I do not own Yu-Gi-Oh

Chapter Nine

"Otogi! I have to tell you...something!"

He was looking at me, electric green eyes were blinking in confusion and expectance. My tone was rushed and over-the-top and convinced him that I probably had something very important to tell him. Although I thought it was peculiar how he was paying such close attention, I decided to go right ahead and tell him my news.

"Otogi..." I breathed in. "I am...a homosexual." I was suddenly breathless and I was watching his eyes the entire time. I saw them go bright for a moment, whether it was from shock or delight I wasn't sure.

He bit down on his bottom lip and made an interested noise in his throat. Then he said, "Hmm...Christ. Uhh...is there anything I can do to come to terms with my own homophobia?" suddenly he was looking up at me again sort of expectantly.

I was nodding, and suddenly I was holding a newspaper in my hand. When did I get the newspaper? Who knows. Anyway... "Yes there is." I opened the paper in my hands and came to an article about a PFLAG gathering that was happing in Domino City downtown Thursday nights at 7:30. In giant bold letters it said "Parents, Families, and Friends of Gays, Lesbians and Bisexuals". Beside the logo was a little clip-art picture of a flag.

I handed it to Otogi, gulping down the lump that developed in my throat. "Here it is Otogi. It's called a PFLAG group. It means 'Parents, Families, and Friends of Gays, Lesbians and Bisexuals'."

Otogi took the newspaper from me and looked it over. I was wringing my hands to see what he would say. His eyebrows tweaked in mild interest and he began to nod his head. "Oh. A PFLAG. How promising does that sound?" then he was smiling at me, and suddenly his hair was done up in curlers.

I was scowling at him. Okay...what was going on here? I told him I was gay, and he seemed to accept it just like that. He liked the sound of going to PFLAG meetings, and suddenly he was wearing hair curlers and a housecoat? Where the hell did he get that rolling pin from?

Wake up Jounouchi, damn it! WAKE UP!

Slap

"Jou! Aren't you listening to me?"

That was Otogi's voice. I shook my head and my eyes focused on the road. That's right, we were still in the car. We were going out for a beer. Everything was coming back to me now. I must have been caught up in my own thoughts when Otogi thought I was listening to him ramble on.

"So, anyway-" I looked over and Otogi was concentrating on his driving, but not too much. He had a cigarette dangling from his lips and hadn't opened another bottle of beer, a box of them were sitting snugly between his seat and the foot pedals. Real smart there Otogi. It was good he hadn't opened another one though.

"Yeah, and that was when Mango decided that she ought to talk to me about teen pregnancy." Otogi said in a very insulted voice. "Teen pregnancy! I mean, can you believe that? Hello, I can't get pregnant!" he took a deep drag on his cigarette, moving it from his lips, and shaking his head. I was watching him now, wondering when the topic had suddenly turned to Mango. But I faintly remember, before going into my rather dazed state, that he had started to bitch and moan about how and why they broke up.

Once again I had resumed to pretend I was listening to a word he had to say. I was thinking about my little "dream". I had told him really bluntly, hadn't I? Of course a smart me wouldn't have done that. But then again Otogi wouldn't have been so cool about it and asked about joining a PFLAG. Did we even have PFLAG's in Domino? Hmm.

But I had to think to myself some more. How was I going to tell him? I decided that yes, today I was going to tell him, and that was that! No matter if he got mad or if he was fine with it I was going to tell him today, because it was summer and I more less had nothing much to lose...except his friendship. But was I really about to gamble that?

Of course if he was really a friend worth keeping he would accept me for who I was, and admire my courage to tell him the truth, right?

...Right?

It upset me to think about it. And I didn't particularly want to listen to Otogi. There was something very unappealing about whatever the hell it was he was talking about. I guess I zoned out.

I began to think about Seto. Seto...

Beautiful Seto...sometimes I wondered what life would be like if we lived together. And I don't mean like, in those stupid sitcoms you see on TV in the afternoons. I'm thinking seriously, it would have been interesting if Seto and I lived together.

