Well, it looks like I'm slowly making a comeback. All stories are officially on hold until after the holidays, with the exception of a Christmas oneshot I intend to write. Here's the new chapter to hold everyone over! Merry Christmas, and just an FYI, reviews make GREAT Christmas presents. Thank you to all who have reviewed. You guys are the ones keeping this story alive. Jou'll take it from here.
Jou (reading from script): The Apathetic Empath does not own Seto or me, but Seto does own me and has given her permission to borrow me. WAIT! WHAT!?
And on with the story!
Seto paced back and forth, trying to think of any excuse he could in order to avoid having to do charity work. He wasn't exactly a people person, and he really didn't want to be stuck dealing with other teens who didn't know how to deal with their problems. He would rather be running his company, making sure that none of his employees screwed it up. Ever since the ruling, Mokuba had been hounding him about taking a long vacation and leaving everything to Isono. Seto chose to turn around, deciding to try and argue the judge's ruling in spite of what she had said. He didn't feel that it was fair that he was stuck having to counsel anyone when he had enough problems of his own. Seto wasn't some sort of psychologist. He was a businessman, and KaibaCorp was what he needed to focus on.
Besides, the teenagers that they counseled needed more help than just someone to listen. The damage was too deep for that place to really help them heal. A child's scars stuck with them their entire lives. The rates for teen suicide had skyrocketed in Domino more recently. The only reason Seto knew that was because Mokuba's friend's brother had recently tried to off himself and ended up at that same center.
The brunet stormed through the building, scaring anyone in his path as he headed for the judge's chambers. He didn't care what it took as long as he was able to get out of this punishment. It would be so much simpler to pay some sort of fine. Perhaps he could convince the judge that he knew what he had done wrong, and that he had learned from the experience.
He took a deep breath, preparing himself for what was to come before he entered her chambers. Finally, he walked in, looking at a tired old woman who was currently sitting and reviewing her next case. She looked up at him through horn-rimmed glasses, clearly irritated with his presence.
"Is there something I can help you with? Perhaps you need to be shown to the door?" Seto sighed once more before getting to the point.
"Ma'am, I have a company to run. I have meetings that I need to attend in the next couple of months in the United States and Germany. I am a CEO of a company, and I need to be present to be sure that everything is running smoothly. I'm afraid that as much as I would love to play dress up with the poor troubled children of Domino, I don't have time to." It was the judge's turn to sigh.
"Mr. Kaiba, your vocabulary seems fine, so I'm sure that you can understand what the word final means. I am not going to change my ruling, not even for you. You are privileged enough that others break the rules for you, but I am not willing to do so. I believe that it would do you some good to be around other children your age. Regardless of what you say, the punishment stands.
"Ma'am, I don't think you understand. I'm already responsible for other things, and those responsibilities come before petty community service." The judge had fire in her eyes.
"Petty though the punishment may be, you need to learn that even you, Seto Kaiba are not above the law. You will do as I say, or I will sentence you to jail time instead. I don't care about what that does to your reputation. You need to learn respect for others."
"Look, I'm not about to takes orders from old--"
"I dare you to finish that sentence Mr. Kaiba. I have the ability to double your amount of time at the center. It's your choice."
"Ma'am, with all due respect--"
"Mr. Kaiba," her tone was now very dangerous. "My decision is final, and no amount of arguing is going to change my mind. Now, if you please, I would appreciate that you stop wasting my time."
"But--"
"I'm about this close to throwing you in jail for a year for not complying with my ruling. You're already pushing your luck, so tread lightly."
"I'm sorry ma'am. Good day."
It had taken all he could not to start screaming and throwing a tantrum. Seto was no child, and he kept his composure, though just barely. He didn't know how he had managed with her threatening jail time. He might as well have just killed her there and then, but then that would defeat the purpose seeing as he would end up in jail even longer.
He got into the car, looking extremely peeved now. As they drove, he thought about Mokuba's begging him to take a vacation when they had spoken earlier. His brother was always asking him to take a vacation, not just to spend time with him, but to relax for a bit.
-Flashback-
Seto had just exited the courthouse, feeling extremely annoyed with the ruling. He pulled out his cell phone to call Mokuba at home and inform him. Mokuba seemed excited to talk to him, at least from what the brunet gathered. He seemed ecstatic at the idea of Seto doing community service, and decided that maybe Seto should take some time off as well. Something like this could take a mental toll on others.
