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I'm tired of the daily routine of smiles-

-Haven't you ever had one of those days?

When everything just seems to break

When all your life comes into view

And you realize-

Well, you want to be 'through'…

"You heard me exactly right."

He leaned back in his chair with a sly smirk on his lips. "And just what kind of deal are we talking about, Mr. Kaiba?"

"Don't play dense. I'm sure you are quite familiar with these types of situations. You know, a negotiation."

"So, are you ready to hand over Katsuya to me?"

"Actually…"

-

Forever Scarred

Chapter 13

'So what am I supposed to do-lie here until' He sighed, "Until Kaiba says it's okay? Who am I kidding? There's nothing to hope for…" Jyonouchi shook his head, rolling over onto his side. 'He said to trust him. I want to… Would it be so wrong-to trust him?' He bit his lip and laid on his back again, his eyes narrowed in tempered frustration. "Is it okay? Can I really believe?" His hand fell atop his forehead, "Kaiba…"

-----Knock, knock!

He sat up quickly; startled, as the door opened slowly. His features of shock softened to a warm, distant smile. His eyes lightened up as he sighed softly. "Mokuba."

The young Kaiba nodded, "Seto's making some sort of business call and he asked me to, come and check on you." His words left meekly, almost hesitantly and nervously. "So, how are you doing, Jyonouchi?" He asked taking a few steps into the room, gently closing the door behind him.

For the meantime, the questions of uncertainty and worry left his mind. "I'm better, thanks for askin'." He smiled faintly, getting off the bed and stretching. "It's really early, it's like eight isn't it?"

Mokuba relaxed a bit, "Yeah. I was actually surprised that you are actually up."

"Heh. Yeah well…" He trailed off. As he walked over to the window of his room, pulling back the curtains-which he had kept closed, not wanting the light of the sun interrupting his mood-he leaned over the windowsill staring out at the seemingly peaceful morning. 'No clouds today… I sure wish—No.' He wasn't going to go there. He was not about to get Kaiba's little brother depressed and worried.

Mokuba watched the other's form and sighed before sitting on the unmade bed- his back to the standing blond. "You aren't gonna try and leave, are you?" He asked, somehow managing to keep the sorrow and tears out and off his tone and face.

Jyonouchi straightened and aimed his attention back on the other. He wasn't expecting him to ask something like that… Why would he? "Mokuba."

"I heard the two of you talking last night. I wasn't eavesdropping, I just wanted to see and hug Seto one more time when I heard you two arguing. You aren't planning on going back, are you?"

Silence swallowed the room. He opened his mouth to say something, anything in response to that nearly emotionless question. He walked over and sat on the opposite side of the bed, once more their backs were facing one another. "Mokuba, I'm sorry. It's just, there are things about me, about my life that" He lowered his head and nodded in the negative, "That are absolutely not worth all of this crazy stupid pain. Your brother shouldn't have been kidnapped last night and-"

"Seto is-" Mokuba cut in with a serious, stern tone. "Seto is very careful, he is also determined. He made a mistake in not being careful with himself and was for a moment careless. But," Mokuba stood from the bed and turned to face his back, "he's stronger and smarter than you seem to be giving him credit for-and that goes for me too."

Jyonouchi turned around, sitting on his knees on the bed. "But,"

He shook his head. "Jyonouchi…" He couldn't stop a tear from escaping, "You aren't the only one who has a past. You aren't the only one who's had bad things happen to them, Seto has scars too. Maybe you should stop trying to find a reason to leave and just learn to stay." Mokuba sighed in the tense silence.

He shook his head. "We haven't had breakfast yet. Seto is goin' to be joining us today. Breakfast is in twenty minutes, so wash up or whatever and meet us downstairs." He left soon after, closing the door behind him and leaving Jyonouchi to his newfound thoughts.

Everything just seems like a letdown,

You've been pushed once more to the ground

There's nothing left to live for

And the only 'hope' you have left

Has already been put to the test

And faded with the rest…

"I don't have time to entertain fools, Hinoto. Do as I say and you'll get what you want, understand?" He asked. Suddenly the power was shifting.

"Tch! Give me some time to think this over, I need it because I frankly don't trust you."

Kaiba smirked, "Fine. Take your time to make a decision-after all; the decision you make decides your future. I'd hate for you to make the wrong one. The offer stands for another seventy-two hours. If I don't have an answer by then-"

"No. I understand."

"Excellent. Have a good day, Hinoto." –Click!

He hung up the phone with a sly glare darkening his face. So far, everything was going according to plan. But, he still had to worry about a certain blond. Jyonouchi was a loose cannon that could screw-up everything if he didn't play his cards right. Not that it mattered; he had to think about himself and Mokuba now… Of course Jyonouchi wasn't the one who got them in this mess, it was Kaiba's fault for being soft and taking pity… But now, if he was going to do this… He was gonna get revenge and get 'rid' of the foul beasts, and to do that, he would have to stoop to their level. And that was something he plans on doing.

