I Never Promised You A Rose Garden

I Never Promised You A Rose Garden
Chapter 3: Method to the Madness
By: Rinnikka
Notes: {indicate the collective or a dweller of Sanctus speaking} *Yugi To Yami*. [general thoughts]
Disclaimer: I don't own Yu-Gi-Oh, I never will, if you sue me then all you'll get is a dollar and some lint, I am just using the characters for my own personal enjoyment and that is all.

I can hear the voice, But I don't want to listen, Strap me down and tell me, I'll be alright *Voices~By Disturbed

Canis, Furor, Sol Solis, Labores Solis, Jou... who was he? Was this the coming of the End? Would the Collective keep ripping him into part by part till he could no longer think with so many voices in his head. He could hardly think even now! Sanctus was ruining him, ruining his life!

His 'completion' had taken the whole day, he had missed school and was now heading towards the park trembling, fearing the confrontation more then ever before. Immediately he spotted the tri colored teen and was dismayed to also spot scarlet crimson and Frigus in wait instead of Lucidus' light and understanding. But what was there to understand? He could no more tell the secrets of Sanctus then he could to stop breathing. To tell was to betray, to betray was to be punished. Reaching them he once more felt the bitterness seep in, The Cold and Dark one together once more, remembering the affection he had, had for the Cold one even befSancSanctus had appeared.

Seto... his named reminded him of his own which has originated from Sanctus, Canis, why always a dog? Why always so low and unbecoming, why why why why-

{Why not?} was Furor's simple reply, at this his thoughts quieted and he gestured for Yami to speak, relieved that the clamoring of Sanctus' inhabitants had drifted off in fear of the Collective's wrath.

"Jou... why didn't you tell us?" asked Yami quietly with a sadness that tinged his sharp eyes soft, "We would've helped with your father." "My father? He doesn't do anything but sleep and drink Yami," smiled Jou, "Sure he isn't the greatest dad but c'mon at least he's not beating the crap out of me." Sharpness appeared once more to Yami's eyes as he paused slightly before replying, "But he does, Iniuria does." At this fear gripped Jou's heart, rationality fled him and once more he awaited the Collective's oncoming rush.

But no rush came.

At Jou's silence Yami continued on, "Seto's agreed to take you in, he feels he has to compensate for your saving Mokuba... and giving him something to do while he is unable to 'play' with him." "I don't want your pity," mumbled Jou with acid tinged derision, "I hang out with Mokuba cause he's a good kid, plus he shows no mercy at Mortal Kombat, I'll beat him one day."

A laugh was heard.

Yami's of course, as he smiled and reached out to embrace Jou saying, "As that is... just, please Jou, do it for me and Yugi." Stiffening in Yami's embrace before awkwardly placing his arms around Yami's figure he let out a breath, still fearing the Collective yet at the same time silently asking the Collective what to do. Bitterly he remembered a time when he would have not hesitated at all to hug any of his friends, not matter what the reason. Had Sanctus changed him so much?

{There is no other way Canis, to stop suspicion you must take the offer} came Insanum's soft almost lucid advice {The Collective has ordained for you to be banned from the world of Sanctus till the end of this agreement, till then Furor will stay with you. Remember weak one, do not betray us, believe me there are much worse things then being dead}

{Warn Acerbis that we will not be banished so easily} drifted in the Collective's voice {He has much stubborness that one but even that and his powers are no match for us. We are not cards, We are not Spirits, We are the Collective and we have never been defeated}

Secretive, that is what they wanted him to be, but why the warning? Would it not put more light onto their origins then before? Was this at? Wt? Was the Collective testing his loyalty as they had always done before? Yes it had to be a test...

"Of course," submitted Jou with a smile that didn't quite reach his amber caution laced eyes, "I'd do anything for you guys."

Suddenly duality appeared and he could no longer control his very being, horror filled him, Furor was in control, Labores Solis once again eclipsed him and he was once more stuck in his shadow. "Acerbis, the Collective takes no liking to your prying," hissed Furor down into Yami's hair before cathing sight of Frigus, "Both of you are warned."

Jou came back and found himself facing both the Dark and Cold one's confusion and suspicion, why had this come to pass? Once more he could feel himself breaking, why had Furor done such a thing, why had the Collective permitted it!? "Who are yo dem demanded Yami retreating before noticing the glazed lost look in Jou's eyes, "Whappenppened? For a second I thought it was someone else that spoke to me. Jou?"

