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Jou's POV
"Waaah, Seto-kun. I missssss youuu."
I left the Kaiba Corp building contentedly knowing that I've finally delivered my present for Seto. He deserved this specially now that I know he had changed. What happened yesterday in the video game shop totally caught my heart. He was so charming around kids. Although my present wasn't really that suitable since his taste for food is rather unknown to me, I'm sure he would be curious and open it up anyway. For some reason too, I feel quite confident that he liked my present. I always win in the end. This victory isn't really something I should be happy about since I didn't get to hang out with him and if I can shout it out loud in front of the building, I could've done that. To spare myself from the embarrassment of the possible things I could do when I lose control of my emotions, I ran off with increasing speed.
"Gah. Seto! You're driving me nuts!"
I ran faster with my eyes close, having thoughts of Seto swirling in my mind. I was so out of my mind that I passed the wrong alley. Accidentally, I bumped onto this person who was standing just a few blocks from where I came from. I was careless enough to actually let myself fall over the ground. I panted slightly and rubbed my butt as I stood up.
"Ow."
"Sorry, uhh…" I looked up at the guy. "Sir…"
I winced as I examined the man's features. His face had an expression that gave me the creeps so I stepped a few paces back and when I turned around there were four men who stood up waiting for my next move. One of them was fat, the other had funky hair and the other two looked like musclemen. It scared the hell out of me.
My right hand was grabbed from behind. "Where do you think you're going, boy? Running off to tell Mr. CEO about this, aye?"
I froze hearing his statement. Who are these guys? And why the hell does this guy know I'm with Seto? I mean Seto never had a public announcement that we're together. "Who are you and what are you planning!"
"Knowing it isn't necessarily. It's not like you can escape if we told you. HAHAHAHA." The musclemen answered and they laughed in unison.
At first I was thinking of fighting back but after seeing that there were more of them around, I only had one option and that was to run away. I nervously pulled my hand off the man's grip. My view shifted to the only way I could escape. I immediately dashed to the only open direction.
Bang!
"What happens if master knows about this? Tsk tsk… Poor little puppy. Or should I say, poor MASTER!" The fat guy teased.
I heard the loud sound of a gun being shot. It took quite a while before I realized that I got hit.
It's like time stopped for me as I fell down the ground. I saw blood oozing continuously from my left leg. God, it hurt so much. At this rate, escaping isn't an option anymore. I couldn't run even if I tried. But desperately wanted to escape. It was somehow clear to me that these guys might have a grudge on Seto and they're planning to use me against him. Slowly, my hands assisted me, as I crawled, not even caring about the amount of blood that leaked out the wound. The pain crept onto my veins as I struggled to move away.
"How persistent." I could hear the funky-haired guy give out a sick laugh.
Their boss, the one I bumped onto, seemed calm as he ordered me to stop moving. "It's either you stop or you get more wholes in your body."
"Who… are you people? Why are you doing this?" I attempted to ask their boss, hoping for a more appropriate answer.
He knelt down and took off his shades revealing eyes of rage and distinct anger. I felt his emotion sneak up to me as he cupped my chin and whispered, "Jounouchi Katsuya, you should know that people with a stuck-up personality get everyone around them enraged."
"You don't have to get so close to him if you hate his personality! Just leave him alone!"
From the background, I heard his gang laugh hysterically. It only came to a stop when their boss gave them a glare. I then found myself being helped up by his gang member. I could've pulled away but I could barely move. I just leaned helplessly on the wall of the alley.
"You see, if you were once a part of the company and you get fired for such a petty reason… Wouldn't you want revenge? You're not seriously an angel, are ya?"
"Wha… what?" So this guy was once a part of the Kaiba Corp. I could believe him since he looked decent enough without having those scary people as his henchmen. But what was he saying? Seto fired him? There's no way Seto would fire him for such an insignificant reason. There must be a heavy reason for Seto to do so. I have to find out even if it means that I have to run away with a bullet stuck in my leg. I tried my very best to move by pressing myself on the wall, gradually pushing myself inch by inch to escape.
"I told you not to move. I'm serious. I could kill you this instant if you don't cooperate."
"WHAT DO YOU WANT ME TO DO THEN!" My wound only spurted more blood out.
"Cooperate. Like, give me the Kaiba Corp's data."
