Renewal of Chances
Chapter 2
Rating: R
Author: Moonchild DJ
E-mail: moonchilddj@yahoo.com
Disclaimer: Yugioh and its characters do not belong to me. Sadly. :p They belong to the various people that have made them and own them, I'm just borrowing the characters. However, I do own this story and its ideas, so please do not take or steal!
Author's Notes: Kon'wa, everybody! Moonchild DJ back with a new chapter to RoC! It's taken me forever to get something thought up on this, and I've had the worst writer's block..oo I've finally managed to break it, and I'm proud to say that most of my stories are up and about to be updated! ^_^ So please be patient, and I'll try to get them up and running as soon as possible! Oh, and I suppose I should give fair warning, here..this story will be rather angsty, so there may be some upsetting moments in this chapter and others, but nothing more than I've seen in other stories! But you have been warned, so please don't flame or whatever. Anywho, enjoy, and let me know what you think!
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Seto shuddered, feeling the sensation of tears, but couldn't shed them. He couldn't cry, couldn't grieve for his brother's sadness, couldn't have his heart shatter. But he felt the ghost of it, ironically. He gave a snort and crossed his arms over his chest, feeling like an unseen, unheard spectator, when he wanted to comfort Mokuba so badly. "This isn't fair.." he whispered. He didn't want Mokuba to cry, it was so..wrong. He should be with his brother, arguing with Jounouchi, as always. Not this..grayness, this feeling like he was watching a show he couldn't be part of. All because some disgruntled idiot decided to tamper with his brakes.
He wanted to scream and curse out the world, but no one would hear him. Except maybe others like him..he shivered at the thought and focused his attention on his brother and his rival, of whom was rocking Mokuba gently in his arms as the boy sobbed. His heart wrenched at the sight.
"It's n-not fair, Jou-kun. I m-miss him, so m-much.."
Jou stroked his hair gently, soothingly, honey-brown eyes so sad and so devoid of life, he looked like a puppet. It gave Seto pause. Why would the mutt grieve for him? If anything, the blond should be dancing on his grave. Literally. But he wasn't. Why would he grieve for someone he hated, someone who never cared for him? It didn't make sense..
"I know, kiddo. I know." Jou replied softly, nuzzling him lightly with his cheek against the boy's hair. "We all do."
"What a-am I supposed to do, Jou? H-how am I supposed t-to go on without niisama? He was the o-only family I h-had left..and now I h-have nothing!"
Jou frowned. He couldn't let Mokuba be taken away from his home, not even if Seto wasn't there to take care of him. He had quite a bit of money saved up from his odd jobs that he'd hidden from his father, perhaps he could adopt Mokuba, somehow. Anything to protect him as he knew that Seto would want him protected.
He stroked the dark hair gently. "You have me..I know I'm not your brother, but I won't let anything happen to you. I'll protect you, I'll be there for you. I'll make sure that nothing happens to you."
Mokuba gasped against him, then pulled back to look up at him in shock as luminous green eyes gazed at him. "You..would do that for me..? Why?"
Seto was wondering that himself as he stared at the blond in confusion. Why was the mutt putting himself out for him? It didn't make sense. Sure, he and Mokuba were friends, but..
"Because your brother wouldn't want anything bad happening to ya, and in place for him, I won't let it happen, either. I may not be his first choice, but.." he shrugged.
Mokuba sniffled, then threw his arms around the blond's neck with a soft sound tinged with relief, sadness and happiness. "Jou..thank you.." he whispered.
"You're welcome." Jou murmured, holding him tightly. "You're not alone in this, kiddo. That I promise you."
Seto crossed his arms over his chest as he hovered over the pair. "I don't get you, mutt. But if you're going to look after my brother, I'm going to haunt your scrawny hide and make sure you don't screw up." he growled.
"You know you can't do that."
That voice again.
"Oh yeah? Watch me." he responded as he continued to watch Mokuba and Jou.
"You know, I can draw you back if you're going to be stubborn."
"I want to see after the welfare of my brother, make sure this mutt here doesn't make a mess of things. You want to drag me back before I've made sure of the safety of my brother?"
The voice heaved a sigh. "You are incredibly stubborn. Gods know you'd make trouble if you didn't get your way."
"Precisely."
"Fine. You may have your wish. But once you are certain he is safe, you will come back."
"Yes, yes, of course." Seto replied impatiently.
"Why do I even try..?" the voice muttered before fading away once again. Seto smirked faintly, then watched as Jou looped an arm around Mokuba's shoulders as the reverend and Jou's friends gathered behind them, the reverend motioning to the pallbearers to set the casket onto its perch. He shuddered and rubbed his arms as he glanced at the casket. That was him in there, and he was standing out here-well, floating more than standing- watching himself be eulogized. Definitely a strange notion.
He peered at the crowd. Not one happy face among them, not one cheer raised that he was dead. They actually cared for him, for Mokuba? The idea was odd..
Yugi and company stood behind Jou and Mokuba, gave their support, even reached out and placed hands on the two's shoulders. Jou, he could understand supporting, but Mokuba..none of it made any sense. He shook his head absently, eyeing them all. "Why do you even care?" he asked them, though he knew they couldn't hear him. "It's not like I was friends with any of you."
But he could see they cared. Even if they hadn't been friends with him. Because they were that sort of people. Seto snorted slightly and crossed his arms over his chest again. Idiots, the whole bunch of them. Blue eyes slid to Jou again, noting the blond never left Mokuba's side.
