The Secret
By: Freewater
Disclaimer: I do not own, nor do I think I own any of the Yu-Gi-Oh! Characters. This story was written just for the plain fun of it.
Rating: R
Pairings: Seto/Joey
Notes: I'm going to be using their English names because I feel like it.
Warnings: This is a YAOI story (sort of)
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Chapter Two
Five Years Later
"Joseph Wheeler! Wake up this instant!"
Joey snapped awake at his desk, hearing the teacher's loud shriek and blinking at her angry red face. He smiled as charmingly as he could while the rest of the classroom just laughed at him. Tristan trying and failing to contain his laughter while Yugi smiled and shook his head. Tea crossing her arms sternly at him. A look that he received often since she was trying to tutor him in the very class he fell asleep in.
The teacher, an old woman who was half blind with age, folded her arms at him. "Young man, I just don't know what I'm going to do with you! This is the third time this week!"
"Aw, c'mon teach'! You know I just love History an' all! But I can't help that it's boring!"
The teacher bristled and the classroom broke out laughing once again. In fact, the only person to not laugh was Seto Kaiba. Who was sitting in his corner of the classroom with his textbooks laid out in front of him. Shaking his head and mumbling about dumb dogs who wasted his time and even dumber students who only laughed to keep the distraction going..
Joey smiled at all the attention he was getting though, he ate it all up, and everyone knew it.
"One more comment like that young man, and it's detention for you!"
Joey mock saluted her. "Yes ma'am!" He said jokingly, even though he really didn't want to get the detention. It was a Friday, and that was the last thing he needed.
The old woman simply huffed and went back to her blackboard to write down more notes for the class to take. Her students simultaneously awing in disappointment that they had to get back to work
Joey sighed and leaned back in his seat, looking over at Tristan, who was still laughing at him only now doing it silently.
It had been five years since Tristan saved him from those thugs in the alley and taught him how to fight, but dressing up as a boy to keep himself safe had been something he certainly didn't take to at first. But once he did, he found it easier to be accepted among other gang members, and easier to fight once the skirts no longer became necessary. He even thought of himself as a boy, which became awkward when it came time to shower and dress, the proof of his womanhood in plain sight when he did. So he tried not to shower too much, twice a week at least, but no more then three or four times at the most.
Joey wore no make up, no girlish clothes, no sparkly nails and no hair clips for his hair, and back when he was still in his gang with Tristan he was even invited to a few strip clubs with the rest of the boys. And he couldn't help but think of them as being kind of fun. The drinking, the hooting and hollering, it was great.
Only Tristan knew that Joey was really a girl, even his father had forgotten he ever had a second daughter once he drank himself stupid. So all was well.
Serenity knew about what he was doing, but only because of the letters they wrote to each other, and she promised not to tell their mother. It was really none of the woman's business anyway. He figured that when she came to visit for Serenity's operation and saw him for the first time since she left, that she simply assumed her daughter had grown into an ugly tomboy.
He was really glad he met Yugi though, and would never stop feeling guilty for the way he and Tristan treated him when they first met. But those days were in the past now, and Joey would do anything to protect him from any harm.
One of his fears though, was that Yugi would one day find out that he was a girl, and then the roles would switch, feeling that it was his duty to protect him like some kind of weak female.
Joey shuddered and knocked on the wood of his desk, warding off any such bad luck and praying it would never happen.
Finally, after another excruciatingly long hour of class had passed, the bell rang. The students all let out shouts of happiness and joy before tossing their books into their bags and running out the nearest exit as fast as possible. Including Joey and the rest of his friends.
But first he had to make a pit stop to his locker.
Tristan leaned against the one next to his so they could speak. "Wow man, I'll never understand how much of a slob you are." He grinned, staring into the abys that was the blonde's locker.
Joey's face went red, but he tried hard to suppress his anger. He knew perfectly well how to clean. He did it all the time at home, but school lockers were something different altogether. It wasn't like he would get yelled at from his dad for not cleaning his locker.
