Chapter Seven: Injury
AN: I feel evil. And you all know what that means from past experience. I fuck with their minds and hurt them a little… even though I love them dearly. *winks* Actually, I have nothing against Seto or Joey. I love them both (RABID Seto fan), but I already have the entire fic planned out… so this has to happen sooner or later. WARNING: More blood in this chapter. I seem to like blood… o_O By the way, I use Otogi instead of Duke.
Mr. Wheeler staggered down an alley, not really knowing where he was or where he was headed. All he knew was that the damn brat had told the police about what had gone on in the apartment for the last few years. They had tried to keep Wheeler on charges of harassment and child abuse, but they couldn't hold him… why? Because the cowardly little mutt they called his son refused to 'testify' again.
Actually, that worked out to his advantage. Now all he needed to do was get rid of the boy. After all, he couldn't have something like this happen again, could he? And he'd need to get rid of that fucking dog too…
The man rubbed his bandaged leg, shuddering, as he thought of the large teeth ripping through his flesh like it was paper. Well, this would be all over soon… the kid would be out of his hair and the dog would be tossed dead into a ditch somewhere on the outskirts of the city. Wheeler stopped at a store and smiled, his eyes dancing with madness.
Then he walked inside and up to the counter, taking out his wallet and putting a few hundreds on the counter that he had mugged off of a wussy little businessman on the street a while ago. "Give me the best I can get for this," he told the store's owner, an evil grin spreading wider across his features.
Later that evening, Yugi had gone off with Tristan and Otogi to look at some new Duel Monsters cards, and Yami was off contemplating his meaning and his existence in his soul room. Yugi's grandfather, Solomon, was away for a little while on a well-earned vacation, which left Joey and Seto all to themselves in the small house.
They sat together on the couch, with Seto lying halfway onto Joey's lap as Joey stroked his neck and back. They were watching TV, and Joey marveled at how the dog seemed to actually be interested in the program. A bowl of popcorn was balanced on Joey's left knee, and every so often the blond snagged a few kernels and popped them into his mouth with a satisfied look.
Now that they had finally been left alone, and now that that stupid Yami of Yugi's was finally out of his hair (or fur), Seto was relaxing. He was thoroughly enjoying the petting and scratching treatment that Joey was bestowing on him, and he wasn't going to complain when the teen slipped him a few handfuls of popcorn, either.
Yes, life was good.
He had a new gun and a clip of bullets. Now he just had to find the kid.
Mr. Wheeler thought for a moment, and then remembered the mutt talking to some punk named 'Yougi' or something on the phone. Yeah, that's probably where he had gone. Loading the pistol and sticking it in his back pocket, the elder Wheeler started off to find directions to the Turtle Game Shop.
Back at the house, Tristan had been added to the mix on the couch. He had come back with Yugi, who had promptly left again to do some school project with Ryou. Tristan, however, didn't look too happy … Seto had decided that if his spot was going to be taken, he'd just sit on top of both of the teens. His head, of course, was facing Joey, and the billionaire dog wouldn't stop giving him loving stares, no matter how much he tried not to.
The current show on the TV was some American program that Joey seemed to like called 'South Park'. As the two boys laughed at the show, Seto let out a few sighs and made himself more comfortable on top of them. He nosed Joey's hand a few times, and Joey lifted it to scratch behind Seto's ear.
Yami, who had returned from his soul room, stood in the doorway of the living room. He smiled softly. Joey was definitely a good influence on the formerly cold and distant CEO of KaibaCorp. Indeed, this whole 'dog' thing was doing Seto a world of good in the way of getting another point of view. And, just to be a little evil, Yami had bought everyone's favorite billionaire a 'gift', which was actually also a little bit of revenge for that whole steak incident.
"Joey, go feed your dog," he said, making his presence known. Seto's head shot up, and the dog glared at him suspiciously over the back of the couch. "Oh, hey Yami," Joey said good-naturedly, grinning and letting his head rest over the edge of the furniture like Seto's. "Didn't see ya there."
The spirit just grinned and held up a generic-looking paper bag. "Here, I bought this for Seto when I went out earlier… it's all we've got that he can have."
