Disclaimer: Guess what my name is. I'll give you a hint: it's not Kazuki Takahashi. So any questions about whether I'm the genius who created Yu-Gi-Oh should be answered, though I won't deny being a genius, after all, I discovered fanfiction at one point in my life, and that was pretty smart you have to admit
CHAPTER 4: Begin to Paint
Seto looked uncomfortably at his brother. Yes, it was because he had found out Joey was taking art classes that his opinion of him had changed, but clearly Mokuba couldn't remember why that would be important. And even after all this time, it hurt so much to think about it Seto wasn't sure he could explain it to his brother. But part of that he could answer.
"His sister, Serenity called me," Seto said. "And she asked me something."
"What?" Mokuba prompted since it looked liked Seto was ready to get up and forget he had ever mentioned such a thing.
"Mokie, what do you remember about our father?" The questioned caused an unpleasant tension to fill the room, mingling with pain that was never dealt with and memories that were just out of reach. Seto willed his face to remain impassive, allowing no emotion to flit across it no matter how briefly, but inside his heart was wrenching as the childhood he never had and the parents he didn't have enough time with burst from within the hidden chambers of his mind into plain view. He didn't want to remember this, any of this, but Mokuba was all he had left, he deserved an answer to such a simple question, no matter how un-simple it seemed to him.
I cannot help it
I couldn't stop it if I tried
The same old heartbeat fills the
Emptiness I have inside
And I've heard that you can't fight love,
So I won't complain
'Cause why would I stop the fire that
keeps me going on?
Mokuba knew his brother far to well to be fooled by the stone wall his face became. It was his traditional defense mechanism, if no one could see your emotions then you could pretend you didn't have them. The younger Kaiba knew that it pained Seto to think of their real parents more than it used to since Gozuburo had tarnished the name of father in several different ways. In a way Mokuba was jealous of that pain, because for him it was more of an empty, hollow feeling where most children had the love and memory of their parents. So the answer to Seto's question, while embarrassing and hurtful at the same time, was easy.
"Nothing, really," he said, quietly, picking up a muffin of the table. He took a bite into it, chewed, and swallowed without really tasting it. But it gave the desired function, to get his attention away from Seto as his answer finally sunk in.
It didn't surprise Seto. But it made him feel like a failure. He was the oldest; he was the one with the memories, however few they might be. He should have told Mokuba more about them, should have talked about them in a freer manner so some of the grief could have melted away. But he hadn't. Still that didn't mean he couldn't start now.
"Dad had been an artist, a very, very good one," Seto recalled. Mokuba, halfway through swallowing another bite of muffin nearly choked in shock as he hadn't been expecting Seto to say anything like that.
"But he never wanted to be famous, never wanted to be recognized for his work. Instead he had a small studio here in Tokyo where he gave art lessons to anybody who was willing to really try. He never made much money, but he loved doing it so it didn't matter to anyone," Seto paused for a moment, as an image crossed through his mind. He was five again and his dad was sitting on his stool, painting something that Seto couldn't quite see. His father turned around and smiled upon seeing him. Putting down the paintbrush he held out his arms. Seto rushed into them and his father pulled him up onto his lap, his arms holding onto him tight as his soft voice asked, "So what do you think of the painting, Seto-chan?" At the time he had sad, "Pretty, daddy!" But now that he remembered it that painting had been gorgeous, two dragons intertwined with each other seeming as though nothing else in the world had mattered. The two dragons had been startlingly similar to the Blue Eyes and Red Eyes, though at the time they hadn't existed.
Seto smiled sadly and continued. "When they died in the accident, the studio was sold to a wealthy art collector who had always admired dad's work. He kept it exactly as it had been when he bought it, not wanting to change at thing.
'Cause when there's you, I feel whole
And there's no better feeling in the world
But without you
I'm alone
And I'd rather be in love with you
"When I took over Kaiba Corp. I went back to see if the studio was still there. It turned out that the collector was getting old and sick and was willing to sell the studio. There had already been several offers, but I couldn't let someone else get it, so I put in one for well more than anyone else would be willing to pay. So now I own it, and I hired two artist's to give lessens two days a week.
"Serenity Wheeler called and wanted to know how much it would be for a couple months of lessons. At the time I had thought they were for her, but then when I went over the names of those who had signed up for the course, I found out that she had been inquiring for her brother." Seto stopped for another moment before continuing. "I don't know, I guess that somehow Joey taking art classes in dad's old studio just made me see him in a new light."
