Ok I was a little depressed when I wrote this but, I was given the idea while racing home from the movies.
Disclamer: I don't own Yugioh nor do I own Joey, or any of it's characters

Chapter 1

My brother

Once you thought you had the world in your hand, but what if one day something went wrong, and there was nothing you could do to stop it, but what if there was hope a tiny shimmer of it? That's the way I felt when my brother was born I hated him so much, he got all of Mom's and Dad's attention, even my godfather's attention. I was left in the cold alone.

However, watching the little squirt sleep, when I was six as he lay in his crib one night, made my heart change, maybe for the best. He looked so cute sucking his thumb while he slept, a lot of things came to my head, first was I was going to some day wrestle him just like I wrestle my dad all the time, or at how we used to until my little brother was born.

He was so small, when he was born only a few pounds, and he was a month early, though the doctors said he was fine there could be complications later when he got older. My little brother, he was so innocent, yet I hated him so much, but as my mother held me over his crib, that changed. I saw what new things could happen, so what if he was getting all the attention now, I would be the one to clear the way for him, to open the door, heck I would be the one to graduate before him, or so I thought.

I watch my brother even if I hated him after his first birthday; he still got all the attention in the world. Little did I know then, why he was getting so much attention? When he was 5 years old and I was 11, we were playing outside, my brother was so fast and smart he could predict football plays with just as he looked at the line in front of him. I stood next to him as my friends lined up in front of him. We tackled but never hard, it was all for fun. As we played that day my brother and I were on our way back to the line, just as something that I thought would never happen did.

My kid brother grabbed his chest in pain as he slowed down, and began to fall. I turned laughing with my bodies, to see why my brother had slowed down so much, then I saw it, my brother was down and barely breathing. I yelled at the top of my lungs his name catching the attention of my parents and my friends' parents. My brother was sick, and I had never known it, until that day.

That night at the hospital I learned everything, my parents confessed to me why I was not in their full attention. My brother was sick from the moment he was born, he had an under developed kidney and it was now failing him slowly. I looked at my brother differently, from then on. The doctor that night told my parents that my brother would one-day need a kidney transplant little did I know that day would come when I was 16 years old.

My name is Joseph Andrew Wheeler Jr. and this is the story of how I wanted to save my brother.

It was a warm autumn day in Domino city I stood with my friends on the basketball court, Kate, Ryan, Ryou Jr., and Chris, looking over the city from the court since it was atop of the school. I sighed knowing that today my little brother who was now almost ten was going to go see yet another doctor.

I had shabby blonde hair, brown eyes, and loved to fight, however that ended when I made friends with a little girl named Kate, who just so happened to be one of the best female duelist in the world, way better then me.

Kate, now were talking about a girl with a future ahead of her, she was the daughter of none other then Yugi Moto you heard me folks, Yugi Moto. The so-called, "King of Games prodigy," as May papers put it. However, Kate with her long red and blonde highlighted hair was no prodigy; in fact, that teenage girl hated that word. Yes, she was one of the best duelist in the world however she would love to one day prove that she was her own person. Like my friend Ryan, now there is my best buddy in the world, not to mention my cousin.

Ryan, what to say about him with his brown hair and my Aunt's eyes, not to mention attitude problem when it came to who could though a better punch between me and him. Ryan was older then me by a year and he was cool to hang out with, not to mention he was trying to keep girls from him left and right. Ryou who was voted hottest person in our class has never really been on a date.

Ryou Jr. as in the son of Ryou Bakura, yeah "Mr. Graveyard" as I teased him about all the time. You see ever since Ryou Bakura had gotten rid of his evil half he had kind of a dark life, and what better way then to take a job as an undertaker. He found a nice girl and settled down with her, and of course, there is my friend Ryou from that happy couple. However, Ryou Jr mom died after his fifth birthday from a car accident and ever since his father had been going down hill. Until he landed a job as an undertaker, so now Ryou Jr, hangs with me to remember there is a little more to life then death.

