Dark pasts, Darker Secrets

HELLO!!! *waves* It's me again...I thought I would come and bring you more of the story!!! Plus...I'm bored....Can't sleep, so, here we go!

A/N: I DO NOT OWN YU-GI-OH IN ANY WAY OR FORM, NOR AM I MAKING MONEY FROM THE MAKING OF THIS STORY!!!

The next morning was a quiet one for Yuugi and his friends. Jonouichi was tense, his vibes flowing through the others, making them all on edge. "Jonouichi....are you all right?" Otogi looked concerned as he looked at his friend. The blonde looked up from his barely touched breakfast. That was when the group knew something was wrong. Jonouichi was always the first to finish food, and was still asking people if they wanted to eat theirs, which they happily gave away. "Yeah....I"m just tired, that's all."

Otogi nodded and looked at his lover, Honda returning the worried look. The dark brunette took his hand and smiled encouragingly. Yuugi sighed as the bell rang.

"Well, time for more class. Let's go. Ryou," he turned to the albino boy. "See you second period?"

Ryou nodded happily and they all parted ways to go to class. The morning was only started, and Ryou felt tired from the food he had almost inhaled that morning. As he walked into the classroom he spotted Bakura sitting in his usual seat, his brown eyes staring at the door. When he sighted Ryou his position visibly relazed and he allowed a small smile to flit over his mouth.

Ryou went to his seat, smiling at Bakura, and was about to say something, when Marik let out a loud snore. Both the boys laughed until the teacher came in.

As time went on, the lecture became more and more confusing to Ryou. The teacher went through the curriculum so quickly the boy barely had a chance to catch up. What was this, a school of genius'? he thought with a huff.

Bakura focused on Ryou, his mind touching the other boy's. He smiled softly, staying a shadow in the boy's mind, staying quiet. 'I can help you with this,' Bakura said to Ryou, using a telepathic line. The boy jumped then looked back at him angrily. 'I would appreciate you staying out of my mind, thank you,' he snipped without turning.

Bakura chuckled lowly. 'Have it your way...but then you might just fail and have to repeat this subject.'

The boy went stiff, then sighed. 'Fine...but just to study. That's it. After lunch I have a free period.'

Bakura smiled in triumph and went back to studying Ryou's thoughts, undetected. At least he hadn't slammed his mental wall down. That had to be saying something for Bakura.

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The afternoon sun warmed the courtyard, the voices of the students drifting in and out of Seto's hearing. He stood in the middle of a circle of benches, his eyes set on the direction he knew Jonouichi would be coming. With a mental sigh he looked at his watch.

The mutt was late.

From the corner of his eye he spotted Marik, Malik and Yami coming towards him. One by one they sat on the surrounding benches. "Are you sure you want to do this?" Yami called from his bench, the humor apparent in his voice. Seto sent him a look and nodded.

"This is the only way to get what I want and need. Now that I found the missing piece, I plan on getting him and not letting go. No matter what."

Seto knew that sounded selfish, but that was the kind of man he was. If he wanted something, he would get it, no matter who he had to hurt in order to accquire it.

Yami, Marik and Malik looked at each other with the same knowing smile. From the side of the gymnasium Jounoichi came running, his eyes wide and his fists clenched. When he reached them, he had to stop to catch his breath, his hands on his knees. "You're late," Seto stated calmly.

"Sorry...." Jounoichi gasped out. "I fell asleep at the lunch table." As soon as the words left his mouth, the blonde's eyes widened. Why did he just say that?

Seto stared at Jou, his face a cool mask. "Now that you've had your nap....are you rady to loose, mutt?"

Jonouichi, finally able to stand glared at the brunette and took a step closer, a confident smirk on his face. "I think you've got that wrong, money bags." He threw off his denim jacket and rolled his shoulders. "Don't you *dare* go easy on me." Seto smiled, his body not moving.

"Never. Now let's go."

Jounoichi stared at Seto, his fists clenched. The brunette simply stood where he was, meeting Jou's gaze. "Well?" The blonde cried. "What are you waiting for?"

Seto chuckled. "It is always good manners to let the weaker party go first."

Jonouichi growled and attacked. His vision turned red, focusing on Seto alone. He brought his fist up, knowing it would hit the brunette right in his pretty-boy face.

In a fraction of a second Seto stood before him, then was gone. Jou almost fell, then righted himself, looking around. Where the hell did he go!? As he turned he spotted Seto smirking at him, his face as calm as ever. What the hell just happened? Jounoichi thought.

Seto was right in front of him one minute, then was gone the next....how could he have done that? The blonde hadn't even seen him move.

