Yu-Gi-Oh! Fan Fiction ❯ Past and Present Meetings ❯ To be Awakened ( Chapter 2 )

A/N: Hey, I got a review! YAY! *falls over* Erm, as much as I appreciate the review...I'd REALLY appreciate if I got some more for this chapter...

Joey: ^^ They love me!

...o.O Anyway, time to find out who the mystery man in the limo was! XD Oh, and sorry if the format's kinda screwed up, but I honestly don't know how to fix it. ^^;; Eh-heh...

Disclaimer: I own Yu-Gi-Ohhhhhh!! BWA HAHAHA- *gets shot by lawyer*

~*~*~*~*~*To be Awakened*~*~*~*~*~

A soft groan is heard from the living room of the Kaiba mansion. Honey-colored eyes shift under closed lids. They blink open, feeling something trickle over them.

'...water?' A hand reaches up and feels a wet washcloth. 'Damn that's cold...' The figure slowly pulls itself into a sitting position and takes it off, eyes scrunched shut from the pain. 'Oh man, what happened?'

"I see you're awake."

He freezes. 'That voice...it's like da one I heard when I...what'd I do again?'

"You've been out since last night."

The blonde clutches his head. 'I...ran away?'

"Get up."

"But I'm so tired..."

"I said get up."

"Alright, alright." He goes to lift up the covers, but stops. "Waida minute, who the hell are you?"

"I should ask the same." The brunette leaves his chair and walks over to the couch, staring coldly down at the other. "Not that I care."

"Well ain't you a nice guy?"

The same commanding voice. "I want you to leave."

"Wha do ya mean leave!?"

"I mean get up and go. Out of this house."

"In this condition!?"

Blue eyes narrow. "Yes."

"Well dat's jus' fine then!" He swings his right leg over the side of the couch, stopping only to stare at his left one. "I...I don't think I can move it."

"Of course you can."

"I'm serious." He winces. "Did you at least take the bullet out?"

"No. I left it in so you can die a slow and painful death."

"I wouldn't be surprised..."

He lets out an aggravated sigh. "I can't afford to have you traced back to me. They'd accuse me of murder."

*quirked eyebrow* "Why would dey accuse you? Kill someone before or somethin'?"

His eyes become impossibly narrow. "That's none of your business."

The other's smile fades.

"Now, if you'd be so kind..." He gestures to the front doors.

The injured boy stares at him with a semi-shocked expression. 'Dis guys nuts! I need more time ta heal than that!'

"Here, I'll make it easy on you." He extends a hand.

*stare*

"What? Never seen a hand before?"

He shakes off his funny feeling and grabs the offered limb.

"Why are you blushing?"

"...huh?" He faintly touches his flushed cheeks. "Oh, ah, I-I..." He stutters.

The challenging stare deepens.

"I mean, what does it mattah ta you!?" He becomes defensive and grows redder. "I don't need ya help!" He uses both hands to push himself off the couch, breaking the physical contact betweem them. 'Damn, and he was so warm...' He takes a moment to gather his strength before limping his way across the room towards the exit.

The other teen crosses his arms, a smirk on his face.

'...almost...there...' He reaches out to grab the door handle, but collapses, suddenly unable to breathe.

"Seto!" A voice scolds.

"Yes Mokuba?"

"What do you think you're doing!?"

No reply.

A small figure races down the right staircase, shooting him a disapproving look before rushing to the wounded's side. "Are you okay?"

He shakes his head, cluthcing at his chest.

"Oh! Hold on!" He leaves the room and returns in record time with a paper bag. "Here!"

The blonde snatches it out of his hands and holds it up to his mouth, trying to steady his breathing. A few minutes go by before he lowers it, a look of gratitude on his face. "Thanks man."

The younger boy nods happily. "You just over-exerted yourself." He turns around and frowns at his sibling. "You know he needs more time to rest Seto!"

"You're right little brother. I do know that."

"What!?" The other teen shouts. "You guys are related!?"

"Yup!" The black-haired boy smiles. "We're the Kaibas!"

Ignoring the comments, he lowers his arms, another smirk on his face. "I'm just making sure he's not dangerous."

"What?"

His gaze shifts to the said person currently seated on the floor. "He's not much of a threat if he can't handle a simple punctured lung."

"Hey! Joey Wheeler can handle anything!" He tries failingly to stand back up.

"Joey is it? Hmph." He turns and starts walking away. "Puppy's more like it."

"Puppy!? I ain't no puppy!" He tries again to get up. "Agh, damn man! Why didn't ya take me to a real hospital!?"

He stops. Why HADN'T he taken him to the hosptial? He turns his head slightly to the side, not letting them see the blush creeping across his features. "The house was closer."

'The house was closer?! Does that mean he wanted me safe as soon as possible or...wait, who am I kiddin'? He just didn't wanna go outta his way to get some help. That lazy bastard.'

"Here, lemme help you." A hand's thrust in his face.

"Thanks, uh, Mokuba?"

"Yep, that's me!"

'Thank God he's not like his brother. How does he stand that guy? Is he always such a--'

"Is it true you're a criminal?"

"...huh?"

"Seto says he heard shouting and gunshots while he was out driving and saw you running away. Did you steal something?"

