Author's notes: Finally getting the second chapter up. I've been absurdly busy as of late and have had no time for writing. But things are slowing down, at least for the time being.

Anyway, I'd just like to thank all the people that read and reviewed the first chapter of this story. I tried really hard not to make this one of those 'Jou's-dad-beats-him-and-Mai-saves-the-day' kinda things. They've been done to death in my opinion.

But yes. On to the story.

Just Like You

Chapter 2

School seemed to drag on for eternity. Each minute felt like a year, each hour like a century. The day went by so slowly, Jounouchi was amazed he didn't fall asleep during any of his classes. He might as well have. Nothing that was taught was going to stick in his aching head.

He practically died of joy when the last bell rang. That didn't last long.

You're just like me. You're just like me.

Those words echoed in his head, even as he walked through the loud crowded hallway and out the front doors of Domino High. Everything around him seemed like nothing but background noise.

"Hey, Jounouchi!" he heard someone call right as he made it to the sidewalk. It took a moment for Jou to realize he was the one being addressed.

"Hm?" he muttered, turning to see who called him. Yuugi, Honda, and Anzu, his best friends, were standing outside the front gates, most likely waiting for him.

"We're all going over to Yuugi's place, Jou," Anzu said, a bright smile on her face pretty face.

Yuugi chimed in. "Jii-chan got some new games in the shop, and he asked me to bring you guys over to test them out! He even said you could spend the night if you wanted!" Yuugi made it sound like they'd never stayed at his house before. Jou alone had stayed there over 100 times since they'd become friends.

"And we're tired of waiting for your scrawny butt. Let's go," Honda jeered. Leave it to Honda Hiroto to translate a statement like 'We were waiting for you' into an insulting demand. If Jou weren't so tired he would have initiated one of their little brawls.

But he was. So he didn't.

"Nah, I think I'll just head home," Jou shook his head, a small smile crossing his face. As much as he wanted to go spend time with his friends, now just wasn't a good time. He knew he'd end up telling them all about the encounter with his dad last night, and the last thing he wanted to do was ruin their good time with his problems.

Besides, it wasn't like they could help with this.

Yuugi's grin turned into a concerned frown. "What's the matter, Jounouchi? You've been acting really odd today," he stated. Had he really been that obvious? "Are you not feeling well?"

"Uh, no. Not really," Jou grinned sheepishly. "I was sort of sick last night." Which was true. Jou was sick. He spent the whole night trying to get the alcohol out of him before it got into his system. He got no sleep at all. And when you take mental distress and add sleep deprivation, then mix it with Jounouchi Katsuya, the results were not pretty at all.

Anzu frowned. "Jou, you didn't even eat lunch today. What else is going on?" she half-asked, half-demanded an explanation. That girl always seemed to know when something was bothering Jounouchi. Call it woman's intuition, call it the bond of friendship, call it whatever you want. The fact was…

It sometimes got on Jou's nerves.

"No really! I'm fine," Jounouchi insisted. "Like I said, I didn't feel well last night, plus I stayed up late doing that stupid math assignment." He played it off with a grin and an eye roll. Dammit. Even HE didn't believe what he was saying. "I think I just need some sleep or something…"

He could tell that no one believed him, just by the looks in their eyes.

"C'mon, Jounouchi, what's up wi-!" Honda started, but was cut short by Yuugi's small foot kicking him in the shin. The brunette shot Yuugi quite the look, but it was ignored.

"Are you sure, Jounouchi? You know you can tell us if something's wrong," Yuugi looked up to his friend with great concern. "Maybe we can help you…"

Jounouchi just laughed slightly, still just making light of the situation. "Yuugi! I'm fine! Really," he said with a smile. "I just need some rest, that's all."

I hate lying to them.

"Well…ok, then," Yuugi complied hesitantly. Anzu and Honda obviously wanted to press the issue more, but in the end they simply sighed and smiled back to Jou. "If you start feeling better, come on over," Yuugi grinned.

"Alright," Jounouchi nodded. Then he watched Yuugi, Anzu, and Honda walk off down the street until they turned the corner. He released a discontent sigh.

"I really hate lying to them like that," he said to himself as he turned around. "Maybe I should've gone with them…"

He thought that having time to himself might make him feel better. Now he just felt worse.

While Jou didn't notice it, it had actually been a pretty nice day. For other people, it was a good day for a little walk. Kujaku Mai was one of these people. She had been lounging around her apartment when she decided to throw her fitted jean jacket on over her purple dress and go for a stroll around the block. She just walked down the sidewalk, no particular destination in mind. Every once in a while she'd hear a flattering catcall or whistle… and the occasional "How much?" question raised by a few particularly desperate horn-dogs. Mai liked to meet these questions with an open palm slap to the face, followed by, "First of all, I'm not a hooker. And second, even if I was, you couldn't afford it." Then she'd saunter away, smirking with her personal satisfaction.

Some guys were such scumbags.

They brought her great amusement.

Anyway, Mai was enjoying her afternoon stroll around town. It was just so peaceful to be alone and think to herself. Her mind would wander from subject to subject. Music, movies, tournaments… the occasional thought of her friends. One in particular.

Right as she struck that thought from her mind, she saw a familiar face turn around the street corner and walk towards her. She could immediately recognize that mess of blonde hair. Only one person in the world would allow himself to been seen with such messy hair like that.

