Yu-Gi-Oh! Fan Fiction ❯ Business Hours ❯ Business hours-Chapter 6 ( Chapter 6 )

Well here is chapter 6, I'm trying to get all my stories to chapter 8 so if you see a fic that's on chapter eight and another that's not, and it won't be updated until the other is. I want to update my stories all at the same time or around the same time, I'll try to get them all at the same update chapter soon.

Joey looked at Ryou shocked. He had called that morning asking if he'd buy him today, and the sight of the pale teen was absolutely shocking. "What happened?! Who did this to you?!" He said immediately hugging Ryou, softly to insure he didn't hurt Ryou further. "I can't believe someone could hurt someone like you! I mean...you'd never hurt a fly!" Joey walked Ryou over to the couch and made him lay down. "Good grief..." he said worriedly, shaking his head and trying to help Ryou as best he could to ease his pain.

"I'm sorry, I didn't want to inconvenience you but I can't let Otogi know about this and you were the only one I could really turn too...you don't have too, I'll pay you back in full if you will though." Ryou asked quickly looking at Joey desperately.

Joey smiled a bit. "You don't need to pay me back if you don't want to. I'll make sure that I buy you until you feel you don't need me to anymore. How about that?" he said smiling and nodding. "Just take it easy ok? No troubles, after all I got a huge bonus from work, and I actually had quite a bit to spare recently..." he said considering giving Ryou his gift since he would need something that required little movement to entertain himself with, other than the television.

"Thank you, Malik was about to have a heart attack wondering what we would do..." Ryou sighed deeply thumbing his cast around his wrist. "I'm worried about him though, the guy who did this to me did it to stir Malik up, to make him mad...and there is nothing we can do about it really." Ryou said softly as he curled up slightly.

Joey smiled softly ruffling Ryou's hair a bit. "Hey, it's no problem...I was actually going to look you up. I was thinking about what we talked about last time...and well...I know it's not the most or the best. But I think you'll like it." He said smiling and heading to his closet door, and pulling out a good-sized keyboard he had purchased as well as a fresh canvas and some paints and paint brushes. "I remember you said you had neither of these anymore...and...well you're too classy to live without them." He said setting them next to Ryou, hoping he'd be pleased with the gifts.

Ryou smiled running his hand over the canvas, it had been so long since he last painted before. "Thank you...I don't remember the last time I've even gotten a gift." Ryou smiled at him brightly hugging him softly "You didn't have to do this but thank you very much." Ryou said smiling at him gently.

"Well, you're someone who just exudes class you know...like a rich person's cat. It's just...there. Besides, I know you had to have been VERY good at both of these things...and to see you go without it like taking music from Beethoven, and paints from Leonardo Deviancy. I hope you'll use them, and not just let them gather dust. Maybe, if you are good enough you could get something in a museum or get into a symphony." Joey said smiling. "It'd be fitting for you, you deserve some good things in your life." he added, totally trying to butter Ryou up, and hopefully it'd work without Ryou noticing too much...

"Thanks..." Ryou said blushing profusely at his words. He was being so very nice, he didn't have much experience with such people and Joey knew who he was and what he did and didn't care at all he still at least treated him like a person. "This is so nice, I'd love to paint you or something right now but unfortunaly my wrist is broken so I can't...I can't play either I would need both of my hands which I don't have." Ryou sighed slightly Seto went way to far and it still hurt. "Do you have any aspirin?" Ryou asked softly.

Joey nodded. "Sure, I'll get it for you." He said leaving and quickly returning with a glass of water and some strong aspirin. "I have the world's worst headaches sometimes...this is really strong stuff. Watch out ok?" He said laughing a bit. "It has a bit of a bite back, if you don't have anything else in your stomach. If you need something to eat, I can grab you something quick out of my kitchen too." he added sitting down in a recliner across from Ryou.

"That's okay, Malik practically shoved breakfast down my throat this morning, I swear he's like a mother hen sometimes." Ryou said swallowing the aspirin being used to taking Yugi's migraine medicine from time to time...wait Yugi. "Um, I need to make a call real quick..." Ryou said standing up but lost his balance almost immediately.

