Conscience
By Agent Malkere
Disclaimer: Yu-Gi-Oh is not mine. I've tried everything to get it's owner's to give it to me, even bribery, but they just sent the money back. Apparently they don't like Monopoly money…
He could have taken the limo home from work. He should have taken the limo home from work, but Seto Kaiba had wanted to walk for some strange that even he couldn't fathom. It wasn't as though it was a particularly nice day or anything – it was nearly eight o'clock and the overcast skies were dark gray with the threat of rain. Wind whipped around the young CEO making his white trench coat billow ever more than normal.
Seto rubbed the bridge of his nose as he felt the dull throbbing in his head begin to intensify into splitting pain. The headache had been with him constantly for nearly a week now along with the fever and nausea but he was ignoring them and going to school and work as always. Seto Kaiba didn't get sick; at least, he never acknowledged that he got sick – he didn't have time for it. He had a company to run and a little brother to look after.
He glanced at the sky again as the first rain drops began to splatter across his dark brown hair. Well wasn't this just lovely – less than halfway home, but too far away to turn back now, without an umbrella and it had started to rain. Wonderful. As if his day hadn't been bad enough to begin with. The light rain dripped of the ends of his bangs and onto his nose. Other droplets of water began tracing their way down the back of his semi-waterproof trench coat. The pavement in front of Seto's feet began to take on a mirror like sheen in the street lights which where beginning to flicker on one by one in the twilight. The street he was on was now abandoned, empty of life; the impending storm having driven inside. He lengthened his stride; there wasn't anyway this day could possibly get any worse. Unfortunately for Seto, however, he had forgotten the universal rule that comes with the thought 'Things can't get any worse than this.' After it is thought, things are guaranteed to get much, much worse.
Seto's head snapped up as he heard the scream. His pace slowed. It had sounded like a girl or a woman, like they were in pain. Seto tried to quicken his stride again. He didn't have time for this, someone else would hear and come and help whoever it was. He hesitated as the person screamed again, louder this time. The sound lanced through him like a knife, reawakening a small voice in the back of his mind that he had thought had long ago been dead and buried. Despite speculation, Seto Kaiba wasn't completely cold and heartless, he did have a conscience. Everyone has some form of a conscience, except maybe psychopaths, and Kaiba wasn't a psychopath, though some of his employees would beg to differ on that opinion. Now, however, the conscience which he had tried several ingenious ways to get rid of was back with a vengeance.
You should go help her.
No, someone else can help her.
Who?
Well, somebody must have heard her. She's screaming like a banshee!
Yeah, somebody did – YOU!
I meant somebody OTHER than me!
You're the only one around to hear her.
So? It's not my problem! Why are you bothering me anyway?
Consider this part one of my revenge for being buried in a hole for the past several years. And I'll make it your problem! I'll send you on the worst guilt trip of your life! I know you remember what guilt trips are.
Why should I even care about what happens to a complete stranger?
Would you help if it was Mokuba?
What?!? Of course! But that's completely different! He my brother! I don't even know this person!
It's not completely different and how do you know that you don't know the person? I live in your head and know for a fact that you're not psychic! Besides, she does sound familiar!
You're delusional!
That would make you delusional too, so stop insulting yourself and go and help her!
How do I know I can even do anything to help her?
You won't know 'til you try! Now hurry up and find her before she gets beaten to death!
Fine!
Seto stopped and headed in the direction he thought the sound had come from hoping that it would make his conscience shut up. The scream came once more, not as strong as before but assuring him that he was headed in the right direction. Unbidden, his feet began to speed up into a run and he skittered around the corner of an alley right into the thick of things.
It was only luck that got Seto there when he did. Any later and he wouldn't have been of any help to the girl in the least, she might even have been dead if he hadn't arrived to distract her attackers from their prey. She was curled up against the alley wall wet auburn hair hanging in front of her face like a curtain, blood staining the sleeve of her left arm and the beginnings of vivid purple bruises stained her exposed skin. She couldn't have been more than sixteen. Four men surrounded her, laughing and kicking at her leering. They seemed to be enjoying themselves and didn't even notice Kaiba's sudden arrival in the mouth of the alley. One man was leaning down, reaching for the shivering, whimpering girl. Something about the girl's helpless appearance flicked a switch in Kaiba's mind and a sudden need to protect her came over him.
"Leave her alone!" The men's heads snapped up at the shout; they obviously hadn't been expecting company. They just stared at the irate CEO for a moment in surprise. They didn't move. "I said, leave her alone!"
