Yu-Gi-Oh! Fan Fiction ❯ Stronger Than Before ❯ Chapter4 ( Chapter 4 )

Stronger Than Before

by Dragondreamer and Yami Dragon

Disclaimer: We don't own Yu-Gi-Oh! If we did, Otogi wouldn't be wearing that fruity little headband.

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, too fricking bad! Go already!

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

~*~*~*~*~

DD: Finally!

YD: I can't believe this took so long!

DD: The rest of it should go quicker.

Seto: Maybe if you weren't trying to write three stories at once…

YD: *smacks Seto with lava lamp* That's better.

DD: I like quiet.

~*~*~*~*~

Joey turned over in the rumpled bed and stretched. Tristan was in the shower and he had decided that it was in Joey's best interest to stay in bed.

As it was, Joey was thanking every god he could think of that he didn't have class today. They had spent most of yesterday either in bed or in the shower and he could hardly move.

An irritated growl escaped him as the phone rang. He winced as he turned back over and grabbed the receiver.

"Yeah?"

"Joey? It's Seto."

Joey rolled his eyes. "He's in the shower."

"I wanted to talk to you actually."

"What about?"

"Can you come over to the house?"

"I guess. Give me time to have a shower and I'll be right over. What's up?"

"I'll tell you when you get here. Bring Tristan."

"This better not be about business Seto."

"It's not. Just get here as soon as you can."

~*~*~*~*~

Yami's head snapped up at the distinct sound of Seto's Harley pulling up to the back of the mansion.

"What's he doing home?" Yugi asked.

They were sitting at the kitchen table drinking their morning coffee and reading the paper.

Odette gasped as Seto burst into the kitchen and rushed over to the table, grabbing the local section of the paper from Yami's hands.

"What's wrong love?"

"He's dead." Seto flipped to the obituaries.

"Who's dead?" Yugi went pale.

"Joey's father." He dropped the paper back down on the table in front of them.

"Oh Ra." Yami scanned the paper. "It doesn't say how he died."

"Seto, you didn't..?"

"No Yugi. I wouldn't do that." Seto sat down and put an arm around Yugi. "I may hate him, but he's still Joey's father."

"Does Joey know?"

"I don't think so baby." Seto said. "I would think we would have heard from them if he had."

"You should call him." Yami pushed the paper away. "He should hear this from friends."

"Good idea. I'll call and get them to come over here."

Yugi got up from the table. "I'll call Ryou and Bakura, just in case."

"Shall I put some coffee on Master Kaiba?" Odette asked.

"Please. And tell Stevens to make sure there's brandy in the bar. I think Joey's going to need it."

~*~*~*~*~

"Did he say what he wanted?" Tristan asked as they pulled up to the gates of the Kaiba estate.

"No. He just said to come over."

Please state your name.

"Tristan Taylor."

Hello Tristan. Is that Joey with you?

"It is."

Hello Joey. I'm Sadie.

"Ummm…hi Sadie." Joey raised an eyebrow. The whole AI thing weirded him out.

Seto and the others are expecting you.

"Thanks Sadie." Tristan replied as the gates opened.

"Well, that was creepy." Joey shuddered.

"Better get used to her love." Tristan laughed. "By the way, you need a retina scan."

"Mmmm…hey!" Joey pointed a motorcycle parked at the front steps. "Isn't that Bakura's bike?"

"Looks like it." Tristan parked next to the bike. "I wonder what's going on."

Joey just shrugged and got out of the car, heading for the front door, Tristan following. The massive door was opened before they could ring the bell.

"Hello Stevens." Tristan greeted the elderly butler. "Seto's expecting us."

"They're in the den sir."

"Thanks."

Joey smiled at the man as they made their own way to the den with perfect familiarity. He paused in the doorway, his instinct for detecting trouble brewing snapping to attention.

Seto was standing by the windows with Yami and Yugi was sitting on one of the couches with Ryou and Bakura. Everyone was silent and the tension hung almost visibly in the air.

"Hey guys!" Joey greeted them in his typical fashion. "What's going on? You all look like someone died!"

Ryou let out a little sob and buried his face in his hands.

"What did I say?" Joey dropped on to the couch opposite Yugi and the two white haired men. "Ryou?"

"What's going on Seto?" Tristan asked his friend as he sat next to Joey.

Seto turned away from the window with a sigh and Yami slipped his hand into his husband's. "Joey…there's no easy way to say this…"

"Say what?" Joey was starting to get a little scared by the desolate looks on his friend's faces.