..He could be grateful for that, at least. Mokuba wasn't alone.
His jaw dropped, however, when the reverend finished his eulogy, and each one of them made a speech. And spoke kindly of him. Not a laugh or a sneer from any of them. Yugi. Anzu. Honda. Ryou. Yami. Bakura. Mai. And even Jounouchi.
To say he was shocked was an understatement.
He watched Mokuba smile sadly, tears flowing down his young face. Were they being nice for his brother's sake, or were they truly grieving? None of them looked like they were faking the kind words, or the tears.
A gentle breeze blew, fluttering Jou's hair, the last to speak.
"It's no secret that Kaiba and I were rivals. Everyone's known that since the day we first met. But what they didn't know was that even though he could be real cruel at times, I.." He paused, bowing his head, and Seto was astonished to see tears streaking down the pale cheeks. "..I really liked th-the guy."
Seto blinked. The mutt actually liked him? He was broken up, too, and it wasn't tears of laughter that were sparkling away from the other's face as the wind blew.
"Maybe because he argued with me the most..'cept for Yugi and Yami, of course..I got t' see the other side of him. The side that was too stubborn to give up on anything, to give one hundred and ten percent in everything he did, from dueling to takin' care of his brother. He never gave up, and he never gave in, he was willing to do anything for what he believed in. I have to admire that..even if I never got the chance to tell him that." The blond shivered and wiped his eyes, taking a moment to breathe.
"There were a lot of things that I didn't get to tell him. That he was a worthy rival, even if he busted my chops a lot. That he was a good brother to Mokuba. That I admired him. I wish we could have been friends, and.." Jou swallowed and shook his head slowly. "..and a lot of things. Guess it's true about what they say about never regretting or missing something until it's gone. Kaiba was a good person, even if it didn't seem like it. I'll miss him. Not just 'cause of the rivalry, though I'll miss that too, in a strange way. His presence belongs here, among the living, with his brother. He doesn't belong with the angels, not yet, though he certainly looked like one." He sighed and glanced at the casket to soon be lowered into the earth, then at Mokuba with a small, sad smile. "Rest in peace, Seto Kaiba. May we meet again someday, with second chances."
Seto watched as the crying blond stepped from behind the front of the podium back to the others, where he was enveloped in hugs by his friends and Mokuba. The mutt was really broken up about him being gone..those tears were for him? He didn't understand..but something about the blond nagged at him, as if he were missing something. Well..he'd just have to watch him take care of Mokuba, surely whatever was nagging at him would be revealed there, in time.
".all along, didn't you?"
Seto blinked, then noticed that Yami had been talking to Jou while he had been thinking, and watched the blond nod slowly, as if it was a great effort. He had the feeling that he'd missed something, again, especially when the ruby-eyed former Pharaoh nodded and slung an arm around Jou's shoulders in a soothing gesture.
"I thought as much." Yami replied softly. "It wasn't hard to miss."
Jou's eyes widened. "You mean..you all knew?"
Yugi smiled sadly. "We wouldn't be your friends if we didn't know, now would we?"
By that point, Seto was ready to burst in curiosity, and would have been demanding answers-if someone was able to hear him, that was. As it were, he was left to blink back and forth between the group in confusion, wondering what everyone else knew that he didn't. "This must be the universe's warped idea of a joke.." he muttered, sighing.
He winced, however, when his brother burst into tears when they lowered the casket into the ground. "Oh, Mokuba.." he murmured, wishing he could hug the boy, then shivered. There was something very surreal to watching your own casket being buried..he wanted to grit his teeth and scream that he was still alive..but he wasn't, was he?
Blue eyes glinted gratefully to the mutt when Jou reached out and hugged Mokuba tightly to him, stroking the ebony hair. "You just gained extra points with me, inu.." he muttered as he watched Mokuba cling to the blond.
"C'mon.." Jou whispered softly into the sobbing boy's ear, rubbing his back. "Let's go. I need t' get a few things from home before I go with you, okay?"
Mokuba sniffled and nodded, one hand a deathgrip on the blond's shirt as he walked with him. "Jou..thanks." he whispered.
"No problem." Jou murmured softly, then reached into his jacket, drawing out two red roses. He gave one to the boy, pausing by the gravestone erected and laid the deep red flowers on the top there, crossing his over Mokuba's. "I'm here for ya, kiddo. I'm not leaving you alone in this."
"I'll never be able to thank you enough, Jou."
"Don't worry about it."
The blond may have not been taking the credit, surprisingly, but Seto was grateful to him for taking him in. He followed the pair that seemed to both have a storm cloud over their heads, trying to avoid milling people so he wouldn't have to walk around them, or worse, through them. He shivered at the thought and trotted after the pair, eyeing Jou's car thoughtfully.
How in the world was he supposed to ride in a car? On the top, on the hood, inside? Could he even ride a car? He frowned, then shrugged, walking to the door just as Jou closed it-and walking THROUGH it, nearly tripping and falling through the seat in the passenger side in the back as Mokuba buckled his seat belt beside Jou.
He grunted, sitting up in the seat, and coughed, straightening out his hair and suit coat. "Right. Just melt through things. Piece of cake." he murmured, shaking his head. Luckily, the mutt couldn't see him screw up.
"So what are you grabbing at home, Jou?" Mokuba asked as he peered up at the blond.
"Oh..clothes and stuff, that way I don't have t' mooch off of ya." Jou smiled faintly. "Personal things."
