Yu-Gi-Oh! Fan Fiction ❯ Stronger Than Before ❯ chapter29 ( Chapter 29 )

Stronger Than Before

by Dragondreamer and Yami Dragon

Disclaimer: We don't own Yu-Gi-Oh! If we did, Dragondreamer would own Seto.

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!

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

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

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

~*~*~*~*~

DD: I don't believe it!

Tris: What?

YD: We've only got one more chapter and the epilogue and we're done!

Seto: Are you going to write a sequel?

DD: Yes…Mokuba needs a little print.

Seto: Okay…that makes me nervous.

YD: *grin* It should.

~*~*~*~*~

Joey snuggled into Tristan's warm body, sighing happily at the feeling of his lover's bare skin against his own.

"Tris?" Joey lifted his head from Tristan's chest. "What's wrong? You've been kinda…I don't know…distracted today."

"A little." Tristan drew Joey closer to him and began running his fingers through his hair.

"Tell me?"

Tristan shook his head. "It's stupid."

"Well, I still want to know. Please?"

"I keep…" Tristan buried his face in Joey's hair. "I keep seeing you with Keith. I know he hurt you…I know he wasn't gentle with you, but…"

"But what, angel?" Joey asked softly as Tristan trailed off.

"I can't get it out of my head." Tristan whispered. "I can see him making love to you…touching you the way I do. I know he didn't, but I can't help it, Joey."

"This is because of the dream I had last night, isn't it?"

Tristan nodded. "I'm sorry."

Joey leaned back and looked Tristan in the eye. "Tristan, listen to me. Keith NEVER made love to me. EVER. He had sex with me…he took me…he even forced me…but he never made love to me."

Joey reached out and stroked his fingers across Tristan's face. "And no one…NO ONE…has ever touched me the way you do."

A soft sob escaped Tristan and he pushed Joey over onto his back, pinning him to the bed with his upper body. He searched the honey colored eyes deeply, looking for reassurance.

"It's okay, angel." Joey said, reaching up to stroke his face again. "I'm here. I love you and I'm not going to leave you alone again."

"I won't let you leave me again, Joey. You belong to me." Tristan bent his head and took possession of Joey's lips, roughly and desperately, needing an outlet for his confused emotions.

Joey whimpered. Something had flashed in Tristan's eyes before they slid closed…something that took him somewhere he didn't want to be.

/You belong to me, Joe…you're mine…no one touches what's mine…such a good little whore…/

Keith's voice echoed in his mind and he trembled, his hands coming up to grasp at shoulders broader than they used to be. He was being held down by a new weight that he hadn't yet had time to grow accustomed to. He began to struggle.

Tristan felt his lover pushing at him and he pulled back. "Joey? Baby?"

Joey's eyes snapped open, meeting Tristan's concerned gaze. "Please…Tris, don't. Get off me."

Tristan quickly moved, startled by the fading panic in the blond's eyes. "I'm sorry, love. I didn't mean to scare you."

Joey pressed himself against Tristan, his trembling calming. He knew that Tristan had a possessive streak, he always had, but it had never been this bad before.

That, and he had to wonder how much of his reaction had been due to the fact that he still wasn't used to the extra weight and muscle Tristan had put on while he was gone. He wasn't as big as Keith had been, but still…

"I'm so sorry, Joey." Tristan held his lover gently.

"No, I'm okay now." Joey shook his head. "It's just…I guess it was a flashback, kinda. What you said…and you were pinning me down…and…you're…ummm…bigger than you used to be. I'm just not used to it."

"I'm sorry."

"Stop apologizing." Joey looked at Tristan seriously. "You know, Tris…I've had help dealing with everything that's happened, but you haven't. Maybe…maybe you should talk to someone."

"I'm fine." Tristan looked away. "I can deal with it."

"No. You can't." Joey grasped the brunet's chin between his fingers, forcing him to look at him. "You're mad about what happened to me. And to top it all off, you're jealous."

