Adult-FanFiction.org : Yu-Gi-OH

Winding Road	By : lostintheheartland Category: Yu-Gi-Oh > Yaoi - Male/Male Views: 5139 -:- Recommendations : 0 -:- Currently Reading : 1
Disclaimer: I don't own Yugioh or make any profit from this story.

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Jou was in heaven. No pain and surrounded by warmth. A soft body snuggled into his back while he spooned around another. Reality was a faded nightmare and familiar contentment filled him. Almost by instinct he reached up to smooth the long hair back from her neck as he nestled forward to nibble her nape. Sneakily his hand coasted down to dance over her hip. “Jou...” It was a gasped whisper.

“Shh... you’ll wake Vic. Let me...” He mumbled softly as his hand crept lower, finding a cotton waistband. The oddity didn’t strike him. Mai liked to sleep in his boxers and t-shirt. Slipping beneath them he sought her warmth and encountered something distinctly not female. With a jerk he sat up with a yell “What the fuck?”

Marik sat up beside him, his eyes dancing with unholy laughter. Malik was goggling from the foot of the bed. Atemu sat next to him, his eyes wide and sparkling with suppressed mirth. A glance around the room told him the rest of the story. Yugi was covering his mouth, hiding a smile no doubt. Ryou was biting his lip, obvious trying to control himself, and Bakura – the asshole – was laughing like a hyena. The only ones in the room that were not laughing in some way were Jounouchi and a very cold-eyed Kaiba. As reality invaded his mind, Jou automatically reached for his back, anticipating the agony he’d lived with for months. When it didn’t come after several frozen seconds he relaxed slightly and cursed. “What the fuck is going on? Why am I still here? Where is here? What did you guys do to me?”

Seto glared at the blond, rage pouring through him at each question. “Going on? Marik and Atemu have spent the last thirty-six hours healing you. You passed out and collapsed during your dramatic exit. You are in my room as it was the only one with lift access. And I believe we already answered what they did. They healed you.”

“Healed?” Experimentally he shifted, rocking back and forth, twisting his back, looking for the pain. When none came he reached around to feel his spine, to trace the raised hard rods just under his skin. Instead of the lumps and alien hardness, he felt the bony ridges of his own spine. “What... but... how?”

Marik, eyes soft with caring now, smiled gently. “I told you. I can heal anything. Regrowth takes more energy when I have to speed up the process, but it didn’t take too long. You were out of it naturally. You were exhausted.”

“Well pain doesn’t let me sleep more than a few minutes.” Jou mumbled. Memories of what they’d done to Kaiba’s wife – no not Kaiba’s wife, not any more – to Kisara filtered through. Rage lit inside him again. This time he controlled it. He owed them and he knew it. The least he could do was be polite before he got the hell away from them. “Thanks for healing me.” He nodded once to Marik then to Atemu and turned to Kaiba. “And thanks for the bed. If you’ll tell me where my clothes are I’ll be on my way.”

Yugi made a soft sound of dissent. “Jou wait. We need to talk to you about... about the imbalances. We need your help. And we need to explain about Kisara. Please hear us out?”

Older now, more jaded, Jou tried to resist the wide pleading eyes that Yugi turned on him. But he was no more able to resist now than he had been ten years ago. “Fine.” He crossed his arms angrily. “But first I want my clothes, the toilet, and food.”

Seto harrumphed and crossed to the closet, flinging the door open. “Take your pick. You can’t run around in a tux. Besides it’s at the cleaners. You need to add a shower to your list, you stink. I’ll have to burn the bedding. Bathroom’s the door on the left. We’ll be downstairs in the kitchen. I’m sure you’ll find it. You always had a great nose for food. Most dogs do.” With a hard glare at everyone in the room he spun around and stalked out. With mumbled ‘See ya in a fews’ and ‘laters’, Jou was left alone.

Tossing back the blankets he slid out of bed. As his feet hit the floor he froze, waiting for the agonizing pain. When nothing came he sighed in relief. Maybe Marik had cured him. Taking another deep breath he wrinkled his nose. Kaiba was right, he did stink. He smelled like a combination of sickness, drugs, and sweat. He definitely needed a shower. Deciding he didn’t want to touch clean clothes smelling so disgusting he would clean up first.

Downstairs everyone watched as Kaiba competently worked around the kitchen, preparing a mountain of food. Bakura couldn’t let it be of course. He never could. “Trying the old saying about a way to a man’s heart is through his stomach?”

Seto long used to these kinds of taunts just continued to whisk the eggs he was scrambling while miso simmered in the pot and bacon sizzled on a pan. Bakura hmmphed and continued his taunting. “You should know by now the way to a man’s heart is south of his stomach.” He grinned when the whisking became more fierce. “You should have been the one cuddled next to him this morning, then this would all be settled.” He stopped as if something had just occurred to him. “Unless you don’t mind that he had a grip on Marik’s dick?”

The bowl full of eggs slammed into the counter. Seto picked up the tongs and flipped the bacon.

“Is that it? Well hell, if you like to watch you should have said so. I don’t mind performing for an audience.”

“Bakura...” Ryou breathed warningly. Seto was on a thin edge. It wasn’t wise to piss him off.

Frustrated by the tall brunet’s lack of response and the whole situation he snarled “Well fuck Ryou, he let him go – let him walk away with that bimbo. Worse, he let him marry her and have his kid. He stepped back rather than fight for him. He refused to see that they belonged together. Damn it he...”

“If he hadn’t done that you guys wouldn’t be with us now. I can’t be sorry for what happened back then, even if I’m sorry for all the pain it’s caused.” Ryou snapped back just as sharply.

