Yu-Gi-Oh! Fan Fiction ❯ From within the Flames ❯ Meetings ( Chapter 2 )

A/N: Here's the next chapter!

Kathrine: We don't know how much of this story yall want so we decided to ask.

JC: Do you want faster updates or longer chapters? I mean, our chapters aren't very long to begin with so we want to know if you want them shorter so we can update faster.

Kathrine: We'd loved to know but until then just enjoy the story.

JC: In this we meet everyone else pretty much and find out how Jou 'recharges'. ^_^

Kathrine: We finally got YUGIOH cards!! YAY!!

JC: Yeah, our friends gave them to us. (Hugs cards to her chest.)

Kathrine: Okay, now to the story.

Disclaimer: Do not own YUGIOH! Even though we want to.

Warning: Angst, YAOI/Shounen Ai, Dark themes, Beating up on poor Yugi. (Oh well.) DO NOT FLAME!!! Kathrine will smite thee for it. Constructional Criticism in accepted.

From within the Flames

BY JC and Kathrine

Chapter 2

" Well what should we work on today?" the small tri-color-haired asked. " We've already studied everything for the Chemistry final on Tuesday so we need to work on Algebra and Ancient World History." The white-haired boy he was talking to only nodded in agreement as he got out their books for that morning. It was noon and they had just started the meeting for their school club, 'Reach for the Stars'. It was basically a group that tutored students at the school on Saturdays and during the week so that they could raise their grades. Currently, there were only seven members, three of which were there because of mandatory school punishment.

" I still don't see why we're here anyway, Ryou," another white-haired boy growled, him being one of said three. " They know we aren't going to do anything here. There's not even a teacher to watch us."

" Bakura," the other sighed. " If you would do your work and not get in trouble on a daily basis than you wouldn't be here." His chocolate brown eyes stared into the other's identical depths, but he merely turned his head away. Ryou's eyes lowered and his finished pulling his books out of his bag.

" Can we just get out of here?" a boy with light blonde hair yawned before sitting up in his chair. " We only have to show up and listen to you four, not like we have to get into conversations."

" Shut up, Marik," warned another boy who looked almost identical to the first tri-color-haired student, save his crimson eyes and self-assured attitude. " We try to help you so that Assistant Principal Keiromi will let you three off of punishment. That doesn't give you the right to act like a jerk."

" Oh, the great Pharaoh Yami has spoken," Bakura snickered. " We should all bow down to him."

" Don't call me that," the boy growled. He had been calling the boy that name since elementary school when Marik had first moved to their town from Egypt and said he acted like one of their ancient kings, or a Pharaoh.

" I knew this was a bad idea for the assistant principal to sign them up for this as punishment," a brunette girl sighed. " They will never get along and that only causes problems for us."

" But I'm not causing problems," a blonde boy looking identical to Marik pointed out, a feigned smile of innocence on his face. He had always managed to make the girl feel uneasy because she knew that behind that smile was an insane teenager who enjoyed causing people pain.

" That's because you do your schoolwork and get good grades," Marik pointed out.

" Yeah Malik, we all know why you agreed to join," Bakura smirked.

" Your point?" the blonde questioned as he walked behind Marik and wrapped his arms around his shoulders, nibbling on his ear. The blonde groaned and leaned back so that the other boy could move on to his neck.

" Now is not the time for that," the girl told them. " We have to work or else you three will just get expelled."

" Anzu the Goody-goody," Bakura rolled his eyes. " Like I care if I get expelled or not."

" I bet your mother would," the brunette frowned. The white-haired boy glared at her then. It was common knowledge that his mother was ill and in the hospital with a weak heart. She was kind and tried to teach her son to be the same way since his father had been killed in the line of duty as a police officer. Before then Bakura had been a good student with excelling grades, but he stopped caring after his parent's death.

" That weak woman cares too much," he muttered under his breath. To him, it was his father's weakness that had killed him and his mother's that had her trapped in a hospital bed. I am not weak, he told himself and then glanced at Ryou as he and Yami looked over what needed to be done. He is weak, he is gentle and cares too much. Just like them, my parents. He shouldn't be so weak.

" We don't have enough paper, Yugi," Yami looked to his smaller, more innocent looking counterpart. They usually didn't seeing as Marik and Bakura never even brought their own books, let alone paper.

" I'll just go get some from the Saturday school teacher," he shrugged. Then he looked between Bakura, Marik (who was still making out with Malik), and Yami. " Please don't try and kill each other," he begged. With that he walked out of the room and down the hall. He didn't even notice the look in Yami's eyes as he left.

The hallway was silent and he walked down the many identical halls to Room 114. It was the first Saturday of the month, which happened to be June, which meant that Sensei Hakoi would be the teacher that held the detentions. Saturday school was only detentions for students who never stayed for after school or couldn't. Most were the former instead of the latter. He just hoped that the teacher was in the room because he didn't want to be left alone with any of the students in that room, mainly because he wasn't even half their size. He was indeed the smallest sixteen year-old in Japan, he was sure of it.

