Disclaimer: Do I really have to go through this again?
Chapter 4: When You Push Me Away
Jounouchi Katsyua liked living large. That was why he had the perfect boyfriend. Seto Kaiba was the richest man in Domino- screw that, the richest man in Japan- and yet he seemed to be extremely naive about things. Like life, generally.
The man had been trained up the ass for every possible situation... Except for the one he was unknowingly in now- someone who was everything he thought he wanted... and in reality was anything but.
But Jou had to keep that under wraps for now. He needed Kaiba. More importantly, he needed Kaiba's money. Kaiba's body was pretty damn useful too. And if somehow, his dear koi found out that he was being used...
Well. Accidents happened. Especially to Kaibas. Look at poor Gozabura, fell headfirst out a fortieth story window of his company. Oops. Like father, like son.
Oh, but this was all speculation. So far, his boyfriend didn't have a clue. And as he waltzed into the Dragon's Lair, he felt high as a kite.
And he hadn't even done any drugs!
He had a nice fat check in his pocket for no less than two thousand dollars, more than enough for poor Katsuya to pay for his daddy's rent and groceries. More than enough for Jou to pay his thugs.
"Hey, niichan." Serenity was sitting in a booth, and miracle of miracles, she was drinking something non-alcoholic!
"Hey, Serenity." He grinned at her cheerfully. "What's shakin'?"
"Nothing..." She chewed her lip a bit, wearing the same thoughtful, almost troubled expression she'd worn for the past two days. "I'm just... hangin' out..."
"Something wrong?" No matter what he was doing, no matter how angry he was, no matter how low he had sunk, he would always have time for his little sister.
"No, no, I'm fine." Serenity smile at him gently. "I've... just realized some things, niichan... I broke up with Tristan a couple days ago..."
Jou blinked. That wasn't very expected. At the least, Tristan was a sure thing for her in bed... "Really?"
"Yeah..." Serenity chewed her lip. "I'm cleaning up my act some, Jou... I just... wanted to... fix things..."
"I understand..." Jou blinked slowly. "You're... you're not gonna go off and tell the cops...?"
"No! Never!" Serenity shook her head. "You're my brother, Jou, I love you, and I'd never do that to you..."
Jou relaxed slowly. "Thanks, sis." Phew. If she went to the cops... Kaiba practically owns the cops... He'd find out... and I'd be out on my ass in no time... Dammit, can't let that happen...
Serenity smiled at him, then sighed and looked down. "I'm... I'm going to go home, Jou... I just don't want to be here anymore..."
Jou nodded. "Ok, sis... Be safe, ok? Is Tristan there still?"
"No, he and Duke started their relationship yesterday..." She giggled faintly. "I haven't seen him for twenty-four hours..."
Jou rolled his eyes. "Why doesn't that surprise me?" He knew damn well that was why he and his sister had gotten along so well at first. Tristan liked sex, and Serenity was curious about the whole deal. At first that had really, really pissed him off. Then, since it was what Serenity wanted, he had let it go.
But now... she'd broken up with him? What the hell was going on here? This wasn't like his sister... She was quiet, preoccupied and much calmer than he'd seen her in a long time. Ok... either she's on a new drug I don't know about, or she's found Jesus...
"No, and no," Serenity sighed. "Niichan, I know you well enough... I know what you're thinking. And I'm not on drugs, and I'm not going to become a nun..."
"Thank God," Jou muttered. "'Cause that'd be scarier than the drug thing."
Serenity giggled faintly. "No, no... I'm perfectly normal... I'm just... things change, Niichan... and I've changed too... I guess I've matured. Tristan was... well, he was a schoolgirl crush..."
"You're seventeen..." Jou pointed out. "Technically, you're still a schoolgirl..."
"That's beside the point..." Serenity waved a hand. "I'm just... older now, Jou... I want something more than what Tristan could give..."
"Better oral sex?" Jou hazarded a guess.
Serenity blushed brightly. "Jounouchi Katsuya!"
"No, seriously, Devlin says he's lacking in that department..." His tone and expression was serious, but his eyes were dancing.
Serenity felt as if the blush on her cheeks was now a permanent part of her face. "Niichan! How can you do this to me?"
"I'm just kiddin' ya, sis..." Jou shook his head a bit. "I'm glad you're growin' up. Part of me is... kinda upset... I miss the little girl you used ta be... but... I can understand."
Serenity hugged him gently and smiles at him. "Thank you for understanding, niichan. I'm glad you're so calm..."
