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[ It's not like things have been chaotic since he left.

Yuugi slipped out in the night and things got even duller. He gave up on school - there wasn't any chance that he would graduate or go anywhere, anyway, and got a part-time job. He tried to keep his nose out of trouble, just in case Yuugi came back. He spent some more time with Shizuka. He tried to keep up with what was going on at the school with everyone through Honda, who was scraping by. He had more drive about academics than Jou did, after all.

Otherwise, he tried to just keep out of the house, only checking in for sleep and the mail. His dad didn't dare find out he left school. He didn't want to see how that fight would go, if he cared at all. He's sure it'd end up with a neighbor calling the police again.

He tried not to start fights, to get his hands dirty with stealing too much or being places he shouldn't be. He tried to keep to the better parts of town... but there's only so much he can do to avoid things the stink of a street punk attracted to him.

Fights still happened. Sometimes, he still stole, when he had to. Sometimes, he got a mouth on him and told off the wrong people. He couldn't help what came naturally to him and he couldn't help his need to lash out when he felt all alone now.

It sucks that he's ended up here, on the steps in front of Seto Kaiba's home, of all places, but where else could he go after a fight like that? He can take on a lot of guys, but not when he's caught off-guard. He won in the loosest sense, but getting away became top priority once the other guys were down. They'd get up again in no time and hunt him down.

So he climbed the fence, one shoe missing, jacket gone and hands stiff from throwing punches. He ended up on the other side and ambled his way to the steps that lead up to the door.

He wonders how long he can stay out here, just perched in the dying light outside of one Seto Kaiba's house, dribbling blood from his lips and nose onto his pristine stairs and filling the perfect air with tobacco smoke as he tries to figure out what the hell to do, or where the hell to go.

His answer comes in a hand hauling him up by the scruff of his shirt and dragging him inside, a voice berating him with who's and why's and cursing. He barely recognizes the voice, but he's sure it's one of Seto's henchman, dragging him in for a brief interrogation before preparing to boot him out.

Nice safe spot while it lasted. ]

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[ jonouchi's right to think he won't wait for him, but sleep doesn't come easily despite it. for lengthy minutes he's suspended between not waking and not sleeping, neither thinking or dreaming, laying on his side with his arms tucked around his center. it's odd and disconcerting to find himself so emptied out, but a more knowledgeable part of himself is more afraid of what thought might bring. the night's gone on too long for him to start considering all of this in a serious light at this very moment. it doesn't even deserve that kind of attention. as long as jonouchi can keep a secret...

by the time he's beginning to doze, the door to the bathroom opens. seto hears it without listening for it, laying with his back to the other half of the bed. besides that, the only evidence of anyone else in the room is the weight that makes the mattress sag and the soft sound of breathing that isn't his own. still committed to silence, he falls into a deep sleep plagued by disjointed dreams that he won't remember once he's woken up in the morning. ]

[ Jou doesn't sleep well through the night. Maybe it's the time limit he has or maybe it's his mind refusing to shut up. Either way, he makes sure he's at least out of his bed early, dressing as silently as possible. He has to get back to his room before the rest of the house wakes up, lest Kaiba turns on him and murders him to cover his own 'image'.

He's sure waking up Kaiba will result in the same, but he apparently can't leave yet, having sacrificed an easy escape for one night of not having to sleep all alone. He doesn't regret what he did, but he definitely regrets this delayed walk of shame he has before being set out back into the maw of the streets. ]

[ seto has a morning routine, and the slanted beams of sunlight hitting his face are his first clue that's he broken it today. he squints his eyes open, aware that he must have forgotten to set his alarm, before immediately recalling why. the mattress creaks when he sits up, and yes, the bed's been left in disarray, obvious evidence toward what went on last night. he reaches over to touch the wrinkled sheets on the side of the bed jonouchi slept on, then smooths them out, as though to erase the trace of him. the sheets are warm, but it's the sunspots coloring them, and not the last remnants of anyone's body heat, real or imagined.

he leaves the bed behind to wash and dress, combing his hair out of the mess it'd become from going to sleep with it wet.

they made an agreement last night, didn't they? he let him sleep in his bed. it's not like it was any different from sleeping alone. but now that it's the day, he can't think of anything to tell him to do. that's not to say he can't think of things he wants, but none of them he wants to say out loud. there isn't anything in him that wants to continue to acknowledge what happened between them.

it's almost ten o'clock by the time he leaves his room, and he purposefully avoids passing jonouchi's. instead of going downstairs, he goes to mokuba's room to wake him — normally he'd let him sleep late, but today he needs to tell him that he's going out. it's not yet a quarter past ten when he grabs his coat and leaves. ]

[ Jou doesn't expect Kaiba to be gone when he finally thinks it's 'time' to come out of his guest room. When he comes out and scouts around, expecting to find him... somewhere. Anywhere. But he's no where that he can see and he wonders how long he expects him to wait.