"I'm not…" Tristan tried to deny that truth of Joey's words.

"Bullshit. Tristan…you need help with this. Don't be so proud." Joey leaned in and kissed him gently. "Please, angel."

Tristan sighed, giving in. "Okay. If you want me to see someone, I will."

"Don't do it because I'm asking you to, Tristan."

"No, you're right." Tristan said. "I don't like the way I'm feeling…the things I'm thinking…and I don't want to make this any harder on you than it already is."

"Well," Joey looked thoughtful. "Maybe we can go together. Jack suggested it to me today."

"He did?" Tristan looked surprised.

"A couple can't go through what we have without it causing some problems, Tris. He introduced me to a therapist today that does marriage counseling. If I make an appointment with her, will you go?"

"I'll go." Tristan brushed Joey's bangs back, kissing his forehead. "And I promise you I'll try to talk…but it's not going to be easy."

"That's all I'm asking." Joey placed a hand on Tristan's chest. "I know how hard it is for you to talk about what you're feeling. Thank you."

"I love you, Joey." Tristan said softly. "So very much. It's just that…I…you've…I don't want this to sound possessive, but I can't help it."

"It's okay, Tris. Just say it."

"You've always been mine." Tristan looked into Joey's eyes, wanting him to understand. "I was the only one you had ever been with. That Keith even touched you that way…I shouldn't have waited for Seto and Bakura. I should have killed him myself."

"No." Joey took both of Tristan's hands in his, kissing them. "I don't want blood on these hands. These hands were the first to ever touch me gently." He leaned up and brushed his lips against Tristan's. "These lips were the first to ever kiss me. You were the first to ever love me, Tris, and as far as I'm concerned, YOU are the only lover I've ever had."

"Oh, Joey…baby…" Tristan pulled his hands from Joey's gentle grip and tangled them in his hair, cradling his head as he moved to kiss him deeply.

Joey clutched at Tristan's shoulders, pulling him closer and returning the kiss. /He can't help the way he feels. He's trying. He has his own demons to fight, just like I do. It hasn't been any easier on him than it has been on me./

Joey broke the kiss, reaching up to draw Tristan's hands from his hair. He kissed the top of the scar on the inside of his lover's left arm, making his way down to his wrist, where he gently kissed the scar there.

"Make love to me, angel." Joey whispered. "Make me yours again."

Tristan took Joey's lips again, tenderly this time, and gently pushed him over on his back, careful not to put too much weight on him. He moaned, feeling Joey's tongue caress his own, and left the kiss swollen mouth for his neck, running his hands over his golden lover's body.

His fingers ghosted over Joey's ribs, noting how thin he still was. He moved down, kissing the indentation between each individual bone, causing Joey to whimper with pleasure.

Joey's hands fisted into the sheets and he arched his body against the brunet. "Please…please, Tristan…"

Knowing what it was Joey wanted, Tristan moved down further, taking the blond's half aroused length into his mouth, gently coaxing him into full hardness.

"Oh, gods!" Joey groaned, feeling as if he had been struck by lightening and beginning to writhe under the sweet torture. "Tris…I can't take it! Please!!"

Tristan pulled back and looked up at the blond, gauging his need.

Joey was trembling, his entire body already bathed in a light sheen of sweat, a desperate, hungry look in his darkened eyes.

Tristan knew his lover wasn't going to last much longer and he quickly turned to the bedside table, pulling a bottle of lubricant from the drawer.

Joey saw him and shivered with anticipation, his eyes closing as Tristan kissed along his collarbone. He moaned loudly as a single, slick digit entered his fevered body and he pulled Tristan up, fusing their lips together.

Tristan kissed him for a long moment before pulling back, staring down into his face as he continued to gently prepare him, watching the rapture spread across his features.

"Tristan!" Joey cried out as the brunet's fingers made contact with his prostate, send a jolt of pure pleasure rocketing through his body. "Angel, please…please! Oh, gods! Take me!"

