Disclaimer: I don't own it…
Oh dear…I was supposed to have put this out like a month ago…sigh. Well I apologize for the ridiculously long wait for this. Between exams, school, the flu, and getting ready for prom, I haven't found the time. But here it is for all your enjoyment. Oh and don't forget to review k?
Chapter 1: Ignorance is Bliss
It was 11:00 p.m. as Katsuya Jounouchi stumbled into the house after a long and tiring day. Not that he wasn't used to it, but today seemed more tiring than usual. Upon entering the living room, the strong scent of alcohol met his nose. 'Figures as much...' The blonde mused bitterly as he stepped closer into the room. What met his sight was his father Hideki Jounouchi. Obviously the man was intoxicated to the point that he had passed out. Miraculously he hadn't died from over consumption of alcohol, though sometimes Jounouchi wished that he would…as terrible as that sounded. 'Well I can't just leave him lyin' in his own beer…he'll be pissed in the mornin'. He thought as leaned his father against the couch and began to pick up the beer bottle and cans that littered the floor.
Once finished, Jounouchi trudged into his room bone tired. There wasn't anything special about it once he thought about it. The walls were covered in a pale blue wallpaper that was starting to peal. If you looked good enough you could see smudges of blood in some places. Jounouchi cringed remembering how it got on the wall on the first place. His "bed" wasn't really a bed, but a flat mattress on the floor. He had sworn that he would try to get himself a real bed, but he needed to concentrate on other things. Aside from that, there wasn't really much else in the room to symbolize what he was about. Jounouchi plopped down on the mattress, staring at his book bag filled with work that he hadn't finished yet. 'Like it would do any good, I'm failing most of my classes at Domino anyhow…but I can't afford to ignore the work at that I got from Nasaki...' Jounouchi thought as he pulled out all of his work and began to work. After 3 hours, Jounouchi was finally finished with all his work. After taking a cold shower, Jounouchi walked back into the kitchen to check the mail. As Usual the mail was mostly bills, late notices, tuition, bills, and more bills.
Jounouchi sighed tiredly not knowing what to do now. He only makes so much a month. It seemed like he didn't make so much this month as he usually does, though that wasn't really the truth. The problem was what to do once he got his monthly check. He always sends money to his mother and sister. Well not really for his mom, but to his sister so she can have some nice things. His mom was having financial problems, and someone had to help pay for some things. So, Jounouchi volunteered to help her pay for some things. Naturally, she didn't give him so much as a thank you. 'I paid for the surgery and everything else…and I don't even get a hello now and then.'Though, that was ok, because he was doing it for his Sister not that witch.
After giving them money, he did have enough to pay tuition at both schools. No one knew Jounouchi was going to Nasaki Cram School, one of the best schools in Japan. Jounouchi was a lot smarter than he was given credit for, and very talented. He was a child prodigy, and a genius to boot. Of course, no one knew that. Jounouchi had an IQ of 188 which was remarkable to say the least. Sadly, his circumstances aren't giving him the opportunities he could have. His father doesn't want him to go to college, but to stay with him and take care of him, and Jounouchi was afraid to stick up to him. So, because he figured he would never get anywhere in life, he played stupid all his life.
Though his plan sort of backfired, because now everyone thinks he's a complete idiot. Jounouchi became tired of living this type of life. He was wasting his gift for no reason. So he tested to get into Nasaki and aced it. The people there were beyond impressed and we more than happy to have someone like him in their school. They even paid for more than half the tuition, seeing that Jounouchi couldn't do it on his own. As long as he kept his 'A' average they would continue to pay for it. They also paid for his books too. This made things a lot better for the blonde. Once, he has paid for the tuition for the schools things begin to get a little tight. It was always like this. There was only enough money for a few bills, but he always had to go without something.
He needed water for sure, and lighting would be nice. So he had to pay the water and electricity bill. The telephone and cable bill wasn't important. He hadn't had Cable in years, and he doesn't have time to talk on the phone anyways. Then there came the problem with the heating bill. If he didn't pay that bill, he might freeze to death in the winter; of course he could just open all the windows when it got hot. Thankfully it was spring, and he did manage without the heat during the winter. 'I cant keep doing this, having to go without all these important things…maybe if I got another Job.' Though, this idea wouldn't really work out too well. Jounouchi already worked two jobs already. One early in the morning before school, and one right after until around 10:30 that night. Because of the early Job, he was always late for school. Than after serving his detention he had to rush to get to work, so he wouldn't be late and get a deduction on his paycheck. It was a hard life to live.
