YUGIOH

Amnesia

Chapter 13.

Kaiba hung around with the guys in school in-between classes, and mentioned to Joey he had to see him about something, and to meet him in the back of the school to avoid the others.

That day when school got out, Joey walked out of the back to see Kaiba standing there like a statue waiting for him, briefcase in hand. 'It's funny.' Joey thought. 'When I look at the guy I see that creep Kaiba. But when I talk to the guy, he's like another person. Sometimes I wish I never tried to teach him that friendship lesson in the first place. Who would have ever thought I'd like Kaiba as a friend? Now I'm always worried that one of these times, he's gonna come out, and I'm gonna loose the friend I learned to like.' Joey approached, saying, "Hey, Seto.......what did you need to talk to me about?"

"Sit down, Joey." Kaiba said, referring to the cement 1/2 wall that was used as a barrier to keep the hill coming down towards the school. Joey had to hop to jump on it, while Kaiba simply sat down, putting his briefcase down next to him. "Joey.......this is going to be difficult for you to hear, but I'm going to take your advice. Just try and keep in mind that we're friends, and I don't want to do anything to break that friendship."

"Why doesn't this sound very good to me?" Joey asked, not liking what Kaiba was saying, expecting the other guys to suddenly jump out of nowhere, carrying water balloons or something.

"Joey, I just realized something last night. The girl I've been seeing finally told me who her brother is. Joey.......I've been dating your sister, Serenity." Kaiba explained, ready for anything.

"You've been, WHAT????!!" Joey yelled, leaping off the wall, causing Kaiba to do the same, in defense. "You'd do that to me behind my back!!"

"Is there something you didn't here? I didn't know it was your sister. She told me last night!" Kaiba emphasized.

"Fine, then this better stop, now!" Joey shouted at him.

"Joey........I care about your sister. I don't want to stop dating her. You told me that the best way was to approach the brother...." Kaiba began.

Joey snapped, "I also told you that it wouldn't convince him to let you date her. No way am I letting you near my sister........you got that??"

"That's not acceptable. If you can't calm down, then this whole attempt to talk to you is a waste." Kaiba said.

"That's right, so stop wasting your and my time. You aint seeing Serenity again. You stay away from her, Kaiba!" Joey snapped at him, viciously.

'No one tells me what to do!' It was a past voice echoing in his head, as Kaiba's jaws clenched, feeling strangely cold, but not caring. He fought it off, he fought Joey's taunts. 'He's my friend, I'm not going to argue with him....' He grabbed his briefcase, turned on his heal and began to walk away.

"Hey, where do you think you're going, Kaiba! Don't walk away from me! We're not finished yet, you hear me!" Joey said, beginning to see red. 'No one touches my sister, especially that creep, Kaiba!' Joey charged, and Kaiba realized, though not in time. He turned as Joey slammed into him, like a charging bull. Kaiba took his briefcase, bashing it into Joey's head, sending him flying off of him, allowing Kaiba to get back up.

Joey was up by that time, his fists clenched. Kaiba looked at Joey's stance, attempting to mimic it, for self-defense. "Don't make me fight you, Joey." Kaiba said.

"A little too late for that, Kaiba!" Joey said, emphasizing Kaiba's name again, like it caused a bad taste in his mouth. Joey came forward swinging, Kaiba dodged.....but Kaiba was not in his normal stance, and had trouble fighting like a boxer. It gave Joey the advantage, and he swung again, punching Kaiba in the face.

It caused Kaiba to real back a few steps, but he didn't fall. His hand went up, rubbing his face, and brought his hand back, seeing blood.

'Mutt.....you're going to pay!'

Kaiba's stance changed, standing tall in no particular fighting stance at all. He licked the side of his lip where the cut was and grinned, his expression frigid, as he said, "Is that the best you got, Wheeler? You're pathetic......" Hissing the words out, as he stared down at him with ice cold piercing eyes.

"Yaaahhh!!!" Joey came at him, lunging for his face again, angrier than ever to hear what sounded just like Kaiba, before the accident.

Kaiba's moves had totally changed to the way he knew how to fight in the past. He now easily side stepped Joey, grabbing his arm, and pulling it backwards. This motion was two plusses for Kaiba....it was a way to pin and control your opponent, at the same time cause excruciating pain.

"AAAHHH!!" Joey cried out in agony, as it felt like any time Kaiba wanted, he could snap his arm in half, as his forceful pin-maneuver drove Joey to his knees.

'Sit, boy.....' Kaiba thought, now amused by the strange thoughts coming to his mind. he knew this move could continue, and if he violently yanked his arm any further with his strength, he would break Joey's arm.

'He doesn't deserve to walk out of this, unscathed. Hurt him....teach him a lesson!'

"She's mine, Wheeler!" Kaiba practically hissed at him, as he was about to snap Joey's arm.

'Do it now!'

'NO!!!'

His conscious hit in time, and Kaiba released him, backing away in fear. Not fear of Joey, but fear of what he felt he was about to do to him. True, Serenity would never forgive him, and he'd loose her, but more-so, he didn't think he could forgive himself. 'What am I doing? This is my best friend, for god's sakes!'

Kaiba was trembling, realizing what he had almost done. The strange hateful voices in his head were gone, no longer able to tap into them and remember why he was even feeling what he was feeling. For that split-second, he felt he should despise Joey, but not because of Serenity.....something much deeper. Kaiba dropped to one knee, as he struggled to figure out what just happened and why. Joey was not fighting at the moment, either. His arm was sore, after being pinned like that. Kaiba said, "Joey, please.....let's stop this now. I don't want to fight you. We're friends, don't you remember that........all those pretty speeches about how friends stick together? Did any of the things you said to me mean anything at all to you, or am I the only one that's supposed to count for??"

Joey knew he was right. He had calmed down now, and stuttered out, "Hey, I....I'm sorry, Seto. I really am. It's just......when it comes to my sister I get really crazy, you know?"

"So then, truce?" Kaiba asked.

"Yeah, I guess......." Joey said, feeling rather tired.

"Then, I can date your sister?" Kaiba asked.

"NO!!" Joey snapped, feeling a sudden second wind coming on.

"Why the hell not?? Besides being your sister, and worrying to death about her, give me a good reason. Who better than one of your friends.....someone you would trust more?" Kaiba snapped back.

Joey sighed, "You don't get it....it can't be you. Anyone else maybe, but...."

"So you have a personal problem with me? What the hell is that?" Kaiba said, getting angrier.

Joey took a few breaths, and sighed, saying, "All right....all right. You know....maybe it's time I told you the truth. There's some things you gotta know, but when you do....I'm hoping you're still the same guy I know right now."