Yu-Gi-Oh! Fan Fiction ❯ Stronger Than Before ❯ Chapter10 ( Chapter 10 )

Stronger Than Before

by Dragondreamer and Yami Dragon

Disclaimer: We don't own Yu-Gi-Oh! If we did, we'd be rich. But we don't, so we're not.

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, leave now! Don't bother flaming us, because we'll just laugh at you.

WARNING: THIS CHAPTER CONTAINS EXPLICIT YAOI (MALE/MALE SEX)! IF THAT'S NOT YOUR THING, THEN LEAVE NOW!

AN/ This chapter is dedicated to one AWESOME authoress. *hands a bowl of lemons* Here you go Keysha! *kisses* Enjoy, and thanks for everything!!

Note: /…/ Tristan's thoughts

[…] Joey's thoughts

{…} Seto's thoughts

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

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

`yak yak' (Artificial Intelligence) Sadie's voice

~*~*~*~*~

Tristan: Aren't you done this story yet?!

YD: No. Far from it.

DD: We've been busy trying to get all the Goddess damned paperwork done to get our koibito up here.

Seto: Don't forget to tell them you changed the handfast date.

DD: Oh yeah! It's been changed to August 12th. There's a full moon that night, so we thought it'd be nicer.

YD: Thanks to everyone for all their well wishes.

~*~*~*~*~

"It's a little cliché, don't you think?" Yami crossed his arms over his chest.

"It's what we think the players would want, Mr. Kaiba." The R&D head replied.

"Mummies are DEAD. They don't magically come back to life and jump on you."

"Perhaps we should do a trial run." Seto commented. "Pull in some users and see what they think."

Yami rolled his eyes, muttering. "I know what I'm talking about."

"I know that, love. It's just that…" He was cut off as Yami's eyes went unfocused and he gasped.

Yami clutched his head at the blast that came through the link, moaning.

"Clear the room!" Seto bellowed, reaching over and picking Yami up from his seat, setting him in his lap.

The room was quickly vacated, the staff present having witnessed this sort of behavior before.

Seto wrapped his arms tightly around his husband. "What's wrong? Where is he?"

"Across the street." Yami said, the pain fading as he filtered Yugi's emotions. "In the park."

"Are you alright?"

"Yes." Yami stood up. "He saw Joey."

Seto took out his cell phone as he led the way out of the room at a run. He got security on the line and told them to flood the area and find the blond.

"Shouldn't we tell Tristan?" Yami asked as the elevator doors shut. [[Hold on, Aibou. We're coming.]]

//Please, Yami…hurry.//

"Let's see if we can find him first."

The doors opened and they bolted through the lobby, people running to get out of their way.

Heedless of the traffic, Seto ran across the street, spying Yugi sitting on the ground next to the fountain, shaking and rocking himself.

"Yugi!" Seto dropped to his knees, hearing Yami come up behind him.

"Aibou," Yami dropped down on the other side of his hikari, gathering him into his arms. "What happened? Where's Joey?"

"Gone." Yugi sobbed, clinging to his other. "He was…he…said to leave him alone. He d-didn't want to be…be found. He was high."

Seto ran a comforting hand over Yugi's back. "Which way did he go?"

Yugi pointed towards the plaza that ran along one side of the park. "Oh, g-gods! He's…he's doing drugs a-again!"

Seto stood, directing his security people who had just shown up. As they ran off he turned back and reached down, picking Yugi up. "Come on, baby. Let's get you back inside."

"Put me d-down." Yugi squirmed, struggling to control his tears. "I c-can walk on my own."

Seto put him down, keeping a hand under his elbow as Yugi's eyes went unfocused.

//What are we going to do, Yami?//

[[I don't know, Aibou. All we can do is try to find him.]]

Seto kept his grip on Yugi and took Yami's hand, leading them back into the office building as they continued to converse through the link.

