Yu-Gi-Oh! Fan Fiction ❯ Nightmare ❯ The Feuds of Lovers ( Chapter 21 )

(Short wait. Don't expect much more from me for a while.... I guess, to make up for that, this is going to be a fairly long chapter, which I didn't really realize till just now....)

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`Jou says his otousan is Japanese, his okaasan American. They met up in New York when his otousan was visiting for some odd reason. Jou says he once asked his otousan, when the man was in a good mood, about his okaasan. Apparently, the two never got married, but slept with each other anyway. Jou was born and his otousan was stuck, for a while.

`Jou doesn't really remember his okaasan's face, because they left when he was five, moving to a different part of New York. Jou doesn't know what happened to his okaasan, he believes her to be dead. I don't think the whole thing adds up too well. There's too much missing. I'm thinking of searching for her, although it'll be difficult with the last name not being known.

`Anyway, Jou's problem is a little different from the one Seto and I had, though I can't quite seem to gather the courage to tell him. Jou's otousan beats him when he's drunk, for the most part, although he's been known to do it when he's in a horrible mood and sober. Jou hasn't been raped, at least, not as far as I can tell. He's got an innocent's eyes, although he tries to look tough. Mokuba-chan, Yuugi-kun, Jou.... I'm surrounded by innocents. I hope they stay that way, too. If I can have one wish, it's that all my innocent friends and otouto remain the way they are, innocent....'

~Kaiba Noa's Diary

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Well, we had a long talk with Jou last night. He made us swear, by the end, to not tell a soul. Seto, Mokuba, and I could understand, knowing the feeling. Yuugi wasn't quite getting it, but he agreed in the end. That's Yuugi for you, he'd do anything for friendship.

Since Yuugi and Jou stayed so late, everyone had dinner, then we sent Yuugi home in a limo. Jou was forced, with the combined efforts of Seto, Yuugi, and myself, to spend the night. He did call Honda about getting his bag back. I think they agreed upon meeting before school the next morning so Jou could pick it up. I lent Jou some of my pjs that I never wear. Well, I just don't wear pjs anymore, but both Seto and I have some.

Well, I got a call during lunch today, so I walk over by the garbage bins to do business, Jou promising to cover for me if people asked about my whereabouts. The call is Besy. The board of directors order that I attend a meeting immediately. I explain to them, after Besy transfers me to them, that I can't come to a meeting, I'm in school. They point out that I can get out whenever I need to. I reply that maybe I'd rather be in school listening to my teachers drone on about stuff I've known since I was five rather than sit through another one of their boring meetings that get us nowhere. Then I flat-out hang up on them.

A blinding pain sears through my leg and I cry out as it buckles and I go down. I look down at my leg and see a small throwing knife embedded in my leg. I glance up at the attacker. "Ushio...." I hiss.

"Well, well. Nice to see you too, Kaiba." Ushio grins cruelly, a new knife, identical to the one I compacted yesterday, in one hand.

I grit my teeth and pull the throwing knife from my leg, then force myself to stand. "What the fuck do you want?"

"I'm surprised you can still stand." Ushio's grin turns into an ugly sneer. "You won't be standing for long, I promise you!" Then he runs at me, knife aimed at my heart. I twist out of the way, but misjudge my wounded leg's strength and end up on my ass in the dirt. Ushio comes to stand over me. "I'm going to kill you, Kaiba. I'll be the hero of the school. I will have killed one of the worse fighters in this high school. Then I'll aim for Yagami. He can join you in Hell and you two can fight there." He grins again.

~Seto!~ I cry in my head, closing my eyes in defeat. I won't be able to move out of the way this time, not with the trash bins trapping me like they currently are.

The blow never comes. Instead, Ushio screams in pain. My eyes fly open in shock to see Ushio's own knife buried in his side, Seto's chilled gaze impaling him. "Who's killing who here, Ushio?" He hisses, letting go of the arm he used to bury the blade in Ushio's side. Ushio's hand is still grasping the hilt. "Don't you ever touch Noa again!" Then my koibito punches Ushio in the gut, putting all his strength into the blow. Ushio goes down.

"You are so damn cruel." I whisper.

Seto kneels next to me, his face a mask of worry. "Come on. Let's get you to the nurse."

"My enemy is helping me. How pathetic is that?!" I groan, letting him help me up.

"Well, if you weren't here, who would keep me in line?" Seto jokes as we start off, me leaning on him and trying not to cringe when I put weight on my leg.

"Heh..." I shake my head at his words. Then I glance down at the throwing knife in my hand. It's covered in blood. I almost feel like crying.

"Noa!" I see Jou running towards us, eyes wide. "What happened?!"

