Yu-Gi-Oh! Fan Fiction ❯ Family By Choice ❯ chapter17 ( Chapter 17 )

Family By Choice

by Dragondreamer & Yami Dragon

Disclaimer: We don't own Yu-Gi-Oh! If we did, the boys would be running around naked all the time and we'd never get ANY work done.

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, take off already!

Note: /…/ Tristan's thoughts

[…] Joey's thoughts

{…} Seto's thoughts

[[…]]Yami's thought and mind link to Yugi

//…// Yugi's thoughts and mind link to Yami

{{…}} Otogi's thoughts

*…* Mokuba's thoughts

`yak, yak' Sadie's(AI) voice

~*~*~*~*~

DD: Okay, if any of you don't have a box of tissues next to your computer, I suggest you go grab a box.

YD: At least that's what we've been told by those who have read it already.

Mokuba: Do I die?

YD: Mokuba Kaiba! You KNOW better than to ask questions like that!!

Mokuba: *blushes* Sorry.

~*~*~*~*~

Bakura tried not to look at Mokuba as he shouted orders to the security guards who had accompanied him outside.

He needed to keep his wits about him and catch the bastard responsible first. He quickly scanned the buildings across the street. Instinct told him the shooter was there.

Diagonally across the street was a six story brick building. Sharp, brown eyes detected a glint of metal on the rooftop.

"There!" Bakura pointed. He turned to Pat and Nathan, two of the guards who stood with him. "Go!"

He turned and the guards surrounding Seto and Tristan immediately parted, allowing him into the protective circle. He dropped to his knees.

Seto looked up at him, tears running down his face. Bakura reached for him, taking him into his arms.

"It's okay, Seto." The pale fiend said softly. "An ambulance is on the way."

Tristan held Mokuba close, trying to stop the blood that was still flowing from his stomach. "Don't leave us, Mokuba. Come on, colt. Open your eyes."

Seto's head snapped up at the sound of sirens and he jumped to his feet, yelling for the guards to get out of the way.

An ambulance and three police cars pulled up, immediately emptying of their passengers. Bakura was relieved to see Mako at the forefront.

"I've had my people block off the street already." Bakura told him. "The shooter should be in custody by now."

The words were no sooner out of his mouth when there was a commotion across the street and Bakura looked to see Pat and Nathan, joined by several other guards, struggling with someone. Bakura took off at a run, wanting to intercept them before Seto saw who was responsible.

"Walters!" Bakura snarled, reaching for the man's throat.

Pat grabbed Bakura's wrist. "Bakura…don't." He nodded over Bakura's shoulder, bringing the white haired man's attention to Mako, standing behind them with two other officers.

"You have the weapon?" Bakura asked.

"Yes, sir." One of the other guards held up the rifle.

"We'll take that." Mako said, reaching for it.

"Like HELL you will!" Bakura snarled.

"Bakura," Mako said patiently as he took the gun from the guard. "This is a police matter."

"This piece of shit SHOT Mokuba! He's Seto's brother and that makes it my business." Bakura shook off Pat and Nathan as the two men grabbed him to keep him from doing something stupid. "I'm the head of security and the protection of Seto and his family is my job, Tsunami!"

"I realize that. But murder falls under police jurisdiction."

"Mokuba is NOT going to die!" Bakura grated out through clenched teeth.

Mako placed a hand on Bakura's arm. "Go, Bakura. Take care of Seto. I promise you I'll keep you informed."

Bakura looked at Walters, feeling a rage well up inside him that he hadn't felt in years. His fist shot out and Walters crumpled to the ground. He stared down at the fallen man, swearing to himself that if Mokuba did die, Walters wouldn't survive him for long.

"Let's go." Bakura barked at the guards, spinning around and running across the street to where the paramedics were just getting Mokuba into the ambulance.

Noticing how pale Tristan was, Bakura felt a moment of panic. The big brunet was covered with blood, and Bakura suddenly wondered if it was all Mokuba's.

"Tristan?" Bakura reached out to him. "Were you hit?"

Tristan blinked, his eyes blank. "Hit?" He barely heard what Bakura had said. Seto's emotions were so strong he couldn't have blocked him if he tried.

"Were you hit?" Bakura began to run his hands over Tristan's chest, checking for wounds. "Were you shot?"

"I don't…I don't think so." Tristan's eyes were glued to Seto, who was getting into the ambulance. "I have to go with him."

"We'll follow them. You're not going anywhere until I'm sure you're okay." Bakura turned to the Pat. "Lock down the building. No one leaves until I say so. You're in charge."

"Yes, sir." Pat turned to the others, giving orders.

Still running his hands over Tristan's body, something sharp caught Bakura's fingers. He pulled Tristan's cell phone off his belt, eyes widening. It was in pieces, what looked like a fragment of the bullet imbedded in it.

"Ra." Bakura whispered, realizing how close Tristan had come. "Tristan…if this had hit you…"

"I'm fine." Tristan pushed him away. "We need to get to the hospital."

Bakura nodded, following as Tristan broke into a run, heading for the parking lot.

~*~*~*~*~

"You're thinking serious thoughts."

Joey looked up from his spot under the tree, seeing Jack standing over him, a frown on his face. "I guess so."

"Want to talk about it?" Jack asked, sitting down next to the blond.

"I can't get Angela to talk to me." Joey sighed. "She's only said two words to me since she got here."

"Which are?"

Joey rolled his eyes. "Fuck and you."

"A little belligerent, isn't she?" Jack grinned.

"That's putting it mildly. I can't get her to leave her room. She won't let anyone near her."

"Give her some time, Joey. She just got here yesterday."

