Yu-Gi-Oh! Fan Fiction ❯ Origami Music ❯ Part 6 ( Chapter 6 )

Title: Origami Music

Chapter: 6/?

Author: Madyamisam

Rating: PG-13

Beta: Linda

Pairing(s): Joey/Mokuba (but not in `that' way) Joey/Seto

Spoilers: None

Disclaimer: Madyamisam doesn't own Yu-Gi-Oh. She also doesn't own `Whisper' by Evanescence

Summary: Two families, two children, two siblings, two friends… funny how an accident could make everything change…

Extra notes: I'm not sure if I'm getting too out of character with Kaiba in this chapter. So if I am and you don't like it, I'm sorry… (Prostrates in advance to narrow min- I mean devoted Seto Kaiba fan girls…)

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Mokuba got out of the car silently as he headed of to school whilst his brother sat staring out of the tinted window. Neither of the brothers had spoken to each since that night and for once Seto hated the silence. He clenched his fists tightly as the door shut desperately trying to talk to Mokuba. To let him know of his remorse but nothing came out. The limo drove on and Seto stared at his brother standing alone at the front gate of his school. He didn't notice when the limo had reached Domino High and it took the limo driver five times to inform him of his arrival before he finally got out of the car. He silently walked towards the school briefcase in hand, the cold mask of indifference still on his face despite the tumult of emotions leftover from the night before. He heard laughter and turned to glare at the group of friends who had walked together. At first when he saw Joey walking into school with his friends again, it seemed almost as if the past few months were nothing more than dream. He and Mokuba never had the argument, Joey never stayed at their house and Serenity never died. That was what he had thought at first but upon seeing the absence of a large grin upon the blonde's face, cold hard reality slapped him in the face and Seto found himself hating the blonde more than ever before.

 

“If you're looking to start more trouble than you already have, save it” Seto snapped his glare on a snarling Tristan and catching the attention of the rest of the group of friends. Tristan stood between Joey and the icy hatred of Kaiba's eyes and took a protective stance between the two. “I'm warning you Kaiba” Seto narrowed his eyes before he swiftly turned. Joey cocked a head peeping over Tristan's shoulder seemingly indifferent to the treatment towards the brunette but Yugi could see the evident concern behind the chocolate brown eyes. Unfortunately, from the way that Kaiba stared he would most likely kill the blonde if he were alone with him. Yugi clung to the taller boy's jacket like bur and tried to shield him from the wrath of the brunette as they entered the classroom for maths, one of the few lessons that they shared with the CEO. The classes were hollow and empty and everyone felt it. Even the cold hearted Seto Kaiba felt it and it all seemed to stem from Joey's behaviour. Quiet and subdued for him was an unnatural feeling and the class's math teacher who, like Seto, enjoyed a good banter with the blonde about homework and paying attention wanted to gain some kind of normality even if it ended up giving the blonde detention.

 

“Well Mr Wheeler, you've been off these few months but it doesn't excuse you from doing your homework n-“ he was interrupted with a wad of three months worth of homework shoved in his face. He took it and leafed through the sheets and his face blanched. He swallowed as his attempt to humour the class failed. “Um… well done… Mr Wheeler” he said and quietly continued the day's class looking shocked and at the same time forlorn.

 

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The small group of friends tried to regain the cheerfulness in their conversations at lunch talking about the usual daily stresses. Yugi couldn't help but glance at the blonde who was casting occasional glances over to the dark figure sitting with his laptop in the corner. Yugi looked over at Seto Kaiba and noticed the dark haze he had only once seen cast upon Pegasus was directed at Joey.

 

“Joey? Hey Joey?” he tried to draw his attention away from the CEO. Joey finally turned to him and he tried to think quickly of what to say to distract him. “Let's have a game of duel monsters huh? You've got you're deck with you haven't you?” he smiled coaxing the blonde with something he still enjoyed doing. As they played Yugi refrained from using his more powerful cards and prolonged the game till lunch was over and they could go back to class. Yugi however despaired as he remembered that none of them shared the final class that Joey had and Seto Kaiba was going to be there. “Why don't we both ditch our last classes and spend the last period hanging out on the roof?” Everyone looked surprised at the statement at first but Tristan and Téa immediately understood as Kaiba passed them and went along with Yugi's unspoken plan.

 

“Yugi… you never skive off classes especially on your favourite subject” Joey whispered as the young teen looked nervous all of a sudden.

 

“Ah… well… it's a first for everything right?” Tristan chuckled pulling Yugi into a brotherly hug and ruffling his wild mane. Yugi grinned exaggeratedly. Téa nodded providing her support.

