The Bet

reads over chapter* suogi. i am _evil_.

*cradles a sleeping yugi in her arms* *kisses his forhead* um.....about last a/n in chapter......*mumbles* gomen....
i was....um....yeah, whatever......

yami: *has his head on oni's shoulder* that's as much of an apology as we're gonna get, right?

*nodds sheepishly*

yami: *yawns* *cuddles close, tucking his head under oni's chin* heartless onna

*gets indignant* i am _not_ heartless!

yami: but you are evil

*splutters* that- that was just- just a one time thing! um.....i'm back to normal now! no more going psycho! no
more marik! *pouts* even though he is sexy and all! and he has tatoos!!!!!

yami: you ever go near marik again, and i'm telling ap, katya, and anna! and this time, i don't think they'll forgive u!

*eyes go wide* *says quickly* O_O marik is a psychotic jand and i will stay far, far away from him and malik

yami: ^___________________^ glad to hear it. although, what possessed u to do that in the first place-

>_> shut up. don't remind me of that horrid chappie! i was SO evil! *cries*

*cuddles yugi* i LOVE my lil sweetie pie!!!!!

&&&&&&&&&&&&

chapter 4: she's a bitch


Yugi zippered up his heavy winter coat, wrapped his scarf around his neck, donned his hat, and struggled to put his
mittens on. He wished not for the first time that he had gloves, so it would be easier to grasp things, but every time
he and Jiisan checked the local stores, they always seemed to have run out. So the little one was stuck with the thick
mittens. He hiked his bookbag straps onto his shoulders and set out for home.

As he walked down the hall, he saw Hanasaki, a boy from his science class. Hanasaki was about the same height as Yugi,
with blonde hair, glasses, and a pimply face. Hanasaki was running for all he was worth from a gangling boy with
brown eyes and straw colored hair, who was shouting at the smaller boy. "Come back here, ya lil punk, an' take yer
whippin' like a man!" Jounochi Katsuya wasn't exactly a terrifying bully, but he wasn't exactly the most sympathetic
and understanding of students, either.

Yugi squeaked as Jounouchi grabbed Hanaskai by his collar, the boy's books spilling from his bag and clattering to the
floor. Shaking with fear, he ran over to them to help Hanasaki out. While he was terrified, he just couldn't sit by
and watch as someone beat the daylights out of someone else. It just wasn't right. Yugi didn't know what he could do,
but he knew he had to try.

*****************************

Out of the corner of his eye, Jou saw a small, spiky haired kid come running at him with a terrified look on his face.
The boy reached out his mittened hands to try and pull Hanasaki out of his grip. Jou gritted his teeth, planted his foot
in Yugi's stomach, and pushed the boy away. The boy landed harsh on his bottom and let out a little whimper, tears
springing to his eyes.

Jou spared a moment to glare at the boy. "Dis ain't yer fight, so stay outta it. Unless you want me ta kick yer ass
too." Jou really hoped the boy would stay out; his conscience didn't need any more guilt on it. Jou only picked fights
with those that started it, and those who actually c fig fight and defend themselves. Not weak, puny kids like these two.
Normally. But when someone held a knife to your throat and threatened you if you didn't do as they asked, then, well, it was
easy to make an exception.

