Yu-Gi-Oh! Fan Fiction ❯ Dead End Street ❯ chapter9 ( Chapter 9 )

Dead End Street

by Dragondreamer and Yami Dragon

Disclaimer: We don't own Yu-Gi-Oh! DUH! If we did, the show wouldn't be fit for kids, that's for sure!

Warning: This story contains shouenen-ai (guy/guy relationships) and yaoi (guys having sex with guys). It also contains coarse language and violence. If you don't like it, or become offended by such things, what are you doing here? Haven't you figured out by now that all our writing contains this stuff?

Note: /…/ Tristan's thoughts

[…] Seto's thoughts

{…} Ryou's thoughts and mind link to Bakura

{{…}} Bakura's thoughts and mind link to Ryou

~*~*~*~*~

DD: Well, this came rather quickly.

YD: We didn't want to leave the readers in suspense.

Tris: Ppfftt…you ALWAYS leave them hanging.

Seto: And knowing them, they will in this chapter too.

YD: *evil grin*

~*~*~*~*~

"Seto! Stop the car!" Tristan yelled.

Seto slammed on the brakes, sending the car fishtailing. "What?!"

"Back there!" Tristan turned in the seat. "Joey and Bakura…and…oh, shit…the Ferrari."

Seto quickly turned the car around, pulling it over onto the side of the road. Tristan was out of the vehicle before he could park it.

Running up to the blond and his lover, Tristan immediately reached out, grabbing Bakura and wrapping him up in his arms. "Where is he?"

"I don't know." Joey said, looking at Seto with worried eyes as the taller brunet reached them. "We were heading to your place when we saw the car."

Seto went to the wrecked vehicle, looking inside. Fear rose up to choke him at the sight of the blood. He turned back, seeing Bakura sobbing brokenly in Tristan's arms and Joey gently rubbing his back.

"Bakura," Seto said softly. "Do you know where he is?"

"No." Bakura clung to Tristan. "I can't feel him at all."

"He left the Ring at the house. Kennie thinks he was going to see his father."

Bakura shook his head. "He never made it."

"Who would take him?" Tristan asked, looking at Joey. Suddenly, an image of the words carved into Joey's skin flashed in his mind. "Oh, gods…"

"What?" Seto stepped close, seeing the color drain from his husband's face.

Tristan shook his head, looking pointedly at the crying man in his arms.

"I'm going to get some people out right away." Seto said, heading back to the car. "Let's get back. Kennie's going to be worried."

Tristan and Joey kept Bakura between them as they walked back to the car. The white haired yami seemed to be in a daze. The tears had stopped, but he was unresponsive to his lover's gentle voice.

"It'll be okay, love." Joey said quietly, putting his arms around Bakura as they settled into the back seat. "We'll find him."

Bakura didn't reply, just sat stiffly in Joey's embrace, his eyes unfocused as he tried to reach his other.

~*~*~*~*~

They found Kendra sitting on the steps in the foyer with Mokuba and Peggy, her face pale. She jumped up as they entered and, seeing Bakura, burst into fresh tears.

This brought Bakura back and he took her gently into his arms, stroking her hair. "Shh, little girl. We're going to find him."

"Find him?!" Kendra pulled back, her tear-washed eyes wide. "What do you mean "find him"?"

"Tristan," Seto turned to his husband. "Take everyone into the den and fill them in. I'm going to get my people out."

Tristan nodded, holding out his hand to Mokuba, who was standing next to Kendra, looking like he was struggling to hold back his own tears. "Peggy, you come too."

Seto watched Tristan lead everyone away. [Ryou…be okay. Please.]

It had struck him coming back in the car. Tristan's reaction…he was remembering the night Joey was attacked. Could it be the same person? What would it mean to them if it was?

