Author Notes: Just something that had been nagging at the back of my mind for a few months and demanded to be written, so I did. And finally I've gotten around to post it, meh. It does have more than a few details you might want to notice for future chaps, since I have the worst habit of being a stickler for details but eh… what can I do? Heh. And it may be slightly confusing at first, which is intended… but hopefully everything will come together in the end. Reviews are greatly appreciated.

disclaimer: dreamy look Oh, the delicious possibilities if I actually owned Yu-Gi-Oh… but, sadly, I don't…

notes/warnings: SetoJou (semi-established), yaoi, shonen-ai (don't like, don't read), weirdness, flashbacks, voices in Jou's head, crude language, possible OOC-ness, foreshadowing, dreams, reality…

I wrote their names as surnames then first names.

Ne – means, depending on context, either 'Hey' or sort of like asking for confirmation, like 'Right?' or 'Isn't that so?'

Italics – denotes either flashbacks, emphasized wordsand phrases, or… well, for right now, we'll just call 'it' the voice inside Jou's head…

So without further adieu…

Shatter
By: Scelerus Animus

Chapter One
And So the Dream Begins

Random thoughts floated through his mind, snippets and comments that he neither comprehended nor cared to at the moment. As if adrift in a lazy reverie, his breath was even and deep honey-brown eyes were half-closed in utter relaxation. And this happened so few times that he was purely content to rest his head in a rather comfortable lap, the owner of said lap so occupied by a worn, age-old book, that aforementioned person took no notice to the untidy mop of golden blonde hair currently occupying his lap. Thus he did not make a most-likely dog-related comment on the blonde's slightly perplexed look of thought swirling in his honey-brown eyes.

To the blonde, this moment was sheer bliss.

Distantly, he heard the slight crinkle of paper as the brunet turned the page of his oh-so fascinating novel. …Right. Even after these past six months—or years, considering how long he had actually known the brunet—he could not understand what was so interesting about a book. Sure, some were okay, perhaps, even enjoyable to read, as long as they weren't textbooks or other such books that the damn school assigned him to read, and yeah, he didn't mind reading a book for fun, just not when the useless school told him to read one, but still…

Hey, he had never said he was the most logical of teenagers. The book-obsessed freak would most certainly agree with him on that; in fact, the brunet actually had told him so on various occasions.

Another crinkle of paper. Another turn of the page.

Mentally, he shook the sleep out of his eyes, his hazy reverie dissipating along with the curling fog of slumber. He did not want to fall asleep just yet.

"Seto."

No response was heard. Either the brunet didn't hear him or was ignoring him entirely. Oh why, oh why did the blonde think it was more than likely the former?

"Seeetoooo."

Still no response. Now, the blonde knew it was the former rather than the latter.

"Seto, c'mon. I wanna ask ya somet'ing," Jounouchi whined to his boyfriend.

Though… really, boyfriend implied some kind of relationship. He wasn't in a relationship—none of that mushy lovey-dovey crap.

Jounouchi mentally sighed. Seto, Seto, his beloved Seto. But, no, again that implied a relationship. In which they weren't. Jou was just foolish enough to dream that they were.

Another crinkle. Another page.

"Seeetoooo."

Memorizing the page number for later, Kaiba Seto finally closed his hardback novel and placed it on the plush cushion beside him where a small fragile figurine of a golden puppy dog also lay amongst the remains of shiny wrapping paper.

One pale, slender hand lightly digging itself into Jounouchi's soft golden locks while the other came to rest on his muscled chest, playing lightly with the metal dog tags scattered lazily across his slightly dirty white T-shirt, Kaiba's impassive cerulean blue eyes finally locked with Jou's warm honey-brown ones.

Remember, Jou, remember, it's just a dream. Not a relationship. If it isn't a relationship you can't get hurt. …Simply a dream fabricated by your own pitiable longings.

"Yes pup?" Kaiba asked, Jounouchi instantly melting into the cool, silk-like tones of the CEO's gorgeous voice.

