Disclaimer: I don't own Yu-Gi-Oh. It belongs to the creators of the show. However, I do have one request though. It's a simple request really. Please don't "plagiarize" off my written work, which includes original characters/places/names/chapter ideas. I mean if you want to use something that I have written out. That I have worked very hard on and spent many hours reediting, please show some courtesy and ask me first, okay, Thanks – Razzleteddy

A/N: Thanks for reading :) Here's chapter 25 :) Enjoy! – Razzleteddy

Shadows Within

Joey leaned against a wood beam with a hot cup of tea in his hand, the sun set a long time ago. He's been standing there alone watching the waves crashed along the shores. He thought about things, things like Seto and Mokuba, what they been through and what they were still going through.

He hoped they would be able to put this crap in the past and keep it there. But he knew that the present of Baiko will still linger with them, filed away with other dark memories they wished they never had but of course, that was unavoidable. That was what he thought about for hours then allowed his mind to think about himself for the first time a long time. He creased his brow a bit, he felt so weary because he used all his strength for the family.

He wondered if he had enough left within him to hold them together anymore, he couldn't help but worried very deeply about that. He knew his beloved Seto counted on his support and he didn't want to let him down.

"Hey."

Joey snapped out of his thoughts and briefly turned around. He smiled some then faced back toward the shores, "Hey," he took a sip from his cup.

"I was wondering where you went to." Seto walked over bit worried and began to soothe his loves soft hair gently, he felt somewhat relieved.

Joey sighed a bit from the concern in his words. "Sorry babe, I didn't mean to worry you," he whispered tiredly as he leaned into him a little.

"It's okay. What are you doing out here anyway?" Seto viewed him curious.

Joey just shrugged lazily, "Just thinking…" he inhaled a long breath. He didn't want to bother him with his worries, "About things," he finished.

"Things like what?"

Joey shrugged again, "Oh just stuff you know." He avoided the question but instead let the uneasy silence come between them for a long moment.

Seto softened his eyes more trouble, "Joey, are you okay?"

"Sure," Joey looked at him a bit surprise, "Why you ask?"

Seto shrugged himself and began to play with his fingernail. He molded his face slightly worried, "Well… you seem so quiet lately, distant like. I was just wondering, you know, what's on your mind lately," he viewed

"Oh, it's nothing. I'm fine." Joey muttered, he settled his cup down on a table. He didn't want to upset him with his troubles, because of all truth, he wasn't sure either. It was a mixture of things that was wearing on him.

Seto rutted his features seriously, he knew Joey was fibbing about that and could see it in his eyes. "Now I don't really believe that." He reached out under his chin and moved his face gently to view his eyes, "Please tell me."

Joey frowned and looked away. He walked briefly and sat down upon a lawn chair with Seto following after him. "It's just a fraction of different things. I'm been getting this overwhelming feeling lately and I can't seem to shake it I guess." He inhaled a jagged breath. "It's just been a rough year and half, that's all and I feel like I don't have any more to give, you know."

Seto gave him a worried look at to his lover's weary voice. He pulled him into his arms tenderly. "I know," he whispered and soothed his soft hair, "It has been a long jagged road for us all." He hugged him more, "You sure sacrificed a lot for this family and I know I don't give you much credit."

Joey chuckled slightly at that statement. "You give me plenty Seto," he snuggled closer to him. "You're just being silly." He then closed eyes for a moment. "I'm just burnt out with all that happened," he creased a brow.

"Well, that's why I've suggested this getaway. We all need a break to recover ourselves. And we are, Mokuba is getting better, I'm doing fine thanks to you and soon you'll be refreshed." Seto said matter-of-factly.

Joey smiled at that, yes, he after a week here he would be refreshed. He was glad he was able to talk to him about was bothering him, he felt better.

Seto smoothed his back when a thought entered his mind. "I got a great idea. Why don't why rent a couple of boats tomorrow. Maybe a couple of jet skis and we'll go fishing and such. I'm sure everyone would love that."

Joey perked up at the sound of that, "Yeah that would be cool!" he looked up at him with a grin. He loved to go jet skiing for sure, it sounded like fun.

Seto laughed a bit, "Well then, it's settled," he saw Joey nodded enthusiastically. Pleased he embraced him more, "So what do you think of Noa so far?" he creased his brow with some curiosity about his thoughts.

"I like him a lot, he's seems to be a pretty good kid, quiet and shy."

Seto nodded a little, he found himself satisfied with boy also. He softened his brow a bit, "Yes, a good kid. Mokuba seems so fond of him and it's nice to have someone his own age to hang out with, someone to relate to."

Joey only nodded with agreement. Mokuba sure needed someone to relate to and founded that in Noa. Slowly he was getting lost in his thoughts.

Seto gazed deep within his eyes, how beautiful they were. He lessened his face tenderly, "Come here…" he pulled him into a passionate kiss and smiled as he enjoyed himself, he almost forgot where they were when.

"Excuse me Master Seto, Joseph."

Seto turned around on the sound of his name. He licked his lips and a slightly blushed at who it was, "Yeah Charles," he lined his face some.

Mr. Fields smirked with amusement when he caught them in the act. He softened his face, "Master Mokuba is waiting to say goodnight to him."

