Ah yes, well…all good things must come to an end…(tears)…sorry everyone! Please tell me if this all ended too soon. I would like to know! One final chapter and then an epilogue kind of thing…yeah. It's so so so so sad…
This chapter is kind of fluffy, at least a lot of it in the beginning, but in a lot of other places as well…I hope no one is banning the fluff! I mean, this story looked like it was going to be kind of fluff-free for a while but as long as I'm ending it really soon I thought it would be ok.
Oh and my apologies for not updating in like years…I normally like to wait two weeks at most, but wow, I couldn't get it together in a whole month! So sorry. I was just so confused and had no idea about where I was going to go with this story. I've been kind of busy too, what with the new Harry Potter book coming out and everything, (lol, I don't own that). My apologies! Anyway, thanks for so many reviews, I love you people so much…
Response to my Reviews:
x close the spaces x: Hello, again! Aww...thanks for worshipping! Lol, I guess every author needs their story to be worshipped every now and then, right? Wow, you liked the chapter that much? So glad to hear it, thanks a lot! Wow, ok, the whole story…you are so kind to me! A million thank yous. Yeah, most of the time Seto needs to stop being a stubborn fool…but what can we say? It only works out for him once and a while, when he realizes this! Hmm…I was thinking of writing another KaiJou story…I must think of ideas, lol. Oh yes…the monitoring…(sighs). What can we do, alas? Thanks for all your thoughts and for your review, please read this next chapter, I want to hear what you think!
"kaibajoey1": Hi! What's up? Get my e-mail? Cool! (It's fun to e-mail you...lol). Smell of new chapters? Hmm…(sniffs computer screen loudly)…I only smell glass. Wait…does glass have a smell? Whatever. Your boyfriend hates the hyper-ness? Well…give him my apologies; it is after all my fault. You thought the lemon idea was good? Why, thank you! I just wanted to be safe, you know? I agree, though, if this story gets kicked off, I don't consider myself visiting this site very much ever again. But you think so, too? Wow, thanks! Memorizing…well, I already mentioned my awe of your greatness in the e-mails. You're not creepy…I've seen creepier, my friend. I updated! I know you'll read, so no room for begging there…until next we speak! Ttyl!
daughterofanubis: Hello, daughterofanubis! Thanks for re-finding my story! And for saying that you love it…thanks a bunch! You think that chapter eight was the best chapter yet? Cool. Of lemony goodness, I agree. I mean, I love it and I already know that you do, so who has any disagreements on this? Thanks for the compliments…they mean a lot to me coming from such a great authoress…I hope you read this chapter, I'd love to know what you think!
M15t4k5n: Welcome back from vacation! (gives welcome back present of Chapter 8) You like? (Oh and I swear I did not know you were going on vacation when I updated…lol). Perfect? OMG, you spoil me…the ending was fun, wasn't it? You didn't expect it? Hmm, what were you expecting to happen, just curious? I didn't really want to pave the way in silver and make it so obvious that that was going to happen, you know? Yeah. My wording? Wow, thanks! I make an extra effort to do that, it's so cool when someone actually notices! Favorite authors? Wow…thank you so much…(tears). That was so nice of you. I hope you read and review this chapter, your reviews rock!
yami'skoi: Hello, Tsumi! Every age should read yaoi? I think not. Maybe for mild education, but certainly no lemons! Pain in the darkness for Seto. Check. It totally fit, don't you think? Hot loving? Yes, you're definitely Tsumi. At least, the Tsumi I know and love! Limes are fun, too, you know! Yes, Jou really cares for little Seto. He cries more than once in my stories, I don't know why I make him so wimpy, he's really not at all. Highest love? Well then it belongs to both of them, eh? Eh? OK. Of course Jou would take care of his lover. Highest love, yes? Aww…you can steal from me any time, Tsumi. Or well at least when I say it's ok. And it is ok. Lol. Never mind, I'm rambling. Why wouldn't you have gone into Seto's room, again? I didn't get that. Seto in the shower…(drools)…Oh sorry. Is it that obvious? (wipes drool stain) Oh, well, I guess it is. It was fun, alright? You can't say it wasn't fun. Predictable? Really? Awww…I didn't mean for it to be. Damn! That sucks. Well, at least you enjoyed it. I hope everyone else did. Seto forgets his eloquent training around Jou-chan. Because, he loves him…Umm…ok, wait, why did you write the same thing twice? (blinks confusedly) Why was that again? Lol, no, I wrote it the way I wanted to write it, but now that I look at that sentence, I realize that it did sound like I meant something else there. Ehe? Sorry. No you're not wrong, you're right. Mokie is pretending to have innocence, I mean think about what happened to him throughout his life, he must not have that much innocence left in him, yes? Death…yes, I agree. Speak more truth, dear Tsumi! Oh sorry, ehe, forget that. Bravery for Mokuba. Two helpings. Kazuki's real character was a sadist, I hope I didn't make Mokuba like that in my story! Yeah, Mokuba's comments on how Seto was gay were meant to be taken as humor. Light humor, of course, because they're all true, but I laughed while writing it, so it's ok that you pissed yourself. No not EVERY part of his body...perhaps…just read on. Ow! Why did you slap me because you were hot? That's not very fair, Tsumi. Yeah, you just named all the reasons why I shan't write a lemon. All of them right there. Thank you so much for saying that I am a great author…I want to stop doubting myself if only for the reasons you and everyone else keeps telling me…and you're right across the pond/puddle/major Atlantic Ocean. That makes me feel so much better. Thanks for the review, bye!
"Muchacha": Hi! I like Seto, too, you know? Yes, he is still human even after all he's been through. His inner monologues are what make him the very Seto we know and worship! Oh, sorry, I meant to write, "we know and like", yes, I'll stick with that story. He's partially driven by his inner emotions, even when he doesn't know it, you know? Wow, I did that well on Joey? Cool! I didn't know that. The attraction changes Kaiba as it would anyone else, I guess. Actually no that's wrong. It changes him more because he's never felt anything like that before. I love that chapter, too, I'll be honest with you. Yay for Joey's vocabulary! Love drunk Seto? It's possible, but not likely. Think of who we're dealing with, here! Major romance, yes! I love that, I do. I hope I don't put too much in it…let me know if I ever do, please. I must know! And you would be the gauge, so thank you for it. Bless Seto's POV all the way! Thanks for your review, please send another one for this chapter! I love hearing from you!
FireieGurl: Thanks for reviewing Chapter 4, feel free to read the rest if you want. As you can clearly see, if you've reached this chapter, they do make it out alive. I'm not too mean to make them both die like that, lol. Thanks for complimenting my stuff, hope to hear more from you.