 

“I think I can afford to miss one little Textiles lesson” Téa said smiling. Joey analysed his three friends and blinked a few times before he finally spoke.

 

“Stop trying to protect me from him… I know Kaiba seems to have some sort of vendetta against me but I'm not going to walk away like a coward. If he's got a problem with me I'll settle it with him” Joey said. The three of them looked immediately guilty.

 

“Joey… please… we just” Téa stuttered. Joey narrowed his eyes at her with a cold emotionless glare.

 

“What's the matter with you all? You never back away from anything like this… back then”

 

“Back then we never lost someone that we dearly loved, Joey” Tristan said defending himself and his two friends from the blonde's remarks. Tears were in his brown eyes as he shook trying to contain himself. He bit his upper lip and blinked a few times refusing to let the tears fall. He swallowed as he forced the words from his throat “We lost Serenity and you know… in a way… we're losing you too” Joey blinked the look of surprise evident on his face.

 

“Do you have any idea how we felt when Mokuba got you to move in to the Kaiba mansion?” Téa asked. “Everyday, we felt as if you were disappearing, everyday and then, when Yugi called us both that you were sleeping over at his house… you couldn't imagine how happy we were” Joey turned to stare down at the shortest member of their group.

 

“Is that true Yug'?” Joey asked tentatively. Yugi had been silent throughout the conversation. His eyes still stared at the patterned tiles of the school corridor. The late bell had long gone but neither of them cared that they were late for class.

 

“Your smile…” he finally said miserably. “I haven't seen you smile once since… it always cheered me up whenever I was down… and the way you laugh… it really scares me Joey… when I start to forget what it sounds like… Tristan's been telling you jokes all day… but you never laughed at one of them. Not a single one…” Yugi looked up as tears fell freely down his face. Whether Joey felt guilty or not, it had not shown on his face much to the despair of his friends. He turned slowly towards the classroom.

 

“I'm sorry…” he replied simply to them. As he had expected his words were hollow to his friends' ears though he wished that they weren't. Upon entering the class the teacher half heartedly scowled at his lateness but he sat down taking the full brunt of Kaiba's acidic glares. He tried to make himself look discomforted in the hopes that this would curb the brunette's anger but his body remained rigid as if frozen in a block of ice. He knew his lack of reaction was fuelling Kaiba's rage and he noted that the brunette was shaking. As the teacher turned around he tossed the message that he wrote behind him. The crumpled message bounced a few times on the table before Kaiba picked it up and read it. `Meet me in the gym'.

 

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Joey gathered his books and walked out the door towards the gym and waited. The school was nearly empty as the students filed out of the building before he finally heard footsteps that started to approach him. Joey turned to stare at the brunette dressed as smartly as per usual but still holding the icy glowering sapphire eyes that had been locked on him all day. The brunette strode with an air of foreboding even without the long flapping trench coat that trailed behind him.

 

“I think I know why you're looking like you want to murder me all day but would you mind telling me why?”

 

“That's one problem… dogs don't think” Seto snarled.

 

“Is this about Mokuba?” Joey asked, casually ignoring the dog insult. Seto's heart jolted painfully at the name of his brother but he narrowed his eyes once more at the blonde. Without even a flinch Joey continued. “Did you two have an argument?” Seto bit at the inside of his cheek furiously.

 

“Yes, Wheeler as a matter of fact we did… are you happy?” he asked mockingly.

 

“What the hell is that supposed to mean?”

 

“Exactly what I said. Are you happy that we had an argument? Are you happy that tearing the two of us apart means you've avenged your sister's death? I'm sure she's rolling around with glee six feet under with the worms and maggots” an enraged roar erupted in the large gym as Kaiba was shoved to the floor and punches flew into the brunette's ribs. He silently cursed himself as he kicked the attacker away from him. Tristan's eyes were lit with a manic hysteria as he went to launch at the brunette only for the blonde to block his path.

 

“YOU BASTARD!!! HOW DARE YOU!!! HOW DARE YOU TALK ABOUT SERENITY THAT WAY!!!” Tristan roared as he struggled to break free from the blonde. Kaiba staggered to his feet despite himself. He still looked immaculate despite the obvious attack that knocked him to the floor. Joey was struggling to restrain the other brunette when a tri coloured blur charged his way and knocked him down again. Everyone stood shocked staring at the small duellist. Everyone knew what Yugi thought of physical violence and Seto knew the consequence of his words had pushed everyone too far. Yugi stood, breathing as if he had done hundred metre sprint half a dozen times and glaring at the fallen CEO.

