Author's Notes: Forgive me for the long update but I was sort of busy with another story of mine until I had writer's block for it. Luckily I was able to have this chapter ready.

Chapter 6: Breaking The Habit

With Kaiba's hand on the doorknob, he slowly turned it and pushed the door aside. He narrowed his eyes, searching for shifty activity within. It appeared the lights were off in the small room, and a foul smell satiated the air.

Kaiba wrinkled his nose in disgust as he smelled it. He casually entered the room with Mai following behind. Raising his arm to the wall, Kaiba tried to find the light switch in the dark room.

Mai held her breath to avoid inhaling the pungent stench that she and Kaiba despised. She decided to help the CEO as she placed her hands on the wall, feeling her way to the switch. She felt the small, smooth knob and flicked it in an upward position.

Instantly, the lights turned on but they weren't expecting some unhappy residents. Two powerful pairs of arms grabbed Kaiba from behind and held him over to the side. The CEO glared at the thugs and tried to shrug them off until he heard Mai scream.

Mai was sure she felt a pistol pressed upon her back. She didn't know who held the gun, but she was concerned for both she and Kaiba's safety.

"Who are you?" the man behind Mai asked.

Kaiba nor Mai responded.

"Answer the question!" one of the thugs holding Kaiba demanded, yet Kaiba still wouldn't speak.

Mai heard the trigger click. Her entire body trembled in fear of what would happen if either of them answered.

"Boss, this guy looks an awfully like Seto Kaiba," the second thug observed.

"Moron, I think it is!" his companion replied fearfully.

The gun was removed from Mai's back as the man pushed her to the corner. The weapon was still out, ready to be fired.

Mai looked at the man inquisitively, sensing as if he was the one in charge. She couldn't help but stare at Kaiba helplessly.

"Hirutani," one of the thugs said. "What are we going to do about them?"

At that moment, Mai's eyes widened. The leader's name sounded familiar to her, unfortunately she couldn't remember where. She realized Kaiba had a glint in his eyes that meant he was up to something. She slid down to the floor as Kaiba grabbed the thugs by the collar of their shirts and tossed them to the other side of the room.

Hirutani watched with amusement as his goons landed on each other on the cold floor. He set the gun on the nearby table and sat down on a wooden chair.

"Who knew the CEO of a multibillion corporation could beat my two men down," Hirutani said. "It's a shame Joey was not here to deal with you."

"Joey!" Mai shouted. She stammered to the table and smacked her palms on it. "Tell me you know him!"

Hirutani raised an eyebrow. "He used to be part of my gang until he was set straight by that runt Mutou."

The men gradually stood up, rubbing their backs of pain from the fall. They gave death glares to one another and crossed their arms.

"Boss, Wheeler was here just a few hours ago." One of them said.

"Zack, you tell him now and not before!" the other scolded.

"Were we supposed to tell him the names of his customers then…?" Zack replied in a bemused manner. His expression shown how very confused he was.

"Vince, Zack!" Hirutani called out. "You two idiots let Joey go and not say anything! How dense are you!"

Kaiba chuckled. "This is what happens when you depend on fools to do your work." He said.

"So, you're the one Joey told me about," Mai interrupted. "I thought he took care of you."

"That punk should know better than to rebel against me," Hirutani stated. "His little friend Yugi interfered with us, though my gang would have been able to kill that pipsqueak if Joey hadn't saved him."

Mai faced Hirutani's two goons, glaring angrily at them. "Why was Joey in here just a few hours ago?" she questioned.

Both Vince and Zack exchanged glances with each other. Then they turned their backs away from them and spoke in whisper. It seemed they were trying to confirm the information that Mai sought.

"He only came for more liquor and something else…" Zack said, confronting Mai.

"Like what?" Mai reprimanded.

Zack lifted his hands to show Mai a small plastic bag containing white powder. "This should answer your question."

"Of course, we didn't give it to him since he didn't pay up his tab," Vince added. "Just how he became addicted is a mystery to us."

Hirutani grinned. He thought something about one of his gang members being killed had to do with Joey. How else could Joey had found out who the dealer was?

Kaiba kept a close watch on Hirutani. The CEO didn't trust what Hirutani was hiding, but he couldn't query yet about his suspicions.

"We're leaving." Kaiba said, walking to the door.

"But, Kaiba!" Mai replied. She noticed the CEO disappearing through the doorway and he did not respond to her. Mai shook her head back at the three men and then strode out of the room, closing the door.

Hirutani's grin grew bigger and he started to laugh. "Joey has taken the bait," he sneered, smirking deviously at his men. Zack and Vince backed away from him, frightened of his behavior. "Joey always had a weak side, and the manipulation is working perfectly. He'll soon regret ever abandoning my gang for his worthless friends."

