Greetings!
No, you're not imagining things: this is the second chapter of this story I posted in a week (yay, me, especially considering that I'm still sick and had to stop writing more than once to deal with coughing fits!) Do I get a prize?? See, I'm not entirely heartless. . . I do apologize to those of you who also read Intruders. The Egyptian stuff I just got into in that story is taking a bit more to research and plan, so it's taking me longer to write a chapter, which is why I wrote this one instead. *glares at muse, who is currently plotting how Yugi and the high priest are going to meet, as well as how Kaiba and the pharaoh are going to get along*
Joey fans (especially Adrienne): please read my note at the end of the chapter. *smiles sweetly at Joey's fans*
Reviews:
Vappa: 'The poor cliffhanger-victim children'? Very funny!! It's good to be suspicious, you know. Trust No One *sigh, I miss The X Files*. What are you suspicious of, specifically?
Lizzy: I always feel bad about not updating, even though most everyone does it. I just wish I had time to just write. I'm glad you liked the chapter, cruelty and all. You're right; I wouldn't spend all that time keeping him alive for nothing. Well, unless I was really evil. I don't think I've crossed that line just yet.
Fin-Phoenix: No! I definitely don't want to kill you. I love my readers! I treasure them. . . I would never hurt you all. See, I listened to you and here's the next chapter! Hope you like.
Yami-Yugi3: Ask and ye shall receive!
Serendipity84: The hiding thing only worked out for a little bit, so here I am. Enjoy the chapter.
Gala: *doges rotten tomatoes thrown by gala. A watermelon manages to get too close for comfort, so chapter gets written* I hope you like the chapter!
Morgane: Thank you very much! I'm glad you enjoyed the chapter.
Amiahsa Ruri: Uh, oh. . . those twitches can't be good, can they? You only had to wait four days to get the next chapter, though. That makes up for the evilness, right?
Ginger Ninja: Thank you for the review, and for the good wishes. Sadly, I'm still sick. I've coughed so much that my lungs are sore. But anyway, enjoy the chapter.
Adrienne: Okay, okay, I give *hands Kano plushie to Adrienne* I may need him again, so don't break him! I vaguely remember reading that story, and the author's name definitely looks familiar. What was it about again? I don't think I'd read it in a while. It's horrible that it was taken down. What was it reported for?
Starheart: *takes chocolates and sends some back to Starheart* Being sick sucks, doesn't it? I'm sorry to hear that you are too. I hope you're feeling better than I am! Thanks for the review!
Naomi Silverwolf: Not too long of a wait this time, eh?
Master Elora Dannan: Thank you very much!
Sorceress Vanessa: Whoohoo, cookies! *takes cookies from Vanessa* Can I have more than five? Please? Thanks for the review! I'm very glad that you enjoyed the chapter, cliffy and all.
Yugiohfan: :o) Yeah, I'm really, really bad about keeping my stories short. It's a curse. I'm glad you liked it enough to read all 21 chapters. Thank you!
Hobbit13: thank you very much! Can I blame the evil cliffhanger on the medication my doctor gave me? Oh, and Harris will be back in the next chapter (yay Harris!).
Raiji Magjiwind: Again, thank you very much for your kind words and support. They mean so much to me!
Chibi Chibi Tenshi: Thanks, I'm glad you're enjoying the story. The lines I used for some of the memories sound familiar because they're the same lines used in the dubbed version of the show. That's why I credited the episodes at the end; I watched the episodes as I wrote the chapter, and used the scenes I thought fit best.
Aura Black Chan: Things just sort of caught up to me all of a sudden, and I had absolutely no time to write. I really missed it though. Hopefully, it won't happen again. Thanks for reviewing!
Miss Lous: Ah, shucks, the puppy dog eyes work every time!! I'm glad you enjoyed the chapter.
Shitsumon: You'll find out Kaiba's surprise very soon! Good point you brought up about Yami and Jomei's memories. I can't say much without giving plot twists away, but you're on to something!
Saian Jedi: Thank you very much! I'm glad you're enjoying the story.
LastSheikah: *looks under bed* you can come out now! Thanks for the review.
Yugiohfreak: Thanks! I'm glad you liked the chapter!
Lady Elfskye: Yup, he remembers everything. As far as it being too late, read on and find out. Thank you for the good wishes!
Demon angle: *looks around for demon angle* Okay, I'm coming out now, don't hurt me ^__^. I hope you enjoy the chapter.
Well, that's it for today! Thank you bunches! If I seem a bit spacey and dopey, it's the medication I'm on. I'll shut up now and let you all get to the chapter, enjoy!
**~~**
Part 22: Runaway
Three days later
**Graffiti decorations Under a sky of dust A constant wave of tension On top of broken trust The lessons that you taught me I learn were never true Now I find myself in question (They point the finger at me again) Guilty by association (You point the finger at me again)**
The boy awoke to darkness.
He couldn't see where he was, but he heard the rumble of engines as cars passed somewhere nearby. He begun to panic at his lack of vision, but then realized that he was in some kind of container. He could feel the boundaries of it because both his upper back and feet were touching something cold and hard, but he had no idea what it was. He shifted, and whatever he was lying on top of shifted with him. A rank smell drifted up to his nose and he gagged.
With difficulty, he got to his knees. As he did so, he bumped his head on something that budged slightly. He pushed on it with his hands and saw a glimmer of light. As the light shone into his prison, he realized that he was inside a dumpster. As fast as his aching body would allow, he got out. He fell on his hands and knees and tried to keep himself from throwing up. It was useless, however, since he also smelled like the dumpster. He crawled a bit to one side and threw up, wincing when only bile came up. On shaky legs he stood up and looked at his surroundings. The first thing to catch his eye was the blinking neon sign at the end of the building.
"Guilty Pleasures," he said. "I know this place."
How did he know the place, though? He couldn't recall. Come to think of it, he couldn't recall anything else about himself. Who was he? Where was he? Why was he here? He wasn't given a chance to continue his musings, because a door opened a few feet in front of him and a voluptuous, red headed woman exited the club. She spotted him immediately, and came over to him. Without a word, she wrapped her arms around him and kissed him. The boy's body immediately responded to her, as if it were already familiar with her touch. He kissed her back automatically and ran his hands down her back.
"It's almost dawn, Joe and you're late to the party. What the hell happened to you?" she added when she caught a good look at him. She sniffed the air and scrunched up her nose in disgust.
He frowned, and followed her gaze to look down at himself. He was filthy, probably from being in the dumpster. He didn't say anything, and she shook her head.
"Did you get thrown into the dumpster again? You're going to get yourself killed one of these days if you keep picking fights, and I'd really miss you, lover boy."
She ran her hand down his back and patted his butt appreciatively. "Let me take you to my house and get you cleaned up. We can have our own party."
Joe? She'd called him Joe. Yeah, that's right. He remembered. Joey. He was Joey Wheeler, and he knew her as April. She'd taken a liking to him when he'd first come to the bar to drown the pain from the loss of his best friend. They wouldn't serve him alcohol because he was underage, so she'd taken him to her house. He'd gone with her, eager to just forget the mess his life had become, and had ended up with more than he'd bargained for. Before he knew it, he'd been in bed with her and couldn't have stopped even if he'd wanted to.