Bakura didn’t have an answer to that because he felt the same way. Seto stopped it by simply saying “Enough. We’ve been over this. He made his choice and I wasn’t going to stop him. He was happy. Now that he’s back there is no guarantee of anything. Even if he suddenly decided he made a mistake choosing her, I will never accept being second best. So just drop it.” He took the plates down from the cupboard, grabbed some silverware and napkins and began to set the table. “Besides, even if I were interested, you saw him this morning. He... he still loves her.”

Atemu gave his cousin a look of compassion. “That isn’t what I saw. I saw a man used to waking up to sex. He might still love her, he might have been horny or it could simply have been habit.”

That was didn’t quell Seto’s ire. “I don’t care.” Jou had lain on his bed and touched someone else. The pain cut deeper than he expected. He was over it, why nobody would let it die was anyone’s guess. Why it hurt was residual, from unresolved issues. It didn’t mean he cared.

Taut silence filled the room as he placed the food family style. Just as the last platter hit the table Jou wandered in wearing a pair of tight jeans and a plain blue t-shirt. Marik smiled “Jou you look better. How are you feeling?”

“Good, real good. One hundred percent. Thanks Marik.” Genuine gratitude shone from his honey eyes. “I never thought I’d feel this whole again.”

“You’re welcome.”

“And uh...” His tanned face turned a dusky pink. “I’m sorry for grabbin’ yer dick earlier. I wasn’t awake yet and I though ya were my... Mai.”

“I understood that.” He smiled and gestured to the seat beside him. “Sit down. We all need to talk.”

He slid into the seat nodding. “Okay. Uh, start on the imbalances will ya? ‘Cause no matter what ya say, I’m not goin’ ta feel better about what Kaiba did ta his wife. Wives are... they are special and ya gotta treat ‘em right.”

“We’ll get into that later.” Yugi promised. “First Atemu will explain what’s been happening.”

“Okay.” Jou’s flat eyes stayed focused on his plate and the food he’d chosen. “Shoot.”

Atemu laid down his fork and glanced around his friends and family for support. Jou’s attitude was less than friendly and would be difficult to overcome. “Just after you left Japan with Mai my father noticed a shift in the balance of dark and light. It was not massive, but enough to make my father watch it closely. Over the space of four years the imbalance grew worse, rifts began to appear and shadow creatures began slipping into this realm. They were harmless for the most part – like tourists. But then a particular set of them decided they wanted to stay here permanently. They decided to destroy the one human left on earth who could drive them back and close the rifts.”

“De... who?” Jou blinked and looked around the room, his gaze landing on Yugi in question.

“No not me. I was powerless in those days. My dark half wasn’t in this world to empower my light.”

The blond took a bite of egg and chewed thoughtfully. “So who?” Then his eyes flew wide as they focused on Kaiba. “You – they attacked you.”

“Yes.” He dabbed at a crumb of food on his lip. “Would you care for some bacon? You haven’t touched it.”

Jou’s eyes lit greedily “Bacon! I’d love...” His face fell sadly. “Mai doesn’t allow bacon in the house. Bad for your heart.”

Seto picked up the platter and slammed it in front of him. “Mai isn’t here and there is nothing wrong with your heart that a swat with a newspaper won’t fix.”

Snarling, “Asshole I ain’t...” he pressed his hands flat on the table and started to rise. He dropped back in shock when the brunet shoved a piece of bacon into his mouth.

“Sit and eat.” Blue eyes seared him. “Pay attention for once.”

Jou sat and ate, taking several pieces of the forbidden bacon. “Okay. Go on then Yugi. They tried ta kill Kaiba.”

“They succeeded.” Bakura pointed out. “It’s just that Rah and Set were determined that he would live.”

Yugi picked up the thread of the story. “The guys came back to us to help with the imbalances. They were steady, almost predictable and nothing we couldn’t handle. They died away completely for a few months a few years ago. Then they started again. They have steadily gotten worse in the last two years. We are having trouble containing them.”

Seto shifted uncomfortably, drawing Jou’s gaze. To cover the fidgeting the brunet stood and began clearing empty dishes and refilling glasses. “So you guys know what’s causing them?”

“Yes.” Atemu smiled “You are.”

Chewed bacon and juice spewed all over the table. “Me? What the fuck? No fucking way.”

“Good job Pharaoh, I didn’t think you had it in you. Blunt and to the point.” Bakura snarked. “In this case it would have been better to explain.”

“Shut up Bakura. Jou knows...”

“I won’t! You’re such a fool. Now he...”

“I’m doing my best to explain. Be quiet and let me...”

“Fuck you. You need to learn...”

“That’s enough!” Jou shouted over the top of the quarreling duo. “Both of you shut up.” He turned to Kaiba. “Yer a jerk and an asshole. But I get it when you talk. So you explain how I could have caused this.”

Seto nodded. Somehow it made sense that Jou would demand answers from him. “You know of the balance of light and dark, yin and yang.”

“Of course. Atemu and Yugi are light and dark. Parts of a whole. I get that.”

“Do you know the four elements?”

“Elements? Like gold and hydrogen?”

“No. Classical elements: Earth, water, fire, and air.” He hated to say it, it was against everything he’d ever believed up until six years ago, but there was no denying the truth of it. “In all times a divided element soul exists on the planet. Rarely is more than one present in any time frame. There are four such souls. Ryou and Bakura are the soul of Water. Marik and Malik are the soul of Earth. Atemu and Yugi are the soul of Fire. There is one more soul – it is divided into two people here on earth – the Soul of Air. You are one half of that soul. You control the darkness of the Soul of Air.”

