Science of Attraction- 18
IceAngelDarkMoon
Wow who would have thought I would ever get to this point. I'm now at the 18th chapter with over 400 reviews for a story I never really planned on writing. Now it seems this will be my legacy. I want to thank all of you who have read this far. I'm sorry it has been such a long journey to get to this point, but my life seems to come before my writing. I'll leave a little more after the story, but I want to ask all of you who read to this point just please leave a review. Even if it's just to say 'I read your story' I would just like to know that someone put in the effort to read this immense project. I also want to thank my wonderful Beta for being so understanding with me, I am a horrible speller and seem to have some dyslexia in my fingers only. If any of you remember 'The Witness and the Guardian', and you remember all the spelling and grammatical mistakes that was because I didn't have my beta, if you want to send thank you's to her I can forward them on to her! IADM
########Last warning: There will be shonen-ai, but if you got this far and haven't realized this you're dumber than dirt and that is pretty insulting to the dirt! Also there is abuse and rape mentioned, if you find this offensive know it is to every normal person, but if you can't even read about it then leave. Please if you or anyone you know goes through anything similar to the ones in this story, please I beg of you get some help, no one deserves to go through that pain!##########
For those of you who have read some of my notes and were wondering: Yo hablo un poco español!
Cold, everything was so cold. It was as if all the life around him had been sucked dry and had frozen. Yet as he thought this he felt a strange weightlessness fill him, as if he were floating. It was then he realized he wasn't seeing anything around him, just nothingness, but after a while he saw scenes as if he were watching a movie from above the projector looking down. There he saw the hospital room, the doctors all a scurry like little ants, and there under all their attention he saw a blonde head.
That caused him to stop, he recognized that head, although he couldn't see the face through the crowd he knew who it was and the thought chilled him to the bone, it was himself laid out on that table. It was he, Joey Wheeler, receiving all the frantic help from the doctors. And most chilling of all it was he floating above them all as a ghost watching himself lie there like he were dead. Though the image in itself was terrifying Joey didn't fear it, something wasn't right; something was calming him even though he didn't realize it.
"I thought I'd find you here," A deep voice said from behind him. A startled Joey turned in his spot in mid air to face the voice. There in front of him was his angel, face still in shadow for a moment. In the moment it took to turn, the rest of the room faded out into the normal blackness his dreams took. With nothing to look at but his angel, Joey remembered what he had figured out right before he had passed out.
"Seto," It was the only word he could get out as he attached himself to the angel. With that one word the shadows fell away and he was able to see his angel fully before him as he should be. Just holding on to Seto, Joey felt all his tingling worries fade. Seto returned the hug with just as much fervor.
"Yes it's me." With that Seto pulled back a little, and then he reached up and tilted Joey's face towards his. "I was so worried I was going to lose you there, I knew I had to try at least one last time to reach you like this." With those words Joey felt all the fear he should have been feeling earlier hit him like a ton of bricks.
"Am…Am I going to die," Joey feared the answer and turned his face away trying to steel himself for the worst. Seto didn't answer right away but pulled Joey closer in the hug.
"They didn't say anything to me before I passed out, but I think you're going to pull through just fine." His voice was filled with the raw emotion it took to get those words out. Joey couldn't reply to that, he felt the tears of happiness leaking out of his eyes as he buried his face in the crook of Seto's neck.
"I never thought I would be so happy to still be alive." Joey whispered, his breath tickling Seto's neck delightfully.
"You're finally free; he has no hold over you anymore, look." Seto said, pointing down at Joey's ankle. There on his ankle was a shackle with a loop, one that looked like it had been attached to a chain.
"Has that always been there?" Joey asked he couldn't remember it being there in his dreams before.
"Yes but you've never looked down, it's been controlling you without you noticing for as long as he's abused you." Seto stated solemnly.
"Will it ever go away completely?" Joey asked, although it didn't really bother him he could still feel it weighing heavy on his ankle.
"It may shrink in size, but you are never free of that, it's the memories of what happened. You may grow and get over the experience but it never goes away. I'm sorry. You still got off better than most people; yours was cut at the closest spot meaning the least control he still has." It sounded a little absurd to Joey that Seto was apologizing to him, but he did realize how lucky he was going to be when he woke up. Looking at his one link, Joey's eyes wandered over to Seto's feet. The sight there shocked him, and knocked the breath out of him.
