Summary : Semi-AU. It would seem Jonouchi will have a greater role to play in the resurfacing of the past memories, though it doesn't bode well for Yami. Violence, obsene language later. Yaoi, J/S, YY/Y, B/M.

Part 1

By Reppa

It had been months since he had taken a shock of lightning straight to the head. Since he had a voice deep down talking to him. Eye twitching slightly, Jonouchi laid on his bed, head thrown over the side to stare at the walls upside down. Part of him still wondered, despite having friends beside him, how on Earth he could have gotten up after that. People usually died. :Especially getting hit in the head like that. Goddess Luck is just too kind I guess…Least everything's back to normal.: Eventually, the blond sat up and took a moment to glance at the clock. Noon, he was pretty late for school. Didn't matter, he was failing anyway.

Shrugging, the teen threw his legs around and got to his feet to pull on his uniform jacket and slide on his sneakers. With his hands shoved in his pockets, the blond sauntered from the room, casually passing by the unconscious drunken form of his father on the floor. He paused for a second, staring down emotionlessly at the man before he continued on his way out. The man was never abusive really, he was normally the one receiving knocks from Jounouchi than the other way around. He couldn't help it, no one wanted a drunkard passing out on you.

The day was fairly bright, cleared skies, slight breeze. Very fair. Clicking his tongue, he made his way towards school, no real purpose in going save to see his friends. They were probably worried with him being missing in action. He'd done it a few times recently, so it had to be driving them nuts by now. Whether it upset Anzu, he didn't care really, but he didn't wish to worry Yugi. The others he was sure weren't that bothered.

In the midst of lunch, Jounouchi arrived at the school, dark gold-brown eyes scanning the cafeteria before they found their target, the tri-color haired boy. With a faint smile, he padded his way towards him and the others gathered around. Save his main sect of friends consistent of Yugi, Yami, Anzu, Honda, Otogi, and Ryou, he had the other little group consistent of Malik, Bakura, and Ryuuzaki, both of whom had little to do with the others.

"Hm, Jou, where have you been?" Anzu demanded, sitting up straighter as they all took noticed of his delayed arrival, "It's halfway through the day!"

"Shut up." The blond grunted, taking up a seat between Yugi and Otogi, who snickered more to himself than anyone as the girl glared daggers at Jounouchi.

The raven haired teen smirked, "Yeah, you shouldn't have bothered even coming, you know."

"Yeah, but you know I can't go a day without putting Kaiba in his place. Gotta be here to do it, cause I won't be seeing moneybags any other way."

Save Otogi, the others paid little mind to the blond's rivalry with the CEO. After the incident with Noa, they had all gotten just a little closer, though Yugi could see Jounouchi and Seto were still going to maintain their bickering. He truly wished they wouldn't. With that thought in mind, Yugi let his gaze scan over the cafeteria, wondering if the brunette was anywhere to be seen. Of course he wasn't, most likely in the library as that was what he did with the majority of his lunch.

Perking up, the smaller boy nudged the blond's elbow, "Oi, Jonouchi, Isis told me they're going to have a new exhibit coming up soon at the Museum she's with. She said it's something to deal with Yami's past too. You want to come with and see?"

"Hn?" Jonouchi blinked, looking away momentarily from the conversation he was somewhat included on between Otogi and Honda to scratch his chin lightly, "Well, sure, Yugi. I don't have anything else to do and I can never say no to my best bud, ya know!" He chuckled lightly at the ecstatic expression he had gotten. The blond eyed Anzu as she asked if she could go along as well, but he snorted lightly as she was turned down, the excuse being Isis was having this select few and the some such. He was certain all she wanted to do was see more of Yami.

:Really now, chasing after a spirit only one person can really enjoy being with in any sense. That girl needs a new brain, her old one must be collecting cobwebs…: The teen shook his head, running a hand down the side of his face as lunch was soon dismissed. The others and himself waited as the roaring, bustling crowd marched out, eventually following suit once it was a little more clear.