"I'm happier that you're not sleepin' with him, actually," Jou sighed. "Just... be careful, sis."
"Always." Serenity gave him a quick kiss on the cheek and stood. "I'm going home, ok? Will you be there or at Kaiba's tonight?"
"Kaiba's, prob'ly..." Jou shrugged. "He'll probably demand it of me."
"That's fine." Serenity smiled. "Have fun and be safe!" She headed out, book tucked under her arm.
Mary friggin' Poppins has got nothin' on my sister... Jou sighed and sat back, looked up at the ceiling, then ordered a drink.
Serenity hummed softly as she unlocked the door of her apartment. She was in a far, far better mood than she had been in for a long time. She shut the door and locked it, turned around- and screamed, dropping the book to the floor.
Rishid Ishtar pointed a gun at her head. "Silence." He said lowly.
As Serenity scrambled back against the door, he rose and paced around her, keeping the gun trained on her. He had made this decision on his own. He knew that if he failed, he would be in very deep trouble. He knew that if he succeeded, he may well be in very, very deep trouble.
So he resolved that if he succeeded, he would leave for a little while, while things died down. If he failed... he would die. Either by his hand, or by Malik's. Not Marik's. He refused to die at the hand of that... thing.
Serenity licked her lips slowly. "R-Rishid..."
"Shut up," the man snarled sharply. "I should have done this three days ago. I should never have hesitated... That was my mistake..."
Serenity flinched faintly and closed her eyes. "Um... well forgive me for not thinking that it was a mistake... But please... you didn't kill me before... why now?"
"Because I must atone for my error." His voice was harsh, grating. "I failed in my task when I was to kill you last time, and I must never fail again... You represent everything I tried to purge from myself..." His voice suddenly became distant, as if he didn't realize he was speaking. "The emotions I wanted to suppress... The needs I ignored... The desires I tried to forget... And I thought I had succeeded... And then there was you." His eyes sharpened on her. "You... you were different than the others..."
Serenity licked her lips slowly. "But why me? Seriously? I'm no one important... Why not Tristan? Or even Ushiro?"
"Because without you, your brother will be distraught... he will crumble and he will fail..." Rishid growled softly. "And with him, the Black Dragons will crumble, and the Rare Hunters will be triumphant..."
"But... will you... be all right?"
Rishid blinked, staring at her. Did she just say what I think she said? "What?"
"Will you be all right?" Serenity repeated slowly. "That's what I'm worried about."
"..." Rishid slowly lowered the gun and stared at her. How? How can she possibly say that? How can she be worried about me "I am going to kill you..." He said slowly. "How can you possibly be concerned over my welfare?"
"I just am," Serenity all but whispered. "I don't have a reason... I don't need one. I- I haven't been able to stop thinking about you... I even broke up with Tristan... because of you... I dream about you... I hear your voice all the time... and dammit, unless you're stalking me, then I'm just damned obsessed!" Her voice had risen to a shout, then she closed her eyes. "Dammit... I don't know... If you're going to kill me, just kill me... But please, stop playing with me... stop haunting me..."
Rishid glanced down at the gun in his hand and then back at Serenity. Slowly, he raised the gun and pointed it at her again. I... must do this... I cannot fail again...
Serenity closed her eyes and turned her head away. I was supposed to be safe here... I wasn't supposed to die like this... I was supposed to live... And... I feel safer around him than I ever did around Tristan... I don't know why that is... but it is... and if I have to... I guess I will die.
Rishid's muscles tightened as he tried to force himself to pull the trigger. Just kill her. Now. Don't hesitate anymore. Just get rid of her. Now. Or else, you know what will happen to you... Death will be the least of your worries... It will kill the dreams, the fantasies... It must... It has to...
Serenity swallowed and risked looking at him. Once again, he looked as if he were at war with himself, rigid and tense, eyes unfocused. "Rishid?" she murmured softly. "Please..."
Whether she was pleading with him to kill her or not to kill her, it didn't matter. It broke what was left of his control. He tossed the gun to one side and stalked over to her slamming her against the door and kissing her.
Serenity wanted to scream in shock, but his mouth was clamped over hers, stealing her breath and muffling all the noises she could've created. Her hands came up to his chest with the vague idea of pushing him away, but she ended up clinging to his shirt and melting into the kiss. Oh, God... It didn't even feel like this last time... Mmm...
Rishid's entire body burned, every single desire he had ever had for Malik and for her rising in him, forcing past the barriers he had put up, flooding his senses. He deepened the kiss forcefully, letting his tongue invade her mouth, dropping his hands to her waist.
