AN: Yes, so I finally managed to write out a YGO story that has been stuck in my head since… I don't know, forever I guess. I'm pretty sure this is my first YGO fan fic. I mean, I have written others but this is the first one I have posted. Anyway I meant for it to be longer (a lot longer) than this, but my fingers were getting sore so I figured I'd stop here for now. Anyway if you enjoyed it, awesome, but if not then I am so sorry it sucks and any advice you can give me to make it better would be greatly appreciated!

SUMMARY: Joey Wheeler has been absent from class for almost a week. When Seto Kaiba is sent to check on him, he ends up saving Joey from being beaten to death. Years ago a promise had been made, but seeing how much he'd grown can Seto keep that promise?

WARNING: This fictional story may or will contain strong language, sexual themes, drug content, and violence. If none of these things are for you then I suggest you TURN BACK NOW. It's rated M for a reason folks!

DISCLAIMER: I DO NOT own Yu-Gi-Oh! or its awesome characters. That credit is reserved for Kazuki Takahashi.

XXX

The sky had still revealed no signs of change. The tide from a sea of rotten, grey-black clouds that drifted purposefully along the warm April breeze would not ebb, much like Seto Kaiba's petulance level which continued to flare up with each step closer he took towards Domino High School. As far as the CEO of Kaiba Corporation was concerned high school was nothing more than a waste of time and money. The seventeen year old senior's energy would have been better spent on the business he had to run, and learning French and the anatomy of a pig just wasn't going to make that happen. Besides, since childhood Seto had been teaching himself and his little brother everything they needed to know for when they would one day take charge of their bastard father's company. Unfortunately for their father that day had come a lot sooner than anyone could've expected. Anyway it was old news and the past is the past—something he had always made clear to Mokuba as a reminder to never look back.

"It just means you have regrets," he had once explained when Mokuba seemed confused.

Seto firmly opened the shoji door with an exaggerated movement, turning heads through his overawing presence which demanded upmost respect and fear from others, and entered the classroom, not bothering to rejoin to Yugi Muto's cheerful hello or his instructor's pathetic snide remark regarding the brunette's constant tardiness. Pulling out a chair Seto glided his rear end on the seat, propping his modishly long legs on top of the desk's surface—like a multimillionaire boss. At least roll-call was done and over with, that stupid little attendance procedure; anyone with eyes should be able to tell who is present and who is—most likely—playing another game of hooky. As he casually scanned the room he realized one familiar, annoying face was missing from the group. Again.

This is his fifth day, he thought. How unlike him.

As if he could read his students' minds the homeroom instructor enquired, "Has anyone seen Joey Wheeler? He's been gone all week. Yugi? Tea? Tristan?"

He looked to each student respectfully for answers as he called out their names, his questioning gaze landing finally on Yugi Muto. Stares from the others soon followed. The three friends had all known Joey Wheeler since grade school, but Yugi was Joey's best friend. If anybody knew the Brooklyn kid's whereabouts, it was Yugi. However the crazy-haired youth just lifted his shoulders slightly in a baffled shrug.

"All I remember is Joey saying that he and his little sister, Serenity, were both under the weather… but that was three days ago. That's the last time I heard from him," said Yugi, profound concern for his dearest friend displayed on his face for all to see.

"It's true," Tea chipped in. "We went to his apartment, all three of us—Yugi, Tristan, and I. We knocked on the door but nobody answered. Not even their parents… which I guess isn't all that strange, considering how they hardly ever answer the door," she mumbled crossly as an afterthought.

"I'm sorry we can't tell you more, Mr. Heisenberg," Yugi said piteously. "I really wish I knew what was going on with my friend."

Mr. Heisenberg shook his head. "No worries, Yugi. I'm sure Joey and his sister are getting better as we speak," he consoled with an upbeat tone, but in actuality it sounded like he was trying to convince himself of this more than anyone else. "Just to be on the safe side, though, I think you, Seto Kaiba, should go visit them."

"What?" replied Seto incredulously, removing his feet from their comfortable spot on the desk to the floor below where they originally belonged. His posture suddenly altered from one of cool indifference to one of frigid exasperation as soon as he realized what was asked of him.

"Do me a favor and bring these assignments to them as well, will you?" he said, slamming a stack of stapled white sheets on the brunette's desk. It wasn't really a question. Undoubtedly Mr. Heisenberg was enjoying this rare moment of bossing around the CEO of KaibaCorp. To him, Seto Kaiba was nothing more than another spoiled teenage brat, one who just happened to possess too much dough and too much attitude for his liking. It's too bad Seto couldn't find a fuck to give.