Hazel Beka: Hello, again! So glad you enjoyed this chapter. Well, Joey wasn't really an official seme, it was just a one time thing while Seto got the hang of it, alright? I do like seme, Joey, though…I'll be honest with you. Thanks you didn't have to say that about my chapter, cool of you, dear reviewer. I know you love me. And vice versa, yes? I try to update soon, but it is difficult. That's ok, I know you love this story as well, so you didn't really have to put it on your favs, but I do not mind at all! Thanks so much for it! Yay! Thanks for telling me as well. I hope you review Chapter 9, it would mean a lot to me.
"Meg Sehn": Nice to hear from you! You think that was some of the best yaoi you've read in a while? Wow…that was totally unfairly good of you. Not that I mind…lol. Thank you so much for saying so-! I noticed that most fics can be choppy, like you mentioned it, and…mine…wasn't? Cool. I wasn't sure if it was, sometimes I can't tell if it is because I have such a hard time actually proofreading my work, it is difficult to read your own stuff, you know? I liked the last chapter, too…lol…it was fun! I won't be writing any lemons, but if you're ok with that then so am I, so…anyway, thanks for reviewing, it was so cool to get it! Please R&R this chapter…I want to know what you think.
"Green Eggs and Ham": Hi! Did you like my e-mail? Was it ok? I hope I got it right…lol…No, no, no…that's not nearly the end of the story! Like I said at the beginning, it's certainly not over yet. Vague? You mean, like, you didn't like it or didn't understand what he was talking about? Seto foreshadows often, it was meant to make you wonder, as well. You liked the chapter? Cool! Thanks. Schism? Yes that's a cool word, as well…lol. I'm glad you enjoy "vindictive". Many people poison their bullets, it's actually quite common and effective for, err, D.B.'s line of work. Interesting? I think so! I do in fact think that Mokuba feels vindictive every day, but at least he got Seto to admit his feelings, that's right. The Sound of Music was out there? You think? I don't…honestly, it seems sort of believable to me…but whatever. I liked Joey sewing the wound, too. I couldn't make it any way else, you know? I can't sew…but hey, that doesn't make me less of a person, right? Of course not…just keep telling yourself that…You can't see Joey sewing? Think about it. He's had to take care of himself and his alcoholic dad for years and years, somewhere along the line he would have to learn to sew. I think I will keep writing…glad you liked the chapter, again. Please read and review…I can't wait to hear from you! Sorry D.B. didn't come back…that's not too sad is it?
yamijenny: Thanks. I liked it too…lol. Please R&R!
Sakurascorpion19: Thanks for both your reviews! I loved how you did that, sending a review for the first chapter, and then the current last chapter. It was very smart of you. Yay! Thanks for complimenting my descriptions, it is one of the things I try to stress the most in writing, and you encouraged me greatly! You loved the story! Wonderful! Thanks. Perfect? Oh…I am so spoiled by such an excellent reviewer! Seto's thoughts are nice areas to elaborate, don't you think? I mean, it's not really stressed in the anime or the manga, so, hey, someone has to do it! I love Seto, too, so nothing bad really could have happened. I will try to write more stories after this…but hopefully you'll be there to review them. Please drop a review for this chapter, I'd love to hear what you think of it!
Ru-Chan: Thanks for reviewing. Rushed? You think so? Hmm…can I ask where, like, if you could give me an example? I mean, I hate when things are rushed, so I'd like to improve upon it, if you could give me an example or two. Thanks! Joey and Seto are cute…Mokuba is just adorable, lol. No, the story is not over, bittersweet endings like that are too evil to be the actual finish of the story. But you want it to end? Hmm…Please read and review. Your criticism is very constructive to my story, (but you probably already knew that, didn't you?), thanks!
Fire Kitten: Yes, I am indeed evil! But don't cry. I've updated for you, at least, yes? Ok, thank you, thank you, thank you, I loved those parts as well, (lol). Thanks! My resolutions are the only thing to keep this story alive, at times, so it's good you sad that. Yay for sex-like scene. Seto's descriptions? You like? Great! Thanks. Mokuba would never abandon his brother. It's impossible. He's the little brother, they have an impenetrable bond, ne? My happiness makes it look up. Lol. That makes me feel so much better, thank you. No! That's not the end…I'm sorry I made it sound like that…(cries). Sorry! Wow, there is more! Thanks for all your compliments and for reviewing this long into the story, that's cool. Can't wait to hear from you!
Xaio-Darkcloud: Hello. Yes…I understand all that parental business, but umm, like, did you like the chapter? I just wanted to know, because it sort of seemed like you were all confused by it or something…anyway, my stories have to be consistent, I am compulsive, girl. Lol, no not really. Thanks for reviewing, please review this chapter!
Prettyraven91: Hi! Aww, was it really that wonderful? Lol, thank you so much for saying so! It means a lot to an author when someone says that, really. It was only a half of a lemon, but whatever you say. I'm glad you enjoyed this, hopefully you'll like this chapter just as much…please read and review! It was nice getting your review.
Warning: This story contains yaoi, (malexmale), and many adult themes including violence, blood, and the like. Please, people…I doubt any of you who read the last chapter don't know this, but, if you have a problem—JUST DON'T READ IT! I'm begging here.
Disclaimer: I don't own YGO…sadly…
Chapter 9: Road's End
My eyes fluttered open at about 9:00 in the morning the next day. It was considerably late, for a person such as myself that rose with the sun. But you already knew that. I looked around the room with pleasant certainty, willingly remembering the events that had brought me into this room and the events that had transpired afterward.
I didn't need to look down to know that Joey was laying on me still. I had felt him in my sleep. We were connected, now, our presences forever embedded in each other's minds. Just the way I liked it.
He was sleeping so innocently; body rising and falling with my own breathing, mouth open and snoring despite the tongue still lolling out of his mouth, eyes closed, but fluttering slightly at some various dream he was having, (of me?), with his blonde hair splayed all across my chest in a scratchy yet sensual way. I couldn't possibly wake him by moving in the slightest. It was too perfect. Instead, I allowed myself a small smile, (why was that becoming easier to do these days?), and laid back down, abandoning all thoughts of moving until my lover decided to open his eyes.
My lover…the sound of that. He really could be called that now, no way around it. I wasn't entirely sure of the bounds that came with that title, (for by all necessary means I was his lover as well), but I knew that whatever it was, nothing could be more demanding than having to kill my employers. I felt I was ready for the trials of love.
I stared at the ceiling contemplating the course of my life. Never had there been any room for happiness. Could I possibly allow myself to have some after so long in abstinence? Slowly I realized the formation of a knot in the center of chest. I was going to have to change my life for this boy…well, more than it was already changed, of course. Could I…do that? I had never been in a true mutual relationship before now, what if I failed? What if I didn't give him enough love? What if he stopped loving me after only a night's worth of sex? What if…what if he left me as soon as he awoke from his sleep?