"I know." Joey sighed again. "I'm going to have to take a different tact with her than I have with Josh. She's not going to make it easy on me."

"Give her a couple of days, but then I suggest you crack down on her. Let her know you're not going to put up with her attitude."

"I won't. I have to help her, Jack. Even if you and I are the only ones who know it right now…she's family. If Tristan knew…gods…I don't know what it'd do to him. Family means everything to him. Especially considering he doesn't have any blood relatives who give a shit."

"When are you going to tell him?" Jack asked.

"I don't know. I want to get Angie stable first. I don't think it would to help her if she knew about him. It might just make things worse. And Tristan would probably come flying out here like a bat out of hell, wanting to check her out and take her home to take of her himself." Joey shrugged. "You know how he is."

"JOEY!"

The two men looked toward the clinic, seeing Gwen running toward him, a panicked look on her face.

"What's wrong?!" Joey sprang to his feet as she approached.

"You have to…get back to the city." Gwen panted, out of breath. "Bakura called…Mokuba…" She took a deep breath, reaching out to Joey. "Mokuba's been shot."

Joey felt his blood run cold and his vision dimmed. He was vaguely aware of both Gwen and Jack putting their arms around him to steady him. He clutched onto them, shaking his head to clear it.

"Joey?" Jack's voice was riddled with concern. "Joey…talk to me."

"Is he…okay?" Joey asked, tear filled eyes looking at Gwen.

"I'm not sure. He and Tristan were on the way to the hospital. He said to get there as soon as you could. Ryou's going to take care of the children."

"Yugi…" Joey whispered his friend's name. He knew that of all of them, Yugi would take this the hardest. It was going to take everything they had to keep him from coming apart. "Does Yugi know?"

"Bakura's taking care of it." Gwen assured him. "Tim's waiting for you." She leaned up and gently kissed the distraught man's cheek. "Go on, honey. Call us when you know what's going on."

"I will." Joey replied, struggling to control his tears.

He turned away from them and headed toward the clinic at a sprint, his heart in his throat.

~*~*~*~*~

Given the situation, Tim was able to get Joey back to the city in less than forty minutes and he arrived in the emergency room at the same time as Ryou and Otogi. Ryou quickly assured him, without being asked, that the three children were safe, and thankfully oblivious, at Seto's with Claudine and Odette.

Yami met them and led them to a private waiting room where Seto, Yugi and Tristan were awaiting Seto's doctor. The second they entered the room, Yugi threw himself at Joey, sobbing.

Joey felt the dizziness overtake him again at the sight of his husband, sitting on one of the two couches, holding Seto. He was quick to remind himself that if the blood covering Tristan was his, Tristan would be parked in a bed next to Mokuba…if not worse.

Joey picked Yugi up and sat in a chair, holding his friend in his lap. "Where's Bakura?"

"He went to call Pat." Tristan said softly, stroking Seto's hair.

Yami collapsed on the other couch, covering his face with his hands. A sob escaped him and Ryou was quickly there, sitting next to him and laying a hand on his knee.

The door opened and Bakura came in. Seeing Yami crying, he hesitated for a minute before going and sitting on his other side, taking the former pharaoh's hand.

Otogi stood by the door, shifting from one foot to the other, feeling out of place. What scared him most was seeing Seto crying. He didn't think, up until this point, that anything could break the proud CEO. Hesitantly, he sat down on Seto's other side, reaching out and running his hand over Seto's back. To his surprise, Seto reached for his hand, holding onto him with a desperate grip.

The only sounds in the room were of Yugi, Yami and Seto crying. The others struggled with their tears silently.

The door opened to reveal a dark-skinned man in hospital scrubs whose eyes went immediately to Seto. "Mr. Kaiba?"

Seto untangled himself from Tristan and stood. "Dr. Chopra…is my brother alright?"

"We managed to bring the bleeding under control. However, the bullet shattered on impact. There are several fragments imbedded in some organs. That shouldn't pose too much of a problem."

/I feel a "but" coming on./ Tristan stood and slipped an arm around Seto's waist.

"There is, however," The doctor continued. "A fragment lodged in his spine. We won't know until we get in there if it's damaged his spinal cord."

"What are you saying?" Yami asked, his face gone chalk white.

"I can't say for sure, but it would seem that Mokuba will, at best, have a long road ahead of him to regain the use of his legs."

"And at worst?" Seto whispered.

Dr. Chopra looked directly into devastated azure eyes. "At worst he will be confined to a wheelchair for the rest of his life."

The deathly silence that followed the doctor's statement was shattered by a scream and they turned to see Yugi bolt from Joey's lap and run for the door. Bakura, being closest, jumped from his place and grabbed him.

"Let go!" Yugi swung wildly at the white haired yami. "Let me go!!"

Tristan quickly left Seto's side and, wrapping his arms around Yugi, picked him up. Yugi struggled against the other's grip, but his arms were pinned to his sides and he couldn't move. He started screaming wordlessly, his eyes wide and blank.

Yami tried desperately to reach him through their link, but Yugi had completely broken down, his mind retreated to where even Yami couldn't reach.

Everyone was so shocked by Yugi's reaction, they didn't notice the doctor's departure until he was back, standing next to Tristan with a needle in his hand.

"Hold him." Dr. Chopra commanded and Tristan tightened his grip.

He pushed up the sleeve of Yugi's shirt and administered the sedative, quickly stepping back as Yugi continued to struggle in Tristan's arms.

"Gods…Yugi…" Seto's voice was choked as he stood watching his husband.