Seto had humphed at the idea, feeling that it was unfair to even have to do this crap. Still, it was better to get it done and over with so that he wouldn't have to endure any longer. Of course, he had already told Mokuba that he was going to try to get the ruling reversed and see if there was any way that he could just pay a fine, but the younger boy had protested. He didn't think it would be fair for his older brother to get off that easily. Thanks a lot, Mokuba, he had thought to himself.
-End Flashback-
Now he sat in the back with his arms crossed, pretty much pouting as he thought about what had just happened. The driver loved that pout. It made his boss seem like an innocent child instead of the ruthless bastard they had come to know. In his opinion, there was far more to Seto than he ever let anyone see. Of course, not many people were allowed to get close to Seto, so no one else got to see him like this. To the driver, it was actually quite an honor. He didn't have those kids of feelings for the coldhearted CEO. He just wanted to see both the brothers happy. It didn't take much to make Mokuba happy, but when it came to Seto, he was impossible to please. They were polar opposites. His driver was happy that he had this job, and he had easily learned how to handle driving Kaiba around. Seto had his talkative moods, though they were rare. Most of the time, he would just talk to himself, trying to work things out aloud as his mind processed them.
He had actually heard Seto say many things as he spoke to himself, and one of the utmost interest was when he talked to himself about Jounouchi. The man had quickly noticed that his boss talked more about Jou than he did anyone else with the exception of Mokuba. He knew that there was something there, although he had chosen not to say anything about Kaiba's obvious obsession. The CEO himself hadn't realized it. He had taken any emotion he felt towards Jou and turned it towards a fight or an argument. Most might think that Seto hated him, but the limo driver had a feeling that Seto had feelings for the blond that he himself didn't understand.
Seto stared out the window, thinking about what type of person he was going to be counseling for the next two months? He hoped that it would be someone that was easy to deal with. He turned to his driver, having a change of heart as to where he was headed. It was a quick decision, and the limousine's tires screeched to a halt before the driver turned the car around with a small amount of difficulty.
"I want to head to the corporation and speak with Isono quickly, and then from there I am going to the center for a few minutes."
Seto had a quick meeting with Isono where he went over what he wanted done for the next two months, as well as what the representative who went to his business meetings was to say and do. Isono was being left in charge of the company while he took a vacation, deciding that Mokuba was right and that this whole counseling thing was going to take a toll on his psyche.
Isono seemed relieved that Seto was getting away from the corporation for a little while. For a long time, his stepfather's company had sucked up most of Seto's life, and he had forgotten what it was like to go out and enjoy himself. He also hoped that maybe the young Kaiba would make a few friends in the process. He needed to act more like a teenager and less like a businessman.
Seto seemed as if he had something else on his mind, but it wasn't Isono's place to ask. If he wanted to talk about it, he would. If not, he was sure that Seto would handle it in his own way. He watched as Kaiba left the building, noticing that he seemed to be taking his time. That was unusual. He was used to seeing the young CEO always in a hurry to get to where he was going.
Seto climbed back into the limo, and about 10 minutes later, they had arrived at the center for troubled teens. Why didn't they just call it a detention center anyways? He looked up at the building, feeling like he was entering the mouth of a beast as he made his way through the doors and to the front desk. A young woman looked up at him with a smile, her head resting on intertwined hands.
"Ah, Mr. Kaiba. What can I do for you?"
"I would like to know if there's a particular person that I'm going to be assigned to for the time that I volunteer here." He kept his cool, not bearing his teeth as much as he had wanted to. "Well, they asked us to go a little easy on you seeing as you didn't seem too eager to take this on. I thought that we could assign you to a patient that has been here for awhile and has greatly improved." He wanted to know the name, but as she looked at her computer screen, her eyes widened.
"I'm sorry Mr. Kaiba, but it looks like the patient we had in mind was actually sent home this morning." The brunet looked extremely frustrated.
"All right, I'll be back to start tomorrow then." He stormed out of the place, doing his best to make sure that he kept the usual stoic mask upon his face. He got back into the limo, slamming the door. The driver knew that meant that things hadn't gone the way that Seto had wanted. He looked in the mirror for no more than 5 seconds and started driving towards Kaiba mansion without even being told the destination. On the bright side, at least he would get to spend his night with Mokuba.
He was relieved to see that they were upon the mansion, feeling exhausted from the events of the day. Honestly, he was surprised that the judge had been so efficient. She had already contacted the center to let them know that he would be working with them. He wondered if she had done that before or after he barged into her chambers and tried to argue his way out of the situation. Either way it didn't matter. He was still upset with his punishment, though he knew that there was nothing that he could do about it. He would have to make the best out of a shitty situation.
