Chapter 19

Jou lifted the splintered piece of wood he had broken from the bedside table like a club, and swung it experimentally in front of him.

The swishing sound it made as it split the air was satisfying, and as he swung the club again, the sound of footsteps outside the cabin door echoed in his ears.

Spinning around, Jou crossed the room and stood facing the door. As the familiar sound of the lock clicking open reverberated through the room, he lifted the table leg up, ready to strike.

Ok, Marik. This time, I'm ready for you.

Jou crouched slightly, his posture tense and ready to spring. His breathing was deep and even, as he channeled all his anger and rage into energy, his blood singing like ice water through his veins.

Every sense was on heightened alert as Jou prepared himself for a fight.

A part of him was actually looking forward to it - a part that was a remnant of his gangland days when he lived for the glory of the battle.

Jou had been a fierce fighter then, someone to be avoided at all costs. His reputation was known far and wide, even after his break with Hirutani and his gang.

Known across Domino as "The Wolf" for his intense fighting style, his no-holds-barred attacks and his howling battle cry, Jonouchi Katsuya was a force to be reckoned with.

Of course, that all changed when I met Yug' and the others, but what is it that Seto used to say to me before we got together? 'You can take the mutt off the streets, but you can't take the street out of the mutt?'

Jou's eyes narrowed to amber slits and he grinned an almost feral grin at the thought.

The street mutt's back, he thought with perverse glee. An' he's takin' ya down, Marik, ya fuckin psycho.

The door swung slowly open, and letting loose a piercing howl, The Wolf sprang forward.

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Marik paused outside of the cabin, the key sitting unturned in the door lock.

What is this that I feel? The psychotic Yami thought, suddenly uncomfortable. What is this feeling, this foreboding sensation?

He reached into his shirt and pulled out the Millennium Rod, gripping it tightly in his hand. For the first time since his return from the Shadow Realm, the Egyptian felt a tremor of fear course through him.

What do I fear? He mused. What is there TO fear? The blond? Impossible. I am in control of that situation.

Marik shook his head and grinned. And even were I not, I can easily gain the upper hand.

He turned the key in the lock, and tightening his grip on the Millennium Rod, he slowly swung open the door.

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With a feral scream, Jou swung the club at the platinum head coming through the door of the cabin. Marik's eyes widened and he barely snapped his head to the side to avoid the swing.

As it were, the club landed heavily on his shoulder, and with a cry of pained rage, Marik stumbled inside the cabin and fell against the wall.

The club swung again, knocking the Millennium Rod out of Marik's hand. It rolled across the room and stopped next to an overturned end table.

With a curse, Marik bounded after it, only to be stopped by the sharp, splintered point of the club pointing directly at his chest.

His mouth fell open at the sight before him. Jonouchi, unchained, standing before him wielding a weapon.

What? When – how did I lose control? The Yami thought in confusion. How is it he is not only free, but armed?

His eyes narrowed and he darted to the side as Jou swung the club again. It struck the wall with murderous force.

"I'm gonna kill you, you bastard," Jonouchi said in an even voice, his golden eyes shining with bloodthirsty rage. "I'm gonna kill you, and believe me, I'm gonna make it as painful as I possibly can."

Marik laughed.

"You? You will kill me, slave?" he said with a sneer. "How can you kill that which is already dead? Believe me, boy, I have been through more pain than you can ever imagine – pain that would drive a normal man insane, pain that would have you cringing in terror were I to even put it to words. Go ahead, slave. Kill me. Will that bring your Seto back to you? He'll never come back, thanks to you."

Jou's vision turned red with murder and his lips curled back from his teeth. He began breathing in short, narrow gasps of air as his rage overtook him completely.

"DIE!" he screamed, raising the wooden table leg like a dagger and bringing it down on the smiling Yami.

The club pierced Marik's chest, and with a gasp, the platinum haired Egyptian stumbled backwards, his back hitting the wall.

Marik slid down the wall slowly, his hand wrapped around the wooden splinter protruding out of his chest. Jonouchi stood over him, chest heaving, a look of terrified relief on his face.

"R-rot in hell, Marik," Jou said in a trembling voice. He turned on his heel and ran out of the cabin, slamming the door behind him.

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With a wild laugh, Jou slammed the cabin door shut and raced down the corridor towards the stairs that would lead to the boat deck – and to freedom.

I – I did it! He thought with glee. Seto, I'm coming for you. I'm gonna save you. Just wait for me, my dragon.

A relieved grin broke across his face, and he bounded up the stairs, skipping across the boat deck.

Only to fall to his knees in anguish and bury his face in his hands at what he saw.

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Water. Acres and acres of water. Water as far as the eye could see, and not a peak of land in sight.

At some point during the night, Marik set sail, leaving Domino miles behind. The yacht was currently in the middle of the ocean, and Jou had no idea what direction they were heading or where they even were.

"Oh god," he moaned. "Oh my god. I don't know how to sail a boat – what the hell do I do now?"

A hand clapped down on his shoulder.

"You suffer, slave," Marik growled, slamming the Millennium Rod against the back of Jou's head. Jou fell without a sound, crumpling on the deck at Marik's feet.

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With a grimace, Marik pulled the wooden splinter out of his chest and tossed the bloody fragment overboard. Laying his hand over the wound, he chanted quietly, and the torn flesh quietly began repairing itself, tendons and skin pulling together.

With a relieved sigh, Marik turned back to face the unconscious blond sprawled on the deck.

"I told you you cannot kill that which is already dead," Marik said with a grin. "Foolish, foolish boy. Now the suffering will begin."

He lifted Jou easily and tossed him over his shoulder.

"Apparently, one chain wasn't enough, my little slave," he murmured in the unconscious boy's ear. "We will have to remedy that. And there is the little matter of your misbehaving. A fitting punishment must be found."

Marik bounced Jou on his shoulder, causing the blond to moan softly. Marik grinned.

Oh yes, there will be blood. But there will also be pleasure. The Egyptian thought with glee. What will drive you insane first, my little slave? The pain or the pleasure?

With a laugh, Marik entered the darkness of the ship's hold, awaiting the moment Jou would awaken and the fun could begin...

A/N: A year? A YEAR? I haven't updated in more than a year?? Oh...my...god. I am so sorry!!! I promise, it won't happen again, promise promise! And I'm quite sorry this chapter is short. I am blocked, and really don't know where to go...but I won't take another year to figure it out:)

Anyway, hope this chapter didn't disappoint too much, but this story is barely half over...there's much more to come:)

A/N update 2: Whoa! Sorry guys, I had to take down and reupload this chappie...thanks to an eagle-eyed reader who pointed out that I called Marik MALIK twice! He's Marik...the nasty, evil Marik, not the hot little hikari Malik. Sorry, sorry!!!! It's fixed now though :)