First Move, Last Word (Part 2)

DIMENSION: MANGA (The One That Saves the Day)

"You can stay with me and Mai," Jounouchi said as he came over by his sister. "You can just stay with me until you get your own place."

"That's right, it'll be fine," Mai said. "I'll be home more of the time too. A girl loves company. If you need some help with anything, I'll be there, and I can use help with Mana too."

"I don't want to," Shizuka said to him. "I'm not your itty-bitty little sister. I even helped save the world, I don't need this charity."

"It's not charity," Jounouchi tried to convince her. "Mai will need help with the kid, and you can have more help with-"

"I don't need more help!" Shizuka was too upset.

"You don't have to accept anything we offer," Mai said to her. "If it's too big brotherly, then forget it. The doors open though."

Shizuka nodded. "Sorry. I do need a little help. For only a little while. I want to be on my own."

"Got it," Jounouchi said. "You bet. After all, you saved the world, Sis. Whatever you want. I'm going to make arrangements to get back home now, I'll be back."

—————

Atem couldn't help out with Shizuka's problem very much, but he could lessen the aggravation as he watched Jounouchi coming toward him. "Jounouchi? I believe you and your new family may benefit with some time back at home."

"Yeah, I was thinking that too." Jounouchi looked back toward Shizuka, then back at him. "I just can't do much when she's past high school and everything. She's going to stay with me and Mai."

"Absurd choice," Kaiba said to him.

"Like I value your opinion?" Jounouchi said to him with own snub.

Atem looked at Kaiba. "Kaiba, you are the bravest of any who have stood by my side."

"Your point?" Kaiba said gruffly.

"That you should probably tell Shizuka how you feel before she goes?" Mokuba said to Kaiba.

"The deal is there, she can have it if she wants it," Kaiba told Mokuba.

"What do you mean how he feels?" Honda questioned. "You just used her for her body, Kaiba."

"Oh, like you don't?" Jounouchi wasn't happy with Honda either.

"I could have any actress or model I desired, why would I use her for her body?" Kaiba came back at him. "I use her for her dragon."

"Same difference," Jounouchi complained.

"Sometimes the hardest battles to win, are the ones that you don't acknowledge," Satiah said toward him.

"I don't have to take this. Atem, send Mokuba and I home already," Kaiba commanded.

"Fine. Bastet," Atem called her. "Please send the Kaibas back to the-"

"What the hell is he doing, can't he get a clue?" Kaiba interrupted Atem as he watched Honda head toward Shizuka. "Why? Even? Why? She's not stupid enough to say yes. She isn't. She already said no." He looked at Atem. "Part of your rabble. They never give up, the loser brigade."

"Who many times eventually win," Atem reminded him.

"Damn it, you're right, you were all like rats. Well, your rat friend isn't eating my food. I'll be back," Kaiba said as he walked off.

"Damn it, now what? Do I go after them and make him back off or . . .?" Jounouchi groaned. "It was easier when she was younger."

—————

"Shizuka, if you don't want to go through pregnancy, we can always adopt?" Honda said as he walked to her.

"Will you just leave her alone right now?" Mai said from her side. "She's taken the invitation to stay with us until she finds a place of her own. Go live a few extra days and get some common sense knocked back into you." She looked over at Kaiba who came over but hadn't said anything. "You too. You're even creepier than I remember."

"You're about as bitchy as I remember," Kaiba said right back to her. "I'm watching for the trash that's spewing garbage."

"You're the trash!" Honda accused him. "You're just upset that . . ." Honda seemed to be stuck. "That your dragon source left."

"Jounouchi will come pick my things up. I'm going home with him for now," Shizuka said to Kaiba. "I'm glad I was your partner while we saved the world. I couldn't have made it without you."

Kaiba growled. "I don't spell things out. I gave you whatever you wanted to have that dragon by my side. I gave it back to you, so you could come back faster." Gruff. "You aren't winnings, but I never appear weak to anyone."

"I have no idea what you're even saying," Honda complained. He drew his attention back to Shizuka. "Shizuka?"