Yami went to him, gently pushing Otogi out of the way. As torn as he was between his two loves, Tristan had Yugi and the look on Seto's face tore at his heart. He put his arms around his husband, holding him tightly.

"Mr. Kaiba," Dr. Chopra said as Yugi quieted. "I must get your brother into surgery."

Seto nodded numbly, clinging to Yami.

As the doctor left them, Tristan eased his grip on Yugi. "Come on, Yugi. You have to stay with us. You have to face this."

Yugi just went limp, whimpering his brother-in-law's name over and over again. Tristan took him over to Joey, setting him down in the blond's lap again. Yugi burrowed into Joey's chest, losing consciousness with a small sigh.

Yami's eyes widened and he swayed in Seto's arms. "Seto…oh, Isis…no."

"Yami!" Seto gripped onto him tightly. "No! Don't leave me!"

"I'm sorry, my dragon." Yami's voice began to fade, as did his body. "I can't…"

Yami's form flickered once, and he was gone, the Puzzle clattering to the floor.

Otogi bent and picked it up, only to find himself being roughly shoved aside by Tristan, who wrapped his arms around Seto as the taller brunet began to sob.

Ryou stood and went to take the Puzzle from Otogi, going over and hanging it around Yugi's neck. "It's the sedative."

"I don't understand." Tristan said, wincing as Seto's overwhelming grief crashed through him.

"Medication affects us when our hikaris take them." Bakura said. "Something as simple as cold medicine can make us weak enough to have to retreat to our soul rooms."

Tristan pulled Seto back down onto the couch and held him, trying to comfort him and feeling his friend's loss as if it were his own.

Silence settled over the room again and Otogi, sitting with Ryou and Bakura, suddenly realized there was someone missing. "Did anyone call Roger?"

Seto lifted his head from Tristan's shoulder. "Why the hell would I call him?"

"Because he loves Mokuba." Tristan said tersely. "Don't start this bullshit now, Seto."

"I'll go call him." Bakura said, standing.

"Wait." Joey looked at the white haired man. "Don't call him. Go get him. And bring Rachael too. He's going to need her."

"I'll come with you." Otogi stood up as well.

Turning at the door, Otogi met Joey's eyes. There was something in the amber orbs that he couldn't read. It wasn't grief, though that was there too. It was something else, something warm and pleading.

He looked away, blushing for some unaccountable reason, and followed Bakura out the door.

~*~*~*~*~

Ryou looked over at Tristan, his eyes slightly distant. "Tristan. They're almost here. They stopped and got you some clean clothes. Bakura thinks you should leave before Roger shows up and sees you."

Tristan glanced down at his blood-stained clothes. He could only imagine Roger's reaction to seeing him covered in Mokuba's blood.

/Seto?/ Tristan waited until the other man lifted his head. /I'm going to go wait for Bakura to get here, okay? Will you be alright?/

Seto nodded, cutting a glance at Yugi, who was still out cold in Joey's lap. {I…guess so. Just don't be gone long…please?}

Tristan reached out and touched Seto's tear-stained face. /I'm not going to leave you, pal./

Seto nodded again, clutching onto Tristan for a moment before letting him go.

Tristan stood, heading for the door. "Tell Bakura I'm in the bathroom down the hall."

Ryou nodded and his eyes slipped out of focus again as he relayed the message to his other.

Tristan left the room and walked slowly down the hall, ignoring the looks his blood drenched appearance was attracting. Making it to the bathroom, he went in and locked the door behind him, leaning against it and covering his face with his hands.

Now that he was alone, he could allow himself the luxury of tears.

/Gods…Mokuba. Be okay. If anything happens to you, it's going to tear our family apart./ A huge sob rocked his body and the tears flowed faster. /What's going to happen to Yugi when he wakes up? We should have known this was going to happen. It's happened before…when his grandfather died…and when Seto had his accident. He just can't handle the thought of losing someone he loves./

He didn't know how long he stood there, crying, when there was a knock on the door and he heard Bakura calling to him. He unlocked the door and let the pale haired man in.

"Are you okay?" Bakura sounded concerned, chocolate eyes taking in the evidence of his friend's grief.

"I'll be okay."

Bakura held out a bag. "I packed you an extra change of clothes. I figured you'd be staying here with Seto tonight."

"Thanks." Tristan took it from him, avoiding his eyes.

"Come here." Bakura held out his arms.

Tristan dropped the bag and grabbed onto Bakura, burying his face in star-bright locks. Bakura held him as he cried, finding himself relieved on several levels that Tristan was letting himself go. Let him get it all out now. Seto was going to need him in the hours to come.

"I promise I'm going to find out who's behind this." Bakura said softly. "Walters doesn't have the smarts to think of something like this himself. And he's not vindictive enough to do something like this for revenge."

"Why Mokuba?" Tristan sobbed. "Why not Seto? Or me?"

"I don't know. But I'm going to find out."

Bakura held Tristan, rubbing his back, as the tears slowed and finally stopped. When Tristan pulled away, he was a little embarrassed; not because he had broken down, but because it had been in front of Bakura. It wasn't like the normally bloodthirsty spirit to be this caring with anyone but Ryou…or Lexi.

"I'm sorry." The brunet whispered.

"It's okay, slim." Bakura smiled up at him. "You needed it…and that's what family's for. Get changed. I have a feeling you're going to have to run interference between Seto and Roger."

"He's probably at it already." Tristan said wearily.

"No. Roger and Rachael are waiting for you before they go in. Roger's a mess. I don't think he can handle Seto alone."

"Just give me a minute."

Bakura nodded and left, waiting outside for Tristan to change. When he had, he exited the bathroom, the bag containing the bloody clothes in his hand. Bakura took it, intending to put it in Tristan's car, and they headed back to the waiting room.

