Forever, My Puppy

(This will be the last chapter in this part of the story. The sequil will be called New Beginnings.)


Seto turned away from the window in the Kaiba Corp high rise. Joey and Serenity sat before his desk, a look of great sadness on their faces. This was the part of the deal he felt he would regret. He had to be the hard business man here, he couldn't be soft. He sat at the desk and steepled his fingers together and rested his chin on them.

"The reason I called you two here is to figure out the services you want for your parents. I am willing to pay for anything, money is no object."

Serenity looked at Joey and shrugged. She knew Joey didn't want to give his father much of a send off. His drinking buddies had heard about what happened, and held a collection to help Serenity ad Joey pay for his funeral costs. They didn't think that Kaiba Corp should pay for their former friend's attrocities. The money had not been much, and Seto allowed Joey and Serenity to keep it for whatever they wanted to do. Joey looked at his younger sister, then spoke up.

"Well, I think that we should give them equal funerals. It's not right to treat dad unfairly, even though he tried to destoy our lives. As for burial, I think we should have them burried seperately. Serenity and I agree that mom should be buried at Azalia Park Cemetary, Dad on the other hand, I think should go to Bald Hill."

"Bald hill is the cheapest, nastiest cemetary in all of Domino.. Probly Japan. I will not allow my money to grace that place. I'm sorry Joey. I know you are bitter towards him, but I have two plots at Rose Hill Memorial Gardens chosen. They are the ones they bought years ago, when they first married. It's in both their wills to be buried there, no matter what happened."

"Dad had a will?"

Seto held up a small stack of paper and nodded. The will was four pages long and held verious clauses and paragraphs that Joey didn't want to hear, but sat still as Seto rambled them off. Joey perked up when his name was mentioned.

"To my son, Joseph Alan Wheeler, I leave the car, three savings bonds valuing 7,000 yen, and the furnature."

"To my daughter, Serenity Marie Wheeler, I leave two savings bons valuing at 4,000 yen. I know this isn't much, but maybe it will help them get a new start."

"Much my ass. Rent for our rinky-dink nasty apartment was over 9,000 yen a month. What did he expect me to do, live on the streets? the truth is, the savings bonds are no longer there. He cashed them in last year to pay the bills. There is no money, the car was wrecked on Christmas Eve. This whole will is a joke. I knew he had money ratholed off, but he left that to that damn bar he goes to."

"Joey, CALM DOWN." Seto said, ice forming in his voice. "I am only following the will. The savings bonds, I will replace, and double. I'm sure you won't need that money, but Serenity will. " Seto's blue eyes bored into Joey and he realized he was standing leaning over Seto's desk, ready to punch him. He straightened, fixed his clothes and sat back down.

"Furthermore, Joey. Your father has a clause in his will that should be of interest to you. It states that for the past 15 years, your father has recieved regular blood tests. Apparently he has a rare blood disease that he was worried might be passed on to you. You have shown no signs of it, and probly never will since it would have shown up by your 15th birthday. He's had full cbc's.. everyting. Including checks for STD's."

"And?"

"He's clean... always has been. He signed a confession in Jail, Joey. He'd taken Extasy that night, then slipped some to you in a shot he'd given you. He'd never ment to hurt you... and he used protection. "

Joey's head dropped and tears streamed down his cheeks. Those two nights, his dad had acted very strange, now he knew why. Extasy. Seto swallowed his hard business man attitude and stood. He strode around his desk and took his lover in his arms. He held him close and ran his fingers through Joey's hair.

"I'm sorry baby. I didnt know this news either. It was attached to the will."

"Dad never ment to hurt me... why..." Joey couldnt finish what he was trying to say. His father hadn't been the best of people, but he did try to provide for Joey. "Is that why he locked me in my room? Because he was ashamed... or because he didn't trust himself after taking that crap?"

"I think it was because he was afraid of himself. It says in his confession that he heard you talking to someone, and he thought it was the police. He was sure he'd go to jail for a mistake he made while he was high on something he took. Someone had given it to him, told him it was something for a headache. He said his friend said they'd play a trick on you.. his friend was the one who laced your drink with it.. Your dad did know it was in the shot, but didn't think of the effects till he was told it was Extasy." Seto released Joey and looked into his eyes. "But one good thing came of this, Joey. It brought you to me, where you are always safe. I love you very much, and will do anything in my power to do anything for you."

"I know." Joey looked at the ring on his right hand. Seto had slid the ring on to it because his left hand was in the cast. "I love you, too. You've done so much for us."

"So where to have the funerals?"

Serenity looked out the window and smiled to herself. Their parents, despite their diffrences wanted to be together in death. Their father had shot himself out of guilt of how he'd treated his family.

"How bout simple graveside services. Joey and I don't have much family, so we'd be on our own. Dad's drinking buddies didn't want to come, so it would just be us."

The office door opened and Joey's friends came in. Yugi, Tristian and Tea smiled at Seto. Mokuba came in behind them and closed the door.

"Joey, your family is bigger than you think. You have me, Yugi, everyone who was at the party, and you have Seto."

Joey smiled and stood. His friends gave him one big hug. Serenity and he would get though this with their help.