"I-

"Acerbis- Dark," cut in Seto quietly as he walked forward out of the shadows, "I can see the reason for the name, I can also see that you're mentally unstable." "Seto-" Once again Seto cut off Yami and grabbed Jou's arm so quickly that he had not time to think, "These are self made Yami, the ones on the back can be accounted for, but these... these were done by him and him alone."

Gasping Yami stared at the circular burn marks and ran fingers softly over the bloated bumps, he hadn't had time to pop the blistering wounds. But still... they had no right to intrude, no right at all... wait.. they did they were his friends. So confused... so angry, he couldn't take it!

Blind anger ran through him and once again he burned, burned hotter then the sun, but this time he welcomed it, gasping he tore his arm away from Seto and clutched it tightly to his stomach, he needed the heat, anything to let loose the lava flowing within. {It is called Anger Canis} came Furor's soft voice laced with fire {I have shown you the way, Let it out}

His senses came back and he could hear Yami begging desperately to tell him what was wrong, he looked up, straight into Yami's eyes and begged quietly with trembling lips, "Please." Understanding all too well Yami's eyes closed slowly before nodding and placing a hand over the blonde's eyes, seconds after nothingness followed and he knew no more.

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*

"Wake up mutt," came Seto's cold voice, "It's time you and I talked without that simpering Pharoah to interfere." Blearily his eyes opened slowly before focusing on Seto's face, the flames returned hotter then before and he shut his eyes, giving a whimper... he needed... he needed, suddenly his eyes shot wide open in time to see Seto pulling away a curling iron from his arm, wonderingly he stared at the small burn line then back at the stoic figure that glared at him.

"You talk in your sleep idiot," muttered Seto before pulling up a chair next to the bed he laid on and crossing his arms demanding, "Now make inu, tell me what's wrong before I decide to send you to the mental ward."

Fear gripped his heart, he wouldn't....

{Yes he would, he is Frigus, he is without feeling, he would do anything to get to what he wants} chanted Furor {Speak to him, do not fear the Collective's wrath, we are in Frigus' territory now. We are blocked from their sight as they are blocked from us, for the ice is our shield and weakness}

{If it is our weakness then why do we not die} he asked silently to his other half {Why do we still live in the confines of such a place, why now am I able to speak such secrets} {Because the time is right, the reflection has appeared and now the mirror is next. For this to happen all secrets must be laid bare...} hissed Furor {Now speak before he decides to make do with his previous plan}

"Ever as blunt aren't you Kaiba?" he muttered bitterly, just once wishing for Yami's polite... kindness, "Just for once couldn't you ask, just for once couldn't you show me some damn fucking respect?" Never had the brunet ever shown him any courtesy, never ever ever ever ever ever... Shock was glimpsed briefly before returning to the dark and once more cold eyes bore into his very being and made him want to curl up and disappear.

"Ive given you two choices, either pick one or the other," replied Seto impassively, while inside he wished that the blonde would open up and have done with it. "I want Yami," he demanded angrily, his amber eyes flashing, "I want Yami and I want him now dammit!" "If he comes then so does Yugi, do you really want Yugi to know whatever it is you're going to tell Yami?" asked Seto mockingly with an arched brow, "Or do you want him in that way?"

Immediately a blush appeared across the bridge of his nose before he settled down limply and regarded Seto through his bangs, wondering, wanting, needing... to understand and to speak. As if knowing this Seto rolled his eyes and said in an irritated tone, "Nothing leaves this room, I give you my word." Knowing that Seto's word was his honor he took it as that and looked slightly away from the inquisitive brunet to look out the window. Through the window he could see briefly the world of Sanctus, Insanum glaring at him while pointing forbiddingly at the pit, while the wind that was the Collective howled around him.

Suddenly he felt fingers gently taking a hold of his chin and turning his head back around to face ice blue eyes softened with slight concern, eyes widening at his proximity and at the depth of Seto's eyes, it took a moment to register the words being said.

"I'm here, nobody is outside, now speak puppy."

Defeated, he nodded slightly already captivated by the snowflake intricate patterns held in Seto's eyes, already entranced by past affection, heart pounding and wishing for something that could never be. Slowly Seto let go of his face and sat back down gesturing for him to speak. Helplessly he opened his mouth only to find that no sound emitted from it, clearing his throat he looked hesitantly up at Seto saying in a sotto voice, "It would help if you asked the questions."

