Katsuya 1/2

Author: Ozark the MoonHead.

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Well, I know you've all been upset about me engaging Jonouchi to Anzu, but I've one thing to say!

"ISH NOT YOUR F*CKING STORY!!! XP I'M WRITING IT!! IF YA DUN LIKIES, DUN READ! LOL"

^^;; Kinda mean, I know! Demo, ish my story! Gerroff moy land! XD

Oh, and any and all story ideas are accepted with great anticipation! ;; since you obviously don't like MY ideas…

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Chapter Sixteen: The Start of Battle City.

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21:56. (9:56PM for those who go by that weird 12-hour clock. o_O)

"Hey, how're ya doin' Shizuka?" Jonouchi asked as he walked into her hospital room, a bag of pastries inside. Shizuka sat up, smiling.

It'd been at least a month since the car incident, but Shizuka was making a fast recovery, and all she was in the hospital for now was her broken leg.

"I'm fine, oniichan!" She smiled kindly. Jou handed her the bag.

"I know how much ya hate hospital food, so here's somethin' I picked up on th' way here." He smiled. Shizuka giggled, taking out a strawberry tart.

"Jonouchi, you're going to make me fat!" She giggled. Jou laughed.

"Shizuka, you couldn't gain weight of your life depended on it." Shizuka giggled, handing him a Copenhagen. They were his favorites. Jou took it, grinning as he sat down beside her.

"Oh hush you!" She smiled. Jou chuckled, taking a bite of his treat.

"Ne, how've you been? Mom's been all stressed with ya here 'n all." He said. Shizuka smiled.

"Not too bad. Honda visits me everyday to keep me company." Jou's eye twitched at that. Ever since 'Katsu' had told him there was no hope of her going out with him, he'd taken a liking to Shizuka. Which he wasn't too pleased about.

"Grrr…that jerk…" He growled. Shizuka giggled.

"Jealous?" Jou flushed, chewing his pastry with a little more vehemence.

"No!" Shizuka tittered.

"I was only joking, oniichan…" Jou flushed.

"Oh." He rubbed the back of his head. "Eh…I talked about the….uh…you-know-what with Anz…" He murmured. Shizuka nodded.

"And how did that go?"

"…Let's just say we both agreed and that our parents disagreed." Jou muttered. Shizuka sighed.

"Oh Oniichan…" She smiled sympathetically. "But you don't *have* to get married until you're older, right? And maybe, by then, kaasan will change her mind!" Jou sighed.

"Doubt it." Shizuka pouted.

"I'm trying to be helpful!" Jou smiled meekly.

"I know, I know." He rubbed his arm. "'S' jus'…well, I guess I might kinda like someone else, and-" Shizuka grinned.

"I bet I know who it is!!" She interrupted, beaming. "Kaiba!" Jou went beet-red, falling backwards off the bed.

"Ack!!" He shook his head furiously. "No, I don't like-like him!" He blushed. Shizuka giggled, not believing him one bit. He rubbed the back of his head, grinning forcefully.

"YOU try bein' a guy stuck in a girl's body! Ugh! You have so many damn hormones and mood swings!!" Shizuka couldn't help but laugh at her older brother's rant.

"Oniichan, I AM a girl!" She reminded him. Jou rubbed the back of his head.

"Tch. Dunno how you can stand it, tho'." Shizuka laughed again.

"Oh oniichan! You nut!" She covered her mouth with her hand. Jou flushed a nice shade of pink, fidgeting with his hands. Shizuka was about to say something, when the Television in her room suddenly turned on without warning.

"Welcome all duelists!" Kaiba's cocky, smirking mug appeared on the screen. Jou and Shizuka blinked.

"Nani…?"

"I'm glad you had the wits to show up for tonight's announcement." He sneered. "You are all elite duelists, and as such, my new, Duel Monsters Tournament will have a few…new rules. For starters, you will be dueling with these," He held up a large duel-board. "State-of-the-art duel disk projectors. All participants in the Tournament must register, because in one week from today, my Battle City begins!" He sneered again, his image disappearing and leaving the screen blank.

(A/N: Okay, so I left out lots, but screw that! XP it would take too long!!)

There was a moment of silence, before…

"That jerk's so full of himself!" He growled vehemently. "The *wits* ta show up??! He's got some nerve…" He glared at the blank TV screen. Shizuka smiled reassuringly.