Violently, I shook my head to clear that thought. But like usual, the bad images never truly leave a person once they've considered them. There would always be the possibility that Joey would leave me, no matter how much he said he loved me. Could I really trust him with my heart?
"There's barely any heart to give," I told myself, (Joey slept on). That was true. Would Wheeler even want me? Did I even…deserve him? With all these thoughts the knot just became ever more tangled, I would never sort it out again.
After a few more minutes of pure dread of these steps I was taking into love, I felt a soft stirring of the second coat of flesh on me. I looked down. A pair of melting brown eyes met my own in a soft drizzle of chocolate syrup on clear sea water, homogenizing after a few moments of separation, only to be lost in a swirl of sameness, occupation of two mixtures at once.
"Morning, Seto…" his soft voice cooed, still gruff from sleep. He looked sleepy, but undoubtedly happy to see me. I gave him a small smile and tried my best to banish the thoughts I had been having.
He moved himself into a laying-down position on top of me. "Well, this feels familiar," I said, surprised to find that my own voice was hoarse as well. Perhaps it was the only thing that became of a night of pure screaming as I had just had.
Joey smiled mischievously and laid kisses in a vertical line, trailing down from my neck to my abdomen. Happily, I closed my eyes in brace of this unexpected pleasure.
He stopped after only a few moments and I was slightly disappointed, but didn't have time to lament. Joey had just leapt into a sitting position on my stomach and was telling me, "So this was what a brilliant CEO's hair looks like in the morning."
Self-conscious now, I ran a hand through it, feeling myself blush a little.
He chuckled. "Aww, now ya' messed it up!"
"Sorry," I said and sighed. The thoughts still loomed in my mind. I felt guilty for having them there in Joey's presence, it probably showed by the look on my face.
"What's wrong?" he asked.
"Nothing." Should I lie?
There was a pause in his speech but he quickly repaired it by saying, "Oh, dat's great, Seto. Lie to me. I can see we're off to a great start."
I sat up briskly, inadvertently pushing him off me. I left the bed and moved toward the random piles on the floor where my clothes lay.
"What the…" His voice trailed off and he watched me move around for a while. Then he said. "You have a nice ass, Seto. Did ya' know dat?"
I turned around and stared at him, (it wasn't really a glare), shocked at his openness. I had indeed forgotten that I was not wearing anything, it had just felt so…natural with him. I wasn't even aware of it until he mentioned it.
He was lying in an undignified yet extremely provocative position on the bed. I fought the urge to jump on him. "What?" he asked, still smiling.
I sighed and resumed my gathering of clothes. It was more difficult than you would think, they were scattered everywhere.
"Oh wait a minute…I think I see wha's goin' on here."
I stopped. "Oh do you?"
He nodded slowly. "Yeah. You're one o' them 'Hit 'n Quit' types, ain't ya?" I stared at him blankly, unable to make sense of one word he had just said. He saw my confusion and explained, "Ya' know…one night o' fun and then ya' done?"
What? Oh no, no…I…he…he was totally wrong. Resolving steadily to keep my cool, I said, "Of course I'm not one of those pathetic people. Don't be stupid."
He squirmed to his knees and yelled, (really yelled, like at the top of his lungs), "Well, then WHAT THE HELL?"
I dropped the clothes and sat down slowly on the edge of the bed. How to explain this…would he even care? I opened me mouth, but then closed it when I realized I had nothing to say.
"What are ya' afraid of, Seto? Just frickin' say it!" He was getting frustrated with me, I couldn't possibly blame him. I was getting frustrated with myself.
"Everything…" I said stupidly. Why was this so hard to admit?
Silence. He moved closer to me, but still didn't touch me. "What are ya' sayin'?"
I turned away from him. I was so ashamed of myself. I was acting like a child, scared of everything, whispering their fears into their mother's ear. "It's just…" I began weakly. "I've never…done…anything like this before." I had rushed the ending, having to just get it out there.
"Anything like what?" he asked.
"I've never…loved anyone before now." I felt like crying. This was all so very pathetic. Why did I have to cry at the most inappropriate times?
Joey waited one more second and then wrapped his arms around both my shoulders. His head resting against mine he said, "Ok, well…so?"
Quickly, I turned my head and kissed his forehead roughly. "I don't want you to leave me."
He seemed to enjoy the kiss, but when it was over a confused expression entered his face. "Why would I leave you?"
That one question seemed to obliterate all my fears in one single blow. I had been wrong, Joey was loyal. How could I have possibly doubted him?
I smiled serenely at him. "I don't know."
He sighed exasperatedly. "Oh, Seto…" he said gave me a crushing hug. "You think too much." I nodded. It was true. "I mean, sometimes…you know, ya' just gotta take things as they come. Right now, I know dat I love you and you already said dat you love me, so…we'll just take it from here and see how it goes, ok?"
"Ok." It seemed like a reasonable offer to me.
I couldn't help but be amazed at me lover's ability to reason. Usually this was not at all his area of expertise, but maybe I had underestimated him. And also, it was undeniable how incredibly sexy he was being in all of this. My strong little puppy…the name was practically an anomaly all by itself. I loved it.
Casually, I shifted myself onto his lap and wrapped my legs around his waist. With a small smile I kissed his lips passionately and twirled my fingers through his hair intensely. I pushed him down with my body and we both laughed lightly and a little devilishly. The heated kisses continued until the sound of the phone bursting alive pulled us apart with a force like an electric shock. Joey had given a loud yelp and I had literally jumped off him and was standing adjacent to the phone as we stood there panting and trying to recollect ourselves.
The mutt began cackling evilly.
"What are you laughing at?" I asked, smirking a little at the sound of his maniacal laughter.
"You…looked…so…scared…" he was literally hysterical at this point.
I know I should have felt embarrassed by that, but I didn't. "So did you," I remarked, but he continued his bout.
The phone was ringing still…damn it to hell. Why had I ever installed phone lines in my guest rooms? Why? I sighed and answered it, "Hello, Kaiba?"
"Mr. Kaiba!" That voice. I knew it…from somewhere…oh where had I heard that voice before?
Then I remembered like a flash. "Ah, Miss Markston. How are things at the Attendance Office?"
"Oh they're fine, Mr. Kaiba, I just wanted you to know…there has been news of that case you wanted me to follow, the one with the mafia and that boy Wheeler?"
"Is that so? How interesting. Oh, did you get my flowers?"
She began stammering. "Oh…oh, well, um…yes, yes I did. They were very beautiful, sir, thank you. Thank you," she repeated.