“Darkness?” That shocked Jou, then he shook his head sharply. “What am I thinkin’? There’s no damn way I’m some weird split soul. Look, you got the wrong guy. I dunno what made you believe it’s me but it’s not.” Jou pushed back his chair and started backing out of the room. He wanted nothing to do with this. He’d had enough saving the world crap to last him a life time. He didn’t have the emotional resources to deal with anything so demanding.

“We’re ...” Atemu interrupted only to be overridden by Kaiba.

“I told them they were wrong but they had to try. I told them there was no way you could ever share a soul with enough power to destroy the earth.” Seto waved him away. “Run along like the scared dog you are. We have important things to do.”

That froze Jou in his tracks. An odd expression, pain and twisted recognition was frozen on his features. “I ain’t scared of you Kaiba. I just gotta think.” He whispered. It had a profound effect on the brunet. He flinched and unbelievable agony crossed his features before they smoothed into an empty mask. “Prove it.” He challenged openly.

Jou felt the world falling away, everything was distant and surreal. In his mind he heard Seto telling him to run along like a scared dog and his own response. He didn’t know where it came from. A feeling of déjà vu gripped him. He’d said that to Seto before, he knew it, but he couldn’t remember when. All of their conversations stood out for him, sharp and clear as if they’d happened yesterday, but that conversation, those words, even though he knew they’d exchanged them before, he couldn’t find when or where. Grabbing his sanity and reality with both hands he met Seto’s blue eyes firmly. “Fine, I’ll stay and help ya. But you guys gotta agree ta leave me alone if I ask.”

“Agreed.” Seto nodded austerely. “And to make things legitimate, I’m in need of a driver. You can move in to one of the rooms downstairs. I’ll pay you the going rate.”

“I don...” Then Jou shut his mouth. Okay so he didn’t’ need the money, but the cover of a job and the protection afforded by being in Kaiba’s household would be heaven sent. Especially when the news of his ended career and ended marriage hit the news. While he was in the shower it occurred to him that he could return to racing. As alluring as the though was, he decided against it. He’d come too close to death to ever feel secure in a race car again. And as any driver knew, if you climbed in to that car frightened you triple your chance of accident.

As he considered it he realized the position as Kaiba’s driver was heaven sent. He could lay low, have protection against the paparazzi, and ease back into Japanese life while helping his old friends and a nice place for him and hopefully one other. “Fine, but I want two days off a week and ya’ll pay me twice da goin’ rate, ‘cause I’m da best driver you’ll ever find.”

While Seto gaped at him Malik and Yugi yelped “Agreed.”

Jou nodded and stomped back to the table. With a greedy smile he dug into the entire platter of bacon. The brunet glared at Jou for a second then switched his gaze to a smirking Atemu. “Fine, but his food and salary are coming out of all your pockets too.”

There was a concerted groan around the table that barely disguised the relief they all felt. Through a mouth full of perfectly crunchy bacon Jou ordered “Now tell me about Kisara. I’ll listen because I owe ya, but I ain’t gonna see it yer way.”

This time everyone looked at Seto for guidance. With a shrug he explained carefully. “I haven’t the luxury of denying who or what my soul is. I had to accept Seth. When you die a lot of things become very clear. Because of her resemblance to Kisara, the embodiment of my blue eyes and woman Seth loved I ignored what everyone was saying and married her. I knew before the honeymoon was over it was a mistake. Not just for me but for her too. We, she and I could never be happy together. You see Jounouchi, I also had to accept that I am homosexual.”

“So ya set her up. Changed the contract with her and made sure she broke th’ rules. Makes sense I suppose.” Jou nodded. “And when that didn’t work ya set her up again. Didn’t matter that you promised ta be her husband forever. You’d made a mistake and ya wanted out of it.”

“Be reasonable Jounouchi. He knows his soul mate is out there and he knew he could never satisfy her. She was going to be miserable. He didn’t want to continue to cheat either of them.” Ryou put in urgently.

“No rule anywhere says dat soul mates gotta fuck. Can’t they be best friends? I mean closer than brothers? I know you guys...” He waved his hand vaguely. “But it don’t hafta be that way. What I’m sayin’ is that he broke her heart and his word to her just ‘cause of someone else. Yeah she fucked around but that wasn’t in the contract originally so it must not have mattered and besides she wanted ta make it work. She may be an actress but she ain’t that good. Even I could see there at the end. She was sad, sick and sad. He may not have stuck his dick in anyone but he didn’t even try to keep his end of the deal. He tossed her out without caring because she was a mistake. He broke his word. He cheated before she did when he decided he wanted someone else.”

Seto stared at him in shock. Put like that, with that undeniably moral logic, it was true and completely indefensible. Scraping back his chair he rose slowly. “Think what you will Jounouchi. I don’t want or need your approval. I expect you to start your new duties in ten days.” He gave Atemu a glare “Give him an Udjat Cell and explain it’s usage.” Without another word he stalked out of the kitchen.

Jou blinked and then shrugged, bending back to his bacon. He’d found a place to live and a niche with his old friends. It was a start. He could go back and wind things up. He was coming home to stay – hopefully not alone.

***

Jou flew back to the states with a feeling of impending doom. It was nothing new. He’d had that feeling for months.

He knew to the moment when it started. He’d seen the blue-eyed, brown-haired man named Valon at an autograph signing. Of course he’d recognized Valon immediately as the bartender he’d met during his and Mai’s second honeymoon in Bali.

Jou and Valon had hit it off right away and spent a few hours chatting while Mai and Vic were hunting for seashells. When his wife and son joined them Valon had gone quiet and Mai had suddenly felt sick. Of course he hadn’t noticed Valon’s abrupt silence. He’d been too concerned with his wife’s chalk pale face and sweat soaked brow.

“Hey Valon, I’ll talk to ya later. I gotta get my wife back to the room. Is there a doctor I can call?”