//We won't find him, Yami. He doesn't want to be found.// Yugi sent the entire confrontation with Joey through the link.

Yami winced. [[I don't believe he knew what he was saying, my light.]]

Seto led them into the elevator, staying silent and letting them talk. He'd get the information he needed once Yugi calmed down.

~*~*~*~*~

Joey grabbed the bottom rung of the ladder leading to the fire escape and quickly pulled himself up. Reaching the top of the building, he lay flat on his stomach and peered over the edge.

[I've gotta get back to Keith. I've gotta get back to Keith.] The thought kept running through his head as he waited out Seto's people.

After what seemed like hours, he descended from the roof and slipped deeper into the alley, making his way back to the only safety he felt he had.

~*~*~*~*~

"Hey, pal." Tristan greeted Seto as he shut the door behind him. "I just got the financials on the fund raiser we did for the burn unit. Better than we thought."

Seto sat down on the couch and motioned Tristan over. He took the file from the other's hand and dropped it on the coffee table. "We need to talk."

"What's wrong?" Tristan sat down next to his friend, frowning at the expression on his face.

"Yugi saw Joey." Seto said, not bothering to soften the blow.

"What?! Where?"

"Across the street, by the fountain."

Tristan started to rise, but Seto pulled him back down. "If he's still around, I can find him!"

"I've got people out already, Tris. Stay here." Seto took Tristan's hand. "There's something I need to tell you."

From the way Seto was looking at him, Tristan knew it wasn't going to be good. Seto's grip on his hand was almost painful and he looked like he was about to cry.

"What? Tell me."

"He said some pretty nasty things…he even got a little violent. He pushed Yugi down and told him to leave him alone." Seto wasn't about to tell his best friend what Joey had said about him. "Tris, he…he was stoned."

"No." Tristan shook his head in denial. "Seto…no."

"I'm sorry." Seto pulled Tristan close and held him. "I'm sorry, buddy."

"Why?" Tristan's voice was choked. "Oh, gods…Seto…"

"Don't worry. We're going to find him. When we do, we'll get him some help. We'll get him to the hospital as soon as we find him, okay?"

"We can't." Tristan pulled back enough to look up at the other man. "We can't put him in that clinic, Seto."

"Why? What is it with him and hospitals anyway?"

Tristan shifted so his head was on Seto's shoulder. "When we put him in there last time, when he was fifteen, it was really bad. Not just the physical withdrawal. He had hallucinations. And…gods…just when he was starting to get better…he was beaten up by an orderly because he wouldn't get out of bed."

"You're kidding me!"

"I wish I was."

"Well, let's find him first." Seto dropped a kiss on Tristan's forehead. "Yami and Yugi are already gone. Why don't you wrap things up and come spend the night with us?"

"I'd like that." Tristan stood, offering his hand to Seto and pulling him up. "That way I can be close in case they find Joey."

Seto had his doubts, they'd been out for a half hour and there was no sign of him, but he kept that thought to himself. If anyone knew how to stay lost in the city, it was Joey. He had had enough practice as a teenager. He gave Tristan a brief hug and left the office, promising to come get him in an hour.

Tristan returned to his desk, work forgotten as he twirled Joey's ring between his fingers, watching the light glint off it.

/Damn it, Joey. Why? Why would you go back there? How could you do that to yourself? Please…I want you to come back. Please./

~*~*~*~*~

Joey sat on the bed, staring at the wall. He had been relieved that Keith wasn't home when he returned. Somehow, he figured the older man would get really upset if he found out he had run into Yugi.

[Why can't they just leave me alone? I don't want to go back. Keith loves me. He doesn't ignore me. So what if he's got a temper. I'll just have to work harder not to upset him. It's my fault really. If I wasn't so stupid he wouldn't get so mad. He said so. He takes care of me. It doesn't matter if he's giving me drugs. I'm not hooked like last time. I can quit any time I want to. I just don't want to.]

