Forever Scarred

Chapter 18

"Jyonouchi, I'm tired of playing these games with you. I know something serious is going on here. You don't have to keep it a secret, whatever is the problem I can help. Just give me a chance." He pleaded as they sat on the bleachers.

"Why don't you just drop it? There isn't any 'secret' or problem okay? Just stop making something out of nothing."

"Jyonouchi-" The gym teacher turned the corner and shook his head. "Hey, you two quit slacking off. Get wit' the rest of the group, unless you'd like to add fifty push-ups after school."

Jyonouchi jumped off bleachers and jogged up towards the others. Yami followed suit, still determined to find the truth. "Jyonouchi!" He shouted, but the blond had already met up and stood in line.

Yami blinked, glancing at his angry friend. "What?"

Yugi frowned, "Tonight was-"

"I know. I was out of line, and caused a lot of damage. It's hard, knowing that no matter how hard I try; I still won't be able to help Jyonouchi as much as I could. Kaiba knows more than he's willing to tell me, us, and it just upsets me. And I know it's my fault for hurting Jyonouchi tonight."

Yugi nodded in the negative, "But what upsets Kaiba, obviously puts more strain on Jyonouchi. Yami, Kaiba is helping him out more than we ever did- and he doesn't even like him. Of course Jyonouchi isn't going to like you and him fighting. I want to help him, so do the others but let's face it; we don't have the resources and power that Kaiba holds."

The taller shook his head, "I don't care. Just because he's better equipped, doesn't mean we can just leave it all to him. I'm not about to desert our friend, again. I am standing up and helping Jyonouchi, even if I have nothing. Standing on the sidelines is not an option. Yugi, how can you even consider that?"

He exhaled exasperatedly, "I'm not. But we can't just exclude Kaiba. He stands a better chance of success than we do. This isn't some 'Shadow-Game Duel' we're talking about."

The older one pouted and folded his arms across his chest, "Now I know how Kaiba felt when he had to fight those with magic abilities; he was out of his league, his class."

"Right. And now, it's the opposite. This is a battle of business and wits. Souls aren't at stake, even though the object to protect happens to be our best friend. Obviously, whoever wants Jyonouchi wants him bad enough to kill his father."

Yami leaned against the door, "Kaiba hasn't told him about that yet."

"You noticed too? How do you think he'll react when he does find out?"

He turned and opened the front door; lights were turned off, a sign that Yugi's grandfather was either out or asleep. "Yugi, there are so many things, I don't know anymore. But I'm not going to allow myself out of the loop again. I refuse to sit back and wait for it all to end."

They walked into the shorter one's bedroom. "That's fine. But you need to treat Kaiba with more respect and stop doubting his intentions and judgment."

He rolled his eyes, "I know that."

"And one last thing, Yami."

He stared and faced the younger with a stern gaze. "What is it?"

He quickly wiped away the tears and took a deep breath before standing, and opening the door. He couldn't bear to face the other, and simply nodded silently and allowed him in. "Uhm, did you need something?"

"I wanted to talk to you about something. That's all."

Jyonouchi looked up a little and then his eyes fell down to Kaiba's hand. A sheet of paper was held loosely. The blond blushed and shook his head. "I'm not really- I don't want to talk right now."

Kaiba frowned, "You don't want to talk, or don't want to talk to me?"

"I- it's not a good time. How about in the morning?"

"What if, I said no. I want to talk now. Now, or never, what would you say to that?"

The other stared at him and glared. "What good does talking do anyway? It doesn't ever settle anything, all the problems remain regardless if ya open your mouth or keep it shut. There is no difference. I don't want to talk now, or ever." He fumed.

Kaiba watched him and smiled, laughing slightly. "Your attitude amuses me."

"What, what do you mean? Why are you laughing at me?" Just when he was comfortable with the brunet, he had to revert back to poking fun at him.

He shook his head. "Your whole outlook, emotions, attitude, just your whole way of taking in each new wrinkle in this overwhelming affair. It's intense and so 'normal'. Textbook, just with a different setting, and darker story."

"Are you making fun of me? Or just being a jerk?"

Kaiba turned and walked up to him. Everything felt so abnormal, so wrong about the situation that both stood in- like a psychotic movie that was never finished, or given an ending. Sort of left in the middle, and there was no clear path to follow, even though there was only one-way to walk.

"I'm not making fun of you Jyonouchi. And if I'm sounding like a jerk, I apologize. If it makes you feel any better, I'm a bit jealous at your ability to feel how you feel, to express your pain, your loneliness. Some people aren't allowed to cry. Emotion is a weakness that could not be shown, couldn't be accepted.

I suppose, it's just a little bit refreshing to me, to know you can 'feel'. Let's me know you're worth every ounce of strength in me. Ironically, seeing you in this much pain, watching your tears hit the floor, inspires me to try harder so that I can see a smile on your face. A genuine smile, unlike the ones you flash at Mokuba and your friends, the one that will be present once everything is lifted from your shoulders. What drives me is that I know I can make that happen."

Jyonouchi was beside himself with his greatest emotion, uncertainty. 'Why is he saying all of this? What's he want? What could he possibly feel for me?' His whole body was getting heavy; his head was spinning with so much pressure. He felt dizzy and sick at the same time, like the room was closing in on him all of a sudden.

Kaiba stepped closer and watched intently. The blond didn't look well. He was a complete wreck. "Jyonouchi, you should lie down."

"I don't feel so good."

The brunet nodded. "Your anxiety is great, and all this stress is really getting to you. Plus, you haven't been eating as much as you normally do. It's understandable, you can only take so much." He smiled softly, "Get some rest, we'll talk in the morning."

Jyonouchi reached out and grabbed the other's arm, "Wait. Please." His voice was so weak and trembling. "I don't want to be alone right now."

