Yu-Gi-Oh! Fan Fiction ❯ Broken ❯ Broken - Chapter 3 ( Chapter 3 )

JC: We're finally updating! Wow, two updates in two days!

Kathrine: Now we just have to keep this up and hope people are happy with what we've written.

JC: Yeah. We're really sorry for how this took, but I guess only a few actually care so…

Kathrine: And thank you to those who reviewed the last chapter. And a DEFINITE thanks to those who read this one because of how long it took to get it out.

JC: This one just kinda goes through a lot of stuff, but the ending has a twist and there's more info about 'Kura.

Kathrine: Ryou goes to the game shop among other places, Jou deals with work, and Bakura deals with a lot of shit.

JC: What information will we give you that you don't know or you'll get confused?

Kathrine: Don't think of everything as we write it. Not everything is fully stated until later.

JC: And who said the Pharaoh we were talking about was Yami? ~_^

Kathrine: Now that we're done ranting…enjoy.

Disclaimer: Check past chapters. We don't own.

Warnings: Angst, Confusion, Flashback, and lots of nothing happening until the end.

Broken

By Jennifer and Kathrine

Chapter 3

It hurt like Hell itself was burning behind him all day. Jounouchi's back felt as if he would just about fall over from pain at any second. Working at the music and video store, SLAM, wasn't usually a tiring occupation, but that day was an extreme exception. Even the manager for that shift, Monosuko, had been given him a worried look and asked if he was all right. That was a shock seeing as the fiery orange-haired man (dyed of course) didn't say anything to employees unless they asked him first or were doing something wrong. He hated conversation during the workplace even if he was very friendly outside of it. But he had already thought of an excuse earlier, seeing as he was used to doing so.

" I just hit the ground wrong when I got knocked over during the summer soccer practice that started today." He failed to mention anything about the fact that he'd quit soccer the day he'd actually gotten his job at the store.

" Take an early break Jono," said manager came up behind him. " I don't need our best worker getting too messed up and not being able to come back to work at all."

" I'm fine," he assured him, hiding the flare of pain that contradicted that statement. " It only hurts this much because of it only happening this morning. It will get better after a while." That he did know. Injuries usually hurt their damnedest an hour or two after the event and took a few hours to fade to bearable. Unfortunately, he knew that his injury was at least twelve hours old now and the pain he felt was too deep (as were the injuries) for it to fade by the end of the day. Hell, he'd be lucky if it had gotten even noticeably better three days from now.

" Whatever," he said. " Just don't push it. I'll get someone else to reach the high shelves."

" Okay," he agreed. " And 'Suko? Don't call me 'Jono'."

" Whatever," he gave his normal response. That pretty much meant that he heard him, and filed it under 'Like I'm Gonna Listen'. For some reason he really didn't like that nickname. It just didn't sit right with him even though he knew it was harmless. Monosuko and him had been friends for a while, even though the nineteen-year old had gone to a different school before graduating. The boy had been a bluenette when they had first met and since the blonde wouldn't let him call him by his first name, he chose a nickname of his own.

Monosuko left the blonde alone finally and continued on his surveillance of the store, making sure that no one was stealing or getting to rowdy on his watch and that the employees under him were acting appropriately. That was the one thing that Jounouchi admired most about the older boy. He knew how to act very professional when he had to and kept personal business away from his job with a ten-foot pole.

If only I could do the same, he hid another wince of pain. He was glad to spend so much time at Yugi's that he kept one of his uniforms there for when he went to work right after staying the night. His thoughts went back to Ryou, the white-haired boy always at the corner of his conscious thought. He only hoped that his actions last night hadn't left him at the mercy of a very pissed off five millennia-old spirit of a mystical ring. I wish that I hadn't turned off my phone and left it in my coat at Yug's. But he knew he could do nothing about it and his shift didn't end until five, which was about four hours away, so he really couldn't do anything save wait.

*****

Ryou stood in front of the shop and didn't know what to do. He desperately wanted to go in, but was afraid of the questions he would be asked. Both he and Jou had decided that they would keep their relationship silent for a while, neither wanting to jinx it so early on. Only now that agreement was being put to the test because he feared he might have to tell them if they knew that Jou was hurt or couldn't find him.

