Alright, here's the next chapter everyone. But just to let y'all know, don't expect my updates to be as soon as a week, as not only do I have other stories I'm working on. I have college to juggle as well.
Blood – Don't worry, there's going to be fighting in this chapter. As for blood? Expect some, but not too much blood. As I'm planning on building up the blood flow for a major fight so much that it'll just be minor in comparison. Can you say "Possible Character Death?"
Magicman/Smokegirl – Thanks, I do try! The events between Joey and Serenity may be further investigated in future chapters.
PROTOTYPE Uber Rei Model 00 – The things people could do! Love blinds everyone I guess. But you're right. It is hard not to feel sorry for her, as she was taken advantage of.
Lady Blade WarAngel – Thanks. And I'm sorry that you couldn't read the whole thing properly.
Vendetta: Discovery
The annoying sound of an alarm clock could be heard as a fist slams onto the snooze button, thus disabling the noise which emitted from the alarm clock which indicated that it was 10:00AM. Joey Wheeler opened his eyes as he stepped out from his bed in his one-room apartment. It wasn't exactly the best apartment, but at least the rent was pretty low, especially when his paychecks depended on whether he wins or loses in his fights. And besides, he could always fix it up to at least decent standards…provided if he had the time available from his all-too-busy schedule.
As Joey walked into the bathroom he grabbed the washcloth from the rail near the bathtub as he then turned on the water faucets at the sink. After wetting the cloth and rubbed it on a bar of Dial soap, he proceeded to wash his face thoroughly, making sure that any trace of dirt was expelled from his face. After rinsing his face off, Joey looked into the mirror as he saw his face. It appeared that he was developing 5 O'clock shadow. But what was most noticeable was that deep scar on the left side of his face, the scar that was from the outside corner of his left eye down. The same scar which would remind him of that fateful day his sister betrayed him for his worse enemy.
Joey looked in the mirror as he applied Crest toothpaste onto his blue electric toothbrush, his thoughts went on to today's match at the Junkyard which would be a wrestling match. Unlike a street fight, the fight would be inside a wrestling ring, plus weapons such as the chain he used to defeat Rez last night would be illegal. The one thing he wasn't exactly fond over was who his opponent was going to be that night: Ruffneck. A Wildman from the Confederate State who was, stereotypically, trailer trash!
Next came his wardrobe: Nothing too fancy, just a pair of red windbreaker pants, black T-shirt, and black addias sneakers with the red stripe. After all, he was going to spend a few hours at the gym. He managed to find a job at a warehouse company downtown in New York City, but since it was the weekend, he had the day off.
As Joey walked downstairs and towards his car. His cell phone which was in his hand began to ring in the familiar tone of D-12's "My Band." After a glance, he looked down at the screen to see who was calling. It was then that his eyes narrowed.
"Yeah?" Joey answered, knowing all too well who this was.
"So…the sacrifice is still standing." A voice on the other end taunted. It was somewhat whiny, but tough.
"Pockets…" Joey simply replied as he opened the door and stepped inside of the car on the driver's side. "What'd ya want?"
"Just to give ya some good news, an' bad news!" He explained. "Apparently there's a slight change in plans, dawg!"
"What? D-Mob couldn't tell me this instead of you doing his work for him?"
"You know how it is! D-Mob's got some business going down! He's a busy man you know!"
"Just get on with the message!" Joey snapped, nearly to the point of being irritated as he drove away from the building.
"Okay, the bad news is that yo' match with Ruffneck's been changed from a wrestlin' match, to a street fight!"
"My cheeks are filled with joy…" Joey said sarcastically.
"Don't worry my man! There's still the good news!"
"What? You saved 15 on yer car insurance by switching to Geico?"
"True, but that's not the good news! You see, the people don't exactly show any love for Ruffneck!"
"I wonder why? Maybe because he's a bigot?"
"Now now Wheella, no need to be name droppin' like that, dawg!"
