Bringing Up Jou

Chapter 8

Rating: PG-13-ish

Author: Moonchild DJ

Disclaimer: Yugioh and its characters do not belong to me, they belong to the many, many various people that own them, lock, stock and barrel. I make no money off of them, I just like to drool over them! This story, and its ideas, do belong to me, so please do not try to take, as this is a story of my own thinking, and I come hard by its ideas.

Author's Note: Hello there, everyone! Moonchild DJ with another long-awaited chapter to BUJ! grins and sweatdrops sheepishly I had the worst writer's block on it, and I'm very relieved to have broken it, so I hope that you enjoy what my poor brain scrambled over! I think I'll get at least two more chapters out of this before it finds an ending, so please do tell me what you think, as your comments are much appreciated for this stressed authoress, and keeps me going through all the blocks! With that said, enjoy!

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Morning came, and Seto smiled as he watched the blond at his side wake up. Tousled hair fell over sleepy eyes, a huge yawn leaving the boy's lips as he stretched his arms over his head. "Kawaii." he murmured, laughing softly when the blond blushed. He was cute, all tousled and sleepy, and just plain adorable.

"Am not…!" Jou protested, pouting when Seto smiled and ruffled his hair affectionately.

"Are too." Seto replied, then froze when the bushes surrounding them rustled, emitting several of Pegasus' goon squad before them. He bit back a curse and scrambled to his feet, glaring as the men stepped forward. He heard Jou get to his feet after him, and stepped protectively in front of him.

"What do you want?" he growled softly, feeling the blond take one of his hands nervously. He didn't like the others' knowing smiles.

"Master Pegasus would like a word with you…or with the kid. Whichever comes first."

Seto blinked, then growled at the veiled threat. Pegasus wanted either him or Jou, and wasn't picky who. He couldn't get Jou hurt, he could end up like Mokuba…he couldn't bear the thought of that. He couldn't very well fight them, now without putting Jou in danger. Especially not since they were aiming guns at them. He just couldn't take the chance… "Fine. I'll go. Leave Jou out of this."

"How noble." One man sneered, stepping forward to collect Seto with several of his friends.

"Seto, no!" Jou gasped, pulling on his sleeve. "Don't do this!" He couldn't let him sacrifice himself like this, not for him. He flushed when the brunette caught at his hands, raising them up to kiss them gently. "Seto…"

"I want you to be safe, Jou. I promised your friends I would protect you, and I will, by whatever means necessary. It'll be okay."

"But, Seto…" He gasped again when those soft lips landed on his, kissing away his protests. He made a soft sound of pleasure and melted against him, shyly kissing him back. He could have stayed there forever, but the man yanked Seto back, breaking the kiss.

"Seto…!"

"Don't worry, Jou. Things will be okay." Seto replied soothingly to the blond's frightened expression as the guards restrained him. "It'll all be over, soon." He growled when the guards aimed their guns at the following blond, shooting around his feet to make him dance back as they led him away. "Leave him alone! Jou, stay back!"

"Seto!" Jou trembled, unsure of what to do. He couldn't let them do this, but he didn't want to make trouble for Seto. He hesitated, then followed them when they were a little out of sight. He was so worried for the brunette, he achieved something that the cursebox hadn't accounted on. A cursed one's will being stronger than the curse. Unknowing to him, he once again grew, but instead of just a mere child, he grew to his normal age--and stayed that way, as, unknowing to anyone, the cursebox exploded on its pedestal, guaranteeing that he would stay his age--and no one shall be harmed with it again.

As if nothing had happened, the blond rushed after them, back to normal, and ready to kick some goon tail to get Seto back. He would straighten out his muddled head later.

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Deathglaring at the men restraining him, Seto stalked along with the guards peacefully, back stiff, shoulders straight, head high. He didn't understand Pegasus' little tricks, but he was glad that Jou was kept out of them. He'd gone through enough, he didn't like to think of the thought of what Pegasus would do if he got hold of the blond. He was going to protect him, and that was that. He'd promised Yugi and the others, and he'd promised himself.

A small little smile curved his lips. Amazing how the blond had worked his way into his heart so quickly, so utterly. Or maybe he'd cared for him the entire time, and it just took this situation to make him realize it.

"Hey…" one of the guards muttered, poking at him. "What are you grinning about? Seeing Master Pegasus isn't a walk down the Yellow Brick Road."

Blue eyes rolled in annoyance, and he sneered. "Just thinking about after facing your boss down, how I'm going to enjoy making you pay for aiming your guns at Jou." he replied casually.

