I Give My Heart To You

DISCLAIMER: I do not own Yugioh or the characters therein.

WARNINGS*** This story contains Yaoi (men having sex with men) as well as shouenen-ai (male/ male relationships). It also contains male/ female sex and relationships with references to female/ female sex and relationships, (a little something for everyone) swearing, violence, references to rape, guns and all sorts of other facts of life people find offensive. If you are offended by any of these things or simply do not like to read about it then leave now; you have been warned and read at your own risk.

CHAPTER WARNING**THIS CHAPTER CONTAINS A SETO/TRISTAN LEMON**

“indicates normal speech of course”
{Yugi’s thoughts either to himself or Yami
{{Yami’s thought’s either to himself or Yugi}}
[ Ryou’s thoughts to himself or Bakura]
[[Bakura’s thoughts to himself or to Ryou]]
Dream sequences
Feelings communicated through mind link
*Person on the other end of the phone*
‘Thoughts of persons without a yami’

MY HEART I GIVE TO YOU
By Terra
Chapter 15

Amara ran for the phone, grabbing frantically at the bed post to keep her feet from shooting out from under her and falling on the hardwood floor, “Hel-lo,” she panted out.

*Amara? Did I catch you at a bad time?*

She raised an eyebrow at herself in the mirror, stark naked, dripping wet, and shampoo still in her hair. “No, Yugi, not really. What’s up?”

*Joey was supposed to come by this morning first thing and pick up a card he ordered, but he’s not here yet. I’m getting a little worried.*

“You’re right, that doesn’t sound like him at all.” She wiped a glob of shampoo suds from her face, wiping it on her butt finding nothing else to wipe it on, and she wasn’t about to wash that comforter again.

*Yeah. Yami is checking from here to the school, and I called Ryou. He and Bakura will check from the school to the park. Can you check from Kaiba’s to the park and search the park too?*

“I’ll be out there in fifteen minutes. We’ll find him and then you can have the honors of choking him for making everyone worry.”

*Thanks Amara. Call me if you find him, and then I’ll call everyone else. Bye*

Amara went back to finish her shower, thinking about her blond friend. Joey had been quieter than usual yesterday, as if preoccupied, or nervous, or... scared. Wheked ked if something was wrong, he just grinned and shook his head, but thinking back on it, the grin hadn’t reached his eyes. It had been a mask to keep his friends from worrying.

She worked her hair into a loose braid, informed Tessa were she was going, grabbed Mokuba and her two bodyguards, and was out of the house in ten minutes. A new personal record.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

They had been searching the park for over an hour, and had covered three fourths of it, without a trace of the blond. They made their way down a little used path, stepping over fallen branches and ducking under overgrown limbs. Coming to a relatively clear stretch of path, Amara felt something drawing her to one side. She wandered over and saw a small dirt trail leading into the trees.

“Mokuba, do you know where this goes?”

“Yeah, it’s a short cut Joey made. It goes to another path that comes out on his street.” He pointed back down the way they had come, “It starts up again down there, and goes to a path that comes out close to the school.y usy uses it when he’s running late.”

She started to move away and felt the pull grow stronger. She turned back, stepping onto the dirt trail.

Her bodyguard, Derek, placed a hand on her shoulder, “Miss, I don’t think that is a very good idea,”

Amara smiled, “We’ll pay for the dry cleaning,” she patted the lapels of his suit and started down the trail.

The farther she went, the stronger the pull became. She came to a point where it felt as if she were being pulled to the ground, and stopped. “Joey!” She waited a few seconds, and called again. This time she heard a grunt coming from some brush to the side.

Ray stepped in front of her, heading towards the noise. Amara shook off Derek’s hand with a glare and followed. What she found made her blood run cold.

Joey lay under a large bush, curled around himself; his clothes damp, dirty, and blood spattered. His once blond hair was plastered to his skull by sweat and blood and was streaked with dirt.

Amara pushed past Ray to kneel beside her friend. His face more resembled raw meat than the happy teen she knew. One eye was swollen shut and the other badly bruised. There was dried blood smeared under his nose, and both swollen lips were split and blood caked. The few places not scraped raw were dirt smeared and scabbed over.

“Joey,” she gently pushed the dirty hair from his face, wincing at his pained whimpers as the blood dried strands pulled away from his raw skin. “You’re safe, sweetie. We’ll get you out of here.”

He cracked open his one good eye, “M-Mar-ra,” he ned.ned.

She smiled, “Yea, blondie, you look like crap.”