But something came across my mind. It was a stupid idea to even toy with. Seto wasn't like that; he never seemed like the type who could settle down into one place with one person for the rest of his immortal life. That bummed me out. And he would never stay with me, above all people. He probably wanted to find someone he could drink until they were dry, who didn't ask questions and offered him sexual favors. Nah...that doesn't sound like Seto either. I mean, he was a fucking vampire, if he wanted sexual favors from anyone, he could get them. He could get them from me, no problem. He could say one word and I'd be on my knees ready to service him.

But he didn't. And this got me thinking.

I read somewhere completely out of coincidence that vampires are very sexual creatures. Some liked to toy with their prey before killing them. Others liked to fuck and drink at the same time. Most of them were just so damn seductive that they did whatever the hell they felt like. I assumed that was it with Seto. Seto radiated sexual energy, and you can trust me when I say he's the most beautiful man in Domino City. It wouldn't surprise me in the least if he had had sex with almost half of Domino's beautiful citizens, men and women alike.

That was depressing to think about. He could have fucked with a million of his victims and yet he hasn't so much as touched me. ...Not really.

Maybe he sensed that I wanted him to. Maybe that's what's driving him off. Maybe he totally prefers the sport of it rather than the sex, and doesn't like anyone who would so willingly surrender their body to him, like I would. Perhaps he was totally and completely about skill.

Maybe I should play more hard to get...maybe I could go out every night and not see him every night and he would get curious and demand to know what I was up to. I could imagine it now. I'd come home tipsy and he'd be sitting on my couch, looking furious and stand up demanding where I've been. Wait no, scratch that. He wouldn't play himself off as desperate, or worried about the whereabouts of a mortal. Instead he'd just scowl at me and give me the tight-lip look. If he tried to bite me I'd push him away and get mad. Maybe I'd yell at him or something, really piss him off, throw something at him, make him want to kill me almost.

But I knew in the end he wouldn't kill me because if he wanted to he would have done so already. But I could give him reasons to. I could make him want to hurt me so badly that he'd storm out in a rage. Why wouldn't he just stay and hurt me? Hey, this is my fantasy! Don't interrupt!

Okay so anyway he'd leave me alone for awhile, probably for most of the summer. I'd be finished my exams and I'd find another job, probably at some coffee place or something. Hey! That doesn't sound too bad! I should totally look into that this week! Try and find a job on my favourite street! That'd be awesome!

Anyway, so I'd have my job and he'd leave me alone and I'd hang out with Honda and Otogi (assuming they hadn't shunned me by now), and maybe I'd fuck around a little, go to a few gay bars or something once I get a fake ID, totally get mauled by some hot guys. I'd be this total little slut, I'd drink and swear and smoke and fuck around and that's when Seto would come back. I could imagine coming back to the apartment with a guy I'd met at one of the bars. We'd be a bit drunk and start necking on the way up to my front door and just barely make it inside, with his hand down my pants and me finishing my beer and Seto would be there.

Ooh, he'd be pissed. But maybe he wasn't pissed, maybe he was jealous. If that was possible. Maybe vampires don't get those mortal feelings. Who knows. So anyway I'd notice Seto right away and sorta say hi, I'd be laughing because I'd be drunk, and then I'd introduce the guy who's feeling me up, and he'd probably laugh and ask if Seto was joining us tonight. And that would totally push the buttons on Seto, I can so see it now. Seto would rush forward and pin him against the wall, pushing me out of the way, probably into the door, the beer bottle falling from my hands and shattering on the floor. And Seto would be furious, he'd slam him against the wall and snarl at him, saying stuff like 'don't the fuck you touch my puppy' although I've never heard him swear before and I can't really imagine him doing so. Neither can I really imagine him being so protective of me. But I can still dream, this is my fantasy.

Then he'd kill the guy! Well, maybe not kill him, drink him for sure! And then maybe push his half-dead body out my front door and then slam it on him, making him know he wasn't welcome. He'd be heaving, he'd be so pissed, and I'd be crumpled up on the floor looking up at him in confusion. I wouldn't say anything, he'd probably kill me on the spot if provoked.