"Whatever," he snarled, snatching up the assignment sheets. "There will not be a repeat of this."

Before he even reached the door Seto flicked open his dark blue cell with a picture of a blue-eyes white dragon emblazoned on the front—his trademark dueling monster. He punched in a number that had one of his guards on speed-dial and commanded that he pick him up pronto.

"Kaiba," said a soft but unwavering voice, "if you see Joey… tell him we are all waiting."

Seto turned to Yugi, saying nothing. He was so small… smaller than practically everyone in the building, than what he should've been for his sixteen years of age… but still he managed to always come out as the top dog. With those intense amethyst eyes that shimmered with a raging fire Seto Kaiba could never comprehend, a know-it-all grin that called every bluff and a heart of pure gold that put even his most formidable adversaries to shame or worse, Yugi Muto had been a perpetual thorn in Seto's side from the beginning. Especially after his cherished blue-eyes white dragons were slaughtered on that fateful day by the hands of the almighty Exodia.

"I'm no messenger boy Yugi," he curtly retorted. "You can tell him that yourself on your own time."

The tall brunette exited the classroom then, his strides wide and meaningful so by the time he arrived at the entrance a black limousine was already parked in front of the school. Its recently washed body reflected reedy beams of sunlight that had managed to penetrate their cloudy shield, so it sparkled a little. Nothing's changed, he thought as he glanced at the storm looming in the ocean of cotton clouds overhead. He no longer wasted seconds, entering the lengthy vehicle.

"Where to Mr. Kaiba?" asked the burly, dark haired man situated behind the steering wheel. Like the rest of the CEO's guards he also wore stylish black shades and an equally charcoal-black suit. The Men in Black, as some folks decided to dub them in their amusement. They were all strictly business though, just as Seto wanted.

"Take me to Blue Ridge apartments, Samuel."

"Yes sir. Right away sir!" Samuel replied, no questions asked.

XXX

Blue Ridge was precisely as Seto had predicted.

Upon entering the apartment complex appeared rather run-of-the-mill, albeit a little more damaged than others he'd seen. The buildings were constructed of light (almost white) blue-colored bricks, hence the name, their surfaces riddled with cracks. The ground did not experience a better fate either; its cement sidewalks and asphalt roads were perforated by weeds, among other foliage. As Samuel navigated the limo throughout the maze of apartments he noticed how nearly the walls of each edifice had been partially shrouded in various designs and lettering of multihued paints and chalks. Perhaps it was their preferred method of making the place seem more interesting, but it had the opposite effect, instead giving it a messy and badly tarnished appearance. If anything, it proved these people had neither class nor respect for their own property. An unremarkable place harboring unremarkable inhabitants. Seto Kaiba wasn't even remotely impressed.

A few residents were outside. Urchins ran and shrieked in utter delight as they played under water sprinklers and jumped onto waterslides. Parents rested on folding chairs or front porch steps with popsicles and perspiring drinks in their hands, portable fans wafting cool, refreshing air on clammy skin in order to escape from the stifling humidity. Evidently such vehicles did not pass through these parts very often, for they all ceased activity and gawked at the limo as if they had never before seen such thing. Gritting his teeth Seto cursed its conspicuous nature.

"Maybe I should have asked Samuel to bring the Cadillac," he muttered to himself.

"I'm sorry sir, did you say something?" came Samuel's enquiry, shooting a glimpse at his boss through the rearview mirror.

"No, nothing," Seto responded, not realizing he had spoken out loud. "We're almost there. Samuel, see if you can find a relatively safe area to park this thing. Last thing I need is some wannabe thugs trying to steal my ride."

Samuel said with an air of finality, "That won't happen, sir. Not on my watch."

Disregarding his servant's display of confidence he ordered, "Wait here until I return." Just as he started to depart from the limousine he quickly turned around a few degrees and stated as an afterthought, "If I'm not here in ten minutes, find me."

"Sir, you don't have to tell me twice."

XXX

Second floor. Apartment 206.

Here it is. The blonde haired dweeb's apartment.

Seto cleared his throat and knocked firmly on the door. As he impatiently waited his cyan-blue eyes pasted themselves to the faded gold-painted numbers nailed on the old wood. The 6 was a hanging a bit askew, but Seto curbed the yen to realign it properly. He banged on the door, greatly irritated that this little side errand was taking longer than it should have.