Tristan bit back a moan as he rolled onto his back, drawing Joey on top of him. Joey quickly moved to straddle his lover, pressing down.

Tears came to Tristan's eyes as he looked up at Joey. "I forgot, Joey. I forgot how good you feel…how beautiful you are like this."

"I won't let you forget again." Joey whispered, his hands reaching out to caress Tristan's chest and stomach as he began to move. "It's been too long…so good…"

Tristan reached out to grasp Joey's hips, lifting him slightly and bending his legs to support the blond as he began to move faster. Joey hissed as Tristan thrust up, crashing into his prostate.

"Harder…Tristan…please, harder." Joey began to thrash, his long hair sticking to his sweat drenched skin, one hand wrapping around his throbbing arousal, stroking himself.

"That's it, Joey." Tristan encouraged him. "Do it. Make yourself come, baby."

Joey groaned, his movements becoming more frenzied, almost brutal, with each passing second. Tristan thrust up to meet him, the sight of his lover pleasuring himself pushing him closer to the edge.

"No." Joey whimpered, feeling his release quickly approaching. "No…please, Tristan…I don't want it to end."

"Joey…I can't…I can't hold on, love…please…" Tristan begged. "Please…come for me."

Joey whimpered again and stopped fighting it, climaxing violently. Tristan's back arched as his own climax crashed through him and he moaned, feeling Joey's release splatter across his chest and neck.

Slumping back against Tristan's upraised legs, Joey fought to slow his ragged breathing. He looked down at his lover, whose eyes were closed, his head still tipped back and chest heaving as he tried to catch his breath.

Joey slowly climbed off Tristan and stood on shaking legs, going into the bathroom to clean himself up. He wet a face cloth and brought it back to the bed, sitting next to Tristan and gently removing all traces of their lovemaking from the brunet's body.

That done, Joey lay down and pulled Tristan into his arms, smiling when the bigger man cuddled in close.

Tristan laid his head on Joey's chest and looked up at him, an unreadable expression in his eyes.

Joey raised an eyebrow. "What?"

Tristan shook his head, kissing Joey's neck.

"Hey. I'm not Seto." Joey tapped Tristan on the forehead with his index finger. "You have to tell me what's going on in there."

Tristan sighed, throwing an arm across his blond lover; remembering what Master Kiotou had said about hiding his feeling from Joey.

He lowered his head, unable to meet the curious amber eyes. "When we were out with Lexi today…I…I saw this guy looking at you."

"Looking at me how?"

"Like…that."

"What did he look like?" Joey asked quietly, feeling a flash of panic.

Tristan felt Joey's heartbeat accelerate and he lifted his head, his heart twisting at the look on the other's face. He reached up and caressed Joey's face, silently reassuring him.

""Please, Tris," Joey's hand closed over Tristan's. "Tell me."

"He was a big guy." Tristan said. "Maybe as tall as Seto. Black hair…crew cut. He was riding a late model Harley."

Joey's eyes closed, his brow furrowed as if in pain, and his breath hitched.

"Do you know him?"

Joey nodded. "Andy."

Tristan untangled himself from Joey's embrace and moved up, reaching out to hold the blond, feeling him shiver. "Can you tell me?"

"He was one of…THEM." Joey clutched at Tristan. "He offered Keith…he offered him a thousand dollars to…to sleep with me."

"Did you?" Tristan asked, afraid of the answer.

Joey shook his head, burrowing into Tristan's chest. "Keith wouldn't let him."

A wave of anger engulfed Tristan and he shoved it back, leaving an emotion that he didn't want to deal with.

Fear.

The irrational fear that Joey would leave him…that he'd lose him again. To what, or who, he had no idea. All he knew was that he was afraid…and he silently cursed himself for that particular weakness.

"Tris?" Joey looked at him, shocked to see it so plainly mirror in his lover's eyes. "What's wrong? Tell me."

"Did you have feeling for any of these guys?" The brunet asked quietly.