"I'm sure Kaiba's just doing that to get the duelists excited! Besides, it would a great opportunity to try out your new deck!" She reminded him. Jou snapped his fingers.

"Oh yeah! An' now that I got enough fer that 'Black Dragon Priestess of the Moon' card, I'll kick Kaiba's ass!" He grinned semi-evilly. Shizuka sweatdropped.

"Oniichan, your language!" He grinned sheepishly.

"Gomen nasai…" He rubbed the back of his head. "Hey, I'm gonna go buy th' card, alright? Then I can quit that lame-ass job!" He said. The cuss-word earned him another frown. "Ah! Gomen! Gomen!" He sweatdropped again.

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"Didja hear 'bout Kaiba's new tournament Yuge?" Jou asked as he grabbed his books from his locker, placing them in his book bag. Yuugi nodded.

"I got a special invite from Kaiba last night." Yuugi nodded. Jou blinked.

"Special invite??" Yuugi nodded.

"Yeah. Lots of people got them!" He said. "Didn't you?" Jou scowled.

"No. Th' jerk probably *conveniently* forgot 'bout me." He grumbled. Yuugi smiled.

"Well, even so, you have more than enough rare cards to compete!" Yuugi said with reassurance. Jou nodded with a grin.

"'Specially wit my new 'Dragon Priestess' card!" He grinned. "I'll kick his ass!"

"But Kaiba's a really advanced duelist, Jonouchi! And with all this new rules…"

Jou smirked, holding up his card triumphantly. "But nothin'! Wit my new card, I'll kick his ass!" He gloated.

"Is that so, *puppy*?" Kaiba sneered, coming up from behind and looming over him menacingly. Jou turned around with a glare, putting him face-to-face with Seto's shoulders.

"I'm not a damn dog, Kaiba!" He growled, his card put away safely as he clenched his fists tightly.

"Oh really? That growl certainly did prove your point then, didn't it?" He smirked. Jou flushed, gritting his teeth.

"Teme-" Jou began. But Kaiba smirked, waving his finger in a 'tsk'ing motion.

"Now, now, pup. You should treat me with respect if you even wish to enter my tournament." He grinned. "After all, this tournament's for those above a third-rate duelists' level." He sneered. Jou's face burned with anger.

"I am SO gonna kick yer lyin', cheatin' primly-puss jackass!" Jou yelled, making move to swing his fist at him in anger. Kaiba easily caught his arm, keeping him from moving with a smirk.

"How pathetic, you little mongrel. You're so weak." He sneered. Jou flushed angrily, pulling his arm back.

"Shut UP!" Jou yelled. Kaiba smirked, and tossed him an azure collar interwoven with white.

"A collar for the mutt." He said at Jou's confused look. Jou looked up with a glare.

"I think this is your collar, Kaiba." He grinned. "Or should I call you Mr. Giz-" Kaiba cut him off abruptly with a knee in the stomach. Jou's eyes widened as a strangled gasp left his lips, before his doubled over, clutching his stomach with both hands as he gritted his teeth from the pain.

"Jonouchi-kun!" Yuugi gasped, running to his side immediately. "Jonouchi! Are you okay??" He asked worriedly. Jou grunted. That HURT!

"T….Te-me….." He gasped, trying to force some air back into his lungs. Kaiba smirked.

"Next time, try to stick to your promises and 'friendship' crap before you go insulting me," He said as he turned to leave. "Oh," He added with a grin. "Good luck on trying to get into my Battle City Tournament, dog-boy." And then he was gone.

Yuugi scowled at the direction Kaiba had left in.

"You okay, Jou-kun…?" He asked worriedly, helping him into a sitting position, not so much hunched-over. Jou nodded, wincing.

"Yeah…." He gritted his teeth. "Jus gotta lil' wind knocked outta me…" He took a few more shallow breaths, because it hurt too much to take deep ones. He stood a few minuets later. "I'm cool," He said with a slight wince. Yuugi frowned.

"Jou-kun, you're still hurt! You should go to the nurse's office!" He said. Jou shook his head with a smile.

"I'm fine, Yuge." He assured him. "It's last block, anyways. I don' want ya late, so just go ahead a' me an' tell Kadae-baba that I'll be right there." Yuugi couldn't stifle his giggle at Jou's name for their History Teacher, Mrs. Babashu.