Jou turned his attention away from the spiky haired boy, and back to the pale blonde kid choking in his grasp, his short legs
kicking at the air. He really hated what he was about to do; this poor boy hadn't done a damn thing to him, but if he didn't
kick his ass, then his own ass was gonna be kicked. Royally. Usually, he wouldn't have listened, and fought his antagonizer,
but past experience told him Mai Kujaku wasn't one to pick a fight with.


~~~~~~~~~ flashback, 2 periods ago~~~~~~~~~~~


Jou sat slumped over his desk, snoring slightly. Study hall was so tedious; none of his friends were in it, and the teacher
monitoring them had grabbed his desk and moved it next to hers, where he was well away from the other students and closer to
her watchful eye. This was his new seat for the rest of the year. Add to that a week's worth of detention. All because he
had tried to liven things up a little. Maybe starting a spitball war _hadn't_ been such a good idea. Maybe.

The teacher scanned her hawk-like gaze over the room full of students, watching each one intently, and, finding no
rule breaking, went back to her novel. Mai smirked, making sure the teacher was absorbed once more in her book.
She ripped a page out of her notebook, on which she'd scribbled a quick message under the guise of taking notes
from her science book, which lay open on her desk. She balled the paper up, glanced at the distracted teacher, and
threw the paper at Jounouchi.

The teacher's head snapped up in time to see it sail past her face and bounce off the sandy haired boy's head. He awoke
with a start, crumpled the ball, and stood up, glaring at the crowd. "All right! Who threw dat? Yer gonna die!"

The teacher snapped into action. She stood up abruptly, her chair that had wheels on it rolling back a few inches.
"Katsuya Jounouchi! Making threats is against school rules! Now, sit down, or I'll add another week's worth of
detention!"

Grumbling and glaring under his breath, Jou did as bidden, shooting death looks at the students and caught a pair of
cruel, laughing violet eyes staring right back. "Read the note, baka." Mai mouthed, then propped her open book on top
of some others, pulled a bottle of nail polish out, and started painting her nails, all of this hidden by the propped up
books as the teacher threatened the class, wanting to know who threw the paper. None of the students, however, spoke
a word. Frustrated, she fineally gave them all a detention, which Mai, of course, had no intention of showing up at.
Like she always did.

Jou growled, unconsciously crumpling the balled up paper. He opened it warily, reading it with narrowed, suspicious eyes.
'Mee afe after class.' It read. Jou glared questioningly at Mai, who simply shrugged and looked smug.

Curious as to what she wanted with him, Jou, regretably, did wait after class. Mai grabbed him by the collar of his jacket,
pushed him against a locker, and leaned over to whisper in his ear. "I have a favor to ask of you."

He sneered. "And why would I help ya?"

It was her turn to smirk. "Because, if you don't, something unfortunate may happen to Shizuka. You remember those nasty
rumors going around last year? You don't want a repeat of that, do you? People are still talking about the last one."

Her laughing purple eyes mocked him, and Jou gritted his teeth as he remembered his sister coming home in tears from
the other students whispering things about her behind her back, writing nasty comments on the walls in the bathrooms and
on desks, and even taunting her in the face.Jou\Jou's muddy brown eyes bore into hers, flaming with hatred. "She never was pregnant. It was all a lie."

Mai smiled nastily. "Yes, it was. An awful lie that spread like wild fire. Even now, no one believes she's a virgin.
I dare say your sister still isn't fully recovered from that one, is she? I wonder how she'd handle a second round."

Jou nearly spat, his clenched hands shaking with fury. "Cowardly bitch. I outta hit you."

Mai let out a humorless laugh, and she sneered at him. "You tried that last year, baka. And what did it get you?
A black eye, missing teeth, and a broken arm." She suddenly reached into her purse, pulled out a small pocket knife,
and held it at his throat. Her eyes turned serious, and she pressed the sharp blade against the soft skin of Jou's
throat.

Jou's eyes widened in fright and his breath caught in his throat. Even though he'd been in many fights in his life,
and was considered to be generally tough, he'd never had a knife pulled on him before. And no student had ever had the
audacity to pull a weapon in broad daylight, in plain view where anyone could see, and threaten him so mercilessly. Mai
Kujaku was one crazy bitch. One crazy, dangerous bitch.

"Well?" She whispered into his ear. "Which shall it be? Will you cooperate, or do spill your blood?" She applied some
pressure to the tip of the blade, not enough to rupture the skin, but enough to let the punk before her know she meant
business.

Jou almost gulped, but the knife stopped him. He closed his eyes, shaking with his anger, and mumbled an affirmative.
The blade left his throat, and his head fell foward as he was suddenly tired from all of the adrenaline pumping through him.

Mai smiled truimphantly. "Oh, come now, Jounouchi. It's not that bad. All you have to do is beat Yugi Mutou up
after school today. Do you know who that brat is?"

Absentmindedly, Jou nodded.

Mai smiled. "See? Nothingit. it. Then Yami will come, and take over from there."

Jou's head snapped up. "What does Yami have to do with this?"

"It's all part of a game, Jounouchi. But do not worry, you are only a small pawn in it."

Jou's eyes narrowed in suspicion. "What are you planning on doing with the kid?"

Mai shook her head. "Nothing, nothing at all. You really worry too much. It's all a bit of good, harmless fun."
She patted his cheek then disappeared down the hall.

Jou watched her go, his whole frame tense and shaking with rage. Hot, angry tears welled up and coursed silently down
his cheeks. He hated her. He hated them all. Sadistic bastards, every last one of them. They used people as they saw
fit, tormenting them for their own perverse amusement.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ end flashback ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

************************************

Mai zippered up her tan coat that was trimmed with fur, slung her purse over her shoulder, and slammed her locker shut with
all of her books, even the ones with her homework in them, and went to Yami's locker.

The spiky haired boy had donned his leather jacket, leather gloves, black woolen hat, black scarf, and sunglasses, and
was currently contemplating on wheter or not to bring his books with him. Seeing Mai approach, he shoved his leather book
bag into his locker and closed it. "Well?" He asked by way of greeting.

She smiled. "Come with me. You'll find this......very interesting."

Walking by her side, his crimson eyes peered sideways at her. "Oh, and what would that be?"

Mai's smile widened. "You really owe me big time for this, Yami. I've found out more than that brat's name. I've even set
up a little 'meeting' for the two of you. So you can get on to the interesting part of this bet."

Yami rolled his eyes. "Shut up and spill it."

"His name is Yugi Moto, and he is currently being beaten up by some punk, waiting for you to come and 'rescue him'."

Yami paused for a nano-second in mid-stride and returned Mai's devilish smile. "You're a bitch." Was his thanks.

Mai's malevolent purple eyes squared off with crimson red ones, both glinting with sadistic pleasure. "I may be a bitch,
but I am the pick of the litter." Mai tossed her blonde waves over her shoulder and the two teens walked down the hallway,
like two ancient Roman nobles heading to the Colleseum to see some gladiator bloodshed.


&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&

>_< yes, i know, i know, mai and the others are real asswholes. but they'll change. eventually. and, yes, as of now, the
fic is focusing more on the social relationships b/t cliques than the bet itself. but that will all change, once i get the
interaction established.

*rocks still sleeping yugi* next chappie, we'll somesome seto and jou interaction!!! and things are going to get much
bleaker here, folks. we're talking heavy angst. *smirks evilly and cuddles yugi*

yami: *whimpers* *starts crying* i know what you have planned, and i say ur heartless.

*hugs yami*

yami: *buries his face against oni* *cries*

it'll all be alright in the end, yami! besides, none of the main characters die!!! (oooh, ain't i evil?)