Me wa Yori oi ni Deau--More than Meets the Eye
Chapter 3
Rating: PG-13-ish
Author: Moonchild DJ
Disclaimer: Yugioh and its respective characters do not belong to me! They belong to the wonderful peoples that came up with the anime and manga, and as much as I'd love to own my favorite pairing, I don't. X3 If I did, then this wouldn't be a fan fiction, now would it? I do, however, own this story, and its plot, and I work like mad to keep it unique, so please don't steal! I don't make any money out of this, this is for the sole entertainment of me and the readers, and I return the characters back to their respective owners in semi-normal condition. XD
Author's Note: Hi there, everyone! Moonchild DJ back with a new chapter to MwYoiD! Good gods, it has been FOREVER since I updated this, and so I'm very pleased to finally have broken the block on it! I hope that you enjoy it, too, reviews and comments are an author's breath of life, after all! With that said, don't forget to review, and please enjoy!
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The next few days, were, to say the least, interesting. It wasn't every day one got to throw down with a slightly-cracked maniac that held people captive for bribery and the sheer fun of it. But Jou couldn't help but feel sorry for the man, in a fashion. There seemed to be something tragic to him, something that lent a reason to his desperateness, his insanity, and he wanted to find out what it was. After seeing that kinder side with Seto, he couldn't whole-heartedly agree with Yugi and the others that Pegasus was a lunatic. Slightly touched in the head, eccentric, but not completely bonkers.
So while Yugi was preparing, and the others were cheering him on, he snuck out, slipping quietly towards Pegasus' quarters. Being in a street gang and knowing how to keep quiet where it counted paid off. He managed to sneak easily past the goons guarding the hall, and pressing his ear to the door to make sure there was no noise from within, he held his breath and pushed open the door silently, creeping into the room.
The decorations of the room were fine-made and rich, something like you would expect in a museum. From the tables to the chairs to a low-backed divan before a large fireplace. Jou fought back the urge to whistle, impressed at the beauty, and careful to not crash into anything to make a sound. A cherry-oak writing desk, with an intricately-carved P on it caught his eye, and he crept forward, slowly testing the doors to it.
One opened, and within was a thick journal with a red velvet bookmark within it. He carefully lifted it out, setting it on top of the desk, and flipped it open, his eyes widening as he spied a picture stuck within the pages of a beautiful blonde woman with a sweet smile and lovely blue eyes. He picked up the picture, gazing to the smiling woman, then glanced down to the journal, reading slowly.
It then unfolded before Jou's eyes like the secretive folds of a rare flower. There were method to Pegasus' madness, after all. Cecilia. The woman who would've become Pegasus' bride, had not tragic events occurred.
Pegasus believed the Eye, the power it contained, along with technology gleaned from KaibaCorp, could bring his love back. His journal told it all. His fears, his hopes, his dreams. Everyone, it seemed, had a reason for this dueling. Yugi, for his grandfather, Seto for Mokuba, himself for Shizuka. And Pegasus for his lost love. That was the reason.
"Funny how desperation can drive a person, ne?" drawled Pegasus' voice nearby, and the blond jumped in startlement, the picture fluttering to the table as he dropped the journal--which promptly landed on his foot.
With a howl of surprise and pain, Jou hopped around, holding his foot as the silver-haired man, dressed in a sleek black robe, hair damp from his shower, eyed him in amusement and chuckled under his breath.
"It's not funny! Damn, that hurt!" the blond pouted, hobbling.
"Just cause, then, for peeking into one's private affairs." Pegasus replied as he padded forward, picking up the journal and the picture, placing them both back where they belonged and closing the door of the writing desk.
"Oh, like you don't do the same!" Jou retorted with a snort.
"That's a different kind of peeking."
"Yeah, yeah." he muttered, then grinned weakly when Pegasus crossed his arms over his chest. "Heh. You probably wanna know why I'm poking around, eh?"
"No, I can gather why. You were curious. Well, remember what they say, Jonouchi-boy. Curiosity killed the cat. Though in your case, I suppose we should make it puppy." He smirked when the blond sputtered and glared at him. "Now…what should I do with you, hmm? Should I send you off to the Shadow Realm, you could say hi to Seto, Mokuba-boy and the old man while you're there, wouldn't that be fun?"
Jou paled at his words, taking a step back as his heart lurched in fear. "I really, REALLY hope you're joking…" he muttered.
"Joking?" The one visible amber eye blinked innocently. "Now why would I do something like that? Don't you want to visit Seto?"
"Sure, but…not like that, the place gives me the heebie-jeebies."
Pegasus smirked lightly in amusement, one silver brow inching up. "I should do that…but I have a feeling Kaiba-boy wouldn't be none-too-happy with me."
"So I'm not taking a one-way-trip to the Shadow Realm?"
"Not this time, no."
He let out a sigh of relief, preferring to ignore the 'this time' part as his shoulders drooped, and he relaxed, before he eyed the silver-haired man. "Hey, look, I'm sorry I nosed in on your private life, but if you weren't so damned enigmatic, I wouldn't haveta pry."
