Warning: Yaoi

Disclaimer: Don't own the Yugi-Oh characters.

A/N: The idea popped up in my head yesterday night so I thought I'd give it a try. Can seem strange in the beginning but I hope you'll get the courage and patience to read to the end.
Edit: I changed the name, I think this one's more fitting (and also the account)

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When Time Stops

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"Hey Jou, truth or dare?" asked Yugi with an everlasting smile on his face.

"Truth, I'm too tired to do a dare" Jou answered from his laying position on the floor, head propped on his arms.

"Hum…did you ever…sleep with someone?" By the end of his question, Yugi had turned a nice shade of red.

"Yes" The blond answered without hesitation. He had stopped being shy about this subject along time ago. Gangs did that to you.

Yugi and Ryou blushed, Otogi looked up and Honda just gaped.

"Really? Why didn't you tell me?" came the shocked answer of Honda. "When?"

"One answer at a time. Ryou, truth or dare?"

"-" "-" "-"

The rain was falling hard on the pavement and dirt and just about every surface it could reach. It had been raining for most of the day and it still didn't look like it'd stop any time soon.

A young boy was sitting on a bench in the park. He came at the beginning of the afternoon and didn't move from his spot on the wet wood since then. There was a gash on his right cheek which stopped bleeding after being continuously washed by the rain.

His blond was plastered on his forehead and the sides of his face. He was looking up, blinking every now and then to get the water away but glaring for the most part. The boy was silently defying the rain, the sky and everything around him. If he was going to die tonight might as well do it with his head held up high. That's what his sick logic was telling him. Could you die from just sitting under the rain? He thought that if he stayed long enough he'd eventually find out. Wasn't it just lucky that he had nowhere to be?

The hood of his sweatshirt slide down his head with the weight of the rain and still he didn't move. He was already wet, not like the hood had been of any protection.

The blond boy had gotten in a fight earlier with his father which got him a nice bruise on the back near his left shoulder. More than angry with his dad and himself, he had left the usual meeting place of his gang. Sure the guy didn't know that he was hurt at that precise place but did he have to greet him with a light slap? It was the last straw that made him break. He had punched him without really thinking. And so they thought. He had won without to much trouble. The guy had been stupid to even think he had a chance against him but the cheating bastard still managed to cut him with a peace of glass. After that he had left more angry than ever with a nice scratch on his cheek and came to the last place he knew no one would bother him. The park.

Anger soon turned to sadness. The place was empty! If it wasn't for the soft splatter of the rain, it would have been dead silent. He figured that if there wasn't anyone it was probably because it was raining.

A boy came raining, followed closely by a girl. They were using their bag as a cover from the rain. She tripped, a small sound escaping her mouth and barely caught herself. The boy stopped and turned around. He smiled before catching her hand and they were off again.

Why wasn't there anyone else in the park? Was he the only one with such a pitiful life? Or maybe he was the only one insane enough to stay in the rain… Oh well, he wasn't one to give up, he'd stay under the rain until something happened. Not too long a go, there was a man, in his forties maybe. He had stopped to look at him and he remember thinking something along the lines 'if he talks to me I'll go back home'. But the man had just shaken his head before leaving.

Maybe he was pitiful. Was he asking for help? No, it couldn't be. He didn't care if he died, no one cared. He wasn't afraid of anything! Death meant nothing to him. Nothing…just like him… He went back to glaring to the rain. Blame the sky. It was easy. He could do that for now, he'd think later if he was still alive.

Some time past. Maybe an hour, maybe more, maybe less. He felt something drop on his head, blocking his view of the sky and stopping the rain in its course. He slowly lifted his hand and reached for the cloth. He got it out of his sight and found himself starring at a guy. He looked older that him. What was he doing here?

"Whatever made me go through the park…" The boy grumbled under his breath but the blond still caught it. "Well get up, I won't wait forever." He snapped.

The blond blinked. Had the guy gone insane? He didn't know him or at least didn't think so.

"Are you going to move or what?" The boy grabbed him by the arm and brought him to a standing position. He hand slipped in his as he started walking, tugging him along.

"Heh? What are doing…where are you taking me?" The blond asked in a shriek.

"Blame it on my conscience. I can't just let you die now that I saw you. How old are you anyway?"

"Thirteen."

"Aren't your parents going to be worried?" He received a shrug. "Oh well. Name?"

"Jounouchi Katsuya."

" Kanae Haru. You're going to have one hell of a cold tomorrow."

Jou clutched the coat in his hand and cried silently under the cover of the rain. Maybe he had been just asking for help after all.

"-" "-" "-"

"Ryou, are you in love?" Jou asked with a knowing smile.

All the gazes were on him. He blushed. "I…I…I'll switch to dare!" Ryou stuttered.

"You can't do that." Otogi said while playing with one of his bangs. He actually wanted to know the answer now that he knew the white haired boy loved someone.

"Nah, it's fine. You'll have to help with the literature assignment, 'kay?"

"Fine." Ryou grumbled but it was still better than telling his secret. "My turn. Jou, truth or dare?"

"Ya can't ask the one who just asked you!"

"I'm sure it's fine." Otogi imitated Jou's voice, making everyone laugh.

He stuck his tongue. "Truth…"

"When did you sleep with someone? Do we know the person?"

"Fourteen. And you don't know who it is." He grinned. "Even though that was to question…"

"Fourteen? And you never told me all this time? I thought I was your best friend!"

Jou found himself in a headlock.

"Ha drop it Honda! You never asked…" He said as he tried to free himself.

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"Told you you'd have one hell of a cold. That's what you get for staying under the rain all day." He said as he watched the boy throw up for the third time.

