Disclaimer: Praise to Yugioh and its writers, a circle of which I do not belong.

Often relationships become redefined overtime, generally for the best. Seto and Joey have traveled so many roads, yet they have always ended up in the same space. Coincidence I think not. The story is a series of flash backs which define the present feeling growing inside their hearts. Just a little ooc, and a lot of Mokuba and Serenity which defines and challenges the boys to rethink their lives. I hope you enjoy. Dark so be prepared, but not shocked.

Recap: Three sets of eyes watched in ah. . . . As she drove off. Blonde hair mixed with matted brown hair was the last thing they saw flying in the wind.

Oooooooo

Chapter nine: Revelation

Three months had passed since that heartbreaking day Joey watched his sister depart from his life yet for the third time. It seemed their lives were destined to be separate or filled with unrest.

Joey struggled with the knowledge the courts demanded his sister would be better off in the hands of a brazen stranger called Mai, some female counselor that ran a camp for troubled girls. Mokuba loved the lady so he unwillingly backed down. Plus the courts placed a restraining order on his visitation rights.

Finally he was allowed to see her through political fighting with the courts of which Seto Kaiba won. Favors the CEO called in; the day was approaching. On the eve of Serenity's awakening Joey spent one of the most emotional nights of his life with Seto and Mokuba and here he was again joined together waiting.

Mokuba drove out early and would meet them at a cabin not far from the ranch. The young raven hair youth, wise beyond his years was given permission to see the girl as part of her recovery on weekends, so Seto bought a small cabin not far for Mokuba to live in while he visited his friend. Joey and Seto would meet him there in the morning. The older siblings had the good sense not to contest the bonds between Mokuba and Serenity, so they accepted the relationship for what it was...

Joey was so very nervous, but at least he wasn't hanging out at Joe's bar nursing a drink and drowning in pity. Instead it was a little more entertaining to irritate Seto, his reluctant friend. In the past week Seto had avoided Joey for reasons of his own and now Joey wanted to know why. The fighting, bitter accusations, and name calling had almost seized and it left Joey somewhat empty. This aloft blue-eye beauty annoyed his counterpart to distraction.

It was not enough to steal long glances in secret which became a part of his daily routine. 'I want to touch him, and feel his hair on my cheek, I need to be close,' thoughts of Seto consumed his days.

Yet Seto was in no better shape. Actually Seto was fading inside and his business if not for Mokuba would have suffered. Mokuba stressed over his brother's secret desires, but Serenity's needs were first. He would deal with Seto later.

"You don't have to drive me out to the ranch tomorrow. I can go by myself if you are too busy" Joey called out to Kaiba, who didn't respond.

Seto had his head buried in a book. His position was relaxed even to the point of his clothes. Joey had talked the CEO into buying a pair of faded designer jeans and causal sports shirts. Seto wore the jeans well, but the shirts still had collars and cuffs. However the blond taunted him this morning and dared him to unbutton two buttons and breathe for a day. 'Oh my . . . . Look at his tight ass . . . . He could have modeled for Calvin Klein and made another cool million dollars,' Joey sighed.

'Damn him. . .' Joey thought. For a moment Joey just glared at the sexy CEO. Yes over the years that had not changed. His eyes were hidden under long black lashes thick at the corners and underneath. Each lash perfectly in place on his high boned upper cheeks. It was so easy to drown in his profile.

Seto wore his bangs long over his forehead and Joey resisted the urge to touch the chestnut mane. It was so easy to remember the fighting in high school and the excitement he always felt when he brushed up against Kaiba's firm body. Kaiba always the talk of the gym class, and the many bets as to what his body really looked like. You see Kaiba used that period to see to the needs of his business and had permission to skip the silly class. Hell anyone could see he didn't need it.

'Gees. . . Why was he daydreaming about the jerk anyway?' he thought. It was because he didn't think of Seto as a rival anymore and it was about time he claimed his true feelings. 'I need him in my life.'

"Seto," Joey mumbled. He shuffled his feet and with courage walked over to the CEO. He rested his chin on his head and boldly placed his hands on Seto's shoulder, the touch gentle and unexpected.

"Joey," Seto almost jumped out of his seat. But Joey held him down. "Relax; I'm not going to bite. Well unless you want me too." He was positioned behind the startled man and whispered the next words in his ear. "We have to talk, but I'm afraid so don't say anything until I finish." The book tumbled to the ground.

"Sometimes I find myself looking for your hand to hold, your chest to rest on, your arms to lean on and I hate it. I hate the fact that when I cry you are the only one that comforts me. I hate the fact when I have a nightmare it's you who wakes me up and dispels all the demons."

"Joey, I need to explain. . . . You don't have to do this?" Seto tried to turn around and look into his eyes.

"Shut up. . . This is my show." Joey smirked and ran his fingers around Seto neck and over his upper chest. He unbuttoned three more buttons and rested both hands on his hard breast avoiding his nipples for now.

"Gods Joey. . ." Stun Seto closed his eyes and listened. This time Joey had unknowingly entered Seto's private world and the road led in one direction; straight to his heart. Joey had just unlocked the door.

"I hated you for so long, blame you for Serenity's problems and hate your gifted life of wealth. Always thought you had it good. Never image you got problems too. Hated Mokuba for being alive, still do sometimes. I hate the fact you use your money to make things right and that I wanted you to do the same for me and you did."

Joey paused and he thought long and hard about his next words. He removed his hands from Seto's chest and moved to the other side of the room. Seto was in a state of shock; his limbs were frozen. This was the first time Joey had ever touched him intimately and he wanted to savor every moment. His heart was fluttering faster than a humming bird's wings beating against the wind. He could die if this continued. So he didn't move.

