Take Me Away to Paradise.

A/N: Woo! Chapter eight! Go me! Beware the dream sequence! It's weird!

Disclaimer: Nope. Still don't own anything.

Reviewer Responses:

astalder27: Yeah, it was pretty cute, huh? I liked writing it! Thank you for your review! Hope you like this chapter!

SpiritPuppyLuvrs: Hi! (waves frantically). Welcome! Yay! I'm glad you like it! Aw, thank you so much! You could see the pictures? Great, you can draw them for me, lol! I'll always welcome fanart! I have talent? Yay! Well, there's a whole series where this one came from!

I will certainly send you an e-mail! Aw, you're so nice! Hope you like this chapter! Thanks for your lovely review!

Blue-eye Puppy: Hello! Well, you will be able to see a picture of this, by my wonderful friend Flame Swordswoman! As soon as I get the URL, I'll post it so everyone can admire her beautiful work! Oh, thank you! I can promise there will be more kissing, if not in this fic, then in the ones to follow. I have a whole series lined up! Oh, there will be more angst! Don't worry about that! I live to torture my Jou! Yep, the more the better! Thanks for your review! Hope you like this one!

Raelyn-Mage: It is! Yay! Oh, I'll take care of them! (Looks at plushies carefully snuggled together). Mwa ha ha! Thanks for your review! Hope you like this chapter!

Flame Swordswoman: Aw! You should feel appreciated! That picture was amazing! Would you prefer it if I e-mailed the link to everyone, or shall I post it here? It's your call! So…amazing…

Yep, there's a whole series! The next one is called 'Learn to Fly' (cheesy title alert!) and I'll have it posted within a week! Ooh, gotta love those Jou-torture fics! I'm on your fave author list? Oh! (cries)! I…have something in my eye! (sniff). I feel so loved!

Maybe I'll need more pictures, heh heh. Damnit Emma! Stop hinting! Thanks for your brilliant review! Hope you like this one! Hugs!

KatrinaKaiba: I did! Yay! Thanks for your review! Hope you like this one!

Okami Wind/ Okami Kaze: Man, I love your names! Yep, he can draw himself! Lol, I guess it is easier if you're anime! I wish I was anime, sniff. Aw, thanks for your sweet review! I hope you like this chapter!

Here it is! The elusive Chapter 8!

Chapter 8.

Seto twisted uncomfortably on the hard mattress provided by the hospital. Try as he might, he could not get to sleep. This thing was torture! He thought longingly of his own bed, so soft and comfortable…

'I hate hospitals,' he thought resentfully. He changed position again, for the hundredth time that night, and fell straight off of his makeshift bed.

Suppressing a screech of rage (where would the dignity in that be?) he defiantly kicked the accursed mattress, pulled on his trench coat, and walked quickly out of the room. He needed air…

Stepping outside, he drew in his breath sharply. It was freezing! Snow was everywhere, covering everything in a sparkling white blanket. Seto smiled softly. Mokuba was sure to be thrilled. No doubt he would bug his older brother to take him ice skating, or something equally as cold and cheerful. He laughed quietly. Jou had been there with his sister the last time they had gone.

His puppy was surprisingly graceful; taking Shizuka into his arms when she protested that she couldn't skate. He had spun around on the glittering ice, laughing as his sister squealed in delight. Seto recalled Mokuba excitedly telling him to watch Jounouchi, knowing full well that his brother didn't need the encouragement. His eyes had been glued to the whirling blonde, cradling his little sister, and laughing like he didn't have a care in the world.

Seto winced as he remembered what had happened next. Jou had turned to view the crowd watching him, and given a tiny bow. Everyone had laughed and clapped, and Jou had grinned brilliantly. Then, he spun again, and caught sight of Seto watching him. He looked extremely surprised, and lost his balance, slipping on the ice and falling backwards. Shizuka landed on top of him, the sharp blade on her skate gliding through his calf. He cried out, and his sister shrieked in shock. The people in the crowd gasped, some screamed as blood poured onto the once pure white ice, staining it a dark crimson. Seto felt his heart lurch as people flocked to the injured blonde, surrounding him.

