Sorry this took me like two weeks to update! I know I know... but- I had the SATs and a whole bunch of school stuff... but it's all right now, so this story got a LEGITAMITE update. Um... REPLIES!:

CHIBI-CHAN: [blushes furiously] such nice things to say about my story! But I've gotta say- I don't think I deserve it... I mean, I like my writing-but it's not like... a love or anything. I love to draw- but writing is just something I do... [shrug] My stuff just comes out this way... but still- thanks so much for the compliment! ((I'll try hard not to be clique alright? ^_^.)) And um... what's with me writing B x J x R? I dunno- I just really like that one... I like any ones involving Malik, though- I just haven't had any good ideas in which to feature him and stuff [nod nod]

HYATT INSOMNIA: ^_^. Hai! Citrus! I wasn't sure if it was appropriate- but... oh well!

ANIMEGIRL: [sigh] Mr. Katsuya is one messed up dude- he needs to go to rehab, I swear.

RENEE THE RABID SQUIRREL: Ah... smut... [chuckle]

SECTION31WA: [smile] yeah- B/J/R can be done- and it's being done...! [dances] Oh- I love them together! So cute! So sexy! So--.. [blush blush]

KAKAROTS-FRYING-PAN: O.o violence! Abuse! Ah! [hides head]

RYOUBAKURAFAN013: [stares in amazement] I wanna pilot, I wanna pilot! [hugs her Sandrock plushie that she made herself] I WANNA I WANNNNNA! [jumps up an down] Oh- and Mr. Katsuya being a belligerent pig? Wow- "belligerent" O.O interesting description! [chuckles] But yeah- I agree about the whole summer thing... [sniffle] this is my last good summer left... [cries] I'm getting so old! I'm about to be a senior for crissakes! [weep]

ANIME-FAN MEEPA: Sorry I didn't get to e-mail you back [sniffle] But I got your picture- very nice [nod nod] lined paper and everything! [giggle] old school! ^_^.V I admire you all ready! Maybe you can let me see more of your pictures sometime! ((oh- and sorry I didn't get to scan mine- I can't find the USB port for mine... -_-. I'm lookin', though!))

BRIT-CHAN: Yeah- was getting good, ne? [sigh]

GENERAL: Alright... this chapter may be offensive to some... but- it happens and Jounouchi has to get through this- especially from his dad. Please- don't flame me because of it- and don't try to deny that this never goes on. Either way- you've been warned! If you're sensitive to homophobic behavior, this wouldn't be a good chapter for you!

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'...': Thoughts /.../: Hikari //...//: Yami

Just Let Me Be in Love: A Rationalization

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A man stood at the entrance. Wife beater revealed a watermelon-sized gut, his face was long and did little for his small, thinning clumps of gray hair. He looked tired- eyes blood shot and droopy; the stench that filled Jounouchi's room instantly was of a disgusting musk smell. He burped, and then starred at the blond intently. His eyes wandered to the two males embracing his offspring before he spat out two words. "Faggot son."

The words stung- but Jounouchi did nothing but stare back into identical honey colored eyes.

"So dis is wha yu been....doin', queer?" The teenager's eyes fell to the ground. "Dad's righ- look awa from me, faggot..." He burped and his words were becoming unbelievably slurred.

"Hai, oto-san..." Jounouchi mumbled under his breath.

"You have no right to call him that." Bakura's words suddenly broke the silence and the blond felt thin, but slightly toned arms snake around his torso. Mr. Katsuya's eyes darted to the yami and they hardened in disgust.

"Ge' ou you queer." He snapped and Ryou quivered lightly, arms around Jounouchi tightening.

/Don't make things get worse, Bakura.../ The hikari begged mentally; he could feel the tension in the room rising just as strongly as he could feel Bakura's energy radiating from his body.

//This man has no right to touch Jounouchi or say those things...//

"I SAID GE' OUT!" The male suddenly yelled, Ryou and Jounouchi flinching at the sudden outburst and how fast the man could actually be when he tried. "I didn' raise a fru' cake son ta' live in ma' house- ge' out you pansy!" Mr. Katsuya took hold of the teenagers' hair, yanking them off the twin sized bed and pulling them to the floor- leaving a heaving Bakura sitting on the bed, starring at the male.

"HOW DARE YOU TOUCH THEM!" He shouted, a purple outline forming around his body. But the oldest man in the room wasn't paying attention- he began to kick at the vulnerable blond at his feet- relentless kicking.

"No wonda' ya ma left ya, ya queer!" Jounouchi was covering his face with trembling hands as he was pushed against the box spring of his bed, kicks aiming for his stomach and chest. "Ya sista don't love ya- ya mom don't love ya- I don't love ya- FOR TAKIN' THINGS UP DA' ASS!"

"Serenity..." The teenager whimpered at the sound of his sister. 'That's right...' A small smile curled onto Jounouchi's lips behind his fingers. 'I'm taking this for Serenity... so she won't be hurt...' And then as if in a resolute way, he let the attacks continue- it was for his sister's protection that this was happening. It wasn't about him- he was just protecting the friend he'd lost in his sibling.

