Forever Scarred

Chapter 11

He walked in with what strength he had left. This was going to be a very bad day for him. He could've just stayed home, could've skipped going to school and prevent the hassle he was surely going to endure, but then he'd be home on his Father's day off and right in the middle of his dad's 'business'… And his father would be really pissed if he missed another day of school.

So, this was his best alternative, the best solution even though it really wasn't much a great solution…

His father wasn't as hard on him last night as he was other times but that was only because he had school the next day, but it was still hurtful and painful. He swallowed hard, "How am I gonna face them?" He asked himself but the answer to that was already known, already thought of. This wasn't new, it wasn't an unexpected problem no of all things, it was routine. He'd make it through, he'd lie flawlessly and get them to believe some story he made up to cover the sins committed on him. He'd do it with a smile, with words warm and calm though it was all simply false.

"Jyonouchi, there you are! You're late as always, seriously you can't be on time if your life depended on it." Yugi jokingly teased with a sincere, heartwarming smile.

He forced one of his own on his face, pretending everything was okay. Acting as if being late was his own doing that he was just too lazy to get out of bed so early and all he loved to do was sleep. "It's not my fault. They should make school start later, instead of so darn early." He pouted lightly.

The smaller giggled softly as the other teen sat down in his seat. "Well, you're lucky the teacher is running late this morning." He replied softly, and his other friend, Honda whom sat behind him, welcomed him.

So far everything was okay, but once lunchtime came around that's when the fussing and questions would find him he was sure.

--

They gates opened and they drove down the long driveway. "Mokuba is going to be relieved when he sees you, so will Jyonouchi."

The silence was finally broken. Kaiba sat up straight, the pain still strong but bearable and easier to cover. His eyes were narrowed in anger, and perhaps slight fear. Mokuba would be waiting for him right there beyond their mansion door. He'd be excited and relieved as Yami said, that he was safe and alive but, the questions and concerns of his appearance, his obvious abuse would be nothing short of overwhelming.

He'd never seen shock on his brother's face but on one occasion, when Gozaburo was still alive… The terror and distraught expression of pain and apprehension on his young face was more than he could take. All those times that he kept his torture a secret from Mokuba, pretending it was all okay and that nothing went on when he was beckoned to Gozaburo's bedroom, wherein the door was locked right behind him and he wouldn't come back out until a two-hours time…

But in one moment, a small mistake and miscalculation on his part, his young brother caught glimpse, witnessed a little bit of the bitter, ugly truth. And that right there; the look of absolute horror was enough to bring the 'heartless' Seto Kaiba to tears.

Kaiba's expression softened to those bitter memories. He stared up at the doors which stood now before him, as the car halted to a slow stop. He stepped out and straightened his clothes as best he could but it still would be obvious, still be apparent that something went on and things were done…

"You ready?" The voice tinged with uncertainty and naivety, a tone that only told him Yami was not used to or comfortable with the situation he was unfortunately in.

He smiled bemused of the grim circumstances life had thrown before him, well perhaps that was being unfair after all nobody forced him to invite trouble into his home, nobody bothered or threatened him before he decided to let the long time annoyance in his home.

Oh how trouble always found him, or perhaps he always managed to find it. He breathed deeply and walked up the front porch steps, "There is no possible way to be 'ready' for what is to come." He replied quietly, softly.

The doors opened and Kaiba nodded once to his doorman as he entered. "Good to see you, Mr. Kaiba."

Kaiba surveyed the room carefully, never had he felt so calm or safe in the mansion before. An ironic chuckle left his throat, the thought he could feel a sense of security in THIS place of all places was irony at its best. "Where's Mokuba?"

"He is waiting in the living room sir, to the right. Mr. Jyonouchi and three others are waiting there as well."

His eyes closed for a brief second as he collected the plans he'd made on his way back 'home' together. "All right, thank you."

Yami followed him down the short hallway and without words or a moment's thought, Kaiba walked right into the room. Mokuba jumped up from his seat and ran over to him. The brunet knelt down and hugged his brother closely.

"I'm sorry, Seto, I know you didn't want me to get Yugi and the others involved but I-"

"It's okay, everything is fine." He whispered back, a sense of relief rushed over him. Admittedly their knowledge of where Mokuba was sent chills up and down his spine, but seeing him brought him even more sense of safety. He pulled away and smiled at him faintly, wiping a few tears that were rolling down his face. "I'm okay and soon everything else will be too." He promised with such silent sincerity in his voice.

Yami rejoined his group of stressed out friends. Jyonouchi remained seated, he didn't want to face Kaiba, he couldn't knowing it was his being here, his existence that caused this incident in the first place. He suppressed tears of joy, relief and fear-not wanting to cry before everyone. All that would do was shift all the attention to him when all he wanted more than anything now was to fade away…

He didn't deserve to be here. Kaiba, Mokuba… 'My friends, none of them deserve all this fucked up drama I'm puttin'em all through. I should just leave, return back to where I belong. I shouldn't be here.'

Apparently, Mokuba had not yet noticed his appearance just yet. It was just as well, he didn't know if he could take all these eyes on him and his brother in that situation anyway... Kaiba stood to his feet and made quick glances at everyone present. "I tell you to stay away and not to stick your nose in my business and yet here you all are anyway…" His tone sounded so much more like his normal self if but a bit weary and strained. "But since you kept Mokuba company and comforted him while I was… gone, I will give you my thanks. Now then, I'm sure you all have somewhere you need to be, so thank you for coming."

They all exchanged looks before Yami stood to his feet with a very intense and serious gaze, "Kaiba, I realize all that's happened has caused a lot of panic and turmoil but by now you must see that you cannot handle this on your own. I think now is the time to work together on this."

Kaiba straightened up, his old posture slowly coming back. "I agree with you that with my old method, I couldn't handle this." He glanced over at Jyonouchi who's eyes were frozen to the floor, he stared back at Yami with a new expression of determination. "But I know the depths and just how far they will go, I know their game now and I know exactly what needs to be done."

The taller tri-colored teen sighed with hesitation in his eyes but Kaiba only smirked, lightly so "I'm aware of what my lack of attention has caused." His eyes landed on Mokuba's tear-stained face, "I know how much pain my carelessness has cost those closest to me, and I won't let it happen again." He vowed. His eyes fixated on Yami, "I know what I'm up against now."

Yami couldn't say anything more, but confusion was burning in his mind. Did Kaiba find something out, something more about Jyonouchi? Was his mind, after what he must've endured, already concocting a strategy, a solution? How could one possibly be raped and/or beaten and still think responsibly and professionally? There was more to Kaiba, perhaps it was just pride and ignorance that drove him on to do this alone, the intelligent teen was always a loner and hated team-based projects anyway or, or was this something personal?

After a few minutes of debate, the group finally left the room and headed out. But Yami stopped before Kaiba, "I'll be back tomorrow to talk to you about all of this."
Kaiba simply nodded. As Yami also left, Mokuba smiled up at Kaiba and gave him a last hug. "Seto,"

The brunet crouched down, a smile adorning his features. And with the lightest of voices in one of the saddest of gazes, he whispered something in his ear, which caused him to widen his eyes and swallow hard. Mokuba sighed and broke off from him, "I'm gonna go walk them out. I am glad you're home, Seto."

Kaiba stood back to his feet, his eyes closing trying hard to will away the crystalline liquid trying hard to fall. As he looked around once more, his eyes settled upon the problematic nuisance plaguing him with these simulations of his past. "Do you plan on facing me ever, Jyonouchi?"