This is the last part of "Inner Beauty", so guys, I bid you farewell after this chapter! =(

Female-Yami/Yugi, Hai! Sorry to keep you waiting! ^-^;;

Killua Bakura, Tears of laughter? Or of sadness? XD;; Cause for me… it's BOTH! XD;; bwahahahaha!

FREAK014, Yes… I was planning to make him freak out… ^-^;; But then, that's not-so Joey is it? ^-^;; Well… if I know Joey, he would mope around Seto's death, right? Now that's just sad… =( But, I'll make an alternate ending… ne? =)

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Inner Beauty

Epilogue

Joey struggles to keep up with the beatings from his Dad… Plus all the emotional bruises he gets from Seto Kaiba! S/J

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"What happened there afterwards, anyway?" Joey asked Yugi as he re-bandaged Seto's wound in the gut. "We heard those gunshots and Tea instantly called the cops. They arrived shortly after." Yugi answered briefly. Joey nodded as he lowered his head, "A- and my father?" Joey asked silently.

"H- he died." Tristan answered, earning a shocked stare from the blonde teen. "H- h- how?" Joey stuttered.

// "Put the gun down and put your hands on the ground!" A cop said as he pointed his gun straight at Johnny's direction. "Never! Let me go quietly and no one gets hurt!" Johnny said. "I repeat. Put the gone down, Wheeler!" A female cop said as she threatened to shoot Johnny for real.

"Inspector Rose… correct?" Johnny raised an eyebrow.

"Put the gun DOWN!"

"No!" Johnny said as he took Yugi by the neck and pointed it by Yugi's neck. "Yugi!" Tea shrieked. "Let me go… or this kid dies." Johnny said. "Hn! You must be that old man's grandson, correct? The one who owns that stinkin' game shop?" Johnny whispered by Yugi's ear as Yugi trembled.

"Yes… I remember you. The puny kid." Johnny licked his lips. Yugi trembled more as he closed his eyes. "Put the kid down and will settle things differently…" Inspector Rose said. Johnny started moving outside the door as every single cop, followed their aim at him.

"Yugi!" Tea gasped.

Yugi frowned as he braced himself. The short teen was quick, kicking Johnny's knee hard causing him to double over. The next thing they knew, it all ended in a loud bang.//

Yugi faced away sadly. "I'm sorry, Joey…"

"For what, Yugi?" Joey asked with a smile, "Dad is gone. He's the source of all my problems, aren't you happy that I'm finally free from his abuses?" Joey smiled sadly.

"Yes, Joey… but-" Yugi whispered.

"We know how much you loved him, Joey. Of course, who wouldn't? He's your father… a real father. Everybody needs love coming from a parent." Tea explained. "Look. Johnny Wheeler was never a father to me! If he were, then I wouldn't have faced near death! A father loves his own son… and… even if he is, he wouldn't have the heart to love me." Joey explained.

"I know it hurts, Joseph." Seto snapped, for once, using Joey by his complete name. It sounded as if Seto was really mad. "I know… I've experienced it too. And you can certainly never deny the fact."

Joey looked at Seto with terrified eyes. "If you hated him that much then why didn't you fight back when you were badly abused?" Seto mocked, "You were once a punk. You fight students at school… why didn't you fight back your own father when he severely hurt you physically, emotionally and spiritually? What's the difference between punks and your drunken father?"

Joey was left to reflect on the predicament. "Because you loved him. You can't fight your own father. Even though he had done so many things! Because he's the father that you grew up with… the person who you shared memories with. Only… those memories were in the past and you feel like the father you loved will never come back…" Seto said, as he saw Joey's eyes starting to water.

"And sometimes… you ask yourself, that if you weren't born in this world, your father would be much happier. That he doesn't need you because you are useless. You try to remember good times… but only the ones with pain comes first." Seto smiled, noticing Joey's emotions starting to pour. "I wish I have done this and that… That's what you always think."

"Stop it, Seto. Just. Stop it!" Joey muttered. Joey can't hold it back anymore as he lowered his head and silent tears came running down. "You can cry, Joey. It is never embarrassing to cry for someone you really love…" Seto smiled.

Joey trembled as he felt Seto's arms around him, pulling him close. Next thing he knew, he was silently sobbing on Seto's shoulders, earning the tears from Tea and Yugi's eyes, the concerned eyes of Ryou, and the comforting hand of Tristan.

"Baka… Joey no baka!" Joey sobbed as he clutched parts of his hair, Seto hugging him close. He slowly banged his head against Seto's shoulders, "He would've been a better person if I wasn't around."

"No… he would be a criminal." Seto corrected, "Hurting other people instead of you. And some day, I'm sure he will come after your mother and sister."

"I don't want that…" Joey whispered. Seto smiled, "Cry as much as you want… you've been through a lot."

"Just. Let it all out…"

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"It's just a 5-minute walk to school, Seto. I don't need to be fetched by your 'oh-so-expensive' limousine!" Joey smiled. "Are you sure? I mean, let's walk together to school everyday." Seto insisted, "I'll come pick you up."

"No. Let's just meet in the gates, okay? I'll wake up earlier and go to school earlier. I will change for the better." Joey smirked and gave a thumb-up. "Are you sure about this?" Seto asked again. "About what?" Joey blinked.

"The way you're living… I mean, your style of livelihood. You can just live with Mokuba and me in the mansion. It would be a lot easier." Seto repeated for the nth time.

"I already told you, Seto. I'll just live at this apartment and I'll get a job of my own. You've already bought me that room." Joey laughed, "And to think, it's not meant to be bought."

"I'll do anything for you…" Seto said. "That's sweet… really." Joey said, placing a kiss on Seto's cheek. "Thank you, thank you, thank you, thank you." Joey smiled, "I'm truly and respectfully thankful for all the things you have blessed me with, Seto Kaiba."

"No more giving, okay?" Joey smiled.

"But-"

"All I need is your support." Joey hushed Seto with his index finger. "Really? Is that all?" Seto smirked. "Are you challenging me?" Joey raised an eyebrow. "As a matter of fact, I am." Seto answered with a sly smirk, "Seto Kaiba VS. Joseph Wheeler."

"Hn! Fine!" Joey pouted, "Just don't call me 'Joseph' only he calls me that!" Seto just smiled. "Okay, fine. Seto Kaiba VS. Inu."

"SETO!!!" Joey yelled. "Hey. It sounds cute… don't you like it?" Seto laughed but was only cut off when soft lips caught his and two arms circled around his neck. His eyes widened at first, but soon closed and laid both of his arms around the waist of his lover, pulling him closer to him.

They soon broke off for air as Joey laughed. "That's the only way I can shut you up…" Joey chuckled, his arms still around Seto. (Seto's arms around his waist too) "Okay. Now that was cuter." Seto commented, "And I certainly liked it better too…"

Joey blushed. "Uhh…" Joey stuttered, unable to reply to Seto's statement as he felt Seto's tongue licking on his lips as they engaged on another kiss again. "That's the only way I can shut you up as well!" Seto said, making Joey blush even more.

"I love you, Seto…" Joey mumbled.

"I love you too, Joey." Seto smiled.

End

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Bye, guys! ^-^