Intoxication

Disclaimer: Yu-Gi-Oh! And all the characters herein belong to whomever and I am making no monies whatsoever. The plotline belongs to me and me alone, and all the original characters (meaning those you have never seen before) belong to me.

Author’s Note: This is purely fiction. I hated the way they ended the series and if the series had been mine it would have been chocked full of slashy goodness. Set after Dawn of the Duel with a slightly different ending, cause the original made me cry. All respective songs herein belong to their original artists and I do not own them. For the record, this is NOT, I repeat, NOT a song fic; the songs used are to create depth for the plot and to ascertain how the characters are feeling.

Jounouchi for the sake of my story is a baritone - The Baritone is the most common type of male voice. Baritone range: The vocal range of the baritone lies between the bass and tenor ranges, overlapping both of them. The typical baritone range is from the second F below middle C (F2) to the F above middle C (F4), which are exactly two octaves. In the lower and upper extremes, a baritone's range can be extended at either end.

Fever, Sway and Save the Last Dance for Me – Michael Buble
I’ve Got You, Under my Skin – Frank Sinatra
Smile – Michael Jackson
Unchained Melody – the Righteous Brothers
Kiss from a Rose – Seal
She’s Like the Wind – Patrick Swayze
Behind Blue Eyes – The Who

Italics – thoughts.
. . . italics – flashback
Bold italics – dream/fantasy sequence

Summary – Senior Year of High School, it was supposed to be the best time of their young lives, but for one of the group, its not. But what lies around the corner at a place of Intoxication, well, suffice it to say Jounouchi finds what he wants behind blue eyes.


Intoxication
By TheDarkSynfulLegend

Chapter Four – What I Did For Love


Jounouchi woke up to the smell of pancakes and sausage, making his mouth water uncontrollably. Rising gingerly from the futon, he padded into the kitchen where a large glass of orange juice was pressed into his hand. “Drink that and sit down. You’re still healing.” Draco said as he manned two different pants on the stove. Jounouchi took the glass and sat down as he drank some of the cool liquid.

Arista walked in a few moments later, her hair was haphazardly over her head, and she looked downright miserable. “Good Morning.” Draco said as this was their ‘morning’ routine.

“It will be soon.” She responded, eyeing the empty coffee maker, “Draco!”

“Oops. Sorry, I forgot.”

“What did you forget to do, Draco?” Jounouchi inquired, not sure why she was so angry, and if Draco was going to raise his fist to her like his father used to do to his mother before she up and left, taking Shikuza with her. He asked the question hesitantly, as though fearing a fist flying in his direction.

A soft laugh left Draco’s lips as Jounouchi turned to look at him. “That Arista is a monster before her first cup of coffee. Let me introduce you to Mrs. Hyde. She’ll turn into Arista Jekyll later.” He said with a smirk, handing his wife a steaming cup that he had hidden, Arista walked over and cuffed him in the arm playfully. Leaning down he kissed his wife and turned back to the pancakes, while sliding a plate full towards Jounouchi.

“I hate you.” She groused, taking the coffee and swallowing a mouthful before her features softened in what could only be pleasure.

“You love me.”

“Not without my coffee or this early I don’t.” Arista finished, as she sat at the table next to Jounouchi who was in the middle. “How did you sleep?”

“Very well thank you.” He responded, as he tried not to laugh at their playful banter.

Draco slid a plate of pancakes before his wife before taking his own seat at the head of the table, with his own plate. “Suya…Jounouchi. We want to talk to you about something very serious.”

At the turn of events, Jounouchi put his fork down and pushed the half eaten plate away, “I understand, I’ll gather my things and head back to my house.” He said, as he started to rise but stopped as Arista’s hand made its way to his arm.

“No, you’re misunderstanding him, Jounouchi. WE,” she emphasized it, “do not want you to go, in fact. We want you to stay with us.”

Jounouchi slammed back into the seat he had half risen out of. “You want me to stay here?” he asked incredulous. “with you guys?”

“Yes, its not safe for you at home.” Arista responded, “listen, you asked me last night was I a cop and I told you I used to be. I meant it, I worked child cases, and I’ve seen abuse and I know it escalates and I don’t want that to happen to you.” She finished, tears shining in her eyes.

“I’ll have to go home and pick up my things.”