After that first night, he'd come back and they'd done it again. Before long, it had become a habit. They'd meet in the alley he was standing in right now, and then go to her house. They'd get drunk and party the night away. The arrangement had worked so far, but he didn't feel like doing it today. He'd apparently already been drunk enough not to remember what had happened earlier that night, and he didn't want to add to that.
"I don't think so, April, not today."
She was about to protest, but changed her mind. "Okay, Joe. You look like you're ready to fall dead on your feet anyway. How about Friday night?"
Joey nodded. Friday nights were usually hers anyway. "Yeah, I'll meet you here."
She pulled him towards her and kissed him again, deep and long. He returned it, forgetting about his worries and his pain for the time being. Before he could end the kiss, the squeal of tires startled them both. They broke apart to see that a sports car had parked on the street beside the entrance to the alley. A man got out of the car and began walking towards them.
"What do you think you're doing, Wheeler?"
"Kaiba? What are you doing here?"
Kaiba walked towards him, his whole body tense. In the subdued morning light, Joey could see the dark circles under Kaiba's eyes. He looked worn and on the edge of a nervous breakdown.
"I've spent the last three days looking for you and where do I find you, with a common hooker!"
"Now wait a minute, I'm no one's hooker," April replied, but Kaiba ignored her.
"Is this what you do in your spare time, Wheeler? I figured you for a player, but I never thought you'd be associating with women old enough to be your mother." Kaiba turned to April. "Do you realize that I can haul you in to the police station and have them charge you with statutory rape for molesting a minor?"
April laughed, but there was no humor in it. "Honey, there was nothing forced about this. Just ask Joe here, he enjoyed it as much as I did."
Joey looked at his shoes as heat traveled to his face. Of all the people in the world that had to find out about this part of his life, why did it have to be Kaiba? He wasn't proud of what he'd done, and he'd hoped that no one, especially not Kaiba, ever found out about it. Now, there was no chance that this would stay quiet. Why the hell was Kaiba driving around this part of town anyway?
"You make me sick," Kaiba said. "I suggest you leave before I change my mind about calling the police."
April chuckled. "Have it your way, sugar. I'll see you later, Joe."
"No, he will not be seeing you again," Kaiba growled.
That did it. Joey looked up then, his shame forgotten. All he felt was anger at Kaiba and at everything else that had gone wrong in his life.
"How dare you? You have no idea what this is, and even if you think you do, you have no right to interfere," Joey countered.
Kaiba's eyes widened and Joey could see the rage slowly boiling to the surface. He took a step closer to Joey and grabbed him by the front of his shirt.
"I have spent the last three days looking for you and Jomei. Everyone is worried sick about you two, including Mokuba. Why didn't you come home when you escaped? Why did you come to see your hooker instead? Better yet, where is Jomei?"
Any anger Joey had left slowly dissipated at Kaiba's questions. Instead of anger, he felt incredible weariness.
"What are you talking about, Kaiba? Why were you looking for me? Why would you even care? Who is this Jomei you keep asking about?"
Kaiba tightened his grip on Joey's shirt before he suddenly let go, sending Joey stumbling backwards. Kaiba looked at him, and Joey couldn't help but cringe at the scrutiny.
"Jomei? Yugi? Your best friend? We went to Tokyo and found him there without his memories? We brought him home, only to have him, and you, kidnapped again? Does any of this ring a bell?"
The anger returned in a flash, and before Joey could stop himself, he took a swing at Kaiba. To his utter surprise, his fist actually connected with Kaiba's jaw and sent the taller teen reeling backwards into the nearest wall. He slid down it onto the ground and looked up at Joey, dazed.
"How dare you bring Yugi into this? It's your fault we couldn't get to him, and you know it!" Joey screamed, his frustration at his failure of that day coming back to the surface as it always did when he was anywhere near Kaiba. "Stay out of my business and I'll stay out of yours."
Joey turned around and walked to the end of the alley.
"Joey, wait!"
The call, and its tinge of desperation, stopped Joey in his tracks. Since when did Kaiba feel desperate? Slowly, he turned around to find that Kaiba had gotten to his feet and was nursing his sore jaw and bleeding lip.
"You really don't remember, do you?" The anger was gone from Kaiba's voice, replaced by weariness.
"I remember Yugi. I remember losing him. I remember the endless nights where I went out and searched for him. I remember Mr. Moto's desperation and anguish at the loss of his grandson. Yeah, I remember."
Kaiba shook his head. "Is that what led you here? Is this your way of escaping the reality of your life?" he motioned to the club and then at the direction April had gone.
Joey closed his eyes for a moment. He was tired. He was tired of the anger, the guilt, and the shame. He was tired of grieving, of the uncertainty of not knowing where Yugi was.
"Sometimes I wish that Yugi had died," Joey finally said, his voice breaking at the admission. "Then I wouldn't have to come here to forget the fact that I failed him."
Kaiba walked towards him and stopped just short of reaching him. His face was calm again, even though he still looked exhausted.
"Yugi is not dead, Joey, at least he wasn't three days ago when he ran out of my house."
Joey shook his head at Kaiba's words. Why was he doing this? Did Kaiba just want to plunge the knife in deeper?
"Give me you arm."
Before Joey could react, Kaiba had grabbed his left arm. He lifted up the shirtsleeve, where Joey was surprised to find a needle mark, and an accompanying bruise, at the crook of his elbow.
"They drugged you. The man that took you and Yugi drugged you. Tell me, Wheeler, what day do you think this is?"
Joey frowned. Had Kaiba finally lost it? "I must have hit you harder than I thought."
"This is serious, Wheeler. What day do you think this is?"
Joey thought about it for a moment. "It's Friday, well Saturday morning by now."
Kaiba shook his head. "No, it isn't. It's Thursday morning and you and Yugi have been missing for three days. Come with me and I'll prove to you that I'm telling you the truth."
Not waiting for an answer, Kaiba dragged Joey to the car. Halfway there, Joey dug in his heels, halting their progress.
"Who's Jomei? He was the first person you asked me about."
Kaiba didn't speak for a while, as if he were thinking of the best way to give the explanation.
"When you found Yugi in Tokyo, he didn't remember you or anyone else. He had a whole other life, and went by the name of Jomei Asami. Does that ring any bells?"
Joey shook his head. "We haven't gone to Tokyo yet, Kaiba. That trip is in two weeks."
Kaiba resumed their course towards the car. He opened the passenger door and threw Joey inside, then quickly got in the driver's seat. The engine roared to life and they took off at an alarming speed.
"We got back from Tokyo a week ago, Joey. The drug they gave you took three weeks of your life, which I guess you should feel grateful for, since it took 16 years from Yugi's. It's why he couldn't remember us."
Joey sat back in his seat, dumbfounded. Yugi was alive? They'd really found him?
"Where is Yugi now?"
Kaiba shook his head and sighed, and for a moment, Joey could swear that Kaiba actually cared.