“Your wife?” The other man had looked at him strangely then nodded “Uh yeah, tell ya what. I’ll call the doctor. Do you need a sitter for your son? Or is he old enough to be alone?”

Scared out of his mind by the sharp groan from Mai he said “He’s nine so I do need a sitter. But I don’t like to leave him with strangers.”

“Yeah I get that. I’m off shift here. Why don’t I walk you guys to your bungalow. I’ll call the doctor while you get the Sheila settled and I’ll keep the little man occupied while with a game of Duel Monsters while the doctor examines her.”

“You duel?”

“Of course I do. And I’d be very surprised if the son of Jounouchi Katsuya didn’t as well.”

“Well dayum, still recognized for my dueling. That would be great Valon. Thanks a lot.”

“No problem.” The brown haired man had looked down and crystal blue eyes had met crystal blue. “Hi little man, I’m Valon. What’s yer name?”

“I’m Victor Alan.” Another loud moan from Mai as she collapsed in a faint had pulled his attention from his son and the other man. “Let’s go.” He hoisted her into his arms.

When they’d met a few months later Jou had the feeling of impending doom. He hadn’t seen the other man before they left the island to thank him for the help and had promptly forgotten about him. Mai had been flown out right away and Jou and Victor had left on the same helicopter. Jou hadn’t even thought about the man until he’d shown up at the autograph signing.

“Jounouchi Katsuya! How are you mate? You remember me?”

He’d smiled with genuine pleasure. He’d like the bartender. “Of course. Valon right? How are you? And what are you doing in the states?”

“I’m good. Came to visit family and decided to stop by and congratulate you on your Winston Cup win. All Star race next week right?”

“Yes. You got tickets? It’s been sold out for weeks.”

“Yeah, right in the VIP booth.” He winked at Jou’s surprised look. “I got connections.”

That didn’t surprise Jou in the slightest. Valon was a bright, friendly man. “All right then. If I get time I’ll stop by and visit.” He smiled as the other man moved away and the next fan shoved a program in his face. He’d made a mental note to look for Valon at the VIP booth on race day and turned back to his fans.

He didn’t have to wait that long. Three days later he’d been relaxing at home, dueling with Vic, Mai making a snack in the kitchen when the doorbell rang. He was a bit surprised by that but assumed that it was one of the few people on security’s ‘allow’ list. He stood to get the door when Mai suddenly crashed into him. “I’ll get it.” She’d been pale as a ghost and as nervous as a cat. Ever since her illness on Bali she’d been that way. No doctor could find the cause and drugs were not the answer. She’d even moved into the spare bedroom because she ‘could not sleep’ with anyone touching her. He didn’t understand but he’d promised in sickness and in health. He could only hope this would get better soon.

Smiling easily he caught the platter of nibbles in one hand and wrapped his arm around her slim waist with the other. “Why don’t we get it together.” He’d waggled his eyebrows playfully. Instead of laughing or flirting back she’d jumped out of his loose hold as if scalded and backed to the door stuttering “N... No... You take these in to Victor. I’ll... I’ll get it.”

Naïve and completely unaware that his world was about to end he’d stepped back and given her the space she needed. “Sure Honey.”

He was pleasantly surprised when Mai led Valon into the room. “Hey.” He’d smiled, actually smiled at his own destruction. “Decided to visit before race day?”

“Yeah, somethin’ like that.” Their guest had turned his bright eyes to Vic. “Hey little man. You remember me?”

“Yeah, from the beach right? We dueled when mom was sick.”

“Yep that’s right. Do you remember my name?”

“Of course. How could I forget. It’s just like mine. I’m Victor Alan and you’re Valon. They’re kinda the same.”

“Clever aren’t you. Smart boy, very smart.” Valon smiled proudly. The pride in that look was excessive and struck Jou as wrong, but he didn’t know why.

Before he could figure it out the bell chimed again. Mai stepped forward, “Vic go get your overnight bag. I packed it earlier. You’re spending the night with Mrs. Watson down the hall.”

That was the first Jou had heard of that plan. But one look at his wife’s pale, strained features changed his mind. Something bad was going on and Mai wanted Vic out of it.

“Okay Mom.” Vic must have sensed something too. Or perhaps he was happy to be able to spend time with the Watson twins. In either case he had his bag and was out the door in a twinkling of an eye. If he’d known it was the last time his son would ever call him dad he would have hugged him, perhaps picked him up and ran with him, something, anything but stand there and watch him dash out the door.

Mai drifted into the front room and began to pick up the cards he and Vic had been playing with. Jou followed, apprehension dogging his every step. Mai was fussing and tidying. She only did that when she was extremely upset. The air suddenly seemed oppressive, weighted with apprehension. Nerves stretched to breaking point, then Mai sighed and straightened from her cleaning. “Jou... I... I’d like to introduce you to someone. This is Valon Christianson.”

“I know Valon. I remember him from Bali. What...”

She held up her hand for him to hush. “My husband.”

He’d forced a laugh, even though the joke was not funny. “Mai, ya forgotten something? I’m yer husband.”

Tears were falling down her face. Torment radiating from her beautiful eyes. “No. No you’re not.”

“Mai, what’s wrong with you. We were both at the wedding. It was a quickie thing but it’s legal. What...”

“Valon... Valon told me...” She broke off to sob into her hands. Jou didn’t waste a moment. He dove at the other man, driving him backwards, his hands around his throat. “Bastard. What did you do to my wife. I’ll fucking kill you if you touched her.”

Desperate hands grabbed at his wrists as the other man wheezed out through blue lips. “Not... your... wife.”

He drew back his hand and clenched his fist, ready to beat the bastard to a bloody pulp. He froze when Mai grabbed his arm, crying “Stop, Jou stop.”

