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
Also, I would like to add that the song in this chapter and all the songs in the previous chapters are not mine, they are Michelle Branch's, so the question of whether I'm a musical genius should be answered, though if having something like 60 c.d.'s counts for being a musical genius, then maybe I am after all
CHAPTER 8: Present Your Work
I was lost,
And you were found
You seemed to stand on solid ground
The next few weeks passed slowly for Joey, with an agony beyond anything he could think off; there was no comparison. He avoided his friends, not wanting to answer their questions about what had happened, and making a point to avoid Seto even more. He didn't know what he could say to him.
On the other hand he got his painting done, and it turned out far better than he had expected it too. Probably because of that emotional jolt he had gotten in that closet, he thought sourly.
Seto loved him. It was too awesome to imagine, and yet it hurt like hell. Why had Kaiba jumped to the conclusion that he was dating Myishi? It was only a cup of coffee after all. Then again, people always said love made you do crazy things.
Yet somehow, Joey thought that there was something more to it than that. He just had no way of finding out.
The house was being packed up and as his things slowly went into boxes and his room became more and more desolate, Joey felt as though all of his ties from Japan were slowly being cut one by one. All the material possession that had kept him here were leaving, and all the emotion attachments he had purposely severed himself. Even since the end of school (he had gotten mostly B and B, art being the acceptation - A if you couldn't guess) he hadn't had any contact with Yugi, Tristan, or anyone else. Somehow he tried to convince himself that if he didn't see them, he wouldn't miss them so much once he was gone for good.
It just wasn't working out in practice.
There was one thing, however, that he had to do before he left. And that was the art show. His painting had already been sent in and his calendar had big red X's (A/N: I don't know if any of you watch or read Rurouni Kenshin, but if you do I know you'll understand what that makes me think of) on it as he crossed off the day. Seto would be there, that he knew. It was, after all, a Kaiba Corp. event, and as the CEO and president he was required to be there.
So maybe, just maybe Joey could set things right. At least, that's what he hoped.
I was weak
And you were stong
And me and my guitar
We strummed along, oh
Seto's fingers itched with anticipation. Right before him was the one painting that he wanted to see more than anything else. The one painting which he had started this whole messed-up ordeal to have in his show
But as he stood there, his hand outstretched and about to lift the sheet covering it, he froze.
Now, Seto had seen all of the other entries practically the second they had come in. And all of them were good, very good to be honest. Yet they hadn't really meant anything to him. Hell, he didn't know, hadn't even see of three-quarters of the artist's.
But he did know this one.
His hand wavered then fell back to his side. He couldn't do it. He couldn't look. No, he corrected himself, he wasn't weak. He didn't need to look. He would wait.
Chanting that thought over and over Seto turned away and left, his mind screaming for him to go back. His heart, however, over-ruled it mercilessly.
Sweet misery you cause me
That's what you called me
Sweet misery you cause me
July 3rd was here. Actually, it had been here for about an hour now. It was 1 am and Joey was lying awake on his bed, tossing and turning as possibilities ran through his mind. What if Seto had burned his picture and it wasn't going to be shown? Not that Joey could blame him if he had. After all, he had confessed his feeling and what had Joey done? Nothing. He just stood there and then ran away.
Or worse still, what if his painting was shown and Seto hated it. What if no one bid on it? What if Seto didn't understand what he meant?
And then of course there was one more possibilitybut it was so far-fetched that Joey didn't even want to think of it. He had gotten his hopes up once, and then deflated them himself, using his own knife.
I was blind
But oh how you could see
You saw the beauty in everything
Everything and me
The hours crept by slowly and in his mind Joey could almost hear one of those old clocks going Tick. Tock. Tick. Tock. Over and over again taunting him, almost saying, "Ha. Ha. Ha. Ha. Time. Won't. Go. Time. Will. Stop. Ha. Ha. Ha. Ha. You. Won't. Go. It'll. Never. Be. Time." And so on.
By the time the sun finally rose over Tokyo Joey was staring out his window (his curtainless one I might add) praying for it to be time, praying for the day to at least begin if nothing else. However, the light burned his eyes and yet somehow he couldn't close them. He couldn't stop staring at the sun.
Even if I go blind, he thought bitterly, I'd deserve it. After what seemed hours of that self-torture, Joey finally tore his gaze away from the sun. He got up and dragged himself to the bathroom. He really should take a shower, but he just didn't have the motivation. In fact he barely got on his clothes. He was so tired, yet far too awake for comfort.
He was in hell. It couldn't possibly get any worse.
But then it did.
I would cry
And you would smile
You'd stay with me a little while
"Hey, Joey," Yugi said cheerfully standing at the door. Joey was staring at his best friend. How could Yugi just show up today after he had been avoiding him for weeks? And after what had happened at the party. And after he had already had a miserable enough day and was about to go end his short life at the art show. How could he?
It wasn't just him, no, it had to be everyone. Even Tristan and Duke were there, not making out, not even touching each other in even the remotest sense. It was from that Joey knew he should run for cover. But, damn, if he was going to die today, why not end it here? At least then he wouldn't have to see Seto that way.
