Hello everyone! *ducks rotten tomatoes and a chainsaw* Erkk...we're sorry? *ducks couch* GAH! STOP THROWING THINGS! We're really sorry that we forgot about this story, and that we promised you guys updates almost six months ago! Really! We are! Life got in the way again! So...in return, we have this chapter for you :D And hopefully another chapter either later today or tomorrow. So...enjoy?
Disclaimer: The Homunculi Twins don't own Yu-Gi-Oh! We do not make a profit from these writings, we do it because its fun.
Claimer: The Homunculi Twins own the plot, Asuka, Judai, and Jun Fujiwara, Dr. Daichi. You try to steal, we will destroy your asses.
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Chapter Two:
After many hours of arguments, Jou and Kaiba accepted the harsh reality that they were going to be stuck in the washroom together for the weekend and, already, they had claimed their territory in the small cramped room. Kaiba sat, leaning against the tiled wall; his brown hair brushing against the bottom of the hand dryer, as Jou sat nearest to the door. It had been at least an hour or two and none of them even said a single word to each other.
While Kaiba thought of what meetings he would be missing, Jou mumbled to himself; he hated this more than anything he could imagine, well maybe not, it was better then what would happen when he finally got home. The second hand on Kaiba's watch endlessly recorded the time in a never-ending beat. Kaiba sighed and closed his eyes, catching up on some lost sleep over the past week or two. Jou stood up and ferociously kicked the door then knocking the garbage can over, spilling empty pop cans, wrappers, plastic utensils, and pieces of paper with low test scores marked in red ink on them.
"Damn it!" He shouted in a burst of anger, then ran his hand through his blond locks and began pacing back and forth.
"Cursing and breaking things won't solve anything, but for a dog I guess it's the only solution."
"Damn it Kaiba I told you to fuck off and stop calling me that! I am not a fucking street mutt." He was about to loose it, he could feel him loosing his cool, clenching his fist ready to punch the crap out of that pretty face of Kaiba's. Kaiba didn't respond to him, it was stupid to argue with Jou when he was like this no matter how entertaining it was to watch him go off. Jou just spat and turned his head. 'Great, as if being stuck in here with this prick doesn't mean I've been through enough.' He then grabbed a stall door and slammed it to get rid of the last bit of anger that surged through his veins.
"Are you done violating yet? If not then I'd suggest you stop, this WILL be our new home until the janitor gets back." He looked at his icy blue metallic watch.
Eight fifty-two pm.
It was going to be a long night.
An hour passed until Jou had another one of hit fits. "Will you shut up and stop your whining!"
Kaiba's voice was filled with annoyance; obviously he had had enough of the slightly younger teen's temper tantrums.
"You're not the only one pissed off by the situation. So if you're just going to through random fits then I suggest you get on the floor and start crying and pounding the floor while kicking your feet like any immature child does when he doesn't get his way!"
No sooner had he spoke those words, his head hit the side of the wall after making contact his Jou's fist.
"Shut up. Just SHUT. UP!"
Kaiba leapt to his feet and easily pushed the shorter boy into the wall holding him by the scruff of the jacket. Jou kicked his foot against Kaiba's shin, easily bruising the bone. It obviously hurt like hell, judging from the hiss of pain that passed across the young CEO's face, but Kaiba Seto was not one to surrender to a blow like that. With determination raging in his eyes like a forest fire in California, United States, Kaiba kneed the blonde in the stomach with all his strength, feeling as the muscles coiled at the impact. He was hoping that the blow would knock the mutt out and he would, finally, get some peace and quiet for a few hours.
Instead he got the opposite.
Jou released a blood curdling scream of pure agony, his topaz eyes filling with tears and sweat rolled down his forehead. Lean, though muscular arms encircled his stomach in a protective manner, his head slamming into Kaiba's shoulder. Kaiba felt a little panicked, though he did not show it, when he heard Jou gasping for air, similar to a person who had nearly drowned.
Wide eyed, Kaiba looked down at the shuddering blonde, whose eyes were closed tightly in pain, rivers of tears following unhindered out of his eyes; a soft, painful whimper escaped the blonde's throat. There he was, a short tempered street boy, with a strong back ally attitude that showed his softer kinder side only to his friends, now looking almost eerily similar to a kicked puppy, yelping and keening in pain.
Pure pain.
Kaiba's mind swarmed with confusion as he watched the teen hide his amber eyes in his shoulder, which were now soaked with the blonde's tears as he held his stomach almost desperately, gasping and sobbing, with the occasional cough in between.
"Jounouchi?" he asked, slightly timidly.
Jou froze when he heard the brunet's voice, and mentally began to curse himself and the CEO for his sudden weakness. He wasn't supposed to be crying like a damn girl into his arch-enemy's shoulder!
Jou took in a deep, shuddering breath as he slowly, but firmly, pushed on Kaiba's other shoulder to help steady him as he attempted to move away from the confused and slightly concerned CEO. It didn't work, however; he hadn't even released Kaiba's shoulders for more than a few seconds, before his legs turned into jell-o and he collapsed into a painful heap on the floor. He hissed in discomfort at the sudden movement that jarred many of his wounds that had previously been just fine.
