Author: Yami Ai
Series: Yu-gi-oh!
Pairing: Yugi/Yami x Jounouchi, implied Yugi x Anzu, Jounouchi x Mai
Rating: PG-15
Warning: Set after Manga vol.28 (I don�t have Vol.29 so it is AR from here), Angst, OOC, SHONEN-AI.
Disclaimer: Yu-gi-oh! Isn�t mine, if it was then well�. we would see a lot more Yami Bakura and Nam/Malik.
NOTE: This confused me for some time, but I worked it out. Malik calls himself Nam to start with so that he can get close to Yugi and gang, he has his servant call himself Malik � so Nam is actually the real Malik, as I don�t read Japanese I don�t know if they know this yet � so for this story, Malik will be referred to as Nam.
DUEL OF DEATH, DUEL FOR LIFE, DUEL FOR LOVE.
* * * ** * * * * * *
Sometimes I wonder, does he feel the same way about me that I feel about him. Only once has he told me he loves me - and I often wonder if it was a shock tactic.
I see less and less of him now, he spends his free time with Anzu as if he is ignoring me on purpose. There are really only two people that I care about in this world, my imouto and him, well three people if you count his Yami.
Did I do something wrong perhaps - maybe I have driven him away from me, I need to find out - the hurt is killing me.
Today I have my duel with Nam, I must admit I am worried about it - but I have to prove that I am not stupid like Anzu thinks and that I can see this through to the end. After the duel I'll speak with Yugi and sort this out once and for all.
* * * * * * * * * * *
Jounouchi put down the pen and retied the ribbon on his journal. Pushing it underneath his pillow he stood and looked out of the room window. The constant worry and duelling was starting to get the better of him. These were not normal duels and it scared him that both Yugi and his imouto were on Kaiba's strange duelling island. With a heavy sigh, he sat back on the bed and reached for his deck. The familiar ritual of sorting through his cards calmed him somewhat but it still couldn't irradiate the niggling sensation deep in his mind that he should run and not take on the duel - something bad, really bad was going to happen.
The PA system crackled and sputtered to life, "Would contestants number one and four make their way to the duelling tower please, that is contestants number one and number four make their way to the duelling tower. Thank you."
Taking a deep breath, Jounouchi stood and left the room, cards firmly in hand. It hurt that outside his room he found only Honda and his imouto waiting for him. Seeing him look about, Honda told him that Yugi and Anzu were talking outside and would meet them up there.
The sinking feeling in the pit of his stomach grew and swallowing the wave of nausea that spread through him, he smiled and went to the duelling platform.
* * * * * * * * * *
The world seemed to slow down as Nam's attack headed towards his monster. When it hit, he was surrounded by the most incredible pain, every cell in his body felt as if it were being seared and destroyed. He could hear a hoarse and hideous scream - he pitied the poor creature making that noise, and then he realised that it was coming from himself. Regrets filled him, and so did shame - he was sure his imouto and Yugi were watching him in this moment of weakness.
Opening his eyes he was surprised to see Yami Yugi in front of him.
"Yugi?" he asked, hope tingeing his voice. If Yami Yugi was helping him, then maybe he could survive and get through this, maybe he hadn't driven Yugi away after all.
Words of encouragement reached his ears, and with a smile he began to pull himself up. The agony was overwhelming as he managed to kneel up, but he had to prove Yugi's faith in him. Reaching he drew a card and was pleased to see with his pain fogged vision that it begin to materialize on the field. Another wave of pain wracked him and he knew he wouldn't be able to last, that Yami Yugi�s trust was misplaced in him.
Looking over at the spectators he smiled to see Yami Yugi and his sister cheering him on, he fixed the image in his head and closed his eyes once more. Taking a shuddering breath, he let go of the pain and fell forward; not hearing his name screamed from the mouth of his loved one.
* * * * * * * * * *
"Jounouch-kun!" the scream tore through his throat before he had time to stop it. He couldn't be seeing what he thought he was seeing. He screamed again, this time joined by his Aibou. The referee was speaking; Nam was declared the victor, as their beloved Jounouchi lay motionless on the ground.
The whole group rushed forward, and he stood motionless as Honda tried to rouse their friend. Inside him, his Aibou was clutching his head, tears streaming down his face as Honda let go and allowed tears of his own to flow.
