Disclaimer: I don't own Yu-Gi-Oh! Or any of the characters in it. All I own is a few cards and Willow. {Please don't sue me. I got nothing you're interested in}

Time on a chain

Seto watched as Mokie ran down the stairs to the waiting car. He was taking his friends to the Golden Arcade for the evening. "Bye Seto I'll be back at 10:30"

He wished he had some friends. Yugi had told him over and over that they would be his

friends but after all the things that he had done he knew that they would only tolerate him out of

guilt. But Mokuba hadn't done the things he had so he trusted them to help him; even the

"Mutt"; for some reason Jou Wheeler liked Moki. And Moki liked Jou "Go figure!"

Willow grunted and straightened. She was tired, wet, cold, hungry, and pissed. Why

couldn't she get an assignment that didn't involve travel in the shadow lands just once? She

didn't mind that she was a killer, that was what she was good at. She had been an assassin since

the age of 12 (or was it 13) she wasn't really sure. There was a discrepancy in the time flow

between the "real" world and the shadow lands. It confused her sometimes; but what was as

confusing was that she didn't age in that place. So while she was 17 in the real world she had

spent six years with the sensai and another eight killing.

She had to admit that she really didn't mind much. She wasn't social. She had a rotten

temper, so bad that even the worst cut-throat took one look at her and backed up. She had the

"killer-eye"; that look that said "How short do you want your life to be?" She was really

unassuming to look at. Four feet, nine inches tall with a mop of screaming red hair and purple eyes, with tiny gold flecks swirling in them. But when her eyes turned all molten gold; grown men pissed themselves.

Her job was to get in places that others couldn't and to kill the unkillable. She had even

taken on daemons and won. At what cost she couldn't say. She didn't feel anymore, not like other girls or even men. She felt empty and cold, so cold, even when she lost her fabled temper. That was cold too. Maybe it was time to quit, or die. She wasn't afraid to die. She was afraid to learn to like killing, it would be so easy; easier than it was now. Did she want this or was it time to let go and .... And what? Die, ease her constant cold rage by killing and killing until someone cut her down? No! She had gotten into this because she was one of the few who could protect the innocent world from the Shadows. She put her body and sanity on the line so that others wouldn't know the pain of servitude to the shadows, and her sanity was beginning to slip.

"Well, baka, get up and go home!" Home to and empty apartment until she was called

again. "Powers That Be, my butt", she grumbled. At least she could get warm and dry; sleep in a

bed for a while and eat something that she didn't have to chase down or steal.

Jounchi was his real name, but he went by Jou or Joey. He hated that "other" name, the

one his Father called him. He hated his father. Drunk most of the time, Pop drank up every

penny he got and made Joey do things that he hated to get more.

Tonight was going to be bad, really, really bad. The "buyer" that was coming tonight

liked to hurt him. That was what Joey dreaded most; the hitters and hurters. All the men his

father sold him to were garbage; some were mean, others were just stupid. This guy was a cut

below the average. He was cruel in the extreme. Beating Joey until he couldn't stand and then

ramming into him until he couldn't help but scream. That was want he liked, to hear him scream

and beg.

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Mokuba looked at his watch, "Oh, Shit...Shit....Shit! Seto is going to absolutely have a

cow! I promised him I would be in by 10:00pm and it's almost 11. Dammit, Toshiro-kun why

didn't you tell me?"

"Sorry Mokie, I lost track, too. Will he really be mad at you? He seems to let you get

away with almost anything." Toshiro looked worried. He was kind of scared of Kiba-sama,

something about the way Seto Kiba looked at them all ( like they were made of glass and he

could see their very thoughts) made him ... uncomfortable was an under statement.

Mokuba sighed. "I gave my word. That's very important to Big Brother. So many

people who promised us things broke their word because it So, yeah he'll be

mad. I'll call him and tell him I'm on my way."

"Don't bother, I'm here." Seto frowned at his Little Brother. "You had me worried half to

death. Do you have your home work done?" Mokie shook his head. "Didn't think so."

"Look, I know that you have degrees in accounting, business management and electronic

engineering, but this is more so that you can meet kids your own age and have friends. If you

fluff off on your home work the others will think that you are putting them down and getting

away with stuff because you are my brother. Do you want that?"

"No. I don't, but could you please keep your fussing until we get home. I hate it when

you scowl at me like that in front of my friends. You'll scare them into fits."