He checked his watch and slowly stood from his chair. Cooling his features as he looked back at his present reality, he knew it was going to take more than a few words to keep Jyonouchi grounded. If he really wanted the blond to stay, he needed to constantly speak with him, always spend time with him… So the question was; did he want him to stay that bad? He sighed. Regardless, it would hurt Mokuba if Jyonouchi left. So of course it was worth it.

He left the room and headed downstairs towards the breakfast room. And incidentally, a certain blond was also descending the stairs. Kaiba refrained from making eye contact but kept in step with him. "Did you sleep any last night?" He asked nonchalantly.

"No, not really." He replied honestly, actually, if he were completely paying attention he would've lied and said the affirmative. "I mean-I-" He frowned. "I was just too busy thinkin' 'bout what happened with you and I don't know, everything you said…" The blond glanced at him but stopped himself from staring too long.

Kaiba sighed, "So have you decided to stay or are you going to be stupid and try to leave?" He flat-out asked with a hint of that old annoyance and irritation in his voice.

Jyonouchi didn't answer. His mind clouded and had so many-too many qualms pulling him in all directions.

"Well? Tell me, you must know or at least have a clue on what you want to do."

He nodded and he briefly looked up to the high ceiling above. "I want to stay. It's really been the only thing I've wanted ever since being here, but-"

Kaiba halted stopping before the blond. He put his hand over the mutt's mouth and pulled him a bit close, "If what you want is to stay, then," He relaxed a little, "Then Jyonouchi, please just stay." He said exasperatedly. "I'm tired of listening to this broken record of yours. Stop making it hard and complicated. Mokuba and I want you to stay, we've both practically begged you to stay so just shut the hell up." He further added before letting go of the blond and continuing his descent of the stairs.

"Okay." He whispered, as his heart pounded so strangely in his heart…

It just feels like a drag, like death

The world has you choking on your breath

It's one of those stressful, tearful days

You can't stand to stand today

'Cause everything is so wrong

And the pain never goes away

Yami stepped out of the shop and something just hit him. If he and the others were being watched, were those people here now? He glanced around before heading down the sidewalk. But as he began walking down, about five minutes in, he felt like he was being followed. He hadn't paid any attention to it before, but in light of what happened with Kaiba, perhaps watching himself would be smart and playing it careful.

He turned into an old alleyway, an old route he used to take with Jyonouchi when they first met. He frowned grimly, wondering how long the abuse was going on… When he first met him, he'd already become Yugi's friend through school but there was always something fake about him, even when he seemed to be the most courteous and laid back teen that Yami had ever seen. Still, there was something fake but he never thought much about it, well, he just never figured it could be something so twisted and cruel.

He gulped, but then, "Negligence is what kept the so obvious secrets in the not so distant darkness. If only we had accepted and acted upon our doubts and questions but we chose to ignore- to ignore his pain, his hidden cries, him." His eyes shut closed as he stilled in place.

He clenched his fists and continued walking. He screwed up big time but he could at least spend time with the blond and discuss options and ides with Kaiba. It was the least he could do.

As he entered the middle of the back alleyways, footsteps from behind him began to be heard. He stopped and listened for further movement. It was usually; most of the time, deserted during the early day only rarely was there a drunk or druggie still hanging about. So that means the one behind him could be the guy that has been watching him. Suddenly, there came another sound, this time in front of him. Were there two? Or was it just an ambush of guys getting ready to jump him?

He stood calm and still. "You and your friends are pretty boring for teenagers. Honestly, you have no lives." A quiet voice spoke from the man behind him, whom was approaching slowly.

"Yeah. I was expecting to see a lot of action, especially with that hot brunette girl you've got hanging around. But then, you probably are too good for her- you sure don't look too bad." The one in front said.

Yami smirked, "And how am I supposed to take that?"

They chuckled a little, "Anyway you like pal. Either way you are about to give us a little rush on our job break." One said and Yami could just hear the lust in the voice.

The tri-colored teen shook his head. What kind of men were these guys? It seemed the only thing they cared about was sex. What they did to Kaiba, what they've done to Jyonouchi… Was sex one of their primary necessities to survival or what? "You guys really are disgusting swine, you don't deserve to be alive, to be breathing…"

"Heh, oh this one has a mouth on'em." One chuckled lightly.

And you scream and you cry

But the world still passes you by

Nothing matters, no one's there

Nobody seems toeven care

Time hates you; all the eyes bleed over you

You're left stripped--raped bare…

Broken inside, wallowing in despair,

Nobody loves you- roses bleed blood

The angels walk astray

And it all begins to fade…

Fade away…

"That Kaiba kid said he'd give me Jyonouchi, but only if… Hm, what is he up to-or is he up to anything? I know he's a ruthless man, much like his stepfather but could he really be interested in joining in my organizations? Or is he really working with the police and plotting something?"

He drummed his fingers along his desk, "Gozaburo was too high-and-mighty to become a partner in my 'ring' but could the young new CEO actually be tempted to- a partner with a lot of money, such as him would really benefit us. Hm, this call for further investigation." He picked up the phone and pulled out an old phone number of his. A smirk landed on his face, "Kaiba, my dear boy, you are a man of mystery aren't you?"