He headed to his office, planning on calling Yami and Yugi and telling them he was sending a car for them. Once he had them safely inside the mansion he'd send his people out. There would be no police involvement unless they didn't find Ryou by the end of the day. If it WAS the same person who had assaulted Joey, they couldn't chance the inevitable questions that would arise.

He had to protect Tristan from that. His love's mental state had been touchy enough lately. He didn't want to think of what would happen to Tristan if everything was dredged to the surface and he was forced to deal with it on someone else's terms.

[Ryou…where are you? Gods, what's going to happen to Kennie if we can't find you?] Seto forced aside a sudden urge to cry, thinking about the pain it would cause his best friend if this didn't end positively. [Please…you have to be alive.]

~*~*~*~*~

Ryou woke to a pounding head, realizing his hands were numb.

He squinted against the light that seemed to stab straight through his eyeballs. {Where am I?}

He tried to sit up, suddenly becoming aware that his wrists were bound together and secured over his head. His stomach churned and he lay back, breathing deeply and taking in his surroundings.

He was in what looked like a small, one room cabin. It was dirty and it seemed he was the only one there. He tilted his head slightly, wincing against the pain, and saw that his wrists were tied to the rusty metal headboard of the moldy bed he was lying on.

Ryou carefully inspected the knot in the rope that was biting into his skin and he fought back the urge to roll his eyes. {Oh, please.}

He flexed his wrists, pulling slightly, until one hand came loose. {That's just sloppy. Bakura would be disgusted.}

Shaking his hand to restore the circulation, he proceeded to pick the knot loose, grinning to himself as his other hand came free. It certainly helped that Bakura had taught him how to pick knots and locks and many other skills of a thief. His dark hadn't wanted him to ever find himself in a situation he could get out of. And Ryou was glad he had.

He sat up slowly, one hand pressing against his forehead, feeling his hair sticking to a small gash crusted with dried blood.

{Gods, I have to get out of here.} Ryou stood up on shaking legs, his eyes going wide as his pants fell around his ankles. That was when he became aware that his shirt was open. {What the hell..?!}

Ryou bent down, snagging the waistband of his pants and managing to pull them up before falling back onto the bed as he head began swimming. He took several slow, deep breaths, waiting for the pounding in his skull to lessen. He began to button up his shirt with trembling hands.

He rose from the bed again, finding it easier this time, and fixed his pants, looking around the cabin. {I have to get out of here.}

He went to the door, cracking it open and peeking outside.

The cabin was surrounded by woods, dense and foreboding. He had no clue where he was, but it didn't matter. He had to get away.

He slipped through the door and into the thick undergrowth.

~*~*~*~*~

"Amante?" Tristan came into Seto's office, his hazel eyes filled with fear and concern. "Have they found anything yet?"

Seto shook his head with a sigh. He had forty men out looking for Ryou. It had been three hours and nothing.

Standing up, he held out his arms to Tristan, sighing again as the shorter brunet moved close. "How's Kennie holding up?"

"Not good." Tristan replied, laying his head on Seto's shoulder. "She can't stop crying. It can't be good for the baby."

"How are YOU?" Seto asked, pulling back so he could look into his lover's eyes.

"It was the same guy who attacked Joey, Seto. I know it was. Whoever it is knows about Brad." Tristan shivered, tightening his grip on Seto. "They're using my friends to get back at me because he's dead."

"We don't know that for sure, love." Seto replied, also holding onto Tristan tighter. He saw tears fill Tristan's eyes and he leaned in and kissed him softly. "Don't cry. It's going to be okay."

Tristan sobbed, burrowing into Seto's shoulder. "What if he's dead?"

"Don't say that. Please, Tristan…you need to keep it together. For Kennie's sake."

Tristan struggled to bring his emotions under control. He was terrified. He felt as if Brad was there, in the room with them, hovering just out of his field of vision, waiting.

"It's like he's not gone." He whispered, beginning to tremble uncontrollably. "He's getting his revenge on me. He's not going to stop until he does, Seto."