Disgusted he released the other man and reached out to hold his wife. He was stunned when she moved away from him and helped Valon to his feet. When she’d made sure he was all right she mumbled “I’ll be right back.” When she came back she was carrying a large manila envelope in one hand and her jewelry box in the other. “Read this and you will understand.” She handed the envelope to Jou and turned to the jewelry box she claimed was a gift from her grandmother. She spilled the jewelry he’d given her carelessly on the coffee table and used her fingernail to rip the satin lining from the antique box. A simple gold band tumbled out into her waiting hand.

Jou found three sheets of paper in the envelope. The first was a marriage license for Kajuki Mai to Valon Christianson, dated, stamped and filed two years before their own marriage. The second was their marriage license, stamped, dated and filed over two years later. The third was a letter from their lawyers stating that no record of dissolution of marriage either through divorce or annulment could be found for the marriage of Kajuki Mai and Valon Christianson. It further went on to state that Valon had no previous or later marriages. The only marriage for Valon Christianson was to Kajuki Mai. The recommendation of the attorney’s were to have the first marriage dissolved quietly and then Mai and Jou to remarry quietly.

“Mai? You’re married to him? He... but... How could you do this?” Disbelief and pain were roaring through him. He didn’t understand, couldn’t take it in.

“I didn’t know. Jou I swear to god I didn’t. He told me... he...” She gulped back tears. “He didn’t want the responsibility of a wife, didn’t want to be tied down. He was too young. He waved papers at me, made me sign them, and threw me out. I thought he filed them. He said we’d be free in a month. I thought we were divorced. I left the area, rode around for a while, came to see you guys. You asked me to prom and I decided to go. It had been almost five weeks. I thought I was free.”

He’d taken a deep breath, trying to think clearly. Desperately he grasped at the suggestion of the lawyer. “Fine. We’ll fix this. A quiet divorce and we’ll renew our vows Mai. This will all go away.”

Heartbreak made her eyes even larger. “It can’t Jou. There’s Vic to consider. He... he deserves to know his father.”

“He does. I’m...” Then it hit him, what she was saying. All of the little pieces he’d never even considered. Vic’s blue eyes and small physique. His premature birth that the doctor’s insisted was right on time. Even his name ‘Victor Alan.’ “You bitch.” He breathed it hoarsely as the blinders fell from his eyes for the first time in ten years. “You lied to me, claimed I got you pregnant that night at prom, tricked me into marriage I was too young for, that I wasn’t sure I wanted. But damn you I did it. I loved you and my son with everything I had. I never mentioned it, never thought of it and never looked back. Never thought of everything I left behind. You asked it, so people wouldn’t know our son had been conceived before marriage and like an idiot I agreed. For his sake and yours I agreed. And you lied. You bitch – I gave it all up for him because he was mine – and he never was.” Tears blinded him.

“Jou...” Mai whispered, tortured by what she’d done to someone she loved like a best friend and brother. “I’m so sorry. I just... I needed someone.”

“Yeah ya needed someone and good ol’ Jou, dumber than a rock fell for it.” Rage and betrayal battled before finally joining forces. In a voice hard with hatred he shouted “Get out. Take your husband and your bastard and get out. I never want to see any of you again.”

“Jou stop. Let’s work this out. We can... We can still be friends. Vic needs you. I love you. You’ve been my best friend for years. Please calm down.”

“Calm down? Calm down?” He’d shrieked it. “What are you suggesting? That we have a three way. Me, you and your husband? Are you thinking I’d still want you after your lies.”

“No... No I don’t think that. It isn’t an option. Valon and I are soul mates. We are going to try again. We... but we want you to be part of our lives, part of Vic’s life. He loves you. You’re his daddy. Please don’t do this to him, to us. If you do he’ll blame us and...”

New betrayal screamed through him. “That’s what it’s about isn’t it. Not wanting me for a friend or anything like that. It’s about making your life easier with Vic. Good ol’ Jou to the rescue again.” He dashed away the tears streaming down his face. “Well guess what, that ain’t happenin’. Get yer shit and get out. I hate you for what you’ve done. I wouldn’t piss on you or your husband to save your lives. That goes double for your bastard. Get out.”

Mai wiped her own tears and shook her head. “No. It was bought with your money. It doesn’t belong to us. It never did. Goodbye Jou.” Quietly she opened the door and together they walked out of the ruins they’d made of his life.

He stared at the door for a moment then turned back to the living room. Vic’s toys littered the area. Mai’s magazines, nail polish and bric-a-brac was spread all over the place. Picking up the small bottle he threw it at the wall with all his strength. It shattered with a satisfying crash leaving a small dent and a large red splatter. Rage fueling him he tore through the house that was no longer a home, destroying everything he could get his hands on. When he finished nothing was recognizable in the once warm and inviting space. He’d sank to the floor and curled into an exhausted ball of misery. Four days later he hit the wall in a crash that was supposed to have killed him – that he’d prayed would kill him – and he cursed the gods when it hadn’t.

A soft ding brought him back to the present. He focused on the now just as a stewardess stopped at his seat and said softly “Buckle up Sir, we’ll be landing in just a few minutes.”

Jou nodded and pulled his belt across his lap. Pushing aside the memories he focused on the present. And the present included the nagging sense of something wrong.

A cynical smile edged his lips as he entered the baggage claim. He should have known to pay attention to that feeling of impending doom. Mai stood by the carousel with his single case beside her. His heart clenched at the replay of the scene that used to have him looking forward to returning baggage claim more than any other part of a trip. At one time she would have flown to him, leapt into arms and kissed him deeply while Vic crawled up his legs and onto his back like a little monkey.