But, and this is where it gets good, he'd see me and pick me up, you know just roughly around the shoulders, and it wouldn't be painful or anything, and he'd just fling me onto the couch. And once I'd gain my vision back and I wasn't so dizzy anymore, I would look up and see him towering over me taking off his trench coat. And I'd smile and tease him with my eyes, rising up on my knees and pulling him to me. He'd look down at me, curious as to what I was up to, and I'd slide my hands up his legs and over the growing bulge in his pants. I'd hear him hiss from the contact and I'd decide to take my chances and unbuckle his belt. But apparently he doesn't much like that idea because suddenly I'm lying back on the couch and he's on top of me, stripping off every article of my clothing that seems to him to be almost threatening, and then he flips me over and I'd hear his pants shuffle and his belt buckle jingle and I'd bite my lip and I'd let out a moan as I'd feel his big, hot, hard-

"Jounouchi!"

I gasped, and suddenly I was completely pulled from my daze. I was overcome with shock to find that the car had stopped, and we were sitting in front of a building that I didn't recognize.

Otogi was staring at me in his seat, his dark eyebrows burred in confusion and even irritation. I shook my head once and blinked a few times, clearing my throat and trying to smile at him. "Sorry..." I said quickly. "My mind's kinda somewhere else..."

He shrugged and nodded to the building we parked in front of. "No biggie. Come on." I watched him get out of the car, almost fluently, and close the door. I watched him as he walked around to the front of the building, towards the door. I noticed how rough his movements were, not smooth and sheer liquidly, like Seto. But I was not here to think about Seto (too late), but I was here to reveal to Otogi my sexuality, whether he (or I) liked it or not!

I got out of the car. The summer air hit me like a brick to my head. It carried all the sweet smells of the afternoon and of the shops nearby. It was a sunny afternoon, something I had seemed to have neglected through my daydreaming. I could only imagine all the parties and celebrations going on right at this moment for the occasion of no more school, all the students, all those homophobic students drinking and smoking pot and sleeping with the first person who seemed interested. Yes, this truly was the beginning of summer.

And here I was going to ruin it all...by telling Otogi, my best friend, one of my only friends, that I was a homosexual.

A part inside of me longed to cancel my plans. It spoke out in a little but strong voice, saying that now was not the right time, that I should wait for just a little longer, just to give Otogi enough time to become more comfortable about the idea of homosexuals. But another little voice told me in a very convincing way that he may never be okay with homosexuals, that now was as good as ever, that procrastination would only discourage me from ever telling him.

No, I had made my decision! I walked to the door of the bar with proud confidence. I was a gay teenage boy, and I am not ashamed. I am proud of who I am. Otogi is not going to make me feel any less about myself!

...I want my mommy.

"What's the matter with you?" Otogi asked, giving me a weird/humorous look, like I was making faces at the wall or something. He could easily tell I was distracted by something. I guess it was bothering him. He opened the door with one hand. I could smell the drugs and the beer, and the sounds of a football game and a rock band floated out along the air with the scents. I smirked. You'd think this was any other bar in Domino. The industry has no creativity.

I shook my head. "Nothing. Just distracted." I explained briefly, running a hand through my hair, and when I had seemed to even mildly convince him that my mind was all there, he proceeded into the bar, and I followed him, but in the pit of my stomach it almost seemed like I followed him to my doom.

The bar was crowded, but there wasn't a teenager in sight. I suppose all the adults of Domino decided summer was something to celebrate, even if they didn't get it entirely off. I don't think anyone noticed that we had come inside.

I found us a tiny table towards the back where we could sit and drink our drinks. I watched Otogi disappear into the crowd of people to get our beers. And in the time from when he left and when he returned, I was biting my nails and grinding my teeth in nervousness, trying to think of how to let Otogi know that I wasn't straight.

Sometimes I wondered why he hadn't figured it out already. Yeah sure he did drugs and drank and fucked prostitutes all the time, but he certainly wasn't stupid. The teachers called him that sometimes at school but it was never true. Otogi was, in truth, one of the most intelligent people I've ever known, and although that doesn't really speak for much, it's the truth.