He watched as the tall iron gates opened, allowing him entrance to his home. His security system was a complex combination of small processes using futuristic gadgets. He didn't like the idea of some genius fangirl figuring out how to get into his mansion and then molesting him in his sleep. Nope, Kaiba wasn't paranoid, not at all. He waited as the machine by the door scanned his retinas, recognizing them and allowing him access to the next machine, which took his fingerprints. After a few more quick scans, the doors swung open.
Mokuba had known that he was home, but he knew better to open the door. The last time he had let Seto in, he had been scolded because for all he knew, an intruder could have been at the door. Mokuba could understand his older brother's reasoning, but he thought Seto's security system was slightly over the top. He would never say that to Seto though, because his brother would react with the '1 million logical reasons for having such a system' list. Mokuba had already heard it 3 times, and since then he had learned that it was better to not bring the subject up at all.
When his brother finally entered, Mokuba's arms instantly wrapped around him. He had already been told by Isono that his brother was going to be taking a vacation, and Mokuba had promised to take good care of him. He wanted Seto to be allowed to relax now that he was taking a long break from work. Of course, the younger brother knew that it wasn't all going to be peaches and cream when it came to Seto counseling the teen that he was assigned, but he would do what he could to make the rest of the CEO's vacation as easy as possible. After all, Mokuba felt that he deserved it.
He felt the smile emanating from the elder Kaiba even before he looked up to actually see the expression. That smile was reserved only for Mokuba. He smiled back, not wanting to let go just yet. This was the best day of his life. He had never thought that his brother would be willing to take a break from his grueling job. He would have to remember to thank the judge for considering his suggestion. He had never thought that it would go exactly as planned. He knew that if Seto ever found out, he would probably skin Mokuba alive. Still, it was well worth it to know that for a time, he was going to have his brother back.
He smiled into the deep blue eyes that melted every time that they full upon him. He meant the world to his big brother, and he knew that being the CEO of a large company would never change their relationship. Sure, he wished that Seto would spend more time with him, but he also understood what it was like for a teenager who suffered the way that his brother had to have to grow up so quickly and become the breadwinner in order to give Mokuba a comfortable life. Their life was far more than comfortable. With Gozaburo out of the picture, it was nearly perfect. Cut Seto's work schedule in half, and it would have been absolutely ideal. Unfortunately, nothing in life can be absolutely perfect.
Seto looked down at him, wondering just what he was thinking at the moment, though he decided not to ask. His smiled was still in place as he took Mokuba's hand in his and led him into the kitchen. The elder boy began rummaging through the refrigerator, looking for something that he could make. He seriously couldn't remember the last time he had prepared a meal for Mokuba or himself. Cooking was a passion he'd had to give up when he took over the company. Even so, he knew he could still make a decent meal without killing either of them. Mokuba, on the other hand, would be better off sticking to video games. There was a time when he had tried to make pumpkin pie for the two of them, and Seto swore that at that point he was going to be an assassin, using food as his weapon. Since then, the CEO had a particular dislike for pumpkin pie, and stuck more to apple.
He found a few things that he could make. He pulled them out, asking Mokuba to help him choose just what he wanted for dinner. Of course, he knew what Mokuba was going to say. As usual, he wanted cheeseburgers. Although he was Japanese, Mokuba loved American cuisine. It was the strangest thing. Seto could stomach some of it, but much of it made him sick. It was extremely fatty and greasy. At the same time, he was only accustomed to American fast food, so he couldn't really judge their home cooking. In any case, he had every intention of staying with Japanese food. For tonight, though, he was going to make them what Mokuba wanted. This was going to be a treat for his little brother.
Seto preferred to make cheeseburgers from scratch, so he grabbed ground meat that appeared to have been defrosting in the fridge. He looked back at Mokuba, but decided not to ask what was going through his mind. Where the fuck did this come from? Have they been feeding him this whenever I'm not home? He kept his questions to himself, not feeling it appropriate to prod Mokuba about his diet when his brother wasn't around. He molded the odd feeling meat into 2 decently sized meatballs before flattening them. Mokuba just watched with a bored expression while waiting for his meal. He knew that Seto usually took his time, and he had to remind himself that his brother cooking for him was a rare treat several times.