He was starting to come down from his previous high and he was hoping Keith would get home soon. His hands were shaking so bad he didn't think he'd be able to fix himself another hit.

"What's this?" Keith was suddenly standing in the doorway, an envelope in his hand.

"Hi, Keith. I didn't hear you come in."

"What is it, Joe?" Keith waved the envelope.

"Money." Joey smiled. "I still feel guilty that you won't let me help out, so I went to the bank. There should be about two grand there."

Keith raised an eyebrow. He hadn't been aware that Joey had that kind of money. He knew Tristan made a six figure salary, but he didn't know Joey had money of his own.

Then it struck him…Joey had been outside. On the streets. Where Kaiba's people were looking for him.

Before Joey realized what had happened, Keith had crossed over to the bed and backhanded him across the face. Joey fell back with a cry, clutching his cheek.

"You fucking moron!" Keith yelled, climbing on top of him and straddling his chest. "What were you thinking?! Do you WANT me dead?! Kaiba's people are still looking for you!"

"I'm sorry!" Joey tried to apologize.

Keith hit him again, this time with a closed fist. Joey felt his lip split open and blood filled his mouth. A hand closed over his throat and Joey's cry of protest was cut off with his air.

He struggled against the bigger blond, looking up with terrified eyes. He didn't see Keith though. It was his father sitting on his chest, choking him. His father who, one night in a drunken rage, had almost choked his own son to death.

He wrapped his hands around Keith's arm, eyes pleading.

The red haze began to clear from Keith's vision and he let go, getting up and watching impassively as Joey curled up in a ball, his hands to his throat, coughing.

"Idiot." Keith muttered, turning away.

"P-please…Keith…I…I'm sorry."

Keith felt a hand on his back and he spun around, seeing Joey standing behind him, swaying, a hand still to his neck. Rage filled the bigger man again and he shoved Joey, both hands on the smaller man's chest, and sent him flying across the bed. Joey's head hit the wall with a loud thump and he slid off the bed to the floor, unmoving.

Keith went to him, checking his breathing. It was shallow, but steady. He gently picked the other up and laid him on the bed. "Why do you make me do that, Joe?"

He left the room, shutting the door behind him.

~*~*~*~*~

"It's not going to do any good, you know." Seto said as he refilled Tristan's glass.

"What?"

"Getting drunk."

Tristan just snorted, and downed the offered drink in one shot. "Says you."

Seto sighed, sitting down next to Tristan and pulling him against him. "I think you've had enough. You didn't eat anything at dinner and that's too much booze on an empty stomach."

"Eat me." Tristan growled.

Seto raised an eyebrow, but didn't reply. {Oh yeah. He's drunk.}

Tristan moved closer to the taller brunet, his mood shifting. "We're not going to find him, are we, Seto?"

"Of course we are, buddy." Seto put his arms around his friend, smiling as Tristan moved into his usual position with his head on Seto's shoulder. "Don't give up hope."

"Hope?" Tristan looked up at Seto with bloodshot eyes. "I don't even know what that is anymore."

"We'll find him." Seto said, leaning down and pressing his lips softly to Tristan's.

He felt Tristan go limp against him and he pulled back. The smaller man was out cold. Seto shook his head and reached to unbutton Tristan's shirt, thinking he'd be more comfortable sleeping without it.

"Let me give you a hand." Yugi said, coming into the room and seeing his husband struggling.

"Thanks, baby."

They finally managed to get the piece of clothing off of their friend and Yugi let out a gasp.

"Oh, Seto…" Yugi ran his hands over Tristan's sides. They knew he had lost weight, but they didn't know it would be enough to make his ribs stick out like that.

Seto ran his hands over Tristan's hips, feeling the bones sticking out sharply. Even his shoulder and collar bones were prominent, giving testament to the fact he wasn't taking care of himself.

"Damn it, Tristan." Seto muttered. "What the hell are you doing to yourself?"