Otogi probably knows he is too, although I know he'd hate to let others know it. That's why he acts the way he does in school. He likes to pretend he's a moron so everyone for the most part will leave him alone. He'd probably punch me in the face if I ever commented on his intelligence.

Yeah, this was weird...you'd think I'd have given him enough hints and clues to figure it out for himself (i.e. not going all the way with Cookie and complaining when she sexually harassed me). But I guess he either didn't believe it or wouldn't believe it. Who knows. But yeah...I'd be pretty suspicious if he hadn't figured it out for himself.

So...technically, it's Otogi's fault that I'm in this awkward situation!

He returned with the drinks a few minutes later. He had two beers in each hand and was grinning like an idiot. When he handed me the bottles and sat down sloppily next to me, he said. "Man, you have got to see that bartender! Ho-ly shit! What a babe!" he popped off the bottle cap of his first beer and drained the alcohol about halfway before stopping. I could smell the beer on his breath.

I was more hesitant when it came to the beer. I took the one and pushed the other to the side. I was staring off at the people in the table next to us, a couple, guy and girl probably a few years older than me, making out in the secludedness of the shadow. I know it would seem pretty rude of me to stare and all so I was quick to turn my attention down to the bottle of beer in front of me. I had no thirst for it anymore. I was just staring at it blankly.

"Your neck still hasn't healed?" for a second I thought it had been Seto's voice in my ear, but it was Otogi's, and I nearly had a heart attack. After catching my breath a hand went to my neck, grazing the new bandages I put there that morning, and I nodded absent-mindedly. Otogi shook his head, looking rather disgusted. "Shit man, you should see a doctor, and I'm not talking about no school nurse, although she may look good in that short skirt, you should see a doctor with a PhD." he took a long swig of his beer. Somehow I got the feeling that he said that because he felt he had to, like he had to make himself look compassionate for me. Why? Who knows.

This was it. I knew it. My hands were shaking, and it wasn't just because the beer in my hands was cold. No...my hands were actually clammy. I put down the beer bottle and heard my heart pound in my throat like waves of thunder

"Otogi...we're friends, right?"

Otogi nodded, but he was looking up at the ceiling and that made me suspicious. He set down his beer and swallowed, making a face that reminded me of someone trying to swallow a spider. In other words, it was an interesting sight. "Yeah..." he said a little breathless after that dramatic swallow.

I breathed in for what seemed to be a long time, thinking back to Otogi and my history as friends. In our years of being friends he hadn't really ever gotten mad at me, not like he got mad at Anzu or at Honda. Actually it's pretty funny when he and Honda fight because its always about the stupidest things. So anyway, I took my bottle of beer and started to twirl it on the table, watching the condensation drops create a ring on the surface from the bottom of the bottle. "And...I can kinda tell you anything, eh?" I said that like I was feeling guilty. I wonder if he noticed.

He shrugged. "Sure." and then he smiled in a compassionate way at me, his green eyes seemed to sparkle almost. "You told me your dad beat you, right?"

...That was true. And I had never told anyone else that. Despite the fact that Otogi only got half of the story there about me and my dad...I had told him that he beat me.

Otogi was a good, true friend. No matter what I dished out at him, I was positive that he wouldn't judge me for it. To both my alarm and my slight excitement, I sucked in a deep breath and muttered the words allowed that I had dreaded for months. The words that I thought would never leave my mouth and that I would only say out loud in the shower.

"...Otogi, I'm gay."

There was a long pause.

"What?" he said, rather lowly.

I nodded, not looking at him, feeling my heart pound in my chest. "Yeah...I'm gay."

And when I looked up at him, his expression for the most part hadn't changed. He frowned and blinked, his eyes widened curiously, like he didn't quite understand what I had just said to him. I wondered for a moment if he didn't hear me. It was awfully loud in the bar.