"It was my pleasure. And my honor." I let that sink for a moment. "Now, then, you had news, I believe you said?"
"Oh right, yes, of course…" she laughed nervously. "The news, yes, I can't believe I forgot about that…Anyway, yes. The school is a-buzz with the information…you've been absent for such a long time now, and Wheeler's been absent right along with you, it all seems so suspicious. If the police were investigating, I'm sure you would have been questioned a thousand times over by now!"
Joey was staring at me curiously while I talked with her but eventually he got bored and began rounding up his own clothing and dressing. A slight sense of disappoint sunk through me that we could not play a little more, but the lonely woman kept me busy with her incessant chatter for too long to have expected anything different.
"Oh, and are you feeling alright, sir, have you been ill?"
I shook myself from watching Joey get dressed, and said, "No, Miss Markston, I am fine. I have merely been…taking care of some business during my leave. It was extremely urgent. Now, you were saying?"
"Right, right, glad to hear it. Now. I was watching that news channel on T.V. and I heard some fascinating stuff! The newscaster said that ten bodies were found in the place where the old Mafia used to meet, you know, that really suspicious place where we thought they still met and the police were avoiding investigation? It was like a dentist office or something…"
"I know the one."
"Yes. Ten bodies! And killed by what looked like knives…they even said, with a little incredulity, it was possible a sword was used...but isn't that the silliest thing you ever heard, sir?"
"Quite." People could be so ignorant sometimes.
"Of course. They said some of the bodies were too disfigured to be recognized, for it was a brutal killing, really it was, but the authorities claimed that some of the dead had bounties placed on their heads from countries like France, Germany, Russia…they said there were mob-relations attached to all of them. All of them! Isn't that interesting?"
"I see. That piece of information is quite disturbing… It seems that someone has decided to end this by themselves, does it not?"
"Who do you think?"
I smirked from my spot on the other line. "I'm sure I know as much as you yourself, Miss Markston." This was dangerous, but fun.
I could tell, even though all she did was giggle like a school girl, that she enjoyed feeling on the same plane as I was. "Well," she resigned after a bit. "Still no news about Wheeler…there has been a missing persons report filed for a few days now, everyone misses him here at school, they wonder where their hero has gone to! For he is like an urban legend, almost by himself, he's broken so many rules…it's amazing. Although, I heard rumors about him…not so nice things to be honest…"
"Well, you know how things get blown out of proportion. And personally, I don't care that much for gossip. Is there anyone in particular that you noticed loathed his disappearance more than usual?" I knew that there would be. Yugi. His friends. I wanted to know, though, if they had done anything drastic. I wouldn't put it past them.
"Anyone in particular? Well, those three kids he always hangs around with…umm, one of them I know is Yugi Motou…such a nice boy, he really is. For Christmas one year, he gave me a gift." She laughed. "Isn't that sweet?"
I felt a twinge of hate stir in my spirit. Yugi. Such a goody-goody straight boy. Follow all the rules. Give Christmas presents to the widow in the attendance office. Get all the badges in Boy Scouts. Such an American wonder boy…
Joey nudged my shoulder and offered me clothing, which I accepted with a smile and put on, shifting the phone to the crevice between my shoulder and my head. I tried to ignore those feelings of rivalry I felt for Yugi. My loathing of him went deeper than the fact that he won the Nicest Person Award. It was the fact that he had destroyed my pride. My reputation.
But I couldn't help but feel that all those thought were somehow…superficial. Don't you think? I mean, when everything was still normal, there was always the option for me that if worse came to worse I could always set it up so Yugi had a falling-out with the Mafia and I could finally carry out my duty willingly, but whenever I came to that notion, I would always stop myself. I could not wish death, death by my hand, on anyone except my stepfather. Not even my worst enemy. If your hate of someone doesn't reach the point of death, how can you claim to actually "loathe"? Yugi and I…we just had a different relationship, more complex than mere hatred. It had always been like that, it seemed. We were never friends, of course, we hated each other. But, I would not kill him and he had saved my life more than once, so it was like an entangled web of dislike and respect that confused anyone who wasn't involved.
My apologies, I've digressed.
Miss Regina Markston was still chattering away about Yugi and even his perfect dancing girlfriend Téa, when I stopped her. "Miss Markston, I understand. You do not need to continue."
"And then the girl said—oh, I'm sorry, of course. I…do tend to rattle on and on often when I think I have something to say, thank you for stopping me, I know that I can become burdensome."
"Think nothing of it." She was an odd person…did she hate herself, or was she just sucking up? Whatever, it was of no consequence to me. "Anyway, I have another request of you, my dear."
"Oh, do you? Well, I'd be happy to comply!"
"Of course you would. Now, listen carefully. I want you to drop this case completely."
"Wha—but—…"
"Drop the case. Pretend you never even heard of this mafia and pretend none of these words and actions ever transpired between the two of us. I am to return to school tomorrow, and my intuition tells me that with the mafia off his tail Wheeler will soon be back as well. There is no more need for your boundless sources of information. I thank you for all you have done, but…all good things must come to an end."
"But…but…sir…"
"I apologize if you were set on continuing. But there is nothing either of us can do."
There was a moment of silence and I was sure that she truly was disappointed. Oh God tell me that I wasn't going to have to send her another bouquet of flowers to keep her quiet. But then, to my surprise, she said, "I understand, sir. After all…it was only a case, nothing really important."
That was a relief. "I'm so glad you agree, Miss Markston. I'll see you around the Attendance Office. Have a good one." Normally when someone said that, it meant have a good day, but I meant it as "have a good life". I was never going to speak to her again, ever. If I could help it…
I hung up on her directly. Joey was sitting on the bed staring at me much in the way that a dog would if it did not understand something. His head was tilted to the side, the eyes widened and a look of curiosity on his face. I looked at him and forced down a smile, I didn't want him to think I was making fun of him or something. So instead I just stared and said, "I guess it's officially over."
He nodded slowly then said, "Yeah. But, uh, exactly who are ya' sendin' flowers to at the Attendance Office?"
I laughed shortly. Of course now I realized how bad that must have sounded from someone who was not listening in on the conversation. "I did it for information and for coverage. It's…not how it sounds."
Joey's mouth emerged into an eventual smile. "Oh, ok. Good, because, you know, man, Yugi does dat, for Chris' sake."
I closed my eyes and shook my head in disgust. (But going back to my original argument…could it be considered true disgust?) "I know. But never mind that runt. Would you—.."
"Hey, that's my best bud ya' talkin' about!"
Oh, I had quiet forgotten. Joey…that was the same Joey I had been arguing with for years, ever since he started high school two years after me. He was still…Yugi's best friend. That knowledge sunk through me and left a stabbing, bitter pain in its wake. "I'm sorry I offended him. Although you must admit…he is unnaturally short." I offered that last part with an evil grin.