One look at Roger, waiting outside the door, and Tristan reached out and pulled him into his arms. He quietly explained to the devastated teen and his mother what they knew so far.

"How long will the surgery take?" Rachael asked, tears glistening in her pale blue eyes, so like her son's.

"I don't know." Tristan pushed Roger back and looked into his face. "Are you up to seeing Seto? I won't let him start on you, Roger. I promise."

"I want…want to wait h-here with you g-guys." Roger hiccupped. "I…I w-won't leave until I-I find out what's h-happened to him."

"Okay." Tristan reached up and tucked Roger's hair behind his ear. "Just to warn you…Yugi had to be sedated, and Yami's in the Puzzle."

"Are they okay?" Rachael asked. She knew from Mokuba about the yamis and hikaris.

"Yugi didn't take it well." Bakura said. "The drugs the doctor used to sedate him affected Yami. I don't know how long Yami will sleep. He may not wake up when Yugi does. Sometimes it takes a while."

"How's Seto?" The woman practically whispered.

Tristan shook his head. "Not good. He's feeling completely alone with Yami gone and Yugi out."

Rachael reached out and took her son's hand. "We want to see him."

Tristan opened the door and led them inside, going immediately to Seto. He sat down and put his arms around the taller man, something telling him he'd be doing this a lot for a long while.

"Seto?" Rachael approached and sat on his other side.

Seto looked up…and straight past Rachael to Roger, his eyes narrowing. "Why are YOU here?"

Roger's lip trembled and he suddenly found Otogi standing next to him, putting a comforting arm around him. He stared back at Seto bleakly, not answering.

"We're here because we love Mokuba." Rachael said quietly. "Whatever reasons you have for disapproving of him and Roger you need to put aside for now. I refuse to believe that you'd deny Roger being here, Seto. If they were still just friends you wouldn't."

Seto shook his head, turning back to Tristan and laying his head against the other's shoulder. "All I care about right now is my brother. Stay. It doesn't make any difference."

Joey shifted Yugi in his lap, getting a better grip on him and standing up with the smaller man in his arms. He walked over to where Ryou and Bakura were sitting on the other couch and laid him down, his head in Ryou's lap.

"Rog," The blond approached the boy. "Come for a walk with me."

Tristan threw his husband a grateful look, knowing it would be better to keep Seto and Roger apart as much as possible. Joey smiled his understanding and left the room with Roger and Otogi following.

Yugi stirred as the door shut and Seto looked up. "Is he waking up?"

"No," Ryou replied, stroking the spiky hair. "He's just dreaming."

{Tris…stay with me. Please…don't you leave me too.}

/I won't. Not unless you tell me to./ Tristan tried to filter out some of Seto's emotions without blocking him completely, but failed. /Seto, you know Yami didn't want to leave. He didn't have a choice./

{I know, but…Yugi…}

/He'll be okay./

They sat, not saying a word, everyone lost in their own thoughts. After about an hour, Joey came back with Otogi and Roger. The blue eyed teen seemed much calmer, though the tears still escaped his eyes every once in a while.

Six hours later, the door opened, admitting Dr. Chopra, looking exhausted.

Seto rose unsteadily, fear lashing through the bond so strong Tristan's head started pounding.

"We've done what we can." The doctor began. "We managed to get everything. I've seen this before. The bullet was designed to break apart on impact. Unfortunately, Mokuba has lost a kidney and there was some serious damage to his pancreas. That's something that will require close monitoring."

"Can he...?" Seto trialed off, afraid to ask.

"There was no damage to his spinal cord. The fragment wasn't as deep in his spine as we previously thought. However…" Dr. Chopra ran a hand through his short, brown hair. "There will be some scaring, and with the swelling…it may be some time before he's able to walk, if he can at all. We just won't know until the swelling goes down."

Roger sobbed, turning and burying his face in Otogi's shoulder. The raven haired man put his arms around the boy, fighting back the tears.

"When can I see him?" Seto asked, his mind gone numb at what the doctor had said.

"He's been moved into a private room in the secure wing of the hospital. You can go see him now, but not all at once." Dr. Chopra's hand went to his hip as his pager went off. "I have to go. I'll meet with you in a couple of hours." His gaze went to Yugi. "He should sleep through the night. If you'd like, I can have a bed made ready for him in the room next to Mokuba's."

"Please." Seto replied. "He'd kill us if we took him home."

"I understand. I'll have a nurse see to it right away."

Seto turned to Tristan as the doctor left the room. "Tris?"

"I'll come with you." Tristan stood. "Roger and Rachael should come now too."

Surprisingly, Seto didn't argue, just reached out and took Tristan's hand. He led the way out of the room, Joey stopping to pick up Yugi.

They swiftly made their way to the secure wing of the hospital. It was quiet there, and there were security guards at every door. Bakura made a mental note to post some of the Kaiba Corp. guards at Mokuba's door.

A nurse met them and directed Joey and Otogi to the room next to Mokuba's to get Yugi settled. Tristan and Seto went with Roger and Rachael into Mokuba's room.

Roger stopped short at the sight of his lover.

Mokuba was lying on his side, kept that way by straps across his body. There was an oxygen tube in his nose, one down his throat, and wires and IVs everywhere. He was pale and there was blood seeping through the bandages that covered his stomach and back.

Seto went directly to his brother, carefully reaching through the wires and tubes for the cold, limp hand. "Mokuba…oh, gods…little brother."