"What?!" Joey propped himself up on his arm. "Tristan! No!"

"I'm sorry, baby. I just don't…" Tristan struggled with himself, wanting to tell Joey what he was feeling, but angry at himself for feeling it.

"Don't what?"

"I don't want you to leave me again." Tristan whispered, his voice barely audible.

"I told you I'm not going to." Joey leaned down and brushed Tristan's lips with his own. "And I meant it."

Tristan pulled Joey down on top of him and buried his face in his neck.

"It's okay, Tris." Joey comforted him. "I know it hurts. I know you're scared and hating yourself for it. I understand. Really…I do. I'm just glad you agreed to go to counseling with me. It'll help. I know it will."

"Joey," Tristan pushed him up so he could look into his face. "I need…I need you to tell me you're still mine. I need to hear you say it. Please, Joey."

"Oh, Tristan." Joey leaned his forehead against the brunet's. "I am yours. I always have been. Nothing's going to change that."

Tristan wrapped his arms around Joey, taking him into a passionate kiss, hoping and praying what he said was true.

~*~*~*~*~

"Unca Mo-to-ba!" Lexi jumped down from her chair and threw herself into Mokuba's outstretched arms.

"Good morning, cutie." Mokuba sat down at the table, setting Lexi in his lap. "Morning, Justin."

"Good morning, Uncle Mokuba." Justin smiled at him.

"You're going to be late for school, Mokuba." Yami said, handing the teen a cup of coffee.

"I'll drop him off." Joey offered. "I've got to get out of here or I'm going to be late too."

"Take your coffee with you." Seto told his brother.

"Yeah, fine." Mokuba stood up, coffee in one hand and Lexi in the other arm. "Come see me off then, Justin."

"He's so good with them." Seto commented as Mokuba left the dining room. "If he finds the right girl, we could end up with a house full of kids."

Joey smirked at Yugi, who shot him a warning look, as he bent down to kiss Tristan. "Love you."

"Love you too, baby." Tristan reached up and tucked Joey's hair behind his ear.

"I'll make that appointment today."

"Don't make it for tomorrow. My day is blocked solid."

"Okay." Joey kissed him again. "I'll see you later."

"Appointment?" Seto ask, curious, after Joey had left.

Tristan flushed, looking down at where his hands were wrapped around his coffee cup. "Joey and I are going to see a marriage councilor."

"Don't be embarrassed, buddy." Seto said. "I'm happy to hear it."

"Yeah." Yugi put in. "It'll do you some good, Tristan. Both of you."

"And maybe then I can stop buying industrial sized bottles of aspirin." Seto grinned.

"Very funny." Tristan scowled. "If you hadn't rescheduled the last FOUR times we were supposed to see Master Kiotou…"

Tristan's tirade was cut off as the kids came back into the room.

Lexi went over to Yugi and crawled into his lap, immediately falling to playing with his hair. "Lexi low `ugi hay-war. Is cool."

"Tristan," Yami smiled as Yugi tweaked Lexi's nose, making her giggle. "Why don't you leave Lexi with us today? I'm sure she'd like to spend some time with Justin."

"Yeah! Lexi tay a `ugi a `ami! Pay a Jut-in all day!!" Lexi looked at her father. "Peas, Papa?"

"If you want to, baby girl." Tristan replied.

"TIPPIE!!"

"Thanks, Yami. It'd be a help actually. I'm swamped today."

"Did you get the press release done?" Seto asked.

"It's already on your desk, pal" Tristan replied. "I'm hoping to have it out for the evening newspapers. I just hope Rita Adams doesn't try to stir up any trouble over you taking over the orphanage."

"I'm sure she will." Seto remarked dryly, standing. "Let's get going so we can get it done."

Tristan went to his daughter, bending down and kissing her. "Be good for Uncle Yugi and Uncle Yami, baby girl."

"Lexi be dood, Papa." She smiled up at him.