"Whatever…"
"Anyway, you got the people supporting ya! And you know the fans like to throw a few goodies in! Just to make sure that the bastard gets dealt with!"
"Right…So that's the good news?"
"Did I stutter?"
Joey responded by shutting off his cell phone. He had enough of Pockets, and was becoming very irritated. So what if he would get into trouble later! The last thing he needed was to hear Pockets' ramblings, especially now that his match with Ruffneck wouldn't be a wrestling match. Instead it would be once again a street fight. He wished that D-Mob and the rest of the powers-that-be would just make up their damn minds. But then again, as annoying as he was, Pockets did had a point: Hardly anyone liked Ruffneck. Who would like a typical redneck? Just great…even more pressure on him to win.
On his drive to the gym, he passed by what appeared to be the Julliard School of Performing Arts. Joey was reminded of his friend, Tea Gardner. Wasn't it her dream to become a dancer in New York? If so, there was no doubt that she'd be in a school like this. He wanted to turn back and visit her, just to see how she's doing, but he decided against it, seeing that his appearance would cause questions and maybe even resentment. Besides, she may have not been there anyway! A school like Julliard cost a lot of money, and Tea wasn't exactly a Hilton sister.
Tea Gardner was in her room at the school looking at a few pictures. They were pictures of her friends: Yugi, Joey, Tristan, Bakura, and Serenity. They ranged from Prom pictures, to just them being silly. The joyful expression which was on her face soon changed to depression as she saw one picture. It was of Joey and Serenity, arms across each other's shoulder. From the picture, she thought that their relationship as of now would never be a reality. But it was. She had found out about what happened between Joey and Serenity, as well as Joey's departure from Yugi, who showed her the note Joey left him. She had to admit that she felt resentment towards Joey for leaving. For leaving Serenity alone and hurt, as she was now a shell of her former self. But she missed him much more than she was angry with him for leaving the way he did.
"Hey Tea!" A girl around her height, with long green hair, and green eyes called out to her. It was her friend, Bethany, or Beth for short. They've both shared the same inspirations and goals as a dancer which played a huge role of the close bond they now shared.
Tea just let out a sigh, "The answer is still no!" She said.
"Hey, I'm not asking you to go out with my brother this time." Beth pouted.
"But I knew the next best thing. There's no way I'm going to one of those fights!" Tea declared. As much as they were alike, she couldn't understand Beth's enthusiasm to see one of those barbaric street fights that's been happening around New York. Those guys were fighting for what, cold hard cash? So they literally place their bodies-and possibly life- on the line just for a few hundreds? Anyone who would join in one of those fights wouldn't be someone who she'd like to know.
"Oh come on! They're not that bad!"
"'Not that bad!?'" Tea exclaimed. "Didn't you hear about that guy who got stabbed 20 times! Or that story about a woman who was 'accidentally' shoved onto the tracks as the Subway was coming by? What kind of sick bastard actually condones this?"
Beth sighed, "Just come with me Tea! If anything happens, we'll leave and never speak of it again. Okay?"
Tea sighed, "Okay, but if I get groped or blood all over me…"
"Trust me, it'll be fun!"
Day soon changed into night, as the Junkyard was being piled up by spectators. At first glance, this "Junkyard" would be considered one of the cleanest Junkyards ever seen. The abandoned cars and other scraps of metal have been sorted out neatly as there were small barriers to keep the crowds from getting physically involved. Especially with the fact that they totally despise one of the competitors!
"We're 'gon do this Confederate Style, Boy!" A lanky, yet built skinhead yelled, much to the hate of the crowd who just booed at him. He was wearing Brown Cammo pants which were tucked into a pair of knee-high army boots, with a belt with the Confederate Flag printed on the buckle.
On the other corner, Joey just looked at Ruffneck, annoyed with him. "Confederate Style?" He asked skeptically.
"You mocking me Boy?" Ruffneck glared at the Blonde.
