Yu-Gi-Oh! Fan Fiction ❯ Time on a Chain ❯ Chapter 9 ( Chapter 9 )

[ Y - Young Adult: Not suitable for readers under 16 ]

Chapter 12

"Hey Wheeler, You asleep again?" Seto stuck his head in Joey's door. He was seated
at his desk head down typing on his laptop. "Got a new game? Let me see?" Seto
walked in at Joey's nod.

"It's not a game. I've been spending every after noon working on all this homework. If
you want me to be in the same class with everyone and graduate with my class I've got
to get all this done before the next semester starts. You cut me out of charity passes."

"You really want charity. I thought you were too proud for that." Seto was amazed.
Joey had just gone up to his room every day for the last few days. Seto had assumed
that he was sleeping or playing video games. Or slacking off in some other way. To find
out that he'd been spending most of the afternoon doing homework was surprising "If
you need any help let me know."

"So far I'm ok. I decided to take one thing at a time. Right now I'm concentrating on
history. I'm up to Kamakura 1192-1333; then it's Muromachi 1338-1573; after that
it's Azuchi Momoyama 1573-1603. What I'd like to know is what happened between
1333 and 1338. Some ass-hole reviewer is sure to ask."

"Chaos, just put down chaos." Seto was shocked. Joey was a lot smarter that he
acted. His explanation of how he'd gotten into such a bad state in his education was
making more sense by the day. "So history, then what?"

Le'see; I've finished all the literature and kanji; that's never been a problem.
remembering all those authors and quotes isn't hard when I'm not hungry and sleepy.
But when I get to math I'm in big trouble. I've got to go back so far; practically to
grade school I'll never get caught up. Then after maths its sciences. I'm doomed there.
Who wrote the laws of physics anyway?"

"God, Wheeler if you believe in such things. Any way they're natural laws. If you need
help with maths and sciences just ask me, I need something to do, I'm going crazy. It'll
be something I can do for entertainment that Mokuba won't fuss at." Seto realized that
he'd made a mistake when he saw Joey's face go rigid. "No...Hey! I didn't mean it that
way !"

"Seto, I know you think I'm dumb as a box of rocks. I don't understand math or
science but I don't intend to try to get through all this with you sneerin' and laughin'
behind ...not even behind my back straight to my face." Joey clenched his fist on the
desk; it was all he could do not to start a fight.

"Wheeler, I really put my foot in it. I'm sorry. I enjoy math and science and I've never
taught anyone before. I like new experiences. Calm down, Mutt, I really didn't mean to
start a fight." Seto grinned, "I really didn't. Can't you tell; here I am trying to placate
you instead of calling you names. I'm your guardian and it's my duty to tutor you if you
need it. Come on, make up.Ok?"

Joey eyed Seto uncertainly but decided that Seto meant what he said. His expression
was truly apologetic; an unusual expression to be on the proud, haughty face of the
young CEO. Joey decided not to be mad a Seto. He was obviously feeling his way;
trying to establish some kind of workable relationship with Joey. So Joey would give
him the benefit of the doubt; after all, Seto had given him this room and lap top, was not
calling him names and had offered to help with his homework

"Well, hell. When I get there I'll ask. But it's gonna be a while. I decided to reward
myself.. I've got a test on history; time line stuff and then I'm done with it. We'll be
covering Edo and Meiji next year so I'm almost done. My reward is I get to cover Arts
next." Joey rubbed his hands together in anticipation. " I love arts! Except for manual,
but I've got enough credits to pass that three times over. Hey! While I'm thinking of it
what did you do about my next semester class schedule?"

Seto pulled a chair up and sat down. "I rearranged it myself. You have all your classes
with me. I can take pretty much anything I want. The only reason Mokuba or I even go
to school is because we are required by law. It's a total waste of my time. But what can
I do?"

"Keep an eye on me?" Joey grinned.

"Yeah, try to keep you from driving the teachers to distraction. I've got my eye on
you." Seto tried to put on his cool CEO face but couldn't help the corner of his mouth
twitching slightly.

"Psych! You're smiling you cold hearted...." Joey ducked as Seto tossed a small
cushion at him. "Don't start or we'll have a mess to clean up. And I want to get this
history done. Go pester Willow! Bye! Shoo!" Joey flapped his hand at Seto who
obligingly left him to his studies.

******************************************************************
***********

Willow was eyeing the pink object Mokuba had handed her with some trepidation.
"Pocky? What the hell is that?"