"What happened, mutt?" Seto taunted. "I thought you wanted to fight..."

Jouonishi grit his teeth and attacked again, but just as the last time, Seto disappeared, only to appear behind him!

From the benches he could hear three of Seto's buddies laughing, their hands on their sides. That only made Jou angrier. It was then for a moment he thought he heard Seto's voice in his head. 'Let go of all thought...just feel.'

The blonde boy stared at the brunette in shock, then closed his eyes. Hitting air was getting him nowhere, so he might as well try something different. From in front of him he could almost feel Seto's mind and thought that impossible. How could someone feel someone else's mind?

Taking a calming breath he let go of his thoughts, then opened his eyes. Of their own will, Jou's arms raised to eye level, his hands curling as if to grip something familiar, yet unfamiliar at the same time.

Seto watched the blonde closely, his mind in tune with his, sensing when he was ready. With slight amusement he watched Jou's eyes open, their honeyed depths calm, and glinting dangerously. His hands curled into a known poeition to Seto and he smirked.

Slowly he took the same stance, his mind touching Jounoichi's briefly, feeling the mutt's mind meet him halfway. Jou jerked a bit, but then scowled, his jaw set. As if on cue, both the boys ran at each other, not knowing, or caring what the outcome would be. They both knew this would be a fairly even match.

The two collided, the wave from their minds almost sending Yami and the others flying off the bench. The three looked at one another and smiled. "This will be interesting..." Malik chuckled.

Blow for blow the two matched one another, only slightly aware of the crowd that was gathering, chanting and laughing. Seto's eyes were set on Jouonoichi's, his mind telling him when the boy would strike, and did the same for the blonde.

'Very nice,' Seto said to the blonde, smirking at the way he jerked.

'I don't know how you're doing this, but stay out of my head!'

Jouonochi bared his teeth and attacked, but Seto blocked it.'I would say the same to you, mutt. You are invading my mind as well. Not many have been able to do that...but seeing as you and I are the same...'

That comment threw Jouonochi off and Seto saw his chance to end this fight. They would be there for hours if they continued like this....

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Bakura waited by the basketball courts, watching some of the other students play, some taunting others playfully, others full out bickering. Bakura paid them no mind after a while. Where was Ryou? Tentatively he let his mind search the grounds until he found the boy's presence. He was running through the halls, his book bag flopping on his shoulder.

A few minutes later, Ryou could be seen rounding the corner, his face flushed. He stopped then spotted Bakura, quickly making his way over. With a heavy sigh the boy flopped on the bench, his breath coming in short gasps. "You didn't have to run," Bakura said, amusement in his voice.

"I forgot mybooks in my room." Ryou said, pulling out said books, setting them in his lap.

With a look he turned to Bakura, his eyes hard. "I'm only here to learn," he said shortly. Bakura nodded. "I know. Let's get started."

He pulled out his own book from behind him and opened it.

In silence Ryou studied the detailed notes, impressed by Bakura's neat penmanship. His handwriting looked so classy compared to his own sloppy jots. In Bakura's notes, Ryou found some things very helpful, like the way the other boy had actually written out a simpler way to understand one problem.

As he read over the notes, he felt the material starting to click in his mind. Just as he looked up to say something to Bakura, there was a commotion in the distance. Both boys looked towards the noise for a moment, then Bakura let out a curse, startling Ryou. "Seto!" Was all the other said before he got up quickly, his book and some papers flying from his lap.

Ryou gasped and quickly set aside the books on his lap and chased after the few fly away papers, catching them quickly by using his mind to still them. Once he had everything in order he threw everything into his bag and quickly followed in the direction Bakura disappeared in.

As he got closer to the courtyard behind the school the cheering voices became louder. When Ryou turned a corner, he almost screamed in shock. Was Jonouichi actually fighting Seto?! Ryou ran towards the cheering crowd of boys, Jou becoming clearer to him. The blonde looked horrible!

"Jounoichi!!" he cried, fighting his way through the large crowd of students.

One of the boys next to Ryou was laughing and cheering as Jonouichi was punched in the gut, his breath knocked out f him. Ryou glared at the blue haired boy. The laughing boy glared at Ryou through his coke bottle glasses, his beady eyes challenging him.

Turning from the threat Ryou made his way through the crowd once more, being pushed and elbowed. Finally at the front he spotted Bakura not too far away from him, a worried look on his face as he watched the fight intensely.

Almost immediately as Ryou made it to the front, he could feel the waves of psychic energy coming from the fighting pair, the intensity of it making him dizzy. But amidst the energy, RYou could feel no malice...only amusement and irritation, along with a bit of pride.