Joey composed himself. He shook his own blush away too, "Thanks Charlie." He stood up and heard his stomach grumble briefly, he felt the hunger of food coming on. He smiled though and gazed his eyes tenderly to his love, he reached out his hand for him, "Come on babe. Let's go."

Seto smirked and stood up, he grasped his hand as well, "Right."

-.-.-.-.-.-.-

Mokuba rested in bed and waited for Seto and Joey to come in. He glanced over to Noa every so often with a somewhat worried look. He could tell that his friend was still feeling a bit uncomfortable on being here, "Noa?"

Noa cuddled into this blanket more, "Yeah," he looked over to him.

"What do you think about Seto and Joey?"

Noa thought for long moment before he answered that and let their first encounter sink in. In his view, Joey seemed more easygoing and joyful while Seto seemed more serious and strict with a little mix of tranquil in between, "They're all right," he smiled a little at his friend.

Mokuba turned toward him fully. He rested his head in hand and smiled all the while. "You still think Seto's mean?" he winked at him for a sec.

Noa shook his head with a frown and felt worried that he might have already gotten on Mr. Kaiba's bad side. "No, I-I don't think that anymore Mok." He creased his brow, "A-And I didn't mean anything by that, really."

"Hey it's cool," Mokuba only laughed, "I was just teasing ya, besides you shouldn't worry too much about it. Everyone calls Seto mean all the time, especially Yami," he giggled more which caused Noa to grin a little at that.

"Who's Yami?" Noa gave him a curious look.

Mokuba inhaled a breath, "Oh Yami, he's-"

"He's a spiked-haired goody-two-shoe who thinks he knows everything and quite annoying about it too." Seto said matter-of-factly, he strolled into the room with a smirk, "And that's pretty much it," he folded his arms at that.

Joey turned to him with a bit of angry look, "Seto, that's not true!" he slapped him on the arm hard. "Don't say that you mean ass!" he scolded, though he guessed Seto was probably kidding but again, maybe he wasn't.

Mokuba then pointed out when Joey said that, "See Noa, what do I tell ya!" he giggled more which brought tears to his eyes, he couldn't breathe.

Noa couldn't help but join in the laughter from his friend. He didn't know why but he started to like being here. He rubbed at eyes when they teared.

Seto tapped a finger on his arm. He look at the two boys a second, "And what's so funny?" he raised his brow, "Are you guys poking fun at me?"

Mokuba wiped his eyes, another laugh escaped his lips, "N-No, honest." He gave him an innocence look. But could tell that Seto wasn't buying it.

Joey patted his love's shoulder with a knowing smirk. "Of course they are babe, they're not laughing at the cool one here." He gave him a playful wink then strolled over to Mokuba and proceeded to wish him a night's rest.

Seto just rolled his eyes, "Funny." He sauntered over to his little brother and watched him yawn very sleepily. He smiled warmly and soothed his bangs back, "Night Mokie." He gave him a worried look, "Are you going be all right or do you want me stay until you fall asleep?" he asked him.

Mokuba snuggled into his covers. He thought for a moment then glance over to Noa, "Hmm... that's okay, I'm fine," he assured him with smile.

Joey gave him a worried look also, "You're sure?" he saw him nod then.

Noa laid there and watched the three interact with each other. He could see the care and love there. Sadly, he started to feel lonely. He slowly spaced and drifted into his memories. Bedtime for him was never like that.

Mokuba nodded then glanced over to Noa once more and saw his lonely and sad look. That troubled him very much, he didn't him to feel bad.

Seto inhaled a deep calm breath, "Okay," he gave him peak on the forehead before retreated back. He then raised a brow curiously when he saw Mokuba continue to move his concerned eyes to left. So, he turned around only to find Noa with a spaced out look. He cleared his throat a little, "Comfortable Noa?" he inhaled a stale breath when the boy didn't respond. He could tell he was lost in a memory. He glanced over the Joey who looked worried as well. He turned back to the boy, "Noa," his voice was a little more firm so to get his attention. He the saw him snapped back to reality.

Noa broke out of his trance. He looked up and blushed at Mr. Kaiba's stone look while Joey and Mokuba looked worriedly at him, "Mmm I-I'm sorry sir. What did you say?" he bit his lip nervous and hoped he wasn't in trouble.

Seto relaxed his features and ignored the 'sir' part of his sentence. He could tell he became edgy, he was about to reply when he saw Joey step forward.

"Are you comfortable?" Joyed repeated for him and gave the boy a warm smile to calm him, "Cause we could get more blankets for you if you want."

Noa however, only lined his eyes nervously at him, "No thanks, I'm fine."

Seto just nodded, "All right then." He stepped forward about to tuck him in when Noa panicked at that. He saw the boy moved away from him and repeated that he was fine. So, he back off understandingly, "Well... you have good night's rest. If you guys need anything, just let us know." He gave them both a last glance before he turned around and headed for the door.

"Yeah, night Noa," Joey smiled once more but saw him shy away from that. He frowned a bit at his reaction. He didn't want him to feel uncomfortable.

Noa pulled his blankets closer to his face, shying away from his smile instead. "Night," his voice was above a whisper. He watched him shut off the lights and headed out into the hallway where Seto was waiting for him.

"Sleep tight Noa."

Noa glanced over to Mokuba who was starting to nod off with a yawn. "Yeah, you too Mok," he laid there for a while until he fell asleep as well.

Thanks for Reading :) Please, Review :) - Razzleteddy