The man laughed. "After facing down Master Pegasus, you're not going to have anything left to take us down. I think you're thinking too big of yourself."

Seto smirked confidently. "I'm one of the most powerful men in Japan, if not the world. I'm not afraid of your boss. So I'm pretty sure that you have something to worry about."

The guards just laughed, and he scowled silently as they made their way to the forbidding abode of Pegasus J. Crawford, and up the steps. He would make them pay for threatening Jou, and Pegasus for having Mokuba. First things first, though. He fisted his hands at his side, not fighting their shoving progress up the steps and through the large doors, not noticing when a quiet blond figure darted after them before doors again closed.

But he did notice when the guard next to his right toppled over with a yelp of surprise. Seto blinked and whirled around, eyes widening when he beheld Jou--at his full size--slugging his fist across another guard's face. "Jou?!" he gasped out, then darted forward when a guard aimed a gun at the blond. He tackled Jou to the ground, shielding him protectively as he rolled with him, then scooped him back up to his feet, running with him into a hall as bullets bounced alongside them.

"Thank gods those bakas can't hit the broadside of a barn." he muttered as they set off into the shadows. When they turned a corner, he placed his hands on the blond's shoulders and pinned him back to the wall with a soft thump, forgetting that Jou had grown for the time being. There were other things more important.

"Just what do you think you're doing, Jou?! I told you to stay away!" he hissed softly, watching those lovely honeyed eyes flare under the fringe of golden bangs as Jou raised his hands to his arms.

"Nothing doing!" he declared softly, yet hotly as he gazed up to the brunette. "You think I'm just gonna stand around, you have another think coming!"

"Jou, I did it to protect you, now you ruined everything! Why…?!"

The blond growled softly, then cupped Seto's face between his hands, leaning up and kissing him furiously.

Seto gasped, eyes widening as he registered the soft press of lips against his, stunned to stillness at the heated kiss. This wasn't little Jou, this was grown-up Jou, and he was still kissing him. He shivered, then relaxed, returning the kiss softly as his arms slid around his waist.

The soft, yet fierce kiss lasted for several moments--for forever--before Jou pulled back, panting softly as he gazed up at him. "THAT'S why."

Seto, to say the least, was astonished. Lips tingling, he licked them absently as he gazed down at him. "You…remember?"

"Obviously." Jou grinned, winking playfully, then blushed, reaching out and fiddling with the buttons on Seto's trenchcoat. "You took care of me." he murmured softly. "Why?"

A little red-faced himself, Seto gazed down at him, touching his fingertips to the blond's cheek lightly. "Partly because Yugi and the others wanted me to. But mostly because I wanted to."

"Really?" he whispered.

Seto nodded. "Guess I just needed a push in the right direction to come clean about how I felt." He stroked a thumb over the other's bottom lip, fascinated by its softness and the tiny little gasp emitted from him. "I do care…I even love you, pup. But feelings and emotions aren't my forte."

"I could tell." Jou smiled wryly. "I'm glad someone gave you a kick in the keister to say something…I didn't wanna be shot down if I said anything."

Blue eyes widened at that. "You mean…you, too?"

"Yep." the blond grinned. "Just could never find the courage to say anything. One of us had to bend."

"Didn't think it would be me…but I'm glad it was." Seto responded softly. "Hell, I'm glad you feel the same."

Jou gave his most charming grin--which didn't fail to hit its mark--and shifted his hand down to squeeze the other's gently. "A time and place for everything, Seto. And now ain't the time, not with Pegasus' goons."

"You're right." Seto murmured, squeezing his hand back. "Let's get out of here."

"Seto…last thing I remember before all this--though it's kinda fuzzy--is Yugi and the others. Where are they?"

The brunette frowned. "They were going to try to help you…haven't seen them since. Do you think they're here, somewhere?"

"Well, if you would look down instead of sucking face, you MIGHT know that!" Honda's voice, soft, hissed, a tad annoyed, drifted up to them, and the two leapt apart guiltily, flushing, before looking down to a grate and the gathered group. "That answer your question, Sherlock?" the brunette hissed up wryly to the CEO, who had the good grace to blush.

"Guys!" Jou whispered in relief, falling to hands and knees on the grate. "Man, are you guys a sight for sore eyes!"

"So are you, Jou!" Yugi replied with a grin. "We're so glad you're back to normal."

"How did you get back to normal?" Anzu asked. The blond shrugged.

"Just found myself like this."

Perhaps the curse was broken.Yami replied to Yugi within their bond, and Yugi, grateful to hear his voice after the passage of awkwardness, blushed slightly, and nodded in agreement lightly.

