Chapter 38

"In this game, we have 4000 life points each," Taka said, stripping his shirt off along with the white, sleeveless undershirt.

Seto looked narrowly at the yakuza. Showing his toned torso off was a bit much under the circumstances. Then, Seto's eyes rolled inwardly when the teen turn his back on them to toss the shirt and undershirt to one of his cohorts, who was guarding Yugi with little effort, with the order "Oi, catch this!"

Taka had a full body tattoo of a shark on his back. The water was a brilliant blue and the shark's eyes, a soulless black.

Taka turned around again and pulled a long strand of his hair away from his face. "People in my line of work like to play cards like this," he gestured to his tattoos—including the carp on his shoulder."

Yugi seemed a little impressed. Seto was bored.

"As usual, we shuffle." Taka didn't bother to hold back an arrogant grin in Jou's direction.

Jounouchi frowned at him, but shuffled his deck. He'd been experimenting with a new fire deck that Seto had suggested as a change of pace. But, now, it seemed like a liability. He hadn't exactly used it in a duel—just practice duels with Mokuba. Now, he wanted his old, faithful "luck deck" back. He cringed a little as he shuffled.

"Trade decks."

"I know. I know," Jou griped. "I think I've played this game a few times." He heard an arrogant snort coming from Seto's direction. A smile tugged at his lips.

They cut the cards and handed the decks back.

"And we cut for rarity," Jounouchi said. As he gripped his deck, he allowed his eyes to linger on Yugi. He was sitting quietly, now, with his yakuza guard behind him with a gun. He wasn't paying that any attention. He was fully focused on the duel. His wide, violet eyes seemed to say "We'll figure something out, Jounouchi!" Jou nodded to himself and cut the deck.

"I have Infernal Flame Emperor," Taka said, smiling arrogantly. "A rare…"

Jou looked at his card and then flashed it tiredly, "I've got Ominous Fortunetelling…a common. So, you go first."

"I'm also going to win," Taka bragged. His eyes drifted slowly to Yugi. "Maybe, you're the one who will die. Maybe not. But, if he loses," Taka pointed to Jou, "then I pick who dies."

Seto was about to open his mouth to say something when he felt the cold gun barrel pressed against the back of his head. "No helping," the yakuza guard growled. I wasn't about to, he thought grimly. But I would love to tell that prick off.

"I draw," Taka said. He put down three cards face down and one monster in face down defense. He smirked and uttered, "I end my turn."

The blond nodded. He's got three spell and trap cards face down and a monster. I'll have to keep that in mind. He chewed his lower lip in thought.

Jounouchi took two trap cards, placed them face down, and ended his turn. He thumbed through what he had left in his hand. And, while he still believed in the heart of the cards, those same cards seemed to be abandoning him. He needed to delay everything. He needed time to think.

Taka took a card from his hand and flashed it at Jounouchi. "I will summon 'Warwolf Trebuchet' in attack mode." The card showed a structure that looked almost like a catapult, but with a heavy counterweight and a sling for throwing objects. The wood and metal machine was flanked on either side by army officers in Thirteenth Century uniforms. On the field of play, which was almost the whole of the warehouse floor, a trebuchet formed from the ground. The sling appeared to be filled with a ball of red fire that was constantly spitting out sparks and small bolts of red electricity.

"Wait!" Seto shouted much to Jounouchi's horror, "There's no such card! That's illegal!" He got a smack to the face with the barrel of the gun and almost collapsed to the floor.

All four yakuza laughed at him.

"Well, there is now!" Taka countered with a smile in his voice. "Let's just call it one of our little… 'special' cards that I think will go over well once we sell them to the dealers."

"Drug dealers, you mean," Jounouchi shot back. He saw Taka's eyes widen. Oh, hell. Now, he knows that I know. That was a mistake. Was it Jou's imagination or did he hear a groan of annoyance coming from Seto. Yup, it was that.

Taka smirked, holding up fingers covered in ink. "You know, huh? Well, if you win, I just might let you have a little taste of this."

"Never," the blond said angrily.

"Goodie-Goodie." There was a slight rumble—almost a chuckle—coming from Taka. He was starting to feel the effects.

Jou shook his head with frustration at his opponent. "Someone very important to me once said that I needed to stay away from that stuff. And I still believe him." Jou's right hand made a fist.

"Why? Everyone does it!" Taka laughed, tossing his head lightly to one side. "Afraid?"

Jounouchi frowned as his memory flashed back to Kano. Jou could hear him say that the drugs were a part of their gang lives, for better or for worse, but to never take them. Kano wanted to leave the drug "transport" to him. All he needed was for Jou to be the lookout. Then, they'd split the left over money they got between the two of them so that they could eat dinner that week.

When Jou gripped his medallion again, Seto felt a stab inwardly. He knew who Jou was thinking about.

"Then, if everyone's doing it," Jou shot back, "go do it with them." Jou fidgeted a little and said, "Make your next move or end your turn."

