Protector Pt. 2
Shonen Ai
Jounochi/Bakura pairing.

“I'm no longer talking to you." Yami announced from where he was seated across from Jounochi at their meeting place, Cinnaburnt.
Jounochi wolfed down the rest of his cookie. "Why?"
"You totally disregarded everything I said!" Yami stabbed his cinnamon roll for emphasis. "What do you plan to do now?"
"Well that's what I called you here for. You're the best person to ask when it comes to this."
"Give up."
Jounochi sighed. "Positive feedback?"
"I have none to offer. The Ring has always been fierce. In fact, it's quite gentle in how it treats Bakura."
"You’re kidding!" Jounochi stared at the Game King, startling some of the other patrons of Cinnaburnt. He gave a nervous smile in apology, waiting until they returned to their own business before continuing his conversation. "The Millennium Ring hurts him."
"At least the Ring hasn't killed him. It used to be that when it got mad it used those spikes it has and stabs the bearer in the chest, letting them bleed to death in agony or just finish them off quickly in a burst of fire." Yami said quietly, his eyes slightly unfocused as he remembered the past. "The Ring doesn't want to lose Bakura for some reason, that's why he's still alive after going against the Ring for so long. There's something it wants."
"It wants Ryou to be its slave." Jounochi growled.
"It already has that." Yami said, then edged back a little in his seat at the death glare from Jounochi. "Jounochi…Katsuya…please understand you are dealing with something you shouldn't be. You're just playing a game that you will lose."
"It's not a game to me. This is about someone's life, someone's happiness."
Yami raised his eyes to the ceiling. "Happiness…"
******
Jounochi cornered Bakura after school again, but this time kept his hands to himself. "Hey, you need a break." He pointed down the street. "Um, wanna go for a walk?"
Ryou blinked his large green eye sat him. Things had been awkward since that night he'd spent at Jounochi's, just having someone hold him felt so good. His hand crept up to where the Ring was hidden under his school uniform. His other was asleep it seemed. "Sure, couldn't hurt."
"For once." Jounochi murmured to himself before walking next to Bakura. It was pure silence for about half an hour.
"Neh, why not come to my place tonight? I can make you dinner…to makeup for that embarrassing spectacle I made yesterday." Ryou said kindly, knowing it was probably mortifying for Jounochi to have to carry him in public.
“Go to your place? Are you serious?” Jounochi stopped and regarded him carefully. “What about your yami?”
Bakura flinched, his eyes dropped to the ground automatically. “I should be okay. Either way, I can never do right with him…”
~Ryou, you need to stop being its slave.~ Jounochi spoke mentally to himself. He just didn’t have it in him to be harsh with Ryou right now. “Let’s go then.”
******
Ryou glanced over the cook book again, then pulled out the large knife and vegetables to chop up. Jounochi was in the other room examining Bakura’s collection of games and figures, remembering not too long ago when he had been invited here with all the others and ended up trapped in Yami Bakura’s Game. It still freaked him out to remember the gym teacher… He looked in on Ryou and had to smile. The apron he was wearing was pink with white stripes and had frills. “You need me to do anything?”
“Hm? Oh no, I’m fine! Dinner will be ready soon.” Ryou reassured him with a gentle smile that easily melted Jounochi’s heart. The blonde moved from the kitchen door to sit on the couch and pick up one of Bakura’s gaming books and page through it.
Ryou smiled to himself as he chopped vegetables, then gasped when his hand suddenly felt freezing cold and he no longer had control over it. His right hand slowly came up and turned to let Ryou see the reflection in it of himself. Of Yami Bakura. Ryou’s face paled, his green eyes widening as Bakura smiled evilly at him.
/Playing the sweet little housewife?/
/N-No! I’m just thanking him…/
/For what? Defying me? You know better, Ryou./ His hand turned the knife pointed edge down, right over Ryou’s other hand. /Poor little Ryou, wanting a protector. You have no protection!/ The knife came down and stabbed into Ryou’s flesh, causing the boy to scream.
Jounochi bolted to the kitchen in time to see Ryou stab himself again and ran over to grab his wrist. “What are you doing?!”
“I’m not--!” Ryou tried to protest, then twisted out of Jounochi’s grip when the knife started going for Jounochi. He backed away into a corner, blood streaming to the floor and onto his clothing. “Jounochi, I can’t stop him…” Around his neck a glow was seen as the Ring formed itself around Ryou’s neck. The green eyes pleaded with him just before they closed and Ryou straightened, bringing the knife up.
Bakura glared darkly at Jounochi, slowly walking towards him. “I’ve tolerated you long enough. Time to get rid of you.” The Millennium Ring announced and charged Jounochi.
Luckily Jounochi was used to knife fights and street brawls. He dodged and went around the other side of the table to keep some distance between them. “Get it through to your thick skull, human, this body, this child, is mine! You are nothing! Do you honestly believe you can beat my Game alone without the Puzzle’s help? You will never win. I am too strong.” He laughed and licked some of the blood from the hand wound. “Want a taste?”
Jounochi felt like he was going to be sick and shook his head. “Why don’t you just choose someone else? Someone stronger.”
The Ring smirked. “I have my reasons. None that I have to divulge to you.”
Jounochi clenched his hands into fists but kept himself in check. Physically fighting would only hurt Ryou more when he got in control of the body again and it was true, he couldn’t defeat a Millennium Item right now. He was…useless. “Ryou, I’m sorry.” The blonde teenager felt the guilt fill him as he left the apartment, knowing Ryou would face a punishment again. There was nothing he could do.
********
“Jounochi?” Yami actually had concern showing his blood red gaze. His friend hadn’t touched any food at all and barely sipped his tea. He knew what had happened the night before from what little he’d managed to get out of Jounochi. “Will you be alright?”
Determined eyes raised to meet his and Jounochi sat up straight. “I will get stronger. I want to play a lot of games against you, including the Games of Darkness.”
“What? You don’t--!”
“I do! It’s important, damn it!” Jounochi ignored the others in the café again. “The only thing I’m good for is brawling. I want to be more than that. I have to be more than that.”
Yami sighed softly and turned his head to look out the window at the rain and the person walking across the street under his umbrella. “You love him that much?”
Jounochi followed his gaze and tried hard not to let the hurt show through as he watched Ryou never even look at them before disappearing towards the school. “Yeah. I do.”
“I’ll do what I can to bring you up to a higher level…one day you might beat the Ring.”
“Wrong.” Jounochi’s eyes narrowed. “I plan to not only beat it, I plan to destroy it. So Ryou can be free.”
Yami smiled. “I hope so, Katsuya.”

The End