I do not any way, shape, or form own Yu-Gi-Oh! or its characters. The OC characters Darren, Kili, Aya, and Trin are of my own creation and I own all copyright to them.
This story is rated Mature as it contains adult language, situations and sex scenes in later chapters.
Nor do I in any way make profit from this story.
Shattered Dream Part III: Happy Ending At Last?
Chapter I
Joey slowly came to, sitting up and rubbing his aching head before he opened his eyes and looked around. Once more, he was in a hospital room. Only this time, he had a thick layer of gauze wrapped around his head, and with only a standard IV and monitor hooked up to him. He sighed inwardly, actually growing tired of this becoming a trend in his life. Looking towards the foot of his bed, he saw Yugi dozing gently in a nearby chair, leaning forward so his head was resting on Joey's bed.
Smiling a bit, Joey reached out and gently nudged his friend's shoulder to wake him. As Yugi sleepily looked up at Joey and suddenly appeared wide awake, Joey smiled a bit as he sank back against his pillows. "Hey Yug. So... how'd I wind up in the hospital this time?" the blond asked.
"You hit your head on the sidewalk," Yugi said, watching his friend's face to see if Joey recalled why he'd fallen on the sidewalk.
Joey looked thoughtful for a few moments before worry began to creep into his features. "Last time I woke up in a hospital... I found out that Kaiba and I weren't actually a couple." His eyes widened and he sat up with a jolt. "Where's Darren? Please don't tell me I dreamt him up too..."
Yugi reached out and placed a calming hand on his friend's shoulder. A hand the glinted with a gold wedding band on the ring finger. "Darren's very real Joey, don't worry. You and he are very much a couple. He's just outside right now, talking with the police."
"Police? Why would the police be here?" Joey asked, another frown forming on his face.
"Joey do you recall why you hit your head on the sidewalk?" Yugi asked.
"I remember that I was heading home to Darren's townhouse. I had just passed the Kaiba Corp building... Then I heard a thump behind me... I saw a crowd and pushed my way through... That's when..." His brow furrowed in confusion as more it came back to him. "That's when I saw... Oh god!" He grabbed the bedpan from his nightstand and leaned over it, evacuating his stomach.
When his heaves finally subsided, he wiped bile from his lips with the back of his hand. "Did I really see that? Is Kaiba dead?"
Yugi hung his head and gave a barely perceptible nod after a few minutes. "I'm sorry Joey. He wasn't always the nicest guy, certainly not to you, but he was still one of us from time to time."
Joey was spared from having to point out to Yugi that for a long time, Kaiba was more than that to him as the door to his room opened and Darren swept in, followed by two police officers and a detective.
Darren looked exactly as he had on the day he and Joey had first met. The teal suit, piercings and tattoos hidden, looking utterly perfect. Save of course for the worry and fear etched on his brow and face for his lover. "Joey!" he exclaimed, swiftly approaching the youth's bed and kissing him.
Joey couldn't help but wrap his arms around Darren's neck and moan into the kiss. Despite the agony of the situation, the Atlantean's touch was still able to set him ablaze and make him forget, even if but for a few moments.
It wasn't until a throat cleared that Darren broke the kiss with a growl, turning to look at the detective. "Do you mind? I'm trying to console my lover over what happened," he snapped.
His normally calm demeanor was gone now, and that icy hardness Joey'd only ever seen out of him a few times before was on display. Joey didn't fully know what was about to happen, but unless the detective caught on to Darren's mood, it wouldn't end well.
"My apologies sir," the detective said, pulling out a notepad and flipping through a few pages. "But we need to get the young man's statement and present him with the facts of the case as we know them."
"What case? Seto Kaiba committed suicide, pure and simple. The man is dead, leave it at that," Darren said. He didn't want Joey to have to go through his painful past with the deceased CEO right now.
"This won't take long," came the reply, the detective completely ignoring Darren as he looked at Joey. "For the record, can you state your full name?"
"Joseph Wheeler."
"And what is your relationship with the deceased?"
Joey swallowed and looked at both Darren and Yugi before answering. "We were classmates. A few times in the last couple of years, a bunch of us have helped him out of a few scrapes he'd gotten into. I... fell in love with him, but he didn't want anything to do with me. I haven't heard from him in months until I saw... that..." The blond shuddered and Darren sat on the bed, wrapping a comforting arm around him.
"I see. So your feelings towards Seto Kaiba were unrequited you say? Were you aware that Mr. Kaiba had a look alike of you?"
"Derek? I thought he left Kaiba months ago," Darren cut in.
"If that's the case, then he must have found reason to return to Kaiba," the detective said.
"Why bring him up though? Do you think he's involved in Kaiba's death?" Joey asked.
