Author note: I don't own Yu-gi-oh.

Chapter 4

"Where the hell were you boy!?" This was bad. This was really bad. Joey's father staggered as he attempted to make his way closer to the bed, running into Joey's desk clumsily.

"Shit! Goddamnit!" The older Wheeler grabbed at his knee in pain after hitting the sharp corner of the desk. Not needing another opportunity, Joey took no time in leaping off his bed and making a beeline for the hallway. The alcohol made his father's movements much slower than usual, allowing Joey to reach the door with little difficulty.

"Get back here you worthless punk!!"

Bounding down the stairs, Joey grabbed the backpack that was already slipping from his shoulder as he made his way to the kitchen. Staying here in the apartment was out of the question, so grabbing what food was in the cupboard would last him at least the night.

After zipping up the bag, Joey sprinted toward the front door. Making to grab for the doorknob, his vision suddenly blurred as a beer bottle smashed into the back of his head. Struggling to regain his focus, Joey was roughly turned around and shoved into the door, causing the back of his head to explode in pain.

'How the hell did he get down here so fast??' The elder Wheeler leaned his face in close, allowing Joey the pleasure of inhaling his breath, which reeked of alcohol. Glaring intently at his son, Joey's father spoke in a low, dangerous tone.

"Where were you boy?"

Holding back unshed tears as the pain throbbed in his head, Joey choked out through his teeth, "At a friend's house!! He's tutoring me in math!"

"Goddamnit boy! You know the rules of his house!" Slamming his hand on the door in fury, the older man abruptly gripped the collar of Joey's shirt and yanked him to the ground. Joey had little time to be surprised at his father's strength as he was barraged with blows from the steel-toed ends of the elder Wheeler's boots.

Joey's body screamed out in pain in response to the attacks, but Joey knew it was pointless to fight back. He'd given up on that a long time ago. Years of experience throughout his childhood taught him that it only enraged his father further and made the beatings that much more painful.

Joey had to learn to fend for himself very early on in life, especially after his parents divorced. He could still remember happier times, though, when his family was still together. He loved spending time with his parents when he was younger, and when his sister, Serenity, was born, Joey couldn't be more excited. He and his sister always got along, with one rarely around without the other. However, it was a few years later that his parents began arguing more often, sometimes to the point where Joey could hear objects being thrown and smashed against the walls. When the arguments would become that intense, Joey and his sister were forced to take refuge in his bedroom, Joey doing his best to comfort little Serenity when she would start crying.

Eventually, Joey's mother demanded a divorce. In court, she claimed her children were in danger if left with their father, and fought for custody of both. Without a job, however, the judge concluded that Joey's mother wouldn't have enough of an income to care for both children. Joey and Serenity clung to one another tightly when the judge forced Mrs. Wheeler to choose between them. Tears streaming down his face, Joey watched in horror as his mother looked emotionlessly at him…and chose Serenity instead. He gripped onto this mother's leg, crying out for her to take him too, but he was roughly yanked away by his father, forced to watch his mother and sister leave without him.

For months afterwards, Joey firmly believed his mother would come back for him. His father, however, had taken to drinking to forget about his problems, often coming home drunk and lashing out at his son. Joey soon became a regular at the Domino City Hospital. The doctors were able to guess what was going on, but could never do anything because Joey would always deny it. As the years passed, and the abuse became more violent, Joey realized the truth – his mother wasn't coming back…and neither was Serenity.

Joey's eyes filled with tears at the memory. He could already feel his body slowly becoming numb to the pain, yet one particular kick brought it all back as a sickening 'crack!' echoed throughout the apartment. Joey opened his mouth to scream but quickly covered it as he began coughing up blood.

'I can't breathe!' Joey began to panic as the blood clogged his throat, preventing him from inhaling. What forced breaths he could take where short and shallow as every movement seemed to increase the immense pressure he felt on his chest.

'I'm going to die…I'm suffocating myself…I can't…' Joey couldn't feel his father's boots anymore; the excruciating pain in both his head and chest now unbearable. He felt like he was falling, trying desperately to fight the blackness peeking into the sides of his vision. He sensed vaguely that he was being picked up and carried somewhere, but all thoughts were lost as unconsciousness finally claimed him.

Seto sat rereading the data report for the fifth time. He didn't know why, but he couldn't shake the feeling that something wasn't right. As hard as he tried, the image of a certain blond mutt just would not go away. In an attempt to distract himself, Seto pushed back a lock of brown hair in frustration and began pacing the length of his office. After dropping off Joey, Seto took a detour to Kaiba Corp. After losing an entire afternoon, he needed to get some semblance of work accomplished so the day wasn't a total waste. Yet as bad enough as it was to lose that much time because of the mutt, Seto had to admit he was still losing time because of him…and he wasn't even there.

'This is pointless.'

Finally deciding to give up for the day, Seto shut off his computer and locked the door of his office. Taking the elevator down to ground level, he quickly walked through the now empty lobby and stepped out into the night.

Turning towards home, Seto decided to walk instead of taking his car. It was rare that the weather was this nice; the rain having brought the temperature down. The gentle wind felt cool on his face, and walking through the park allowed him to take pleasure in watching the cherry blossoms delicately float through the air from the breeze. Seto was surprised at how relaxed he felt. It was nice to break routine once in a while; he'd have to bring Mokuba here sometime to see the blossoms before they went away.

Walking out of the park and onto the sidewalk, Seto slowed down when he saw a huddled mass a little ways in front of him. Assuming it to be a homeless person, he made to cross the street to avoid them. He looked back once more as he stepped off the curb…and stopped abruptly.

That was no homeless person…

"Oh my God."