"Stop it!" Seto pulled away from Tristan, grabbing him by the arms. "Brad is DEAD, Tristan! He's gone! We're going to find Ryou and we're going to find who's doing this."

Tristan clenched his eyes shut, beating back the fear. "I'm sorry. I just…I can't…"

"Oh, baby." Seto pulled Tristan against him, feeling his tremors growing worse. "Please, you have to put aside your own fear. I need you to be strong. Please."

"But I'm not." Tristan whispered.

"Yes you are. I know you are. You can do this."

Tristan's breath caught as he fought to stop crying. /Seto's right. I have to stop this. Brad is dead. And if whoever took Ryou…whoever hurt Joey…if it's the same person…we'll find him./

Seto waited quietly for Tristan to pull himself together. He was getting more worried about his husband than he was letting on. As soon as they had Ryou back and everything was okay, he was going to see to it that Tristan got some help. He hadn't been the same since Brad raped him and Seto was beginning to wonder if he'd ever get better, ever return to the self-confident person he had fallen in love with.

"I'm sorry, amante." Tristan said softly, breaking Seto from his thoughts. "You're right. I need to keep it together. Kennie and Bakura need both of us."

"That's my boy." Seto dropped a kiss on the top of Tristan's head. "You know…no matter what, I still love you."

"I love you too, Seto Kaiba." Tristan leaned up, grasping Seto's face between his hands and kissing him. "More than my own life."

"Seto!" Bakura burst into the room, skidding to a halt just short of crashing into them. "Ryou…I can feel him!"

"Where is he?" Seto let go of Tristan and grabbed Bakura as the yami swayed. "Bakura…talk to me."

"He's…he's…" Bakura's eyes went unfocused as he reached out to his light. {{Ryou!}}

{`kura! Oh, gods! Help me!}

{{Where are you?}}

{I don't know. I'm…in the woods somewhere. Bakura…I woke up in a cabin and…my clothes…}

Bakura clenched his teeth as he felt Ryou begin to cry. {{Ryou, look around you. What do you see?}}

{Trees…and…a stream. Wait! I can see Kaiba Corp.!}

Bakura focused briefly on Seto. "He can see Kaiba Corp. Other than that, he doesn't know where he is. He's lost in the woods." Bakura growled as he felt Ryou beginning to panic, his hikari's fear blocking the link. {{RYOU!}} "Shit, I've lost him."

"There's forest to the north and east." Seto said, letting go of Bakura and heading for his desk. "That gives us a place to start."

"I'm going out." Bakura said, his hand going to the Ring hanging around his neck. "I'll be able tell if I'm getting closer or further away from him."

Seto nodded. "I'll have a dozen people meet you at the gates. Tristan and I will go with twelve more and Yami and Joey can go with the rest. I think Yugi should stay here with Kennie and Mokuba."

Bakura nodded and ran out the door, Tristan on his heels. Seto picked up the phone, calling his head of security and giving new orders.

That done, he headed downstairs to let Kendra know what was going on before heading out.

~*~*~*~*~

It was getting dark when Yami led his party over a small, winding stream.

Bakura couldn't keep in contact with Ryou and with night coming on, they had split up into smaller groups to cover more ground.

He turned on his flashlight and scanned the area ahead of him. "What was that?"

"Did you see something?" The guard next to him asked.

"I don't know." Yami approached a low bush, seeing the leaves moving.

There was a flash of white and Ryou bolted away, sobbing.

"RYOU! STOP!" Yami ran after him.

"No…please…" Ryou whimpered as he ran.

"Ryou, wait! It's me! Yami!"

Ryou froze, like a scared rabbit, caught in the beam of light from a half a dozen flashlights. He whimpered, cowering.

"Ryou." Yami approached cautiously. "Ryou…it's Yami."

"Yami?" The white haired hikari looked confused.

"It's me." Yami reached out to the young man, not prepared when Ryou threw himself at him. He struggled to stay on his feet. "Shh…it's okay."

