Adult-FanFiction.org : Yu-Gi-OH

Follow the Dragon	By : Whytney Category: Yu-Gi-Oh > Yaoi - Male/Male Views: 6295 -:- Recommendations : 0 -:- Currently Reading : 0
Disclaimer: I do not own YuGiOh!, nor any of the characters from it. I do not make any money from the writing of this story.

Chapter List
- 9
- 10
Chapter Ten
**
“Yuugi, do you ever wonder what life's going to be like once we're all finished school?”
The petite boy looked up from his comic. “All the time.” He replied. “Do you?”
Ryou nodded. “I'm kind of… well, I'm a bit scared, to be honest.”
“There's always something scary about the unknown,” Yuugi said, not really wanting to admit that he was as terrified.
It was about nine o'clock later that night and still the storm raged on. The two boys had retired to their own hotel suite soon after Jounouchi had been plucked from the group in a rather blunt fashion by Yamanaga-sensei. Malik, Otogi and Marik happened to be in some form of deep conversation involving the items needed to devise a home-made bomb - which neither Ryou nor Yuugi found too enthralling - and so they had retreated. They had both finished their diary-entries and, having deftly avoided the topic of today's mishap at the museum, managed to find some other matter to discuss. This happened to be what their futures had in store for them.
“Yes. I have been trying to decide what universities to apply to,” Ryou said. “I'm not too sure if I want to stay in Japan to study anymore.
“What?!” Yuugi suddenly blurted. “I mean… Why not? I thought you liked it here.”
“I do, I do.” Ryou said. “But there are universities in England that can offer a lot more than here. More of what I'm interested in studying, anyway.”
“Like what?”
“Bio-chem, or maybe law.”
“You can do both of those here,” Yuugi countered. “Don't leave, Ryou. I don't want to lose my friends…”
Ryou gave him a puzzled look. “What makes you think you're going to lose them?”
“It just seems like…” Yuugi struggled to explain how he was feeling. “Well, once we all graduate high school, we're not going to see each other as much, you know? Everyone's going to go their different ways.”
Ryou shrugged. “You'll always have Yami.”
“Yeah, but… It won't be the same.”
“You should be excited, Yuugi,” Ryou said, brightening. “Learning and advancing is all a part of life. Aren't you eager to get out there and see what the rest of the world has to offer? You could even go and duel in America - I've heard the industry is big over there.”
“It's more complicated than that, though. I can't leave my Grandpa, Ryou… He's not getting any younger, you know. One day I'm going to have to run the shop by myself.” Yuugi replied. “And what will I have when he's gone? Just Yami, and you guys, if you're still around. Other than that, I've got nothing…”
Ryou frowned a little. “Its okay, Yuugi. I think you're thinking a bit too far ahead. Just live each day as it comes. Make short-term goals if you have to, but just try not to worry about the future too much; it gets in the way of living.”
Yuugi smiled. “I guess you're right; I am being a bit paranoid, aren't I?”
“There's nothing wrong with planning ahead and thinking of what the future might hold,” Ryou said. “So long as it's not affecting your life at present.”
“It's just that, you and me and the gang have been through so much these past few years… it seems like a shame to let it all go to waste.”
“But it won't,” Ryou replied. “It's something that we're all going to remember for the rest of our lives. I must say I'm almost relieved that it's over - trying to save the world from being dominated by Marik isn't something I really want to go through again!”
Yuugi giggled a little. “It had its ups and downs, but I'll miss the time we spent together as a group.” Then, a little more quietly, he said, “All of you guys are like my family.”
Ryou smiled and put a hand on the boy's shoulder. “I understand how you feel,” he said gently. “You guys are like my family, too. I had no one when I first came to Japan. My father barely keeps in contact with me… So, you and the others are about as close to family I have.”
“All the more reason for us to stick together!”
Ryou nodded. “Yes, but let's not worry about it now. We have a big day tomorrow; let's just relax, for now.”
“You're right,” Yuugi agreed, with a sigh, turning back to his manga book.
