Disclaimer: Loverskeeper does not own Yu-Gi-Oh!

Chapter Seven

Seto meet up with Yami during their free period. Seto really didn't want to expose Joey's past to his friends without his permission but he needed help to save Joey and he knew that if he went to Yami, Yami could kept his mouth shut.

Yami was outside in the study area that was located under the oak tress. He saw Kaiba walking towards him. Last night when he called saying that he needed to talk about Joey, he realized that Kaiba had finally allowed someone else besides Mokuba into his heart. Joey and Kaiba did at first look like a couple that would kill each other within days but that wasn't the case. The call last night Yami could hear the fear that Kaiba had for Joey's well being.

"Kaiba." Yami said

"Thank you for meeting with me. Like I told you last night I need to talk about Joey. Joey has been- well I don't want to expose his life but I need to help him." Kaiba stopped talking and started to run his hands through his hair.

"Kaiba listen Joey has been distant and on edge. I see him losing a battle within himself but he won't talk to me or to Yugi. If you knowledge to why I would to know. I might be able to help."

"He's being abused at home. His father well lets say that he uses Joey in any way possible to take out his frustrations. I didn't know until two days ago when I saw him in class and saw his eyes. They were almost without light and I was worried about him. I forced him to come home with me and in that moment the truth came. He told me about his dad. That's when he came to live with me. I know that Joey is afraid that his dad will find him and he'll be hurt again."

"If he was being hurt then why didn't come to me or Yugi. We could have helped him. He didn't have to go through that alone?" Yami was upset that Joey didn't come to him or Yugi. He saw Joey as a brother and he was Yugi's best friend. He would have helped Joey.

"Listen Yami, Joey was scared that he would look weak in front of you guys and me. He didn't want me to help him at first but I pressed my way into his life. He tried to talk you guys about his problems and that's when Tristan called him a traitor for being with me. Joey was hurt when Tristan turned on him how you think he would take it if all his friends turned on him. He knows that isn't true but Tristan's outburst hurt him. Joey has been feeling like that something is bad is coming his way. He's been having nightmares about his father and his eyes grow dimmer each day. That is what worrying me. I don't want to lose him because I can't help him when he needed me the most." Kaiba didn't know that when he was talking that tears were falling down his face.

Yami was a little shock to see Kaiba so emotional about Joey, but maybe the CEO had found his true love. He knew how Kaiba felt because if anything was hurting Yugi and he could help him and was losing him piece by piece he would be as emotional as Kaiba.

"Kaiba I understand you're feelings for they are what I have for Yugi. I will try anything that can help Joey. He is like a brother to me and he is Yugi's best friend. I will talk to him and I won't let him know about our talk. I will try my best to help Joey, but he might need more help then I can give to him. You understand that."

Kaiba nodded. He knew that Yami would help and he knew that Joey might need more help then either of them could give. Joey would be helped he just needed to find out how. If Yami could help him he would find another way to help him. He was not going allow his puppy to be taken way from him. Joey would be whole one day he would be whole. He and Yami got up and they went off to their other classes and the next class for Yami had been Science and his lab partner was Joey. He hoped that they could get lunch after lab and talk. He needed to assisted Joey's mental health with his shadow powers and to do that he needed Joey to talk to him.

(Scene Change: Domino Middle School)

Mokuba had snuck out of his classes and headed for the High School with the letter in tow. He had to get the letter to Seto and fast before anything happened to Joey. What he didn't know was that someone was following him as he made his way to the High School. This shadow was going to make sure the letter got to where it was needed. Mokuba was scared that the sender of the letter was coming after Joey or him. He didn't want Joey to get hurt and through out his life he was kidnapped and hated when that happens. He knew that if he got the letter to Seto, Seto would know what to do. He kept running hoping that he would get to the High School before he was stopped.

(Scene Change: Domino High: Science Lab)

Yami walked into lab and he saw Joey. Joey looked okay, but he could feel the tension coming of the young blond. He needed for Joey to know that he was okay with him being with Kaiba without letting him know that he and Kaiba had been talking about him and his problems.

"Joey, are you okay." Yami asked as he sat down next to Joey.

Joey was in his own world and had not heard or seen Yami come up to the table and when Yami asked him that question and it made him jump. Joey looked up and blushed a little showing his embarrassment of being scared.

