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
//speech// - Mind Link

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 Eight – Human Nature


Hanging up the phone the figure made their way down a flight of stairs to what appeared to be the basement but this was like no other basement. The walls were lined with concrete, and there were several pieces scattered about on the floor that were covered with white cloths. Eyes the color of chocolate took in the interior, the lone light bulb that swung from a chain overhead burned low, flickering every so often. A malicious smile flit over his lips as he turned satisfied with the present accommodations.

Soft pattering footsteps as the figure crossed the expanse of the floor, pulling down a sheet that covered a large section of wall. And the eyes narrowed at the array of knives, whips, and even a hand held sickle was present. Reaching up the figure traced a fingertip along the blade of one of the knives and suppressed a sigh of pleasure at the sharpness of the blade. Checking a few more of the blades, he then covered them back up satisfied. Turning off the light via a switch on the wall, the figure went back upstairs to the small altar that was set up in one of the rooms.

Picking up a small stick of incense after lighting it, he set it in the small holder, “Petbe, Egyptian God of Revenge, I ask you for the strength to do what I must to protect my friends.” A small eternal flame burned, illuminating the etching of the God, as chocolate eyes narrowed on the etching for a moment, before he rose to his feet and turned, preparing for what was to come.

~*~*~*~

It was about an hour later when Atemu arrived at the small house with the very limp body of Takahiro slung over his shoulder. The door opened and a figure donned in worn blue jeans and a pale blue shirt opened the door. “Atemu.”

“Where is he?”

“Downstairs. Waiting.”

“Thank you.” He replied as he carried his package in the small house and took it downstairs to the basement. “Glad you could help me with this.”

The figure pushed the hood off his head and a spill of snowy hair fell around his shoulders, “This is not something I would normally do, I’ve turned over a new leaf, so to speak.”

“Right. That is why you have an altar of Petbe upstairs. Planning on taking revenge against anyone I know?” Atemu inquired, as he set the man down in an ungraceful heap on the floor.

“No, I only keep it around as a reminder of who I used to be. Like you, love changed me, Pharaoh.”

“You always were a thief, so now you’re a thief of hearts?”

“And a bringer of pain, to this gentleman that is, if I have your permission.” Atemu nodded, watching as Bakura walked over and traced his hand down Takahiro’s face. “Hm, his soul seems to be missing,” he stated a grin on his lips, “did you have something to do with that?”

“Not much of a soul to begin with, but its in the Shadows, you know how to retrieve it.”

“Oh, you’ve turned naughty while I wasn’t paying attention.” Bakura said as he spoke in ancient Egyptian and pulled the man’s soul back to reality and into his body. “you also did not tell me why I should help you.”

“Because he hurt someone I care for.”

“Your aibou?” he asked, eyes narrowing on the prey.

“Jounouchi, and if I remember correctly, you owe him this.”

Bakura flinched, and nodded slightly. “In my defense I was an evil bastard then.”

“Nothing has changed Bakura, you’re still an evil bastard, its hidden beneath your skin but with this room I’m standing in, its still there.” Atemu replied.

“I’ve changed, since getting my own body, as you did, I let that evil part of my soul rest. Of course, I do break it out when its needed.”

“And it is needed now.”

“What exactly has he done to deserve ‘play’ time with me?”

“Let me show you.”

~*~*~*~

Jounouchi slept quietly in the hospital bed; he had come out of the anesthetic and knew that people were sitting with him. He wasn’t sure who it was at this moment in time, as the voices drifted in and out. He knew he had heard Yuugi at some point, Anzu, Honda, and Mokuba, but the one voice he wanted to hear, wasn’t there. Seto watched through the door, as Jounouchi slept. According to his doctors he was going to be just fine in a few days, but he was going to need bed rest and plenty of fluids, which he was currently getting.

Twitching in his drug induced slumber, Jounouchi whimpered softly and mumbled, “S….Seto…” Seto looked over from where he was standing and entered, taking Jounouchi’s hand in his own. When those fingers twined with his, Seto knew that he was home and would do anything in his power to keep Jounouchi safe from all comers.

“I’m here, you’re safe, and I swear, I won’t let anyone do this to you ever again.” He vowed softly, leaning down and brushing his mouth tenderly over Jounouchi’s. Seto knew that he probably wouldn’t remember, and sighed softly as he settled into the chair next to the bed. Arista walked in and he gazed at the woman, “everything okay at Intoxication?”

“Yes, but now we have a new problem. Can I speak to you outside?”

Seto nodded, as he leaned down and kissed Jounouchi again, watching as Arista brushed a lock of blond hair out of his face before they both went into the hallway. The guards stood stoically as they were meant to and bowed their heads briefly to Seto as he passed by. “What did you need to tell me?”

