Seth: Happy belated Valentines' Day everybody. Sorry it took so long. So many things, not enough time. Hope you enjoy!
Forever Scarred
Chapter 16
His hands tightened around the glass cup, and he remained staring, shakily, to the side, away from those questioning blues. "Do we hafta talk about him?" He pleaded once more.
Kaiba was a bit stunned by the reaction; he hadn't expected such a major trauma to erupt. He stood from his seat and moved over to the front of his desk, sitting against it, gazing down at the blond. He hated the look in his eyes, how could Monuten have hurt him so badly—worse than what his own father could? How was it possible?
He knelt down before him, a sort of déjà vu for him. "Jyonouchi,"
"What?" The frightened other croaked out, still avoiding his gaze.
"You know who Monuten is," A small flinch to the name, "why are you so afraid of him? Tell me. I need to know everything about him."
"Why? I thought we were getting rid of my dad, why do we hafta go after him too? Please," He finally faced the other, "please, I don't want to see or hear him again."
"Jyonouchi I am taking care of everything related to your father as well as everyone who's hurt you, and apparently this Monuten guy falls into both categories. Now, he's after you for a reason, because you know a secret of his, so what is it?" The blonde looked away and remained silent. Kaiba was growing agitated, annoyed. "It's the best way I can help you, now come on. Tell me."
He sighed, swallowing the lump in his throat. Head bowed down he shut his eyes tightly, "I first met him at one of my dad's 'get-togethers'. I hadn't seen him before and he seemed different than the others, he didn't shout or laugh, kept mostly to himself… I-" He paused, his voice was already breaking from the beginning but as he thought back, he began reliving the moments, the trauma. "No. I can't do this, I'm sorry."
He pushed Kaiba away, "Jyonouchi!"
"I'm sorry!"-And he ran out the door.
Page 26
I blew up at Yugi today. I'm such a pain. He kept asking me where I got the ugly bruise on my shoulder, I didn't mean to yell at him like that. I'm such a jerk, an idiot. He was only trying to be a friend and be concerned, and I end up pushing him down and shouting swear words at him. I feel so bad now. I'm like the worst friend in the world… I do deserve what I get from dad and his friends and-
The brunet stood to his feet and sighed. He needed to know what happened. But if the past didn't matter so much as the present why did he treat this as a dire moment. Honestly, he wanted to find out, out of sheer desire to know. He, himself, wanted to hear Jyonouchi's voice somberly recalling the travesties of his past. There was that bizarre need for relation, for understanding, again. Why did he want to relate to the blond so badly? His personal troubles were well done with, finalized with the burial of Gozaburo Kaiba. There were no reasons left to feel the strife of back then.
He realized this, 'I hurt Jyonouchi badly just now. I was too insensitive.' The fact of insensitivity, it sounded just like the CEO and yet it was the last behavior he wanted to take where the blond was concerned. And he felt the harshness his seemingly uncaring words may have hit the other with. "I suppose it'd be smart to own up to it and… apologize."
"Where's Yugi?"
The old man took a sip of his coffee, "He's up in his room. He was very quiet this morning, seemed a bit upset about something." He informed, inquiringly.
"Yeah, that's probably me. I guess I better go talk to him."
He made his way up the stairs and knocked on the second door on the left. "It's open."
Yami stepped in and shut the door behind him. "How was your day at school?" He asked, trying to act normal, like this was an ordinary evening.
Yugi glanced at him; he was currently finishing up his homework. He sighed and sat back in his seat, "It was okay. You weren't here when I left this morning."
"I had to meet with Kaiba, so we could talk about Jyonouchi's problem."
"And you forgot to tell me you were leaving? Or were you just sneaking out of here because of last night?" He asked glaring up at him.
Yami shook his head. Last night after they got home, he and Yugi had gotten into it, while they were discussing the Kaiba brothers and Jyonouchi. "No. Kaiba wanted me to come early; I didn't want to disturb you because I knew you didn't sleep too well last night. That's it."
Yugi studied his face for a moment but 'humphed' frustrated, "You should've woken me up. I went to your room and you weren't there-you didn't tell me when you were supposed to go to Kaiba's, with what happened to him, I was afraid they might've gotten you. After all Kaiba said that they're watching us all. I was worried and then to come home after school and you're still gone." He shook his head. "You have the audacity to come in and act like nothing is wrong."
"I felt bad enough for shouting at you last night and I admit it, I didn't want to talk to you this morning. I wanted to calm down and see how this meeting went with Kaiba before I spoke to you. Anyway, nothing really happened, I'm supposed to go back in a little bit to hopefully get something going. I was upset earlier after talking to him so I didn't want to come home until I calmed down."
