**Take me under
(I'm killing all the faith)**

Giving In

Jou leaned back into his pillow, closing his eyes. He remembered the brief conversation he had with Yugi while they were walking to the room.

" -- Joey?" Yugi questioned.

"Yeah, Yug'?"

"Are you hungry?"

Jou wasn't sure how to answer. He hadn't been hungry all day. Was this still part of the cocaine reaction? Jou shook his head eventually. No, he wasn't hungry.

Yugi looked slightly surprised, but nodded his okay, and left Jou to his sleep.

Of course Jou never went to sleep; he had just wanted to get away from his friends. He needed a place to think. A lot had happened the past twenty-four hours. Getting a blow job from a guy ...The thing with his father, doing the cocaine... Jou smirked. Why, within his mind, had he just mentioned the blow job before his father's untimely demise? Jou shrugged. He really was a piece of shit.

What was he going to do now? He had a place at Yugi's, but he couldn't stay here. He wouldn't let Yugi know about his drinking problem. No way in hell. Jou sighed; this was quite a dilemma.

Twenty minutes later, Yugi walked into the room with a solemn countenance. Jou looked through his bangs at the small boy.

"Yug'?"

The boy looked up with tears in his eyes and said, "Jou ... Everyone thought I should tell you. We weren't sure if you knew yet."

Jou just stared the at weeping boy in front of him.

"Jou ... your father. He ..."

Jou smirked inwardly. 'He's dead.. right Yug'? You shed tears for the wrong reasons.'

"He was put in the hospital for severe burns. They said he'll make it through, though. Oh Jou! I'm so sorry!" Yugi threw himself into Jou's arms. Jou sat in shock. His father wasn't dead? He blinked slowly, digesting this information. He looked down to Yugi, and hugged him, placing his chin atop the boy's head.

His eyes glanced quickly back and forth. Why ... How could his father have gotten out?

'Shit ... this is not good ...'

Jou shifted Yugi until he could pull the sobbing boy away from him.

"It's okay, Yugi. Do you know where they're keeping him?"

Yugi nodded. "Domino City Hospital, Intensive Care ward."

Jou nodded. He would have to pay his dear father a visit. He stood up quickly, picking up his bag and heading towards the door.

"Jou? Where are you going."

"... I need to see him, Yug'."

Yugi nodded. Jou headed quickly out the door, running down stairs and heading out the front door. The hospital wasn't too far away. He'd make it in twenty minutes or so.

Jou walked quickly down the road before hearing the familiar engine sound. Jou turned to see Yugi driving towards him. He stopped walking and waited for the car to pull up next to him.

"Atleast let me drive you there, Jou." Yugi stated. Jou nodded and climbed into the passenger seat. Yugi drove down the road towards the hospital.

They arrived and Jou sat in the seat quietly.

"Do you want me to go in with you?" Yugi questioned.

Jou shook his head. No .. he needed to see his father by himself. "I gotta do this myself, Yug'. Thanks for the ride." And with that he was out the door, bag in hand, heading towards the hospital.

Yugi looked on as his friend walked away, 'Poor Jounouchi ...' he thought and pressed the gas pedal, heading home.

***

Jou walked slowly to the receptionist's desk. A friendly face smiled up to him, asking if he needed help.

Jou nodded and inquired, "Where's the intensive care ward? I'm here to see my father. Katsuya Hiroku."

The nurse nodded, typed in his name, and stated where he'd find him, but also warned, "He's in bad shape, I don't think they'll allow visitors for awhile."

Jou nodded, said his thanks, and headed towards the elevator. He pushed the button for floor 3 and waited for the doors to open. Finally the bell dinged and Jou stepped out, heading for the receptionist for this floor.

This one didn't seem as friendly, but Jou asked what room they kept his father in.

"Room 6544," she remarked. "He won't be allowed visitors for three hours. Hope you have somewhere to go, " she added snidely. Jou smirked an eyebrow at the rude woman, but walked away to find 6544.

'6532... 6533.......6539...6540......6542...6544...' he counted. He stopped at the correct door and stared. It was closed but he could hear the faint beeping of the machinery. He glared through the door; his father was barely hanging onto life. Where was the reason to keep that bastard alive?

Jou sighed and walked to the nearest waiting chair. He brought his knees to his chest, and rested his head comfortably on his knees. He wasn't tired at all, but it was good to rest. He felt a hand on his shoulder. Jou looked up to see the face of the doctor.

Jou regarded him with a strange look, but asked, "When can I see him?" 'When can I get another chance to kill the bastard?'

The doctor smiled sadly and stated it would only be about an hour. Jou nodded and the doctor walked away. He sighed heavily. He was incredibly bored. Jou yawned, and stood to stretch.

He figured since he still had an hour left, he'd search the facility. Walking idly down the hallways, Jou noted the names on the walls.

'Kawasaki.. Ojubu... Kaiba... Tsuki--' Jou stuttered in his mind. 'K-KAIBA!?'

Jou searched around for a near doctor. Finding one, he asked quickly, "Which Kaiba is in room 6554?"

The doctor look at him strangely, but finally saying that he couldn't release patient records. Jou pleaded, "Please! The Kaibas ... are ... friends of mine. I'm worried."

The doctor gave into Jou's "puppy dog" face, and read, "Room 6554, one Kaiba Mokuba."

Jou's eyebrows shot up in surprise. Jou muttered his thanks and wandered back towards Mokuba's room. He stood and looked at the closed door, wondering what could have happened to get him in the intensive care ward.

Jou may not have cared for his brother much, but for some reason, liked the little brat.

Jou crossed his arms and leaned against the wall, resting his mind for only a minute. A voice shocked him suddenly out of his reverie.

"What are you doing here, mutt?"

-_-_-

JI: Cliffie! ^_____^

Betty: You bet it is! People are gonna get mad if you don't get the next chapter out soon. Also! Thanks to all the reviewers! You keep us going. XD Us.. Kakarots-Frying-Pan, blondchick14, Jokie, Firedea, Code Name: Messiah, Blue Lagoon Loon, um.. the "blank", Ani-Coolgirl, and Yami Megami. ^___^ You guys are awesome.

JI: Yes.. yes.. Only if they review though. ^_^ So review! Also, warning: Things are going to start going very... downhill. Please realize this. It's not going to end happily. It's not going to be true love forever. Sorry.