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.

Chapter 4: He's Awful

HONK!! HONK!!

"C'mon Julie-chan, let's get going." Jou yelled, honked his car's horn again.

Julie came out of the small house across from Jou's apartment. "See you later daddy," called back into the house before walking down to the car and getting in. "Sorry about that." Her big, blue eyes seemed to be looking elsewhere, into the past, or maybe even the future. Jou wasn't sure; maybe he was just going crazy.

'Maybe I'm just going crazy,' he thought to himself. "Its okay," he said. He couldn't help but notice the dark circles that hung under the new girl's eyes. "Did you sleep okay last night?"

"Yeah," Julie said somewhat quickly. "Why?"

"No reason," Jou said.

They were pretty silent through the trip to school. It was only yesterday that they'd met and only last night that they'd decided they were going out, yet there was already an awkwardness between them.

Jou parked in the back of the school like he had for the last few weeks. He'd actually enjoyed the quiet ride, despite the awkwardness. He knew once he moved, his car would be loud with his friend's chatter.

They walked into the school, hand in hand, and straight to their first class, not saying a word until they'd reached the door.

"Hey, listen," Jou started. "Is it all right if we don't tell the others about this yet?"

"Why? Are you embarrassed or something?" Julie asked, grinning evilly at him.

"No, but we just met," Jou said defensively. "The others would make a big deal out of it. We'd be the talk of the whole freshman class within a week."

"I really don't mind though," Julie said casually. "I was pretty talked about at my old school. A lot of my friends were."

"Just please, for me?" Jou pleaded.

"Well, okay. Just for you," Julie agreed.

"Arigatou," Jou said.

They released each other's hands and walked into the classroom quietly.

(BACK TO PRESENT)

"It just hit me," said Jou, coming out of his story.

"What's that?" Dr Heisi asked.

"To this day, the others don't know about Julie-chan and me. They all thought we were just friends." Jou looked down at the floor, feeling like he might cry again. "We were going to tell them soon, but then Julie-chan...Julie-chan..."

Tears fell from Jou's eyes with each of his silent sobs. After a moment, he looked back up at the doctor. "I'm sorry. Anyway, that day went by pretty normal. The others and me got to know Julie a little better. At lunch, we started teaching her Duel Monsters. She did pretty good for the beginner she claimed to be. But, after school..."

(FLASHBACK)

"So what are you guys doing after school?" Yugi asked his friends as they exited Domino High School.

"I don't have to work," Anzu said. "Why don't we all get something to eat?"

"That sounds like a good idea," Honda agreed. "Jou-kun, are you coming?"

Jou looked down at Julie, then back at Honda. "I don't think so. I need to move some more stuff into okaa-san's place. Julie-chan, do you need a ride home?" he asked the girl, giving her a small wink.

She smiled at him, her blue eyes so comforting, yet so pained. "Arigatou Jou-kun."

Honda grabbed Jou by the shoulder and pulled him closer. "Hey man, you and Julie-chan have been acting pretty chummy today. Is there something you want to tell me?"

Jou's face turned a light pink. "Nani? Of course not. What makes you say that?"

Honda looked intently at his friend. He knew Jou could be pretty immature about relationships. He still hadn't admitted he had real feelings for Mai, and now he may have feelings for this new girl. But he decided to let the subject drop, knowing talking to Jou could be about as useful as talking to a wall. "Well, okay. I'll take your word for it."

"Jaamataashi, mina," Jou said as he and Julie walked to his car.

"You think they're buying it?" Julie asked, getting into the black vehicle.

"I think so," Jou replied, "But I think Honda may be catching on."

"Its fun having a secret relationship even though we don't need to," Julie said as they pulled out of the parking lot. "Not like in America where..." she stopped dead.

"What? What was it like over there?" Jou asked.

"Well daddy was never really into letting me date people. He liked me to stay home with him," she said, staring into her lap all the while.