"Just eat it will you. It's not poison. You act like you've never seen candy before."
Mokuba shook his head;, Willow was so cool and tightly controlled that he expected to
see her fly apart like an over would clock she reminded him of Seto in that.

Willow put the stuff in her mouth. "Ugh! Strawberry, I don't like strawberry." Willow
swallowed the mass quickly, making a face.

"Well, try this one" Mokuba picked up a different package and ripped it open. "It's
chocolate, you like chocolate don't you?"

Seto walked in just then and took the package from Mokuba's hand. "Damnit,
Mokuba, you know you aren't supposed to eat too much of this junk. You'll aggravate
your ulcer again."

"Damnit, Seto, you promised." Mokuba scowled "I didn't want anyone to know. I'm
too young to have an ulcer."

Willow just took the Pocky from Seto. "It's for me Seto. He's trying to get me to
loosen up by bribing me with sugar."

"Oh.. Is it working?"

"No, not really. I like chocolate though. I just never get much candy of any kind. I'm
usually not in a position where I can indulge myself." Willow started at the look of fury
on Mokuba's face. What was wrong with him? Surely he wasn't that mad at Seto for
revealing his ‘secret'.

"You mean your parents never let you have candy? That's just mean."

Mokuba growled at Seto playfully. "You've got to get her to loosen up some. She
squeaks when she walks. Now we know who to blame."

Willow laughed softly, bitterly. "Which set of foster parents are you going to blame for
what. I had forty before I was 12. Most of them didn't care enough to even check if I
was in the house. The ones who kinda cared gave up quickly. I've been in and out of
the lower shadow realms since I was 8. Mokuba, I appreciate you trying but give up. I
am what I am, what my calling has made me. I save lives, I don't need to have fun."

Just then Joey bounced in." Hey more coffee, please. I've finished my test and passed
it. Yay for me. Now I get to work on the art classes. I got to get some supplies." Joey
turned around and almost bumped into Willow. "Hey! Pocky! Can I have some?"
Willow just gave him half the package watching him devour it happily.

"Boy, are you on a sugar high or what?" Mokuba looked at Joey admiringly. "I've
never seen you quite so hyper."

Seto grabbed Joey and pined him against the table. "You aren't on drugs, are you,
Wheeler? You've been like this off and on since I first met you."

"No, Seto, I just drink too much free coffee and eat too many snacks. Sometimes;
most times, it's all I get in a day and anything is better than going hungry." Joey
shrugged Seto's hands off; poked him in the chest and danced away. "I think I'll go run
around the track a few times to wear it off before I go shopping. I'm going to that big
art store in Domino to get supplies. You said I had an allowance and I'm going to
spend some of it on art supplies. Ginnie found all kinds of clothes for me so I don't
have to waste money on clothes."

"Joey, I don't want you wearing my cast offs."

"They're not cast offs; they all have tags on them. There's no reason for me not to wear
them. Don't fuss Seto, I hate shopping for clothes. I'd rather shop for art supplies. I'm
going to the gym now and after my shower I'll go to Campion Art Supplies. I need to
take a car."

Joey calmed down; he was in better control than he used to be. With his stomach full of
real food he had a better capacity to absorb caffeine without freaking out so much.

Seto looked at Joey doubtfully, he seemed to be in control. "Show me a drivers licence
and you can take a car. I'll tell the garage to bring one around for you."

Joey produced a licence which not only qualified him to drive a car but also a
motorcycle and commercial trucks up to five tons.

"Ok, I'll tell them to bring a car for you. It'll be out front when you want it".

Joey put his licence away. "Thanks Seto. I'll be careful, I promise"

******************************************************************
************

"It's five pm where's Wheeler? If he doesn't show in five minutes we'll eat without
him." Seto frowned at his watch. It wasn't like Joey not to call if he was going to be this
late. "If he's with Taylor and forgot to call I'm gonna skin him."

"Want me to call around and find him?" Mokuba was used to this kind of thing. Seto
relied on him a lot, mostly to do grunt work that needed more computer skills that
normal or things like this that were just boring. "I don't mind"

"No, he'll show up. He's probably gotten into a fight and is trying to hide bruises. I just
hope he doesn't break any of his cuts open, they're just starting to heal up." Seto
headed for the dining room with Mokuba and Willow trailing after.

After a strangely subdued dinner Willow decided to play a video game with Mokuba
while Seto went to his quarters to watch tv.

******************************************************************
***********

"Seto? You awake?"

Seto sat up, he'd been lazing in the couch enjoying the fact that there was nothing he
needed to do. He was vacillating between aggravation and enjoyment of that fact.