"He was with you as of three days ago. If you don't know where he is, neither do I."
Joey rode the rest of the way in silence, trying to digest everything he'd just been told. He couldn't believe it. Yugi was really alive? That was a good thing, but he was lost to them again, which just put them back where they had been six months ago. He turned to Kaiba, who was intently concentrating on the road in front of them. He was tense, and Joey suddenly understood that he was actually worried.
"You think something happened to Yugi, don't you?"
Kaiba didn't say anything for a long moment. "He's not with you, Wheeler. That alone is proof that something happened to him."
They came to a stop, and Joey was surprised to see that they'd arrived at the game shop. Kaiba had driven him home. He got out of the car, and immediately went inside.
"Joey, thank goodness you're alright."
Mr. Moto wheeled himself over to Joey, and Joey bent down to give the elder man a hug. A flash of light from somewhere on his left startled Joey, and he turned in that direction to find Yami staring at him.
"Yami! You're okay! I thought something had happened, since you hadn't come out of the puzzle in six months."
Yami frowned. He opened his mouth to say something, but then thought better of it. Joey looked at the spirit, also confused. What had finally gotten Yami to come out of the puzzle? The door opened behind him, and Kaiba walked into the living room.
"Did you find Yugi?" Yami asked.
Kaiba shook his head. "I found Wheeler, but Yugi wasn't with him. There's something else you should know, he doesn't remember anything that's happened in the last three weeks."
Mr. Moto and Yami both looked at him. Joey returned their stares, feeling slightly like a bug under a microscope.
"You don't know what happened to Yugi?" Yami asked.
Joey was about to say that he didn't, when a soul piercing scream rang through his head.
"Stop, Kano! Let go of me."
It was Yugi's voice, and it was so loud that Joey thought his friend was somewhere in the room with him. He whirled around, desperately looking for him to save him from whoever was hurting him, but found only Kaiba, Mr. Moto, and Yami.
"No! Please, don't do this! Stop it!"
Joey clutched at his head while his stomach churned. Yugi sounded so desperate, so afraid. Where was he? What had happened? Who was hurting him?
"Joey, are you okay?"
Joey ignored Mr. Moto. Instead, he rushed out of the room and into the downstairs bathroom. He made it in time to lose the contents of his stomach once again, until he was heaving into the toilet bowl. Tears were streaming down his face and he found himself sobbing uncontrollably. He felt a hand gently patting his back and looked up to see that Mr. Moto was in the room with him.
"I hear him, gramps. He's screaming, asking for help, asking to be let go, but I don't know what happened or where he is. He wanted me to help him and I couldn't."
Mr. Moto's eyes filled with tears, which only made Joey cry harder.
"I'm sorry. I'm so sorry."
Mr. Moto put his arms around Joey, holding him tightly. Joey had failed them both again, and he couldn't even remember what had happened, how he'd failed. He didn't know if he could live with it this time.
**I wanna run away Never say goodbye I wanna know the truth Instead of wondering why I wanna know the answers No more lies I wanna shut the door And open up my mind**
**~~**
Someone was pressing their lips against his.
Panic rushed through him, and he tried to push the person away, but his aching and tired arms would not respond. The need to breathe suddenly overrode all other concerns, but he found that his chest was filled with water. He coughed, and suddenly found himself on his side, throwing up water. A strong hand patted his back gently while he tried to get his breath back.
"That's it, Jomei, let it all out."
The voice was familiar, and he relaxed slightly. Once he'd regained his breath, his throat was burning, his chest ached, and he was dizzy. He was slowly brought up to a sitting position and leaned against something cold. His head felt heavy, and he leaned it against his knees.
"Welcome back to the land of the living."
The voice slowly penetrated Yugi's foggy mind. He raised his head to find a familiar and concerned face peering down at him. Once he felt like he could speak, he raised his head.
"Mike."
"Yeah, that's me. Jomei, what happened? Who did this to you?"
Yugi looked down at himself, and found that he was almost naked and soaking wet. His clothes, what was left of them, barely covered him. His shirt was gone, and his pants were torn, plastered to his skin in tattered strips. What skin wasn't covered by the strips of cloth was scratched and bruised. His skin was pale, which made the bruises and cuts stand out even more. He took some of the strips and tried to arrange them so that the important parts of him were covered, but groaned in dismay when he couldn't get them to do that much. To top that off, he ached. His whole body felt as if it was filled with lead and every movement, every breath, felt as if it was scorching him from the inside. In contrast, he was cold. The harsh wind hit his skin without mercy, making him shiver, which only added to the pain.
"Jomei, what happened?"
Yugi turned to look at Mike and knew that he couldn't tell him what had happened. He couldn't tell anyone of what he'd been too weak to stop, of how he'd condemned his best friend to a fate worse than death.
"It's Yugi Moto now," was all he said.
Mike frowned.
"I regained my memories, Mike. You can call me Yugi."
Mike nodded. "You still remember me?"
Yugi chuckled humorlessly. "Oh, yeah. I remember everything now, even what I don't want to remember."
Mike was silent. Yugi heard the rustle of cloth, and a large towel was wrapped around his shoulders. He looked up and smiled gratefully at Mike. Now that he wasn't going to suffocate and was moderately covered, Yugi looked at his surroundings. He was at a beach. It was early in the morning, and no one else was around. Beside them, a long, wooden plank rested next to a rock. He turned back towards the ocean and he suddenly remembered waking up while underwater, struggling to get to the surface to catch his breath as the current tried to pull him under. He'd found the piece of wood and had held on to it for dear life. It had apparently saved his life. The trembling got stronger, and he couldn't look away from the waves as they crashed to shore.
They'd left him for dead. The drug Shadow had given him hadn't worked. Either that, or Shadi had done something to save him from losing his mind and his life. Shadow must have had his body thrown into the ocean, which meant that they weren't going to be looking for him. What of Joey, though? Shadow said that he was going to drug Joey as well, which meant that Joey's memories would be erased and he'd be placed somewhere as Yugi had been. Devastation hit Yugi like a ton of bricks, and he closed his eyes to keep the tears from falling.
"Am I in Tokyo again?" Yugi asked when he'd gotten his emotions under control.
"Yes, you are. Where did you start out from?"
"Domino."
Mike's eyes widened. "That's a few hours from here, Yugi. You're telling me you swam all the way here, in your condition?"
Yugi shook his head slowly, finally able to look away from the ocean. "I didn't do it on purpose. They threw me in the ocean when they thought I was dead."
"Who did that?"
Yugi didn't reply. He'd said too much already.
"I want to help you, Yugi. You look like you've been beaten up pretty badly, among other things, and when I found you, you were not breathing," Mike said, reaching out to turn Yugi's head towards him. "I can't help you if you don't tell me what happened."
Yugi looked into Mike's blue eyes and had no doubt that he was telling the truth. How much could he trust him with, though? Mike had been nothing but kind to him in the six months he'd worked at the restaurant. Yugi accessed the part of his mind that was filled with Jomei's memories and felt the trust and admiration he'd had for Mike. Mike had become a father figure to him, and he'd trusted the man completely. Could he trust him now?