Shizuka headed toward Kaiba as he tossed her the keys again.

"What? Shizuka?" Honda followed after them, but Mai stopped him.

"I know that went right over your head. It went over mine too, but whatever he said, she chose to go with him," Mai said. "It's over. Kaiba won that round."

"He said four lines that barely made any sense," Honda complained.

"I saw it so I can help," Mokuba said as he came over. "Let's see, how to put this in terms even you'll understand? Shizuka doesn't want to settle down, she likes adventure. She's sticking with Kaiba anyway. Pretty sure marriage is a no. This isn't a duel, keeping it up isn't helping your chances, so stop bugging her. Don't break into Kaiba Corp again either." He headed after his brother. "Let's go, Seto."

"Bastet, now you may send the Kaiba's and Shizuka to their estate," Atem wished.

"You sure?" Jounouchi asked Shizuka. "I mean? What, are you sure?"

Shizuka just nodded, this time with a happier smile. "I'm sure. I'll be fine."

Bastet followed his request while Mai and Mana came next to Jounouchi. "Mortal problems. You just saved the world, and you are having petty squabbles already about relationships." She sent them away as well.

"Why do they make it so complex these days?" Satiah said out loud. "Even being called an Egyptian whore, I should have jumped for the opportunity. I would have in the past easily." Bakura nodded at her. "Anzu would not have. I have learned some things for her."

"Pride in yourself is a good thing to learn," Atem said to her.

Satiah sighed. "Modern life is complicated, but it is life."

——————

"She went with Kaiba." Honda kicked the ground, wishing he had a rock to kick around in that ethereal plane. "Four lines, I don't even get them. Mokuba, even he didn't really explain. She likes adventures, I picked that up. Maybe, that's all that really mattered." He sighed. "That sucked and it was embarrassing, but I couldn't take it anymore."

He had to know. Life was precious, and he made no progress in it to himself when he died. Before he left, he wanted to fulfill what he realized when he had started to go. Someone to love, and a family.

Shizuka sounded like she didn't want the same things. Although she was a wonderful girl, and she'd make the sweetest mom? It'd never happen.

"Honda?" Miho called out as she came over closer. "Miho was worried. That wasn't so good. You didn't even have ring."

"Yeah, but, I had to know," Honda answered back. "I didn't want to wait and start getting too used to the life track before I realized what was important again. I want someone special, and I want to settle down and have kids. Jounouchi, he found the path I wanted. Even Yuugi somehow, he found it too."

"Shizuka not want to settle down?" Miho asked. "Some are just like that. Not everyone wants husband and children."

"Yeah, I think that's why she left." Honda shook his head. "I feel so stupid. I think Kaiba might have said something like he loved her in his words too, but I don't see how. Did he profess her love, or just promise not to treat her like winnings? I speak the language, but not Kaiba's language! Did she dump me for him? Is she a friend with him, but they're living together?"

"Miho think person staying with another person even if they don't have to, is probably staying for a reason."

"Yeah, either love or because he gives her the adventures she wants," Honda said gruffly. "It's not like I'm boring, I used to belong in a gang, and crap still pops up sometimes and . . ." He looked toward Miho. "Sorry. I don't think I ever talked this rude way in front of you."

"No say sorry, Miho doesn't mind." She smiled. "You feel more real than you did in high school. You followed around me too much, like obedient puppy."

Yeah, he knew he did. He wasn't so good back then with expressing his feelings. Shizuka made it easy. He was always around her, and she never rejected anything. Sweet, kind, and safe. Kaiba's influence, whether it was sexual or not, was making her change. She was talking back to Jounouchi even.

Then again? Maybe that was right. It was one of the reasons he had to do it, to know, so if not? He could move on. "I was too rigid, Ribbons. Sorry."

"No big deal, Honda. You are definitely not an obedient puppy," she teased with a giggle. A giggle that used to make his heart swoon. "I think I want to go back home soon. It was nice to see you."

"I can accompany you back if you'd like?" He asked. He put his hand up. "I swear. No obedient puppy acting."

"Okay." Just like that, she was fine with it. "Let's go see your magic friend."