The boy nodded. "Will it take long?" he asked curiously.
Jou shook his head after a moment, turning the key in the ignition. ".No. Won't take long at all."
Seto frowned. There was something he was missing, there. The tone of the blond's voice, the set of his shoulders. But he couldn't very well ask, now could he? He crossed his arms over his chest, stewing. Something was making him uneasy, but he couldn't place it. He would just have to keep up his guard. He watched the blond's eyes in the rearview mirror, seeing a troubled glow in the honey-brown depths as he drove. Jou wasn't looking forward to going home, that much he could see. One need only just observe the white-knuckled grip he had on the steering wheel.
Mokuba, as well, shared the sharp sibling eyes and frowned as he drove, but he, too, was silent as he watched the blond. Something was bugging his friend, but he knew that Jou wouldn't say anything. Like his big brother, he wouldn't bother him with his problems. Like niisama, he would shoulder his problems himself. Those two were far too much alike. Too bad niisama was..
He sniffled softly, wiping his eyes as his heart jerked in his chest, then looked up when a gentle hand landed on his shoulder.
"It'll be okay, kiddo. I know he's still 'round for you, even if you can't see him. He'd never leave you behind, not totally." Jou replied softly. "He loved you too much for that."
Mokuba nodded, smiling slightly. "Kinda like you and Shizuka-chan, ne? You'd never leave her behind."
"Yeah. Like me and Shizuka. Us big brothers gotta look out for our siblings."
The ebony-haired boy chuckled weakly, tearfully. "And niisama was good at that."
"The best."
Seto frowned slightly. "Alright, mutt. So we have more in common than I thought." he murmured. "A little."
Upon reaching an apartment complex, Jou parked alongside the street and patted Mokuba's shoulder. "I want you to stay here, kiddo. Lock the doors, I'll be back as soon as I can."
Mokuba frowned, not so easily mollified. "Why can't I come with you? I can help, you know."
He gave a shadow of his easy-going smile. "I know you can, but I want you to stay here, okay? Indulge me, alright?"
The boy hesitated, then nodded. "Alright. I'll stay."
"Thanks, kiddo." He slid out of the car once he opened the door, not knowing that he was being followed by one suspicious ghost, and motioned to the boy to lock the doors, waving to him and stuffing his hands in his pockets as he shuffled across to the complex.
Following after him, Seto frowned at the expression on the blond's face. A cross between apprehension and fear, it was apparent that he wasn't looking forward to this run. He wracked the shadows of his mind to try to figure out what put that expression on the mutt's face. He remembered that he'd heard Honda say once, when Jou was briefly missing, that his father wasn't exactly the paternal type. He wished he'd been listening with more than half an ear, when Jou's friend had been saying that in school, but hindsight was twenty-twenty and all that.
He followed the blond into the complex, hoping that Mokuba knew enough to stay in the car, and did his best to avoid the other people in the complex, not particularly feeling like being walked through as if air. He trailed down a hallway, frowned when the mutt went to a door and hesitantly opened it, peering in.
Jou abruptly ducked as a boot went sailing out the open door-he had the misfortune of having the boot go through his form-and grumbled as the boot thumped against the wall, frowning again when a man's voice bellowed out.
"Where have you been, you worthless piece o' trash?! This place ish filthy! Were you with those no-good friends o' yours?"
Blue eyes narrowed. His normal human sense of smell may have gone to pieces, but Seto could hear the slurred tone, could see the beer bottles. The man was a drunk. And not a very nice one.
"I *told* you, Dad! I went to a friend's funeral!" Jou growled as he stomped in. "I just came to get some things, I'm moving in with a friend of mine."
An older man, with the same golden hair and dark eyes as his son's, tall and muscular, though he had a bit of a beer belly, stumbled out of a room, scowling at the younger.
"I don't care if the world came t' a grinding halt, I expect you at home!"
Jou slammed his keys on the table in frustration, his teeth grinding. "My friends are more important than me waiting on you hand and foot, Dad! Someone close to me died, you think I'm gonna just stay at home?!"
"Don't you take that tone of voice with me!" the man bellowed angrily, backhanding the blond across his face.
Seto gasped in horror as the blond went crashing back against the wall, his eyes widening. Jounouchi.had to put up with this? He shivered at the pure fury in the older man's honey-brown eyes, glaring at his son. His father must've been quite handsome in his prime, but like this.
Jou winced, wiping some blood from his cut lip. Gods knew he hated to confront his father when he was like this, but he had to, for Mokuba. He scrambled to his feet, wiping his pants off before glaring at the older man. "I'm tired of being your punching bag, I'm going with someone that really needs me. I don't want to be the mode of your release of frustration anymore! Gods know I still love you, Dad, though I don't know why. I wanna help ya, but I can only do so much. Maybe while I'm gone, you'll get yourself cleaned up, and act like the dad I remember you being, before the divorce."
Seto thought for a moment that the words had gotten through to the older man. He was quiet, blinking at his son, before rage colored his features.
"How DARE you tell me what to do! I'll show you, you pitiful-"
When the man rushed forward, intent on harming the blond, Seto's reaction was instinctive. He darted forward as well, in front of Jou and held his arms out, closing his eyes. He knew that no one could see him, knew that Jou's dad could easily go through him, but he had to do something. He just couldn't stand there.the mutt needed his protection, just as Mokuba had.