Seto and Jou were a flurry of punches and kicks, their movements almost synchronized. Their arms locked and they circled each other, as if doing a dance from another time, another place. Ryou recognized the waves of communication and stared in shock, noticing Bakura doing the same. Jounoichi was a psychic?!

Not a moment after the conversation was over, Seto moved so fast Ryou had trouble keeping up with him. The brunette appeared in back of Jou, bringing the side of his hand down on Jounoichi's neck. The blonde yelped and immediatley collapsed into Seto's waiting arms. The brunette smirked and picked him up, throwing him over his shoulder.

"I win," he said calmly.

Bakura let out a whoop of victory. Ryou glared at him, sending him a mental image of his anger. Bakura looked at him then averted his face sheepishly. Hurriedly Ryou went after Seto, the crowd parting for him. The students seemed disappointed the fight was over as they left the area.

"Where are you taking him?" Ryou called after the brunette. "He's hurt!"

Seto said nothing and kept walking away. "I'm talking to you!" Ryou cried, getting angrier with each step Seto took. Finall Ryou growled and ran in front of Seto, blocking his path, glaring up at him. "I want to know where you are taking my friend."

Seto scowled. "If you need to know, I am taking him to my rooms where he will rest." He pinned Ryou down with his cold stare. "Now move unless you want to get hurt as well."

The brunette sent a strong 'push' to his voice and watched as Ryou slowly moved out of his way, his movements involuntary and jerky. Ryou looked up at Seto again and cringed. His face looked so cold, but his eyes....brown met blue as they met each other's gaze for a moment. Ryou saw something the depths of those icy eyes, telling him a total different story.

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After the slight confrontation with Ryou, Yami followed Seto, a smrik on his face the whoel way to his cousin's dorm. His eyes focused on the face of the uncocnious blonde as Seto deposited him gently on the bed. "How is it that every time you get into a fight, you're never caught?" Yami asked, thinking of his own past fights where thye were broken up in moments.

Seto smiled slightly, his gaze focused on his 'catch'. "I have my ways." As he said this he raised his hand and waved it nonchalantly towards the lights, brightening the room greatly.

"I still hate you for that talent," Yami pouted.

The brunette smiled in earnest and took a seat on the end of the bed, unwilling to leave Jounoichi's side, which unnerved him a bit. He stretched and groaned when his back popped. "The mutt can fight better than I thought. I shouldn't have shared my mind with him...he knew every move I was going to throw at him. He picked up quickly on reading my mind."

His voice held admiration, along with some irritation. Seto hated being bested. "But I see that he didn't get the best of you though."

Seto nodded, his hand massaging his ribs, which were bruised, if not cracked. "No one can do that." His voice was filled with camaraderie as he cast a sideglance at his cousin, who returned it with a sly grin. "Except us, of course."

Malik and Marik chose that moment to come into the room and stopped when they saw Jounoichi laying on the bed. Marik whistled. "Damn, Seto.... did you have to go *that* far? I mean he was kind of cute before, but now...."

Malik smacked his look-a-like on the back of the head, glaring at him. "You don't say that kind of stuff in my presence."

"So what do we do now?" Yami asked boredly.

Seto sighed, his gaze once again moving to Jounoichi's face. "I'm going to try and perform the spell he needs. If I can't do it, then I just have to take him by force and hope he forgives me."

"And then hit him over the head until he remembers?" Malik asked, his lover giggling.

Seto smirked. "Not that drastic....but he *will* remember....I will make sure of that."

Yami nodded. "He needs to remember everything about us...and you."

Seto reached over to brush a strand of hair from Jou's face tenderly, a soft smile on his face. Finally after all those long years he found the other piece to his soul. And this time, neither heaven nor hell could make him let go.

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Ryou went to his room, still quaking from the intensity of the fight and his confrontation with Seto. Was he really all right? He looked horrible from what the boy had seen over Seto's shoulder. What was the reason for bringing him there?

Didn't those two hate one another? And yet, something in Seto's eyes had told RYou a totally different story. Even the other students had told Ryou of their animosity towards one another and their rivalry. Yuugi told him a few nights ago that those two fought almost every day, either in words, or with physical violence.

As Ryou opened his door, he spotted Yuugi running down the hall, his face a mask of worry. "I just heard about the fight!" he gasped out.

Ryou nodded. "Yes....I saw it. It was horrible." Ryou shut his eyes, remembering the violent waves of psychic energy the two were giving off, giving him a headache. "Let's go in and sit," the white haired boy said lowly.