The detective looked at the two uniformed officers and nodded. One of them stepped forward and handcuffs Joey to the railing of his hospital bed.
"What is the meaning of this?" Darren demanded, shooting to his feet.
The detective looked over his notes as he spoke, not even bothering to glance up at them. "The young man you referred to as Derek was found dead in Kaiba's penthouse atop Kaiba Corp tower. From the look of the body, he'd been severely beaten before being pushed through a glass coffee table. He then bled out from lacerations sustained as a result."
"Oh god," Joey gasped, clasping a hand over his mouth, suddenly feeling sick again.
"We also found a hastily written note in Kaiba's office. In it he apologizes to Mr. Wheeler and says he'll never hurt you again."
"So he wrote a suicide note, I don't see why that means my lover has to be handcuffed."
"I'm getting to that. The way Kaiba wrote the note suggests he was under a great deal of stress, possibly even coerced. It's my belief that Mr. Wheeler found out about this Derek returning to Kaiba's life and grew jealous. Clearly kaiba preferred the look alike to the real thing. Well, by Wheeler's own admission, he loved Kaiba. I believe that grew into an obsession and he either directly or through someone else is responsible for both deaths."
Joey, Yugi, and Darren all stood there with their mouths hanging open in shock. Were they really hearing this right? This detective actually thought Joey had murdered two people.
"And what solid evidence do you have that it proof of this?" Darren asked, his eyes narrowing as he regained his composure. "Because from what I've heard, there isn't even circumstantial evidence, merely a wild, blind accusation. Joey has had no desire for Kaiba for some time, as his moans when I kissed him just now can attest."
The detective shrugged. "An act."
"An act," Darren repeated, his tone unreadable. He pulled out his cell phone and hit a number on speed dial. "Get me the Chief of the Metropolitan Police," he said, stepping out into the hall for a few minutes.
When he returned, he handed the phone to the detective. "The Chief would like a few words with you," he said curtly.
Frowning, the detective took the phone. "Sir? Yes sir, I understand but- No sir, I didn't meant to imply that... Yes sir." His face pale, he handed the phone back to Darren.
"One more thing Chief," the teal haired man said into the phone. "You will be hearing from my lawyers on this matter." He hung up before the chief could reply.
"Uncuff him," the detective said. "I apologize for accusing this young man of such acts. I don't know what pull you have Mr. Darren, but it seems I am no longer on the force."
"I would expect no less for such harassment of an injured man. You will also be hearing from my lawyers. Now get out."
Once the officers and the former detective had left the room, Darren visibly relaxed, the tension in his shoulders easing. He turned back to Joey, who was looking up at him in awe.
"I can't believe you just did that for me," the blond said.
"Of course I did, Joey," Darren said, leaning down and cupping the young man's cheek. "I love you."
He'd said those words so easily. Joey had known how Darren felt about him, and he felt the same way, but neither of them had actually voiced those feelings yet. Joey just hadn't found what felt like the right time to say them. But now... "I love you too, Darren. I love you so much!" He wrapped his arms around Darren's neck again.
The Atlantean smiled and kissed his lover again. He thrust his tongue into Joey's mouth, groaning at the blond's taste. Finally, it looked as those things were going to start going right for them.
Joey was permitted to go home later that day, and Darren stayed by his side the whole time.
"How's Mokuba holding up?" Joey asked as the private helicopter landed in the back yard of Darren's manor.
Darren sighed a bit as he helped Joey exit the helicopter. "He's handling it about as well as one would expect when someone loses their last living blood relative. And given how close they used to be... It's really taking a toll on him. But Allister's helping him as best he can."
Joey was silent as they approached the doors of the rear patio and moved inside. His mind was swirling with thoughts of Kaiba's death, and just what could have driven him to such an act.
As they headed into the kitchen, they came across Mokuba standing at the counter, sobbing into Allister's abs. The red-headed youth looked at a total loss as to how to console his small lover and looked to Darren for help.
Darren stepped forward after giving Joey's cheek a soothing kiss. He knelt down and gently pulled Mokuba to face him. "Mokuba, I know the pain you feel, losing someone so close to your heart as Seto was. And as much as I hated your brother for the way he treated people and what his company cost me, he deserved to live just as much as anyone on this planet. The loss of him is going to hurt for a long time, and will never truly leave you. But, if you forget the bad times between you and hold only the good memories in your heart, it will lessen."
Joey watched this exchange, taking in every word Darren said as if he were speaking to him as well. More than anyone in the room, the ancient prince well knew the pain of losing a sibling. In fact, of the four people standing there, only Joey still had a sibling left. It made him feel oddly out of place.