"Gods, Yami. I thought…all I heard was someone coming toward me. I…I thought…please…I need Bakura." Ryou burrowed into Yami's embrace.

Yami looked to one of the guards. "Let everyone know we've found him."

Yami held Ryou close, stroking his tangled hair and speaking softly to him. He smiled gratefully at a guard who approached, taking off his own jacket and putting it around Ryou's shoulders.

{{Ryou! I'm coming! Hang tight, I'm almost there.}}

{Bakura…where were you? I lost you. I didn't know where you were.}

{{It was because you were so afraid, my light. You couldn't hear me.}}

{Please, yami…hurry.}

"Ryou?" Yami claimed his attention. "Can you walk?"

Ryou nodded. "I want to go home."

Yami swore he felt his heart crack looking into those huge, sad eyes. He kept his arm around the frightened hikari and led him away, back toward the other searchers. He was grateful beyond words that they had found Ryou alive, and essentially unharmed.

~*~*~*~*~

The second they got back to the mansion, Seto left Ryou, being hugged tightly and cried all over by Kendra, and went to his office to call Dr. Cray.

Once the doctor arrived, he accompanied Ryou and his girlfriend to their room to examine the young man.

He met them back in Tristan's den, taking the chair offered to him by Yami, who went to sit with Yugi on the floor next to the couch. He looked directly at Bakura, who was standing against the wall, his face stony, when he spoke.

"He has a concussion." The doctor said. "But it's not serious. I suggested he take the next couple of days off from school and rest."

"But?" Seto asked, seeing the worried look in the doctor's eyes.

"He mentioned to me that when he woke up, he had been partially unclothed. He was too upset for me to give him a full examination to determine if there was any…assault."

"Assault?!" Bakura growled.

"Do…do you mean he was…raped?" Mokuba whispered, sitting in the chair at Tristan's desk, his wide, grey eyes flickering to his brother-in-law.

"He's not in any pain that would indicate that he was." Dr. Cray hastened to reassure them. "And I seriously doubt it. Though I can't rule out the possibility that he may have been touched sexually."

Seto winced as Tristan reached for his hand, his grip grinding the bones of his fingers together. He saw how pale his husband was and he pried his hand from Tristan's grasp, putting an arm around him.

"What's he doing now?" Joey asked quietly.

"He's in the shower." Dr. Cray replied. "He has a slight case of hypothermia. I suggested to Kendra that when he's done in the shower he get something hot into him and go to bed."

Bakura pushed away from the wall without a word, leaving the room.

Joey shook his head at Yugi's questioning look. "Leave him. He needs to be close to Ryou." A sad look entered the amber eyes and Joey's voice dropped to a whisper. "He feels like he failed him."

Yami shook his head. "But he didn't."

"He said that if he hadn't been with me…if he had been watching over Ryou like he was supposed to, he could have prevented it." Joey looked away to hide his tears. "He's regretting being with me."

"Oh, Joey." Yugi got up and squeezed in between the blond and Tristan on the couch. "Don't think that."

"He said he shouldn't have been with me." Joey said miserably. "He said he should have been with Ryou…where he belongs."

"Insensitive jackass." Yami muttered.

"Joey," Seto reached over Tristan and squeezed Joey's arm. "I'm sure he didn't mean it."

"I have to go." Dr. Cray said, standing. "Call me if he starts vomiting or his headache gets worse."

"I'll show you out." Seto said, standing as well.

"That's okay, amante." Tristan reached for Seto's hand and pulled him back down. "You stay here. I'll walk Dr. Cray out."

Seto searched Tristan's eyes for a moment. [Is he going to talk to him? Gods, I hope so.]

The taller brunet moved to Joey's other side as his husband stood and followed the doctor out of the room.

Joey looked up at Seto with teary eyes. "Seto, do you think he meant it?"