"Just ring the damn bell…" Joey hissed as the bell did indeed ring. The two competitors moved around in the circle as the crowd were in an uproar!
"Get 'em Wheeler!"
"Fuck that bigot up Sacrifice!"
Joey groaned at the latter cheer. The 'Sacrifice' nickname was getting on his last nerve. Well…it looks like that he'd have to show them why he's anything but a 'sacrifice.'
"Alright Cowboy, bring it on!" Joey taunted.
"Wit pleasure!" Ruffneck went for a punch that Joey was prepared to block. But instead of feeling a fist in his hand, he felt a steel-toed boot hit him about 1.5 inches away from his…well…
"HEY, KEEP IT CLEAN RUFFNECK!" A ref shouted out which made one man in the audience yell at him.
"THIS IS STREET FIGHT! JUST ABOUT ANYTHING'S CLEAN!"
"Ain't so tough now, aren't ya Boy!" Ruffneck taunted as Joey was down on the ground, clutching his bruised jewels.
"Damn you…" Joey seethed as he tried to get up, but was met with a kick in the face from Ruffneck, much to the crowd's disapproval.
"Get up Boy, so ah can bet cha again and again!" The redneck shouted as Joey got back onto his feet. Ruffneck then rushed over and knocked him down with a stiff lariat.
"AW COME ON!" One of the members of the crowd shouted.
"DON'T LET RUFFNECK GET YOU DOWN!" Another person, a female, said, as she tossed a chain into the "ring." Hopefully for Joey to grab, but unfortunately, Ruffneck caught it in his hand.
"You gonna die, Honkey!" He taunted again as the crowd went into an uproar. The Confederate Pride began to use the chain to whip Joey like a mule. As the swings from Ruffneck became more and more hard, Joey's face appeared to be more and more bruised.
"Damn, it's already started." Beth cursed, already hearing the cheers and jeers, as she stood outside a Port-o-Potty. "Tea, if you weren't so slow…"
"Be patient!" Tea shouted from the inside as Beth began to tap her boot-clad foot, being overly impatient.
"I have been being Patient. For ten damn minutes!"
"Honestly Beth, it's not that big of a deal!" Tea scoffed.
"It is a big deal!" Beth protested. "I want to see Ruffneck get his Confederate ass handed to him!"
"You have something against him?"
"You would to, knowing how you feel about prejudice!"
"So, is this 'Ruffneck' some type of racist?"
"You can say that." Beth brushed back her green hair. "So are you coming out, or am I gonna have to see this fight by myself."
"And leave me here alone to, what? Be groped? No way!"
"Then what are you waiting for then, Taye? Come on and let's go!" Beth was about to open the door, but the door opened itself. Out stepped Tea, who wasn't dressed the same way as she was before. She was now wearing Black Doc Martens, very baggy blue jeans, and a Black Nike hooded sweatshirt, which the hood was over her head.
Tea just glared back at her friend, who looked at her as if she grew two heads, wings, and a tail. "What? I'm trying to make myself to look less appealing to the sickos who would want to rape me."
Beth scoffed, "Why would they want to rape you? I mean, why would anyone need to rape someone?"
"You know about places like these! You're more likely to get raped, impregnated, and labeled as a disgrace to all women." Tea stated. "Let's see this fight. The sooner it's done, the sooner we can leave."
"Fine Tea, chill already." Beth rolled her eyes as the two headed to the fighting ring…
Ruffneck place a strangle hold on Joey as he went to mount him, expecting the blonde to "fall asleep." However, there was still some strength left in the former Duelist as he Monkey-flipped the redneck off.
"…So…that's…how you're…gonna play…" Joey said, trying to regain his breath from nearly being choked to death as he coughed up a little bit of blood. "Fine…" Joey put up his fists as he was ready to fight. "Put 'em up, Cowboy!"
