Chapter 2 – Present Day Domino-

Groaning, the blond male rolls onto his knees and begins shaking his companions awake. "C'mon, guys. Wake up, we'll nap later. We start school today." Normally he'd be the last to rise, but he doesn't wish to anger their adoptive father. Gently he nudges his slender, pale friend until he awakens.

Warm cocoa orbs blink tired up at him as the boy politely covers a yawn behind his hand. "Sorry, Joey. Do you want to go get ready? I can wake the other two," the ivory haired teen says softly looking at the other males curled up on the floor.

"Thanks, Ry. Hopefully our beds get here soon," he groans sauntering into the bathroom. Not like his kind had much use for the room, but he loves the feel of warm water caressing his skin.

"Joey?"

"Yeah, Yugi?"

The small male pokes his head into the bathroom and inquires, "Can we go hunting tonight?"

"We can. I already planned on canvassing the area to find the best spots. You and Ry are hungry, aren't you?"

Sheepishly the lavender eyed male replies, "Yeah."

He emerges in a plain t-shirt and the school uniform. His hair falls in an unruly mess and his amber orbs shine with laughter. All in all, he looks like a normal teenager. Mortal as can be.

"What's our story this time?"
Groaning Joey glares at the platinum blond male and states, "I don't know. Why don't you figure something out?"

"It isn't my fault we had to move."

Anger flares briefly in his honey orbs as he snarls, "Malik, shut up. I know that it was my fault."

Their adoptive father steps into the room. His imposing presence quiets the boys. His dark eyes scan each of them. His youngest fledgling, Malik, fidgets beneath his scrutiny. At a mere fifty years old, the Egyptian understand that he is the weakest of the group. Adorable Yugi tries to tame Joey's hair yet only manages to mess the golden mass up even more. He smiles at the caring two hundred and thirty year old fledgling. Then there's Ryou, his beautiful, angelic child. The one he created nearly five hundred years ago for his golden one. He had planned for them to be one another's beloved; however, the two boys became close friends instead.

"Let's go, boys. You can argue later. I expect all of you to be on your best behavior. Try to control that temper of yours, Joseph."

He hates that condescending tone, he despises the man raising them, but he can't do anything about it. They wouldn't survive without their maker. They weren't sure how to. Amber orbs flare with anger as helplessness befalls him. Dragging a hand through his hair, he stares at his friends. The only family he has left. And desperately he wishes they could just run away.

Covered in heavy cloaks that block the sunlight, they rush into the school building. They wander the corridors until they come upon the door to their classroom. Unwrapping the heavy fabric from their forms, they stare at the handle wondering what they'd face inside.

"I'll go in first, all right. The sun won't harm me nearly as bad as you," Joey says and his eyes flash dangerously with fury before he plasters a huge grin onto his face. Better to play the fool, no one suspects the class clown of being a ruthless murderer. Steeping into the room, he notes that all the blinds are drawn only allowing slivers of light inside. He waves the others inside.

"I'm sorry for the inconvenience, but one of you will be stationed near the windows until I can create a better seating chart," the teacher rambles. She's a thin rail of a woman, almost birdlike in appearance.

"I'll take that seat, no biggie," Joey declares with a chuckle.

"Please take your seats, then. Unless you wish to introduce yourselves," she states.

"I'm Joey, that's Malik and he's single. Ryou and Yugi are over there," he says motioning towards the boys as they slowly move closer.

"What about the rest of you," a teen in the back yells.

Malik's eyes narrow as he hears the male's impure thoughts regarding his friends. He senses the blonde's anger and nearly grins at the various thoughts of torture fluttering through Joey's mind. And people call him vicious. He's curious how his elder keeps the stupid grin on his face while thinking of decapitating someone with his bare hands.

"Every one of us is single," Yugi states quickly hoping to ease the anger boiling over in his two blond brothers.

"You want to go out, sweetheart," the teen asks staring expectantly at Joey.

A tentative hand rests on his forearm and he glances at Ryou gratefully. He hadn't been aware he'd been projecting until the snow haired youth brought him out of it. He watches the male that had propositioned him writhe on the floor in pain fighting off an unseen attacker. Slowly as he reins in his control, the teen falls still and the begging stops. Fearful orbs dart around for his attacker as a confused frown etches across the boy's face.

"Joey, you have to be more careful. I'd hate to see you punished," Ryou whispers to him so low that no mortal could hear the words.

Nodding, he heads to his seat and watches his friends sit down. It's his duty to ensure their safety. The unconscious use of his powers had drained him; though, and he feels himself slipping into sleep.

"Joseph, wake up. You are here to learn, not to waste my time," the teacher demands curtly.

