ToDC - Story 1, chapter 3

Tales from Domino City
Where it all began? Chapter 3

*Elsewhere in the city*

Walking down the street Jounouchi smiled widely, almost rivalling the Sun. He was happy, finally again for a long time. Sun was shining and they had gotten out of school early that day. He had a work to go to, but he actually loved it there. Taking a few dance steps while singing to the song playing from his MP3-player he thought to go to the Domino Park, the biggest in Domino City. Though it had a lot of people there, Jou found himself a quiet place under an old cherry tree. Sitting down he watched the people, there were a lot of couples and that made Jou sad for some reason. “I wish you were here.” he said quietly, almost whispering, “I wish you would see me – to love me – not to hate.” he continued “Seto.”

Kaiba had gotten himself out and was now sitting in the same park. He had gotten some work done and was taking a break when his thoughts were interrupted by a voice he knew all too well. But instead of being irritated Kaiba was dumbfounded of the way how Jounouchi spoke. Kaiba actually needed to take a sneak peek to be sure he had gotten the person right. ‘What. On. Earth?’ Kaiba muttered silently. There were no trace of Jou’s usual gang slang and his tone was soft. Suddenly the realisation of the meaning of the words hit home for Kaiba, hitching his breath in his throat. ‘What did my Puppy just say?!’ he though relaxing again. He just couldn’t hear right, could he? Soon he heard a sniffle and embarrassed, quiet laugh.

Jou, sitting directly on the other side of the huge cherry tree, thought he was alone and didn’t bother to keep quiet. With a low voice he spoke. “Jou, you idiot, stop that now! You know how he is, he would just smirk and insult you like always. That cold-hearted bastard.” Jou mumbled the last sentence but Kaiba caught it. His heart sank, was that really how Jou thought about him? Jou’s voice got his attention soon though “Ok, music. I need to cheer up before work. Shuffle, give me something to sing.” On this a shiver of fear run down Kaiba’s back, but he didn’t want to blow his cover and let Jou know about him. “You got to be kidding me!” Jou raised his voice a little “You treacherous, treacherous thing. Fine, I’ll sing it.” After what sounded like a water bottle, Jou coughed couple of times opening his breathing and started to sing, flabbergasting Kaiba; not only with how good he was, but also with how full of emotion his singing was. ‘Like he puts his soul on the words.’ Kaiba though – not knowing that he couldn’t be closer to the truth without stepping on it.

[Bon Jovi - Always]
This Romeo is bleeding
But you can’t see his blood
It’s nothing but some feelings
That this old dog kicked up

It’s been raining since you left me
Now I’m drowning in the flood
You see I’ve always been a fighter
But without you I give up

Now I can’t sing a love song
Like the way it’s meant to be
Well, I guess I’m not that good anymore
But baby, that’s just me

And I will love you, baby – Always
And I’ll be there forever and a day  - Always
I’ll be there till the stars don’t shine
Till the heavens burst and the words don’t rhyme
And I know when I die, you’ll be on my mind
And I love you – Always

“I love you, Seto.” Jou whispered sniffling before the song continued.

Now your pictures that you left behind
Are just memories of a different life
Some that made us laugh, some that made us cry
One that made you have to say goodbye
What I’d give to run my fingers through your hair
To touch your lips, to hold you near
When you say your prayers try to understand
I’ve made mistakes, I’m just a man

When he holds you close
When he pulls you near
When he says the words you’ve been needing to hear
I’ll wish I was him ‘cause those words are mine
To say to you ‘till the end of time

Kaiba couldn’t but lean against the tree and listen. He felt too emotional to work and that most likely would have revealed his place to Jou too.

And I will love you baby – Always
And I’ll be there forever and a day – Always

If you told me to cry for you
I could
If you told me to die for you
I would
Take a look at my face

Kaiba had to have a battle with himself to stay put.

There's no price I won't pay
To say these words to you

There seemed to be a musical solo in there because Jou stopped his singing, but the way he sniffled and blew his nose made Kaiba think another option. He so wanted to go and hug his Puppy, but he couldn’t risk Jou getting a heart attack. So he just sat there, wiping his own eyes silently. Soon Jou took a deep breath, most likely to finish his singing - which he soon continued, his voice cracking a little.

Well, there ain't no luck
In these loaded dice
But baby if you give me just one more try
We can pack up our old dreams and our old lives
We'll find a place where the sun still shines

And I will love you, baby – Always
And I'll be there forever and a day – Always
I'll be there till the stars don't shine
Till the heavens burst and the words don't rhyme
And I know when I die, you'll be on my mind
And I'll love you – Always
Always.

The sound of water bottle told Kaiba that the song must have ended. After couple of minutes Jou opened his throat again “Mirror mirror on the wall-“ then he chuckled sounding much more as his old self “Shuffle, next one.” he said pressing the button “Ah, much better.” Kaiba couldn’t almost wait what Jou would sing next.

