Chapter 2: "Anything"
Jounochi stared at Yuugi's retreating form, completely bewildered. What had happened that caused such a change in his friend? Jounochi's face was set; whatever it was, he was going to find out, or his name wasn't Katsuya Jounochi. He set whipped out his cell phone and dialed Anzu's number, heading to Honda's with a plan.
Yuugi threw open the door to the Game Shop, a tear trickling down his face. He hated lying to Jounochi; he was his best friend and it was evident that he cared. Maybe… maybe he could…
"No one can ever know."
No.
'Jounochi wouldn't understand anyway.' Yuugi forced himself to believe. Walking into the kitchen, he sighed. The house was empty, as it always was during the day. But at night, he would come. At night, when the light of the moon was dimmed by the ever-ominous shadows, he would always come…
Yuugi shuddered and slid into the living room, falling onto the narrow sofa. Thoughts raced through his mind; images, visions of memories, blurred but painful still, darted across his tightly clamped eyes. Ghosts of the past wrought their tortured voices upon him, pounding in Yuugi's ears, the torment interminable, which was exactly what he deserved.
RIIIIING!
Yuugi snapped up straight on the sofa, the phone halting the pain that stained his thoughts. He rose slowly and approached the line as though walking through molasses. Lifting the phone from its cradle he whispered,
"H-hello?"
"Yuugi?" Yuugi sighed with relief; it was Hiroto Honda.
"Hey, Honda." He said lightly. Honda looked over at Jounochi and Anzu expectantly; Jounochi nodded.
"Yug, uh, I really don't get this Pythagorean Theorem thing," Honda said almost nervously, looking over at Jounochi. "Would you mind coming over and explaining it to me? The test next week's gonna be a killer, and I need to get a good grade to pass Algebra." There was a long pause on the other line.
"Yuugi?"
"Sure, Honda. I'll get my stuff and come right over."
"Thanks, Yug."
"Sure thing."
Jounochi breathed a sigh of relief as Honda hung up the phone. Anzu's hands were clenched within one another, her face worried.
"Are you sure about this, Jounochi?" she asked. Honda seconded her doubt with a nod.
"Yeah, Jou. This is a risky plan, man." Jounochi nodded.
"I know." He answered. He looked around the room aimlessly, as though searching for a shred of comfort throughout it; he raised his hands in emphasis. "But can't you feel it? When you look at him? That somethin' is wrong?" There was a pause; Anzu sighed. Minutes passed like hours, the three drinking in a worried silence that hung about the room, like smoke over a growing flame.
"There's been a change in him… he's different; I can feel it." Jounochi said softly, hands falling to his sides. "That's why we're doin' this."
"Honda?" Yuugi knocked on the door. Honda leaped up and pushed Anzu and Jounochi to the back door.
"Okay," he whispered. "Go to Yuugi's and look around for anything out of place. That was our plan, right, Jounochi?" Jounochi nodded.
"Thanks for bein' decoy, Honda."
"Honda?" Yuugi called.
"Comin'!" Honda shouted. "Go!" he whispered to Jounochi. Anzu grabbed his arm and pulled him away.
"What do you expect to find at Yuugi's?" she asked as they headed to the Game Shop? Jounochi shook his head.
"Anything." He whispered. "Anything… let's go."