"Well, if you'd woken me up, I would've gone with you."
"Nah, Kaiba doesn't want my help as it is. I think if we all forced ourselves on him he wouldn't let us in. Besides, it's a good thing you didn't come with me this morning."
Yugi raised an eyebrow, "Why do you say that?"
He shook his head. "No reason, it was just best you weren't with me."
"What happened?" He demanded.
Yami exhaled defeated, "I ran into the thugs that were watching us this morning on my way to Kaiba's mansion."
"What? Wait, tell me exactly what happened."
"So they've been killed?"
"Yes. The murders were very unusual and grotesque. The way they were killed, dear, there was blood oozing from their mouths, ears and noses; and yet no signs of physical assault."
Monuten turned around, "What? Then, how were they killed?"
She shrugged, "Hinoto, that is something we haven't determined yet. There were no stab or bullet wounds whatsoever, apparently it seems they were killed from the inside out. It's as if, the brain bled itself to death, a self-implosion."
"Does that make any sense? Is it possible?"
She smirked, "I'm not sure. I'll check in with Dr. Salvei a bit later. Oh, I think you should know, we weren't able to retrieve their car, someone beat us to it."
Monuten glared, "It's your job, Lien, to clean-up what's left behind."
The woman rolled her eyes. "Don't speak to me like that, Hinoto. Aren't you the one who's at the end of the rope? It isn't my fault you are so careless as to allow your young whore to get away. I told you his father was too much of a loose thread, and now look at your predicament. Haha, hanging by that same thin thread which is now in that dear Seto Kaiba's hands… What are to do now?" Lien mockingly questioned. Monuten glared at her, but she only smiled.
He ran his hands through his hair and straightened up. He hated apologizing, it was a bad trait of his but still, admitting he was wrong was tough for him. Knocking on the door a few times he decided to walk right in. Slowly he stepped inside, finding Jyonouchi's form sitting at the small desk to the side, his back of course was to him.
"Jyonouchi, listen about before-"
"I'm sorry. I know I went crazy." He stood up, pushed his chair in and leaned back against it. "I acted stupid and it's my fault for saying I wanted to help. So, I'm sorry." He stated truthfully and honestly.
Kaiba was surprised that he wasn't still crying, the way he ran out trembling and teary-eyed, he was positive he was going to walk in on a pitiful scene. And yet here was the blond standing straight and admitting the wrong on his part. Still, Kaiba knew the blame wasn't all his. 'I could've been a bit calmer, gentler with my words and pressuring.' Kaiba stepped forward, "I'm sorry too. I shouldn't have tried to make you tell me either."
Jyonouchi's face reddened in surprise, "Are you really apologizing? The Seto Kaiba is actually apologizing to someone like me? Wow, I'm honored." He replied, with a more casual tone.
Kaiba glared in annoyance, but was pleasantly relieved to hear him in such good spirits. "Very funny. But I really wasn't trying to cause any problems for you, just know it's okay that you didn't tell me anything about him. So don't worry about it."
The light-hearted humor left the blond's brown eyes, "If it isn't so important, why did you make it sound like it was? You don't hafta pretend to be okay wit' my lack of courage. I don't want to be lied to if you're mad at me, then I want to know."
Kaiba turned to him, raising an eyebrow. "I'm not mad at you."
"Why not? I came to you, and said I'd help out and then bolted at the first question you asked. If you're not mad then you must at least be frustratedand annoyed."
"I don't understand- do you want me to be angry with you? Jyonouchi, everything's fine, really."
He shook his head. "Please don't pretend to still like me, I'd be upset with myself too for acting crazy."
"Well, I'm not you." He said, in a calmer sense. He approached the other and stood leaning slightly over him. "Jyonouchi, get a grip. If all this drama is too much for you to handle at one time, then that's fine. You really think I'd hide being angry or frustrated with you? You'd be the first one to know, trust me."
He nodded, "I do. I just,"
"Jyonouchi, that's it then." Kaiba cupped his chin and smiled, "Don't bother with the things that aren't even there. The fact is, I understand. I really and truly understand your predicament and your situation that's why I'm helping you and why I'm not angry."
He bit his own lip gently and blushed slightly. Kaiba stared so deeply at him, it was almost hypnotic. "He was nothing but evil, I… I hate him so much for everything he did to me." His eyes began to tear, and yet he could barely blink, too busy gazing back into sweet blues.
Kaiba stilled his lips with his fingertips. "It's okay. Don't talk." He whispered, pulling closer to the blond, leaning a little lower, their faces inching closer to one another.
And Jyonouchi's eyes went wide as soft calm lips settled upon his shaky ones. 'Oh my Go- Is this really happening!'