The door was closed and everything was silent so he guessed that Mr. Hakoi was there to keep them in line. He knocked on the door, but no answer came so he knocked again. " Hello Sensei Hakoi?" Yugi called. " It's me Yugi Motou, I needed to borrow some paper." That's when the door opened and dark blue eyes glared down on him from behind black shades with a vicious smirk as company.

It's Keith! His mind raced and he couldn't think of what to do. Keith had been the one that had bullied and beaten him for all of his freshman year and then that year as well until Anzu found out and told the principal. The American exchange student had been sentenced to Saturday school for the rest of the year and community service because Yugi had not been the only student he'd been beating up on.

" Hello Runt," the blonde greeted him. " I thought that was you squeakin' out here." He stepped out of the room and towered over the smaller boy.

" Wh-where's Mr. H-Hakoi?" he asked in a small, scared voice. Keith has sworn he would get revenge on Yugi for ruining his weekends when he hadn't actually done anything, save telling Anzu.

" Got sick, the substitute hasn't shown up yet," Keith answer with a dark chuckle. " Since I'm the only one here they weren't too worried."

He's the only one?! Yugi knew then that he was in trouble. He wasn't even prepared for the right hook that connected with his stomach and sent him flying across the corridor and into the wall. He let out a loud cry of fear and pain, clutching his abdomen in an attempted to make the hurt go away.

" You're still a weak little runt," Keith laughed. " You can't even take a hit." He picked up the boy and through him through the air, causing him to land on a desk left in the hall. On impact the desk fell over and Yugi's head collided with the hard-tiled floor. He let out another cry of pain, and tried to stop the world from spinning around him. He stared up with blurred vision and thought he saw an unfamiliar crop of blonde hair and honey brown eyes just as he lost consciousness.

*****

Jounouchi rushed down the many different halls, using his genetically altered sense of smell and hearing to lead him to where the cries he'd heard had come from. Oh Gods, I hope it's not Them! he prayed. He didn't want to anyone to know he was there in the school and yet knew he couldn't let someone be injured on account of him. I hope whoever it is, is all right.

His senses led him to a hallway just as he saw a boy being thrown into a desk, his head making a sickening thud sound as the desk fell over and his head hit the floor. Oh no! his eyes widened, but then they cut into a glare as he let out a low growl. He stepped into the hall and could see another blonde laughing at the hurt boy on the floor. He looked surprised to see him, but his attention had turned to the boy he stood next to.

Jou kneeled down next to the small boy and looked at him in confusion. He was so small, he could have only been twelve at the most and his hair was dyed the strangest combination of colors, bangs being blonde and the tips of his black hair a deep red. The boy's glazed violet eyes stared at him for a moment before they closed and the boy's entire body went limp. He checked and could see a small trickle of blood coming the back of the boy's head.

" Who the hell are you?" the other blonde demanded to know. Jou glared at him with hate in his eyes. How dare he picked on this little kid?! He thought of his little sister Shizuka and what he would have done to anyone that had tried to hurt her. He scooped the small child up in his arms and stood without any difficulty.

" Hey, Blondie, what is up with you?!" the boy shouted at him.

" You shouldn't have hurt him," Jou told him with a snarled on his lips. " He is only a child."

" So you're a friend of the Runt's?" he asked. " No wonder why you're weird." He then raised his hands in fists. " And any friend of the Runt's needs to get his ass kicked." He stood in a stance, his posture showing he wanted to fight, but Jou didn't move. He just continued to hold the boy and stare at him.

" What? Are you brain dead too?" Keith egged him on.

" You want to fight me?" Jou asked. " Are you sure you want to lose?"

" Lose my ass, c'mon!" Keith shouted. Jou merely shrugged and lay Yugi down on the ground. He then turned back to Keith and smirked at him, raising his hand. The bully's eyes widened when a small flame flickered to life in his palm.

" What the Hell-?!" Keith began to back away.

" Don't go," Jou told him with a glint in his eyes. He knew he was low on energy and needed to collect some. He'll be enough for now, he told himself. That's when the flame grew larger and seemed to fly from his hand, racing towards its target.

Keith was paralyzed in confusion and fear. The fire swarmed around him like a mythical dragon, keep him in place. Then he felt very tired all of a sudden. It was as if he didn't have enough energy to stay awake any longer. His eyelids drooped and he stared at Jou in disbelief.

" Wh-what d-did you do to me?" he asked just as the fire unraveled from around him, allowing him to collapse to the floor. The flame merely went right back to Jou's hand feeding him the energy it had taken from Keith so he could replenish his own. The blonde felt more awake and strengthen because of the recharging. He took in a deep breath of air and smiled as the opposing blonde falling into a deep sleep.

