A/N: This is one of the most complex stories that I'm ever going to try to do. Please bear with me in trying to do this. I'm not sure how you guys are going to take this, but I really hope that it will be for the better. This is parts 1/4 and afterwards there WILL be sequal. I've already got most of the storyline set out. Please enjoy.
Disclaimer: I do not own Yu-Gi-Oh
It is often that something happens that changes your life forever. It might be a simple thing as you finding a best friend, or it might be you finding the person you want to spend the rest of your life with. Or it can be as big of a thing as winning the lottery. But whatever it is, it changes you.
But for Yuugi, he wished this particular life-changing event had never taken place. He turned and stared across the room to the man sitting up in the bed, eyes focused on something Yuugi didn't understand.
Jounouchi had been like this for days, and according to the doctors, it was very possible he could be like this for the rest of his life. Mental trauma was not something that was easy to get over, even in someone as strong as Jounouchi.
It hurt Yuugi to see his best friend in a position like this . . . to see the once care free, slightly spastic, goofball of a friend turned into a shell of what he used to be. And all because of one man. Yuugi still didn't know all of what had gone on.....he wasn't sure that he wanted to know.
One day Jounouchi would talk again...and in time maybe he would talk about what happened...
Yuugi could only hope. . .
Not much had changed in the two years since he had left his little hometown of Domino. In fact, he would have been surprised if anything had changed at all. Beside the fact that the little sophomores that he and Jounouchi used to pick on were now the senior class, nothing had changed...he was still the same person, and people still looked upon him with jealousy.
Motou Yuugi rolled his eyes as yet another man welcomed him back and asked him for a duel sometime. It amazed him that after disappearing for a little more than two years, people still were envious of his dueling skill. It was truly ridiculous. He hadn't bothered to duel in a tournament since he left highschool.
A few buildings Yuugi used to hang out in were now either closed or were different to what they were. A smile came to his face though as he recognized the landmark that had made Domino what it was...the highest and probably the most expensive building in Domino; Kaiba Corporation.
Obviously, Kaiba Seto stillremained the richest (and, more notably, most arrogant) man in all of Japan, and Yuugi assumed as much. The man was an industrial genius and probably the smartest being to ever grace Domino with his presence. And one of the richest... his only rival was his step-father and no one even remembered that old man anymore. Yuugi couldn't help but wonder if Kaiba was still seto on beating him. . . well, he certainly, hoped not. They were adults now. What was a few titles?
His thoughts were suddenly interruptedas he was suddenly ripped from his cabby by his grandfather and mother, who then proceeded to hug him to death.
"Yuugi!" Sugoroku exclaimed, practically squeezing the air out of his unfortunate grandson.. "It is so good to have you back, my boy. You've been missed greatly."
The young man hugged his grandpa tightly as the elder Motou ruffled his hair. "I've missed you too, Grandpa..it's been such a change not to come home and listen to you everyday. You always had the best stories."
"And what was I?" Motou Yukimi said, placing her hands on her hips and glaring playfully at her son. "
"You're a mother. . . you don't count" Yuugi grinned, but it quickly turned into a wince as his mother whapped him over the head and huffed back inside. Rubbing the back of his head gingerly, he turned to Sugoroku. "What? I was just playing with her! Women...I don't think I'll ever understand them..."
He followed his Sugoroku and was surprised to find the house remarkably clean. Normally, his mother didn't clean that often, and usually only did it when his father was coming back from one of his long trips, and it made Yuugi feel honored that she would do the same for him. An alluring smell greeted him as he entered the kitchen, and found that his mom was cooking an enormous dinner. Odd to make such a feast for only three people.
"Expecting a large group, Mom?"
She nodded. "Actually...I am. We invited someone over to greet you back, and he's brining...well he's bringing someone you need to meet."
Yuugi grinned, knowing immediately who she was speaking of. "Jounouchi? No wonder you're cooking so much. He eats like it's his last meal."
Sugoroku chuckled as he entered the kitchen, catching the last of Yuugi's sentence. "Apparently, it runs in the family. He's not the only one who eats like a pig."
Yuugi never got the chance to reply as the front door opened and within seconds, a small child dashed into the kitchen and attached himself to Yukimi. She smiled and picked him up, talking to him. He giggled and spoke back, before throwing his arms around her neck.
"Don't be fooled by his innocent appearance. What he wants is food out of you."
Yuugi whipped around to see his best friend leaning against the door frame, a small smile on his face as he watched the child in Yukimi's arms. The blonde boy broke into a grin though as he spotted Yuugi. "Yug!" He exclaimed, opening his arms.
Yuugi took the invitation and wrapped his arms around Jounouchi. The two had long ago given up on trying to convince people that they weren't gay; it was simply a expression of how much they meant to one another. The way Yuugi looked at it, Jounouchi had saved his behind more times than he could count...why shouldn't he at least try to repay him with a hug?
"How've you been Jounouchi-kun?"
The blonde boy shrugged. "Can't complain. I've got a roof over my head, money in my pocket, and a decent job. And now I've got my best friend back. Life's looking pretty good." He grinned and slapped Yuugi on the back, but before he could get anything out of his mouth, a small voice interrupted his.
"Daddy?"
Yuugi looked downwards and saw the child tugging on the hem of Jounouchi's shirt, grinning. "What?"
"We eat soon?"
Yuugi snorted in laughter as Jounouchi rolled his eyes. "You know," Jounouchi said, in thought. "Mothers leave you with a curse.. they tell you when you're a child that when you grow up and have children, that they hope the kids are exactly like you.. and boy, lemme tell ya, they ain't lying. He," Jounouchi pointed downwards, "is a mini-me."