Yugi looked at Seto, his huge, sad eyes filled with tears. "What can we do?"

"Dear Ra!" Yami was standing in the doorway, shocked eyes taking in Tristan's appearance.

He crossed over to the couch, going down on his knees and reaching out to stroke Tristan's face with gentle fingers. He locked gazes with Seto, shaking his head.

"I don't think it's intentional, Yami. He's just…" Seto trailed off, a guilty look crossing his face.

"It's not your fault, Seto." Yami stated firmly. "Tristan isn't a child. Stop treating him like one. That's no way to help him."

Seto just shook his head, tightening his grip on his best friend.

Yami sighed, standing and grabbing Tristan's arms. "Help me, Aibou."

Together, they pulled Tristan up and Seto made himself comfortable, then he reached up and drew Tristan down. Yami and Yugi couldn't help smiling as Tristan immediately cuddled into Seto's chest with a small sigh, looking very much like the child Yami claimed he wasn't.

Yugi spread a light blanket over the two of them and leaned down to kiss Seto. Then he leaned over and kissed Tristan as well. "Good night, you two."

Yami mimicked his light, taking a moment to brush Seto's hair out of his eyes. "Sleep well, love."

"Good night. Love you both."

Hikari and yami left together, dimming the lights as they went.

"We're having a serious talk tomorrow, buddy." Seto whispered, running his fingers through Tristan's short, spiky hair before closing his eyes and giving himself up to sleep.

~*~*~*~*~

"Sadie, hack into Joey's bank files, would you?"

`What am I looking for, Seto?'

"Anything. Withdrawals, activity on his credit card, anything you can give me."

`Right away.'

"What are you doing?" Tristan came into the control room, dropping down in the chair next to Seto's.

It had been a week since Yugi had seen Joey and Tristan hadn't been home since. Yami had talked him into staying with them after a heated discussion between Seto and Tristan over the state of Tristan's health.

Tristan had yelled at Seto, telling him he was fine, and Seto had yelled back, accusing him of not eating. Some choice words were used, and when the argument disintegrated to childish name calling, Yami had finally stepped in, diffusing the situation by suggesting that Tristan stay at the mansion where all he had to concentrate on was work and looking for Joey. Tristan had reluctantly agreed, not really wanting to be alone, but hating to admit it.

"I'm taking a look at Joey's bank records." Seto said as Sadie brought them up on the screen. "What's that?"

Tristan leaned closer to the screen. "That withdrawal was the day Yugi saw him."

"I wonder what it was for. Kinda a large amount for a single transaction." Seto frowned. "Tuition, maybe?"

"I don't think so." Tristan replied. "Sadie? Can you get in to the university computers and see if Joey's registered for classes?"

`Certainly."

"He would have by now. But the amount doesn't seem right. It's not enough for the three courses he's taking this term…let alone books too."

`I'm sorry, Tristan. He hasn't registered.'

"Damn. I think I know what it was for."

"What?"

"Drugs." Tristan replied, his eyes growing hard. "Sadie, freeze his account and cut off his credit card. And lock him out of our joint account."

`Right away, Tristan.'

Seto raised an eyebrow.

"Maybe if he can't get his hands on any money, it'll bring him out. Now that you've taken your people off the street, he may feel a little safer and he'll start showing up."

"Good point." Seto said. "Sadie, go into the DMV computers and suspend his driver's license too."

`Will do.'

"This way, if he's driving and he gets stopped, they'll hold him. I've got people at the police department who'll call me if they pull him in for anything."

"Good plan, pal." Tristan was about to say more when he was interrupted by Bakura.

"Hey, guys." Bakura threw himself into the extra chair. "Man, Tristan! You look like shit."

Tristan rolled his eyes.

"What's up, Bakura? Where's Ryou?" Seto asked, quickly changing the subject.

"Went somewhere with the Pharaoh and his light." The white haired man waved a hand dismissively.