Mokuba thought over this for a moment. He had never heard Seto say so much about either of their parents before, perhaps this was a sign that a bit of the old Seto was beginning to surface. Then something his brother had set registered with Mokuba.
"You called him Joey." Seto blushed and grabbed the bagel he set down on the table before beginning to speak. He took a large bite and walked out of the room without answering.
Mokuba stared thoughtfully at his muffin.
"You know what? I positive now that my brother has a thing for Joey," he took another bite, thinking hard. "Do you think that if they get together that Seto might finally change for the better? I mean in front of other people, he doesn't really have any friends. Perhaps Joey is exactly what he needs. Now all I have to do is find out if Joey's interesting in my brother" and the younger Kaiba went into plotting mode, his train of thought picking off from exactly where it had stopped in the subway.
Turn out the lights now
To see is to believe
I just want you near me
I just want you here with me
And I'd give up everything for you
It's the least that I could do
Joey saw the Turtle Shop well before he was actually up at the door. It sort of stuck out you know. The closer he got to it the more pathetic he felt. Just looking at it brought back so many memories, not all good, but not all bad either. Things like when he learned how to do, got his first deck of cards, met Kaiba for the first timehe could feel tears pricking his eyes. He just refused to let them fall, he was a man after all, he wouldn't start blubbering like a school girl just over a silly thing like a little move.
At the door he raised his hand and let it fall. Knock. Knock. Knock. On the first knock Yugi opened the door, fully dressed, looking just like he always did.
"Joey," he said, sounding surprised. "What are you doing here."
"I just wanted to, ya know, hang out I guess," Joey mumbled.
"Is everything okay, Joey?" Yugi asked, sounding concerned now.
"Yeah," Joey lied quickly. "Why wouldn't it be?" Yugi shrugged, but Joey could still see he wasn't didn't entirely believe the taller boy.
"Are you going to come in?" Yugi asked, stepping aside to let him in. Joey nodded and walked past the door. Yugi shut it behind him and watched as he walked up to the counter and looked behind it. Everything was so familiar; it was almost like a second home to him he was here so often. The damn tears began to fill his eyes again. He wiped them away hurriedly, refusing to get sentimental over silly things like this.
"Joey," Yugi said again, walking up to the side of him. "Something's wrong. Please tell me what. Is it Kaiba? Does it have something to do with what every you two were doing yesterday?" So people had been wondering what was going on. Joey almost laughed. He could imagine the things people's twisted minds had come up with.
"Partly," he sighed. "But only partly."
'Cause when there's you, I feel whole
And there's no better feeling in the world
But without you I'm alone
And I'd rather be in love with you
"Then what's the other part?" Yugi questioned. "And what were you two doing?"
"Oh, Yug," Joey said sadly. "I shoulda told ya this before, but ya know how I'm sorta layin' off Duel Monster for a while?" Yugi nodded. "Well, I took up art instead. And now Kaiba wants me t' paint something for dis big charity event he's havin' and at first I wasn't gonna do it, but then my old man told me that we're movin'."
"Moving?" Yugi said, shocked. "Where?"
"Brooklyn," Joey said in a hollow sort of voice. "To the freakin' United States!" The tears came into his eyes but this time he didn't bother to wipe them away. They rolled down his cheeks and fell onto the floor, but he didn't notice. All Joey could think about was how he was going to be leaving his entire life behind, and how everything he might have done was now impossible, especially one certain thing that involved on certain person
"Oh, Joey," Yugi said, understanding his friend's pain. He wrapped his arms around Joey's waste and somehow the taller boy leaned into his shoulder as he began to sob.
It wasn't fair! Why was this happening to him? Just when things were starting to get really good for him, his stupid father had to go and pull this! Joey could almost here glass breaking as his world shattered like a porcelain globe, the pieces gathering around his feet save for the one that landed in his chest, piercing his heart and breaking down all the emotional barriers he had.
And I feel you holding me
Yami watched from the stairs as his light tried to comfort Joey as best as he could. It would almost be comical to see someone as small as Yugi trying to support someone as tall as Joey if the situation wasn't so grave. He could feel the sorrow pulsing from his hikari through their bond, the grim reality of life hitting him as he realized that things did change, and not always for the better.