He gathered all of the strength and courage he had and walked up the steps, pushing open the door, the bell ringing above it as he entered. Yugi looked up from where he sat behind the counter and an ecstatic smile spread across his face. " Hello Ryou!" he greeted him happily. " What brings you here?"

" Who is it, Aibou?" Yami's called from the storage room.

" It's Ryou, yami!" the tri-color-haired boy replied back. Hearing the way the two spoke to one another left the white-haired boy feeling slightly envious. He knew HIS 'yami' would never call him 'Aibou' or speak to him with such love and caring in his voice. It actually hurt seeing as they were supposed to be two halves of the same soul, but he never let it get to him as much as when he was around Yami and Yugi.

" Good day Ryou," the ancient Pharaoh greeted him as he exited the back room.

" Ohayoo," he returned.

" So…what ya up to?" Yugi inquired.

" Well…" Now he wasn't so sure as what to he should say. " Have either of you seen Jounouchi today?" At his mention of the blonde teen Yugi seemed to look slightly upset while Yami was completely unreadable.

" He's at work right now," Yami was the one who answered.

" Are you certain of that?" he wanted to make sure.

" Yes, he left from here this morning to go," Yugi confirmed.

The white-haired boy wanted to faint from relief that his boyfriend was indeed all right, at least in the aspect of being able to walk around and actually go to work. Although the well-known fact that Jounouchi preferred to hide his pain instead of seek assistance left the words as less of a reassurance. " Well…was he all right?" he finally forced himself to ask. He had to know. He had to know if Bakura had indeed done something to him or if it was some strange coincidence that it had been a Red Eyes Black Dragon he'd found.

" Yes," the spirit of the Siennen Puzzle replied instantly. " Why would he not be?"

"…" He was at a lost on how to respond to such inquiry. " Well, I saw him last night and he seemed to be acting strangely, rather pensive and thoughtful." That was true. When he and Jou had gone out to eat at a simple fast food restaurant and then to the park the blonde had seemed somewhat distant and far off, as if his mind was on something else. When he had asked him what was wrong he'd merely stated that he had something to do that night and he'd explain it later.

I should have known sooner, he berated himself. I should have seen that something was wrong and that Bakura was going to hurt him! Why can I never help out those I care about?

" Ryou?" Yugi's somewhat concerned tone pulled him from his reverie. " Are you okay?"

" Quite fine," he assured them: a total lie. " I was just thinking of what could have made him act that way. That's why I came here. He left this behind when we parted ways and I wanted to return it to him." He extended his hand that held the envelope from its stationed position at his side. " I wanted to make sure that this got back to him as soon as possible. Will you makes sure he gets it?"

" Okay," Yugi nodded, taking the envelope into his own hand from the slender, pale fingers of his companion and smiled. " He'll probably show up here later."

" Thank you my friend," Ryou appreciated their kindness and willingness of help out. " And would you please tell him to call me. I truly need to speak with him about something."

" Everything's all right, isn't it?" Yugi immediately took on the attitude of a worried friend.

" It's just something he was helping me with," the other replied. " Nothing to worry about, really."

" Anything we can help you with?" Yugi asked.

Ryou shook his head in the negative. " No, it's all right," he spoke. " But I do value your concern for me." With that he turned around and walked back towards the way he had entered to leave. He had his hand on the handle to the door when he heard Yami call out his name. He turned back and stared into eyes that were so near the color crimson that one would never believe they were meant to be violet.

" We are your friends," the spirit told him. " You can come to us if you should need something."

The white-haired boy managed a small smile before whispering, " Thank you." He opened the door and stepped out of it, shutting it easily behind himself. He was grateful for Yami's kind words of assurance and Yugi's gentle concern. But even that did not recede the sense of burden he felt. He still had to deal with his main obstacle that had been plaguing him for years now. Bakura had to be dealt with.

He wanted so badly to hate the spirit of the Siennen Ring. He had caused him nothing but pain, from physical to emotional to taking it out on the one person he cared for most. Yet he knew that he could never actually 'hate' his other half. The spirit and he had been together since his father had given him the Ring as a gift for his ninth birthday. He'd so wanted a friend, someone he could talk to and tell his troubles to seeing as his father was never there.

