A/N - Hey, I'm back and I'm at Uni! This is the reason, why updates have been so slow lately - it's just been a race to pack up, go and then settle in.

But I'm here now and classes start Monday. Here's hoping all goes well, and that you enjoy this chapter!

Thanks to all who enjoyed and read the last chapter - especially reviewers: Kitty Tokyo Uzumaki (Flattery will get you everywhere!), SJ95(Thanks I hope you too!), WoNdY Alice (I'm sorry this wasn't as soon as we both wanted it!), Balrog Roike (Wiser words were never said! On all accounts), IAmDaReviewer (Thanks!), AtomBunny (You'll see the answers to all...most...some of your questions today!) and...Animanga-smile14 (Thanks for reviewing, I'm glad to see a new face...I mean user. ;) I'm glad you love it!).

Thanks for sticking with this, and Enjoy!

CHAPTER 12.

His biggest problem, Jou mused at school, was that he had too many problems to contend with at the moment. He needed to sort out his priorities, and fast.

The most pressing issue, Jou decided in Maths, was Honda. If he knew Hermes, and he did, he knew he didn't have long to gather his courage, as Hermes like to live fast and work fast. A fact that was probably the reason why he was still a bachelor at his age.

'Then again, I can't really say anything, considering my own history with love,'

It was during Sports that Jou decided what to do, after being hit in the head by a baseball, he figured out, while he was flat out on his back, that; 1)Sports was probably not the best time to be spacing out in and 2) He should tell Honda, tonight. Hermes was right. There shouldn't be such secrets from

each other. Beside, this way he could do damage control and save some face.

Yugi's concerned face soon hovered over his.

"Hey, Jou! You alright? You've been spaced out all day, are you ill?"

"Yeah, M'fine,"

Yugi gave an incredulous look at this.

"No, really," Jou got to his feet and brushed his shorts off, "Just sortin' some stuff out in ma head – s'been real crazy lately, y'know?"

Yugi seemed to find this answer acceptable, and with a quick shake of Jou's shoulder in reassurance, he ran off back to the game, where he was up to bat.

Re-emerging himself back into his thoughts, he decided to sort out another of his problems.

Jou knew that his family had to be doing all that they could to stop the Furies from causing too much damage in the mortal realm, but he also knew that if they hadn't stopped them by now, his family probably needed all the help they could get. Even from mortals. And he knew just the people to ask.

Having asked Honda if he could meet with him after school in his flat, Jou was actually really nervous about what was going to happen.

He was sure, though, that Honda would freak out, Even if it was only at the inconsequential things.

Honda had told him that his Dad was taking him out that night, by Jou had quickly told Honda not to bother. Hopefully, he sounded urgent enough that Honda would come.

Just as Jou heard the door knocking, he also heard the tinny ring of the old phone Jou kept in the kitchen.

Shouting out for, hopefully Honda, to let himself in, he raced to the kitchen to grab the phone, before the other person hung up.

"Hello, brother,"

Shit.

It was Shizuka, he really didn't want to talk with her right now.

"Look, I really can't talk right now, I'm kinda busy...can I call you back?"

He waved Honda, who had been at the door, over to a nearby chair and motioned that he wouldn't be long.

"That's really no way to speak to your sister-"

Jou hung up, already annoyed.

He just thanked the gods that he hadn't said his sister's name out loud, or his cover would have been blown to Honda far sooner than he wanted it to be.

"Hey, Honda..."

Jou stood there awkwardly for a minute in the kitchenette his flat sported.

"Do ya'...want somethin' to eat or drink?"

Honda replied negatively, looking rather out of place, and just a bit irritated at Jou's stalling.

"Look, you sorta' sounded like it was an emergency, so what's the deal?", Honda stood up, "I cancelled going out with my dad for you, so spill,"

Jou huffed at flopped onto nearby sofa, after having vaulted over the divider between the kitchen and living areas.

Honda sat down opposite at this.

"Ah, jeez, I don't think you know how hard this is...I don't really know where to begin..."

Turned out Honda didn't really like this answer either, so Jou tried harder.

"Well, lets suppose, that the gods we're studying in class are real, alright?"

Honda looked incredulous and nodded.

"Cool, and lets suppose again, that these gods rather enjoyed making bets..."

