Joey watched in disbelief as the evil woman disappeared from sight, his emotions mixed. He had loved that woman once—only a few hours before, in fact—but she had betrayed him, tried to kill him, and had killed two of his friends. He couldn't love her any more, but he was glad it hadn't been his bullet that had killed her.

"Joey?"

He felt a soft touch on his shoulder and turned to see Serenity there. "Oh sis . . ." His emotions spilled over and he embraced the younger girl tightly. "I've screwed up so bad . . ."

"Shhh. . . . It's alright, Joey," Serenity whispered softly as Yugi and Tristan also ran up.

"It's not alright!" Joey wailed. "Vivalene fed me those lies about my friends and I actually believed her! I should've known then and there that she was a creep, but I just thought she was tellin' the truth and everyone else was lying. Marik and Kaiba are dead because of me!!!" He pulled away from Serenity and turned to go back down the stairs. "They're dead, and nothing will bring them back!!"

"Joey . . ." Yugi tried to say, but Joey disappeared through the opening in the roof.

"Yug, I just wanna be alone for a while," the Brooklyn boy said softly.

"Is he going to be okay?" Serenity asked worriedly.

"I don't know, Serenity," Yugi said sadly. "I don't know."

****

Joey wandered aimlessly through the streets of Domino City as the rain fell generously over him and over the buildings. Seto had told Joey not to blame himself for his death, but how could he not?

Seto wanted to save you, Joey.

Joey recognized Kasumi's soft voice, and he looked around for the little angel, but to no avail. "I know that!!" he cried.

It was his choice, Joey. This was not your fault.

But Joey couldn't believe that. "If I hadn't trusted Vivalene, Kaiba wouldn't have had to save me!!" he insisted, tears falling from his eyes.

By now he found himself in front of the hospital, and he noticed Rishid standing outside the front doors. Shamefully he turned away, unable to think of looking Marik's brother in the eyes.

"Joseph?" Rishid had noticed him.

Joey stopped. He would have to talk to him now. Slowly he shuffled over, his shoulders slumped. "Man, I'm so sorry about Marik," he cried. "I'm sure you and Ishizu never want to see me again. It's my fault he's . . ."

"Joseph." Rishid laid a hand on the boy's shoulder. "Master Marik is alive."

Joey blinked, unable to believe it. "But . . . but he . . . Vivalene. . . ." He stammered around, struggling to get the words out. "Vivalene murdered him," the boy choked out at last, "and I didn't believe him when he told me how messed up she was!"

"Vivalene tried to murder him," Rishid corrected softly, "but he survived. Come with me and I will show you."

Joey backed up. "I . . . I couldn't," he protested. "Marik would never want to see me, not after what I've done! I couldn't face him." He looked down.

"He will see you, Joseph," Rishid said firmly. "He has been asking about you."

"Probably 'cause he hopes Vivalene made me suffer," Joey replied, "and I wouldn't blame him for that. I hurt everyone I care about!" He shook his head. "Man, I should've suffered. I should've died. But instead, my friends . . ." The boy trailed off in despair.

"He was concerned for your safety, Joseph," Rishid told him. "Please come with me," he said again.

This time Joey nodded forlornly. He had to apologize to Marik for what he'd said and done.

****

When they arrived back at Marik's room, the Egyptian boy was awake and staring out the window while Ishizu read to him in their native language. Both of them looked up when the door opened.

"Master," Rishid said as he went in first, "I have brought Joseph."

Joey came in slowly, looking sad and apprehensive. He brightened when he saw that Marik truly was alive.

"Hello, Joseph," Ishizu said as she stood up. "Rishid and I will leave the two of you to converse."

Joey walked over to the bed and looked his friend over. "Hey man. How are you feeling?" he asked.

"Better than when I was dying," Marik replied wryly. "I see you have not suffered the same fate as I," he observed.