Weary eyes, began to close and he knew it was time for him to get some sleep. He had a long day ahead of him. Jounouchi trudged quietly into his room, laid down on the mattress and went to sleep.
At Domino Hospital
Seto Kaiba put his head in his hands and took another deep breathe to calm his nerves. He had been by Mokuba's side aver since he got out of school that day; he didn't even go to work that day. A week ago, Mokuba had collapsed at school and was rushed to the hospital. The doctors are investigating what could be wrong with the Younger Kaiba, and it would take a few days for them to come up with a diagnosis. Kaiba was practically ripping his hair out waiting for them to finish. Seeing that his brother was sound asleep, Kaiba silently left the room to go home. Once home, he made his way to bed. The Mansion seemed so much colder now that Mokuba wasn't in it. He laid his head down on the pillow and willed himself to sleep. 'I won't let him down…I promised him that.'
The Next Day: 7:00 A.M
Honey eyes opened slowly as Jounouchi rolled off his mattress and began to wash up. He put on his uniform, which was wrinkled again, and looked at his small journal to see what his schedule was for that day. He would leave for work soon, work until 8:30 and than run to school. Sadly, he was always late for school even though he was a fast runner. He would make it too class eventually, get his detention, and start his day at school. Once lunch time rolled around, he would ditch his friends, and go up to the school roof for some time alone to study and eat the little bit of lunch he managed to steal from the cafeteria each day. After school, which ended at 2:55, he would go to Nasaki for a few hours to take some classes until 6:00. Than he would go to work again until 10:30, go home, dodge beer bottle, and his father sexual advances, go to bed, and do the same thing again the next day.
It was a tiring cycle. 'I need a new job…I hate being a waiter...' Jounouchi thought bitterly as he left the house without eating. Today was another day, though something told him that today wasn't going to be the same as others. This made the boy wary as he entered the shop where he worked. Later, the blonde rushed out of the store trying to get his school Jacket on while dodging people on the sidewalk. He would so be late again today, but he was determined none the less. Jounouchi finally made it to the school grounds, but the school was void of human life telling him that school had started. He was indeed late again. Cursing too himself, Jounouchi walked to him locker to grab a few books for the first few classes. He closed his locker and walked into his first class, Trigonometry. He was met with many stares and a fee snickers throughout the class. Seeing Jounouchi get in trouble seemed to be the classes favorite pastime.
After getting reprimanded, and a detention after school, Jounouchi made his way to his seat avoided the stares that followed. Jounouchi sat down, put his head on his desk, and went to sleep not caring if he was caught or not. Time went by, and luckily the teacher didn't notice him asleep, to perhaps didn't care anymore, and that's how his first three periods went. The bell rang and it signaled his time for lunch. He saw Yugi talking to Anzu and Honda, and he cleverly slipped way without being noticed, except for a certain brunet. Kaiba had noticed that Jounouchi had been acting weird for quite some time now. He didn't even react to Kaiba's insults like he used to. He had gotten thinner than he already was, bags under his eyes, and he was secluding himself from everyone he knew.
Something was wrong here, and Kaiba wanted to know what it was…not that he cared. 'Of course I don't, but if its keeping me from teasing the Mutt than I am automatically involved.' He thought as he quietly left the room following Jounouchi. Up on the school roof, Jounouchi read through his notes from a class in Nasaki. He was so absorbed that he didn't notice that Kaiba was right beside him until the other boy cleared his throat. Jounouchi jumped up, in a fighting position, all his papers flying everywhere. When he saw who is was, he dropped his stance and glared at the brunet. "What the hell are ya' doing up here moneybags?" Jounouchi growled. Kaiba smirked. "I could ask you the same thing Mutt..." Jounouchi sighed at the insult. He was tired enough as it was, and didn't feel like arguing with the other male today. He hadn't noticed that Kaiba was staring down at the papers that were all over the ground now. Kaiba leaned down and picked up what was Jounouchi list of classes at Nasaki. Alarmed, Jounouchi made an attempt to grab the paper from the taller teen but failed. Blue eyes scanned the paper and widened in disbelief. "What the hell is this Mutt?" Jounouchi blushed in embarrassment of being found out.