The blond caught the bag as it was tossed at him, and he turned it right-side-up so he could read it. "'Bacon, steak and rice kibble'… Yami, what is this?"
"Dog food, Joey."
/'Made with real meat' my ass… this stuff tastes worse than that crap the school cafeteria makes./
Seto stood over his food bowl with a very doggy sneer on his face as he looked down at it. He had tried a little bit out of curiosity, just to see if he could live off of the stuff.
/I take that back. The cafeteria food is gourmet compared to this filth,/
Joey walked by, tousling the fur on Seto's head affectionately. "Eat hearty, buddy," said the blond with a smile, and started to go back into the living room.
/He can't be serious…/
Seto grabbed Joey's pant leg in his teeth and tugged gently, getting the teen to stop and turn his head questioningly. "What's up, pup?" he asked, glancing at the dog. /This so-called 'food' is inedible. Give me something I can digest,/ Kaiba tried to say, but it came out, as usual, as a low whine and a few growls.
"Is it your food, Set?"
/I knew there was a reason I liked this boy so much./
"Here, I've got just the thing to make it better!"
That morning, Joey had made bacon. And nobody had done the dishes. He reached over to the stove and got the pan he had used and a fork, then leaned down to the food bowl and started to scrape all the extra goopy fat out and into the bowl.
/I think I'm going to be sick…/
Seto shuddered as he watched the translucent gunk being plopped into the bowl on top of the slate and cardboard pebbles the stupid company dared call 'natural meat ingredients'. So the billionaire did what any other self-respecting handsome rich teen would do.
He turned his nose up at it.
"You don't like it? Well, Seto, it's all we've got for ya. Sorry, man, but you'll eat that or you just won't eat," Joey said, tossing the pan into the sink and wiping his hands off on a dishtowel.
/What?!/
Joey left the room, and Seto was about to bound after him when the spirit of the puzzle stepped into the doorway.
/BASTARD!!/
//Oh, calm down, Kaiba.//
/…you can understand my thoughts?/
//Yes.//
/…and you didn't tell me until now?/
//That's right.//
/I hate you, you're a fucking jerk, go back to Egypt,/ Seto thought flatly, glaring at the devious pharaoh. //I'm hurt, Kaiba… but most people would call you the jerk if they had a choice between me and you.//
Seto growled, to which Yami laughed. "Have fun with your kibble, Seto," said the spirit, before he wandered out into the living room to take up the only empty spot on the couch. Kaiba sulked for a while, and then came out of the kitchen about an hour later to lie down in front of the couch with his front feet and his head resting on Joey's shoes.
The TV was now showing some obnoxious horror movie. Pfft. Seto had better things to think of. Like what he was going to eat for the next…
Well, that was another thing. How long was he going to be stuck like this?
/Someone up there is out to get me. I probably shouldn't have pissed off the gods so much. Dammit./
Hours later, Yami and Tristan were sprawled over each other on the couch in a way that would have made Yugi very jealous of the brunette. Yami was snoring, which amused Seto to no end. And Joey was still flicking popcorn into his mouth and watching yet another cheesy ancient horror film.
/Does he ever get sick of them?!/
Joey laughed loudly as a cowardly punk got his head ripped off in the movie.
/You have some disturbing preferences, boy…/
There was a knock at the door, and Joey got up, moving his feet carefully so he wouldn't step on Seto. Having nothing better to do, and not really wanting to watch the CEO of a major company (the next victim in the movie) get violently murdered, Seto followed him.
"It's probably Yug," Joey said to Seto absently as he walked towards the door with the billionaire dog at his heels. "He usually gets back home around now anyway."
Seto shook his head frantically as the wind from under the doorway changed its direction, blowing towards him. That wasn't Yugi's scent. Yugi didn't smell like old beer and cigarettes… but Seto surely knew who did. He growled and closed his jaws around Joey's left forearm, but didn't bite. He just wanted Joey to stop opening the door…
"Hey, bad dog!" said the blond, frowning. "No biting!" He pushed Seto's head away from his arm and unlocked the door, opening it a second later. Joey immediately paled; the steely barrel of a gun was staring him right between the eyes. He let his gaze flick over to the owner of the gun… oh, shit.
