The Ties Of Friendship

TITLE: The Ties of Friendship
AUTHOR: Fyrbyrd
CATEGORIES: Drama
RATING: NC-17
WARNINGS: Implied rape, tissues maybe?
SPOILERS:
PAIRINGS: YY/Y eventually
SUMMARY: Yugi is framed for murder and only one of his friends stands by him.
DISCLAIMER: I don’t own them, they own me. Kazuki Takahashi owns them.

Author’s Note: This is another early story for me, I hope you like it.

The Ties of Friendship
By Fyrbyrd


Joey had finished his few hours at the shop and had gone into the back to get his coat before leaving. Yami sat on the couch reading a gaming magazine.

“I’m going to see him today. Will you come with me?” he asked of the former Pharaoh.

Yami didn’t move, didn’t blink.

Joey nodded, it was what he had expected, but he still tried. He knew he always would.

He hurried to the bus stop. It was a cold miserable day; it wouldn’t help reflecting what these times were like. But he would not be swayed from going, if he did, he knew his friend would give up completely and he didn’t want that.

It was raining by the time the bus stopped for him to get off. He went to the gate with the rest of the visitors and waited to be allowed in. He was searched, as was everyone, before they were allowed into the State Prison, then he went to the window to get his visitors pass.

“Prisoner’s name?”

“Mutou, Yugi.”

“Visitor’s name?”

“Wheeler, Joey.”

Joey signed and was lead to the visitors waiting area. He sat and waited. It usually took ten minutes before he was called and taken even further into the prison. Finally he was lead into the waiting area he was now used to, where he would sit on the opposite side of his friend behind a screen. There was never any direct contact, there never would be. Yugi finally came through the door in his bright orange coverall, his unusual hair tied back severely.

”Hey Joey,” he greeted in his quiet voice.

“Hey Yug, how’s it goin’?”

“Oh you know the same, nothing much changes here.”

“Doesn’t look like it to me,” said Joey eyeing the bruise on his friend’s face.

“Don’t Joey, please, let it be,” pleaded Yugi.

“But Yug, you shouldn’t have to go through all this –“

“Joey please. It won’t change anything. I have to live with it… How’s grandpa?”

“Quiet, he went to a card show, but he didn’t buy anything. He gets by, but they still shun him.”

Yugi bowed his head. Everything that had happened hurt his grandfather badly.

“I’m sure he’d come of he could.”

“No Joey, you’re the only one that comes, that ever came. I don’t want him to see… me… like this. It would break his heart.”

“But what about your heart?”

Yugi was silent, then, “I accept that only you care about me. I don’t know why you do, and I have come to accept that I belong here now.”

Joey’s eyes shot up, “What! No! Yugi you can’t give up. I come here because I believe you didn’t do it. I know you didn’t do it.”

“But no one else does,” a tear slid down Yugi’s face.

“Yugi, don’t give up on me now.”

“It’s been too long Joey. The case is cold. There were never any other suspects.”

“You never killed anyone.”

“But everyone believes that I did. Everyone…”

Joey knew that Yugi wasn’t meaning everyone. There was only one person that ever concerned Yugi. That that one person believed he had murdered two people had hurt him the most.

“Why do we always get to this point each time I visit?”

“I’m sorry Joey. Maybe you shouldn’t come anymore.”

“Don’t say that, Yug. Don’t ever say that.”

“You could have been more you know Joey. You could have been world champion if you hadn’t given up.”

“It didn’t interest me anymore, if I couldn’t have my friends behind me. With the three of you gone…”

A bell rang.

“Listen Yug, don’t give up, huh? Please. There has to be a way of getting you outta here. I’ll be back next month like usual.”

Yugi didn’t raise his head as tears streamed silently down his face, “Tell Grandpa… I love him.”

“Sure Yug. Don’t I always.”

Behind Yugi the door opened, it was time for him to go back to his lonely cell.

“Bye Joey, take care.”

“Same back, Yugi.”

Joey made it outside before his own tears fell. It was so unfair to look into those huge amethyst eyes and know he could do nothing to help. He knew Yugi had it tough ever since he had arrived. And though he knew none of the details, he knew Yugi was suffering at the hands of other prisoners, for a crime Joey knew he did not commit.

All of the evidence had pointed at Yugi and that evidence had been believed, by all except Joey. He knew his small friend had not murdered his two friends Tèa Gardner and Tristan Taylor.

-------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Joey walked back from the shop into the living room where Yami stood waiting for him.

“What are you up to Joey?” he demanded.

“Huh?” asked Joey confused.

“I had a call from Lieutenant Sakai today. He said you asked him to look into the case again.”

“Yeah, so?”

“Leave it be.”

“No! I won’t! I can’t! For two years I watched the rest of you turn your backs on Yugi. Saw how you turned on him and believed he could actually hurt someone else. He didn’t. I know he didn’t. But he’s giving up now. I’m the only one who’s watched him from helpless to hopeless. I’ve seen the pain he carries from having you all turn from him, the pain he goes through just to get by day by day. And it’s finally gotten to him. I have to try one last time before I lose him.”

“I will not go through this again with you. Leave it be!”

“No, you bastard I won’t! I’m all he has left. I will not give up on him.”

“You’re fired!” spat Yami.

“Fine! I’m going. But when I do get him free, I’ll damn well make sure he knows no one else really cared about him.”

Joey stormed out. A few blocks away he stopped, “What am I going to do now?”

He sat down on an empty seat with his head in his hands. He never wanted to fight with Yami, but he was tired of him not caring about Yugi anymore. He knew it was the situation with Yami that hurt Yugi the most. Because that was where it had all started.