It was almost pathetic, really, after everything they had gone through just to have Joey move away, their group's numbers decreasing with the loss of one of its most important members. It made Yami sick just thinking about it. Just then the phone rang, however, thankfully breaking his train of thought. With Yugi busy Yami took it upon himself to answer it.
'Cause when there's you, I feel whole
And there's no better feeling in the world
But without you I'm alone
And I'd rather be in love with you
"Hello?" he said.
"Yami?" Mokuba said from the other end. "Hi! I expected it to be Yugi, but you'll do. Could you get Yugi, Tea, Ryou, and Bakura and yourself over to the house around noon?"
"Sure, what about Marik and Malik, or Duke and Tristan or Joey?" Yami questioned. He could hear Mokuba hesitate before answering.
"I- I guess they could help," the boy said, somewhat reluctantly. "Expect Joey, of course."
"Help with what?" Yami asked suspiciously. "And why can't Joey help?"
"You'll find out," Mokuba said pleasantly. "Bye!" Then the familiar click of someone hanging up filled Yami's ear. He stood there for a moment, wondering exactly what it was Mokuba could possibly want their help with.
And I feel you holding me
Why are we afraid to be in love?
To be loved
I can't explain it
I know it's tough to be loved
And I feel you holding me
Oh, oh
And when there' you I feel whole
And there's no better feeling in the world
But without you I'm alone
And I'd rather be in love
Yes, I'd rather be in love
Oh, I'd rather be in love with you
And I feel you holding me, oh
Next Chapter: Let it Dry
"Thank you all for coming," Mokuba said cheerfully. They were all gathered in one of the many rooms of Kaiba's mansion, though Mokuba thought it might be the living room. Everyone had showed up except Duke and Tristan who had claimed they were too "busy" but that didn't bother Mokuba. He didn't think anyone else would have fitted around the table.
"I'm sure you're all wondering why I asked you to come. Well, the fact of the matter is two people are in dire need of our help"
Now Responses to reviews for chapter 1: Thanks again for reviewing!
Liz Nezumi: winces Wow, that must have been awful having you system crash. But wow, I'm surprised you went throug the trouble of finding my story and you still like it. I'm flattered.
4 chapter 2:
GoddessoftheWaters: Yay! Tina read my story! Now are you going to read this chapter...anyway, I read the Ragnanok (uh, however you spell it) book and you're right, they're awesome! But I still think Gravitation is better...so if MB...Dragon Knight...Kodacha...I'll stop now
4 Chapter 3:
BarbedWire23: grins Work for Kaiba...that's an idea...I like it...in fact, I might use it
Kumori Sakusha formerly Saelbu: It's amazing...people love my story...I must be doing something right with this Yu-Gi-Oh fanction thing, huh.
Shin Mao: hugs plushies I'll finish! I promise! -in fact I think I'll do a sequel to...hmm...think of the possiblites... And Joey saying I love you to Kaiba- without him hearing it before he should glares at Seto who is attempting to eavesdrop- who knows grins anything is possible....
animegirl008: Is this soon enough 4 your?
copperwolf: I don't know why everyone is so worried I won't continue...I wouldn't do that to you
Puppy 'Yaoi Queen' Love: Oh, I don't know...Joey might look good with short hair laughs Guess you'll have to wait and find out, won't you? It all depends on whether he moves or not...and I'm not telling which one it is yet...
Kat: Live with Seto? That might give Mokuba nightmares about what his brother is doing in the room across the hall...but I guess we'll see what happens, won't we?
Ayamari: I'm writing more. But poor LITTLE joey? Not an adjective I usually use when talking 'bout him...
lostlover1: Calm down! It's not that sad, really! The song's called "Good-bye to You" it's sung by Michelle Branch- awesome singer- at risk of sounding stupid, what is nsm messenger? But that's your e-mail address, right? I'm so I might e-mail you sometime 'cause busy snort no, sadly, I have no life so I'm never busy...I write chapters randomly and yeah, spend more time on the computer than is healthy. Oh well...
mandapandabug: shocked You liked it! Yay! I might have gone over board saying MUCH MUCH better, but I think this is a much sappier chapter which makes me happy...thinks hard what will Seto do about Joey leaving? Well first he has to find out...then I guess we'll see, won't we?
I hope you all thought this chapter was good, it may not be MUCH, MUCH better than last chapter, but I believe it was a bit more emotional, what with Seto talking about his father and Joey breaking down. So please review and tell me what you think 'cause remember the more review I get = the faster I update! Remo