Chapter four: an unexpected welcome

As he peered over the edge of the cliff Jounouchi tried to wrap his mind around the entire situation. It would appear the man had disappeared from, what they thought, was his dying place.

"I don't understand," Jounouchi said.

"Seems he wasn't dead," Honda replied. He made it sound so dreadfully simple; it wasn't.

"He fell right down, Honda," Jou's voice grew louder with every word he said, "I saw him tumble over the edge, no man could have survived that fall."

Honda tried to reply, but he was quickly shut up by Jounouchi.

"Yami said he was dead too, he couldn't feel a pulse!"

"I know bu-"

"He clearly wasn't breathing when we saw him!" Jou was yelling now, "He's supposed to be dead, dead people don't just stand up and walk away!"

"Jou please calm down," Honda pleaded.

"No, I can't," Jounouchi was crying now, "I thought I killed him Honda I-"

"I know, Jou," Honda tried to comfort his friend.

"No!" Jounouchi yelled, "You don't know. I thought I was a murderer, Honda."

For the longest while the only sounds that were heard was the rustling of leaves and Jou's sobbing. Honda wasn't sure what to do. Obviously talking to his friend wasn't going to help. Should he hug him? Jounouchi never was the touchy-feely person. Honda decided standing still and letting his friend work out all of his emotions would be the best option.

Jou sat down and swung his legs over the edge, his eyes never leaving the spot where the man was supposed to be lying. Honda sat down next to him.

"Shouldn't you be relieved?" Honda asked.

"Relieved?" Jounouchi repeated.

"Well yeah, the guy isn't dead," Honda said, "it was getting dark when we reached him, so maybe that's why we didn't see him breathe. And maybe Yami was wrong about the pulse. The dude was probably just unconscious, he woke up some time during the night and walked away."

"So where is he now, Honda?" Jounouchi looked directly into Honda's brown eyes.

"How am I supposed to know?" Honda said, "I'm just trying to make sense of the whole situation."

"I know," Jounouchi said, "And I'm sorry, this whole thing has been a nightmare. You're probably right, the guy was just unconscious."

"Let's go back," Honda said smiling, "the others are probably wondering where we are."

The way back to camp was spent in silence. only the chirping of the birds was heard. Jou wasn't sure how to feel. Should he be relieved as Honda as said? Then why did he feel like this wasn't over yet?

Everyone was still asleep when they reached camp. They both sat down by the burnt out fire, though it was a bit chilly they weren't cold. There was movement after a while. Anzu was the first to get out of her tent.

"You're already up?" she asked.

"Yeah, couldn't sleep," Jounouchi replied.

"I don't blame you," she said.

While Anzu was getting dressed in her tent, Yuugi and Yami exited theirs.

"Hey guys," Yuugi greeted them, not exactly cheerfully. Yami didn't say anything, he just sat down on the ground.

"You guys hungry?" Honda asked, getting out the cereal and milk.

"Not really…" Anzu said, sitting down next to them.

"We've got something to tell you," Honda said.

"You all are probably relieved to know," Jou started, "that I'm not a murderer."

"Oh Jounouchi," Yuugi said, "We don't consider you a murder."

Then it hit him what Jounouchi had said.

"Wait, so the guy is still alive?"

"Well…" Honda said, "we assume he is, but we have no clue where he is."

"What's that supposed to mean?" Yami asked.

"I went back to the cliff this morning," Jou started, "and when I got there, he was gone."

"How can he be gone?" Anzu asked.

"We don't know," Honda said.

"Wait," Yami started, "I checked his pulse. That guy was definitely dead."

"Well, you were probably wrong, Yami," Jou said carefully.

"Dead people don't just stand up and walk away, right?" Honda said, rephrasing what Jounouchi had said earlier.

Yami just shook his head and looked at the ashes. Yuugi placed a hand reassuringly on his shoulder.

"Shouldn't we try to find the guy?" Anzu asked, "if he's not dead then he's probably injured somewhere. And he has no way off this island."

"That's probably the responsible thing to do," Yuugi said, "we should try calling out to him. Did he tell you his name, Jou?"

Jounouchi Katsuya.

"No," Jou said halfhearted, "he didn't."

"Okay guys, let's split up," Anzu said, "we'll meet back here at 9 AM. Then we have to go back to the shore."

So they all went their own way, trying to find the injured man.

"He didn't have a pulse, Yuugi," Yami whispered to his lover while everyone was leaving, "I'm sure of it."

"Let it be, Yami," was all Yuugi said.

"I'm sure of it," Yami murmured.

Though they didn't have much time they searched almost the entire island, but to no avail. When they gathered back at camp they all had the same disappointed news, the man was nowhere to be found. They all packed their bags and left the open space. The camping trip they all had looked so forward to, had slowly turned into a nightmare.

"We should call the police once we get back to the shore," Yuugi said.

"And tell them what?" Jounouchi snapped, "I punched a man, he fell off the cliff, we thought he was dead, but now he's mysteriously disappeared?"

"There's no need to get angry, Jou," Yami said.

"I know, I just…" Jounouchi sighed, "I'm just tired."

The trip back to Domino city took forever and when they were finally stood in the police office Jounouchi had gone over his story a million times in his head.

"So you he attacked you, and you punched him?" The officer said.

"That's right," was all Jounouchi said.

"And he tumbled over the edge and was dead, or that's what you thought?" he continued.

"Yup," Jou said.

"And then the next morning he was gone?" The officer didn't seem to believe them.

