Come home as been re-updatedMarch 3rd 2005with minor changes and a whole new section so please read!

Come Home

Katsuya

"Jounouchi-kun! Where are you going?" I can hear Mokuba yell at me. I just keep walking. I can't stop until I reach Yugi's. I have to get out of this house, and away from him. "Jou!" He grabs hold of my arm and stops me in my tracks. "Where are you going?"

"I have to go for awhile Mokuba. I don't know if I'll be back but if you want to find me come over to Yugi's," I reply to him without looking; I don't want him to see my face. I feel him release me and I continue on my way out but I stop at the door, "Don't tell your brother where I am. I don't want him to come looking for me." I walk out leaving him behind.

After the blow up I called Yugi and spilled everything that has happened to me. He told me I could stay with him as long as I needed to but I can't see myself staying there for more then a few days. Either way it'll get me away from the Kaiba's and some time to think.

"Jounouchi-kun, please come in," Yugi says to me as he moves out of the way for me to enter the house. "You can stay in my room and I'll bunk with Atemu," he says cheerily while leading the way to the stairs. He always act's as if everything is normal and I guess I find that comforting in a way. I realize how I often forget how Yugi and Atemu separated and are now both two different physical people. I sit on his bed and watch Yugi close the door, then turn to me.

"Ya know Yug you don't have to give me your room. I'd be fine on the couch or something. But I do appreciate you letting me stay for a bit, I didn't really know where else to go." I drop my head and stare at me feet. I feel like a moron and completely unworthy of any amount of kindness from Yugi.

"Jou we're best friends I wouldn't have you stay the couch," he replies with a smile, "I told you that anytime you need a place to stay this home is always open to you. I just wish you had told me sooner what was going on, maybe I could have helped somehow." I look up at Yugi with tears brimming my eyes.

"Yugi you are the best friend I've ever had, you're like a brother to me and you've done more for me then I could ever ask. But I have to ask something of you now." I stop and wait to see if he is going to say anything. He doesn't so I continue, "I need to know what you think I should do regarding Kaiba. I keep going over it in my head and I am scared, angry and so many other things mixed in together. Part of me wants to forgive him but I have no idea why. He says he did it for me and not to hurt me but…Yug what do I do?"

"Well Jou-kun I don't really know," he says timidly while placing his hand on the back of his head as if he means to scratch it. "Kaiba has done some pretty slimy things he has denied his past and our outreach to be friends for a really long time. Now he has finally taken some friendship but done something…really bad. I don't know what to make of it…but I do believe," he moves his hand to his chin and looks down thoughtfully. "I believe that he truly didn't mean to hurt you." I feel my face turn to a scowl and I look at Yugi hopelessly. I have no where to go, no one who cares, my mother would never let me in since she probably thinks I'm the one who did it.

"He was much easier to understand when he was an asshole all the time," I say growling. "Yug why do you think that he would think that would be a good thing for me?"

"Well Jou I guess, from what you told me, he would be getting rid of your problems," Yugi replied solemnly. "You were so unhappy before and then Kaiba took you in and you just flourished. Maybe he saw what your dad did and felt that if your dad was gone then your unhappiness would be as well?" I blink at Yugi then fall back to the bed to stare up at the ceiling. It would be like him to do that but then I have to ask why would Kaiba care? I never get a straight answer as to why he has an interest in seeing me happy. I just don't understand him.

I've been trying to be out as much as possible so I don't impose on Yugi but I can't help but feel like I am anyway. It looks like I'm going to have to stay with him longer than I had hoped. I know Yugi doesn't mind but I don't like that I have nothing to give him in return.

Today I've decided I need to back to my old home. The thought of doing this has been in my mind for some while but I haven't had the courage to go. I think what I might find is what scares me the most. It's not that I think the burned up house is going to scare me but the memories. Since I had been with Kaiba I have been suppressing them to the back of my mind. But now that my father is dead I haven't been able to have much time at all where his face hasn't been on my mind.

