Chapter Four: Abuse
AN: I'm feeling kinda depressed. And we all know what that means… I get to fuck with their heads! By the way, regular updates can be expected on this fic… it popped into my head and I couldn't get it out, and I'd be torturing myself if I didn't finish writing it. ;) My heartfelt thanks to all those who reviewed; I appreciate it. This is going to be another fairly short chapter, just to torture y'all.
(Warning: First part of this chapter is a bit bloody. If you don't like it, you can skip down to the second part…)
A loud crash and a yell of pain brought Seto out of slumber in a very rude way. Where was he…? Oh yes, he was at the mutt's house… wait… where was the mutt? Seto jumped off of the bed and followed the noises into the 'living room', and his jaw dropped.
Joey was lying against the wall, bleeding from various places. His shirt was torn raggedly in areas, as if he were swiped with something sharp. Small trickles of blood seeped out from such spots, and Seto narrowed his eyes as he caught sight of Joey's father.
The man had a broken bottle in hand, and he was going for Joey again. The teen cowered against the wall and shielded his head with his blood-covered hands, matting his golden hair with the thick liquid.
Just as Joey's father had reached his son, Kaiba's shock wore off and he growled menacingly before bounding forward with his teeth gnashing. Seconds later, he found himself attached by his jaws to Mr. Wheeler's leg, biting viciously at the flesh under faded jeans.
The man let out a cry and tried to pull away, but Seto just chomped down harder on his prize, blood running in rivulets down from jaw-shaped punctures in the man's leg. Joey's eyes widened in fear as he realized what was happening, and he stumbled over to the small table and picked up the phone, dialing emergency services.
Meanwhile, Seto was busy tearing the leg to shreds and mutilating it beyond recognition. Mr. Wheeler kept trying to hit his head with the bottle, but Seto quickly knocked it out of his hand with those big paws he had gotten, and then knocked him down. /At least there useful for something…/
Joey slammed down the phone and ran out of the room, and while he was mangling the teen's father Seto heard Joey's door open. A few moments later, the boy was in the hallway with a small duffel bag only half-zipped. He had Seto's leash with him, and he crept forward and clipped it onto the collar.
Realizing that his time to torture the now prone and whimpering man was over, Seto reluctantly backed off, still growling, his muzzle covered in blood. Joey tugged the leash as he went for the door, trying not to look at the bloody mess of his father's leg. He opened it and left it that way, then ran down the stairs with Kaiba in tow.
"Did you hear?"
Yugi looked across the school cafeteria as a peculiar conversation reached his ears.
"Yeah, Wheeler's old man tried to kill him… some dog ripped the dude apart."
Eyes widening, Yugi glanced across the table at Yami, who was frowning deeply. "Did you know about that, Yami?" the smaller boy asked, eyes hurt. The spirit nodded slightly and sighed. "I didn't want you to get worried. Joey called this morning before you woke up; he said he's fine and he wants to stay with us for a while."
"He can, right Yami?"
"Of course he can, hikari. I already asked your grandfather.
Yugi's face brightened a little, and he looked over at an empty table in the corner of the cafeteria where Kaiba usually sat and worked during his lunch period. The spirit followed his gaze and his brow furrowed.
"You know, Yami… I feel sorry for Kaiba. He doesn't have friends like you."
Choosing not to reply verbally, the spirit just nodded. //Yes… Kaiba doesn't have friends. He's too 'good' for that sort of thing…// Yami kept the thought to himself, and he crossed his arms.
In fact, Yugi thought that Kaiba was a pretty lonely guy. The CEO always sat alone. Yugi had attempted a few times to include the billionaire in various conversations, but the cold man had always responded with a snide comment and a sneer. Actually, Yugi was beginning to think that Kaiba preferred being lonely.
His thoughts turned to Joey's 'secret'; the blond was gay. Not only that, Yami had claimed that Joey had a huge crush on the one and only Seto Kaiba, but wouldn't admit it to himself. Eventually, they had tricked him into revealing his feelings for the blue-eyed duelist to them, but he kept denying it to the rest of the world and to himself.
Yugi shifted his sad stare to Joey's empty seat. If it was true that his friend's father had tried to kill him… well, he didn't want to dwell on thoughts of Joey being hurt in any way. But, at the same time, Yugi was hurt that Joey hadn't told him what had been going on in his home; Yugi told Joey everything about himself.
Why would Joey hide something as important as this?
***
Now… as promised… the reviewers' corner for chapter three…
(Seto, Yami, Marik, City and Joey sitting around a table with a pile of letters*
Seto: *growls* You read the first one, mutt.
Joey: *grumbles back at Seto but picks one up and clears his throat, grinning as he sees it* Lee writes, 'I just love the irony of Seto as the dog. It's delicious.'
Marik: *cracks up*
Yami: *rolls his eyes*
Seto: Stupid mutt… *blushes and snatches the next review* Kaneda-Shotaro and Yami Tetsuo says… 'I like!'
Marik: How descriptive!
City: *whaps Marik with a keyboard* Be nice! I like that review!
Yami: Hrm… *picks one up* Tab's review… 'Aw, Poor Joey! *sniff* I feel soo bad. Nice plot though. Role reversal, I love the breed of dog too Yay! Keep up the awesome work!'
Seto: Bet this 'Tab' wouldn't be so enthusiastic if they were turned into a damn mutt…
Marik: *curious, picks up the last review* Whoo, this is a long one… it's from a Lady Dragon person… sounds like someone Kaiba'd marry… 'Well I've seen and read several fics where Joey is the one struck by lighting and turned into a dog - the whole plot idea turns my stomach now. I am pleased however to read this story that has a definitely ironic little twist to that over used plot scenario. Good job, and I do hope you get the next chapter out soon.'
Seto: *sputters*
City: *glows* Thanks muchly to all reviewers… and the reason I actually did this was to put a spin on all the 'Joey gets turned into a dog' fics. Ah, I love irony…