Thank you all for your kind reviews. I'm glad the transition between the times went a little smoothly. Now onward to Jounouchi and Kaiba.
Warning: Violence and abuse
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Chapter Seven
Jounouchi ran quickly through the streets, apologizing to all the people he ran into and the cars that nearly hit him. He was late for his third job, but this time it wasn't his fault. He knew he was close to being fired for being late all the time, but his second job at that shopping center would never let him leave until the other cashier showed up. Finally, the large building came into view. He rushed through the employees' entrance of the law firm just to come to a stop in front of his boss. The slightly chubby and muscular older man stood in front of his locker with his arms crossed. "Jounouchi-san, you're late."
"I'm sorry, Boss. My other job wouldn't let me leave."
The older man sighed, running his hand through his salt and pepper hair. "Why don't you quit that job?"
"I'm sorry, Oishi. I need that job."
"You're going to run yourself into an early grave."
"My father can't work, and I need to support us."
Oishi sighed and uncrossed his arms. "Then, I'm really sorry to do this, but you can't work here anymore."
Jounouchi's shoulders slumped. "I understand. Thank you for your kindness." This wasn't the first time he got fired and wouldn't be the last time.
"You can pick your final pay check up next week. And, Jounouchi-san, take some advice and only work one job. You're too young to do this. You should be focusing on school and having fun with friends."
The blond sadly smiled. "I need the money to afford school." He turned and walked back out the door. He thought with losing so many jobs it would stop affecting him, but he was wrong. Placing his hands in the pockets of his jeans, he continued to walk aimlessly. He didn't want to return home early. His father would know and give him an extra beating just like so many times in the past. At least he still had his paper route and the cashier job, maybe he could pick up more routes or hours at the store. Running his fingers over the scar on his wrist, he silently prayed to the gods that something good would happen. The last time his father ran out of beer or sake, he got that scar. He thought it wouldn't stop bleeding and nursed it at home without going to the hospital, resulting in the scar.
Deciding that he needed a break from his depressing thoughts, he crossed the street and started heading towards the Kame Game Shop. He did want to ask Atemu about his dreams and see how he was handling the real world. Ever since he decided to stay with Yugi, the two hadn't separated. Yugi had a lot to teach the five thousand year old pharaoh who only gotten a small amount of knowledge from inside the puzzle. Jounouchi wrapped the thin green jacket around himself, fighting the cold air. He hated that winter was on the way and desperately wished it would miss them that year.
He had made it to the game shop just as Yugi flipped the sign to close. He smiled brightly at his friend, letting him in before locking the door. "I thought you worked tonight," Yugi commented not knowing how many jobs his best friend had. The blond never told him.
"They let me go. I was late again."
"Oh, I'm sorry, Jounouchi-kun. Do you want some tea?"
"That would be nice. Can I talk to Atemu? I have a couple questions about his past."
"I don't see why not," Yugi said, opening the door to their apartment. "He's fixing his deck in the main room. I'll get the tea. You look cold."
The blond chuckled, roughly rubbing Yugi's tri-color hair, figuring that it wouldn't take long for Atemu to change his deck. The smaller man squawked, running his fingers through it to fix it again. "Hi, Atemu," he called seeing the pharaoh sitting on the floor with cards spread all over the table. He looked different now that he had his own clothes and his crimson eyes shined brighter.
Atemu looked up and stood. "It is good to see you, my friend. What brings you here?"
"I had some questions for you."
The pharaoh sat on the couch directly across from the chair that Jounouchi sat on. "I know this might sound strange. Did Seth have a lover other then Kisara?"
The pharaoh glanced over at Yugi who set the tea down in front of Jounouchi. "Kisara and he were never lovers. He was upset about the injustice done to her and she granted him the Blue Eyes because he tried to save her. Have you been having dreams?"
The blond sipped his drink. "A little," he lied. "They aren't clear and are confusing."
"Do you see yourself?"
"Yes, but I didn't think I was part of your past."
"You were a large part of Seth's past. Kaiba if he started to dream, should remember it."
"You know he would never believe it."
"I know. That is why I would leave it up to you to decide what to do with this information."