“Then I will go with you.” Draco said as he knew that his wife, while protecting those she cared about was scary and he knew what she had faced on one of her cases. He had been there holding her while she cried herself to sleep and somehow he was going to tell Jounouchi why Arista was so adamant.

~*~*~*~

Seto was enjoying his breakfast with Mokuba across from him, sipping a cup of coffee he was flipping through the Sunday edition of the Domino Daily, reading the technology section as Mokuba was staring at him, glancing upwards from the section he was reading. “When are you going to take a night off and go out?”

“I am going out with you today, Mokuba. What else do you want?”

“For you to stop being so stiff.” Mokuba replied with his mouth filled of pastry. He reached for his milk, and took a swallow as his brother sputtered something, “what?”

He tried to hold back a chuckle, and managed, “I am not stiff.” Seto groused as he set down his paper and glared at his little brother in a way that made business men tremble and hand over their assets in heartbeats.

“Yup, we need to take that ramrod out of your ass and find something else to fill the space.” Mokuba said before dropping the glass of milk that was now empty on the table and running off laughter permeating the dining room as Seto sputtered again and took off after his mischievous little brother.

When he caught up to Mokuba, he glared at his brother, who wisely tried to look innocent but came off looking very impish. “Just for that little comment. You have to go shopping with me, for some new ‘non stiff’ clothes.”

Mokuba groaned but nodded, “okay big brother, let’s go shopping.”

~*~*~*~

After breakfast, Jounouchi and Draco headed to a rather seedy part of Domino City and Draco pulled his car to a stop before the apartment building. “Listen. I know you’re not really happy with having to come and live with me and Arista, but let me try and explain why she is so adamant.”

“I’m listening, I’m not sure why you want me to come and live with you, but I will be honest, I felt safe there.”

“Arista had a case before she quit, she was trying to get a child, younger than you are, to go into foster care for her father was beating her when he wasn’t beating on her mother. One night she went to check on the girl,” Draco’s voice trailed off on a sigh, “let me put it this way, I had to hold Arista for the next week while she cried herself to sleep. She arrived too late to help.”

Jounouchi took all that in and sighed, “And that is why she wants to help me.”

Draco nodded, “Arista can’t forgive herself for that and maybe she sees hope in you. If she can help you, if we can help you, we will. I won’t have another one of those on her conscience not if I can help it. It’s what I did for love.”

“Thanks, for telling me and coming with me.”

A figure in the shadows was watching them with a narrowed gaze, the hatred burned in his eyes as the duo left the car and headed into the building. When they arrived, Jounouchi unlocked the door and was thankful to see that his father wasn’t home. “When do you think he was here last?” Draco inquired, as he glanced around at all the discarded bottles and dried brown spots on the floor and inwardly he was seething.

“I don’t know; let’s just get my stuff, this way.” As Jounouchi led the way to the small bedroom, Draco followed after him, taking in his surroundings and waiting for some sort of ambush. Upon hearing the sigh of defeat from the teenager, Draco snapped out of his thoughts and walked over staring at the carnage that had once been Jounouchi’s room. “well, I guess I don’t have anything here.”

“I’m sorry, we’ll figure something out, and get you what you need. In fact, let’s go shopping.” Draco said, as he placed his hand on Jounouchi’s shoulder and headed for the door. Jounouchi pretended to struggle, as the duo playfully swat and punched at each other, in true camaraderie, it was like Jounouchi found a big brother he could trust with his secrets and a place he found finally call home.

Draco shoved him into the car with a triumphant laugh and then jogged around to get in as they tore off for downtown and the mall. “DRACO!” Jounouchi shouted loud enough to be heard.

“This should be fun. I hate shopping.”

“We don’t have to go.”

“No, you need clothes, you can’t wear what you’re wearing all the time, and Arista will like it if we bring a few things to deck up your new room. Any hobbies?”

“I like Duel Monsters.” Came the reply as they walked into the mall together.

~*~*~*~

Seto was groaning as Mokuba dragged him into just about every store trying to find the perfect outfit. He thought he caught sight of a head with a familiar mop, “just a second Mokuba, I see the mutt.”

Mokuba rolled his eyes, “Seto, you promised.”

“I’ll be nice.”

“You know him?” Draco asked as he gestured to where Seto was maneuvering his way through the crowd towards him with a smaller boy in tow. “He seems to be headed our way.”

