Shattered

Shattered.
By Lady Jade

Disclaimers:
Warnings: I don’t own Yugioh. Damn. Anyways, I’m not making any profit off this, and my hat is off to all the talented ppl who worked so hard to make Yugioh successful. If you sue me, all you’ll get are my student loans. Have fun. This is Yaoi boys and Girls. Boy boy interaction. (TxJ) Explicit stuff. NO kiddies or ppl with heart conditions. Swim at your own risk!
Please review.
All flames will be used to line the cat box. Don’t waste your breath J Please review. It works good for me, helps me get some feedback as a writer. Thanks everyone, hope you enjoy.

A/N: I don’t know what Tristan did or did not tell Serenity when he went to visit her. Just humor me, again :P And I’m pretty sure Tristan has/had an older sib, but they don’t live at home anymore? If anyone knows the score on that one, let me know, it could be useful, otherwise, I’m just gonna write on heedless and use my artistic license. *run, run now flee while you yet can.* lol. Anyways. Next chapter. Ill shut up now.

- Wataris_Girl


~*~
“So.” Serenity said. “I had just dozed off, and I heard this weird ticking against my window. I wasn’t sure at first, but the more I listened, it sounded like someone throwing gravel at my window. I wasn’t sleeping well anyways, I overheard mom’s conversation, and I was just fit to be tied…so…anyways, I creep over to the window, and there is this weird looking white haired boy throwing rocks at my window. Well, this weird white haired boy and his twin.”
Joey snickered.
“Most people don’t meet Ryou’s Yami without dying.”
“I kinda figured.” Serenity muttered. “He had that look…But anyways, the smaller one, Ryou, yes?”
“Yeah.” Joey encouraged.
“He just smiles up at me and asked me if I wanted to see my brother.”
“You didn’t even ask how he knew me?”
“Well, when Tristan came to visit last time, he clued me in on everything that had been going on. I knew about Yugi and his Yami, I didn’t know there was another set out there, but I was certain they had to be from the same stock. I knew it had to be ok.”
“Well, technically there is Marik and Malik too.”
Serenity shook her head.
“Really? Huh. Weird. Anyways. The older one…”
“Bakura?”
“Yeah, tossed me a rope that I tied to my bed and he climbed right on up.”
“He didn’t hurt you did he?”
“No!” Serenity laughed. “He climbed back down with me on his back…he’s really strong.” She reflected thoughtfully.
Joey gave her a reproachful look.
“I know those two are together Joey, it’s written all over them, so don’t look at me like I’m even thinking about it.”
Joey smirked.
“Just checking sis.”
“Keh.” She grunted. “So basically, they kidnapped me. Ryou helped me write a quick note for mom. She knows where I am. I am going to be so grounded.”
“I’ll never get to see you again now sis, good going.” Joey grumbled.
“Oh no, Kaiba and I worked that out.”
“K…K…Kaiba?” Joey stuttered.
“Yeah, if I want to mail anything, I just address it to one of his offices, and you will get it. That and this.” Serenity pulled out a cell phone.
“It’s one of his company phones. I have a job, I’ll pay him for the phone bill, and that way I can talk to you.” She chirped.
Joey looked at her, his lip quivering.
“Awww, sis, damn. You’d really go to all that trouble just for me?”
“Yeah, I would.” She stated as she kissed his forehead.
“Look Joey, I have to go, Kaiba’s taking me to the bus station so I can be back home before nightfall. I just, I had to see you.”
“Serenity?”
“Yeah.”
“You don’t know how much this means to me, how good it is to see you.”
“Same here Joey. I will keep in touch, I promise, and please, get better soon?”
“For you. Anything.”
Serenity smiled. She knew he meant that. And it was almost frightening. But then again, that was Joey, what could you do.
“I love you Jo.”
“I love you too sis.”

~*~
Why is Ryou leaning over the flowerbed like that Bakura?” Tea asked.
The white haired Yami had the strangest expression on his face.
“Bakura?” Kaiba queried.
“Bakura, are you alright?” Yugi asked.
“Tomb raider…what is?…OH SWEET RA NOT HERE!” Yami dove and shoved Bakura in the direction of one of the living room’s trashcans. The tomb robber hit his knees over it just before he heaved. Yami held the long white hair back in an impromptu ponytail in his fist. Yami blinked down at the tomb raider in astonishment. He and Ryou couldn’t have been sharing an actual bond for very long because even he knew that if Yugi got the stomach flu, so did he. It seemed to be that one particular illness that did it too. Not colds, or fevers, but definitely throwing up. Maybe it was the strong emotions of helplessness that went with the action. Who knew?
Yami braced the white haired spirit against his chest, supporting him through a couple more dry heaves, until he slumped.
“Sorry.” Bakura whispered quietly as he spit to clear his mouth.
“Its alright.” Yami murmured. Did Bakura just apologize to me? Will wonders never cease?
“You and Ryou share this through the link, that and physical pain, just for future reference.”
Bakura blinked up at the pharaoh out of the corner of his eye.
“I didn’t know. Thanks. He told me he was motion sick from being on the bike, I guess I should have believed him?”
“You haven’t shared this bond long, have you?”
Bakura shrugged, still leaning on the trashcan bonelessly, needing the support of the cool metal.
“Its all my fault, really, that it is this new. I …maybe I decided I needed to change pharaoh, it took him to make me see that…I’m still new to all this, I guess.”
Yami was floored.
“If you need anything, advice, just to talk, I’m here for you, so is my Aibou.”
Bakura looked perplexed as Yami helped him up.
“Thank you, and…thanks for not letting me puke on the floor, I…it feels so different…felt so different. I didn’t get it till the last second.”
“Don’t mention it.”
“Hey pharaoh?”
“Mhh?”
“I was wrong, and I’m sorry…you’re alright.”