"Fine," Taka replied and smiled a little seductively at Jou, "I place one card face down." The card appeared on the field—face down and sideways—in defense mode. Jou knew it was a monster. But a part of him really wished he could see what it was. He could be prepared if he knew.

"I place two cards face down," he said, almost as a mumble. "End turn."

As the pair continued to duel, Jou's mind raced. It seemed almost impossible for them. There were the three of them being held by four yakuzas with guns. The odds of breaking away and escaping were not good. He had to admit that one to himself. Then, his eyes caught the trebuchet again. He blinked at it.

"One minute," he said and bent down. Jou pretended to be tying his ratty old shoes. But, instead, he was glancing at the wall behind him. Jou smiled somewhat sadly to himself. I don't know, yet. I just don't know. Wait, that's not entirely true. I didn't want to think about it. Still don't...

He sighed and stood up—facing Taka with more determination now.

"Can we go on?" Taka asked, a little swagger was in his stance as he tried to stand in place.

Jou nodded at him with his jaw set.

"Then, I summon 'Blindly Loyal Goblin' and 'Dragonic Attack' to the field." Suddenly, a very muscular goblin wearing purple trousers and equipped with a sword appeared on the field. He had little devil horns and no hair to speak of. His eyes were as empty as Taka's shark. The 'Dragonic Attack' card, which was magic, equipped the warrior and made him a dragon-type.

Taka laughed a little to himself with "My goblin goes up 500 points."

"Yeah, I know," Jou said, and crossed his arms impatiently. "And that card is very much like you." His eyes turned to Taka's boss, sitting in the chair by the door.

"I'll take that as a complement," the other man called back, his voice in echo.

Watching this, Yugi worried. He could see Jou struggling. And he had seen him struggle in duels in the past, but this was different. Jounouchi made his moves easily enough—planned his strategy well and countered. But, for reasons beyond the game—Yugi guessed—Jou was at a loss. In a way, he thought, his hands are tied even tighter than mine and Kaiba's.

As the duel continued, Jou's thoughts drifted to Seto. With a sidelong glance, he could see him, still kneeling on the floor, where that huge gorilla—yakuza—leaning over him with the gun caressed his face with it from time to time. Jou tried not to react when the man grinned at him. Instead, he tried to focus on blue eyes.

"I said," Taka griped, "I end my turn."

"Right," Jou replied, trying to make his mind up. Well, actually, he had. He'd done it long ago. But, now, it was getting to a difficult part. Jou had noticed a new element to his "delay this crap" strategy that didn't dawn on him before. The game would end if or when someone ran out of cards. Jou still had more than half of his left to play. Taka, on the other hand, didn't.

And there's no guarantee that, even if I win, he won't just haul off and shoot everyone to death.

Jou's eyes scanned the room briefly.

Okay, there was that one option. But he wasn't sure if it would work. He eyed the floor again and pretended to stretch.

"Getting antsy?" Taka teased as he saw Jounouchi stretch.

"Just been in one spot too long. Give me a second." He walked in circles a few times and ended up away much farther than he was before. The blond stretched again and tried to rotate his arm with the duel disk.

"So which one will it be?" Taka teased. He was toying with the cards in his hand. The young yakuza was planning on playing Inpachi. He loved that card—especially the way it was described. It was "a log that attacks lost travelers in the forest. Originally, a big tree, it was cut down and possessed by an evil spirit." The fact that it was 1600 Attack and 1900 Defense didn't hurt, either.

Jounouchi locked eyes with Yugi. To his surprise, Yugi looked away. What he didn't understand was the sudden glare that was aimed at them by Seto. It hurt. But, for the first time, the pointy-haired one realized that Seto had a jealous streak, most likely a big one, where their friendship was concerned. Under the circumstances, the blue eyed dragon stare didn't exactly feel good.

"Just duel," Jou said back.

"Oh, that's not what I meant," Taka said in a cheeky tone. "Will you pick your friend with the funky hair? A best friend, perhaps?" He toyed with the cards in his hand again, but shifted his gaze to Seto. "Or, will you pick your-- What is he again to you? Boss? Classmate?" A shrug followed. "You certainly can't be a competitor or a true friend to him. Not even a rival."

That one hurt. It hit the mark and Jou's head suddenly lowered toward the ground.

Hee…Gotcha! Taka thought. I knew if I pressed him hard enough, I'd find a crack in the armor. His weakness was that Seto character. And 'Rich Boy' probably treats him differently or badly…or something…for me to get that reaction.

Taka fingered "Inpachi" almost lovingly, but decided against it. He took "Battle Ox" from his hand. "I'll place this one face down," he said happily, "and end my turn."

"Oh," Jou said.

"That's all you can say?" Taka teased. Things were finally looking up.

Jou took a shaky breath, glancing cascually around one last time. Can't we all get away? Is there no other option? But picking someone close to me to die…is... He thought about it again. "I suppose not," he mumbled, but it was thinking out loud, not an answer to Taka's question.