I grab my coat and head out the door. I left Yugi a note on the table telling him I'd be out for awhile. Walking down the street I look at the homes. They are all rather picturesque with nothing particularly usual to set any of them apart, just average houses. I haven't lived in one of those in a long time. Back when mom was still with us I think. Then I ended up in the dump that has burned down and then at Kaiba's. It was a huge change, rags to riches in a way only I'm guest.

I round the corner onto my old street. Everything looks the same as it had before only maybe a little dumpier. Ahead I can see the condemned tape flapping in the breeze. Now in front of my old home I can see that no one has bothered to board it up. It would figure no one ever bothers to take care of the crappiest neighborhoods or the houses in it. Any grass that had been growing on our lawn is now completely gone with just a black residue remaining. Two of the neighbors houses are in the same shape as mine only its obvious mine is where the fire started. There is a stringy black substance dangling off the roof, my guess it's the remaining shingles we had. I guess the fire melted them.

I walk forward and duck under a beam. Inside there really isn't anything left except black ashes. I don't linger long in the main room and make my way quickly but carefully to my old room. My room is also blackened and water stained, it seems to have the least damage. Most of my things are still in one piece, although, unusable. Kicking the black wads around, which I guess was once clothing, I make my way around the room. There isn't anything here I have any real attachment to, Kaiba took what I would've. I blink and as I reopen my eyes I think I can see Kaiba here looking through my things. His normal uptight self with no concern or worry of being caught, everything is calculated. I blink again and the image is gone. I shake my head and turn to go out. I don't want to stop in the main room, the room of my torment. I do stop though and force myself to look at it all, and well. I can tell what was the couch due to it being the biggest back mass in the room. For a moment I think I can hear the old man breathing but I shake my head. So many times I had to hear him breath and say my name while he made me bleed.

I shudder, how could have he had done those things to me? Maybe I was not a good son, maybe I should have…a tear rolls down my face. My feelings are so conflicting. I hated the old man for what he had done to me and for what I will never be able to remove from my mind but I also loved him. He was my father, my sister's father. He had been a good man once, if only he hadn't lost his job things might have worked out okay and we might have stayed a family. It's too late now, it was too late the first time he hit me. I can still remember all those days and nights that I hoped for someone to rescue me. Never did I wish for his death though, I never did. Kaiba has removed him from my life but he will never be erased from my thoughts. I wonder if I can move on or will I just feel this guilt? If I hadn't gone to Kaiba, if he hadn't taken me in, or held me while I cried…why did Kaiba hold me? Why did he hold anger for my father, a man he had never met? It was my problem not his, he had no right!

The tears are flowing freely down my face now as I think of that day where I ran to Kaiba's. He had no right to do what he did, it makes me sick to think about it but at the same time I feel comforted at the remembrance of him holding me. I leave the darkened house only to turn to look at it once. I will never return here, to my home it is no longer apart of my life, or of me. I will leave the memories here with my father; I'll let them rot because I have no use for them anymore. Walking away from the house and back toward Yugi's I wonder what Kaiba was thinking when he left the burning house behind.

Seto

I haven't seen the Jounouchi for over a week now. Where could he be? I push the door of his room open and look around. It seems so empty and cold. I shiver; will he come back home? I start to pick up his things and clean out his drawers. I've been putting this off for a few days. I'll have the room redone once his things are out. I keep coming in here to look for him but of course he isn't here and it only hurts more to see his things still here. After I get rid of them I know things will be better. I have more important things to worry about.

"Big brother!" I can hear Mokuba call from the hall. I look to the doorway.

"I'm in Jounouchi's old room Mokuba," I reply. Within a few minutes I see his black haired head bounce into the room.

"What are you doing this Jou's things Seto?" I don't answer him. "Seto it's rude not to answer. What are you doing with them?"

"Removing them, they don't belong here anymore," I snap without looking at him. I can feel his happy presence change to one of concern and worry.

"Big brother I don't know what happened between the two of you…but I think Jou will want his things when he comes back. That is unless you don't think he will." I only grunt a reply. Mokuba has no need to worry over things that don't involve him. "I see…" I look up to see that he has dropped his eyes to look at the floor. "Maybe I pushed too hard. I was always asking for him to hang with me, maybe I'm the reason Jou left." His tone is so sad; it sends a pang through my chest. I put down Jounouchi's things to go and kneel in front of Mokuba.