//Aibou?//
/Hmm?/
//I think I may know what this `bad feeling' you have might be about.//
/What do you think it is?/
//I think it might be based on your inner turmoil about your friends leaving you.// Yami said.
/Do you think that could be it?/ Yuugi asked. /I thought I would have already known that that was it, though…/
//Isis Ishtar may be able to help, if it continues to bother you.//
/I hope it doesn't get that bad!/ Yuugi said. /I think Ryou is right; I'm just thinking of the worst-case scenario. I need to stop worrying; whatever will be, will be./
//Whatever happens, Yuugi, know that I'll always be here for you.//
A hard lump promptly rose to Yuugi's throat and that familiar, cold terror gripped him once again. /Thanks, Yami./
Maybe… Yuugi thought, once he was sure Yami had retreated to the confines of his soul room. Maybe… I'm just scared of losing you?
**
“They want us to make them an entrée of deep-fried chilli squid and a main of coriander and lime Giant Prawns on jasmine rice.” Jou stated as he read the recipe aloud. “And to finish, they'd like green tea ice cream and fresh fruit for dessert.”
“Well, that all sounds easy to make.” Kaiba said dryly, clearly uninterested.
“What, never cooked before?” Jou teased. “I suppose you've got chefs to do all that for ya, huh.”
“Home Economics never took my interest.” came Kaiba's bland reply.
Jou smirked, mentally noting that he'd have the upper hand in this task. “Well then, since you're so inadequate in the kitchen, I'll do the entrée and you can start preparing the main, then we'll do the dessert together, sound okay to you?”
“Whatever.” Kaiba said, frigidly refusing to admit that he hadn't a clue on what he was doing.
To be frank, about the most complicated thing he knew how to make was a hot fudge sundae for Mokuba and himself, which merely consisted of scooping ice cream into bowls and covering it with fudge sauce, complete with sprinkles and a cherry on top. During the days he was working he would normally ask his PA to fetch him a bagel or sushi or some other such fare. At home, his personal chef prepared his evening meals and made whatever he so desired for his school lunches. Attaining and consuming gourmet ingredients for fine food had never been an issue for the Kaibas.
“You could start by chopping up this coriander and making it into a marinade with the lime juice,” Jou said, receiving a blank stare. “Oh, come on! Don't tell me you don't know how to make a frickin' marinade?!”
“I told you; cooking isn't my specialty, mutt.”
Jou laughed aloud. “Do you want me to show you what to do?”
“Verbal instructions will be sufficient.”
“Man, you talk just like a robot,” Jou said, raising an eyebrow and chuckling. “Lighten up, Kaiba. Cooking ain't that hard, you know.”
Kaiba sighed, frustrated. “Just tell me what to do, already, make inu!”
Jou was making a game out of this. “I thought you didn't like taking orders from other people?”
“And I suppose you do?”
Jounouchi bit his lip. Game over. “Alright, alright. Here, cut the limes in half and squeeze their juice into this bowl,” he said, demonstrating. “Then, finely chop up this coriander and put it in the bowl, mix it around a bit, and season with chili flakes, salt and pepper.”
When Jou was answered by nothing but silence, he got to work on his own dish, starting by putting a pan full of oil onto the element. Skillfully, he sliced up the squid into strips and dipped them into egg and corn-flour, his mind starting to wander. I wonder what it would be like having everything always done for you. Kaiba always acts so independent - he's got this big company to run and everything - but is he really? He's always gotten everything he's ever wanted… It's like he's living in a world of his own; maybe that's why he has trouble getting along with other people -
Jou's train of thought was suddenly interrupted by an acidic, burning sensation in his eye. “Argh, damn it! What the fuck - you got lime juice in my eye, Kaiba!”
Kaiba watched helplessly - almost amusedly - as the blonde boy staggered back clutching at his eye, grimacing. A thought of Jounouchi's sister - Shizuka - popped into his head, Kaiba remembering that she had almost gone blind. We couldn't have two Jounouchi's nearly go blind now, could we? How absurd would that be? Some deeper instinct within Kaiba made him suddenly act to help the boy in obvious discomfort.
