1: Affliction

The sun beat down on the hood of the old Honda Accord. It was a hot, dry day and Kiryu wiped the sweat from his forehead as he lit up a cigarette. He was leaning against the car and watching the door of a small house as if waiting for someone. In fact he was waiting for someone, and that someone grunted as he pushed open the door with his back, dragging along the biggest suitcase Kiryu had ever seen.

"We are not fucking taking that," he spat as the suitcase struggled to squeeze through the doorway. The person stopped pulling and frowned, his eyes following the little specks that fell as Kiryu shook out his lit cig.

"I can't believe you're smoking again," he sighed before turning back to his problem. "And I need this stuff. Who knows how long we'll be gone, and I'll need clean clothes, blankets, emergency suppl-"

"That's not going to fit in your fucking car," Kiryu snorted, taking another puff.

"We'll make it fit," his companion assured him. Kiryu shook his head and sighed with annoyance. Shaking the butt off his cigarette, he gave him a hard pressed look.

"Yusei, don't forget we're picking up Jack along the way."

"Yeah, I know."

Kiryu tossed his used-up cigarette on the ground and stomped it out. Unfortunately, Yusei saw and gesticulated dramatically at his foot.

"Don't just leave that there!"

"You're kidding me."

Yusei pouted. He bent down and picked up the litter himself, returning to his house to dispose of it. When he got back outside, Kiryu was shoving the giant suitcase into his trunk.

"Barely fits," he huffed, slamming the trunk shut. "Better hope that snotty rich kid doesn't pack his entire house."

Yusei waved goodbye to his worried-looking mother as Kiryu got into the front seat. He started the engine and Yusei took that as his cue to get in or get left behind, knowing how impatient Kiryu could be.

"If we make good time, we'll be at Jack's in three days," Kiryu told him as he pulled out of the driveway. "Think you can survive till then?" He laughed, and Yusei chuckled back nervously.

"I think the better question is if you can survive till then."

"Don't worry, I've got plenty of medication."

"But will you actually take it?"

"Yeah, I'll take it, don't worry."

Worrying about you is pretty much all I do, Yusei sighed mentally. Memories of high school flashed by. He met Kiryu when they were freshmen. Yusei skipped two grades in elementary school so he was two years younger, but they had been best friends since that first day. Yusei was new, having moved to that town only that summer. During gym he stood by himself away from the other kids, feeling out of place because of his age as well as being a new student. Kiryu saw how out of place he seemed, so he walked over and struck up a conversation. Since then, Yusei had followed Kiryu around like a puppy.

"If you start feeling sleepy or groggy just pull over and I'll drive," Yusei offered.

"I'll be fineeee," Kiryu assured him. Yusei wasn't so sure. He'd been in the car with Kiryu so many times and he had never been able to make an entire drive by himself. Eventually he'd get too distracted to drive safely and someone else would have to take over. Usually him. But Kiryu liked to drive so he'd let Kiryu drive as much as he was able.

Yusei rolled down his window as they sped past empty fields. Kiryu turned the radio on and blasted it as loud as his speakers would go, singing along loudly and obnoxiously. Yusei almost never sang but he hummed along, occasionally glancing at Kiryu to make sure he was focused.

It was warm and cozy in the car and Yusei found himself dozing off. He was so relaxed...

Until the car came to an abrupt stop, and Yusei yelped as he was thrown forward, his seatbelt locking to keep him from flying through the windshield.

"Kiryu!" Yusei gasped, looking around wildly.

"Shit," Kiryu said. "Shit shit shiiiiiiit."

"Kiryu, you can't just stop in the middle of a highway!" Yusei snapped as cars began honking. He quickly pressed the button for the hazard lights and they came on. "Why are you just- Kiryu?"

Kiryu was staring straight ahead, gripping the steering wheel so hard his knuckles were turning white. His pupils were as round as hubcaps.

"Shit, are you hallucinating?" Yusei asked, unbuckling his seat belt.

"PUT YOUR SEAT BELT BACK ON!" Kiryu screamed, and Yusei jumped a little. He obeyed, knowing it was better to give in to Kiryu's delusions than to go against them. There was almost no reasoning with Kiryu when he got this way.

