Previously...
Taking the steps two at a time, Kaiba fled up the stairs and burst out of the door, arriving on the rooftop.
It was raining. The sky a stern grey due to the gathering storm clouds. Looking around, Kaiba's heart stopped as his gaze fell upon his puppy, blonde hair plastered to his face, standing precariously close to the edge.
Chapter 9
"JOUNOUCHI" Kaiba screamed, a flash of lightening streaking across the metallic sky. Jou turned around. The expression on his face shattered Kaiba's already failing heart.
His eyes.
The normally fiery amber eyes that stared down at him defiantly during so many of their arguments were dull, seeming to look straight through him.
They were lifeless.
"Jou?" Kaiba whispered hesitantly.
"Go away Kaiba" Jou whispered robotically before turning back to peer down at the bustling street below.
"No, I'm not going anywhere Jou. Not without you. Come away from the edge, please." Kaiba begged, desperation evident in his voice.
"So, stopped calling me mutt then? When did that happen?" Jou answered.
"Does it matter? Just please come away from the edge Jou"
"Why? What's the point. I'm going to die anyway."
"You don't know that Jou. You heard the doctor, they still need to do the biopsy and..."
"NO, Kaiba, did you not listen to the fucking doctor? I have leukaemia! That's not fucking flu, it's cancer. It will fucking kill me!" Jou had spun round, fire burning in the irises of his eyes, a hateful glare focused towards the taller brunette.
Despite the fiery gaze and spiteful words, Kaiba was actually glad to see this side of Jounouchi rather than the robotic clone that had previously stood at the edge of the roof.
"There's still treatment Jou. There's chemo and..."
"So what happens after they magically rid me of cancer, eh? Firstly, I won't be able to afford the hospital bills afterwards. It's not like my dad is going to want to foot the bills now is it?"
"Well, I can pay the bills..."
"Fuck you, Kaiba! Why would you do that? Do you just want to rub it in my face that you're so much better off than me? Show me up for the mutt I am, eh?"
"NO! Jounouchi, I just want you to get through this!"
"Get through this? GET THROUGH THIS?" Jou shouted at the shocked brunette, all rational thought had obviously been surpressed by the shock of finding out about his condition.
"When I, as you say, get through this, what then? I don't have a loving family to return to, as you probably realised from the reception my dad gave me!"
Jou turned around, fear and longing hidden deep in the depths of his eyes as he locked amber with blue. Hesitating slightly before speaking, he whispered, "What do I have left to live for?"
Without even thinking, Kaiba answered on a reflex. Kaiba's answer caused Jou to collapse to the floor, body wracking with sobs. Kaiba ran towards him and held him close to his chest. "Shh, puppy, shh. I'm here."
"Say it again, Seto, please." Jou stuttered between his sobs, looking up at Seto through his golden eyelashes.
Bending down to caress the shell of Jou's ear with his lips, Seto whispered, "For me, puppy. Live for me."