Chapter 7

This is what's called a fanfiction, meaning it's fiction written by fans. Therefore I can't possibly own Yu-Gi-Oh, no matter how much I want to.

As always, Kimmytrainer is my beta.

I'm thinking that I should change one of the genres to drama. Hopefully this will be the only chapter like this.

And to those of you who want a lemon, there should be one in chapter nine (if I get enough courage to write it)!

-Joey's POV-

After discussing the game for an hour and forty-five minutes, we finally agree on it having three different parts: story mode, multiplayer, and strategy builder.

In story mode the player will be challenged by npcs of varying levels while the goal of it is to defeat the champion, otherwise known as Yugi. Multiplayer…well, isn't it the same in every game? Players from around the world can duel each other.

Strategy builder is a bit different–it's basically a bunch of puzzles with four difficulties (easy, medium, hard, and extreme) that players can solve. I had told Seto about the method that Yugi's grandpa used to train me. He set up cards in certain ways and told me that I had as much time as I needed to figure out how to win, but I had to do it in one turn.

Now, I am on my way to Kame Game Shop. Seto had asked me to stop by and talk to Yugi and his grandpa about the game.

As I open the door, the bell rings, signaling that a customer has come in. Yugi appears a second later saying, "Welcome. How can I help yo–Joey!" He runs at full speed and glomps me. "I feel like I haven't seen you in years!"

I laugh. "I missed ya too, Yug', but it's been less than a week."

"I know, but it's not normal for me to not see you every day. So anyway, what's up? Why aren't you at work? You didn't get fired, did you?"

"No," I reassure Yugi, "I didn't get fired. Actually, I came to talk to you and Gramps about a game we're making."

His eyes light up. "You're making a new game? What is it? Can I pre-order it now?"

"Sheesh, Yug'. You love games as much as the yamis' love sex," I tease, causing him to blush slightly. "So can I ask you the questions?"

"Fire away!"

"Ok, we want the game to be just like the Battle City tournament, minus the Marik part…I think," I tell him.

"What does that have to do with me?" he asks.

"We want to put you in the game as the champion. I need you to sign a contract saying we can use you're name in the game."

"You mean I get to be a character in a game? OMG!" he squeals.

"Just sign this." He quickly grabs the paper from my hand and signs his name with a pen he seemingly pulls out of thin air. "Ok, now that that's done, can I talk to Gramps?"

"Sure, he's watching TV upstairs."

I say thanks and head up. I open the door to the small apartment and find Grandpa sitting on the couch.

"Hey, Gramps," I say.

"Joey! It's nice to see you." He most likely notices the look of anticipation on my face because he asks, "Do you need something?"

"Uh, yeah. I'm working on a new game and I was wondering if ya could come down to KaibaCorp on Monday to show the team some of your puzzles." I see confusion on his face. "Ya know, the ones you taught me with.

"I'd be glad to. What time should I be there?"

"I didn't ask, but I'd say around one. That's when lunch ends."

"Alright, I'll be there at one."

Yugi comes up a few seconds later. "Hey, Joey, I forgot to tell you. We're having another party next weekend. You can bring a date."

"Cool. I'll be there. And hopefully my date will agree." 'I hope Seto can go. He needs to get out more.'

I stay at Yugi's for fifteen minutes and then say my goodbyes. I jog to my house to save time, but that doesn't stop my dad from being furious at me the moment I walk through the door.

"Where da hell have ya been?" yells my drunkard of a father. His slurring isn't as bad today.

"I slept over at a friend's house." I walk past him, towards my room, trying not to look threatened by his glare.

He gets up and grabs my shirt, effectively pulling me back. "Ya ungrateful lil' bastard. I worked my ass off payin' for dis house an' ya dun give a rats ass." He punches me in the stomach a few times before I drop to my knees in pain. I spit up some blood just before I pass out from a blow to the head.

[Time Skip]

Black.

That's all I can see at the moment…until a small speck of white appears. I quickly get to my feet and begin running. As I get closer the light begins to take form of a man. No…not just a man…Seto. I embrace him, but it seems like he's disappearing. "Joey… Joey, you need to run…Run," he tells me.

I open my eyes to the living room floor. It takes me a few seconds to regain my memory of what happened, but when I do remember, I want to scream from the pain that comes with it.

I bite my tongue to keep from making any noise. I slowly sit up, wincing all the way, and see my dad (if I can even consider him that) snoring on the couch.

I rise to my feet and steady myself before taking Dream Seto's advice: I run.

I run for six blocks and then resort to a walk due to the pain coursing through my body. I continue on my way to the Kaiba mansion, which takes about fifty minutes.

I walk up to the door and ring the doorbell. I can hardly support my weight and am on the edge of unconsciousness, so I lower myself to the steps to sit while I wait. A minute later, Seto opens the door, clad in only pajama pants.

"Seto," I say, albeit a whisper.

He looks down. "Joey!" he yells. I just give him a smile and then everything fades to black again.

[Time Skip]

As I regain consciousness, I can still feel my cuts and bruises, but the pain isn't as bad. I can also feel that I am no longer on the cement, but on something soft. I open my eyes, and although the light gives me a headache, I look around to find myself in Seto's room. I see Seto asleep in a chair to my left. "Seto, wake up," I say. He doesn't wake. I nudge his hand and try again. "Seto."

"Huh? What?" he mumbles sleepily, then realizes what's happening. "Joey! You're awake!"

"I don't think I've ever seen you this jumpy. And you called me Joey." I smile and he blushes slightly.

"How do you feel?" he says.

"Much better. I'm not in as much pain now."

"That's probably because of the pain killers. I had my doctor come over and treat you."

Looking down I can see my hands and most of my arms wrapped in bandages. "Thanks," I say, and then mutter, "Wow. He really did a number on me this time."

"Who? And what do you mean this time?" Seto asks with anger in his voice.

"Uh…" 'Can I tell him? Will he get mad?'

"Joey, please tell me."

"It's…my dad," I confess.

He doesn't say anything; he just comes over, sits behind me on the bed and then envelopes me in a hug. After a few moments he asks, "How long?"

"What?"

"How long has he been hurting you?"

"Since I was six, when my mom left. He started drinking and became violent."

"Why haven't you done anything about it?"

"I plan to move out as soon as I make enough money."

"How long do you think that'll take you?" he asks; the ninth question for him to ask, for those who have been counting.

"Another month and a half probably," I calculate. (Yes, I can do that in my head.)

"He could do a lot worse in that time."

"Yeah. I'll deal…somehow," I say, not sounding too sure of myself.

Seto seems like he's in deep thought for a moment. He gets up and starts pacing, mumbling to himself about something. Then he comes back over, sits down again, and says, "I know this is a bit sudden, but how about you move in with me?"

Review please! Constructive criticism is welcome!