Joey was up in a flash and helping Ryou balance himself. "You sit, I have a cordless phone, I'll get it for you ok? Just wait here." He said quickly exiting once again and returning moments later with a black cordless phone, which was really small. "Here, if it's personal I can go occupy myself for a few minutes in another room."

"No, it's not I just want to see if he's home...I don't want him going to Seto's, he'd do the same thing and Yugi can refuse clients." Ryou said dialing the number and waiting for Yugi to pick up.

Yunikon16: Yugi picked up the phone, shoveling cereal into his mouth. "Hullo?" he said around the food, before swallowing. "Yugi here, what's up?"

"It's Ryou, if Otogi tries to assign you to Seto by all means refuse I don't care what kind of money that bastard if offering you decline I don't care what Otogi says either." Ryou said quickly although he probably confused Yugi a little.

Yugi blinked a few times in confusion. "What? What's all that about? Seto's Malik's guy anyhow, why'd he be wanting me? I'm confused now..." He said staring at his bowl of cereal now, wondering what the heck was going on.

"Long story short, you know how Seto has this big thing for Malik well Malik doesn't have anything for him. Seto got really pissed and decided I'm going to hurt those he cares about to get what I want. I...I was put in the hospital last night because of him, and we can't tell Otogi so I'll be with Joey for a little while and I don't want the same thing to happen to you Yugi." Ryou said concerned

Yugi nodded a little. "Well...I suppose I could decline him...but you know...we need that money. If he offers something crazy, I'll cry..." Yugi said smiling a bit. "But I'll decline...in tears." he added. "Don't worry, I'll be fine. So, um...I hate to ask, but what did he do to you?"

"I'll be home later tonight, we can talk about then all right?" Ryou said not really wanting to discuss his injuries over the phone. Yugi and Ryou exchanged their goodbyes and hung up the phone. "I just had to make sure that he wouldn't hurt Yugi too...I don't think Yugi could handle it." Ryou said sadly just thinking of what Seto could do making him shudder slightly.

Joey nodded a bit. "Seems like this Seto guy is a bastard and a half..." he said rubbing his chin a bit. "Can't you refuse people too?" He asked after a moment. "I mean...you'd think someone with this sort of job, would be able to say 'No, I'm not going to. Take your money and shove it up your ass.'...but I could be wrong..." he said thoughtfully

"Well it's not only up to us it's our manager choice too, and we used to work at our own house so should we have a problem but when we all moved into an apartment together we had to go to the clients home...and I did say no, he didn't care...most people don't." Ryou said sighing sadly "I still don't see why you care so much about me, knowing what I do for a living." Ryou said.

"I care because I want to and I think you're better than this. Do you want me to stop caring?" Joey said softly sitting next to Ryou and shaking his head. "I really want you to know there's someone here for you, and I'll ALWAYS be here." he said somewhat smoothly almost romantically. Something that would make even the most uninterested person blush.

"I don't mean to give you a hard time about it...I'm a little out of practice with people who try to be nice to me." Ryou rested his head in Joey's lap and soon enough feel asleep amazed that he even became sleepy, he could on fall asleep around people he felt safe around.

Seto smiled slightly, no annoying calls from Otogi so things must have gone according to plan he decided to call Malik as he dialed his cell number waiting for the beauty to pick up.

Malik looked at the caller id on his cell, and groaned, considering just letting it ring until Seto died. "Fucking bastard...he probably thinks he's totally got me...bastard..." He mumbled, twitching after a few moments of not answering, before just picking it up anyhow. "What in hell do you want?" He growled into the phone.

"Well I can see you're in a rather foul mood." Seto mused slightly a she could practically hear the thoughts running through Malik's head about killing him. "I trust you got my message?" Seto asked although he knew the answer.