"Joey…your father…he died yesterday."

"Oh shit." Tristan whispered, reaching out to take his lover's hand. "How?"

"I don't know." Seto shook his head. "But I can find out if you want me to."

"Joey?" Tristan turned to face the blond. "Joey? Babe, talk to me."

Joey just sat there, a blank look on his face.

"Joey?" Yugi reached out to him at the same time that Tristan put his arms around him. "Please say something."

Joey stood, shaking them off. "I need to be alone."

He strode from the room and Tristan went after him, catching him in the hallway.

"Joey, you need to talk about it."

"Just leave me alone!"

"Joey…"

"Tristan please! I need to be by myself to figure out how I feel about this!"

"Are you sure?"

Joey pushed Tristan away from him. "Just leave me the fuck alone already!"

The blond put enough force behind it that Tristan hit the wall hard. He could only stare, shocked, as Joey ran down the hall and out of sight.

"Tristan?"

Tristan shook his head, looking back towards the den and seeing Seto standing there, concern in his azure eyes.

"Tristan, is everything alright?"

"No. No it's not."

"What happened?"

"Joey just…he shoved me." Tristan shook his head again, trying to grasp what had just happened. "I didn't think he'd react like this Seto."

"It's okay buddy." Seto pulled Tristan into his arms. "Just give him some time."

Tristan wrapped his arms around the taller man's waist and rested his head against his shoulder. "I can't stand to see him in this much pain."

"Hey." Seto turned Tristan's face toward him. "He'll be okay."

"I know. It's just…I want to be there for him."

"You'll be there when he needs you Tristan." Seto kissed him gently on the forehead. "Come on, I'll pour you a drink."

Tristan let his best friend take his hand and lead him back to the den.

~*~*~*~*~

Joey ran into the kitchen, colliding with Odette.

"Here now Mr. Wheeler! What are you doing running through the house like a child?" She scolded him, knowing full well what he was running from.

"I'm…sorry Odette."

The cook looked up into the tear filled amber eyes. "Is there anything I can do?"

Joey gave her a shaky smile. "How about a cup of your famous coffee?"

"Of course." She turned to pour him a cup, handing it to him with a small smile. "I take it you want to be alone with your thoughts?"

"Yeah. Kinda."

"Why don't you take your coffee and go outside? I always find a walk through the maze helps me think."

"Thanks Odette."

As she watched him walk away, Odette sighed. "Poor boy." She busied herself with her duties, leaving the kitchen to bring coffee to the den.

~*~*~*~*~

"Master Kaiba?" Odette came into the den, bearing a tray with a pot of coffee and cups. "Mr. Wheeler came through the kitchen. He's outside in the gardens."

"Thank you Odette." Seto took the tray from the cook, placing it on the bar. "We'll let you know if we need anything."

Tristan started to follow her, but Seto grabbed his arm. "Leave him be Tris."

"I don't know what he's so upset for." Bakura said. "The man was an asshole to him. How many times did we end up taking Joey to the hospital?"

Tristan rounded on the white haired spirit. "You're one to talk! How many times did Seto and I have to drag you off Ryou and take him to the hospital?! How many times did Seto have to keep him here to keep you from killing him?!" He took a step towards Bakura, fists clenched. "He may have been an asshole and he may have beaten him, but he's still Joey's father! It doesn't matter how we feel about him! All that matters is how Joey feels!"

Bakura back away from his enraged friend, his face flushed.

Ryou put himself between his yami and Tristan. "Please Tristan. This isn't doing anyone any good. I've forgiven him. I thought you had too."

The anger drained from Tristan when he realized that Bakura wasn't the one he was angry with. "Bakura…I'm sorry. I have forgiven you. It's just…I'm…"

Bakura pulled himself together and approached Tristan, reaching out to put a hand on his shoulder. It spoke volumes of the changes he had gone through that he didn't send the other to the Shadow Realm half way through his tirade. "No, don't apologize. Everything you said was true."

"Here Tristan." Yami handed him a cup of coffee. "Sit. Everything's going to work out."

"I want to know what happened." Tristan sat down next to Yugi, pulling his cigarettes out of his shirt pocket. "Everything. Seto, can you find out?"

"Yes." Seto handed him an ashtray, for once not saying anything about his best friend's bad habit. "I've still got a contact at the coroner's office, and the police shouldn't be any problem."