The man who had been bending over slowly straitened up and smirked,
"Well, well, it looks like this girl's got a boyfriend." He continued to smirk and Seto gritted his teeth but didn't correct the man's assumption for now. The girl was now peering at him through her hair, bright green eyes large and frightened. She did look somewhat familiar, but Seto didn't have time to ponder where he might have seen her before because her attackers were starting to creep towards him a feral light in their eyes. "Looks like the fun ain't over yet, boys!" crowed the man who was apparently the leader of the gang and then without warning they all charged Seto at once.
If Seto hadn't already been sick and tired, he might have been able to fight them off, but as it was he never stood a chance. They swarmed over him like a pack of hyenas and despite all of his self defense training he was at their mercy in a matter of five minutes. He was flung against the alley wall and punched and kicked repeatedly. Finally they let go of him and he slumped to the ground next to the girl no longer able stand. The ring leader smirked then turned his back on his two latest victims,
"Come on, the fun's over here. Let's get something to drink!" The men swaggered away into the darkening night.
Seto pulled himself up into more of a sitting position and gave one of his infamous glares in the direction the men had gone. Next to him the girl he had saved stirred and whispered,
"Are they gone?"
"Yes." He heard her let out a faint sigh of relief but she made no attempt to get up. Seto glanced sideways at her. The rain was getting harder and she was soaked to the skin. Well, he had help her this far and after getting beaten up because of her, he was going to make sure she got home safely and didn't get attacked again. Kaiba pulled himself to his feet using the edge of a trash can to help support his unsteady legs.
"Can you walk?" he asked reaching down to help her up. She hesitantly took the proffered hand and let him pull her to her feet.
"I think so," she said, her voice still barely above a whisper and barely audible over the rain. Seto followed her out of the alley. The girl stopped next to a street light and leaned against it, her body shaking violently from the cold. Suddenly, her knees gave way and she crumpled to the ground once more. Sighing, Seto took off his white trench coat, pulled the girl gently to her feet once more, and wrapped his coat around her. She looked up at him and smiled slightly, the bruise on her cheek preventing the expression from expanding any more.
"Thank you."
Seto shrugged and avoided her eyes. Then he did something that surprised even him, he leaned over and pick her up bridal style. She looked surprised as well, but he interrupted her before she could protest,
"Well, you obviously can't make it all the way home on your own legs."
"Oh."
"Where do you live?"
She hesitated a moment before giving him her address but finally told him she lived on Fifth in number six fifty-five, adding, "My name is Serenity."
Seto simply nodded feeling unwilling to tell her who he was, some part of him suspected that she wouldn't be too happy if she knew the truth. Anyway, if anyone else ever found out about this the media would never let him live it down, so it would be better if she didn't know. They walked for several minutes in silence as the rain intensified and an echo of thunder boomed in the distance. Kaiba forced his feet to keep moving forward and refused to let his knee collapse despite the fact that he felt dizzy and light headed and his entire body screamed with pain. The girl – Serenity – was far worse off than he was and would never make it home without his help; she was barely conscious.
Aren't you glad you didn't just leave her in that alley to bleed to death?
Not you again!
Yes, me again! You didn't think I was going to leave you alone that quickly after I just got back, did you?
One can always hope…
Well, too bad! I'm back for good! You're not gonna get rid of me again!
Wanta bet?
Nope, 'cause you'll lose. Now, back to the original question which you are so obviously trying to avoid: Aren't you glad you didn't just leave her in that alley to die?
………
I thought so!
Serenity shifted slightly in his arms, bringing Kaiba back to the present. He glanced at her. Her eyes were closed and her head was leaning gently against his shoulder. As if feeling his gaze, she opened her eyes and look at him. He had to tilt his head forward to hear what she was saying.
"What's your name?"
He thought for a moment,
"You can just call me Seto."
"Okay."
They were quiet again for a minute. Rain poured down from the black sky. Seto wondered what time it was. Mokuba was probably getting worried about him by now. That made him ask another question,
"Will there be anyone at home to take care of you?" Gods he was starting to go soft!
Nope! It's just the real you shining through!
Go away!
He felt her nod against his shoulder,
"My older brother will be home."
Good, that meant he didn't need to worry about her once he got her home. Well, that was a relief. Not that he would have worried about her anyway…
Of course you would have! That's why I'm here – it's my job and I ain't no slacker! I take pride in my work and trust me; you woulda worried if she didn't have a brother at home to take care of her!
