Disclaimer: Journey Maker doesn't own Yugioh

Chapter Four

The next day at school as Yami and Yugi walked onto campus, some of the kids ran over to them and say "Did you hear what their saying about Joey? Their saying that he's gay and he's got AIDS that's why he's not in school." Then they'd ran off to gossip with someone else.

Yami was getting really angry and then Ryou and Bakura came walking up and Bakura said "Have you heard some of the shit they're saying about Wheeler?"

Yugi got really mad and then he said "The next person who comes over and says something bad about Joey I'm going to punch them in their face!"

Yami looked at Bakura and they both had to hide the smiles that they were trying to hide. Then Tea comes running over to them and she asked "Are the rumors true about Joey?" Yugi looked at her and he shouted "Tea, you of all people should know not to believe those damn rumors!"

She looked so hurt and then as tears filled her eyes she said "Sorry, but all I wanted to know about Joey, I'll leave you alone."

Yugi reached out and took her hand and he said "Sorry, but god damnmit I hate it when people spread rumors about one of my best friend and Tea you know that better then most of us do that rumors can really hurt the one there being said about. We have to give Joey a chance to come and tell us the truth but until then we have to make sure that the rumors stop." Yami looked shocked when Yugi started cussing but he didn't blame him he was about to explode himself.

Just then Yugi heard someone call out his name and when he turned around there was Malik and Marik and they were coming over to where they all were standing and then Malik said "What's this we've been hearing about Joey?"

Ryou turned to Malik and he said "There just rumors but they are getting more vicious every time someone tells someone else and we really have to find a way to stop them."

Just then Arnold one of the bullies came walking over to where they were and he said "Hey, did you hear that Wheeler is a damn faggot and he got AIDS from his lover screwing him up the ass."

Yugi got red faced and before Yami or any of the others could stop him Yugi doubled up his fist and hit Arnold right in his face and sent him flying on his ass.

When he got up he said "What the hell did you do that for? I was only saying what I hear everyone else say."

Then Ryou puffed out his chest and he said "You know that those damn rumors will continue to run rampant if everyone listens and spreads them. What you should do is try to stop them."

Arnold looked at Ryou and he said "Who the hell do you think you are telling me what I should or shouldn't do?"

Then he got a tap on his shoulder and when he turned around there stood Marik and the look on his face made Arnold want to faint and then Marik said "He's my hikari's best friend and so that makes him mine and if I were you I'd apologize to him right now or I swear you'll wish you were never born!"

Arnold turned back to Ryou and he said "I'm sorry for saying that to you and I'll even do as you said and I will try to get the rumors to stop."

Then he took off running like a scared rabbit and Bakura threw back his head and he started laughing and he held out his hand and Marik shook it and Bakura said "Thanks for that."

Then the bell rang and they all went to their classes and Yugi and the others hoped that the rumors would stop, which they didn't. As Yugi sat down in his first class, the Teacher came in and Miss Harper stood there and then she said "Class, I've been hearing some really nasty rumors about one of the students and I want them to stop. How can any of you listen to what the others are saying? Joseph Wheeler is a very nice young man and he doesn't deserve to have those things said about him. If I hear anyone else say anything derogatory about Joseph I will escort them and anyone else to the Principal's Office and let him deal with it." Then she went and sat down and she said "Turn to page 171 and do the all the odd questions and do them in silence."

When they went to lunch Yugi called Seto and told him "what's being said around school about Joey and if he doesn't speak up God only knows what's going to be said next. You really need to talk to him about at least letting his friends know what's going on and then we can squash the rumor ourselves."

Seto thanked Yugi and he said "I'll talk to Joey today after he gets up and let him make up his mind if he wants to tell the others what really happened. Again thanks for calling."

After he talked to Yugi Seto knew that he had to talk to Joey so he climbed the stairs and he went to his bedroom and as he closed the door he looked at Joey sleeping on the bed and he got a really strange feeling and he closed his eyes and took a deep breath and walked over to the bed and gently touched Joey's shoulder and called his name. Joey opened his eyes and when he saw Seto he smiled and said "Did you want something?"

Seto sat down next to him and he said "Yugi just called and he said that some of the students are spreading rumors and some are really bad about why you're not in school and not only is Yugi worried so am I. Joey you really need to at least tell your friends about what's happened to you and we've got to get the rumors stopped."

Joey sat up and sat with his back to the head board and he closed his eyes and then he softly said "Will you please call Yugi back and ask him to bring the others here after school and I'll talk to them, and Seto thanks for caring enough to tell me what's been happening."

Seto smiled and then he didn't really know why he did it, he leaned over and kissed Joey on the mouth and when he lifted his head Joey blinked and he said "Why, why did you do that?"

Seto closed his eyes and he said "Joey, I've always had feeling for you and never knew how to tell you because I was afraid that you'd laugh at me and I couldn't stand that if you did so I just kept it to myself until now."

Joey reached out his hand and Seto took it in his and Joey squeezed it and he said "I've had feelings about you too and I was afraid for the same reasons. What do we do now?"

Seto then said "Let's just take one day at a time. First we have to find a way to stop the rumors and I really think that if your friends know the truth they can make them stop." The he pulled Joey into his arms and they held each other and then Joey's stomach growled and they started laughing and Seto said "Let's go get something to eat."

Please R&R...

Chapter Five Coming Up...Stopping the rumors...