“Put your head back.” Kaiba instructed.
Jou sat on the arm of the couch and did so. Kaiba grabbed a sipper bottle of water and, with one hand tilting Jou's head back under his chin, squirted some water into his eye to flush it out. Jounouchi blinked and sputtered a bit as the water ran down his face into his mouth. Once the pain was gone, he didn't know whether to be pissed off at Kaiba or glad - and surprised - that he had helped him out.
“I hope you don't piss in the same direction as that lime juice,” Jou muttered once he could see again.
Kaiba glared at Jou and his vulgar remark. “I don't, but maybe I should next time we're standing at the urinal together.”
Jou burst into laugher. For a seemingly emotionless bastard, Kaiba sure had a wickedly dry sense of humour. “Thanks, uh, anyway. Should we get back to it, then?”
“I guess.”
Once Kaiba had finished making the marinade - this time succeeding in keeping all the contents in the bowl - Jou asked him to peel and de-vein the prawns while he went to serve the chilli squid entrée to their teachers. This, however, proved to be a problem.
“I'm not touching those things.” Kaiba established. “You don't know where they've been.”
Jou stared at him, slightly open mouthed. “You're kidding, right?”
Kaiba crossed his arms.
This, again, caused Jounouchi to laugh. “You're like a squeamish little school girl! You must not have lasted long in biology when we dissected rats.”
“Do I look like a school girl to you?”
A bizarre image of Kaiba dressed in a Domino High girl's school uniform abruptly appeared in Jou's mind, causing him to grin like a madman. “You'd make a good drag queen, actually.” Jou debated with a shrug. “But, no.”
Kaiba rolled his eyes. “I'm going to take this entrée to Yamanaga-sensei and the others.” He grabbed the dish from the bench and, before he turned to walk out the door, said, “And, for the record, I never took biology. So what if I'm squeamish.”
Jounouchi shook his head and quickly removed the shells and veins from the prawns, leaving the tails intact, and plopped them into the marinade. Then a thought came to mind as he stared at the spiny shells with the legs and heads still partially in one piece. He grinned to himself. This was going to be fun. Oh, how sweet revenge could be.
Meanwhile, Kaiba had the demeaning task of serving his mentors their first taste of the evening. This, he realised, was definitely something he didn't plan on getting used to. Serving other people really wasn't his cup of chai.
“Thank you, Kaiba-san.” Yamanaga-sensei said as Kaiba put the plate of piping hot deep-fried squid on the table.
“How is it going with you and Jounouchi-san?” Matsuri-sensei inquired with a smile.
The woman really did get on Kaiba's nerves. Yamanaga-sensei, at least, was similar to Kaiba in that he was indifferent and to-the-point with most things. “It's going just fine.”
“Have you kissed and made up, yet?”
Kaiba felt his face become hot, wondering about her choice of words. “I wouldn't put it quite like that, exactly.”
“Well hopefully you do, Kaiba.” Matsuri-sensei smiled. “There's nothing I'd like to see more than you two playing nice.”
“Hai, sensei.” was all Kaiba could think of in reply.
Yamanaga-sensei smiled. “Well, thank you, Kaiba-san. I'm sure we will enjoy this and we look forward to our mains!”
“You're welcome.” Kaiba nodded and made a hasty exit from his mentors' room.
Perhaps shelling those disgusting crustaceans would have been better than having to endure Matsuri's dimwitted remarks, Kaiba thought ominously as he made his way back to his and Jounouchi's hotel room. As he walked in, he noticed Jounouchi was bending over, rummaging through the bag of ingredients. A hot glow of discomfiture and something else - shame, maybe? - needled through him and he looked away, closing the door behind him.
Jounouchi heard this and stood up. “So?”
“`So', what?”
“What did they think of it?”
“I presumed they liked it.”