[Queen – A Kind Of Magic]
Author’s note: This song you have to listen to understand some of the parts written in the story – and the song itself. Link in the comments. Apologies for deaf people.

“It’s a kind of magic
it’s a kind of magic”

Jou sang while snapping his fingers, his voice sending shivers down Kaiba’s back.

“A kind of magic

One dream, one soul, one prize
One goal, one golden glance of what should be”

Seto couldn’t help himself and chuckled silently, taking a peek at his Puppy. Pulling himself back Kaiba tried to cool down emotionally and physically. His face was red and he felt a dangerous bump at his lower parts. He was glad he had his laptop on his lap. Jou had been so immersed in the song his true feelings and passion had slipped through. ‘Ou boy.’ Kaiba thought levelling his breath ‘This is going to be dangerous real soon.’

"It’s a kind of magic"

Jou had continued his singing all the while.

“One shaft of light that shows the way
No mortal man can win this day

It’s a kind of magic

The bell that rings inside your mind
Is challenging the doors of time

It’s a kind of magic

The waiting seems eternity
The day will dawn of sanity

Is this a kind of magic
(It's a kind of magic)
There can be only one
This rage that lasts a thousand years
Will soon be done

This flame that burns inside of me
I'm hearing secret harmonies

It's a kind of magic

The bell that rings inside your mind
Is challenging the doors of time

It's a kind of magic
It's a kind of magic”

There was a pause in singing again, but Jou was drumming his legs eyes closed and humming along. Kaiba felt like he was out of breath from just listening Jou. ‘It is a miracle he was able to sing all that without fainting! How did he do that!?’ Kaiba thought with his eyes closed. Unknown to both of them, a golden ball was circling the two males, weaving their souls together with its ancient magic. Soon Jou continued his singing.

</i>“This rage that lasts a thousand years
Will soon be will soon be
Will soon be done

This is (this is) a kind (a kind) of magic (yeah)
There can be only one one one one
This rage that lasts a thousand years
Will soon be done
Done

Magic
It's a kind of magic
It's a kind of magic
Magic, magic, magic, magic

It's magic”</i>

Humming along Jou was drumming his muscled legs again. He felt his good mood really coming back now.

“It's a kind of magic.”

Kaiba couldn’t but sit there and breathe, it all had sounded like Jou had had a backing vocalist in there, but it was impossible! There couldn’t be- ‘OK, scratch that.’ Kaiba thought as he remembered reading about Egyptian spirits. But his Golden Puppy couldn’t have one of those in him, now could he? Kaiba wished his dear life this would not be the case when he was yanked out of his thoughts by Jou’s voice, or more like laughter. Kaiba felt himself falling (more than he already was). ‘I have never heard him laugh like that.’ he though. Jou was chuckling amused. “I was just thinking something in those lines.” he said with bubbling laughter. There was the sound of Jou opening his voice and a quiet peep as he most likely started the song again.

[Frank Sinatra – Fly Me to the Moon (In Other Words)]

“Fly me to the moon
Let me play among the stars
Let me see what spring is like
On Jupiter and Mars”

Kaiba felt himself melting as Jou’s voice floated to him, into him and through him. Kaiba felt himself forgetting everything else, Jou’s voice was his whole world.

“In other words, hold my hand
In other words, baby, kiss me

Fill my heart with song
And let me sing forever more
You are all I long for
All I worship and adore

In other words, please be true
In other words, I love you”

There came an instrumental in the between and Jou let himself to be sucked into the rhythm as he drummed along once again.

“Fill my heart with song
Let me sing forever more
You are all I long for
All I worship and adore

In other words, please be true
In other words, in other words
I love… You.”

As the song ended, silence landed again around the two, but it wasn’t bad silence. This one was comforting – in its own weird way; like a warm blanket in cold winter evening. Jou felt refreshed as he stretched and stood up, Kaiba in the other hand felt relaxed. He hadn’t felt this free and relaxed for so long he couldn’t even remember the last time. Must be somewhere before the adoption. He couldn’t keep a tear from falling down his cheek. Wiping it away he took a deep breath. Work, he had work to concentrate in. He heard Jou leaving, soon after his phone had alarmed him about his job. “Yeah yeah, I’m coming I’m coming.” Kaiba heard Jou mumble, but though he was partly annoyed he actually sounded happy to go.

Sighing in relief for not been spotted Kaiba closed his laptop and got up to his feet too. While “dusting” his pants he saw something from the corner of his eye. He turned and bent down to pick up a small matchbox from the ground. ‘Jou must have dropped this.’ he thought as he flipped the cover back on. ‘Club Horizon.’ Kaiba read from on top of the cover. ‘Hmm, I need to look into this.’ he thought his eyes narrowing a little.