It was your typical day in Domino City. Joey was walking home with his friends, thinking about all of the things he had to do. For starters, he had to call his sister, Serenity. He hoped he would be able to get home in time to call, before his stupid oaf of a father got home.
"Hey Yug, what time is it?" He asked. The smaller boy looked down at his watch before answering, "Almost five o'clock, why?"
"No reason. I've got to go, I'll catch up with you late," he said taking off at a jog. ""Shit," he mumbled under his breath. If he didn't get there soon, he was in for it. When he was younger, his father wasn't that bad. After his parents split, his dad started drinking. Since then Joey's life had been nothing but living Hell. Something told the boy that today would be no exception.
Joey hated lying to his friends. Instead of being honest, Joey blamed the bruises on street fights. Not that it was a complete lie, but still, it was close enough.
Joey finally reached his house, to find his dad sitting on the couch.
"Where the hell have you been boy? Do you know what time it is?" His father asked, his speech slurred by the alcohol on his breath. Joey took the chance to peek at the clock. He was only three minutes late for crying out loud.
"I was with some friends. It's not like you give a damn anyway." As soon as the words were out of his mouth, Joey knew he had said the wrong thing. He wouldn't have taken those words back even if he could. However even that thought could not prevent him from wincing in pain as his father's fist crashed into his face. Even though he knew the effort was futile, Joey swung back at his father. Even in his drunken haze, the older man managed to block the blow, before returning one of his own that knocked Joey off of his feet.
This was all the time his father needed to continue to lash out at the boy. Finally Joey realized that fighting would only make it worse. Instead he curled up, trying to protect his body, when all of a suddenly the hitting stopped. Joey let out a small sigh of relief, until he felt his father reach for his clothes. As he started to struggle again, his father aimed a kick at Joey's head with such a force that they boy was knocked into a world of darkness.
When Joey came too, all he could feel was pain. Struggling, he rose to his feet, and reached for his clothes. Getting dressed, he turned to notice his father passed out on the couch Without thinking, he walked out the door, not really paying attention to where he was heading. The only thing that crossed his mind was how weak he felt. It was no wonder that his mother didn't want him; he was nothing but a weakling.
Finally the boy looked up to find himself in front of the card shop. Joey realized how much the world was spinning, and reached forward to open the door, just as Yugi opened it from inside. Joey only had time to look up at his friend, before once again the darkness surrounded him.
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