"Well…do something," Taka said with a smirk. "Or, do you want to pass your turn to me?"

I guess, there's no avoiding it. But this will be the hardest thing I've ever done. Then, his eyes caught Seto again and the bleach stain on the floor where he knelt.

No, it's not the hardest thing I've ever done.

He held on to his medallion tightly. Seto saw and looked away with a grim face.

"Well?" the yakuza growled.

"I know it's my turn," Jou said, "but I've got something that I need to get off my chest first. And, Taka, I have a good idea of what cards you have left in your deck. And you've pretty much used up all of your spell and trap cards. That leaves monsters. My guess is that I'm going to win in four turns."

Taka rested his hands on his hips. "Give it a try and see, asshole."

"I'm right, then," Jou mumbled to himself. "That's an amateurish mistake, too."

Jounouchi looked to Yugi. He smiled a little and told himself that it was a good thing that that they'd met when they did. "Yuge, you're my best friend. You're the one that I talk to and share things with. We've been through good times and bad times—even fighting against this guy over here." He gestured to Seto, who frowned deeply. "The person that I've become has been thanks ta you. And I'm truly grateful for it."

Taka sighed at Jou with arms folded. He was getting bored.

Now, Jounouchi looked to Seto who was scowling back with the eyes of an angry dragon. That's typical and I'm glad, he thought. Now, I know you will be okay. "I'm not your equal. I know it when I duel against you. I don't have that special place in your heart." He said it with a sad shake of his head. "But I also know that I've been incredibly selfish this whole time, too."

Seto stared at Jou with an eyebrow raised, head slightly tilted. "Don't ask for pity, Mutt. Get to your point," he said coldly.

Suddenly, it felt like old times. Jou smiled weakly.

Seto hated that. That hideous, puppy smile. And he would have crossed his arms defiantly if they had not already been tied behind his back. He was deeply pissed that Jounouchi had spoken to Yugi first and in more glowing terms.

Instead of being angry, of doubling up his fits and arguing back the way they always did in school, Seto noticed that his blond puppy smiled at him sadly with arms at his sides.

"I'm so sorry, Seto."

"Oh! So, you've already made the choice of who will die even before this duel is over." Taka was pleased with that. He liked decisive people.

"Yeah, you could say that," Jounouchi sighed, almost to himself. His eyes were downcast for a second. When he looked up, he noticed Seto's face. It was cold and his eyes were icy blue. Every barrier that his adoptive father had taught him was now up. Seto looked back defiantly, anger etching into his features. You're betraying me and you're abandoning me. I'll get out of this somehow, and I'll make you pay!

"Jounouchi, don't!" Yugi said, his voice pleading. "You can't do this! There's got to be another way. Don't give up." Some part of Yugi desperately wished for Atem. He would have figured out a way.

Seto glared across at Yugi with pure hatred in his eyes. "Easy for you to say! He picked you to live," Seto spat back. Yes, Yugi was the one Jou had chosen. Yugi was the one that Jounouchi loved better and wanted after all. Seto couldn't help but feel alone. He hardened his heart against Jou and all of the things that they'd said and done together. In time, he'd erase every memory of the two of them. Seto kicked himself again. Obviously, he'd been an idiot to feel things—to allow himself to feel things and be vulnerable. I gave him the power to hurt me. Stupid. Stupid is all…I'll never make that mistake with anyone again.

"I'm sorry Seto," Jounouchi said. "I knew how this was going to end from the first moment I started the duel, from the first card. As I've said, I was never an equal. I'm not even your rival because you are the better duelist. We both know that."

"Well, it's good that you finally recognize it!" Seto bellowed back.

I know why you said that, Seto. It's okay, though… Jou's heart was beating hard. "And I've been incredibly selfish making this duel last so long. I just wanted to be by your side a little bit longer than necessary.

Eh? Seto said, his eyes flashing in anger and confusion. What the hell?

"I just didn't want to let go of life—to let go of you—so easily." He smiled sadly again. My heart is tied to you. I truly know that now. "You see, I figured this duel out. There's three of us and only one had to die in this game…"

A tear splashed down on Jounouchi's cheek. His face showed no other emotion.

"So, I pick…me."

Calmly, Jounouchi covered the deck on the duel disk with his hand.

"Jounouchi, no!" Yugi shouted. "You can't forfeit! If you do…!" He turned his wide violet eyes to the other side of the field. A huge ball of red light was brightening in the trebuchet. It was going to launch.

Jou watched Yugi struggle against his bonds, head down and body trembling. You were a good friend, but you're wasting your time. Just accept this.

Jounouchi turned his head to Seto. The look was sincere.

…Forgive me…

"My only regret, Seto, is that I never told you…'I love you'…enough times."

The trebuchet launched with a deep groaning sound, and the red fireball of sparks arced upwards and then hurled down at Jounouchi. But he didn't look at it. He wanted Kaiba Seto, even an angry one, to be the last thing that he saw in this world.

His last memory would be of him.

And that was all.