Serenity sat beside her brother on the couch, smoothing out his messy blond hair. She rested his head on her lap like a pillow as their friends mournfully stared at Joey. Téa handed Serenity a wet towel that she took and placed on Joey's forehead which was sweaty and hot.

"Big brother, you're going to be fine." Serenity said in a kind and loving tone.

Joey slowly opened his eyes, but his vision was blurry so he couldn't see his sister's face. His arms laid limp on the couch as his left leg dangled on the floor. Breathing became more difficult for him, his chest rising and falling with pain. His skin was pale and clammy and his eyes were bloodshot.

"We need to take him to the hospital." Yugi suggested. "He's not going to get better here."

"I agree." Téa replied.

Tristan was unable to look at his sickly friend. "It's for the best. Joey can't go on like this."

Joey overheard their conversation, and he tried to sit upright. His body still felt limp, but he persisted. With the bit of strength he had left, Joey got on to his feet and glowered at his friends with watery eyes.

"I'll…live…" Joey insisted.

"You're barely even able to stand," Tristan stated, holding him while Joey stood with weak, shaky legs. "We're going to take you to the hospital whether you like it or not."

Serenity stood up and went over to Joey's small kitchen. She saw dishes were left unwashed by the sink and the trash bin was filled to capacity. Alcohol bottles splayed around the floor as Serenity walked, reaching the cabinets. She opened one and searched for a glass.

Téa entered the kitchen, looking for her. She noticed Serenity's ill gaze and she strolled to her. "What are you doing here?" She asked.

Serenity found a glass in a near-empty cabinet and she headed for the sink. "I wanted to get Joey some water." She answered. Settling the glass underneath the faucet, Serenity turned the knob as water poured into the glass.

"This place is such a mess," Téa said, watching Serenity turn off the faucet. "I just hope Mai and Kaiba found some clues as to why Joey is like this."

Serenity nodded. "There isn't much we can do until we know what's going on," she replied, exiting the kitchen with Téa.

Both girls heard a yell from the living room. They were sure Joey and Tristan had to be arguing.

"Joey, we're not going to leave you to die!" Tristan spat, cornering Joey.

Yugi tried to come between them, but he was pushed aside. "We can't force him!" Yugi said defensively.

"He's acting like an idiot!" Tristan inferred. He grabbed Joey and pulled him towards the door.

"Tristan, stop it!" Serenity begged.

"I rather die…" Joey whispered weakly. "You all won't miss me after I'm gone. I don't belong in this world… I'm the problem, and I hate my life…"

Yugi shook his head negatively. "No, Joey, don't say that," he said. "We care about you, even Serenity."

Joey remained silent. He walked passed them and grabbed the blood-stained knife lying on the table. Lifting it up to his face, the blade gleamed hideously in the light.

"There's no way else to go for me. Either end it now or continue living my life that has become hell." Joey responded.

The knife was raised in the air and he plunged it towards his torso. A strong hand stopped him as Joey stared into brown eyes belonging to his sister. He realized Tristan held back the knife and took it away before Joey finished the job.

Joey knelt down on the floor with tears in his eyes. His hands trembled as he looked at them. The blurry vision of his friends was all he could see until everything turned black.

Meanwhile Mai and Kaiba rode back to the Game Shop in the limo. The dark sky hovered above, stars shining brightly. Streetlights flashed by as the limo approached their destination.

Well, it doesn't look like we got much from Hirutani, Mai thought, her eyes adverting Kaiba. Something about him doesn't make me feel comfortable.

"Did you believe anything Hirutani told us?" Mai asked.

Kaiba ignored her, gazing out the window. His face was stoic, and he had his arms and legs crossed.

Mai grew agitated of him. "I'll take that silence as a I-Don't-Know!" she yelled. Still, Kaiba didn't say a word. "Are you going to sit there with your mouth shut or what!"

"Why?" Kaiba questioned, staring at Mai with cold cerulean eyes. "Why did you come back after all the damage you did to Wheeler?"

Mai sat motionless. She couldn't understand why Kaiba was asking a question like that as if they were friends. Kaiba never cared about her or her friends, and it was less likely he was growing attached to them.

"I never accepted Joey's defeat during our duel within the Orichalcos," Mai began, "I was so alone with no one to turn to, but towards myself. Then, Valon came to me, he granted me a chance at power, and those nightmares… They wouldn't go away!"

"So instead you seized the opportunity to join Dartz and his goon squad to finally gain the chance to duel Wheeler." Kaiba replied. "How pathetic."

Mai bit her lip. He had to be right, she was pathetic. She tried to run away from the past, but even power couldn't help her. The more she wanted to forget, the more terrifying the nightmares became. There was no escape unless Mai confronted her fears.