Serenity moaned faintly and responded hungrily to the kiss, shifting to wrap her legs around his waist and hold herself with her arms around his neck and her back against the wall. She pulled away first, compelled by the desire to breathe. "Oh, my God..." She breathed.
Rishid also pulled back slowly, looking her over with dark eyes. If I do this, I am a dead man.
I will die happy.
Without any hesitation, he carried her effortlessly to her bedroom, dropping her on the bed and pinning her down easily. "You will be mine," he growled, his voice deeper than usual with lust.
For an instant, Serenity was utterly terrified. He wants me? He- he wants to fuck me? But I promised... Oh, hell, he's the Dragonslayer, he may damn well be the last man you ever even see... And he's so strong... and handsome... and everything I ever wanted...
"Yes," she murmured, and slowly relaxed.
He took full advantage of that, and all but tore the shirt from her body. She retaliated by tugging at his until he grew annoyed and removed it. One hand slipped down his chest and started on his pants, and he grabbed her hand quickly and forced it away. "Not yet," he purred. "Not just yet."
She settled back and made a faintly purr-like sound at him. "If you insist..."
He smirked and finished undressing her hurriedly.
It was quite a while until she got to his pants.
Marik frowned faintly as he hung up the phone. He glanced over at his lover, then back at the phone. If only that bastard could be tailed... Damn him for being so good! Someday, I will catch him off-guard, I swear
He sighed and turned back to his lover. "Your brother is not in his apartment yet." He forced his voice to be neutral.
Malik rolled his eyes and beckoned imperiously. "Come here, Marik. I wish you'd give up this silly grudge-thing you have against my brother..."
Marik settled down with Malik and shook his head. "You think too much of him. It is one in the morning, and he is not yet here..."
"Then he's either drunk in a hotel, or..." he smirked faintly, and started to chuckle. "Or niichan's finally getting laid..."
Marik closed his eyes and rubbed the bridge of his nose. "Or he is off somewhere betraying us..."
"Oh stop it!" Malik stood up, eyes blazing. "I said I've had enough of this slandering of my brother! Stop it immediately, or you're on the couch!"
Marik sulked faintly. Malik was annoying sometimes, but he was tasty, and damned good in bed. "Very well, my love," he sighed. "I shall refrain from mentioning my... concerns about your brother in your presence."
"You won't have the men hounding him either!" Malik said sharply. "Niichan has enough problems without your help and you will let him be!" The last part was snarled in frustration. Marik backed off with a bow.
"Of course, my love." He watched the gang leader stalk out of the room and turned his gaze on the floor. Well. I must find real evidence, and show it to him. And then I will get rid of him... And Malik will be mine. Mine in every way.
Forever.
A/N: -# I'm back at school now... and I'm not at all ready for the next semester. Next chapter... hell, I don't know when I'll get to it. : sighs: Humor me. I have Organic Chem II this semester. Yeah.
Fireclaw: : snorks: Thank you! Glad you liked it!
The Summer Stars: : snickers;: I can see where you'd think she's a sex kitten... : snickers more: Well... yes and no, I suppose, but that's beside the point... . ... As for the ebil Jou... well... stick around and see what happens. : winks:
Panda Doru: The Geek God: Um... The Duke/Tristan isn't likely to happen... but I can give you some Seto/Jou pr0n, perhaps... I'll see where my muse takes me, and I'll try to oblige you. : grins:
Leaf Zelindor: Rishid: just sighs:
: pets Serenity: Don't be confused, all will be made clear... er... eventually...
nicole-purple: : sniffles some: I get the feeling you don't like me much. XD Aw, I know you love me. : preens a bit: Anyway... yeah. Mak!
Yami no Marik: Yeah, I understand that. : nods: But I like to give Serenity a personality. It's fun. : grins:
Sebastion: Impertinence? Hardly. Hm. Well, I don't really see Malik that way, but I can see where you're coming from. Don't worry, Malik will take a much more active role in later chapters, I can guarantee. Hmm... Rishid doesn't have much a self-image, but what he does have of it is something like "My Gods, I'm in love with my own adopted brother and look, I kill people for a living and I'm starting to like it, I'm a horrible person." Mostly, he tries not to think about things too much, which... never... really works. Rishid's problem is that he does hope, no matter how hard he tries to hide it. So he fails constantly. And that kinda wears down on him after a while. Thanks for your kind words!