"Stop it!" Ryou cried out, suddenly standing, trying to pull away Jounouchi's father. But the strong man wasn't going to be deterred easily at all- he smashed his arm into the hikari's chest, sending him across the room- only to stop when his thin body hit the wall and fell to the ground.

/Bakura.... onegai... don't... don't....!/ Ryou opened his eyes to see a standing yami with an open hand and a purple aura surrounding his body- his look was murderous. /Don't do what you did before...- please- stop!/

//I have to, hikari. This man is hurting both of you...//

"FAGGOT SON- GE' THE HELL UP! YOU DON' DESERVE NOTHIN' YA HEA'?!" Mr. Katsuya was screaming at the top of his lungs, Jounouchi taking the beating openly and with no resistance- until out of the corner of his eye he saw a glow around Bakura.

"No... Bakura..." Jounouchi whispered, eyes drifting to the angered Yami. By now the teen's father had realized what was happening and was stepping back, his drunk stupor subsiding to the point to where he knew there was danger approaching- all concentrated on the silver haired man who was glaring at him. But that feeling didn't last for long, and the tall blond lunged for the yami, trying to grab him by his hair.

//Get Jounouchi out of here!// Bakura ordered as he stepped back and used a simple parry, causing Mr. Katsuya to fall atop his son's bed, head bumping against the wall.

/Please.../ Ryou whimpered as he got to his knees and began crawling over to a shivering Jounouchi. /Please- don't do anything bad to him... Jounouchi'll.../ He sat on his legs as he tried to pull the blond from his spot on the ground into a sitting position. /Jounouchi might never forgive us... it's his father...!/

//Don't lecture me, Ryou- I said get out!// Mr. Katsuya was sitting up and Bakura took a ready stance- he saw the fist that was forming in the man's hand.

"C'mon, Jou-chan..." The hikari whispered, pulling Jounouchi to his feet with difficulty- the stabbing pain of being slammed against a wall wasn't the easiest to cope with.

"I can't... he... he's my dad... I... it's my punishment... for-"

"Urusai, Jounouchi!" Bakura yelled as Mr. Katsuya swung towards him but the old man lost his balance and fell, knocking everything off his son's desk to the ground. "He has no right to hurt you!"

"But-!"

"Ryou- do what I said!" The silver haired young man nodded, wrapping an arm around Jounouchi, supporting his weight, and starting towards the door.

"Jounouchi- YOU FAGGOT! DAD'S RIGH'! GE' OUT!" The blond cast a glance back at his father on the ground and tear filled eyes went upwards to his older lover.

"He's my... he's my father..." He whispered, Ryou looking at them all with worry as he tried to pull his boyfriend along with him. At this, Bakura's eyes softened in understanding- but they sharpened again when Mr. Katsuya attempted to throw a lamp at his head- which missed and hit the wall.

//Take care of him, alright?!// The yami pushed the pair into the "messy" hall and shut the door.

/Yes, Bakura.../

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The sound of crickets singing in the night awoke a sleeping Jounouchi, yet his honey colored eyes remained shut in his confusion. 'Where am I...?' He felt a warmth spread across the length of his side as well as a soft chilling breeze run over his skin. 'Oh yeah...' Jounouchi's honey colored eyes flickered open and adjusted to the darkness- starring at the ceiling. 'Ryou took me to Malik's house...' He reached up, running his fingers through his hair.

Then the warmth next to him moved, causing the blond to look over in surprise. Ryou was pressed against him, sound asleep. 'He looks so peaceful...' The young man smiled lightly before sitting up and looking around. The teenager next to him curled into the loss of warmth. 'He must be cold...' Jounouchi glanced around. 'Oh- the window's open.'

He stood- but the sound of voices that drifted into the room stopped him at the window ledge, hands resting against it.

"What happened after you pushed them out?" It was Malik.

"I... I knocked him unconscious- which was the least I could have done. That man doesn't deserve to live. You saw what he did to Jounouchi." The said blond looked down at his hands- the bruising on them reminded him of the marring marks on his chest, stomach, and back. It wasn't that bad...

"He'll recover eventually, you know."

"Jounouchi might recover physically- but he was defending his father's words and actions. He asked me not to-"

"It's natural for him to want to protect his father. It IS his father."

"Do I need to be reminded of that? And then he hit Ryou... I can't say that I wasn't concerned about that... I was- somewhat- but I know Ryou can handle something as weak as being thrown against a wall."

"I understand where you're coming from... and... Jounouchi should be your concern right now. Especially with what happened with the pharaoh."

"I think that's what affected him more. Being called a..." The blond closed his eyes, repeating the word mentally.

'Faggot.'

"Was nothing in comparison to the pharaoh's disapproval." Malik finished. Jounouchi sighed, looking up at the dark velvet sky. His father's opinion didn't hurt him that much- right?

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Um... sorry to say, but I think this next chapter will be the last... I might put up a epilogue- but I serious doubt that. Either way-sorry! It's just I can't take this much longer...

Also- no updates till 150!