"Yeah, just enjoying the quiet. What's up, Little Brother."

"Domino P.D. just called. They've got Joey Downtown." Mokuba watched Seto
freeze up. "I already called Mr. Jackson. He's going to meet us there. The charges are-
---"

Seto interrupted, " I don't care what the charges are. I'll deal with Wheelers fighting
when I get him home. Call Willow will you?"

Mokuba shook his head. "Damnit, Seto Joey wasn't—"

"Just call Willow. She'll have to come with us. So let's get going." Seto called for a
limo. "No, I want the stretch Rolls and two SUV's .. Yeah might as well make a
statement right from the start."

Mokuba sighed, Seto was an expert at stage setting and he was on a roll. They were
going to arrive with a cavalcade. Although he wasn't sure that the security arrangement
might be more necessary than he liked to think.

"Willow... there you are. Let me look at you."

Seto looked Willow over. She was dressed in a tight black spandex tank top covered
by a loose silk button up shirt, several straps crossed her chest and belly. He wondered
vaguely what they were attached to but passed over them as unimportant to the present
problem. Her jeans were black too and tight. She was really wearing combat boots; the
newest style with black leather foot and eyelet strips. The side panels and ankle were
dark charcoal grey nylon. Ginnie's shopping had payed off.

"Button that shirt up and tuck it in."

"No"

"Do what I say!"

"Why?"

"You need to look like a body guard, not sexy eye candy. The boots are good but that
shirt hanging loose is too sexy." Seto knew from Willows face that he'd better explain
or they'd be arguing all night

Willow really looked at Seto. He looked worried and mad.

"What's going on? There's trouble; give intel"

"Joey's been arrested. We have to meet my lawyer at Domino P.D. and get him.. I'd
rather not spend all night trying to get him out, so we need to make the right impression.
They won't let me bring in several body guards; I need you to look like you can handle
them all by—"

Willow changed subtly. All of a sudden Seto had no doubts that she could handle
anything this night brought. Watching her work out with Joey and a spying trip to the
dojo had given him some idea what she was capable of. He just hoped he wasn't
relying on an illusion.

"Shinigame Ore Zo!" Willow smiled, showing her teeth. Mokuba wondered how many
people had seen that smile and lived.

Seto recognized that smile too. It was the one that had made him fear for Mokuba's life
that first night.

"Gah!" Seto shivered slightly. "Ok! But why not button the shirt?"

Willow took off the shirt and turned around. Seto found out what the straps were for.
She had a set of throwing knives in a leather pad at the small of her back; eight of them
arraigned 4x4. She also had a sheath across her back which held a long knife or short
sword he wasn't sure which.

"If I button it I get lumps... things show that I don't want to."

"No gun?" Seto couldn't believe she didn't carry a gun.

Willow just shrugged "Too small. Can't hide anything effective. A jacket gives it away.
It's Summer. I'd rather take my sword but in a police station.. Think not."

"OK, lets go! All this yapping isn't getting that street fighting fool out." Seto headed for
the side portico and the car.

Mokuba decided to keep his mouth shut. Seto had it in his head that Joey had been
fighting and nothing was going to change it except a police report.

******************************************************************
***********

Joey sat on the concrete bench, back against the wall, his right boot hooked on the
edge, leg doubled up against his chest, chin on his knee.

His wrists were beginning to hurt. The handcuffs were too tight and the chain from the
cuffs to the ring in the bench too short.

"Seto... come get me. Come on, come on." Joey chanted it silently over and over like a
mantra.

He really hoped Seto didn't decide to leave him over night. He didn't heed a ‘lesson'
he'd been here often enough to know. Jail bad. He wondered if the desk Sargent had
even made his call yet.

"I wanna go home. Don't wanna be here. I didn't do nothin' wrong."

Joey didn't realize he was talking out loud until a guard smacked him in the face.

"Shut up, Wheeler. You can't steal checks from Seto Kaiba; not to mention a car; and
get away with it. You're going to prison this time for sure, Punk. Fraud and auto theft
are serious stuff."

The guard smacked him again for good measure. This time he split the inside of Joey's
lower lip. Without a free hand to wipe it away, blood began to trickle from the corner
of his mouth. He kept his head down so no one could see the fury in his eyes. All letting
them see it would do was bring down more abuse.

******************************************************************
************

Seto stepped out of the Rolls Royce limo, with Willow on his heels. Mokuba started to
follow but one of the Kaiba security men stopped him. There were three men in each
SUV not to mention the drivers.