Yugi came up from behind him and grinned along with him, knowing just how messy Joey could be when he set his mind to it. "You know he's right Joey. One day you'll be living on your own and then who will clean up after you?" His Millennium puzzle seemed to sparkle when he said that, as if Yami was inside agreeing with him.
It was a perfectly innocent question, only meant to playfully tease, but that wasn't what it turned into when a deep and snarky voice decided to but into the conversation.
"You should know perfectly well that dogs can't clean up after themselves, Mottou."
Joey instantly turned away from his friends, dropping everything they had said to him to take his anger out on the source of his misery. "I am NOT a dog, you prick!"
Yugi sighed, knowing perfectly well what was coming and knowing that no matter what he said there was nothing he could do to stop it. Thankfully Tea had yet to show up and see another fight. But Tristan stood on his guard, ready to jump in and defend his friend if he absolutely had to. Joey could take care of himself after all.
Or at least, when he was thinking more clearly that is.
Kaiba smirked at him and then nodded his head. "Of course you're not, puppy dog, of course." He taunted, watching the rise he got out of Joey.
He only just barely managed to duck and avoid being punched in the face.
"Go and fuck yourself Kaiba! I don't need to hear this today!" Joey yelled, angry now with anything and everything in general.
It was the start of the weekend, and if Kaiba got it off to a bad start then that usually meant the entire weekend was ruined beyond repair.
To his ultimate fury though, Kaiba was not only completely unimpressed, he smirked that annoying victorious smirk at him once again.
"You really should learn to respect your betters, you filthy mongrel!"
"That's it!" Joey yelled, tackling Kaiba to the ground, trying his hardest to pin and keep him there so he could take his revenge out on him. Joey usually had fantasies about punching the living daylights out of him, but they never ever got the chance to form in real life. Which was a pain.
Kaiba rarely was the one to instigate the fights, but if he wanted to fight then Joey would give him one Hell of a fight!
Yugi sighed once again, watching as they fought and taking some solace in the fact that they at least never actually hurt each other. Tristan was still alert and watching intently though, waiting for a moment when he could possibly be needed.
Where the Hell were all the teachers?
Joey only managed to land one punch on Kaiba's cheek before he was somehow grabbed by the CEO and flipped over, their positions switched. Kaiba took his hands and crossed them over his chest, further limiting his movements.
He didn't know what infuriated him more. The fact that Kaiba had turned the tables on him, or that he wasn't bothering to hit him to take out his victory on.
Joey kicked and screamed, bucking in any attempt at removing the weight on him but all to no avail.
"I'll let you up if you admit that you are my dog and I am your master." Kaiba smirked.
"Never! Fuck you!" Joey spat.
Yugi rolled his eyes. "Maybe you should just say it, Joey, then we can leave." He pleaded, not wanting to stay in school any longer then necessary on a Friday.
Joey could only stare up at him, shocked and horrified that he could ever say such a thing before his anger returned. "Forget it! This asshole can bite me before I ever say that!"
Kaiba burst out laughing at that. "Well, I can certainly wait a long time, mutt. I have no meetings to go to and Mokuba's going to a friend's house after school. I have all the time in the world to wait."
Joey groaned up at him, looking over to Tristan and Yugi. "Maybe you guys should head off without me and I'll catch up?"
Tristan looked appalled at the suggestion. "No way! I'm staying right here!"
"Me too," Yugi said.
Joey groaned again, staring up at Kaiba's smirk and wishing he had the strength to mop the floor with it, but when the brunet shifted his weight on top of him for a more comfortable position, he did the first thing that came to mind.
He kneed him in the groin.
The surprised look on Kaiba's face almost made Joey laugh. His eyes wide, mouth slightly open, fighting back the urge to scream in pain. Tristan and Yugi cringed, inwardly feeling the pain that had been inflicted through the mental link that all boys seemed to share when it came to that area of their bodies. Joey only realized how badly he'd hurt the CEO when the grip on his wrists lightened and when he collapsed on top of him, coughing and shaking.
"Uh... Kaiba? You okay?"