Tears started falling down Joey’s battered face, “I thought I was gonna die here.”

Amara blinked fast to stop her own tears, “No, we’re going to get you to a hospital...”

“No! No hospital,” Joey started to thrash and push himself away from her. “He checks there. He’ll find me.” The blond was near panicking.

“Okay, okay. No hospital,” Amara quickly tried to sooth the terrified boy. “Calm down, Joey. You’ll hurt yourself even more.”

Joey stopped thrashing, but laid panting, sweat beading on his forehead from the exertion. Amara looked to her bodyguards and Mokuba, “Suggestions?”

“Seto will know what to do,” Mokuba sniffed out, wiping the tears from his face.

Amara grinned at the raven haired boy, “There seems to be more than one genius in the Kaiba clan.” She placed the call and was soon arguing with Seto’s secretary.

After five minutes of trying to politely and calmly explain the situation, Amara completely lost her temper. “Listen you unemployed bitch. Put Seto on this phone now and you may still be able to find a job in Japan. If you don’t, I’ll make damn sure you’ll never work in all of Asia again.”

Ray and Derek looked at each other then the red head. They had badly underestimated their charge.

“Gods, finally.” Seto had apparently come to the phone, and Amara quickly filled him in on the situation. In less than a minute, Amara closed her phone and was giving orders.

“Mokuba, do you know the shortest way to whichever street is closest to Kaiba Corp?”

The boy thought a second, looking around, “Yeah, easy.”

“Derek, you and Ray carry Joey, and be gentle.”

Amara helped the two bodyguards lift the injured teen, getting him into as comfortable and secure a position as possible. They followed Mokuba through the twisting paths and came out of the park just as a Kaiba Corp limo came into view. It stopped and Seto emerged, taking charge.

They wrapped the shivering teen in a blanket and maneuvered him into the limo. Derek sat up front with the driver, while Ray sat in back, keeping Joey secure during the ride.

Seto checked Joey’s vital signs. “He’s in shock and most likely has been lying there all night, since his clothing is wet,” he sounded worried. “He needs a hospital.”

“I know, but when I mentioned it, he freaked, and tried to run.”

Seto squeezed her hand reassuringly. “I have a medical team meeting us at the mansion. He’ll be fine.”

The fifteen minute drive to the mansion seemed to take an eternity. There was an audible sigh of relief from several of the limo’s occupants when they finally pulled into the drive. The medical team, headed by Dr. Ersoy was waiting for them on the front steps, along with a very worried Tessa and Andrew.

While the doctor’s team tended to Joey’s injuries, Mokuba called Yugi to inform the duelist of his friend’s condition. Amara paced, and kept her fears to herself.

Seto watched Amara pace. Every time she came to the stairs, she would stop and glance up. Tessa came in, whisking Kira off, using the necessary care of the baby as a means to keep her own worries at bay.

“Amara,” Seto pulled her into a tight hug. “He’ll be okay.”

She sighed, feeling secure against the tall brunet, “Who could have did this to him?”

“I don’t know, but I promise you, I will find out.”

The door burst open, the rest of their friends thundering in. Seto darted foreword to stop Tristan from running upstairs. He wasn’t fast enough. The brunet was halfway up when Amara tackled him, banging her knee on the steps in the process.

“Amara, let me go!” Tristan tried to shake the red head off to no avail.

“Tristan, stop!” Amara tugged the muscular brunet down a few steps. “Calm down and listen!”

Tristan stopped struggling and reluctantly let himself be led into the living room. Amara explained how she had found the blond, and his adverse reaction to going to the hospital. Seto filled them in on what little he knew of Joey’s condition, and that the doctor was treating their friend now. There was nothing for any of them to do but wait.

By the time the doctor came down, Ryou was in tears, and Yugi close to them. He sat down heavily in a chair, looking grave.

“I gave him a sedative to help him sleep, but I don’t need to inform you that, that boy needs to be in a hospital.” He took off his glasses and rubbed his eyes, “Some of his injuries are serious.”

“How serious?” Tristan looked like he was ready to strangle someone and wasn’t too particular about who it was.

“He has a sprained ankle and a twisted knee. Both are swollen. He has scratches on his hips and waist, which look infected, and several bruised ribs. If he has blood in his urine, contact me immediately. He probably has bruised kidneys as well,” Dr. Ersoy sighed before continuing. “He has a broken wrist and three broken fingers. One lip required sutures to close a ragged tear. The other is split and one eye is bruised. I can’t evaluate the vision in the other until the swelling goes down. He has six lacerations which required sutures and countless ones that didn’t, several are infected, one badly. Probably because I had to dig at least one piece of dirty glass from every one. If he doesn’t develop a dangerously high fever, I’ll be surprised since every cut and abrasion was covered in dirt, alcohol, scum, and who knows what else.”