Mokie turned to look at his friends. They all looked scared; backing up slowly, hands out

"Easy, Easy....Sorry, Sorry..." "We won't do it again, Kaiba-sama, please don't punish Mokie-

kun!" "Don't be mad"

Seto took a deep breath let it out slowly and said, "I will punish him. He is all the family I have. I love him more that life itself, but I'm grounding him for a week. He broke a promise." "Come on Mokie, let's go."

Mokie grabbed his backpack. "Ok. I'll see you guys at school Monday. Don't worry

Seto's bark is worse that his bite. At least with me. "

As they walked out the door of the arcade Mokie eyed Seto askance. He didn't look

really mad, just more aggravated than anything else. {Well, that was a close one. Stupid. Too

worry Big Brother like that when he had more important things to worry about. I'll just have to be more careful in the future. It's not like I don't have an alarm in my watch. Why didn't I set the stupid thing.}

"What was that? Big Brother, I heard something over there behind the dumpster.

Something's hurt! Come on!"

Seto snarled under his breath. Mokie would find some mangey mutt or alley cat and

insist on taking it to the vet. He really didn't feel like messing with some bloody mongrel just

now. He wanted to go home and veg, on the couch, in the dark, quiet living room for a change. He didn't feel like that was too much to ask. But Mokie... Well, he didn't ask much either, so....

What Seto found wasn't a mutt, it was THE Mutt; bloody, beaten and looking like forty

pages of bad contract law. "What the fucking hell have you been doing!? Street fighting? You

dumb ass!"

"Go 'way." Joey cowered back, nearly blind because his eyes were swollen almost shut.

You got your money's worth. Leave me alone now. I..I can't. Please, I beg you. You like that

don't you? Please....Please...." Joey bowed down to the ground, hands pressed to the dirty pavement, forehead resting on them.. He knew that this pleased the Bastard, made him feel good, like a noble. Maybe this time it would help."Beg you, noble lord don't hurt me any more"

"Mokie, go get the car. NOW....MOVE." Seto didn't want Mokie to see this; it would break his heart. Maybe he could get Wheeler into the car without him seeing much. "Wheeler, what the hell have you gotten yourself into now. Dammit. Who did this to you? You may be a pest and a mutt"....Grunt...."but you don't deserve this. Stop struggling! How can I get you into the car if you keep fighting." Seto couldn't believe the mess Joey was. His shirt was torn and so were his jeans. Stains testified to other things that had been done to him, things Seto knew too much about. "Damn, I'm going to kill someone soo dead."

Joey finally realized who had hold of him, almost carrying him. "Noooo, let go. You

prick, You fucker. I won't do you....I won't. Kill me now. Shoot me. Beat me till I die...I won't"....sobs..."you'll tell everyone." Joey thrashed frantically for a moment, but his diminishing strength gave out almost at once. "I want to die. I can't believe that fucker

sold me twice in one night. Oh, hell!" Joey reached for the button on his jeans. "Do me; then go! Maybe you"ll be the one who finally does me in. Maybe you'll rip me so bad I bleed out and die."

Seto felt, tasted vomit in his mouth.{What a world we live in. Fathers sell their sons, or

fuck them themselves. Shit...damn...hell...} "Stop kicking, Mutt. I don't do boys. Especially

beaten, bloody messes like you. I'm taking you home with me. Mokie is bringing the car. I'll

...{I'll what....call the police....they'll send him back to Pops. Take him to hospital...same thing

Well, looks like I have another broken winged bird on my hands. Oh, Mokie. What the hell did

you get me into this time}. Seto gripped Joey more firmly, causing him to yelp in pain.

"This one thinks that small brother does not wish to go with you." Willow remarked

offhandedly. "Should you not let go of him this one will be unhappy"

"Huh! Piss off!" Seto didn't know who this girl was, but she was in the way and talking

crazy. "He's hurt badly and needs to be taken care of. I'm taking him home to do just that. And I

don't care if you're unhappy or not. So scram." Seto prepared to fight, he wasn't sure why this girl was interfering, but he didn't have time for this.

Willow looked the boy over. He was tall and slender but he had muscle under his long

coat. He was holding a struggling boy almost as big as he was and making a good job of it. The

only effect his struggles had was to tousle his taffy colored hair, the flash in his sapphire eyes

warned he that he might fight. {Arrogant, Haughty, probably rich, spoiled and used to getting his

own way. And paying off the complainers or frightening them. Wouldn't think that he would want a mess like that one.}

"Again I say, leave him. I will see to it that he is in hospital. Walk away. Now." She

didn't bother to raise her voice. He could hear her well enough. Whatever he had done to this boy was very bad, his condition was terrible and she meant to see that he wasn't hurt anymore. All that talk of sex just meant rape of the worst sort.