"Ah'm gon' beatcha again!" Ruffneck rushed towards Joey, but the blonde moved out of the way and used the southern redneck's own momentum against them as he shoved him into the railing.
As Ruffneck tried to recover from whatever damage he may have received, Joey picked up the same chain Ruffneck had used earlier to whip him with. "GET UP!" He shouted as he then made a mad dash towards Ruffneck, who then turned around and got a chain-wrapped fist square in the face. "How you like them apples, Boy?" Joey mocked as he then stomped on the Jewels of Ruffneck, who then squealed like a piggy. Much to the crowd's approval…
"Alright, just in time…" Beth said as she saw Joey unwrapping the chain from around his fist and then wrapped it around Ruffneck's neck.
"We're 'gon hang ourselves a Redneck!" Joey said, mocking Ruffneck's Southern accent.
"Dayum you…" Ruffneck wheezed. "Dayum you, ya yellah bastard!"
"GIVE UP!?" Joey shouted at him as he tightened his grip on the chain.
"N…Nee…Nevah!"
"FINE!" Joey let go of his hold as Ruffneck clutched his neck, trying to get back his breath. The blonde found a discarded bat on the ground someone apparently has tossed in during the fight. "This works…" He smiled as he took a swing at the bat, to warm up.
"This is gonna be sweet…" Beth smiled. "This is so cool Tea…" She looked back, but the Brunette girl wasn't there. "Tea? TEA!?" Apparently Tea wasn't there. "If I miss this guy getting a home run hit on Ruffneck's head…" She seethed as she walked back in search of her friend.
"Wheella's up at bat. He steps to tha plate… Here's the pitch…he swings and-!" Joey announces in his usual Brooklyn accent as he then swung the bat as hard as he could, hitting the back of a recovering Ruffneck's head, knocking him down on his face. "Ruffneck's been knocked tha fuck out!" He announced much to the approval of the crowd!
"Your winner! Joey 'Sacri-'" The Emcee cowered away when Joey held the bat as if he was going to hit him. When he said that he was sick of being called "Sacrifice," he wasn't kidding.
Joey place a hand on his forehead as he then brought it back to eye level. Much to his shock, it was covered in blood. "He made me bleed…Bastard!" But he then shrugged it off. "Now to get paid…" He said as he left the circle…
"Tea, this is the last time I'm brining you to a fight!" Beth said as she had to basically drag Tea to the scene of the fight.
"Good. I didn't want to see something so barbaric anyway!" She retorted.
"You such a goody-goody…" Beth scoffed as they made it back, just to see Ruffneck on his back in a puddle of his own blood. However, Joey was gone. "Damn it, we missed it!"
"Like that's a big deal…" Tea muttered as she saw the referee try to revive Ruffneck. "Is he going to be okay?"
"He'll be fine. It's only a few brain cells he's going to lose. But then again, Ruffneck wasn't exactly the sharpest knife in the drawer to begin with."
"Oh." Tea looked at Beth. "Not that I care, but who was his opponent?"
"He was tall, Blonde, and pretty wild at the end!" Beth explained. "Don't know him, though…"
Tea nodded. "Fine, now let's go before someone decides to have his way with us!" She suggested sternly.
"You're no fun…" Beth muttered as the two girls then left.
"You win again 'Sacrifice!'" Deja was then met with a glare from the tired blonde, who has since placed a bandage on his forehead where he was cut by the chain, courtesy of Ruffneck. "Okay…sorry…"
"I'm getting sick and tired of the whole Sacrifice thing." Joey muttered as he began to count his money, it was the same as the previous night: $1000.
"Well, to be fair, the only way you've won is by using a weapon. First with Rez with the chain, now with Ruffneck with that bat, you've never used any type of move that got the crowd going. Any type of move that indicates that the match is over, let alone something the crowd could cheer for."