"It's a list of classes…at Nasaki Cram School..." Kaiba glared at the paper angrily, not willing to believe that Jounouchi could possibly be taking classes at such a renowned school like Nasaki. "But how…you have to test to get into Nasaki…a mutt like you could never get into a school like that..." Jounouchi turned red, hating himself for putting up his act for so long, because now no one took him seriously. "For your information I did take the test an aced it too." Kaiba turned his gaze up the meet Jounouchi's. "Is there something you aren't telling me or anyone else mutt?" Jounouchi stared back into blue eyes and sighed. He might as well, he couldn't deny it now.
"Ok I'll tell you. I'm a child prodigy and genius… I know it's hard to believe but it's true." Kaiba stared at the blonde trying to process this new information. "Well if this is true, than why do you act like such an idiot in school than?" Jounouchi smiled a broken smile. "Because my father won't let me…he wants me to take care of him for the rest of his life…so I figured I might as well act stupid so that no one would know what I could do…" Kaiba nodded, it made a little bit of sense, though he had to admit it was a very shocking thing to hear from the blonde. He couldn't believe that Jounouchi was this smart. Kaiba looked over the class list. He was currently taking, AP Calculus, AP literature, AP History, AP Physics, AP Biology, and a few art and music courses. Jounouchi stared at the ground not knowing what else to say.
"What's your IQ?" Jounouchi looked up in surprise. "Oh erm…188. Though you probably have an IQ of like...190 or something." He said with a warm tone. Kaiba looked at him in shock. "I have an IQ of 191 but close enough…I don't believe this. Mutt what the hell is wrong with you!" He all but yelled at the startled teen. Jounouchi flinched at the harsh tone; Kaiba was scary when he was pissed. "You have an IQ that rivals mine. But missing the mark by 3…do you even realize the gift you have? Why are you wasting your life away like this?" Jounouchi reddened again and glared. He hated when people said that to him, he's heard it many times before. "Why the hell do ya' care anyways? I'm the mutt remember?" Kaiba threw the papers at the ground and stood over the shorter male.
"I never said I did. But I hate it when people waste their life, when they could do so much more. You are obviously extremely gifted Mutt…why are you settling for such a meager life?" Honey eyes turned somber, and a frown appeared on the otherwise beautiful features of his face. "I can't go against his wishes..." Kaiba sighed. "What you need to do…is to get your act together, and do better here." Jounouchi nodded. "I know. But I am too far behind…"
"Well than what you need is an academic advisor…someone who can help you catch up and keep you on task…" Jounouchi considered this for a minute. "As nice as that sounds, I could never afford one..." Kaiba shook his head. "Let's make a deal shall we? I'll be your academic advisor…and in return you must work under me at Kaiba Corp." Jounouchi stared at Kaiba like he had grown a second head. "Why the hell would you want me to work for you?" Something about this seemed rather fishy to him, how could he trust this guy?
"Look I need someone who can keep up with public affairs...what the public likes…and what they don't concerning what I make at Kaiba Corp. Plus I need someone to manage the money and any negotiations I may make. You seem qualified enough." Jounouchi blinked. Was he hearing right? Kaiba wanted him to work for him? "But I though you didn't trust me. Or like me for that matter." Kaiba rolled his eyes in an annoyed manner.
"I have known you long enough to know you wouldn't do that…and even if you did do it…I'll find out…now will you accept my offer?" Jounouchi pondered this deal for a minute. He could work for Kaiba, get paid, and be able to get his grades up. Kaiba would have someone who will actually do their job, and make money in return. It was a fairly even trade. "Alright. You got yourself a deal Kaiba." Kaiba nodded. "Good, you start this afternoon, I suggest you quit whatever Job you have now…you'll need to concentrate on Kaiba Corp, plus you'll make a much larger sum of money. Don't be late or else." He warned as he left the school roof, leaving the blonde to reflect on what just occurred.
Kaiba made his way t his next class. It was still hard to believe that his rival was almost smarter than he…and didn't even tell anybody. Damn that mutt. Well, at least Kaiba Corp will benefit from whatever Jounouchi will bring to the company. Kaiba wondered what the real circumstances were for Jounouchi's false stupidity. He only told him a little bit of why he acted the way he did, and was very vague about it. Well whatever it was, Kaiba was sure he would take care of it himself. No one messed with the mutt, but Kaiba himself, and he would make sure it stayed that way. If it meant busting some heads, than that's what it will come too. Kaiba smirked again. The Next few months were going to be interesting…interesting indeed.
End Chapter.
Well that's the first chapter, I would you all liked it. Please review and tell me if you wish me to continue ok? Ja ne !
