Disclaimer: I don't own YGO…duh! But, this story and all original characters belong to me!

Thanks for the reviews. I am sooo sorry this took so long. I have been on vacay…but here it is. R and R!!

Chapter 18: Malik, Friend or Foe?

Jounochi walked Kazejin down the long hallway, trying to calm her. She was grasping Jounochi's arm tightly, looping her arms firmly around his waist. He even had his other arm around Kazejin to support her, yet he was struggling to hold her up. Kazejin wasn't even walking forward. She was staggering, and, to Jounochi's surprise, small tears sat perched on her eyelids, unsure as to whether they wanted to fall or not. Whether Kazejin wanted them to fall or not, rather. After all, in all his years of knowing her, Jounochi had never once seen Kazejin cry. The sight of her unraveling was rather alarming.

"Kazejin," Jounochi spoke gruffly. "Get a hold of yourself, now! I can't walk with you like this! C'mon! You're safe now. Stop crying! That freak isn't going to hurt you, so help me Ra!"

"It's not about him!" Kazejin cried, tearing herself away from Jounochi. "It's about you! And Malik! And, okay, Marik, too! It's about all of you! Marik treats me like his little whore to be, the way he touches me, you treat me like I'm some kind of idiot, the way you talk about Kamen, and Malik is the worst of all, because he seems to believe I am both ignorant of the events in my own hometown, as well as his plaything, to torment at his leisure! I am sick of all of you!" Kazejin began to sob, but quickly stopped, rubbing her eyes, and gaining control of herself. She placed her hands on her hips, and stood, glowering at Jounochi.

Jounochi was puzzled. "Wait, I thought you were upset because of Marik. Why are you mad at Malik and me?"

"Didn't you hear me the first time?!" Kazejin shrieked angrily. "I'm mad at you guys because you treat me like I'm stupid! Like I don't know anything! How can you believe what they say, Jounochi?! How?! My father would never do the things they said he did! Never!"

"Kazejin," Jounochi said calmly. "You're upset and in shock. You have been for the past three days. You aren't thinking clearly. Akhenaden has strong evidence that our lord betrayed us. He told me so. When you calm down, I am sure you will agree…"

"There you go again!" Kazejin lashed, interrupting. "Treating me like I'm some kind of Ra-damned fool! Tell me, Jounochi, what is this great evidence you speak of?! What exactly is it that made Akhenaden believe we were traitors? Have you seen it? You speak as though you know so much, yet you can't even identify what it is that got us attacked in the first place!"

Jounochi was quiet for a moment. "I haven't seen it," he admitted. "But, I trust Akhenaden as my leader, and I know he would not mandate an action like that without good reason."



"Fine. When I come to court with Malik, I won't hesitate to ask in front of everyone!"

"Kazejin," Jounochi warned, "you won't be respected at court. You are a woman, and you need to keep your mouth shut." Jounochi wanted to hit himself over the head, as he watched Kazejin's expression change from irritation to fury. I am in for it now…

"And you ask why I am mad at Malik and you?" Kazejin began shrilly; Jounochi knew he was going to have to hear one of her tirades. Instead, she turned her red tinged eyes up at him, and spoke, in a clear, monotone voice. "You're an asshole. You're worse than Marik!"

Jounochi was stunned. He knew Kazejin and he hadn't been the best of friends; they fought so much as children. But, worse than that psycho? Jounochi realized he was hurt, a realization that surprised him. He had always held Lady Kazejin in high esteem, her opinions mattering very much to him. But this was an attack on his ego, and he found that he couldn't stop the words coming out of his mouth.

"No, you're the worst! You're an ungrateful, spoiled, scared little girl. Don't get mad at me because you can't accept the truth. And me, worse than Marik?! Who are you kidding?! I'm not the one who tried to rape you and beat you to death!"

"Oh, you are just like Malik!" Kazejin exploded. "Just like him! Ra forbid, I make one comment, one little insult, and it comes back to me tenfold! Are you going to slap me, now, Jounochi? Beat me as punishment because I just spoke out against you?! Like Malik does?! C'mon, Jounochi! Hit me! Just like your best friend and my master! Do it!"

Jounochi's hands fell limply at his sides. "Malik hits you?" he queried, disbelievingly. "Kazejin, please! Maybe he'll slap you around a bit, but I doubt he actually beats you repeatedly. How many times has he hit you?"

"Twice!" Kazejin whined. "Once in the atrium, when I was dragged in here, and once in his room he twisted my arm." Kazejin stopped suddenly, realizing how lame she sounded.

Jounochi sighed, confirming her last thought. "Kazejin, he hit you in the atrium because you said something horrible to him in public. I heard what you said. Some of the guards told me afterward. Actually," Jounochi smiled slightly, "the whole household knows. He told me he thought it was hilarious, yet incredibly dumb of you to do something like that. If you had said that to him in private, I'm sure he would have let it go. But, in public, he couldn't. Think of what that would do to his reputation. So he hit you; Malik's got a temper. It's not like he permanently damaged your face. Now, what the hell did you say to him in his chambers that made him twist your arm?"

"I compared him to his brother, and I wouldn't apologize," Kazejin snapped, angered by Jounochi's response to her first count of violence in her case against Malik.

Jounochi rolled his eyes. "You really need to stop saying shit to him. He has worked very hard to disassociate himself from his brother. I mean, they look so much alike, so he makes sure it is clear which 

one is which whenever he walks into any reputable home. And, Kazejin, now the whole Ishtar estate knows that Marik beats women. Your insult basically called Malik a rapist, so of course he got pissed. And, you said you didn't apologize. He just wanted you to take it back, but, no, you're always so damn difficult! That was his way of getting the words out of you. Plus, he's really good with medicine; he knew it wouldn't harm you, and that he could fix it. Again, you got permanent damage? No!"

Kazejin slowly saw her complaints evaporating. "But…but…he threatened me! He said he would hurt my friends!"

"He's only doing that to scare you. He would never hurt Shizuka or the others. In fact, he has assigned them all to serve in positions where they will be secure and not have to work to hard. Malik's not a bad guy. The only bad thing about him is that temper! But, I promise he will look after ya. He's become a great buddy to me, Kazejin. He's brave, and he has a sense of honor. Just obey him. He's only trying to keep you safe."

"No, Jounochi, you have it wrong. It's not just his temper! He's obsessed with sex! He keeps making all these disgusting comments about Mai and me!"

Jounochi shrugged. "He's just kidding. Promise. So he has a bit of a sex drive. Most men do."

"Not you I take it?" Kazejin raised an eyebrow. "You are an innocent virgin, right? Don't you want my sister?"

Jounochi's face turned red. "Ahhh…get outta here! Stop pushing my buttons!" Jounochi recovered, and then gazed down at Kazejin. "Other complaints?"

"Jounochi, he's a sexual animal! Really! He stuck his tongue in my ear, and now he claims he wants to sleep with Mai!"

"He wouldn't touch Mai…he knows I…" Jounochi stopped. "That is, he knows I…I…I wouldn't think it was appropriate. And he was just fooling around with you. Sticking his tongue in your ear is pretty minor. What made him do that?"

Kazejin faltered, trapped again. "I made him mad," she said in a small voice. "It was my punishment."

Jounochi laughed, but stopped soon after seeing Kazejin's warning face. "All right," he said, laughter starting up again, "I'll tell him to ease up. Anything else, my lady?"

"That's Lady Kazejin to you," was all Kazejin replied, as she walked into the room.

Jounochi grinned, happy to have the old Kazejin back. When she was inside, he walked toward his hut, pace increasing. Maybe he could catch Mai on the way home…