Tristan stood behind Seto, his hand on his friend's shoulder. He looked over at Roger, seeing him crying in his mother's arms. Rachael met Tristan's eyes, her own glistening with unshed tears.

Roger broke away from his mother suddenly, rushing to the other side of the bed and dropping to his knees. "Mokuba…baby, please…wake up! Mokuba! Don't leave me! Oh, gods! I love you! Please!"

Rachael went to him, drawing him to his feet and putting her arms around him again. "Shh…Roger. It's okay. He's going to be okay."

Seto stared at the distraught teen, a contemplative look on his face. He looked down at his brother and back at Roger.

/Seto?/

{He loves him, doesn't he?}

/That's what I've been trying to tell you all along./

Seto released Mokuba's hand and went around the bed, reaching out and pulling Roger away from his mother. His hands on the boy's shoulders, he looked into his eyes. The immense pain there nearly broke his heart. Without a word, he drew Roger against him and held him, both of them crying.

"Let's leave them alone." Tristan said quietly to Rachael.

Neither Seto nor Roger noticed their departure.

~*~*~*~*~

Ryou looked nervously at his lover, feeling more than hearing the low growl coming from Bakura.

They had just come out from seeing Mokuba and Joey and Otogi were in with him now, along with Seto and Roger. It had been decided that Tristan and Rachael would stay at the hospital with them while Joey and Otogi went back to Seto's with the children.

Bakura stopped his furious pacing and turned to Ryou. "I want you to go with Joey and help them get the kids settled. Then go home."

"Bakura, what are you up to?"

"Don't ask. And don't argue, Aibou." Bakura said. "Just do as I say."

Ryou wanted to argue, but he didn't dare. He had a bad feeling about what Bakura was going to do, but he couldn't, and wouldn't, ask.

"I want to check on Yugi before I go." Ryou stated, turning and heading into the room where Yugi was lying, still asleep.

Ryou sat on the edge of the bed, reaching out to push Yugi's bangs out of his face. "Oh, Yugi…it's going to be okay. Mokuba's not going to leave you. We're here for you, Yugi. Just like we've always been."

Otogi came into the room, laying a hand on Ryou's shoulder. "We're going to go. Bakura said you're coming with us."

"I am." Ryou stood, brushing his fingers across Yugi's forehead one last time. "I would imagine we'll have to answer some difficult questions tonight."

Otogi nodded. "That's why Seto thought it was best Joey go. Justin's going to be pretty upset."

Ryou looked down at Yugi and sighed. "Let's go. It's getting late."

Turning at the door, Ryou shook his head, thinking to himself that it wasn't going to get any easier any time soon. And hopefully Bakura wouldn't add to their troubles.

One could always hope.

~*~*~*~*~

Joey pulled Tristan aside, away from Seto and the others where they were gathered around Mokuba's bed, saying their goodbyes.

"Give Lexi a kiss for me." Tristan said, leaning down to press his lips against Joey's.

"I will." Joey looked up into Tristan's eyes, his own troubled. "Tris…I need to…after today…we came so close to losing Mokuba."

"He's going to be okay." Tristan held Joey gently. "It's not going to be easy, but he'll be alright in the end."

Joey leaned his head on Tristan's chest. "I know that. It's just…it made me realize that life is too short. I need to…Otogi…Tris; I can't wait any more to tell him how I feel. What if it had been him?"

Tristan tipped Joey's head up with a finger under his chin, looking him directly in the eye. "I understand, baby. The thought crossed my mind too. If you need to tell him, tell him."

"What about you?"

"I'm still not sure how I feel." Tristan drew Joey closer. "I care for him, but…I don't know if I…love him. I know you do, and that's enough for me."

Joey's brow furrowed. "Tristan…"

"It's okay…really." Tristan kissed Joey again. "Go on. Go take care of our daughter. And make sure Otogi understands I'm okay with you being with him. I'll talk to him myself as soon as I get the chance. It's just…" He gaze went to Seto, sitting next to Mokuba's bed, holding his hand. "Seto needs me right now."

"It's okay, angel. I know everything you have is focused on him right now."

Tristan held onto Joey tightly, burying his face in his husband's hair. They stood together for a few minutes, drawing comfort from each other, until Otogi came over.

The raven haired man stood next to them, shifting awkwardly. Green eyes widened when Tristan reached out and drew him into the hug, his arm around Otogi's waist. Joey's arm came around him from the other side and Otogi felt a sense of contentment sweep over him. He laid his head against Tristan's chest with a sigh.

"What are you going to tell Justin?" Tristan asked quietly.

"The truth." Joey replied. "He's too intelligent a kid to believe some sugar coated story. The hardest thing is going to be explaining to him why he can't see Mokuba right now."

"Once Mokuba wakes up and is alert, we'll let the kids come see him." Tristan said. "I don't think Justin could handle seeing him with all these wires sticking out of him."

"Yeah." Joey moved away from Tristan reluctantly. "We'd better get going."

Tristan held onto Otogi for a moment longer, leaning down and kissing his forehead as he released him. He smiled at the shocked look on Otogi's face and turned away, his attention once more entirely focused on the grieving man who was his best friend.

Otogi stared at him, confused, and then turned to follow Joey out of the room.

~*~*~*~*~

Joey saw Ryou off and went upstairs to help Otogi tuck Lexi and Justin in.

Justin had, after a few tears, accepted Joey's explanation of what had happened to Mokuba fairly easily. Looking over the tops of his glasses at Joey from his spot in Ryou's lap, he had declared with complete confidence that nothing could keep "his" Uncle Mokuba from getting better and coming home.

Lexi hadn't really understood and had been more concerned with the fact Justin was crying than something that happened to Mokuba that she hadn't seen. She seemed to be content with Joey telling her that Mokuba would be okay.