~*~
Three very interested pairs of ears were listening to the conversation. Kaiba, Yugi and Tea shared a look that clearly said, “The apocalypse is coming…”
“Woah.” Was all Tea could say. Kaiba merely blinked. Yugi was grinning from ear to ear.
“Woah is right.” He said.

~*~
They all waved Serenity off as Kaiba gave her a ride in his new sports car down to the station. The day had turned out to be sunny and quite nice. Tristan was still apologizing to R thi thinking that his yelling had stressed the sensitive boy into unloading his lunch in Seto’s flower garden, despite being told he mere had been suffering from motion sickness. But as all things do, a calm settled over the group, all enjoying the kiss of the sunshine and the sweet breeze. It was warm for the middle of the temperamental domino winter. Probably an Indian summer. But who was complaining?
“Hey guys?” Tristan asked. “It’s a really nice afternoon, I bet it would be nice for Jo to come outside and see some sunlight.”
Yami nodded. “Good idea.”
Tea smiled broadly. “I’ll carry the blankets if you carry Joey.”
“Where at guys?”
Ryou frowned in momentary thought.
“How about over there, the shrub maze ends there, and I’ll bet it’ll be a good wind break if a breeze kicks up.”
“Sounds great.” Tristan laughed. “I’ll go ask Jo, but you know he’ll say yes, I know he’s dying of boredom.”

~*~
Joey leaned back, laying his head on Tristan’s lap. The birds were singing, it was sunny, and it felt great on every sore and aching muscle in his body. The air was fresh and crisp, belying that it was indeed winter, despite the fact that they were all sitting around in t-shirts, but that was ok. His friends, including Ryou, seemed to be coming up with excuses to touch him. Joey knew the truth, and the truth was that he didn’t mind. It was as reassuring to them that he was alive as it was for him. He felt better when he was being hugged or held. God knew he needed it. He watched Yami, Yugi and Tea out playing a game of Frisbee. Hearing them laugh was so comforting to him. Bakura was snuggling Ryou in the hollow of his arms, apparently his Hikari was still not feeling very well. And Tristan, well, he was running fingers through his hair, and that was soothing. He could have easily fallen asleep, but sleep was the furthest thing from his mind. He didn’t want to miss a second of anything. He had nearly been robbed of this moment with those he loved. He had no intention of drifting off.
He tilted his head up at the sound of heavy footsteps in the grass so see a blaze of Mahogany and red.
“Hey Kaiba.” Joey croaked. “Come to join us?”
The CEO smiled.
“Yeah pup, it’s a nice weekend, and for once, I have no desire to be attached at the hip to my laptop.”
“Good for you Kaiba, you work too much, you know that?” Ryou stated calmly.
“Feeling any better?” Kaiba asked curiously.
“Mhh…A little.” Ryou grinned cheerfully as he leaned sleepily back into Bakura’s arms. “I think it was really that I went too long without eating. I had a glass of orange juice and I’m feeling lot’s better.”
“If your sure? We don’t need to lay one more of Yugi’s friends up this week.” Kaiba stated drolly.
“I’m sure, but I’m taking it easy just in case.”
“Good.” Kaiba snorted.
The CEO grunted, yawned, and then stretched out next to Joey.
“So pup. Not the best time, but, there’s no good time, really. Where you gonna stay?”
“Uhhh? I didn’t think that far ahead?”
Kaiba sighed and shook his head.
“That figures.”
“Look, Kaiba, that aside, I uh…thanks, for what you did for me and Serenity.”
“Don’t mention it pup.”
“Really, thank you.”
“Your more than welcome.”
The silence dragged pleasantly and the blanket sitting crew watched Yami tackle Yugi and wrestled the Frisbee away from him and toss it to Tea. The funny part was that Yugi was latched onto that disk like a rat on a Cheeto, and it took Yami tickling him till he nearly cried to get him to let go. Kaiba was reminiscing that he had once seen a terrier hold onto a Frisbee like that when Tristan turned to look at him.
“Hey…” Tristan broke the calm silence as he stroked Joey’s cheek. “Kaiba, you think anyone would care if Joey came to live with me? That is, if Jo wants to and all.” Tristan murmured.
Kaiba tilted his head in deep thought and eyed Joey for permission; he got it in a nod.
“I’ll see what I can find out.” Kaiba smiled. There was a honk of a horn at the main gates that derailing Kaiba’s train of thought. “And here comes Mokuba, I’m so grateful he spent the last two nights at his friend’s house.” He stated as a car pulled up in the driveway and dropped Mokuba off with a wave.
“Yeah. The kid didn’t need to see me. What are you going to tell him Kaiba?”
“The truth, he’s my kid brother, and I can’t just lie to him, that…and he’d never believe me anyways.” Kaiba smirked.
“Got the old Kaiba business sense, eh?” Tristan joked.
“Something like that.”
“MOKUBA! OVER HERE!”
Seto waved cheerfully.

~*~

Thanks much to those who review and read, and please keep reviewing.
Cheers!
- Lady Jade