Turning her head Willow tracked the sound of foot steps, two of them. One a man, one a

boy headed for ..... here. Well.

"Mr. Kaiba, Sir. What?! Stand away! I have a ....YOW!!. "The small throwing dart

appeared in the back of the man's hand like a strange piece of jewelry, its tassel swaying. The man dropped the gun he had reached for and grabbed his right hand in his left. Blood oozed through his fingers.

"I'm sorry. I really hate being shot at. I spoils my day. You! Stand away yourself. "

Willow wondered if she would have to kill tonight. It had started out so nice. The Powers had told her she would get a nice assignment for a change. "Please, this one doesn't wish to hurt you." Maybe nice would get her somewhere, or not. The Taffy Hair didn't even flinch. His grip on the Hurt One tightened.

Willow moved like a flash of lightening, first here, then behind the smaller boy, the one with black hair. She smirked at Taffy Hair raising an eyebrow. She wouldn't hurt the boy but she knew that it was enough to look mean and smile.

The elegant ones eyes widened in fear. "NO! Don't hurt him. Let him go."

Joey gathered his courage. Kaiba was still holding him, rather more gently now since he had quit kicking around. "I don't want to go home. I can't. I.. I'll go with Kaiba. He doesn't like me enough to want to fuck me so I'll go. I should have known better. I'm not good enough for him." He knew Kaiba liked girls, expensive, elegant girls. Not bloody, scarred, used up Mutts. "Put me down. I'll walk..." Joeys knees buckled as Seto let his feet drop. "Or not. Damn!"

Whatever else he would have said was lost as the blond boy fainted, almost falling to the dirty alley pavement.

Seto snarled, "Now look what you've done. He's too weak for this shit. I don't know

who you are and I don't care. I'll get you for this and for my driver. He's a good man and does a

good job."

Willow sighed," This one is sorry. There is a mistake. I believed that you were

responsible for his hurt. I will help you if I can. I'll call..." {Good job Willow. One of these

boys is the one you are to help "Go to the alley behind the Golden Arcade. Protect the boy"

Cryptic Much! Shit! At least her annoyance was fading. She had been told that she talked funny before she really lost it.}

"No! No hospital!" In stereo, as both Seto and Joey talked at once. Seto turned to Mokuba. "Mokie get the car. We'll take both Joey and Saki home."

Mokuba felt completely out of step. What had just happened? Saki was a fast draw. A

fact that had saved both Seto and him several times; but that dart had just appeared in Saki's

hand and she had popped up behind him like magic. Wow! Fast wasn't the word. Mokuba went

to get the car. He wasn't old enough to drive but had driven on the estate since the age of nine.

Getting the car wasn't difficult. Leaving Big Brother with that weird girl was.

She made the back of his neck creep.

"Yaaa! Where'd you come from?!"

"The alley, Baka. I'll drive. Scoot." Willow took the wheel. Until she knew who she

was guarding she wasn't letting any of them out of her sight.

Saki pulled the dart out of the back of his hand. It was short and had entered his hand

between the bones doing little damage. It hurt like hell but that was what he was payed for. Kaiba

was a prick of the first water but he payed well and made sure anyone who got hurt was taken

care of. He recognized the dart. Damn! It belonged to a Shadow Warrior called Cutting Wind

He knew about people like her because his Boss was involved in part of the Shadow Wars so he

kept up thru contacts. He sighed. Good jobs were hard to find, but he wasn't going out for Kaiba.

He didn't like him enough.

"Excuse me, Mr. Kaiba. I quit." Saki walked off down the alley cradling his bleeding

hand.

"Son of a Bitch! What was that about? He knows I take care of my people. Well, can't be

helped now. Come on, Mutt. I'll help you into the car. Mokie just got here..." "What the hell are

you doing?! Get out of there! Now!" Seto had just about had it with this crazy girl. First she

tries to take Joey, then she darted Saki, threatened Mokuba, smiling like a fox....and now she was calmly setting in his car behind the wheel, looking at him like she didn't give a damn.

"I don't give a damn. Get in or don't get in. Your friend is going to bleed to death before you decide what to do. Tell me where to go. The squirt can't drive on public streets. Want to get

stopped?"