"Okay Jou-kun." He nodded with a smile. "But don't be too late, okay?" Jou nodded.

"I know, Yuge!" He said. "Be there in a few!" Yuugi nodded, running off to class.

Jou let out a sigh as Yuugi left, lying back against the wall with a groan. Did Kaiba have to hit him that HARD?!

"Bastard…" He grumbled, and began making his way to his History class.

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Yuugi, Anzu, Honda and Jou were all excited as they made their way into one of the specified shops that held duel disks. Yuugi was the first to walk over to the man behind the counter.

"Hi! We'd like to see if we qualify for the Battle City tournament." He smiled. He nodded.

"Alright, state your names."

"Yuugi Mutou."

"Jonouchi Katsuya." There was a minuet of pause, before he looked up.

"Yuugi Mutou qualifies, as you have five stars." He handed him a duel disk. Yuugi smiled.

"Thanks!" Jou frowned.

"Hey! Whatta 'bout me??" He looked over with a blink.

"You don't qualify, sorry."

"WHAT?! Whadda ya mean I don't qualify for the Battle City Tournament!?" Jou yelled angrily at the man behind the counter. He waved his hands in defense at the enraged blonde.

"I don't make the rules! You need at least four stars to enter, and your duel status says you only have two!" Jou's eyes twitched.

"T-TWO?!" His eyes widened. "ARGH!! Kaiba's fixed this damn tournament so I can't enter!!" He yelled in frustration. Anzu, Honda, and Yuugi sweatdropped.

"Calm down, Jou-kun! I'm sure Kaiba never meant for-"

"Like HELL Yuge! You saw him threaten me about his stupid tournament!" Jou fumed.

The man at the counter watched their dispute with a smirk. 'Yuugi has the item my master desires…and some very rare cards…but this, 'Jonouchi Katsuya'…' He typed up his name again. Two stars. 'Hmm…'

"Excuse me Mr. Jonouchi, but perhaps your duelist status is not completely up-to-date." He offered with a fake, meek smile. "Could you tell me your rarest card?" Jonouchi nodded, digging through his pocket to find his deck. He produced his Black Dragon Priestess of the Moon card.

"Here. I dunno how rare it is, tho'." He shrugged. The man at the counter nearly fainted.

"Th-that's almost as rare as the Blue-Eyes White Dragon!!" He cried. "That MORE than qualifies you for the tournament!" Jou grinned.

"Awright!! Workin' at that damn shop actually paid off!" He grinned, taking his duel disk from the clerk. "Thanks, man!" He stuffed his card back into his pocket, and held up his Duel Disk in triumph. "Yeah! Battle City Finals, here I come!" He cheered.

His watched beeped, signifying it was now 6PM.

"Crud! Hey, I gotta get home b'fore my mom freaks out. See ya later!" He waved, dashing off. Yuugi nodded.

"Just remember the Battle City Tournament starts tomorrow!" He called after his blonde friend.

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"Crap! I'm gonna be late!" Jou cursed as he hurriedly ran across the street, nearly getting hit by several cars. He ignored their honking horns and yells of anger. "I KNEW I shouldn't a' stopped for some chow!" He ran harder, box with his duel disk tucked securely under one arm.

"Stop right there, Jonouchi!" Jou scowled as several robed figures appeared seemingly out of nowhere in the shadows of the alley.

"Whadda ya want?" He growled, hand balled into fists as he glared. One of the robed figures stepped forwards.

"You have a card we desire. Now hand it over!" He ordered. Jou glared.

"Hell no! Get yer own cards!!" He yelled. The figure smirked.

"Then we shall duel for it, weakling!" He challenged. Jou gritted his teeth. They were asking for it…

"No way, freaks!" He yelled vehemently.

"You have no choice, by Battle City rules!" He sneered. Jou smirked back.

"Yeah? Well if ya haven't noticed, th' tournament doesn' start 'till tomorrow!" He grinned. "Now get outta my way! I havfta be somewhere!" He made move to shove past them.

But all they did was push him back; and roughly, too. Jou grunted as his hit the pavement, wincing as he held his head.

"Jerk! What was THAT for?!" He yelled angrily. A low string of chuckles were heard from all them all.

"You WILL give us your card, Jonouchi Katsuya. Whether it is voluntary or not." He grinned malevolently. Jou gritted his teeth.

"Then yer gonna hafta fight me for it, freaks!" Jou snapped. A second later, he wished he hadn't.

