Part 4

[yukiko-angel.livejournal.com]

Sorry for the last minute, work had overflowed me lately. I'm used to my teen!Jou and really tried to make him 'strong and manly' in my head, but I think I failed ...

The first day out of the hospital could have been blurred for all Jounouchi knew. For a first, not having to pay his medical bills (and finding out his past debt at the hospital had been cleared) had been unnerving. The only thing left for him had been a card with a number. He knew Kaiba never did anything out of kindness, this was only to mark a point regarding the job offer.

The thought of working for Kaiba, of all people, had driven him directly to training, disregarding any doctor's recommendation of rest in regard to the light concussion dwelt by the other fighter.

If that man had really been Kaiba's Bodyguard, it was a wonder Rich Boy was still among the living. The fight had been ardeous by the sheer force of his opponent attacks but, the man had been too sure of his own skills and had used to much energy within the first rounds. Jou had learned that stamina could easily outdo any strength one has and simply waited for the man to lower his guard in fatigue before striking rapidly at his jaw.

Jou was in an old warehouse warming out before continuing, sweats ruling down his bare back, his breath shorten by the continuous effort he was pushing his body through.

Fighting gave him a pass, a place where the only thing mattering was strength, speed, stamina and surviving. Where the only sound was the rushing blood in his ears and his whole sight centered on his opponent.

And Kaiba. The offered he had given him couldn't leave his mind but, something was off. Even when his body was on the verge of exhaustion, Kaiba's offer was still on the back of him mind.

Stopping to catch his breath, air burning his lung after the effort, Jou knew he had one option here to discover what was going on.

_____________________________________________

4 days after making this spontaneous offer Kaiba was starting to believe the mutt would need a bit more 'convincing' before accepting his offer. He knew the risk of having a mongrel trained to be a guard dog, but the raw energy within Jou was too good to pass out. And that something else he couldn't put his finger on.

Thus, the phone call came not in a surprise but, more of a annoyed relief of 'finally'.

'Kaiba speaking'

'It's me, Jounouchi. Listen, I need to make sure of some things before making my decision so I-'

Kaiba cut him short in that sentence. 'Listen Jounouchi, the offer is simple. Become my bodyguard or not. Don't think about anything else, you will not be paid to wonder about what I want and why I do so. You are asked to make sure I get from point A to point B and that I awake each morning. Either accept or refuse'

Silence greeting him after his speech, Kaiba wondered if the mutt would actually backdown, preferring his dangerous unstable cagefights.

'Fine,' came the reply over the phone, 'I accept'

'Be at the mansion Monday morning at 6 a.m., the guards will let you in. Bring some gym clothing and whatever self-control you have. If you thought your playground fights were hard, be prepare for worse.

safaat_keruth  you are next!