To Protect You- A Jounouchi/Mai Fanfic
Chapter 7
"Shit!" Jou hissed through clenched teeth. He spun around and started to run out of the corner, but the were stopped by the remaining two thugs.
This is bad, Jounouchi thought. He was exhausted. His whole body ached from overexertion, and his adrenaline levels were running low. His list of ailments did not stop there; shortness of breath, blurred vision, and he was barely able to stand. Despite all this, he stood before them prepared to fight. He pulled Mai behind him and glared at his opposition. The fire sparked within his amber eyes once more.
"I won't let you touch her!" he proclaimed.
"I don't care about your woman anymore, punk," said Boss. "You're the one that needs a reality check."
"Fine, I'll finish this fight... But Mai has to go free," he bargained.
"You're not really in a position to bargain with me," Boss smirked. "But she's just a distraction for you. I want to take you down when you're fighting your hardest. I'll be famous if I take down the legendary 'Jounouchi Katsuya.' The girl can go... Hopefully she's not dumb enough to come back twice," he sneered.
"Trust me, she's not," Jou growled in response, and then he turned to Mai. His scowl softened into a firm but caring frown. "Listen, Mai, don't worry about me. Just get home and I'll catch up with you later."
That was it. She could feel tears forming in her violet eyes. "Jounouchi Katsuya, I am not some little girl you can send to her room!" she argued with her arms firmly at her sides. "I am not- I repeat, NOT- going to just walk away and le--"
Jounouchi's right hand covered her mouth in mid sentence. Mai looked up to his eyes in confusion. They were soft and open as they looked down to her.
"Mai.... Just go," he said softly. "I'm not going to let them hurt you." The rain bounced off his face and trickled down his chin and neck. The bruise on his face had started to turn a dark purple from broken blood vessels behind the skin's surface. He removed his hand slowly and smiled sweetly.
"Now get outta here."
Tears flowed down her rosy cheeks, but Jou could not see them. His vision was getting worse. Normally, Jou would just take the beating at this point and get revenge later on. But Mai's safety was at risk this time. He could not give up. He had to win.... For her.
Mai stood intent on staying, however she could no longer take the look in Jounouchi's golden eyes. Her heart ripped in two by the feeling that look gave her. Mai's face dropped to the ground to conceal her tears, and she ran past Jounouchi and the thugs.
That idiot! her mind screamed. They'll kill you, Jounouchi! I swear if you come out of this alive, I'll finish the job myself!
How could you...?
Why...?
Mai stopped under an alley light, drenched in rain and tears. She laughed nervously. Her eyes, red and weak, were unfocused as they stared at the ground. The falling raindrops disturbed the mirroresque puddles, and the sound flowed through Mai's ears like a song.
Her voice wavered. "Why, Jounouchi?" she whispered. "Why would you put yourself through this for me?"
Suddenly, Mai heard a scream from the direction where Jou was fighting for his life.
Mai stood paralyzed.
That was Jounouchi's voice.
Her heart skipped a beat as she turned around. There was no way Mai could leave him after hearing that scream. She dashed down the alley. Ever muscle in her body told her "Run faster! He needs help!" The look in his warm eyes no longer concerned her. All that she wanted was for him to be all right.
It took about a minute to get back to the main alley. Jou was down at the very last corner. She could still hear the fighting.
The two gang members stumbled out into the main alley. Exhaustion made their movements awkward and uncoordinated. Mai ran into another side alley to avoid being seen. Luckily, they were rather busy trying to gain balance on the slippery pavement.
Boss pointed down the alley he had been thrown out of. "This ain't over, Jounouchi Katsuya! We'll get you for this!" he yelled threateningly. Boss and the other beaten thug ran down the pavement in Mai's direction.
Boss had something in his hand, and as he tried to put it in his pocket while running past Mai it fell and splashed onto the ground. It made a clinking noise as it hit, and it popped into a longer shape. Mai couldn't make out what it was until she walked over.
Her breath stopped as she identified the object.
A switchblade knife.
It was wet with fresh blood.
A breathless whisper escaped as she gasped in horror. "Jounouchi...."