"What's happening? Is there something on the road?" Yusei asked, trying to figure out how to handle this.

"Oh my god, we're going to die," Kiryu replied in a high voice.

"Kiryu, let me drive now, okay?"

"No, don't move!" Kiryu hissed, and there was fear in his voice.

"You have to let me drive now. Please." Yusei was almost begging. If Kiryu decided they could flee whatever it was and started driving, he could get them killed easily. "Please let me drive, Kiryu. Please. Please."

After a little more hesitation, Kiryu finally gave in.

"Okay," he told Yusei, "but don't get out of the car. We'll have to switch seats by climbing over each other."

"Alright, I can do that," Yusei agreed. He unbuckled and crawled into the back. Kiryu unbuckled and, with a deathly horrified glance out the window, he dove into the passenger seat. Yusei climbed into the driver side and buckled up. As he adjusted his seat and mirrors, Kiryu buckled up and put his head between his knees. Yusei heard him let out a small sob.

"It's okay, Kiryu." He wants to pat Kiryu on the back but knew better. "You took your medication today, right?"

"Yes," Kiryu replied, his voice shaky.

"Okay, well, just try to keep calm, okay?" Yusei reassured him. "Don't look, if it helps." Yusei turned the flashers off and put the car into drive. Kiryu let out a shrieking sob of terror and began rocking back and forth in his seat. Yusei cranked up the radio. Usually music helped.

It was a half hour before Kiryu uncurled himself. His eyes were red and there were dark circles under them. He leaned against the window of the car, looking extremely tired.

"How are you feeling?" Yusei asked, glancing at him.

"Terrible," Kiryu muttered, rubbing his face. "I thought we were gonna die. I thought we were really going to die."

"Do you want me to stop somewhere? Want something to eat?"

"Yeah…"

So Yusei took the next exit and they stopped at a rest stop for sandwiches and coffee. Kiryu was pretty quiet.

"So, do you wanna talk about it?" Yusei asked, and Kiryu shook his head.

"Okay, you don't have to talk about it."

Kiryu remained silent, but Yusei noticed his eyes darting around, as if he could see something moving that no one else could. Which was most likely the case.

"Yusei, can I see your hand?" Kiryu suddenly asked.

"Uh… sure," Yusei humored him. He held out his hand and Kiryu took it, inspecting every inch.

"You'd tell me if you were an android, right?" he pleaded.

"Of course I would," Yusei said. "You're my best friend. I'd never keep anything from you."

Kiryu looked extremely relieved and let go of Yusei's hand. Yusei smiled at him.

"Come on, we still have a long drive before we get to the first hotel." He stood up and Kiryu followed.

"Thanks for taking care of me. Again." Kiryu draped himself over Yusei's shoulders and nuzzled him.

"Hey, it's what I'm here for." Yusei smiled and stroked his hair. Kiryu could be overly affectionate sometimes- not that he minded.

"Don't tell Jack," Kiryu told him as he pulled back. "He'll make fun of me."

"Jack won't make fun of you. He's concerned about you," Yusei replied. But Kiryu frowned and Yusei knew there was no point reasoning with him.

"Okay."

Kiryu smiled and skipped to the car.

"Come on~ We're gonna be late!"

"Late for what? The hotel?" Yusei laughed as he opened the driver side.

"I don't know. Maybe."

This bothered Yusei. Kiryu was slipping into a state of distortion, which usually meant he hadn't taken his medication.

"Before we get back on the road, where's your medication bottles? I want to see them."

"Why?" Kiryu snorted.

"To make sure you packed them."

"I did pack them."

"I want to see them."

"You don't believe me?" Kiryu sounded offended, but Yusei wasn't letting him get away with this.

"I reassure you of things all the time, whether you believe me or not. So this time, humor me."

Kiryu couldn't really argue with that logic. With a pout that temporarily made Yusei forget why he was doing this, Kiryu rolled his eyes and rummaged through a small backpack laying at his feet. He held up several bottles to show Yusei that yes indeed he had medications, but quickly shoved them back in his bag before Yusei could read whose or what they were.

"Kiryu." Yusei leaned over and grabbed Kiryu's bag.