Mr. Kaiba, he can't go inside, he's too young; it's not allowed. He'll be safe here with
the nine of us."

Mokuba pouted but didn't cause trouble; there wasn't time; who knew what was
happening to Joey while they were pissing around out here.

"Go..Go..get Joey. I'll stay here." Mokuba flapped his hand at Seto and Willow; "I
don't have to like it." he mumbled at their backs.

Seto swept into the police station like a storm with Willow drifting along behind like a
black cloud.

He had worn black also. Black silk shirt, black jeans, black boots; covered by a purple
coat. One of those outrageous coats with the full skirts that flapped so elegantly around
his ankles.

Of course Willow was stopped at the door; but a quick flash of papers and a death
glare from hell put the door guard in a sweat. He waved her through with out a search.

Seto saw the lawyer standing at the Sergeants desk. As he approached he overheard
the last of the lawyer's dressing down.

"I don't care about his record his name is on both accounts. You have no grounds to
hold him..
The car wasn't reported stolen either. I don't know what Kaiba-sama is going to do
but if he's mad enough heads are going to roll. I'll see to it personally; I may do it
anyway"

Seto snarled at the desk Sargent. "Where's my ward? Take me to him! Now!"

"I"ll send for him at once." The sargent was practically ringing his hands. "He'll be here
in 20 minutes."

Seto felt a cold chill; 20 minutes. Why so long?

Willow loomed up beside Seto (Difficult considering her size but she was good at it
nonthe less.)

"Take us to him now. Want to see him!"
She had a bad feeling, Joey was a street kid and she knew how cops treated them.

The guard assigned to show them to Joey had no idea what was going on; the sargent
hadn't been able to warn him; his various shrugs and grimaces hadn't conveyed his
meaning.

"Ah! Here he is; Jounuchi Katsuya, AKA, Joey Wheeler. Get up, you punk. Show
some respect!

The guard grabbed Joey by the arm and forced him to his knees; punching him in the
kidney for good measure.

Willow simply reached over his shoulder; griped his thumb and broke it. The snap
sounded like a small calabur pistol shot.

Every other guard in the room turned around but seeing and recognizing both Willow
and Seto they left well enough alone. The briefing had been clear ‘Don't mess with her
what ever she does.' Besides no one liked Pignose much anyway.

"I'll have you up on charges; assaulting an officer...." What ever Willow whispered in
his ear shut hin up and sent him scurrying; holding his injured hand.

Willow reached out to help Joey but Seto had beaten her to it.

Seto lifted Joey to his feet, or tried to.

"Ow! Seto let me sit down; the chain's too short. They keep the puppy's on a short
leash around here." Joey sagged onto the bench, Seto's attempt at helping him finished
breaking the skin on both of his wrists and that pain along with his various other aches
and pains took his breath.

Seto finally got a good look at Joey. He didn't look as bad as that terrible night he had
found Joey in that alley but it was bad.

He had blood all over his face; his shirt was ripped and bloody. Some of the old
wounds showing through his shirt had broken open and were bleeding.. There was a
big spot of blood on his right knee.

"Keys." Willow snapped her fingers; a trembling hand dropped keys in her out
stretched hand.

"Lean." Joey obediently leaned forward so she could reach the chain.

"Stand."; again Joey obeyed.

A look at her face shook him. She looked like she was going to rip out someone's guts
and play with them. Her eyes were gold and purple dancing flecks; the pupil almost
gone.

"Turn."

Seto snarled at the sight of the blood trickling down Joey's fingers.

"What the hell is this? How did you get cut?" Seto's glare rivaled Willow's in fury; he
looked like he wanted to join Willow's party.

"The handcuffs are too tight and I've been cuffed for 3 hours or more. Pignose jerking
around on me finally broke my skin. The chain was too short for me to reach my knees
without something giving." Joey shrugged "I"m use to it. Can we just get out of here.
Please, Seto! Let's just go." The strain in Joeys voice convinced Seto to leave with a
minimum of fuss.

Blue eyes blazing Seto turned to his waiting lawyer. "Repercussions; Mr Jackson!"

"I'm taking notes. Get pictures... lots of them. I want them ASAP." The lawyer looked
disgusted. He walked away mumbling "Heads....Heads"

Seto turned around and pinned a guard with the famous Kaiba glare.

The guard started shaking. Y..y..y.yes Mr Kaiba, Sir"

"Come here." Ice dripped from Seto's voice. "I want names. Go find my lawyer and
explain to him how this happened.."