If you won't stop bothering me, would you at least use proper grammar?!?
Ya ain't got nothin' on me, buster!
Gods you're irritating!
I aim to please!
If that were true then you'd shut up on command.
Seto glanced up at the street sign above him – almost there. He started to say something to Serenity but he realized that she had fallen asleep. Oh well, hopefully her brother would be awake so he could take her off his hands.
Rain slithered down the back of his neck off of his hair which had long since become plastered to his forehead and Seto had to make a conscious effort to stop his teeth from chattering as he stumbled up the walk to the small house. Because of the girl in his arms, Seto had to use his elbow to press the doorbell and then waited. The lights were on which was a good sign that somebody was home. As the bell rang inside the house, he heard a thump and then a loud clattering and somebody yelling in an excited but worried voice, "Serenity!"
Wait a minute, that voice sounded awfully familiar, but, no, it couldn't be. Exhaustion must be playing tricks on his mind. He must have just imagined that he'd heard the Brooklyn accent. Serenity couldn't possibly be related to….
The door burst open before he could finish his thought,
"Serenity, where have you-? Holy smokes!!! Serenity!!!" No! It was the mutt! Of all the people he had to go and inadvertently save the sibling of and then show up on their front doorstep sick, badly beaten, and soaked to the skin and carrying their sibling in his arms, it just had to be one of his worst enemies, the mutt, also known as Joey Wheeler.
Joey stopped for a moment, suddenly realizing that the wet and bedraggled someone who was carrying his baby sister looked awfully familiar…
"KAIBA!?!"
"Wheeler," Seto responded coldly, suddenly extremely glad that Serenity had fallen asleep.
"WHAT THE HECK ARE YOU DOIN' WITH MY SISTA?!?"
Seto glared at him. He was feeling too tired and sick to antagonize and argue with the mutt tonight. All he wanted was to go home to bed and never get up again. Maybe even somehow get a hold of Noa and tell him that he could have Kaiba Corp as long as he was nice to Mokuba and didn't employ the big five. Then he could just sleep for the rest of eternity when he wasn't taking care of Mokuba. Not that Seto would seriously consider doing that – Gozaburo's training was too deeply ingrained – but, hey, he was allowed to privately wish every once in a while.
Steam was practically coming out of Joey's ears now. Seto raised an eyebrow at him,
"Really, you aught to try being more thankful to the person who saved your sister's life." He place Serenity gently in her older brother's arms. "If I hadn't stepped in she'd probably have bled to death by now!"
Joey stared at him,
"Wha- What are you talkin' about?!?" He was still upset but at least he wasn't shouting now. Seto casually leaned on the door frame so that the mutt couldn't see the fact that the young CEO was beginning to sway dangerously and could barely stay upright anymore.
"She got mugged, Wheeler. They beat her so badly she could hardly walk by the time I got there."
Joey eyed him suspiciously, holding Serenity protectively against his chest,
"How do I know, tha' you ain't liein'?"
Seto rolled his eyes in frustration,
"Do you really think that I'd beat up a defenseless sixteen year old girl and then deliver her to your front doorstep? No, wait, don't answer that – apparently you do," Seto snapped, pushing away from the door frame so that he stood at his full height, towering over Joey. Wheeler, un-intimidated, glowered at Kaiba then, using his foot because he was still holding Serenity, slammed the door in the CEO's face.
Great, just great.
Hey, being a good guy can be a thankless job sometimes. Just be glad that you saved her and she'll be safe now, not dieing all alone in some abandoned back alley.
Whoever said I WANTED to be a good guy?
I did.
Well, I've got news for you: I don't.
Well, I've got news for you: too bad. You ain't got a say in the matter. Besides, you know it felt good.
What did?
Saving her.
No it didn't.
Deny it all you like, I could tell you enjoyed it – especially the picking her up part and the her smiling at you part.
………
Told ya!
Seto trudged down the front steps of the Wheeler house trying to ignore his conscience. The blasted thing wouldn't shut up! It was definitely going to cause problems at the business meeting he had tomorrow. Then, without warning, the world started spinning and Seto felt his knees begin to shake with the effort of holding his own weight. His knees buckled and doubled over in pain, cursing those men for punching him in the stomach so many times. Then he fell forward onto the ground and his thoughts swirled away into blackness. His last conscious thought was of how ironic it was that he was probably going to die now, freezing to death in the mutt's front yard, and how ecstatic Wheeler would be when he came out the next morning to find his dead body lying on the ground.