Jou winced and braced himself for impact, holding his breath, but when a cry of surprise left his father, he opened his eyes, watching in amazement as the older man tripped-or something-and went sailing into the wall, instead. He didn't let opportunity slide by. He stared a bit more, then rushed from where he'd been plastered against the wall for his room, and pulled out his duffle bag, stuffing school books, his treasured deck and framed picture of his sister, personal items and necessities as fast as he could go before his father regained his wits. In went the small box that contained his money, a journal, a small box of keepsakes, a teddy bear that his father had gotten him when he was a kid, and a Blue Eyes White Dragon plushie that reminded him of someone special. His eyes misted over when he glimpsed the plushie, and swallowed and hugged it to him before placing it inside and zipping the bag up, standing and slinging the duffle bag over his shoulder to leave.
Seto, who'd been astonished that he'd even made an affect in the encounter, blinked down at the groaning man, before following after Jou curiously. What had just happened, he didn't know. Wasn't he supposed to not be able to touch anything? He found Jou's room and watched him pack everything in his duffle bag, which was a sad thought, somehow. Noting the Blue Eyes plushie and watching the blond hug it close as if it was something treasured, he frowned in confusion, then stepped aside when the other came back out with his duffle bag, trailing after him, nodding in agreement when Jou released a growl and went to step over his father.
"Don' know what just happened, but you're not gettin' away." the man growled, grabbing Jou's ankle suddenly, startling both the blond and the ghost.
"Jou! What are you doing to him! Let him go!" a young boy's voice demanded and a simultaneous groan left both Seto and Jou.
"Mokuba! What are you doing here! I told you to stay in the car!" Jou protested hurriedly, yanking away from his father and dashing to the ebony- haired boy. "Get out of here, okay?"
"But Jou.!"
"Friend o' yours?" the older man snarled, making the blond flinch. "Why don't you introduce us?"
"Dad, no, we were just leavin'."
"Jou.." Mokuba swallowed as Jou shielded him, blocking him from harm of the approaching man. "Wh-what's going on?"
"Nothing, kiddo. Just go back out, okay?" Jou replied calmly, firmly. So firm, that Mokuba shivered. He sounded like Seto like this.
"O-okay."
"Leaving me for this brat, are you?"
"Dad, you don't know what you're saying.just go back and sleep it off, alright?"
Seto growled, furious that his brother was in danger, and went to go pull off-whatever he'd done before-only this time, nothing happened. This time, he fell through the older man, Jou and Mokuba, and nearly through the floor, and nothing happened. He felt tired, somehow, too.
Was that strange thing that had happened some sort of energy he could produce? And once he'd used up that energy, he was weakened?
No matter.his brother, and Jounouchi, was in trouble, and he could do nothing to help. This see-through-ghost thing sucked, big time.
"I'll teach you t' talk back to me!"
Mokuba cried out in alarm as the man smacked Jou across the face, rushing forward to help, but Jou pushed him back.
"Stay outta this, kiddo!" he told him harshly, though the boy could hear the quavering tone in the blond's voice. He was hurt, and he was scared. Mokuba whimpered softly, tears filling his eyes.
Jou was still protecting him. Like Seto had done him.
Jou turned back to face his father, sheer determination and stubbornness shining in those dark eyes, even if his face hurt. "You can hurt me all you like. I won't let you lay a finger on him." he growled.
"Niisama.." Mokuba whispered, trembling.
Seto, hovering worriedly beside the pair, winced at his brother's words, glancing at him. "I know, brother. I know." he whispered. He glanced back at the stalemate between father and son. This had to end, somehow.
"If you leave, don't ever bother comin' back. You won't be welcome. I'll change th' lock, and you can consider yourself homeless. You won't be my son, anymore."
Jou winced at the snarled ultimatum, feeling a tear slide down his cheek as he pulled out his housekey and threw it to the floor. "Fine. I don't wanna be the son to a father that hates me." He shouldered his duffle bag and took Mokuba's hand in his, walking away and never looking back.
"Jou." he whispered once they were back outside, and threw himself into the blond's arms, crying. He felt soothing hands stroking his hair, and glanced up to Jou-noting that only one of his hands was petting his hair, the other around his shoulders. But.he felt two hands.he wondered about this strange phenomenon only until he saw Jou's bruised face and gasped, eyes widening. "Jou..!"
The blond smiled weakly. "I'll heal. I've been in tougher scrapes." he assured him, wiping his tears away. "I'm more worried about you.are you okay?"
"I'm fine..is that why you wanted me to stay in the car?"
Jou nodded. "I didn't want you hurt. Your brother would come and haunt me for the rest of my days for that."
A half-sob, half-laugh left the boy, and he hugged Jou again. "I miss him, Jou." he whispered.
"I know, Mokuba. So do I."
"I don't know why you'd miss me, mutt.but for protecting my brother.thank you." Seto replied gruffly, crossing his arms over his chest as he regarded the pair.
"You're welcome." Jou replied absently, prompting the younger Kaiba to blink up at him.
"You're welcome? What for, Jou, I didn't say anything."
"Huh? You didn't?" Jou frowned. "But I could've sworn I.never mind. Let's go home, ne?"
Seto blinked in surprise at the blond as he followed them back to the car. Did Jounouchi really hear him? But that wasn't possible.was it? He mulled that over as he slid into the car. This ghost thing would take some getting used to..