"No." Seto shook his head, throwing an arm around Joey's shoulders. "Look, he's worried about Ryou. I'm sure it's just the stress talking."

"Better have been." Yami growled.

Joey leaned his head against Seto's shoulder, the tears escaping. "Why does he say things like that? I love him."

"Joey," Yugi cuddled up against the blond, his voice low and calming. "Sometimes people say things they don't mean. Especially if they're stressed out. Bakura loves you too. I know he does."

Yami stood up from the floor, his hands clenched into fists. "I'm going to go talk to him."

Yugi met his dark's eyes with perfect understanding. He knew Yami was upset. He always got beyond mad whenever Bakura said or did anything insensitive where their blond friend was concerned.

Seto nodded to the garnet eyed spirit and pulled Joey against him. Things were tense enough as it was, they didn't need for Bakura's thoughtless comments to make it worse.

~*~*~*~*~

Tristan stopped Dr. Cray from leaving, reaching out and grabbing the man by the arm. "Dr. Cray?"

"Something you need, Tristan?" The older man asked.

"Yeah…umm…I was wondering…" Tristan trailed off, not quite sure how to bring the subject up.

Dr. Cray watched the hazel eyed brunet shift uncomfortably, knowing what it was he wanted to say, but wanting him to say it.

"Can…can I talk to you?" Tristan looked at the man, flushing. "You know, make an appointment or something?"

"You're still having nightmares, aren't you?" The doctor asked.

"It's not just that." Tristan replied, looking at the floor. "I've been…well…I've been having flashbacks. Seto seems to think I need to talk to someone about it."

"Seto's right. Listen, if it would make you more comfortable, you don't have to come to my office. I can come here."

"You would?"

"Of course." Dr. Cray smiled at the relieved look on Tristan's face. "I have a few hours free the day after tomorrow, around two. I was planning on seeing Kendra anyway. I have the results from her ultrasound. Why don't I come and I'll see her first. Then you and I can talk."

"Thanks, Dr. Cray." Tristan said quietly. "I…I really need to get a handle on this. It's just…I don't know."

"It's alright, Tristan." Dr. Cray reached out, squeezing Tristan's shoulder, pretending not to take notice of the fact that the younger man flinched. "We'll talk."

"Thanks." Tristan pulled from the doctor's grip, opening the door.

He watched as the man made his way to the car and then shut the door, leaning against it with a sigh. /I did what you wanted, amante. I just hope he can help me./

The sound of raised voices coming from upstairs interrupted his thoughts. It sounded like Bakura and Yami were fighting. Thinking to himself that that was the LAST thing Ryou needed, he bolted for the stairs, colliding with Seto at the top.

"Bakura…Yami…" Seto glared at the two spirits as they approached. "Keep your voices down."

"Then tell this pompous asshole to back off and stop trying to tell me how to live my life!" Bakura snarled. "He has no right to tell me how to treat Joey. Tell him to look to his own lover!"

A small sob came from behind them and Tristan turned around, seeing Joey standing there with Yugi and Mokuba. Grey and amethyst eyes looked hard on Bakura and Mokuba opened his mouth to speak.

"Mokuba, don't." Tristan said. The last thing he needed to top this day off was his brother-in-law getting sent to the Shadow Realm.

Mokuba's mouth closed with a snap and he reached out and took Joey's hand. Yugi stepped between his yami and Ryou's, laying a hand against Yami's chest.

"Leave it be, Yami." He said. "If he WANTS to be a prick and drive Joey away from him, let him."

"Fuck you, Pharaoh's light." Bakura said, his eyes narrowing on Yugi. "I need to take care of Ryou. Everything else is just a distraction."

Tristan stared wide-eyed at Bakura, unable to believe what he had just heard. He heard Joey make a noise of protest and then the blond spun around, tearing down the hall. Everyone could hear him crying as he ran down the stairs.