"Anything new on the Adams woman?" Tristan asked.

"Nope. She's gone from the country. As far as I can tell, she's been gone for about a week."

"Maybe she's gone for good." Seto said.

"Wishful thinking." Tristan chuckled.

"Yeah." Bakura grinned. "Seeing as everyone else is gone, why don't we work on that instrumental piece?"

"You two go ahead." Tristan avoided their eyes. "I don't feel like it."

"Come on, Tristan." Bakura coaxed. "When was the last time you touched the ivory?"

Seto snickered. "Why is it that EVERYTHING you say has a double meaning?"

"You're the one who picked up on it, rich boy."

"Fine…fine." Tristan struggled to hold back his laughter. "Let's go."

Bakura led the way from the control room to the small studio Seto had set up a few years back when they all started playing together.

Seto immediately grabbed an acoustic guitar, Bakura grabbing the other one. Tristan flipped on the power to the keyboard, hitting a few buttons to bring up the baby grand.

They got into it, the blend of music giving Tristan some peace. Until he lifted his eyes and looked at Bakura.

The white haired man was perched on a stool, one foot on the floor, the other propped on the bottom rung with the guitar laying across his upraised knee. His head was tilted to one side and his eyes were closed. The way his hair fell across his eyes…it was a position Tristan had often seen Joey take when he was lost in the music.

One hand left the keyboard to pull Joey's ring from the confines of his shirt. /I wish you were here. You used to love playing with us. It just doesn't sound the same without you./

Bakura was the first to notice that Tristan had stopped playing. He nudged Seto, calling his attention to the other brunet. He had told Seto about Tristan's zoning out on him and what he saw as it being a connection to the ring.

Seto frowned. He had been aware, of course, that Tristan was wearing Joey's ring, but after hearing from Yugi, and then Bakura, about the effect it had on him, he wasn't so sure it was a good thing.

Laying the guitar aside, Seto went to Tristan and put a hand on his shoulder. "Tristan?"

Tristan didn't reply. He just continued to stare into space, rubbing the ring between his fingers.

"Tristan!" Seto grabbed him by both shoulders and shook him.

"Huh?" Tristan dropped the ring. "Sorry. Are we done?"

"What's happening to you, buddy?" Seto reached out to touch the ring lying against Tristan's chest.

Tristan closed his hand over it. "Don't."

"Tris, this isn't good."

"I don't know what you're talking about."

"Every time you touch that thing, you zone out." Bakura said, still perched on the stool.

Tristan shook his head, denying what they were saying.

"How often have you lost time?" Bakura asked. "One minute you're doing something, and then you get that ring in your hand and next thing you know it, hours have passed."

"I…I have." Tristan admitted.

"Give it to me." Seto said, holding out his hand.

"What?!" Tristan backed away. "No."

"Buddy, it isn't helping. It's not helping you face it. Please, give it to me."

"No, Seto. Back off! It's none of your business."

"I'm your best friend, that makes it my business."

Seto didn't notice the dangerous gleam in Tristan's eyes, but Bakura did. Before he could react, however, Tristan's fist shot out and he caught Seto in the jaw. Seto growled, calling him a stubborn bastard as his eyes narrowed and he punched Tristan in the stomach.

Bakura was frozen in shock. He finally shook it off as Seto tackled Tristan to the floor, the force sending them crashing into the wall. He managed to break them apart before they did any more damage to each other.

"Stop it! What the HELL are you doing! Trying to kill each other?!" Bakura grabbed both of them by the back of the head, smacking their foreheads together.

They both yelped, hands going to foreheads, turning their glares on the white haired spirit.

"That's better." Bakura grinned, getting up. "Now kiss and make up or something…before I kill you both."

They stared, open-mouthed, as Bakura stalked from the room, slamming the door behind him. Turning to look at each other, they were speechless, not only by Bakura's actions, but their own as well.