"Your ankle, y…your chain, I…I…I didn't realize you had o…one o…or that..."Joey stuttered still looking at the shackle and then the chain attached to Seto's ankle.
"Or that it was so long still?" Seto asked filling in the last words his love couldn't say. Seto grimaced as he looked down at the chain that was over two yards long of large links of a chain. "How could you have known? There are some things I haven't been able to face yet." Seto's voice was quiet and remorseful like it was something he really dreaded, and Joey realized he probably did if his chain were that long. Before Joey could say or ask anything though a sharp pain ran through his body and he gave a large gasp. Instinctually he grabbed Seto; it felt like his chest was on fire.
"You're waking up; just remember that the pain means you're still alive, that I can really be there for you." Seto started to say but ended up yelling as Joey seemed to dematerialize between his arms. Joey felt himself being pulled away from the comforting arms and the safety. His body was at extremes, fire and ice coursed through his veins. It was horrible but he realized he was indeed still alive.
He could suddenly hear voices all around him. The noisy chatter began to become clear to his ears, and he knew he was still in the room with all the doctors.
"He's coming to," a voice called out in the din.
"Give him something to knock him back out for a bit," another voice answered the first. Then there was a slight prick in his arm and everything began to fade again. This time there was nothing but the complete blackness all around him, and it was a welcome rest from everything.
(Sometime later, timing is not important)
The folds of sleep slowly began to draw back from Joey and slowly he became aware of things around him. The first thing that got his attention was the arm holding him protectively, yet gently the same time. Soon after that he realized the arm was moving like the person who was attached to it was talking and the vibrations were moving the arm. Then he heard the sound of his love's voice arguing softly with a more feminine voice he did not recognize.
"Please visiting hours are over you need to leave sir." The completely foreign voice asked sounding as if her patience were wearing thin, but was still trying to be nice.
"I'm not a visitor, and I will not leave unless he asks it." Seto argued using his persuasive voice.
"But that's not allowed, I'm sorry sir…" the voice Joey assumed belonging to a nurse started again, but this time it was cut off by yet another voice.
"Did you not hear that he said he's not moving?" Joey recognized Mokuba's young voice coming to the rescue. "I'm sure if you have any more complaints I have something to take care of it with." Joey heard the sound of papers being crinkled, and he realized it was money. "Seto I'm going home, I'll be back tomorrow. Take good care of him, and don't screw things up." Joey even in his half sleep could hear the teasing and the love of the younger brother.
"Thanks Mokuba, I think we'll be home by tomorrow or the day after. Call one of your friends to keep you company." There was the sound of a door being closed carefully and the room was again in silence and the arm ceased its movement. Joey decided to try and open his eyes to see what was actually going on around him now, or at least to see Seto.
At first it hurt a lot, the little bit of light that got to his pupils, but slowly his eyes adjusted and he could make out blurry objects of the room, then finally the face that was near his own. The first thing he focused on was Seto's cerulean blue eyes. They were filled with some emotions Joey had not seen directed his way in a long time; concern and above all love. It was startling but very pleasant and Joey found he liked being treated nicely.
"Hey sleepy head, welcome back to the world of the living." Seto whispered to him from so close his breath ghosted across Joey's face. It made goose bumps rise on his neck in a very pleasant fashion. Leaning in even closer, Seto gently kissed Joey's forehead as if he were a parent watching over their sick child.
"I'm really alive then?" Joey asked finding his voice rough for disuse and sleep. Although he was almost completely aware of everything around him things still seemed a little off.
"Well that is a figure of speech, you're so pumped full of drugs now that you're not yourself yet. But you are completely free." Leaning down Seto laid yet another kiss upon Joey's brow. "But for now sleep, you need it and I'll be here when you wake up." Joey took no more time to comply he found he could no longer keep his eyes open and was soon back in the world of dark again.
(Sometime even later)
Again Joey felt sleep start to fall away from him but this time he could feel his body again. He could feel the slight twinges of pain and the uncomfortable position he had been laying in for far too long. This time, although it wasn't moving, he felt the arm still around him holding him close. Opening his eyes slowly he saw the room was dark, and he presumed it to be late at night then.
To his left was Seto, arm wrapped around Joey like he was a big teddy bear. His head was resting on Joey's shoulder and his breath moved Joey's hair against his own neck, tickling him. Seto was fast asleep, holding Joey. 'He was probably up the whole time to watch over me,' Joey thought to himself feeling very touched that Seto did indeed love him that much to do that.