"Ushio." Seto growls. "Come on, inu. He's not as light as he looks."

"Gomen..." I whisper as Jou gets on my other side.

Jou glances at my hand. "Noa, your hand is bleeding."

"I know...." The knife had cut my hand when I'd closed my fingers around it.

"Oi! Yagami-sama! Why you helping those jerks?!" One of Seto's followers shouts.

"None of your fucking business!" Seto shoots back. He chances a glance at me. "You look like shit, by the way." He mumbles.

"Obviously. You're a bastard, by the way." I respond.

"Duh. You have blood in your hair." He snorts.

"You must have really studied me with that quick glance." I shoot back.

"I just know your ugly self too well by now."

"You never see me studying you. Got a crush, Yagami?"

"You wish!"

"You two fight too much." Jou grumbles as he holds open the door to the nurse's office.

The nurse glances up from the food on her desk, then hurries out of her chair. "My God! Kaiba! What happened?!" She cries as Seto helps me up on the bed.

I make a face at the blood that's ruined my uniform pants. "Ushio snuck up on me." I open my hand again and look at the throwing knife, mentally blaming my board of directors for this.

Seto hops up on the bed and hugs me around my shoulders as the nurse pulls up my pants' leg to clean the cut. "This is pretty nasty. I'm thinking of sending you home." The nurse warns.

"I you have a pair of pants I can change into, I'd rather stay." I mumble. A noticeable reminder of our past is Seto and my unwillingness to go home `sick'. Chichiue would punish us if we missed school without an okay from him, and we weren't to leave school in the middle of the day. That system has been forced upon us, and, although it's been changed some with his death and my owning Kaiba Corporation and caring for Yuugi and Mokuba, it still stands. Me getting a wound like this is no reason to go home early. Seto is the only other person who understands and agrees with this, although, I think Yuugi and Mokuba would stand by me if I needed them to.

The nurse sighs at me. "Kaiba, I doubt you'll be walking with this."

"I bet he will." Seto cuts in. I knew he'd support me, no matter how worried he is.

The nurse shakes her head. "Still..."

I shake my own head, determined. "I'm staying." I say firmly.

"Alright..." She finishes bandaging the wound on my leg, then looks at the cuts on my hand. "Here, let's get rid of that nasty thing." She takes the knife from my hand and hands it to Jou, who throws it out with a frown. "Wash your hands off in there before I bandage them." She warns, handing me a pair of pants I can change into.

"Your hair, too." Seto adds, smiling.

I nod and swing my legs to the floor, noting Seto tensed to catch me if I fall, and test them cautiously. ~They'll hold.~ I nod in relief, then I walk to the bathroom to change and wash my hand and my hair, to make Seto happy.

When I come back out the nurse bandages my hand lightly, so I can still use it in class, then Seto, Jou, and I head back to our classes. "You will be okay, right?" Seto checks.

I roll my eyes. "We both know I've had worse."

"Well, yes. But, it's been so long..." Seto mumbles.

I glare at him. "Four years isn't that long, Seto."

Seto shrugs. "Hey, it's my job to worry about you, ya know."

Jou snickers. "Awful lot of worrying you were doing while you were insulting him."

Seto reaches around my and smacks Jou lightly. "Urusei, inu."

"Hey!" Jou rubs the back of his head, giving Seto a hurt look. "What'd I ever do ta you?!"

Seto raises an eyebrow at him. "You are a friend of my worst enemy. Need I say more?"

I laugh. "Give up, Jou. Yagami's just sore cause he had to help me and ruin his image."

Seto sticks out his tongue at me. "Think what you will, Kaiba, you rich brat."

"Have a problem with me having more money than you?" I snort.

"Maybe there wouldn't be such a problem if you didn't have so much." Seto humphs.

"Hey, poor people aren't my problem." I shrug.

"We gonna do that thing today?" Seto whispers.

"I don't know. How much walking and standing will I have to do?" I reply in a whisper.

"It is hurting you, then. You should go home." Seto gives me a concerned look.

I grab his shirt roughly with my hurt hand and press him against the wall. "Urusei. I refuse to show such weakness. I am a Kaiba." I hiss at him.

"You can be a Kaiba all you want, but I don't want to see you killing yourself over the pride Gozaburo beat into you." Seto replies calmly. "Will you please let me down so I can smell clean air again?"

"Argh!" I let him go and stalk off towards my classroom. "Yaro!" I shout back at him, then slam into my classroom.

"Kaiba!" The teacher shouts. "Why are you slamming into my classroom late?!"

I take a breath to calm my nerve. "Gomen nasai, sensei. I cut my hand during lunch. Yagami and Jounouchi were walking me back."

Jou peeks in his head. "What he said."

Sensei sighs. "Sit. No more banging around."