Mokuba had begged him to do something, so Seto moved up to the crowd of people, shoving them aside, and hearing Mokuba's shocked gasp echoing his own as they beheld the scene before them. Jou was desperately trying to comfort his sobbing little sister, saying that it was nothing. She kept saying she was sorry, and he kissed her on the forehead, telling her not to be sorry, at least he'd get a couple of days off of school!

Seto pulled himself out of his memories, smiling at Jou's need to put his sister's tears before his pain. He turned and walked back inside the hospital, feeling like he could finally sleep.

Jou, meanwhile, was not having a peaceful sleep. He was dreaming.

He was walking down an extremely long, black corridor, feeling a deep sense of foreboding. There were faint cries coming from far in front of him. Jou felt that he should investigate, as whoever was uttering these moans and cries sounded like they were in extreme pain.

"Hold on!" he called. "I'm coming to help you! Just hold on!"

He walked faster, desperate to find whoever was in trouble.

The cries turned into screams, shrill wails that spoke of deep despair and pain. He quickened his pace, beginning to run, his feet pounding on the cold ground. Suddenly, he tripped, and fell flat on his face.

'Damn,' he thought, gingerly getting to his feet. He looked up, and saw what looked like a door through the gloom. Finally reaching it, he grasped the doorknob and turned it, hearing the terrible shrieking getting louder. He wrenched open the door, and saw……

Himself……

Bruised. Bloody. Broken…

Lying there on the ground. In agony. A terrible

shadow looming over his fragile body.

Flashes…flashes of silver…pure silver in a black room, black with murderous intent…

Crimson blood, it's everywhere! I can't exist without it…

Cries, agony, screaming, like shattered glass, growing weaker…help me!

Weaker…

Silence.

The pitiful heap on the ground ceased moving, stopped his pitiful sobs. Jou watched his mirror image, his hand over his mouth. The image shifted, turning into each one of his friends in turn. Then…

He moaned into his palm as the body turned into Seto.

"No…oh…God…please…NOOOO!"

He collapsed to his knees, screaming.

Seto drew nearer to the room where his puppy slept, yawning gently. He reached the door, and was about to open it, when he heard rasping sobs coming from within. He threw open the door just in time to see Jou sit blot upright, and begin to scream. He ran over to the distraught blonde, and saw that he was asleep.

'He's having a nightmare!' Seto thought desperately. He shook his puppy, being careful not to hurt him more than he already was. Jou's eyes snapped open, despair echoing in their honey coloured eyes as they darted around the small room. It seemed as though he was searching for something horrifying. His gaze finally came to rest upon Seto's anxious features. He looked surprised.

"Seto……you're here! You aren't…you aren't…"

He began to cry, leaning into Seto's chest. The brunette boy gently put his arms around his love and sat down next to him on the bed, not being able to bear the sound of his heartbreak.

"It's okay, puppy. I'm here, it's alright…I won't leave you…I'm always going to be here…"

Jou cried harder. "You were all gone! Everyone…you, Yug', Yami…everyone! He took all of you away!"

"Who took us away, Jou? Your father?"

Jounouchi nodded, wailing in grief. Seto stroked the sweaty blonde hair of his koi, gently whispering reassurance to him.

Jou began to cease his heart wrenching cries, and grew quiet in Seto's arms. Eventually, Seto looked down at the smaller boy, and noticed that he was asleep, gently snoring. He smiled, and held onto Jou, feeling that his puppy would need his touch right now. He didn't mind. He was content to hold his koi as long as he was needed.

"I will never leave you," he whispered gently. "Never…"

He softly held Jou for the rest of the night, whispering pointless endearments, and eventually falling into a peaceful sleep; the first one for many long months.