Just a dream… Nothing more, nothing less, little Jou, foolish Jou…

Right. No mushy lovey-dovey shit. Riiiight. Perhaps, someday, his friends would finally convince him that Kaiba really could never care about him that way. Perhaps, they could snap him out of his foolish dream before he got hurt.

Or, perhaps, he had already realized that it was too late; he would forever live—be trapped—in the dream he had created.

Delicate fingers gently raked through his golden hair. Though, truth be told, there was not anything delicate about Kaiba at all. With his flawless, overconfident posture, breath-taking looks, superior-than-thou attitude, and deep, unyeilding cerulean eyes that could freeze Hell and this Earth over with just one glare—Kaiba was anything but delicate. Merciless, compassionless, vicious, brutal, coldhearted, cruel, arrogant, genius, confident, imperishable, indestructable, overpowering, supreme—these were words that others would find more fitted to Kaiba Seto. Certainly not delicate.

Except, perhaps, in your pathetic dreams… fool…

Shifting slightly, Jou continued to become lost in Kaiba's shockingly blue eyes, so deep, ever changing from one shade of blue to the next, from the raging ocean to a brilliant sapphire. Although Jounouchi was probably the only one to ever notice this small detail, but that suited him just fine. For some reason he didn't like the idea of someone else being so close to Kaiba to notice the little fact, aside from Mokuba, that is.

And Jounouchi took pleasure in the fact that he was doubtlessly the only person to associate the word delicate with the ruthless CEO of Kaiba Corp. (except for possibly Mokuba but, again, that was entirely different story).

"Mutt, I haven't got all day," said the CEO, interrupting Jounouchi's pleasant musings. Watching as his mutt abruptly snapped out of his daze, blinking rapidly, Kaiba couldn't help the slight curve of his lips that appeared, nor the raise of an elegant brown eyebrow in amusement. Lazily sliding between his slender fingers, the dog tags were cool to his touch.

"Yeah, yeah, ye're a liar Kaiba. Jeez, ya act like ya lov' dat book more dan me," murmured Jounouchi, arching his back as he stretched and yawned. Settling back into the comfortable cushions of the worn leather couch and Kaiba's warm lap (even if somewhat bony; Kaiba was still getting used to Jou forcing him from his precious laptop to eat regular meals), Jounouchi lazily smiled up at the CEO, mussed blonde hair flopping low over honey-brown eyes. "We have all th' time da world."

"All the time in the world," repeated Kaiba softly, looking up to stare blankly at the large expanse of living room, dark blue eyes clouding over with something unfamiliar. He was remembering, drifting in the past, long ago it seemed, before the pup had somehow weaved his way into Kaiba's life, his life apart from dueling and school; or perhaps he was drifting in the future. Either way, Jounouchi wasn't so sure he liked that distant look. Like the calm before a storm.

"Seto?"

Rich cerulean hues locking with honey-brown depths once more, Kaiba smiled. Well, it was only a quirk of his mouth in reality—a smirk if anything, but still, Jou appreciated it just the same. "Yes, pup," affirmed Kaiba, "we have all the time in the world."

Silly, silly, mongrel, even your precious Seto—the one you have created from your fantasies— knows it's just a dream in which you're living… Not the real world. …Forever doesn't last in the real world, a painful lesson you will learn, Katsuya…

Satisfied with the answer, Jounouchi's tired honey-brown eyes slowly closed as he became lulled to sleep by the slim, gentle fingers dragging soothingly through his golden locks.

They both rested in silence, both content as Jou dozed sleepily, head on Kaiba's lap, and as Kaiba idly played with the silky, sweet-smelling locks of golden blonde hair and metal dog tags sprawled across Jou's chest. And, like this, they stayed for a while, just a while. Like this. Content. Just for a while.