To my slight horror, his eyes began to shimmer again and he threw his head back and laughed. I felt my heart jump into my throat. When he stopped laughing and only remained with a slight chuckling, tears leaking out of the corner of his hypnotic eyes, he said through the giggling. "You fucking are not."

Oh Gods...

I frowned sadly. I knew I did because I could feel it. Oh shit...fucking shit! I bowed my head and felt my heart stop and my stomach gear up, protesting violently from all the beer I had in my system, despite the fact I had hardly touched my bottle. I could still hear him chuckling...that asshole. How could he laugh when I was trying to tell him something like this? Something serious.

I kept my head down, staring at the table, trying to make sure he couldn't see my eyes through my long bangs. I sighed heavily and nodded again, feeling the music pound mercilessly into my head, making me feel even more sick and shitty than I already was. "It's true..." I murmured, loud enough that he could hear me, but not too loud so I couldn't hear me, if you know what I mean.

There was another pause, and Otogi wasn't laughing anymore. I clenched my eyes closed when I heard him say, in a rather astonished tone. "Gods, you're fucking serious, aren't you?"

I sucked in a deep breath, swallowing constantly to make sure the contents of my stomach didn't rear up into my throat so I might blow chunks all over the bar floor. Things were already bad enough. I felt my eyes sting with tears and clenched my hands into fists.

Otogi slammed his beer bottle on the table top. "Fucking shit!" he spat furiously.

I looked up and tried to think of the words that would make it all better, so that he couldn't push me away. "It doesn't change who I am-"

"You're a fucking FAGGOT! This changes EVERYTHING!" he screamed at me suddenly, fire alighting in his rich eyes. I was suddenly terrified that the entire bar had heard and would drop dead quiet to look at us in wonder of what was going on. But to my fascination and relief no one had turned their head, despite his screaming. I guess the band was playing too loudly. I felt content for a simple second.

Otogi let out a furious sigh and looked down at the table top. "Shit, I can't believe all that time I was standing up for you, defending you, being your friend," he truly sounded disgusted with himself and that made my heart and stomach clench. "You were a fucking faggot all along!"

I was oblivious to the tears that leaked out of the corners of my eyes. I was feeling so sick and so terrible that I just wanted to crawl up somewhere dark and lay there crying until I died of despair. I tried to console his anger. "Otogi, please-"

He stared at me, he seemed to have quieted down and calmed a bit, but he was scowling and his shoulders were heaving up and down. I knew he was seething. "Did your dad ass-rape you?" he snarled with a venomous tone. "Is that how you 'converted'?"

Oh my fucking gods, Otogi! Shut up! Please, just shut up! Don't the FUCK you even mention that!

"Otogi!" that was all I could choke out, and it turned into a sob.

He shook his head very slowly, still staring at me with the disgust written all over his face. I could read it like it had been written in bright blue ink. "Gods...now I know why you didn't like Cookie..." he slammed his fist down on the table and buried his other hand in his black hair. "Fuck, I'm so blind..."

We were quiet for a moment. I tried to gather myself. I demanded myself to stop crying, be a man about this! I straightened out and took in a shuddery breath. "Otogi, I thought I could tell you..." I swallowed down the terrible lump that was in my throat. "I mean, we're friends-"

Otogi whipped his head up and stared at me. For a moment I thought his gaze would stab me to death. His eyes were like daggers, and at the sight of the evident cruelty in them, I wanted to start crying again. "Not anymore, you faggot!" he stood up in such a hurry that his chair fell over, as well as his almost-finished beer. "Go hump Yugi, that's all your kind is good for!" he grabbed his jacket and made to leave.

I stood up in a hurry in an attempt to calm him down. "Otogi-"

He whirled around at me. "Don't EVER come near me AGAIN!"

Otogi disappeared through the crowd of people, and out of my life.

I stood for moments, watching where he had disappeared. In my mind I couldn't hear the music from the band, or the cheering of the fans watching the sports channel, or the mindless chitchat coming from every four corner of the bar. All I could hear inside my head was Otogi's voice, over and over, screaming those terrible things to me. They played out in my head, over and over, and I was powerless to stop it.