"M..m...Mr Kaiba. You don't know Wheeler very well. You may think he's a friend of
yours but he's just a street punk. He's taking advantage...."

Seto slashed a hand through the air. "No one takes advantage of Seto Kaiba. I told you
what to do, Fool. Go do it. Now!"

Joey clenched his teeth; "My wrists are really starting to hurt. Can we get on with this?
You can have a pissing contest later. OK?"

Willow quit glaring around and got on with business. Willow got the cuffs off Joey's
wrists, his hiss of pain caused Seto to swear.

"Sargent we need a private place. I don't intend to expose Mr Wheeler to any more
embarrassment."

Seto just grunted and glared.

The sargent led the way to a meeting room "You can take pictures here. Damn, If I'd
know what they were doing I'd have..."

"Yeah. Right. Sure you would." Seto pushed the man out and shut the door in his face.

A look at Joey's pale face led Seto push him into a chair. "It still hurts? What's
wrong?"

"Returning circulation." Willow took Joey's left hand in hers and started to rub it; seeing
what she was doing Seto took the right hand and followed suit.

After a minute Joey pulled his hands back. "You'll get blood all over you"

A detective came in with a camera. "I need to get evidentiary pictures. I'll take two
pictures; we keep one and you get one. I'm truly sorry about this. This station is out of
control. I'm a special investigator from Domino Central. You know, S.I.D."

Joey just pulled his shirt up to his armpits; the bruises on his torso told their own story.
He'd been tuned up.

"Shit!" Willow pinned Seto with a cold glare of her own, "We go now. Revenge
later."; she curled her lip in a vicious look and caught the detective with it. He gulped
and sat down hard.

Seto glared right back; her look made him glad she was on his side; he was so furious
that he could barely talk.

"Pictures. Now!"

Pictures were quickly taken as Joey obediently turned as commanded. He kept his
head down so his bangs hid his face except when they took a picture of the cut inside
his lip.

Willow got a good look at his eyes. He looked like he wanted to bite the man.{Good
for him.} Willow had thought he might have given up; but the look on his face told
otherwise. He was only holding back because he was wiser than he acted (How much
of that cheerful goofiness was real, how much sugar much and how much armor.
Protection against the cruelty of his life. That brief glimpse of bleak fury made her smile
slightly.)

"Ok, now that we've got pictures I'll get the waiting medic. I won't ask where you got
those cuts. I have a jacket on you that is simply amazing." The Captain froze; Joey had
given him a hate filled glare that had chilled hm to the bone.

"Don't touch me. I ain't lettn' no doc of yours touch me. I'd rather bleed to death.
Seto, Willow, Let's go!" Joey headed for the door.

The Captain started to take Joey's arm. "You can't just walk out of here!"

"Just watch me." Joey evaded the reaching hand with a quick twist. Willow just got
between the captain and Joey. Seto took sterner measures he slapped the reaching
hand away with a snarled, "Don't touch my ward."

They rolled over all objections and left the Precinct house

Joey got into the limo and knelt on the floor; putting his head on the seat he sighed in
relief. "Please Seto, can we just go home now."

Seto and Willow scrambled in after Joey, Mokuba; sitting on the jump seat just stared
at Joey his eyes big and scared..


"How the hell did he get in that shape? What did they do to him?"

Joey put his head between his out stretched arms and folded his arms over it. "They
tuned me up some. I've been worse. The only bad thing is they broke open some of the
cuts on my back. That's where all the blood is coming from. I'll be ok soon; they'll stop
bleeding."

"Wheeler, sit on the seat. I hate to see you sitting on the floor." Seto didn't know what
to do. He'd never seen Joey like this. He was distant, hard and so different from the
boy he was use to.

"I'm fine here. I'll just get blood on the leather. Besides, Mutts belong on the floor
don't they."

"Damnit, I'm sorry I ever called you that! Forget it. You're no Mutt."

Willow looked at the two boys. Seto looked sad and angry; Joey just looked tired from
what she could tell from his slumped shoulders and stiff back.

"I don't know what the big deal is. I'd rather have a mutt than a purebred. Mutts are
smarter and stronger. Purebreds usually aren't worth anything."

Joey laughed sourly, "Yeah, but Purebreds are pure. You pay big money for one.
People don't cherish or respect anything they get for free. Besides with my record
....never mind. I'm too tired."

Joey fell asleep kneeling on the floor with his head in his arms. Seto just left him where
he was. He had a lot to think about none of it pleasant.