"Shouldn't Joey be the one to make that decision?" Yugi asked. "What if he doesn't want to know?"

"Then he doesn't have to." Tristan replied. "But I need to know."

"I understand, but I still think we should ask him."

"We'll go find him." Ryou took his yami's hand.

"Thanks Ryou." Tristan gave the two silver haired men a small smile.

Seto sat down next to Tristan, waving away the smoke and leaning against him. "Are you sure about this?"

"You know what's going to happen Seto. When that bitch gets wind of this, she'll blow it all out of proportion. I need ammo. I won't let her hurt Joey like that."

"Do you think she'd really go that far?" Yami asked.

"You know she will." Seto's eyes went hard. "Mokuba's getting flack at school because of that article she ran about him and Yugi."

Yugi rolled his eyes. "We should really just send her to the Shadow Realm and get it over with."

Seto and Tristan snickered. The more they both thought about it, the more tempting the idea was.

~*~*~*~*~

Odette turned away from the sink as Ryou and Bakura came into the kitchen.

"Do you know where Joey went?" Ryou asked.

"I suggested he take a walk in the maze." She replied.

"Thanks." Ryou flashed her a big smile and dragged Bakura outside.

"Great." Bakura muttered. "You know we'll get lost if we go in there. Then the damned Pharaoh and his sex-crazed light will have to come find us."

"Can you just put your pride aside for a minute yami?! Joey's more important right now."

"Fine." Bakura wasn't happy with the prospect, but he did agree with his hikari.

"You know, for a thief you have a terrible sense of direction." Ryou said.

Bakura just snorted as they made their way into the maze. They quickly found their way to the clearing in the middle. That wasn't their problem, getting back out was. They paused, two sets of identical chocolate brown eyes lighting on their friend.

Joey was sitting on a bench, leaning forward with his forearms resting on his legs and his hands hanging limp between his knees. His head was down and his long golden bangs hid his eyes.

Ryou's soft heart broke as he heard a small sob come from the blond. Crossing the grass, he knelt in from of him, motioning for Bakura to sit at Joey's side.

"Joey?" Ryou took the blond's hands in his. "Are you okay?"

Joey lifted his head and Ryou almost began to cry as he looked into the blond's normally bright amber eyes, now dulled to old copper, a lone tear sliding down his face. Bakura put his arm around Joey's shoulders, feeling the backlash of his hikari's emotions.

"I should have gone to see him. I haven't seen him since I left home…and now he's dead."

"Don't beat yourself up Joey." Bakura said.

"But…I wasn't there for him. He's my father."

"A father who abused you."

Joey shuddered. "But he's still my father." A harsh sob was torn from him and he began to cry.

Ryou rose to sit next to his friend and he and Bakura put their arms around him, holding him between them as he vented his grief.

~*~*~*~*~

"I think the two of you should stay the night." Yami said to Tristan. "Joey's going to need his friends tonight."

"If he wants to." Tristan replied, putting out his third cigarette. "We'll see how he is."

"Come on Yami." Yugi pulled his dark half up out of the chair. "Let's go find him. If he went into the maze, Ryou and Bakura won't be any help." //Besides, I get the feeling Seto wants us to leave so he can talk to Tristan.//

"We'll let Odette know you're at least staying for dinner Tristan." Yami said. [[I agree Aibou. Let's leave them to talk.]]

As Yami and Yugi left the den, Seto got up and poured himself and Tristan a scotch. Bringing the glasses back to the couch, he handed Tristan his and put his own on the coffee table without drinking from it.

Sitting down with his back against the side of the couch, he held out his arms to Tristan. "Come here."

Tristan downed his drink, setting the empty glass down and settled back against Seto's chest, resting his head on the taller man's shoulder. "What do you think happened Seto?"

"I don't know." Seto laced his fingers together over Tristan's shoulder. "From the reports I've been getting, he had gotten into some pretty heavy street drugs over the past couple of years."

"I need to know."

"I'll take care of it Tris. Relax."

Tristan let his eyes close and just enjoyed the sensation of being held. Joey never held him like this and he couldn't remember the last time Seto had. /Sometimes…sometimes I wish our relationship was still like it was five years ago. He could always make me forget my problems. I miss that. But then I wouldn't have Joey. He never really understood what our relationship was about. Sometimes I still need him…need his strength. Like now./

He sighed, feeling a need he hadn't felt in a long time. The need for Seto. It had crept quietly up on him over the last few weeks, born of stress and lack of sleep. The fights with Joey hadn't helped either and now this…

He hitched his shoulders up higher and softly kissed Seto right where his neck met his shoulder. Seto shivered and looked down at him, surprised.