Joey sighed. When Deja was right, she was right. It was true that he relied on weapons to win. Now he had to develop a move. Something that would put his opponents down for the count! Something that would make the crowd go "HOLY SHIT!" …Okay maybe not that far, but eye-catching nonetheless. "I guess I have my work cut out for me!"
The blonde girl patted Joey's shoulder. "Don't worry big man, you'll think of something." She assured. "It's not like you can think up something over night. You have about till Tuesday."
"Is it going to be a wrestling match, or will it just change and become another street fight again?" Joey narrowed his eyes at the Blonde girl, skeptical with the news he just received.
"I had no idea that D-Mob was going to change your match! Don't worry, there probably won't be a special request from the fans as unlike Ruffneck, Chukklez is somewhat of a fan favorite."
"Chukklez…this guy some type of clown?" Joey asked.
"You could say that…but don't take him lightly! He may seem all laughs and giggles, but he's one that's gonna be hard to beat!" Deja warned.
"Don't sweat it, Deja!" Joey assured. "Hey, I'm on a roll here! There's no way I'm gonna lose, let alone to some clown!"
Deja sighed, "Modesty's a trait where I find attractive to a man, and so far your amount is fatally scarce."
"You really need to loosen up a bit! I mean come on, the night's still young, y'know?"
"With you looking like that?" Deja grimaced at Joey's semi-blood stained clothes from his fight. "I'm flattered by the offer Mr. Wheeler, but I have a policy not to be around blood on my dates so thanks, but no thanks."
"But at least let me give ya a lift!" He offered.
"Sorry, but I doubt that where I'm going is on your way. Besides, I have my car!" She explained which caused a slight groan from her blonde friend. "I'll tell ya what, if you win your next match, maybe we can have fun together!"
"That seems fair…" Joey sighed. It could've been worse in his situation. He could've been dealing with a certain blonde who was much older than him and also was a bit materialistic.
"Are you going to continue to be a stick in the mud?" Beth asked her brunette friend as they were walking back to their car. "I mean, every time we go out, you always have this attitude! It's like you have a huge chip on your shoulder!
"Sorry…" Tea sighed looking down.
"I mean, do you even want to have fun? But lately you keep finding excuses to avoid that, and consequently dragging me down with you!" Beth sighed, "Sometimes I feel sorry for you…"
"Look, I just have a lot on my mind, okay?" Tea said, not bothering to look up as she bumped into the green-haired beauty. The snaps on the strap of her purse came undone as it fell off her shoulder and onto the ground. Unfortunately, Tea didn't bother to close it as all of its contents fell out! "Sorry…"
Beth dropped down as she helped Tea grab all that fell out from her bag. "You must have tons on your mind if you don't even see where your going! I mean what's with-" She stopped as she came across a picture that fell out from the bag.
Tea blinked at Beth's silence. "What's wrong?"
"Can you hand me a pen?" She asked. Apparently something was going on.
Tea picked up a black Bic pen that fell out of the purse. "Sure, but why?" Tea walked over to see the picture Beth was looking at: It was picture of her and her friends: Yugi, Joey and Tristan as they were all smiling and giving the peace sign. She then gave the pen to Beth.
"He looks so familiar…" Beth removed the cap from the pen as she proceeded to give Joey a "facial makeover."
"Why are you doodling on my photo?" Tea asked.
"Add a 5 O'clock shadow…a nasty scar…" Beth doodled, until she blinked at the resemblance. "Oh my god…that was him!"
"Who was him?"
"Ruffneck's opponent!" Beth pointed to the modified picture of Joey that showed his current look. "That was him!"
Tea blinked. "Joey!? Are you serious?"
"I know what I saw!" Beth said. "And this guy was the one who beat Ruffneck down!"
'So all this time, Joey's been here…' Tea thought. If this was true, Joey would have a lot of explaining to do!
So it looks like Tea has found out where Joey's been! All this time he was right under her nose! Next chapter, the search is on as she and Beth look for Joey's whereabouts. What will happen when she and Joey see each other for the first time in two years?"