"So it was true. Seth and...I...Jono."
"Yes. You both loved each other deeply."
Jounouchi sighed, leaning fully into the chair. "I saw how they died. Actually I saw everything through Jono's eyes and oddly enough, I saw you come for Seth's body."
Atemu folded his hands in his lap, unable to decide what he should do with that information. He had always wanted to know what happened to them. He could tell that it hurt his friend to think about. "If it is not too difficult, could you tell me how they died?"
The blond bit his lip, debating on what to do. The memories were very painful, but it must be worse not knowing what happened to someone you loved. "Three men came into their cave claiming it as their own. They told Seth to leave everything as payment for rent so to speak. He tried to bargain for the blankets for Jono, but they wanted to keep him as well."
The blond took a long sip of tea before continuing. "Seth was having none of that. He tried to fight them off, but three against one in a weakened state was horrible odds. Jono eventually came out of his trance and blocked Seth when one tried to stab him in the back. The blade went right through him killing him within minutes. Seth killed all three in what looked like blind rage. He was there when Jono died, telling Seth that he loved him," Jounouchi's voice was barely a whisper. His two friends didn't interrupt, allowing him time to tell the story slowly. They could tell the sad end of both Jono and Seth was troubling the blond.
Jounouchi cleared his throat, shaking the depressed thoughts. "After Seth watched Jono die, he took his sword and sliced all the bodies up, leaving the parts all over the place until his rage was satisfied. He took Jono to a stream, washed him and wrapped him in a blanket. He built a pyre and lit it on fire, cremating Jono. He didn't move from that spot. Eventually he collapsed in the sand. You arrived not long after that."
Yugi moved over to the chair, hugging the blond. "I'm so sorry."
The ex-duelist blinked. "Why are you sorry?"
"You're grieving. These memories are clearly affecting you."
"My final prayers were that you two get together in the next life," Atemu commented. "I did not think I would be here to witness you two at each other's throats. Then you come and tell us that you are in love with him. I thought it was fate. You should tell him how you feel."
"You know as well as I do that he doesn't believe in that past life."
"He may outwardly say that, but that doesn't mean he fully believes that. I know it might be difficult but you never know unless you try. What could be worse? He claims he doesn't like you but is willing to do things for you like save your life," Yugi commented, remembering being told that Kaiba dropped the key into the water so Jounouchi could unlock himself after Malik's control was broken. Kaiba may have said it was because he took his duel disk off first, but the king of games knew there had to be something else.
"I don't know, Yugi. I would be able to bare the resentment and rejection. At least with not trying I could pretend that there is a possibility."
"Jounouchi-kun," Yugi started but stopped as Atemu laid his hand on his shoulder.
"It is his decision, Aibou." Yugi nodded, sitting back down on the couch. "Whatever you decide we are here for you."
"Thanks, both of you," the blond stood, putting his hands back in his pocket. "I'll think about. I'll see you at school tomorrow."
"See you, Jounouchi-kun," Yugi said with a frown, looking back at Atemu. The pharaoh shook his head before kneeling back down on the ground, adjusting his cards. He knew that they couldn't push the two into anything. These were different times. Same sex relations were frowned upon and not to mention that Kaiba's public image was world known. The consequences to their relationship might be worse than during his rein as pharaoh. He glanced at the Dark Magician, hoping that his prayer to the gods back then would be granted.
Jounouchi moved slowly through the darkened streets. It was still too early to return home, but he didn't want his friends pushing his relationship. It was hard enough seeing Kaiba almost daily, getting lost in the ocean that was his eyes only to have him insult him, destroying the small flutter of his heart. He wanted to tell the CEO how he felt, but fear gripped his heart. Stopping outside of Kaiba Corp., the blond glanced up to the top floor, suspecting that Kaiba was still there. He knew that the brunet worked late. He could tell by the dark circles under his eyes. It had to be difficult going to school, running the largest gaming company in Japan and taking care of Mokuba all in one day. He admired the strength he had.