"Really, cant you just fuck off and DIE already? I told you I don't want you calling me." Malik hissed, seething with anger. "I don't want to talk to you, I don't want to SEE you and I definitely don't want to have you calling me on my cell phone." He added angrily. "You cheap bastard...couldn't sink low enough in hurting me...you had to hurt Ryou too. You must think you're really big and mighty..." Malik growled.

"If I say so myself, it's working...you don't like seeing him hurt do you? He cried so much it was such a beautiful sight really, it was quite a show he tried so hard to protect you while he was the one hurting." Seto smirked on the other line. "And if I may boast I am big and mighty I have Ryou in a position where all he can do is what I tell him too I have power over him that no other possesses, I could probably use him at my leisure if I so choose...there so much about that boy you don't know." Seto said.

"If there's something he chooses not to tell me, then that is his business! I don't care to know, nor will I until he chooses to tell me. Stop hurting him. He's not even a PART of this. You just pulled him in because you KNEW you were never going to get me. You're not high and mighty to me, you're just a two-bit thug who picks on someone smaller than you because you can." Malik said smartly, hoping to strike a nerve and knowing he did slightly with the 'thug' comment.

"Possibly, but if you wish for your friends not to suffer in your place you'll consider my offer. I won't buy you anymore Malik and I want you to come to me willingly, otherwise your friends will fill in the gaps for you." Seto said as he hung up the phone dialing Otogi's number.

"Yes? Seto how may I help you." Otogi said sitting down

"I'd like to purchase Ryou or Yugi." Seto said simply.

"Well, Ryou has a customer for the rest of the week unfortunately so he's pretty much off limits, but I can talk to Yugi for you." Otogi said.

"That would be fine, send him over as soon as you can and don't allow him to say no." Seto said knowing that Ryou would try to warn him, as would Malik.

Malik growled and immediately dialed Yugi, but he had already left for Otogi's house and didn't pick up. "Ryou probably warned him...." He said hoping he was right...

Yugi sighed shaking his head a bit. "Lately everything is getting SO complicated...jeeze..." He mumbled as he walked to Otogi's to see who he'd be working for today. "I mean...Ryou in the hospital? Seto's a sadistic freak now...apparently and now Ryou calls me to tell me not to take any jobs from him...everything is COMPLICATED!" he said reaching Otogi's door and knocking.

Otogi smiled and let Yugi inside. "I need you to take a job for Seto, no arguments all right." Otogi said but could feel one coming on anyway.

Yugi blinked. "I cant. Ryou said that I shouldn't go to Seto...and...well Ryou's generally an honest person. Besides, I promised him I wouldn't." He said after a moment. "What is it with Seto? Malik was his guy, why is he meddling around with Ryou and I anyway? Jeeze."

"I don't know nor do I care and I'm afraid you don't have a choice this time Yugi, Seto pays much to well for you to disregard him like a regular John." Otogi paused "You know you could use the money and Ryou and Malik don't need to know you came over, we can keep this between us...are you going to agree or am I going to have to blackmail you again?" Otogi asked knowing a few things Yugi didn't want anyone to know mainly about his father and mother and why he lived with his grandparents.

Yugi shook his head. "Otogi I cant! I promised! You know how I feel about promises.... cant I...just...I don't know not today? I didn't promise tomorrow...just..." Yugi said trying to convince Otogi that tomorrow was better than today. "Please...just this once? I...I mean I don't refuse very many people and I've had only ONE complaint since I started working...I've been here for a while too...pleeeeease?" He added, hoping puppy eyes would help him.

"You know I can't do that!" Otogi bellowed "I swear when you do complain your the hardest one to convince otherwise if I can't get you to go I'll have to get Ryou to who already is at a clients house right now, would you rather switch with him?" Otogi asked "Cause that's the only option I'll give you all right.

Yugi bit his lip. "Cant Malik go? I mean Seto is HIS customer..." He pleaded. "I promised...and...you know how I hate to break promises...we cant put Seto off until tomorrow? Tell him I'm busy for today? Please Otogi I promised Ryou..." He said shaking his head. "I can't go back on my word...it's the only thing I have that's worth anything!"

