Disclaimer: How many times do I have to tell you I DON'T OWN YU-GI-OH!!!!

Warnings: abuse, swearing, shounen-ai/yaoi

Jou's POV

When we arrived home after our trip I was tired but extremely happy. Trudging to my door since I was tired I barely made it in before my life turned straight to hell. "WHERE THE HELL HAVE YOU BEEN BOY?!" the monster shouted at me. I tried to break out of his grasp and escape out the still open door but it didn't work. He grabbed the back of my shirt and slammed the door shut. I squeezed my eye shut expecting there to be pain but was surprised to find nothing had hit me yet. When I opened my eyes the pits of hell burned in my father's eyes as he dragged me toward the living room. He just dropped me on the floor.

It was stupid of me to actually think that he would let me go so easily. My father took some tape nearby and taped my wrists together with duck tape along with my ankles then put some tape over my mouth. I struggled against my bonds but he didn't pay attention. He smacked me across the face then backhanded me. It stung where he had hit me but I refused to say anything or let out any sign of pain. Grabbing a lamp nearby he hit my side with it causing the light bulb to shatter and embed itself into my side. What made it worse was he then punched me in the side making the shards from the light bulb go further into my skin. I could feel every punch as it hit my vital areas. Picking me up again my father slammed me back down onto the wood floor.

The only good thing was that I was left conscious when he walked away but I was still tied up. I tried to struggle out of my bonds but nothing seemed to work. A slam in the kitchen alerted me that I was wrong to think this was over yet. He came back out with a large jagged hunting knife that had a ten inch blade. I was scared shitless as he came towards me. Vainly I tried to back away but it was difficult when he was approaching me faster than I could get away. He jabbed the knife into my arm causing it to bleed then yanked it out causing the blood to flow faster. I bit my tongue trying not to scream out in pain even though I know it would have been muffled by the tape. My father continued to cut me all over paying the most attention to my chest. When he was ready to release me he ripped the tape off of my mouth causing me to actually moan from all the pain. He smacked me again and grumbled deciding to get the tape of by using…the hunting knife. I tried to get away but it was useless he cut the duck tape along with my wrists and ankles.

Blood trickled down my wrists and ankles slowly from the slight cuts they had received as my father had cut off the tape. Using the rest of my strength I stood up and ran out the door and into the streets. Everyone I passed by gasped in shock at my state but none of them even bothered to help. I kept running though trying to get away. There was no way I could go back to that house; I would be tortured to death. Weakly I stumbled on as the adrenaline left my body. My strength wouldn't last much longer and I had no idea where to go. None of my friends knew about my so called father and how he abused me and I didn't want to trouble then anyways. Finally I just lost consciousness and passed out only dimly aware that my head had hit the sidewalk.

Seto's POV

Jou wasn't walking near our usual meeting place where I would pick him up and take him to school. Maybe he was sick? I doubted it because I've noticed he's come to school even when sick, unless he's really sick? Damn this worrying won't help I better get to school and ask Yugi-tachi about my concerns. Driving away I still kind of felt weird usually Jou would be with me and I had gotten used to his presence. Speeding up slightly I hurried to school in the hope to get my questions answered.

Yugi was the first one I saw as he came up running and smiling. When he noticed Jou wasn't with me he tilted his head confused. "Where's Jou?" he asked me. "Did you two get in a fight? You seemed to be getting along so well!" Yugi started to say worriedly.

"No we didn't get into a fight," I told Yugi which made him more confused. "He wasn't at our usual meeting place. I'm worried since usually he's come to school even when he's sick," I explained.

"Maybe he slept through his alarm clock?" Yugi offered.

"Yeah, maybe…" I said distractedly not really believing it. It wouldn't be long before the bell rang so I went to my homeroom. Honda was in his seat already with Otogi talking to him at his desk. Those two were so weird. It was a known fact they were a couple yet both of them still on occasion would flirt with other people, although never in a serious way. I walked up toward Honda and asked, "Do you know where Jou lives?" Honda looked at me kind of surprised.

"Not really. He told me his place is a mess so he doesn't want people to see it…." Honda answered thinking back.

"Thanks anyways," I muttered walking away.

"Is something wrong with him?" Honda called after me.

"I don't know. He wasn't at our usual meeting place where I pick him up to give him a ride to school," I replied as the bell rang. Today was going to be a long day. The teacher immediately bored me as I let my mind drift to other subjects. Lunch couldn't seem to come quickly. I wanted to pull my laptop out and check around the city for Jou but I had to wait until lunch so I could go to the library. Time trickled by slowly and the weather seemed to reflect my mood as it started to rain unexpectedly. Finally the bell rang and I jumped up from my seat. Yugi came toward me and asked, "Do you want to eat lunch with us?"

"Sorry but I'm busy, maybe some other time?" I offered trying to get to the library quickly. He nodded his head and bounced away toward everyone else. Opening up my computer I impatiently waited for the power to come on. Tapping my fingers lightly on the table I waited until it finally was fully functional. Rapidly I typed Jounouchi Katsuya in my search engine. Anything and everything about him popped up including pictures, medical history, police records (which was long), and sightings. I typed in a few more details like recent dates, and within Domino City. The information shortened to medical, and sightings. Setting my computer to continuously scroll down I read the information. Nothing really caught my interest until I read the medical history and I noticed it said he had been admitted to Domino Hospital the day after we had arrived back from the trip to Yugi's cabin. Setting up another search I found the room he was staying in and quickly wrote it down.