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~End Chapter 2~
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A/N: Whoo! Chapter 2 done! And a long one, too! Hope you enjoyed, tell me what you think! R/R, it would make me happy. ^_________^
Chapter 2
Rating: R
Author: Moonchild DJ
E-mail: moonchilddj@yahoo.com
Disclaimer: Yugioh and its characters do not belong to me. Sadly. :p They belong to the various people that have made them and own them, I'm just borrowing the characters. However, I do own this story and its ideas, so please do not take or steal!
Author's Notes: Kon'wa, everybody! Moonchild DJ back with a new chapter to RoC! It's taken me forever to get something thought up on this, and I've had the worst writer's block..oo I've finally managed to break it, and I'm proud to say that most of my stories are up and about to be updated! ^_^ So please be patient, and I'll try to get them up and running as soon as possible! Oh, and I suppose I should give fair warning, here..this story will be rather angsty, so there may be some upsetting moments in this chapter and others, but nothing more than I've seen in other stories! But you have been warned, so please don't flame or whatever. Anywho, enjoy, and let me know what you think!
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Seto shuddered, feeling the sensation of tears, but couldn't shed them. He couldn't cry, couldn't grieve for his brother's sadness, couldn't have his heart shatter. But he felt the ghost of it, ironically. He gave a snort and crossed his arms over his chest, feeling like an unseen, unheard spectator, when he wanted to comfort Mokuba so badly. "This isn't fair.." he whispered. He didn't want Mokuba to cry, it was so..wrong. He should be with his brother, arguing with Jounouchi, as always. Not this..grayness, this feeling like he was watching a show he couldn't be part of. All because some disgruntled idiot decided to tamper with his brakes.
He wanted to scream and curse out the world, but no one would hear him. Except maybe others like him..he shivered at the thought and focused his attention on his brother and his rival, of whom was rocking Mokuba gently in his arms as the boy sobbed. His heart wrenched at the sight.
"It's n-not fair, Jou-kun. I m-miss him, so m-much.."
Jou stroked his hair gently, soothingly, honey-brown eyes so sad and so devoid of life, he looked like a puppet. It gave Seto pause. Why would the mutt grieve for him? If anything, the blond should be dancing on his grave. Literally. But he wasn't. Why would he grieve for someone he hated, someone who never cared for him? It didn't make sense..
"I know, kiddo. I know." Jou replied softly, nuzzling him lightly with his cheek against the boy's hair. "We all do."
"What a-am I supposed to do, Jou? H-how am I supposed t-to go on without niisama? He was the o-only family I h-had left..and now I h-have nothing!"
Jou frowned. He couldn't let Mokuba be taken away from his home, not even if Seto wasn't there to take care of him. He had quite a bit of money saved up from his odd jobs that he'd hidden from his father, perhaps he could adopt Mokuba, somehow. Anything to protect him as he knew that Seto would want him protected.
He stroked the dark hair gently. "You have me..I know I'm not your brother, but I won't let anything happen to you. I'll protect you, I'll be there for you. I'll make sure that nothing happens to you."
Mokuba gasped against him, then pulled back to look up at him in shock as luminous green eyes gazed at him. "You..would do that for me..? Why?"
Seto was wondering that himself as he stared at the blond in confusion. Why was the mutt putting himself out for him? It didn't make sense. Sure, he and Mokuba were friends, but..
"Because your brother wouldn't want anything bad happening to ya, and in place for him, I won't let it happen, either. I may not be his first choice, but.." he shrugged.
Mokuba sniffled, then threw his arms around the blond's neck with a soft sound tinged with relief, sadness and happiness. "Jou..thank you.." he whispered.
"You're welcome." Jou murmured, holding him tightly. "You're not alone in this, kiddo. That I promise you."
Seto crossed his arms over his chest as he hovered over the pair. "I don't get you, mutt. But if you're going to look after my brother, I'm going to haunt your scrawny hide and make sure you don't screw up." he growled.
"You know you can't do that."
That voice again.
"Oh yeah? Watch me." he responded as he continued to watch Mokuba and Jou.
"You know, I can draw you back if you're going to be stubborn."
"I want to see after the welfare of my brother, make sure this mutt here doesn't make a mess of things. You want to drag me back before I've made sure of the safety of my brother?"
The voice heaved a sigh. "You are incredibly stubborn. Gods know you'd make trouble if you didn't get your way."
"Precisely."
"Fine. You may have your wish. But once you are certain he is safe, you will come back."
"Yes, yes, of course." Seto replied impatiently.
"Why do I even try..?" the voice muttered before fading away once again. Seto smirked faintly, then watched as Jou looped an arm around Mokuba's shoulders as the reverend and Jou's friends gathered behind them, the reverend motioning to the pallbearers to set the casket onto its perch. He shuddered and rubbed his arms as he glanced at the casket. That was him in there, and he was standing out here-well, floating more than standing- watching himself be eulogized. Definitely a strange notion.
He peered at the crowd. Not one happy face among them, not one cheer raised that he was dead. They actually cared for him, for Mokuba? The idea was odd..
Yugi and company stood behind Jou and Mokuba, gave their support, even reached out and placed hands on the two's shoulders. Jou, he could understand supporting, but Mokuba..none of it made any sense. He shook his head absently, eyeing them all. "Why do you even care?" he asked them, though he knew they couldn't hear him. "It's not like I was friends with any of you."
But he could see they cared. Even if they hadn't been friends with him. Because they were that sort of people. Seto snorted slightly and crossed his arms over his chest again. Idiots, the whole bunch of them. Blue eyes slid to Jou again, noting the blond never left Mokuba's side.