Seto pulled out a cookie sheet and set it down on the table, placing both patties upon it. Mokuba was staring out the window, watching a mother bird tend to her nest outside, a few feet above where they were. The windows in the kitchen stretched very far up, allowing in a good amount of sunlight. It was only a small part of why Mokuba loved the kitchen. The other, much more important reason was that this was where all the food was. If one didn't know better, they might mistake his appetite for that of Jounouchi Katsuya. Mokuba smiled at that name, the same bright smile in his mind's eye that always appeared when he thought of Jou. To him, the blond was a good friend, though he noticed that there was something odd between Seto and him. They were constantly arguing, but Jou was the only one Seto ever teased to that extreme. Seto didn't usually tease people that he liked, so Mokuba had ruled that option out long ago. Still, just because he didn't like him didn't mean he couldn't love him. Like and love were two very different feelings.
Seto looked at Mokuba again, curious once more about what was going through the younger Kaiba's mind. Still, he felt that it would be better not to ask, so instead he kept to himself, now putting the patties in the oven. He set a timer, then sat down next to his brother and pulled out his laptop. Mokuba's reaction was an angry huff, and for the first time since he could remember, Seto instantly closed it and put it away. He had never realized that his younger brother held such power over him. He didn't want Mokuba to be angry with him, so instead, he thought of something for them both to do.
Although it was a simple game, tic tac toe still took some strategy to play. It was interesting to see how Mokuba had developed a sixth sense for his brother's techniques. They each won a fair amount of games, tying at 23 when the timer finally went off. Seto stood, and behind him Mokuba mouthed finally, glad that he would finally get some food. Seto pulled them out, waited for them to cool down, and then set up both their meals. Apparently at some point he had thrown fries in there as well, probably while Mokuba had been watching the birds.
There was a big smile on the younger Kaiba's face as he stared at the plates in Seto's hands. He couldn't remember the last time that he had eaten a meal made by his brother. Seto looked happy as well, glad to see be able to spare some time for his brother. He set each plate down before them, and Mokuba leaned in, taking in the smell of the homemade burger. He looked up at his brother, who gave a small nod, and Mokuba dug right in. There was a small chuckle from Seto as he watched the younger boy's antics. Mokuba was a messy eater, though that had never bothered him. As long as he cleaned up well afterwards, Seto could really care less about his table manners in their own home. If they were out and about, Mokuba would remember on his own to mind his manners. Seto hardly ever had to remind him. Of course, in the privacy of their home, he felt that it was fair that Mokuba be allowed to act like himself, even if that meant making a mess of himself and the table.
Once they were done, each excused himself from the table before heading up to their rooms. In the mansion there were 6 main bedrooms, and each had its own full bathroom attached. Seto was feeling the need to take a long soak, so he turned the knobs to fill the tub with warm water. His coat dropped from his shoulders down to the floor. He watched for a moment as the water rose a bit into the giant tub, and then pulled off his boots. Seto pulled his shirt over his head to reveal well toned muscles, and then dropped his pants and boxers. He hissed at the cold air against sensitive areas, and made his way into the tub, a peaceful smile on his face. The water washed away all his worries, clearing his mind as if he was meditating. For some reason, water seemed to do that to him.
Seto actually feel asleep in the tub, but woke up when he found that he starting to breathe in water instead of oxygen. He let out a small cough, opening his eyes to see where he was. Everything appeared hazy, as his eyes were taking a moment to adjust to the light. Still, he didn't even need to see the bathroom to know precisely where he was. The room smelled of nutmeg like him, which told him that he was in his own house. The water made him aware that he had been bathing. He remembered falling asleep as well.
It appeared that he really needed to sleep if he couldn't even remember getting into the bath less than an hour ago. He sighed, getting up and grabbing a towel to wrap around himself. Apparently Mokuba had the same idea, seeing as his hair was wet and he was also clad in a towel. They might not have looked much like siblings, but they sure thought like brothers. He gave his brother a smile, patting his head before each entered their room. So that was what had possessed him to go down the hall instead of just going through the door linking the bedroom and bathroom. He had said good night now, and he was ready to lie down and rest. He pushed open the door to his room, walked over to the closet, and pulled out a pair of silk blue pajamas. Once dressed, he climbed into bed, pulling up the blankets and letting out a sigh before closing his eyes. Seto's mind was clear, and he had no issue falling asleep.