"When did this happen, why?" asked the brunet tiredly as he leaned back into his chair and sighed, "What was the catalyst?" Laughing slightly to himself he brushed his long hair away from his eyes as he looked at Seto with hopelessness filling his eyes, "The catalyst? God Kaiba, stop trying to pick away and catalogue what's wrong with me, I'm not some corrupted file in your laptop, I'm Katsuya, Jounouchi, I go to Domino high and sit three rows away from you. Except for Mokuba, can't you treat anyone else like a human being, much less an equal?"

Startled Seto's eyes widened slightly before turning away and saying, "I thought you were the one being cross examined here pup." Another laugh before warm amber eyes were focused upon Seto's profile, "Pup huh? I guess it's a start." A grunt was heard and once again a smile crept up onto his lips, he was finally starting to get the CEO of Kaiba Incorporated, not that he hadn't before... but being face to face with him helped alot. Lying down on the bed with an arm curled behind his head he stared up at the ceiling, not wanting to look at Seto while speaking of his... illness, he bit his lower lip slightly before sighing and whispering, "I guess you being you... you know about my dad huh?" A quiet, "Yes," affirmed his question, tilting his face slightly he looked at the wall opposite of Seto before starting once again, "It was the start, the beginning, the Breaking as Viator foretold."

"Viator, messenger and traveller," interrupted Seto finally focusing his eyes upon the reclining blonde, "Who is he?" "She," he corrected," is the goddess, the One Who Knows All, she is my mother and the one who gave birth to the other side of me," he whispered in a cracked tone that seemed to make it as if it were his last breath, "She who mocks me with her flame and burns like the lava of a thousand suns." He gave a short laugh, "For I am her sun, her Bright one."

Catching the inflection on the world Sun, Seto knew that he meant the word as both instead of as one, "And what else did shetelltell?" asked Seto softly, prodding gently with a voice that was not hindered by barbs or sharpness.

"Sortoortold the Breaking, The Darkness, The Reflection, The Mirror and finally... the End," he murmured as a finger twirled a strand of silken honey unknowingly while looking at nothing yet something with misty eyes, "The Breaking has passed, so has The Darkness and the Reflection, I await now the Mirror and finally the End.... the End...The End to all this madness," he hissed angrily as he ripped his finger away from his hair and clenched it into a fist as hard as rock and stone and... ice.

Searching blindly for another question to cut through the tension that thickened the air with it's permeating anger, Seto took a breath before asking, "The names... why do you call Yami, Acerbis, why?" This startled him, it seemed as if Seto really wanted to know, not used to such avid listening and freedom to speak as he wished, his anger vanished as if it had never been there before he blinked and gave a little smile. He turned his body so that it was facing Seto and he lifted his eyes to look into the prussian blue depths, whispering, "Because he is the darkness that lights my way as Yugi is Lucidus'... the light that helps me see."

"And what am I called?" asked Seto softly, as if fearing the answer, already remembering the insults and degrading names he had called the blonde before. A giggle, before he looked down at the blonde and almost felt his heart stop beating, Jou looked so tranquil lying on his bed, eyes a melted amber and the delicate curve of his jaw leading to lips quirked slightly up in a small smile, lips that invited with their petal pink softness.

"Frigus," he replied softly, "The Cold one, you're always so cold Seto, always in the shadows, always wanting to hide...like ice with hidden fragments held inside, designs upon designs, confusing like a maze. Sometimes I wish I could look inside but the gates are frozen shut, sometimes I can see a glimpse of who you are... sometimes, sometimes... but you're freezing like absolute zero, I wish I could warm you up but what's a dog like me gonna do for you?" The shocked silence was broken by Jou turning over to face the wall and say conversationally, while trying to calm his beating heart, "Your brother... I call him Ventus, he's like the wind, so quick, and either like a gentle breeze or a harsh biting rush."

Not knowing what else to say Seto remained silent, turning over and over Jou's words, confused by such a turn of events, immediately he took his mind's advice, 'take it all in now and absorb later.'

"What are you called?" asked Seto brusquely wondering if it was something thatstedsted of his extraordinariness or something that described him accurately.