And then Bakura had come. He had thought that all of his prayers had finally been answered with one small wish. The spirit was like his snow-haired knight, tall, strong, fearless, and unbreakable. He was everything that the young Ryou had wanted to be himself. But then everything took a turn for the worse not even an entire day later. Bakura struck him for crying when he had fallen playing in the backyard because he'd scraped his knees so harshly that they bled.

He had been shocked, in utter disbelief at the actions of the older version of himself. What had he done wrong? Why had his new friend hit him? Oh, but he learned and learned well. Bakura hated any signs of any weaknesses. And he learned to hold back on showing them, to try not to be as sensitive, or as compassionate. Only it never seemed to be good enough, Bakura always found a reason to hurt him in some way.

It continued like that for seven years, the spirit always hurting him for some weakness he thought him to have shown or just for the pleasure of seeing him in pain. But that had changed two weeks ago. Bakura had suddenly just stopped touching him, using stoic indifference to his very presence. Only that did not stop him from using the usual technique of putting him into a deep spiritual sleep so that he could use his body every night. And now he knew why.

" He hurt you because of me," he whispered as he hurried down the street. "It is all my fault." He knew what he had to do. I have to know that you're all right Katsuya, he thought. I have to know.

*****

/ He pulled away from the two men dragging him away from the other young boys and girls. He didn't want to go, he didn't want to be taken away. " No!" he cried out. " Let me go! Please no!"

" Shut up you brat!" the one on his right was finally fed up with his whining and backhanded him across the face, sending him to the floor. He was then surprised by the swift kick he received to the mid-section. He gasped in pain, curling up on himself. Another kick to his back caused him to cry out.

" Stop," the voice was soft and feminine, but it was also filled with authority. The two slave traders stepped away from him and allowed whomever it was to pass by them.

" He is only a measly orphan," the one that had first struck him commented. " His whole village was dead, no one else survived."

" And how would it be that his entire village was slaughtered?" the woman seemed to inquire as she knelt next to him. He felt a soft, gentle hand against his bruised cheek.

It was obvious that the men didn't like her insinuations. " They were all dead when we got there over half a moon ago," the other replied. " Bunch of dead bodies all of the ground, not a breathing one in sight, but him."

" What village was this?" she asked.

" The one nearest to the southern border, can't remember the name," the man stated.

" I know," she spoke. " Now take your 'merchandise' and go. I will take this one. The Pharaoh has spoken of an interest in him from the market show."

" B-But," the two men didn't know what to say.

" If he has already been sold it matters not," she stated. " The Pharaoh wants him. Who are YOU to deny the Great One?"

" Th-The Pharaoh?" they repeated in shocked unison.

" Are deaf and dumb as well as incompetent?" the woman inquired coldly. " I told you to go!"

One would believe that two men would not listen to a mere woman, but due to her state of dress and air of superiority left no doubt that she was not one to be trifled with. Without a second thought, the two left the tent to gather up the rest of their slaves, ready to head out to another market. The woman did not even give them a second glance before reaching down and smooth stark white hair out of a pale face. Dark eyes the color of freshly turned soil from the Nile gazed back up at her. They were frightened eyes for sure, but also the boy remained silent, not sure what to do or say.

" It is time to go," she told him before he felt someone else grabbing his arm and helping him to his feet. He was unsteady, his stomach felt as if he was about to lose everything in it one way or another and his head throbbed. But the strong hands kept him afoot. The woman gave a sigh of impatience. " They struck him to harshly. He will not make the walk to the palace."

" I shall carry him," the voice strong, yet soft. They lifted him up, and he saw that it was a man. His hair was a light lavender color, much like the petals of one of the flowers by the Great River. His eyes were also pale, while his skin was dark. The man lifted him up against his chest and held him there. " Let us go."