“Yeah, I know him.” Jounouchi replied, as he gazed over at Seto. Breath catching as the whip thin brunette got closer.

Draco noticed as Jounouchi’s breath got a little faster, “you okay?”

Shaking his head, Jounouchi nodded as Seto stopped a few feet away. “Hey Mokuba. Thanks for the lunch.”

“What lunch? I didn’t send any . . .” his voice trailed off as Jounouchi put two and two together. He didn’t glance at Seto, for he finally understood what had happened.

Jounouchi’s lips curled into a snarl, “What the hell, Kaiba? You made me that lunch, why the fuck did you say that Mokuba asked for you to give it to me?”

Seto swallowed, “I was trying to do the right thing, mutt.”

“Hey! Lay off the insults.” Draco interjected.

“You got a watchdog of your own, mutt? Can’t fight your own battles?” Seto queried, as he advanced on Jounouchi. With a growl in his throat, Jounouchi took a step forwards and was nearly nose to nose with Seto. “Ooh, the mutt has a soft spot.”

“Draco, let’s just go.” Jounouchi said, his shoulders slumping slightly. He turned away from Seto and started to walk off.

Draco rose a brow and handed Jounouchi the keys to his car, “here, go warm her up, I’ll be along in a few minutes.” He watched as the young man did as he asked, and once Jounouchi was out of earshot he turned on Kaiba. Without warning, he grasped him by the lapels of his coat and slammed him into the nearest pillar, “Listen up. You will leave Jounouchi alone, as of right now; he has been through too much to have you antagonizing him any longer.” Draco snarled.

“Do you know who I am? I suggest you unhand me now.” Seto replied coolly, even though he was angry that this man had gotten the drop on him.

“I do not care who you are, leave him alone.”

“I like him.”

“Then find a different way to show it. I know that his father called him that while beating on him so I suggest you find some other way to show Jounouchi you care.” Draco finished, as he dropped Seto like a hot potato and turned, striding after the young man leaving a stunned teenager in his wake.

“Let’s go Mokuba.” Seto said as he walked off into the mall, his little brother following and intuitively knowing that Seto didn’t want to be bothered.

~*~*~*~

When Draco returned to the car, he found Jounouchi with his knees in his chest in the passenger seat and the engine not even idling. “You okay?”

“I hate that nickname, but he’s always called me that.”

“Don’t worry, I set him straight. Let’s just go shop elsewhere.”

Jounouchi sniffled, “I…”

“You like him. You uh, talk in your sleep.”

“Great. Just glad my father never found out.” He replied with a soft scowl, “but yeah, lets go get some clothes, and can we maybe stop at a game shop?”

“Duel monsters?”

“Sort of.”

~*~*~*~

Yuugi was pacing a rut in the floor of the game shop while his grandfather watched him worriedly and Atemu was trying to sort booster packs on their proper shelves. “Aibou, you are going to wear a rut in the floor.”

“Then I’ll wear a rut in it! No one has seen Jounouchi since Friday and with his father calling, I’m worried about him!” Yuugi snapped in response, as he shoved his hand through his spiky hair. He heard a car pull up outside and ran for the door, yanking it open as he saw Jounouchi getting out of the vehicle. “JOU!” he cried out happily leaping at his friend and glomping him in a hug.

Jounouchi stumbled backwards under the onslaught of his friend and hugged him back, “Hey Yuuge.” Atemu and Solomon came out of the shop and merely stood in the doorway, watching the reunion not making any commentary as another figure left the car and leaned on the roof, gazing warmly at the group.

“Who is he?” Yuugi inquired, as he stared at Draco.

“A friend. Yuuge, can you call the gang and bring them over, I need to talk to all of you at once.” Jounouchi replied. “And this is Draco Eberhardt, he’s my boss at work.”

Draco smiled a bit, “hey Jou, I’m going to head back to the club. Spend some time with your friends. I can tell they have missed you.” He finished, “see you later, call and I’ll come by and get you.”

Jounouchi moved and closed the passenger side door and smiled, “Thanks Draco.”

“Anytime, nice meeting you all.” He said before he climbed into the car and drove off.

~*~*~*~

When everyone had gathered, Jounouchi sighed softly at what Yuugi was telling him, “my father called looking for me?”