"What about now?" Jou asked.

Julie looked up at him, wondering what her would say.

"He's not gonna come after me with a pitchfork for going out with you is he?" Jou finished.

"Yeah, about that," Julie started nervously. "Do you think we could keep this from my dad too?"

"So he will come after me with a pitchfork," Jou confirmed. "Julie-chan, I think your otou-san is one person who should know."

"Just for now Jou-kun," Julie pleaded. "Until I can ease him into liking this place enough. That, or, if I have to tell my dad then you have to tell your friends."

Jou's cheeks went pink again. "All right, we don't have to tell him, for now."

"Thanks Jou-kun," she giggled.

"So what's it like living with you dad?" Jou asked. When she didn't say anything, he glanced over and saw her staring into her lap, her giggling having ceased. "Gomen, but I'm worried. If we're going to be going out, then we need to talk about this kind of stuff."

"I know it's just..." Julie let out a heavy sigh. "Daddy loves me. But ever since my mom died he's been different. He started drinking, and he got pretty violent."

"Are you saying he hits you?"

"Yes, but afterward he apologizes."

"That doesn't make it right Julie-chan."

"I know, but I don't mind it. He does worse stuff to me." She wished she hadn't said that.

"Like what?" Jou could feel his heart sinking.

"He says things," Julie said. "Tells me I'm no good. Tells me he hates me. He says he wishes I were dead. And he touches me," she sobbed.

"How so? Is he molesting you? Raping you?"

"He touches," Julie said. "And he makes me get naked for him. Sometimes he touches me, rubs me, then goes off and, well, I think you can guess. Other times he just sits and stares at me, making me sit naked in front of him, putting myself into awkward positions or play with myself or making me do my chores naked. He'll do it for hours on end." Julie began crying, huge body wracking sobs coming from her.

Jou pulled the car into the first parking lot he could find and parked. He leaned over and took her chin in his hand, making her look into his eyes, finally understanding the sadness he saw in the depths of her crystal orbs. He understood why she wore the expressions she wore. Her eyes were filled with the pain of the past. And her faced showed the fear and misery of the present.

Jou slowly leaned closer into her until his lips met with Julie's. She let out a soft moan into the kiss, tears trailing down her face as her eyes slipped closed in ecstasy. Jou pulled away from the kiss when he couldn't breathe, licking the tears off his lips. He looked at her again, her eyes, although still hurt and broken, now showed hope. Jou leaned over and kissed away each of the tears from her cheeks. When there were none left, he moved back down to her lips, running his tongue over them, asking for entry. Julie slowly opened her mouth, letting Jou slide his tongue in to meet with hers.

When he felt like he was turning blue, he pulled away again, taking a quiet, deep breath of air. Julie had done the same and was now reaching for him, drawing into a tight embrace. She acted like she was dying and wanted to spend as much of her last moments as close to Jou as possible.

"Julie-chan," Jou finally said, "I don't want this to end, but people are staring."

Julie looked up and indeed, people were looking at the two as they walked by. They straightened themselves up in their seats and Jou restarted the car before exiting the parking lot. They didn't say anything until they finally reached their original destination, the movie theatre.

"You know, Jou-kun, about back there. The things I said, they..."

"Weren't true," Jou interrupted, "Don't try it. I can see a lie anywhere."

"Well that's good to know," Julie said, "But what I was going to say is they better not pass your lips to anyone."

"Don't worry about that," Jou said, waving it off. "I would never do that to anyone. Especially my koi. Besides, how can they pass my lips if they're locked firmly to yours?"

Julie giggled and punched him playfully. "Thanks Jou-kun."

"Don't worry about it. Let's just go see this movie," Jou said, unbuckling his seatbelt. "You'll be one hundred percent safe with me. And so will anything you tell me."

She got out the car with him, feeling relieved and somewhat cleaner now that she'd told someone. Especially someone that she felt to safe and comfortable with.