 

“You… you ungrateful… son of a… “Yugi growled shaking all over. “She saved your brothers life you… YOU!!” he launched at him again. Joey dove to hold him back as he clawed at the blue eyed brunette, this however left Tristan unattended. He grabbed a bat from one of the gym equipment ready to strike at Kaiba. A sickening crack and a scream of pain echoed in the hall. After that came silence and the pent up fury in the two boys subsided into shock as the blonde clutched his dislocated shoulder. Kaiba stared up at him unharmed.

 

“Oh God…” Tristan whispered as the bat slipped from his finger and clattered to the floor. Yugi's hand flew to his mouth. Wincing from pain Joey opened his eyes staring through gritted teeth to stare at the CEO beneath him. Realising that he was unhurt he backed away from Kaiba who stood stock in disbelief. Joey dropped to his knees as Tristan and Yugi immediately went to his aid as Seto stormed out of the gym in, Joey noticed, confusion and guilt. Joey tried to call him back but all that came out was a whimper of pain. “Joey… I… I didn't…” Tristan stopped knowing that he had no excuse for what he did. “I'll go get the nurse…”

 

“Don't…” Joey rasped despite the pain. “The school will want to know what happened then you'll be suspended… I'll fix the arm myself…” He staggered to his feet and slammed his shoulder hard against the wall. Another resounding pop but Joey this time refused to scream. He blacked out for a few moments before he wiped the sweat from his forehead.

 

“Joey…” Yugi whispered.

 

“Game shop… tonight…” Joey replied glancing from one friend to the other. “We'll talk then”

 

“But…” Tristan began but blanched at the Joey's soulful stare. They both nodded guiltily as the blonde stumbled out of the building.

 

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“Hey Kaiba better make sure you have an adult to help you cross the road” taunted one of the third year students as Mokuba left from school that day. He stared at his grade. It was a B. He was letting his grades slip again and instantly could feel the salt rub into already sore wounds from the night before. “What's the matter Killer Kaiba? Cat caught your tongue” Mokuba froze and glared remarkably like his brother. The other students cringed but the obvious leader stood his ground despite himself.

 

“What did you call me?” Mokuba growled.

 

“Ooh… what a dirty look Killer Kaiba… that's right… Killer. Kaiba.” they laughed as Mokuba growled and punched the third year student. He didn't know who his name was and frankly he didn't care. “Hey get off me! HELP! HELP!” screamed the third year in fear of the relentless pounding of Mokuba's fists. He snarled as strong hands grabbed on his and pulled him away. Mokuba struggled to claw at the boy who shook fearfully before he was shaken firmly out of his rage. He looked up into blank ochre eyes. Joey carefully wrapped his arms firmly around the boy to protectively and at the same time restraining him.

 

“He's not worth your time Mokuba…” he whispered urging him to stop and Mokuba reluctantly complied whilst still glaring at the student. Joey stared at the student who looked even more scared of him than the young Kaiba. Joey then took Mokuba by the hand and walked him away from the school. Despite the minor victory over the third year, Mokuba couldn't help but feel the humiliated as they walked out of the front gates. When they were out of sight of teachers and students Mokuba wrenched his arms away from the blonde and began to run. The screech of a car and the honk of a horn followed as he was violently pulled down to curb by a hand.

 

“WATCH WHERE YOU'RE GOING YOU CRAZY KID!” shouted the driver at the young boy. He looked up with tear filled eyes at the blonde staring at him.

 

“Be careful…” Joey said monotonously as he squatted beside the raven headed kid. Joey held a hand out to the eleven year old to pull him up but Mokuba slapped it away. Silence then he broke letting the tears fall freely down his face.

 

“Why? Why do you have to be so nice to me?” Mokuba yelled as he brushed his long tresses from his grey eyes. He hiccupped as his anger turned into a whispering sorrow. “Everybody… hates me… everybody… Tristan and Yugi, even my brother… you… you you're supposed to hate me the most… just… WHY?” he screamed and punched the blonde who merely stood there watching the torment unravel in his eyes. The boy sobbed into his t-shirt when Joey spoke up again.

 

“Because I don't want my sister's sacrifice to mean for nothing…” Joey replied pulling the boy back and wiping away the tears “but nobody seems to see that, not even Yugi and Tristan” he hugged the eleven year old. “I don't know what Seto and you were arguing about but I know whatever he said he didn't mean it… He just hates seeing you like this and so do I…” Mokuba stood rigid as he listened to what the teen said to him. He pulled back.

 

“Weird… Seto said pretty much the same thing when we first visited the institute” Mokuba mused before he straightened up. “I want to talk to him tonight… maybe we could have pizza together when he gets back from work?” he asked. Joey nodded as the limo arrived to pick the young Kaiba up. “Shall we skip the car ride and go walk in the park again?”