"Yeah and your about to lose a lot more, I asked you a question Yugi do you want to trade with Ryou because that is your only option Seto or an exchange." Otogi said becoming very irritated at Yugi.

Yugi shook his head. "Otogi...I promised..." he said mournfully.

"Fine, go to this address, you can explain it to Ryou yourself but he better get to Seto's within the hour or you both will be in major trouble." He said as Yugi ran off in the direction of Joey's apartment.

Ryou awoke to someone knocking on the door he was surprised to find himself in bed as he painfully pulled himself up and started downstairs finding Yugi to be standing there.

"Yugi? What are you doing here?" Ryou asked softly.

"Seto wants to hire me...and Otogi wont let me turn him down!" He said shaking his head. "Ryou I know I promised you...but...I'm going to have to go..." He said, seeing first hand the actual injuries of his friend and visibly cringing. "Especially since you're so...hurt." He said shaking his head.

Ryou clenched his teeth wanting to cry even and felt the tears stinging the back of his eyes. "This isn't fair, you shouldn't have to go, that bastard he shouldn't use us as personal instruments at all..." Ryou looked at Yugi sadly "Are you sure? I mean I may be hurt but what's the since of both of us being hurt?" Ryou asked

Yugi shook his head. "Ryou...by the look of you, one more visit to Seto could very well be your last...I mean...just LOOK at you..." He said shaking his head more. "...just...I guess...have your friend help ME to the hospital...should I need it as well..." Yugi said cringing again, assuming he'd get equal treatment...or worse. "I...I guess I should get going..." he murmured sighing.

"Yugi!" Ryou said "Just do as he says and I doubt he'll hurt you as bad, I made the mistake of fighting him and saying no, I bet it wouldn't have hurt as much if I just cooperated, so please promise you'll do what he says." Ryou paused "if you see Malik don't tell him where your going you know he'll try and stop you, and I'm sorry...I wish I could report this to Otogi so you wouldn't have to go but I can't." The guilt was eating Ryou alive as he watched helplessly as Yugi walked form the apartment as Ryou fell to his knees and began to sob onto the plush carpet beneath him as he felt strong but gentle arms wrap around him comfortingly.

Joey shook his head, cuddling Ryou to him. "Shhh...everything will be ok...shhh...I promise you everything will turn out right in the end..." He murmured, hoping that the cooes would calm Ryou's tears. "I know that that Seto guy is a REAL jerk...but I'm here, I'll help you and your friends whenever you want...Don't cry..." He whispered helplessly.

Ryou tried to stop his tears as they came even so through his tightly closed eyes as Joey held him lovingly. Ryou could only imagine what Seto had planned for him, he didn't want his best friend to be hurt but he really had no choice in the matter as he cried on Joey's shoulder feeling utterly useless. "D-do you think I'm nothing but a whore?" Ryou asked through his tears.

"Of course not. Why on EARTH would I think that?" Joey said softly, continuing to rock Ryou and hope that his tears would end soon, and that he was providing at least a LITTLE comfort.

"Then why do I feel so dirty and worthless, I can't even keep my friends away from harm because of my own selfish reasons. I could help Yugi make it to where he didn't have to go but I'm to scared to…everyone has secrets, all I wanted was a normal life…I never asked for this." Ryou sobbed into Joey's arms as he was rocked back on forth.

Joey nodded a bit, hugging Ryou tightly and rubbing his back.

"Shhh its ok Ryou. I understand...it's not your fault. It isn't selfish to be blackmailed...I'm guessing you're being blackmailed." He said patting Ryou's back a bit. "No one can help it when they're blackmailed...Yugi will be ok..." Joey added, picking Ryou up and laying him on the couch. "Just calm down...you need some rest, you'll strain yourself with those injuries..."

Ryou curled up turning his back to Joey not meaning to offend him but he just felt so horrible at the moment he couldn't stand his eyes at the moment. Ryou sighed heavily as he prayed Yugi would be okay when he went to see Seto tonight.

Ok Yugi torture will be next chapter I promise! Question's, comments? We accept them both! I hope you liked this chapter!

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