"I want to tell you, Mike, but it's too soon. Right now, I just want to sleep."
Mike regarded him for a few moments, and then came to a decision. "You'll need medical attention."
"No, no hospitals."
"Yugi, you're injured. On the outside, you look horrible. Who knows what kind of damage you've sustained on the inside."
Yugi shook his head, fear giving him new strength. He struggled to get to his feet, and swayed slightly as his left leg threatened to give out on him. He clutched the towel around him to hide his lack of clothing, and took a few tentative steps forward. When he didn't fall flat on his face, he addressed Mike.
"Thank you for saving my life, Mike. I'll be on my way now."
Mike stood up and walked over to him. "Where are you going to go? You'll pass out halfway out of the beach, and then what? Am I just supposed to leave you out here for someone else to find you? I won't do that."
Yugi sighed. "Then please, no hospitals. The people that did this to me think I'm dead. I need them to keep thinking that if I'm going to have any hope in finding my best friend. Please, Mike."
Mike's jaw tightened, and then his face softened. He nodded.
He lifted Yugi off the sand and cradled him gently in his arms. Yugi momentarily panicked, before he relaxed.
"I'm taking you to my house so we can talk in private, that's all. You know I'm not going to hurt you, right?"
Yugi turned to look at the man's kind face. Yes, he knew that Mike wouldn't hurt him. He settled in the embrace and for the first time in a long time, breathed a sigh of relief.
**~~**
**Paper bags and angry voices Under a sky of dust Another wave of tension Has more than filled me up All my talk of taking action These words were never true Now I find myself in question (They point the finger at me again) Guilty by association (You point the finger at me again)**
Joey lowered his head and let the hot water massage his neck. He'd been in the shower for almost thirty minutes, scrubbing away the smell of the dumpster. He'd used up half a bar of soap, and he could still smell the stench on him. He groaned as the spray hit a rough spot in his shoulder, and reached back to massage it. The water hitting his wrist made him yelp, and he pulled the hand away. He examined the wrist and was surprised to find a red, bleeding band around it. When he looked at the other one, he found the same thing.
"I must have been tied up," he whispered.
He would have had to have struggled a lot for the restraints to have done as much damage as they had. The cuts around his wrists were deep and now bled freely. Why hadn't he noticed them when Kaiba had pulled up his sleeve to look at the needle mark? Idly, Joey wondered if he'd gotten blood on Kaiba's car.
Now that he was aware he was injured, he examined his body to look for other injuries. He found bruises in various parts of his body, mainly his chest and stomach, but nothing more serious than that. He shivered suddenly, as Yugi's desperate scream come to mind once again. He'd tried to remember where they'd been or what had happened to Yugi, but nothing but those two phrases came to mind.
The hot water stopped soothing him, and Joey turned off the faucet. He got out, dried himself, and then wrapped a clean towel around his waist. He wiped the condensation off the mirror and looked at his reflection.
He hated what he'd become. Guilt churned in his gut for what he'd been doing when Kaiba found him. It had seemed so easy. He'd grown up seeing his father do it, and it always worked. The man always managed to forget his problems and continue with a life that seemed worthless while drinking and it had seemed like a good idea to Joey too. He'd managed just fine, and the alcohol had soothed away his problems. April had helped too, and for a few times a week, he could forget everything.
Having to face Mr. Moto the morning after one of his outings was the most difficult part for Joey, because Mr. Moto represented everything that had gone wrong in Joey's life. The elder man was a constant reminder to Joey that he'd failed Yugi, and had to now pay for that failure by living with his grandfather. It reminded him of every time his father had beaten him and called him worthless. It had made that particular word real in his mind, made him believe that he really was worthless.
On the other hand, Joey loved Mr. Moto. He'd always been kind to Joey and had treated him like family. While he'd been teaching Joey to play Duel Monsters, he'd been tough, but Joey had learned a lot from it. He respected and admired the elder man for his strength and determination, and because Mr. Moto had taken care of him without question.
Now, he had to deal with the fact that he had lost three weeks of his life. So much had apparently happened in that time, and he was only now beginning to get the details. He wasn't sure if he could deal with it all right now.
"I'm so confused," he said and closed his eyes, unwilling to look upon his reflection any longer. He'd made the choice to enter that life because he had been selfish, and now had to deal with the consequences.
**I wanna run away Never say goodbye I wanna know the truth Instead of wondering why I wanna know the answers No more lies I wanna shut the door And open up my mind**
"Did you drown in there, Wheeler?"
Kaiba's voice was loud and grating through the door, and Joey jumped slightly at the sound.
"Go away, Kaiba. Mind your own business, will you?"
"Right now, you are my business, so get out of there and come downstairs so we can figure out what we're going to do."
Joey gritted his teeth in anger and annoyance. Why did Kaiba feel like he had a right to boss everyone around?
"Why do you care, Kaiba? What are you still doing here?"
Joey pulled open the door, which startled Kaiba, who'd been resting his head on it. Kaiba was too slow in recovering from the unexpected movement and he lurched forward, right into Joey. Joey took the brunt of Kaiba's weight and stumbled back a few steps. Kaiba finally managed to get his balance back by grabbing onto Joey's arms. Too late, Joey remembered that his wrists were bleeding. Before he knew it, red streaks covered Kaiba's white coat.
"What's wrong with you, Kaiba? I didn't really hit you that hard, did I?"
Kaiba ignored the question. Instead, he looked down at his coat, then at Joey's wrists, which he still held.
"Damn it, Wheeler, you're bleeding."
Kaiba took off his coat, draped it over the shower rod, and then opened up the medicine cabinet. He rummaged around in it until he found what he was looking for. He pushed Joey closer to the sink, and held up a finger when Joey tried to speak.
"Shut up, mutt. I'm only going to do this once."
He ripped open the package of gauze as if he were angry. Joey wondered what he'd said or done to merit such a response, then realized that with Kaiba, he never knew. Expertly, as if he'd done it a thousand times, Kaiba wrapped Joey's bleeding wrists in gauze, and then taped the gauze down. The binding was tight, clean, and helped diminish some of the pain.
"Change those when they get dirty," Kaiba said, handing Joey the used pack of gauze. "Put some clothes on, we're waiting for you downstairs."
With that, Kaiba turned around and walked out of the bathroom.
Joey stood where he was, staring after the taller teen.
"What the hell did I just miss?"
Sighing, Joey left the bathroom and went to his room to get dressed. When he was finished, he took some deep breaths and left his room, finally ready to deal with whatever he was going to be told downstairs.
**I wanna run away Never say goodbye I wanna know the truth Instead of wondering why I wanna know the answers No more lies I wanna shut the door And open up my mind**
**~~**
Song credit: Runaway, by Linkin Park
Joey fans: *peeking from behind monitor* Don't hate me for what I've done to Joey. I hadn't realized how many of you liked him, until chapter 19 or so. I also realized then that I'd kind of neglected him, so I decided to give him more time in the story. I hope no one minds.
Next up: We get back into Kaiba's mind (scary thought, isn't it?), Yugi confides in Mike and decides what he's going to do. See you then!