"Jounouchi leaving had nothing to do with you Mokuba," I say gently while placing my hand on his shoulder. "He had some things to sort out so he needed to leave for awhile. It had nothing to do with you Mokuba so get that out of you head right now. Jounouchi will be back. I'm sure he told you where he went so you can go visit him whenever you like." I looks up at me and smiles lightly. I stand and turn him around. "Now go play or something."

"Alright," he says in a happier tone and then dashes out of the room. I turn back to Jounouchi's things. Picking them up I bring them all into another bedroom that is closer to mine and put them on the bed. I don't know what I'm going to do with them just yet so for now I'll keep them in this room.

People talking suddenly fills the house, echoing down the halls. Mokuba must be watching TV. I leave the room locking the door behind me and then head into my own. Inside I grab a briefcase then go downstairs to a waiting limo.

As the limo parks in front of the main Kaiba Corp. building I step out, "Don't bother picking me up unless I call." The driver nods and I continue inside to my office. I'm vaguely aware of people saying hello and scurrying about the halls. Standing in front of my door it opens and I go in. I place the brief down on my desk and look out the window. All the people running around the city are no bigger than ants with even less importance to me but somewhere down there is Jounouchi, hating me.

Turning back to my desk I sit and open the briefcase. Inside I'm surprised to see a photograph of Mokuba and Jounouchi trying to grab onto some frogs. When I told them I didn't care what they did as long as it didn't cost me money or to anything I use I never thought they actually would. I feel the side my mouth curve up into a half smile. I open a drawer of my desk and place the picture inside. I would wonder how it got in there but I already know Mokuba must have, but why?

Katsuya

When I went to bed after coming back from my old house I was plagued with memories of my family. I woke up during the night crying. When I came down stairs that morning everyone was looking at me oddly, I guess they heard but no one asked me about it.

I sit up in bed looking out the window. Another week has passed without seeing the Kaiba's or any word that he was looking for me. I push the blankets off and pull on a pair of jeans. Down stairs I can hear Yugi talking.

"Jou! You have a guest can I send him up?" I blink. I guest for me? Could it be Kaiba or the police? Nah, neither Kaiba nor the police would come up here. I yank a shirt over my head.

"Yeah Yug, send them up," I yell back. In a couple of seconds the door swings open and I'm tackled from behind. "Yaah!" I yelp. I can hear a faint giggle.

"I've missed you Jou-kun!" I turn around to see Mokuba. My mouth drops open. He laughs at me, "Surprised?"

"Uh, well yeah. You were one of the last people I expected. Does your brother know you're here?" He shakes his head and I sit on the bed.

"No, he said I can come see you whenever I like though!" Suddenly he looks sad, "The house has been very quiet with you gone." I cock my head to the side.

"Your brother is there I know he's not much of a noise maker but he's something. After all-" I stop as I see him shaking his head. "What?" I ask.

"Seto hasn't been around much. He's been leaving for work early and then coming home late. I barely see him anymore and then when he is home he locks himself up in a room." I motion for Mokuba to sit but instead of coming over to sit on the bed he just plops down on the floor. "He says you'll come home but he's moved all of your things out of your room, I don't know where."

"What? He had better have not thrown them out!" I say aggravated but then I see Mokuba's face. "I don't know if I can go back there, Mokuba."

"Yes you can! I want you to come back and so does Seto!" Now it's my turn to shake my head and look sad. I wish I could tell Mokuba to help him understand but if he were to know what his brother has done, their relationship would be forever changed.

"Your brother is who drove me out Mokuba. He has…hurt me deeply and I don't think I can ever forgive him." Suddenly I feel a hot fury inside my head, "And I will not give him the satisfaction of going back to him! If he misses me so much then he can come and get me!" I sigh, "I'm sorry Mokuba, I can't."

"I see," he drops his head so I can't see his eyes under his hair. "I should be getting back home," he says standing. "It was nice to see you again."

"Like-wise," I reply. He nods then leaves. I know I've disappointed him but I can't go back there. Kaiba has done something to me and I don't mean just the business with my father. When I think about him my heart hurts and I feel angry but at the same time I want to smile. I hate to admit it but I miss him and his arrogant attitude. I feel like all my limbs are being pulled in different directions.