"Perhaps the curse was broken." Yugi repeated aloud. "Something may've happened to that which caused you to be like this, or you broke it yourself."

Jou blinked at Yugi's words, eyeing him In confusions, but grinned sheepishly as Honda snorted.

"What, a kiss from Kaiba, like in the stories?" he teased as Seto's cheeks turned a faint pink.

"Aw, can it, Honda! You think I'm gonna kiss and tell?" Jou sputtered as Ryou laughed softly.

"Yes, Honda, don't pester him so! It's not nice. Anyways, less teasing and more getting out of here, before someone finds us."

"The only sane one of the bunch." Seto muttered under his breath, earning an elbow in his ribs from the blond at his side. He smirked at Jou and shrugged as he shook his head at him. "Do any of you know how to get out? The grate looks pretty heavy."

Honda nodded, pointing upwards, above Jou and Seto's heads. "Croquet used that little doohickey to pry the door up."

"Doohickey…how scientific." Seto muttered as he glanced up to the lever system, then to Jou. "Find something to pull them out with, and be careful, while I get this."

Jou pouted a bit, but kissed his cheek. "You're lucky I love you enough to take orders this time, baka." Seto smirked lightly, blue eyes glinting playfully.

"Oh, don't worry…I'll make it worth your while." he murmured huskily, feeling triumphant when he got the blond to blush and stutter as he darted off.

"There's something I never thought I'd see." Honda murmured as the CEO maneuvered around with the lever rigging. "THE Seto Kaiba, flirting with his rival." Ryou and Anzu nodded furiously in speechless agreement.

"This work?" Jou called out softly to Seto as he came back, holding a long length of golden rope with tassels on the end. "It was used to tie off those heavy curtains in the main room."

"You didn't get spotted, did you, puppy?" the brunette replied with a frown as the blond shook his head. "Okay, then. It looks strong enough." he murmured as he pushed a switch, sending the soft hum of the lever hydraulics drifting through the air as the grate lifted up, then stopped. "Hurry, Jou, before someone hears."

The blond nodded and trotted forward, uncoiling the rope and sending it down to the others, appreciating the extra support when Seto wrapped his arms around him and the rope, and helped him pull and keep the rope steady as Ryou and Yugi, then Anzu and Honda clambered out.

"We make a good team, don't we, puppy?" Seto murmured with a small, gentle smile to the blond as Jou blushed and nodded his agreement, before his eyes widened. Seto blinked as the shorter teen turned into the crook of his neck.

"Trust me." he whispered.

"I do."

"Then turn…now!"

He was confused at why Jou was acting as such, but didn't argue, merely whirled around with Jou held tightly in his arms, the rope the only thing moving, and that was what struck the man behind them, who had had a gun drawn on them, in the face.

Automatically, the man dropped the gun, clutching his face, allowing Honda to tackle him to the ground.

"Smooth move." the CEO murmured to Jou, kicking the gun away from them as Jou beamed at him.

"You think? Saw it in a movie once. It was great, the partner was whirling the other around, allowing him to kick the bad guys back. Would've done that, but I don't know--"

His excited babble was cut off by Seto's lips against his, and Jou dropped the rope in favor of holding on to him, resting his hands on his shoulders. Suffice it to say, the blond was speechless as the brunette smirked at him when he pulled back.

"Anyone ever tell you you talk too much?"

Jou nodded slowly, his cheeks flooding with color. "But no one's ever shut me up like that."

"Good. I take first dibs at keeping you quiet like that from now on."

The blond swatted at him with a sound of exasperation as the group gathered. "Now what? Confront Pegasus, or make like bananas and split?"

"I'm in favor of getting out of here, this place is creepy." Honda replied. Yugi frowned.

"But Pegasus still has my grandfather and Mokuba." he protested softly. Seto shook his head.

"One thing at a time, Mutoh, unless you want to be trapped like them. I don't want to say it, but Pegasus has the advantage over us, this time."

"He who fights and runs away, lives to fight another day?" Ryou murmured as he glanced at the CEO.

"As much as it pains me to say it, yes." Seto sighed. "I'll get him another day. When the advantage is in my hand."

Jou glanced up at him, placing his hand on one of Seto's. "We'll get Mokuba back, Seto. You'll see."

Those intense blue eyes gazed down at him, and he twined his fingers with his. "We…" he echoed quietly. "You'll be helping me?"

"Of course!" the blond replied with a snort. "I know how important siblings are to the both of us, and I'm not letting you take it on alone." He added, so softly that only Seto could hear, "You have me in your corner, now."