"Hey, Yugi," Joey said finally. "Whatcha doin' here?"
"We're going to the art show with you," Yugi replied. "What else?"
"Um, right now's only for da collectors," Joey said. Hm, not bad, a truthful reply that would surely make them go away.
"Oh that's okay," Yugi said with a dismissive air. "Mokuba asked us to come, we've got special passes if we need them. So, are you coming or what?" Oh. Wonder why, Joey thought. But lack of sleep and barrels of anxiety quickly smashed the thought into a small speck not worthy of attention.
"Sure," Joey said, too, too, too something anyway to bother with a cheerful face. The art show, thank God, was only five minutes away from his house. When he saw it his eyes popped out of their sockets, almost literally. Why were so many people here? They couldn't seriously all be collectors?
Sweet misery you cause me
That's what you called me
Sweet misery you caused me
But as Joey and the rest stepped in he knew they were, well, save for the ones who were clearly artist's. Joey thought he might have caught a glimpse of Myishi, but he wasn't sure.
For the first few minutes it was very crowded and disorganized, but quickly enough everyone was sitting down and the first painting was brought out. It was a nice painting, but an abstract one, a style Joey had never really quite grasped in his time learning art. The bidding began at 1,000,000 yen and went up from there all the way to 3,900,00. Not bad for an amateur artist.
Joey continued watching, in complete awe at the talent all these teens possessed. But then there was one he recognized.
"This piece is called Death By the Cottage, painted by Myishi, 15-years-old. The bidding will begin at 3,000,000 yen. Do I hear 3 million?"
"3 million!"
"We have 3 million, 3 million-"
"4 million!"
"5 million!"
"6 million!"
"We have 6 million, do I hear 6,500,000?"
"6,500,000!"
"We have 6,500,000! Do I hear 7 million? 7 million? Going once, going twice, sold to the gentlemen in the black suit on the left!" Joey saw him stand up and walk over to receive his painting. He let out a sharp gasp. It looked like Myishi, except, well, older. And sadder.
It had to be his father. But why would that man want his son's painting?
As the man walked out of the room Joey thought he saw a glint of a tear in his eyes. So, he thought, he still loves his son. That's why.
And in my heart I see, oh
What's you're doing ot me
And in my heart I see, oh
Just how you wanted it to be
Sweet misery
Before he could contemplate that any longer the next painting was brought out.
"This painting is called So Close to Touching Love by Joey Wheeler." A sound of complete appreciation and awe went around the room.
Unnoticed by Joey Seto stood in the back of the room, his eyes glued to the painting, no breath escaping his lips.
Oh whoa
It was so like his father's painting, yet so different at the same time it hurt him just to look at it.
There were two dragons, one a light blue, one a dark shade of black, one standing on each side of the canvass, their heads reaching out to within a centimeter of each other, so close they might as well be touching. But they weren't and their was something about the eyes of the black dragon's eyes that Seto thought might be tears. However, in the blue dragon's eyes there was a mixture of pain, fear, and love. The grass was green right in between the two dragons, but brown and dead directly underneath them. The sky was blue right above the green grass, but everywhere else was a red swirl mixing with splotches of purple, orange and yellow. It was a beautiful picture, but what kept Seto's attention was the kanji right between the dragons' heads. It was so small he didn't think anyone else noticed it but he could read it. It said, "Aishiteru my blue dragon."
Sweet misery you cause me
That's what you called me
Sweet misery you cause me
And in my hear I see, oh
What you're doing to me
And in my hear I see, oh
Just how you wanted it to be
Sweet misery
I was weak
And you were strong
And me and my guitar
We strummed along
Next Chapter: Receive Comments
Was Seto here? Joey couldn't tell. He had been so sure that he would come to this event, after all, Kaiba Corp. was sponsoring it. But what if something had come up? What if he just hadn't felt like it? Was his effort pointless?
All of a sudden he felt something on his shoulder
Now to answer my lovely, wonderful, better than I could have hoped for reviewers: Wow, I can't believe how great you guys are. I have a hundred and three reviews. A special shout out to Killian for giving me my hundredth review! You completely rock! Thanks so much! And now I have to ask you all a question: Do you want this story to have an epilogue? I need answers, 'cause I've got one planned out, but I haven't written it yet and if you don't want it I won't write itand I've got another question at the bottom. Anyway, now to the replies:
4 Chapter 1:
Falling Night: I did. hope you like the chapter
Shin Mao: shocking, isn't it. Anyway, thanks 4 telling me. I'll probably be e-mailing you this weekend, unless you're online and signed on, so if you get a message coming from OkashiraRemo, it's just me. And I answered your review for chapter 7 below so i feel proud of myself. Why, I don't know....
Chapter 7:
lostlover1: Hi! sniffle you never e-mailed me so back...I was so sad!!!! But anyway, glad you reviewed. And yeah I guess I sorta waited to rake in the reviews...sorta was kinda lazy and didn't finish typing up the chapeter until last night blushes close enough...I like luck thought, can never have too much! And homework shudders my stupid teachers are obsessed with art. It's like they're reading my fanfic! Die teachers!!!!! I'm sooooo bad at art!!!!!!!!!1 clears throat hehe, hope you're still reading and like this chapter! And thanks for the luck!