"Damn it. What the hell is keeping him?"

Weird noises had been coming from behind the apartment door, like moaning or whimpering. They sounded female in origin. Based on the muffled shouting and demoralizing insults that soon followed, he could easily guess why. He heard a furious shout of "Answer the fuckin' door already!" Apparently it was a man, the macho voice heavy with a Brooklyn accent…

Must be Joey's father.

A beat passed and the door to the apartment was opened halfway. Seto took note of the small silver chain still attached to its hook as a weak means of security.

"Hello?" he said, unsure of what to expect.

A woman with long stringy hair slowly poked her head around the door like a timid child. He couldn't see much, for it was dark inside and she was mostly obscured by the rectangular slab of wood that operated as a shield between their bodies. But it was her eyes… something about those watery hazel orbs and the manner in which they viewed the world in a disturbing light. Like a doe frozen in a state of perpetual terror. Despite his nature, it somehow softened Seto's heart. Probably because she kind of resembled Mokuba whenever he was truly frightened by something or someone.

"Hello. H-how can I h-help you?" She spoke in a barely audible, faltering voice. Seto had to strain his ears a little to catch her words.

"Is Joey Wheeler home?"

"No," she replied meekly, tucking a strand of dark blonde hair behind an ear… Was that dried blood tinting her earlobe? She didn't even bother to ask why this erudite, seemingly sophisticated young man was enquiring about her only son. There came a hacking cough from somewhere behind her, and Joey's mother flinched. This frail woman… she'd been abused, undeniably by the revolting hands of the man she called a husband.

"Your kids have been absent for five days. I'm just here to hand them their class assignments. Then I'll be on my way."

"Oh… I see," came her only reply.

Seto sighed. Of course he felt bad for the woman, but he only contained a limited amount of patience, which was currently running thin.

"Look, if he's not home can you at least tell me where he and his dweeb squad usually hang out?"

"Um…" Her countenance had portrayed an evident lack of knowledge to that question. Her eyes searched the ground as if the answer was scrawled across the concrete.

"I don't have time for this," he growled through clenched teeth. What the hell kind of mother didn't know where her own kid liked to spend his leisure time?

"Wait," she said as Seto started to leave. It was the loudest voice he had heard her use since their awkward meeting. "Jim's Arcade."

"Beg your pardon?"

"Jim's Arcade. I think that is where he goes. Sometimes… he takes his little sister with him. I know because… because he used to come home all the time and talk about how much fun he had beating his friends in different games. Now," she continued, her voice cracking, eyes overflowing, "all he talks about is leaving… with Serenity."

Can you blame him?

"Thanks."

"Mr. Kaiba…" she called once more, halting Seto's steps. "Y-you are Mr. Kaiba, aren't you? I knew I recognized your face from a magazine. I have… a f-favor to ask of you, if I may?"

"Make it quick. I don't have all day." In spite of the brief reply, his tone was gentle enough to ease her embarrassment a little.

"Yes sir…" she whispered, turning her head to make sure her failure of a husband wasn't within hearing distance.

"Well?"

"Mr. Kaiba…" she went on in a quivering voice, as if she was afraid of the words escaping through her chapped lips, "something tells me you know my children's lives here are not exactly… suitable. When you find them… all I ask is that you take them far away from this place. From us. I am aware it's not your responsibility. You can't be much older than my son, but… you are wealthy and can open many doors for yourself.

That's all I want for my children, Mr. Kaiba. For them to have the same opportunities I know they won't get here. Serenity is a smart and gentle girl—I know she will find the right path. But my son… Joey… I worry about him. He is so angry inside. I think he feels trapped, like if he actually leaves he'll be abandoning me… but I am the one who abandoned them. There is nothing I can give you except my eternal gratitude. Please Mr. Kaiba… help him see that there is nothing here but misery. I beg of you!"

The whole time the CEO of KaibaCorp stood and carefully watched this woman who had nothing to offer in return for this enormous favor she humbly asked of him. He had raptly listened, unsure of what to say so he uttered not a single word. Instead Seto Kaiba turned his back and casually walked away. He could feel the woman's pleading eyes scorch his flesh as he departed. Seto's fingers curled into tight fists, upset that such a wretched creature could put a crack on his black ice heart.