“The police have been by, asking questions about Jounouchi’s father. Do you have any idea where he might be? And how did you manage to get guards on Jounouchi’s door?”

“No, I can honestly say I don’t. However, I can find out, if you give me some time.” He replied, then smiled, “As to the guards....we came to an agreement.”

Arista tilted her head, wondering what this young man knew. “Just…be careful. Jounouchi said that his father is vicious.”

“Couldn’t be any worse than mine.” Seto replied as he made his way out of the hospital and turned on his phone dialing a number he knew by heart, though if he was asked, he would say he called information. Arista watched him go, wondering how people could hurt their children in such a fashion before going in and sitting with Jounouchi.

~*~*~*~

Bakura snarled with every image that the Pharaoh gave him and turned his now cold gaze onto Takahiro. The man was awake and staring at the two of them, not knowing who they were. “I am sure you expect me to say it will hurt me more than it hurts you, because we are the 'good guys', however, why lie? I will enjoy this, you definitely won't.”

Takahiro’s blood froze when this young man spoke, the murderous look in those eyes, and the evil smile was a prelude of things to come and for the first time he wondered if he had met his match. Trying not to display any emotions, he stared at Bakura.

“Are you going to come peacefully, or shall I carry you?” Bakura sneered, as he slid his hand through his white locks, “either way works for me. Peacefully, you get to remain conscious, carry, well it isn’t far, but I relish the idea of knocking you unconscious.”

Atemu chuckled, from where he leaned on a nearby wall, “I would go peacefully; right now, he’s tolerating me, and unfortunately you do not have the same advantage.”

“Do not take me for a savage, snow white.” Takahiro snarled, “I know my manners, and you don’t have any.” He concluded, gaining an air of superiority that no one would have in a situation like that. He waited for them to move, as he drew himself to his feet. Proudly, he stood there, shaking in his bones but he managed to hide it for now.

Bakura hissed viciously at the nickname and grabbed the man’s arm moving him towards a white cloth. “I am going to interrogate you.” Yanking the cloth off the ebony St. Andrew’s cross, the wood gleamed dully in the single light bulb’s illumination, “and this will be a pleasure for me to do so, take every strip of skin from your body, piece by piece for what you have done.” Bakura’s voice softened to a whisper, which held a menacing tone beneath it.

“You would like to, but you know you cannot hurt me, much less kill me, for if you do, it’s a murder on your head.” Takahiro replied with a wicked smile, “you cannot undo what has happened; to torture me will be a waste of time, a waste of energy and of course, results in nothing less than senseless revenge.”

Atemu moved swifter than a striking asp as he snarled a truly venomous sound from his throat; grabbing Takahiro by the lapels of his shirt and slamming him against the cross. “Do you honestly think we CARE at this point, you did this to Jounouchi, and you have been discovered. We do not play around, and I do not think that anyone would miss you. Do you, King of Thieves?”

Bakura chuckled; as it appeared Takahiro didn’t have as much intelligence as he once thought, for any one who was smart would not provoke him or Atemu. “I don’t think anyone will miss him, not even Jounouchi.”

Vertigo washed over him as he was slammed against the cross, and he tried to focus his gaze to see what the silver haired youth was going to do next. The one with the spiky hair still had him by the collar and he swallowed heavily. “I didn’t touch that stupid mutt. He is confused, I would never hurt him in such a manner, and he’s my son.” Takahiro trying hard to appear sincere, but unfortunately they saw right through that ploy.

Atemu who had wanted to defer this to Bakura closed his eyes for a mere moment in time, he nodded to his white haired companion and watched as he began to lock Takahiro’s wrists into the manacles that were on the cross, “You are evil, what you did to your son was wrong. Now, why did you do this to him, what was the real reason you beat him? And mind you, the longer you delay in answering my questions, the more my companion will bleed you.”

“Because, I chose to punish him for whatever infraction he had done.”

Bakura who had gone to choose a blade from the wall, heard that and turned the blade whistling through the air as it sliced into Takahiro’s cheek, “Do not lie to him!” he snapped, before he gripped Takahiro’s chin in his fingers, feeling them wet with blood as it dripped in crimson rivulets down the cheek, “I do not like it when people lie.”

“You do it so well, King of Thieves.”

“This is how I recognize when someone is doing it.” Bakura responded, as he slowly began to slice off Takahiro’s shirt, “I want to bleed him.”

“Then do it, perhaps when he has offered his pound of flesh, he’ll talk.” He said in reply, stepping backwards and walking to the wall where he picked up the whip. “Ah, this is a nice one.”

Takahiro cringed as he watched the two youths casually discussing him as though he were a germ in a petri dish. He was alone, chained to this cross, and at their mercy. “What are you going to do with me?”