Without noticing what he was doing, Joey started to run his fingers through the fine brown hair that was hanging in front of Seto's closed eyes. He didn't even realize he was doing it until he saw a pair of cerulean blue eyes looking at him from behind the bangs he was playing with. It was a cute look he decided; Seto's eyes were clouded from sleep and seemed confused but for once they were completely unguarded against the world. Letting his feelings guide him Joey leaned forward and pressed a kiss to Seto's surprised lips.
"I'm sorry I woke you up, but I'm not sorry for the kiss I couldn't help it." Joey whispered to the still very dazed Seto as he rubbed their noses together in an Eskimo kiss of sorts.
"That's fine I could get used to being woken up like that, it was definitely not something regrettable." Seto nuzzled a little closer to Joey's neck, he still hadn't moved since he had woken up. As if realizing something Seto moved back a little, but only so he could look Joey in the face completely, "How are you feeling, does anything really hurt?" The concern in his voice flooded through Joey's senses, suddenly it was more than he could handle and Joey broke down.
He couldn't remember the last time he had been able to just cry and let it all out. There was just so much of everything good in the world that he couldn't remember. Looking back on his life, all he could seem to remember now was all the horrible things he had somehow survived. It took him a moment to realize Seto had pulled him close again; Joey's head was resting in the hollow of Seto's neck, his tears wetting the skin beneath his face. There was a hand moving comfortingly along his spine and his hearing vaguely recognized that Seto was mumbling sweet things in his ear to try and calm him down. But for the most part Seto was just letting him cry, and that was really what he needed, that and someone to love him.
"I'm sorry it's just it's been SO long since I felt that anyone cared, I mean really cared. Thank you." Joey mumbled into Seto's neck in a little bit after he had settled down, "I never thanked you for saving my life, did I? This has all just been so much I can't even believe what's happened to me, to us."
"I told you you're free, although not how we planned it you're finally there. And I'll be here for you." He pulled back a bit to look Joey in the eyes to let him know that he meant it from his heart; his very soul.
"That dream," Joey spoke as if a stupor, he suddenly realized, "You told me that in the dream. You were my angel and have been ever since before the project…" He was just musing now but he had to know did Seto have those dreams too?
"I remember only in my dreams you had the wings not me, for so long I couldn't see your face. It was horrible I knew I knew the person and I knew they were in trouble but I just couldn't help." Seto's voice seemed pained at the weakness he had to suffer through in the past.
"So then the dreams really did happen then, we weren't just imagining things?" Joey needed to hear Seto himself say what he knew was true already.
"It has to be unless we both imagined the same thing at the same time which is what we thought anyway." Seto quipped using circuitous logic. Joey took a deep breath and asked what they both had been waiting to speak of.
"My chain is gone then except for the original shackle, but you…" He paused seeming to try and get his thoughts in order. "Your chain. It's still so long…" Again there was a pause Seto was now staring intently at the sheets of the bed they were on waiting for Joey to finish asking what he was sure to ask. "W…what happened, I mean if you want to talk about it?"
"It's what I was going to talk to you about after you had your situation all settled, I didn't want to add to your troubles." Seto gave a large sigh as if not sure as to where to even begin. He glanced up at Joey through his lashes and Joey saw to his surprise the tears there in the blue depths. "Just promise me one thing, whatever I tell you now, please, please don't tell Mokuba"
Holding Seto's hand in his own and squeezed it for comfort Joey replied, "I promise but I doubt whatever you have to say would change his views of you, he loves you very much."
"That's exactly why he can't know, not for his love of me, but himself, he'd think it were his fault when it's only one person's." Seto's voice cracked from emotion and Joey pulled him close for another hug, just letting Seto know he was there for him. "I guess the best place to start is the beginning." His voice suddenly took on a surprisingly lifeless tone as he started to tell his story, Joey realized he was reliving it in his mind and knew somehow to just listen no matter what he heard. He knew he couldn't interrupt or Seto might clam up and never get this off of his chest.