Ryou was sobbing into his dark’s shoulder. Yugi was struggling to hold his tears in check and losing. Amara’s heart went out to Tristan, his hazel eyes were brimming with unshed tears.

“I will be sending over some prescriptions once I return to the hospital. I will also fax over a complete list of care instructions for the next several days. The least of that boys worries is his mild case of hypothermia.” The doctor stood to leave, “I am of the opinion that young man was beaten, if the fist shaped bruises are any indication. If you find the person or persons responsible, let me know and I will gladly testify as to what I saw when I examined him.”

Seto saw the doctor out and returned to the somber group in his living room. Amara was holding Mokuba and he wrapped his arms around them both. “Do any of you have an idea about who may have done this?”

“It wasn’t any gang member, that’s for sure,” Tristan hastily wiped his eyes. “Me and Joey beat everyone of those assholes down whenever they tried to jump him since he got out of that gang. They haven’t tried to get at him in a long time.”

“What a sec,” Amara looked over at the hazel eyed brunet. “He told me the bruise on his side was from a street fight.”

“When was that?”

“The beach.”

Tristan scratched his head, “No, he hadn’t been in a fight for weeks that I know of. He’d have told me if he was.”

“Then who?”

“I believe I can shed some light on that.” Every turned to the spirit of the puzzle, sitting in a chair, comforting his light. “I was exploring the city some time back and had made my way to a run down neighborhood. I heard a fight coming from a building, and I saw Joey come running out. He was pursued by an older man throwing bottles at him. From what this man was saying, I assumed him to be Joey’s father.”

Everyone was stunned. Amara felt Seto tense and tighten his hold. “The only one who knows for sure is Joey,” she said.

“He’s safe now, and if it is his father, he will not be going back. I’ll see to that personally.” With a quick kiss, Seto released Amara, heading out of the room.

“What do you have planned?” Tristan asked the CEO.

“If the abuse has been going on for any length of time, there will be reports somewhere. I doubt Joey’s father has the means to pay off the necessary officials to hide it.” With that, he left the room, heading to the mansion’s computer control room.

“It’ll be hard for him to go back with the bastard dead,” Bakura softly growled, not wanting to further upset his hikari.

“That is Joey’s decision, yami. Not yours.”

Bakura narrowed his eyes, glaring at Ryou, “You expect me to sit back and let someone hurt a member of my family?”

“No. I’m saying you have to let Joey make the decision about what to do about his father.” The white haired boy pressed closer to his dark, “But you can still hurt him if it turns out he was the one who hurt Joey, just don’t kill him.” Ryou smiled at the joy he felt come to him through his link.

“Let’s go upstairs and wait for him to wake up.”

Amara watched the two white haired boys leave hand in hand. She knew they would be fine. Glancing over at the other pair of look-a-likes, she knew they would be as well. But the brunet staring out the window, he worried her.

“Mokuba, could you go check on Kira and make sure Tessa isn’t spoiling her too much, and then go see if Seto is almost done.” With the boy distracted, Amara could turn her attention to Tristan.

“You okay?” she laid a hand on his shoulder. He didn’t answer, just nodded dejectedly. “Hey, handsome,” Amara gently turned the man and slipped her arms around his waist. “I know how you feel about Joey. And you have to be hurting from this.”

Tristan hugged the red head tightly, a few tears slipping down his cheeks, “Amara, I feel...so...so...damn,” he sobbed. “I don’t know.”

Amara rubbed the tense back soothingly, “The one you love has been hurt, and you feel like you should have protected him. And you want to keep him from ever being hurt again.”

Tristan nodded, rubbing at his eyes. “Yeah, I feel like it’s my fault for not keeping him safe.”

“He didn’t tell anyone, handsome. He thought he could go it alone, without worrying his friends,” Amara cupped Tristan’s face, wiping his tears with her thumbs. “He’ll need you now. So, go wash the grease off and get some rest. I’ll come get you as soon as he wakes up.”

Amara made sure Tristan was upstairs before going to find Seto. The pain in Tristan’s hazel eyes was heart breaking; she hoped the connection between the two brunets could help.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Seto was typing commands into the computer. He didn’t pause when Amara came in, but he did look up and smile. “Finding anything?” she asked.