"Seto," Tristan touched the other's jaw were a bruise was already starting to form. "Oh gods…I'm sorry."

"It's okay." Seto grinned. "It's not like you've never hit me before."

Tristan shook his head. "Never in anger. Never."

"Forget it. How's your stomach?"

"I'll live." Tristan sighed, reaching for the chain around his neck. He slipped the ring off it before dropping the necklace into his shirt pocket.

"Will you give it to me now?" Seto asked quietly.

"I…I don't know if I can." Tristan closed his fingers over it. "It's all I have left of him, Seto."

"Tris…please. It's nothing but a crutch."

"But…" Tristan's eyes filled with tears.

"Please." Seto held out his hand. "I promise you I'll take good care of it."

Tristan hesitantly placed the ring in Seto's outstretched hand. Once he placed it in his palm, Tristan jerked his hand back like it had been burned.

Seto put it in his pants pocket and took Tristan in his arms. "It's okay, Tris. It's okay."

Tristan clung to him, completely breaking down. "I need him, Seto. There's nothing left with him gone. I've loved him since I was fourteen. I can't remember what it's like NOT to love him. I don't know if I can do this anymore."

"Shhh. It's alright." Seto held him tightly, kissing the top of his head. "I'll help you get through this, Tris."

"I don't know what I'd do without you, pal. You're the only thing keeping me sane right now."

"You'll never have to know. I'm not going anywhere."

~*~*~*~*~

Joey crawled slowly out of the bed and headed to the living room, not even bothering to dress.

"What's the matter, baby?" Keith asked from the couch, his voice tinged with mock-concern. "You hurtin'?"

Joey nodded, shaking so hard his teeth were chattering. His whole body felt like it was on fire, his head was pounding and all his joints felt like they were being ripped from their sockets.

"What's that? I didn't hear you."

"Y-y-yes." Joey stuttered, fighting to stay upright and not throw up.

Keith sighed, rolling his eyes. "Come here."

Joey moved unsteadily across the room, dropping down on the floor in front of Keith.

When he tried to take the needle the other prepared for him, he couldn't close his fingers around it.

"You're fucking hopeless, you know that?" Keith wrapped a leather belt around Joey arm, tightening it.

Joey whimpered as the needle slipped into his bruised vein.

"Don't be such a pussy, Joe." Keith pulled the needle out and took off the belt. "And what did I tell you about just using one arm?"

Joey shook his head, sighing as the pain gave way to euphoria. This was what he needed, relief from the pain. "Thank you."

Keith smirked, noticing, as though for the first time, that the younger blond was completely naked. "Time to pay up, Joe."

Joey's smiled up at Keith, a gross parody of his normal grin. "I'll do anything for you. I love you, Keith."

"Prove it."

Joey's drunken smile stayed firmly in place as he lay back on the floor, spreading his legs and bending them at the knee. "I'm yours, Keith. Only yours. I'll never leave you."

~*~*~*~*~

"Hello, love." Seto sat down on the bench next to Yami.

"Seto, what brings you out here?"

"You."

Yami smiled. He had been sitting in the maze for a while, thinking about Tristan and the effect his situation was having on Seto. On all of them really. They were all so worried about him that they hadn't found much time for each other lately.

"I'm happy to see you." Yami reached up and kissed his husband gently.

Seto responded by wrapping his arms around the smaller man and drawing him into a passionate kiss. He moaned as Yami parted his lips to permit his questing tongue. He plundered the smaller man's mouth hungrily, his senses flaming at the softness of the silken cavern.

Yami pulled away, gasping. "Seto…please."

"Undress for me." Seto picked Yami up, setting him on his feet.

Yami grinned, feeling the soft grass beneath his bare feet. It had been a very long time since he and Seto had made love under the open sky.

Yami slowly stripped off his shirt, running his hands over his chest, throwing his head back and moaning as he teased his nipples to hardness. He stepped back with a smirk when Seto reached out for him.

