Disclaimer: Even though I wish I did, I do not own Yu-gi-oh.
Well, here I am again...for Chapter 4. I was rather disappointed that nobody reviewed for Chapter 3. . . where did you all go?! But even so, I'm still posting Chapter 4 as I don't want to suddenly cut this off. If you happen to read this, please review and participate in the poll. I really need your opinions, people.
Now, I won't make this author's note long so that you can read this chappie already.
Again review and answer the poll, okay. ^^
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HOLDING ONTO YOU
CHAPTER 4 – AWAKE AND ALIVE
The Honda siblings stiffened though when they heard groan behind them. . . and the now half-sleepy, half-awake brunette tensed more when a horse voice called him.
"Ho. . .Ho. . . Honda. . ."
All sleep and rest forgotten, the brunette immediately turned around and almost cried in happiness when he saw, for the first time in two and a half weeks, a real movement from the lying person in front of him. Jounouchi was opening his eyes and slender fingers were moving as well.
"Hey guys! Dr. Mizuro's here to check on Jou. I also bought---" Ryou stopped as he entered the room and saw Jou move.
Then, all so suddenly, the three of them (excluding Dr. Mizuro) ran towards Jounouchi and were talking, laughing and crying at the same time you may think they're crazy.
"You're awake!"
"We thought you'd never wake up!"
"How can you do that to us! You kept us all waiting!"
"Anyway, the important thing is you're damn awake!"
Jounouchi, still groggy and a bit confused, was having a headache with all the noise that was happening around him. "Will you. . . stop? I'm having a headache with. . . all this noise. . ."
"He's right, you know." Dr. Mizuro said as she went to Jou's bedside. "I'd feel the same way if I were Jou. You sort of startled and surprised him with a bang." She chuckled as she saw the three people in front of her blush from embarrassment.
"Now, why don't the three of you step aside while I check if he's really okay now. It's better to be sure."
The three did as they were told, while they watched Dr. Mizuro check on Jou for some minutes. They chatted quietly and can't wait to tell Yugi and the others.
After a few minutes, the blue-haired doctor faced them as she put down her stethoscope. "Well, looks like Jounouchi's out of danger already. He's alive. . . and awake."
They went towards Jou happily, who had his hazel eyes open already though he was still frowning.
"But, you still have to watch him every now and then." Dr. Mizuro said sternly. "His wounds are not yet close to healing and he shouldn't move much. Make sure he eats so that he'll be back to his energetic self again." The three nodded. "He'll be staying here until we say it's okay for him to go."
"Don't worry, doc, we'll take good care of him."
"I know you all will, Honda." Then she faced Jounouchi. "You follow what they're telling you, okay Jou? I know how much of a stubborn boy you are." And with that, she got out of the door. The three laughed as Jou frowned more at the doctor's last words. Though he was awake, he still wasn't aware where he was and who were the people around him.
"Hey, Jounouchi, nice to have you back."
Okay. . . British accent. . . that's Ryou. Jou thought.
"Yeah, I can't wait to tell the others
A girl? I know I've heard that voice before.
"We missed you, buddy."
That's definitely Honda. Jou smiled. How could he forget? In that two-and-a-half week coma, though he could hear voices, only one stood out. Yes, he can hear them though from the outside. And that voice was Honda's. . . talking to him and telling him some stories and all. . . though the brunette was fully aware that he was in a deep, deep sleep. And somehow, it could've been Honda that let Jou wake up in the first place.
And all this thinking was giving him another headache.
"Water. I need wa-water…"
Immediately, Leika got one from the fridge, poured some on a glass and handed it to the blond. Honda and Ryou put the upper part of the bed up so that Jou could sit up enough to drink properly.
"Thanks. That's better now." Jou said as he handed the empty glass to Leika.
Honda placed his hands on his best friend's shoulders. "It's glad to have you back, man."
Jounouchi smiled something the three hadn't seen in a long time. "Me too, Honda." And in truth, he was really glad to be back.
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
Ever since Yugi and the others found out that Jounouchi had woken up, his room was never empty and everyday, it was almost full of people. Some flowers, food and cards filled up his bedside table. Yugi and the others were so happy that he was awake now, especially Jou's mom and Shizuka. And Honda had never seen Jou so happy when they both came for the first time that he was awake; his happy, at the same time, crying face was just priceless. After all, the three of them hadn't seen each other for a long time. . . ever since after Battle City as Shizuka and his mother went back to Germany.