He sat back in his chair, patting his lap. “Yes, there are several reports in the Social Services Child Abuse Division, and a report from the school nurse dated back to Joey’s first year.”

“They’ve known that long and done nothing?”

Seto absently rubbed his hand over her back, “All the follow-up reports say the same thing; Joey denied any abuse.”

Amara stared at the report showing on the screen, “But why?”

“Same as I,” Amara turned to look at him. “Fear.”

“Fear?”

He nodded. “Fear of reprisal, fear of his father, fear of being taken from the only place and people he knows,” Seto shrugged. “How is everyone else doing?”

“Yugi fell asleep on Yami’s lap. And Yami is probably thinking up ways to kill Joey’s dad. I know Bakura is. He’s with Ryou, watching over Joey. Mokuba is helping Tessa with Kira and whatever else she may need him for,” she sighed, and ran a finger down Seto’s cheek. “But it’s Tristan I’m worried about.”

“How so?”

“He’s in love with Joey.”

Seto closed the search on the computer, “I can’t say I’m surprised. Has he told Joey?”

Amara shook her head, “This is tearing him up. He’s blaming himself. I thought maybe you could go talk to him, since you two are close.”

Seto narrowed his eyes slightly, “What are you saying?”

“I’m saying he needs a friend. I don’t think he’s ever been through anything like this before. I don’t know how Tristan is when he’s upset but he may need to connect to someone right now to help him with this.”

“I haven’t had too much experience in giving comfort.”

“Just let him know you care, and you’re there for him. He’ll let you know what he needs to make him feel better or just do what they did for you,” she smiled reassuringly at him.

Seto frowned slightly at that. “You wouldn’t be upset if we...” Seto ted oed off, searching her eyes.

Amara kissed him softly, “Made love? No, I wouldn’t be upset. I told you I don’t expect you to drop them. I love you and I have no problems with you being with them. Now if you were to be ogling some other girl,” she playfully tapped his nose, “We’d be fighting.”

“How did I get lucky enough to have you in my life?”

Amara laughed, “Gods, you can be dense sometimes for a genius,” she lightly thumped his forehead. “You were born, dragon. Simple as that.”

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Tristan sat on the edge of his bed, twisting his shirt in his hands. The more he thought of Joey lying broken and battered, the more his feeling of self loathing grew. He glared at himself in the mirror then with a snarl threw his shirt at the image, followed by his jeans, boxers, and three pillows. He wanted to throw something hard and shatter that image, but was sure Seto wouldn’t appreciate the wanton destruction of his belongings.

He decided to burn his anger out with a scalding shower. He’d worry about how to kill the rest of the time until Joey woke up later. He stepped under the spray, ignoring the sting of the hot water hitting his skin. It didn’t burn near as bad as the tears running down his cheeks.

Seto noticed the pile under the mirror as soon as he walked into Tristan’s room. Amara had been right; Tristan only threw things when he was really upset. Hearing the shower, he decided to join his friend.

Tristan was completely unaware of Seto’s presence until he felt arms slid around his waist. He jumped, twisting away from the intruder, “Damn, Seto! Wear a friggin’ bell!”

“I thought Amara was the only one I spooked like that,” the tall brunet smirked.

“She’s just jumpy,” hazel eyes stared at Seto through dripping bangs, “Why are you in my shower?”

“Amara thought you could use a friend,” Seto stepped back, holding his arms open, letting Tristan decide for himself if their relationship was about to change.

Tristan didn’t hesitate, “I could.” He pressed himself against Seto wrapping his arms around him.

“I-I want to help, Tris, but I’m new to this.” He held Tristan close, “Tell me what you need.”

“Hold me. I feel so helpless and guilty.”

Seto stroked his back, giving what comfort he could when he got an idea. He took the cloth off the hook and squeezed a generous amount of shower gel on it, working it into a lather. Seto gently cleaned Tristan’s back then moving to his shoulders and arms.

“That feels nice.”

“Turn over and I’ll do your chest,” Seto murmured.

Tristan did, sighing deeply as the soapy cloth slid over his body. With his free hand, Seto pushed Tristan’s bangs aside and kissed his temple. He slid the cloth down over Tristan’s hip and thigh. He angled his lower body back to wash Tristan’s buttocks then switched hands to wash the opposite side of the shorter brunet’s body.

