Yu-Gi-Oh! Fan Fiction ❯ Forever, My Puppy ❯ Prologue ( Prologue )

Forever My Puppy

*Joey's POV *

I looked out the hole in the door. I don't know what got into my dad, but he shoved me in here a few days ago. I've hardly eaten or slept in four days. My dad lay in the floor, passed out in a drunken stupor. I look on my dresser and see the cell phone I'd gotten for my birthday. It just showed up in my locker on my birthday with a note that said "Happy Birthday, Pup".

I know exactly who put it there, but why. Was Kaiba trying to shove his wealth in my face? I picked it up, and saw I had a few phone numbers in it, they all had been programmed into it. I punched up one that said "me". The line rang a few times.

"Kaiba Corp, Seto Kaiba speaking" Whoa! Kaiba was the one who gave me the phone then.

"Kaiba, thank you for the phone and all, I appreciate it, really"

"Joey! I've been worried about you. Are you okay? I haven't seen or heard from you since your birthday." There was something to Kaiba's voice that was making my body react. My pants were beginning to feel a little tight. I unbutton them, allowing myself a bit of room.

"Well, my dad got kinda drunk and locked me in my room. He lets me out about two or three times a day, only if he's not passed out." I heard Kaiba take a deep breath. " He put food in my room, and water, but not much. He also rigged the bathroom to where I can't use it unless he turns the water on."

"Joey, your dad can go to jail for that. Has he hurt you at all?" Kaiba's voice was now the soft; tender voice I'd only heard him speak to Mokuba with. I felt as if he'd reached through the phone and was holding me.

My dad had done terrible things to me on my birthday. He'd beat me, raped me, and then locked me in my room. I couldn't tell Kaiba that. He'd laugh at me if I told him my dad had raped me. I took a deep breath, and decided to spill it.

"Kaiba, I have to tell you something serious. My Dad raped me the other night." I stopped. I expected him to laugh or to hang up on me.

"Damn, Joey. You have to get out of there. I'm on my way." Now he hangs up. I peek out the door again. Dad had moved, but I figured I could climb out my window, out onto the fire escape.

Slowly I slid the window open. A blast of snow showered me and I grabbed my coat. After putting it on, I climbed out. Behind me the door flew open. I leaped out and bolted towards the stairs. Dad grabbed me and tried to drag me back into the room. I held onto the railing. Dad's fist nearly knocked me over, and I pulled from his grasp. I flew down a flight of stairs, sliding down the last few and landing on my knees. My dad came after me and hit me. I scrambled down the next two flights, till I was far enough down the fire escape that I could jump without hurting myself.

Seeing my opportunity, I leapt, landing in a snowdrift. I picked myself up and raced up the alley. M felt my dad grab me, I whirled to face him. He kicked me in the gut, then punched me. I broke free of his grasp and bolted up the street. The pain began to overtake me and I began to stumble. I never noticed the sleek car creeping up behind me, nor did I notice the tall figure that stepped out and caught me as I passed out.

*Seto's POV *

I cradled Joey in my arms. Blood ran freely from his nose and from a split on his lip. Attendants at the hospital pulled the boy onto a stretcher and wheeled him into the hospital. I paced in the waiting room, waiting for the doctor to tell me how he's doing. When I'd found Joey, it was a little after noon, and it was now well into the night. They had not let me see him at all, and I was very worried about him.

Finally a doctor came out to talk to me. His face was etched with concern.

"Mr. Kaiba, your friend is pretty ill. He's dehydrated, his electrolytes are out of balance, his blood sugar is very low, and he has bruised ribs, a broken wrist, and a broken nose. To top it off, he has a slight concussion. I'm afraid we'll have to keep him for a day or so. He's in ICU right now, and has been for a while. But you can see him now."

I followed the doctor up to the Intensive Care Unit, and was led to his room. Joey was hooked up to a few IV's and was being fed oxygen through a tube in his nose. His eyes were closed and he looked to be sleeping. I reached down and took his hand in mine. His eyes slowly blinked open. He smiled at me.

"Thanks Kaiba." He stroked my hand with his thumb. There was a chair sitting next to his bed and I sat down in it. I stroked his hair slowly, as his breathing began to even out and he began to snore. A woman walked into the cubicle. She motioned for me to follow her out in the hall. I slipped my hand from Joey's and leaned down and kissed his cheek.

"I'll be back, Pup."

The woman led me to the waiting room. She looked tired, like she'd had a long day.

"My name is Catherine Martians. I'm with the Department of Human Services. I got a call earlier this evening about Mr. Joseph Wheeler. I've been his counselor since he was 13. I've been trying to get in touch with his mother, but she's unable to take him in at this time. I'm afraid I'm going to have to put him into state custody."

"Ms. Martians, no disrespect, but Joey can stay with me. I'm paying for his medical treatment, I'm 19, I can take him in."

"Mr. Kaiba, it doesn't work that way. Joey's situation is a bit complicated. Since his father's molested him, beaten him, and deprived him of basic human needs, he should be in a place were he can be monitored closely,"

"Ms. Martian, I am more than financially capable of caring for his medical needs, and anything else he would need. I am prepared to take this to court, if needs be. I've been in state run homes and I have a major distrust of them. I don't want Joey to go through what I've gone through."

"Mr. Kaiba, you are aware that Joey has been monitored by us for the past four years, his father's drinking and drug use has been noted. He's been under our custody before."

"Acutely aware. I do know somewhat of his situation at home. I've lived through it myself."

Her stern features softened, and she smiled. She made a few notations in her notebook then looked back at me.

"I don't normally do this, but I am going to place Joey in your custody for 90 days. I will be closely monitoring him. If I suspect any abuse, I am pulling him out of your care."

She stood and strode out of the waiting room. I walked to the Nurse's station and was informed that Joey was sleeping peacefully. The lead nurse told me to go home and rest. She said I could see Joey in the morning when he was put in a room.

At home, I crawled into bed, not noticing the lump till it spoke.

"How's Joey, Seto?"

"He'll be okay, Mokuba, let's sleep for now."