But even though Jounouchi was awake now and kept telling the others that he was already okay, they still kept watch over him and made sure that he ate and rested. They also checked his wounds and found out that they were starting to heal now that Jou's body has enough strength to do it, though he sometimes have a hard time standing up as the wound on his back and front were the worse in his whole body. The wires and machines were lessened; most likely, it was the dextrose that was left.
And Honda, Leika, Yugi, Ryou and Anzu decided that it was not yet time to ask Jou about what happened to him and who had almost killed him through the beatings. They'll wait until he's fully recovered and would have enough strength to tell everything to them. The last thing they needed was for Jounouchi to stay in the hospital a little longer.
It was only on Jou's first weekend awake that he had little visitors, mostly in the morning. So, by Saturday afternoon, the blond was able to lie down and rest, with only Honda in the room; the others were busy with homework.
"I'm glad I'm able to rest quietly now. This room had been full of people the last few days that I didn't have time to just close my eyes. . ." Jou said, looking at Honda. "Hey, the others are busy with homework. . . aren't you going to do yours?"
Honda looked up from the book he was reading and quirked an eyebrow at the blond. "You're asking me that when before we never do our homework, and we had to cram the next morning? I think that coma finally let you come to your senses."
"Well, I just heard from Leika that you practically live here already and do your homework. So, I was just wondering why you're not doing it."
"I'm finished with some of them, and I'm just taking a break now."
"Damn! Homework!" Jou exclaimed, frustrated.
The brunette chuckled. "Don't worry. You're excused from it. And I can fill you up on what's happening in school. But right now, forget about it and just rest. After all, those wounds aren't fully healed yet." He got back into his reading.
"Hey Honda. . ." Jou said, after a few minutes of silence.
"Hmmm?"
"Um, Leika told me what you did while I was in a coma and that you watched over me 24/7. I. . . I. . . well, I just want to tell you how much I really appreciate what you did. You don't how much it meant to me." Jou said as he looked down on his fingers. In truth, he did that because he was practically blushing and didn't want to show it. In fact, he didn't know why he was blushing too much.
The brunette placed a bookmark on the page he was reading and tossed it on the other bed, then smiled sheepishly at his best friend. "Oh that. . . well, I'm glad you did. And that's what best friends are for."
"Yeah." Jou was still looking down on his fingers. "Uh. . . Honda. . . ummm. . . I want to talk about that day when I suddenly ran away from you. You know the day when----"
"----when I told you my feelings for you." Honda said, all the cheerfulness in his voice and face gone.
"Uhm, yeah. Look Honda, I know and I can see that you do love me. In truth, I. . ." Darn it! How am I going to say this. Grrrr!!! Maybe this is one of the reasons why I woke up. Well, yeah, he didn't want to see his family and friends so sad because he was still in a coma. Also, one way or another, though e really didn't want to wake up and face the real world, he had to face his problems. But the main reason was that he really wanted to talk to Honda about their feelings towards each other. Jounouchi knew he and the brunette will not e the same as before. I have to tell him. . .
"In truth, I. . . I'm really sorry, Honda, but I. . . I can't return your feelings. . . for now. I'm. . . I'm not ready for to go in relationship yet, especially with you. . ."
"Me? Why? Did I do anything wrong?" Honda asked, voice shaking.
"No! It's not you. . . it's me. I'm really not ready. . . please understand. . . I can't return your feelings for awhile. . ." And besides, if you ever found out that I'm not as clean as you think I am, I'm sure you'll wish you hadn't met me. After all, who would want somebody like me who had been raped by his own father many times?! I'm as dirty as a pig.
"I understand, Jou. After all, I did surprise you by kissing you immediately and telling you without warning that I hadn't thought of your reaction." He looked away though, and felt tears streaming down his cheeks.
"Honda, I'm really sorry." Jou said when he saw his best friend look away. "I didn't mean to hurt you like this." And I'm sorry to push you way like this. It's the only way for us not to get hurt. In truth, I really do love you and the last thing I want to happen is you wishing that hadn't met me when you find out about what really happened to me.
The brunette wiped his face with his sleeve before facing Jou. "No, it's okay. I expected too much so it's my fault. Don't worry, I won't force you into something you don't want. I. . . I can wait."
"Thanks, Honda."
"No prob."
"Uh, another question though. Since when did you start reading the Harry Potter series? I can't believe you're reading 'The Order of the Phoenix' already!"