Suddenly he felt something cold against his arm. He lifted his head and caught sight of the strange piece of jewelry that the man holding him was wearing. It was a pendant or some sort, a golden ring with the Great Eye in the center of a triangle. A slight jingle came from the obelisks that dangled at the bottom of the pendant. Curious, he reached out with his hand and touched the ring, only to be overcome by familiar warmth. It lured him, pulled him in with a comforting embrace and pulled him into a deep unconscious.../

Bakura growled from within his soul room at the memory that flitted across his mind. The day that he had first laid eyes on the Siennen Ring, the first time he had felt its pull. Even though he had been a slave, he had always been in awe of the Ring. The other Great Items meant nothing to him at the time. He only sought the Ring. Maybe it was because it was the first one, the one to first call out to me.

But still not all his memories had returned. He could not think of how he had gotten the Ring. How had he become trapped within it for five thousand years? But it was obvious what had become of the great man, the priest, who had wielded it. He saw him countless times when he faced the spirit of the little Pharaoh and his pitiful light…the Black Magician. The priest had been transformed into a Shadow Monster, thought he was not sure as to how or why.

I will remember eventually, he thought. And I know that the little Pharaoh has something to do with this. He is one of the reasons why I have suffered so. That is why he must pay. So far his memories were reaffirming his hatred for Yami. If not for the wretched Siennen Items then he would have never lost his family, never been turned into a slave, never been trapped within one, never been in solitude for five millennia. It was why he wanted them. By destroying all of the Items he would be free. And in return he would gain power to strike back at those who had caused his turmoil, force the world to pay for what had been done to him.

And I will get them all, he swore once again. They will all pay. The strange emotions he felt, the apprehension, the pain (and the few that he refused to know) were beginning to fade. He felt nothing more than the hate, the anger that the recent memories brought to the front. He wanted his revenge. And he would get it. Starting with those he wanted it from most.

*****

He was there. He stood outside of SLAM, the music shop that his boyfriend worked, and remained frozen. Ryou didn't know if he could go through with it. How could he look Jounouchi in the face? What if the blonde never wanted to even look at him again? Or maybe he could just be upset, he tried to be optimistic. I could fix this; everything doesn't have to be over. Oh, Katsuya, please don't hate me.

He closed he eyes, taking in deep breaths, trying to stay as calm as he could. He could go through with this. He wasn't a coward. He could face this head on. And yet his heart felt like it was going so fast that it would derail like a runaway train. But he wasn't going to runaway. He had to do this. Ryou knew that he would never forgive himself if he truly proved to be the weak-minded cad Bakura thought him to be.

So he stepped forward and opened the door, going into the store before he could change his decision. Inside was cooler than outdoors due to the air-conditioning, but he still could feel a thin drop of sweat trickle down the back of his neck from how nervous he was.

" Hello, welcome to SL-" the person walking up to him stop and stare in shock. Golden eyes pierced into chocolate brown, neither knowing how to proceed. Those eyes seemed apprehensive at first, not sure which person he was, but then quickly came to know that it was not the person he was worried about seeing.

" Jounouchi…" Ryou started.

" Wait," the blonde interrupted him. He then turned around and called out, " I'm taking my break, 'Suko! I'll be back in fifteen ta twenty!"

" Good!" the fiery orange-haired man shouted back from where he was placing tapes back on the shelves. " I knew you would come to your senses some time!"

" Whatever," Jou waved his hand absently before taking Ryou's arm and leading him into the back of the store. He led him to one of three bathrooms (the one for handicapped customers) and motioned him in, following after him next and locking the door. He then turned to look at the boy who had been silent the entire time.

" Are you all right?" were the first words form his mouth. " He's not giving you a hard time again is he?" Both knew which 'he' the blonde meant.

" He's been in his soul room since late last night," the snow-haired teen replied. " I-I think he's hiding for some reason." He tried to keep the quiver out of is voice, really he did, but it was just too hard. Instantly, he had his arms around Jounouchi's neck and his head on his shoulder. " Oh Gods Katsuya! I'm so SO sorry! I didn't mean for this to happen! What did he do? Are you okay? Is it permanent?"

" Nani?" Jou's eyes were confused, but he quickly caught on. Ryou knew, he must have seen the carnage left behind after the blonde had ran. No doubt Bakura had purposely left it for him to clean up. He winced slightly at the pain he felt from Ryou's frantic grip, but didn't let it get to him. " Oh Ryou, I'm the one who's sorry. I didn't want you to find out."