"You're a fucking FAGGOT! Don't ever come near me again! I can't believe I was friends with a fucking faggot like YOU!"

Fuck this, I had to get out.

I trudged my way through the crowd, elbowing and pushing, hearing people complaining and swearing at me, but in the end they only assumed I was drunk. My vision was going blurry and I couldn't hear the music or anything in the bar anymore, only the sound of Otogi's voice screaming out his newfound hatred for me.

I found the door to the bar, to my relief and threw it open. It was dark out, and cars were lined up in the parking lot. A little group of guys were standing by one to the far right, smoking a bunch of cigarettes and talking quietly amongst themselves. I could see the lights of the towers of the city, but everything was blurred, and as I tried to walk, all I could see was gray blurriness. Finally I couldn't help it anymore, I bent over and blew chunks into what I thought (and hoped) was just a bunch of shrubs.

I was crying and crying, and the puking emptied my stomach and although I felt a little better, in no time at all it felt like there was a heavy rock in my stomach and in my heart. When my stomach was emptied I staggered back, my hands reaching for a wall. I fell back on my ass onto the concrete. It hurt but I didn't pay much attention.

I sobbed and I sobbed. And I felt so fucking stupid for it. I knew the guys standing by the car must have been laughing at me and making stupid remarks at me. But I didn't care. I didn't care about anything anymore. I just cried. There was a terrible taste in my mouth and my face felt dirty, but I continued to cry, thinking about what Otogi had said, thinking about what I had said to him...

Gods, I'm such a fucking FOOL! I should have known he would have taken this news badly! What the fuck was I thinking? Otogi wouldn't be all right with homosexuality just because I was gay! What the fuck was wrong with me? I must have been drunk or something, because this was really messed! Goddamn it he treats Yugi like shit because he's gay, why hadn't I seen it coming? Why hadn't I predicted that he would turn me away in such a violent manner?

I sat there for a long time, crying, and eventually crying so hard that I puked again. I sat on the curb of the sidewalk and just let myself go. I just cried.

Eventually after awhile I got up and wiped my face off. I started to walk, feeling a bit better now that I had emptied my stomach. I knew I could make it home okay. It was a helluva long walk, but I needed the fresh air, and the time to think.

I shoved my hands into my pockets and took slow steps. Tears kept escaping and running down my hot face in streams, but I didn't care, and I didn't try to stop them. The gross taste in my mouth got more and more worse, but I tried to ignore it. Eventually, and to my great surprise and gratefulness, I found a park with a little fountain.

I went to the fountain and drowned my face in the water. I didn't care how dirty the water was or how gross it was, it felt so fucking good against my tear-burned face. I sighed in content somewhere in my mind and then threw my head back, my bangs wet but feeling more less refreshed. I cupped my hands in the water and threw it over my face, over and over, and then I drank some to swish the disgusting taste from my mouth.

My shirt was soaking wet by the time I left the park and water droplets fell from the tips of my bangs. I didn't care, I felt better now, although totally torn up inside, at least now I was washed up a bit.

I walked and walked, for who knows how long, it seemed like forever. I was a long way from home and didn't have the money for the bus or anything. But it was okay. It was a nice summer night and the summer air was nice against my freshly washed face. My sight wasn't blurry anymore and I could see everything perfectly.

I thought about the scene with Otogi a lot on my walk. Over and over I kept replaying the scene in my head, even against my will. I remember him screaming at me, scowling at me, and leaving in a total rage. The more I thought about it, strangely, the more it seemed to grow less and less off my mind. I knew I would be upset for a long time about this, but at least I wasn't afraid to face the scene again.

Now I was feeling tired. Being sick and crying always makes me feel tired. I forced myself to stay awake, long enough to get home. I couldn't wait to take a long hot shower, and then fall into bed naked with crisp cool sheets and just sleep and sleep for the rest of my days.

Suddenly as my mind cleared I heard something peculiar. Footsteps that imitated mine. Behind me.