Joey looked down and said, "Yeah, but, could ya', like, not insult him around me? I understand the rivalry and e'rythin', but…just stop."
I considered it silently for a moment. Give up tormenting Yugi for the price of Joey. I'd do that in a second. There was little or no thought actually put into the process of deciding. "I believe that can be arranged, pup."
He raised his eyes and looked at me square on with a force that almost made me shift back in my posture. "Promise me."
I looked at him with an unsure expression on my face. "I promise." I made it sound like that was obvious. He had to have known by now that I did not break my word very easily.
"Good. Now get ya' damn shirt on, you are so slow…" He turned and opened the door, as if checking to see if anyone was out there. I smiled when his back was turned, he was still so very much like the Joey I knew…but it felt weird for some reason. He shouldn't be the same, should he? Did I even want him to be the same person that I had teased to all ends for so long?
"Mokuba's still asleep, it looks like…" he told me, out of nowhere.
At first I thought nothing of it, but then I jumped at the memory—he had not been to school in ages! My eyes widened and I dropped the shirt. "Mokuba! He needs to go to school!" I shouted at Joey, who looked at me scared and excited from my sudden outburst.
"Damn, Seto, relax! He's a smart kid, he can catch up on the work. And it looks like everyone's goin' back to school tomorrow, so it's just one more day, I mean…it ain't a big deal…"
I was about to throw another argument back at him when I found that there was no point. He was right. And maybe I had been a little too hard on Mokuba, forcing him to go to school every day of the year, every time there was school, making sure he got the best education, something I had never had in my life. I did it because I wanted him to be happy, get to be whatever he wanted and not have to be forced into someone else's life like I was when I was his age. But…maybe I had to realize what he wanted out of life, not what I wanted. Or maybe Joey was just being a slacker…
I sighed. "Maybe you're right…do you think I'm too hard on him?"
Joey became nervous and glanced from side to side. "Uh, honestly? Yeah, I kinda do."
At first insult crept through me, but then…I realized that I was the one who had asked for his opinion and I had gotten it. Better that way. "Not on everything, though, right?"
Joey shifted his head side to side to show his uncertainty on the subject. "No, not on everythin', but…most things. Like, why is he not allowed to let people come over once and a while? And, I mean, what the hell is with you ignorin' him wheneva ya' don' have an answer to one of his questions? And why don't you—…"
"Alright, alright, I get the picture. I told him last night that I would try harder from now on and I meant it, ok?" I mean, come on, my parenting wasn't the greatest but it wasn't horrible…yes it was.
"No need to get defensive…God, you asked." Joey looked out the door again to have some place else to look other than me.
Choosing not to reply, I concentrated on putting my shirt back on. Unbeknownst to me, my lover had crept up behind me. Out of nowhere I felt the back of a finger trail down my spine in a most caressing way.
"What does it mean?" he asked, as I jumped and gasped at the touch.
Of course he was referring to the tattoo on my spine, the kanji that was identical to that on my katana. I looked away in shame. I didn't want to have to tell him, he wouldn't like it. It referred to my killing, the evil part of me that I so wished would disappear…especially when I was around him.
"These symbols…what do they mean?"
"I…it doesn't matter what they mean." I refused to tell him.
"To me it does. Damn, this tattoo looks like it hurt like frickin' hell…obviously ya' had ta have some kind of reason to go through dat." Again he traced his finger along the ink. I struggled against the pleasure.
"It…it was something I did a long time ago. It didn't hurt that much. Pain doesn't bother me a lot." Would anyone else in the world ever understand why I had done it? Not if they hadn't known my stepfather, what he had done to me. But then, Joey did know…he did understand all that pain, the torment…maybe I should just let it out.
"I guess ya' couldn' be a pain-wuss if you got ya' spine tattooed. Dat's really dangerous, too just so ya' know."
"Yes I know it was dangerous…but it was worth it."
"Why?" For the third time I felt a cold finger trickle its way down the marking. I let out a long breath against this alluring touch.
"I had this tattoo done just after I killed my stepfather…it was sort of like a testimonial to the finish of that period of my life. I have the same writings on the side of my blade. For different and same reasons."
"Ok…what do they mean?"
I sighed. Persistent. "You really want to know?"
"I've wanted to know ever since I saw ya' practicin' ya' moves dat one time. So, yeah, I do."
"It means, 'He takes down his enemy and burns his soul'." There, now he was probably going to pack up his things and march straight out of this house and all this would be a memory to tell his grandchildren one day of the time he had sex with a lunatic.
But he did not move. He didn't do anything, I was pretty sure he didn't even breathe. "Wow. Dat's deep," he said, sounding moved a little. His voice was a mere whisper. "I get it, though…hmm…well at least I know, now." We both stood, (I, stunned into silence, Joey, lost in thought), until he suddenly crushed me with another one of his crushing hugs saying, "I love ya'."
I patted his arms helplessly. He wasn't leaving…why? Didn't he see how crazy I was? How could he not be afraid to even stand in the same room as me, a murderer with a deathly saying engrained on his back?
Then I realized that it was because he didn't care about all the things I had done in the past. He just cared about me. Me. He loved me. Although I did not deserve him or any of the happiness he gave, Joseph Wheeler loved me. He understood me. He loved me.
Interestingly enough, I felt a crashing wave of euphoria sweep through me. There was nothing to fear in his arms, in his loving arms…he loved me…why had I not realized this before? He loved me…I smiled and gave his arms a squeeze, pressing myself against him.
Sadly, just as quickly as it came, it was gone, leaving only the sparkling remains of euphoric crystals in its departure. For Joey had let go of me and was now heading back towards the door saying, "What's wit you and dat shirt, Seto? I'm starvin' here! I want breakfast."
I sighed happily, grasping the crystals tightly within me trying to squeeze all their magic before they disappeared. "And you will get your breakfast. Soon." Quickly I slipped the shirt on and buttoned it, almost running to Wheeler's side when I finished. Together, we walked out of his room and down the corridor.
"Now, are you really that hungry?" I continued. "Because I'm not really a fast chef…we could go out to eat or something—.."
Suddenly Mokuba came flying out of my room, a flash of black and green, (his hair and his pajamas), screeching loudly, "Guys! I can't find Chisai! I've looked everywhere!"
Startled, we both said, "What?" at the same time.
Mokuba stood before us, a quivering, panting mass of sweaty flesh clad in silky green pajamas, a mixed look of impatience, worry and boarder-line fear was beamed at us through watery purple eyes.
I was the one who acted first. "Are you sure you looked everywhere?"