Jounouchi nodded and stood up with the acquired ingredients he had been searching for. “The rice is nearly ready; now all we have to do is put the prawns in the wok and chop up the fruit for the dessert. Think you can handle that?”
“You're the one that will be doing it.”
Jou scowled at him. “You're such a jerk.”
“Speak for yourself.”
“Hey, at least I'm trying to make this work! You're just standing around all high and mighty pretending to be helpful, but in actual fact you don't know shit about cooking and don't even want to cooperate with me!” Jou felt like he had got a huge weight off of his chest after that vigorous outburst.
“My, my. You certainly get emotional when you're under pressure, don't you?” Kaiba's eyes flashed venomously. “No wonder you aren't passing your grades - there's nothing worse than feeling pressured while sitting school examinations. I must say, I'm impressed you haven't been held back a year yet, Jounouchi.”
“Shut the fuck up! I might not be as academic as you, asshole, but at least I have an idea of what it's like growing up in the real world! I wasn't born with a silver spoon in my mouth expecting everyone to kiss my ass from day one.”
Kaiba rolled his eyes. “Get a hold of yourself. You don't even know what you're on about anymore.”
Suddenly, with a mighty gust of wind and a deafening clap of thunder, the lights flickered and whole room fell into darkness. The only sounds that could be heard to break the stony silence were the rice and vegetables bubbling away on the gas stove-top.
“Great. Now what?” Jou muttered, rather pointlessly.
“I might have a flashlight in my briefcase.” Kaiba said, fumbling around in the dark to find it. As he did, he found the flashlight and turned it on, only to shriek in horror at what he found inside the briefcase!
“Kuso! What the mother f$%^&*#?!”
By this time Jounouchi was falling over himself in hysterics. The little prank he had pulled had definitely paid off, and it couldn't have happened at a better time. Now he knew Kaiba had a weak spot - he was scared shitless of anything creepy and crawly like the spiny outer skeletons of the prawns that Jou had planted inside his briefcase.
“Karma's a bitch, ain't it Kaiba?”
“You will pay dearly for that.”
“Can't we call it even? That was my revenge for the whole `dog-dumplings' thing you pulled on me.”
A bright burst of lightening lit up the room for a moment and Jou thought he saw a hint of a smile on Kaiba's face - or it might have been the light playing tricks on him. “Fine.”
“So, have you got a torch in there or what? I can't see a damned thing in here.”
Kaiba rustled around inside his briefcase - or at least that's what Jounouchi assumed he was doing - to no avail.
“It seems I do not.”
Something of an awkward silence followed. “Okay, well… maybe there are some candles around here somewhere?”
“You could look.”
Jou looked blankly at him - even though he knew Kaiba couldn't see his face - wondering why he always had the task of doing everything. It suddenly occurred to him that, whilst they still came under the `I-hate-you-more-than-America-hates-bin-Laden' criteria, they were actually working amicably together, even if Jounouchi felt he had pulled the short straw just about every time.
Fumbling around in the shadowy darkness, Jounouchi managed to come across a set of candles in a cupboard located in the liqueur cabinet. He dug a cigarette lighter out of his pocket and briefly read the description of the candles.
“Aromatic rose and ylang-ylang scented candles - perfect for that romantic night in with that special someone…” he deadpanned.
“Well, that sets the mood.” Kaiba commentated sardonically.
“It's all we've got for now,” Jou replied, lighting them and placing them evenly around the room. “So, as irresistible as I might be, don't come onto me.”
Kaiba remained blank. “You make a fairly ugly woman, yourself.”
“But what if you were a girl?”
“What if I was a girl…what?” The brunet raised an eyebrow quizzically.
Jou suddenly blushed and went tightlipped. “Ah, forget it.”
Was he just asking me that if I were female, whether I would find him attractive? Kaiba thought, puzzled. “Who says I have to be a woman to judge the level of one's attractiveness?”
Jounouchi started to feel uncomfortable. “Now you just sound gay.”
Kaiba shrugged indifferently. “You started it.”
