Part Three
"I didn't know you were his babysitter." Kaiba smiled in amusement at the low almost-growl that issued from Yami's throat. One thing that could be said for Yuugi's other half was that his temper was entertaining, in the very least. Well, when you were holding all the cards at any rate--it was a different matter with the threat of having your soul shattered into a thousand pieces.
"Just tell me what you think you're doing!" The other Yuugi's voice was low, yet its angry current filled the classroom. It was enough to make other people look up in alarm at the millionaire and the shorter boy's conversation.
Softer. "I don't want you toying with Jounouchi-kun."
"So, are you saying the dog has no choice in the matter?" Kaiba responded. "Or do you just think that he can't take care of himself?"
The last remark drove the shorter boy into a brief introspective silence before he responded. "If it was something Jounouchi-kun wanted, I doubt he'd be having the reaction he did." Then, surprises of surprises, his trademark victory-smirk. Obviously Yuugi's other half had gotten himself under control.
"Go ahead and try your best." Both of them understood that it really meant "I know what you're up to, and it won't work.". "Jounouchi-kun isn't as stupid as you seem to think he is."
"So that means you won't interfere?" Kaiba asked. "That's going to be hard for you." It might have been easier for Yuugi's regular side to stay out of it while still being protective of his best friend, but Kaiba was right when he said the spirit of the puzzle would have a difficult time. It was amazing what you could figure out if you just took the time to look. Honestly, Yuugi's little group had some of the most interesting dynamics.
"As long as Jounouchi-kun doesn't ask for my help." Yami said as he walked away, his natural aura of confidence billowing around him in lieu of a cape. "I have faith in him. He won't let you bully him around."
"Off to find him?" Kaiba made his way back to his own desk and pulled out his book before settling back down in his seat. "He won't talk to you about this."
***
"Jounouchi-kun...do you want to talk about it?" Yuugi asked finally, wriggling against the wall in an attempt to get into a more comfortable sitting position. After discovering Jounouchi up on the school roof, his darker half had retreated back into his mind, leaving Yuugi himself to both confront and comfort his best friend.
"You shouldn't be up here. You could get in trouble." The words tumbled out of Jounouchi's mouth, even though they made no sense. The roof, after all, was one of Yuugi's favorite thinking haunts as well.
"We've already missed our first afternoon class, Jounouchi-kun."
"Yeah, but..."
Yuugi understood what he was getting at, and sighed. It looked as though whatever was going on with Kaiba went much deeper than the usual tart words and rudeness if Jounouchi refused to even discuss it. What on earth could Kaiba have possibly done to put Jounouchi in this state? His other half must have some idea, but he was being strangely silent on the subject.
"Was it about your sister?"
Jounouchi's head jerked up at the mention of Shizuka. "No, no, no, it's nothing like that! If Kaiba tried anything like that with her, I'd kill him!"
Well, that pretty much exhausted Yuugi's ideas of what might be bothering his friend. A flare of oddly placed resentment passed through him. It really wasn't fair at all; Jounouchi was always there for him, no matter what.
"Yuugi, tell me what's wrong."
"You shouldn't keep these sorts of things bottled up, Yuugi."
"This is what friendship is!"
But, when it came to Jounouchi himself, it was perfectly all right to close up about things that were bothering him? Was Yuugi only there to be protected in Jounouchi's eyes? Caring shouldn't--couldn't be a one way street.
He never even breathed a word about his gang problems. Inquiries about his home life were met with humorous remarks, as though it was entertaining to have the power shut off and all the money he made go towards his father's gambling habit--something to be laughed at. Every time Yuugi found out something else about his closest friend's life, it was a shock. It made him feel like a just another burden to be shouldered. Someone that had to be sheltered from reality.
"Jounouchi-kun, please tell me what's wrong."
Something in Yuugi's tone gave Jounouchi pause. It almost sounded like...desperation?
"Um. I guess..." Jounouchi understood. But this went beyond "trust". If he gave voice to his feelings of mounting frustration regarding the petite boy, and the way Kaiba had been recently entangled into the whole mess, there was a very good chance it could destroy the closeness of his friendship with Yuugi. He wasn't so naive as to believe that no matter how much Yuugi cared for him, that it wouldn't change what they had in some respect. Some things best remained secrets, that was one of many harshly taught lessons.
"Well, in a way it is about Shizuka. I've been having trouble with my mom and all. Just like old times. Guess Kaiba just picked up on my mood, and I didn't feel like dealing with him right now." It wasn't a lie exactly. His mother had asked him to stop visiting her so much, and when pressed for an answer couldn't voice anything satisfactory. And it had been bothering him lately. So, it wasn't like he was lying or anything. Right?
It just wasn't really the problem concerning Kaiba. What was he supposed to say? Kaiba figured out I'm in love with you and kissed me? Yeah, that'd go over real well.
Yuugi's eyes narrowed. For a moment Jounouchi was sure he had let his other half take center stage, and that the next words out of his mouth would be an accusation. The other Yuugi always seemed to be able to read him like an open book. It was disconcerting. Then Yuugi's expression became more open, and Jounouchi realized the smaller boy had just been musing over his words.
"Don't worry, Jounouchi-kun. She'll come around, I know it." Yuugi gazed off into the sky, leaning his head on Jounouchi's shoulder as though it was the most natural thing in the world.
And Jounouchi was caught between wishing the moment could last forever, and praying Yuugi couldn't hear the rapid beating of his heart.
***
It wasn't unusual for Kaiba to make calls in-between classes, while waiting for their teacher to show up. It wasn't even unusual for his cell phone to go off in the middle of class, nor for him to be absent for weeks on end taking care of business or jetting off to a far corner of the globe. As it was, no one even blinked when Kaiba suddenly pulled it out in the middle of class and dialed a number.
Even Chouno-sensei wasn't about to lock horns with the head of the Kaiba Corporation, so after giving him an icy stare, she continued on with the lesson. Kaiba returned her dirty look with a half-lidded gaze just oozing with confidence. He hadn't had to respect adults--or anyone for that matter--since he was ten, and certainly wasn't going to start now simply because some bitch of a teacher didn't like what he was doing.
Obviously he had scared the mongrel off. A pity. But after rethinking his strategy a bit, he decided it was just as well Jounouchi had decided to skip the rest of the day. It gave him a chance to put into motion something that had been percolating in the back of his mind ever since yesterday.
"Hello? Yes, that's right. Oh, my secretary gave you the instructions already?" Kaiba frowned into the phone; the woman was overstepping her bounds if she thought that she could anticipate what he was going to do next. He decided to let it slide this time. "I don't care what it takes. Break in if you have to, but I want it there to meet him before he gets home. Say before 13:00."
That was cutting it a bit close. For all he knew, the make inu could be on his way home right now. But if Kaiba was correct, and the dog had Yuugi with him, chances were they would go somewhere beforehand.
Kaiba closed the phone with a small grin. Round Two had just begun.