"What was that for?"

"Well, I wasn't sure if I kissed your lips that I would be crossing any lines that shouldn't be crossed."

Seto looked into his best friend's eyes and saw the need there. "It's okay Tristan. If it'll make you feel better, kiss me."

Tristan lifted his hand and cupped Seto's cheek, pressing his lips softly against the other's. Seto didn't respond, just waited to see what the other brunet would do.

/This doesn't feel right. Not now. Not when I should be worrying about Joey./ He pulled away. "I'm sorry Seto. I had no right to ask that of you."

"No, it's okay." Seto guided Tristan to lay his head back on his shoulder, shifting so they were lying on the couch. "Don't worry about it. Just close your eyes and relax for a bit. Yami and the others will take care of Joey."

Tristan did as he was told, smiling as Seto began to hum under his breath. He draped an arm over Seto's chest and let the sound of his best friend's voice and the warmth of his body lull him to sleep.

As Tristan drifted off to sleep, Seto pulled him closer, his heart aching. {I wish I could do more for you Tristan. I hope this isn't heading where I think it is. It kills me to see the two of you fighting like this. I'll do everything I can to help you avoid it. If I can't, I'll be there to help you pick up the pieces. Just like you've always done for me. I'm not blind. You're starting to look like I did before I found Yami and Yugi. I wish you wouldn't be so stubborn. It wouldn't kill you to ask for help. But I won't push you. I never have. I'll be here when you need me.}

~*~*~*~*~

Joey stood in the doorway, watching Tristan and Seto. Tristan looked so peaceful, sleeping in Seto's arms. More peaceful than Joey had seen him in months.

"Hey." Seto greeted him quietly.

Joey crossed over to the couch, kneeling next to it and reaching out to stroke Tristan's face. "I just came to see what you guys were up to." He whispered.

"He fell asleep about twenty minutes ago." Seto replied. "How are you doing?"

Joey shrugged. "Alright I guess. I'm still having a hard time with it. Yami said you could find out what happened. Will you?"

"Yes. I'll do whatever you need me to, okay?"

"Thanks Seto." Joey gave him a weak smile. "I'm going to go back outside with the others. Would you mind letting him sleep? He hasn't been getting much lately."

"Go on. We'll be fine."

"Thanks." Joey leaned over and kissed Tristan gently before getting up and leaving the den.

Seto shook his head as he watched the blond leave. {I know it hasn't been easy on you Joey, but if you leave, it'll destroy him. He loves you so much. As much as I care about you, Tristan is my best friend. I won't let him be hurt.}

~*~*~*~*~

Seto broke out the brandy after dinner and everyone settled on the veranda.

"Everyone's staying tonight." Yami said as he helped Seto hand out the glasses. "There's been too much of this for anyone to be driving."

"Yes, Oh Mighty Pharaoh." Bakura rolled his eyes.

"I just don't want Ryou getting hurt when you wrap that bike of yours around a tree."

Ryou snickered. "We'll stay. Thanks guys."

The others fell into conversation and Tristan and Joey got up, walking out into the yard. Joey sat down on a bench next to the maze and looked up at Tristan before staring down into his drink.

"Tristan…I'm sorry."

Tristan took Joey's glass from him, setting it with his own on a small table next to the bench. He sat down next to his lover and took him in his arms, laying his cheek against the soft gold hair.

"It's okay babe. I should have backed off the first time you told me to leave you alone."

Joey pulled away slightly, closing his eyes and tipping his face up in invitation. Tristan studied his face for a moment before kissing him deeply.

/Why do I get the feeling all this is coming to an end?/ His arms tightened around the other possessively. /I love you Joey. Please, don't ever leave me./

~*~*~*~*~

Tristan fought not to wake up, but the pounding in his head wouldn't allow it.

/That's the last time I suggest that Seto open more than two bottles of brandy./

He cracked open an eye to see Joey lying next to him, taking up most of the bed, as usual. He reached over and brushed the blond locks back from his lover's face. Joey mumbled in his sleep and instinctively nuzzled into the caress.