“um, yes, he was very angry, what happened?” Yuugi asked as he was seated in Atemu’s lap, with the ex-pharaoh’s arms wrapped around him.

“I need to tell you guys something. My father…he drinks a lot, and when he was drunk, he used to hit my mother, its one reason she left. But there were times…you know when you guys thought I was fighting, I was really…”

Honda snarled, “Your father beat on you when he couldn’t find his wife to use for target practice? And who exactly is this Draco? Where did you meet him?”

Jounouchi nodded and then took a breath, “Yeah, that’s about it. Draco is the owner of the club where I work, he’s a nice guy. He and his wife have offered their spare room to me. Apparently the wife was a cop who worked her share of child abuse cases.”

Yuugi moved from Atemu’s lap and made his way to where Jounouchi was standing, “Jou, are you happy?”

Wrapping his arms around his smaller friend, nodding, “I’m happy Yuuge. For the first time in a long while, I’m happy.”

“What about your father, do you think he’ll leave you alone?” Atemu queried as he glanced over at his aibou and his friend. His thoughts echoed those that everyone else was presently thinking but were afraid to voice.

“Probably not, but I am going to ask you that you let Draco and Arista handle my father,” he responded, glancing over at Atemu who eyes were narrowing with the promise of retribution in his eyes, “Please, Atemu.”

“As you wish, Jounouchi,” he said, the underlying for now echoing in his voice.

~*~*~*~

Seto spoke quietly with Mokuba after Draco had stormed out. “Mokuba, do you think that…Draco was correct in what he said?”

“About what, Seto? You antagonizing him, belittling him, the beatings that he got or the fact that he told you that his own father called him a mutt? Or wait, was there a question I missed somewhere in there?”

Scowling Seto replied, “all of it. What do you think, Mokie?”

Mokuba blinked, for whenever Seto used his nickname it meant he was nervous about something, and this time Mokuba had an idea of what it was. “You do antagonize him, but I think you do it because you’re afraid to show him that you care, Seto. I know how hard it is for you to show that you have emotions, other than to me. I love you, Seto but I’m tired of seeing you alone.”

“Mokie…I’m tired. I’m tired of running a company, tired of dealing with all I do day after day, but most, I’m just tired of not being there for you when you need me and…” his voice trailed off.

“and?”

“And I’m tired of being alone.”

~*~*~*~

Jounouchi quietly entered the apartment with Draco as he looked around, “Hey Arista, thanks again for letting me stay.”

“of course, Draco told me about your things, and well, he went a little overboard. May want to go look in your room, its down the hall on the right, next to the bathroom.” Arista said with a smile as she watched the young man turn his head and glance at Draco before heading towards his bedroom.

“Now, why did you have to go and spoil the surprise?” Draco inquired but didn’t have to wait for her response as he was suddenly on the floor underneath Jounouchi and his wife. “surprised?” he asked, as Jounouchi nodded.

“Thank you.” He said hugging them tightly, “both of you.”

~*~*~*~

The phone rang in the lone office as a hand reached out and picked up the receiver, “hello?” came the voice as the person on the other end began to speak. “Yes, I think that can be arranged. Mmhmm, have you gone to the po…yes, I understand, the utmost discretion.” He said, as he made a note on the pad of paper before him. “Draco, unsure of last name but has a business here in Domino. Of course, I’ll take care of it.” Hanging up the phone, he smiled to himself, as he turned on the computer at his left.

Tapping the keys and bringing up a list of new business licenses he found one for a Draco Eberhardt and his wife, and the fact that they owned a small club called Intoxication. They had only been open for what seemed to be a week, and no one had been by to see them, with a grin, he shut down the computer after taking several notes and packing them into his briefcase rose to his feet and headed for the door.

Closing the door behind him, and briefcase in hand, he laughed to himself as he made his way down the empty hallway, the sign on the door read: Hirotaro – Domino City Health Inspector.

~*~*~*~

Across the expanse of Domino City, Takahiro hung up the phone with a malicious smile on his face, I will get my son back even if I have to tear your place down from under you. That mutt will be back in my house and I will beat him within an inch of his life for leaving me. A mutt belongs with his master, or his father.

~*~*~*~

Author’s Note: Read and Review, as always, the plot bunnies need their treats.