Yu-Gi-Oh! Fan Fiction ❯ You Don't Know What You Have Until It's Gone ❯ Chapter 1

Disclaimer: I don't own Yu-Gi-Oh! or Green Day... I don't own shit

A/N: Well, I wanted to put this up much sooner, but I was having problems getting back into it since this has been sitting since the end of January. The only reason I abandoned it for so long is because of a personal tragedy and I didn't want to deal with angst in a story as well as the turmoil I was facing in real life.

I also got held up from updating due to having to come into work for 2 of my days off. I cannot even begin to describe how much I hate going in to get bitched out for 4-5 hours when I'm supposed to be having the day off instead.. I don't even get fucking overtime.

I'll stop bitching now.

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".. I walk this empty street, on the Boulevard of broken dreams.. Where the city sleeps, and I'm the only one and I walk a-.. My shadow's the only one that walks beside me.. My shallow heart's the only thing that's beating.. Sometimes I wish someone out there will find me.. 'Til then, I walk alone...."

A sweet, sad voice sang the lyrics to Green Day's "Boulevard of Broken Dreams" quietly as he worked to clean up the house. A CD player was by his side with the headphones on. He liked listening to music while he was busy, it made the house seem less empty and lonely that way.

Setting a pillow back in place upon the couch, Ryou smiled softly to himself. The house was clean once more, but the teen didn't want to think at how short a time it would stay in one piece.

His dark half, Bakura, had left the house earlier and was on the loose somewhere in Domino. Ryou knew that whatever the elder was doing, it was most likely illegal.

The pale boy headed towards the kitchen to start dinner. Sure, it was nice that Bakura had his own body now so he could have some company at last, but sometimes the ancient spirit was more trouble than he was worth.

Just about the time Ryou had brought the pan to a simmer, a loud slam from the front door alerted him to Bakura's return. He slipped off his headphones.

He called in his usual cheerful tone, "Welcome home, Bakura! I do hope you didn't cause too much trouble today."

The tomb robber lumbered into the kitchen with a sneer, "Oh, wipe that fucking smile off your face.. You're always too damn chipper."

Ryou quieted before gathering a spoonful, giving it a blow, and offering it to his other to taste.

"I'm making something new tonight, how does it taste?.. I think I may need to add some more garlic powder to it though."

A rust colored eye regarded the spoon with a glare. When Bakura saw that his light wasn't going to take the food away until he tried it, he took the spoon into his mouth. Ryou seemed to puff up a bit with anxious hope.

".. Tastes like your usual shit.. Get out of my way, I want some beer," the thief grumbled as he shoved the boy aside on his way to the fridge.

The younger fought back the sting from the comment and only lowered his head some as he went back to cooking. He knew that he should be used to the comments by now, but he still held out some small hope that his darkness would actually say something positive to him one day.

Ryou served up a dish for Bakura first and brought it out to the living room. The spirit was sprawled out across the couch, flipping through the television channels idly. The room was a mess once more.

"It might be a little hot still, so I'll just set it on the coffee table to cool."

There was a slight grunt in reply before the boy left to the kitchen once more. He made himself a smaller plate and sat himself at the kitchen table to eat. Silent and alone. Ryou did not bother with seconds since Bakura would eat whatever was left, himself.

Ryou would go in to retrieve the soiled dishes, no words shared between the two, then go and wash them. Afterwards, the boy would head to his room, change into his nightclothes, and crawl into bed.

This was the norm...

At least to anyone that did not look too deeply into the household....

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"Please, Bakura.. I just wish to finish my homework!" the smaller trembled in Bakura's grasp.

"Shut the fuck up and do what I said!" growled the other in anger before throwing the boy to the ground.

Ryou made a slight cry as he fell into a heap, but pulled himself to his feet once more. He kept his head lowered so that his snowy locks would hide his eyes before he began undressing as he was commanded. He pulled his shirt off over his head and let it drop to the floor before undoing his pants. Once they were unzippered, he pulled them and his boxers down past his thighs, letting them pool around his ankles. The boy shivered as he stood bare.

Bakura came over and secured his hikari's arms behind his back with some leather straps.

"Now get over there. You know how this works."

There was a slight nod from the younger teen before he went to sit at the decorated alter Bakura kept in their basement. Ryou sat upon the cushion before laying back and carefully maneuvering himself around until he could use his feet to edge himself against the altar's wall. He had fallen over the first few times in this precarious position, but now knew where to center his body.