Seto blinked, then his eyes glittered with an unnamable emotion, at least to Yugi and the others. "Arigato, puppy." he whispered as Jou blushed and grinned at him.

"So…we're out of here, then?" Anzu replied as she glanced at the two with a little smile and a disbelieving shake of her head. She knew that Yugi had been talking about it, but to actually see it…

"Yeah. We're outta here." Jou replied as he squeezed Seto's hand and glanced back at his friends. "Let's go, before we run into Pegasus or something." he shuddered as the assembled group started out.

Famous last words, Jou.

"My, my…leaving so soon?" That cultured masculine voice drawled. "Very bad manners. But then, you are teenagers, after all. What can one expect?"

Seto and Jou both froze, before the blond bristled and growled as he turned his head to glare at the silver-haired man. "Haven't you done enough? Most likely you were the cause of all the trouble we've had, and you had my friends locked up! That's enough…we'll deal with you another time!"

"Why you arrogant little…!" One of Pegasus' guards growled, shifting to draw his gun until his boss waved his hand.

"Put that aside. I do abhor violence." Pegasus sniffed, before his eyes--the amber one and the Sennen-Eyed one--regarded the young blond, then the young CEO at his side. "My, my. So little Jonouchi-boy has a brain, after all. And he can use it." he drawled. Pity that the blond had changed back to normal, it had been most amusing to see him as a little boy.

"Leave him alone." Seto spat. "No one is allowed to insult him but me." He saw Jou blink and about to protest, but placed a hand over his mouth before he could make a sound. "Shh. You know what I mean." he whispered to him.

A blink of those honey-colored eyes considered him as he removed his hand, but Jou did little more than growl and pout his protest. He would get him back for that, later.

"How sweet. Love in teenager land." Pegasus replied in a syrupy tone. "So you think to just walk out and not own up to ruining my fun?"

Honda couldn't help but blink at that. "Man, you have a strange concept of fun."

"Don't knock it until you've tried it." the silver-haired man replied, sending most of the group gaping at him in disbelief.

Even Seto stared at him, before he scowled. "It doesn't matter if we've spoiled your little game. This is over and done with, and the rest of it will be, too, as soon as we get back those who are important to us."

Pegasus clucked his tongue, shaking his head. "You assume so easily that you'll win." he lamented with a mock-sigh.

"And we will." Seto replied, fisting his hand. "I'll get my brother back, Mutoh his grandfather, and you'll be defeated."

"If you say so." he replied, smiling as he glanced at Seto, then Jou. "There's many ways to defeat an opponent. So many weaknesses."

Seto stiffened at the laced threat, his eyes narrowing as he looped an arm around Jou's waist and pulled him closer protectively. "We're leaving." he bit out, before he shifted and nudged at the others to move, ignoring Pegasus' laughter.

"There's many ways to break an opponent, don't you know, Kaiba-boy? I thought you would've been taught that, by now!" Pegasus chortled. "Little Mokuba-boy isn't the only way!"

What happened then made even Yami's head spin, as he took over, just in case. Everything happened so fast, it was almost a blur, and yet it moved so slowly at the same time. Pegasus was threatening Jou's life, and it wasn't a bluff. A mere grin and a flick of his fingers, and the men at his side had aimed their guns at the blond.

Anzu's scream and Honda's shout of horror preceded chaos and gunshots, and the assembled group ran for the doors, and safety, accompanied by Pegasus' laughter as they bolted. Down the long flight of steps they fairly tripped over to the edge of the forest, until they were in cover and only then stopped.

/Jou, where's Jou?!/ Yugi fairly screamed in the link between he and Yami's mind, panicked at the flight and rush of bodies. /Is he okay?!/

Yami turned his head to consider the group. Honda, Anzu and Ryou, breathless and panting where they rested, but unharmed. Crimson eyes turned to the pair, one brunette, one blond, and asked softly,

"Jou…Kaiba? Are you all right?"

Yami's question was answered as Seto toppled over to his side on the ground, Jou falling to his knees beside him, in tears.

"He protected me…!" he choked out. "He shifted his body so he was the one hit, not me!" His fingers reached out, touching Seto's face, whimpering softly as a reddish smear appeared under the CEO. "Damn it, Seto! We've gone through too much…you better have contact with that chopper of yours or something, 'cause you're sure as hell not dying on me!"

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End Chapter 8

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A/N: Yeep! Yes, I know, cliffy! =p Don't kill me? I didn't intend to end the chapter like this, it just happened! Ehehehe.. --grins sheepishly-- Uh, R/R, please?