Forever Scarred

Chapter 12

"Oh, so you aren't planning on speaking to me either?" He asked, a little angrily. After what all happened and Jyonouchi was going to give him the silent treatment?

The blond stood, staring gloomily "I don't…" He sighed softly, determined. Standing to his feet he nodded before turning to Kaiba, with a set gaze. "I am going back home. I'm not goin' to stay here any longer."

"Yami, what are ya doin' here?"

"I came by to check on you, Yugi said you didn't missed school again. Are you sick or something?" He asked, as the blond closed the door behind him. The two stood at the doorway of the apartment door.

He gulped, 'what am I gonna do?' He laughed nervously, "Um, well, I didn't feel so good this mornin' and I really didn't want to get up." He replied, which wasn't entirely a lie.

He was not evidently sold on the half-truth, "Jyonouchi,"

"Listen, Yami I really don't feel so good. Actually, I was… Lying down when you knocked and, can we talk some other time?" His whole heart was being crushed by guilt and hatred for himself. He hated turning down his friends, pushing them away but he had no choice.

"Fine. Get well soon, Jyonouchi, I worry about you when you don't come see us or talk to us." He gave him one last critical look before turning away and leaving.

His head lowered dramatically with a sigh, it pained him and it never got easier. He hated this; he hated being in this predicament. He turned around and opened the door with distaste and a churning in his stomach. With a last quiet defeated sigh he returned to the living room where his Father and his 'friends' were waiting for him. Once more he began removing his clothes.

Kaiba stared at him unflinchingly. "So, nothing I said got through to you? Did you ignore it all that night?" He asked, the other frowned sadly but Kaiba glared at him, "You know, it was so hard not to kick you out the first day you came here. Because frankly Jyonouchi, you get on my nerves. You don't listen, you are stupid and you are nothing but a dog but" He took a deep breath and ran his hand through his messy locks, "I let you stay because it kept Mokuba calm and he felt relieved knowing you were safe. But you know the whole time I kept saying you were trouble and that it's not my job to feed and shelter a worthless, irresponsible dog and I was right."

Jyonouchi growled lightly, "Yeah, I know I'm pathetic and stupid! I've got that tattooed in my head already! That's why I'm leavin' 'cause I don't belong or deserve to be here, so just shut up! I'm leavin'!" He shouted, fuming. He clenched his fists, trying hard to keep his eyes from watering. Kaiba's hit him with words before but the tone never felt so deep or real… It was his fault; he knew he shouldn't have gotten attached to the one whom held him as he cried. It was stupid, 'I'm stupid.'

He rushed pass the other, but Kaiba grabbed hold of his arm. The brunet turned and stared with a serious, dark glare on his face. "Jyonouchi Katsuya, what happened tonight was because you are here, I'm sure you realize that by now." The blond looked away, the tears so close to falling. "Mokuba is afraid, terrified right now and he might not be best company for a while and what happened this night to me was because of you." His grip tightened a little, "But if you leave now, I won't go looking for you. If you leave it will only tell me one thing; you don't care. We helped you, we gave you a place, food, clothes and for what? You just want to throw it all away."

"But it's because of me you got-"

"Yeah, that's true but," Kaiba was running out of words, he really wasn't sure of what else to say. He felt angry but he couldn't bring himself to let the mutt leave. He was pulling out any and all things he could think of. He laughed disbelievingly "I promised you that I would help you-I said I'd take care of them for you. So you have no reason to be acting so stupid, like a coward. So knock it off."

Jyonouchi yanked his arm away, "But that's what I am! A worthless coward and going back will keep you an' Mokuba safe." He defended.

"Do you hear yourself? You really think Mokuba will like being the reason you've gone back to a life of drugs and rape? Huh? You really think he would feel good about himself knowing he drove you back to that lifestyle?!" His voice was rising in volumes now he was far past upset.

Jyonouchi's mouth went agape; tears were falling now. "I- God, I don't know what to do…" He turned his head to the side, things just seemed so helpless and hopeless to him.

Kaiba took a long deep breath calming his self down, "Go upstairs and just forget about this 'idea' of yours because I guarantee if you go through with it, you'll just end up causing so much more pain and ache than before. So go, go to sleep and we'll talk more in the morning." He lightly commanded.

He blonde swallowed hard and left the room.

---

-

Kaiba frowned as he headed up the stairs some time after Jyonouchi had long gone. He didn't want anything to do with the blond at the moment anyway, and he didn't see Mokuba so the young one was most likely in his room, hopefully going to sleep.

It was only ten, not even late but it was the longest most stressing day thus far. He entered his bedroom, heading into the bathroom. He slowly removed his clothing, ceremoniously with eyes closed. Everything faded, all emotion all safety as he felt the eyes of the two men on him, no not the two from before, there was only one pair of eyes; Gozaburo's.

The sadistic smirk of power and evil, how familiar and sick the gaze of twisted lust felt. His body involuntarily shivered, the memory of being… a dog, they were but only memories. His touches and grips on him… No, he wasn't ten, thirteen or fourteen anymore. It wasn't real, not anymore.

His eyes opened quickly, he was startled and his heart was racing but there was no reason for it to be--it wasn't a problem in the present. 'This is not me. I am not weak, I'm not.' His features were frigid; he insides were freezing over everything, all emotion, all of the past. "I am going to get them at all costs." 'It's the only way to stop these stupid memories.' "At any cost." He repeated.

He buttoned the last button on his pajama shirt and exited his bathroom. He froze in surprise to see Mokuba asleep on his bed. He sighed softly, a smile tugging at his lips but not allowed to stay. He sat down beside him and ran his hand through the raven locks. "I'm sorry it happened to you again." The sorrowful words, that sounded like an apology to him… "Mokuba, I'm sorry you have to be in the middle of this. I should have thought things through." He pulled the blanket from under the sleeping boy gently and covered him up.

"I should've watched myself a little more closely like you asked. You never should have had to feel what you felt today. I'm sorry." He closed his eyes sadly before getting up and turning on his computer. 'But don't worry, I am going to fix this...'

---

--

"This is Mr. Hinoto, there is a Mr. Kaiba on line one he says it's urgent he speak with you."

Monuten Hinoto's eyes widened, Kaiba was the last person he expected to hear from this morning. Had the young CEO already figured him out? "Fine. I'll take it in my office."

"Yes, sir."

He walked in and closed the door, locking it shut. Walking to his desk he pulled out a piece of paper and pen, before picking up the phone. "Hinoto here, what can I do for you Mr. Kaiba?"

"Cut the ignorance, you know exactly why I'm calling."

He smirked, "What is with hostility? What's wrong, did you have a rough night, Mr. Kaiba? Such a shame, you know my nights haven't been so great either. You see something that belongs to me, has gone missing. And I want him back."

"Don't you mean you need him back? He could put you away for a long time with everything he knows, couldn't he?"

Hinoto glared, "Why have you called?" It was silent for a while. "Well?"

"I want to make a deal."