One hell of a cold was an understatement. He got it all from fever, to running nose and lets not forget the scratchy throat; and if the guy made an other stupid comment, he swore to himself he'd throw up on him the next time.

"Hey, I got school today. I'll be by three, think you can manage that long on your own?"

Jou nodded his head.

"There's some soup, heat it up if you're hungry. Water's on the nightstand." He tossed him the phone. "If you have a problem just call me."

The blond head hit the pillow after he drank some water to take the disgusting taste out of his mouth.

"You're listening there?"

"Hai, hai…" Jou mumbled as he snuggled deeper under the covers.

"If you don't get better before tomorrow, I'll call a doctor."

"Mmm…"

Kanae sighed and left.

"-" "-" "-"

"Thinking about something pervert?" Otogi came to sit beside Jou on the floor.

"Huh? No. what makes you think that?"

"You have that silly smile on your face and a dazed look like the one Honda has when he's watching up a girl's skirt."

"No way!" Jou lightly punched him before resting his head on Otogi's shoulder. "Just tired. Long week."

"You tell me."

"-" "-" "-"

The first three days were fuzzy. Between throwing up and taking his medicine he didn't remember much. It wasn't before the fourth day, that he actually felt better. It was like you woke up of a bad nightmare but refreshed.

"Since you feel better, go take a shower, you stink. It will take me ages to take the bad smell of this room and let's not talk about the sheets."

Jou had grown used to the number one jerk Kanae and his comments.

"I can leave if I'm so much of a bother."

"I was planning on waiting for tomorrow but which ever suits better."

Jou stuck his tongue out and went to hide under the covers but before he managed that, he received a towel on the face.

"Bathroom's the first door to your left."

"-" "-" "-"

"How about we call it a night?" Yugi said, getting up to take the DVD from the player. "Jou and Otogi slept through the last movie and Ryou kept dizzying off."

"Yeah, good idea." Honda got up and popped his back. "What's the sleeping arrangements?"

"My bed is big enough for two so I thought…"

"But not long enough if you ask me." Jou piped in.

"Oh shut up, no one asked you." Yugi tossed him a pillow. "So as I was saying before being interrupted" He stuck his tongue at Jou. "Ryou and I can sleep on my bed and I can get a mattress on the floor. Plus the two couches here."

"I'll take the mattress!" Jou got on his feet. "Honda and Otogi snore!"

"I do not!" The dice boy said indignantly. "Only un-cute persons snore."

"Hey! What's that supposed to mean?" Honda glared at the black haired teen.

"It's ok, it's not like it's your fault. Life can be unfair sometimes."

"Oh you…"

"Please don't break anything. We're off, good night."

Three snickering teens went up too Yugi's room, leaving the other two fighting like usual.

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"Just in time for breakfast." Kanae set the plates. "You hungry I hope. I made too much."

"Pancakes?" Jou asked as he sat down in front of Kanae.

"You don't really look Japanese. Don't make the difficult or I'll feed you cat food."

The blond shrugged. He had barely eaten in the past three days so he really wasn't going to play difficult. He took a bit. "It's really great."

"Hum, thanks."

Silence.

Jou looked at that watch. "Huh, aren't you supposed to go to school?"

"Not going." Kanae finished his plate before speaking again. "Shouldn't you call your parents?"

"I did it on the first day. When you left for school." Jou lied.

"What did they say?" He got up and started cleaning.

"That they had been worried but that they felt better now that they knew I was fine." Jou looked down at his empty plate not wanting to give his lie away.

"Really?" Kanae grabbed Jou's plate and finished clearing the table.

"Yeah." He looked up with a small smile.

"Wanna play? I got a new fighting game last week. I was waiting for the occasion to test it with someone. You'll do." He said ruffling Jou's hair.

They played all day just stopping to eat some more pancakes for lunch. It was the first time in a long time that Jou had fun. He couldn't stop himself from grinning all day even with Kanae's annoying comments.

When the night rolled by, they ate a light dinner and settled in front of the TV, Kanae on the couch and Jou on an armchair.

After about half an hour in the movie, Jou grew bored and settled his gaze on his host. Kanae looked really involved in the movie. Jou took the time to watch the older boy. He had beautiful brown hair which fell on his eyes. They weren't too long in the back more like unorganized, they went in every possible direction. He'd probably have to cut it soon though, Jou thought as he saw him reach the front bangs to get them out of the way. What he like the most about the boy was definitely his eyes. They were a deep green and glistened with life. He was a bit envious, his looked a dull brown right know.

He unconsciously tugged his blond bangs too cover his eyes. He knew exactly what they looked like. They looked dead. His gaze dropped to the floor. He didn't mind or at least that was what he told himself. Looks weren't everything. So what if he didn't look handsome.

Kanae switched the TV off at the end of the movie. His little guest had fallen asleep a long time ago. He looked at him for a while before getting up. They must have been really twisted; the two of them. Who was sane enough to take in a stranger and to go to a stranger's home after just meeting?

"Oh well, I've never been known for my common sense."

The following morning Jou woke up in the bed he had occupied for now nearly a week. He heard a knock on the door before it opened.

"You're up? Breakfast will be ready in a few you just got time for a quick shower. I put your uniform in the bathroom."

A while later they were standing at a corner on the sidewalk in their respective uniform.

"We part here. My high school's the other way."

"Oh…Huh…right…" Jou fidgeted.

"Well see ya around!" Kanae tossed over his shoulder as he started walking down the road. Soon he turned another corner and the blond lost sight of him.

That was it. What had he thought? That he'd live with him forever or something?

"Yeah right…" He mumbled to himself as he started walking to his own school. "I'm really stupid…"

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A/N: There you go. Hope you liked. I'll try updating soon. And if anyone is interested in beta-ing me, mail me :p