I stopped, and the footsteps stopped, and I whirled around in question. I didn't like being followed and I was upset enough to really tell off anyone who was trying to follow or stalk me. And I really didn't need someone following me on the same night I was upset as hell.

Just as I was about to scream at my stalker, I stopped and fell silent.

Seto.

Everything in the world, all my troubles and my dark feelings, all the noises around me, everything just....stopped.

I had forgotten entirely about Seto. I hadn't even thought that if I went home he might have come to see me. During my dark stage less than an hour ago, I didn't even know that Seto existed. And now, and here, the sight of him was overwhelming, like I was a starving man being offered the most wonderfully hot meal. I was quite speechless.

I studied him for a long time. His outfit had changed. Another trench coat, black as midnight, black as pitch, with ridiculously long and pointed collars that framed his head nicely. His expression was motionless and indifferent, but I could see in his eyes there was confusion. Confusion, compassion, and even a little bit of anger.

Blinking, I sniffed, and came to my senses, scowling at him. "What do you want?" I growled at him, relishing in watching his reaction. Chocolate brows arched in surprise, and his eyes became wider and more curious, more surprised and confused. But the rest of his face was very much the same. Perfect, white, and beautiful. But right now even Seto's beauty couldn't make me feel better. I scowled even tighter. "Go away!" I gestured with my arm, and spun on my heel to walk away from him, shoving my hands in my pockets, stomping down the street away from him.

I never would want to push Seto away. I was in love with him, or so I thought, and I was glad that he was there, even for a moment. But my mind was too full of serious things, thinking about Otogi and the scene at the bar, that I couldn't focus on Seto right now. He'd have to come back another night, although I knew he wouldn't like the compromising.

I heard his footsteps behind me. This puzzled me. He was a fucking vampire, why don't he just glide like he does all the time? I don't think I've ever seen him walk like a normal human before. But judging from his footfalls, he sure was walking like one.

I can't imagine how Seto would look right now, walking down the sidewalk. Anyone to go by him would moan in pleasure. He'd be tall and thin, his trench coat swaying with the wind along his liquid strides, his beautiful face frozen with concentration, his eyes glaring and pondering, observant of anything that might come his way.

I looked over my shoulder at him. He stopped and stared at me like he had before, the same expression on his face and the glow of confusion and curiosity in his eyes. I scowled and turned, walking backwards for moments and eventually stopping. "Why are you following me?" I shouted at him furiously, frowning angrily the best I could. "Go the fuck away!"

I didn't even wait for his reaction, I turned and continued my walk down the sidewalk. I wanted to punch myself for telling him to go the fuck away, but I couldn't deal with him right now. I just couldn't!

To my surprise and shock I walked right into something. I jumped back almost as quick as I bumped into it, and stared to observe. Oh, fucking perfect. I had walked directly into Seto, who no doubt, using his vampire speed, raced around in front of me. Shit...

I looked down at the sidewalk to avoid his gaze, pretending to kick a rock while really looking at his feet, because my feet weren't very interesting. I felt tears begin to wall up in my eyes again but I prayed and begged, gods don't let them spill, not here and not in front of Seto. Who knew what he would think of me then, if I showed emotion so bluntly in front of him. I knew exactly what he'd do. He'd scoff, make some terrible remark, and walk away. That's exactly what he'd do.

His hand reached forward and grasped my chin, gently, and raised my head so I would look at him. I didn't fight him. I stared into his blue eyes, those gorgeous blue eyes, and was slightly confused because they portrayed sadness. Something I never thought I would ever see in Seto.

"Puppy..." he said softly, almost inaudibly. It seemed like his lips hadn't even moved.

Slowly I pulled my chin away from his fingers, blinking rapidly and sniffing. Tears were leaking out of my eyes, and I didn't know why! Was I just upset because of what happened with Otogi? Maybe I was afraid of showing my emotion in front of Seto. Shit, it was both.

"Please Seto...just leave me alone..." I begged softly, looking down once again at the chipped concrete, trying to concentrate on something else so I wouldn't have to think about him or Otogi or the bar or anything. There was a piece of gum on the sidewalk. I pondered it. It was pink, so I imagine the flavour was either strawberry or just plain bubble-gum flavour... "Suck on my neck another time, Seto..." I begged him quietly. I clenched my eyes closed as the tears burned my cheeks. "Please..."

