Disclaimer: I don't own Yu-gi-oh. Deal with it.

Notes: This chapter is dedicated to all my reviewers. Especially Hi Sukoshi Jigoku Neko (you don't know how many times I had to type that name to get it right because the stupid thing wouldn't copy and paste @_@) because her review made me want to hang my head in shame for even THINKING about not continuing the fic. But that's a good thing :P. Sometimes I need those kind of pushes to force me to keep going. So I decided to write another chapter. After I wrote this, I realized that I had written it in past tense, while my 1st chapter was written in present. I spent my Friday night (which so happened to be the night of my birthday) happily changing all the verb tenses. Heh, no, that's a bit exaggerated. I would've probably been somewhere if I hadn't been sick (being sick on your birthday sucks major ass). But anyways, I actually enjoyed writing this (though I still think this fic sucks). So I hope you enjoy reading it half as much as I liked writing it. :P Jou's POV, because it's just so much fun to write.

*****

Room 121. 123. 125. 127.

There it is, my final destination. The dreaded room 129, 1st period Calculus.

Here is where my fate will be decided. Where my destiny lies. The place of my possible doom. Who would've thought that math could be so dramatic?

My hand pauses on the doorknob. Hell, I'm already at least 10 minutes late. What's another few seconds?

I take in a deep breath, then let it out slowly. I grip the knob more firmly, until my knuckles pale.

There's no sense in prolonging this, Jou. Might as well get it over with.

Before I can change my mind, I turn the knob angrily and step into the classroom. I'm sweating bullets as I scan the room. Everything seems normal enough. There's Yuugi in the front, quietly doing his work like the good little schoolboy he is. There's Anzu, whispering and giggling with one of her girlfriends in the corner. My eyes narrow as they find there way to. him.

His head is bowed over the textbook, occasionally turning to scribble something into his notes.

Cute. How fucking cute.

I almost sneer out loud.

You think you're so sly, Kaiba, don't you? Pretending to the perfect student, having the perfect life? Well guess what? You're not fooling me. I saw through this little façade of yours a looong time ago.

"That's your third tardy this month, Mr. Katsuya." The teacher's voice brings me out of my thoughts and back into reality. "I'm afraid I have to give you a detention."

I turn my head towards Mrs. Hayama, who I don't think lifted her head once from that cheesy romance novel she was reading.

I grab the detention slip from her desk and make my way towards an empty desk, mumbling something that I hope remotely resembles an apology. I plop down into my seat and drag out the calculus books from my bag. I catch Yuugi looking at me worriedly from across the room, and I throw him a half- hearted grin before opening the textbook. I start doodling into my notebook, hoping it looks as though I'm doing something productive.

I pity Yuugi. The poor boy. Always being there to help me deal with my problems, or just to listen. I sometimes wonder whether he's in fact human, or a re-incarnated angel or something. It's just not possible to have so much patience for someone like me. He keeps on telling me that that's what friends are for, but that's hard to believe when the guy has done so much for you, while you're just a fucking burden.

The bell rings and I'm already out the door.

I know, I know. I'm a fucking bastard, aren't I? Just a minute ago I was praising Yuugi like he's a goddamn god and now I'm avoiding him like the plague. Truth is, he really can't help me out on this one. Dragging Yuugi into the middle of this will just make things worse for the both of us. He deserves to keep his sanity, after all.

I have to start dealing with things on my own.

*****

It's after 4:00 pm. I just got out of detention and let me tell you, I had the time of my life. (I really should stop with the sarcasm.)

The halls are deserted, as was to be expected at this time. I mean, who wants to hang around school more than they have to?

Man, I'm so tired. I stayed up until 2:00 am doing that god-forsaken calculus homework. All I want to do now is go home, take a nice, hot shower, and take a little nap. Ah, I'd kill for a nap this very moment.

I yawn and rest my forehead against the locker as I slowly turn the numbers on the lock.

11. 17. 28. and voila. The lock clicks open.

"Who gave you that bruise, Puppy?"

Jesus Christ. I jump up at least two feet in the air. I wasn't expecting to encounter anyone else here.

After recovering from my initial shock, I unconsciously bring my fingers up to rub the bruise under my eye as I turn to see the identity of my assailant. I really don't know why, I already know who it is. I can recognize his voice from a mile away. And even if I couldn't, the 'puppy' would've been a dead giveaway.

After a few seconds of silence he begins again. "Sorry if I startled you."

So I was "startled". Behold the understatement of the century. I was thinking more along the lines of "scared shitless".

What the hell is he doing here anyways? Is he stalking me now?!?

I slam my locker shut.

"Just fuck off," I growl before making my way towards the door, trying to get away as quickly as possible.

"You know, I really don't understand you. All I did was ask you how you got the black eye. One day you're jumping on top of me, and the next you're pissed off. Talk about mood swings. You're worse than a woman."

I stop dead in my tracks and whirl around to stare at him in disbelief. God, can you believe the fucking nerve of this guy? I can't believe he just said that.

"I was on top of you? I was on top of you?!? Why are you even still here? Don't you have anything better to do than to hang around school after class?" Now he's blaming me for everything?!

He shrugs and leans back against the row of lockers nonchalantly, as if he could care less about this whole situation. "You're the one that started this thing, remember?" He folds his arms across his chest and tilts his chin up to stare absently at an invisible spot on the wall behind me. "I don't know. I guess I wanted to check up on you. But I see now that you're right," He stares me straight in the eye, "I shouldn't be wasting my time on some insignificant street dog."

