Chapter 2: Ashes of Innocence
"Joey?" a distant voice called.
Snapping out of his reverie, the blond lifted his head to see who had spoken his name. His brown-haired comrade stood before him with worried azure eyes, waiting for him to address her. Dismissing his daydreams of being with Yugi, Joey gave the cheerleader a comforting pat on the back.
"I'm sorry for getting all sensitive about nothing. " the blond apologized, suppressing the tension he felt gnawing on his insides. "You're right, I nag at him too much. I don't give him the credit he deserves sometimes."
"See? I told you he'll be okay." repeated Tea, flashing Joey her most spirited smile. "I know you like to play the role of big brother for him, but it's good to let up on him once in a while, too."
"You mean I'm too clingy?" asked the blond, fearful that everyone was catching on about how he felt about his absent friend.
"No, but it wouldn't hurt to let the poor kid have some breathing space. Just let him live a little." advised the brown-haired adolescent. With a twist and turn of her wrist, she freed her pencil from the lengthy tresses that confined it. Grasping the writing utensil with one hand, she shook it at him as if she were a teacher. "I've got less than a night to cram over fifty concepts into that thick skull of yours, Joey. I say we start studying ," Tea lectured while poking him in the nose with her pencil, "or you can stay in the dog house come test time."
The blond emitted a low whistle. "You drive a hard bargain, sis."
"Then, shall we?" the cheerleader inquired, opening the door to the kitchen once more
"Alright, let's do it. I'll be in there in a little while."
"Sounds like somebody's trying to find a way to get out of being lectured." grunted the brown-haired teenager.
Joey smiled at the accusation. "Naw, I just gotta run upstairs and get my text book."
Cocking an eyebrow in suspicion, Tea replied, "Okay, I'll be working with Tristen 'till you find your way into the kitchen."
Watching his comrade disappear into the adjacent room, the blond resumed his melancholy state. He could barely bring himself to comprehend the fact that he would be spending his valuable sleeping hours shoving Trig into his mind. Tea wasn't exactly one to offer multiple break periods, either. Sighing sadly to himself, Joey began to trudge up the stairs to retrieve his supplies.
/Ah, well…at least I can daydream about me an' Yugi together./ he thought, a faint grin beginning to form on his mouth.
As he began his slow ascent to the second story of the house, the front door creaked open. Turning to catch a glimpse at who just walked in, the blond froze in mid step. Immediately recognizing the individual, Joey leaped over the banister to welcome him home.
"Hey, Yug! How's it hangin'?" greeted the rambunctious teenager, relieved to see the object of his affection safe.
Not even bothering to return the salutation, the child-like duelist's face dragged the floor as he entered the town home. Pushing past his ally as if he wasn't even there, the pretty adolescent kept his arms tightly wrapped around his body. Taken aback by the abrupt actions of his friend, Joey stood in silent shock.
/What the hell's goin' on here?/ the blond wondered, almost speaking his thoughts out loud. /Did some street tough get the better of him while he was alone today?/
Before he could arrive at a logical conclusion for his comrade's behavior, the troubled adolescent crumpled to the carpet. Landing with a heavy thud that made Joey wince, Yugi sat on his knees and stared at nothing. It was as if the young boy had been brainwashed and was awaiting a new command from his master. Genuine concern creased the blonde's brow as he attempted to confront the dazed youth once again.
"Yug, are you okay?"
No response.
Bothered by the deafening silence he was receiving, Joey proceeded to get to the bottom of the boy's radical attitude change. Walking cautiously around his companion's current position, the blond placed his own body in front of Yugi's. Sitting face-to-face with the blankly-gazing duelist, Joey peered into his friend's eyes. Dark umber orbs sought to capture the attention of shiny magenta ones, but to no avail. There was nothing but a sort of eerie vacancy residing in the child-like adolescent's eyes, a quality that made Joey's blood feel like ice water. And the haunting look overwhelming the boy's naturally angelic features…it was all incredibly hard to bear. Hoping that a human touch would bring him out of his disturbed condition, the blond cupped the side of Yugi's face with his hand. The touching gesture had more than the desired affect, for a tiny crystal tear fell onto Jounouchi's skin. Surprised by the emotional action, the blond was struck speechless. As he struggled to find something consoling to say, Yugi's eyes finally met his. The amethyst-ruby spheres appeared to be submerged in a sea of mortal anguish. There was no telling how many unshed tears the youth's eyes held, or how many he had produced already. Raising a trembling hand, the quaking adolescent placed the limb over Joey's. Making a profound effort to speak, the duelist was able to shape a small number of sentences.
"He--he told me he'd never hurt m-me…he p-promised he'd n-never do that to m-me…"
"Yug, what're ya talkin' about?" the blond asked, confused by the shaken speech. "I can't help ya out if you won't tell me what's wrong!"
Looking his best friend square in the eye, the youth brokenly replied, "You can't save me…no one can. I'll always be his, a bitch on a chain to possess, to dominate…"