Seto knelt down to wash Tristan’s muscled legs, pressing kisses here and there over his skin. When finished, Seto stood and squeezed more of the fresh scented gel into his palm. He gently worked the foamy lather into the dark curls around Tristan’s length before curling both hands around the now rigid shaft, pumping slowly.

Tristan placed his hands on Seto’s wrists and leaned back against his chest. He laid his head on Seto’s shoulder and closed his eyes, letting the tension leave his body. Seto’s tenderness took the edge off his worry for the blond lying in the adjacent room. He turned his head, pleasantly surprised to press his lips to Seto’s.

Seto increased his pace. Tristan felt a different tension building in his lower stomach. He began to thrust foreword into Seto hands, moaning as the taller brunet kissed down his neck.

“No,” he groaned out. “Stop.” Seto immediately released Tristan, thinking he had done something wrong. The shorter brunet’s grip on his wrists was the only thing that stopped him from moving away. “Take me, Seto. I want to come with you inside me.”

“What do we use for lubricant?” Smirking, Tristan handed him the bottle of shower gel.

Seto trailed a slick finger around Tristan’s entrance teasingly, before pressing deep inside his body. Tristan bit back a moan, arching against the invading digit. Seto worked him slowly, rubbing soothing circles over his lean stomach. He added a second finger and began to scissor the digits to loosen Tristan further.

“Seto, now,” Tristan moaned, his head leaning against the cool tile.

“I don’t want to hurt you,” he kissed a broad shoulder. “Soon. I promise, baby. Soon.”

Seto decided Tristan was ready when the hazel eyed man began to push urgently against his hand, moaning loudly. He maneuvered them to the side so the water spray wouldn’t be hitting them in the face. Seto quickly coated his length and positioned himself behind his lover. He wrapped one arm around Tristan’s chest, guiding himself with his other. With a quick snap of his hips, Seto was seated within the shorter man.

Tristan panted lightly, waiting for the discomfort to fade. He appreciated the comforting distractions of Seto lips on his back and the gentle hands stroking his chest. “I’m ready,” he murmured.

Seto pulled nearly completely out of the silken heat surrounding him, pushing back in slowly. He heard Tristan cry out in pleasure as he bumped against the bundle of nerves that made a man’s mind numb with unimaginable pleasure. Moving slowly in and out of his lover, he kept one hand on Tristan’s hip and the other playing teasingly over his chest.

Tristan moaned wantonly, pushing back against the taller man. The sensations of the water, the teasing touches on his chest, and Seto’s rock hard shaft filling him assaulted his senses, numbing his mind, pushing him close to the edge. Seto was loving him so tenderly, comforting him, and easing the heartache the hazel eyed man felt.

“Seto, I need...harder....please.” The teasing hand left his nipple to grasp his hip. Seto increased his pace gradually until he was pounding into the compliant body before him, angling with deadly precision to hit Tristan’s prostate.

Seto pressed his upper body into Tristan’s back, kissing his neck, “You feel so good,” he murmured. “So tight, so hot.” He grasped Tristan’s dripping length, pumping fast. “Come for me, baby.”

With a ragged cry, Tristan released over Seto pumping hand.

Seto yanked Tristan flush against his chest when the shorter brunet’s legs gave out from under him. With a final thrust, he filled Tristan with his essence and leaned against the wall, panting.

Once his breathing had slowed, Seto gently washed all signs of their love making from Tristan’s body. He carefully withdrew and turned Tristan around to hold the trembling teen close.

Tristan stirred, pressing a small kiss to Seto’s chest, “I guess our roles have reversed.”

“Everyone needs someone to comfort them sometime.”

“Does this mean our relationship has changed?”

“Yes,” Seto stroked the broad back soothingly. “It is more equal now.”

“What about Amara?”

“What about Joey?”

Tristan looked up, shocked, “You know?”

Seto nodded, “Amara told me.” He reached around and shut the water off, “Here,” he handed Tristan a towel, “You don’t need to get chilled.”

Tristan began to absently wipe the water from his shoulders, “Seto, is she okay with us doing this?”

The blue eyed teen sighed, “She said she was.”

“But you’re not sure.”

“This is new. The only thing I am sure of is that I love her.”

“You need to talk to her.”

Seto lifted Tristan face, and lightly kissed him, “You need to talk to Joey.”

A knock came at the bathroom door. “Guys,” Amara’s voice called out. “Joey’s awake and is ready to talk to us.”

Tristan’s face instantly brightened and Seto’s darkened. He was going to make whoever hurt the blond pay, handsomely.”