Tch… Just for your dream… a dream that has to end sometimes, little Jou-chan…and reality will come crashing down around you… you can't escape it… never will…

"So what did you want to ask me, puppy?" Kaiba finally said, breaking the silence. But that was okay since Jounouchi could listen to his voice for just as long as he could stare at Kaiba himself. And that was for many, many hours. Beautiful. Another word that Jou associated with Kaiba that others didn't.

Furrowing his brow, Jounouchi tried to remember what he had been going to ask. "Oh yeah," Jou said, suddenly remembering, "Do ya think dreams die?" He paused for a moment, as if trying to find a way to express what he was attempting to say more clearly. "Ehh, I mean, ya know, do they… umm, well… die…" he finished, once again unable to find another word.

Hah, as if you don't know that, stupid mutt, little Jou-chan. …Stupid question, really. …Of course, they die; they die, they burn, they rot and sting, with you along for the agonizing ride… entrapped in their deceitful ways full of fallicious white clouds, Katsuya…

Impassive cerulean eyes stared down at Jou, a slender eyebrow quirked. A clink of metal was heard as the dog tags were rolled between Kaiba's delicate, white fingers. "That is either an extremely profound question or an extremely idiotic one, pup."

Completely idiotic, pitiful excuse for a human…

Grumbling good-naturedly, Jou turned over on his stomach and nuzzled his nose into Seto's thigh. "Eh… I'll go wit' da first one," he mumbled through Seto's black slacks, managing successfully to get spit on their dry-cleaned spotlessness. He smiled triumphantly, nuzzling his nose once more into Seto's thigh.

Suppressing the urge to roll his dark blue eyes, Kaiba gazed down at his puppy, faint curiosity drifting through his mind as he traced indistinguishable patterns across the back of Jou's white T-shirt.

"Why do you want to know, mutt?"

Jounouchi shifted again, snuggling more into Seto's warmth. Warmth that he never wanted leave.

"'Cause… umm… yeah, just 'cause."

'Cause you feel like you're in a dream right now, ne, Katsuya? A delicious wonderful dream from which you never want to wake up. What will happen when you do wake up from it? Will you cry? Will you break? Will you shatter into tiny pieces? I'm sure you will… and I'll watch and laugh…

Slowly, Seto slid an elegant finger down Jounouchi's spine, causing him to shiver under the simple but teasing touch.

Unspoken.

'What if it… my dream… dies? Do we die? Was there even a 'we' to begin? Tell me, Seto. Please tell me.' Jou buried his face deeper into Seto's thigh, trying to block out his—no, the thoughts being implanted in his mind.

"I do not dream, pup. Dreams are for the foolish."

'Liar.'

But Jounouchi didn't speak his reply aloud, simply snuggled more into Seto's lap. He dozed while graceful white fingers relaxingly petted his sunny golden locks and continued to trace indistinct patterns on his back.

This was nice. This was peaceful.

Well, then, enjoy it while you can, dog, little Jou-chan… because it won't last forever, not even close.

Jou yawned.

How could he help but think it was only a dream. After all, only in his dreams had he ever pictured this.

"Come on, mutt, it's time for you to go to bed," Kaiba softly commanded, nudging Jou slightly. "I do not want your drool all over my pants."

Jou simply snuggled some more.

"Nuh-uh," he whined, refusing to get up. "Not 'nless you come wit' me. 'S too late, anyways, already got drool on yer pants."

Kaiba suppressed another sigh and roll of his eyes.

"You know I have work to do, since for the entire day I have been deprived of my laptop thanks to Mokuba and you, so up, pup. Now."

Sighing, Jou reluctantly got up, stretched, and crossed his arms, scowling at Seto. Unaffected by the irritated glare, Kaiba also stood.

"Good pup."

Jou simply scowled some more.

Gently, almost tenderly, Kaiba took a hold of Jou's chin and turned his head until heated, more-than-slightly tired honey-brown clashed with cool cerulean.

"You're tired and it's late, so got to bed."

"Fine, fine," Jou grumbled.

