Well, I'm back for another attempt…
The disclaimer is the same as before, don't own, no money. So Nyer.
To those who thought that was pants, well, what can I say? –plonks that sumo-wrestler down on you and walks away smiling-
Muse: Katsu, that was a teensy bit mean, don't you think?
Katsu: -growls-
Muse: -gives chocolate to Katsu and sighs with relief when she takes it and begins chomping it-
Katsu: That reminds me – there are random characters in this who are simply bit-players and not essential to the plot, therefore they are not from the Yu-Gi-Oh series. They aren't important, just background.
Save Me
Chapter 2 – A time to learn
Ryjuta-sensei droned on in the background, the class taking little notice of the bland re-hash of history being given.
Notes were passed surreptitiously around the room, in particular around five boys – Yugi, Jou, Otogi, Honda and Bakura. Their notes discussed what to do after school – whether they'd go to the card shop, or go and get ice-cream. So far they had two votes for ice-cream, two for the card shop and one for going home and having an orgy. (Otogi's suggestion – he hadn't been getting much, lately as he was in Honda's bad-books for not helping him with his home-work)
The note made its way back to Jou who looked at it, read it, frowned, and began to write.
Guys (wrote Jou) I just had an idea – why don't we invite Kaiba along too? And not to Otogi's orgy, either, I mean for ice-cream or coffee or to the card shop…
Jou looked at the note, satisfied, and handed it to Yugi who read it, then read it again, then wrote 'Sure' on it and handed it to Bakura. The note went round the four boys then made its way back. The vote was unanimous – 'Sure' appeared twice, 'Why not' once and 'What the hell, we can always kill ourselves later…' from Otogi.
Jou smiled slightly and began to write another note, this time fairly neatly on a fresh piece of paper. Concentrating hard, he worked on it for a few minutes and only once satisfied, did he sit up and sneak it onto Kaiba's desk.
Jou waited for a few minutes, growing more impatient as the note remained at the edge of the table, steadfastly unread.
"Baka" muttered Jou in annoyance. He slid his seat a little closer to Kaiba and pushed the noted into Kaiba's hand – defying him to ignore it. Fortunately, Ryjuta-sensei was facing the board, so didn't see this happening… Not that he'd have noticed as he'd just got to 1492 and was talking animatedly about sailing ships.
Sighing, Kaiba opened the note, read it, and tossed it back onto the desk.
Rolling his eyes, Jou put the note back in his hand and stared at him until he picked up his pen.
Kaiba sat for a moment, wondering how to respond to the note, which sounded sincere enough, he had to admit. And Mokuba was always harping on about him needing friends, and Yugi was a competent duellist, as were the others if he'd admit it… He read it again:
Kaiba, we're gonna grab some coffee and ice-cream after school. I was wondering, if your office can do without you for half an hour, whether you'd like to come with us?
By the way, this isn't a joke and we aren't going to tell you that you're horrible if ya do join us. But we might if ya don't…
Jou
x
Putting pen to paper, Kaiba wrote.
Mutt,
I'm not used to a lack of ulterior motives. Mokuba always says I need to get out more… If you don't have a problem with me, then I will join you for coffee.
I realise I've written Mutt here, I…don't mean anything by it. It's only because you're loyal to your friends.
Kaiba looked up a little and found Jou staring at him with a slightly apprehensive face. Foregoing the usual smirk, Kaiba nodded slightly and handed Jou the note, wondering at the slight blush creeping across his cheeks when Jou's fingers brushed his, not noticing that the same blush graced Jou's cheeks as he took the note.
Scooting back to his place, Jou opened the note and wrinkled his nose at being addressed as 'Mutt', then began to read the rest. With a slight snort, he finished reading it and looked over at the blue-eyed boy and smiled. Kaiba looked as surprised as he could at that, and found himself smiling back.
Damn, he though, why is it that he can make me smile, just by smiling at me? I must be ill. This is Jounouchi I am smiling at. Kaiba, pull yourself together…
Jou's smile widened as he saw Kaiba's lips twitch upwards, and he looked away, writing something on the note before passing it back to Kaiba.
Guess that makes us friends then? Friends have coffee; enemies don't…And stop calling me Mutt…
Reading the note, Kaiba almost laughed. Once more writing:
All right… I'll call you puppy instead…
Jou read the note and burst out laughing, turning it into a coughing fit as Ryjuta turned around to seek the source of the disturbance. "Are you alright, Katsuya?" He asked.