He threw his arms around in frantic expression. "Yes! Yes! There's nowhere I haven't looked!"
"Come on, Mokuba…" I said in rationality. "I'm sure there's someplace in all eight floors and 86 rooms of this house that you haven't looked."
Mokuba's lips trembled in frustration and despair, but eventually he gave his gaze to the floor and agreed to what I had said.
It was Joey's turn for encouragement now. "Look, Mok, he can't have gone, like, too far…he's only a rabbit, ya' know, they're pretty lazy and stuff…" I enjoyed the nickname "Mok".
"Chisai's not lazy!" Mokuba shouted. This time I would sit back and let Joey handle it.
Joey gasped at his mistake but then tried to cover it up by saying, "Oh, no, dat's not what I meant! I mean, they get tried really easy, so…yeah, ya' know I'm sure he's on this floor at least, he couldn't be on like the eighth floor or anything…"
Suddenly Mokuba burst into tears. "What if I never find him? This place is so big, what if he's lost forever?"
No, I needed to handle this. I went over and gave him a hug. He sobbed. "Mokuba," I said. "There is no need to fret. We will find him, I assure you."
He sniffled. "..Ok…I guess, as long as we do find him."
So the rest of the morning consisted of a rabbit hunt in which the three of us searched for a white puff ball in an 86-roomed house. Eventually, we did find him, curled up in the cotton bin in the laundry room, (don't ask me how a rabbit climbs down four flights of stairs, but at least Mokuba was able to smile again. He had gotten worried when he had turned up rabbit-less after searching two floors). Although, the look on my little brother's face was enough to brighten all of it, even though we were starving and tired by the end of it.
"Chisai, you're getting a cage for the night and that's all there is to it!" Mokuba told him like a parent reprimanding a child for eating too many cookies. He squeezed it again and said, "But…I'm so glad we found you…you had me so worried!"
"Well," I began, leaning towards Joey. "With that semi-crisis solved, I think I can finally get you that breakfast you wanted an hour ago."
His eyes lit up greedily. "Alright!"
So, most of the rest of the morning passed in a kind of natural playfulness. Joey joked around and messed up things, being hazardous in the kitchen and spilling things on the floor, messing around with the things I need, (I was irritated to find that after days of being unconscious the mutt had confused all order to my filing of ingredients), and basically being himself. I didn't mind. The crystals had long since evaporated, but I still had the knowledge that despite all his cajoling and screwing around, Joey could be serious once and a while, and he loved me, and I had been his the night before, (hopefully I would be again in the very near future).
Unfortunately, though, Mokuba did get curious about where Joey and I stood together eventually, (I think it was in the middle of breakfast). He was eating his egg omelet—(yes, you don't have to tell me how much I surrendered to Joey's carnivorous ways)—when suddenly he asked, "So, where exactly did you sleep last night, Seto, you weren't in your room."
I dropped my fork and stared at him, thinking fast to try and get out of this. "And what makes you think that I wasn't in my room? I might have very well gotten up early and left by the time you were in there looking for that rabbit—.."
He smirked, faking innocence. "Uh…I sort of went in there in the middle of the night looking for you because I thought I heard a noise…it turned out to be Chisai chewing on my bedspread, but that's not the point." I had to close my eyes and try to forget I had heard the last part of that sentence. Great. Mokuba's bed was now chewed on by a depraved animal. And I was in trouble for not sleeping in my own bed again like it was when I lived at the orphanage. Perfect.
I was not about to answer his question, when I suddenly remembered Joey telling me that I ignored Mokuba a lot. Well, I was about to remedy that. "I was…sleeping in Joey's room."
At this, his eyes sparkled, amused. "Oh, yeah? Why?" He was evil.
I stammered for a moment, when Joey came to my rescue saying casually, "What, you're a smart kid, Mok. I bet ya' can figure it out."
Mokuba began clapping. "Alright, Seto!" he said, looking at me with utmost approval. I blushed deeply. Joey just looked amused.
Why, oh why, was my little brother involved in my sex life?
Other than that, the morning was peaceful and…(dare I say it?)…fun. It really was. Towards the afternoon, when Joey and I finally had some time alone, we were able to discuss some matters that needed to be fixed. By this time, I had told him of what Regina said, that there was a missing persons report filed on him and that he should take himself down to the police and report that he had been staying with a friend for a while giving time for everything to clear up, but was unable to notify the authorities of this. Then we both agreed that he should go and tell his pathetic friends, (of course I thought that they were pathetic, but said nothing so as to not make him angry and break my promise), that he was not dead. Although, there was a slight argument on the subject of whether or not he should tell them about our relationship. Ironically, I was for it, he was against it.
"How much should I tell them?" Joey asked, on the subject.
I raised an eyebrow. "Why not everything? Except, leave out the sex, they don't need to know we're fu—.."
"No."
His adamant face and single worded sentence caught me off guard. "What?"
He shook his head, eyes blank with a face that told me he was somewhere else thinking of this. "I'm not telling them about us." I was surprised; I thought that the four of them kept nothing from each other, that whole "bond of friendship" thing?
I shrugged. "Why not?"
He looked at his hands guiltily from where he sat. "I never told…they don't know I'm gay."
At this I nearly choked up all the food I had eaten for breakfast. They…actually had secrets? And things as big as this…maybe they were not as understanding as I thought. Or maybe Joey was paranoid. "So…you're still closet with them?"
He nodded. "They think I like girls…I was afraid to tell them different, I mean they say dat they'd stick by my side no matter what, but we never talked about things like dis…I don' really think they'd be thrilled."
This was news. I was shocked and horrified that Joey had to keep this from his best friends. Just another reason for me to hate them…and after I'd made that damn promise…
Joey continued, "And…hell, if they knew that I screw around with guys…I'm not even sure they'd want to be my friends anymore…"
No. Not after all the damn friendship speeches I'd been through, not after every single time they'd told me that if I would just let them be my friends we wouldn't have to fight anymore and the world would be all happy and dandelion-filled just the way they liked it…no one was going to tell me that three of them were raging homophobes.
"Are you sure you can't even talk to them at all about it…if we try and keep it a secret, it will just make the relationship that much harder. Especially on you." This was the one thing I cared most about. I really wasn't upset that Yugi and them were going to find out that my door swung the wrong way, and I wasn't really mad about the fact that all of them were complete hypocrites, (I mean, I was, but not as much). Mostly, I was just worried about all the stress this would place on Joey. Would he be able to hide everything from them?
To that he fell silent for a moment and shrugged. "Well that'll just have to be it, then."
I sighed. So this was how our relationship wouldn't work out. I knew there was going to be something. Nothing in life is ever really as simple as you'd like it to be. "Joey…" I began, sitting next to him and gently pushing his head on my shoulder. "I thought these people were supposed to be your friends."
