Disclaimer: No I don't own Yuugiou or Yuugiou: Duel Monsters or Yuugiou: Duel Monsters Genex or anything related except for a few stories I wrote and so cards I made up. Glad we're clear on that.
Ryu: I just wanted to point out that this chapter is a songfic to the song 'Run, Joey, Run'; hence the title. I can't remember who it's by but I'll think of it eventually. In any case, the words in italics are the songs lyrics. Okay, enjoy.
Run, Joey, Run
A Yuugiou: Duel Monsters fic
By Ryu and Kioku Jonesu
Chapter 1: Appointment
"Jounouchi-san."
Katsuya Jounouchi looked up from his lap where he'd been going through his dueling deck. "That's me," he responded to the secretary.
"The doctor will see you now."
Jounouchi placed his cards back in his jacket, got up, and walked to the secretary's desk.
The secretary looked up at him. "Through that door and it'll be the first room on your left."
Jou nodded in thanks before going to the door. As he grasped the handle he began to feel nervous. This was his first time seeing a therapist. He swallowed around the lump in his throat before opening the door and walking into a small hallway. He began to shake a little as he knocked on the door of the first room on the left.
"Come in," was the reply from the other side.
Jou opened the door and walked into the room. There was a couch next to the door and a table next to it. On the opposite side of the room was a desk where someone was typing on a computer. After a brief moment, the person on the computer spun around in her chair to face Jou.
"You must be Jounouchi-san. I'm Dr. Heisi. Please, come in and sit down."
Jou took the offer and sat on the couch while the doctor pulled her chair toward him.
"So, how are you today?" she asked warmly.
"Fine, thank you," Jou replied.
"Do you go by Katsuya or Jounouchi?"
"Normally Jounouchi, or just Jou. Except with..." Jou trailed of at the thought of the name he would have said next.
"Except with what?" the doctor asked, thinking this may get things right to the point.
"Oh, my girlfriend used to call me Joey because she thought my hair made me look American," Jou told finally her.
"I see," Dr. Heisi said, jotting something down on her notepad. "Now, I understand you've been having a recurring nightmare that's been keeping you awake at night."
"Yeah, that's right," Jou said sadly.
"What's this dream about?"
"It's about my girlfriend, or, my ex-girlfriend, I guess," Jou corrected. "She passed away recently."
Dr. Heisi continued to write down notes as she questioned the boy, "Is that what your dream's about?"
"Yeah," Jou sighed, "It's about the night she died. I was there, and saw it all."
"Tell me, what's it like going to sleep thinking you'll probably have this dream?"
"Probably, no, not probably, definitely. Every night, the same old dream. I hate to close my eyes. I can't erase the memory, the sound of Julie's cries."
"Tell me, what happened that night?" Dr. Heisi advice.
"She called me up late that night, said 'Jou, don't come over. My dad and I just had a fight and he stormed out the door. I've never seen him act this way, my god he's going crazy. He says he's gonna make you pay...for what we've done...he's got a gun so run, Joey, run, Joey, RUN! "
Dr. Heisi looked up from her notes, her eyes slightly wider. "Oh my, that's serious. What did you do?"
"Got in my car and I drove like mad, till I reached Julie's place. She ran to me, with tear-filled eyes, and bruises on her face. All at once I saw him there, sneaking up behind me. Then Julie yelled 'He's got a gun!' and she stepped in front of me. Suddenly, a shot rang out, and I saw Julie falling. I ran to her, and I held her close, when looked down, my hands were red, and here's the last words Julie said...'Daddy please don't, it wasn't his fault, he means so much to me. Daddy please don't, we're gonna...get...mar-ried'."
"And that was it?" Dr Heisi asked, scribbling another something down and then looking at the boy.
"Yeah, after that, she died. Right there in my arms." A tear slipped passed Jou's eye as he looked down at the floor, not wanting to break in front of a stranger.
"Well, Jounouchi-san, I'm afraid this is beyond me. I'm gonna give you the name of a psychiatrist that will be of more help," she told him, handing him a card off her desk. "I'll forward him a copy of this report. That's really all I can do for you."
"Well, thanks anyway doc. I'll show myself out."
Jou got up to leave, but collapsed as he grabbed the handle of the door.
"Jounouchi-san!" Dr. Heisi yelled, jumping from her chair and running to the fallen boy. She knelt down by him to see if he was all right and was met with the sound of his soft snores. "He's asleep?" Among those snores, the word "Julie" was audible. "The poor boy."