Rath- Here we are. 'Nother 'Spiritless' fic.

Set- ^_^

Rath- He just discovered that 'Dentyne' is just as good as regular bubble gum.

Set- Sweet, Icy goodness. ^_^

Rath- *sigh* When I had finally though that the bubble gum obsession was gone…

Set- I came here to kick ass and chew bubblegum…and I just GOT MORE BUBBLE GUM, er, icey- gum…!!

Rath- You know… You just completely messed up the line.

Set- Me know. *snuggles with the packet*

Rath- We don't own Yu-gi-oh. Now, Set, would you like some 'alone time' with your gum?

Set- Watch it, hikari.

Rath- ^_^ Oh, and thanks for reviewing, it does make a difference.

Jounouchi Katsuya P.O.V

My 'father' woke me up. A shattering of glass, spraying across the ground and air, his version of a loving parental wake up call. Father is such a funny word. A male parent, as a dictionary will have said. That's all. It says nothing of compassion or love that a human may show. But, that is the only requirement. Fill out the 'form' and you're ready. It says nothing else. And I guess that's what this man sees.

'Get the fuck up and get to school! It costs money, you carcass! Be happy you're even livin'. Had my way, you'd be either dead or wit ya' bitch mother.' I frown and hold back what curses and anger I wish to yell back at him. Wish, want and can someday. Damn that friggin bastard to hell. Feh, 'father'. What an over-statement. I hate him. I sit up and walk past the swine. One day I'll get my own apartment, and I won't have to depend on anyone but myself. I don't get him at all.

I walk in utter silence to the bathroom and change into my uniform, after fishing around the laundry room for a clean, white shirt. A shirt untouched by stain. Unlike my happiness. I brush my teeth and run my fingers through my unruly blond hair. I grab some papers, which can be identified as my homework, off the shitty kitchen table and lazily pick up my spread out school bag as I leave for the door. Making sure I move to swiftly to avoid another nice conversation with that guy I'm forced to live with.

One day I will gain my independence, my freedom, my ticket from Hell and my key to the Heavens. One day, the taste of victory will be in my mouth.

I walk down the street. My salvation friends. My sanctuary, school. Soon, they'll be here to comfort me. I continue to walk. Nearing the Game Shop Anzu and Honda stand there, probably waiting for Yu-gi to finish his breakfast again. My stomach grumbles. Damn, I forgot breakfast. I remember when they decided to wait outside my apartment for school once. I had gotten into a fight with the swine and they heard and saw the entire thing. I was never so humiliated. Since then, things seem to be different. They don't speak to me as much, they don't invite me to their games or parties.

It's as if… they're afraid of me… afraid I may turn into that madman I live with. 'Afraid'? What am I saying? I don't think that's the word, perhaps, 'disgusted' is a more truthful word. But what if they're right? What if I do become him? What if I am becoming him? No. I c-can't. I won't. But, what if I am? What if this was what he thought when he was my age? What if…?

'Jouno?' I quiet voice asks me. 'Jouno?' I come back to reality. I had stopped walking about twenty feet away from the shop, involuntarily as I was thinking. I guess my teachers were right about one thing. I am one track minded. I look down. Yu-gi is staring up at me with those in-humanly large eyes. They look worried. Most certainly, not about me though. Probably scared that I'm considering whether to kill them or not. I force a smile.

'Yeah, Yug? Sorry 'bout that. I, uh, was just thinkin' about today's math test results.' I say with a goofy laugh added to the end. I stick a thumbs up to add a cherry on top, to reassure them I'm okay. But what good is it, when even I am unsure if I'm alright… They all give me a quizzical look, but shrug it off and give me a smile back. We all walk to school. The three of them talking freely, no care in the world. Inexperienced and unexposed to all the pain and suffering one can feel.

I feel alone. I don't know why. I know I can partake in the conversation, I know I can act as I usually do. But I can't. I don't want to any more. I know I am not alone, but what if I am? Is that why? Because I am scared of what others may feel towards me and how much it can change? I look down at my feet caring me and drift off, not paying attention to where I go or what others do. I just drift off and am alone.