"Love you, sweetheart."

"Lexi low Papa."

Seto kissed his family good bye and headed for the door, Tristan following.

After they left, Yugi took Lexi upstairs to change her, leaving Yami and Justin alone.

Justin went to Yami and sat in his lap, looking up at him with a slightly puzzled expression on his face. "Can I ask you a question, Pharaoh?"

Yami sighed. He'd given up on trying to get Justin to call him anything else.

"You can ask me anything, Justin, you know that." Yami pushed the child's glasses back up his nose.

"Are you and Dad and Daddy married to Uncle Tristan too?"

Yami shook his head, confused. "No. What makes you ask that?"

"'cause last night I saw Dad kiss him."

"But you've seen him kiss Uncle Tristan before."

Justin looked up over his glasses, which had slipped back down his nose. "But Dad was kissing him like I see him kiss you and Daddy sometimes."

[[Oh, shit.]]

"I saw Uncle Tristan kiss Uncle Joey like that the other day too…but they're not married."

"Well," Yami was becoming distinctly uncomfortable. "They're a couple, son. They love each other."

"So are Dad and Uncle Tristan a couple too? They tell each other they love each other all the time."

[[Oh, Ra…why me?]] "They do love each other, but they're not a couple."

"Then why were they kissing like that?"

[[AIBOU!!]]

//What's wrong, Yami?//

[[Help!]]

//Justin asking difficult questions again?//

[[YES!!!]]

Yami felt Yugi chuckle. //I'll be right there, Yami. This must be what Tristan meant when he told us Master Kiotou said we'd be bringing Justin to him today.//

~*~*~*~*~

Tristan sat at his desk, newspaper and magazine articles spread over the surface.

It had been a week since they had let the press know that Kaiba Corp. had taken over the orphanage and Tristan had been overwhelmed by phone calls and requests for interviews.

Yesterday, he had finally just held a press conference…Rita Adams hadn't shown up. That fact made Tristan extremely nervous. It wasn't like her to pass up an opportunity to cause him some grief.

/Maybe I should plant someone in her office. Bakura probably knows someone./

As if summoned by his thoughts, the office door opened and Bakura walked in, looking grim. He had a newspaper in his hand and he walked over to Tristan desk, tossing it down in front of him.

Tristan picked it up without a word and as soon as he saw the picture, he felt the familiar rage well up, consuming him.

The caption read "Money Talks" and there was a picture of Lexi and Justin, obviously taken in the lobby of the office tower, carefully edited, making it look like they were standing there alone. Which was impossible, because when they did come to the office, they came in with Tristan and Seto and were immediately taken to the daycare Seto had established in the building that was being run by Amanda Geddes, the woman who had worked at the orphanage.

Tristan fought to keep his temper in check as he read the article, but it got more difficult with each word. Especially when it referred to Justin as a "child of questionable parentage". It also said that Lexi's mother was an addict and a prostitute, that Tristan really was her natural father and with Joey as a parent, she had gone "from the frying pan into the fire".

He dropped the paper and clenched his fists against the need to break something…or someone.

He looked up at Bakura and the raw rage in his eyes made the white haired man take an involuntary step back.

"Does Seto know about this?" He asked, his voice low and deadly.

"Not yet." Bakura was having a hard time keeping his own anger under control. "I thought I'd better tell you first."

Tristan picked up the paper again, looking at the picture. With a growl, he tore it in half and flung it across the room.

"Do something about it." Tristan said to Bakura. "NO ONE fucks with our kids."

Bakura nodded once and turned on his heel, stalking from the room.

As the door shut with a loud slam, Tristan slumped back in his chair, suddenly feeling helpless. He had tried everything short of a threat of physical violence to put a stop to this woman. He felt like he had failed everyone. The hardest to deal with was that she was the primary reason Joey had gone through…was still going through…what he had.

And now this.

He wasn't the least bit surprised when the door opened and Seto walked in.

"A handful of painkillers tells me you're highly pissed about something."