" That's much bett-" Jou started but was halted by a scream from down the hall.

" YUGI!" he turned around and stared at six confused faces. The one that had screamed was the girl of the girl with green eyes.

" Who are you and what have you done?" the one in front of the others demanded to know. To Jou's surprise he looked practically identical to the boy he have just saved, if only a bit taller and having crimson eyes instead of violet. Must be his older brother, Jou guessed. He watched as the expression of three of their faces turned to glares and he knew what they were thinking.

" Nani? You think I hurt the little kid?!" the blonde wasn't too surprised. Everything did look really suspicious.

" And Keith," the girl pointed out.

" Wait a minute! This guy attacked the kid and I was just trying to help!" Jou insisted. " Yeah I hurt the big jackass right there, but not the kid." The boy he believed to be Yugi chose that time to let out a weak, pain-filled moan. His 'brother' quickly rushed to his side and checked his over.

" His bleeding from his head, he must have hit something hard," he assessed carefully. " We have to get him to the hospital and fast."

" We can take my car," Malik offered. He wasn't known for being the nicest (or sanest) person in school, but he did know that the smaller boy needed help. Besides, he thought with a mental pout. I'm not the one that caused his pain.

" Arigato," Ryou thanked him as Yami pulled Yugi into his arms.

" What about these two?" Bakura motioned to Keith who was unconscious on the floor and Jou who was just watching them.

" Who are you?" Anzu asked. " I haven't seen you around the school before and it's way too late for new students." It was only a week until school let out.

" Well…" Jou knew he had to think fast. " I'm Jounouchi Katsuya. My school let out just last week and I came up here to visit with my dad. I was curious as to how your school looked because I'm suppose to transfer to here next year and saw the door was open so I came in. That's when I heard someone cry out and came to see what happened."

" Just at the right place at the right time, huh?" Marik gave him a doubtful look.

" Yeah, I guess," Jou nodded, seeing as that was pretty much the truth.

" Thank you for helping Yugi," Ryou told him. " C'mon, we have to get Yugi some help." Malik shrugged and walked a head of him leading them down the hall so that he could take them to his car. Jou watched them leave and sighed, noticing that two of them hadn't gone with the others.

" What?" he asked.

" I know you're lying," Marik told him. " You're hiding something and I like finding out secrets."

" Eh?" Jou sweat-dropped. He just shook his head again. " Yall have it all wrong. I wasn't lying about just showing up." At least not completely, he thought. Seeing as I just showed up last night while being on the run for my life.

" Whatever," Bakura rolled his eyes, showing he didn't believe him.

" What about him?" Jou pointed to Keith.

" We'll deal with him," the white-haired boy smiled and Jou felt a chill go up his spine. He didn't know what it was about these two, but they creeped him out. And that was saying a lot with all of the things he had done and witnessed in his life. He began to back away and the turned around.

" Since you have this under control I better be going," Jou told them with a nervous laugh.

" Excuse me?" Bakura raised a curious brow. " I did say 'We'll deal with this,' didn't I? That means you as well, seeing as you are the one that knocked him out."

" Uh…Okay," Jou gave in. " What should we do, I mean, he said that a substitute teacher was comin' to watch him."

" Then we put him back," Marik explained. " It's so simple."

Jou didn't know how to explain that the blonde would be unconscious for another four hours at the least. He gave an indifferent shrug and said, " Whatever." He kneeled next to Keith and put one of his arms behind his neck and stood, the dead-weighted body hanging limply. Bakura snorted in disgust before taking up his other arm and doing the same. Together they carried the heavy blonde back into the classroom and sat him down at one of the desks. Marik couldn't help but laugh as he watched Keith's head bob for a moment before falling onto the desk with a low thud.

" See, no problem, can I go now?" Jou asked, not wanting to be around the psychotic-looking duo any longer.

" But we were just starting to get to know each other," Marik mock pouted with a mischievous glint in his eyes. " Why don't you stay around a little longer?"

" I really need to go," Jou told him as he backed towards the door. " My dad's probably worried by now. Bye!" With that he quickly rushed from the room, leaving the two students alone with the other, unconscious, blonde.

" I think we scared him away 'Kura," Marik sighed.

" With how you were acting, he probably thought you were a cannibal that wanted to eat him," the nearly albino boy snickered.

" He's hiding something," the boy repeated. "I can feel it. I know it's something big as well. I can't wait to find out what it is."

" You're not going to let this drop are you?" Bakura sighed and shook his head.

" Nope, he's the perfect prey," Marik pointed out as they walked out of the room. " He's new in town, is staying with is father so his parents must be divorced, and is hiding a secret. I definitely am going to enjoy this vacation."

" Good for you, ya psycho," Bakura chuckled.

