanted to see Bakura. But was Bakura not the one who had just beaten him senselessly? Ryou was confused with his own thoughts. Even thinking made him tired.

With a small groan, Ryou turned his head and closed his eyes. Sleep overwhelmed him almost immediately, but the thoughts of Bakura never stopped, they continued in his dreams.

~*~ (a/n: I know that was short, but it's not that important)

Ryou dragged his foot across the carpet and pushed against the wall to help him down the stairs. He had woken up, feeling much better than before and wanted some company. Rather than having Yami or Yugi come up to see him, Ryou wanted to go downstairs. He wanted to make it clear that he was feeling better and he figured going downstairs unexpected was the best way.

He had found his clothes on the bed he had been sleeping in. All clean of the blood. He had put them on, chuckling to himself seeing rips in the material.

When he got to the main floor, he found that no one was in the den. Thinking to where they could be, Ryou smelt something good through his nose. Food. Kitchen.

Ryou couldn't deny that he was hungry. He had not eaten for a day and from all of the strength he had used trying to get to Yugi's house, he was starving. Walking into the kitchen, he saw Yami sitting at the table, drinking coffee and reading the newspaper, while Yugi was at the stove cooking.

Yami was the first to notice Ryou enter the kitchen and he put his paper down.

"Ryou. I did not expect you to come down here for a while."

Yugi turned around, an apron on him. He cocked his head to the side in confusion. (a/n: so kawaii!)

"Ryou? What are you doing down here? I thought you were asleep."

"Oh," he said chuckling. "Well, I woke up and I felt better, so I decided to come down here."

"Well," Yugi said walking over to Ryou. "I'm glad you're feeling better. Want to join us for lunch?"

Ryou smiled. "Sure."

After having lunch and Ryou was stuffed, he helped Yugi and Yami to clean and put away the dishes. All of them then gathered in the den and sat down on the couch. Ryou felt nervous at the way Yami and Yugi were looking at him. Both of their eyes locked on him, he felt like he was he was some sort of experiment being observed. It wasn't a good feeling.

"Ryou," Yugi finally spoke. "Would you mind telling us what happened? I remember that when you told me that stuff at school, you ran off."

"Yugi, I am so sorry. I didn't mean it when I said that I wanted you to stay away. Only at that moment and time. I hope you didn't take it the wrong way."

"No! No! I was just concerned for you," Yugi said frowning.

"Ryou," Yami said. "Yugi told me what you said Bakura was doing to you. Did that have anything to do with you being injured yesterday?"

Ryou slowly nodded. "Yes. I didn't want Bakura to know what I had told Yugi. I thought that if he knew, he would come after you and hurt you. I couldn't let that happen."

"You should have let us know sooner. If we have known that Bakura was hurting you so much, we would have done something about it," Yami said.

Ryou thought about it. Maybe Yami was right. Maybe he should have said something in the first place, then all the pain he had ever known would have never been felt. Then again, if he had told, then he would have never realised Bakura's almost caring side. If that were possible.

It was hard for Ryou to accept, but he really did think that it was Bakura's fault. It was his fault that he was too weak for Bakura. If he was stronger and more confident like Bakura himself, maybe Bakura could like him. Perhaps there was a chance that he could change Bakura's feelings. It was a mission that could cause him his life. Ryou knew that he had been told to leave and returning to his house and meeting Bakura with a dagger didn't appear to be a good idea, but if that's what it took to tell Bakura how he felt, then he would.

Ryou stood up and looked at Yugi and Yami with determination.

"I have to go."

"What?" Yugi asked alarmed. "Go? Where?"

"Back," Ryou said making his way to the door. "I have to go back."

Ryou swung open the door, stepped out and looked back at his too friends who were confused by his actions.

"Yugi, Yami," Ryou said. "I thank you for everything, but you must understand. No matter what Bakura does to me, I know that deep inside, he feels different. And I do too. I care for Bakura and nothing can shatter my affection for him."

The friends stared at each other for a few moments. Ryou didn't let an ounce of fear show through him and soon, Yugi looked up at him with sad eyes.

"We won't stop you," Yugi said. "But just...be careful."

Ryou smiled. "I will and thank you."

The door closed behind Ryou and he started on his way back to his home, even if the home he had was part of a memory best forgotten. He wanted to remember it all again.

The sky seemed to be darkening, smoky clouds crawling in Ryou's view. Ryou shivered, but there was no wind to chill him. The very thought of the bad things that Bakura might do when he returned was haunting him. No matter how confident he told himself he was, the deep feeling of Bakura's evil would never leave. There was a pain that could not be healed by just friends comforting him. He had to have the source show the truth. No matter how much the pain in his heart was trying to be healed, it was a scar that would last forever, unless it was healed the right way.

~*~

Bakura rubbed a dark petal between his fingers and then let it fall to the ground. Plucking another red petal from the rose in his hand, he did the same thing. It was the only thing that reminded Bakura of Ryou. The only thing that was as soft as his skin and as beautiful as his soul. The petals were as red as Ryou's blood that was smeared upon the walls. Just as dark and exotic.

Inhaling the sweet smell the rose, Bakura pictured Ryou in his mind, remembering what he had done to Ryou before he left. All that fear gathered in those sparkling eyes and all the blood soaking his torn clothes. Bakura let the rose fall out of his hand and to the floor. He felt guilty. He didn't want to admit it, but it was true. He shouldn't have hurt Ryou the way that he did. He couldn't hurt his hikari and he shouldn't have.