Shoulders slumped, Jounouchi turned towards the rundown part of Domino. His apartment complex wasn't in good shape, but at least it could withstand an earthquake or hurricane. The older buildings collapsed during the last earthquake. He sighed and pulled the jacket further around him, hoping that his father would be too drunk to realize that he was home a few hours too soon. Walking through the trash covered streets only lit by flickering lights, the blond made his way up the cement stairway to the floor with his apartment on it. The other doors were empty except for their number, but his door was cracked slightly open. He could hear the television blaring and smell the stench of alcohol and filth. Every time he tried to clean, his father would make the apartment worse. The only room to remain clean was his own. That was the main reason why he never invited anyone to his home.
Stepping through the door, he didn't bother taking his shoes and jacket off. The room was always cold and glass was shattered on the stained beige carpet. There were random holes and cracks in the wall from when a bottle of beer or sake would miss hitting him. He tried to sneak by the couch his father was sitting on but a large strong hand wrapped around his wrist. "You're early," his father's voice slurred, turning his bloodshot eyes to his son.
"Got off early."
"Impossible. They fired your lazy ass."
"No," Jounouchi lied, attempting to pull his arm away.
His father pulled on it, causing the blond to lose his balance. He punched his son in the stomach. Landing hard on the floor and still unable to pull his wrist free, Jounouchi coughed and gasped. His father was always surprisingly strong for a drunk unable to escape; he couldn't block the kicks and punches landing on his body. He fought the screams that wanted to escape, knowing that the beating would be worse should he make any noise. He tried to curl up, but not having use of the one arm prevented him from protecting himself completely.
When his father tired, he released Jounouchi bruised wrist, giving him one last kick in the back. Pain radiated from every part of his body, but the blond fought the coming darkness to reach the safety of his room. Shutting the door, he slid down and curled up on the floor, unable to summon the energy to move further. Tears rolled down his cheeks. He wished he had the courage and strength to fight back, but he didn't want to hurt his father. For all the pain he caused, Jounouchi still remember the man that used to play ball with him. The man that taught him to defeat himself. The man that was his father. The man he wished he would become again. A ridiculous wish that may never come true.
Jounouchi leaned his throbbing head against the door, closing his eyes. He shivered from the cold or at least he thought it was from the cold. Sleep became nonexistent to the blond. He feared that if he fell asleep he wouldn't wake. So, he sat on the floor, listening to the porn his father eventually turned on and watching the night slowly become day. Eventually all the noises from the other room died to be replaced by his father's loud snores. Sun rose through the window, telling the blond that it was time to get up.
He attempted to pull himself off the ground but his bruised wrist screamed in pain. It wouldn't support his weight nor move. Frowning, he stared at the useless hand. How was he going to explain that one or even throw the newspapers? He tried to lean on his other arm, but his body felt like a stone pillar. Collapsing on his side, he willed his body to move. Even though the paper route didn't pay much, it was enough to buy him breakfast and lunch daily, hiding how difficult his life is from his friends. "Get up," he mumbled, flipping onto his stomach and pushing himself up on his knees. With his right arm cradled to his sore stomach, Jounouchi moved out of his room and into the bathroom.
Luckily there was no blood to clean, but a lot of bruises to hide. He showered quickly, choosing to button his uniform jacket unlike all other days, to hide the bruises on his neck. The long sleeves covered the other bruises but the one on his wrist. If he wasn't careful someone would see the hand shaped bluish purple bruise. A little more awake after his shower, the blond moved quietly out of the apartment shutting the door slowly until it clicked shut. He breathed a sigh of relief until he noticed that he had ten minutes to get to the distribution center. Cursing under his breath, he took off running. Barely able to ignore his body screaming in pain, he moved swiftly through the quiet streets.
There were barely any people around that early in the morning. Halfway to his job, his lungs burnt like fire and his vision blurred from unshed tears. "Just a little further," he thought, darting across the street, not seeing the car or anything more. He didn't even feel when his body landed on the ground or the sound of screeching tires and screaming people. He didn't hear the familiar voice growling his name. All felt lost. He welcomed the darkness with open arms. Finally an escape from the pain.
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I hope you liked it. The next chapter is on Friday. Thank you all for reading please review.
Angel Dove