I reawake when we enter the class and settle myself at the desk in a far corner of the room, next to a bright window. The sun warms me. The sun is my only comfort now. It cannot judge me or how I change. It is always there, to comfort me.

'I have your tests graded.' The teacher announced, picking up a stack of papers from her desk. I look at her momentarily then look out the window again, trying to be stoic about it. She walked up and down, hand the tests to other students, with a nod of approval to each for their hard work. She soon arrives at my desk, shuffling through the stack for mine. She selects one and looks down at me, I'm sure I must look pretty clueless at the moment. She frowns and places my paper face down on my desk, shaking her head.

'Please, see me after class Mr. Jounouchi.' And with that she walks away. I turn over the paper. D-. Dammit! I clench my teeth, God! I can't get this! I studied a fucking week for endless hours for this piece of shit! And I get a D-! I bit my lip; this shouldn't affect me. Tears start to well. I don't understand. What entity hates me so much as to make sure my life was a hell. I raise my hand and stare at the teacher, straight in the eye.

'M-may I go to the bathroom?' I ask, making sure my voice was low so that no one could hear the hint of my tears in my voice. She nods and goes to the blackboard to begin the lesson. I get up and walk down the blue hallways to the bathroom. I go to the furthest wall and slide down it, burying my face into my knees and hands. The tears well faster than I can blink them away. They fall, one at a time, slowly, as if prolonging the blows that come to my pride. I'm alone. All alone.

I don't know how long I'm staying like this. And personally, I don't care. It's not like any one else does, so I can stay here as long as it takes to heal myself. Cover and heal those wounds. So after I can take care of myself again with out having to worry whether the others are here for me or not.

I snap open my eyes when I hear the squeak of the door. I look up to see Yu-gi, Honda and Anzu come in. I look back down. I don't want to see them and especially, I don't want them to see me. They come sit by me, I can hear them.

'Dude, you okay?' Honda says slapping my back. I bite my lip harder and glare up at him. They've got so much nerve to joke around at a time like this.

'Sorry.' He mumbles, glancing nervously at the floor. Yu-gi looks over at me with quizzical eyes.

'Jouno, we've noticed you've been acting strangely lately. What's the matter?'

'Yeah, remember, Jouno, we're here for you.' I give Anzu a cold look. How stupid and clueless are these 'friends' are. According to them, I'm the slow one.

'Dun give me any of that friendship shit, Anzu, you hypocrite. My father is about as useful as a jackass, I'm failing school and you guys act as if you could care less!' They look at me with confusion and sadness, bull. I don't' believe it. B-but, to have friends, is a wonderful feeling… No. What am I saying? They don't care for me… A hand rests on my shoulder.

'Jouno, we're just worried about you. We weren't sure of what you wanted. But, you mean so much to us. We're all family. We thought you knew that.'

'Yu-gi's right, Jounochi, we're your friends. That's what we do, stand by your side.' Anzu said.

'And as cheesey and spazzy as it may sound, we'll always be there for you. That's why we're here.' I simply look at them and nod.

'T-thanks guys… I-It means so much to me. Well, I mean, you guys mean so much to me.'

'We know, don't worry. We're here and we always will.' They smile reassuringly and they all hug me. All of them. I snuggle into the warmth of it. The happiness that it brings.

I let the rare mirthful smile crawl onto my lips. I suddenly open my eyes and ask.

'Hey, guys, is this what it feels like to have real friends?' They draw back and look at me momentarily before hugging me again, tighter than before. They answer with it.

'Yeah, Jouno, this is what it feels like.'

Rath- Okay, little bit sappy, sue me. But, ya' know what, this I'll dedicate to my friends. Thanks guys for supporting me always!

Set- Uh, huh. I'm goin' leave Rath and all those sentiments to themselves now. But still, yeah, this is dedicated to all our friends.

Rath-Alright, so review please! Thanks. Ja ne.

Set- Yeah, later.