"They are…" he said into my shoulder. He raised his head and said seriously, "But not about dis."
"I'm sorry for asking this, but…what about all those friendship lectures? You preached so much about…what was it, the power of friendship? Yes, and yet you have this secret that might break all that, just because you like guys?"
"I know it sounds bad, but ya' don' know. You've never had friends to come out to…it ain't easy!"
"Just because I don't have friends doesn't mean I don't know it's hard. It is. But I'm having a little trouble understanding how someone who has sworn that friendship is the best thing since latex condoms can't even tell—.."
"Seto…" He said my name. Not in the pleading, desperate way he had the night before, not in the loving, understanding way he had this morning, and not in the angry, loathing way he had when I taunted him. It was a different way entirely. Solid, resolute, yet also lost and I was sure that I detected some confusion in there.
"Alright," I said, still in denial over this, but not caring anymore. It was Joey's decision. "You don't have to tell them…just now. But think about it."
He took a deep breath, and then came back. Leaving my arms, he agreed heartedly saying, "Yeah. I will," and giving me a big smile. I'm pretty sure now that that smile was 95 fake, but it doesn't matter. What he felt came through anyway.
Slyly, he crawled into my lap and flung his arms behind my head. "Ya' know, you really are a sexy guy."
"Aha…now I'm sexy. Before I was the friendless closet gay, and now I'm sexy." I kissed him on the lips. "I love how that works with you."
"Donchya?" He kissed me again, it was a long kiss. I slid my hands under his shirt discretely and moved them up and down his back sensuously. His hand began traveling into the nether regions of my pants when suddenly I heard a shrill cry.
This time it was the mutt's turn to jump off me. We both turned in the direction of the cry, only to realize that it was merely a maid standing shocked at this sudden display of homosexuality from her recently straight, (or at least she thought straight), boss. I didn't know her name, but it didn't matter because I could tell her to leave if I wanted to. And I did.
"That will be all, thank you. You may clean this room later in the day." She was still standing there looking accusingly at Joey, who grinned sheepishly and waved, when I repeated myself more forcefully. She stared at me, frightened and disgusted, still unmoving.
I don't think the fear offended me as much as the disgust. I narrowed my eyes. "You are fired. Take your things and leave. Never come back to this house again. And if you repeat this scene to anyone—anyone at all—I will hunt you down and cut out your tongue."
That did it. She shut her mouth and left, directly.
Thus the first of our persecutions had been revealed. I knew suddenly why Joey was so afraid…he didn't want that same scene to be displayed exactly as it just had, (without me there to threaten tongues, though), only with his friends as the stunned, shocked straights.
I looked at Joey. He didn't seem too upset…all he did was nod once she was gone, clearly impressed. "Nice. I wish I could do dat…but I ain't dat nasty."
Trying to forget about it, (after all, I had handled it, what was there to fear?),I moved towards my desk, searching for a knife to put in my pocket saying, "It's a gift. Truly."
"Yep."
Once I had attained my prize, I turned back to him and asked, "What are you waiting for? You must go to the police, like we discussed."
He blinked. "Well, I was waitin' for ya' to come back here, but if ya' gonna keep dat knife in ya' hand, I might as well go on ahead."
I smiled and put it in my belt. "Do you need a ride?"
Shaking his head, "Nope. I'll walk. I could use some fresh air anyway…but what are ya' doin' wit dat knife?"
Twirling it in my hand, "I'm going to return to their meeting office, make sure that no one's lingering. Just to be sure."
He looked at me warily. "Are you sure?"
I stared back at him positively. "Of course. There is no need to worry."
Still, he stared at me deeply, as if trying to see if I myself had any worry. Finding none, he sighed and gave in. I watched him leave the house, (his walk was strangely chipper for someone going to the police), with a certain amount of joy and a certain amount of fear. This would be the first time he had left the house since I had brought him here. Yet, it wasn't like he was leaving for good…at least that thought was comforting. I sighed and headed out myself, (this time on my motorcycle, but driving at a legal speed), with only the brief mention to Mokuba to say out of trouble and where everyone was. Like Joey, he expressed discontent of my return there, but I assured him that all was well. The Mafia had dispersed.
There was nothing to fear, really. D.B. could not rise up again in five days; she would need reinforcements and things that she could not get in such short time. I found it extremely likely that she would have left for her own country by now, probably taking Gustov's son with her. I only wanted to go there and see if she had left any clues behind as to what she was planning. The chances of this were slim, but I needed to rest my own conscience. I needed to know that it was truly over.
When I arrived, I was momentarily surprised to find that there was a single news car lingering from before where their story had been covered here. The bodies…ten of them. I remembered well. Not exactly the details, but the faces I still remembered. That part would never leave me, sadly.
I shut off my motorcycle and walked it over to the lone camera man/news van driver. He seemed to be the only one left, but the scene was taped off with yellow tape and barricades. So bothersome.
He was eating a hero sandwich and staring absently out the windshield. A flabby man in his mid-forties I could tell he did not want to be here. Who would?
Leaving on my helmet, trench, and gloves, I tapped on the window. Immediately, the guy threw his sandwich in surprise and turned to face me. He rolled down the window, shakily and said, "What do you want? You're not supposed to be here!" He had a deep hearty voice, but it was shaking with unexpected shock.
I lifted the visor on my helmet and said, "What are you doing here? You're the only one here."
"I have a job! I'm supposed to call my boss if anything happens, if the killer comes back!"
It was time to do a little lying. "Come on, the killer's not going to come back. He was involved in the mob. By now, he's already dead." Or he could be standing right in front of you.
The guy looked around and said, "It don't matter. I'm supposed to be on guard and I am. Now get lost, kid!"
"I have to be here."
"Why?"
"Isn't it obvious?"
He seemed confused. "You're wearing a black trench coat, black helmet, black gloves and a black suit in a junkyard. No it's not obvious."
"Didn't you see the dog walking by?"
Now he looked confounded. "No, of course not, there was none!"
"Yes, I am positive there was. I saw it. And I saw you, you seemed not to notice it, just as you did not notice me pulling up…I believe you were day dreaming. I saw it enter that abandoned office; I'm here just to look for it. Surely you must have heard the dog…it was barking so loudly…" I gave him an incredulous look.
"Look, pal, I didn't see anything, so why don't you just leave…"
"But…my dog…I'll just be a minute." I began walking away, bike leaned cautiously against the van.
"You're not authorized to be there!" He actually got out of his car. He was much fatter than I had anticipated. Why does that always happen?
"And neither are you."
That one got him. He stopped dead in his tracks.