No, you're not imagining things: this is the second chapter of this story I posted in a week (yay, me, especially considering that I'm still sick and had to stop writing more than once to deal with coughing fits!) Do I get a prize?? See, I'm not entirely heartless. . . I do apologize to those of you who also read Intruders. The Egyptian stuff I just got into in that story is taking a bit more to research and plan, so it's taking me longer to write a chapter, which is why I wrote this one instead. *glares at muse, who is currently plotting how Yugi and the high priest are going to meet, as well as how Kaiba and the pharaoh are going to get along*
Joey fans (especially Adrienne): please read my note at the end of the chapter. *smiles sweetly at Joey's fans*
Reviews:
Vappa: 'The poor cliffhanger-victim children'? Very funny!! It's good to be suspicious, you know. Trust No One *sigh, I miss The X Files*. What are you suspicious of, specifically?
Lizzy: I always feel bad about not updating, even though most everyone does it. I just wish I had time to just write. I'm glad you liked the chapter, cruelty and all. You're right; I wouldn't spend all that time keeping him alive for nothing. Well, unless I was really evil. I don't think I've crossed that line just yet.
Fin-Phoenix: No! I definitely don't want to kill you. I love my readers! I treasure them. . . I would never hurt you all. See, I listened to you and here's the next chapter! Hope you like.
Yami-Yugi3: Ask and ye shall receive!
Serendipity84: The hiding thing only worked out for a little bit, so here I am. Enjoy the chapter.
Gala: *doges rotten tomatoes thrown by gala. A watermelon manages to get too close for comfort, so chapter gets written* I hope you like the chapter!
Morgane: Thank you very much! I'm glad you enjoyed the chapter.
Amiahsa Ruri: Uh, oh. . . those twitches can't be good, can they? You only had to wait four days to get the next chapter, though. That makes up for the evilness, right?
Ginger Ninja: Thank you for the review, and for the good wishes. Sadly, I'm still sick. I've coughed so much that my lungs are sore. But anyway, enjoy the chapter.
Adrienne: Okay, okay, I give *hands Kano plushie to Adrienne* I may need him again, so don't break him! I vaguely remember reading that story, and the author's name definitely looks familiar. What was it about again? I don't think I'd read it in a while. It's horrible that it was taken down. What was it reported for?
Starheart: *takes chocolates and sends some back to Starheart* Being sick sucks, doesn't it? I'm sorry to hear that you are too. I hope you're feeling better than I am! Thanks for the review!
Naomi Silverwolf: Not too long of a wait this time, eh?
Master Elora Dannan: Thank you very much!
Sorceress Vanessa: Whoohoo, cookies! *takes cookies from Vanessa* Can I have more than five? Please? Thanks for the review! I'm very glad that you enjoyed the chapter, cliffy and all.
Yugiohfan: :o) Yeah, I'm really, really bad about keeping my stories short. It's a curse. I'm glad you liked it enough to read all 21 chapters. Thank you!
Hobbit13: thank you very much! Can I blame the evil cliffhanger on the medication my doctor gave me? Oh, and Harris will be back in the next chapter (yay Harris!).
Raiji Magjiwind: Again, thank you very much for your kind words and support. They mean so much to me!
Chibi Chibi Tenshi: Thanks, I'm glad you're enjoying the story. The lines I used for some of the memories sound familiar because they're the same lines used in the dubbed version of the show. That's why I credited the episodes at the end; I watched the episodes as I wrote the chapter, and used the scenes I thought fit best.
Aura Black Chan: Things just sort of caught up to me all of a sudden, and I had absolutely no time to write. I really missed it though. Hopefully, it won't happen again. Thanks for reviewing!
Miss Lous: Ah, shucks, the puppy dog eyes work every time!! I'm glad you enjoyed the chapter.
Shitsumon: You'll find out Kaiba's surprise very soon! Good point you brought up about Yami and Jomei's memories. I can't say much without giving plot twists away, but you're on to something!
Saian Jedi: Thank you very much! I'm glad you're enjoying the story.
LastSheikah: *looks under bed* you can come out now! Thanks for the review.
Yugiohfreak: Thanks! I'm glad you liked the chapter!
Lady Elfskye: Yup, he remembers everything. As far as it being too late, read on and find out. Thank you for the good wishes!
Demon angle: *looks around for demon angle* Okay, I'm coming out now, don't hurt me ^__^. I hope you enjoy the chapter.
Well, that's it for today! Thank you bunches! If I seem a bit spacey and dopey, it's the medication I'm on. I'll shut up now and let you all get to the chapter, enjoy!
**~~**
Part 22: Runaway
Three days later
**Graffiti decorations Under a sky of dust A constant wave of tension On top of broken trust The lessons that you taught me I learn were never true Now I find myself in question (They point the finger at me again) Guilty by association (You point the finger at me again)**
The boy awoke to darkness.
He couldn't see where he was, but he heard the rumble of engines as cars passed somewhere nearby. He begun to panic at his lack of vision, but then realized that he was in some kind of container. He could feel the boundaries of it because both his upper back and feet were touching something cold and hard, but he had no idea what it was. He shifted, and whatever he was lying on top of shifted with him. A rank smell drifted up to his nose and he gagged.
With difficulty, he got to his knees. As he did so, he bumped his head on something that budged slightly. He pushed on it with his hands and saw a glimmer of light. As the light shone into his prison, he realized that he was inside a dumpster. As fast as his aching body would allow, he got out. He fell on his hands and knees and tried to keep himself from throwing up. It was useless, however, since he also smelled like the dumpster. He crawled a bit to one side and threw up, wincing when only bile came up. On shaky legs he stood up and looked at his surroundings. The first thing to catch his eye was the blinking neon sign at the end of the building.
"Guilty Pleasures," he said. "I know this place."
How did he know the place, though? He couldn't recall. Come to think of it, he couldn't recall anything else about himself. Who was he? Where was he? Why was he here? He wasn't given a chance to continue his musings, because a door opened a few feet in front of him and a voluptuous, red headed woman exited the club. She spotted him immediately, and came over to him. Without a word, she wrapped her arms around him and kissed him. The boy's body immediately responded to her, as if it were already familiar with her touch. He kissed her back automatically and ran his hands down her back.
"It's almost dawn, Joe and you're late to the party. What the hell happened to you?" she added when she caught a good look at him. She sniffed the air and scrunched up her nose in disgust.
He frowned, and followed her gaze to look down at himself. He was filthy, probably from being in the dumpster. He didn't say anything, and she shook her head.
"Did you get thrown into the dumpster again? You're going to get yourself killed one of these days if you keep picking fights, and I'd really miss you, lover boy."
She ran her hand down his back and patted his butt appreciatively. "Let me take you to my house and get you cleaned up. We can have our own party."
Joe? She'd called him Joe. Yeah, that's right. He remembered. Joey. He was Joey Wheeler, and he knew her as April. She'd taken a liking to him when he'd first come to the bar to drown the pain from the loss of his best friend. They wouldn't serve him alcohol because he was underage, so she'd taken him to her house. He'd gone with her, eager to just forget the mess his life had become, and had ended up with more than he'd bargained for. Before he knew it, he'd been in bed with her and couldn't have stopped even if he'd wanted to.