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Amara walked with Seto upstairs, stopping at Joey’s room. She gave her blue eyed love a kiss and watched as he entered Tristan’s room.

Inside Joey’s room, the blond was still sleeping soundly, and Bakura sat on the loveseat holding a sleeping Ryou. Perching on the edge of the seat, Amara gently stroked the sleeping hikari’s white hair.

Bakura motioned towards the bed with his chin. “He’s moaned a few times but hasn’t woke up,” he kept his voice low.

She nodded, “I asked Seto to talk to Tristan. He’s taking this hard.” Amara glanced at the sleeping blond then turned her gaze to the floor, “I told Tessa not to bother with a big supper, but she insisted on setting out some finger foods for everyone to nibble on in the dining room.”

“He won’t eat.” Bakura knew she was telling him this so Ryou could eat.

“Make him,” Amara stared at the former tomb robber. “We don’t need him sick from not eating.”

A loud groan came from the bed, startling Amara and Bakura, the spirit’s sudden movement waking Ryou. Amara hurried to the blond’s side, taking his uninjured hand in hers.

“Joey, you’re safe, sweetie.”

He blinked open his good eye and stared at her, “’Mara?” His voice was dry and rough. “It wasn’t a dream then?”

She smiled, “No, you’re safe at the mansion.”

Ryou handed her a glass of water and they helped the blond take a few small sips. “How do you feel?” he asked.

“Like shit,” Joey grimaced as he shifted in the bed. “And hungry.”

“Then you’ll be fine,” Bakura gruffed.

“Bite my ass.”

“Point out where.”

Joey gave the spirit a weak grin. Bakura’s gruff manner went a long way to relieving the blond’s worries about his condition.

Amara knew Joey would be fine if he was feeling good enough to joke around. “The doctor left us some pretty strict care instructions for you for the next twenty-four hours, but I can get you some broth and if you do okay with that, I’ll add some fish and dinosaur pasta shapes in it next time.”

“Add some chicken and it’s a deal.” They both chuckled.

“How’s the pain?”

“Bearable.”

“You feel up for company? Everyone one’s here and just waiting to see you?”

Joey sighed, “Yeah, I guess I owe everybody an explanation, and I’d rather do it once.” Joey grasped Amara’s wrist when she started to rise from the bed, “Thanks.”

“I’m sorry I didn’t find you sooner.”

“But you found me, that’s what matters.”

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Tessa had commandeered everyone to help her transfer the food laid out on the dining room buffet to Joey’s bedroom. She was determined if the blond couldn’t come to dinner, she would bring dinner to him. Everyone was scattered around the room, laughing and joking. Yami and Bakura had even gotten into a heated argument over who would get the last piece of salmon sushi. Everyone burst out laughing when Mokuba walked over and made a fabulous showing of picking it up out from under their noses and eating it.

Amara was certain the raven haired boy had eaten the last piece of food to ever pass his lips again, because both spirits looked like they would rip them off his smirking mouth any second.

An awkward silence fell over the group after the remains of dinner was cleared away. Joey looked around at the faces of his friends, “I guess you guys want to know who.”

“That would be a good place to start,” Ryou said.

Amara took Joey’s uninjured hand, feeling what he was about to say would be beyond difficult for the young man. He smiled at her thankfully.

“It was my dad,” he said quietly. “He was mad that I had gone to the beach with you guys, and he caught me off guard when I came in Tuesday.”

No one seemed really surprised after Yami had told them what he had witnessed.

“You aren’t going back,” Seto stated. “I fully intend to put an end to him.”

“Or I will,” Bakura growled.

“No!” Joey struggled to sit up, gasping as pain shot from his bruised ribs. He fell back panting hard, moaning.

“Easy Joey, no one is going to do anything without your approval.” Amara stroked the dirty blond hair, ignoring the pain her hand was in from Joey’s death grip. She gave Seto and Bakura hard glares.

Joey finally caught his breath, “I don’t want my dad hurt. No matter what he did, he’s still my dad, and I love him.”

“How the hell can you love someone who beat you near to death?!”

“Yami, please. I don’t understand Joey’s feelings either, but we have to respect his wishes. It is his father.” Bakura grudging agreed with his light. He didn’t like it but he would go along with whatever Joey wanted.

Seto handed Joey a pain pill and one of the antibiotics the doctor had sent over and the last of the blond’s drink from dinner. He motioned for everyone to leave the room, except for Tristan. He knew it would take divine intervention to get the brunet to leave Joey’s side.