His father, drunk as usual and looking even more pissed off than he normally did, was in the doorway. "Brat," he grunted, taking a step forward as Joey jerked his head back. "You tol' the cops 'bout me!" slurred the older Wheeler. Stuttering, Joey tried to come up with a way out of this mess. However, he didn't need to think for very long.
/Stupid mutt shouldn't have opened the door! Why doesn't anyone listen to me, goddammit!? Wait… that's a gun… oh, screw this, that's not going to happen while Seto Kaiba is around…/
With that thought in his head, Kaiba lunged forward with his large paws out, hitting the man in the chest and knocking him down. /Thank the gods alcohol slows down reflexes,/ he muttered to himself.
Snarling loudly, he attached his teeth to hand that held the gun. He shook his head violently, tearing the flesh and ripping muscle. Joey kept backing up, and then started yelling for help. Mr. Wheeler's wrist splattered blood onto the floor in large spots as he tried to wrestle Seto off of him.
Yami and Tristan, awakened by the sudden noise, jumped to their feet. Tristan stared for a few moments, shocked, while Yami ran forward and tried to grab onto Seto's collar to haul him off of the drunken man.
-Seto's POV-
Now that this problem has been taken care of, I think I'll relax. Joey's idiot father has been hauled off by the police to the hospital… apparently, I ripped open his artery, hehe… and I think it's very much a good thing.
Joey's got a shell-shocked look on his face, and he can't stop hugging me. Actually, neither can Yugi, who came home about ten minutes after the whole thing was over. I'm starting to like the little guy, to tell the truth. He's one of the most loyal people I've ever met.
I do like Joey a whole lot more, though. He's pretty much perfect, and his few imperfections only make him so much more lovable… and what the hell am I thinking?
Fuck it, I can't deny it any more.
I'm falling in love with Joey Wheeler, and I'm stuck as a Ra-damned dog. Someone up there reaaaally hates me, and is really enjoying my suffering. Stupid bastards who call themselves merciful deities…
Merciful my ass. They haven't helped out one little bit in this entire mess, and I'm willing to bet it's all their fault!
…Calm down, Kaiba, you're losing your grip on sanity. Gods don't exist in that sense. You are not falling in love. Well, the last part is true. I'm not falling in love, I've definitely already fallen.
I always knew there was a reason I avoided emotions. Too many problems come with the package of having human feelings. Not that Joey's a problem. He's an angel in this hell they've created.
And his dad really, really needs to take a bath. Yeah, the petting I'm getting right now is great, but what I want the most is some freaking mouthwash, Listerine, boiling water… anything. I don't think the asshole has taken a shower in the past decade. And now all of that disgusting, germy blood and skin is in my mouth.
The taste of blood sucks. I have no idea why Bakura likes it so much. Give me some red wine any day over this crap.
Joey's giving me another hug… I think I've died and gone to heaven. This is certainly a wonderful feeling, being loved and needed. Of course, I already had that with Mokuba… but the more the merrier, right?
(Reviewers' Corner, again… this time with City, Bob, Otogi, Seto, Malik and Bakura!)
Seto: HOW in the WORLD did I get dragged back into this exercise of futility?
City: We blackmailed you, reme-
Seto: YES! I was being sarcastic!
Malik: *snickers*
Otogi: *reading transcripts of the RC from last few chapters* Uh, I should be scared now, right?
Bakura: *flatly* Yes, very scared.
City: *whaps Bakura* No, Otogi, you're going to be fine. Just don't be too loud.
Otogi: …I think I can handle that.
Malik: *sing-song voice* My turn to mess with the Shadow Realm!
City: Yes, your turn.
Malik: BWAHAHAHA! *brandishes the millennium rod and pulls everyone along to the Shadow Realm*
Bob: *reads papers* Okay, first is Squirrel-HATER. Gods help me.
Squirrel-HATER: Ello again! At least you weren't hurting Joey this time which sucks. LOL sorry, Joey.