Two amber eyes slowly opened to a blur. Jou had no idea where he was. He couldn't remember anything that had happened last night, nor did he care. After a few minutes, the haziness in his vision wore off, and he noticed that he was sleeping on a bench. He wondered what the gang would do if they knew that he had been sleeping outside. The more he pondered that thought, the more he realized that he simply didn't care.
He sat up and felt a sharp pain shoot through his back. It was probably from the wood against his body. He stretched and yawned getting funny looks from a few passersby. Jou shrugged, running his hand through the unruly blond locks on his head in order to straighten them as much as possible. They were as neat as could possibly get by the time he was done, the same messy mop that people usually saw. Tired eyes looked around him to see what part of town he had landed in. This place definitely seemed upper class. He looked around, and saw the Domino bridge, which confirmed his suspicions. The bridge led into the richest part of the city.
He sat up, trying to remember why he felt so void of emotion. His father's death took a moment to come back to him. That bastard had committed suicide, leaving him all alone in this world with nothing. Jou didn't feel sorry for himself. He didn't really feel anything. The confusion from a few days ago had died down into a numbness that had affected his entire personality. The brightness that usually lingered in the amber hues had left, leaving them a dull, empty brown. He was usually optimistic, always trying to brighten his friends' perspective. Unfortunately, that optimism had completely gone. He had been dull and a drag for the few days that he had been around his friends. They claimed that they understood, but Honda and Anzu got increasingly irritable with each passing hour, while Yugi and Atemu made up excuses to avoid him, to nice to ever say what he knew they were all thinking. Ryou and Bakura didn't mind his company, but they had just gone on a vacation, taking Malik and Marik along with them as a treat.
Jou felt as if he was completely alone. For once in his life, his friends, who had promised to always be there for him, weren't. He hadn't gone to school at all that week, and he had no intention of going back. Instead, he was just going to live on the streets for the rest of his life, scrounging on people's trash in order to supply what his body needed in order to survive. The dream of actually making something of himself had died along with everything else that was good about him. College was no longer a thought. Now, everything was about survival. That was what mattered the most.
He looked down at the ground, seeing an old newspaper. One of the smaller headlines on the front page was about his father. There were no more tears to shed for the man. He had taken his life and left someone that needed him in some oddly twisted way behind. There wasn't going to be any sort of funeral unless someone else planned it. The teen was far too exhausted to deal with the arrangements, and he knew he wouldn't be able to afford the cost. It took a small fortune to bury someone these days, and he would be better off taking that kind of money and using towards himself. It made more sense to put the money towards a living person's needs over the ceremony of a dead man. Why pay funeral costs when the person it was about wouldn't even remember?
Jou got up, turning up the collar of his jacket so that he wouldn't be quite as recognizable. He didn't know what to do or where to go, so for the past few days, he had been wondering about the city, falling asleep wherever he felt like when he began to feel tired. He only had the clothes on his back, which had begun to smell funny. Jou ignored the stench, not really caring about what sort of odor was emanating from him. All that mattered was that he had those clothes. He didn't give a damn about his physical appearance. If others didn't like the way that he looked, then all they really had to do was turn the other cheek and pretend that he wasn't in their presence.
He continued to walk around, with no idea where he was going or what he was going to do. He looked around at the shops that were surrounding him, wondering if maybe there was a pizza shop around that threw extra food in the back. He decided to find out firsthand, heading to the back of the building to see what he could find for food. The trash was definitely full. He began digging through, trying to find what he could. He lucked out, and after less than 5 minutes he found some crust that he could eat. Jou wondered if the owner had seen him come back, or just happened to be coming out to the trash when he happened to be there. Either way, he was chased away from his food source. His stomach rumbled as he looked at all the places around him. So this was what upper Domino was like. Even the older buildings here looked like they were worth millions. He wished that he could afford to live in a place like this.
The idea that he had no money was something that he was just going to have to get used to. He would probably remain a homeless bum for the rest of his days. He might as well get used to the idea of starving and scavenging for food, as well as being chased away like that by shop owners. Of course, he didn't know if they would all stop at that, but he hoped that none would chase him down. It was possible that he could be arrested, though he didn't quite understand how. It was all trash, so it should have been free to take. Of course, he was well aware that this just isn't how the world works. Instead, a man could protect whatever he felt was his, whether it be trash or treasure.