Tristan lay quietly, watching him sleep. Last night he had held Joey as he cried himself to sleep. Tristan was struggling with the fact that Joey still cared about his father. His own ambiguous feelings towards his parents made it hard to understand. He hadn't seen or spoken to them in almost five years and at this point, he could care less about what happened to them. But could he honestly say that if one of them died? Probably not.

Looking at the clock on the bedside table, he saw it was after eight. Seto would be up for sure, but considering the amount of drinking that had gone on last night, everyone else would still be in bed.

Tristan decided he'd get up, have a shower and call the office. There was no way he was going in today and he doubted that Seto would be either. They needed to get to the bottom of what happened to Joey's father and they could do that as easily from here. If he was going to protect Joey, he needed to know everything.

~*~*~*~*~

Seto, Tristan is looking for you.

"Tell him I'm in my office." A distinctly irritated sigh came from the AI and Seto rolled his eyes. "Please."

Seto sat back, eyes glued to the computer screen as he read the police report on David Wheeler's death.

{Damn. This isn't good.} "Sadie? Anything on the coroner's report?"

Not yet. But they are booked for a full autopsy tomorrow.

"What's up?" Tristan came into the office, heading straight for the coffee pot on the credenza.

"Reading the police report." Seto nodded at the screen. "How's your head?"

"Very funny." Tristan perched on the edge of the desk, turning the laptop towards him.

Seto watched his friend's face carefully, seeing the play of emotions as he read the report. Surprise, anger, sadness and finally hopelessness.

"Shit." Tristan's eyes dropped to the cup in his hands. "I'm not going to be able to protect him from this, am I?"

"Probably not." Seto laid his hand on Tristan's leg. "We can try, but I don't think it's going to do any good."

"Attempted rape." Tristan sighed, laying his hand over Seto's. "She's going to have a field day with this."

"I don't doubt it. They haven't done an autopsy yet, but I'm guessing it'll show a drug overdose. Was the man that brainless? I mean, after what Joey went through, you'd think he would be smarter."

"Where do you think Joey got his hands on the drugs Seto? He was only fifteen."

Seto shook his head. He hadn't known Joey well then, but he hadn't been totally blind to it. If it wasn't for Yugi, he'd probably be where his father was now.

"How long do you think we can keep this quiet?"

"I don't know." Seto replied. "If she has contacts with the police, not very long."

"What am I going to tell Joey?"

"Everything. He deserves to know Tristan. He won't thank you for keeping this from him." Seto turned his hand over, entwining his fingers with Tristan's. "Do you want me to be with you when you tell him?"

"Thanks pal, but I think it'd be better if I told him alone."

Seto was about to reply when the door flew open and Yugi ran in, heading straight for the desk and throwing himself at Seto. "Good morning!"

"Good morning to you too." Seto kissed his lips gently. "You're certainly wound up this morning."

"How could I not be?" Yugi winked coyly at his husband.

Tristan snickered, getting up form the desk. "I'm going to go call Teddy and have him forward anything for the day here."

"Have him ask Gina do the same for me, would you?"

"Sure thing." Tristan beat a hasty retreat, seeing as Yugi already had Seto's shirt off him. The last thing he wanted to do right now was to disturb Yugi's morning "routine".

~*~*~*~*~

Tristan headed for the elevator, the stony look on his face making people scramble to get out of his way. The rumor mill at Kaiba Corp. had been running overtime all week. Everyone knew by now how Joey's father had died of a drug overdose after being arrested for attempted rape.

Tristan leaned against the wall of the elevator, glaring at no one in particular until the doors shut. When they did, he slumped against the wall, his head dropping into his hands.

What the rumors hadn't picked up on was how Joey had reacted when Tristan told him everything about his father's last hours. Joey had received the news in stoic silence, then refused to talk further about it. He had only broken that silence once, to ask Seto, not Tristan, to see to the funeral arrangements. Then he had gone on with his life in a cold quietude that frightened everyone around him.

He had demanded that Tristan go back to work on Wednesday, arguing that he needed to be alone to study. When Tristan suggested he call his professor and see if he could postpone his exam, Joey had just stared coldly at him for a moment and then walked out of the room.

The elevator doors opened silently and with a sigh, Tristan headed down the hall to his office. He felt the tension coming off his secretary from ten feet away.

"What's wrong Teddy?"

"Seems she's not going to leave it alone until after the funeral like you hoped." Moving aside the picture of his wife and baby daughter, Teddy picked up the tabloid, holding it out to Tristan.