--
Joey quickly carried his sister into the living room and gently laid her on the couch, then went to get her some towels, blankets, and bandages. When he returned with laden arms, Serenity was awake and looking around curiously.
"Sis, you're awake! How're ya feelin'?" He knelt next to her and she smiled at him slightly,
"I'm feeling a bit better, Joey, but," she looked around again, "what happened to Seto?"
"Who?"
"Seto, the man who saved me. That's what he said his name was. I wanted to thank him again properly this time. I don't know what would have happened to me if he hadn't arrived."
Joey felt a tinge of guilt but quickly snuffed it out,
"He, uh, left already, Sis." Joey didn't like lying to Serenity, but it would probably be better if she didn't know that it had been Seto Kaiba who had saved her and that had sent moneybags packing as soon as possible.
Serenity looked disappointed and sighed,
"I guess that means I won't be able to give him his coat back," she mumbled, turning slightly and closing her eyes as she drifted back to sleep. Joey sat up a little straighter, startled,
"His coat?" he asked to no one in particular. Then he finally noticed what his baby sister was wrapped in; it was one of Kaiba's signature trench coats, the one he had worn during Battle City and now he came to think of it, Joey had thought that it was a little odd that moneybags had been without a trench coat when he delivered Serenity. Previously, Joey had suspected that the gravity defying coats weren't actually clothing but part of him and that could just change the color of afore mentioned coat whenever he felt like – sort of like a chameleon. Apparently not. Weird, why would Kaiba give his coat to Serenity?
Pushing this question out of his mind, Joey went about caring for his sister, changing her into dry clothes and then putting her to bed after bandaging her cuts and wiping away some of the blood. He glanced at the trench coat again and shook his head, he'd think of what to do with it tomorrow, but now it was nearly midnight and he should probably be going to bed.
Yawning, he glanced out the front window for no particular reason and paused. There was a strange black shape lying on the front walk and it almost appeared to be… human shaped. Oh, heck. No, it couldn't be…. But then again, who else could it be?
You should go out and help him.
Oh great, not you again. Why do ya always bug me at the most inappropriate moments?
If it wasn't for me, you would spend your entire life in detention, so get over it. Now go out there and help him!
Ah, come on! This is KAIBA! I don't wanta help that creep!
It's not about what you want, it's about what's right.
How is me helping moneybags 'right'?
He saved Serenity.
Yeah, so? It doesn't make up for everything he's done in the past!
Did everything thing you did to him in the past stop Yugi from saving you when you two first became friends?
Hey! That was Yugi! That's different Yug's just a nice guy.
And you're not?
Not ta Kaiba!
Gods you've got a thick skull!
So I've been told.
He's going to die if you leave him out there. You do know that, don't you?
Why would he die?
Gods you're dense sometimes!
That doesn't explain anything.
The fact that he blacked out in the first place is usually a pretty good sign that something's wrong.
But that doesn't mean he'd die.
Most likely he'll freeze to death. He was already soaked to the skin and shivering when he arrived, incase you hadn't noticed, and, I might add, he gave his coat to your sister.
Oh.
Not to mention the fact that he had also obviously been beaten up.
…beaten up?
You need to start being more observant. He had the beginnings of bruises coming up all over his face, his right sleeve was torn and the arm under it was bleeding badly, and once he handed you Serenity he was holding his side and leaning on the door frame because he could stand up on his own! One might think he took a few hits for your baby sister, no?
………
I thought so. Now hurry up and go help him! Is this any way to thank the person who saved your sister's life?
But-
No buts! I'm not arguing about it any more! Now go!
Oh, alright! But I want it to be on record that I'm doing this against my will!
Yes, yes, fine! Just get on with it!
Jeeze, Yug's rubbing off on me more than I thought.
Which is a good thing because if he hadn't, you would have been expelled by now!
Will you be quiet already?!?
Not until you get your but out there and help Kaiba!
I'm going! I'm going!
Miserably, Joey pulled on his raincoat, grabbed a flashlight, and ran outside. It was Kaiba, lying in an sodden, unconscious heap and looking even worse than when he had delivered Serenity nearly three quarters of an hour ago. Getting one of the CEO's arms across his shoulders, Joey somehow managed to drag the larger teenager inside.
"I know I'm gonna regret this later!"
Maybe, but for now, all is well.
That's easy for you to say – you don't have to be there when he wakes up!
--
A/N: Please review! Tell me what you think! That involved Joey a lot more than I intended it to… hmmm… oh well! What did you think of the conscience?
