Author's Note: Remember to read and review!!!! Please? It makes me happy n.n

Disclaimer: I do not own Yugioh.


CHAPTER THREE- Monster

I stood outside of the Kaiba residence for the first time in six months. I trembled as I gazed upon the doors. Duke smirked as he knocked on the door smugly. As if, he was thinking that he still owned me, something Kaiba would never get. I sighed mentally but smiled at Mokuba as the door opened.

"Jou! I'm so glad you're finally here," Mokuba exclaimed, grabbing my hand and pulling me into the house, away from Duke.

I chuckled at his excitement and followed him happily. I could feel Duke's glare on my back but I ignored it for now, I knew it would mean paying for it later, but I just didn't care right now. Not when the younger Kaiba brother was pulling me to the subject of my affection and my friends.

As I got closer to Kaiba I remembered my time with him the morning after that night he insisted I stay until morning. His bright blue eyes watching me gently, already scanning me for more bruises and I felt a soft blush creep onto my cheeks. This wasn't the first time he showed concern for me…I was starting to get used to it.

__________________________________________________Flashback________________________________________________________

I took a deep breath and smiled at the smell of pancakes and bacon that was filling up my senses. My gaze turned to Kaiba. "Can I have some of this? I don't think Mokuba and Yugi could finish all of it…," I whispered hesitantly, not really sure how much Mokuba ate.

"I'm cooking this for you and myself. Mokuba and Moto already left. I would've been gone too but Mokuba insisted I wait until you wake up," Kaiba said, slightly annoyed as he moved to put a pitcher of orange juice in front of me.

I looked around the kitchen seeing it was already 10am. This was usually pretty early for me, but I guessed Kaiba's day started much earlier. "You could've woken me up," I whispered, looking down at the food.

Kaiba silently ruffled my hair, his protective instincts taking over. "Just eat, Jonouchi."

I leaned into the touch and nodded moving to eat the food. "I'm surprised you cook. I always thought you had a chef and a maid…but I haven't seen them yet."

Kaiba smiled and shook his head sitting across from me and serving himself. "Mokuba didn't like having house staff, so I took a cooking class and let him be in charge of cleaning his room and his bathroom."

I stared at him, eyebrows furrowed confused. "Who cleans the rest?"

Kaiba smiled as if my shock amused him. "I do."

I gasped. "Really?!" My fork was frozen midway to my mouth, I never thought that THE Seto Kaiba would be vacuuming on his free time or washing dishes.

Kaiba smirked. "Yes, now stop asking questions and just eat. I'm already late for work as it is."

I blushed and nodded putting the forkful in my mouth. As soon as the taste infiltrated my senses I was shocked yet again. "This is amazing!"

Kaiba chuckled softly and shook his head. Ignoring me to continue eating his own food.

I smiled and followed his example, wondering what else I didn't know about Kaiba.

________________________________________________________End Flashback______________________________________________________________

"Happy birthday Jou," everyone except Kaiba yelled as I got closer to the living room. I grinned happily and moved to greet each of them. Duke stayed back, watching me as I hugged my sister and best friend. Honda had ended up finally convincing Shizuka to date him, and after their first date they were inseparable. Yugi and Mokuba were ecstatic almost wearing the same exact grin. I never understood how they ended up falling for each other, but I didn't mind. As long as Yugi was happy and safe it didn't matter who he was with. Bakura was with Tea…if Mokuba and Yugi's relationship confused me, Tea's and Bakura's left me speechless.

"Let's start this party already," Honda exclaimed as I reached Kaiba. The others began dancing happily to the music Yugi and Mokuba provided and I smiled at Kaiba.

"Happy birthday Jonouchi," Kaiba said, his hands in his pockets.

I grinned and opened my mouth to reply, but I felt an arm wrap around my waist and a wave of trembles took over me.

"Hey Kaiba," Duke spat as politely as possible, "nice place."

Kaiba slowly moved his gaze off of me and onto Duke, his expression turning from light and kind to cold and vicious. I could see his mind working. He figured it out. He knew Duke was the one hurting me and he was pissed. I could see the pure hatred in his eyes and realized that Kaiba had never truly hated me, because I had never seen that look before.

Duke smirked at him and waited for a reply of any kind, but I knew Kaiba would not be speaking right now.

"Thanks for letting Mokuba throw the party here Kaiba…it was really nice of you," I whispered softly, trying to get him to calm down.

