As Yugi walked back down the stairs, all he could think about was if Joey was going to be all right. He was really concerned for his friend and couldn't help thinking this way. He couldn't understand why he wasn't telling him the problems running through his mind. They were best friends and isn't that what best friends are supposed to do?
The moment he set foot downstairs, one of the maids came up to him, a worried look plastered across her face.
"Are you Yugi Motou?" she asked.
"Yes," he responded accordingly.
"Did you just come from visiting a Mr. Joey Wheeler?"
"Yes, I did." Yugi was confused as to why this girl was asking him all these questions but so as to not be rude, he answered them without any defiance. "Why do you ask?"
"Well, I'm a friend of his and I was just wondering if he was doing okay. I'm really worried about him…" Her words than began to trail off so that eventually Yugi could not hear what she was saying.
"So am I. He's a friend of mine as well. But don't worry; he seems to be doing all right. With the exception of him not telling me what happened to inflict this condition upon him…"
"That sounds like the Joey I know. He's always been like that, every since we first met in grade school," the girl added almost silently.
"I'm sure he'll tell us eventually. He probably just needs some time to recuperate, that's all," Yugi stated, although even he wasn't sure of what the future outcome would be.
"You sure?" she inquired as a few tears fell from her beautiful crystalline orbs.
"Well I can't promise anything but I can be sure that he will recover soon enough and be back to his usual self." Yugi smiled to assure her that everything was going to be all right.
"Thanks Yugi." She returned the smile and led him to the door. "If anything comes up or if he looks like he's getting better, I'll give you a call, okay?"
"Okay, thanks…um…" Yugi blushed since he had forgotten to ask the girl her name.
"Oh, sorry. The name's Brianna," she replied.
Yugi then opened the door and went to step outside. "Well it was nice getting to know you Brianna and I do hope everything goes well with Joey."
"Don't worry. I'm sure everything will be fine." What she had said just now was different from what she was feeling. She didn't know what was going to happen with Joey and so all she could do at the moment was hope for the best. As Yugi left, she waved goodbye and then closed the door behind him. When the door clicked shut, she leaned up against it and began thinking.
I do hope you'll be all right Jou. I know what happened and I feel just terrible. I know what your father is capable of and this time I say he went too far. I'm glad you left though. It must have taken a lot of courage to do that. I know I couldn't have done what you did. I'd be too scared of what the punishment would be if I were caught. But you don't think of those consequences; whatever you want to do, you do it. I have always respected you for that and I continue to throughout the years…
As Yugi walked away from the mansion, he noticed a black limo pull into the driveway.
That must be Kaiba, he thought almost instinctively.
When the vehicle came to a halt, he saw the door swing open and none other than Seto Kaiba himself stepped out. He looked over in Yugi's direction with a slight glare.
"I was just leaving," the small teen spoke up without so much as a quiver in his voice.
"Hmph," was Seto's only, not to mention typical response. As he said that, a mess of raven locks appeared behind the older sibling and Mokuba stuck his head out of the limo.
"Hey Yugi!" he chirped, hopping out of the vehicle.
"Hey Mokuba. What's up?" It was hard to believe that Mokuba was related to his brother. They were completely different in so many ways. The pre-teen was always so enthusiastic and chipper, whereas his brother was more serious and hardhearted.
"Nothing much. Just get back from visiting Joey?" he asked, running up to the infamous King of Games.
"Yah…" Yugi replied with a sigh.
"What's wrong?" he inquired.
"What? Oh nothing. I was just thinking that's all." That statement made Mokuba a little suspicious. He began thinking that Joey's current state was affecting Yugi emotionally.
"Well you know you're always welcome to come and see him anytime you like." When the raven-haired child said that, Seto looked at him sternly as if to say, 'Mokuba…'
"Thanks. I really appreciate you doing this for Joey. You know, for taking him in and all…"
"That's no problem! We were happy to do it! Right Seto?" Mokuba exclaimed, looking up at his older brother.
"Yah, whatever."
Mokuba then leaned closer to Yugi and whispered in his ear. "He may not show it but he really didn't mind taking Joey into our home."
"I heard that Mokuba," Seto growled lowly.
"Well I got to go Yugi. I'll talk to you later, okay?" Mokuba then ran over to his brother's side, waving behind him.
"Yep. See you later!" Yugi tried to sound rather cheery but it was hard knowing the present circumstances. As he walked away, the only thoughts running through his mind were what he was going to tell his friends. Since Joey had not told him what really happened, he didn't have a clue as to what to say to the others. When he got to the end of the driveway, he rounded the corner and disappeared, headed in the direction of the Kame Game Shop.
Meanwhile, when Seto and Mokuba got inside the mansion, Mokuba raced up the stairs to his room. As soon as he got to the end of the hallway, he peered into Joey's room and noticed that he was sitting up in bed watching TV.
"Hey Joey!" he piped up, stepping into the room.
Joey was a little startled when he heard a voice but when he turned his head slightly to the left, he was surprised at just who was standing in the middle of the doorway. "Hey Mokuba! What's up?" he exclaimed.
"Nothing much. I just got home and am I ever glad that I did. Those classes were so boring!"
"Heh. Your brother make you take classes?"
"Yes. Music classes. When am I ever going to use the information they're cramming into my head? Does Seto think I'm going to become a musician or something?" the young child complained, folding his arms across his chest.
"That sucks."
"Does it ever," Mokuba added. "So, do you want to come into my room and play video games until dinner?" he offered.
Joey then immediately perked up. "Sure! I've been waiting for you to ask that!"
"Great! But this time you won't win! I got a new game and I've been playing it every day. No one can beat me." Mokuba then began to impersonate an evil laugh.
"We'll just see about that now won't we?" Joey smirked, throwing the covers off himself. When he went to stand up, a surge of pain shot up through his whole body just like the last time. Again, he held back a scream, but by the look on his face you could tell that he was in pain.
"Are you okay Joey? Do you need any help?" Mokuba asked worriedly, grabbing a hold of the blonde's arm.
"Nah, I'm okay. I'll manage." But that was easier said than done. As he tried to walk, the pain just became worse.
"Are you sure? Here, let me help you." Joey was just about to refuse when he decided that it was probably better if Mokuba did help him after all.
With Mokuba holding his one arm and Joey clutching the wall with his other hand, they eventually made it to the younger Kaiba's room where Joey went to sit down on his bed the first chance he got. He let out a sigh of relief as Mokuba went to pop a game into the Gamecube.
"What game are we playing?" Joey inquired.
"Soul Calibur II. Seto bought it for me for my birthday and I've been playing it ever since. That was why I said you probably wouldn't be able to beat me," Mokuba smirked.
"Let's just see then, shall we?" And with that, both began playing, each one trying to become the victor.
Meanwhile, in Seto's office/room, he wasn't working on his computer nor was he trying to come up with future plans for Kaiba Corp. He was too busy thinking about other matters. Surprisingly enough, he was thinking about Joey. He never did like the blonde-haired teen but he couldn't help wondering what had happened to him the night he had found him lying nearly unconscious in that alleyway. Did he run away from home or did someone beat him senseless and leave him there to suffer? He tried to shake all those thoughts out of his mind but they refused to leave. He couldn't comprehend why he was thinking this way. He hated Wheeler, that part was for certain. He just couldn't understand why he was feeling sorry for him all of a sudden. This just wasn't like him.
Maybe Mokuba's caring attitude is rubbing off on me… He pondered with that statement for quite some time. His brother was always so chipper and it was hard not to be when you were around him…