"Very well." They began stalking closer, somehow having created a ring around him when Jou had not been looking.

"Aw crap…" Jou muttered, glancing around him. There were, like, seven of them, and only one of him! Not fair!! "…any chance you'll give up and leave me alone if I say I'm sorry?" Jou asked with a weak grin, though he knew they probably wouldn't.

They just laughed menacingly.

"I guess not…okay then! Come an' get me!" He said, taking a fighting stance. And they did.

Jou ducked away from the first punch that came from behind, managing to roll out of the circle. Yes! Ha! Ha! No more circle, losers! His inner cheering didn't last long as they all rushed towards him.

It became somewhat a dance, though the cliché could not be called as such.

Duck, punch, roll to the side, barely miss getting smashed, duck, punch, punch, roll, duck, roll, duck, punch, duck, punch, punch.

Jou was getting tired pretty fast, and there were still some robed-figures left.

'Well, at least four of them wouldn't be much of a problem anymore,' He thought as he panted for breath. They knew he was tired, and like a tiger circling its prey, they attacked.

Jonouchi was unprepared, however, for the strong arms that covered his mouth, and encircled his upper body, preventing him from moving. Jou struggled, giving his cries of anger and irritation, when the fist punch hit him squarely in the gut. He cried out into the hand, his voice once more muffled as his eyes shut tightly in pain.

"Yield to us, duelist." The person holding him still said in a deep, almost foreign voice. Jou shook his head, growling. "Then you will suffer." Jou cried out again and again as the punches continued. By the time they had paused to admire their 'work', his captor had to hold him up, and Jou's body refused to stand on its own, it was so painful.

Jou's eyes were clenched shut tightly as he struggled to remain consciousness. No way he'd let them get his card! He literally went through HELL to get it! Jou couldn't help the groan that left his lips as he sagged even more. He felt like he was going to puke…

"Heh…he's barely even conscious. Let's get his card, and return to Master Marik…" The 'leader' figure grinned. The one behind Jou still held him, just in case he tried any last-minuet escape moves as the robed figure lifted one limp arm that blocked his way to the blonde's pocket. He reached for it, and was just about to grab it, when a spotlight shone down on them.

"What?!" He growled, using his arm to shield him from the harsh light. Even Jou looked up numbly, a small trail of blood coming from his mouth.

"Hold it right there, you freaks!" A youthful voice yelled. Through his off-kilter vision, Jou was dully aware that it looked like…Mokuba…?

The robes chuckled.

"A kid? Just go home, junior; before you get hurt--or worse." They threatened.

"I don't think so, Gurus Hunter." A sneering, 'I'm the god of this Earth, so better damn well not mess with me' voice said as its owner walked forth. Jou wasn't conscious to see it, though, as he groaned, slumping in his captor's grip.

"Seto Kaiba!" They gasped. But one grinned.

"Now we shall take your Egyptian God card as well!" He said. Kaiba smirked.

"Hah. Not likely." And with that, he kneed the Gurus Hunter in the stomach, effectively sending him to the ground. Only three stood, and when several bodyguards appeared behind Kaiba, they knew their chances were slim to none, especially since they were armed with firearms.

The Gurus Hunter holding Jou released him, leaving lying on the concrete ground.

"Don't think you've won, Kaiba! Master will be after your card, too!" They growled, before fading away into the shadows.

"Seto! Jou's hurt!" Mokuba yelled, running over to the unconscious blonde duelist. Kaiba made no indication that he cared, but walked over. "We've gotta help him, Seto." Mokuba said. He looked back. "Please? I know you don't like him very much…but he's hurt!"

Kaiba let out a quiet growl. As much as he hated himself for this…

"Whatever. Just get the mutt in the car." He growled, turning away. Mokuba smiled.

"Thanks, Niisama."

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^_____________________^ Yay!! I finished chapter sixteen!! Woo-ho! Lol. I'm so proud of myself. XD

I hope you liked it, even if it took some time to update….^^;; I had two softball tournaments in a row, and then homework, friends, and drawing! I'm doing my best, though! Honest!

Rasuki: ^__^ It's true, you know. She's been working her butt off.

Yume: *Rolls eyes* Tch. Yeah, right. She's just being a lazy ass, working on her msn group!

Ozark: Nyah! *Sticks out tongue*

R&R, kudasai!