Heal These Scars [Jack x Yusei]

Ch.6 Dangerous Territory

The next week or so passed by rather uneventfully, for Jack at least. He tried talking to Yusei more, but he just seemed so closed off from the rest of the world. The only person who can ever get through to him is his younger sister, but he wouldn't dare ask her -- hell no -- not unless he had to. He figured he would try little by little to coax Yusei into getting out in the open more, though that proved to be rather...difficult. He didn't really seem to want to talk most days, but he had good reason for it. Granted, the large bruise on his cheek and black eye had finally gone away, leaving his face clear at least, so there was that small consolation. However, things at home were never this calm... Yusei had a feeling things would turn for the worse pretty soon, since he had come to expect that, and how right he was too. As Jack slowly made his way to his next class, he overheard an exasperated voice in one of the classes he had with Yusei. He seemed very flustered and upset, though he, again, had a reason to be. Oh God, tonight was definitely going to be bad...

"Oh, please!" He pleaded to Mrs. Ryoto. "It's only two points away! Can't you raise it just a little bit more, please?" Yusei sounded desperate, but why shouldn't he?

She shook her head with sympathy in her eyes. "I'm sorry, Yusei, but if I do it for you, then I would have to do it for everyone, unless I curse the test." She said. "I'll consider curving it, alright? However, until then, you should at least show it to your parents." Yusei instantly turned pale, slowly giving a shaky nod as he quickly made his leave, though in his hasty retreat, he accidently bumped into Jack.

"Oh, sorry!" He quickly apologized, expecting a bad reaction, but Jack waved it off.

"No worries, it was just an accident." He said. "But do you mind if I ask why you got so upset over that test? I mean, pretty much everyone flunked it, so you don't have to be so fidgety."

Yusei just avoided his gaze, rubbing his arm anxiously. "I-it's nothing." He stuttered slightly. "I-I've gotta go..." The raven then scurried off, leaving a very confused Jack  Atlas.

Tonight was most certainly not going to be pleasant, that much Yusei expected. Now he was really dreading going home tonight... He really didn't want to tell his father, knowing how he was going to react, but it was just one test, so it didn't really hurt his grade at all. However, at this point, his grade was the least of his worries. No, now he had to worry about not ending up in the damn hospital because of his wretched parental figure he was forced to call his father. So for the rest of the day, Yusei was very tense and anxious; he had the jitters off and on just thinking about how his father was going to explode this time when he told him about that test, and Yuko too even noticed her brother's tenseness as well. She knew how terrified and paranoid her brother was, but she also knew there was nothing she could say or do to try and calm him down. However, a thought did occur to the younger sibling, knowing that even though it could cost a heavy price, she was willing to risk it.

Yusei is really stressing out about this... He's really scared of what Dad'll do to him, but what can I say to help calm his nerves? I doubt that at this point, there's nothing I can do to help him settle down, unless... Yuko thought for a moment. Maybe when I hear him and Dad go at it tonight, I can step in if I see it getting out if hand. He won't hurt me, Yusei made sure of that, but still, that doesn't mean he won't either... No, it doesn't matter right now. Even if he does, I won't back down. Yusei's always been there for me, so I think it's time I step in and protect him for a change. I'll stand by my brother no matter what the consequences are. She thought determinedly.