Just as soon as the guilt feeling came, so did the anger. He couldn't feel bad for Ryou. He had never before and he couldn't start. He only cared for himself and no one else. No one else mattered. He was alone and that was how it was suppose to be.

Bakura groaned, smacking himself in the head and falling carelessly onto the couch. He didn't know what to do. A part of him wished that he had stabbed Ryou in the first place, but another part of him wanted Bakura to go and find Ryou. See if he was ok. All the mixed emotions were driving him crazy.

Suddenly there was a harsh knock on the door.

"What?" Bakura asked, not caring who it was.

Bakura heard the door swing open and close. He didn't look up, but closed his eyes and sighed.

"A friend can't even stop by?" a voice asked.

Bakura's eyes snapped open and he sat up. Appearing out of the darkness, smirking at Bakura and shaking his head, was Marik.

"Marik?" Bakura's voice grew harsh. "What are you doing here?"

Marik frowned. "You seem upset. Don't you dare get angry with me Bakura. You know what happened last time you were in a bad mood."

"Shut up," Bakura spat. "I am not in a bad mood."

The blonde Egyptian made his way around the couch and sat down beside Bakura.

"I beg to differ."

Bakura rolled his eyes. "Tell me why your here Marik."

Marik ran his eyes up and down his millennium rod and then looked to Bakura.

"I was just in the neighbourhood. Thought I would drop by and see how things were," Marik observed the blood on the walls. "But judging by the blood spilled upon the walls, I have to believe that something went wrong?"

"No," Bakura growled. "Normal punishment."

"Looks like a little more than that," Marik pointed out.

"Get out."

"How is Ryou?"

"Get out."

"Did you kill him?"

"Get out."

"Or did you not because you care for your hikari?"

"GET THE HELL OUT OF HERE!"

Marik was a little taken back by Bakura's yelling, but he didn't show it. Instead, he moved closer to Bakura and stared at him, his eyes darkening.

"Tell me the truth, Bakura."

"There is nothing," Bakura said. "Even if there was, why would I tell you?"

"Sometimes the truth is hard to accept. If you care for him Bakura, then-"

"I do not care for the weakling!" Bakura glared at Marik.

"I see," Marik said standing up and walking to the door. "I hope you make the right choice Bakura. The truth may be difficult, but in the end, it is better. Oh, and Bakura?"

Bakura lifted his head and looked at Marik.

"If you do not care for him, then I ask you the question. Why did you bother sparing his pathetic life?"

With that, Marik slammed the door behind him, leaving Bakura with his last words. Bakura sat where he was for a few moments, pondering Marik's words. Why had he let the boy live? Did he really...love Ryou?

Bakura closed his eyes. How could he love a weakling? A good-hearted spirit like Ryou, when he was of the darkness? Did Ryou even feel the same? Bakura knew that he would look like a fool telling Ryou about his undying love for him after the pain he had put Ryou through. But there was a chance...maybe Ryou felt the same. But maybe it was too late.

Bakura remembered how Ryou had left, in pain and bleeding to death. It wouldn't happen. Ryou knew better than to go back to him, of that Bakura was sure.

Bakura stood up and was going to walk to his room to get some rest. He felt his foot step on something and he lifted his leg to see what it was. Beneath him, he saw Ryou's rose. Bakura reached down and picked it up. Holding it in his hand, he clutched it tightly and turned towards the door. Grabbing a coat, he walked out the door and stepped outside. It was getting very dark, even though it was early in the day. Bakura tugged his coat around him. He didn't understand why he was going out to find Ryou, but his heart told him to.

The streets were deserted. People had gone inside to get away from the cold air. Bakura walked down the streets, hoping for any sign that Ryou was returning home.

As he searched, his ears picked up a sound. It wasn't a pleasant sound. It was a cry of pain. Bakura could almost recognise the voice.

'It couldn't be,' he thought.

Walking quickly, Bakura let the cries guide him. Reaching an alleyway, Bakura looked down it and saw too figures. One of them was holding the other roughly. Bakura was going to leave them, until he noticed a flash of white. Ryou?!

Bakura ran down the ally and came to the two people. An old and ugly looking man wearing sweats had his hands around a person's throat. Bakura looked up to the see the person and gasped. Long and soft hair covered the victim's face. His skinny body was slammed against the brick wall and he hung there, lifeless.

Anger was growing inside Bakura like a raging fire. He curled his hands into fists and felt his nails digging into his own flesh. The ugly man noticed Bakura and laughed.

"Better get out of here kid, don't want to get hurt."

Bakura looked at the man with piercing eyes. The man turned completely afraid. He loosened his grip on Ryou's neck and Ryou fell to the ground with a thud. Bakura smirked and approached the man. He then shot his hand out and closed it around the man's throat.

"How dare you hurt him," Bakura said. Even he was surprised of what he had said. "The penalty for your foolish mistake...death."

Bakura's grip tightened and the man started choking. With one last tighten of his hand, there was a cracking noise and the man's body hung limp. Bakura let go and smiled as the body fell to the dirty ground. Quickly remembering why he had killed the man, Bakura walked over to Ryou's body.

Flipping Ryou on his back, Bakura checked Ryou's frame for wounds. He had a couple of new scratches, but nothing too serious. Pushing hair out of Ryou's face, Bakura stared at Ryou for a few moments. Bakura then picked up Ryou tightly in his arms and carried him down the alleyway, the blue sky eating away at the darkness.

A rose cradled gently among thorns.