Hannah: "Hey guys! Long time, no update. I'm sorry… I know that I say that a lot, but I truly am. Anyways… Here's the latest installment… Enjoy! Bakura, would you?"

Bakura: "If Hannah owned Yu-gi-oh, J.K. Rowling would kill off Sirius Black. Oh wait… She did…"

Chapter Sixteen:

-Joey was currently curled up on the couch with Mokuba watching a movie. The movie was actually good, but Mokuba had fallen asleep by the first 30 minutes of the film. Seto came in and told Joey he was putting Mokuba to bed and when eh got back, they'd finish the movie together. When he came back he sat down on the sofa next to Joey. Since the "kissing incident" this morning, they hadn't really talked to each other. The silence was getting uncomfortable. Joey was about to break the ice when, out of nowhere, Seto turned to him and spoke.

"So are you going to tell me how you got those marks, or am I going to have to make you?"

Joey paled. He had completely forgotten that Seto knew about them. He visibly gulped.

"Joey… You can tell me…"

Joey dropped his head.

"No… I can't…"

Seto frowned.

"Why not?"

"You'd hate me… You'd think I was a lower piece of scum than you do now. It's understandable though… I am what you call me. I am a mutt… A stupid street dog that doesn't know his place."

Seto shook his head.

"You will be if you don't face your problems. Tell me Joe… Maybe I can help."

Seto moved over to Joey and lifted his cotton shirt. He touched the tattered skin so gently. It was such a sweet act of tenderness, Joey almost cried.

"Tell me who gave these to you Joey… Tell me who did this to you… Tell me why you hide it from me… Tell me about your past... Your family… Your lovers… I want to know everything about you."

To know someone cared… To know someone saw his pain… Joey felt he had to tell Seto now. He didn't' think he couldn't.

"My father…"

Seto turned to Joey with wide eyes.

"'What?"

"My… My father did this to me. He gets drunk and beats me. But it's not a big deal… I've dealt with it since I was just a kid."

"Is that why you did coke Joe? Because you can handle it?"

Joey turned to Seto, angry.

"It's none of your business if I do coke or not! This isn't your problem, it's mine! I can handle it all! All of it! God-damn it! You can't fix everything Seto! I'm not one of your broken electronics!"

And with that, Joey stormed off to his room. Seto sat there, disappointed that Joey ran off and got mad at him, but happy that, at least, he began to share.

Hannah: "That was it. Hope you liked it. Till next time!"