He stepped forward. I could feel the flare of his trench coat against my leg. He took my face in both his hands and lifted my head to face him full frontal. As soon as I saw his eyes I closed mine, and tried to bow my head, but it seemed like he wouldn't let me. Gods, I didn't want to see his expression...

"Why are you crying, puppy?" his cool thumbs brushed away the spilled tears, leaving behind a chilled sensation, which was lovely, but it didn't last very long, and I opened my eyes and looked into his.

I felt such love for him. I felt warm and wonderful. I felt safe and secure. Everything, everything that had happened today, all the bullshit that happened with Otogi in the bar...none of it mattered anymore, because Seto was here. Seto was here to take me in his arms and comfort me. He wasn't going to leave me alone, and he sought out to find me because he must have known I was sad. Perhaps he had seen the entire explosion between me and Otogi and followed me to comfort me. Oh gods Seto, I could never push you away!

I reached up with my hands and covered his, easing the tiniest smile, a sad smile, and my eyes filled once again with tears, tears of happiness. I didn't see his expression as I leaned forward, pressing my face into his firm chest. "Seto..." I whimpered.

He froze for a moment and I started to sob. His arms hung loosely at his sides and he was still, like he was wondering if he should comfort me or push me away. I wished and hoped with all my heart that he wouldn't push me away. I couldn't handle two rejections in the same night. I'd go home and kill myself.

Seto remained frozen, and I was upset again. It felt like I could read his thoughts. He didn't know if he liked this, if he enjoyed having a mortal this close to him, pouring his little human heart out and onto his expensive black clothes. I almost felt like I could feel his expression twist in mental disgust. I was waiting for his arms to come up and shove me away and into the wall, and then tear out my throat and leave my mutilated corpse rotting on the sidewalk so someone might find it early the next morning. But I didn't care. After tonight anything, even death, sounded reasonable. Besides that's all I was to him. Food. He came and snacked on me, and sooner or later he would kill me. Might as well be now, so I wouldn't have to drag out the suffering. Go ahead Seto, my love. I'm ready to die.

He wrapped his arms around me. Rather shocked, I tensed and then relaxed. His arms were warm and heated my body even if just by the slightest. His chin rested atop my blonde locks. I couldn't tell what he was thinking. But all I was thinking was, Thank you. Thank you Seto, my love. Thank you for understanding. Thank you for letting me have this!

We stayed embraced like this for moments. I let out a deep contented sigh and my tears stopped. My mind was at a standstill. Everything in the world was okay now, as long as he held me in his arms. Everything Otogi said back in the bar, every terrible word, every burning glare of his those eyes...and the sickness and torment I felt afterwards...it just melted away. I buried my face in his chest, rubbing my nose, feeling almost a little playful. I swear I could feel him smile. Even if it was just inside.

After what seemed like eternity, although it wasn't nearly enough time, he hoisted me up in his arms. I wrapped my arms around his neck and laid my head on his shoulder, curling my legs around his hips. I sighed deeply and closed my eyes, breathing in his intoxicating smell that was so uniquely him. He began to walk down the sidewalk in the direction of my apartment, walking like a human, and not fast like a vampire, carrying me like I was a sleepy child. My fingers clutched and clawed his clothes and I held onto him tightly, feeling affectionate and marvelous and saved.

His fingers came and curled themselves in my hair, to calm me. I relaxed.

"Shh..." he cooed. "Just go to sleep, puppy."

I closed my eyes, letting all troubled thoughts and worries flow freely out of my mind like water, and I let this beautiful dark man carry me away.

A/N: I am sorry about the wait! I had a hard time getting this chapter written. Anyway I hope it made up for the wait. How about that scene with Otogi? Heart-breaking, eh? But I couldn't let Jou walk away without a little happiness. - Hope you enjoyed this one. Next chapter will be out soon, I promise!