"The records show that Mokuba and I were taken from our parents because they abused us. I only have a few brief flashes of memories of that time, and Mokuba has no idea. I let him and everyone else think that our parents were dead; it's just easier for him that way. Life at the orphanage wasn't exactly a loving place, a lot of the time things were neglected or ignored, it wasn't their fault there just wasn't enough help or money." Seto's head was resting on Joey's shoulder and he was staring off into the emptiness of the room not seeing anything that was really there.
"Mokuba was picked on a lot and I wasn't always there to protect him, I tried my hardest but I couldn't keep him sheltered like I wanted to. Then that fateful day I played Mr. Kaiba in chess and beat him. I thought that was our ticket to a happy life, one that Mokuba had always deserved. Things went great for the first few weeks; he was the perfect father any kid could ever ask for. But there was always this look in his eyes, even at such a young age I was scared of it and hated that look. I took a lot of care to try and keep Mokuba out of the room if he were in there. For the most part I still wasn't sure what the look was but it followed me, especially whenever I was in the same room as him." Joey had a feeling he knew what was going to come next, but he prayed he was wrong. It would mean a fate that could be seen as worse than his own.
"For a little while I felt someone watching me while I slept at night. One night I remember waking up but pretending to still be asleep. There in my room was the man who had adopted us, just watching me. I did this many nights and every time I woke in the night he was there just watching me. I didn't know what to make of it. Then one night," here again Seto's voice cracked, there were just so many memories he had repressed for so long, and they were all coming back to him at once in a huge flood of horrible emotions. Joey pulled his body closer and ran his hands along Seto's side in a comforting manner. He knew now what he was going to hear, but he was still praying somehow he was wrong, that Seto wouldn't tell him what he knew he would hear.
"That one awful night I realized what it was in his looks and in his manner, I knew why he had adopted at least me. It wasn't my gaming skill, not really. That night Mokuba had been put to bed early and had fallen fast asleep, I knew because I stayed with him until he was asleep like I always did. Then when I left his room I realized that for some reason Kaiba had let all the servants go early, even the butler who lived there with us was gone. I searched the entire mansion and found no one, except when I went to his room; there he seemed to smirk at me. I was afraid, but even at that age I knew I didn't want him to know that I was. I'd only opened the door to see if the servants were in there. I tried to close the door and pretend I was going to do something else, but then he called me in. GODS how I tried to get my feet to listen to me and to run away, and now there isn't a minute that I don't think about what would have happened if I had been able to run." Set choked out as the tears flowed down his cheeks, he was no longer able to hide the pain that was tearing through him at all the memories.
"He knew he had me scared, more scared than I had ever been in my life. Smirking the whole way he came over to me and kind of pulled me into the room. Then as he started talking to me he closed the door, and it wasn't until later I realized he locked it as well. His room had been made almost sound proof when that door closed. I can't remember anything he said, all I remember is that horrible look in his eyes spreading till his whole face was consumed by it, it was like a leering theater mask. I remember him getting closer and closer to me, and still my feet wouldn't work, nothing seemed to be able to respond. I hate feeling helpless but I just couldn't move at all, it's the worst feeling in the world. He picked me up and carried me over to his bed and set me down on it. Wait, I do remember something he said, after he set me down he sat next to me his hand resting on my thigh as he spoke his voice huskier than I remembered it ever being. He said, 'You wanna be a good boy don't you, because if you aren't then I'm taking Mokuba back to the orphanage, you understand right?' I think I might have actually nodded, I just remember all the fear. Then he continued by saying, 'You can't tell anyone about this either, this will be our little secret or else something bad will happen, all you have to do is follow my instructions. You know how to do that don't you?' I can still hear that fake voice he used as if what he was going to do was completely normal, he completely disgusts me." Seto's voice did indeed sound like he had just walked through a large pile of dog droppings.
"I think I may have nodded again, and then he moved a little closer." Seto's breath was coming in short little burst as if he were reliving the terror he must have been feeling then. His voice was again very quiet, but almost a little hysterical in sound, but it was to be expected with this confession of sorts. "He kissed me then, it was my first, and from the man who's supposed to be my father. It made my lips bleed and was awful. I tried to get away but he held me there, he was so much stronger than me at the time. Then…then…oh GODS he raped me." Seto burst into pitiful sobs that shook his whole body. His entire body was shaking as if he were freezing to death there in the room. Joey could feel the tears coming out of his own eyes, silently leaving a trail down his cheeks. He pulled Seto close and just held him, there wasn't anything he could say to make that pain Seto would have had to suffer go away. They stayed like that for at least twenty minutes until Seto started to calm back down. It was just so much for him; it embarrassed him and humiliated him to admit he hadn't been strong enough to stop what had happened to him.