SetoKaibaWheeler: How could I? I typed. shakes head at pathetic attempt at humor and looks nervous update s-s-s-soon? What qualifies as soon?
BarbedWire23: Glad you think so, makes me feel better. Yay! Darn Yami's, so silly! But you gotta love 'um anyway. And glad you like the chatper titles (I kept having to think really hard toward the end here of what to call like the last three).
pisces071: thanks! very happy thinks hard why not comprimise and go "awww, poor stupid characters with romantic issues...I mean, awww poor Seto and Joey" since both of them are suffering...at least I hope that's getting across...
Spider Azrail: Gil Thief-chan: horrifed I shouldn't worry about the quality?????!!!!! Isn't writing supposed to be good???? I like worrying about the quality, it fills up a lot of time....and at least you liked it, that's something. Hope you liked this chapter too!!!
Kumori Sakusha formerly Saelbu: It was, but you liked it, other people liked it, so maybe I'm just wierd (or the author, i never like what I write). I'm glad I made this chapter sound cool....now I just hope it lived at least half-way up to that....
selene diethel: grinning 'cause Joey's stupid sometimes (and I wanted to prolonge the story to a certain point- can't get together yet!) Yay! You love my fic! I'm happy! Again! Yay! sigh why does everyone want update soon, it makes me feel guilty when I don't...sniffle
Shin Mao: Aw, now don't glare at poor seto, he was just being, erm, rereads what she wrote aghast HOW COULD HE DO THAT TO JOU? Ah, but don't make him pay, I need him to live through the story, most important, but glad you want to read more. And...-takes plushies- thanks soooo much! squishes them in her embrace of death- er- ultimate love delighted More plushies? I'll finish, I promise, only 1 more chapter and maybe an epilogue if enough people want one.
Lil Nezumi: It made sense relived good, sometimes when I write it only makes sense to me...saddened Of course they will...i think....and like you said maybe he won't leave 4 America? ...then again I don't know (I forgot about that...bad author! Supposed to know your story better than your reviewers!)
pickle-kitten: you haven't reviewed before, have you? but you like it...that's good...and hope you liked this, I wasn't sure...again with the updating soon, I feel like everyone's going to ban together and kill me when the story's over for making you all wait so long! runs away in terror
Psycho Rooster: bursts out into laughter Gay monkey sex? laughs harder calms down a few hours later I'm sorry, I didn't mean to make you sad! Honestly! It's a happy ending, don't worry! What are you doing with that? No! It is a happy ending, I swear! Aaaaaaaaahhhhhhhhhh!!!! runs away from nailbunny of DOOM
kate: thanks! erm, well I wrote more...i dunno about ASAP....but oh well...
Kat: s'kay, computers are stupid sometimes (they hate me often). You're right 'bout Seto's temper...anger management classes are always available. And poor Mokuba giggles the way we're planning this out he's going to end up being either a monk or gigolo...neither being a good career choice in the least...
GoddessoftheWaters: defensive I do write bad! Ah, I don't think I've read anything by you that's rushed...you never let me read half of your stuff sad anyway...I seriously doubt you'll review this chapter....but oh well...
Killina: Muahahahahahaha! I'm EVIL!!!!!! Does that mean I can take over the world now with my endings of doom?
mandapandabug: looks completely shocked your favorite story ever? No way....i'm sooooo sorry I didn't update soon, I was lazy, bad Remo, bad, bad Remo. Anyway, it's okay your review wasn't that long, this one more than made up for it, trust me. You have a voice in your head? Does it have a name? One of my friends' voice is Sally, another friend's got Bob, and me, I've got Fred. Fred: .... See fred's my concious, I accidently stifled him too hard one time, the recovery had been slow. Fred: THIS IS WRONG!!!! wakes Fred Fred:.... Oh dear, now what have I done? looks innocent And now you're scaring me, remind me never to mention my most hated music to you, ever. I'll read you story as soon as I can. Is it posted? Did you like the painting? You've been mention it like every chapter so far...i hope it wasn't a let down...and hope you liked the chapter!
Sora Kohaku: They are, but they really meant well. It just backfired a bit (just a bit). watches the rant about how stupid certain yami's are quite amused
Anyway, now I've got to say one more thing and ask before I grovel: I'm going to write another story before writing the sequel to this staring Ryou, Bakura, and Myishi. It's going to be a three-some about...well, you'll find out. I was just wondering how many of you would want to read this, PLEASE TELL ME!!!!!
GROVELING: I'M SOOOOOOO SORRRRRRY!! FORGIVE ME!!!!!!!! I'LL UPDATE SOONER!!!!! I SWEAR!!!!!! GIVE ME A WEEK!!!!!!! DON'T BE MAD!!!!!!! DON'T ABANDON ME!!!!!!!! Remo