"Canis," he whispered bitterly, "I was named by the Collective, I am their dog, their puppet, and they pull my strings as easily as they do others." Already that dark thread of hurt spread throughout his form, already he was ready for Seto's cold biting laugh, why couldn't the Collective reach him here. What would happen as soon as he left Frigus' territory... would the End come swifter or would the Mirror commence?

"Is this so because of my... remarks?" asked Seto carefully, fearing the answer yet expecting it, he had never meant to say such things to the blonde. They had just come out and unintentionally they had hurt Jou... Jou, he had never even called the blonde by his own name.

"Somewhat," replied Jou before turning to look at Seto and offer a smile and say comfortingly, "But then again it could have been Otogi's fault too. I'm sure dressing me up as a dog did wonders for my wounded psyche." A short bark of a laugh came from Seto before he lowered his head and covered his mouth to stop the laugh that threatened to come out.

Jou stared amazed, he had never once before seen Seto laugh just because something was funny, something at the corner of his eye attracted his attention, eyes widening in shock, liquid amber became frozen in fear as Aequitas stood outside of the window, red eyes glowing ferociously in anger at his betrayal. {Furor! What do I do?} He asked frantically as he scrambled up against the bed post, knees locked to his chest, watching Aequitas, his soul crying out in fear of his punishment. He remembered it, only once had he been the one at the end of Aequitas' fury, only once and he had made sure he would never again. But now... now Aequitas would want blood and only b to to atone for his sin...and he would be the recipient.

Sound trying to break through, almost as if heard through water, frantically his eyes were suddenly locked with meridian blue and he strained to hear the words that Frigus s.
.

"JOU! -OU! Can yo- hear me!?" was what he heard, straining even harder he heard the whole, nodding his head he pointed out the window with a shaking finger. Seto turned and saw only his neighborhood shaded in darkness and then turned back to Jou's fear stricken eyes demanding, "What do you see?!"

"I shouldn't have told you," he mumbled crying as he shut his eyes tight, "Shouldn't have gone against the Collective, Furor why did you tell me I was safe? I'm not safe and you know it! Damn you Furor!"

But only silence came from his eclipse, only darkness and a quiet that made him even more afraid, the bottom of his stomach filled with fear and churned with dread, where was Furor!?

"Jou you dimwit! You're listening to someone named after madness?! Goddamnit Jou listen to me!" shouted Seto angrily as he shook the blonde, "What are you scared of! JOU LOOK AT ME!"

At that last insistent demand Jou looked up at Seto's face, mesmirized by the sudden change the dark had on the brunet's beauty, ice tinged shadows, gleaming almost porcelaso cso cold... why couldn't he warm that iciness with his own warmth, just once?

"You called me...," he trailed off wonderingly as he looked up into the face of blearing darkness, Seto's face fazing and fuzzy from delirium...

"Jou! I called you Jou, now tell me what in Ra's name is wrong!?" Yelled Seto frantically as he felt Jou's forehead and narrowed his eyes at the heat radiating from it yet at the same time revelling in the warmth it left behind.

"Mou ichido..." whispered Jou softly as his eyes drifted so close to shut before lifting his face trembingly up to Seto's with the intent to taste him just once, but his lips fell short and only brushed lightly upon surprisingly warm lips before he fell limp in Seto's arms and faded to darkness.

Touching his lips Seto stared in shock at the unconscious boy before laying the limp youth back onto the bed and settling himself back onto his seat next to the bed. Hesitantly he reached out, almost taking his hand back when Jou gave a small incoherent mumble, and gently brushed away stray blonde golden amber that slid through his fingers like spun silk. Almost as if realizing what he was doing, Seto quickly took his hand back and returned to watching over Jou whispering, "Furor... madness, why follow madness Jou? What the hell is going on inside of your head..."

Outside the wind blew, causing branches to move against the mansion, left over icicle's laced onto the roof from the receding winter fell and tinkled off of concrete ground to once again become silent.

Ventus: Wind

A/N: I dunno why I ended it there... I just wanted the ending the signify the 'frozen gates' breaking, a chance for Jou...y'know? I dunno if this chapter is as good as the others... I just felt the need for it to move forward until I get to write more.'s s's still so interesting, I can't wait to write a more in depth monologue between Jou and Seto, I just noticed that I keep having Jou faint... Hmm well no biggie, he'll get stronger with more 'therapy' The whole how the wind blows and helps break the ice is a hint to Jou's chance :) it's easy to figure out ne? Anyways I have no idea what else I want to write here so I'm going to stop and post it.