Honda looked back over his shoulder to see the thick, hardbound blue book that he tossed on the bed and chuckled. "Two weeks after Battle City. I just finished 'Goblet of Fire' last week."
"Wow, Honda. . . I didn't know you could read!"
"Hey, take that back!"
But before Jou could reply to that, Honda had thrown a pillow from the other bed to the blond and hit him square on the face. Soon, a mini-pillow fight began that lasted for more than ten minutes.
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
The next days were back to normal for both boys despite the serious talk that they had. Both had agreed never to discuss about that again, and now they were back to talking, laughing, teasing and all just like the nest friends that they were.
And nothing could have made Jounouchi happier when Dr. Mizuro announced that he could get out the hospital the next day after being in there for almost three weeks. Though she told the others that they still have to watch over him because his wounds weren't still fully healed.
"I've got three words for you, Jou." Dr. Mizuro reminded. "Rest. Sleep. Eat."
"I've been doing the first two the whole damn three weeks! Do I need to do those even out of the hospital?"
"Yes, because you've lost too many before you were confined." She said sternly, hands on her hips. "You lost lots of iron and nutrients which made your whole system weak. . . one of the reasons why your wounds are still there. Be thankful that your fever's gone. Don't worry, Domino High excused you already until you're okay to go back to school. "
Jou made a face and crossed his arms. "Fine, fine! Whatever you say, doc!"
Everybody rejoiced when they heard the news that there was a small celebration in Jou's room that night. Yugi, Ryou, Marik, Anzu, Leika, Honda, Yugi, Yami, Shizuka, and Otogi were all there and some of them bought some food. Jou's mother had work, but she promised to bring her son home the next day. Jounouchi was sitting up on the bed as he and everyone else started eating.
"You're finally going home, eh, Jou." Otogi said, his hands entwined with Shizuka's.
Jounouchi made a face at seeing this, making everyone laugh. "Yeah, but don't expect me to greet you like a brother whenever you come to visit my sister at home."
"Uh big brother, I. . . I won't be staying home. I still have school in Germany, remember?"
"Oh yeah, almost forgot." In fact, Jou's happy that his younger sister won't be staying at he and his father's house. If she only knew what their father was like. Even he didn't want to go back there because he didn't want the nightmare to repeat again. And speaking of their father. . .
"And besides, you still have dad there."
Jou almost dropped his glass of juice the moment Shizuka said this, so there was a patch of orange on his white hospital gown.
"Hey Jou, buddy, you okay?" Honda asked, concerned. He noticed this action, plus Jou's face had fear when Shizuka mentioned about their father. Jou's hiding something. I know it.
"Yeah, I'm fine. Hey, I'm still hungry. Can I have another pizza?"
While he ate, Honda, Leika, Yugi, Ryou and Anzu noticed Jou's sudden change of behavior awhile ago, and they all exchanged knowing glances.
Almost the whole night, everyone laughed, ate and talked about anything and everything. If Dr. Mizuro hadn't entered at around twelve midnight, they wouldn't stop the celebration.
"Hey, I know you're all happy that Jounouchi's finally getting out of here, but there are other patients in this hospital that need peace and quiet." She said, hands on her hips, though there was a hint of amusement in her blue eyes. "Now, all of you pack up so that everyone can rest now. Who staying tonight?"
"I am." Honda said.
"Oh, why the hell am I asking anyway?" She said, rolling her eyes. The gang laughed as Honda blushed.
"But, I'll be staying for awhile. We want to talk to Jou first before we go." Leika said
In ten minutes, Jounouchi's room was back to normal again, and everyone (except for Honda and Leika) had left.
"Jou," Leika began. "Honda and I want to talk to you about something. Actually, Yugi, Anzu and Ryou wanted to stay too, but I said we could handle this. Now, we didn't want to do this before as you just woke up, but I think today would be okay."
Jounouchi knew this was coming. If he were not mistaking, the two people in front of him would ask him about what happened to him before he became unconscious.
"Jou. . . what exactly happened to you before you became unconscious?"
I knew it. "Uhm, can we talk tomorrow? I'm kind of sleepy."
Honda got hold of Jou's arm. "No, we can't talk tomorrow. We want to talk now. Besides, we know you're not sleepy because you almost slept the whole day. Now, answer the question Jou. . ."