Back in class, it was the boring same old, same old. A teacher's whose words fell on his deaf ears as he was preoccupied, turned in his seat to converse with Malik. The young Egyptian was plotting several pranks, some of which sounded dangerous as he expected. That was when the sandy blond was at his best frighteningly enough, unfortunately none of the good pranks meant anything bad to befall Kaiba.

His brows rose as he cast his eyes in the corporation CEO's direction. As usual, Seto Kaiba was more engrossed in what he read than anything the teachers had to say. Why he even came was beyond him, why did a billionaire genius need school? It was annoying how people did things without a lick of sense.

Jonouchi let his gold-brown eyes stare into the blue-eyed teen until he was taken notice of. Slowly, Kaiba reached his head as if he was looking at the front to the class before his electric eyes scanned to the side in his direction, his head barely moving as he stared back from the corner of his eyes. The two continued the slight contest, both keeping fairly poised faces while Seto gradually turned his head to get a better look at the blond, hissing lowly, "Knock it off, mutt."

"My staring getting on your nerves?" He asked in return softly, smirking a little as he took in the icy glare. There wasn't any sort of reply as the other turned back to his reading. Now he wouldn't hear anything from Kaiba until after class when he'd probably demand to know what he was doing looking at him like that. In all honesty, he was pretty sure Kaiba hated people staring at him in any sense.

"Pay attention, will you? I don't like to listen to you whine on failing." Came the pestering voice nearby, Anzu turned slightly to frown at him. She sputtered and turned away quickly as he replied promptly with his middle finger. He'd sit there and cuss in front of her to annoy her, violence and swearing, she hated those things.

Feeling much better, the blond settled back into his seat with his leaned back, chuckling lightly as he was poked by Malik behind him. What else could there be left to do besides goof off?

Eventually the day was done and everyone was ushering out. Indeed, he had gotten lip from Anzu on his crude gesture, unknowingly getting a few more behind her back as he made towards his own locker. As he expected, he saw Kaiba was leisurely padding towards him, looking as cranky as he usually did. Opening his locker and shoving his things inside, he let it close with a slam as he leaned on the row, waiting for the 'blessed' arrival.

"Having your kicks, puppy? Just what were you staring at back in class anyway? Peabrain having difficulty focusing on what you should be focusing on?" The husky voiced brunette inquired, a brows raised at him as he paused in step, "I suggest you keep your roaming eyes to yourself nect time, mutt."

Jonouchi's eyes were slightly narrowed as he watched Kaiba pass by, of course he just couldn't resist the urge as he smirked, "Sorry, too busy wondering about your candy ass..!" Promptly after saying that, the blond's hand swat the CEO's hindquarters with a loud slap before tearing down the hall, head inches from being clubbed by the metal briefcase swung in retaliation after a startled yelp. "Kaiba's got a bony butt, Kaiba's got a bony butt…!"

Among the watching bystanders, Yugi shook his head as he watched something possibly heavy fly after Jonouchi as the blond ran down the hall with his chant. He heaved a sigh, the small boy shut his locker and stepped away, approaching after Kaiba's retreating form, "What were you two arguing about now?"

"It's none of your business, Yugi, the mutt was just seized by one of his constant fits of stupidity.." Kaiba replied, looking somewhat flushed. It was plausible Yugi hadn't caught sight of the entire scene, otherwise he'd understand his outrage. The gaul that boy had, hitting him like that and of all places. Even as he stalked towards the front of the school, his buttocks still stung slightly, it hadn't felt that hard a smack when it happened. "You tell that wannabe duelist to not only keep his eyes to himself, but his hands as well lest he lose them."

"Oh…um, okay…" The shorter boy blinked, not entirely sure he wanted to know the details. Then he smiled, moving onto a different subject as they exited the school doors, "Are you coming to the Museum for the new exhibit? Isis had invited me along and to bring anyone of my friends along. Did she ask you to come?"

"I doubt it, and if she did, my secretary has yet to inform me. What is it, more Egyptian hocus pocus?"

"Has to do with Duel Monsters."

Kaiba made a slight noise, it was hard to tell whether it was in interest or not as he parted from the smaller boy who's friends were conjoining around him. Sighing lightly, Yugi turned to the others as they made off, on their way towards the Kame game shop. "Jonouchi, what did you do back there to make Seto so annoyed?"