His voice trailed off at Honda's face.

"What?"

Honda started out of his surprise and spoke.

"Well...'rather', 'suppose'...they're not really words I've heard you using before, and you're not speaking with your usual accent..."

It was Jou's turn to be annoyed now.

"Were you listening to a word I said?" He huffed, "Look, I know it sounds crazy, but listen," He paused before continuing, "I made a bet with my brother," Honda injected a small 'half-brother' that made him smile, "You know, the one wearing the dress?" Honda nodded, "Well, the bet was that I could be, essentially, human for a mortal life-time,"

Honda was silent for a moment, before moving over to place the back of his hand on Jou's head.

"What are you doing?" Spluttered Jou.

"I'm checking you temperature, you're obviously ill, you already think you're a god, delusions are never a sign of a healthy person,"

This made Jou struggle further.

"Get off me!"

They tumbled around a bit, before rolling off the sofa completely, where they finally lay exhausted.

Jou turned to Honda in all seriousness.

"Honda, I know it seems far-fetched, and I know I can't really prove it to you without losing this bet I have..." He trailed off, "But if you're my friend, you should really believe me no matter what,"

Honda groaned.

"Oh, god, don't use the friendship card," His eyes finally met Jou's, "I invented that move!"

Jou laughed.

"So you believe me?"

Honda sat up and looked down at the still sprawled Jou.

"I guess I have to now. And it does explain some of you weirdness the past few days, like with that skull and your family,"

Jou gained a smug grin.

"Good. Because I have to tell you something about your Dad."

"What," Honda smirked, "Is he a god too?" He laughed at his own joke, before trailing off at Jou's serious face, "Oh, god, he is isn't he,"

"Yep, he's my little brother, Hermes,"

"Oh, god, so you're my..."

"Yep, I'm ya' Uncle,"

"But, but..." Honda looked so lost, but all Jou could feel was grateful for the fact that his best friend believed him, "He looks so much older than you,"

"Yeah, well, that's due to a number of things. Most of which is that Hermes is very accomplished at making disguises, he is the god of thieves for a reason,"

"Really? I just thought he was a messenger god, at least, that's what I picked up from the interaction he's had with the subject of my project; Aphrodite," Honda's large grin came out of nowhere as he looked at Jou, "This means she's real too?"

Jou didn't really know what was going through his friends head at this point.

"...Yes..."

Honda's grin turned into a leer.

"Have any nude pics of her, you know, as close family,"

Jou's face contorted in disgust.

"Ew! Honda, ya' dog! That' disgusting! She's my half-sister and waaaay older than me!" Jou gagged, "I can't even believe you went there!"

All Honda could do was laugh helplessly on the floor. And soon Jou was joining in with him. It was moments like these that Jou really looked back on fondly.

However, things soon quietened down and turned serious again.

"So, why now," Honda looked troubled, "And why tell me? I mean, Yugi and Yami are rather more important people on the scale of things, and if you're supposed to be acting human, why reveal yourself at all?"

Jou's thoughts turned troubled also, these were the exact questions he'd been asking himself for days now.

"Well, as to why you...firstly, you're family – the son of my favourite brother. You're also a demi-god," Honda gulped at this, "And that makes you far more approachable than any other mortal. Not to mention, of a higher status than Yami, even if he were still Pharaoh. For all they claimed to be 'living gods', very few were actually from our seed, if you know what I mean," They shared a little chuckle over that, "But seriously, not only all that, but...you were my friend before I knew you were my nephew, shit, I only found out about that when you introduced us!" Honda seemed surprised at this, but let Jou carry on, "You looked out for me and we got close to each other," He looked at Honda and in all seriousness said; "You are the best friend I've ever had," And then he smiled, wholly and completely, he smiled as he did when he really meant it – like when he told his mother he loved her; or when he was so enraptured with the music of his lyre, that he forgot completely where he was. Suffice to say, it was a smile brighter than the sun.

Stunned, Honda sat quietly.

And Jou went on.

"As to why now? Well, your father had a few things to say to me about honesty," He cringed here, as the elder of the two, he hadn't really liked being told off by one younger than him, "Besides, I think I need your help,"

A/N2 - Whoo! What an ending, eh?

Hope you enjoyed it! Review! ! !