Didn't he want him to do something this morning? This is gonna drive him nuts.

Hungry and still exhausted, he goes down to the kitchen, wondering how late a spoiled kid like Mokuba might wake up. He's a good kid, but he's sure he can get away with sleeping until two if he wants. ]

[ normally mokuba might go back to bed after being woken up by his brother — seto doesn't often go to work without him, but he knows to set his alarm on those days — but knowing jonouchi is still here makes him curious enough to leave his room not too long after he's gone. the manor is big, and even though the maids like to talk to him, it still gets lonely when his big brother isn't there to fill up all the empty space with his reassuring presence.

but... having a guest is different. he knows jonouchi is only here because he was being chased around by some gang or something, but still...

the only thing that stops him from searching for his room to say hello is his grumbling stomach. which is how he finds him in the kitchen not long after. mokuba smiles brightly, open with his emotions in a way that's completely opposite from his older brother. ]

Oh! Jonouchi! I was wondering if you were up yet.

[ When Mokuba finds him, Jounouchi is sitting in the same seat he'd taken last night when he'd eaten here, spacing out despite the grumbling of his own stomach. It aches a little, still, but he supposes his whole body will ache from his run ins yesterday no matter what he does.

He nearly topples out of his chair at Mokuba's sudden voice. He didn't even hear him come in.

Shit! He should have skipped out. If Mokuba knows he's here, will it be bad? He puts on a grin and forces out a laugh. ]

Haha, I... slept in a little, but it's fine. I'm surprised you're up!

Yeah, Big Brother woke me up before he left.

[ mokuba walks around the table to the refrigerator, jonouchi's discomfort gone unnoticed. the information isn't particularly important to him; he only knows what he was told, and the context beyond that escapes him. it was strange to hear seto admit he was letting jonouchi stay here, but whatever anyone else thinks, his brother isn't heartless.

the contents of the fridge catch his attention for long enough that he forgets what he was saying. he picks out a parfait, one of the ones with the little strawberries, before shutting the door. ah... that's right. ]

He said he wasn't going to be back until later, so you don't have to wait around.

[ Jou's brow furrows at that. He's surprised he told Mokuba he was here at all. He assumed Kaiba wanted him to leave here with no trail behind him, nothing more than a ghost in the evening. Now he's in the kitchen, talking with Mokuba. There's something wrong here. Why was he left alone like this?]

So he just left, huh? Figures. That's the kind of jerk he is...

[ He looks at what Mokuba nabs from the fridge and wrinkles his nose. ]

Y'know, you'll stay short if that's the kinda thing you eat in the morning, Mokuba... Lemme make you a real breakfast. You need something with vitamins.

Hey!

[ that's offense on two counts, but it's not like he really expects his big brother and jonouchi to get along. that's a lost cause. just because he stayed here... they're not really friends, or anything. that comment about his height, though—!! ]

I'm tall for my age, I'll have you know! Uh... You can cook?

[ jonouchi doesn't seem like the type. he gravitates toward the silverware drawer to take out a spoon, still intent on his parfait. can't he have both? ]

You know, if you want breakfast, the cooks can do it for you...

[ but he sounds interested, despite what he's saying. ]

[ Jou just grins for him, crossing his arms on the table. Yeah, okay, he's an okay height for his age, but at least this Kaiba he can tease. He likes that. It makes him feel like a big brother. ]

Haha, yeah, I have to. No one else does in my house.

[ Jou gets up and decides to start digging for something to inspire him. ]

Besides, I can let them take a break. No need to cook for some nobody.

Ohhh...

[ well, that makes sense. jonouchi doesn't seem like the cooking type, but... most people don't get to have their own chefs, huh? even back before he and his brother had any money, there were other people cooking for them. he's never even thought about learning.

mokuba hops up on one of the stools aligned against the countertop, and sets his dessert-for-breakfast aside a moment, to watch whatever it is he's doing. ]

"Some nobody"? That sounds like something Big Brother would say. But all right.

[ Jounouchi ends up laughing a little, watching Mokuba take his place at the counter top as Jou takes out some fish to grill. ]

I better get out more if I'm sounding like him. It's true, though. I don't like the idea of some people I'm not paying cooking for me. I've been making my own food since I was ten. It's a good skill. You never know when you'll need it.