He walked by the business district, and for some reason, KaibaCorp caught his eye. He thought of the spoiled billionaire Seto Kaiba, who always made sure that he insulted Jou with some sort of dog comment. Jou scowled at the thought of the bastard. He didn't hate Kaiba, but he wasn't exactly fond of the other male either. He had never understood why Seto bothered with him. If he really was the worthless mutt that Kaiba called him, then why was it that he took the time out of his day to make sure that Jou was thoroughly pissed off? He was tired from pondering the antics of the CEO, and chose to focus on something that didn't completely confuse him.
He was well aware of the reason that he was such a nuisance to his friends, but that didn't make it hurt any less. He felt that they were being a little harsh considering everything that he'd been going through. He couldn't believe that Yugi, of all people, was avoiding him. He had always been there for the smaller teen, making sure that he had the support that he needed. Jou had been a good friend no matter how he felt about the situation. He was supportive of Yugi. Why couldn't Yugi be the same for him?
As far as he was concerned, they were all just being selfish. Anzu, who was usually the one that gave friend speeches, had even abandoned him. It was just like her too. He had been talking to her mostly online by going to the library, and she had quickly gotten sick of listening to his complaining. Instead of changing the subject, she just walked away from the computer, not returning. He had then decided that his friends were no good. They seemed to care less about him than he had ever thought. He felt completely alone. How had it come down to this?
He wished he hadn't put so much faith in them. It wouldn't have been quite this disappointing when they let him down. In truth, they reminded him of different traits that his old man had possessed. He had found himself thinking more and more about his father lately. He couldn't but wonder if the elder Jounouchi had the right idea in committing suicide. It was the quick way out of this complicated world. Perhaps his father was in a better place now, where he could be happy with what life, or in this case death handed him.
He had no particular destination in mind, but for some reason Jou found himself standing outside of Kaiba mansion. He stared up at the large house, wondering what it was like to live there. For all he knew, there was some sort of torture chamber inside. Jou's train of thought had been the same morbid freight ever since his father's death. He looked through the bars, wondering if Kaiba was home at the moment. He guessed probably not, seeing as moneybags seemed to love killing himself with work.
If it had been Jou, he would have been sure to put his own sibling before running a corporation. Everyone had their own way of coping with things, and though he didn't understand it, the Kaiba's attitude was what made him the bastard that he was. Sometimes Jou wished that they could switch places and he could see, even for a day, what it would be like to live the life that Seto Kaiba had. He wondered if doing so would turn him into the same robot that the CEO had become.
With a sigh, he made his way about town, shoulders slumped as defeat really kicked in. Since he had received the news, he had been in denial, thinking that perhaps if he travelled through Domino, he would find the elder Jounouchi hiding out in a bar. He had been unable to fathom the idea that he was really alone. None of this felt like reality. It all felt like some bad nightmare that he was going to wake up from at any moment.
He looked around him and noticed that he had made his way back to Domino Bridge. Jou's eyes widened as an idea struck him. Yes, suicide was the quick way out. Why not share the same fate as his father? He looked around him to see how many people were sitting around him. There were a few here and there, just passing by who didn't even notice him. He shrugged, deciding that if this was how people were going to see him, not at all, then this was the best path for him. He was invisible, nothing more than a face in the crows. What was the heart wrenching fact about his decision was that if just one person had taken the time to realize what was on the boy's mind, they might have been able to stop him sooner.
Jou walked over to the edge of the bridge and looked over the side to see just how high it was. It was at least 100 feet up, and surely he would be killed from the drop. That was exactly how he wanted it. He peered over his shoulder one last time before climbing up on the side, staring down at the river below him. He felt dizzy just standing there, and he lost his footing. Jou caught himself, deciding that he was going to take a moment to gather his thoughts and talk himself into this again before he took the 100 foot plunge. That moment was all it took.
The shopkeeper had been having a rather uneventful day, save for the rascal that had decided to try and dig through his trash for food. It wasn't his fault that the boy was a homeless bum, and he didn't feel that the kid had a right to scavenge through his waste to try and feed himself. He didn't usually have any issues in these parts of town, seeing as his shop was in the higher end of Domino. As a matter of fact, he found it quite odd that a random kid had just suddenly shown up looking for food. That didn't happen around here.
He brought a broom outside to sweep the front of the shop free of all the sand and dirt that had been blown onto his doorstep by the light wind. With a sigh, the man reflected on what his week had been like. For some reason, it seemed like he had gained quite a few new customers, including a group of kids, mostly boys. The kid that really stuck out was a short kid with spiky, tricolored hair. He seemed a little shy, but overall he was a nice kid from the shopkeeper's experience.