With a soft kiss, Kaiba let go of Jou's chin and sent him upstairs to his bedroom while he headed in the opposite direction toward his office.

"G'night." Jou called sleepily as he opened the large wooden doorto their bedroom (well, it really was Seto's but Jou always slept there anyways) and stepped inside.

Collapsing on the bouncy, king-sized bed, Jou immediately wrapped himself in all the nice, warm, rich blue blankets. Not as warm as Seto though.

He sighed into the fluffy pillow, burrowing his head into it. Beside the huge bed, positioned on the mahogany bedside table, the electronic alarm clock glowed 10:42.

He knew Kaiba would be up until at least two o'clock, working on that damn laptop of his, always coding, creating, doing something for his stupid company. Sometimes, he would stay up as late as three. Then, finally, after hours of further ruining his eyesight staring at the damn computer screen, he would shut it down, change, and get into bed with Jou, who was naturally, like any other regular human being, already asleep at that time. Yet Kaiba did this, only to get up at exactly five o'clock, after about two or three hours of sleep, to go to Kaiba Corp. and, guess what?—work.

It was not healthy. Jou knew this. Hell, Jou knew Kaiba knew this.

Yet he doesn't listen to you. Even if it is for his own health, ne, mutt? Even now, you are beneath him, not worthy of opinion. Even in your own fabricated dream, Katsuya…

But being the stubborn Kaiba Seto that he was, god forbid that he actually listen to Jou for once.

Jou sighed, attempting to merge with the warm abundance of blankets piled atop of him.

Cold. He felt so cold. Empty. In this empty bed.

Why?

Why do you ask what you already know, Jou-chan? Little Jou, little Jou, so lost, can't find his way.

Snuggling deeper, he tried to sleep, quickly and without dreams.

Or, perhaps, instead of dreaming would he wake up?

Seto said he didn't dream.

Jou knew that was a lie. But he hadn't said anything.

Because Seto would not listen.

Dreams dreamed a dream of dreams.

Jou dreamed a dream of dreams.

You can't even face the truth, can you? What lies right in front of your nose, so close that it spits on you, mocks you, and it will laugh as you fall, trapped within your own creation, Katsuya. But, of course, you can't face it—can't face reality. This dream you have created is proof of that, ne, Jou-chan?

He lived in a dream of dreams.

Maybe this really was a dream he had created. Maybe.

If it was, he just hoped that dreams never died.

Foolish little Jou-chan…

Because he didn't want to wake up.

—————————

With a furious growl that escaped his throat, sounding more like a chocked back sob instead, Jounouchi Katsuya glared at the dirty, unclean ground, elbows resting on his knees, hands harshly clenched in messy blonde locks, and head hung low between his legs. Dully, he noted that the once white linoleum floor was cold, freezing even. Yet, despite that fact, it seemed no where near the artic iciness that encased Kaiba's glacial black heart.

Numbly, as if in one of those old movies that sometimes where so screwed up that they repeated scenes over and over again, the fight replayed continuously, in Jounouchi's mind, slowly shattering his heart piece by piece and igniting the raging fire in his blood.

"Bastard! You fuckin' bastard! What in th' fuckin' Hell have I done to deserve this, you BASTARD!" Jou screamed, fury spreading through his veins like a bullet shot to kill.

"Oh, is the little mutt hurt? Is he going to cry?" taunted the cerulean-eyed CEO before him, cold and uncaring.

"Shut up! Sh–shut the fuck up!"

"Yes, pathetic mutt, I do believe I see tears."

"Shut up! Shut up! Shut up!" yelled Jou, his vision indeed blurring with bitter water.

Around him, voices of the rather large crowd of students meshed so horribly together that his mind couldn't make sense of them, too focused on the callous, icy-eyed teen that the growing horde of students also circled. In the most inner ring of Domino High's students, his friends shouted, pleading with him to just ignore Kaiba; Anzu and Ryou were holding back Hondo while Yugi tried to talk some sense into Jounouchi, attempting to get him to walk away before something extremely bad happened.