"When is he not annoyed…?" Honda grunted, throwing his pack over his shoulder with his chin out, "Jou was a perv and slapped Kaiba's ass. How gross is that, huh? And it probably hurt if it's bony like he said…"

Jonouchi snorted, wagging a finger suddenly as he shook his head in disagreement. The others eyed him expectantly, wondering what he'd say for himself, "Now just a sec, first off, it wasn't gross. Male or female, an ass is an ass and I can smack it. Second, I lied about his butt being bony, that was just to piss him off…it was actually very nice. I'd have grabbed it, but then my head would've been lopped off by that briefcase of his..." He laughed boastfully, lightly shoved by his friend who didn't seem all that convinced. In turn, Yugi just shook his head and considered not to say anything in response to that whatsoever.

They shuffled into the fairly empty game shop, Yugi's grandfather observing something from behind the counter. As the door bell chimed, he looked up from the mini poster he had in hand to smile broadly at them, chuckling in his elderly voice as he waved them in, "Ah, Yugi, good to see you home. And with your friends…A robed woman left this here, asking to post it on the door of the shop. Egyptian, I think you probably know her…"

"Bet we do." Yugi piped, hurrying his way over to take a look at the small poster as the others made themselves comfortable. As he expected, it was a bit of advertisement for the exhibit Isis had informed him about. "Wow, rather dark looking…"

"Let us see it.." Ryou insisted earnestly, tilting his head as Yugi turned and held the poster up for them to look. As he had said, it did seem fairly dark, "Opening soon, showing rare, newly unearthed artifacts from deep in the bowels of Egypt…You know, you'd think for an Egyptian, she wouldn't like these things being dug up from her homeland…"

"Must have something to do with Yugi's Pharaoh buddy I guess…" Jonouchi grunted softly, looking through Monster pack series after he turned away with some slight disinterest. He'd rather just see the exhibit then eyeball a poster. As he rummaged around, mulling over what packs could have good cards, he looked back over his shoulder to them, "I mean, she wouldn't be exclusively inviting Yugi after Museum hours before it opens to see it and all. Gotta be important otherwise she wouldn't have it brought to Japan and asking us to go."

The white haired boy suddenly groaned, shaking his head as he sat down. Obviously that prospect didn't appeal to him, "Oh, Jou is right…But sometimes I wish those bloody yamis weren't littering about…Marik and Bakura cause so much trouble. Not that Yami does, mind you, he's just fine I suppose."

"Yeesh, an expert all of the sudden?" Honda chuckled, elbowing his friend in the side a bit.

"No, it's called common sense, I do use it sometimes, ya dork."

The two hikaris watched as the other two got into a little scuffle at that point, keeping well out of their way since they had no interest in getting into their fight. As he continued to watch them argue on the side, Yugi sighed softly, looking down at the poster, beginning to wonder what it could possibly be about. :Yami doesn't remember everything, but he's starting to, maybe this'll bring back more memories..: He smiled wistfully, leaving the others for a moment to run upstairs to check on his yami.

The Pharaoh was seated on the bed they shared, hands hanging down between his knees as he stared out the window. His slanted, red-violet eyes were partially closed making his look either weary or bored out of his mind. Yami's attention hardly left the scenery outside until he heard his Aibou carefully padding into the room, "Good to see you home, Yugi."

"Yeah…did Sugoroku show you the poster for the Museum exhibit? Isis' asked us to a little sneak peek premier…" Yugi asked quietly, putting the laminated piece in his mouth before he crawled over the bed towards him, stopping next to him and taking it from his lips, "See? I think we should go, could be important." He smiled, watching him take it with a faint blush. Though he had told no one, not even the Puzzle spirit himself, Yugi had great feelings for him, ones beyond what one should have for a friend and partner.

Yami's eyes scanned over the item, humming lightly for a short while before he soon nodded in agreement, setting it aside as he turned to him, smiling slightly, "All right. It's in a couple days. I'm curious to what it holds, there aren't many details on it…are the others downstairs?"

"Yeah, how'd you know?"

"I can hear Jonouchi all the way up here…"

End of chapter 1