"You bastard!" Seto's hand flashed out, making contact with Bakura's face. "How DARE you?! You don't deserve him! You selfish son of a bitch..!"

Bakura growled, his hand to his cheek. {{That's it. The whole fucking lot of them are dead!}}

~*~*~*~*~

Kendra could hear the argument going on outside the bedroom door.

Shaking her head, she rose from the bed and stalked across the room, intent on telling them to take it somewhere else. Just as she reached for the doorknob, she became aware of the sound of Ryou crying in the bathroom.

She gave up her anger toward the others on the other side of the door and hurried into the bathroom, her entire attention focused on her lover.

"Ryou? Baby, are you okay?" Kendra stood next to the shower, trying to make Ryou's form out through the opaque curtain.

There was no response except Ryou's weeping.

Kendra reached out and drew back the shower curtain, tears filling her eyes as she looked on Ryou.

He was standing there, his water-laden hair hanging in his eyes and his hands limp by his sides. He was white as a sheet.

"What's wrong, honey?" Kendra asked.

Ryou still didn't reply, but Kendra noticed his gaze shift, looking down his body to his leg. As her eyes followed the path, her hand flew to her mouth to stifle a scream.

There, blood red against the creamy skin of Ryou inner thigh, was a bite mark.

She turned and fled the room.

~*~*~*~*~

Bakura was just reaching for the dagger strapped to his lower back, beneath his shirt, when the door to Ryou and Kendra's room flew open.

"Bakura!" The girl grabbed the white haired spirit. "Gods…come quick!"

"What's wrong?" Seto asked.

Kendra just shook her head and yanked Bakura into the room. The others followed, crowding into the bedroom as Kendra pulled Bakura toward the bathroom.

Afraid of what they might find, Seto grabbed Tristan by the hand, keeping him from following. "Baby…don't."

"But…"

"Stay here." Seto said in a no-nonsense tone, his gaze taking in the others as well.

He stepped into the bathroom, his tall frame blocking the other's view. He bit his lip when he saw Ryou and he struggled to hold back the tears that sprang to his eyes.

Bakura was standing in front to the shower, his eyes locked on the mark on his hikari's skin and a low, rumbling growl coming from deep in his throat.

"Ryou?" Kendra said softly. "Bakura's here. Baby, please. Talk to us."

"Gods…y-yami…" Ryou's eyes focused on his other and he reached out to him. "Please…"

Bakura immediately reached for Ryou, picking him up and lifting him out of the shower. He set Ryou on his feet and took the towel Kendra handed to him. He never said a word as he dried Ryou off and wrapped him in the damp towel. He picked his light up and turned around, shouldering his way past Seto and into the bedroom.

The others scrambled to get out of his way as he sat Ryou down on the bed. He sat next to him and held his hand, the unfocused look in his eyes letting everyone know he was talking to Ryou.

A choked sound came from Mokuba when he saw the mark on Ryou's leg and he met his brother's eyes, his own wide and scared. Instinct made him step closer to Ryou, blocking Tristan's view of the white haired man.

Kendra approached her boyfriend and his yami and she sat on the bed behind Ryou, using another towel to dry his hair. Ryou whimpered softly and she leaned down, kissing his bare shoulder and whispering to him.

"Come on." Seto said. "Let's leave them alone." He led everyone to the door, letting them precede him and then turned back. "Kennie, if you need anything, I'm here."

"Thank you, Seto." She whispered.

With one last look at the damaged skin on Ryou leg, Seto turned and left, a hopeless rage filling him.

~*~*~*~*~

Tristan and Seto found Joey out behind the garage, sitting with his back to the building, hugging his knees.

"Hey, buddy." Tristan said softly as he sat down next to him, his heart aching as he looked at the tears soaking Joey's face. "How're ya doing?"

Joey shrugged, glancing at Seto when the taller brunet sat down on his other side. He rested his chin on his knees, rocking himself slightly.

