~Go clean yourself up and get dressed. ~ Marik told his
slave through their mind link.
“Yes Master.” The boy’s voice wasn’t all that unpleasant to hear aloud, now that
it had the right timber to it. Slaves like him didn’t come along everyday after
all. Once they were both bathed and decent, Marik sent his precious new toy to
visit an old friend. “Bring her to me Jounouchi...”
“As you desire...,” the slave replied, the vacant look in his eyes giving no
sign of life.
*****
The last thing he remembered was fighting off the goon squad in the road,
protecting Anzu. Now, he seemed to be awakening into a terrible nightmare. Here
he was apparently dueling his best friend and both of their lives were on the
line. He knew somehow the Marik must have taken over his mind and that Yugi
helped him break free.
Jounouchi could feel Marik attempting to regain control; he actually did just
long enough to force him into playing Meteor of Destruction. ‘God, Yugi has to
survive, the world needs him and Yami to defeat Marik.’ Jounouchi found himself
rushing to his friends rescue, sacrificing himself for the greater good, or so
he thought. As his sister brought him to the surface, Jounouchi thanked his luck
that once again, nothing bad had happened.
*****
Jounouchi couldn’t place the exact reason why, but he didn’t trust Namu. ‘Gut
feeling I guess...’ Something about that kid just didn’t sit right with
him...like how such an “amateur” as he called himself, could get into the Battle
City finals.
“Then there’s Marik,” he thought aloud. “Other than the obvious reasons, his
being a real son of a bitch and wanting to take over the world...why do I feel
there’s more to my wanting to defeat him...humiliate him...kill him?” “Didn’t
think I hated anyone as much as I seem to him. Well then again there is Kaiba.”
“And just why the hell do I feel the need to think out loud?”
*****
“That rotten bastard!” How the hell could someone be so completely evil as to
hurt one they considered a family member like “Namu” had? Now he knew why he had
been getting that feeling about him. To force his “brother” into pretending to
be him, forcing to use a fake god card...it was unthinkable in Jounouchi’s mind.
His whole life was about protecting his sister and friends...he’d never
understand it. But now his mind was on Marik’s (the real Marik) and Mai’s
upcoming duel. “If he tries to hurt any of my friends...”
*****
‘This is it! After everything we’ve been through, it’s about damn time.’ His
semi-final battle against Marik was about to start. ‘I don’t care if he does
have Ra, I’m gonna kick his scrawny ass from here back to Egypt...for what he
did to us...for what he did to Mai.’
Off to the side, unseen by anyone, Marik’s true spirit stood watching the duel.
The blond was staying true to his cards, never giving up. The spirit smile
sadly, it was obvious the boy would lose. How could he not against a card such
as Ra? It surprised Marik, how the boy held the upper hand for so long. Then Ra
was summoned to the field, attacking Jounouchi. When the smoke cleared, to
everyone’s astonishment Jounouchi was still standing. ‘That boy is full of
hidden talents it seems...’
As Jounouchi, shaking stood there; he placed Gearfried the Iron Knight face up,
in attack mode. All he had to do was give the command to attack and it would all
be over, he would defeat Marik! The monster faded from the field, as its master
fell to the ground, the shock from Ra’s attack finally taking its toll.
Marik stood in the room watching everyone fret and fuss, the doctors telling
Jounouchi’s friends he wouldn’t make it. ~They don’t know you like I do, little
one. You’re more of a fighter than that...~ The spirit bent down and kissed the
blond’s hair.
*****
~He always waits until the opportune moment to arrive, doesn’t he. ~ Marik’s
spirit watched the ongoing duel between Kaiba and Yugi, knowing that eventually
Jounouchi would arrive. Nothing would stop the reckless boy from being at his
friend’s side. When the Red-eyes Black Dragon appeared on the field, Marik had
to laugh. ~Same fucking card! He used it last time while dueling Jounouchi to
bring him back...~
Jounouchi awakened again, this time in a bed surround by his friends. After
learning of Yugi’s duel with Kaiba, he had to get there, to support his friend.
There was no way he would let him down this time, he has to be there for the
end.
*****
He felt better knowing in a way his card helped Yugi win against Kaiba. Now to
show he could do it. Jounouchi didn’t really know why, but Kaiba had always been
the one he needed to prove himself to. Maybe by defeating him, he would feel he
really was one of the best duelists. “I like pushing my self, it's exciting to
fight against someone who’s strong, it’s what makes you grow.”
He lost anyways, but Jounouchi knew that one day he’d beat Kaiba. Maybe it would
be their next duel, maybe not for years, but either way he was going to enjoy
the journey.
*****
After the final duel, the world had changed. Marik accepted the darkness that
had been his, and tried to apologize to Yugi and his friends for all he had done
to them. He saved Jounouchi for last, just before they were to leave. He found
him sitting in his room alone.
“Jounouchi...” Marik started. “I know you have no reason to accept this but I am
sorry for what I did to you.” His eyes downcast, afraid if he looked at the
blond, the whole truth would come out. He was sorry, for the most part...for the
part that Jounouchi would remember. A part of him wasn’t sorry for the other
though, what the blond would never know. In another universe somewhere, maybe
things would have been different, not here. He turned to walk out of the room,
not expecting the other to accept his words, but feeling better for the saying
of them.
“You have a chance to change things, ya know? Everyone deserves a second chance,
I learned that from Yugi and my friends... don’t screw it up.” He watched Marik
leaving, hoping Yugi was right, everyone did deserve a chance to change things.
Maybe it wasn’t his fault, everything he had done, but Jounouchi had to admit he
was finding the courage to take responsibility for them. ‘Wouldn’t it be
interesting to go visit Egypt sometime? Even if just to see if a camel can
change its spots...’ For now, he had someone else he needed to find...
A/N: This chapter was a complete change from the others
due to an attempt to finish out what had happened in the rest of Battle City and
everything Jounouchi went through.
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