Amara recognized the look on Seto’s face. It was the same look he had gotten when she had mentioned the computer keypad for children. “What are you planning, dragon?”

Yami raised an eyebrow at Amara’s endearment for the tall brunet, but said nothing.

“Joey’s mother could contest his father for custody.”

“Seto, Joey and his mom don’t get along very well,” Yugi looked very skeptical. “I doubt she will want to have Joey living with her.”

“He doesn’t have to. He can stay at the mansion until he gets an apartment...”

“He’s got no job, rich boy.”

“And the school has a rule against working. You and Tristan are the only two to have ever gotten special dispensation to work.”

Seto smirked at the two white haired boys, “With a little persuasion, I can get Joey the necessary dispensation to work.”

“So who has her phone number?” Amara asked.

“That is what a computer is for,” Seto smirked, tapping her on the nose.

Everyone looked hopeful at the CEO’s idea, but no one was going to hold their breath.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

The next morning, Amara filled Joey in on Seto’s idea over the blond’s breakfast. Kira sat happily between Joey’s legs, holding onto the bed tray, squishing his scrambled eggs between her fingers.

“She won’t go for it,” Joey was bitter. “She thinks I’m just like him.”

“Well, Seto will find a way, even if he has to bribe her.”

“That might work.” Joey said sarcastically. “So where do I live if she does do this?”

“Here, until you get a job and can get your own place,” Amara cleaned Kira’s egg coated fingers. “Slip your hand under the tray and hold her, please,” she took the tray from Joey then placed Kira’s hands on her chubby ankles.

“Hey! When did she start sitting up on her own?”

“She does pretty good if she can hold onto something like her ankles, otherwise she falls over,” Amara laughed. “You should have seen Seto the first time she fell over. I thought he was going to call an ambulance.”

Joey quietly watched the little girl playing with her toes, his expression somber. “’Mara, I don’t want any hand outs from you guys.”

Amara knew the street kid had his pride and was prepared for this argument, “Joey, there’s a big difference between a hand out and a hand up.” He looked at her with a slight frown, tilting his head. “A hand out is what people who don’t even try to help themselves get. A hand up is what people who can and will do for themselves need to get over a really rough spot in their life.” She could see the blond was considering her words, “We aren’t giving you a hand out. We are giving you a hand up.”

“Thanks,” Joey murmured, wiping a sleeve over his eyes.

“It’s going to be fine, Joey. You’ll see,” she kissed his cheek. “Now Tristan will be here in about fifteen minutes to help you with a bath, and your mom will be here in thirty to see Seto.”

“How did he manage to get her here on a work day?”

She shrugged, “He used that old Seto Kaiba charm.”

Joey grinned, “Yeah, he wouldn’t take no for an answer.”

“And he sent a car for her. Do you want to see her?”

He shrugged, “Leave it up to her, but if Serenity comes, send her up.”

“Sure thing,” Amara grabbed the drooling baby and left, saying hello to Tristan on his way up.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

“Mr. Kaiba, I have no idea what you told my boss to make him order me to come here, but I do not like being pushed around.”

Joey’s mother was furious to say the least. She had brought her daughter with her, and Serenity was currently visiting her brother without her mother’s knowledge.

“Ms. Wheeler, if you would please have a seat, I will be more than happy to explain everything.”

She sat on the edge of the sofa in Seto’s office, crossed her arms, and glared at the CEO. Seto sat behind his desk, and Amara took the remaining chair.

“I believe you are unaware your son was seriously injured by his father the night before last?”

Her only reaction was a slight widening of her cold eyes, “Joey knows how to take care of himself, I’m sure he was exaggerating when he told you.”

Amara was shocked,” Ms. Wheeler, I found Joey in the park, unconscious. This is no exaggeration; his father beat him, badly.”

“This does not involve me in any way. His father will have to answer for his own actions.” She rose to leave.

“Please, Ms. Wheeler,” Seto motioned to the sofa. “It is obvious that Joey cannot live with his father any longer.”

“He’s not living with me!” she said hotly. “I will not have a gang member and a known trouble maker in my house. He is just like his father, and I will not be responsible for him.”

“You don’t mean that,” Amara refused to believe this woman would turn her back on her own son.

“Oh yes I do, young lady. He is nothing but trouble.”

Amara calmly walked over and stood in front of Joey’s mom. No one could have foreseen what was to happen next. Amara’s hand whipped out, and she slapped the woman, hard.

