Raine: Hey sorry it's been so long. Labor Day weekend and well, I had a lot of labor to do. I worked five straight days of twelve hour shifts and my brain is only calculating tax for $8.95 and 2 for $12.00. I'm so beyond tired that I don't even feel tired anymore but hey, I'll be happy when this summer is finally over. I know most of you don't care but guess what, I don't either so hey, I'm writing it anyway. I didn't mean to leave you hanging like that, it just sorta happened that way. So without further delay...hope it doesn't reflect my tiredness.

"Don't think this let's you off the hook either, Kaiba. I'm still mad at you so we're not done," Joey pointed to Kaiba accusingly as he opened the door to go outside.

"Well actually... If you don't mind Kaiba, we could use a ride," Yugi said timidly. Kaiba picked up his laptop and walked over.

"Where to?" he asked.

"The hospital."

"What? Just how serious is this?"

At the hospital

Tristan walked over to Joey, Kaiba, and Yugi when they arrived. Bakura was pacing behind him.

"I had Tea take Ally home after they said he'd be fine. He's just a little shaken up," Tristan reported.

"So, what happened?" Joey asked.

"Ryou got hit by a car," Bakura said annoyed at the question. Joey looked at Kaiba.

"I never would have guessed that..." Joey trailed off.

"Do you know who?" Kaiba asked.

"No," Tristan said. "Nobody saw their face but we have an idea." He held out a piece of paper and Joey took it. Kaiba read it over his shoulder.

"Keep your friends close and watch you back always. The shadow of vengeance shall take you all."

"Well that sounds great," Joey said sarcastically. "Who gave you that?"

"It was thrown out the window when the car drove off."

"I'm going to kill the son of a..."

"Bakura!" Ryou scolded. Everyone turned and watched him limp over.

"Ryou!" they all said excitedly, except Kaiba who just nodded in acknowledgement.

"Just a few bruises, nothing to worry about," he said. He looked toward Bakura. ' I've been through worse,' he thought. Bakura scowled and took a few steps away.

"Glad to see you're alright kid," he said acting like the whole thing was just an inconvenience. Ryou smiled knowingly.

"You ready to go?" Joey asked. He looked at Kaiba for confirmation and he nodded again. "We'll give you a ride." He turned back to Ryou.

"We'll be fine thanks," Bakura eyed Kaiba distastefully.

"Speak for yourself," Ryou hobbled his way toward the exit. "I'd be happy to accept." Bakura rolled his eyes and followed.

A few hours later

Joey sat down on Kaiba's bed as Kaiba put his laptop down on the desk and opened it. They'd dropped Ryou off and stayed a few hours to make sure he'd be okay by himself and then left Tristan and Yugi off at Yugi's house. They'd all agreed it safer not to do anything alone, ignoring the fact that Ryou had been with all of them when he was attacked. So since Yugi's grandfather had gone out of town again, Joey and Tristan had decided to stay with him but Joey had something that he needed to finish first. He looked from the laptop to Kaiba and raised an eyebrow.

"So now you're just going to ignore me? Don't you have people that are supposed to do your work for you?" he asked.

"No. I fired them all last week." Kaiba started typing away.

"Well that doesn't sound too smart. Hire 'em back."

"I'd rather set myself on fire and walk on a porcupine in bare feet then put my company back into the hands of those morons."

"Now that sounds more like you. I needed to get that fire back into your eyes. You just aren't the same without it." Kaiba met his gaze.

"You were the one who asked me to..." Joey cut him off by waving his hand.

"I know, I know, and it was nice. But it wasn't you. Anyway, we have something that we need to talk about and I know you know where I'm going with this." Kaiba looked back at the computer screen and continued working.

"Yeah, and I honestly don't know what else needs to be said. If you're still angry then you're still angry and there's no point in trying to..."

"Fine. Then I'm going. If you want me, I'll be at Yugi's. Tell Mokuba I said thanks for trying anyway." Joey walked out. Kaiba stopped a second confused.

"Joey!" he walked to the doorway to catch him. Joey stopped right before the stairs. "Have my driver take you. I wouldn't want to get blamed if you get lost." Joey shook his head and continued on.

"No thanks, I'll take my chances. A nice walk would be good for me. It's a shame what happened to Ryou though..." Joey stopped, letting the statement sink in.

"Mokuba! I'm going out! Lock the doors behind me!" Joey smirked as Kaiba came up behind him.

"So you do care after all," he said. Kaiba sighed.

"Just hope that you don't become the reason my company goes under," he said threateningly. Joey grabbed his arm and kissed his cheek.

"You really know how to make someone feel special," he said playfully. Kaiba rolled his eyes.

At Yugi's house

Yugi came out of the kitchen with a tray of things to eat.

"So you said you thought you knew who it was," he looked at Tristan expectantly.

"Yeah. Someone who was aiming for you and not Ryou."

"But who would..."

"Duke Devlin."