The blond sighed. One way or another, he's gonna have to tell them what really happened. . . and maybe who did this to him. But no matter what, he's going to leave out the fact that his father raped him many times, and almost did on the night that he was beaten.
"Alright. What choice do I have? Somebody beat me up that night."
"And who's this somebody, Jounouchi?" Leika asked.
"Look, it doesn't matter who that somebody is 'coz you don't know him anyway. And besides, it was rather my fault because, uh, I bumped into him. Not looking where I'm walking." Jou lied, not looking at the two siblings.
Honda quirked an eyebrow. "Jou, I've known you for a long time, so I know whether you're lying or not. So right now, you're definitely lying. And besides, we don't care whether we know that person or not. We're still going to find him." The brunette crossed his arms. "Now, who did this to you?"
Jounouchi looked at the two siblings in front of him, and sighed inwardly. I cant lie to them. . .they'll know one way or another. And besides, I can't think of anybody now except my fucking dad! I guess I have no choice.
"Fine, fine, I'll tell you." Jou breathed. "It's. . . it's my dad."
Silence. Then Leika spoke up. "I knew he had something to do with this, After all, we couldn't think of anybody else, and somehow everything was connected to him. You should file a case against him."
"File a case? Uh-uh, no way! Look I don't want this to get big and be an issue. It's not that important anymore."
"But it is important, Jou." Honda exclaimed. "He'll pay for what he did to you. . . he almost killed you. And why didn't you tell me that he never stopped beating you?" He added, a trace of hurt in his voice.
"I. . . I did. I told you that he stopped."
"But that was a lie to stop me from killing your dad! I wish you could've have told me. . . we could have prevented you from almost being killed."
Jou placed his hand over Honda's. "Hey, I know how much you were worried, but that was in the past now. The important thing is that I'm alive and will be out of here tomorrow, right?"
Honda nodded. "But promise me that no more keeping secrets from me."
Oops. . . I've broken that already before you even said it. Jou sighed inwardly. I'm sorry, Honda, but I'm going to have to lie again. "Okay, I promise no more secrets, Honda." Both boys smiled. "Now, about filing a case against my father, there's no way I'm going to do that! I told you, I don't this to get big, so let's just forget about it."
"And what? Wait until he beats up somebody else? If we leave it like that, for all we know, he might beat attack Shizuka----"
"I said forget about it, okay?!" Jou yelled angrily. Then, he abruptly turned his head towards the window.
The brunette sighed. "Alright, if that's what you want. I know this was hard for you and we don't want to force you."
"But if you happen to change your mind. . ." Leika put her hand on Jou's as she stood up. ". . . we're always here to help." The blond nodded, still looking at the window.
"I have to go now, Imooto." The black-haired girl said as she walked towards the door. "Jou's mom will be here around nine in the morning, so be prepared." Honda nodded at her sister as she opened the door.
"Wait." Both Honda and Leika turned their heads to face Jounouchi, who was now looking down on his fingers. "I've been thinking about this since I found out I'll be out of here in a few hours. I want to ask something."
"What is it, Jounouchi?" Leika asked, closing the door.
"Uhm. . ." Honda noticed that the blond was fidgeting his fingers uncontrollably. "Uhm. . . I know it might be a big bother for you, but. . ." Jou breathed. "Well, could I. . . could I stay with you for. . . some. . . time? In truth, I really don't want to go back in our house again. I don't want to see my father after what he has done to me."
"So, you don't want to stay with your father for awhile?"
"Yes. But. . . it's okay if you don't want to. I mean, I'm not expecting that you'll suddenly agree because it would be a big bother for you." Jou said. "I just can't help but ask."
Honda and Leika looked at each other, and without hesitation, both siblings nodded at each other and the black-haired girl smiled at the blond teen. "Jounouchi, you know that you're always welcome in our house. And you're also welcome to stay. We understand how you feel."
"You can stay in our house as long as you want to."
Jou looked up. "Really? Won't I be much of a burden to you?"
Honda laughed. "Burden? Jou, you almost live there, so you're almost part of our family already."
"Plus, we can't look after you if you lived with your father, judging by what he did to you, we might not see you alive in a few days. Remember, you're still not fully well." Leika said, scowling when she mentioned about Jou's father. "Oh, and it's timing too 'coz I'll be out of the house for a month or two."
"Where are you going?" Jou asked.
"She's visiting her husband in Europe who works there. But I'll doubt that she'll be there for only a month or two. Knowing those two. . ." Honda chuckled.