Making his way to Justin's room, he found Otogi sitting on the boy's bed, reading to him and Lexi. He stood in the doorway, smiling at the picture they made. Otogi was stretched out, propped up against the headboard, while Lexi and Justin were cuddled on either side of him, Lexi with her head lying on Otogi's leg.

"Lexi LOW dat tory!" Lexi smiled as Otogi closed the book. "At Ten-ity tent Lexi dat moo-bee!"

"Maybe we can watch the movie together." Otogi said, ruffling Lexi's hair.

"A-mow-row?" Big, hazel eyes pleaded.

"Maybe tomorrow." Otogi climbed carefully off the bed. "Come on, cutie-girl. Bedtime."

"Otogi?" Justin looked up at the green eyed man. "I mean…Uncle Otogi? Can Lexi sleep in my bed tonight?"

"Peas, Togi?" Lexi begged.

"Sure you can." Joey said, finally entering the room.

"Tank-too, Da-ee!" Lexi held out her arms to her father.

Joey went to her, leaning down to hug and kiss her. Justin held out his arms too, accepting the same. Lexi giggled when Otogi kissed her, giving her hair, which he had braided when she got out of the tub, a little tug.

Justin handed Otogi his glasses and smiled slightly when Otogi kissed him on the forehead. "Good night, Uncle Otogi."

Otogi bit his lip. Justin had never called him that before. "Good night, little guy. Sweet dreams."

"Nigh, Da-ee! Nigh, Togi!"

Joey turned on Justin's bathroom light and left the room with Otogi, shutting the door. They stood in the hallway for a minute, hearing Lexi and Justin giggling. They fought not to crack up as they heard Lexi from the other side of the heavy wooden door.

"Tick-tell, tick-tell, Jut-in! Lexi dunna tick-tell Jut-in a till Jut-in pros up!"

"If I didn't hear it myself, I never would have thought I'd ever hear Justin giggle." Joey grinned.

"He's gotten so much better…just over the last few months." Otogi said with a small smile. "Well, I'm heading for bed. I'll stay here with them tomorrow if you want to head over to the hospital before you go to the clinic."

Joey shook his head. "I'm not going to work tomorrow. I want to be there when Mokuba wakes up."

"Okay. G'night, Joey." Otogi turned to head down the hall.

"Otogi…wait." Joey reached out to him.

"Yeah?"

"Will you stay with me tonight?" Joey grasped the other man gently by the arm. "Please?"

"You want me to sleep with you?" Otogi asked, looking into warm honey eyes.

"Please? I really need to talk to you."

"Okay." Otogi nodded, smiling as Joey's hand left his arm to entwine their fingers together.

Joey led him into the bedroom Seto maintained for him and Tristan, going right into the bathroom and getting a hairbrush. He went back into the bedroom, seeing Otogi already stripped down to his boxers, sitting on the bed. He had unconsciously fallen into the routine they had when Joey had spent his nights with Otogi.

Joey undressed to his boxers as well and sat crossed-legged on the bed behind the emerald eyed man. He began drawing the brush through the thick, black tresses, noticing just how long Otogi's hair was getting. He hadn't cut it in months and it was so long he could sit on it.

Otogi grinned as an unconscious sigh of satisfaction came from the blond. "I was thinking about getting it cut."

"Don't you dare!" Joey protested. "I love your hair!"

"I was just kidding." Otogi snickered.

"Better be." Joey put the brush down and began braiding the thick strands.

When he was done, he pulled the elastic out of his own hair and tied the braid off. He pulled the brush through his hair a few times and laid it on the bedside table, moving up to crawl under the covers.

Otogi climbed in with him and Joey propped himself up on his elbow, looking down at the other man. Otogi smiled up at him and Joey felt his heart overflow. He couldn't wait any longer.

"Otogi…there's something I need to tell you." Joey began. "Today…today made me realize something. I…" Joey paused, trying to find the right words to express what he was feeling. "Because of our family…we're…targets. At any time, well…that could have been any of us that took that bullet. We need to live our lives though and…"

"Joey, just come out with it." Otogi tucked his arm under his head.

Joey began to tremble, tears welling up in his eyes as everything that had happened that day made him realize just how precious this person lying next to him was in his life. He laid his head on the pillow and reached out to gently touch Otogi's face, the tears escaping.

"I love you." He whispered.

Otogi smiled at him, wiping the tears from the blond's cheeks. "I love you too, Joey. You're my best friend. I don't know what I'd do…"

"No! You don't understand!" Joey interrupted. "I LOVE you."

"You…" Otogi's eyes went impossibly wide. "You can't. You can't love me."

"I do."

"No." Otogi drew back, a look of horror on his face.

"But…I thought…" Joey's eyes grew sad. "I thought you loved me. You said you did. That night you had the fever. You said you loved me."

"You can't love me." Otogi repeated. "You're Tristan's husband. You can't."

"I do love you. Tristan knows. You said that night that you loved us both. That you wanted to be with us."

Otogi looked away. "I do want to be with you…both of you. But I can't."

"We want you to."

"What?!"

"Tris and I talked about it. I love you, Otogi. Tristan…well…Tristan isn't really sure what he feels, but he does care deeply for you." Joey cupped Otogi's face between his hands. "Please, Otogi…tell me what you really feel for me."

Otogi felt like he was drowning in Joey's eyes. Everything he had held back, all the love he felt for this man, came rushing out. "I love you, Joey. Gods…I love you so much!"