 

“Not today… I have some things I need to do…” Joey ruffled the boy's hair before Mokuba went home. Joey turned to walk away, the ache in his shoulders lessened only slightly as he ran off to the direction of Kaiba Corp.

 

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~Catch me as I fall

Say you're here and it's all over now

Speaking to the atmosphere

No one's here and I fall into myself

This truth drives me

Into madness

I know I can stop the pain

If I will it all away~

 

Seto stood atop the building of the Kaiba Corp roof looking down upon the city of Domino. The cars below were like multi coloured ants racing by in lines as his jacket rippled over a gentle breeze. It seemed like the same sensation he felt standing at Duellist Kingdom once teetering upon the brink of a concrete oblivion. For the first time he was truly confused by the actions of the blonde. They were never close; he, Seto Kaiba always regarded Joey as the verbal and sometimes physical punch bag his way of venting out his frustrations with the company, school and life in general. It amused him to rile the blonde with a snide insult. No, they were not close however Seto never thought he could hate the blonde, he had no reason to. It was not like Pegasus or his late foster father and yet he could feel the intensity of familiar conflicting emotions.

 

~Don't turn away

(Don't give in to the pain)

Don't try to hide

(Though they're screaming your name)

Don't close your eyes

(God knows what lies behind them)

Don't turn out the light

(Never sleep never die)~

 

“Is this always your solution to your problems whenever you can't figure things out?” he heard Joey say. He turned to glare at the blonde. `No doubt Mokuba must have let him come here otherwise he would never have gotten past security' Seto thought.

 

~I'm frightened by what I see

But somehow I know

That there's much more to come

Immobilized by my fear

And soon to be

Blinded by tears

I can stop the pain

If I will it all away~

 

“What do you want Wheeler?” there was silence at first when Joey finally spoke.

 

“He talks a lot about you…” he said. “Back when we were in the institute, the orphanage, the adoption, how you got to be the CEO of a huge electronics company. He even managed to talk for a full two hour session about what you and him did in the parking lot whilst waiting for the limo driver who was ten minutes late to pick you up” He stopped to search the brunette's eyes and what must be going through his mind.

“He says they hate him, everyone… they hate him because of what happened” Seto glared.

 

“It was an accident… Out of everyone he didn't…”Seto glared at the blonde's accusations, defending his brother. “It's not his fault. It's not his fault! IT'S NOT HIS FAULT!” he shouted breathing deeply. The blonde was unfazed by the outburst and immune to glare that Seto sent his way because he was staring submissively upon the floor as if gathering his own thoughts. He looked up again.

 

“Mm hmm…” Joey hummed. “I didn't think so either…” Seto gasped as he stared deep into the soulful ochre eyes of the blonde and the all the anger and bitterness seemed ebb away from him.

 

~Don't turn away

(Don't give in to the pain)

Don't try to hide

(Though they're screaming your name)

Don't close your eyes

(God knows what lies behind them)

Don't turn out the light

(Never sleep never die)~

 

Realisation dawned in his eyes and the hatred completely dissipated leaving only the confusion of memories. The strange behaviour and actions of the blonde came to light as gestures of goodwill rather than spite. Seto had always found deceit of those claiming to be allies, watched closely for their motives and actions. He had been brought up to recognise the signs of malice beneath kindness but became frustrated when he could not find any such signs in the blonde. Joey was not trying to turn brothers against each other for revenge which left Seto with no other explanation for his intentions and further more why did the blonde defied his friends in order to protect him at the same time injuring himself. Lost in the confusion of conflicting logical thoughts against emotions, Seto also lost his footing upon the roof ledge. He gasped as he felt himself plummet, his eyes had been locked on Joey and at first it seemed to take forever for him to disappear from his sight once he did everything raced passed his eyes as he plunged past the many windows of the Kaiba Corp building.

 

~Fallen angels at my feet

Whispered voices at my ear

Death before my eyes

Lying next to me I fear

She beckons me

Shall I give in?

Upon my end shall I begin?

Forsaking all I've fallen for

I rise to meet my end~

 

He felt lost and expected to wake up from a dream when he hit the floor. He stared up to the blue sky and felt an eerie calm in him when his view was blocked and a figure dove right after him. His eyes widened as Joey dove towards him edging closer as they fell. He felt warm arms wrap around his body and suddenly a sharp pain in yanked his shoulder as he stopped short from the fall. He was hanging about ten feet from the roof of the Kaiba Building dangling by one arm as Joey held on his wrist in a firm hold whilst he had one leg and one arm hooked on one of the flagpoles that were attached to the building. Seto's gasped from the look of pain in Joey's eyes and recalled the fleshy pop. The blonde's arm was dislocated again from the force of their drop and Seto realised the reality of their situation. He heard a quiet scream behind the double glazed windows and saw his employees staring in horror at his position. Immediately there was a rush of security guards on the roof to their rescue.