Without saying a word, acting as if she wasn’t there, he picked up his case and moved to the door. Distressed, she caught his arm, pleading softly “Jou please. I need to talk to you.”

“How did you know I’d be arriving today.”

“I called Mrs. Watson. She still takes care of the plants. She told me you were due back today sometime. I’ve been waiting since this morning.”

“Does your husband know you’re sneaking around to see your side piece?” He said it as snidely and nastily as he could. Without waiting for an answer he took walked away from her, grateful that he didn’t have the injuries to slow him down.

She flinched but shook her head not noticing his ease of movement. “Please, stop for a moment and talk to me. I need...Jou wait please.” When he widened the gap between them she called desperately “Vic’s sick Jou. He’s asking for you.”

That froze him in his tracks. In all of his months of recovery and regret the one thing he’d regretted most was his refusal of all contact with his son. And despite the name of his sperm donor, Vic was Jou’s son in every way but that one. One half of a cell versus, catching him when he slid from his mother’s womb, late night feedings, colic, dirty diapers, first steps, first tooth, first Christmas, first day of school, everything that made Vic – Vic – was Jounouchi’s. Vic was his son. “Sick? What’s wrong with him?”

“He’s got a fever and complains of a headache and stomach ache. We... we can’t afford a doctor so I’ve been giving him stuff from the drugstore. It’s not working. Can... Can you come see him? Please? Maybe take him to the doctor?” She approached him warily, hope and desperation shining in her eyes.

Slowly he nodded. “Yeah I can do that. Did you get the papers I had sent?”

“Yeah. Jou, you can’t be serious with that. You want us to give up custody? You know I’d never agree. He’s my son.” She adjusted her top, and for the first time he realized the outfit she was wearing. A bustier and mini-skirt with high-heeled boots. She hadn’t worn clothes like that since before Vic was born. She was older now, thirty-one, and even if the stomach tuck and boob job held up, her face didn’t. She looked like what she was. An thirty year old trying to look twenty. There was something sad about that.

“It’s your choice. I’ll help you out this time, but if you don’t sign the papers don’t ever come to me again.” He stepped out and signaled. His limo pulled up smoothly and the driver opened the door for them.

Mai sank into the softness and sighed. She’d missed the comforts. She loved Valon so much that she usually didn’t mind, but right now, in the company of Jou, feeling his strength, sinking into the butter soft warmth, she could admit that she missed the life she left behind.

“Address?” Jou snapped. Bringing her out of her daze.

“Oh. Uhm yeah, sorry forgot you didn’t know. How your lawyer found us is anyone’s guess. The apartment belongs to Valon’s friend Rafael.” She gave it and he rattled it off to the driver.

Silence settled in the back of the limo. Mai opened her mouth to talk but Jou cut her off. “I don’t want to hear anything from you but that you are signing Vic over to me. If you aren’t going to say it I don’t want to hear it.”

She closed her mouth with a snap and turned to stare angrily out the window. The ride was the longest two hours and six minutes she’d ever endured. When they arrived at the apartment building she saw it through his eyes. Grey, with no yard or balconies, it looked more like a stack of ice cube containers than a group of homes. She couldn’t help comparing it to their old home. A beautiful apartment with a large balcony and a rooftop garden and pool. All safety gated and protected. The pool manned by a lifeguard twenty/four seven. Downstairs was a garden courtyard perfect for afternoon tea. “Uh look, I know it ain’t much but we got plans. Valon and I are getting back into dueling. We’re going to travel the circuit. When we have enough we’re going to put down on a nice place.”

“Kinda tough since Kaiba banned ya from competition. But good luck.” He was cold and completely removed from her. She had the feeling that if he was on the moon he would be closer than he was right now. She wriggled out of the limo trying to keep the skirt south of the legal line and mentally cursed Valon’s desire to see her dressed in her old style of clothes.

Her agitation at her skirt disappeared as embarrassment swallowed her as they entered the tiny apartment. Food, dishes, and an accumulation of clothes were scattered around. She’d asked Valon to pick things up just in case Jou agreed to come back. He’d obviously not done it. “Valon? We’re home! Vic? Vic, guess who I brought with me.”

Valon was sitting in a small kitchen picking his filthy nails with a knife. “Oh so you brought him here did you?”

“We talked about it this morning remember? She murmured hurriedly. “He’s here to see Vic. He’s going to take him to the hospital and pay for the doctor.”

“Mai...” Jou was staring at Valon’s hands in horror and sick fear. “Mai...”

“Just a moment Jou. Remember, Baby?”

“Oh Yeah, you cheating bitch I remember. I remember how you whored for him for ten years, how you turned my son against me. How you mewl about how good he was to you, how he gave you everything and it was so much better.” He scraped back his chair. “Now ya brought him here to my home. Well guess what you slut, he can have you but he’ll never have my son. Never. He’s mine!”

“Valon what’s wrong with you? Have you been drinking or...”

“Mai, where’s Vic?” Jou all but screamed.

“In the bedroom, to the right. But... Valon, what’s wrong?” She reached out to grab his hand, grimacing at the drying stuff on them. “What have you done to yourself? Did you cut yourself?”

That made him laugh. “With this? Hell no. It’s not sharp enough to cut butter.” Sly knowledge and laughter gleamed in his blue eyes. “Wait for it.” Just as he said it Jou screamed, long, loud and full of agony.

“Viiiiicccc”

“Oh my god! Valon!” She shrieked and tore off to the bedroom. Jou knelt by the tiny cot she’d setup. Blood was all she saw, blood and the still form of her son. “Oh god! Oh god! Is he dead? Say he’s alive! I’ll call the ambulance. Oh god! We don’t have a phone. I’ll run...”