“I’m going to kill you.” Bakura hissed, “For what you did to Jounouchi.” He said, as Atemu handed him a nicely curved blade. “Anything you want to say, or shall I continue?” Takahiro ignored the words and closed his eyes, concentrating and tricking his own mind to feel less pain for he knew that these two were not going to be merciful. They wanted him dead for what he had done. Bakura finished slicing off the man’s shirt and glanced down at the flesh he had exposed.

“Where would you like to start?” Atemu asked of Bakura whose smile simply got colder.

~*~*~*~

The phone at the Game Shop rang and Yuugi answered it, “Game Shop! Yuugi speaking, how can I help you?” he asked, as he twirled on the stool.

“Yuugi, this is Seto Kaiba.”

Yuugi paled as he slammed his feet down on the floor, “Seto…is Jounouchi alright?”

Seto nodded, even though Yuugi couldn’t see him do it then shook his head, “Jounouchi is fine, have you seen your doppelganger today?”

“He said he was going by Ryou’s.”

“Did Bakura get his own body?” for the life of him, Seto couldn’t remember if he had or not. Though it would make sense if that was where Atemu went with Jounouchi’s father.

“Um, yes.”

“Give me the number.”

“You can’t. Atemu said that he was going over there for something.”

“Do you know what it is that Atemu went over to do?”

“No…” there was a pause, “do you?”

“I’m afraid to figure it out. But questions are being asked.” Seto replied as he listened to Yuugi rattled off an address and phone number. “Thanks Yuugi. The doctor said that Jounouchi would be able to come home in two days. Draco is planning a party at Intoxication, just his friends.”

“Okay, thanks Seto.” Yuugi said as he hastily added, “customer, see you later.” Then Yuugi hung up. Seto didn’t say much as he hung up his phone and headed towards his limo and then to the address that he had been given.

~*~*~*~

A gag had been placed in Takahiro’s mouth and several cuts aside from the one on his cheek were visible on his torso, Bakura and Atemu were taking a break, having just doused the man with salt water, which Bakura had seen in the memories that Atemu had shown him. His muffled screams as he bit the gag were music to their ears, and together the duo walked upstairs where Ryou, greeted them with some sandwiches, “are you two hungry? How are things going?”

Bakura took a sandwich, as did Atemu as they both grinned at each other, as they ate they didn’t respond to Ryou’s question. “Answer your half.”

“I do not want to.” Bakura grumbled as he stuffed his mouth with another sandwich.

“Things are fine, Ryou.” Atemu said as he drank some coffee.

The doorbell rang, and the two Egyptian’s looked at each other, “I wasn’t expecting company, were you?” Bakura inquired.

Shaking his head, Atemu wondered, “I don’t know, perhaps Yuugi is at the door, though he would have called. But then again, he is the only one who knows where we are.” He continued, neither one of them noticing when Ryou disappeared and headed down the hallway to open the door.

“Ryou, where are Atemu and Bakura?” Seto inquired as the snowy haired young man stepped aside to let the taller teen in. Seto followed the sound of voices and came upon the two of them discussing things over sandwiches. “Is it done?”

Atemu turned and shook his head, “No, Kaiba, it is not. What are you doing here?”

“I was concerned; the police have been asking questions. We cannot kill him no matter how much we want vengeance.” Seto said as he took a seat, and leaned back. He was concerned for Jounouchi, and knowing that if his father was killed and his friends did it, it would break his heart.

Bakura growled, “Well what am I supposed to do, I was told I could bleed the man.”

Seto held up his hand, “Now, wait a minute. You can still bleed him but we can’t kill him. I have a much better idea in mind.”

“What did you have in mind, Seto?” Atemu asked and the three of them put their heads together and began to plot.

~*~*~*~

“9-1-1, what is your emergency?”

“There is a mad man in the park, he’s holding a bloody knife, and rambling about killing his son.” Seto said frantically as he smirked at his co-conspirators.

“Which park are you referring to sir?”

Seto glanced around, “Domino Square, on the North Side.” He said, nodding to release Takahiro; and when the duo did, the man started to stumble around, babbling incoherently. He was waving the knife around manically and with the amount of liquor they had poured down the man’s throat it was obvious that he was slightly insane. Snapping the phone closed, Seto turned and smiled at his companions. “I think that went well.”

“Agreed.” The trio split up and Seto hung around waiting for the police to arrive and when they did, he answered their questions as best he could, including the fact that he was talking about killing his son who was presently in the hospital. They offered him a lift to the hospital which Seto declined, heading towards his limo, and once he was inside, he headed home, making a note to go to the hospital tomorrow. But tonight, and with all that he had done, he was ready for bed.

~*~*~*~

Author’s note: Just a few more to go! Woohoo!