YUGIOH

Amnesia

Chapter 24.

Weeks had gone by, and no one knew Kaiba and Serenity were still seeing each other. Instead of Kaiba using Serenity's home phone, he had her use his cell phone, so no one would know he was calling but her. People had also been avoiding Serenity as much as possible, since they felt she was still hurting from Kaiba's betrayal to her. Duke had gotten out of the hospital and was avoiding everyone, especially Joey and his sister. As for Kaiba, he had ignored everyone, going about his business. They had noticed something different from all this, though. Even though Kaiba hadn't talked to anyone, he didn't taunt or pick on any of them, either. Even the dog jokes with Joey seemed to have been a past issue, now. Only Yugi had attempted to talk to Kaiba, who had shrugged him off, seeming uninterested.

Unfortunately, there were some people who noticed the recent changes.........

In-between classes, Joey walked around the school, attempting to avoid the crowded hallways, while getting to gym. "Hey Joey!" Someone called, and pushed him down into the brick wall, before he had a chance to respond.

"Hey, lay off!" Joey snapped, ready to fight. "What, you want some of this?"

They laughed, "Don't look like you and your friend Kaiba's around each other much anymore, to back each other up. That's too bad, cuz we got a couple new friends here, that's more than willing to help take you down. And when we're done with you, you're ex-friend Kaiba's next. It's pay-back time, Joey!"

"Yeah, bring it on!" Joey said, even though it looked like bad odds. They all looked pretty tough. Plus it was one thing to fight off people who were simply trying to pull you away from someone, like the bar brawl with Duke. It's another thing to fight four people at once, all trying to beat the heck outta you. 'Man Tristan, this would be one a dem good times for you show up, right about now.....'

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Joey was in bad shape, and looked pretty messed up. He managed to beat the heck out of one of them, but got creamed doing it. That one kid was off to the side a bit, as the others were now kicking Joey, while he was down on the ground. "What's wrong, Joey....can't ya take it?" They laughed. "Hey, what's that nick-name that loser Kaiba always called ya?" "I think it was dog, heh heh......" "Yeah, come on, dog-boy. What's uh matter, gonna pea yerself? After we take care of this dog, here....we're next going afta yer master. Heh heh heh..."

"The nickname was Mutt."

"Yeah, that's it! Mutt! Heh heh.....huh?" They all turned around to see Kaiba standing there, briefcase in hand.

He looked down at them coldly, as he said, "And I don't think I gave any of you permission to be kicking him, either."

They all looked at each other, then turned to face Kaiba, smacking their fist in their hand. "You gonna do something about it, Kaiba? I think you picked a good time to show up here, really. After we were done kicking yer dog around, we were gonna come afta you." "Heh....yeah, you just saved us the trouble."

Kaiba smiled, saying, "Well, I'm glad I could be so cooperative for you boys." Clenching his briefcase.

They all stared at each other for the longest split-second, then the first kid jumped at Kaiba. Kaiba moved quickly avoiding the first kid, while smashing another kid square in the jaw with his briefcase, knocking a tooth out. He didn't even know why he was interfering, when he was walking by and saw this. What was he thinking, trying to defend Joey.....as if he was worth it. Kaiba had successfully fought off any residual feelings of friendship and sadness he had felt in not hanging with them anymore, desperately trying to get back to his routine. But after seeing Joey laying there like that, he couldn't walk away from that. Somewhere in there, he still saw him as a friend....even if he didn't want to admit it.

The problem was, that Kaiba knew these odds were bad for even him, even if one of them already was messed up pretty bad. Even if he knocked the wounded kid out quick, there was no way he was going to come out of this, unscathed. So, Kaiba kept moving, hitting where he could, when he could, trying to keep from getting overpowered by these punks. If they got him down on the ground, like they did Joey, it would be all over for him....and he'd end up in as bad a shape as Wheeler was.

Suddenly, the kids were distracted, when they heard someone cry out in rage from behind them. Joey was so beaten by them, they never even figured he'd be able to move again. Yet, here he was leaping on one, and pounding the heck out of him. They all whirled around to help their friend.....and turning their backs on Kaiba was a big mistake. He used his briefcase once again, throwing it at the most beat-up kid, hitting him square in the back of the head, knocking him out. As he threw the briefcase, he did a pin maneuver on the other one which Kaiba identified as the leader of the group, quickly yanking the kid's arm behind his back. Then as the kid was pinned like that, he kicked him square in the back, causing terrible pain to the kid, and possible serious back injuries, as well.

Joey weakly stood, and both him and Kaiba faced the last kid - the one with the tooth knocked out of his face, who looked down at his friends....seeing one beat up, one on his knees crying in pain as he reached for his back, and one with his face in the ground, unconscious. Without another word, he turned and ran as fast as he could.

Kaiba was quite pleased. Thanks to Joey's help, he came out of it without a scratch.....though he'd never admit being grateful for the Joey's part in this.

Joey limped over, saying, "So....why'd ya do it? Why'd ya help me?"

He glanced at Joey, and without another word, turned away from him and went over, picking up his briefcase.

"Hey, don't walk away from me! I wanna know why you did it?" He asked, limping over towards him.

Kaiba sighed, and turned to him, saying, "Consider it a debt paid." Then brushed by him, and began to walk away. Kaiba realized the reason he must have decided to help Joey was because he felt bad for threatening their lives, when they did nothing to him. In this sense, perhaps this small justification would make up for hurting him, and he could finally stop thinking about the stupid mutt.

"Debt paid??" Joey asked. "Wait a minute, you don't owe me nutt'n! I wanna know what you meant!" He said, hobbling after Kaiba, who was walking away. "Listen, don't you keep ignoring me like this, Kaiba. You don't answer me, I'm just gonna keep following you around like a d-....." Joey shut up instantly, realizing what he was about to walk himself into.

Kaiba stopped in his tracks, and turned his head to look at him, smiling.

"Don't say it! Don't even say it!" Joey warned. 'Stupid, I can't believe I almost said that....and to Kaiba, no less....'

"I didn't say a thing....." He smirked, considering taunting him, but deciding otherwise.

"All right, listen....I'll stop buggin' ya on it, okay? Sometimes there's just no understanding you. But....can ya atleast help me to the nurses office?" He asked, then finally collapsed.

Kaiba looked down at Joey laying on the ground, and sighed. Some of the bullies were starting to peal themselves up too, and would probably end up at the nurses office, as well. If that happened, it would end up getting pretty messy.....they'd probably end up arguing who started it to the nurse, and everyone would get detention from this, including him if he got involved by helping out. Kaiba looked down, and pealed Joey up, saying, "Come on, Joey....by the time this is done, you're going to end up owing me."

Joey tilted his head weakly up at Kaiba, and grinned, saying, "Gotcha. You called me Joey...."

Kaiba froze for a minute, blushing as he realized Joey was right. In frustration, he yanked him off the ground, and pushed him, snapping at him, "Get moving!" Kaiba hated it when he felt awkward, like this.