Down stairs I bump into Yugi, "Hey Yugi, I'm going to go out for awhile, don't expect me back until late." He nods with a smile and then I watch as he flings a glob of pudding at Atemu. This will defiantly get messy; I'm out of here!

I've been wandering around town all day. I almost landed myself in a few fights but I was able to make a get away, the last thing I need is another medical bill. It's dark now and the town is quiet, everyone has gone to bed. I head toward the bridge. I can see someone leaning over the railing. As I come closer the person comes into view; a dark trench coat and brown hair that falls into his face but by no means is messy. I duck behind a lamppost; okay not a great hiding place.

I can see his head turn in my direction and I dive under a bush. Now looking out from the bush I can see that he was looking at a car that was coming up to the bridge. Wiping the dirt out of my eyes I fix my sight onto Kaiba. Why is here? He should be home with Mokuba not standing on a bridge, unless he is thinking what I was when I first came here. I feel a panic wash over me but it fades as quickly as it came. Kaiba wouldn't be so foolish and he certain wouldn't do something like that just over me…but why does he look so sad? I know I'm far away and I have a crapped up view but the expression on his face is too clear not to make out. I've never seen him look like this.

Carefully I crawl on the ground to a bush I can see him better from. His eyes look dark as the water and they look as if they could pour out of his eyes. I've never seen so much reflected in his eyes before; so much pain. He looks up to the sky and I see him speak. I strain my ears to hear but I only catch the end, "Chi". His eyes ice over and I watch as he walks away from me. What could have made him look so hurt? Was it my name he said and if it was why?

I stand and punch the tree next to me. He should be hurt! He should feel pain! I punch the tree again. "You're a bastard! You try to get my sympathy? You don't deserve it!" I continue to beat on the tree as my knuckles start to bleed. "You don't!" I stop. Dropping my hands to my sides I also drop my head to look at the ground. I can feel tears fall out of my eyes. "Why do I have to force myself to hate you, Seto Kaiba?"

Seto

"Seto! Answer me!" he yells at me as I continue to stare blankly at the computer screen. My hands are moving but I'm not completely sure what I am typing. Mokuba has been trying to talk to me for a while, how long I don't know. "Seto Kaiba do you miss Jou at all? After all he has been gone for a month." I look up at Mokuba and stop typing.

"Why would I? People come and go and dogs have a tenancy to run away." He frowns at me.

"He isn't a dog Seto and I can see plain on your face that you do miss not having him staying at home anymore." He crosses his arms and waits for me to answer.

"He is a dog," I turn back to the computer, "And all dogs return home to their master in the end." I hear him sigh and turn to leave.

"You're hopeless big brother. For your sake you better hope he does come home." Jou will come home I don't know why Mokuba is so worked up that he won't. He has to come home; he has nowhere else to go. I'll admit I do miss seeing him trip in the same spot of the hall and try and beat Mokuba at video games with that dumb look on his face…but I have no reason to worry he won't come home, after all it is Jou and he needs me.

I push myself back away from the desk and reach inside my pocket for my cell phone. I check for messages but there are none, so I dial Yugi's number and wait three rings before I hear the old man pick up.

"Hello, Mutou residence can I help you?"

"It's Kaiba. Is Jo-" I stop as I'm about to say Jounouchi's name because if Jou is there they most certainly will lie and that will be the end of it. "Give the phone to Yugi…please." I wait a moment and the cheery lighthearted voice comes on. Before he says more than hello I start talking. "Yugi the police are here looking for your friend so if you know where he is tell him they are headed to you place next and if they catch him he's headed to lock up." Yugi doesn't say anything right away and I know he is trying to figure out what to do.

"Kaiba please hold for a moment." I can hear some whispering on the other side but not distinct enough for me to be able to hear who is speaking. "Kaiba could you do me a favor?" I snort, what makes him think that I will do anything for him? "Well it's for Katsuya not me."

"What is it?" I ask curtly.

"Katsuya is here Kaiba but if the police are coming he is going to need to hide. I don't want to have him go out and be all alone so could you please meet him in the park?"