What the hell was that all about? Jou wondered as he took the rice off the still-hot element and placed the wok on it. He tossed the marinated prawns in it and flipped them a couple of times. What the hell made me ask him - albeit subtly - if he thought of me as good-looking? Another onslaught of blood rushed to his face, stemmed by thoughts he wasn't entirely sure of. What's going on? Do I need my head checked?!
Jou quickly drained the rice and set the prawns on top as he arranged the dishes. As he turned to Kaiba, he felt his core turn ice cold and then become vehemently hot. Kaiba looked to be trying how to figure out the best approach to the honeydew melon he was about to slice through. He looks…kinda nice in that candlelight… Gah! What the hell? Shut up, brain!
“I'll… be back in a minute.”
Kaiba looked up from where he was now cutting the spherical fruit in a somewhat robotic technique “Okay.”
Jounouchi nodded and advanced hastily toward the door, like he couldn't get out of there soon enough. Kaiba happened to notice this.
Wonder what's with him, tonight. He thought dismissively. He appears to be very strung-out all of a sudden. There must be something wrong with the mutt. Wonder if he had his rabies shot yet?
After receiving several compliments on his food from Matsuri-sensei and co., Jounouchi slowly made his way back down the hall, suspicious of his own mind and wondering why those mysterious thoughts had sprung to mind. It was almost like he had felt déjavu - something he couldn't explain, but knew he had felt it - or something like it - before. Perhaps in a dream?
I hate the guy, Jounouchi reasoned to himself. I always have - so what about being here now, is different? It's like I've been having these weird sensations about Kaiba since becoming his travelling partner. Maybe it's just because I'm so far away from home or something… or the time difference… Hell, it could even be this totally fucked up weather! Jou giggled to himself, feeling a little easier. He was certain that once they returned home things would become normal again.
The blonde headed boy was about to walk back into his hotel room when Kaiba walked through coming the opposite way, demurely balancing two ice cream bowls in his hands and one on his wrist. The scowl Jou received from Kaiba was somewhat familiar and he found himself laughing because of it. Kaiba's glare changed to a perplexed frown before he rolled his eyes.
“I suggest you come with me, mutt.” The blue-eyed teen muttered.
“Why?”
“Presumably the teachers will want to speak with us before we turn in for the night.”
“I guess,” Jou agreed, albeit reluctantly. “No doubt we'll be in for one final lecture about the value of friendship and all that, right?”
“If I wanted a friendship lecture, I'd go find the token female of your group, Anzu.” Kaiba scoffed. “I assume Matsuri-sensei will thank us for the meal and congratulate us for completing a task without stuffing it up - entirely.”
Jou laughed. “Yeah, and then she'll probably pop-quiz us on what we thought we've learnt and all that shit.”
“Precisely.”
“Oh, just in time!” Matsuri-sensei shrieked as she noticed the two boys walk through the door. “We've just finished our mains - which were delicious, by the way.”
Kaiba put down the dessert bowls on the dining table where their teachers were sitting, quickly rejoining Jounouchi's side once again.
“I hope you have both learned something?” Yamanaga-sensei inquired.
Jou swallowed. “Uh… sure we have.” He mumbled.
“We won't cause anymore problems, sensei.” Seto added.
“I'm so glad to hear it,” Matsuri-sensei said. “You can return to your room, now. I will wake you in the morning, along with the others.”
Jounouchi and Kaiba quickly left, walking in silence back to their hotel room. They noticed that the power had come back on.
“You know, Kaiba,” Jou said after a time. “Maybe we should just forget what happened in the past,”
“What, you're willing to reconcile?” Kaiba asked, disbelieving. “That's mature of you.”
Jou hopped up onto his bed. “Well, we could at least try to get along for the rest of the trip, don't you think?”
“Whatever you say.” Kaiba muttered, also getting into bed and switching off the light.