His gaze turned to me, still fierce but much softer. "It's nothing," he mumbled.

Duke leaned closer to me and whispered in my ear, "stop looking at him all big eyed…you belong to me Jonouchi. I'll have to remind you again tonight."

I shivered and moved my gaze to the floor remembering how angry Duke got when he was reminding me of such things.

_______________________________________________________________________Flashback__________________________________________________________________

I walked into Duke's house, silently closing the door behind me. I was smiling, for once, the memory of my morning with Kaiba still fresh in my mind and the taste of his food still fresh on my tongue. I moved through the house, kicking my shoes off next to the couch and moving to sit down.

"Where have you been," Duke asked, standing in the kitchen doorway.

I jumped and stared at him, fear suddenly engulfing my body. "I spent the night with Yugi…I thought you got my text."

"I did, and I went by Yugi's house to get you. No one was home. So, tell me again, where were you."

I shivered. "Yugi spent the night with Mokuba…I had gone with him to dinner there…so I just stayed in one of the guest rooms."

Duke growled, not caring or needing to know more. He moved to me and shoved me back into the wall. "I told you I don't like it when you stay out of this house all night. I told you to stay away from Kaiba. Are you forgetting who you belong to mutt?!"

I shivered and clenched my eyes shut. "I'm sorry Duke, it won't happen again."

Duke growled at me and shoved me against the wall again, making my back sting in pain. "You're still thinking about him!"

"I'm not I swear!"

"Liar," Duke growled lowly. He shoved me down to the floor, kicking my ribs.

I cried out in pain and tried to curl into myself, protecting my body from more hits. Duke just got angrier, kicking my back and legs screaming at me to never forget who I belong to. That's when he pulled out the knife. I shivered as he slide the metal blade against my cheek.

"No matter how many times I do this, the lesson just doesn't seem to sink in." He slid the blade down to my neck using it to undo my shirt buttons, exposing my scared skin. "I guess I shouldn't be surprised," he whispered, "after all, mutts aren't the smartest animal." He smirked and cut into my chest, a long slanted cut from my collar bone down to my left hip.

I bit my lip trying not to cry out. I clenched my eyes shut tighter, trying to escape into my memories. I could see Kaiba smiling at me, talking to me like I was an actual person and not some dog.

Duke smirked at my pain and moved to draw swirls into my skin. My body twitched, wanting to get away from him and his sick game, but I was too afraid to move. I just delved deeper, remembering how Kaiba would pet my hair, like he actually cared about me.

"Kaiba," I whispered hoarsely in pain, wishing he would save me. I gasped when I felt the knife freeze. I had said it aloud. I opened my eyes, staring at Duke.

His eyes were dark emerald and his mouth seemed to be in a snarl. "Even now you're thinking about that bastard," he yelled, digging his knife deeper into me.

I gasped and cried out in pain, tears flowing from my eyes.

Duke growled leaning closer to me and whispering in my ear, "you're going to learn who your master is mutt…or I'll get rid of your distraction."

"What," I gasped my body shaking in pain and fear.

"I won't let that idiot steal what belongs to me. If I have to get rid of him for you to finally learn your place I will."

I shivered violently and shook my head. "No! Just leave him out of this! You know he'd never want me! I know I belong to you. I love you Duke please, just please don't hurt him," I pleaded, trying everything to get him to believe me.

Duke examined me. "You love me?"

I shivered and nodded. "I love you," I whispered, feeling my stomach churn at my lie.

Duke smirked. "And you don't love Kaiba?"

I nodded rapidly.

"How do I know you're not just lying?"

"I'm too scared of what you'd do if you found out I was lying…I'd never lie to you."

Duke smiled and kissed my cheek. "Good boy." His smile turned into a large smirk as he pulled the rest of my clothes off; wanting to make sure I knew I was always going to be his.

_________________________________________________________________End Flashback____________________________________________________________________________

I could feel Kaiba's gaze fixed on me. "Jonouchi…come help me in the kitchen? I want to see if the food I prepared is well."

I heard the strain in his voice from trying to keep himself calm. I looked at him and nodded moving to follow him, but Dukes grip on me tightened.

"Don't forget who you belong to," he whispered, a little louder than normal so that Kaiba could hear.

I heard a growl from Kaiba but nodded at Duke. I waited until his hand loosened to follow Kaiba into the kitchen, shivering at the feel of Duke's words sinking in.