"If I accept to do this will Jounouchi know he is coming to meet me?"

"Well…"

"I see. You aren't going to tell him because you know he won't willingly meet me. He told you then?" I receive no response. "If you tell anyone-"

"Don't worry Kaiba I won't. I already promised Katsuya that." Jounouchi told him not to tell the police on me, why? "Oh and Kaiba he will have his th-"

"Good, it's time he came home. He has been away too long," I say quickly and click my cell shut. I stand up and leave the room to head for the park.

Katsuya

I probably should have just let the police take me in. It's better then sitting here in the dirt. I don't think there has been a night this dark either. It figures, the one night I get stuck on the street it's the creepiest. I can hear everything so clearly, twigs breaking, bushes rustling, the sounds of footsteps coming towards me. Wait footsteps! I jump up with my arms swinging and make contact with some guy's face. "Oh geeze sir I'm sorry! You startled me." I hear him chuckle and he stands erect again.

"I suppose I deserved it anyways," he answers me dryly. I can't see him clearly but I have the feeling he is smirking at me. He reaches out and grabs my arm.

"Hey! What are you doing?" I yell at him. He gives me a tug but never turns around to look at me.

"I'm taking you home Jounouchi." Home what does he mean? Wait, I sniff the air and the smell is faint but I can lightly smell green tea. Not the type that you would drink but shampoo. I remember when I had to take a shower in Kaiba's because Mokuba and I were raising frogs in mine. Seto's shampoo was herbal with green tea in it and some other all-natural things. Ever since I smelled it out of the bottle I've been able to smell it on him. I yank my arm from him and go to punch him in the head but he catches my hand.

"I already gave you one free punch Jounouchi, you don't get anymore." I frown at him; he is always so damn cocky.

"What are you doing here?" I shout at him.

"Keep your voice down there are people sleeping," he hisses at me. "Now come on," he reaches for my arm again but I pull out of reach.

"No! I'm not going anywhere with you! And since when do you care about other people you selfish bastard!" I feel my face burning and my fist shaking. How dare he try and tell me what to do after what he has done to me. I watch him draw back his hand and stand looking at me. The moon has moved out from behind the clouds now and is cascading down on Kaiba's Brown head. I can see it glinting in his eyes.

"I care about you," he says plain as day. Is he lying? As I look at him his eyes seem to be boring down on me, I wish he'd look away.

"If you cared about me you wouldn't have killed my father! Murderer!" I yell with distaste brimming each word. My hair has fallen in my face and I feel hot all over. Tears are leaking from my eyes; I just want to hit him! I want to hit him until he doesn't move anymore!

"I did what you wouldn't," he says softly and leans down toward me. He moves my hair out of my face and I feel my skin go cold but my cheeks stay hot. His eyes are so blue, and they are making me shiver. Has he even blinked yet? He leans down more so that all I can see is his eyes. "He hurt you. I couldn't allow him to do it again," he says regretfully as he draws away. I watch him pick up my things and start to walk away.

"I…" I say stupidly and wide-eyed. He turns and waits looking at me; I shut my mouth. He turns again and walks away; I follow after him. I don't know what I am thinking. I shouldn't be going with him. I know I shouldn't especially after what he has done but I want to, I want to be near him. He doesn't speak another word to me all night and I don't to him either. What could I have said to him that wouldn't be awkward?

Later in the week I found out that Kaiba was the one that had called Yugi and told him about the Police. In normal circumstances I would be mad at Yugi for asking Kaiba to come meet me but I'm partly relieved that I didn't have to go back to Kaiba on my own. The way we met up and went home was more or less on even ground. I still haven't forgiven Kaiba and we've yet to discuss the matter; I can't see us ever doing so either.

He's given me a new room that is closer to his and it has a bigger bathroom. I had been slightly surprised to find all of the items I had left behind already neatly tucked away in the room. On the nightstand Seto had placed the things he took from my house before he burned it down, I've now placed them in particular spots around the room. I have also gone out with Seto's credit card to buy myself a few things to make the place more like me and less like Kaiba. One thing that bothers me is the fact that I know someone keeps going in my room. Often when I return to it there are things moved around.