In addition, finally Christopher Ishtar, now what could I say about a boy from a family of tomb keepers. Oh, I know, how about the son of a psychopath Marik Ishtar, ok maybe that was a little much. Chris is actually really, a nice guy, he loves to hang with Kate we all know he has had a huge crush on her since well since I have known the guy, which was like pre kindergarten. Chris looked like his dad except, he had dark brown eyes. I have not one clue where he got them but they freaked me out on more then one occasion for example, last Halloween, however that is another story.

Well anyways, we were all sitting or standing up there on the roof looking out on the city leaning on the gate. I sighed like usual, Kate looking through her new duel monster cataloged that her dad gave her. Chris and Ryou trying to come up with a sneaky way to get a teacher pissed off. Ryan looking at me to see if I was ok, which truthfully I was not for my parents could barely pay the bills for my brother to see another doctor that in the end would just assign my brother more medicine just to keep him going.

"Dude, you ok?" asked Ryan, that day. I nodded, "Fine," I lied, looking at my shoes. Kate looked up from her magazine she could tell by my voice something was wrong, "Joe, is something wrong?" she asked standing up letting her pink uniform go unfixed. I nodded, "Peachy, why are you two thinking that there's something wrong with me?" I asked.

Ryou and Chris looked up from their piece of notepaper with their plan on it, "You haven't said anything since we got out of school, and your usually cracking bad jokes or something," said Ryou. "Yeah I haven't heard one, joke about how the food tasted in the cafeteria, or about the prank that Ryou and I pulled on Kate's mom during Gym.

Kate shot the two an evil glare, "Hey you know my mom thinks that was me," she snapped at them. Ryou and Chris made cheesy smiles, "Hey you're the one that suggested the crazy glue," said Ryan, knowing the whole plan. Kate did a nervous laugh, "oh was that my fault that you actually went with my idea of crazy gluing my mom's hand to a dance rail?" asked Kate.

I gave a fake laugh, "ah ha, you are guilty," I said trying to make it look like I was faking depressed face. However they all saw right though it and I sighed, "You know Joe, you are a crappy liar," said Ryan, as Ryou, Kate and Chris nodded their heads. I looked down at my feet, knowing that it would come out eventually.

"Ok, guys, just quit giving me those faces, I am worried about Josh," I said turning towards the city. Ryan, Kate, Ryou, and Chris raised eyebrow, they all knew about my brother being sick and all, however they knew I also felt a little guilty about him being sick. "Hey," said Kate putting her hand on my shoulder, "It will work out, they will find a donor for your brother we just can't give up," she said.

I gave a weak smile, "thanks Kat," I said looking at her, "but not this time," I sighed now putting my head on the fence. "Ryan?" spoke Kate worried, "Do you know?" My cousin nodded slowly, "I think Joe is bummed because his parents had to move his brother to a new doctor," he said. I nodded when I felt Kate grip my shoulder, "This one will do the same thing as all the others, take my brother put him on more meds, then say we will have to wait, then they take all our money then ship him to another doctor, if only there was something I could do," I said kicking the fence.

Ryan, Ryou, Chris and Kate looked at me, afraid that my built up anger would lash out at them. Normally I would head home and punch my kickboxing bag however; I broke it last night because I was so mad. Kate removed her hand, and took a long breath "Joe, don't lose hope," she said and went to collect her things, "I never do, I guess I get that from my dad." I turned as Kate smiled at me, "Thanks Kate," I said weakly, as Ryan put his hand on my shoulder, "Yeah, man don't worry, your brother is tough, he has been for the last 4 years. He will have a donor soon," he said, picking up his bag. Ryou and Chris nodded in agreement, "Yeah, Josh is a cool kid even if he was annoying us when we were younger, he is one of the toughest people we have ever seen, Joe, you can help your brother," said Chris. I nodded at the two, "thanks guys, but hope won't save him if we can't pay for the transplant," I said taking my bag and walking away.

I walked home that day, alone, it was getting late I didn't want to have my friends with me, since I had just my bike, and bag with me, not to mention, I need some me time. I came to my house it was not much but it was home, with its bad blue paint job, and dead grass, the place looked like it should had been condemned. However with almost all our money going to my brother's medications, we could not live like kings, but it was still home.