We nod and go back to our seats, which are on opposite side of the classroom. I glance over at Yuugi's empty seat next to mine sadly. Ojiisan had made him stay home this morning. I miss having him to trade notes with, something we've been doing since Jr. High. If I wasn't so pissed with Seto and his sensible worrying over me, I might be missing him too right now. ~Damn him...~ I put my head down, tired.

-~*~-

"Kaiba!" Sensei calls. I glance up warily. "No sleeping in my class! Now, come up here and solve this question on the board!"

I groan and stand, ignoring the throbbing in my leg. The clock tell me I've been sleeping for twenty minutes, about. I step up to the board and answer the question in seconds, then start back to my desk. ~Baka work.~

I don't see the foot sticking out due to one of Seto's followers and trip over it. I grit my teeth as I fall to my knees. "Kaiba, I don't know how you got Yagami to help you out, but don't do it again." The boy hisses.

I lose my temper, having had enough shit from people today. "You think you know everything about Yagami, eh? He's so rough and tough and great?!" I pull myself to my feet, giving me a height advantage. "You know nothing about Yagami!"

"And you do?!" The boy also stands.

"Kaiba! Kiku! Sit down!" Sensei shouts.

"What's his otouto's name?" I hiss. Seto doesn't tell many people Mokuba's name. "What's his address? What's his otousan's name?"

The boy gapes at me. "I didn't know he had an otouto..."

"Baka." I spit in his face. "It's a wonder Yagami lets you anywhere near him!" I storm back to my seat and sit coldly, my anger not quite spent.

Sensei is looking at me curiously. "Planning on telling us about Yagami, Kaiba?"

"Yagami is none of your business." I reply sharply.

"Maybe you'd like to go tell the principal instead." Sensei threatens.

"Maybe the principal already knows."

"Out! Go to the principal's office now!" She screams.

I grab my stuff and leave with a shrug. But, instead of going to the office, I poke my head in Seto's classroom. "Yagami, I need a word with you." I say sweetly.

"I'm working, Kaiba." Seto grumbles, not looking up at me. He's still mad at me for throwing him against the wall earlier.

"Why aren't you in class?" Seto's teacher asks.

~Honesty's the best policy.~ I decide. "Cause I got thrown out for talking back."

Seto looks interested. "Guts, eh?"

"Come on, you dick." I grumble.

"Oh, see, now you've hurt my feelings." Seto goes back to his work.

"Feelings?! What feelings?!" I cry, aggravated. He doesn't even attempt to reply. "Okay, okay. I'm sorry for insulting you." I sigh, giving in.

"And?" Seto looks at me, a mischievous glint in his sapphire blue eyes.

"I'm sorry for breathing on you." I roll my eyes.

Seto laughs and stands. "Be right back." He tells his sensei, then follows me.

I lead us to the bathroom, then lock the door behind us. "And I'm sorry for being an ass in the hall." I sigh.

Seto draws me into a soft kiss. "Forgiven." He settles himself on the floor against the wall, and draws me into his lap. "Now, why were you talking back?" He inquires. I tell him what happened, starting with being tripped. He hums in thought for a second, then sighs. "I generally don't talk about Mokuba-chan, because it might prove to be both a weakness and a family connection to you."

I nod. "I can see all that. I didn't give a name because I figured such a thing might be the case."

"Same with the address and Gozaburo." Seto hugs me closer to him. "You want me to talk to this jerk for you?" He inquires.

"Nah....It's fine for now." I close my eyes and lean my head back against his shoulder.

"Want me to walk you to the office?" Seto breaks the peace.

"You're being awful helpful today." I pull myself up.

"You need the attention." Seto smirks, also standing.

"Thanks for the thoughtfulness." I snort.

"Anytime." His finger traces an invisible pattern on my chest. "Come on, before we do something we'll regret." He manages hoarsely.

I snicker and wag a finger in his face. "No sex on school grounds. We've been over this."

"Mmmmm..." Seto grabs my hand and licks a finger. "Point?"

"Come on, you horny maniac." I pull my hand away. Seto cracks up. "Why do you laugh everytime I say that?" I walk over to the door.

Seto follows me, still snickering. "I keep remembering how Gozaburo looked when you called him that."

I roll my eyes and lead the way to the office. "I can't see how that's still funny after seven years," I shake my head. "But you're an odd one."

"Ah, you know it!" Seto poke my side and I glare at him.

As we near the office, we hear raised voices. I've been in the office enough times this year to know that one of the voices is the principal's, the other an outsider. Seto and I stop outside the office to listen in.

"I can pull him outta class all I want!" The unknown voice. It sounds oddly familiar.

"Not unless you have a good reason." The principal.