"No!"
"Even if I do this?" He pointed his gun towards my right leg, which is actually the only reason why I could still stand up. His eyes reflected so much of his hate towards Seto. With eyes like that, I'm sure he would shoot me anytime.
"No! I'm not doing it! Why are you blaming everything on Seto!"
Bang!
Shit. I got hit again, on the right leg this time. I fell down and leaned on the wall avoiding the sudden pierce of pain that struck me. It hurt so badly I wanted to cry. But I'm sure, being used for Seto's downfall would feel worst than this. I shouldn't let them use me against Seto. No way. Even if it means that I have to die right now in this place.
"Are you stupid? Who else should I blame, Jounouchi? He is the head of the Corporation. He can take people out whenever he wants. Now, cooperate." He was still calm at this point that he actually shot me twice. It scared me to think what else he could do once he loses his temper. It occurred to me that whatever I tell him wouldn't help. He wouldn't listen to me.
"I don't want to!"
"Why?"
I couldn't answer him. Even if he knew I'm with Seto, pointing it out more would only convince him more to use me as a tool to destroy Seto. I just looked away and kept silent.
He placed a hand on the wall and tilted his head to look at me. "I shouldn't really ask why now, eh? Cause I believe you're that person who Seto Kaiba actually cares about besides that brat, Mokuba."
It surprised me that he knows Seto all too well.
"I bet you're thinking why I know him that much. But why of course, I do." There was a curve that formed on his lips. I couldn't read expression. I wasn't too sure why he was smiling either. "I was his consultant."
My eyes grew wide and he only continued to speak, "I was his consultant and he just fired me so easily."
"DO YOU UNDERSTAND THAT!" He snapped and I finally see him lose himself. "DO YOU KNOW HOW IT FEELS TO BE JUST DRAGGED AWAY THINKING THAT EVERYTHING'S FINE!"
It frightened me since he was almost so calm earlier.
"But of course, you wouldn't really know cause you're close to him… so close…" He pointed the gun on my forehead. He looked as if he was possessed by a demon. I cringed.
"JOU!"
I looked over to where the voice came from.
It was Honda.
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Honda's POVJou had his blood spilled over his legs. I can't believe Kaiba-guy actually allowed this to happen to him. He's useless just like I expected. He didn't care for Jou at all.
I leaped at the guy who was about to shoot Jou.
Bang!
"Jou!" The guy lost his grip of the gun after shooting it at Jou's shoulders. I immediately grabbed it and pointed it at him. "Shit! I'll shoot a whole right through your chest, you psycho freak!"
"No… don't, Honda…" Jou could still manage to talk even though he got hit three times.
And just like some other scene in a movie, the police only come in when the bad guys have already done something wrong. Luckily I came in time, cause if not, Jou must've been dead being shot right on his forehead.
I carried him in my arms. I could hear him whimper over the last bullet that got into his body. He was critical but I'd like to think otherwise. I fled right away to bring him to the nearest hospital. It was absolutely a miracle that I reached the hospital on foot. If only I had a few bucks with me, we could've rode the taxi. I couldn't stop swearing seeing that Jou was becoming pale at every step I took.
And when I finally reached the hospital, I had to let the doctors take care of him. All I could do was call Yugi and the others to inform them about what happened. Though, only Jou can tell who and why were those guys after him. I had to sit down and wait for the doctor to come out. It was just few minutes of wait until my friends came rushing in the hospital hall.
"Honda, what happened?" Yugi was obviously the one who was so concerned about Jou.
"I don't have details but I found him being sabotaged by this psycho guy." I explained quite puzzled of what happened myself.
Ten minutes had passed before the doctor appeared before the emergency room. I stood up and waited for him to explain Jou's condition.
"Are you a friend of Jounouchi Katsuya?"
"Yes, sir."
"I'll be direct to the point then. Mister Jounouchi is in a critical condition. He lost a great amount of blood. He needs a blood donor. His blood type is O. Do you know anyone who has the same blood type as his?"
"I do!" Anzu didn't hesitate to donate her blood for a friend. Thank god. If I had the same blood type I would've volunteered in her place. Jou meant so much to me that I could even give him my life if I had to.
The doctor assisted Anzu and I could only watch as they disappeared from my view.