Joey leaned in, his lips meeting Otogi's in a desperate kiss. Otogi whimpered, bringing his hand up to clutch at Joey's shoulder as the blond's tongue slipped into his mouth. Joey wrapped one arm around Otogi, pulling him against his body. Otogi shivered, feeling Joey's growing arousal through the thin material of their clothes.

The kiss broke and Otogi looked at Joey with tears-filled eyes. "Oh, gods, Joey."

"I love you." Joey whispered, his own eyes shining with moisture. "I want you in my life. I NEED you in my life."

"But…Tristan…"

"Tristan cares about you. It's just…" Joey sighed. "I think he's having a hard time dealing with the fact that he does. There's never been anyone for him but me. After what happened last year…he's afraid if he admits that he feels that kind of love for anyone but me I'll leave him."

Otogi was shocked by the admission. He had always seen Tristan as someone who was completely confident, who wasn't afraid of anything.

"He wants to be with you." Joey continued. "He told me. And I know that he feels differently for you than he does for our other friends. He just needs some time."

"Is he really okay with this?" Otogi wanted to be sure.

Joey nodded. "He is."

"Kiss me again." Otogi's eyes slipped closed and he tipped his face up.

Joey gladly complied, his lips caressing Otogi's softly. Otogi shuddered hard, pressing himself against Joey. Joey pulled out of the kiss and looked deeply into Otogi's eyes, his hand drifting over the other man's hip. He groaned suddenly and buried his face in Otogi's neck.

"What's wrong?" Otogi bit his lip, sure he had done something wrong.

"I want you." Joey's voice was muffled. "Gods…I want you."

Otogi pulled back, making Joey look at him. The hunger in the darkened amber eyes made his body throb with need. "Take me. I want you too."

"I can't. You're not healed. I know you're still in pain and I won't add to it."

"It's okay, Joey. Really." Otogi brushed Joey's hair back.

"No." Joey said firmly.

"I…Joey, I need you. I've waited so long for this." Otogi's lip trembled. "I've wanted you to love me for so long."

"I won't take you." Joey stated. "But I would like very much to give you pleasure."

{{How can he give me pleasure without taking me? I don't understand. But…if he really does love me…I'll give him whatever he wants.}} Otogi laid a hand against Joey's bare chest, feeling the rapid heartbeat under his fingers. "Whatever you want, Joey…I want it too."

Assured that the man in his arms wanted this as much as he did, Joey began pressing small kisses over Otogi's face, making his way down his neck. He threw back the covers and gently pressed Otogi over onto his back, his hands ghosting over his chest and stomach as he began to kiss the faded bruises and the small scars littering the pale skin. He fought back a wave of tears. Some of the scars were old, and Joey knew they weren't gained in the recent encounters that Otogi had had with Dan.

Joey was overcome with an acute need to show Otogi that he could gain pleasure without pain or degradation. That real love making was gentle, and free of hurt. He wanted…needed…to help Otogi heal the wounds in his soul.

"Joey!" Otogi gasped as he felt the blond delve his tongue into his navel.

Joey moved back up, kissing the raven haired man briefly before pulling back and letting his eyes skim over the thin form lying below him. Thin, yes, but so perfectly formed. His passion for dancing was reflected in the firm, smooth musculature.

"You're so beautiful." Joey let his hand slide over soft skin the color of heavy cream.

"I…I am?"

"You are." Joey smiled. "Hasn't anyone ever told you how gorgeous you are?"

"No." Otogi whispered, averting his eyes.

"Oh, Otogi…I'm sorry." Joey push Otogi's bangs out of his face. "I don't want to bring back bad memories."

"It's okay. You haven't. It's just…no one's ever loved me before." Otogi frowned. "My grandparents are the only ones who have told me "I love you" since before my parents divorced."

"Well, I love you, Otogi. And right now, I want to touch you." Joey looked at him, his eyes pleading. "Can I?"

"Yes." Otogi arched his body against Joey's. "I want you to touch me."

Joey immediately began a tender assault on Otogi's body; lips, hands and tongue moving slowly downward over the warming skin. He came to Otogi's boxers and he hooked the tips of his fingers into the waistband, beginning to pull them down.

He heard Otogi whimper and he stopped, looking up. "Is this okay? I won't if you don't want me to."

"No! I want you to. Please, Joey…"

Joey quickly had Otogi's boxers off him and just as swiftly removed his own. They both moaned as their bare skin came into contact.

Joey began caressing Otogi's body again with infinite gentleness. He wrapped his fingers around Otogi's erection and began stroking him, covering his chest with tiny, fleeting kisses.

Otogi sobbed loudly and Joey looked up to see tears streaming down the emerald eyed man's face. "What's wrong, beautiful?"

"It…it feels so good." Otogi's entire body was quaking with suppressed desire. "No-no one's ever touched me like this before."

"I promise you…it will always be this way between us." Joey said softly, kissing the wet trails from the other's face. "It'll never be just sex. I'll always make love to you…and it'll always be good."

"I've never made love before." Otogi admitted. "It's always been sex. No one's ever cared about me enough to be gentle with me."

"I do." Joey rolled over on his back, bringing Otogi on top of him. He hissed with pleasure as their erections rubbed together and he thrust up slightly. "Gods, I want you."

Otogi moved to straddle him, but Joey pulled him back down. "No. I meant it when I said I wasn't going to take you."

"But…you said…"

"I said I wanted to pleasure you." Joey placed his hands on Otogi's lower back and thrust up against him again, smiling at the shocked look in the green eyes. "I want to feel you come."

Otogi whimpered, his hips moving against Joey's automatically. The pleasure was incredible…like nothing he had ever experienced…and he didn't understand how it could be without Joey being inside him.

