The Opposite End

Disclaimer: Don't own Yu-Gi-Oh, will never own it, lalalalalala.

Have you ever wanted something so much, it hurt? Malik assesses Yuugi and Jounouchi's friendship with an eye that is not as clinical as he would like it to be. Set before the Battle City Finals.

A/N: This was written after seeing the last of the eps where Yuugi fought Jou, which I found quite touching.

Please review, I'll love you forever if you do!

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Everyone's got flaws.

Sometimes, they're glaring, blinding and bright, to me more than anyone else. I don't look at people, and see them for who they are, rather -what- they are. I see what is simply a set of flaws and assets. Who would be easy to destroy, whose soul would splinter to my will the easiest. I look at everything with an objective eye.

People have different ways of dealing with their flaws. I, for example, hide them- I am far too learned to the ways of people like me to allow myself to be open for such an attack. Some people just allow them to flap loose, and have people judge them for what they are.

But they, they're different. Yuugi, and Jounouchi. They have the most unique way of dealing with their flaws that I have ever seen.

Yuugi is rather timid, and draws courage from his best friend, Jounouchi. However, Jounouchi is rather hotheaded, and draws on Yuugi's patience. When faced with adversity, they each act as an emotional crutch for the other, yet they're never overbearing. When in danger of drowning, they would drown for each other. When in danger of death, they would die for each other.

I'm trying to work out the flaws in this situation. I've been trying for a long time. I thought I had it nailed, I thought the Sennen Rod would have been able to sway Jounouchi far enough away from himself to destroy Yuugi... but it didn't work. With his friend's help, Jounouchi Katsuya was the first and only person to break free of the Sennen Rod's mind-control without me allowing it.

And when given the choice, Yuugi laid down his own life to save Jounouchi's. However, the other could not accept a boon when it was given to him, and did the same, freeing Yuugi from his watery grave to go under himself. If it hadn't been for his sister, he would have died that day, and saved me a hell of a lot of trouble.

Ever since, my mind has been on that relationship, looking at it from all angles. I cannot find a single flaw in such a friendship. If one was captured, the other would not panic, and would simply instead take the necessary steps to free them. If one was killed, the other would not shatter, and would instead live in the knowledge that the other would want them to be happy.

I cannot find a flaw.

It must be nice to have such a friendship. I've had acquaintances, and people I have felt advantaged to know, such as the ephemeral Yami Bakura. However, a true friend, a friend such as Jounouchi is to Yuugi, I have never had. I've never experienced that feeling of support, that someone would always be there to pick you up if you fall.

For the first time, I find myself feeling empty in my cold, clinical mind, when being cold and clinical was all I had ever wanted. They make me feel inadequate; they make me feel small; they make me feel alone.

This is the reason I must break their souls. They have to pay, for destroying my temperance.

Destruction always worked well for me.

I've never really felt it from the opposite end.

--End--

Wow, two Yu-Gi-Oh stories in one day! :D I like this fandom. So many story ideas, coming all at once... Yay! If you've got the time, please review... C&C is always, always appreciated, loved and fed chocolate biscuits. Thanks!