I walked in the door, expecting to see my golden retriever, Rocky jump on me, however he did not come nor did I hear and see him near the house or backyard. I lowered my head as I walked into the kitchen to find a note.

Sorry Joe, but we had to do some things,

Dinner is on your own, tonight.

Oh and your father and I would like to talk to you about Rocky.

Sincerely Mai, aka your mother

I hit my head on the closest cabinet door, "Dam Mom why couldn't let me say good bye to my dog before you sold him," I muttered as I hurt my forehead. I sighed and turned my attention to making dinner, figuring that my parents and brother probably had eaten before they left. I opened the refrigerator to fine a few cups of fruit, half a pizza and some corn dogs that were left over from last night. I took the corn dogs, pulled out the pan, and shoved them into the oven knowing that they would be down in an hour.

Walking up the old creaky stairs to my room, I found some thing interesting on the floor asleep again. I smiled, as I picked gently kicked Josh's best friend Preethi. The young Indian girl lifted her head, to look at me, "Joe?" she asked in a tired voice. I nodded in the darkness of the hallway, "Preethi how did you get in here?" I asked. The young girl who could was only 9 years old stood up. "I came in from the back door it was unlocked, and I came to see Josh," she said. I sighed as I watched her smile at me, "Well Josh is at the doctor, umm," I said knowing that she was probably hiding from her parents again.

"I will go if you want me to, Joe I was just…" she started to say, as I shook my head. "It's ok Preethi, are you hungry I am making corn dogs?" I offered some of my dinner knowing that I was not probably going to eat them all anyways. Preethi nodded her head as she followed me down stairs.

An hour later my brother came home with my parents, Preethi was still over finishing what was left of my corn dog since all I could eat was half of it. My mother was happy to be home and my brother looked as tired as ever as he slowly walked toward the stairs. Preethi went help my brother while my mom sighed and laid her purse next to the phone. I was glaring at her, "I am sorry, Joe, we had to sell Rocky," were the first words out of her mouth. I nodded, "What ever," I said knowing that it was for Josh, and that he was with a new family one that could probably feed him better then we ever could.

"I understand, Mom you don't have to say anything, he was starting to starve and he is with a better family now," I said trying to keep my anger about not being able to say good-bye to my dog that I got for a birthday present when I was three. "Where's dad?" I asked knowing he was probably out at another job. "Working again, he has the late shift as a guard tonight," she said. I leaned back in my chair, "Mom, why don't you let me work, I could get the money to help Josh," I pleaded. My mom shook her head, "Joseph Wheeler, I will not let you do such a thing. It's bad enough that your father has four jobs, and my fashion business is right now in the red, however I want you to stay in school and work hard do you hear me," she snapped.

I nodded afraid to upset her more, "Yes, ma'am." "Good" she said, "now you better get to bed, and I will send Preethi home since she has probably been here since we left," said Mai. I nodded, "Night mom," I sighed walking towards the stairs, halfway up I stopped just and faked the last steps. I caught the sound that I wished never to hear again in my life, I heard my mother crying at the table.

I bit my lip and quietly walked up the stairs, I saw my brother's room, and the light was still on so I decided to say good night to the guy. Preethi was sitting at my brother's desk, while he sat on the bed, "Hey, Joey check out these cards that Preethi gave me," he said showing them to me. I smiled, "That's cool," I said trying to sound excited when really the cards were a bunch of commons, nothing too great however, to my brother anything he could get new was awesome to him.

My brother with his short auburn colored hair that matched his aunt's color, shook as he found one of his favorite cards, "COOL Preethi where did you get this," he said holding up the card. Preethi giggled, "I got it at the Game shop own by Yugi Moto," she said, with a giggle. I smiled just to be nice, "Look Joey, look at the cool card," he said showing me the Red eyes black chick, another common card, at least to me. "Neat bro, well I am going to bed, night Josh, night Preethi, oh and my mom will be up soon to take you home," I said as I walked out of the room.

I walked across the hall and into my room, which was a mess, with posters of motorcycles, to rock bands. I pushed through my messy clothes to my bed which was not too big but not so small. I lay there on it until I fell into an uneasy sleep knowing in the morning this nightmare I called life would began again.