Tristan just shook his head and pointed to the torn paper on the floor.

Seto lifted an eyebrow and went to pick it up, bringing it over to Tristan's desk. He pushed some papers aside and sat down, propping his foot on the edge of Tristan's chair as he began to read.

When he was done, he threw the paper into the wastebasket next to Tristan's desk, his face darkened with anger. "Damn it."

He could feel the frustration coming from Tristan and he met his eyes, seeing an almost overwhelming guilt there.

"No." Seto stood, pulling Tristan out of his chair and into his arms. "This isn't your fault."

"What's she going to do next, Seto? What use am I if I can't protect our family from this?"

"Put Bakura on it again."

"I already did. But what do we do if he can't find anything?"

Seto's eyes went cold. "Then we handle her like we handled Keith."

"Don't tempt me."

"It may be our only option, buddy."

Tristan sighed. "Let's wait and see what Bakura finds."

"If anyone can find something to bury her with, it's Bakura."

Tristan slipped his arms around Seto's waist, leaning up to kiss him before laying his head on the taller man's shoulder.

"Good thing Justin didn't see you do that." Seto commented.

Tristan snickered. "Yeah. Poor Yami. I'm just glad Master Kiotou could explain it to the little guy."

"To a point, you mean."

"Yeah." Tristan reached up to kiss Seto again, feeling the need for comfort.

"YEAH! Papa low Set!"

The two men pulled apart, turning to see Lexi standing in the open doorway, Teddy standing behind her.

"I'm sorry, Tristan." Teddy said. "I looked up from the computer and she was walking though the door."

"It's okay, Teddy." Tristan went to his daughter and picked her up. "Lexi, how did you get up here?"

"Lexi walk-ded."

Seto rolled his eyes. "Mini Bakura."

"How did you get out of the daycare?"

"Ba-ra show."

"Why would he do that?" Tristan asked.

"To get on your nerves." Seto said.

"How did you get up here, Lexi?" Tristan asked again.

"Lexi tookt el-be-bator."

Tristan's eyes widened. "Lexi, the security computers stop the elevator two floors below this one."

"Lexi know DAT!" She smiled proudly. "Lexi ude Papa te-bur-ta-tee tode."

"My security..?" Tristan shook his head.

Seto chuckled, going over and taking Lexi from Tristan. "You're a smart little girl, Alexis Wheeler. I think you're going to have to come to work for me when you grow up. Like your papa."

"O-tay, Set." Lexi snuggled into Seto's arms and looked at over at her father. ""Lexi unner-gy, Papa."

"Did you break out of daycare to tell me that?"

"Yah-ha." Lexi grinned.

Seto's body shook with silent laughter at the look on Tristan's face. "Tell you what…let's go get Justin and take them out to lunch."

"TIPPIE!" Lexi squealed. "Lexi doe a munch a Papa a Set!"

Tristan shook his head, grinning. He was going to have a long talk with Bakura.

~*~*~*~*~

"Tris," Joey elbowed his lover in the ribs. "Take your sunglasses off."

Tristan pulled his glasses off, putting them in his pocket. He and Joey were waiting for Diane Cooke, the marriage councilor, to show up.

"You're nervous, aren't you?" Joey asked.

Tristan shook his head. "I'm fine."

"Mm-hm." Joey rolled his eyes. "Then why did you have your sunglasses on? It's not like you need them in here."

"Sorry, love." Tristan apologized. "I'm trying."

"I know you are." Joey took Tristan's hand, giving it a squeeze, smiling. "You're here. That's a start."

Before Tristan could reply, the door opened, admitting a small woman with shoulder length brown hair.

"I'm sorry to make you wait." She smiled at the two men who stood as she entered.

"S'okay, Diane." Joey grinned at her. "You're worth the wait."

"Charmer." Diane's laughter seemed to brighten the comfortably dim room and she held her hand out to Tristan. "It's nice to meet you, Tristan."