Chocolate eyes stared at him. " What? Why not?" he asked. " He hurt you because of me! I never wanted you to get into the middle of this!"

" No," the blonde shook his head. " I agreed to this. I told him that if he stopped slapping you around that he could smack me around. It's not like I couldn't deal with it."

" You what?!" Ryou couldn't believe it. Jou had agreed to this so that he wouldn't be hurt?! Why would he do something so stupid?! He wasn't worth something like that! " But all the blood!" he brought up. " It was all over the table! I know it didn't come from just some flesh wound or a split lip!"

Jou seemed to become distant at that. " He just went a little blood crazy last night. I'm fine! I'll be all better in no time. Just a cut or two on the back."

Ryou released his hold on his neck and stepped away from him. " Turn around Katsuya," he ordered a determined look in his eyes.

" No," the blonde told him. " I told you I'm fine."

" Do it," Ryou wasn't going to back down now, not when Jou was involved. He knew the blonde used to be part of a gang and got into fights more often then not. He also knew about the former abuse going on in his home (not to mention the possibility of it still going on). To Jounouchi a cut or two could mean he was bleeding to death and just not realizing it.

" Jou please," he tried again. " I have to know. I…I just have to know."

Katsuya didn't want to let him. He knew it would only upset he sensitive teen even more and didn't want to be the cause of that. He wanted to protect Ryou. He knew that his love was strong in heart, mind, and spirit, but it didn't stop him from wanting to keep the harsh things of life away from him as much as he could. He wanted to do the same thing for Shizuka, Yugi, and even Kaiba Mokuba. Even so, he could tell by the look in the other boy's eyes that he wasn't going to give in unless he got what he wanted.

He let out a deep sigh of resignation. " All right," he nodded. He reached up and unbuttoned his uniform shirt, careful to not pull too much on the material. It was still very sore to the simplest of touches, though sometimes he wasn't sure if a mild sting that lasted for some time was better than the quick five-second burst of pain. He moved the cloth off of his shoulder, letting it fall away to the floor. Then he turned around, bearing the truth to Ryou reluctantly.

"Oh my…" Ryou didn't know what else to say. He hadn't expected to see the creamy pale skin of his love's back to be covered completely in white. The bandage only covered the back, saved a strip that ran across his lower abdomen. He reached out, lightly touching the material, pulling back instantly when the blonde shuddered in reaction. He could see the tinge of pink seeping through the large dressing and knew that it would have to be redone, soon.

" I'm so sorry," he repeated. " He did this because you care about me. This is my fault."

Jou spun around and took the white-haired boy into his arms without another thought, ignoring the fire enflaming his body. " If ya say it's ya fault one more time I'm gonna have to knock some sense into ya," he warned, his accent becoming more pronounced. " I AGREED to this so that he would stop hurting you. I don't care much about getting hit a few times or a few bruises. Especially if I'm taking care of someone I care about." He ran his hand through white-hair. " You're important to me, very important. I love ya, Ryou. So just stop blaming yourself for this."

The white-haired teen returned the embrace as much as possible, his head next to the blonde's. " All right," he agreed. "Just…be careful. I don't want anything to happen to you."

" Good, deal," Jou smiled to himself and gave the more lithe body a slight squeeze. " Just as long as you don't worry so much. I'm not going anywhere. I'm right where I want to be. Bakura can't do anything to me that I haven't dealt with before. We'll get through this, we won't let him come between us." Ryou nodded against his neck, but Jounouchi never saw the red flicker in his eyes as he tightened their embrace.

Kathrine: Ooh, what's going to happen? Is Ryou all right? Or is it even Ryou?

JC: Guesses and comments welcome. We know people said that the Black Magician was originally a priest by the name of Mahaado who was supposed to have the Ring so we went with that.

Kathrine: Don't expect everything to be right because we pretty much know nothing about Ancient Egypt and made this slightly AU.

JC: Please review and tell us what ya think. Ya can even give us a rant about how long it took to get this out. Ja for now. ^_^

Kathrine: And forgive spelling/grammar errors, we've been having problems with ours eyes and probably didn't catch everything.