This was an on the whim fic that wasnt even my whim to begin with.

I blame Tenshi!

Enjoy!

Ryou cowered in the corner of his room. It was thundering outside and he knew no one would be able to hear his screams when Bakura finally made it up the steps. He'd been especially mean today

Ryou shivered and his palms started to sweat when he heard the steps of someone in the hallway making their way towards his room. He started crying, allowing bitter and frightful tears to make their way down his face.

He tried desperately to keep quiet. Maybe Bakura would change his mind, forget about Ryou breaking the dish earlier. Maybe he would realize that it had been an accident.

Ryou whimpered again.

He knew it was hopeless. Bakura wouldn't do that.

Ever.

Not in this lifetime or any other

Suddenly, the door was thrown open and the pale boys embodiment of all his fear walked across the threshold. He tried to curl into a ball, to make himself less visible behind the flimsy cot.

But Bakura wasn't stupid, or blind. He kept stalking towards the frightened boy, a cruel look on his face. Ryou's frame racked with sobs. He scratched at the wall for a moment, as if in some way that would help him escape.

But Bakura trudged on and once he reached the albino boy, he dug his fingers into his hair and pulled the sobbing mess from his heap on the floor to eye level.

"What were you thinking, Ryou?" he asked quietly. Threateningly.

Ryou closed his eyes and whimpered, shaking his head. He put his hands over his eyes and let more tears wet his face.

Bakura got angry.

"What do you think you are doing, Ryou!? Hiding from me? That's not going to help you!" The taller man threw him to the ground with one violent movement. Ryou landed hard on his right elbow and back and the boy could've sworn he'd heard a crack against the hardwood floor as a terrible pain shot through his body. Bakura took a step towards him, reared his leg back, and kicked the smaller male's torso harshly.

Poor Ryou curled into a ball and gasped for air. He let out a few dry sobs.

"Stop," he uttered quietly. "Please. It hurts too much."

But Baura didn't. He wouldn't. He continued abusing the boy in the darkness, until more bloodstains joined those already in the room.

When he left, Ryou's clothes were in tatters, his body was bruised and bleeding, and he was just hurting.

Inside.

Outside.

Physically.

Emotionally.

'What did I do?' Ryou thought to himself as he gazed outside the window into the flashing thunder. 'What did I do to deserve so much pain?'