"Yami, please don't do that again. You scared the shit out of me."

"Sorry. You looked lost so I wanted to know if you were okay."

"Yeah, I'm fine. I have some idea why you're asking me. I saw you two earlier outside near the oak trees. I know that Seto is only trying to help me, but maybe my problem is too hard to fix. I don't want him to worry about me, but I know that is not going to happen. Yami if you want to listen to my story let's do it over lunch, but just you. I couldn't handle it if everyone treated me like the plague like Tristan."

"Joey we're all not Tristan but if you want to start with me, but know this the rest of us do care about you just like Kaiba. We want what is best for you and if Kaiba is what is best for you then we're happy about it." Yami was shocked that he really didn't have to do a song and dance to get Joey to talk to him. Maybe Joey wanted to find himself as much as Kaiba did.

Joey was shaking inside. When he saw Seto talking to Yami and he knew that they were talking about him. His last might's nightmare really scared both Joey and Seto. Seto was trying to help him. Joey knew that he also had to try to help himself and if Yami wanted to help him then he would try. He needed to find strength from within himself to help himself heal and become whole again if that possible. Joey and Yami stopped talking about Joey and his problems and went back to their lab work.

(Scene Change: Near Kaiba's Locker)

Mokuba had snuck into Domino High and he waited in the shadows until his big brother came to his locker. Seto had also made sure that Mokuba knew where his locker was if he needed to find him. That's when he saw his big brother. He knew during fifth period he needed to change books.

"Seto." Mokuba whisper. Kaiba had almost super hearing and heard his little brother's whispering his name.

Kaiba walked over to the stairs that Mokuba was hiding under.

"What are you doing here?" He asked. He knew that Mokuba would not skip school unless he needed his help.

"Seto I found a letter in my locker and I knew that you needed to see it ASAP." He took out the letter out of his back pack and showed it Seto

Kaiba read the letter: You might hold him now but I know his weakness. I have found you and will he be able to trade his punishment to you or will he step up and take it and save your hide. Have him see this letter and he will know what to do.

He knew who would write a letter like this and he would make sure that he would pay for threatening his puppy and his brother. He would make this person pay and enjoy watching pain in that persons face.

(Scene Change: Outside Domino High)

Tristan saw that Jason was outside and he saw him following Mokuba and he find out why. He wanted to know why he was following Mokuba. "What are you doing here?" H asked Jason who hid in the shadows.

"I'm seeing if my plan worked and knowing that the boy came here with my gift I say that it worked just fine." Jason said as his eyes glazed over thinking about having his son back. He longed for his slave to grovel at his feet again.

"You need to leave because you don't want Joey know that you are lurking outside his school."

"Sure that's why you're whispering. You don't want my son t6o see you talk to his mean old daddy. I've seen the way you look at him and I know that you are in love with him. You don't want him to hate you, but you go behind his back and tell me where he is hiding. Now I know where he is and my plan is in motion and if you play your cards right I give Joey over to you once I teach him some obedience." Jason said then he left.

Tristan didn't like that he had teamed up with Joey's dad but it was the only way to get him away from Kaiba. He would watch Jason and when his plan had got Joey out of hiding he would be there to get Joey first and he would save him from both Kaiba and his father. He knew if he did that Joey would then fall in love with him and they would be happy together.

What he didn't know was that an ancient thief had seen and heard him with Joey's dad. Bakura knew that Joey and Tristan were friends but why would want to hurt Joey. He didn't know tat Tristan loved Joey until now, but love never meant hurt and he knew that, He was evil until his light; Ryou saved him from his darkness. He would never hurt Ryou so why was Tristan going to hurt Joey. He didn't need to know why he just knew that he had tell someone about what he heard. If Joey was hurt it would hurt Ryou and that was something that he could have and he was going to make sure that his light was not going to be hurt.

(Scene Change: Cafeteria)

It was lunch time and at their table everyone was there except tow people. Tristan was a given, but Kaiba wasn't there. Joey didn't worry because he probably had an emergency at work and he knew that he could go to Yugi's after school if Seto was there to pick him up. What was making Joey nervous is that he knew that soon Yami would want to talk to him alone about his past. He tried to focus on his food but it was hard when his stomach kept on flipping. Then Bakura and Marik left the table and went out side. Their lights Ryou and Malik just shrug their shoulders and kept on eating. Tea and Yugi were talking about their test they were going to have in History and they were excited and about it. Joey thought that they were weird because they loved test in any class, to him that was weird.