He turned to leave, only to be stopped by Serenity appearing in the doorway. A big smile broke out on her face and she rushed to her brother, pulling him into a tight embrace.
"Oh Joey! I'm so glad you're OK!" she exclaimed against his chest. "I was so worried when I heard you got put in the hospital again."
"Don't you worry kiddo, I've got too hard a head for a little bump to do me in," Joey assured as Darren came up behind him.
"I'm sure you'd like to catch up with your brother, dear Serenity, but it's been a long day for us all. I think perhaps it'd be best if for tonight at least, we all turn in a bit early," Darren said gently.
She nodded her understanding and gave Joey's cheek a goodnight kiss before sweeping back out of the room.
Darren looked over his shoulder and nodded to Allister and Mokuba before placing a hand on Joey's shoulder and leading him out as well. They ascended the stairs, Joey awfully quiet and Darren just as much so.
When they reached their bedroom, Joey started crying, leaning heavily against Darren. "Joey, what's wrong?" Darren asked, the sound of his lover's sobs wrenching his heart.
"Why?"
"Why what, imora?"
"Why did Seto have to die? I tried to kill myself twice for him and I failed both times. He does it once for me and he actually dies! Why didn't I die instead of him?"
Darren was at a loss for words. He could clearly see what the problem was, Joey was suffering survivor's guilt. But what could he say to make him feel better? "Joey..." he began, cupping his lover's chin.
Joey jerked back from the gesture and shook his head. "I... I need to be alone tonight. I'm sorry..." And before Darren could stop him, the blond dashed off to his own bedroom, locking it behind him.
The prince was left out in hall for several minutes, simply staring at the door his lover has disappeared through. Finally, he turned away and entered his room. Leaning against the door, he sighed. "Even dead, you manage to keep him from me you bastard," he grumbled.
Trin watched the whole affair, invisible to all around him. Ever since Darren had visited his grave, the former Atlantean knight had taken up residence in the manor he'd once called home. Silently, he shook his head at seeing his prince so upset. He'd met Kaiba a few times when he was alive, and he'd never cared for the guy. This wasn't going to be easy to fix, and as a Shade, his aid was going to be limited, but he'd do what he could.
A few days later, Kaiba's funeral was held in Domino. Despite living in Japan, Kaiba had given instructions to have a Christian funeral. Everyone who knew him was in attendance, some glad to see him finally dead, and some genuinely sad to see that he'd left this world.
When it came time to give eulogies, Yugi came up to the podium first. "Seto Kaiba was one of the bravest people I've ever met. When it came to his company or his brother, there was nothing he wouldn't do to keep either one safe. His death, is honestly a tragic loss for those of us who truly knew him. He wasn't always the nicest person, but his heart was genuinely strong."
Next was Joey. "Once, I was in love with Seto Kaiba. He didn't return my feelings, but that didn't matter to me. The very strength Yugi spoke of was what attracted me to him in the first place. Somewhere along the line, his strength failed him, and the burdens of his life became too much. That's when he... When he..." At this point, Joey was too upset to continue, and Darren came up to lead him back to his seat, a supportive arm around him the whole time.
And lastly, Mokuba came forward to speak about his late brother. "Seto was all I had in this world for a long time. We were orphaned before I was old enough to remember our parents. Seto took care of me while we lived at the orphanage, even force Gozabura to adopt me as well. We had a lot of rough times, sure, what with me being kidnapped every now and then. But no one ever had a better brother. I just wish I could have told him how much I loved him one more time before he passed. Maybe it would have stopped him..."
As everyone left the funeral, Darren led Joey and their friends to his limo to take them all home. He and Joey were still sleeping in separate bedrooms, despite Darren's every attempt to woo his lover back to his side. Today he wasn't even going to try, deciding Joey was under enough strain at the moment. But before he could get his blond lover into the limo, they were approached by a nondescript man in a somber gray suit.
"Joey Wheeler and Yami Motou?" he asked.
"That's right,"Joey said as Yami poked his head out of the limo at the sound of his name being called.
"I represent Seto Kaiba's estate. Your presence is required at the reading of the will. According to the will, he left both of you something of great importance. Meet me at Kaiba Corp tomorrow at one pm sharp."
As the man walked away, Joey and and Yami looked at each other. What could Seto Kaiba possibly have left them?
Author's Note: Here it is, the thrilling conclusion of the Shattered Dream trilogy! Will Darren and Joey be able to mend their relationship even as Joey struggles with regret about not dying for Kaiba as he'd hoped to do so long ago? And what could Kaiba have left our favorite blonde and the ancient Pharaoh? Stay tuned for the next chapter to find out! As always my loyal fans, reviews are more than welcome, but no flames.