"Hey!" Kiryu protested, but Yusei fought him and managed to wrestle the bag from his grip. He pawed through it, and what he saw made him frown.

"These haven't even been opened!"

"Of course not! Did you think I would bring half empty bottles on such a long trip?" Kiryu snapped, trying to snatch the bag back. Yusei held it out of reach.

"Don't lie to me. Have you been taking your medication?" Yusei's face was as stern as his voice. Kiryu looked like a trapped animal trying to escape from a predator.

"Yusei, you don't understand! Those pills-!"

"So you haven't been taking them, have you?!" Yusei accused. "Kiryu, you know how important this is! You agreed to this! You signed a contract!"

"I hate it!" Kiryu shouted, still desperately trying to grab his belongings. "I hate it I hate it I hate it!"

"Would you rather go to jail?" Yusei asked coldly, and Kiryu stopped his temper tantrum. "Because that's where you'll be if you stop taking these. That was the agreement."

"What? You gonna tell on me?!" Kiryu snorted.

"No. Of course not," Yusei sighed. "But if anything happens and you end up getting arrested again, they'll know you didn't take your meds and they don't give second chances. This is your second chance."

"I'll risk it."

Those were not the words Yusei had wanted to hear.

"Kiryu, please!"

Kiryu shook his head. It was like trying to get a two year old to eat his vegetables, with much worse potential consequences.

"Did you like the little scare you had earlier? Because that's going to keep happening and it'll get worse and worse and you know it. Was that fun for you? Because I'm pretty sure you spent a majority of this ride curled up in a ball crying over something that wasn't actually happening!"

"It was happening!" Kiryu whined. "It just wasn't happening to you!"

"That's not a valid argument and you know it," Yusei said. "Kiryu, please. Just take your goddamn meds and we can move on with life."

Kiryu rocked back and forth, almost like a drug addict going through withdrawal, and then he finally gave in.

"…Fine…"

Yusei gave a sigh of relief and took out the appropriate pills. Very reluctantly, Kiryu swallowed every pill Yusei handed him and even put up with Yusei checking his mouth to make sure he really was swallowing them.

"There. Was that so hard?" Yusei asked him kindly.

"I don't like how they make me feel," Kiryu complained, resting his head against the window.

"It's better than the alternative. Come on, we'll get going now."

Yusei started up the car and they drove on. Kiryu sulked silently as Yusei hummed to the radio.

"Are you mad at me?" Yusei asked after a while.

"No," Kiryu sighed. "I just wish you didn't act like Rudger."

"I'm just looking out for you, just like he is," Yusei told him.

"Sometimes I think Rudger wishes he kept the receipt when he adopted me."

"Don't say that! Rudger loves you!"

Kiryu didn't answer back. Yusei had a feeling that the meds were starting to kick in. Kiryu did tend to become depressed when he took his meds after not taking them for a while.

"I've only ever caused problems for him. I'm a shitty son."

"No, you're not."

Yusei reached over and patted Kiryu's shoulder.

"You're my best friend, Kiryu, okay? I'll always be here for you. I always have been and I always will be."

That made Kiryu smile.

"Thanks, Yusei. Thanks for not leaving me like everyone else."

"I could never leave you." Yusei's heart thumped and he did his best not to blush. Yes, he could never leave Kiryu. Even though he tried. Even though Kiryu pushed him past breaking point and destroyed him without even realizing it. No, he could never leave Kiryu. It wasn't his fault he was burdened with such an affliction.

The rest of the ride was cheery and upbeat. Kiryu was allowed to drive again after Yusei deemed him safe. Which was a relief because the drive took the entire day, and they still had two more days' worth of driving to get through. Yusei wasn't sure he could handle doing all that driving by himself.

"Not this hotel, but the one tomorrow has a pool," Yusei told Kiryu as they pulled up.

"Sweeeeeeet! We're going swimming!"

"Yes, yes. I know you."

Kiryu was animated and cheerful, such a difference from when his medication first kicked in. But Yusei was used to Kiryu's mood changes. He was used to all of Kiryu's craziness.