Leika narrowed her eyes on her younger brother. "Hey, you pervert, stop it! I'll be leaving in three days, so I can still take care of Jou while Honda's out in school. By the time I'll be gone, maybe Jou can take care of himself. . . provided he won't do anything that would tire his body. Hey Jou, better keep my brother company, okay? I'm sure you two will be just fine." She said this last sentence with a wink, and both boys understood what she meant as both boys blushed, Honda being the reddest.
"Onesan---!"
"Well, I have got to go as it's very late already. See ya tomorrow, boys!" And with that, Leika immediately got out of the room. Honda shook his head and rolled his eyes as he faced Jou.
"Man, isn't she some---" Honda noticed Jou shaking. "Hey Jou, you okay?"
The blond looked up and the brunette saw some tears falling down his cheeks. "Honda, thank you. . . for letting me stay there. I really don't want to go back to that house ever! It would be another nightmare for me if I was to stay there ever again!" Jou suddenly cried, making Honda so surprised. Jounouchi never cried, except when his close friends were hurt. But even there, he never cried this hard. Among the two of us, I can say that I'm the one who cries more. The way he's crying now, it looks like he's so scared. The brunette thought as he came closer and embraced Jou, the said blond crying harder on his chest.
"Sssshhh. . . it's okay buddy. As I told you awhile ago, you can stay with in our house for as long as you want." Honda said, patting the blond's back. To his relief, he stopped shaking and his cries subsided a little, but his head was still on the brunette's chest. Something tells me Jou didn't only get a beating from his father. I have never seen Jou this scared ever. Only when Honda felt there was no movement below that his thoughts were broken. He looked down to see Jounouchi asleep on his chest, some tear streaks visible on his cheeks. He may have slept the whole day, but that little celebration really tired him.
Honda wiped away the tear streaks with his thumb as he lay Jou on his bed. The blond stirred a little, but all the while that the brunette lay him and placed a blanket on his chest, Jou was fast asleep. As he did this, Honda noticed that Jou's hand was holding his wrist. For somebody who was asleep, Jou was holding it a little bit tightly and the brunette was having a hard time taking it off.
"Stay here. . ." Jou mumbled, though Honda saw that he was still asleep. He sighed, as Jou showed no signs of letting his wrist go. Somebody up there must hate me to let me in this kind of situation. There's no way I'm going to sleep beside him. What if Jou sees me tomorrow morning? He might think I'm taking advantage of him. Damn it! Honda waited and even tried to tug out his hand many times, but it seems Jou's hand was awake despite his whole body being asleep.
"Fine! As if I have a choice! I can't stand here all night, I mean morning. . . I'm getting sleepy!" He grumbled, as he lay beside Jou. The moment he did this, Jou's hand let go of Honda's wrist, and for a second the brunette thought of getting out of bed. But the fact that he was lying on the bed and getting sleepy was stopping him from doing it. His eyes started closing, but not before he felt Jou's head on his chest and placed his arm around the blond and soon fell asleep.
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Waaaaaahhhhhhhh!!!!!! What a long chapter and I think it was boring. Not much action. . . more on the talkies. Well, whatever you want to tell, whether about the chapter, the grammar and spelling, typo graphical errors, or the like, just put press the purple button and type it all the way. I need some reviews so that I'll be inspired to the next chapters!!! ^^
By the way, I have something for you readers out there. I have this poll that I'm going to ask you 'coz I need it for one of my Hon/Jou fics and I need your votes. Here are the two (2) questions:
Which course would fit for Jounouchi when he goes to college?
Medicine (I was thinking he'll become a vet)
Business Management (I'm not sure about this, but it just came on my mind)
Other course (please specify)
What would be a good first (1st) anniversary gift for Jou from Honda?
The usual Duel Monster deck (I want this to be a special deck. . . something that hasn't been released yet and Honda was able to get one before it really came out.)
Others, please specify
Honda's done already, so no need a poll for him.
Now, to vote, use either the reviews section or you can email me at malfoy_gurl09@yahoo.com with the subject "course/gift". Comments, suggestions and explanations are very welcome! I'll be posting this poll and updating you on it on every chapter of "Holding Onto You". But don't worry, the fic that has a poll will not be my next fic. Surprisingly, it's a Marik/Ryou; Yami Marik/Yami Bakura fic. ^_~
So, that's all for now. Review and vote, guys! Thanks ^_^