Joey kept one hand on Otogi's back and brought the other up, tucking a few strands of black hair that had escaped his braid behind his ear. Cupping Otogi's face, he drew him down into a passionate kiss, their lower bodies moving in perfectly matched rhythm.

Moaning into the kiss, Otogi began to thrust against Joey harder. He could feel Joey's arousal, hard and throbbing, against his own. The feeling was indescribable and he felt his release coiling in the pit of his stomach.

He pulled back from Joey's lips, his weight resting on his forearms. "Joey…gods…I think…I think I'm gonna come."

"Oh, hell, yes." Joey thrust up harder. "Gods, do it. I want to feel it. Please, Otogi. Please…come."

The husky quality of Joey's voice plunged Otogi over the edge with a cry of pure gratification. Joey whimpered, wrapping his arms around Otogi as the smaller man collapsed. He pushed up hard, moaning as he released between them.

Otogi clung to Joey's shoulders, fighting to bring his breathing under control. {{Gods…that was…if that was making love…gods…}}

"I love you, Otogi." Joey whispered.

"Joey…I love you." Otogi pushed himself up and looked into Joey's eyes. "Thank you."

Joey's brow furrowed in confusion. "For what?"

"For showing me what making love is. For…loving me." Otogi leaned down and lightly brushed their lips together. "I knew it could be this way with you."

"Hmm…" Joey reached out, snagging the covers and pulling them up over them before drawing Otogi down on top of him again. "It'll always be this way with me, beautiful. This is what love is."

"I never knew." Joey rested his head on Joey's sweat-slick chest, contentedly listening to his heartbeat.

"I'll spend the rest of my life showing you…if you'll let me."

Otogi slipped his arms around Joey's back, cuddling into him. "Yes." He said simply.

Joey smiled, yawning before kissing the top of Otogi's head. "Sleep. Tomorrow you can talk to Tristan. You guys need to sit down together."

Otogi snapped out of his half doze. He was going to have to talk to Tristan about this? He raised his head to look at Joey, but the blond was already asleep.

{{What's Tristan going to say when he finds out Joey and I…oh, gods. But…Joey said he cares about me. He doesn't love me though. Do I want him to be with me like this? It couldn't be anyway. He doesn't love me.}} He moved off of Joey slowly, so he didn't wake him up. He lay there, looking at the blond. {{Joey's so different from anyone I've been with. They were all like Tristan. Big, muscular, dominating. No. Joey's nothing like them.}}

Joey stirred, turning over on his side and pressing up against Otogi, murmuring in his sleep.

{{If Tristan doesn't love me, it won't be love making. It'll be sex. Joey showed me that tonight.}} Otogi reached out and trailed his fingers through Joey's hair. {{But…I've wanted Tristan for a long time. And I love him. If I love him, but he doesn't love me, is it still just sex? Like with Dan and all those other guys?}} Otogi shuddered. {{Gods…Tristan. I want you to be with me like that. I love Joey and I love what he showed me tonight…about making love…but…you're just so…}}

Otogi sighed, moving closer to Joey. He slipped into a deep sleep, his dreams haunted with images of Tristan…of him being like Dan.

Sometime during the night, Otogi's soft moaning woke Joey from his sleep. Thinking it was another nightmare; Joey cuddled his lover close, stroking his back until he quieted. He let sleep take him again, not knowing the true reason for Otogi's vocalizations…or the heartache they could very well cause.

~*~*~*~*~

Walters sat on the cot in his cell, staring at the floor.

Damn Becket for deserting him when things went wrong! And damn Mokuba Kaiba for stepping in the way. Stupid kid! Tristan should be dead right now!

Greg Taylor had told him to use the special bullets, telling Walters that Tristan had a condition that would make him bleed to death before they could get him to the hospital. The hollow-tipped bullet would have shredded him; making him bleed from the inside out at such a rate he would have been lucky to still be alive when the paramedics arrived.

But he wasn't dead. He was alive. Alive and probably already plotting revenge with his boss, best friend, and, if his father was to be believed, his lover. Walters knew that when Seto found out he was the one who had shot his brother, his days…his breaths…would be numbered. He was already dead. It was only a matter of time.

Caught up in his thoughts, Walters didn't notice the twisting, purple and black haze that began to fill the cell. What got his attention was the sharp drop in temperature.

He lifted his head, his eyes widening at the sight of the mist. He stood, peering into the darkness, looking for movement. Something caught his eye and he took a step back, fear making his blood freeze in his veins.

It was the outline of a man. He couldn't see his face, but he recognized him nonetheless. It was the spiky hair and the way he moved…like a predator.

In the blank shadow of his face, the figure's eyes began to glow red. A feeling of murderous rage came from him in almost tangible waves.

Walters pressed up against the bars, knowing it would do no good to call for the guards.

Death had come for him.

~*~*~*~*~

Bakura: GO ME!! I GET TO KILL SOMEONE!!

Otogi: It's about damn time I got some in this story that didn't end up with me needing to be covered in bandages!

YD: *shrugs* Whatever.

DD: Hey everyone! If you haven't read I Give MY Heart to You, by Terra, you should. It's a really good mystery with different pairings.

Tris: Yeah, the lemon with me and Seto in the last chapter was hot.

Joey: And the one with me and Seto was too.

DD: So go read it. She's a great writer.

YD: Yeah. We highly recommend this story. Oh! And Happy Birthday, Darlin' by Terra too. It's a Tris/Joey that goes along with this story, but falls AFTER it.

DD: Hope you enjoyed this chapter! The next one will be out as soon as we can manage.