"Ah, so it's my fault if I like to keep my private affairs private. Amusing." Pegasus drawled before he shook his head and padded to the divan, sitting down as he finger-combed the wet silver strands. "Anything else you'd like to know, before you go poking off somewhere else?"
Jou laughed nervously, watching him, before tentatively coming closer, carefully sitting down beside him after the older man chided that he didn't bite. "Why, then?" he asked softly after a moment. "Why go after Kaiba if you're so loyal to your Cecilia?"
"Dive right in, don't you, Jonouchi-boy?" Pegasus drawled idly, smiling a bit when the blond squirmed. "A heart can have room for many people. I still love Cecilia, I always will. But Kaiba-boy…he's…intriguing, I suppose you can say. He's full of so many mysteries, it's hard to not be captivated. He has so many sides to him. Tender and protective with Mokuba-boy. Cold and unrelenting as CEO of KaibaCorp. Distrustful…almost vulnerable when it comes to trusting people. And lastly, almost teasing and affectionate when he's taunting you. He has so many facets to him…like the shards of a mirror that has yet to be put back together."
"I've noticed that, too." Jou murmured softly, twining his fingers together in his lap. "It amazes me…how he can care for and protect his brother like I would Shizuka, and yet shut himself off from the rest of the world in the next breath. Sometimes I think we're so much alike…and then other times…"
"You two are generally the two sides of the same coin." Pegasus mused, causing the younger blond to blink at him curiously. "You have similar backgrounds, similar outlooks on life. It's just the face you choose to show to the world that makes you seem different. While you hide your problems behind a smile and pretend nothing's wrong so as to not alarm your friends and family, Seto's expressions are blank, and his wall is always up. You can reach out, even if you hide things and pretend to be stupid and reckless and devil-may-care, and he shuts himself off, showing none of his emotions or how vulnerable and scared he really is."
"Wow…" Jou breathed, amazed at how Pegasus had them pegged, before he made a face. "Lemme guess. You've read our minds to get all that."
"Actually, no." he murmured. "I'm just good at catching details others don't see. Partly a carry-over from my days as a painter, I suppose. Everyone wears a mask, Jonouchi-boy, that they use in face of others. Just some are more vague than most."
"Even you?" came the blond's soft question. He was certainly seeing more of this man than he thought there was.
"Even me." Pegasus replied. "None scarcely know about Cecilia, or my own private thoughts. My life does not just consist of tormenting people, playing head games, Funny Bunny, and wine." he snorted dryly with a look to Jou that made him blush sheepishly.
"Sorry…" he murmured, ducking his head.
"Quite all right. As the saying goes, 'things are not always as they seem'. And that goes for you and Seto, as well." The lone amber eye peered at him curiously through silver strands as he reached out, touching Jou's cheek lightly with the tips of his fingers. "Who would think, after all, that such rivals carry feelings for each other? That the rough, impulsive puppy loves and cares for the man he professes to despise?"
Jou squeaked in surprise when Pegasus' fingers grazed his cheek, his eyes widening at the smoothness of the long fingers before he jerked away, turning his head away slightly with a flustered blush. Now he understood what got Seto so worked up. That strange contradiction between gentleness and danger. He supposed that Pegasus had his own differing sides, as well.
" 'Course I pretend to hate him. 'Cause anything else I admit to will get Seto laughing his head off. He hates me." he muttered after a moment.
"Nonsense." Pegasus snorted after an odd glance at the blond. "Seto doesn't spend that much effort in hating someone. If he despised you so, then he wouldn't even associate with you, not go out of his way to taunt you. It's just his way of saying he likes you."
"Whatever." Jou mumbled, shrugging his shoulders non-committably. He blinked, then glanced at the older man suspiciously. "Hey…in all intents and purposes, I'm your rival for Seto's affections. Why would you try to make me feel better? That would just encourage me to go after Seto."
"I know." Pegasus replied with a grin. "But everyone loves a challenge, myself included. There's no harm in trying your very best against a rival, dueling or otherwise."
The blond glanced at him with a brow inching up into his hairline. "I guess. Hey, you said you painted? Do you do that anymore?"
Pegasus' grin wavered a little. "I haven't for a while, not since Cecilia was alive. But…I have found some inspiration to pick it up again, would you like to see?" At Jou's nod, he helped him up from the divan and led him out of the room to another that was obviously an art room, with the light pouring in from the wide bay windows and plenty of space and quiet. In the middle stood a medium-sized easel and various paints and brushes. A frame sat neatly on the easel, covered by a dropcloth that the silver-haired man shifted to, looking almost nervous.
"You understand, of course, I haven't painted for some time…" he murmured as Jou came to stand before him.
"Yeah, yeah, I got it. But they say once you've done something, it's a cinch to pick up again. Go on!" he replied with a grin and a wave of his hand, finding it almost cute how the older man flushed and shifted his weight nervously like a man half his age.
"All right…" Pegasus murmured, before he reached for the dropcloth and drew it away, exposing a half-finished work done in soft, airy pastels, of Seto, reclining in a bed on his stomach, resting his cheek against his crossed arms and his eyes closed, his back and arms bare with a soft blue sheet draped over his waist.