After that first night, he'd come back and they'd done it again. Before long, it had become a habit. They'd meet in the alley he was standing in right now, and then go to her house. They'd get drunk and party the night away. The arrangement had worked so far, but he didn't feel like doing it today. He'd apparently already been drunk enough not to remember what had happened earlier that night, and he didn't want to add to that.
"I don't think so, April, not today."
She was about to protest, but changed her mind. "Okay, Joe. You look like you're ready to fall dead on your feet anyway. How about Friday night?"
Joey nodded. Friday nights were usually hers anyway. "Yeah, I'll meet you here."
She pulled him towards her and kissed him again, deep and long. He returned it, forgetting about his worries and his pain for the time being. Before he could end the kiss, the squeal of tires startled them both. They broke apart to see that a sports car had parked on the street beside the entrance to the alley. A man got out of the car and began walking towards them.
"What do you think you're doing, Wheeler?"
"Kaiba? What are you doing here?"
Kaiba walked towards him, his whole body tense. In the subdued morning light, Joey could see the dark circles under Kaiba's eyes. He looked worn and on the edge of a nervous breakdown.
"I've spent the last three days looking for you and where do I find you, with a common hooker!"
"Now wait a minute, I'm no one's hooker," April replied, but Kaiba ignored her.
"Is this what you do in your spare time, Wheeler? I figured you for a player, but I never thought you'd be associating with women old enough to be your mother." Kaiba turned to April. "Do you realize that I can haul you in to the police station and have them charge you with statutory rape for molesting a minor?"
April laughed, but there was no humor in it. "Honey, there was nothing forced about this. Just ask Joe here, he enjoyed it as much as I did."
Joey looked at his shoes as heat traveled to his face. Of all the people in the world that had to find out about this part of his life, why did it have to be Kaiba? He wasn't proud of what he'd done, and he'd hoped that no one, especially not Kaiba, ever found out about it. Now, there was no chance that this would stay quiet. Why the hell was Kaiba driving around this part of town anyway?
"You make me sick," Kaiba said. "I suggest you leave before I change my mind about calling the police."
April chuckled. "Have it your way, sugar. I'll see you later, Joe."
"No, he will not be seeing you again," Kaiba growled.
That did it. Joey looked up then, his shame forgotten. All he felt was anger at Kaiba and at everything else that had gone wrong in his life.
"How dare you? You have no idea what this is, and even if you think you do, you have no right to interfere," Joey countered.
Kaiba's eyes widened and Joey could see the rage slowly boiling to the surface. He took a step closer to Joey and grabbed him by the front of his shirt.
"I have spent the last three days looking for you and Jomei. Everyone is worried sick about you two, including Mokuba. Why didn't you come home when you escaped? Why did you come to see your hooker instead? Better yet, where is Jomei?"
Any anger Joey had left slowly dissipated at Kaiba's questions. Instead of anger, he felt incredible weariness.
"What are you talking about, Kaiba? Why were you looking for me? Why would you even care? Who is this Jomei you keep asking about?"
Kaiba tightened his grip on Joey's shirt before he suddenly let go, sending Joey stumbling backwards. Kaiba looked at him, and Joey couldn't help but cringe at the scrutiny.
"Jomei? Yugi? Your best friend? We went to Tokyo and found him there without his memories? We brought him home, only to have him, and you, kidnapped again? Does any of this ring a bell?"
The anger returned in a flash, and before Joey could stop himself, he took a swing at Kaiba. To his utter surprise, his fist actually connected with Kaiba's jaw and sent the taller teen reeling backwards into the nearest wall. He slid down it onto the ground and looked up at Joey, dazed.
"How dare you bring Yugi into this? It's your fault we couldn't get to him, and you know it!" Joey screamed, his frustration at his failure of that day coming back to the surface as it always did when he was anywhere near Kaiba. "Stay out of my business and I'll stay out of yours."
Joey turned around and walked to the end of the alley.
"Joey, wait!"
The call, and its tinge of desperation, stopped Joey in his tracks. Since when did Kaiba feel desperate? Slowly, he turned around to find that Kaiba had gotten to his feet and was nursing his sore jaw and bleeding lip.
"You really don't remember, do you?" The anger was gone from Kaiba's voice, replaced by weariness.
"I remember Yugi. I remember losing him. I remember the endless nights where I went out and searched for him. I remember Mr. Moto's desperation and anguish at the loss of his grandson. Yeah, I remember."
Kaiba shook his head. "Is that what led you here? Is this your way of escaping the reality of your life?" he motioned to the club and then at the direction April had gone.
Joey closed his eyes for a moment. He was tired. He was tired of the anger, the guilt, and the shame. He was tired of grieving, of the uncertainty of not knowing where Yugi was.
"Sometimes I wish that Yugi had died," Joey finally said, his voice breaking at the admission. "Then I wouldn't have to come here to forget the fact that I failed him."
Kaiba walked towards him and stopped just short of reaching him. His face was calm again, even though he still looked exhausted.
"Yugi is not dead, Joey, at least he wasn't three days ago when he ran out of my house."
Joey shook his head at Kaiba's words. Why was he doing this? Did Kaiba just want to plunge the knife in deeper?
"Give me you arm."
Before Joey could react, Kaiba had grabbed his left arm. He lifted up the shirtsleeve, where Joey was surprised to find a needle mark, and an accompanying bruise, at the crook of his elbow.
"They drugged you. The man that took you and Yugi drugged you. Tell me, Wheeler, what day do you think this is?"
Joey frowned. Had Kaiba finally lost it? "I must have hit you harder than I thought."
"This is serious, Wheeler. What day do you think this is?"
Joey thought about it for a moment. "It's Friday, well Saturday morning by now."
Kaiba shook his head. "No, it isn't. It's Thursday morning and you and Yugi have been missing for three days. Come with me and I'll prove to you that I'm telling you the truth."
Not waiting for an answer, Kaiba dragged Joey to the car. Halfway there, Joey dug in his heels, halting their progress.
"Who's Jomei? He was the first person you asked me about."
Kaiba didn't speak for a while, as if he were thinking of the best way to give the explanation.
"When you found Yugi in Tokyo, he didn't remember you or anyone else. He had a whole other life, and went by the name of Jomei Asami. Does that ring any bells?"
Joey shook his head. "We haven't gone to Tokyo yet, Kaiba. That trip is in two weeks."
Kaiba resumed their course towards the car. He opened the passenger door and threw Joey inside, then quickly got in the driver's seat. The engine roared to life and they took off at an alarming speed.
"We got back from Tokyo a week ago, Joey. The drug they gave you took three weeks of your life, which I guess you should feel grateful for, since it took 16 years from Yugi's. It's why he couldn't remember us."
Joey sat back in his seat, dumbfounded. Yugi was alive? They'd really found him?
"Where is Yugi now?"
Kaiba shook his head and sighed, and for a moment, Joey could swear that Kaiba actually cared.