Once Yami had gained his own body, Yugi had felt left out. The others gathered to him, that was his personality. Yugi began to question whether they had ever really cared about him, that they had made friends with him because of Yami and now they were separate entities, didn’t want to know him.

It all got out of hand one night at an arcade. Yugi got angry at being ignored and took it out on Yami. They had a fight with Yugi shouting that he hated Tèa and Tristan and the rest, before saying he hated Yami more. Then he ran off too upset by the whole thing. It had ruined the evening. Everyone went home.

Yugi had cooled down, realized he had said things he had not meant and hurried to take them back.

He knew Tèa’s parents were away, still she let him in, but he soon left when she vented her anger at him. He said he’d be back and went over to Tristan’s place.

Getting there, it was quite late and the place was dark. No one seemed at home. Yugi had knocked on something wet and absently wiped it on his jacket, so he headed back to Tèa’s. As he hurried off, he was seen leaving by Tristan’s parents.

Back at Tèa’s, he went to knock at the door which was open, he grabbed the edge of it as it opened, something sticky was on the edge and again he wiped his hand on his jacket. The light switch would not work, he decided her power was out so she had gone out forgetting to lock up. He shut the door and seeing how late it was decided to head home. Joey was on his way home and saw Yugi leave, but he was mad too at Yugi’s outburst and left him alone.

Joey instead was attracted to the police cars speeding to something. Then being in shock when that something turned out to be Tristan’s place. Not wanting to interfere or anything, he stood with the rest of the gathered crowd. He saw Tristan’s parents sitting near an ambulance, they were very upset. Joey moved closer to them when he saw the police with them.

“Did you see anything at all?” he overheard a policeman ask of them.

“No, we were out,” said Tristan’s father.

“One of his friends was near here,” said his mother.

“Oh yeah, that spiky haired little guy, Yugi something,” went on Mr Taylor.

“Yugi Mutou. But how would he be connected to this?” said Mrs Taylor still wiping tears from her eyes.

“He might have seen something. Whoever bashed your son to death might have seen him,” said the policeman.

‘Bashed to death! Tristan!’ Joey couldn’t believe it. Tristan, dead! And maybe Yugi knew something.

The policeman got a call over his radio; his reaction had Tristan’s parents looking at him.

“Ah sorry, there’s been another murder; did your son know a girl named Tèa Gardener?”

Tristan’s parents went into shock, his mother collapsing.

Joey almost collapsed himself. Two of his friends were dead! He made himself go over to his other friend’s place; he had to see for himself. Were they all in danger? Then he remembered that he had seen Yugi leave her place…

There were police everywhere at Tèa’s place and he had confirmed that she too had been bashed to death. He decided that he had best go and check on Yugi and Yami. But as he reached the shop, more police cars were there. However, there was a difference, this time there were no ambulances or coroner’s cars. And even as he watched, he saw two policemen come out with Yugi between them. Yami came out behind them, “Where are you taking him?”

“For questioning, he is a suspect.”

“Suspect?”

‘Suspect!’ echoed Joey alarmed. Yugi hated violence.

The cars drove off and Joey saw Yami comforting Yugi’s grandfather, telling him they’d go clear it up. They disappeared back inside.

Joey had to find somewhere to sit down, this was all too much. Two friends dead, another a suspect. How could anything like this ever happen?

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

“Joey Wheeler?” a policeman stood over Joey where he lay on the park bench he had sat on. He soon realised it was daytime. He had fallen asleep.

“Ah yeah, that’s me.”

“I need you to come downtown with me. You know that two of your friends were murdered last night?”

“Yeah, I know.”

“We’d like to get a statement from you if you don’t mind, about what happened early that evening, and anything else you might know.”

“Ah, okay, I’ll come with you.”

Joey was led to a police car and sat in the back as they drove to headquarters.

As he got there he saw Yugi’s grandfather weeping softly into his hands as he sat with a blanket around his shoulders, alone. He also saw Yami in one of the interrogation room’s apparently giving his statement.

Joey was led into another. He asked for a drink before they got down to his statement. They wanted to know about Yugi’s outburst at the arcade. Joey truthfully answered all their questions. Then they asked of his movements afterwards. He told them that he had left like the others to go home passing Tèa’s place on the way. Very reluctantly he told of seeing Yugi leaving her place.

They asked him more about this, trying to get a time, but Joey couldn’t give them that. He went on to explain he had passed Tristan’s place and learned of his fate, then Tèa’s and later saw Yugi being taken away.

“Why are you asking so much about Yugi? He couldn’t have anything to do with this,” said Joey.

“Even you heard his anger last night, he said he hated them, and not long after they are found dead, hit from behind,” said the interviewer.

“But he wouldn’t hurt anyone. You don’t know Yugi; he’d do anything for his friends. I know, he’s done so much for me.”

“And when friends turn into enemies? You saw him leaving Tèa’s place. Tristan’s parents saw him leave their place.”

”No. Yugi wouldn’t – couldn’t do this. You’re on the wrong track.”

“I’m sorry, I thought you knew.”

“Knew what?”

“He’s already been charged with the murders.”

Joey’s mouth fell open, “No. No, you’re wrong. He didn’t do this!”

“Thank you for your time, Mr Wheeler, you may go now.”

Joey got up, “You are wrong, you’ll see, it wasn’t him.”

As Joey came out he saw Yami with Yugi’s distraught grandfather. He wanted to go to them, but the glare Yami gave him kept him away.

Yami coaxed the old man to go home and Joey did the same. He couldn’t believe it all. Maybe he was dreaming it all. Maybe if he went to bed it would all go away…

---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

tbc