Ryou waited, sitting upside down, and rested his lower back against the altar until Bakura had finished securing him. Each of his legs were tied with more leather straps to keep his knees apart and thighs spread. Being in this vulnerable position always made him tremble.

The ancient tomb robber brought over the finishing touches. He secured a gag in the boy's mouth and blindfolded him. He said it was because he could not stand seeing those doe eyes staring at him so pitifully or hearing those cries from the boy as the ritual was performed.

Bakura shed his clothes before adorning a loincloth and tunic that was yellowed with age. He resembled himself back in ancient Egypt in this attire. The dark spirit fetched a cloth that held the items for the ceremony.

Bakura brought them over to the altar and set them upon the ground near Ryou's head before pulling the cloth back. First, he pulled out a black, wax candle. He looked it over, deep in thought, then moved to set the candle in place.

Even with the gag, Ryou gave a shrill whine. The thick base of the candle was forced into him until a good amount was lodged inside his passage to keep it secure. Bakura struck a match before lighting the candle.

The flame flickered and danced, helped some by the younger's trembling as he tried to remain an obedient candleholder for his darkness. He dug his teeth into the gag as the first searing dribbles ran down the smooth candle surface and hit his soft skin.

The stark contrast of the black wax against the alabaster skin brought a shiver of excitement to Bakura. He set the twin sticks of incense on either side of the altar before sitting upon his knees. He removed a dagger from the cloth and licked the blade excitedly.

Ryou's breath was ragged through his nose. All he could do was listen in his blinded state as his other half knelt before him and began his low chanting prayers.

This 'ritual' that Bakura would perform, about once a month, was to supposedly "appease the gods" and was some sort of revenge for the slaughtering of the innocents in the Millennium Items' creation. At least that's what he had told Ryou before slapping him upside the head for questioning him.

There was a soft hiss in the dark before the faintly metallic smell of blood came to the boy's nose. He tensed before he felt the sharp blade caressing his own flesh. The gag muffled his frail whimperings as the metal bit into his tender skin deep enough to draw a few droplets of his own lifeblood from his thigh.

The cut was small, more of a prick than anything, but it never failed to sting. Luckily, Ryou was never left with any lasting marks, other than a scab or two.

The ancient tomb robber collected their crimson drops into a small offering bowl and mixed it with his finger. Carefully, he smeared the blood across his cheeks similar to tribal paint and once more, said his prayers to the gods.

Bakura's chanting could last for quite a while, leaving the candle to burn down halfway until it was removed at last and Ryou was freed.

"You've served your purpose, now get out.." the taller spat.

The frail teen collected himself and his clothes before running back upstairs and into the safety of his room. He threw himself upon his bed and cried until the tears ceased to flow. Then, and only then, would be he able to clean himself and bandage his wounds.

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Ryou sat quietly at lunch, staring at his food blankly while he was lost in thought. A stray french fry poked its way underneath his nose, effectively snapping him from his trance.

Joey pulled back the fry and popped it into his mouth, chewing while he talked, "We've been callin' ya fer a bit. Ya just went all zombie on us."

The white haired teen shot his trademark sheepish smile and chuckled nervously, "Oh, I do apologize for my rudeness. I guess I just have a lot on my mind today."

Yugi, who sat on Ryou's other side, whispered to him softly when everyone went back to their food.

".. Everything alright, Ryou?.. You know you can tell us if you need any help."

Chocolate orbs turned to gaze at the short statured youth. He looked deeply concerned for his pale friend.

".. Of course, Yugi. Everything is just fine. You needn't trouble yourself over me.. Oh! You'd better finish eating before the bell rings. Or Joey may eat it for you," Ryou replied with his guarded front.

Yugi pouted softly, "... Ryou.. If you'd like to stay with Yami and me for a few days, all you have to do is ask.. Yami could talk to Bakura and keep an eye on him. I just don't want you to get hurt."

"Thank you for the offer, Yugi, but I assure you that I'm quite all right.. Pardon me, but I need to use the bathroom now. I'll see all of you in class."

Gathering his things, Ryou hurried off into the bathroom where he locked himself in one of the stalls. He slid to the tiled floor before burying his face in his knees and crying.

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A/N: I think I'll update the next chapter or two while I'm still at it.