..He could be grateful for that, at least. Mokuba wasn't alone.
His jaw dropped, however, when the reverend finished his eulogy, and each one of them made a speech. And spoke kindly of him. Not a laugh or a sneer from any of them. Yugi. Anzu. Honda. Ryou. Yami. Bakura. Mai. And even Jounouchi.
To say he was shocked was an understatement.
He watched Mokuba smile sadly, tears flowing down his young face. Were they being nice for his brother's sake, or were they truly grieving? None of them looked like they were faking the kind words, or the tears.
A gentle breeze blew, fluttering Jou's hair, the last to speak.
"It's no secret that Kaiba and I were rivals. Everyone's known that since the day we first met. But what they didn't know was that even though he could be real cruel at times, I.." He paused, bowing his head, and Seto was astonished to see tears streaking down the pale cheeks. "..I really liked th-the guy."
Seto blinked. The mutt actually liked him? He was broken up, too, and it wasn't tears of laughter that were sparkling away from the other's face as the wind blew.
"Maybe because he argued with me the most..'cept for Yugi and Yami, of course..I got t' see the other side of him. The side that was too stubborn to give up on anything, to give one hundred and ten percent in everything he did, from dueling to takin' care of his brother. He never gave up, and he never gave in, he was willing to do anything for what he believed in. I have to admire that..even if I never got the chance to tell him that." The blond shivered and wiped his eyes, taking a moment to breathe.
"There were a lot of things that I didn't get to tell him. That he was a worthy rival, even if he busted my chops a lot. That he was a good brother to Mokuba. That I admired him. I wish we could have been friends, and.." Jou swallowed and shook his head slowly. "..and a lot of things. Guess it's true about what they say about never regretting or missing something until it's gone. Kaiba was a good person, even if it didn't seem like it. I'll miss him. Not just 'cause of the rivalry, though I'll miss that too, in a strange way. His presence belongs here, among the living, with his brother. He doesn't belong with the angels, not yet, though he certainly looked like one." He sighed and glanced at the casket to soon be lowered into the earth, then at Mokuba with a small, sad smile. "Rest in peace, Seto Kaiba. May we meet again someday, with second chances."
Seto watched as the crying blond stepped from behind the front of the podium back to the others, where he was enveloped in hugs by his friends and Mokuba. The mutt was really broken up about him being gone..those tears were for him? He didn't understand..but something about the blond nagged at him, as if he were missing something. Well..he'd just have to watch him take care of Mokuba, surely whatever was nagging at him would be revealed there, in time.
".all along, didn't you?"
Seto blinked, then noticed that Yami had been talking to Jou while he had been thinking, and watched the blond nod slowly, as if it was a great effort. He had the feeling that he'd missed something, again, especially when the ruby-eyed former Pharaoh nodded and slung an arm around Jou's shoulders in a soothing gesture.
"I thought as much." Yami replied softly. "It wasn't hard to miss."
Jou's eyes widened. "You mean..you all knew?"
Yugi smiled sadly. "We wouldn't be your friends if we didn't know, now would we?"
By that point, Seto was ready to burst in curiosity, and would have been demanding answers-if someone was able to hear him, that was. As it were, he was left to blink back and forth between the group in confusion, wondering what everyone else knew that he didn't. "This must be the universe's warped idea of a joke.." he muttered, sighing.
He winced, however, when his brother burst into tears when they lowered the casket into the ground. "Oh, Mokuba.." he murmured, wishing he could hug the boy, then shivered. There was something very surreal to watching your own casket being buried..he wanted to grit his teeth and scream that he was still alive..but he wasn't, was he?
Blue eyes glinted gratefully to the mutt when Jou reached out and hugged Mokuba tightly to him, stroking the ebony hair. "You just gained extra points with me, inu.." he muttered as he watched Mokuba cling to the blond.
"C'mon.." Jou whispered softly into the sobbing boy's ear, rubbing his back. "Let's go. I need t' get a few things from home before I go with you, okay?"
Mokuba sniffled and nodded, one hand a deathgrip on the blond's shirt as he walked with him. "Jou..thanks." he whispered.
"No problem." Jou murmured softly, then reached into his jacket, drawing out two red roses. He gave one to the boy, pausing by the gravestone erected and laid the deep red flowers on the top there, crossing his over Mokuba's. "I'm here for ya, kiddo. I'm not leaving you alone in this."
"I'll never be able to thank you enough, Jou."
"Don't worry about it."
The blond may have not been taking the credit, surprisingly, but Seto was grateful to him for taking him in. He followed the pair that seemed to both have a storm cloud over their heads, trying to avoid milling people so he wouldn't have to walk around them, or worse, through them. He shivered at the thought and trotted after the pair, eyeing Jou's car thoughtfully.
How in the world was he supposed to ride in a car? On the top, on the hood, inside? Could he even ride a car? He frowned, then shrugged, walking to the door just as Jou closed it-and walking THROUGH it, nearly tripping and falling through the seat in the passenger side in the back as Mokuba buckled his seat belt beside Jou.
He grunted, sitting up in the seat, and coughed, straightening out his hair and suit coat. "Right. Just melt through things. Piece of cake." he murmured, shaking his head. Luckily, the mutt couldn't see him screw up.
"So what are you grabbing at home, Jou?" Mokuba asked as he peered up at the blond.
"Oh..clothes and stuff, that way I don't have t' mooch off of ya." Jou smiled faintly. "Personal things."