Jounouchi Katsuya. The biggest dork she'd ever known. Though, sadly, he was one of the few true friends she had. Mai had no idea HOW or WHY that happened, but she'd given up on asking.

She smiled widely at him, noticing he looked a bit distracted today. He seemed…almost deep in thought.

…This is JOU. That's not possible.

As he got closer, she started waving, bright smile still on her face. "Oh, Jou-NOU-chi!" she called in a sing-song voice. She got ready to see his stupefied expression, then the goofy grin that was sure to follow.

It didn't.

Jounouchi walked right by, completely ignoring Mai's sweet tone and wave. His eye stayed glued to the concrete before him, and his hands stayed shoved in the pockets of his pants.

Now Mai was the one left with the stupefied expression. Had Jounouchi really just walked right past her without so much as a 'Hello?' This was just UNACCEPTABLE. Sure it was ok when SHE ignored HIM, but the other way around? Mai would not have it.

She turned around, no sign of that sweet smile remaining on her face. In its place was an agitated pout, her eyes giving him a hard glare. He would regret this.

"JOUNOUCHI KATSUYA!" she yelled, arms firmly at her sides.

Now THAT got his attention. Jou stopped and looked over his shoulder. After a moment of blinking, he turned around. But Mai couldn't help but notice the absence of his trademark grin. "Mai?"

Her anger flared. "Very GOOD, Captain Obvious!" she stormed up to him. "Just who the hell do you think you are! Ignoring me like that!" Mai huffed, crossing her arms tightly.

Jou's eyes got wide as she scolded him, blinking every so often. "…Ignoring you? What are you talking about?" he said dumbly.

"Oh, please!" she scoffed. "I was standing RIGHT in front of you! Maybe that disgusting hair of yours is finally getting in the way of your eyesight."

Alright, so at this point, Mai knew EXACLTY what to expect. Jounouchi would get angry and try to get back at Mai with some lame insult. He'd get all red, and he'd glare right back at her. Then she'd get him back with a real zinger, he'd have nothing, so she could walk away victorious as always. As irritating as Jounouchi was and could be, she did enjoy these little bouts they had. They kept her one step ahead of him, and that's how she liked it.

But once again, Mai would be disappointed.

Instead of acting like the child she knew he could be, Jounouchi just blinked a few more times, then grinned sheepishly. "Really? Oh, I'm sorry, Mai. I honestly didn't see you," he said calmly, scratching his hair. She hated how he could mess his hair up like that and STILL actually look pretty good. That always annoyed her about guys. No sense of appearance. "I guess I've just got a lot on my mind."

Mai had no idea how to react to that. She wasn't used to such a…RATIONAL reaction from Jou. All she could do was stare with a confused expression, stammering to come up with something else to say. "…Huh? Well…Um. It's OK…I guess…" she stammered. Mai hated not knowing what to say. She had to get her composure back. "…Is something wrong?" she found herself saying before she could think.

Jou's expression took on a sad quality. For once he seemed rather solemn. Ok. This was weird.

"It's no big deal. Just… just stupid stuff. It's nothing," he smiled softly. Not the happy-go-lucky 'Everything will be great' smile she was used to, but more of a 'my whole world is caving in but I don't want to burden you' smile.

Great. Now she HAD to know.

She finally got her cruel sarcasm back, after averting her gaze from his face to the street. "Well, it's OBVIOUSLY not NOTHING, Jounouchi. I'm not dumb, unlike some people," she sneered, smirking slightly. That was much better than stammering.

"Mai! I swear, it's not important!" Jou threw up his hands to assure her. Then he paused. "…And HEY!"

Mai snickered. Things were getting back to normal. Good.

"Just stating facts, Jounouchi" she purred, still smirking. "Now what could be so bad that you can't tell ME, one of your BEST FRIENDS, about it, hmm?" Mai tapped her chin thoughtfully. She could have fun with this. "OH! I know!"

"…You do?" he said nervously.

"Well, it's OBVIOUS!" she tossed her hands out matter-of-factly. "You got dumped by some girl!"

"…huh?"

"I can see the whole thing now. You confessed your love to some high school girl that you're just head over heals for, and she turned you down FLAT!" she narrated dramatically. "It's just like something out of one of those bad teenager comic books." Mai opened her lavender eyes slowly to study Jou's face.

He did not look amused. His expression was dry, one eyebrow raised dramatically. His eyes looked at her with utter disbelief and condescension. "You have way too much free time."

Mai pouted, agitated again. "Shut up! You're just mad because I'm right, aren't I?" she insisted.

"Whatever, Mai," he sighed. "I gotta get home, alright?" Jounouchi turned to leave.

This was NOT ending so soon. Besides, Mai still didn't know what was REALLY bothering Jounouchi. She said that whole thing as joke, but… what if it really WAS true?

And why didn't she like that thought?

Deciding to ignore that unease in the pit of her stomach, she followed him. "Wait! Where do you think you're going!"

"I told you! Home!" he called back. "Good-BYE, Mai!"

She stopped, staring at his retreating figure. He never acted like this. Especially not to her. He was always so… disgustingly happy, and something in his eyes just seemed dead.

Mai did not like this version of Jounouchi. Whatever was bothering him was BIG, and she aimed to find out what that was.

After he'd gotten a good 100 yards away, Mai started following him. No way was Jounouchi Katsuya off the hook that easily.

Author's Notes: Two down, one to go XD