The two friends dropped their belongings in their room before they headed out to dinner. However, when they opened the door, there was only one bed. Neither of them commented on this fact; they tried to save money any way they could. As it was, when they picked up Jack someone would be sleeping on the floor. Yusei guessed it would probably be him, since he was the youngest and a non-family member. Though technically Kiryu and Jack weren't related by blood. Rudger, who adopted Kiryu, was Jack's father's brother.

"C'mon Yusei, I'm hungry!" Kiryu complained.

"Right. What do you wanna eat?"

"Hmm. Burgers?"

"I'm down with that."

Tired of driving, the two teens walked to get their food.

"So that last episode, huh?" Kiryu mused to Yusei, folding his arms behind his back. "He was such an asshole, wasn't he?"

"Yeah, I can't believe he did that." Yusei shook his head with disbelief. He was pretty relaxed until Kiryu said, "You would find that funny, Crow."

Yusei made a face. Now he knew for sure Kiryu hadn't been taking his medicine.

"So Crow's here, huh?" Yusei asked coolly. Kiryu nodded and they continued walking in silence. Crow was probably saying nasty things about him to Kiryu, like usual. Yusei didn't like him at all.

"Nah, I'm not gonna do that!" Kiryu laughed, which set Yusei on edge. Crow was telling him to do something bad. Why else would Kiryu say that?

"This is why you need to take your medicine. So that this doesn't happen."

"Shut up," Kiryu yelled. It didn't phase Yusei. He knew who was really behind the outburst. He could see it in Kiryu's eyes. Especially when they immediately softened and Kiryu swiped at the air.

"Bird brain," Kiryu muttered. "That little shit is laughing and flying away."

"At least he's leaving," Yusei told him.

"I don't know how you put with me," Kiryu sighed. "I can't even put up with me. You must be an idiot."

"I guess I am."

Luckily, Kiryu was calm for the rest of the day. Yusei made him take his night meds and he didn't complain. It wasn't until they started getting ready to sleep that Kiryu started acting up.

"Crow, stop it!" Kiryu suddenly shouted, swiping at the air with his pillow.

"What's he doing now?" Yusei, asked fluffing his own pillow.

"He keeps telling me my food had gross things in it!" Kiryu whined.

"Just ignore him," Yusei told him, getting into bed. Kiryu grumpily got in next to him and pulled his pillow over his face.

"Stoooop!" Kiryu whined, hitting the air again. Just as Yusei closed his eyes, Kiryu jumped out of bed. Yusei sat up in alarm and saw Kiryu rush into the bathroom before he heard a horrible retching sound.

"Fuck," Yusei groaned. This wasn't the first time that goddamn Crow made Kiryu purge himself.

"Kiryu…" Yusei sighed, getting out of bed. He entered the bathroom and held back Kiryu's hair.

"Sorry," Kiryu coughed in a hoarse voice.

"It's not your fault."

"Stupid Crow," Kiryu groaned, holding his stomach. "Shit. My stomach hurts."

"Do you want pepto?" Yusei asked kindly.

"No. He'll just make me throw that up too. He says he's going to make me puke out my own stomach."

"That's impossible to do."

"He said he'll make it happen anyway."

Yusei grimaced as Kiryu ducked down to vomit again.

"This is why you need to take your medication. It won't even kick in for a few days since I'm guessing you haven't been taking it for a while. If it even gets digested at this rate. You probably already threw it up."

Kiryu glared up at him.

"You're not making this any easier."

"Sorry."

Yusei stayed by Kiryu's side all night, falling asleep on the floor. Somehow he slept through the rest of Kiryu's retching, and awoke to find Kiryu sleeping with his head on his arms, which were folded on the toilet seat.

Yusei's back was stiff and achey from the floor. He got up and stretched, which woke Kiryu, who gave a large groan as he peeled his face off the toilet seat.

"Hey. Morning. How you feeling?" Yusei asked.

"Terrible," Kiryu croaked, rubbing his face. "I think I threw up my internal organs."

"Don't be silly. Well, is Crow leaving you alone now?"

"Yeah, he flew off."

"Good. Eat something and then take your meds. We've got a long drive."

After they ate, they packed up and started the drive west. Yusei took the first shift so Kiryu had time to let his meds settle. He was quiet and Yusei started rethinking this whole trip idea. Could they really survive this? What if Kiryu had a really bad episode and ran off, or hurt someone, or himself, and they couldn't find a hospital? What if the hospital didn't treat him right? A million things could go wrong. What had he been thinking?