"It hurt SO MUCH, and I let it happen to me. It was like fire had been poured into my blood stream. I cried from the pain and screamed but he told me the room was soundproof, and that no one would care anyway. Each time he always threatened me with Mokuba's safety and happiness, there was nothing I would ever do to jeopardize that, and he knew that and used it against me, he also knew it would hurt my pride more than I ever wanted to admit. This went on for many years, occasionally when he had had a really bad day or was really drunk he'd beat me, but usually he'd only rape me. It killed the me that had believed in kind things or even had any hope, the only time it ever kind of came back was around Mokuba but even then it wasn't real anymore. Mokuba was too young to really realize anything was going on. Then Kaiba started to make allusions that he was getting bored with me and was thinking about doing what he had done to me to Mokuba. That's when I lost it; I faced him down, with the threat of losing his company he threw himself out a window leaving me and Mokuba everything really. I can't say I felt very much satisfaction from his death, he didn't suffer nearly enough." Seto's voice seemed to be gearing up to yet another surprise or something and it scared Joey.
"He was so proud of himself and what he did to me; he wanted to remember every time. He wanted to mark me as his and he did. It wasn't enough for him to have taken my innocence and so much that he had no right to but did any way. He wanted everything and that's what got him killed. He tried to make me into his perfect replacement and it worked too well. But he got the last laugh; every time he took me he made a mark on my back. Only one line for every time." Seto pulled away from Joey slowly and reached and pulled up his shirt to past his shoulders. The first thing Joey saw was the stitches across his stomach from the fight with Joey's father. That wasn't what Seto wanted to show him; slowly he rotated himself so his back was facing Joey.
Joey couldn't help the surprised intake of air that was clearly audible in the small room. There where there should have been smooth skin was a beautifully done rose. Not just an outline but a little bit of shading and really a masterpiece. The thought struck Joey at how many lines there really were in the rose.
"Oh my gosh, Seto. I'm so sorry." Was all Joey could chock out as his fingers lightly traced the beautiful yet horrible rose etched in the very skin of his love.
"After everything had finally started to stop hurting so bad I promised myself that if anyone I knew was going through anything remotely like what I did I would help no matter the cost. No one should have to live through an experience like that. I'm so sorry that it was you but it helped me find you." Seto's voice was sad but held the hint of irony that was there.
"I wouldn't trade you for a life that had been free from him, I have a feeling this is only the beginning but I know it's going to be a great change for me." Joey stated letting the complete sincerity soak in his voice.
"You had to know this story, no matter what I had to relive. I'm sorry I'm not the perfect boyfriend, I can't help it sometimes the sudden flashbacks and unconscious association of touch with him. I'm so sorry." Seto's voice was again laced with pain. Joey suddenly realized what Seto was trying to say to him.
"That's why you pulled back the other day." Joey guessed remembering their kissing session that Seto had pulled away. Seto nodded his head looking miserable again. "Silly, you should have known that it doesn't matter to me, I just wish I had known sooner. We'll just take it slow. I don't care if I have to wait, you're worth it, and we won't ever do anything you're not comfortable with." With that Joey lifted Seto's face so their eyes met for the first time since the confession and Joey leaned in and lightly kissed Seto on the lips. "I love you so much; I can't put into words how much you have helped me, no matter what happens I can't forget what you've done for me. I only hope in time I can help you as you have helped me." Tears of happiness fell from both of their eyes at the same time.
"Thank you so much, I don't deserve you, I love you so much." Seto breathed out leaning in and kissing Joey again this time a little deeper than the time before. Neither of them could get over the small shocks of electricity that seemed to shoot through them as their lips met.
Eventually they fell back to sleep, both no longer felt the pain from their ordeal. Their dreams were only happy, not a bad thing could seem to touch them. Anyone who looked on the two would have been met by the most angelic sight of two seemly completely innocent little boys snuggled up together. It seemed they had both lost the weights that had been on their shoulders for so long.
(The next morning sometime)
"Oh my gosh Joey is that you sweetie?" A soothing sweet feminine voice broke into the slumbering boys' dreams. Slowly bringing himself to the world of the living Joey realized he recognized the voice.
