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 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 II: A New Life
Chapter I
Seto Kaiba took the steps to Joey's house in a single bound. Slamming the door open, his eyes widened to find the blond on his knees clutching a gushing wound in his stomach. "I'm sorry Seto," the injured youth coughed out, blood trickling from his mouth. "I missed." With a last blood-stained cough, Joey collapsed to the floor beside a still smoking gun.
Several hours later, Mokuba wandered through the hospital doors and glanced about for his big brother. It didn't take him long to find Seto in a chair off the side of the lobby, typing away at his laptop. Sitting beside the older Kaiba, Mokuba waited for a moment before speaking, "What are you doing here big brother? When you didn't come home to tuck me in, I got worried and activated the GPS beacon in your coat."
"I was over at Wheeler's house. He wanted to talk to me about that letter Motou gave me. I told him it was never going to happen and left. As I was leaving I heard a gunshot and ran back inside. Wheeler had shot himself in the stomach. My guess is he must have dropped the gun and wound up shooting himself in the gut instead of successfully killing himself." He said it all without looking up from his computer.
Mokuba's eyes widened and he quickly glanced down the corridor. "Is Joey going to pull through?"
"Unfortunately the doctors were able to pull him out of the danger zone."
"How can you say something like that?The only thing Joey ever did was love you," Mokuba snapped.
"And his declarations of love have given me nothing but grief. If he wanted to die so badly, he could have simply asked for my help."
"God you're as bad as Gozabura was. Like father like son I guess. You can take a taxi home you god damned cock sucking fucking asshole!" With that the ebony haired youth stormed off, leaving Seto Kaiba to wonder his kid brother had learned such language.
The next morning found Yugi Motou sitting beside Joey's hospital bed, gently holding his best friend's hand in both of his own. A loud gasp from the doorway made him glance up to see Serenity Wheeler clasping her hands over her mouth.
"What happened to him?" she asked as she knelt by the bedside, tears openly running down her cheeks.
"Kaiba," was all Yugi said.
Looking down at her brother's sleeping form, Serenity seemed lost in thought. After a few moments, she gave a firm nod as though she'd come to a decision. Getting to her feet, she met Yugi's gaze with a very rare conviction in her eyes. "I'm going to go and make Kaiba realize just how badly he's hurt my brother. And I'll do anything it takes to convince him."
"That might not be the wisest course of action my dear," a deep voice said from the doorway. The two teenagers turned to see a towering man standing just inside the room.
The stranger stood an easy 6'3" with ankle length teal hair, penetrating teal eyes, and a matching teal business suit. The way suit sat him spoke of a well-built frame underneath; his face was one of classical beauty with high cheekbones, a patrician nose, and thin but firm lips.
"Dartz!" Yugi exclaimed as he jumped to his feet.
With a placating smile, the stranger held up his hands for calm and took a slight step back. "Fortunately, I am not my rather... misguided brother. My name is Darren. Yes, I know you may find that hard to believe given the rather strong family resemblance; but I assure you I speak the truth."
After a few moments of hesitation, Yugi took a cautious step forward. "My name is Yugi Motou. This is my friend Serenity Wheeler and the boy in the bed is her brother Joey."
"It is a pleasure and honor to meet both of you. I take it Kaiba is the reason this young man is here?"
Yugi nodded. "Joey tried killing himself after Kaiba rejected Joey's feelings for him."
"I see. Still, despite the animosity you feel towards Seto Kaiba, I suggest you allow me to handle one such as him Ms. Wheeler. Any efforts on your part may only lead to more heartache."
"But why would you help us?" Serenity asked, brushing a lock of hair from Joey's face.
"Because I have my score to settle with Kaiba. You see, Dartz and I were not the only Atlanteans to survive the destruction of our beloved Atlantis. I made my escape with two others, my cousin and best friend Trin and Dartz's wife Aya. Unfortunately, a recent industrial accident of Kaiba Corp killed Aya and placed Trin in a coma. I had come here today to visit with him only to find he has died of his injuries."
He paused for a moment, profound sadness shining his piercing eyes. "I am the last of my people left alive. I will help you and your brother so that you do not risk knowing the suffering that I do."