"Now I call you Seto and I love the way your name rolls off my tongue. If you had not supported me this last year I would have fallen apart. Shit the emptiness inside my heart you filled. I know that now. Sometimes the words I spoke to you and the things I did, like trashing your room and office you should have sent my ass packing; but you didn't. Why? . . . Hell I know you've hated my guts; forever. Shit, we Wheelers were not good enough for you Kaiba's."

Joey nerves started to bunch into little knots he was running low on steam. His legs hit the back of a chair so he allowed gravity to take him and he face the CEO once more only at a safe distance.

Seto flinched taking in his last words; but he didn't move from the chair or utter a word. He couldn't even if he tried. His emotions had been dragged to the surface and now they threaten to strip him bare in front of the man he loved.

"Did you pity me? . . . . Nauh, you're too much of a jerk for that, so I thought you just didn't care one way or another, but Mokuba did. So you kept the Wheelers around, just like a little pet. That really hurt me the most, but I still needed you, so I stayed and tried to keep the hate alive, yeah a dog on a short leach, good ole Joey."

Seto wanted to scream, but the sounds died before his mouth open. So his mind cried out instead.

"Now if I had to go see my sister alone I would die a coward's death on the way, because without you next to me, I'm incomplete. Is this shit love Seto?"

"I realize know I ain't ever brought a woman home and you ain't either. I guess I figure you got some fancy room somewhere, didn't want her to see me. But I'm thinking no woman makes my skin crawl, my temperature rise, or my ass ache like you do. So . . . . If it's all in my head, then just let me walk out of here and I won't every make a fool out of myself again. Well that's all I have to say." Joey lowered his head between his legs and vigorously ran his fingers through his hair. He was nervous as hell. It seem like the minutes took hours. After two minutes passed he broke the silence again.

"Funny. . . .CEO lost for words . . . no smart ass remark . . . sorry man." Joey decided he had come this far, so he might as well finish. I know that you are my friend; but I want you to be my lover. There I said it. God's don't laugh." He waited a full minute and this time lifted his face up to eye level with Seto. He didn't know what to expect but certainly not what he found, tears. Seto was crying.

Confusion mixed with doubt and fear caused Joey to panic. He didn't understand if this was a joke or real. 'Seto didn't cry, he couldn't cry, I mean he could, but why? Damn it, now he's going kick my ass for sure.' Confusion he understood so he allowed that emotion to guide his actions. Quietly Joey left the room. He didn't want to be in Seto's way when he had realized his weakness. Yet as he walked up the stairs ever muscle in his legs screamed for him to go back down and offer comfort. But the arrogant jerk was the only guy he knew, this other face disarmed him.

For the first time since Joey moved in to the Kaiba mansion he felt fear in being alone there with Seto. The silence chilled his body and he still had so many unanswered questions. Now that his feelings were out on the table could he really go back to just thinking about the times they shared? It's not like they kissed or anything yet. Yet his fingers resting on Seto's chest still tingled.

Slowly the door open and Seto walked inside. Joey didn't have to turn around to know it was him. But the thought of seeing tears on his pale cheeks caused him to squeeze his eyes lids tightly together.

Fingers on his shoulder, a hand on his waist, and lips on his ear stopped his heart. He was either going to die before he had a chance to live or take a chance to live. First the fingers moved to cup his cheek and he was turned gently around and their eyes met in silent understanding. The hands encircle his waist and the arm followed holding his weak body upright and firmly against his chest. I'm still alive,' Joey thought.

Now his lips inches away beckon a silent warning . . . . "Is he really going to kiss me? . . . No," Joey's world tipped sideways and he fell off into the ocean. Waves wept him under and tossed him from shore to shore. Seto skipped a first kiss and jumped to making love. Unexplored in a land of adventure, Seto touched every inch of his mouth, hair and face; he didn't need a map or compass to guide him on his journey. Joey's eyes became the trees and Seto climbed each one as he rained wet kisses over them. His cheeks were little mountains and the sullen dark beauty sucked them between his teeth, tugging on the sensitive flesh. Seto lingered in the hollow of his lover's neck bruising the area around Joey's Adam's apple as he left his mark. Joey was explored, inspected, dissected, and put back together.

Joey could still feel the moister on his cheeks as he shyly tasted his lover's tears, licking at the sweet salty taste that belongs to Seto. Somehow it gladden his heart just to understand his tears were for him alone. Without asking Joey inched his body into a full embrace and rested; his heart heavy with desire. He reached up and touched Seto hair grabbing a fist full and pulling him down for another kiss. He needed reassurance this was real.

Fighting for dominance Seto reached down and pinched a nipple through Joey's body shirt and sigh in his mouth at its firmness. The taste of cherries flooded his thoughts and he growled.

It was enough for now, each floating in the stormy sea of exploration, reluctant to step on safe ground; yet questioning where this road would lead and wondering who would lead. Seto didn't really care; Joey had broken the ice in his heart.

'Yes this was Joey's show . . . . He was the master,' Seto smiled inside. The light faded and beams of moonlight covered the bodies of the sleeping boys. They had fallen asleep fully clothes and reluctant to break the embrace that bond them together. Morning would come and a new journey would begin, shrouded.

Oooooooooo

"Somewhere outside Domino in a little cabin Mokuba's heart cried out for the right answer. Time against him he had to make a decision quickly. How could he explain to Joey that Serenity did not want to see him? He looked at the letter in his hand and cursed to the heavens. The blood and tears in her heart still flowed to deep.

Oooooooooo

R/R that's all I can say, it hurts to write these words. . . .