" Like you don't have your own little 'prey' for the summer," his companion smirked knowingly.

" And your point is?" he asked. " At least I don't have a insanely possessive and jealous boyfriend to deal with."

" Malik will help me," Marik shrugged. " He always says we don't spend enough time doing things together."

" Whatever you say," the white-haired boy shrugged as they exited the school. " At least we don't have to have that stupid club meeting anymore."

******

" You're friend is suffering from a concussion and will need to rest for a while," the doctor explained. " He will be just fine so don't worry."

" Thank you Ma'am," Anzu smiled at the lady before turning back to Yami, who had been sitting in the same chair for the past two hours with a concerned look in his eyes. " See I told you everything would be fine and not to worry."

" He should be able to go home tomorrow after some overnight observations," the doctor pointed out. " If you want you may go see him since he's awake. He's in room 23."

" Arigato," Anzu thanked her just before she left to tend to her other patients.

" Come on," Ryou stood and then turned to look at Malik.

" My good duty for the year is done," the blonde told them. " I'm going back to find Marik." The others sighed, knowing that when his mind set on the other blonde there wasn't a tank that could derail him. They all just left him to himself and walked down the hall, searching each door until they came to one the door that said, 23 on its plate. Yami opened the door and walked in without hesitation.

Inside the room they found Yugi sitting up in bed with a bandage around his head. He turned towards them when the door open and smiled brightly. " Hey guys!" he greeted them with a wave, but stopped with a slight wince. All the quick movements had caused him to become dizzy. Yami smiled warmly at him before sitting in the chair next to the bed.

" The doctor said you can go home tomorrow," Anzu told the small boy. " She just wants to keep you overnight for observations."

" Fine," he shrugged. " Did anyone call my Grandpa?"

" I tried but I think he already left for his trip to Cairo little one," Yami explained.

" Oh, it all right, just didn't want him worrying about me," the boy seemed fine about it. " So what happened to Keith?"

" That's the strangest thing," Ryou explained. " This blonde showed up and said he beat Keith after he attacked you."

" Blonde?' Yugi's eyes widened. " Then I wasn't seeing things!"

" Nani?" Yami questioned.

" Right before I fell asleep I thought I saw someone with blonde hair and light brown eyes," he replied. " I thought I just dreamt it."

" Well, he was real and his name is Jounouchi," Anzu told him. " He said he was just there to look at the school, but heard you cry out."

" Yeah," Yugi sighed and looked down " Keith was really mad at me. He said that he was going to get me for him getting Saturday school for the past four months."

" I'm sorry I wasn't there to protect you," Yami apologized.

" Hey, we can't all be in two places at once," Yugi assured him. " You didn't know the teacher wouldn't be there. Everything's fine now." He patted the older looking version of himself on the hand and smiled. " So what happened to the boy, Jounouchi?"

" Oh man!" Anzu cried. " We left him there with Marik and Bakura!"

" From how out cold Keith seemed, I think he can take care of himself," Ryou spoke. " He probably left right after we did anyway."

" Guess your right," Anzu agreed.

Yugi smiled again and then yawned, " Gods, I'm tired. I guess it's the painkillers. If you three don't mind I think I'm gonna take a nap."

" Go ahead," Yami told him as he watched the boy lay his head back on the fluffy pillows. He stood up and motioned to the other two to leave Yugi be. They nodded to him and followed him out of the room, letting the smaller get some rest.

*****

" Have you found him, yet?" the man asked, moving a piece of silvery-white hair from in front of his face.

" Not exactly…" the man before him started, looking more than just slightly nervous.

" What does that mean?" a single brown eye cut into a suspicious glare.

" We don't have him in custody, Mr. Crawford," the man explained quickly, " but we know where he is hiding."

" And where might that be?" he raised a silver eyebrow.

" Here in Domino City," the man answered.

Crawford's eye widened and then his lips curled into a wicked smile. " I see," he said. " Well you may go, but keep searching. Jounouchi must be found."

" Hai sir," the man bowed before leaving his employer to his own thoughts.

" Well Jounouchi, it seems you've stumbled right into the middle of what you wanted to escape," he whispered. " You thought you could be free after our dear Gozubouro's parting, but I'll just have to teach you how very wrong that assumption was." He let out a small chuckle and turned around to look at the city just as night fell over its citizens. " Yes, you'll see my dear Jounouchi, you'll see."

A/N: There ya go. Hope yall liked it!

JC: We think it came out okay.

Kathrine: We know there wasn't any Seto in this chapter, but don't worry. We'll be seeing him very, very soon. This was just to get the plot going.

JC: Thanks for the reviews from CH 1! We were amazed to find that we got 11 on FFnet for just the first chapter. That's never happened before.

Kathrine: Not even with our one-shots.

JC: Now please review again! Oh and please be patient with updates, we have three other stories we're working on right now.