"It's nice to meet you too." Tristan shook her hand.

"Please, sit." Diane waited until the two men sat back down before taking a chair opposite them. "I'm sorry it took you so long to get an appointment."

"Tristan's been really busy at work." Joey said. "It was hard to get your schedules to mesh."

"Well, let's get down to it, shall we? I've gone over your file and Jack's notes from your sessions, Joey. He made references to something in particular that caught my attention. Something about someone named Andy. Can you tell me about it?"

Joey nodded and began to tell her about Andy, his experiences with him and Tristan's reaction to seeing him, seeming to have no problem baring his feelings to this woman.

Diane listened carefully, while unobtrusively observing Tristan.

The brunet sat silently, his face carefully blank, one arm resting on the arm of the couch and the other hand grasping his ankle where it was crossed over his knee in a causal pose. Too casual.

She took note of the expressionless hazel eyes and knew it was an act.

"Tristan," She addressed him when Joey had finished. "Is there something you want to say?"

"No." Tristan shook his head. "I think Joey's said it all."

"You were angry when you saw this man looking at Joey."

"Yes."

"And the fact that your daughter was there was the only thing that kept you from becoming violent, correct?"

"It's impossible to say how I would have reacted if Lexi wasn't there. She was."

"Are you a violent man, Tristan?"

"Define violent."

"Tris," Joey interrupted. "Stop acting like you're talking to a reporter. Diane's only trying to help us."

Tristan looked into the pleading amber eyes and relented a little. He reached out and took Joey's hand.

Seeing the slight softening of the bigger man's façade, Diane decided to see if she could crack it. "It's hard for you to talk about your feelings, isn't it, Tristan?"

Tristan shrugged. "I guess so."

"Why do you think that is?"

"I don't know." Tristan paused, as if debating whether or not he should continue. "That's why I'm here."

Diane smiled. "I'm glad you are."

"I am too, angel." Joey lifted Tristan's hand, kissing it. "It means a lot to me."

For the first time since entering the room, Diane saw emotion in Tristan's eyes.

"I love you, Joey. I'll do whatever I have to to make you happy."

~*~*~*~*~

Bakura waited in a booth in a dim corner of the smoky bar for his contact.

He sneered at the waitress, showing his canines and warning her off. He wasn't here to drink, or socialize, or whatever it was these pathetic mortals were doing in this dive. He was here on business…and he wanted to get it done and get home to Ryou before he was irreversibly tainted by the atmosphere of this hell-hole.

A small smile crept onto his lips at the thought of his lover waiting at home for him to return.

His sweet hikari…trusting in him to find a way to put a stop to the woman who was causing their friends…their family…such pain.

Bakura's only regret was that Tristan wouldn't let him kill the bitch. Life would be so much easier if Tristan could just ignore his conscience once in a while.

"You're late." Bakura growled as his informant slipped into the booth.

The man scowled. "Be lucky I made it here at all. If I'm found out, I'm a dead man."

Cold eyes bore into the man. "THEY can only kill you once."

The man shivered and quickly placed a file folder on the table. "This is going to cost you double."

Bakura pulled an envelope from his coat pocket and carelessly threw it on the table.

He reached out and grabbed the man's wrist as he reached for it. "You're staying until I make sure I got my money's worth."

The man nodded, trying not to wince at the vise-like grip on his arm.

Bakura picked up the file and scanned the contents quickly. Brown eyes flashed red in the muted light of the bar and an evil smile graced pale features.

"Gotcha."

~*~*~*~*~

YD: Geeze, Tris…get a grip.

Tris: Hey! YOU wrote it, not me.

Seto: What are you doing to my brother? I have the feeling everyone's keeping something from me.

DD: *looks innocent* What makes you say that?

Bakura: Do I get to kill Rita Adams? Do I?

YD: We'll see.

Ryou: Please review!

DD: Yeah! We've already gotten more reviews for this one than One Way Street!! You guys ROCK!!