Kaiba gently removed the blonde's arm away, and stood right before him. "Jyonouchi," He whispered, placing his hand on the other's face, "You need to get some sleep. And I mean, really, sleep. I know at night, you cry sometimes. And you don't ever get the rest you need. You aren't going to get it with me here talking to you all night."

He felt so fragile, so alone. Kaiba's company was so warm and normal, even when he was laughing at him. There was a sense of normalcy when standing with the smirking CEO. He pushed himself forward and hugged the other tightly, arms wrapping around his neck. "Don't leave me, please." He begged.

"Jyonouchi…" He breathed, holding the blond close. "Everything's okay. I'll stay. But you need to at least lie down." He felt him nod against his shoulder. Pulling the blond off he pointed to the bed, in a scolding-a-child manner.

"Hey, watch where you're goin'!"

"Humph. You were in my way, mutt. Pathetic as always, don't you ever take a bath at home?"

Jyonouchi glared intently, he hated Kaiba. The jerk always put him down for no reason. "What do you care? You're the one who's pathetic, you don't know anything about me, so leave me alone." He fumed in as calm a manner as possible.

But Kaiba was not in the least stirred, he simply smirked at the barking dog and sighed, "I don't want to ever know anything about you. Your very existence appalls me enough as it is. You want to be left alone? Don't worry, dogs like you always end up whimpering cold and alone on the street." He replied before walking away from him.

Jyonouchi clenched his fists tightly fighting back the urge to run up and punch the bastard in the face. 'He doesn't know anything about me. He's just a liar.'

"Jyonouchi, what happened?"

Suddenly his anger cooled as his eyes settled down on Yugi. He shook his head, "Everything's fine. Where the others?"

"Outside. Are you sure you're okay?"

The blond smiled softly at his concerned and worried friend. 'Who said I was ever okay? I am what Kaiba said about me; I'm a stupid dog that belongs on the run-down streets. Why am I such a loser? It's not fair…'

"So, are we all heading to the-"

"Sorry guys, I can't go. My dad wants me home right now." 'As usual, I can't go with you. I have my dear father's company to… entertain…' He cringed at the word. Even after all this time he hated it, he feared the meaning, the tone. He still wasn't used to it, still hadn't adapted to his life yet.

"Again? Jyonouchi lately you've been being summoned away and spending less and less time with us."

He stared over at the only girl in their group and he frowned apologetically, "I'm sorry. It can't be helped. My dad needs me there." 'It can't be helped. Nothing can stop or change my life. I'm not even strong enough to end it myself…'

"Why does everything have to be so complicated? Why couldn't I have a normal life with none of this crap, this stupid pain all around? It's just not fair."

Kaiba smiled amused, "What in life is fair? Jyonouchi, there is nothing fair and good in this world that humans can have without some form of deceit and evil being present. To live the life you want, you must result to the very thing you hate in order to be something worth being in the morning. Darkness is our path into the light, so to speak."

He sat up and leaned against the back-wall of his bed. He pondered on the very words the other spoke so grimly and so darkly. "But that isn't right. You shouldn't fall to their level… Anyone can have their life if they be themselves and never stoop to someone else's level."

"You dream too much. You can't attain what you want without losing something. You must lose a part of you, to reclaim another part of you. It's a devil's game, but what makes the difference between dreaming a dream and making it happen, is whether or not you accept the devil's game. Not many people can become their enemy and be able to go back the same. Power is a mighty corruption that in most cases, is the final temptation to sin."

He gulped and stared up unbelieving of the coldness in Kaiba's voice. "Why are you saying all of this?"

Kaiba sat down on the bed, sitting beside the blond. "I'm telling you that in order for you to be free, something will need to happen. But you don't worry about a thing. I know I'm a weird, perhaps even scary, person but it comes with the territory. To be honest, Monuten Hinoto is a small fry compared to my father. Everything will be just fine, but things might happen and I want you to know that, I will always be on your side. I hope you will trust that."

Jyonouchi gulped once more, unsure of this negative deprive coming from someone he just felt warm and caring. "You-"

"Don't worry about what I said." He leaned back, still side by side with the other. He gazed softly at the blond, "You need to sleep. I'm sorry if I have offended or scared you in any way." His tone seemed so surreal, so serious.

"No, it's okay. Please just…" He met the brunet's eyes with his browns and swallowed hard. "Just stay here for a little longer."

Kaiba smirked. "So far that is the best request you've given me." His blue eyes trailed away from Jyonouchi staring off ahead.

A few minutes of silence before Kaiba felt the blonde's body lean against him. "Jyon-" He looked at the other who had fallen asleep against him and sighed. But he didn't move, he instead put his arm around him and pondered on what was to come.

"Hinoto, are you ready to hear what I have to say?"

He eyed her suspiciously; she was just acting a bit too coy and 'innocent'. "What?"

She frowned. "That's not the response I was looking for, however, I did find something out for you."

"And what would that be?"

"My dear, I've learned the location of the killer of your men." She replied so casually.

He stood and glared, "Really? And just who is this man?"

"And what makes you think it was a man? It could've been a woman, you know."

"Lien get to the point." He demanded impatiently.

She folded her arms across her chest and smiled, "Impatient as always. Very well, the killer just happens to be one of the kids we were watching. It's assumed they slacked off and approached their target, and unfortunately ended up paying the price for their lack of professionalism. The 'kid' in this case, is Yami Mutoh. He lives with his apparent twin brother and his grandfather; he's a really close friend of Jyonouchi's, he's visited your little whore a couple of times since he's been in residence of Seto Kaiba."

"Yami Mutoh… Well, my dear, you know what you need to do now."

She smirked, "Honey, I'm already on it."