Kaiba coughed and sputtered. "...I'm going... to... KILL YOU!"
Joey tensed and fought to get away before Kaiba regained his strength, pushing the CEO off him in a rough panic, but he only managed to get to his feet before Kaiba grabbed his arm and yanked himself to his feet. Enraged.
Yugi and Tristan weren't too sure of what to do. On the one hand, Joey was able to defend himself in a fight and Kaiba had never actually hurt him, but on the other, Joey just kneed him in the balls! Weren't the rules pretty specific about revenge against the person to do such a thing?
"Kaiba, I'm sorry!" Joey yelled desperately when he was grabbed by the collar of his shirt and lifted into the air. He'd never seen him looking so murderous before, and he found himself scared.
"You stupid dog! What the fuck were you thinking!" He screamed, lowering him to the floor and getting a fist ready.
Tristan tensed at the sight. "Kaiba stop it!"
Kaiba didn't hear him as he proceeded to mercilessly beat on Joey, who weakly tried to shield his body against the flying fists with his arms.
Tristan and Yugi ran forward and tried to pry them apart, screaming at him to stop, but Kaiba was dead set on making Joey regret what he'd done. Kaiba grabbed Joey's chest and pushed him into the wall, knocking the wind out of the blond, and he rushing at him to get away from the ones trying to stop him before landing a direct punch in his nose.
Joey let out a very feminine sounding scream, halting Kaiba from immediately attacking him further.
Kaiba blinked at him. "...The fuck?" He mumbled.
"Oh shit," Tristan whispered, rushing forward and shielding Joey's body with his own.
"You okay, man?" He asked.
Joey was clutching at his nose, shaking his head frantically, realizing his mistake. "I don't think so." He mumbled, grateful only for the fact that his nose wasn't broken.
Yugi was horrified at how hurt his friend looked. "Kaiba! How could you be so cruel! Was that even necessary?" He asked.
Kaiba turned to face him. "You weren't the one who was kicked in the balls, Mouto! So keep your mouth shut!" He yelled, still wondering if he heard Joey's scream right, or if he'd simply been too blinded by his rage to hear correctly. And now that he thought about it, wasn't there a weird feeling in Wheeler's chest when he grabbed him? Was he wearing an extra shirt beneath his jacket? Or maybe even two or three?
Kaiba made a "Humph" sound, crossing his arms. "You're just a freak, Wheeler. Next time don't fight so dirty and I might not have to break your nose again." Was all he said before gently walking off.
Joey could only find the strength to glare at his retreating back.
Yugi was still gazing at him with worry, the blood on Joey's face making him all the more uneasy. "Joey you should come home with me, I've got a first aid kit–"
Joey and Tristan responded to that in unison. "No!"
Yugi was thrown off at their cry, a question mark on his face.
"Uh, well don't worry about it Yugi," Tristan said, hoisting Joey's arm around his shoulder for added support while the blonde continued to clutch his nose. "I'll take care of it."
Before Yugi could utter a sound of protest, Tristan and Joey were out the door, and out of sight, leaving him all alone.
Joey did his best to keep from being dead weight on Tristan, but found it hard with how beaten he was. Stupid Kaiba, he said he was sorry!
Tristan shook his head as they went. "Man, I can't believe you screamed like that!" He scolded.
"Sorry." Joey replied sheepishly.
"No, I mean I really can't believe it. For a while there I'd forgotten you actually were a girl!"
Joey blinked at looked over at his friend, who was smiling down at him playfully.
Joey returned the smile, shoving Tristan in good humour. "Well I'm still more of a man then you are!"
"You think that's complimenting you?" Tristan asked.
The two of them laughed and joked all the way to Tristan's house. The fight momentarily forgotten.
To Be Continued...
A.N: Hey all, this chapter came out so quick so that everyone could have a chance to see what I was doing with the story. So aside from this, once again updates won't be coming in as fast, but I'll try to keep them at a regular pace if I get the reviews for them again ;-)
Thank You's To:
Jenniyah
lilrubydevil
Shounen Squared
Rosepedal