"It will get worse," Sugoroku's voice was heard from the living room. "He's only two, Jounouchi. Just wait until he's fifteen and wants to date."
A look of horror passed over Jounouchi's face, before it disappeared. "Parents," he mumbled under his breath as both the boys and the child made their way towards the kitchen table. "They simply do NOT know when to keep their mouths shut, do they?"
"Motou Yuugi, I am so glad that you are back...seriously. I think it's the best thing that has happened all year."
Yuugi girnned and rolled over on the bed, facing his friend. "Well, I'm here to stay. There's colleges here in Domino that I can go to..no need to go out of town. And besides, that's not the truth. You have him." He pointed to the child, named Arson, curled up on his side, sleeping soundly against his father.
A soft look appeared in Jounouchi's eyes that Yuugi had never seen before. It was a look that only one who was a parent could understand, as he ran a hand through Arson's hair before answering. "Yes..." he said in almost a whisper. "I have him. Thank God that I do. . ."
"Where is his mother?"
Jounouchi didn't answer for a moment, simply looking down at his left hand. It was the first time that Yuugi had noticed that a small sliver band graced Jounouchi's ring finger. The blonde fiddled with it a moment, before finally answering.
"She died when Arson was little more than about six months old. Cancer."
Yuugi didn't say anything. He didn't want to say he was sorry...he know Jounouchi would only brush him off. What could you say to your best friend when you found out that his wife died? 'I'm sorry' simply didn't suffice. He didn't need to say anything. Jounouchi just kept on going.
"It was Mai, if you're wondering. Married about two months after you left." He shrugged. "We eloped....so don't be offended about not being invited to the wedding. No one but us." He smiled in remembrance. "It was fun those first few months. . . and then. . . we . . . we got the news. They had found a small tumor. . . to tell you the truth, I'm not exactly sure where it was. They removed it and told us everything was fine.
"About a month later she ended up pregnant, and nine months later this little bugger popped out." Jounouchi's fingers played with Arson's hair as he continued. "It went fine for a little while until they informed her that she had a relapse of the cancer...it was in stage four, they said. So after months of being in the hospital, they basically sent her home to die. She did, about a week later....I've been raising this guy by myself ever since."
"Must have been tough..."
Jounouchi only nodded. Then he yawned. "I better get home...kid is sleeping and if I stay any later, I'm going to end up camped out on your couch?"
Yuugi nodded. "Do you want to stay the night here?"
Brown eyes widened. "Aren't we...a little old for that, Yuugi? We're nineteen...we stopped having sleep-overs around. . . what, sixteen?"
Yuugi snorted. "Why should that matter? Yes, we're adults now, but why we let that spoil our fun? Oh come on!" He begged, seeing Jounouchi raise one eyebrow. "Don't give me that look! Come on....please?" He batted his eyes at Jounouchi, hoping maybe that would sway his best friend into staying the night. "If not for the sake of staying the night with me, think of it as not wanting to wake your kid in order to drag him home."
Rolling his eyes, Jou reached over and turned off the lamp sitting on the nightstand, snuggling under the covers. "Fine," he mumbled. "You win.. this time.."
Yuugi could only grin. He could've sworn he saw Jounouchi grinning right back at him.
Yuugi woke the next morning to find Jounouchi out of the bed and Arson snuggled up to him. Trying to move without waking the sleeping child, he finally managed to roll himself out of bed, hitting the floor with a clunk. Frowning and rubbing his rear end, he made his way into the kitchen to find Jounouchi sitting at the table, fully dressed and skimming through the newspaper. Yuugi had to do a double take.
"I leave for two years and you turn into my father!"
Jounouchi chuckled. "Actually, I just got dressed like...two seconds ago. And I'm only looking at the paper because I"m planning on seeing a movie today and wanted to know the times."
"And I guess I'm babysitting?"
Jounouchi nodded. "Gramps already told me he'd watch the kid for me. You can go out and do whatever...unless you want to go see the movie with me, of course."
"Which one?"
"The Exorcist: The Beginning."
"I think I'll stay home."
Jounouchi grinned. "I kinda figured that would you." He stood up somewhat lazily, and stretched. "I should be back in about three hours. I"ll call you if anything comes up and I won't be back to pick him up by that time.. . . you sure you don't want to come with me?"
Yuugi shook his head. "Nah, I'll stay here."
Jounouchi shrugged. "Suit yourself."
Just as he reached the doorstep, Yuugi had an odd sort of feeling wash over him. A feeling that he only ever got when something bad was about to happen.. and rarely did was such an instinct wrong."Jounouchi!" he called out suddenly, tone slightly nervous.
The blonde haired boy turned to stare at him, his eyes curious. "What is it, Yug?"
"....Be careful, okay? Please don't do anything dangerous."
"Don't worry, I'll be careful. I always am. " Jounouchi said. "Yuugi...it's only a movie. What could possibly happen?"
Three hours had passed, and there was still no sign of Jounouchi. It was now approaching four, and Yuugi was beginning to worry. He still couldn't shake off the incredibly ominous feeling that he had experienced when Jounouchi was walking out the door, and as the minutes passed, it only got stronger. But as the blonde had said, it was only a movie...what could possibly go wrong?
He jumped when his mother ran into the room, her eyes wide. "What theater was Jounouchi going to?"
Yuugi shook his head, curious as to the reason for alarm. "Probably the one in the mall.. why do you ask?"
Yukimi took his hand and led him towards the bedroom where Sugoroku was sitting on the bed, eyes transfixed upon the television screen. Yuugi turned, listening to it and refusing to believe what he had just heard.. it couldn't be.. it just couldn't!
"This is Megumi Kimoko, reporting from Domino, where apparently, five people have been taken hostage in a small theater just inside the local mall. . ."