"That's right… You have to come here at the hospital near your office, Kaiba-kun!" Yugi's voice went and I immediately grabbed his cellphone. "Hey!"
"What the… Yugi! Are you crazy! It's his fault why Jou's in a critical condition! Why did you—Ugh…"
"But Honda, Jou needs him. And we aren't sure yet what had happened so we can't really blame Kaiba for this." Yugi looked down as he explained. We both fell silent for a moment. To me, it is Kaiba's fault why Jou is hurt. He should've been with him all along.
"It is clear that it –is- his fault, Yugi! If he was—"
"Where's Jou!" It was Seto Kaiba and it looks as if he ran instead of riding his expensive limo. I clenched my fist and delivered him a punch in the face. It's a pleasant surprise that he didn't dodge my attack.
"Honda!" Yugi tried to stop me but I only delivered another punch on his gut.
I was expecting that he'd punch me back but he didn't move he simply asked the same question with a softer tone this time. "Where is Jou?"
"He's still in the E.R., Kaiba. We have to wait until the operation's over before he gets transferred to his own room."
"…What happened?"
"It's your fault! IT'S YOUR FREAKIN' FAULT, SETO KAIBA!" I grabbed him by his collar, enraged. He isn't reacting like himself anymore. He looked at me with shock.
"Stop fighting! That doesn't help at all…" Yugi said with a shattered voice.
I released Kaiba and sat down at the seats near the emergency room. Kaiba and Yugi did the same thing. I couldn't help but glare at Kaiba every time our eyes met. Darn, Jou loves this ill-mannered person and I couldn't really stand it.
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Seto's POVI would not forgive myself if anything happens to Jou. I know for a fact that Honda isn't lying. It was my fault. If I had been there for him then this never happened. But blaming myself isn't going to help at all. What's done cannot be undone. All I could do is hope that Jou is alright. I've never wanted anyone from Jou's friends to see that I'm weak around him. I don't want them to see how worried I was about Jou's condition. But no matter how much I try to keep it, my emotions tend to spill out just of the thought that Jou is hurt. If I act like this right now, how much more when I see Jou?
The doctor came out and informed us of the room where Jou was going to be transferred.
"His condition is stable for now at least. But one of the bullets wasn't taken out. This one is buried deep in his shoulder. We have to check in a few days if he's ready for another operation. But before that I have to talk to his relatives. Which of you is Mr. Jounouchi's relative?"
Shizuka wasn't around because she is with their mother in Osaka. I don't have her contact details either. His father would probably be the last person in the world who has to know. I'm sure he doesn't even give a damn about Jou. He might even blame Jou for what happened.
I couldn't explain the personal details to the doctor so it was Yugi who tried to state it for us. Honda looked at me as if he wanted to punch me again. I'm sure his grudge he has against me grew when I didn't react over the doctor's question.
When the doctor left, Yugi turned to look at me. "Kaiba-kun…"
"I'll be taking care of his expenses."
"WHY YOU!" Honda lost his temper at this.
"Could you pay his hospital bills, Honda?" I was back to being the heartless Seto Kaiba. For a while there I was sure that I lost my composure when I heard what happened. But how long am I going to act like this?
Honda couldn't react in terms of words but he had his fists ready to punch me anytime. I'll make sure I don't get hit this time. I reassured him with a smirk. "And you can still manage to grin like that even when Jou's life is in danger!"
That was a painful comeback from him. Why does he always have a point and why do his words affect me? I had to show him though, that what he said made no sense to me.
Before we could begin an argument, the nurse came in and assisted us to Jou's room. As I walked passed the halls, my defenses thinned. I wasn't sure if I could continue to pretend that I'm not affected about Jou's condition.
Unfortunately, I was the first one to enter the room meaning I get to see Jou first. He was lying down the white sheets of the bed. A lot of tubes were connected to his body. His golden bangs covered his sleeping eyes and his skin was rather pale. And my defenses crumbled totally when I saw his lips half-opened, breathing heavily as if desperately trying to live. I sat down beside him and held his hand.
"Jou… live for me."
TBCA/N: Crappity-crap chapter, aye? Sorry about the numerous POV shifts. ;
Numerous thanks to the people who actually read this fic. God, why must I suck at writing? XD
About the blood type thingy, if I got it all wrong, let's blame wikipedia for this! XD