I do not any way, shape, or form own Yu-Gi-Oh! or its characters.

This story is rated Mature as it contains adult language, situations and a couple of sex scenes in later chapters.

Nor do I in any way make profit from this story.

Shattered Dream Part 1: Heart of a Dragon

Chapter 1

"Come on Joey, how big can this secret be?" Tristan asked, nudging his friend's shoulder as they waited for class to start.

"Yeah, we're your friends Joey," Yugi added while Tea nodded beside him. "We won't tell anyone."

Joey let his honey eyes roam over the faces of his best friends, looking for any signs of deceit. Finally with a deep sigh, he whispered out, "I'm in love with Kaiba."

At this, Yugi merely blinked rapidly, Tea's mouth fell open, and Tristan nearly fell out of his chair. The sight of them was enough to place a small smile on Joey's lips. "Kaiba?" Tristan choked out. "But he hates you. He can't even look at you without scowling."

"I know!" Joey snapped. "That's why I never said anything. And since school starts back up today, I don't know what I'll do if he keeps treating me like dirt."

"Speak of the devil," Tea said, pointing at the door. Seto Kaiba, third best Duelist in the world and head of Kaiba Corp, entered the classroom with his usual arrogance and pride. As his blue eyes fell on Joey and friends, a frown formed on his thin lips and he took a seat a good distance away from them.

Before anyone could stop him, Joey rose from his desk and approached Kaiba, stopping inches away from his secret love's seat. The CEO's azure gaze looked the blond over for a moment before his lips parted. "What do you want, mutt?" he asked curtly.

Shrugging off the insult, Joey said, "Well Kaiba I was thinking that since we haven't given each other any grief all summer, maybe we could have a fresh start and be friends." Smiling softly, he held out his hand to shake Kaiba's.

Kaiba knocked Joey's hand away and stood so he was face to face with him. "Listen up mutt," he growled. "I'm only going to say this once. The only reason you haven't caused me trouble this summer is because I was smart enough to take Mokuba on a world tour. Now get this through your thick, blond head; I see you as nothing more than a third-rate Duelist whose father is a drunk loser and so is his son. I would sell Kaiba Corp before being friends with you." Kaiba shoved Joey aside and stormed out of the room.

Joey stood there in shock as his friends came up behind him. Tristan reached out to place a hand on his shoulder when the blond bolted from the classroom as well. He ran into the restroom and locked himself in a stall. Reaching into his pocket, he pulled out a crumpled piece of paper and a pen and began to write.

Once he had finished writing, he put the pen away, folded the paper, and drew a razor blade out of his other pocket. He looked at it, wondering for the thousandth time that morning if this was really the course of action he should take. As he turned the small yet lethally sharp blade this way and that, the overhead lights made its edge glint in a way that almost seemed like it was begging him to use it.

Joey sighed and leaned his head against the wall of the bathroom stall he sat in, letting the razor fall to the floor. Like any bathroom in a Japanese school, it was spotlessly clean to maintain the image of perfection their school system strode towards. It hardly seemed like a fitting place to die. But then, Kaiba always made him feel like a piece of shit, so maybe it was appropriate in a metaphorical way of thinking.

Kaiba had always been hard on him, but after everything they'd been through together, one would think he'd at least begin to soften towards them, and himself in particular a little. Hadn't he made it all the way to the semi finals of Battle City after all? Hadn't he risked himself just as much as Kaiba to save Mokuba from the Big Five and Noah? Couldn't he have at least hesitated for a moment before giving his answer earlier that morning? God, the constant scorn and insults were just getting to be so much, and this morning was the clencher. Kaiba would never change. And loving him would only continue to result in pain and suffering for Joey. And his friends would be caught in the middle and have to watch him suffer and pine with no way to help.

No, this was best for everyone in his life. His father hated him, his mother hated him, the man he loved hated him. Yeah his friends and sister loved him, but it just wasn't enough. Why wasn't he worthy of being loved by his parents, and by someone he'd gone through hell to aid despite his continually cruel actions? Reaching down, he picked up the blade off the floor, that wicked glint from the light returning to the blade. Biting his lip in determination, he put the blade to his wrist and slowly drew it across...


Author's Note: Please feel free to review the story as you read. Fan opinions are always appreciated. Just please try not to flame the story too bad at the end. Also note that the chapters do get longer than this as the story goes.

This is only part one of a three part story for those of you who may feel the need for answers at the end of this tale. So just hang in there and all will be revealed in time.