"M…m…mom, is that you?" Joey asked his voice still kind of slurred from sleep but he was waking up fast. As his eyes cleared he saw a face he recognized even through the age that had gently touched it. She had more wrinkles than he remembered and her hair seemed a touch more grey. The face seemed really concerned for him. Next to him Seto was slowly starting to realize what was going on.
"Oh my poor baby, you had me so worried. When he told me what happened all I could think was I never fought that court ruling. I knew what he was like and yet I did nothing. I'm so sorry Joey." She was weeping freely now that she knew her son was going to make. She might have that second chance she never thought she would.
"Wait, who called and what has happened since I've been out?" Joey was now starting to get a little confused, how had they called his mother and how had she gotten there so fast? Seto was starting to disentangle himself from Joey to give them some private time together he knew from his dreams that Joey needed this.
"Wait, please, don't go, I owe you a lot, you're Seto right?" Joey's mom reached out and placed a halting hand on Seto's shoulder, he nodded his head to answer her inquiry. She leaned in and gave Joey a quick loose hug as if afraid she'd break him. Pulling back she began to tell him what all had happened. "I got a call from Seto here telling me you had been badly injured and were in the hospital, but that he believed that you would be fine. He then told me that it had been your father that had inflicted all the injuries." She bowed her head in shame at the thought of ever having been married to that man. "He was brought in by the police but it seems he tried an escape. He landed in the kennel for the police dogs and was ripped to shreds. It seems after the first dog attacked him out of fright the rest were spurned on by the blood and the competition and killed him. Thank whatever heavenly being saw to his punishment, although it wasn't enough." Joey was shocked by what had happened it seemed too bizarre to believe he glanced over at Seto to see if this was the truth and Seto nodded his head at the unspoken question.
"Seto told me that he was sure that no matter how long it had been since we had last seen each other that you would want to see me. I didn't believe him at first because I had let the court decision stay instead of trying to repeal it. I thought you wanted to live with him and I just wanted you to be happy, and I'm just so happy you're still here. I'm so sorry." She babbling now and tears were smearing her make up all over. Joey moved forward in his bed and held her in a hug and let her get some of the tears out.
"It wasn't your fault it was his, I was so mad at him. He told me that if I didn't say I wanted to live with him he would kill you and Serenity. I was so scared, and now it seems as if I was right that he would kill. I'm sorry it had to turn out like this but I've missed you and Serenity so much." Joey was still holding her tightly.
"I should have realized he would do something like that." She was starting to settle back down and Joey let her go slowly. "Now it seems we have a second chance, you could come and live with Serenity and me that is if you would like that." She left it up to him, but it was obvious she expected him to say yes. He looked down at the bed so he wouldn't have to look her in the eyes. He had wanted to live with them for so long it didn't seem real. But then he remembered that they lived a good distance away. That would mean a big distance between Seto and himself. On the bed his and Seto's hands found each other and held on tight.
"I'm sorry mom, but I think there is somewhere else I need to stay right now, please tell me you understand." He wasn't sure how much about the fight Seto had told his mother or how much Seto had told her about the two of them. He glanced up at her; he could see her eyes on the linked hands and the slow smile that spread across her face.
"I see, and I completely understand, I'm so happy for you Joey." She leaned in and gave him a great big hug, all she wanted was her son to be happy and she could tell in his eyes that this Seto who had gone to lengths to get her there was the one for her son. "And you too Seto, welcome to the family, I hope you won't judge us by that regrettable relative of ours that you've met." She spoke solemnly as she leaned over and gave Seto a great big hug too.
Seto had never had a mother that he could really remember; this woman who had only ever talked to him on the phone had accepted him so freely. He couldn't believe how different she was from Joey's father, but he wasn't complaining about that. He knew that he and Joey would be spending a lot of time with Joey's remaining family, and Seto didn't think it would be dreaded at all.
"I'm so happy for you both, I'm just so sad that it had to start out as bad as it has. I'll leave you two alone for now," here she winked at the two, "but call me when you get settled Joey. Please keep in touch I don't want to lose you again." She hugged them both at the same time as she started to turn to leave. Seto thought of an idea and knew deep down Joey would support it 100 percent.
"If you would like you and Serenity could come visit and stay a little while at our house once we've all gotten settled." His voice was warm and inviting. Joey turned and grinned up at him and hugged him tightly.