When the two were settled in there was a comfortable silence between them. Something was burring Ryou though. Jou was his friend, but he knew so little about him...he knew very little about everyone he hung out with. "Yuugi...can I ask you something?"

The small boy looked up from his hands, which were tugging at a piece of paper. "Sure Ryou. What is it?" Ryou edged closer to the edge of the bed, resting his elbows on his knees. "Can you tell me about Jou? I've heard some things, but I would really like to know his story."

Yuugi looked at him and sighed. "What have you heard?"

The albino boy looked to the ceiling. "I overheard one of the enrollment aides talking about him when I first came here....they said he knew nothing of his past. That he was dumped on the steps here and has been here ever since....is that true?"

Yuugi was silent for a few moments. Sighing deeply, he blew his bangs from his face. "Yeah. Jounoichi was actually allowed to live here and go to school for free here. I don't know why, but it seemed the principal took pity on him. I don't know much about when he first came here, but he told me that he had to be taught the simple things, like how to read, and do math and things like that. He hated feeling that weak he told me, but what was he going to do? He couldn't even speak....it was like he was born that day."

Ryou's eyes widened. "How horrible..." he whispered. Yuugi nodded.

"He was miserable. By the time my grandfather sent me here Jou had been here for a few years. We became fast friends." The small boy chuckled and shook his head. "I remember the day we found out he could fight. I was being picked on for being so small by the school bullies, and that was when Jounoichi came over and beat the living daylights out of them. He never got caught....I don't know how tot his day. But after that it seemed the bullies either left the school, or were expelled. They haven't been back."

Ryou listened intently to the story. "Wow," was all he could manage. He shook his head in disbelief. "What about when Seto came?"

Yuugi's brows furrowed in thought. "That was a while ago....it's been about four years since then. As soon as the two saw eachother, they hated one another. That first day, Jounoichi attacked him. He seemed different...almost animal like in his attack. It was scary.

"But Seto simply blocked everything Jou threw at him, which made Jou even angrier, and his attacks became more violent. Seto did nothing until Jou grabbed his wrists, then Seto threw him across the yard. Ever since then they've hated one another." Ryou sat back. So they hated one another for four years....and yet Seto brought Jounoichi to his room.

"Thank you, Yuugi." he smiled at his friend. There was a sound at the door and both boys turned to see Bakura walk in. He stopped, his eyes moving from Ryou to Yuugi, back to Ryou. "Umm...hi?"

Yuugi smiled and hopped off the chair he was sitting in. "I'll see you later, Ryou. I wanna go and check on Jou later..." he waved to his friend before leaving the room, scooting past Bakura.

"What was that all about?"

Ryou smiled and shook his head. "We were just talking."

Bakura nodded before moving into the room, closing the door softly. "Good fight this afternoon," he said as he sat on his bed. "I wasn't sure if Seto was going to win."

Ryou was silent for a few moments before speaking. "Jounoichi did seem like a good fighter. I didn't know anyone could move like that. But the moves were strange. They seemed sort of familiar to me, but strange at the same time....almost like they were from another time."

"It was an Egyptian fighting style practiced by the pharaohs. It was the traditional way of fighting your opponent."

Ryou stared at him. "How would Jounoichi know those moves?" His curiousity was peaked.

Bakura's eyes snapped open as he realized what he said. He was getting to comfortable with Ryou's presence for him to slip like that. "It could be that before Jou was brought here, he was taught by someone...who knows? He doesn't remember anything from his past."

"How about Seto and you? Have you seen those moves before?"

Bakura glanced at Ryou. "We're originally from Egypt all of us. We grew up in a small town by the NIle river. We were taught by some elders in the town."

Ryou nodded his head, satisfied with the answer, but still wondering about Jounoichi. There was something odd about it all. With all the talk of that far off place the boy's thoughts turned to his father and his heart clenched. He missed his parent so much. In the few weeks he hadn't gotten a response from his father and Ryou was getting worried. His father usually wrote to him every week, whether or not Ryou sent a letter or not. It could have gotten lost in the mail, but the boy highly doubted that. He wished his father would reply soon...

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A kind of long chapter for you all to mull over...I apologize for not having any hot, steamy sex yet, but good things must be earned...right?? So, the more you review, the faster I will get the good stuff in here *insert evil laugh here* I'm so evil....


Mulle: I'm so glad you like it!!! This is my pride and joy lol. Well, here you go!!! Here's your fight scene!! I hope you liked it! And no, Jou will not be an idiot, I promise...It also makes me not like the author when they do that to him. He's not a complete imbecile like some people make him...ugh....