"Look, I know it all sounds pretty improbable, but-"

"You're damn right it sounds improbable, are you making fun of us?" The officer didn't sound too happy.

"It really happened, officer!" Anzu said.

When looking at all their faces the officer softened up.

"Alright," he said, "I'll send some men to search the island, we'll call you once something comes up."

"Thank you!" Yuugi said politely.

"I can't believe that guy!" Jounouchi yelled once they were out in the street again.

"Well it does seem a little hard to believe," Honda said.

"We should return home," Yuugi said, "Grandpa's expecting us."

"I have to go as well," Anzu said.

They all said their goodbyes; Yami left with Yuugi, Anzu went on her own and Honda walked together with Jounouchi. This didn't last for long, Honda lived in the more respectable neighborhood of the town. So once they got to his house, Jounouchi was on his own again. He didn't exactly mind, he still had to process everything that had happened on the camping trip.

"Well, look who it is," a familiar voice said, "a stray dog."

"Back off Kaiba," Jounouchi said without turning around, "I'm not in the mood for your games."

"I didn't know dogs could play games," Kaiba said innocently.

"Dick," Jounouchi muttered.

"What did you say?" he sounded angry.

"Nothing," Jounouchi said sweetly.

Kaiba grabbed his shoulder and turned Jounouchi toward him.

"You say that again, Jounouchi," Kaiba threatened.

"I didn't say anything," Jou pushed Kaiba's hand away, breaking away from his grip, "what are you doing here anyway?"

"I work here," Kaiba snarled.

Jounouchi now just realized he was standing outside of the Kaiba Corp building. He couldn't believe he had been so engrossed in his own thoughts he didn't know where he was.

"Right, forget I asked," Jounouchi said, turning around again, "now if you'll excuse me, I'm going to go home."

"You mean that dump you live in?" Kaiba smirked.

"I can't believe I like you," Jounouchi muttered.

"What did you say?" Kaiba asked, he sounded shocked.

Oh God, Jounouchi thought, did he hear me?

"Nothing that concerns you, Kaiba," Jounouchi tried his best not to blush, but he couldn't help it.

"No, no," Kaiba said, "I think I clearly heard you say you like me."

"Why would I like you?" Jounouchi asked, trying to sound as innocent as he could, "No one likes you."

For a moment a hurt look passed through Kaiba's cerulean eyes, but then it was gone again, and all that was left was cold indifference. The brunet just turned around and walked towards his building with a steady pace. Jounouchi looked at Kaiba as he disappeared inside the building. He felt bad for Kaiba, maybe his words had been a bit too harsh. But Jounouchi pushed away those thoughts, it's not as if Kaiba had ever been nice to him. He just hoped Kaiba wouldn't ever bring up this awkward encounter again. Deep inside his mind Jounouchi couldn't help but wonder why Kaiba had looked so hurt when he said no one liked him. It wasn't as if Kaiba aspired to be a popular person. Maybe it was because he had said he didn't like Kaiba. But he knew that was just silly, so he kept that thought pushed back against the corners of his mind.

How could someone as perfect as Kaiba like someone as imperfect as me, the thought alone made Jounouchi laugh. But it's always nice to wonder.

Jounouchi was in a slightly better mood once he reached his apartment. Though the camping trip had turned into a nightmare that was all it was; a nightmare. And nightmares aren't real. Jounouchi climbed the stairs; his home was on the second floor. Normally he always encountered someone inside the building, but this time no one was there. Jounouchi started feeling weird again, the exact same feeling he had when they first reached the island; as if something was seriously wrong. He started going up the stairs faster and faster, and was almost out of breath when he finally came to his apartment's door. He slipped the key inside the lock and pushed open the door, only to be greeted by an empty apartment.

"You're acting silly," Jounouchi said to himself. He placed his keys on top of the counter.

"Dad?"

There was no reply. Jounouchi started feeling worried again.

"He's probably at a pub somewhere, no need to worry," he said aloud, just to calm himself down. He pushed open his bedroom door and set down his travel pack. Normally Jounouchi wouldn't care if his father wasn't at home, if anything it would be better if he wasn't. But he couldn't shake that feeling he had. The feeling he wasn't alone.

He slowly walked back into the living room and stared at his father's bedroom door. If his dad was asleep in there he would be in a sour mood if Jounouchi entered, and if he wasn't Jou would feel incredibly ridiculous for worrying so much.

He slowly walked towards the door and placed his hand on the doorknob, turning it slightly. He swung open the door and regretted it immediately. His dad was in his room alright, just not in the way Jounouchi had expected. Blood splatters covered the wall, on the bed laid his father. Jounouchi covered his mouth and tried his best not to vomit when he saw what had happened to his father. Intestines were sprawled on the floor and his dad was missing all his limbs. But the most terrifying thing was the look in his eyes. A look of pure terror.

Jounouchi turned around and ran towards the phone. He grabbed the phone and feverishly started dialing the police.

"Hello Katsuya."

Jounouchi's eyes widened as he slowly turned around and gazed right into those crazy eyes.

"It's so nice to see you again."

Everything started to blur and Jounouchi could feel himself losing control of his body. In the distance he could hear his phone asking what the emergency was. And looking down on him was the man he thought he had murdered.

A/N: This practically wrote itself. I'm quite satisfied with the ending. : D

I'm not sure if I should up the rating. Maybe this last chapter was a bit too… Gross. D: what do you guys think?

A big thanks to my lovely reviewers! They always make me happy. :3

I hope you all have a nice day. :3

Remember to review, guys!