Joey shook his head. "No, but I should've," he said sadly. "You were right, Marik. You were right about everything, but I just brushed you off and figured you didn't know what you were talking about." He paused. "Can you . . . ever forgive me?"

Marik sighed. "Of course I can forgive you," he said at last.

Joey blinked. "Just like that, after everything that happened?"

"I do not blame you for what Vivalene did," Marik replied. "She would have tried to kill me whether you had listened or not. What happened to me was not your fault, Joey."

Joey leaned back, looking relieved. "Thanks, man," he said softly. "You've been a real pal, even when I treated you like dirt. You really have changed from the old Marik I used to know and despise." He paused again. "I hope I can be as good a friend as you've been."

"You are a good friend, Joey," Marik told him. "You only lost your way for a time. It can happen to anyone."

****

They spoke for a few more minutes and then Joey said goodbye and left. He felt a lot better knowing that Marik hadn't died, but there was still a heavy burden weighing him down. He knew he could never forgive himself for Seto's death. Joey had treated him worse than any of the others, even scathingly telling him that he wasn't any friend of his. And still Seto had sacrificed himself to save Joey from Vivalene. Joey would be dead if the other boy hadn't stepped in on the rooftop. "I'm sorry, Kaiba," Joey whispered now as he stared out the window at the rain. "Man, I'm so sorry . . ."

"Joey? Is that you?!"

Joey turned to see Tea coming toward him, her blue eyes shining with relief. "Hey Tea," he said quietly.

"Oh, Joey, you're alright!" she exclaimed joyously. "We were so worried!"

Joey tried to manage a small smile, but it didn't work. "I went to see Marik," he told her. "He said he forgives me for what I said to him. You guys have always stood by me, even when I've acted like a first-class jerk." He shook his head sadly. "I don't deserve such great friends, not after what I've done."

"You're thinking about Kaiba, aren't you?" Tea said softly.

Joey nodded sorrowfully. "Tea, he gave his life for me!" the boy cried.

Tears spilled down Tea's cheeks. "Joey, there's something you need to know," she said quietly.

Joey just stared at her. "What?!" he demanded.

Instead of answering, Tea led Joey down the hall to a room and gently opened the door. "Kaiba's alive," she whispered, gesturing inside.

Joey felt frozen. Seto had died in his arms hours before; he couldn't be alive!

"Go on in," Tea encouraged him and then shut the door behind her.

Joey went closer, his eyes wide. Seto was laying on the bed, Mokuba curled up in his arms. The brown-haired boy appeared to be asleep or unconscious, and he was breathing!

"Kaiba?" Joey said softly in disbelief, but the other boy didn't answer, so Joey just watched him for a while in awe. Seto wasn't dead! It was a miracle.

"You know, I'm aware of your presence."

Joey was startled out of his thoughts by Seto's voice. Now the other boy's eyes were open and clear, and he had a typical smirk on his face.

"Kaiba!!" Joey cried in delighted relief. "Oh man, you had me so shook up!"

Seto held his sleeping brother close to his chest. "I'm assuming that you defeated Vivalene," he said flatly.

Joey nodded solemnly and sat down next to him. "But I wouldn't even be here if you hadn't stepped in front of me on the roof," he said quietly. "You saved my life, Kaiba."

Seto didn't answer immediately, seeming to be lost in his own thoughts.

"You . . . you almost died because of me," Joey continued.

Seto grunted. "But I didn't die."

Joey shook his head. "You were willing to. Even after the rotten way I treated you—all those mean words I said when you were only trying to help me, and all the pushing and shoving—you were still willing to give your life for me!" He brushed away a tear. "Now I know who my real friends are." He laid a hand on the other boy's shoulder. "You're my friend, Kaiba. You always will be."

Seto smirked crookedly. "Just promise me one thing, Wheeler."

"Yeah?"

"The next time you get involved with a strange woman and I warn you about her, for Heaven's sake, Wheeler—listen to me!!"