If you say so.

[ mokuba doesn't bother to point out that his brother is paying them... it's not like jonouchi doesn't know that. he's not sure he understands, but he's their guest, so if he wants to cook for them it should be fine. it's not like seto is going to say anything about it.

speaking of... ]

I found those guys who were after you. I told Seto that we should take care of them, but...

[ but... well, he isn't sure what the problem was, really. his big brother's usually pretty decisive about these things. ]

[ Jou starts hunting around for a cutting board and a knife, setting it all out for himself before he stops and looks Mokuba's way.

He's surprised that he went out of his way like that, even if Mokuba's more conscientious than his brother. He steps over and puts a hand on his head, ruffling his hair while his hands are still clean. ]

Hey, you don't have to stick your neck out. I know you're a little badass, but I can take care of it. It's kinda how things go for me... thanks, though. I'll be okay.

Mmm...

[ he wrinkles his nose but doesn't bother to bat jonouchi's hand away. that's not what he's ready to put up a fight about. ]

If you can take care of it, then why did you stay here? C'mon, Jonouchi. I wouldn't even really have to do anything.

[ so it's not like it's a big deal to him. they just get their guys to go out and give those punks a warning or something. easy as pie. ]

Ahh, it's a pride thing, Mokuba, pride. You're probably too young to understand but... even if I don't have the reputation I did, I'd rather people on that side of the fence still have a reason to be afraid of me. I don't need them messin' with anybody.

[ It's a weird world, hard to explain to a sheltered kid like Mokuba. Even if he went through the adoption process, he's hopefully still shielded from how things really work for someone like him. ]

It probably sounds stupid, but it is what it is.

[ mokuba frowns like he wants to put up an argument. he knows all about pride, but... maybe not the kind jonouchi is talking about. it's different when you're trying to climb up the rungs of a latter, rather than defend your position at the top. and even if he's not aware of it himself, jou isn't wrong. he's too young to have known what things were really like when he and his brother had nothing. seto used his own body as a shield between him and the rest of the world.

and he knows that. or, he thinks he knows that. ]

All right... I guess.

But — But if something else happens, you can come back here, okay!?

[ Jou laughs and waves one hand dismissively by his face before turning his back to him to keep preparing their breakfast. ]

Haha, this is a one-time deal, Mokuba. I appreciate that you're worried for me, but if I get in your brother's hair too much, he's gonna have my hide, y'know. I'm not his favorite person. One time is already pushing my luck.

[ mokuba places his elbows on the counter and rests his chin against his knuckles, looking a little thoughtful, or at least like he knows how to look thoughtful through imitation. but his resemblance to his brother ends with the swinging of his legs beneath the stool he's sitting on, a habit that gives away his childishness. he is thinking, though. ]

I'm pretty sure I know my brother better than you do. He'll say yes if I ask.

And it's not like you're getting his way or anything... You probably wouldn't even see each other that much.

Yeah, I know you do but... I'm pretty sure just being anywhere that he considers 'his space' is gonna agitate him. Haha, maybe if he didn't know I was ever here.

Anyway, you don't really want me hangin' around, Mokuba, especially if I'm bringing trouble to your doorstep, right?

[ mokuba glances down at the countertop. there are little specs of whipped cream dotting the otherwise pristine surface. his parfait is melting... he grimaces. ]

He doesn't really hate you, you know.

[ yuugi, and jonouchi, and everyone... they were the closest things they've ever had to friends, whatever seto says. maybe his brother still can't believe in that kind of thing, but... but he does. even if he wouldn't say it to his face. ]

What if I do, huh?

[ Jou furrows his brow, looking at Mokuba again. He doesn't care, per say, but he is curious about it. After all, he thought it was pretty clear that Kaiba especially hated him. ]

Somehow, I don't believe that.

[ Kaiba doesn't seem to have much he likes to begin with. ]

Oh? That so?

It's true!

[ really, he knows he shouldn't be saying this, but it's so obvious to him... and he's pretty sure at least yuugi knows it too — that he doesn't hate jonouchi, that he didn't really hate any of them. but he's pretty smart about his brother sometimes. not that he's around for it to make a difference anymore... ]

I've seen what Seto's like when he really hates someone, this is way different.

[ mokuba glances down again. it's a little strange to say it out loud, but he doesn't know if it's because he's embarrassed to admit it, or if he's just too aware of how little his brother would approve. regardless of how he actually feels about anyone. ]

And... Yeah. I thought we were friends.

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