"He was with you as of three days ago. If you don't know where he is, neither do I."
Joey rode the rest of the way in silence, trying to digest everything he'd just been told. He couldn't believe it. Yugi was really alive? That was a good thing, but he was lost to them again, which just put them back where they had been six months ago. He turned to Kaiba, who was intently concentrating on the road in front of them. He was tense, and Joey suddenly understood that he was actually worried.
"You think something happened to Yugi, don't you?"
Kaiba didn't say anything for a long moment. "He's not with you, Wheeler. That alone is proof that something happened to him."
They came to a stop, and Joey was surprised to see that they'd arrived at the game shop. Kaiba had driven him home. He got out of the car, and immediately went inside.
"Joey, thank goodness you're alright."
Mr. Moto wheeled himself over to Joey, and Joey bent down to give the elder man a hug. A flash of light from somewhere on his left startled Joey, and he turned in that direction to find Yami staring at him.
"Yami! You're okay! I thought something had happened, since you hadn't come out of the puzzle in six months."
Yami frowned. He opened his mouth to say something, but then thought better of it. Joey looked at the spirit, also confused. What had finally gotten Yami to come out of the puzzle? The door opened behind him, and Kaiba walked into the living room.
"Did you find Yugi?" Yami asked.
Kaiba shook his head. "I found Wheeler, but Yugi wasn't with him. There's something else you should know, he doesn't remember anything that's happened in the last three weeks."
Mr. Moto and Yami both looked at him. Joey returned their stares, feeling slightly like a bug under a microscope.
"You don't know what happened to Yugi?" Yami asked.
Joey was about to say that he didn't, when a soul piercing scream rang through his head.
"Stop, Kano! Let go of me."
It was Yugi's voice, and it was so loud that Joey thought his friend was somewhere in the room with him. He whirled around, desperately looking for him to save him from whoever was hurting him, but found only Kaiba, Mr. Moto, and Yami.
"No! Please, don't do this! Stop it!"
Joey clutched at his head while his stomach churned. Yugi sounded so desperate, so afraid. Where was he? What had happened? Who was hurting him?
"Joey, are you okay?"
Joey ignored Mr. Moto. Instead, he rushed out of the room and into the downstairs bathroom. He made it in time to lose the contents of his stomach once again, until he was heaving into the toilet bowl. Tears were streaming down his face and he found himself sobbing uncontrollably. He felt a hand gently patting his back and looked up to see that Mr. Moto was in the room with him.
"I hear him, gramps. He's screaming, asking for help, asking to be let go, but I don't know what happened or where he is. He wanted me to help him and I couldn't."
Mr. Moto's eyes filled with tears, which only made Joey cry harder.
"I'm sorry. I'm so sorry."
Mr. Moto put his arms around Joey, holding him tightly. Joey had failed them both again, and he couldn't even remember what had happened, how he'd failed. He didn't know if he could live with it this time.
**I wanna run away Never say goodbye I wanna know the truth Instead of wondering why I wanna know the answers No more lies I wanna shut the door And open up my mind**
**~~**
Someone was pressing their lips against his.
Panic rushed through him, and he tried to push the person away, but his aching and tired arms would not respond. The need to breathe suddenly overrode all other concerns, but he found that his chest was filled with water. He coughed, and suddenly found himself on his side, throwing up water. A strong hand patted his back gently while he tried to get his breath back.
"That's it, Jomei, let it all out."
The voice was familiar, and he relaxed slightly. Once he'd regained his breath, his throat was burning, his chest ached, and he was dizzy. He was slowly brought up to a sitting position and leaned against something cold. His head felt heavy, and he leaned it against his knees.
"Welcome back to the land of the living."
The voice slowly penetrated Yugi's foggy mind. He raised his head to find a familiar and concerned face peering down at him. Once he felt like he could speak, he raised his head.
"Mike."
"Yeah, that's me. Jomei, what happened? Who did this to you?"
Yugi looked down at himself, and found that he was almost naked and soaking wet. His clothes, what was left of them, barely covered him. His shirt was gone, and his pants were torn, plastered to his skin in tattered strips. What skin wasn't covered by the strips of cloth was scratched and bruised. His skin was pale, which made the bruises and cuts stand out even more. He took some of the strips and tried to arrange them so that the important parts of him were covered, but groaned in dismay when he couldn't get them to do that much. To top that off, he ached. His whole body felt as if it was filled with lead and every movement, every breath, felt as if it was scorching him from the inside. In contrast, he was cold. The harsh wind hit his skin without mercy, making him shiver, which only added to the pain.
"Jomei, what happened?"
Yugi turned to look at Mike and knew that he couldn't tell him what had happened. He couldn't tell anyone of what he'd been too weak to stop, of how he'd condemned his best friend to a fate worse than death.
"It's Yugi Moto now," was all he said.
Mike frowned.
"I regained my memories, Mike. You can call me Yugi."
Mike nodded. "You still remember me?"
Yugi chuckled humorlessly. "Oh, yeah. I remember everything now, even what I don't want to remember."
Mike was silent. Yugi heard the rustle of cloth, and a large towel was wrapped around his shoulders. He looked up and smiled gratefully at Mike. Now that he wasn't going to suffocate and was moderately covered, Yugi looked at his surroundings. He was at a beach. It was early in the morning, and no one else was around. Beside them, a long, wooden plank rested next to a rock. He turned back towards the ocean and he suddenly remembered waking up while underwater, struggling to get to the surface to catch his breath as the current tried to pull him under. He'd found the piece of wood and had held on to it for dear life. It had apparently saved his life. The trembling got stronger, and he couldn't look away from the waves as they crashed to shore.
They'd left him for dead. The drug Shadow had given him hadn't worked. Either that, or Shadi had done something to save him from losing his mind and his life. Shadow must have had his body thrown into the ocean, which meant that they weren't going to be looking for him. What of Joey, though? Shadow said that he was going to drug Joey as well, which meant that Joey's memories would be erased and he'd be placed somewhere as Yugi had been. Devastation hit Yugi like a ton of bricks, and he closed his eyes to keep the tears from falling.
"Am I in Tokyo again?" Yugi asked when he'd gotten his emotions under control.
"Yes, you are. Where did you start out from?"
"Domino."
Mike's eyes widened. "That's a few hours from here, Yugi. You're telling me you swam all the way here, in your condition?"
Yugi shook his head slowly, finally able to look away from the ocean. "I didn't do it on purpose. They threw me in the ocean when they thought I was dead."
"Who did that?"
Yugi didn't reply. He'd said too much already.
"I want to help you, Yugi. You look like you've been beaten up pretty badly, among other things, and when I found you, you were not breathing," Mike said, reaching out to turn Yugi's head towards him. "I can't help you if you don't tell me what happened."
Yugi looked into Mike's blue eyes and had no doubt that he was telling the truth. How much could he trust him with, though? Mike had been nothing but kind to him in the six months he'd worked at the restaurant. Yugi accessed the part of his mind that was filled with Jomei's memories and felt the trust and admiration he'd had for Mike. Mike had become a father figure to him, and he'd trusted the man completely. Could he trust him now?