The medics moved them away and Jounouchi was lifted gently and put on the stretcher. They followed and listened to what the doctor was saying. He couldn't stay in the room not without hurting someone; so standing he walked out into the hallway. Going inside himself he realised that his Aibou was in no state to resume control of his body.
Lifting a hand to his face, Yami Yugi realised he was crying. It was the second time in as long as he could remember that he had shed tears - both had been shed over Jounouchi.
"It's my fault," he heard Yugi whisper, "All my fault."
Gently he dried Yugi's tears and giving him a gentle hug, returned to the world. An image of Nam�s smirking face came to mind and with a growl he punched the wall. All of a sudden he felt a familiar presence next to him and a soft hand on his cheek.
"Jounouch-kun?" he turned, but there was no one there. A light started to glow from his pocket. Reaching in he pulled out the Senin Item that Ishita had given him. Closing his hand around it, he let his eyes shut and was surprised to see Jounouch-kun standing before him with his duel disc.
Jounouchi's voice washed over him soothing the pain that was tearing at both his and his Aibou�s heart, he was filled with confidence - there was no way that a duel would stop Jounouchi from coming back to them. Opening his eyes again he reassured Yugi. After a few moments deliberation he moved away from the medical room and headed towards Jounouchi's own rooms.
* * * * * * * * * * * *
Sometimes it is hard keeping these feelings to my self. Today I made the mistake of being arrogant and ended up in a dog suit. I was prepared to swallow my pride and be the new boy Otogi's pet, but Yugi - well actually Yami steps up and takes on Otogi for my freedom, and worse it wasn't Duel Monsters - it was Otogi's own game, Dungeon Dice Monsters.
During the whole match I felt so stupid, if Yugi and Yami lost, they would have to give up Duel Monsters forever and it would have been all my fault. Still, Yami won and everything was fine.
But afterwards, whilst Yugi and Otogi were talking, Anzu came up to me and told me exactly what she thought of me - none of it was pleasant. She said that I was worthless and stupid. The worst thing though, was that she knew how I felt about Yugi - she threatened to tell him, unless I backed off and stopped hanging around with him all the time.
I don't know what to do - I don't want Yugi to find out how I feel from Anzu; but I don't want to loose his friendship to her either. I'm so stupid.
* * * * * * * * ** * *
Yugi felt his eyes watering again. He had curled up on Jounouchi's bed and found the journal under the pillow. Normally he would have respected the other boy's privacy - but he had to know what Jounouchi had been thinking.
When he had told Jounouch-kun that he loved him, he hadn't expected a response; but once everyone had left and it was just the two of them - he had shyly confessed that he felt the same way. He had never seen Jounouch-kun being shy before, and he had found it endearingly cute. They had gently kissed but after that everything seemed to go wrong.
Anzu told him that she had seen Jounouchi and Mai kissing and hugging each other. Feeling betrayed he had poured his heart out to her, taking the advice she offered, spending time away from Jounouchi; she told him that it would make the blonde boy jealous and see what he had lost.
But now, after reading the journal entries he realised that it hadn't made Jounouchi jealous - it had made him sad because he had never kissed Mai in the first place. Inside the Senin Puzzle, he could hear Yami cursing up a storm and it just made him cry harder. Both of them had trusted Anzu with their secrets and they had been betrayed.
A pair of phantom arms wound round him, and looking over his shoulder, Yugi smiled weakly at Yami.
"Don't cry Aibou - Jounouch-kun is a fighter, he'll be alright." Yami gently reassured him
"But what do we do about Anzu?" it bothered him; he wasn't sure what he would do when he saw her next.
"When the time comes - I will deal with her." Yami sneered and pulled Yugi closer to him. The adrenaline of the day was finally wearing off and together they drifted into sleep.
* * * * *** ** * ** *
Looking down at the unconscious blonde, Anzu felt a smug satisfaction. Her biggest and only rival for Yugi's heart was out of the way - and if she had anything to do with it, he would be removed permanently.
"Honda-kun, where did Yugi go?" she asked the distraught brunette.
"He didn't say where he was going - but he's probably gone to Jounouchi's room." he answered her and hugged Jounouchi's tearful sister closer.
"Thanks." she answered curtly and walked out. She had hoped to have broken Yugi of all his ties to Jounouchi by this time, but no matter - he would soon enough.
END PART ONE. ON TO PART TWO...