"Is there anything we can do, pup?" Seto asked.

Joey shook his head.

Seto met Tristan's eyes, giving him a "what the hell do we do" look. Tristan sighed and draped an arm around Joey's shoulders, saying nothing.

They sat that way, in silence, until a small sob came from Joey and he turned, burying his face in Tristan's neck.

"It's okay, Joey." Seto said, rubbing the blond's back somewhat awkwardly.

"It's not!" Joey sobbed. "How can he love me and say things like that?! He doesn't love me…he doesn't!"

Tristan leaned back against the wall and brought his other arm around Joey, pulling the blond right into his lap. "Joey, that's not true. Bakura does love you."

Joey shook his head and burrowed into Tristan's embrace, his crying growing worse.

"Amante," Tristan looked over Joey's head at his husband. "Maybe you should go."

Seto nodded, understanding that Tristan thought that maybe Joey would feel more comfortable opening up without him around. He squeezed Joey's shoulder and stood, giving Tristan an encouraging smile and leaving.

"Okay, Joey." Tristan said once Seto had disappeared around the side of the garage. "Talk."

"I try s-so hard, Tris. I…I try to understand." Joey pulled away, wiping at his eyes. "I know he has a…a responsibility to Ryou, b-but…what about me?"

"I wish I could answer that for you, Joey." Tristan pulled Joey back against him, wrapping his arms around him again. "But I know he DOES love you.

"I-I'm not so sure about th-that anymore."

"He does, Joey." Tristan said softly. "He's just…upset right now."

"I love him s-so much, Tris." Joey laid his head against Tristan's shoulder.

"Come on." Tristan pushed Joey off him and stood. This wasn't getting them anywhere. Joey needed to be distracted. "Let's go back inside. It's getting cool out here."

"Umm…Tris?" Joey stopped the brunet from moving away with a hand on his arm. "Do you think I could…stay here for a while? Until I can move in to my apartment?"

"Don't see why not." Tristan replied, his brow furrowed. "Everything okay?"

"No, it's not." Joey shook his head. "Dad caught me and Bakura in bed together this morning."

"Oh shit."

Joey went on to explain what had happened as the two friends made their way back into the mansion. Tristan listened quietly, his heart going out to the blond. He of all people could understand.

"Hey," Tristan threw his arm around Joey's shoulders as the gained the upper floor. "Why don't you come to the club with me? I'm just going to go for a couple of hours. Just to make sure things are okay."

"I guess." Joey looked down the hall toward Ryou's closed bedroom door. "Not like there's a reason to stay here."

Seto arrived from downstairs, carrying a tray. "How are you feeling, Joey? Better?"

"Guess." Joey shrugged.

Tristan shook his head at his husband. "Joey's going to come down to the club with me. We won't be gone for more than a couple of hours."

"Okay, baby. I'm just going to bring this to Ryou. I think I'll spend some time with Mokuba. He's pretty upset."

"Okay, amante." Tristan leaned in and kissed the other brunet on the cheek. "We won't be too late."

Seto smiled at Joey and they watched as he walked down the hall, stopping in front of the bedroom door. Balancing the tray on one hand, he knocked softly.

The door opened to reveal Bakura, who looked from Seto to the tray in his hand. He took it from him, mumbling a thank you. As he turned to go back into the room, his gaze flickered briefly to Joey and away.

The door shut silently behind him.

Joey turned away with a sigh. "I'll go get changed."

Tristan reached out to the retreating blond. "Joey…"

Worried sapphire and sad hazel met. There was nothing they could do to ease Joey's pain and it tore them both up. They only hoped the lovers could find their way back to each other.

~*~*~*~*~

Tony struck Aaron across the face, the ring he was wearing splitting the skin of the larger man's cheekbone.

"Lei il figlio di una femmina! Lei ha fallito ancora!" (You son of a bitch! You failed again!) Tony screamed, drawing his hand back again.