Seto gave in. Joey needed to be cared for very soon. He was bleeding from his back and

legs, but thankfully no where vital. Hopefully. The amount of blood he had lost was bad but if he was cared for soon he'd be ok.

He put Joey in the back seat and climbed in after. "Pine View. Go straight 3 miles turn

left, follow the drive around to the side door. It'll be easier to get him in from there. Yikes!!"

Seto yelped as Crazy Girl took off like speed limits were for Martians not her.

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Willow pulled up were Taffy Hair (Kaiba) told her to. Black Hair(Mokie?) had sat beside

her as she drove, saying nothing only yelping a little as she pushed the Mercedes to it's limits.

She hoped that Hurt One (Mutt???) wasn't damaged inside. He'd bleed out if he was. {Strange. I

hope.... didn't know I could do that anymore}

Seto examined Joey as best he could in the back seat of the car. It was a big car but not

that big. Joey, well, he was a mess plus. His back was cut, as if by a whip or slender rod. As were his thighs across the outsides. Further exam would have to wait until he was flat. Also nothing to do for the bleeding until then.

Mokuba felt so sorry for Joey he wanted to cry. He hadn't seen much. But he remembered the many times he and Seto had cared for each other when Gozaburo punished them for some slight or forgotten triviality, some lesson forgotten or other offence.

{Shudder...No...don't think about it. Big Brother was safe now and would keep him safe too}

Willow pushed the powerful car for all it was worth. If Joey was hurt inside he didn't have much time. She wasn't sure why neither Kaiba or Joey wanted to go to a hospital, but they both had been adamant. She was used to this kind of hiding herself, some times she needed to hide her wounds until she was safe, she didn't think that much of taking Joey to Seto's house instead.

As Willow started up the drive Seto snarled "Around to the side door. We can't get him into the room I want without trailing all through to house. I don't want to have to carry him that far."

Getting Joey out of the car and into the house without hurting him was impossible. After

a moment's thought Seto snarled," Damn! I'll just have to hurt him and be done with it."

"Here, let me. You'll get blood on that pretty coat, Kaiba-chan." Willow reached into the

back seat and hauled. Joey moaned but didn't struggle. "Hurt him a lot once or torture him a little

along. I prefer one big hurt, myself."

Joey tried to help, but everything hurt so much he couldn't concentrate long enough to do

much. There was no place to touch him that didn't ache with a slow throb that matched his heart

beat. All his blood seemed to be on the out side. {maybe I'll get my wish and die. It'd be nice to

die in a bed instead of an alley. Pop, Oh, Pop I'll never get my other wish. I wish you were going

to hell with me.}

"I've got him on this side. You get him from the other and we can carry/walk him by

holding his belt, get his arm over your shoulder." Willow got Mutt from her side. "Do you think I'm a fool! I know what to do."Seto snarled "Crazy Girl"

Seto got him from his side and they got him inside, down a side hall and into a room at the back near the kitchen. A servants room. Well better than nothing and warm and dry.

Seto went to work at once. With Joey flat at last he could check him over and tend him.

Willow leaned against the wall and watched. Arms crossed over her chest her right foot

cocked against the outside of her left, relaxed, ready. Always ready. Kaiba-chan seemed to

know what he was doing so she left well enough alone. Mokuba ran back and forth getting what

Kaiba-chan asked for, so she just leaned and watched.

"NO! Seto don't....Please.....Please......I won't let you. [panting] No..no..no..it hurts...Please Seto."

"Calm down, Mutt, I'm not molesting you. I have to find out if you are ripped anywhere.

I know It's unpleasant. Probably even hurts, the shape you're in, but it has to be done. If you

hold still and relax it won't hurt too much."

Willow frowned, but what Kaiba-chan said made sense. If he was torn inside.....

"I'll hold him. Just be quick He's traumatized enough."

Turning to Joey she pushed down on his shoulders. "Hold still, Mutt. Wiggle, I'll hurt you. I'm strong. Don't generally handle small one's like you."

Joey held still. The humiliation of having not only Kaiba but some strange girl doing

what they did just about made him sick. "I won't cry.....I won't cry" But he did. With Seto Kaiba

holding him and a strange, crazy girl patting his foot

When he finally quieted . Seto made him swallow pills. Antibiotics, pain, and a light sedative. {I'm a doctor. After all. I never served an internship. Damn Him. But I know enough to take care of this} He'd be out for at least 24 hours. Maybe more. When he woke up they'd have to have a talk.