When Darkness Falls

A/N: Hey, guys! Welcome to the newly revised edition of When Darkness Falls. This fic is slowly being changed, and hopefully the story will be complete in eight chapters, time permitting, of course! Happy reading!

Pairing: Bakura x Ryou

Warnings: Violence, abuse, suicidal tendencies, sexuality, shounen-ai/yaoi

Chapter I: Darkness Dwelling In Darkness

He sat on the edge of the ravine, his white bangs covering his dark brown eyes. Silence surrounded him as the sun set behind the dark green pines. "If I jumped," he asked himself thoughtfully as he toyed with the sleeve of his black sweater, "would anyone give a damn?" This life had become meaningless; he had become soft. He was no longer the great thief Bakura. His lighter side, somehow, had prevented him from proceeding with his exploits. It made him angry that for some reason, he just didn't care anymore.

"I would care, yami," a voice said from behind Bakura, startling him.

He turned around quickly, only to meet the eyes of his hikari, Ryou. He felt his features soften when he set eyes on the boy. Even though he was almost eighteen, he still had an innocent face... and Bakura liked that, though he would never admit it out loud. "Why are you here, hikari?" he asked, turning back around. His voice was harsh and demanding.

"I wouldn't want you to do something stupid," Ryou replied softly. His cheeks were tinged red. "After all, it's my body, too. I don't know what would happen to me if you decided to off yourself."

"Ah, only concerned about what would happen to you, I see," Bakura chuckled darkly. He knew it wasn't true, but he said it any way to make his light feel guilty. I'm so dark. It's like even though I'm the dark half of this boy, I still have darkness within myself. Darkness within darkness. And I love it.

"T-That's not how I meant it," Ryou stammered. "You're my other half... I suppose it would be like ripping my soul in two." He stood behind Bakura, wringing his hands together nervously. I shouldn't have followed him. I can feel his anger.

Bakura turned to the side and looked at the other sharply. "Leave me be, hikari. Your pathetic attempts could rescue no one, especially me."

"Bakura, I didn't mean it that way," said Ryou stiffly. He backed away defensively.

"I told you to leave. Why do you insist on disobeying my orders?"

"I..."

Bakura stood up and dusted off his jeans. He walked slowly to Ryou, like a predator advancing on its prey. He loved the power thathe had over his light. He loved watching him squirm; it sent shivers of delight down his spine. And as he grabbed the other's shirt violently, he realized that he loved seeing the terrified look in Ryou's eyes. Pathetic. Was this teen really supposed to be his "other half"? As far as he was concerned, it was an insult.

"P-Please let me go." Even though they a few feet back from the cliff of the ravine, Ryou was startlingly aware that they were still very close to its jagged edges.

"Don't talk back to me," the older one hissed angrily. "You're making matters worse for yourself." He felt little remorse when he hit Ryou; when he abused him. It made him feel powerful again, like in ancient times. Still, he almost wished Ryou would fight back for once. He was so... docile and submissive.

Ryou's heart pounded in his chest. "Please, yami. I only wanted to help you." His voice sounded so defeated, so weary.

Only wanted to help me? My, God, Ryou. I could spend every day beating you to a bloody pulp, and you would still want to help me. Damn that heart of yours. You reach out to even the worst people; to me. Bakura's eyes narrowed to slits. I cannot show mercy. I must stand my ground.

"Why do you always hurt me?" Ryou asked the question so quietly that Bakura almost didn't hear him. "I don't understand."

"Because you, hikari, are a pathetic excuse for a human being." He shook him, and in doing so, lost his grip on Ryou's shirt. He hadn't noticed that they had moved closer to the cliff, and Bakura's eyes widened in shock as he saw Ryou, seemingly in slow-motion, fall backwards towards the edge of the ravine.

And for the first time since he had lived in Ancient Egypt, he lost his composure. "R-Ryou!"