Why does he have to be so nonchalant all the time? Jou wondered. I guess he just doesn't give a shit. He'll always be the same, no matter what changes I try to make… Finally laying his head on the pillow after what seemed an eternity, Jounouchi fell into sleep, but a troubled one it was…
+|+
Jounouchi rubbed his arms; for some reason he felt cold, but he couldn't quite figure out why. An icy gust of wind blew into his face and he suddenly realised he must have been outside.
“Hey, Jounouchi-san! You've gotta come help me!”
Mokuba? “What's wrong?”
“It's my brother! He's in trouble!”
Jou found himself running after the black-haired boy and with a jolt of consciousness realised that he was, once again, atop the Kaiba Corporation blimp in which the Battle City Tournament had been held. What am I doing up here again…?
“Seto!” Mokuba cried out in a strangled wail as they reached the uppermost deck of the blimp.
Jounouchi looked in horror at the sight beheld. Obelisk the Tormentor towered above them like a skyscraper, dark clouds swirling around his shoulders in the night sky; Seto Kaiba's limp body was lying on the ground at the mercy of the Egyptian God.
“He couldn't control Obelisk's power!” Mokuba shrieked, trying to explain to Jounouchi. “He's dead, Jounouchi! Obelisk killed my brother!”
Jounouchi sprinted across the arena, the howling wind pushing him in all directions, blind to the fact that he could also fall to the hand of the unruly God monster as well. He ran to Seto's unconscious body and propped him up in his arms. Kaiba's head lulled backward and flopped onto Jou's shoulder.
“Kaiba… you can't give up now.” Jou said, his voice cracking.
Mokuba crouched down beside them, tears standing in his eyes, looking on anxiously. “Brother… Please wake up…”
Jou's heart was beating wildly, all thoughts of hatred toward the CEO now pushed aside. He had never been so close to the difference between life and death before, and even though he had hated the child billionaire for what seemed so long, he didn't want him to die. Not at the hands of a duel monster. Not on this blimp. Not ever…
“You can fight this, Seto… Come back…”
Stark blue eyes opened sluggishly before recognition set in. “Jounouchi…?”
“Thank Kami you're okay…” Jou whispered as he lowered his head and kissed the blue-eyed boy, Kaiba returning it with the same eager passion…
+|+
Jounouchi jerked awake, beads of sweat running down his neck. He felt a strange sense of sheer disturbance - almost trauma - as though he had just witnessed somebody being murdered. His heart was thudding hard and he felt feverish. What the hell was that…? He decided to get up; it was almost morning anyway, about 6.30am. Dim light slid through the curtains as Jounouchi made his way across the room, passing by Kaiba's bed. The boy, sleeping deeply on his side, barely made a sound as he breathed.
Grabbing a cigarette - to calm his quaking nerves, if nothing else - Jou quietly walked out onto the balcony and looked over the city. The sky was now clear, but the devastation from the typhoon was obvious. From what Jou could see, roofs had been lifted off, trees blown down and small shacks and poorly-built constructions were either flooded or entirely destroyed. He wondered what would become of the day; he didn't see much point in wandering around a city strewn with debris from the storm damage - it would probably dangerous to do so, anyway.
So, back to that dream. Jou thought. There was Mokuba, the blimp, Obelisk… and Kaiba. Why did I care so much for him? He was supposed to be dead - why would I care? And, most of all, why would I have kissed him?! What does it all mean…? He blushed, thinking about discussing it with Yuugi. It was something, he realised, that he'd never be able to talk to anyone about - a dream that involved making out with Kaiba - who would ever believe him? Nobody did ever take him seriously.
Flicking his cigarette butt over the edge of the balcony, Jounouchi retreated back inside. Upon doing this, Kaiba was presently getting out of bed, reaching for his robe hanging nearby. The muscles in his shoulders and back were defined to near-perfection. He turned around and swung the robe onto his shoulders, boasting an impressive display of clearly defined abdominal muscles and pecs. Jou suddenly felt all the blood rush to his groin.
Damn. It.
- 9
- 10
You need to be logged in to leave a review for this story.You need to be logged in to leave a review for this story.
Report Story

Follow the Dragon