Wow! Read the reviews and I'm glad you're all enjoying this story! Honestly, I wasn't expecting this story to get 11 reviews already but I'm glad it has gotten as many as it has. It's amazing! So I officially started my classes! Somewhat nervous since this semester it'll be harder questions but I'm also excited for it. The sooner this semester is over the sooner I can get to the fun classes XD. It's gonna be hard with all the classes I have to take but I'll do my best to keep this going and give everyone the story that you're looking for. I hope you guys enjoy this next chapter! Here you are!

I do not own YuGiOh but I wish I did because I would love to meet Pharaoh and become his friend.

(Warning: Mild violence, mild language, mentions of attempted rape)

This is a JoeyXKaiba shipping because it's my favorite shipping XD

"Speaking"

'Thinking'

Flashback

Someone who-

"Joey!"

His brown eyes widened as he looked up to see a familiar brunette standing across the park from him, hair a mess and face shining with relief.

-would show up when he needed them most….

"K Kaiba?! What da hell is he doin' here?" Joey whispered, feeling his heart hammering inside his chest until it threatened to explode. He watched, dumbstruck, as the ruffled teen stood there trying to catch his breath. His hair was in disarray from its usual perfect neatness. The silver trench coat that he normally wore was discarded in favor of black pants and a dark button up shirt that was wrinkled up. Even from here he could see the flush on Kaiba's face. He looked like he'd just run a marathon and for some reason it made a blush appear on Joey's cheeks.

'No!' he shouted at himself 'Dis is bad… I can't face him!'

The moment Kaiba took a step toward him he bolted out of his seat and took off into the forested area behind the park.

"Joey! Wait!"

He couldn't face him. Not in the state that he was in. He couldn't keep his emotions from bursting to the surface and revealing them for all to see. Right now, everything was ready to blow. He didn't know what he was even feeling because it was all building up.

He just wanted to escape the questions he knew Kaiba would demand.

Soon he was bounding down the path like a deer; leaping over fallen logs and zig zagging around tree's in order to lose the other. He didn't know where he was going but it didn't matter. As long as he could ditch Kaiba.

"Joey!"

The blonde yelped as he was jerked back by a hand grabbing the back of his green jacket. Twisting his body around, he ran right into Kaiba who stumbled into him at full force. The two fell back to the forest ground with hard thuds and cries of surprise.

Joey laid beneath the brunette, heaving in gasps of air and trying to catch his breath. Above him was Kaiba, out of breath and pinning him down by his wrists, with a fierce expression on his flushed features.

"What the hell did you think you were doing?!" He demanded. "I come back to check on you and find your room empty! Do you have any idea how hard I've been trying to find you? You fucking idiot! I've been searching everywhere for you!" Kaiba snapped, eyes like liquid fire.

Still panting under the brunette, Joey struggled to break free from his grasp with a snarl. "Why do ya care?! Ya neva cared before! Ya'v always hated me so why da hell do ya care now?!"

"Because I don't want to see you hurt!"

"Ya right, like I'm gonna believe dat. Ever since we met, ya'v had it out fo' me. Ya treat me like trash, call me a fuckin' mutt an' say 'm a third-rate duelist. Well guess wha'? Ya were right! I am a mutt! Ya happy now?!" Joey yelled up at him, baring his teeth in a snarl when the other refused to let him go.

"Do you really not realize?! I don't hate you- I like you, you moron!" Kaiba shouted back.

When Joey fell silent, the brunette continued in a calmer tone. "When we first met… You surprised me. You weren't afraid to talk back to me. You stood up to me and were honest. Everyone either sucks up to me or is afraid of me. But not you. You were never like that. Then I saw your loyalty. You never lost faith in Yugi or any of your friends or even the stupid heart of the cards.

You're brave too- if it wasn't for you and your friends, I'd have lost Mokuba to Pegasus, Noah, the Big 5 and so many more. I've seen you with your sister too. You gave up the prize money at Duelist Kingdom to help save her eyesight. That kind of thing… It's something I've always admired about you. So, no- I don't hate you. I admire and respect you!"

Stunned, the blonde swallowed dryly and stammered out. "B But… why did ya always start fights with me…?"

A soft light entered those cerulean eyes- they reminded Joey of the sea on a calm day after a storm- as he looked down at him. "I love seeing the fire in your eyes when we fight. That passion that lights them up. You always wear your heart on your sleeve. I just… I wanted to see that spark in you."

For a moment, Joey couldn't think. It was as if his entire world had been turned upside down. Nothing made sense anymore. Kaiba didn't really hate him? In fact, he cared about him? He liked him? And… in what way…?

During his musings, he failed to notice Kaiba's gaze divert to where his shirt had ridden up to reveal his battered form. It was only when he felt a soft touch brush against his bare skin that he looked up. He was met with a look of sadness on the usually scowling face. It made Kaiba look both younger and older when the harshness was gone- young because it eased his features but his eyes looked so tired right then.

Slowly he lowered his hand and caught the paler hand to redirect it to an old scar right beside his belly button.