"Tease." Seto growled playfully.

"You love it." Yami pulled off his pants, throwing them across the clearing.

"Mmmm…I do." Seto stood, looming over Yami. He slowly removed his own clothing, closing his eyes and groaning as Yami ran his hands over his bare skin. He tipped Yami's face up and kissed him briefly before dropping to his knees, bending his head and taking Yami into his mouth.

"Ah…yes." Yami hissed, burying his hands in Seto's hair for a moment before removing one of the brunet's hands from his hip and bringing it to his lips. He drew two long fingers into his mouth, sucking on them and swirling his tongue around the digits.

Seto withdrew his fingers, reaching around and pressing them into the other's tight heat. He released Yami as he heard him cry out with pleasure. He looked up to be caught in ruby eyes, glazed over with desire.

"Yami…" Seto removed his hand, drawing his husband down onto his knees in front of him, kissing his deeply before pushing him down onto his back.

Yami reached up, his face a mask of desperation. "Now, my love."

Seto clenched his teeth, fighting for control, as he lowered himself and sank into the other's welcoming warmth. Yami sighed blissfully, wrapping his hands around Seto's shoulders.

Seto held himself up with his hands on either side of Yami's chest, fingers digging into the soft ground, as he began to move on him. Yami moaned and wrapped his legs around Seto's waist, giving him deeper penetration, and thrust up to meet him.

"Harder, Seto…harder, damn it!"

He pounded into the man below him, feeling Yami's release already approaching in the tightening of his inner walls around his throbbing member. Not wanting it too end so soon, but wanting to bring his love completion, Seto angled his thrusts and was rewarded with a strangled cry.

"Yes! Oh, my dragon…yes!"

"That's it, love…give in to it."

Yami felt as if he had been struck by lightening as his release slammed into him, so powerful he could give voice to it. Seto watched, entranced, as Yami writhed beneath him, caught in the throes of his climax.

"Gods…Yami. You're so beautiful." A low, harsh cry was torn from him as he tumbled over the edge and collapsed on Yami's chest.

~*~*~*~*~

Tristan made his way through the maze, looking for Yami.

He and Seto had driven to work together that morning, but Seto had to leave early so Tristan took one of the company limos back to the mansion. Finding out that Yami was the only one home, Tristan had decided to spend some time with him. Talking to Yami always made him feel better, and considering the way he was feeling now, he needed it.

He made it to the clearing in the middle and was greeted with a bit of a shock. Seto and Yami making love in the grass, so caught up in each other they didn't noticed Tristan's arrival.

Tristan backed away, feeling a little embarrassed, as he heard Seto's voice, deep and husky, telling Yami how beautiful he was.

He turned, hurrying out of the maze, not wanting them to know he had caught them in such an intimate moment.

/I should leave. I'm interfering with their lives./ Tristan crossed the yard, heading around to the garage. /I'm just in the way. Seto's spent every night up with me. He's fallen asleep on the couch instead of going to bed with Yugi and Yami like he should be doing./

Tristan grabbed his keys from the small locker just inside the garage door. He backed his Audi out of the garage and headed for the gate.

He stopped to speak to the guard there, asking him to tell Seto that he was going home, before pulling out on to the main street, heading home.

Once there, he walked through the silent house, arriving in the bedroom and kicking the door closed behind him. He lay down on the bed and pulled Joey's pillow to him, curling around it. Reaching for Joey's ring, he remembered it wasn't there and tears blurred his vision as he stared out the window, mind blank, until sleep finally claimed him.

~*~*~*~*~

YD: WEEEEEE!!!

Yugi: Man, they're BOTH totally screwed up!

Tristan: You two get off on torturing me, don't you.

DD: Of course we do.

YD: We'll get to work on the next chappie of One Way Street some time tomorrow.

DD: Thanks again to everyone who have supported ourselves, our koibito and Koi.

YD: We love you all! *blows kisses*