“Don’t bother. He’s already cold.” Jou whimpered as he cradled the broken, lifeless body.

Mai moaned and her body thudded to the floor. Through the raging denial and pain his soul screamed for his son. Agony poured through him, regret, pain and raging grief. “Vic!” He began to sob. That’s when he felt it. The barest touch deep inside, in a place he couldn’t name. The softest voice whispering “Daddy, I’m here Daddy. I waited for you. Now I can go.”

“Vic...” He said inaudibly as he followed that voice into a dark place he couldn’t define. Panic and hope gripped him and he commanded “Stay... stay here with me.”

“Hurts daddy. I can’t. Broken.”

“NO..Stay. If I can make the hurt stop and fix it will you stay?”

“Daddy... yes Daddy. I missed you Daddy.”

“Oh god Son I missed you too. Now you stay with me no matter what.” Pulling out his very special cell phone, the one that called to the his friends, he hit star one. There was an agonizing six seconds, then the shadows exploded in the tiny room and four men stepped out. He didn’t hesitate, he turned to Marik and pleaded. “Please, you said you can restore the dead, if his soul was here you could restore life. He’s here. He’s promised to wait. Please... Please Marik. Anything I can give you... please even my own soul. Please...”

Marik knelt and laid his hand on the bloody, broken corpse. With a gasp he felt the soul pulsing within. He could repair the body and bring the child back, but it came with a cost. He could never remove the memory of death from the child, and that memory could drive him insane. That was if he had a memory. The damage to the child’s brain was extensive and new cells would be just that, new cells, free of memories. The boy may actually be a nine year old newborn.

He started to warn Jounouchi, but stopped. It wouldn’t matter and was a waste of time. Jou was a father fighting for his child. Nothing he said would touch that.”

“Atemu I’ll need your energy. Seto, the boy will need yours. Bakura, there is an insane person in the next room plotting to kill Mai and Jou like he killed the child. Could you distract him?”

Bakura stared at the mangled body, seeing the crushed ribs and broken arms, the gaping skull leaking grey matter that looked like paste and grotesquely twisted legs. Yeah, he’d be happy to ‘distract’ the bastard. He was a threat to the balance that Jounouchi controlled and that gave Bakura license to kill – and no rule said he had to be nice about how he killed.

Seto looked up at him as if he knew his thoughts. “Don’t kill him. Keep him contained. Do you know what they do to child killers in prisons here? It will be a fate worse than death.”

Atemu gripped Marik’s right shoulder and Seto knelt next to Jou and rested his hands gently on the cold, still body. They all closed their eyes to focus their unique energies, tuning them to blend with Marik’s so he could use them. For what seemed like hours the men bent over their charge, healing, mending, replacing, knitting. Several times Mai woke, and each time Seto sent a pulse of energy into her, knocking her unconscious again. If he wasn’t particularly gentle about it only he and Mai knew.

Finally, when Vic’s heart was beating, his body warm with life, and was breathing heavily in deep sleep, his injuries fading, broken bones knitting and brain functioning as normally as possible Marik released his hold and stood up, staggering slightly.

Jou looked up at them with tears of gratitude pouring down his face. “Thank you.”

Bakura walked back into the room. “He’s passed out. He’s no fun to terrify. He’s too stoned or stupid.” He waved his hands and the blood eating shadows moved out of the wall.

“Wait. Leave the evidence on the bed and floor. Clean up Jou and the boy.” Seto interrupted him mid-wave. The shadows leapt gleefully onto them. Jou growled and snarled, covering his son with his body. The shadows froze, then shrank into the wall, quivering slightly.

“What the hell did you do that for?” Bakura snapped. “You scared my pets.”

“Keep those sick things away from my son.”

“They clean up... Oh fuck it. They won’t hurt you guys. Especially not you. It tickles. I have them clean my toenails all the time.”

“Jou, let them do their job. You don’t want him waking up covered in blood. We’d never allow anything to hurt either of you.” Atemu coaxed.

“Hell no. He’s been through enough. I won’t...”

“Oh shut up Mutt. They won’t hurt anything.” Seto plucked out his pocket knife and made a shallow cut across his arm. Bakura waved his hand and the shadows hesitated for a moment then slunk across to the welling blood. Jou couldn’t quite get over the feeling that the creatures were watching him, waiting for him to object. They slipped over the long cut, leaving it clean and pink, with no blood welling. “See, no problem. Now let them clean up your son.”

Jou grudgingly leaned back from his crouched, protective position. “Me first.” He nodded and the shadows approached him warily, then raced across his chest and arms. Bakura was right it did tickle. Warm and soft, kinda like a puppy’s tongue without the wetness. When they were done with him he nodded and they slid over his son. In just a few second’s Vic was clean of the proof of his tortured murder.

A soft giggle made Jou look down at the boy cradled in his arm. Sleepy blue eyes stared up at him happily. “Tickoos daddy.”

Jou blinked. That was something his son used to say to him when he was a toddler and he’d play tickle monster with him. “Yeah? More tickles huh?”

“No. Tickoo monster play later. Sleepy daddy. Ni Ni.” The soft blue eyes closed in peaceful sleep.

Jou looked up at Marik for an explanation. The man gave him a direct look. “The gray stuff on the bed is part of his brain. He lost a lot. He will get it back, but his brain has to grow and develop. It will be like raising him again.” Marik hesitated a moment and admitted “He didn’t have enough on his own. Several cell types were completely gone. I borrowed a couple thousand unused stems from Kaiba. He has a more active brain than most and his synapse fire at a rapid rate. They will grow and mature faster. There was no other way.”

He forced a grin. “So my kid’ll have Kaiba’s smarts?”