The boy nodded. "Will it take long?" he asked curiously.
Jou shook his head after a moment, turning the key in the ignition. ".No. Won't take long at all."
Seto frowned. There was something he was missing, there. The tone of the blond's voice, the set of his shoulders. But he couldn't very well ask, now could he? He crossed his arms over his chest, stewing. Something was making him uneasy, but he couldn't place it. He would just have to keep up his guard. He watched the blond's eyes in the rearview mirror, seeing a troubled glow in the honey-brown depths as he drove. Jou wasn't looking forward to going home, that much he could see. One need only just observe the white-knuckled grip he had on the steering wheel.
Mokuba, as well, shared the sharp sibling eyes and frowned as he drove, but he, too, was silent as he watched the blond. Something was bugging his friend, but he knew that Jou wouldn't say anything. Like his big brother, he wouldn't bother him with his problems. Like niisama, he would shoulder his problems himself. Those two were far too much alike. Too bad niisama was..
He sniffled softly, wiping his eyes as his heart jerked in his chest, then looked up when a gentle hand landed on his shoulder.
"It'll be okay, kiddo. I know he's still 'round for you, even if you can't see him. He'd never leave you behind, not totally." Jou replied softly. "He loved you too much for that."
Mokuba nodded, smiling slightly. "Kinda like you and Shizuka-chan, ne? You'd never leave her behind."
"Yeah. Like me and Shizuka. Us big brothers gotta look out for our siblings."
The ebony-haired boy chuckled weakly, tearfully. "And niisama was good at that."
"The best."
Seto frowned slightly. "Alright, mutt. So we have more in common than I thought." he murmured. "A little."
Upon reaching an apartment complex, Jou parked alongside the street and patted Mokuba's shoulder. "I want you to stay here, kiddo. Lock the doors, I'll be back as soon as I can."
Mokuba frowned, not so easily mollified. "Why can't I come with you? I can help, you know."
He gave a shadow of his easy-going smile. "I know you can, but I want you to stay here, okay? Indulge me, alright?"
The boy hesitated, then nodded. "Alright. I'll stay."
"Thanks, kiddo." He slid out of the car once he opened the door, not knowing that he was being followed by one suspicious ghost, and motioned to the boy to lock the doors, waving to him and stuffing his hands in his pockets as he shuffled across to the complex.
Following after him, Seto frowned at the expression on the blond's face. A cross between apprehension and fear, it was apparent that he wasn't looking forward to this run. He wracked the shadows of his mind to try to figure out what put that expression on the mutt's face. He remembered that he'd heard Honda say once, when Jou was briefly missing, that his father wasn't exactly the paternal type. He wished he'd been listening with more than half an ear, when Jou's friend had been saying that in school, but hindsight was twenty-twenty and all that.
He followed the blond into the complex, hoping that Mokuba knew enough to stay in the car, and did his best to avoid the other people in the complex, not particularly feeling like being walked through as if air. He trailed down a hallway, frowned when the mutt went to a door and hesitantly opened it, peering in.
Jou abruptly ducked as a boot went sailing out the open door-he had the misfortune of having the boot go through his form-and grumbled as the boot thumped against the wall, frowning again when a man's voice bellowed out.
"Where have you been, you worthless piece o' trash?! This place ish filthy! Were you with those no-good friends o' yours?"
Blue eyes narrowed. His normal human sense of smell may have gone to pieces, but Seto could hear the slurred tone, could see the beer bottles. The man was a drunk. And not a very nice one.
"I *told* you, Dad! I went to a friend's funeral!" Jou growled as he stomped in. "I just came to get some things, I'm moving in with a friend of mine."
An older man, with the same golden hair and dark eyes as his son's, tall and muscular, though he had a bit of a beer belly, stumbled out of a room, scowling at the younger.
"I don't care if the world came t' a grinding halt, I expect you at home!"
Jou slammed his keys on the table in frustration, his teeth grinding. "My friends are more important than me waiting on you hand and foot, Dad! Someone close to me died, you think I'm gonna just stay at home?!"
"Don't you take that tone of voice with me!" the man bellowed angrily, backhanding the blond across his face.
Seto gasped in horror as the blond went crashing back against the wall, his eyes widening. Jounouchi.had to put up with this? He shivered at the pure fury in the older man's honey-brown eyes, glaring at his son. His father must've been quite handsome in his prime, but like this.
Jou winced, wiping some blood from his cut lip. Gods knew he hated to confront his father when he was like this, but he had to, for Mokuba. He scrambled to his feet, wiping his pants off before glaring at the older man. "I'm tired of being your punching bag, I'm going with someone that really needs me. I don't want to be the mode of your release of frustration anymore! Gods know I still love you, Dad, though I don't know why. I wanna help ya, but I can only do so much. Maybe while I'm gone, you'll get yourself cleaned up, and act like the dad I remember you being, before the divorce."
Seto thought for a moment that the words had gotten through to the older man. He was quiet, blinking at his son, before rage colored his features.
"How DARE you tell me what to do! I'll show you, you pitiful-"
When the man rushed forward, intent on harming the blond, Seto's reaction was instinctive. He darted forward as well, in front of Jou and held his arms out, closing his eyes. He knew that no one could see him, knew that Jou's dad could easily go through him, but he had to do something. He just couldn't stand there.the mutt needed his protection, just as Mokuba had.