Putting my laptop away I decided to skip the rest of school. I knew everything they were teaching already and I was too worried to really pay attention in class anyways. No one dared to stop me as I left school since I could totally own them. Since I drove to school I knew I wouldn't have to wait for someone to come get me which made things easier. Sliding into my car I turned the radio up and rushed out of the parking lot. The hospital was a short distance away from the school so I didn't have to wait in traffic long. Pulling up into the visitors' parking lot I went in. "What room is Jounouchi Katsuya staying in?" I asked politely even though I already know.

"You can find him resting in room 202" the nurse politely told me giving me a small smile.

"Thank you," I replied about to take off.

"Are you a friend of his?" she inquired looking at me. Inwardly I rolled my eyes at the obvious answer.

"Yes I am," I replied smiling.

"Do you know what could have happened to cause all of those injuries then?" she asked. I hadn't really looked at the injuries report so I didn't know how bad it was.

"No…He was fine the last time I had seen him," I answered. The nurse seemed a little disappointed as I left to go to Jou's room. There weren't that many visitors in the hospital but then again it was the middle of the day. Knocking on the door I waited for a response but no one answered. Deciding to let myself in anyways I opened the door to gasp at what I found. Jou was wrapped like a mummy with all of the bandages he sported. There were a couple on his head, his entire chest was cover one leg was in a hard cast while the other was in a smaller cast, and he had bandages on his arms. "Holy shit! What happened?!" I asked but no one answered. I cautiously walked over to the bed as quietly as I could afraid to wake him up.

I just sort of slumped into a chair nearby in shock. Grabbing the injuries list I read them mentally. Bruised ribs, multiple cut wounds, one broken leg, one sprained ankle, fractured bone in arm, head wounds….The list was just so large but what really got me was when it said appears to have older injuries on top of current injuries. I couldn't believe what I was seeing. Gazing at him in his sleep it didn't even look like he was hurt besides the bandages. I wonder how long this has been going on since the medical report did say some of the wounds appeared to be older…Why didn't he tell anyone? Who did this to him? So many questions floated around in my head.

Jou's POV

This was about the fourth or fifth time that I had woken up in the past who knows how many days. Blinking my eyes open I was surprised to find Kaiba worrying next to my bed. My voice was slightly scratchy and hurt a little as I asked, "Kaiba why are you here?"

"Idiot!" He snapped then in a gentler tone said, "Why wouldn't I be here? You're injured!"

"How did you even know I was here? I'm pretty sure that no one knew I was here…" I inquired.

"Let's just say the hospitals computer system is easy to hack for information," Kaiba replied. I chuckled at that. That sounds so like Kaiba. I tried to shift a little but pain erupted throughout my body. Grimacing I hoped that Kaiba wouldn't notice. Too bad he did…

"Who did this to you?" he asked. Damn…How to answer that…

"I don't know," I told him.

"Bullshit," he stated glaring at me.

"It's the truth!" I told him.

"Then what about all these injuries that are old? And I know they aren't that old to be from your gang days," Kaiba inquired. Crap he read the medical report, although that was expected. "Tell me the truth," He demanded.

"No one important," I mumbled.

"They must be if you're covering for them," Kaiba said narrowing his eyes.

"I don't want to talk about it," I ground out glaring heatedly at him.

"How am I supposed to help if you don't tell me!" Kaiba shouted.

"Maybe I don't want your help! Have you ever thought about that?! Jeez don't you ever wonder why I didn't tell anyone?! I don't want people to pity or help me! I'm fine!" I shouted. For awhile Kaiba was quiet until he said, "If you're fine, then why are you in the hospital? I want to help. I'm not going to give you pity I just want to help the person I care for." My head nearly got whip lash as I turned to face him.

"You care…?" I mumbled.

Seto's POV

Jou looks shocked that I care about him. He looked at me with eyes filled with hope, uncertainty, and mixed emotions. Holding his hand lightly so I wouldn't injure it I whispered, "Of course I care. Do you really think I would come all this way and skip school for someone I didn't care about?"

"How can you care for me? I'm weak, an idiot…." Jou said drifting off as he named off his so called weaknesses.

"You're not weak and as for the idiot part just a little bit, but in my opinion you're a lovable idiot. You can do something stupid on occasion but people just have to love you they can't help it,"

"What about you?" he asked.

"What do you mean 'what about you?" I asked him.

"Do you love me even though I'm an idiot?" Jou clarified.

"Yes, I love you," I told him smiling a little. He looked shocked as he stared at me.

"You're not joking right?" Jou asked looking even more hopeful.

"Do you really think I could joke about something like this?" I asked. Jou started to smile largely and he jumped up in joy shouting, "Yes!" then crumpling down in pain.

"Idiot," I mumbled ruffling his hair.

"But you love me anyways," Jou smiled.

"Yes, I do," I said ruffling his hair. Then he motioned for me to put my face down to his level, so I complied. "What?" I asked looking at his face. I could tell he was in pain as he grabbed my shirt but what surprised me was he pulled me down and kissed my cheek. Jou laughed at my expression of surprise.

"I love you to," he said smiling brightly. Smirking I pulled him into a real kiss and gently let my hands roam down to his ass. We probably would have been like that for awhile if it wasn't for the nurse who interrupted.

"My patient needs to rest and as heartwarming as this is you better get out and let me check his vitals," the nurse teased. Jou blushed in embarrassment at being caught. I promised Jou I would continue to visit him and that I would tell his friends where he was before finally leaving. Now that I knew that he loved me also I had plans.

TBC!

Sorry for the wait but I had to move so…yeah…Well the epilogue should be up soon! R&R!