"I want to tell you, Mike, but it's too soon. Right now, I just want to sleep."
Mike regarded him for a few moments, and then came to a decision. "You'll need medical attention."
"No, no hospitals."
"Yugi, you're injured. On the outside, you look horrible. Who knows what kind of damage you've sustained on the inside."
Yugi shook his head, fear giving him new strength. He struggled to get to his feet, and swayed slightly as his left leg threatened to give out on him. He clutched the towel around him to hide his lack of clothing, and took a few tentative steps forward. When he didn't fall flat on his face, he addressed Mike.
"Thank you for saving my life, Mike. I'll be on my way now."
Mike stood up and walked over to him. "Where are you going to go? You'll pass out halfway out of the beach, and then what? Am I just supposed to leave you out here for someone else to find you? I won't do that."
Yugi sighed. "Then please, no hospitals. The people that did this to me think I'm dead. I need them to keep thinking that if I'm going to have any hope in finding my best friend. Please, Mike."
Mike's jaw tightened, and then his face softened. He nodded.
He lifted Yugi off the sand and cradled him gently in his arms. Yugi momentarily panicked, before he relaxed.
"I'm taking you to my house so we can talk in private, that's all. You know I'm not going to hurt you, right?"
Yugi turned to look at the man's kind face. Yes, he knew that Mike wouldn't hurt him. He settled in the embrace and for the first time in a long time, breathed a sigh of relief.
**~~**
**Paper bags and angry voices Under a sky of dust Another wave of tension Has more than filled me up All my talk of taking action These words were never true Now I find myself in question (They point the finger at me again) Guilty by association (You point the finger at me again)**
Joey lowered his head and let the hot water massage his neck. He'd been in the shower for almost thirty minutes, scrubbing away the smell of the dumpster. He'd used up half a bar of soap, and he could still smell the stench on him. He groaned as the spray hit a rough spot in his shoulder, and reached back to massage it. The water hitting his wrist made him yelp, and he pulled the hand away. He examined the wrist and was surprised to find a red, bleeding band around it. When he looked at the other one, he found the same thing.
"I must have been tied up," he whispered.
He would have had to have struggled a lot for the restraints to have done as much damage as they had. The cuts around his wrists were deep and now bled freely. Why hadn't he noticed them when Kaiba had pulled up his sleeve to look at the needle mark? Idly, Joey wondered if he'd gotten blood on Kaiba's car.
Now that he was aware he was injured, he examined his body to look for other injuries. He found bruises in various parts of his body, mainly his chest and stomach, but nothing more serious than that. He shivered suddenly, as Yugi's desperate scream come to mind once again. He'd tried to remember where they'd been or what had happened to Yugi, but nothing but those two phrases came to mind.
The hot water stopped soothing him, and Joey turned off the faucet. He got out, dried himself, and then wrapped a clean towel around his waist. He wiped the condensation off the mirror and looked at his reflection.
He hated what he'd become. Guilt churned in his gut for what he'd been doing when Kaiba found him. It had seemed so easy. He'd grown up seeing his father do it, and it always worked. The man always managed to forget his problems and continue with a life that seemed worthless while drinking and it had seemed like a good idea to Joey too. He'd managed just fine, and the alcohol had soothed away his problems. April had helped too, and for a few times a week, he could forget everything.
Having to face Mr. Moto the morning after one of his outings was the most difficult part for Joey, because Mr. Moto represented everything that had gone wrong in Joey's life. The elder man was a constant reminder to Joey that he'd failed Yugi, and had to now pay for that failure by living with his grandfather. It reminded him of every time his father had beaten him and called him worthless. It had made that particular word real in his mind, made him believe that he really was worthless.
On the other hand, Joey loved Mr. Moto. He'd always been kind to Joey and had treated him like family. While he'd been teaching Joey to play Duel Monsters, he'd been tough, but Joey had learned a lot from it. He respected and admired the elder man for his strength and determination, and because Mr. Moto had taken care of him without question.
Now, he had to deal with the fact that he had lost three weeks of his life. So much had apparently happened in that time, and he was only now beginning to get the details. He wasn't sure if he could deal with it all right now.
"I'm so confused," he said and closed his eyes, unwilling to look upon his reflection any longer. He'd made the choice to enter that life because he had been selfish, and now had to deal with the consequences.
**I wanna run away Never say goodbye I wanna know the truth Instead of wondering why I wanna know the answers No more lies I wanna shut the door And open up my mind**
"Did you drown in there, Wheeler?"
Kaiba's voice was loud and grating through the door, and Joey jumped slightly at the sound.
"Go away, Kaiba. Mind your own business, will you?"
"Right now, you are my business, so get out of there and come downstairs so we can figure out what we're going to do."
Joey gritted his teeth in anger and annoyance. Why did Kaiba feel like he had a right to boss everyone around?
"Why do you care, Kaiba? What are you still doing here?"
Joey pulled open the door, which startled Kaiba, who'd been resting his head on it. Kaiba was too slow in recovering from the unexpected movement and he lurched forward, right into Joey. Joey took the brunt of Kaiba's weight and stumbled back a few steps. Kaiba finally managed to get his balance back by grabbing onto Joey's arms. Too late, Joey remembered that his wrists were bleeding. Before he knew it, red streaks covered Kaiba's white coat.
"What's wrong with you, Kaiba? I didn't really hit you that hard, did I?"
Kaiba ignored the question. Instead, he looked down at his coat, then at Joey's wrists, which he still held.
"Damn it, Wheeler, you're bleeding."
Kaiba took off his coat, draped it over the shower rod, and then opened up the medicine cabinet. He rummaged around in it until he found what he was looking for. He pushed Joey closer to the sink, and held up a finger when Joey tried to speak.
"Shut up, mutt. I'm only going to do this once."
He ripped open the package of gauze as if he were angry. Joey wondered what he'd said or done to merit such a response, then realized that with Kaiba, he never knew. Expertly, as if he'd done it a thousand times, Kaiba wrapped Joey's bleeding wrists in gauze, and then taped the gauze down. The binding was tight, clean, and helped diminish some of the pain.
"Change those when they get dirty," Kaiba said, handing Joey the used pack of gauze. "Put some clothes on, we're waiting for you downstairs."
With that, Kaiba turned around and walked out of the bathroom.
Joey stood where he was, staring after the taller teen.
"What the hell did I just miss?"
Sighing, Joey left the bathroom and went to his room to get dressed. When he was finished, he took some deep breaths and left his room, finally ready to deal with whatever he was going to be told downstairs.
**I wanna run away Never say goodbye I wanna know the truth Instead of wondering why I wanna know the answers No more lies I wanna shut the door And open up my mind**
**~~**
Song credit: Runaway, by Linkin Park
Joey fans: *peeking from behind monitor* Don't hate me for what I've done to Joey. I hadn't realized how many of you liked him, until chapter 19 or so. I also realized then that I'd kind of neglected him, so I decided to give him more time in the story. I hope no one minds.
Next up: We get back into Kaiba's mind (scary thought, isn't it?), Yugi confides in Mike and decides what he's going to do. See you then!