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Magic Touch

Joey lay on his bed. Yami had left about a couple of hours ago. His dad hadn't come home yet, and he was really hoping he wouldn't.

Yami had up and left in hurry; quickly forgetting about anything that had happened. Was it always this way? Would he come back?

Joey was secretly hoping he'd come back. I mean, he thanked him. What was that supposed to mean?

The blonde stood off of his bed and opened his window. It was already starting to get dark outside. He figured that Yami was on his way to 'work', unless he had another 'appointment' to attend to.

Joey had even given him his phone number and address. Cell phone number, of course, as he didn't want his father picking up the phone.

He headed downstairs to the kitchen to fix himself something to eat. By the time he had finished his dinner, it was already quite late, almost 10. Being he was mentally and physically tired from his long day, the blonde headed back upstairs and off to bed.

However, he was awoken in the middle of the night by a ringing noise. He peeked out the window, noting that his father's car was sitting out in front of the house. He made sure to keep quiet when he answered the phone so the man wouldn't hear him.

"Hello?" He half spoke, half whispered into the line.

"Yes, is this, Mr. Joseph?"

Joey paused. "Yes."

"My name is June; I'm a nurse over at Domino Mercy Hospital. We have a patient who's asking for your assistance over in the ER. A Mr. Yami Moto?"

The blonde swallowed, taking another look at the clock. It was well passed 2am; the time of night when all the 'bad' stuff happens.

"Yeah, I know Yami." The blonde spoke dumbly into the phone.

"Do you think it would be possible for you to come down? I know it's late, but he's insisting on your presence."

Joey thought for a second before coming to his senses and ignoring the time.

"No problem. Just give me like 15 minutes."

He waited for the nurse to click up the phone before scampering over to his nightstand to grab his keys, then change into some decent clothing before quietly working his way downstairs and out to the garage.

He turned the key in the ignition, cringing when the car rumbled to a start. He pulled out of the garage, looking up to take a quick peek at his father's bedroom window and happily finding that no lights had been switched on.

After being reassured, his continued his way to the hospital.

XXX

Joey scurried through the front door of the hospital, spotting the receptionist at the front desk and approaching her.

"Hi, um, I'm here to see Yami?"

She looked up, grabbing a sticker from the pile next to her.

"What is your name, sir?"

"Joey Wheeler."

He watched her scribble his name in black marker onto the sticker, then peel it off and hand it to him.

"He's room #4 on your right."

"Thank you."

Joey waited for her to hit the button on the desk that would open the large double doors leading back into the ER. He followed the signs on the top of each door before coming to #4, where a nurse was waiting outside.

"Joey?" She inquired, noting his nametag. He nodded, and she motioned with her hand.

"What's going on?" Joey asked worriedly.

"Well, he really isn't in any physical trauma, if that's what you're thinking. What happened was he said he was with a group of guys who we doing heroin, and they asked him to join them. I'm assuming he agreed, and it turns out that one of the boys had hepatitis. So, Yami's here for a test."

Joey took in the information, then stepped forward.

"So…?" He started. "Have the results come back yet?"

"Not yet," She answered. "We're still waiting for the lab to process them. In the meantime, why don't you go on in with him?"

Joey nodded.

"Yeah. Thanks a lot."

She smiled sympathetically, turning around and walking back to what Joey assumed was the nurses station. He watched her until he gathered up the courage to open the door.

There was Yami, lying on top of one of the beds. He was wearing a hospital gown; however, his pants still remained on. His shoes and shirt were sitting on the chair. He fidgeted with his fingers.

From where he was standing, Joey could tell that Yami had obviously been using some kind of drug. His eyes were red and glazed over and he looked incredibly drowsy. There was a bandage on his arm from where he had been tested. There was another small prick mark on his wrist…

Joey approached him; still not entirely sure if Yami was completely conscious at the moment. He stood next to his left side and waited for the other's eyes to shift.

Yami slowly peered his vision towards Joey when he noticed his shadow out of the corner of his eyes. He didn't speak; he simply stared at the blonde. He looked confused.

Joey pulled up the other chair in the room besides the one Yami's things were sitting in. He figured he could communicate better with him if her were more eye-level.

"Yami?" He whispered.

"Huh?" Came the dazed and confused reply.

Joey swallowed the lump in his throat. Even though he knew it was still Yami's fault for injecting himself with the drug, he couldn't help but feel bad for him.

But wait…

…Was it Yami's fault?

Nurse June walked back into the room, a frown played upon her face. She held a clipboard in her hand.

Joey sighed.

"He's pretty messed up, huh?" Joey asked.

She nodded.

"He wasn't this bad before. The drug's just starting to take effect now. He'll be like this for at least a couple of hours."

Joey nodded back, trying to breathe back the tears that were trying to form in his eyes.

June sensed his discomfort.

"When he first came, he was alright. He was well enough to tell us what happened and give us your number. It wasn't until a little while after that that he had lapsed into this. I know it's not a pretty sight…"

Joey stood off the chair, moving towards her and motioning with his elbow towards the clipboard.

"Did the results come back yet?"

She nodded.

"Yes."

Joey noticed her silence; he knew it could only mean something bad.

"So…is he okay?"

She paused, looking behind Joey at Yami and then focusing back on Joey.

"He's been infected with Hepatitis C, the form of the disease that's brought on by using infected needles."

Joey whispered to himself.

"Is it…fatal?"

She shook her head.

"Not normally, no. It just means that he can only participate in sexual activity if he uses a condom. He'll also never be able to have children, unless he wants to infect them, too."

Joey sighed.

"The whole sexual activity thing might be a problem…"

Nurse June formed a questioning face and cocked her head.

"How so?"

Joey looked back at Yami, closing his eyes and turning back to June.

"He's kind of a…prostitute. But…not all the time. Jesus…I knew this was going to happen."

The nurse frowned, slipping a hand over her mouth in disbelief.

"Poor boy…does he have any counseling?"

Joey shook his head.

"No. He thinks he doesn't need it. He's suicidal, too…"

The blonde watched as June scribbled something down onto the clipboard before looking back up at him.

"I think we'll let Dr. White have a look at him and see what he thinks. As far as the illness goes, what's done is done. His mental state, however, is up to the doctor; but I'd seriously recommend some help."

Joey nodded, smiling at her and watching her exit the room.

After waiting for her to leave, Joey grabbed Yami's clothes off the chair, searching for evidence. When he found nothing, he scampered over to the bed and dug a hand in his pants pocket.

He pulled out pack of cigarettes and a bag…

…A bag filled with white powder…

DUN! DUN! DUN!

Yami's a crackhead! Yippee!

Yes, still short. But…informative!

(I know, I'm torturing our sweet little Yami…)

It's okay, he's used to it!

(And yes, Dr. White is my regular fanfic doctor…)

R&R!

GK09