"…was cut by a broken bottle. I- I'd talked back ta him. I was eleven at da time…"

Cerulean eyes widened a fraction at the willing information given to him by his current captive. Registering the information, he looked back down at the scar. It was about three inches long and white against the tan skin.

"Dis one was from gettin' pushed down da stairs," Joey murmured, pointing to a wider one on his lower right side that resembled a crescent moon in a way. "He got mad a' me fo' runnin' out of beer…"

This time, he allowed Kaiba to map out the various scars and bruises on his own. Any time he was asked what they were from he gave the answer to him in a dull and tired voice. He offered up details of ones that were on the rest of his body that weren't in view as well. This continued for some time before he heard the one he'd been expecting yet dreading most of all.

"…and this one…?" Kaiba asked softly, gesturing to a wound higher up, lifting his shirt to get a better look. It was fresher- probably within the last two weeks or so. It was still angry red and jagged from where it lay at a shocking seven inches long.

Joey swallowed thickly and had to fight back the tears. "I… I got dat fer fightin against his buddies… Dey- dey couldn't afford a hooker so dey tried ta…" He shut his eyes tightly and took a deep, shaky breath. "So dey whipped me... Der's more on my back…"

"They-" He heard Kaiba cut himself off and a shaky deep breath follow suit. He felt a hand cup his cheek softly, encouraging him to open his eyes and look up. When he did he was met with furious and upset blue orbs. "They had… no right. To do what they did. And your father had no right to do any of the things he's done to you. What that monster did to you- Nothing like that should be done to anyone."

"I can't leave him… I tried ta once, a few years after Ma an' Ren left. He found me an' beat me within' an' inch o' my life," Joey shivered at the memory. "He swore if I ever tried ta do it again, he'd kill me. I know dat he will- he doesn't care…"

"Shh…" Kaiba whispered, brushing his hair back tenderly. "You have nothing to worry about, Joey. There's no way I'm letting him anywhere near you. If he even tries I'll have the top lawyers fighting against him until he's thrown in prison for the rest of his life. You'll never be hurt by him again."

Leaning instinctively into the touch he let out a faint whimper of relief. "I can't pay ya back for dis, Kaiba… If ya do dis, I'll neva be able ta pay ya back-"

"I'm not asking you to pay me back for this," Kaiba told him firmly, making sure he was clear on that point. "I'm not going to make you indebted to me. All I want is for you to be safe from that man. When you disappeared this morning- It scared me. I hadn't been that scared since the last time Mokuba last got hurt. And then when I went to check on you again and you weren't there my heart stopped."

Feeling guilty for leaving like that without any word, he mumbled an explanation. "I didn't wanna hear da truth… 'specially when I feel so damn weak 'round him. I hate it. I know he's abusive an' I want out- I just… couldn't…"

"I know," that wonderful hand continued to lightly run through his mess of blonde hair. "I know. You're in a toxic environment and you don't have to go back there. We'll figure things out, ok?"

Joey swallowed back the tears that threatened to spill. It seemed all too good to believe…

"You're safe now, Joey… Just let it out."

Biting his lower lip, he turned his head away quickly so that he didn't have to face the brunette. His eyes burned beneath his shut lids and his chest felt tight. "I c can't…"

"No one's here. It's only us," Kaiba reassured him tenderly.

"No- I… if I do… If I- I won't be able ta s stop…" Joey whispered in a shaky voice, hearing the crack in it as he fought to hold it in. "I won't be a able… t ta… s s stop…"

His eyes widened when he felt strong arms slip under him and pull him into a warm body. "I won't look. You can just let go, and I'll make sure no one else sees," Kaiba whispered near his ear. "I'll protect you."

The dam broke.

He let out the tears that he's been wanting to release for all those years. It overflowed and he clung onto Kaiba desperately. He wailed out all his grief. All his sorrow. All his pain. He cried over the abuse that he suffered through. For being separated from his sister. For his mother never caring enough about him to take him with her all those years ago instead of leaving him behind. Massive sobs wracked his battered form until he was a shaking mess.

The whole time, Kaiba never let go. He held Joey securely to his chest and ran his fingers through his hair. It brought a peace that Joey hadn't known since he was a small child.

Every time he thought he was finished, sniffling and hiccupping, he'd start up once more and start crying all over again. It took a long time before he was finally all tired out and his tears dried up. He leaned against the brunette who cradled him quietly, whispering soft soothing nonsense that Joey couldn't understand through his exhaustion.

When he felt the arms scoop him up he didn't even protest. He just curled into the chest and buried his face in the crook of Kaiba's neck. Feeling himself swaying gently as the older teen walked back, he started to drift off at the soothing rhythm.

"Where we goin…?" He slurred, eyes drooping heavily.

A gentle pressure brushed against his forehead and he vaguely registered it as a kiss. "Home."

Hi guys! I've finally finished chapter 10! I hope it turned out alright. I'm excited and nervous to be back in college. I hope everyone enjoys this. Please review! Until next time!