"Please say you will, I haven't seen you both in so long," Joey put on his puppy eyes, and he heard Seto chuckle quietly to himself at the pleading eyes.
"Of course just call and let us know when will work and we'll be right over, you couldn't keep us away for the world. I love you so much Joey; and I think in a very short time, Seto, you will be my other son." With that she walked out of the room leaving two very happy young men behind her.
Epilogue-Brief Summary of the rest of their lives
(I want you as the reader to come to your own conclusion about what happens in their lives. I know sometimes this isn't fair to you, but writing out the rest of their lives loses the magic of the story. But so you can feel the story is completed I will include a brief look at the life they spend together until the grave. Please interpret everything in your own way.)
No life is ever perfect, or unmarred by some tragic events, but there is such a thing as happy endings. This is what came to pass for the happy couple. Although they could never out run their pasts they came to except that it had happened and there was nothing about it they could do but except it was now part of themselves.
They made it through their school days and both went on to college. Seto went into the business world that he was already succeeding in. Joey went into horticulture and child psychology. While Seto ran Kiaba Corp from his home office most days, Joey worked in the laboratory Seto built for him to work with his flowers.
In time they made their own personal vows to each other, and exchanged their promise rings. Instead of ever adopting their own children they converted the mansion into a safe house for other abused children to come until; things worked out for them. Nothing in the world brought them more enjoyment than to see the children come to themselves and realize they were worth something in the world. Each year at the holidays, especially Thanksgiving, all the children that had ever lived in the house came back to the mansion. As the years passed they brought their own families; spouse and children. Each year the happy home grew bringing more life and love to the house. Anyone who was there at these special holidays left feeling the warmth of the palpable love that was in that mansion.
Together Seto and Joey were complete and happy. They were the proudest parents, the most loving grandparents, and in time the liveliest great grandparents. While many people never approved of their "type" of relationship those who knew them were never the same. They gave a good name to the word love and they lived out the rest of their lives together enjoying that word between them and with all their 'children'. They continued their relationship as it had been able to love and still keep the teasing and arguing. They stayed true to themselves and their feelings. They were always together whether awake or asleep. Looking back at how it had all come to such a happy end they saw a school experiment, and the science of attraction.
The END
Thank you all for reading all the way to the end of this story. Please, PLEASE leave me a review; just let me know that you read the story. I'm sorry I didn't tie it very well with the other plot but I just wanted to end this story, I can't remember the last time I actually watched the show, and I feel that it was better for me to finish the story while I still liked the story before I began to hate it. For those of you who are wondering what stories I'm working on here's a brief look. If you like Yu-Gi-Oh I should have my last story coming out soon, a one shot with a neat pairing. If you like BeyBlade I have a series I'm going to continue called All the Lonely People with Kai and Tala as the main stars, mostly angst with a little bit of humor added in when things get too dismal! Besides that I've got a lot of work to do on some of my original works so I plan on writing just not for this anymore! Thanks again to all of you, with out you there wouldn't have been a story! Adios! IceAngelDarkMoon
For those of you who were wondering whatever happened to the original poem I wrote for Joey in the story, guess what!! I found it the other day so here it is, I hope you enjoy, remember the second one was actually better and this has had no revisions!
Maybe it's wrong of me to ask you to love me
The world at least thinks so
It does not want us together
It says we aren't meant to be
But how could something true be wrong?
You saved my life you know
Without you I would have died
When I looked at you I see true
I can feel that no matter what you're first in my heart
I know I have no right to ask, but please
Please don't leave me with myself
Do you remember you were first to realize?
The first to see past the façade?
No one made you help me but you did
Maybe it's my imagination
Just a feeling induced by your closeness
But I think maybe you love me too
Maybe it's your smile
Or the way your eyes soften as you look at me
Maybe it's all in my head
What if this is all a dream?
What if it was just a fake reality?
And you never really existed?
I don't know if I could go on
This is all still so new to me
What should I feel for you?
Is what I feel really love?
I'm not sure but if it isn't too much to comprehend
You threw me that life preserver
But that alone will not save me
I still need someone to pull me in
Will it still be you?
Will you be on my side?
I know it is unfair of me to ask
But please stay, stay with me
At least stay until we are free of our past
Like I said it was old and bad, I'm ashamed to say I even wrote it. But oh well its here for your enjoyment to laugh at! See you around! IADM