Pegasus grabbed his lover's upraised arm, stopping him. "Tony, enough. I will not have you striking him again."

Tony's eyes bore into the single cinnamon orb of the other man and he jerked his arm from the other's grasp. "He's a useless piece of shit, Max. Twice! Twice now he's fucked up! How much longer do I have to wait for my revenge?!"

"It's not his fault…"

"It is!" Tony glared at Aaron. "He was sloppy and you know it."

"Aaron has been in my employ for years." The older man retorted, his voice cold. "I will not allow him to be abused by the likes of you."

Tony stepped away, his eyes narrowed. "Fine. If that's the way you feel…"

Pegasus said nothing as the younger man stalked from the room, slamming the door behind him.

He shook his head, turning to Aaron and reaching into his pocket for a handkerchief. "Come here."

"I'm sorry, Master." Aaron said quietly as Pegasus gently wiped the blood from his face. "I didn't want to disappoint you."

"You haven't." Pegasus said soothingly. "It's alright."

Aaron whimpered softly as the long, elegant fingers caressed his face. "Master…"

"Shh." The silver haired man leaned down and kissed him tenderly. "I'm not mad at you."

"Please…let me make it up to you." Aaron pleaded, his hands going to the buttons on the other's suit jacket.

"Of course."

Aaron pulled his master closer, taking his lips in a deep kiss.

~*~*~*~*~

"Where to?" The cab driver asked as Tony got into the back of the vehicle.

"I don't suppose there's a decent gay bar in this backwater town?" Tony asked.

"Actually, there is." The man turned around. "It's down on the waterfront, in the warehouse district."

"Take me there."

"Sure thing."

Tony sat back, his mind numb as he watched the lights of the city. He was incensed that his lover would take the part of that incompetent asshole.

Bakura needed to die. He needed to die in order for the pain to be washed away. He needed to die horribly.

~*~*~*~*~

Tristan looked over at Joey, shaking his head.

The blond had barely spoken two words since they arrived. He was sitting on the couch in Tristan's office, idly flipping through a magazine, not really looking at it.

The pain in those amber eyes was tearing Tristan apart. He didn't know what to do for his friend and he was growing angrier by the minute with the man who had caused it.

"Joey," Tristan stood up from his desk. "I have to go downstairs."

"Yeah, sure, whatever." The blond shrugged.

"Want to come with me?"

"No thanks." Joey replied, not looking up.

"Okay, buddy." Tristan headed for the door. "I won't be long."

"Yeah, okay."

Tristan closed the office door behind him with a sigh. He'd never seen Joey so depressed. There had to be SOMETHING they could do about it. It wasn't right, the way Bakura was acting. Worry and stress aside, it was uncalled for.

"How's it going, Al?" Tristan approached the bouncer.

"Good." The man replied. "You didn't really need to come in tonight."

"I know." Tristan shrugged. "But I needed to get Joey out."

"You might want to check the supplies in the back. I think we're low on a few things."

Tristan nodded. "I'll do that. Then I'll probably head home."

"Sure thing, boss." Al gave Tristan in impudent grin.

Tristan smiled and rolled his eyes, heading for the storeroom.

After checking the liquor supply, he went to speak to the bartender to see if there was anything he wanted added to the order. Before the man could reply, a customer sat down at the bar, claiming his attention and ordering a drink.

Tristan began to turn away, his gaze barely skimming the new arrival. He whipped around suddenly, his eyes going wide.

"Tony?!"

~*~*~*~*~

Mokuba: Not good.

Tris: When is it EVER good for me?

YD: You know the answer to that one, handsome.

Yugi: Gods, Bakura, you're such an ass.

Bakura: Bite me, Pharaoh's light.

Yugi: Bend over.

DD: Knock it off, you two.

Yami: You need an attitude adjustment, Tomb Robber.

Joey: Please tell me we're going to make up.

YD: We'll see.