"You okay?" A voice asked him that made him jump again.

"Yami! What did I tell you about doing that to me? You scared the shit out of me again." Joey sighed and tried to compose himself again.

"Sorry, I am always scaring people. Grandpa told me one more time and he would chase me through the block with his trusty broom."

Joey laughed. He had not done that in ages, but the thought of Yugi's grandpa chasing Yami with his broom made him laugh.

"I glad that you're laughing again you need to do that more Joey. I want to know if you want to talk about what you have been hiding. If you don't we can talk about something else. Joey you don't have to force yourself to talk to me if you don't to."

"That's okay Yami but let's go outside and talk. I-"

"I understand." Yami said. He didn't want Joey to feel uncomfortable because he would feel that later when he talked about his life. They got up and left. Tea and Yugi didn't see them leave. Ryou and Malik were still eating and they saw them leave but they kept eating their lunch.

Outside Yami and Joey found a place on the ground under the same tress that Kaiba told Yami that he needed help.

"I don't want to tell you every detail so I'll make it short and sweet. My mom left with Serenity when I was eight and my dad began to drink. His drinking made him made and I became his favorite punching bag. Then as time went on he got-well he said lonely so I was there to ease his loneliness. I knew that if I didn't give in he would make it ten times worst, so I allowed him to as he pleased and I died a little each time. Then Seto saw me in class the other day and I was tried of fighting I gave in and told him. He wants to help me, but Yami there is cloud of darkness around me. I feel it ands every day it gets worst and there is nothing Seto can do to make it go away." Joey said. After that he began to cry.

Yami pulled Joey into his arms and allowed the boy to cry. Bakura and Marik heard crying. They went over to see who it was and when they saw Joey in Yami's arms they walked away. Bakura told Marik about Tristan and Joey's dad. They needed to talk to Yami but right now his attention was needed elsewhere.

Yami rubbed Joey's back. His cries became soft sobs. "Sorry about that Yami. I didn't mean to get so emotional about-"

"Joey you don't have to sorry. Your father hurt you. It's okay to cry. Joey I know that it's hard to talk about but the others should know when your ready to talk about it. They will want to help you. Now about this cloud of darkness, I have no idea yet, but with Kaiba loves and protection and your friends surrounding you-"

"Yami, I know that but the feeling is still here and I don't know why. I just know that something is going to happen soon and I fear what is to come. Thank you for listening to me and not running away from the truth of my past."

Yami was shocked to hear Joey being afraid that his friends would hold his past against him. Then he heard footsteps behind him. He looked to the sound and saw Kaiba.

Seto saw Joey on the ground in Yami's arms and he been crying. He knew they must have been talking about Joey's past. He bent down and helped Joey up and nodded towards Yami. It was his way of thanking Yami for trying to help Joey. Seto told Joey that he signed him out of school for the day. He didn't tell him about the letter. He didn't want to scare his puppy. Yami watched as they went to Kaiba's limo.

Yami felt a tap on his shoulder. "We need to talk." Bakura said. Marik was behind him and the look in their eyes meant that what they needed to talk about was not good.

(Scene Change: Inside Kaiba's Limo)

Joey was tried after his emotional talk with Yami. Seto watched him sleep. Mokuba was already at home. The letter sacred him at the same time enraged him. He knew that Joey's dad sent the letter, but he had no idea how he found out where Joey was. The letter threaten his brother and puppy. He would not have that and he will find out who the rat was he would snap its head off its body. He looked down and saw that Joey was sleeping peaceful and for now everything was right in the world but he knew soon that Joey's dad would try and make his move and he had to be ready. The limo stopped and he carried Joey inside and for the time being both Joey and Mokuba would sleep in his room where he could watch them both. He laid Joey next to Mokuba who was ready napping on his bed. Seto sat in the chair next to his own bed and watched the two sleeping boys sleep, until he fell asleep himself.

A/N: I know these chapters are getting longer, but they will lead to the final chapters.

Next Chapter: Joey finds the letter and takes off. Joey's dad finds him and so does Tristan. Yami learns about Tristan and his alliance with Jason. Kaiba is out for blood when Joey disappears and teams up with the Yamis and he learns the truth as well.

Please R&R