But it was too late. Fists clenched and honey-brown eyes seething, Jou was far past that point.

"Pitiful excuse for a human… did you really think you were worth something, hmm?" That voice, which had been so soft and almost caring the previous night, was ruthless and mocking, a deadly drug to Jou's mind and heart.

"Wh–what? B–but… bastard! Just fuck you, Kaiba! Fu–fuck you!" Jou yelled, taking a furious, unconscious step forward, his voice raw and cracking at the edges. A tear slid done his face, unnoticed by the surrounding crowd, but not by the coldhearted CEO.

In the distance, the voice of a teacher shrieked in anger, something about 'those two idiots at it again!' but Jounouchi's mind didn't grasp it, so filled was it with rage and cerulean eyes.

Obviously, however, the smirking CEO did hear and comprehend it, as, in a blur of blue, he grabbed Jou's arm and pulled him through the throng of students and around several buildings—the locker rooms, the cafeteria, etc—until they far away from any nosy, irritating students and their equally as annoying voices.

Jounouchi was pulled along in a dazed shock, colors meshing and clashing around him. It was only when he was harshly slammed against the side of an unknown building that he was jolted out of his shock, rage and hurt filling his mind once again.

A voice whispered in his ear, so close that lips brushed against the lobe, but not lovingly, no, it was scornful and laughing: "Is this what you want, mutt, little Jou-chan?"—the name sounded oddly familiar to Jou, yet he was unable to place from where, though the spite coated around it was easily detectable—"Is this what you crave, inferior animal?"

A tongue flicked out to trace the curve of Jou's ear, and he shuddered against the body pressed against him, mind stupefied into a swirling haze once again.

It felt like scorching fire that left his skin ablaze despite the harsh coldness of the atmosphere around them.

"This is what you desire, isn't it, mutt?" whispered Kaiba, malicious and without mercy. Pale, agile hands trailed down Jounouchi's lithe body, brushing over spots that where known, by Kaiba at least, for making Jou weak in the knees. Sardonic kisses were pressed below the blonde's ear, trailing along his jaw.

"Tell me, is this what you want, Katsuya? To touch me? Kiss me? Lick me? Taste me? To fuck me? Or to have me fuck you?" Each phrase was punctuated with a kiss along the jaw, vicious and spiteful.

Jounouchi trembled, fury and agony boiling within his blood, yet unable to do anything about it, as his muscles didn't seem to have the strength to move. Pearly white tears now slid freely down his face, dripping off his chin. Sobs turned into harsh gasps as he tried to muffle them, face buried in soft brown hair, vanilla overwhelming his senses.

"Is this your pathetic dream, Katsuya?" In utter cruelty, each word was mockingly muttered, intoned to hurt, to destroy, to shatter, and the owner knew they were performing a prefect job at doing so. Chuckling softly, Kaiba absently licked the tears that streamed down Jounouchi's face.

"Well, I'm sorry little Jou-chan, but the world doesn't work that way. It's depraved and like a fiend; it will eat you alive, if all your meaningless life you exist in a dream, pathetic mongrel," murmured Kaiba, lips brushing against tanned skin tauntingly, and Jou felt his heart crack.

"Besides," Kaiba murmured, lips curving into an absolutely hateful smirk, frosty cerulean eyes gazing into blurry honey-brown, "I've already fucked you, haven't I? Therefore there is no reason to spend any more time with you, ne?"

As if struck by a bolt of lightening, red appeared before Jou's eyes, and with a furious cry, he pushed Kaiba away and punched him. Taken by surprise, the CEO's head snapped to the side, and he stumbled against the opposite building wall.

"You're a fuckin' bastard, Kaiba! You call me lowlife scum, but you are just a damn hypocrite! That's all you are Kaiba, a fuckin' hypocrite!"

Wiping blood from his mouth, Kaiba merely stood up and smirked, gazing at Jounouchi as if he were something to break and destroy. Something that he had already succeeded in breaking and destroying. Then with that same smirk on his face, he turned and left.