"Eh...somethin' like that." He didn't want them to know his father abused him. The older one...Seto was it?...might think him weaker than he already did. The truth was he hadn't always acted like that. He used to be real tough...livin' on the streets...until someone took him in by the name of "Dad".

It started out great. Both of 'em got what they wanted. The guy even got a nice girlfriend who he proposed to. When she said yes, they got married. On their wedding night, the car they were riding in crashed into a tree. He survived...but Elena was killed. Joey had always looked at her as his real mother, and when she died...well, he's been in mourning ever since.

His dad started drinking to ease the pain of her loss, but there are some things you can't forget. So every night when he didn't think he could take it anymore, he'd find Joey and let him have it. Sometimes he'd scream out Mihoshi...he guessed that's what the driver's name had been. He felt sorry for this man, but not enough to let him continue his beatings.

Last night he hadn't really meant to tell him to leave him alone...it just kinda slipped. But he thought, why not finish this while I'm at it? He didn't think he'd actually try to kill him though...

"Hmm, I don't believe you."

"How would you know?" He snaps.

Mokuba continues, unfazed. "It's kinda obvious you didn't steal anything. You didn't have anything valuable on you...or a weapon for that matter."

"I coulda dropped it."

"...you're right, you COULD have, but it's unlikely." He helps him to his feet. "Come on, you can rest in a bed now."

"Heh, thanks. Dat couch sucks."

"Hey, I happen to like that couch."

"Ehh..." he smiles sheepishly. "I mean, isa beautiful couch." They make there way to the foot of the stairs. He groans. "You mean it's all da way up there?"

"Yeah. All the bedrooms are upsatirs. The kitchen and some other stuff are down here though."

"Daammnnnn..." He looks at his surroundings for the first time. "This place is huge." There wasn't any carpet as far as he could tell and the furniture was a little strange, but the blue and off-white colors were admirable. The only thing missing...was a TV.

"Gyah! No TV!? What do ya do for fun around here!?"

Mokuba bursts out laughing. The look on his face was priceless. "Ah, don't worry! I have one in my room, so if you ever get bored just come up and we can play a game or somethin'!"

'Heh. Whadda nice kid.' He looks back at the stairs in dread. "Ohhh..."

"Come on, you can do it." He wraps an arm around his shoulder and proceeds to limp him up the steps war-buddy style.

"Ow...ow...ow..." Each step took its toll on his left leg and soon he was leaning against the wall for support.

"Hmm, this doesn't look like it's goin' anywhere." The young Kaiba lets go of him. "I'll go get Seto. Wait here."

"O-Okay."

"Joey? You gonna be alright?"

"Yeah. I'm jus' a little dizzy, that's all."

"Good. It'll only take me a minute."

He nods. 'I'm so tired....'

A minute passes by and still no one comes to help.

'What's takin' him so long?' He wonders, unaware of the other two entering the room. He looks up at the ceiling for no particular reason and absent-mindedly pushes himself away from the wall. 'It's so big...' His head starts to swim, his vision becoming blurry. 'No...not again...' He loses his balance and tumbles down the stairs, unable to catch himself on the railing.

He reaches the bottom of the steps and hits his head on the floor...hard.

"Joey!" He faintly hears Mokuba's voice and the patter of running feet before losing consciousness.

:::::::::::::(Seto's POV):::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::

'Damnit! He's blacked out again...' He calmly walks over to the still body. "Mokuba, why didn't you help him?"

He looks up momentarily from his crouching position with frightened eyes. "I-I tried. But he said he didn't wanna put all his weight on me and he got tired and leaned against the wall and I thought it'd be better if you helped him 'cuz you're bigger and he'd feel better about putting his weight on you and..." He trails off, watching in surprise as his brother kneels down next to the body. "...Seto?"

"It's alright." He slides an arm under his shoulders. "It's not your fault...he's just stubborn." He puts his other arm under his legs and lifts him up to his chest with ease, standing and taking a few steps up the stairs before turning around and putting on a warm smile. "Why don't you start dinner?"

"Okay! Maybe Joey'll be up when it's ready!"

"...maybe..." He turns back to the stairs and keeps climbing. 'He's out cold. I doubt he'll be up for another day or two.' He reaches the top of the steps and turns the corner, walking only a little ways before coming to a spare bedroom. 'I'll put him in here. If he happens to wake up a early, he'll see the stairs and know where he's at.'

He goes into the room with Joey still in his arms, his head resting on his chest. 'He looks so peaceful when he's not arguing with me. And he's light as a feather...even though he's limp. Doesn't he ever eat anything?'

He stops and lowers him onto the bed, taking a minute to size him up. "Hmph. Poor guy." He gently brushes the hair out of his face. 'This could do some work, but the rest is...' He abruptly snatches his hand away. 'What am I talking about? He's a complete and utter fool.'

He leaves the bedside, glancing back a little before quickly walking away.

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~ *~*~

A/N: Aww, is Seto confused?

Seto: No.

Are you sure?

Seto: Leave me alone.

You know what I'm gonna do to you, right?

Seto: BEGONE EVIL AUTHORESS LADY!!!

...did you just yell at me?

Seto: No.

Do you WANT me to make you molest poor Joey?

Seto: x_x

That's what I thought.

^^ More characters up next! Please review!!