There was another pause as he looked over Yugi and Serenity. "I shall return tomorrow to check Joey's condition; for the moment I have a few errands to run." With that, he spun on his heel and left the room, leaving the two teenagers to tend to their comatose friend.
The next day the whole gang was gathered around Joey's bed, keeping vigil when the injured blond woke up. His breaths deepened for a moment before his eyes fluttered open. The room was a blur at first until he rubbed his eyes weakly and everything slowly came back into focus. "H-hey guys..." he rasped out. "What's going on?"
"You're in the hospital again Joey," Tea explained as she poured him a glass of water for his scratchy throat. "You tried to kill yourself again, remember?"
Taking a few sips of water, Joey nodded as it all came back to him, a few tears running down his face. "Why does Seto hate me so much?" he asked no one in particular. He ran a hand over the bandage on his stomach as he cried. "I love him and he can't stand me. Why can't I just die and end this heartache?"
His friends said nothing. What was there to say to something like this. Even Yugi found himself at a loss for one of his famous hope and friendship speeches.
The clearing of a throat from the doorway made them all jump.
"Oh hello Darren," Yugi said as the tall Atlantean joined the others beside Joey.
"Who is this guy?" Joey asked as he slowly propped himself into a sitting position and winced from a flash of pain across his wound.
"This is Darren," Yami said. He'd been informed by his smaller lover about the older male's visit the day before. "He is Dartz's brother. He, his cousin and his sister-in-law went into hiding after escaping the destruction of Atlantis it would seem. Apparently a recent accident caused by Kaiba Corp has resulted in the deaths of the other two, leaving Darren as the last of his people alive."
Darren nodded sadly in confirmation of the former Pharaoh's summary. "I have a bone to pick with your unrequited love and will deal with him when the time is right."
"You won't hurt him will you?" Joey asked with a nervous nibble to his bottom lip.
"Rest assured that Seto Kaiba will live through my wrath. He might not wish he had, but he will. Nor will I let any harm to befall his younger brother Mokuba who is innocent in all of this."
Joey nodded and sank back into his pillows. Despite everything he'd been through lately, he actually felt a bit at peace. He couldn't explain why, but he felt that it was the calming aura Darren seemed to have flowing from him.
"Now to business," Darren said, clearing his throat and addressing the group at large. "I've spoken with the doctor overseeing Joey's case, who also happened to have been the one in charge of Trin until yesterday. He feels that what is best for our young friend here is a peaceful, fresh-aired environment to get away from all the troubles he's been through recently. So I'd like to invite Joey to stay with me at my home in Kyoto."
None of the others spoke as Joey's jaw dropped at the offer. In his mind, he suddenly imagined what sort of home someone like Darren would live in. It would be big like Kaiba's but somehow not as arrogant or showy, he felt. And for a moment, all he wanted to do was stay by Darren's side forever; until he shook himself mentally and wondered where the hell that thought had come from.
Yugi was the one who broke the silence. "Kyoto? How would we ever get to see Joey if he moves all the way out there?"
"I'd be more than happy to fly you all out to him in my company's private chopper whenever you so desire. On a daily basis if you were to insist upon it."
"But why would you offer something like that to a kid you don't even know?" Joey asked in confusion. Given how Kaiba treated him, his mistrust over the actions of the wealthy was understandable.
"Because unlike Seto Kaiba, my heart is not a frozen block of ice and I actually care about others. And I should perhaps mention now that I've already had my men liberate your belongings from your home to have them brought to mine."
"B-b-but-" Joey stammered before Darren's raised hand cut him off.
"There is no need to protest or thank me, Joey. You need to be able to trust people in this world, for so many of us have so little time in it." He then pulled out a pocket watched shaped like the head of Exodia from his suit's inner pocket. "If you will excuse me ladies and gentlemen, I must be off to complete the arrangements for Joey's stay. I shall send someone by in the morning to fetch you after you're discharged. I'll be waiting for you at the manor."
Overwhelmed by Darren's more than generous offer and kindness, Joey could merely nod as Darren left. Malik made a comment about how all Joey would need was a good fuck from Darren to forget about Kaiba, earning him a whack upside the skull from his hikari.
Author's Note: Please feel free to review this first chapter and let me know your early opinions of Darren.