'Damn it all ta 'ell.' Jou thought bitterly to himself, resting his head against the cool floor. His eye flew open in shock and surprise when he felt Kaiba's hands on his biceps, thankfully just missing some of the other painful bruises, and the nasty cut on his left arm.
"Wha-?" was all he was able to get out in a raspy croak that hurt almost as bad as his stomach, before he was rolled over onto his back. He grimaced in pain at the sudden movement and the sharp pain that radiated along his back. Jou heard shuffling to his right side and re-opened his eyes, absently wondering when he'd closed them again, to stare at Kaiba, who was kneeling down besides him with...concern?... on his face.
"Are you all right?" Jou couldn't talk, even if he wanted to; which he didn't. The pain was just too much, radiating from all over. Kaiba took the silence as a 'No'. He looked down to the boy's stomach and a thought -or was it a memory?- flickered through his mind. Jou, holding his stomach in pain after their first brawl, just before they got locked in. He took his hand and lifted Jou's shirt, allowing him to see why he ached so much. Jou, naturally, protested to Kaiba doing that, but he was in no situation to argue or fight, he could hardly even breathe. He didn't want Kaiba to see his body; he knew the young CEO would just scowl at him more in disgust. He got enough of that at home, he didn't need it from him. Kaiba lifted the boy's shirt and his cold blue eyes widened in shock.
Bruises.
Cuts.
Scars
Everywhere on the youth's stomach; more could be seen littering his slightly muscular chest, underneath his pants and around to the other side.
"D-d-d-don't l-look" Jou gasped, wincing in pain. Even though it was only two words, it still hurt like hell to say them. Kaiba didn't even notice he said anything; he was too much in shock at the sight of his body. Jou's rich, tanned skinned seemed to be infected in black and violet spots in all sizes, when he noticed the largest one. Right at the belly button, was a large black blotch, right were he hit him in the first squabble they had. He knew that he had hit Jou then, but not hard enough to inflict a bruise as brutal as the one before him.
"K-K-Kaiba..."
"Shut up. You're not in the condition to protest me being this close to you. I know you despise me with everything you've got, and the feeling is mutual, but right now we have to put those feelings aside. You are in need of medical attention, but due to the fact that we're stuck in here, I'm the only option. So stay still and shut up, and take off your shirt."
Jou was so surprised, he easily complied to the CEO's demand. He could hear Kaiba's cold tone as clear as day, but he could also detect something else. Though it was small and hard to notice, he could tell that Kaiba was...worried about him.
He watched as the taller teen pursed his lips in displeasure at the sight of the rest of his chest, before opening his briefcase, pullinh out a spare shirt, tearing the sleeve off and dampening it with cold water, before placing it on Jou's bruises. The cold made Jou shiver at first then relaxed as it numbed the pain down a touch. He didn't know why Kaiba was being so nice to him; he thought that he was only human around Mokuba. Apparently that was not the case.
He watched through lidded eyes as Kaiba ripped up more of his shirt and placed them on the worse bruises, before examining one of the more red looking cuts on his chest. This one was the deepest, though not the longest, going from his left collar bone and down in a slight diagonal angle, about four inches long. He poked and prodded at the open wound, noting where it hurt the worse, before placing another cloth onto it.
With one more look to make sure he didn't miss anything, Kaiba nodded in satisfaction.
"Tell me when the water's warmed up," he said as he took his place next to Jou and sat there, using the bottom of the counter as a headrest. Jou didn't know what to say; he was completely and utterly surprised and shocked, and more than a little baffled, at what just happened. One minute they were fighting, ready to kill each other. The next...Kaiba was tending to his well being. What changed? What altered to make Kaiba so kind, so... so... dare he say or think it, gentle? He felt the pain starting to vanish and soon disappear all together.
Sighing, he felt himself giving into sleep, the one thing that Jou could call both angelic and demonic. To fall into a peaceful sleep was wonderful but terrifying if it involved dreams. Jou couldn't remember the last time he had a wonderful dream. He yawned.
"If you're tired, sleep." Jou snorted at the comment and turned to look at the CEO Kaiba.
"Like ya do dat a lot yerself."
"I don't really have much of a choice, do I? Running a company means you stay up late and get up before the sun has a chance to rise, in some cases you just don't have time for it."
"So why don' ya go ta sleep fir't, ya've obviously 'aven' 'ad enough. Hm, probably why ye're so grouchy all da time." Jou smiled at his own joke. Kaiba just grunted and rolled his eyes, turning back to the book he had pulled out of his bag.
There was silence for a short time, only interrupted by Kaiba turning a page and Jou's yawning, when...
"Yo Kai, time."
"My name is not Kai, it's Kaiba, and its ten twenty pm."
"Oh let up Kai, it's not like it means anyt'ing bad."
"True, however, it is not my name."
"Gomen. Just trying ta lighten up da mood if ya don't mind." Jou crossed his arm and flinched; he had forgotten about his bruises and the damp cloths that used to be a shirt that now littered his chest. Kaiba shook his head in exasperation.