"Hai, just something stuck in my throat. May I go get some water please?"
Nodding, sensei went back to droning about the difference between the various ships in use at the end of the 15th Century.
A few minutes later, Jou came back into the room clutching a glass of water, and sat back down at his desk. Grabbing more paper and grinning his head off, Jou wrote a two word note to his friends: He's coming!
Kaiba noted the smiles coming his way from Yugi and co, and realised that just maybe, Mokuba was right when he said that he needed to get out more… The problem with being the CEO to the corp was that they demanded that he dealt with the things a CEO would normally deal with, despite him being at school.
History took years to finish, but eventually it was over, most of the students leaping from their desks like salmon in their eagerness to get out of the room. Six boys got up more slowly, packing their bags up and chatting amiably about schoolwork, trying to include Kaiba in the conversation as well, even if all they got were vague acknowledgements.
When they got outside the school, they saw a limo parked and waiting – Jou let out a soft whistle.
"Nice car…guess it's yours, Kaiba?" he asked.
"Hn. Yes, I will tell him to go away for a while. How long does coffee take?" Kaiba asked.
Laughing slightly at the tone of confusion coming from Kaiba, the boys responded as one: "As long as our money holds out!"
Jou smiled "Usually about an hour…sometimes more, it depends if we run out of things to talk about before our money does…that doesn't happen often, mind…"
Nodding, Kaiba went to the car's window and rapped in it. After a brief conversation with his driver, Kaiba straightened and looked at the other boys.
"Shall we go?" He raised one eyebrow and waited.
The boys grinned at each other and grabbed Kaiba, dragging him off down the street at a run, Yugi and Jou hanging onto his arms, the others running ahead, urging him forward with Kaiba trying not to smile and failing, laughing happily as he ran along with his newfound friends.
On the main street, the boys stopped dragging Kaiba along and slowed to a walk, Yugi and Jou kept their arms linked with his, as if he was going to run away from them on the way to the coffee shop.
"So." Said Kaiba. "Do you all come here every day?"
Jou looked up at him. "Nah, 'bout once a week, it mostly depends if we managed to get any paid work…sometimes I do shifts in the coffee shop and that way I get free coffee. Do you never go out for coffee with friends Kaiba?" he asked curiously.
Sighing softly, Kaiba looked at the ground. "No. I don't have any friends."
"Stop, people…" called Yugi, waiting for everyone to gather round before letting his Yami take over. "Kaiba," the pharaoh stared at the uncomfortable Kaiba. "You are amongst friends here. We are here for you." Yugi took over and added "You'd be here for us too Kaiba. That's what friends are for." He smiled at Kaiba and stepped back.
Jou ran his hand gently down Kaiba's arm and stared up into blue eyes. "We're here for you. We all know what it's like to be alone. We all made damn sure that we stopped being alone. Honda found me and I dragged Yug into this mess, Otogi started out as Honda's boyfriend but ended up a close friend to all of us. Bakura…he's tried to get rid of us a few times but he's still our friend…after all, he was possessed at the time…" Jou stepped closer to Kaiba, placing his free hand on his shoulder. "There aint no reason why you can't be our friend too. You ok with that Kaiba?"
Kaiba stared down at Jou, looking lost, eyes brimming with unshed tears – the blue irises sparkling in the light. Jou's breath caught as he looked into those tearful eyes and he leaned into Kaiba, wrapping his arms fully around him, rising on tip-toe to press his cheek to Kaiba's.
"We're here, Kaiba. You don't have to be alone any more. We can help you if you let us." Jou whispered.
With a sob, Kaiba made history, collapsing onto Jou, tears flowing as the whole gang gathered round, resting hands on his back, stroking his arms, murmuring soothing words. Finally the sobbing slowed and Kaiba realised that he was still holding Jou, who had rested his head on his shoulder, breath tickling his neck, and found that he didn't mind it at all.
Well. That's the next bit done… I know it's not great at the moment and a bit naff on the whole Kaiba-becoming-human thing, but… It kinda had to be done…
If you read this far, I salute you! Thank you!
Hopefully the next chapter will be slightly less vomit-inducing.
Remember to feed the author :D (i.e.: review, goddammit!)