Finally, that was taken care of. I stepped under and over the barricades in turns until I finally reached the office. Everything had been checked, once, twice, three times, I'm sure maybe even more. And it looked different. There was the small room in front, but the light had been shut off. There was no smoke coming from the meeting room and when I entered that very place I saw that everything had been removed. No tables, chairs, lighting. The floor was bare, empty and listless—betraying nothing of its former glory and disreputable creaks in the manner of alerting its owners. In a way, you could pity the floor. Basically, its life was over, there were to be no more Meetings. It would only gather dust and reduce to nothing after all that busy life of supporting the cruel Mafia in all their evil doings.
Except it had one more job: Presenting me with D.B.'s last regards.
In the middle of the floor, an object lay at odds with the rest of everything. The bareness of the room did not seem compatible with this object, laying curvaceous and deathly right where the table ad once been. I took a few steps closer to see what it was.
Of course. A rose. Stained black by the bony, killing hands of D.B. herself. This black rose was the mark of my former female employer, I knew it had belonged to her before looking any closer. Stashed delicately in one of the petals was a note, pure parchment and thick black ink. Carefully, as if I was afraid to break it, I picked up this black rose, removing the note and unfolding it with one hand.
Flowery, practiced hand-writing met my eyes. Another obvious marking of D.B. The note read:
Dear Seto Kaiba,
Congratulations. You believe that you've won now, don't you? I laugh at this. You may have killed a mere ten people, but you have not killed the Mafia. The Mafia is unique, Seto Kaiba, in a way I do not think you understand. The Mafia cannot be killed. It exists everywhere, in every corner of the world, wherever you may try to hide, wherever you decide to have sex with your whore Joseph Wheeler, wherever you sleep at night.
Sleep not, Seto Kaiba. For I promise you…revenge will be had for the deaths you dealt our family. Yes, revenge, you are quite familiar with this word. But this time, the tables will be turned. On you.
My last wishes, dear, dear Seto Kaiba are: Die. Die, Seto Kaiba. Rot in hell. Just die, like a good little pest.
You will die.
All my wicked love,
D.B.
After I finished reading it, I reread it again twice, making sure there was no chance for code of her location. On the middle of the third time, I gave up. It didn't matter where she went. I didn't care anymore.
I carried this note and rose outside with me into the blinding white light. Once again, I weaved my way out of the barricades and to the news van. The mad was staring at me nervously, seeing something in my eyes that frightened him.
"I didn't find it. My apologies, I must have been mistaken." I reached inside my pocket and pulled out $200. I gave it to him, and he accepted slowly, expecting it to explode in his hands at any moment. "Here. In payment for the sandwich you lost upon my entrance. And if anyone asks, I was never here. Do you understand this?"
He nodded. It really was a shame. $200 was way to much…but hell I was in a good mood.
Taking my bike off the van I walked out until the last step before the highway, the road's end of Superiorstown. I grasped the note firmly in my hand and crumpled it into a loose ball. Dismissively, I threw it behind me. I took the rose and snapped it in two and slowly pulled out all the black petals, scattering them to the winds.
Even if D.B. wanted to threaten me, I didn't care. I had lived their life for too long now. It was time for me to live my own.
After destroying D.B.'s last regards, I mounted my bike and set off towards home. Towards Joey and people that wanted me to live.
I started to get worried when Joey was still not home at 10:30 at night. I knew I shouldn't have been, but I was. I started thinking terrible thoughts of D.B., of sleeping, of corners, and of having sex…
I had long since told Mokuba to go to bed and hold onto Chisai tightly until we could get a cage. I was all alone in the living room, half-working, half-day dreaming about hell.
Suddenly, (during a particularly bad image of every hell painting I have ever seen), Joey walked straight through the door and into the living room with an extremely casual, "Hey, Seto."
I stared at him blankly for a moment, unable to process the words he had just spoken for a moment, was I really seeing Joey, or was he just playing tricks on me?
"J-joey?" I stammered, rising from my seat.
He stretched out on the couch with his eyes closed. He opened them when he sensed me standing over him. "Yeah?"
I blinked for a moment, then grasped him hard by the shoulders. "Where the hell were you? What, do you think you can just leave me for hours on end without even calling when it's perfectly possible that there are killers out their with your name on their reports—.."
"Whoa—Seto—calm—down!" He spoke between shakes as I was still thrusting him from side to side. "I—just—decided—to go—to Yugi's—house—and explain—everything—like—you—said…"
Abruptly I stopped shaking him and he fell backwards. "You talked to Yugi?"
"Yeah…"
Again it was my turn to blink rapidly. "Well…what…happened?"
He sighed and closed his eyes. "It didn' go well."
My heart sank at hearing this. "You told them everything?"
One more heavy sigh. "Yeah, but it took a long time for me to get it out there."
"But, you told them, yes?"
"Yeah…"
"And?" My heart rose again…
Only to be crushed by his next sentence. "They hate me."
I could only stare. "They hate you?"
He nodded. "That's what they said, anyway."
Shock coursed through my system. "How could they?"
"I told ya', Seto. People can only be tolerant of so much…" One more sigh.
I sat down next to him. "Give it time…they might not be adamant forever."
"Yeah, I know." We both paused. What else could we say? Joey's friends had jut let him down for the first time in recorded history. "You shoulda seen the look on Tristan's face when I said dat you an' I were datin'…"
I smirked. "Show me."
Directly, Wheeler jumped up and dropped his jaw to the floor and popped out his eyes like a frog. I gave a small, almost nonexistent laugh, which he joined in shortly.
We sat in silence for a few more minutes, until I told him, "You know, Joey…I can kill them if you want."
At this he jumped in front of me. "No, no, no! Of course I don't want you to kill them, why would I want you to kill them?"
I shrugged. "It was just a suggestion."
He sat back down, on my lap. Gently, I stroked his hair and said, "You know that I'd kill for you, Joey, right?"
"'Course I know dat. You've already shown me."
"I know." Silence.
"But," he began. "Even if ya' wouldn', I'd still love ya'."
I smiled. "Really?"
"Yep."
And we sat like that for a while, both of us lost in our own thoughts.
A/N: OK. There. Now we only have one more chapter and this story's over with…omg, it's so sad! Wow, I can't help feeling that this chapter sucked horribly…everyone was totally OOC and the end was entirely anticlimactically set up…I'm not really very good. I'm so sorry! I haven't been able to write for a long time, so this is the best I could come up with. Omg, I feel so bad right now…someone slap me, this chapter was awful wasn't it?
Well, the next chapter is the last…I can't say when that'll be updated, but I have to give you all my word that it WILL be better than this one. I promise. Review if you want to…I can hardly ask too many people to come back after such a horrible thing…