"Baka. If you don't apply pressure it won't hurt."
"Oi, who asked ya." Jou snapped. Kaiba rolled his eyes again -he really needed to stop. CEO's of a powerful gaming company did not roll their eyes; the mutt was becoming himself again, getting angered easily and ready to pick a fight. He smiled lightly, though Jou never noticed it as his eyes were closed before getting up to wet the cloth for the blond teen again for the next few hours.
It was around eleven pm when the teenagers finally fell asleep.
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"YOU STUPID BASTARD!" A tall man with shaggy, shoulder length dirty blonde hair and drunken, hard brown eyes shouted, striking the cowering child below him with a closed fist. The small child smashed into the closet door on contact, tears and a few traces of blood stained his face, a small cry of pain escaping from his bloody lips.
"Otou-san... Gomen nasai. Please stop. D-don't hit me. G-gomaen nasai..."
"IT'S YOUR FAULT!" the man yelled, smacking the child again, spittle flying out of his mouth. "IT'S YOUR FAULT EILEEN LEFT US AND TOOK YOUR SISTER!"
"G-gomen nasai Otou-san." The boy was no older then seven, his amber eyes filled with tears; his blond hair had some hints of pink, the result of his hand brushing against his own blood. His left arm dangled lifeless while his right held it. He tried to wipe away any blood that escaped from the cut on his chin and lips with his shoulder.
"YOU'RE NOTHING! YOU'RE NOT SORRY! SHUT UP AND STOP MAKING EXCUSES!" The man lifted the boy and threw him onto the counter, breaking some of the glass dishes that lay across the ground, which left gashes in the youth's back. He screamed in pain; his father was never so violent before. Was it his fault? Was he the reason that his mother had separated and taken his sister with her? Or was it the strong smell of alcohol that lingered on his father's breath and in the house? He was just a child; he didn't know which one it was. All he knew that his father was hurting him. His arm dislocated and in extreme pain, he tried to get up. He wasn't paying attention to what his father was doing. As soon as he got on his knees a dark shadow came upon him. A fist closed in on him...
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"NO! DON'T! DON'T TOUCH ME! STOP IT! I'M SORRY! I'M SORRY!"
Kaiba had been sleeping peacefully, when Jou's screams had started. He had jumped to his feet, confused at first. Was Mokuba hurt? Did someone try to break in? Only when another scream sounded did Kaiba realize that he wasn't at Kaiba Mansion -at this he swore- and that it was Jou who was screaming.
'What did the mutt do now?' Kaiba thought irritably. His mood instantly changed when he heard what Jou was screaming. And now, here he was, CEO of one of the biggest companies in the world, trying to restrain a thrashing, screaming teenage boy.
"Jou.. J-JOUNOUCHI!" Kaiba shouted, trying in vain to awaken the blonde. "JOU! KATSUYA!"
He shook the boy roughly as a final resort. Jou's eye shot open, soaked with tears of fright and remembered pain. Topaz eyes flickered around, scanning his surroundings in a daze.
Noticing the hands that had a firm strong grip on his shoulders, he looked up to Kaiba, meeting cold cerulean to warm amber.
"K...K...Kaiba? Wha... wha..." he breathed heavily and looked around to see where he was again. "It's OK Jou, you're here. Do you remember? You and I are locked in the boy's washroom for the weekend... calm down, no one's going to hurt you."
"Kaiba?"
"What?" Jou just stared, gazing into the eyes of the one holding him and weirdly enough he felt something, he felt...safe.
"It-It's not'ing."
"Are you sure?" Jou nodded.
"What..." Kaiba looked down knowing it was rude to ask personal questions but he just had to know. He was learning so much about Jou every minute he had spent with him, he just wanted to know more.
"What were you dreaming about?" Jou froze. He couldn't tell him, not anyone, what his dream was about. He didn't want people to know that his father was abusing him at home. It was just...unthinkable.
"'m tired" was all he could think to say to get out of answering that question. Kaiba softened his grip and nodded; obviously this was something the street youth did not want to share with anyone, especially him. Kaiba would respect his choice, even if it vexed him to not know.
He let go of the blond and sat down beside him. Jou's body started to shake, either because he as cold, or if he was going into a small state of shock, Kaiba didn't know. He did know, however, that the cold sweat that coated his lean, and obviously abused body didn't help much. Jou rubbed his arms, hoping it would warm him up a bit when he felt something warm and long covering his whole body. He opened his eyes to see Kaiba's trench coat laid on top of him. He looked over to Kaiba.
Kaiba leaned up against the counter and held himself; the cold floor tiles made it even harder for him to stay warm. He let out a sigh if exhaustion, when he felt something lean up against him. He turned his head to see Jou fast asleep. The warmth that came from the boy's body was more then welcome. He shifted and held the boy in his arms; body heat was a main key in surviving in the cold, and they were in a place where some survival rules were in need. He yawned and laid one hand on the boy's head, stroking once as in act of comfort before drawing into the black curtain of sleep.
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The Homunculi Twins