There was a little blond girl that none of them seemed quite comfortable with yet. She seemed all right, but within the first 10 minutes of knowing her, he had gotten the impression that she was extremely demanding. Of course, he had never seen the boy from earlier traveling with the group, so he had no idea that he was a friend of theirs. He just seemed like some street kid who was trying to steal from a good and honest citizen.
After a moment, the older man heard someone hitting their car horn hard, and he looked up. That moment must have been fate, because had it been even a second later, the kid would be dead. Thankfully, even though he was older, the shopkeeper was still in decent shape. He made his way to the side of the bridge where the blond boy from before was standing on the edge. He grabbed the teen's hand, making the boy jump and spin around to see who was there. To tell the truth, he wasn't sure what to think of the kid at this point. Had he really just tried to take his own life? He didn't have long to ponder that thought before the blond boy slipped, having lost his footing when he spun around. The older man still had his hand though, and he was holding on tight. He wasn't going to let the kid fall into the water below. Of course, he wasn't quite sure if that was what that boy intended, or if he had just decided to be a reckless daredevil. Either way, he was going to get himself killed if he wasn't careful.
Jou could feel the hand of the old man grabbing him, and he spun around in surprise, not sure what the guy wanted. Perhaps he preferred to kill the teen himself for having attempted to steal from him. After a moment, he felt his own eyes widen as he lost his footing, slipping off the edge and falling… The fall stopped after a moment as he dangled from the hand of the other man. Jou waited for him to let go, keeping his eyes closed. He was anticipating the falling feeling that would surely knock the wind out of him, and the crash down to the surface that would end his life. They never came.
Instead, he felt himself being slowly hoisted up by the shopkeeper, who was now struggling to get him up to the edge. Once he was far enough up, the man threw his other arm around Jou's torso, pulling him over the side and back to safety. The teen felt a mixture of emotions towards him. He felt thankful for having just been saved, but angry that his attempt at suicide had been foiled. On top of it, this man would probably be looked at as some kind of hero, and that just didn't seem fair. However, Jou knew very well that life isn't fair.
Even though Jou seemed extremely shaken up, the guy didn't stick around to console him. He had left, leaving the kid there on his own. Jou went to stand, but found himself on shaky legs. There were salty tears forming in his eyes, and they were threatening to pour out, but he wasn't going to let them if he could help it. He didn't want to start crying out here for the public eye to see. Instead, he pulled himself over to a corner that was covered by the shadows.
After a moment, the shopkeeper came back out holding a blanket in his hand, as well as something else. Jou could smell the sweet aroma of pastries from where the guy stood, and it made him wonder what the old man was up to. Currently, he was staring at the spot that Jou had been in just a moment before, but when it dawned on him that the teen was no longer there, his eyes began to wander searching for the boy that he had just saved. When he caught sight of Jou, he walked over to him and wrapped the blanket around the kid before sitting down next to him. He didn't ask any questions. He only sat there in a comfortable but questioning silence as the kid ate the pastries he had brought for him.
The shopkeeper had already called the center for troubled teens, and he was awaiting their arrival. Although he would have loved to, the old man couldn't afford to take a kid in. He and his wife had no children, and it would have been a delight to have someone around the house, but they also couldn't provide this boy the type of counseling he needed. He had just attempted to end his life. He certainly needed some kind of psychiatrist.
It was a few more minutes before one of the men who helped run the organization arrived. He exited a small, black Nissan Versa and made his way over to where the young teen sat, still wrapped in a blanket. The best way to approach a kid, he had found, was to level with them, literally. He sat down and looked into a pair of troubled amber eyes, offering a friendly smile. The boy just turned and stared at the ground. The guy himself was a bit young, though he was still this teen's senior by at least 5 years. It seemed that younger counselors had an easier time relating to the teens that they worked with.
It took a while to get the smaller blond to acknowledge that he was there, but when he finally did, the young man, whose name was Daichi, gave the same smile he had before. The blond didn't return it, but continued to look at him as if he was really looking right through him. Daichi was certain that the teen knew just why he was here, and he hoped that it wouldn't make the job harder than it already was. After all, he was here to try to help him.
Jou had noticed that the dark-haired man who was now sitting on his left seemed to be some sort of official. He had already smiled at the smaller teen twice, and Jou found that it was really making him uncomfortable. He tried his best to keep eye contact, but looked away after a few awkward minutes. He had a feeling that he knew where he was going. Jou was almost certain that he was being sent to the detention center where they put all of what they considered to be teen scum.
