"I may be stupid, but I'm not that stupid."  Although he had considered it too many times to count.

"You could've fooled me, burning-sense-of-justice boy."  But Honda was just joking.  Or maybe he wasn't.  Maybe Honda knew Jounouchi better than Jounouchi knew himself.  "Just try to get back and get some rest, okay?"  Jounouchi smirked.

"Yes, mother."  Honda shot him a glare, but it was half-hearted.

The night was disturbingly quiet.  His footsteps seemed so loud.  Jounouchi practically expected everyone to wake up and yell at him.  But no one did.  They were too exhausted.  So he walked through the hallway alone, his own footsteps making him uncomfortable.

And then the room was in front of him.  And Jounouchi wanted to go in, but he didn't at the same time.  There was no reason for him not to, no one out to see him.  Even so, Jounouchi could've sworn something was holding him back.  Apprehension held him in place as if he were caught on rose thorns.  But he sucked in his breath and bit his lip and walked in the room.

The room where Seto Kaiba lay.  Almost dead, but not quite.  Moonlight filtered in through the window as if its sole purpose was to illuminate the unconscious boy.  Jounouchi cursed himself for not having done anything.  For not trying to stop the duel when he knew no good could come out of it.

"You're so much smarter than the rest of them, Kaiba.  You don't fear death.  You know that in death, everything is over.  They can't hurt you anymore.  But when you're restrained, you're weak and vulnerable.  At the world's mercy.  Are you afraid now, Kaiba? Winged things can't stand being caged."  The darker Malik's words dark were filled with smugness and undertones that Jounouchi didn't want to think about.

            "Why should I fear you?"  His shaky voice wasn't very believable.  Kaiba was trembling now, his fear visible to everyone.  Jounouchi had clenched his fists so tight the little crescent imprints on his palms were starting to bleed.  Kaiba wasn't supposed to act like this.  He wasn't supposed to be afraid.  Kaiba never showed fear, not even with Pegasus.  But then again, Pegasus wasn't the devil incarnate.  And Pegasus didn't have Kaiba slowly being devoured by the shadows.

            There was a perverseness about the entire duel.  The way the tendrils of darkness slowly began to creep up Kaiba's legs, twisting around his body reminded Jounouchi of the pornographic manga some of the boys in his old gang read, where screaming schoolgirls were violated by tentacles.  Only Kaiba wasn't screaming.  His voice had left him completely.  Malik toyed with the blue-eyed boy like a cat teasing its prey right before it went for the killing blow.  He exploited the weakness shamelessly, taking the smallest chunks possible out of Kaiba's life points to prolong the duel.  Malik relished in the fear.  And they all just stood there doing nothing, like they were watching a car crash.  Like they were watching a condemned man be taken away by his executioner.

            Jounouchi knew the whispered encouragements muttered under his breath that were slowly becoming a mantra meant nothing.  Kaiba couldn't hear him.

            "Ridding your body of your soul will be so enjoyable.  Your fears and nightmares are so dark.  So much darker than most."  The demon licked his lips.  The shadows were high enough that they wrapped around Kaiba's neck.  A curl of darkness caressed his cheek and the boy shuddered in revulsion.

            "Mokuba."  It was whispered so sorrowfully, Kaiba's voice so full defeat.  Mokuba never heard his brother.  Honda had dragged the young boy away earlier when Kaiba's fate became apparent.

            Then Kaiba's eyes went wide and there was a sharp intake of breath.  His body swayed and crumpled.  It was only then that anyone was brave enough to make contact with him.

At least Isis had been kind enough, practical enough, to close Kaiba's eyelids when they put him in the infirmary.  Jounouchi didn't think he could look at those vacant blue eyes.

But now Kaiba looked like he was just sleeping.  Maybe with nightmares, but nothing more.  He had never noticed quite how pretty Kaiba was.  Kaiba always seemed attractive, in a dangerous way, like a leopard or a wolf.  Beautiful, but you know if you touch it your arm will be ripped off.  And now Kaiba was lying there, asleep.  Defenseless.  His guard down completely.  It was the only chance Jounouchi had ever had to admire high cheekbones and full lips.  Or the paleness of Kaiba's skin in the moonlight.  Or long lashes that fluttered slightly as he nightmared. 

Even during his duel with Malik there had been something alluring about seeing Kaiba in a weakened state.  But then Jounouchi had felt so disgusted with himself for almost becoming aroused that he felt ill.  It was so wrong.  Bile rose in his throat and he wanted to vomit.

Still, looking at Kaiba was a luxury that he usually couldn't afford.  Anzu had carried Mokuba to his room after he had fallen asleep crying.  Although Jounouchi was honestly surprised that the other Yugi wasn't there after all the ranting he had done at Malik.  All after the duel was over and nothing could be changed, of course.  But still.

In fairy tales some curse was always put on the damsel in distress.  Somehow the evil witch always ended knocking the beautiful princess unconscious.  Poisoned apple.  Spinning needle.  It didn't really make a difference.  Wasn't everything solved with a kiss, anyway?  No one was there to catch him.  And seeing those still slightly parted lips, Jounouchi couldn't resist.  He bent down and pressed his lips to the sleeping boy's, drinking in their warmth.  Jounouchi was almost tempted to use his tongue.  But he knew it would be wrong.  After a blissful moment he pulled back.

No.

No response.

Of course not.

Why would sleeping beauty boy wake up for him?

Jounouchi laughed bitterly and headed back to his room.

**************************

It doesn't matter what happens to the chicks in the show.  Kaiba will always be the damsel in distress.  ^_~

Wow.  Winking after angst.

If you read any of my other fics, chapters of Mercy and Escape are in progress.  And I'm changing what was going to be the plot of Try.  Still, don't expect updates anytime soon.

Review.  Please.

-Nyako-chan (Who hates college applications)

"I am a DJ, I am what I plaaaaaaay.  I've got believers!" DJ, David Bowie.  It's stuck in my head… damn it…