Seto: *eyebrow twitches*
Squirrel-HATER: Ya and you made Master Yami TALK TO DOGS! I HATE YOU!
City: o_O
Malik:
He's not fit to be pharaoh, I tell you!
Seto: He was talking to me, dammit. *mutters*
Squirrel-HATER: Please, that's the least of his worries. Bakura's the hottest anyway! So F* OFF GIRLS HE'S MINE!
Bakura: I knew I shouldn't have gotten out of bed this morning.
Squirrel-HATER: We loved the story and hope you update soon! Yu-Gi-Oh for ever!
Bob: That was… deeply disturbing. Let's go on to another, hopefully more normal, review.
Lime: This is such a great story. Seto a dog… *snicker* Ha, good one! I'd rather see Bakura and Ryou with tight jeans and no shirts! Keep going.
Bakura: Hmm, maybe this won't be such a worthless day after all… *is wearing jeans*
Bob: *rolls his eyes* Next are more comments from HarpieLady456…
City: Oh! *interrupts* By the way, HarpieLady… Thanks! I knew I was missing something, but I couldn't place it… *worships*
HarpieLady456: HA! The sight of Joey wet and shirtless doesn't faze me one bit. I'm a Mokuba fan, so that made me cry!
Malik: It certainly fazed Kaiba-Boy… *snickers and runs*
Seto: WHAT? *chases Malik*
City: I made someone cry…? x_X
HarpieLady456: Good job with some everyday details (the food thing). This story is becoming more real every chapter. Wat's gonna happen to his father? *reads down farther* Never mind, it's a stupid question… I wuv dis story!
City: *wipes away grateful tears* They love me, they really love me…
Seto: *beating Malik up*
Bakura: *laughing at Malik*
Bob: *sweatdrops* You guys have no lives. Next reviewer is Destiny.
Destiny: Nice puppy, cute doggy, now beg! *demands a rollover from Kaiba the dirty doggy* ^_^
Seto: *freezes* …WHAT?
Destiny: Now… suffer! *sends a violent kitty at Kaiba*
City: *zaps the kitty away* Grr.
Destiny/Maya: *whistles innocently as she accidentally throws kerosene all over Bakura and accidentally sets fire to him, screaming* YOU ARE NOT SEXY! YOU'RE… er… YOU'RE FAT!
Bakura: *just stands there, smirking* Can't hurt me, City won't allow it.
Malik: Well, 'Kura, you have put on a few pounds since Battle City…
Bakura: *glares*
Destiny: Like hikari, like yami… lousy copycat… *glares at Maya and how pathetic she is*
Bob: Wow, her split personalities are even worse than Ryou's.
Bakura: *plots against Bob*
Destiny/Maya: *sends a glare at her hikari, the author and the co-hosts*
All: *raise eyebrows*
Destiny: *cowers in fear while whimpering like a dog* Update! Can I pet Seto-chan?! And City, where's Ryou-chan?! *gets teary-eyed and starts wailing like a baby but stops, sniffing her tears* And update too.
Seto: *ponders* Well, it's better than being hurt. Yes, you can pet me. Once.
Destiny: *pets Seto*
Seto: Moves away and rolls his eyes.
City: Ryou? Hrm… I didn't plan to involve Ryou much in this fic, if at all. If he does have any major role, it'll be near the end with Bakura.
Bob: Next is Malvolio1342. Thank god. I like this person. This person is sane. Say it with me, kids… sane.
Malvolio1342: It's my turn this time, not Fajra's. Ok, your plot is really coming along smoothly, and really I started feeling sorry for Kaiba. *whimpers* Poor Kaiba! Go Kaiba for returning to normal! And yay Yami for helping Kaiba a bit… and Jou for being a cool "master"… and yay Kaiba again for the nosebleed… sorry, I just can't help but say that… ~_^
Seto: *sweatdrops* Uh, thanks?
City: *beams* Danke!
Malvolio1342: There will be plenty of food and whatever else you want. Seriously. We'll get it if you want it… we throw enough parties to know how to hide stuff… Well, from "sadistic" Malvolio, safe journeys.