That's it. That's the last straw. First the guy hates me and he wants to kill me. Then he kisses me. Now he's insulting me. Again. Jeez, and he calls me the freaking woman?! So I do the only thing that will pacify my anger at the moment. I march right up to him and punch him square in the jaw. The momentum of my fist sends him stumbling into a nearby garbage can. I reel around and walk away. Away from him, away from his fucking games.

Take that, Kaiba.

I'm literally about to go out through the double doors when a sudden pang of guilt washes over me, and I stop.

Maybe I overreacted a little. Maybe I shouldn't hit him.

No, no, no. I will NOT feel bad about what I just did. The son of a bitch deserved it. He had it coming to him. That's what happens when you toy with Jounouch Katsuya's feelings.

God, my conscience likes to make itself known at the worst possible times. Nevertheless, curiosity also mixes in with my guilt. Why would Seto even care about me and my bruise.? I'm not the type of person to keep my feelings hidden from anyone. Oh no. I like to let people know exactly what's on my mind. So I ask him.

"Why do you care? About my bruise, I mean?"

I look at him, and to my surprise (and to yours, I'm sure) I feel like crying.

Christ, Jou, you're turning into a girl.

It's just that he looks so miserable, standing there, slouched, hand covering the slowly forming bruise on his jaw. I have never seen him like this before. He's always, stoic, cold, aloof. Now he looks vulnerable. And it's because of me.

Somehow I force myself not to think about that right at this particular moment and wait impatiently for his response. This should be good.

Dark brown eyes peer at me from under the chocolate colored mop of hair.

Silence. Then, "Because... I didn't think you were the type to take a beating sitting down, Jounouchi. I guess it got me worried." He smiles softly.

He's smiling. I punched him, and he's smiling. Not only is he smiling, but he's smiling at ME.

Well don't I feel like the biggest asshole on the planet.

Here comes the guilt again, only it isn't just a pang anymore. It's more like a wave. No, it's like hundreds of waves crashing against me over and over again, slamming me into jagged cliffs, choking and battering me until I can't breath. On top of that, in the waves are those little crabs that like to nip on your toes. Only there's millions of them, chewing and biting, torturing slowly. There are sharks, too. Can't forget the sharks.

So yeah, as you can see I'm feeling a lot of guilt. Heh.

All this because he asked me who gave me the stupid bruise.

"Besides," He continues, with a sideways toss of the head and a smirk, "I don't like it when other people touch my property."

My jaw drops and I feel my face heat up. He chuckles.

I must have stood there for a long time, closing and opening my mouth again and again like a fish, because soon he's next to me, palm pressed against my back, leading me out the door. I think he just said that he's going to walk me home, but I can't really know for sure because my mind is all fuzzy and I haven't regained all my senses yet.

It really is amazing what a couple of words can do to a person. I'm only now starting to digest what he said. He said that I'm his property.

So I belong to Seto Kaiba. He owns me.

Or at least he thinks he does. We'll just have to see about that later, won't we? (Insert suggestive grin here)

Anyway, we walk the rest of the way in silence. Not the tense kind of silence like before. It's a comforting kind of silence. Like we finally have a sort of understanding of one another.

Sadly, we were bound to reach my house at one point or another, and I guess that point has come. We're currently standing on my porch.

I feel like I owe him something, for all the shit he has put up with from me. I at least owe him the answer to his question.

"My father." I say solemnly.

"What?"

He's confused. Heh, he has the right to be. That did kinda come out of nowhere.

"My father. He's the one that beats me." There. I said it.

I look down, afraid of his reaction. But from the quick glance that I do steal, I notice that his eyes narrow and lips press into a tight frown.

Is he mad?

"It's not like it really hurts or anything anymore. I'm used to it. It's not that bad. It really isn't. It's just when he gets mad at me or something, he doesn't know how else to react. Besides, It's entirely my fault. I'm the one who does all the stupid things to piss him off."

Why am I defending my father, anyway?

I really hate talking about this, so I change the topic.

"Well, I have a lot of homework to do and stuff, so." I trail off, shoving my hands into the pockets of my jeans. He takes a quick look at his watch.

Suddenly, he tilts up my chin gently with his hand and looks me in the eye. His other hand squeezes my forearm lightly.

God, he has the most beautiful eyes. It sounds corny, but it's true. They look like they have fifty different dimensions to them, all with different depths and shapes. I've never seen eyes like his before. They're mesmerizing.

He rubs his thumb against my bruise slowly, almost reassuringly. "Yeah, I have to get going," He leans back and smiles. "I'll see you tomorrow." With that, he plants a soft kiss on my lips and leaves.

And somehow I know everything's going to be O.K.

*****

End notes: Bleh, I hate this chapter. Wah, how the hell did this fic get to be so sappy!? ;_; I promise this'll be the only sap-filled part for a while. Anyways, not much Seto/Jou action in here, but be patient. It will come. I promise. Also, it's a little slow-moving right now. I promise that that'll change soon. Lots of action up ahead. (In more ways than one ;P) On a lighter note, I think I cut back a little on the swearing, which is good. :X ::yawn:: If I decide to write another chapter, it won't be out for a while. I have a huge research paper on Vonnegut's 'Slaughterhouse-Five' due soon. So yeah. Funfun. Anyways, the feedback thing still applies. It's much appreciated. Thanks. ^_^