“After a while yes. I infused the mitochondrial DNA of most of his cells with a mix of yours and Kaiba’s DNA. That usually comes from the mother, but I couldn’t think of any other way to give him what he needed to live a normal life. Your reflexes and nervous system have always been more hyper than others. It makes your reaction time very fast. Coupled with Seto’s unique brain cells he should be healing and growing in no time. It won’t change his soul but he may have different behaviors.”

“I understand.” Sadness and gratitude mixed. “I loved watching him grow. How many parents get to see it twice.”

“You’re the first.” Marik smiled softly. “He will sleep a day, perhaps two. The healing was intense and he will require more to accelerate cerebral growth. Two days maybe. I’m surprised he woke for that long. He must love his daddy very much.”

“Yeah...” Mai stirred again and Seto sent another blast towards the woman. “Give him to me.” The brunet held out his arms. “I’ll take him home. He can’t be found here and you’re going to be busy straightening things out with the police.”

“What? But I just got him back.”

“He’ll be waiting. You heard Marik he’ll be asleep for at least a day. They are going to think he’s dead. The age of the blood and stuff on the mattress will show them that you were on an airplane when the carnage took place. Give him to me and I’ll care for him – we’ll care for him. He can’t be here.”

“I’ll go with you. I...”

“You have to end this here. You were seen coming into the apartment. The neighbors have been hearing screams all day and even heard you scream. Bakura’s been mentally forcing them to not call the police. The screams of a kid they will ignore, but not of two men and a woman. They have standards and will call the police when Bakura releases them. Give him to me. Come when you can. We’ll be waiting.”

“No... NO...” He screamed at the top of his lungs. But it was too late, Seto had scooped the boy out of his arms and in an implosion of shadows all five of them disappeared.

Mai woke to find Jou cursing and sobbing, holding a bloody blanket. “Oh god. Jou where’s Vic. Where is he? Where’s Valon? Is he hurt too?”

Jou knew what he had to do, how he had to play it. After the guys had disappeared Seto had called him back and given him a strict outline that included everything from his time of arrival to the shadow creatures depositing the remains of their ‘feast’ in the bathroom and scorching the walls. “How the hell should I know? I walked in to find this bloody mess. Valon threw you in here and locked the door. You started screaming and fainted. Hit your head when you fell. You’ve been out since.” Turning away from her he stared down at the scene of his son’s death – and rebirth. “I think he killed Vic.”

“What? Don’t be stupid. He would never hurt his son. He came back to me because he wanted to be with him. Someone must have broken in and hurt Vic. Valon was hurt fighting him off. That’s why he’s got blood on him. That’s why Vic’s gone, someone’s stolen him.”

Disgust and outrage filled him. This woman had been his wife and until this moment he would have bet anything that she would protect their son with every fiber of her being. That nothing and nobody was more important. Now he could see her desperately trying to find excuses where there could be none. Excuses for a man who murdered her child. Her soul mate. If that was what having a soul mate did to a person he didn’t want one and he was damn glad she wasn’t his. He hoped fervently to never meet the person who was supposed to be his. He didn’t want to change, to be so desperate for a person that he couldn’t see right from wrong, that his morals would cease to matter.

A pounding on the front door made him glance up. A voice called sharply “This is the police department. We got a report of a disturbance.” Calling on his pain and fear from earlier he pounded on the bedroom door, knowing they would hear him. “Help! Help us! He won’t let us out. He... I think he killed my son. He says he’s gonna kill us. Help!”

“Shut th’ fuck up about the brat. I tol’ ya he’s mine. Ya ain’t ever gonna have what’s mine again.” Valon’s voice was thick and slurred. “Now shut up. I’m tryin’ to sleep.” He was obviously impaired and on the edge of passing out. Bakura had been careful not to leave any visible marks, and the only memory of his torture would come to him in the form of nightmares.

The officer took a chance and kicked in the door. Valon was sprawled on the floor, fists and shirt covered in drying blood. The cop could tell at a glance that it wasn’t his own. Swallowing hard he pulled his gun and trained it on the supine man. Using his other hand he fumbled with his radio and called for backup.

“Sir, are you here?”

“Yeah, we’re locked in the bedroom. Our son...” He sounded choked. “Make him tell you where our son is.”

Without opening his eyes Valon mumbled “My son you bastard. Mine. What’s in that room is all you get. He’s all mine.”

“Sir, are you injured? This person has what appears to be blood all over him.”

“We’re locked in the bedroom on the right. You called for backup didn’t you? We’ll wait. But please officer. My son, Victor Alan Jounouchi. He... this is his room. His bed is covered with blood and... stuff.” Jou didn’t have to fake his gulping down nausea. “He’s only nine and probably hurt really bad. Make him tell where he is please.”

“Sir.” The cop prodded the barely conscious man. “Sir, is there a child in the house?”

Valon grinned, the look so evil and full of twisted satisfaction that the man knew that the boy was dead.

“Sir, is there a child in the house?”

Valon lifted his hand and let it fall limply to his stomach. “He’s right here... He’s all mine. A part of me forever.”

Shock and horror made two of the cops hastily stifle gags. Of course the guy was so stoned he couldn’t even stand, but the implied cannibalism of a child was enough to make their stomachs roll.

“Sir, Ma’am, step away from the door and lie flat on the floor. We are coming in.”

Jou and Mai lay down and waited to be set free.

***
As stated in the last chapter I am simply playing catch up. I know these chapters are hellishly long. I'm actually posting 2 or 3 at a time in one shot. I have time for one more chapter. If one of you would be so kind as to tell me when I hit new material I'll slow down and put in smaller chapters. I just don't want to tease people who have already read most of this with a lot of small posts.
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Winding Road