"I'm his father! Isn't that reason enough?!"

"You have no identification to prove that."

"Damnit! I need to speak with Katsuya now!"

Seto and I gape at one another. ~Jou's abusive otousan. Shit...~

"Let's flush him." Seto cracks his knuckles, eyes icy.

I feel the chill of no emotions, something Chichiue taught us both, take over my body. "Come on." I say coldly. We open the office door.

Both adults freeze. The principal is the first to recover. "I'm busy, boys." He sighs.

"We could hear you down the hall." Seto warns.

"Okay....Could you two wait for me to finish?"

I ignore him and step up to Jou's otousan. We're about the same height, giving neither of us a height advantage. "I'm warning you, Mr. Jounouchi, leave Katsuya alone." I hiss sharply. "You're best off just going home."

"Who the hell do you think you are, kid?!" Jou's otousan glares at me.

"Kaiba Noa. CEO and president of Kaiba Corporation." I reply automatically. "And Katsuya's friend." I add.

"You're as child, Kaiba." He snorts.

"You piss me off, Mr. Jounouchi. And I'm warning you, if I see you on school grounds again, I will have you arrested." I warn coldly. "And don't think I have nothing to use against you."

"You little fucker." His hand raises to smack me.

Seto blocks the blow. "Get out of here. Unlike Noa, I believe is beating people who piss me off into a bloody pulp, and you're pissing me off."

Jou's otousan lets out a hiss, then stalks from the building. The principal looks confused. "What were you three saying?" He doesn't understand English.

"Nothing much." I smile lightly.

The principal sighs and shakes his head. "You boys and your secrets..." Seto and I offer shrugs. "Well, have a seat, tell me what you did this time." He motions to a couple of chairs as he sits behind his desk.

Seto and I sit and I retell the story about getting thrown from class. Seto and I had come before beginning of the school year and explained a lot of these things to the principal. He'd agreed to play along with Seto and my plan, as long as we told him the truth and behaved, fo the most part. In short, no blood, we attempt to keep most physical fighting to a minimum, and try and keep the regular fights between the other student from happening at all. We agreed to his terms and the deal has been working well. He's pretty lenient with us and the fighting in the school has gone down greatly, making ours' the safest school in all of Domino, possibly all of Japan.

Once I'm finished with my story, the principal leans back in his chair with a grave look. "This is a problem, boys. What we now have is a divided school, with the lines clearly drawn. Fights that noone can control will probably begin breaking out all over. What do you think we should do?"

I shake my head, having expected for this to happen. "The only option I can see at this point is for Seto and myself to end our little feud before it gets any worse." Seto nods grimly.

"That was my conclusion, also." The principal frowns. "But then fights will probably start becoming more frequent again. This was what we were aiming to avoid from the beginning."

"I've heard various complaints about the current hall monitors. They're given too much power, and go against policies left and right." Seto mumbles.

I nod. "Could we change the hall monitors to better behaved students who can hold their own, especially ones other students like?"

The principal hums. "Could you two fill the slot? You know the student body better than I do. Maybe you could find others to help you."

"How many do you need?" Seto grins.

"After you two, find me eight more, but I'm depending on the two of you to keep them in line." The principal says in a serious voice.

Seto and I nod. "You've got yourself a deal." I smile.

"Matte!" Seto fidgets. "Noa, how far do we want to go with our friendship?" He looks at me seriously.

I can't help grinning. "Brothers?"

"Brothers." Seto sighs in relief.

"Start tomorrow, then. Kaiba, stay in here till classes change. Yagami, go back to class." He hands Seto a pass and Seto leaves. Then the principal and I both pull out something to do and get to work.

~~~

A/N: I'm so glad I had today off school. It wasn't so hard to update this as I expected!

Noa: Indeed. Why don't you do the next chapter, too? It's not too long....

Jou: She's working on a new story...

Seto: How long is that one going to be, anyway?

KK: If I knew, I'd tell you. It's, what, 11 pages now, and still counting? No end in sight. Kinda reminds me of this fic.... *sweatdrop*

Noa: Right..... Am I in this fic?

Seto: Nope. Jou and I are, and some of the others make an appearance. Not much of one, though.

Yuugi: When is Yami gonna come into this fic, anyway?

KK: Ah.....*checks notebook* I'm working on Chapter 24, right now...We just got to the first S/N/M hints. So.....maybe in Ch 24, maybe Ch 25. I just keep forgetting to add him in there.

Moku: You just don't like him.

KK: Hush, you.

Well, I'm not gonna do Review Replies this time. I'm lazy and am currently upset over another fight with my otousan. Be happy I'm putting this up. *gives her otousan the finger* Yaro.... -_-*

~KK/NG