I open my door and my jaw drops. Above my bed is a massive painting of the Red-eyes Black Dragon. It is engulfed in red flames with its tail wrapped around the front of the painting making a sort of bottom boarder. Its head is arched down to be almost exactly the middle of the painting. It's eyes look like rubies and within the rubies it seems to glow with a lit fire. I walk up slowly to the painting and reach out to touch it.

"Do you like it?" I hear behind me. I turn to see Kaiba standing in the doorway with his hands in his pockets.

"It's amazing. Did you do it?" I ask curiously as he starts walking towards me.

"Heh, what makes you think I can paint?" I turn and look at him questionably. He knows I've seen that room with the paintings all over it.

"The room, with all the paintings an stuff. I thought you did them; the Blue-eyes, other duel monsters, the dog, and the daggers." I start to feel stupid as he just looks at me while I ramble on. He picks up a picture of mine that I know has my father in it and he puts it down.

"It's a peace offering," he says looking back up at me. "The painting was just something I had around and I thought you'd like it." I look back at the painting. He is lying. The painting is new, do to the fact it doesn't have any dust on it and the paint on it is still soft enough that I could smudge it. I look back at him.

"There is nothing you can give me that can make me forgive you for what you've done. But, I thank you for the painting, Kaiba." He nods slightly and I can see frustration in his blue depths. I step towards him and touch him with my hand. He looks at it and then at me. "Why do you want to have me here so much? Forgiveness?" He sighs.

"You," he covers my hand with his, "Have always been important to me. Even when it didn't seem like it." He's looking down at me with kindness showing his eyes; his hand is warm. "You are right about one thing though Jounouchi. I am a murderer; there is no way I can deny that." I withdraw my hand as my words came rushing back at me. It is true I had called him one, but even with it being the truth I have a hard time seeing him as one. "No, he wasn't the only one," he says frowning and sitting down on my bed. "I pushed my step father out a window when I was fourteen and I guess you could say I killed the big five as well." I sit down next to him.

"What? But that whole virtual thing with all that cockamamie stuff happened. How did your dead step dad get in there?" Did he really kill his own stepfather?

"Jounouchi, I pushed him out a window not hack him to pieces, even if I wanted to. He survived the fall, but while they were transferring his memories to the net his heart gave out and he died. That's why any reports of his death will say heart attack." Seto leaned forward resting his elbows on his knees and clasping his hands in front of him. "After we got out of my virtual game world I went to the big five and hooked them up to the net and uploaded their minds. Then I had their bodies burned. It doesn't surprise me that they found their way into the deeper part of the Corporations mainframe where my stepfathers mind was stored." He smiled sickly at the floor, "That would make seven people," he looked up at me, "Are you afraid?" I had to think about that. Seven people if not directly were indirectly killed by him and here I am living in his home.

"No," I answer firmly. It is true; I do not fear him in the least. If I feel anything towards him it's pity. I may have been messed up for a long time but Seto is still struggling inside himself. He is extremely emotionally damaged to the point of him not knowing how to be. It is just now hitting me that the reason he has always been so controlling is because it is the only way he can feel safe. I soften and I know he is unnerved by my change of expression. "How will we get the cops off our tail?" He stands and is silent. "Kaiba? What will we do about them?" Swallowing he looks at me almost sheepishly.

"I lied," he says plainly. He lied about the cops? What the hell?

"You lied? What the hell do you mean by that!" I say with my voice getting higher and agitated.

"I was able to get the case closed a week before I called Yugi."

"And no one told me?" I shout. Why didn't anyone tell me? He only shrugs.

"It really doesn't matter right now. All that matters is that you've come home." He turns and leaves my room. As I watch him close my door behind him I feel my anger at him, slip away. I've already forgiven the bastard and I think, I finally understand.

I had conflicting information reguarding Seto's stepfather's death so I made it so they were both used. Many people say he died of a heart attack, others say he pushed him out a window, and then in the english dub he just disapeared. I hope I merged them together well.

It may take quite awhile for me to get the next chapter up so please hang on I will work fast as possible! and always thank you for the reviews!