"I don't suppose someone like you wanted to forget the past," Mai admonished.

"In fact I did." Kaiba responded with a smirk. "The Duel Tower was the last bit of memories that I wanted to lay down to rest, and now it's gone."

"Mr. Kaiba, we're here." The driver said, indicating that they arrived to the Game Shop.

Mai got out of the limo and walked up to the door. She found a piece of paper taped onto it. Removing it, Mai read what the note said.

Kaiba opened the passenger door in the limo and saw Mai with the note. He looked around, realizing that the lights were off throughout the place. He quickly deduced that Yugi, Téa, Tristan and Serenity had left, probably to visit Joey.

"Well, they went to see Joey." Mai said, heading to the limo. She held out the paper to Kaiba so he could read. Her heels tapped irritably on the pavement. "I can't believe they decided to go without telling us."

"Get in." Kaiba instructed. He motioned to the door, his eyes on a particular corner in the shadows.

"What's the big hurry?" Mai inquired. She was pushed into the vehicle by Kaiba, and he immediately followed in.

"You're going to give the directions to Wheeler's place, now." Kaiba ordered.

Mai blinked. "All right. Go straight and then turn on the first block." She said to the driver.

The limo pulled away from the Game Shop, speeding off in the distance. Mai couldn't comprehend why Kaiba wanted to leave, but she suspected someone was spying on them. A dark figure hid in the alleyway, waiting for them to leave.

"That Kaiba is more perceptive than I thought." Hirutani said as he appeared in the streetlight. He turned to face his two lackeys, but he noticed that they were asleep. "Idiots! This is not the time to nap!"

Zack and Vince woke up as they heard Hirutani's yells. They got up from the ground and ran out of the alley in a rush. In a couple of seconds the two realized that there was no danger.

"Hey, what are we running from?" Vince queried.

"Ah, I don't think the boss is too happy about this…" Zack said fearfully, seeing Hirutani fuming mad.

"How did I ever get stuck with them?" Hirutani complained, approaching them. "I have some plans to deal with Joey. Though, I doubt he'll live any longer."

The tires screeched as the driver maneuvered as fast as he could to control the speed. It was very clear that Kaiba wanted to get to Joey's place much faster. The limo swerved off to a nearby alley and then the engine stopped running. Two doors opened as Mai and Kaiba stepped out and they went straight to the apartment complex.

"Yugi," Mai called out as she saw him climbing down the steps.

"You're back!" Yugi exclaimed. As he reached ground level, Yugi ran to Mai and he breathed heavily once he met up with her. "I'm glad you returned back."

"You could have told us before we left that you guys were coming here," Mai said. "How is he?"

Yugi nodded his head. "Not good. We planned to take him to the hospital." He replied. "Have you found out anything?"

"Yugi, do you know someone by the name Hirutani?"

Yugi's eyes doubled in size as the name reminded him of dreadful times. He clenched his fists and took a deep breath. "Yeah, I know." He responded. Yugi glanced over Mai's shoulder. "Uh, I don't mean to scare anyone but who are they?"

Mai and Kaiba looked around and found themselves surrounded by thugs. The two edged nearer to Yugi as they became trapped within the circle. There was no way for them to escape unless they fought through the thugs.

"Great," Kaiba said, glaring at Hirutani who was alleviated space by the group. "And to think, you still care for that mutt."

Hirutani grinned. "Heh, that isn't why I'm here. I want revenge for what Wheeler did to me!" Hirutani ambled closer to the three, and he noticed Yugi. "I especially want you gone from the picture, but I'll start by killing that half-dead punk in front of you!"

"No!" Mai cried out as she saw Zack and Vince drag Joey's body into the street. She glowered as Téa, Serenity and Tristan were forcefully thrown to them by some of Hirutani's thugs. "What are you going to do with Joey!"

"Sadly, since he's still alive from the alcohol and drug abuse he'd undergone, I'm going to end his miserable life." Hirutani said, loading a bullet to the same gun he used on Mai. "Oh, and just for your information, this wasn't loaded earlier."

"You can't!" Serenity screamed, tears flowing down her cheeks. She tried to reach Joey, but Tristan stopped her.

"You'll get hurt!" Tristan warned. He held tightly to her as Serenity struggled to break free. Téa came by to calm her down.

Hirutani pointed the gun to Joey's unmoving form on the ground. The trigger was pulled and was ready to be shot. Everyone couldn't do anything at all to save him before Joey's final moments to survive.

"No!" Mai yelled at the top of her lungs as the gun fired.

Author's Notes: Yes, I'm stopping the chapter here. Unfortunately you won't know if Joey was able to dodge that bullet or not until the chapter. Guess you have to wait then.