"Hey, Yusei," Kiryu suddenly said.

"Hm?"

"I'm really glad we're going on this trip."

Yusei's heart seemed to leave him.

"Going on a trip like this makes me feel… strangely normal."

He grinned as he popped a pretzel bite into his mouth. Yusei felt so light that he practically floated away.

"You are normal, Kiryu. You just have a little… problem."

Kiryu laughed, and Yusei stole a glance to see a genuine smile on his face. That smile was worth all the trouble they had gone through to get to this point.

Kiryu wasn't his illness. He was a person and he deserved the same treatment as everyone else.

"I'm glad we are too. I just hope you feel the same way when Jack gets here."

"Ffff. Jack will probably be the one regretting it."

"Aww, don't say that," Yusei told him.

"No, I mean like, you know him. You've seen how he lives. He's a little proper prince. Yet he agreed to come with us on this low budget road trip. He must really like us."

Yusei pursed his lips. Yes, that was strange. Jack refused to go camping with them last summer and here he was ready to sleep in sketchy motels and eat fast food for several weeks.

"Well, he did just break up with his girlfriend. Maybe he's looking for some tail," Kiryu snorted. Yusei stomped on the brakes and Kiryu jolted forward.

"Sorry. I saw something in the road. Must have just been a leaf."

Kiryu straightened himself out as Yusei got the car under control.

"Phew, then I wasn't seeing things. Maybe the medicine is kicking in finally."

That comment made Yusei frown even deeper.

Well, if Jack was coming with them to take advantage of Kiryu he'd have another thing coming! Wait, there was no reason to suspect Jack wanted anything out of the ordinary from his cousin. Well, they were cousins, after all. Yusei was just being overly paranoid. He got a little jealous when it came to Kiryu's attention.

"Don't worry about it," he said absentmindedly.

"Worry about what?" Kiryu asked.

"Hmm? Nothing."

Eventually Yusei had to pull over to let Kiryu drive. He knew it was probably a bad idea, but he let himself take a nap. When he woke up the sky was starting to darken and he didn't recognize where they were.

"Kiryu? Where are we?" Yusei yawned.

"I have no idea!" Kiryu said with a laugh.

"What?!" Yusei was awake now.

"Pull over!"

Kiryu pouted and gave a sad puppy dog look.

"But I'm having fun!"

It was at this point Yusei noticed that they were flying past cars. He dared to look at the speedometer and then regreted all his life choices. The fact that Kiryu was endangering their lives caused his stomach to churn nastily.

"Kiryu, pull over. I'm gonna throw up."

Kiryu sighed and slowed down the car, putting his turn signal on and pulling over to the shoulder. Yusei jumped out of the car and ducked into the bushes. Kiryu snorted impatiently. He wanted to get going again. It was an impulse. Go fast! As fast you can! It wasn't so much a voice in his head as it was an itch begging to be scratched. He started getting restless, tapping the steering wheel and twitching his legs, so he turned the car off to stop himself from driving off without Yusei (because as tempted as he was, he would never leave Yusei behind). It seemed like forever until Yusei returned, looking pale and sweaty.

"You took forever!" Kiryu complained as Yusei opened the door.

"Do not… Do that again…" Yusei replied in a weak voice, slumping in his seat.

"What's wrong with you?!" Kiryu huffed.

"You know I have a panic problem."

"Oh yeah, the throw up thing you do when you get upset or-"

"I don't want to talk about it!" Yusei snapped in a high voice. "Just… I just want to get to a hotel. Alive. Safe. Do not go over the speed limit or so help me, Kiryu Kyosuke, I will-!"

"Alright, alright, keep your panties on," Kiryu grumbled. He started the car- or at least tried to. But it grumbled and died and Kiryu scowled.

"What's the hold up?" Yusei asked weakly.

"Well I think… I think we're out of gas?" Kiryu laughed nervously.

"Oh dear God, save us," Yusei moaned, letting his head hit the window in defeat.

"What should we do?" Kiryu asked.

"What can we do?" Yusei sighed. "We'll have to call Jack."