Changed for the Better

Disclaimer: I don't own Yu-Gi-Oh.

A/N: Again, I am super sorry for the extremely long wait. Here it is…the final chapter of "Changed for the Better".

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Chapter 6

The night ended as quickly as it had begun. It was only one o'clock in the morning when the DJ began to disconnect his speakers and pack his music into the two large briefcases by his feet. Nearly everyone, including Yugi and Tea, had returned to their families and their jobs. Among the dozen or so that remained were Seto and Joey.

Joey tried to keep his eyes open as he stifled a yawn with his hand. He blinked to clear his wavering vision and rubbed his eyes with his fists. Seto was looking no better. His chestnut hair, neatly styled at one point, was ruffled and sticking out in all directions. Dark circles rimmed his lower eyelids and his brilliant blue irises were surrounded by bloodshot sclera. He looked at his Rolex, which had somehow ended up towards the middle of his forearm.

"Hmm…guess I should be heading home," he said more to himself than to his companion. He yawned, not even bothering to suppress it in any way. Why deny what everyone knew? It was late. He was tired, and like most people, had a job to attend later that morning.

"Yep, I should be heading home, too," Joey agreed as he rose to his feet. "I need to make sure Lily's okay."

The weary CEO nodded slowly. Lily, as Seto had learned earlier, was Joey's white, long-haired cat. Of course, Seto couldn't let that slip by without a joke about a dog owning a cat and that being against the laws of nature. That earned him a few ice cubes down the back of his shirt, which then earned Joey a "friendly" bop upside the head.

"You do that," Seto said as he covered yet another yawn. "I've got to get home, as well. I've got a business meeting with Apple in," he looked at his watch again, "four hours."

Joey laughed dryly. His voice cracked from fatigue and he cleared his throat to readjust it to its normal pitch.

"Ha-ha loser. I took tomorrow off. I get to sleep in. Woot-woot!"

At this, Seto raised an eyebrow before bursting out into laughter.

"Alright Wheeler, I think you've had too much champagne and too little sleep."

"What can I say? I'm a party animal," he said with a sigh and a nonchalant shrug. He shook his head and his tousled mop of blond hair whirled around his face. He jammed his hands in his pockets and turned to walk out the door. Once in the gaping doorway, he stopped. He turned around to find Seto standing no more than three feet away.

"Hey Seto," he shouted. The brunet turned to face him with an expectant gaze. "Will I ever see you again…you know, after this?"

The taller male sighed and stepped closer. He stopped beside Joey and stared blankly into the distance.

"Yeah…at the twenty-year reunion."

Joey rolled his weary brown eyes and turned ninety degrees to face Seto. He looked up so their eyes met.

"I'm serious. I just think it would be pathetic that we've come so far in only a few hours only to let it all go to waste."

Seto tore his eyes from Joey's and squeezed them shut. His emotions were driving him insane to the point where he couldn't keep his head straight. Did he want to tell Joey or didn't he? He knew there were only a few moments left and he wanted it to end right.

"I don't know Joey. We both live very busy lives. You live in Kyoto, me in Domino."

"Yeah, I know. That doesn't mean we still can't see each other." Joey's eyes widened at the implication. "I mean for coffee and stuff like that," he added quickly.

"Joey, as much as I would like to hope that can happen, you and I both know it won't work."

"For Pete's sake, Kaiba! I'm not asking for a god damned, long-distance relationship here. I'm simply asking if you want to get together for coffee sometime. It's not that big a deal," Joey shouted, almost immediately regretting how those words must have sounded.

"It is a big deal to me," Seto shouted back. "Damn it, Joey. Tonight, you showed me a side of you that I never thought I'd see. It made me realize just how great a person you can really be. I'm sorry for how things were in high school and I'm sorry that it has to end like this. I love you, Joey Wheeler. Don't you ever forget that, but you deserve someone better than me."

With that, Seto Kaiba walked out of the doorway and out of Joey Wheeler's life. The blond's back faced the exit and his brown eyes were locked on a dirty linoleum tile. His entire body shook with the harshness of Seto's words. Joey felt the room temperature drop ten degrees. He spun around and reached into the warm summer night only to find just that. Joey ran out of the auditorium and into the parking lot, searching for any sign that Seto Kaiba was still there. He ran up and down the aisles to no avail.

Joey walked back to his car with silent tears streaming down his face. Once he settled himself in the driver's seat and closed the door, he banged his head on the steering wheel. Angry sobs wracked the man's body and he pounded the rim of the steering wheel.

After several minutes, Joey's sobbing subsided. He wiped his eyes with the sleeve of his jacket and blinked to clear his teary vision. He started the car and pulled out of the parking lot, heading in the direction that would take him out of Domino.

Because I knew you

I have been changed for good…

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A/N: Finally, the final chapter is finished. I hope you all enjoyed the story. I know I said I'd write a sequel, but I think the story ends well here. If anyone thinks I should write a sequel, tell me in your review. Thank you to everyone who reviewed any of my stories. I love you all. -Landi