Tristan took it almost reluctantly, his eyes going immediately to a picture of Joey obviously taken from a dueling magazine. Next to it was a picture of Mai Valentine. The title caught the brunet's eyes and he felt a familiar rage bubble up in his chest, making it hard to breathe.

Like Father, Like Son?

He quickly skimmed the story, passing over the official police report and lighting on an outrageous reference that Joey had tried to rape Mai during the Duelist Kingdom tournament.

"Fuck!" Tristan growled.

"Um...Tristan?" Teddy unconsciously leaned back away from his boss. "The guy they quoted, the one that goes by the name of Panik? Mr. Kaiba already hacked in to his bank files. It looks like he was paid off."

"Hold my calls." Tristan turned and stalked into his office, slamming the door behind him.

Reaching his desk, he dropped the paper, clenching his hands. He was beginning to see a red haze spreading over his field of vision and he could feel a vein in his forehead throbbing. Blindly, his hand closed over the first thing he found on his desk; a four inch long dagger with a beautifully carved handle resting on a wooden stand. It had been a birthday gift from Bakura.

Clutching it by its pointed tip, Tristan whirled around and threw it. It imbedded itself in the far wall to the hilt, cracking the plaster around it. At that moment, his office door opened.

"I really should take that out of your paycheck."

Tristan sighed, sitting down on his desk, pressing the heel of his hand against his forehead and closing his eyes. He relaxed slightly as he felt Seto's arms wrap around him.

"It's okay buddy."

"No it's not. Joey's going to flip."

"Take it easy. I've already got people tracking Panik down. We'll convince him to change his story."

Tristan looked up into his friend's mischievous grin. "I'm sure."

Seto let go of him and sat next to him on the desk. "I thought you weren't coming in today. The funeral is this afternoon."

"Joey said he wanted to be alone. He got mad at me for "hovering", as he put it."

"This isn't good. He needs to talk about it."

"Don't you think I know that Seto?! He won't talk to me!"

"Hey. Easy." Seto put his arm around Tristan. "I was only stating the obvious."

"I'm sorry." Tristan leaned his head against his friend's shoulder. "It's just so frustrating. This isn't like him."

"Tell you what. You clear things up here and I'll pick up Joey and meet you at the funeral home, okay?"

"Yeah, okay. Thanks Seto."

"No problem." Seto gave him a squeeze before getting up to leave. "And take next week off. That's an order."

Tristan rolled his eyes as his office door shut.

~*~*~*~*~

Tristan was just about finished everything when there was a knock at his door and Teddy stuck his head in.

"This just came up from downstairs." He held up a small white envelope.

Tristan extended his hand while placing his signature on the last of the documents he had been working on. Teddy crossed the room and handed it to him, waiting patiently to see if there was anything else Tristan needed.

Tristan tore open the seemingly innocent envelope and took out a single piece of white paper. His eyes widened in shock as he read the words.

If you want to put a stop to the tabloid stories, meet me behind the Kaiba Corp. building at 2:30.

There was no signature.

Tristan looked at his watch. It was 2:26.

"Shit!" Tristan bolted up from his seat, eyes blazing. "How long have you had this?!"

"I brought it right to you." Teddy backed away.

"Sorry." Tristan shook his head and handed the note to his assistant. "I've got to get out there. I'll be back as quick as I can."

"But," Teddy read the note before dropping it on Tristan's desk. "You've got to be at the funeral in less than two hours."

"I'll be back before then." Tristan grabbed his jacket off the back of his chair. "Find out everything you can about where that note came from."

Teddy didn't even get a chance to reply as Tristan ran from the room.

~*~*~*~*~

/I'm probably walking into something that's going to land me in a world of hurt./ Tristan stepped around the back of the building, moving cautiously. /I have to chance it though./

He stepped past a large dumpster, glancing at his watch and cursing under his breath when he saw that it was past the appointed time.

He was just going to turn around and head back the way he came when he felt a strong arm wrap around his chest, pinning his arms to his sides and a wet cloth was slapped over his face.

Tristan struggled, choking as a sharp, burning odor filled his lungs. Everything started to go dark and he found he couldn't struggle anymore.

The last thing he heard was a phone ringing.

~*~*~*~*~

Tristan: WHAT?! I'm not gonna die, am I?

DD: You gotta tune in next time to find out.

YD: Same bat time, same bat channel!

Yugi *holds up sing that reads "They Don't Own Batman!!*

Ryou: please review folks!