“How dare you. How dare you turn your back on your own son,” her voice was low and filled with suppressed anger. “You have no idea how truly wonderful a person Joey is. He’s honest, loyal, loving, and nothing like the warped image you hold.” Angry tears began to fall unheeded down her cheeks, “You don’t deserve to call someone like Joey your son. He’s too good for you.” She slapped the woman again, “I have had to jump through hoops to keep my daughter, whom I loved more than my next breath. And a bitch like you doesn’t even want to help your son, and no one says anything.”

Amara turned and fled the room, leaving two very shocked people behind. Ms. Wheeler looked at Seto holding her cheek, a bright red hand imprint showing on the other. Seto hide hiirk irk behind steepled fingers.

“She was correct about one thing Ms. Wheeler,” he leaned back in his chair, knowing he had her full attention now. “You have been a miserable excuse of a mother to Joey.” He paused, letting his comment sink in. “And it is about time you owned up to your responsibility to your son. I have a proposal which will benefit everyone involved satisfactorily.”

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Seto found Amara in the garden, arms crossed, and still angry, “Come with me.”

“Why?” she snapped. “So I can be subjected to that, that, WOMAN?”

She was angrier than he thought, “No, so you can work this anger out.”

“Are you implying I have no right to be mad?” she practically snarled at him.

“You have ever right to be mad, but do you want Mokuba or Kira to see you like this?”

Amara calmed a little, “No.”

“Then come with me.”

She followed Seto to a room at the back of the mansion; it was a gym, complete with a boxing ring, free weights, and every workout machine imaginable. Seto climbed into the boxing ring and held the ropes apart motioning for Amara to join him.

“I don’t box,” she stepped through the ropes still glaring.

“I never thought you did,” he moved to the center of the ring, “ tak take a swing at me.”

“Are you nuts?”

He shook his head, “Take a swing. Trust me, you won’t hit me.”

Amara snorted and rolled her eyes. Seto decided to push a few buttons.

“Take a swing. That bitch didn’t even care enough to see for herself if her son was hurt,” he raised his voice slightly.

“She didn’t go see him?”

“No, just took her daughter leftleft. She could have cared less about Joey. Her own son. He means nothing to her.”

Seto could see the fire in Amara’s blue eyes and the knuckles of her hands were white, she clenched them so tightly. He took it up a notch.

“They tried to take Kira from you and you love her. She couldn’t care less for Joey and no one says anything. How fair is that?” He took a step closer to the enraged red head, “What do you want to do to them? Punch them? Then do it!”

If Seto hadn’t been expecting an attack, he would have been lying on his back after her first swing. For someone so slight, she had a heck of a punch. He kept pushing.

“Come on, that all you got? Nobody cares! Not his mother! Not his father! Not the authorities! He’s just a pain in their ass! Something they have to put with!”

“I CARE!” Amara swung. Seto blocked. “I CARE!” It kept on that way for nearly an hour; Amara swinging at Seto, and he blocking every punch. Until finally Amara swung and lost her balance from her physical exhaustion, falling to her knees.

“You okay?” Seto knelt in front of the panting girl, pulling her against his chest.

Amara nodded, “Why?”

“It always helped me to punch out my anger,” he motioned to the bag hanging from the ceiling. “I’ve went through three of those.”

“Doesn’t anyone in this city have decent parents?”

“I think Tea’s parents get along well, and they treat her like royalty.”

“That would explain a few things,” Amara shook her head at Seto questioning look, letting him know the subject was closed. “You were in there with her a while.”

“She finally agreed to challenge Joey’s father for custody.”

“How did you do that?”

“I agreed to pick up all her legal expenses and to provide her with an attorney.”

She smiled, squeezing the CEO hard, “You are wonderful beyond words.”

“That’s not all,” he smirked. “Once she has custody, she will petition the courts to have Joey declared a legal adult and responsible for himself. He can then hold a job and have his own apartment.” Seto kissed her forehead, “Want to go tell him the good news?”

Amara tackled him to the mat, lying on his chest, “And to think, you thought yourself worthless. I think you are the terrifficestes of anyone I have ever met.”

“English may not be my first language but I doubt that is a word in any language,” he grinned, kissing her softly. “You keep telling me that and I might eventually believe you.”

“I think a lifetime should do the trick.”

It took a while, but they eventually made it upstairs to tell Joey the good news.

TBC

Reviews are greatly appreciated.

To Lady Elfskye: LOL You and the hubby are very welcome. How’s your story going?