(THAT NIGHT)

"Hey Jou-kun," Julie said as they pulled up to her house.

"What is it?"

"I don't want to go home. Can I please come with you?" She instantly blushed at her own question.

"Won't your otou-san get suspicious if you don't come home?"

"No. He doesn't work tomorrow. He's probably passed out in the living room. He won't wake up until late tomorrow. He'll assume I came home and left." She looked down at her hands. "I'm sorry, I should have thought about what I was saying. Your mom and sister probably wouldn't want you just showing up with me."

Jou leaned over and kissed the babbling girl, silencing her. "Okaa-san and Shizuka-chan won't mind in the least," he said firmly after he'd pulled away.

"Thank you so much Jou-kun," she flung her arms around the boy, tears falling from her eyes and onto his shoulder. "Just let me sneak some clothes out really quick."

She got out of the car and ran into the small house, only to return a moment later, a small duffle bag in hand. She made sure the door was locked, then ran back to the car and got in. As soon as the door had closed Jou drove away, not wanting to be around long in case her father woke up. A few minutes later, they were pulling into the driveway of Jou's new house.

"You're sure they won't mind?" Julie asked him nervously.

"They won't mind at all. C'mon."

They got out of the car and walked to the house. Julie held her breath as Jou opened the door and they walked into a small landing. A staircase to the right went down five steps while one to the left went up seven.

"Okaa-san, I'm home." Jou called as he led Julie up the stairs. At the top was another landing; to the right, another staircase leading up to a hall that ended with a bedroom, having a bedroom on either side, and a bathroom on the left before that room. To the left of them was a living room with a couch set against the front wall of the house, an entertainment center across from it, next to a large desk with a computer on it, two rocking chairs sitting at opposite corners of the room. In front of them was a kitchen that looped around into the dining room, then back into the living room.

"This is such a nice place," Julie said in awe.

"Is that you onii-san?" Shizuka asked as she came bouncing down the stairs. She was wearing a t-shirt that was long enough to hang down to her knees, obviously ready for bed. "Where have you been? Okaa-san went out to look for you. Hi Julie-chan."

"What do you mean she went to look for me? It's only nine," Jou retorted.

"I know; she's a worry-wart," Shizuka said with a sigh before turning to Julie. "So what brings you here so late, Julie-chan?"

"Julie-chan's otou-san is gonna be out all night," Jou lied, "So I told her she could crash here tonight. Is it all right if she bunks with you?"

"Hai, we'll have a girl's night."

It was then that front door opened and Jou's mother walked in. "Katsuya Jounouchi-kun, where have you been?" she asked in frustration.

"It's only nine," Jou replied. "By the way, Julie-chan's gonna crash here while her otou-san's out of the house tonight."

"That's fine. I've been unpacking all day, so I'm going to bed. Oyasumi nasai." She climbed the last five stairs from the landing the three teens stood on and went into the room on the left, leaving them alone on the foyer.

"So who wants to crash in the basement? It'll be like a party." Jou and Julie both stared at Shizuka in surprise.

"What happened to 'girl's night'?" Jou asked.

"I was stalling," Shizuka said. "Now I know for sure. You two are going out."

"What, how'd you figure it out?" Jou asked in amazement.

"I have a way of telling. Yesterday you weren't, but I can tell you are now. C'mon, let's go hang out downstairs," she walked pass them and bounded down to the basement.

"Is she always that bouncy?" Julie asked.

"Yeah, she's pretty fun. Come on, you can change in the bathroom downstairs."

"Hey Jou-kun?"

"Yes?"

"If Shizuka-san wasn't down there with us, you wouldn't try to do anything to me, would you?" Julie asked tenderly.

Jou placed a hand on her cheek and smiled at her. "Julie, I'd never do anything to you that you didn't want. So don't worry. Because I love you." He kissed her once before leading her down the stairs, hand-in-hand.