Jou slumped against the brick wall, exhausted and the cracks in his heart engraved so deep that each piece seemed a whole world from the next.

With another furious growl, Jounouchi Katsuya suddenly stood and spun around, slamming his fist into the beat-up locker. At the moment, somewhere in the back of his mind, he knew he was supposed to be in detention (ironically, for ditching his first three classes this morning after the fight, not the fight itself, though he had detention for that, next week), but he couldn't care less.

Pain ricocheting through his palm, Jou suddenly pulled his hand close to his chest, cradling it. Furiously, whether more at Kaiba or at himself he did not know, the blonde examined his palm where a shiny burn mark, which he had received the day before, pulsed with a stinging ache. As if impulsively deciding that the pain was welcomed, he curled his fist, crimson dripping from his bloody knuckles onto the filthy linoleum.

"Damn you, Kaiba! Screw you, ya fuckin' bastard!" he yelled to the empty hallway, forehead coming to rest on the dented, dull blue lockers, fists slamming against them once again, this time not caring for the biting pain. "What the fuck did I do to deserve this, Kaiba? What the fuck did I do wrong? Did I do anything wrong?" Jou chocked back another sob. "Damn it, please… just tell me. Tell me it wasn't all just a dream."

Hazily, through blurry, slightly red honey-brown eyes, Jounouchi noticed the flyer posted on the dented blue locker on which his head rested. The monthly menu that had what food was going to be served on what day was printed neatly on it. Oddly, he felt like ripping it from the dull blue locker and shredding it into tiny pieces, tearing it, destroying the calendar.

Vaguely, he noted today's date. June sixth. Vaguely, Jounouchi wondered why that date sounded disturbingly familiar, other than being today's date.

Awe, the poor little mutt is confused, isn't he? Would you like me to make everything clear for you? Would you like it if I told you why your precious Kaiba has suddenly seemed to have done a complete one-eighty on you? Why he suddenly despises your very appearance? Would you, naive Jou-chan?

For lunch, some kind of unknown meat. Funny how he couldn't remember eating that. Perhaps, it was because he hadn't been in the lunchroom that day, along with his friends. Solitude he had craved earlier that day, a place to cool off and think about Kaiba's abrupt change in attitude.

June sixth. Just another ordinary day. Nothing special about it. Yet why did he feel like his life had just ended?

Silly, silly Jou-chan… You are so desperate to know what has happened to this twisted little relationship of yours with Kaiba, ne? Pitiful. Absolutely pitiful. However, foolish Jou, stupid Jou, only you can answer that question… After all, isn't this your own pathetic dream, which you have created? All you have to do is wake up. Wake up, little Jou-chan… Katsuya… wake up…

Honey-brown eyes squeezed shut in an attempt to block out his surroundings, spinning, dizzying… And his thoughts—the thoughts in his head… his head.

He did not want to wake up. No. No. No!

Deciding that he had enough of this shit, Jounouchi grabbed his backpack, blood from his ruined knuckles staining the strap, burn mark still stinging from the previous day, and swiftly headed down the vacant hallway, detention far from his mind.

One last crash, as Jounouchi punched the lockers once again while walking towards the exit, was the only thing that sounded through the empty hallway.

More Author Babbling: And so ends the first chappie, hehe. Confusing? Maybe. Intentional? Totally. Really, this was simply a very warped idea that popped into my head one day… mou… so much for my sane (not really…) mind. Anyway, like I said, you guys might want to remember a few things such as Jou's burn mark, the date, the puppy figurine, etc…

Reviews are greatly appreciated and loved! Constructive criticism, comments, questions, anything is welcome! Except flames, of course. They will be laughed at. And please pardon and feel free to point out any typos or spelling/grammar mistakes; this wasn't beta-ed. Please review!

Thanks and till next time…

Ja ne!

– Scelerus Animus