Blinking open his hazy, honey orbs, Joey grins at the woman and says with a laugh, "Sorry, teach, you're just so borin' that I couldn't help myself." The class erupts in laughter as the instructor narrows her eyes. "Total yawn fest in here, ya know," he continues while his grin grows and the laughter around him amps up its' volume.

The class silences abruptly as the door opens. An imposing figure enters and Joey's breath catches. Beautiful would be an understatement. Yet as pleasing as the teen is to look at, it's his soul which calls out to the blond. Aching with loneliness and shrouded vulnerability taint the male's essences. On the outside, the brunet holds himself with arrogance and disdain for others. A pretty mask full of indifference to keep the world at bay he wears as casually as he dons his school uniform. Sapphire orbs flicker to him and for a second he spies a hint of attraction and surprise.

"How nice of you to join us, Mr. Kaiba," the bird lady whispers timidly and gestures to the only remaining seat. With natural grace, the teen makes his way to the seat right behind the new blond student. Briefly he glances at the three other new comers. Insignificant. Without hesitation, he pulls out his laptop and begins to work. An icy glare at the frail teacher stops her from opening her beak of a mouth. Inwardly he's displeased by such submissiveness.

Everyone watches as one of the new students approaches the CEO after class. Most want to watch the show, a few actually feel bad for the small teen. Compared to the CEO, the boy is a midget. Huge violet orbs look up at the brunet without a trace of fear.

"Would you like to be friends? You seem lonely."

"Why would I need friends? Least of all from you and your geek squad," the taller teen sneers.

"Who the hell ya callin' geeks, rich boy," the blond hisses as Ryou drags Yugi away.

"Oh, I didn't realize that you were their guard dog," Kaiba drawls.

Gritting teeth, he throws a punch that's easily blocked by the other. The CEO should be grateful that he's learned restraint and used not even a fourth of his full strength.

"You really are a pathetic mutt." Not a question, just a snide comment.

"Not a dog, ya bastard."

"Real mature, mutt."

A pressure on his back stalls any more comebacks he could have possibly sprouted off. "Joey, we have to get to our next class," Yugi urges. His amber eyes observe the others. Yugi's nervous, Ryou's concerned, and Malik's bored. With a quick grin he nods since the brunet with such an interesting and intoxicating scent has already left.

By the end of the day, he decides he hates this prison and that the teaches have it out for him since Seto Kaiba, the arrogant jerk, sits next to him in nearly every class. Stupid, sexy jerk that smells too tasty for his own good. Yanking the cloak off the hook, he slips it on and wonders if they'll have to walk. He nears the window enough to watch the rich bastard slide into a limo with a grace to fit a feline.

"Stop thinking about him."

"I'm not."

"Joey, just because I can't hear your every thought doesn't mean I'm blind. You're attracted to him," Ryou states.

"He's an asshole," Joey growls.

"Even so, you desire him, and unlike us, Father can hear your thoughts if you slip up for even just a second."

"I know, damn it. He wants us to interact with humans, but not become attached. He wants us to be unhappy and alone," he groans but clears his head as the van approaches. "Ready," he inquires and they nod before rushing out to the waiting vehicle.

Their maker stands watch as they complete their homework. Nodding with satisfaction, he sends them to bed. "I'll be gone when you awaken," he warns before turning away from his children. His displeasure is evident, even more so when he adds, "I had such high hopes for you, my Golden One. As my son, as my companion I had so many dreams for you. Yet you seem to wish to fail me at every turn."

Ryou and Yugi cuddle closer to the suddenly rigid blond. The slamming of the door echoes through the house. Malik stares at the trio in concern wondering what had angered the man so much this time.

"Joey?"

Warm honey orbs glance at the platinum blond with a tired, sad smile.

"It'll be fine, Malik. He's gone to sleep. We need our rest now, too."

"Don't lie to me, Joey! Why did he say that? You've always been his favorite."

"Come on up on the bed, at least they got this one delivered and it's better than the floor. I didn't turn out like he wanted, I'm too untamable. I don't know why, but sometimes I feel like he should be the one answering to me. It doesn't last long, this feeling of absolute power, but there are flashes of events from long before I was ever born and it confuses me. However, I'm not sure what he expected out of me in the first place."

Crawling onto the bed and curling up behind Ryou, Malik takes a deep breath before asking, "Did he see him, feel this unexplainable attraction you have for this boy? Is that why he's angry? Is he that jealous of your desire for another that he'd take it out on everyone?"

"I believe so. I didn't let him in, he intruded."

Anger and resentment color his tone as he closes his eyes to will away the raw fury. Slowly his body relaxes and gives into the sun's demands until he's in nearly a comatose state.