He felt some anger at the shopkeeper now, knowing that he was the one who had called this asshole here. The only reason that the old man had offered him anything was to try to keep him in the same spot until the authorities got here. He was irritated at himself for having trusted the other man to stay even this long. If he had realized what was going on sooner, he would have been gone by now. He knew that now there was no getting away. From what he had been told, these people carried things like stun guns and drugs in case the kid they were after tried to escape. It almost made them sound like a child molesting service.
It was about an hour and a half later that the dark-haired young man stood up, holding a hand out to Jou. He didn't want to take it, he was very reluctant to, but he knew that he really didn't have a choice. If Jou protested, he had no idea what they would do to him. He took the man's hand, allowing himself to be helped up. The one who was helping him up pulled a little too hard and Jou ended up in his arms. Daichi gave a sickeningly sweet smile, making Jou scowl in return. The dark-haired man paid no attention to it. He put his hand on the smaller blond's back, rubbing it lightly. Jou wanted to pull away, but it seemed that this guy had a death grip.
He led Jou over to the car, opening the door for him as if he was a lady. Another scowl, which Daichi ignored once more, and then they were on their way. He had prepared Jou's room for him earlier, trying to make it seem as comfortable as possible. He didn't want the little puppy—he wasn't sure why, but Jou reminded him of a puppy—to run away from the center. After all, they were there to help others, not hurt them.
Daichi was blasting the music in the car, which Jou was unconsciously singing along to, a smile on his face. Looking over at the young blond, he felt a little bit better knowing that although Jou was obviously nervous about the new place he was going to be going to, he was at least a little bit happy. His head was bobbing along with the beat as he hit his knees, a habit he'd always had while listening to music. His window was down and the wind was currently blowing through his mop of hair, messing it up even more than it had been.
They arrived after a little while in an upper middle class part of Domino. Jou had been here many times. This was where Yugi lived. He felt a stab of pain in the chest as he thought about how much of a jerk his old friend had been to him lately. He knew Yugi wasn't doing it on purpose, but it still hurt to know that his best friend was not standing by him. Instead, he had decided that Jou was too unbearable for him, so he was coming up with some lame ass excuses about how he had places to be. Whatever happened to sticking by your best friend in their time of need? He would have to remember this the next time that Yugi needed something from him.
Finally, they arrived at the center, which sort of reminded him of some sort of vacation resort. If it had been, then it would have been one of those places reserved for the upper class. He smiled again, but then remembered that Daichi was in the car with him. The smile turned into a scowl as he turned to look at the guy sitting next to him. Something about him seemed a little off, almost as if he liked having Jou close to him like this. It would have been enough to make the younger male fear for his virginity if he had still been pure.
The next morning Kaiba awoke well rested and ready for the day, that is, until he remembered that he had to go to that stupid counseling thing today. He let out a sigh, getting up and getting dressed. His body instantly missed the feel of soft, smooth silk as it was replaced by cotton. He pulled on his white trench coat, his favorite of the bunch that he had, and slipped it on with ease. Mokuba had been awake way ahead of him, and had been his alarm clock today. Of course, he knew that his big brother had somewhere to be, so Seto promised that they would get a chance to do something together later.
He headed out into the garage and grabbed one of the less expensive cars, not wanting the kids to see an expensive car and get the idea of breaking into it. From there, he headed out, taking a bit to get to the center. He looked up at the building, remembering the meeting he'd had with the secretary yesterday. The person he was supposed to work with had been sent home yesterday morning. He wondered just who he was going to get stuck with now.
Seto made his way into the building, making a grand entrance as if he owned the place, a random gust of wind blowing his coat dramatically behind him. He smirked at the people there who cowered in fear before him, but the smirk was quickly replaced with a more stoic look as he headed for the secretary's desk. She smiled, waving her disgusting acrylic nails around to try and make a show of them before telling him which room the kid he was working with was in.
Of course, Seto hadn't bothered to ask for the name of the kid, and though she had informed him that he was working with someone new that would need consistency, not a thought crossed his mind as to who it could be. As a matter of fact, he had been almost certain that he wouldn't know the person. He was sadly mistaken. Seto knocked and then pushed open the door. He was greeted by a smaller, thinner teen whose head was down, blond mop over his eyes. Seto didn't even have to see the face to know who it was.
"You," he pointed accusingly at the teen. Jou didn't look up. Seto already felt agitated, and they hadn't even begun.
"Me," the blond replied quietly, staring at his hands.
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