Stinging Beauty

A blast from the past, as I recalled Kaiba loving chess- it also gave the perfect background for this chappie. I hope, I translated the expressions right…I simply suck at this game..! °_°

Oh, thanks to all of you who reviewed so far!^^

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12. Being here, being there

Quirking a brow, Seto watched Jou placing his white knight, endangering his black queen.

“So, basically you told him everything, ne?” questioned the CEO, as he easily defeated the horse-shaped figurine. Jou winced, before shifting into a more comfortable position and nodding:

“Hai. Well, as far as I’m concerned. I didn’t tell him anything about your other.. problems. ”

Jou glanced at the brunet, but this one kept his focus on the chess board.

The blond moved his rook, and Seto’s eyes widened just a fraction.

An Hungarian Defense!

Suddenly, his boxers under the deep blue yukata felt much too tight.

Of course, Seto had begun with only half the needed figurines, seeing as he had won several junior masterships*, and Jou was completely new to the game.

After the first, rather infuriating(for Seto) and disencouraging(for Jou) matches, the blond had finally gotten the hang of the game.

If the CEO at starting could beat his slave in but two draws, he continuously found it more and more difficult to win.

Given, at the moment he was chasing Jou’s king around like the proverbial rabbit, but still- it was a move, the blond had done out of pure instinct, one he probably wasn’t even aware of.

And the way it seemed, they would be ending with a draw.

Just as Seto reached out to switch his pawn to a bishop, he noticed something peculiar on, or rather, underneath Jou’s elbow.

A burnmark.

Scowling, his move went forgotten as he turned the sinewy limb around to inspect the mark closer.

“What is this?” he demanded. Jou looked at him, then at the mentioned injury.

“Oh, that. Burned myself working. ”

Perhaps it was the casualty of his tone, or the slightest tensing of muscles which gave it away, but Seto knew, it was a lie.

The whip slashed across Jou’s arm, and the blond flinched, not in pain, but surprise.

“Na-“

“Don’t lie to me, Jounouchi. What kind of work might cause burn marks this size and form? Not even frying prawns would-“

“C’nstruction place”, mumbled Jou, and received another whip for it.

“Language! Speak properly when addressing your master!” growled Seto, not wanting to admit to the feeling of worry and concern he experienced.

“I’m working at a construction place. Since I’m light and agile, I have put up and secure the main frame, so the other workers can pull up the carrier beams. ”

Blue eyes glared at him accusingly.

“I thought, you worked as delivery boy?”

Jou fidgeted nervously.

“Hai, that too. The one at the construction place is actually my father’s job. I-I took it over, since his..health doesn’t allow it. ”

Moments of silence passed, then:

“You’re working without permission, ne? That’s why you’re only working by night, so no one sees that you’re actually too young for the job. ”

Jou dipped his head, his voice but a mere whisper.

“Please don’t rat me out. It’s-it’s the only way; if they find out, they’ll put me into an orphanage or shelter until I’m legal. ”

Seto understood.

He understood only too well.

Still, he had one more question.

“I thought, you were afraid of heights?”

Jou looked up, and then a broad, cocky grin blossomed on is face.

“Not when I’m secured. ”

The lie however, remained, hidden deep beneath the truth.

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I will delve into that later…

*Hoping, my mind doesn’t play tricks on me. I can faintly remember something like that being mentioned in the show, but I’m not really sure, so sorry, if I screwed up!^^°