Jou winced and braced himself for impact, holding his breath, but when a cry of surprise left his father, he opened his eyes, watching in amazement as the older man tripped-or something-and went sailing into the wall, instead. He didn't let opportunity slide by. He stared a bit more, then rushed from where he'd been plastered against the wall for his room, and pulled out his duffle bag, stuffing school books, his treasured deck and framed picture of his sister, personal items and necessities as fast as he could go before his father regained his wits. In went the small box that contained his money, a journal, a small box of keepsakes, a teddy bear that his father had gotten him when he was a kid, and a Blue Eyes White Dragon plushie that reminded him of someone special. His eyes misted over when he glimpsed the plushie, and swallowed and hugged it to him before placing it inside and zipping the bag up, standing and slinging the duffle bag over his shoulder to leave.
Seto, who'd been astonished that he'd even made an affect in the encounter, blinked down at the groaning man, before following after Jou curiously. What had just happened, he didn't know. Wasn't he supposed to not be able to touch anything? He found Jou's room and watched him pack everything in his duffle bag, which was a sad thought, somehow. Noting the Blue Eyes plushie and watching the blond hug it close as if it was something treasured, he frowned in confusion, then stepped aside when the other came back out with his duffle bag, trailing after him, nodding in agreement when Jou released a growl and went to step over his father.
"Don' know what just happened, but you're not gettin' away." the man growled, grabbing Jou's ankle suddenly, startling both the blond and the ghost.
"Jou! What are you doing to him! Let him go!" a young boy's voice demanded and a simultaneous groan left both Seto and Jou.
"Mokuba! What are you doing here! I told you to stay in the car!" Jou protested hurriedly, yanking away from his father and dashing to the ebony- haired boy. "Get out of here, okay?"
"But Jou.!"
"Friend o' yours?" the older man snarled, making the blond flinch. "Why don't you introduce us?"
"Dad, no, we were just leavin'."
"Jou.." Mokuba swallowed as Jou shielded him, blocking him from harm of the approaching man. "Wh-what's going on?"
"Nothing, kiddo. Just go back out, okay?" Jou replied calmly, firmly. So firm, that Mokuba shivered. He sounded like Seto like this.
"O-okay."
"Leaving me for this brat, are you?"
"Dad, you don't know what you're saying.just go back and sleep it off, alright?"
Seto growled, furious that his brother was in danger, and went to go pull off-whatever he'd done before-only this time, nothing happened. This time, he fell through the older man, Jou and Mokuba, and nearly through the floor, and nothing happened. He felt tired, somehow, too.
Was that strange thing that had happened some sort of energy he could produce? And once he'd used up that energy, he was weakened?
No matter.his brother, and Jounouchi, was in trouble, and he could do nothing to help. This see-through-ghost thing sucked, big time.
"I'll teach you t' talk back to me!"
Mokuba cried out in alarm as the man smacked Jou across the face, rushing forward to help, but Jou pushed him back.
"Stay outta this, kiddo!" he told him harshly, though the boy could hear the quavering tone in the blond's voice. He was hurt, and he was scared. Mokuba whimpered softly, tears filling his eyes.
Jou was still protecting him. Like Seto had done him.
Jou turned back to face his father, sheer determination and stubbornness shining in those dark eyes, even if his face hurt. "You can hurt me all you like. I won't let you lay a finger on him." he growled.
"Niisama.." Mokuba whispered, trembling.
Seto, hovering worriedly beside the pair, winced at his brother's words, glancing at him. "I know, brother. I know." he whispered. He glanced back at the stalemate between father and son. This had to end, somehow.
"If you leave, don't ever bother comin' back. You won't be welcome. I'll change th' lock, and you can consider yourself homeless. You won't be my son, anymore."
Jou winced at the snarled ultimatum, feeling a tear slide down his cheek as he pulled out his housekey and threw it to the floor. "Fine. I don't wanna be the son to a father that hates me." He shouldered his duffle bag and took Mokuba's hand in his, walking away and never looking back.
"Jou." he whispered once they were back outside, and threw himself into the blond's arms, crying. He felt soothing hands stroking his hair, and glanced up to Jou-noting that only one of his hands was petting his hair, the other around his shoulders. But.he felt two hands.he wondered about this strange phenomenon only until he saw Jou's bruised face and gasped, eyes widening. "Jou..!"
The blond smiled weakly. "I'll heal. I've been in tougher scrapes." he assured him, wiping his tears away. "I'm more worried about you.are you okay?"
"I'm fine..is that why you wanted me to stay in the car?"
Jou nodded. "I didn't want you hurt. Your brother would come and haunt me for the rest of my days for that."
A half-sob, half-laugh left the boy, and he hugged Jou again. "I miss him, Jou." he whispered.
"I know, Mokuba. So do I."
"I don't know why you'd miss me, mutt.but for protecting my brother.thank you." Seto replied gruffly, crossing his arms over his chest as he regarded the pair.
"You're welcome." Jou replied absently, prompting the younger Kaiba to blink up at him.
"You're welcome? What for, Jou, I didn't say anything."
"Huh? You didn't?" Jou frowned. "But I could've sworn I.never mind. Let's go home, ne?"
Seto blinked in surprise at the blond as he followed them back to the car. Did Jounouchi really hear him? But that wasn't possible.was it? He mulled that over as he slid into the car. This ghost thing would take some getting used to..
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~End Chapter 2~
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A/N: Whoo! Chapter 2 done! And a long one, too! Hope you enjoyed, tell me what you think! R/R, it would make me happy. ^_________^