 

~Don't turn away

(Don't give in to the pain)

Don't try to hide

(Though they're screaming your name)

Don't close your eyes

(God knows what lies behind them)

Don't turn out the light

(Never sleep never die)~

 

“Master Kaiba get yourself into that harness and we'll pull you up” the man called. As soon as they were sure that the CEO was firmly secured into harness they pulled him up. When he was relieved of the burden, Joey pushed himself up to straddle the flag pole and cradling his arm whilst he waited for the harness to come back down to collect him. Seto glanced as he passed the panting blonde, cold sweat had broke out as tears from the agonising pain in his shoulder rolled down his eyes. As soon as both boys were safely on the roof again Kaiba rushed to check on Joey who was white as a sheet. The security guards wrapped them both in warm blankets as they waited for paramedics to arrive. Seto brushed the overgrown fringe and tucked it behind the blonde's ears. The brown eyes were glazed and his breaths came in short gasps as he went into shock. Seto finally understood the signs, the blonde's true intentions and an unfamiliar wrenching guilt twisted in his stomach. He stroked the silky tresses wondering despite knowing how illogical it was if it would comfort the blonde's traumatic experience.

 

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After having answered the questions asked and his physical condition confirmed with minor injuries, Seto went to search for the blonde.

 

“Where's the ward for Joey Wheeler?” he asked.

 

“Ward 58 down the hall turn left sir” the nurse replied pointing down the corridor. He nodded his thanks and headed in the pointed direction. Entering Ward 58 many pairs of eyes were on him. Some of which turned from surprise to hateful glares.

 

“As I was saying” the doctor continued “it was a complete dislocation and there might possibly some torn ligaments so we'll need to put him in a sling for a few weeks. After that we'll need to do some rehabilitation exercises to strengthen the muscles”

 

“Thank you doctor” Yugi said gratefully before turning his back from the CEO to gazing in concern at Joey asleep on the hospital bed. He brushed away the blonde tresses on the pillow as the doctor left. Seto swallowed as the group of friends were still glaring at him even when he approached Joey. Tristan moved in his way.

 

“Stay away from him Kaiba” he growled. “I don't care if this is a hospital but you're not coming anywhere near my friend. Ever” his hands balled into fists threateningly whilst neither Yugi nor Téa were going to make a move to stop him. Seto didn't want another argument to start with the group. He wanted to check on Joey, who was incapacitated by the painkillers the doctors had administered. He swallowed as he backed away at least relieved with the fact that Joey was well. He was discharged and left the hospital with a heavy heart.

 

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The pizza had arrived but neither Joey nor Seto had returned. Mokuba leaned back against the chair as the loneliness was starting to get to him again. It was at that moment that the door opened. He sat up straight as Seto walked into the hallway wearily.

 

“Seto…” Mokuba whispered approaching the teen slowly remembering the bitterness of their argument the night before. Seto looked at him with dull eyes before he strode over to the boy held the boy.

 

“I'm so sorry” he whispered to Mokuba's surprise. “I didn't mean to say what I did last night… I… wasn't thinking straight… I haven't thinking straight for months”

 

“It's ok…” Mokuba replied. “I shouldn't have lied to you either… I talked with Joey today and realised how stressed, you already were worrying about me” he blinked realising what was missing. “Where is Joey anyway?” Seto tightened his hold over his brother which caused Mokuba to panic. “Seto what happened? Is he ok? Where is he?”

 

“At the hospital” Mokuba pulled away horrified. “For a dislocated shoulder…” Seto reluctantly explained what had transpired between the two and his confrontation with the blonde's friends. After his explanation Mokuba nodded understandingly but he suddenly became anxious.

 

“Do you… do you think Tristan will act on what he said? That he won't let us near him anymore?” Mokuba asked fearfully. Seto pursed his lips as the dreaded vows from the brown eyed brunette seemed to echo in his mind.

 

“It might be possible given the situation that I've put Joey under, they'll have a very good reason for taking him off our care” the two brothers found themselves clinging with dread, the pizza that was intended for the three of them lay forgotten on the table.

 

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Sam: (sigh) I'm sorry this took so long that I think people might have forgotten what it was all about. I is sowwy… T____T