Jou's eyes widened at the work, gasping as his cheeks flushed. He was no art critic, but the man that had captured both of their attentions was a perfect subject, and Pegasus had painted him perfectly, capturing how the light fell over his pale skin, the dark brush of his lashes against his cheeks, every curve and muscle. "Wow…" he breathed softly.
"I call it 'Dragon in Repose'." Pegasus replied softly as he gazed at the half-finished portrait, before he glanced back at the blond. "What do you think? Does it look like him?"
"It looks exactly like him. It's perfect. I'd think it WAS him, in that painting, if I didn't know better." Jou murmured reverently, then glanced back at him nervously. "It's…not him, is it? I mean, you can capture people's souls…"
Pegasus chuckled softly, shaking his head. "No, it's not him, I assure you. It doesn't work with easels. So you like it?"
"It's wonderful. You did a great job. I take it you sketched it out while he was asleep?"
"No, just from memory. From the times when he was relaxed and open."
Jou could almost hear the love and longing in his tone, and he bit his lip, realizing he did care for Seto, even if he did it in a roundabout way. It really was a toss up who loved him most. Stepping forward, the blond gazed at the portrait close up, then at Pegasus.
"You know him a lot. Maybe more than me." he replied with a small, sad smile. "If it happens…that you win his affections…you'll take care of him? An' love him like he deserves?"
The older man gazed at him, before he held out his hand in a handshake, which Jou took. "I promise. But you're not out of the running, yet, Jonouchi-boy. He's fond of you, I can tell these things. It'll be a close match."
"Yeah." Jou grinned. "It sure will."
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But things don't turn out as one plans. What had started out as a match within a match--Yugi versus Pegasus in a duel, Jou versus Pegasus for Seto's heart--ended up in a wild toss of Shadow magic, and before Jou knew it, Pegasus had lost everything…including nearly his own life, as his Sennen Eye had been forcibly removed from him, and the last he saw was his loyal servant, Croquet, helping to carry him out of the castle.
If his influence was removed, then that meant that Seto, Mokuba and Yugi's grandfather were free. He joined Yugi and the others in the search, relieved to see Yugi reunited with Sugoroku and the Kaiba brothers back together again. But it couldn't end like that, could it? While the methods were warped, Pegasus' intentions were honorable. His lost Cecilia, his longing for Seto…it didn't seem right that Pegasus got nothing but a lot of pain.
Having snuck Pegasus' journal under his jacket, the blond stood with the others, waiting to leave Duelist Kingdom. He gazed at Seto out of the corner of his eye, smiling a little sadly. In the end…neither of them had won his heart, and Seto Kaiba remained keeper of his own heart. He wasn't devious enough to try to worm his way into the CEO's heart or try to win what Pegasus had gained. He sighed under his breath, pushing tendrils of hair from his face as the breeze kicked up, his expression pensive.
Out of the corner of his eye as well, Seto glanced at the blond. His face carefully blotted free of emotion, he gently told his brother to stay with Mutoh and the others, before he slipped quietly to the lone blond, who was a bit separate from his friends, and crossed his arms over his chest.
"If you intend on telling anyone of what happened here, inu, I will personally drag you through the mud." he informed him quietly. He was taken aback when the blond scowled at him, his eyes narrowed.
"What do you take me for, Kaiba?" he growled, just as quietly. "I'm not going to tarnish your name, if that's what you're afraid of! There were more important things than that!"
"Oh? Like what? Enlighten me, mutt."
"I…" Jou faltered, then looked down. "I can't. You wouldn't understand."
The brunette eyed him curiously, before he reached out and tilted up the blond's chin. "What? Did Pegasus take you into confidence or something?" He blinked at Jou when he noted the other's cheeks reddening.
"Something like that. Look, there was more to the man than what it looked like, and I…I think he got a bad hand at the end, that's all." Jou glanced up at him. "Did you…feel anything for him? He never hurt you."
Seto scowled. "He's my enemy. Yours, as well. Besides, it's none of your business, mutt!"
"It's more my business than you know." Jou murmured softly, almost too low to hear. He noticed the brunette flinch, and added quietly, "You cared for him in your own fashion, didn't you?"
"I…!" Seto sputtered, his eyes widening. Since when had the mutt gotten so good at reading him?
Jou smiled faintly. The wide eyes and slight tinge of pink at Seto's cheeks was all the answer he needed. "Are you gonna look for him? 'Cause if so…I wanna help." Maybe he lost the battle, but the least he could do was see to it that Seto was happy.
Seto gaped at him in shock, before he frowned. "Why? Why would you want to help?"
"I have my reasons. Are you gonna look for him?"
"Yes…" he replied after a long, hesitant moment, and a sigh.
"Then I'm coming with you. Two heads are better than one."
Seto smirked. "I don't know about YOUR head, though."
Predictably, Jou bristled. "Why you…" The rest of his words were lost to the sound of chopper blades slicing through the air, though Seto continued to smirk in amusement at the cute chibi-like angry, wind milling arms of the blond. So…the puppy was coming along with him. This should be interesting.
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End Chapter 3