Malik: Yes, now go away.
City: *kicks Malik's shin* Be nice!
Bob: And another past reviewer, Saiyan-Kitsune-Foxfire.
Saiyan-Kitsune-Foxfire: Hehe, great chapter. *drools over keyboard imagining Joey shirtless* This story is great. I know when Seto acts ashamed and all of the other emotions, I keep imagining my lab. Dogs are such great companions and come up with the best expressions. Please more soon. Ja.
Otogi: *finally speaks up, blinking* Wow, that was actually… normal.
Bakura: *nods sagely* One of the few you'll see. Now be quiet, Devlin.
Bob: *reads the list and groans* CowThreesome again… City, we have to censor this. More character bashing.
City: *glares* I'll say this ONCE and only ONCE. NO CHARACTER BASHING! From now on, I will pass over reviews that bash characters completely, yes, even those that bash Tea/Anzu. They will not be shown in RC.
CowThreesome: …Go Malik and Bakura! You evil sexy bastards!
Malik: Yes, go us. *poses sexily*
Bakura: *twirls a little blue Bakura flag, rolling his eyes* Go me.
Bob: Neko Kitty chan. Ugh… I feel a hairball on its way…
NKC: O, I love this fic! It's great! I've seen tons of fics about Joey going dog and Kaiba saving him, etc, but never the other way around. And damn, you update fast! Which is good; most authors/authorists take a long time to update but not you! Oh, and before I forget *hugs Bakura and Jou* Hehe, shexy men.
Bakura: *blinks*
Joey: Uh, how'd I get here? *confused*
Seto: I have no idea. But save me.
NKC: Anyway, once again, LOVE the fic! Please update soon! *steals crème puff from Bakura* Hehe, yummy.
Bakura: ACK! BASTARD CHILD OF A DERANGED HIPPO!
Malik: Bakura sure does take his pastries seriously… o_O
Bob: Just two more… thank the gods…
Sera1: You know what's scary? Seto reminds me of my family's puppy, who's a great dane/blue heeler mix. Oh yeah, and dogs CAN open doors that you have to pull, if you show them how. Herc (the mix) does it all the time, and our doxie would, too, if he wasn't too short. Heck, our cats know how, too!
City: Er, cool, but I've never seen one that has. And this is off of my experience. But damn right, cats can open doors; mine drive me nuts doing it.
Seto: *mutters* I'm not a puppy, dammit.
Joey: You're my puppy.
Bob: NEXT! *glares* Oh, good stuff… many-time reviewer and supporter of City.
City: *beams*
Kashu: We all know ya like it, eh, Jouno? You too, Kaiba.
Seto: *glares menacingly*
Joey: *blushes and glares*
Kashu: Anyways, I'm kinda mad at FF.N right now, 'cause it wouldn't let me see Chapter 6. So, I cruised over here once I remembered you had it on your webpage. So... Uhm... Yay.
City: Visit my lovely webpage! www.angelfire.com/ego2/citybs!
Malik and Bakura: *point at City* SHAMELESS PLUG!
City: You know it, boys! ^_^
Kashu: So, uhm, yeah, feelings. Happy. Love it. Just watched two hours of Daria... am in strange, blank Daria-induced mood. But do continue. I dun wanna see Mokuba cry... *sniffles*
Seto: Hrmpf.
City: The next chapter shall be… *drum roll*
Bob: *clears throat and looks at outline* Chapter eight… here we are. We're going to take a break from the main storyline and give you the opinions of all the people in Yugi's house, just to see how you guys react.
City: Yeah, I tried the first-person thingy at the end of this chapter, and I think it worked out well!
Bob: *whispers* It was my idea…
City: *ignores Bob* R&R, people, I love you! Hugs and kisses and plushies of your favorite bishies! *pokes Bob*
Bob: *sighs in a very put-upon sort of way, and hands out various plushies to reviewers* Enjoy. You people are so incredibly childish…
City: *whaps Bob upside the head with her Seto plushie* Shush!
Otogi: Can I talk now?
Bakura: Yes. Good job, Devlin. *pats Otogi on the head*
City: *sweatdrops*