"...I am sorry sir, the visiting time is from six to eight pm. Well, I understand, but... No, you're going to have to ask the doctors."

She was tapping her fingers on the desk. She had been working in this hospital for more than three years and yet, dealing with patients' family and friends was not getting any easier. She was always polite and as helpful as possible but these people could not understand that there was a limit to what she could do for them.

Someone was standing in front of the information desk. "Just a moment..." she said, without glancing at the newcomer. "Yes, mister, but..."

Apparently, she wasn't the only one that could tap her fingers on the desk. She lifted her eyes, quite irritated, and had to hold back a gasp of surprise when she saw Seto Kaiba towering over her. He seemed impatient... and angry.

"Mister Kaiba... uhm..." She lowered the phone handset. "How...how can I help you?"
"Katsuya Jounouchi. He was brought here about an hour ago." he folded his arms on his chest, now looking even more intimidating.

The information girl blinked fast a few times, placed the handset on her desk and typed something on her computer as fast as she could. "Yes... Katsuya. Second floor, room 212..." she smiled. The brunette walked away from the information desk and climbed the stairs quickly. She let out an exhale of relief.

Seto Kaiba. Handsome as hell... but scary. Also capable of getting you fired within minutes.

The angry relative she was talking to on the phone was now yelling. Perfect...

It had been a week since that night the boy had burged in his office. A week since Seto had driven him away with his words...
It took him a while to realise the blonde wasn't coming back. It took him less than he wanted to accept the fact that... he wanted him back...
He was going to call. And if Jounouchi wouldn't answer... He would go to him.
This boy was ruining his reputation as a cold-hearted bastard.

He was going to call him that day.
Perhaps he shouldn't have taken that long. After all... karma is a bitch.

"Tell me exactly what happened..."

Upon seeing Seto, Yami and Yugi got off their chairs. "You made it..." Yugi said.
"Of course I did, Yugi..." Seto said, standing in front of the small duelists.
"We were supposed to meet at the shop, but he never showed up. Anzu tried calling him, but he wouldn't answer. We went to his house... we knocked a few times and got no answer. Long story short, Honda broke the door down... and we found him passed out on the floor." Yami said, his sharp eyes staring at the void.
"He was really hurt..." Yugi said, big purple eyes giving Seto a melancholic look.

"Who did this?" Seto asked quietly.
"We don't know..." Yugi said, "but-"
"His father."

Seto looked behind him to see Anzu and Honda approaching. Honda stopped in front of him, folding his arms on his chest.
"What?" Yami raised his eyes, now looking at his friend.
"You heard me..." Honda sighed. "This... is not new. Remember every time he was badly hurt... claiming he had been caught in a street fight...?"
"That was his father's doing?" innocent eyes widened in surprise.

"Yes... everytime he comes home drunk... or simply picks a fight with Jou... he hits him." Honda croaked, lowering his head.
"He...what? And Jounouchi never told us... anything?" Yugi said loudly.
"Shh, Yugi, this is a hospital..." Anzu said quietly. Her eyes were red- she had been crying.

"...He didn't want to worry you, or get you in trouble. He had been saving money to move out, but-"
"And you did nothing."

Four pairs of eyes fell on Seto.
"All this time, you knew your supposed best friend was getting hurt like this... and yet you never said, or did something." Seto's normally cold, indifferent expression had turned to pure anger.
"This is a hospital.. people are staring..." Anzu whispered, trying to smile to an old lady that was passing by, staring at the absurd group.

Honda looked in Seto's eyes. "I wanted to, but he-"
"I don't care what he said or did..." Seto hissed. "You knew this man was hurting him and all you did was sit back and watch."

Honda was left with his mouth hanging open. "I..." he lowered his head, letting his guilt devour him. A few moments later, he raised his head again. "What do you care? Why are you here, anyway?! You hate him!" he yelled.
"This is a hospital..." Anzu whispered, looking around.
"I called him, I thought he should be here..." Yugi answered, still shocked by the news he had just heard.
"Why? He's probably happy Jounouchi is-"

"NO! SETO! DON'T!" Anzu yelled, as Seto grabbed the shorter brunette by the colar.
"Do finish your sentence..." he hissed again, flaming anger dancing in his eyes.
"Stop!" Yugi said, pulling Seto by the coat.

"I doubt he can feel that..." Yami said, putting his hand on his light's shoulder. "He's right... This isn't the time to fight... or place any blame."

Seto stayed still for some time and then let go of Honda. The latter fixed his shirt, staring angrily at the tall young man. Normally, he would start a fight, regarless of the fact that they were in a hospital... Yugi's sad, innocent eyes stopped him, though.
"Oh... and Anzu..." Seto said, looking at the girl. "Don't yell. This is a hospital."

She opened her mouth, trying to find the proper words to answer.
Her thoughts were interrupted, as the door open and a middle-aged doctor appeared. He looked at them, over his glasses. "Is anyone a family member?" he said. His eyes stopped on Seto. He had raised an eyebrow. "No." he stated coldly.
"His sister is on the way..." Yugi answered quietly. "How is he?"

The doctor stared at him and then Seto for some time. He cleared his throat. "He has a few cracked ribs and some severe bruises on his body. I must say though, he was lucky he got away with just those. Clearly, whoever did this to him, was meaning to harm him seriously."

Honda tightened his fist. Yami and Yugi silmutaneously closed their eyes and sighed. Anzu hid her face in her palm.

"Is he an adult?" the doctor asked, his eyes on Seto, who seemed the most self-collected at the moment. Little did he know, the brunette was hardly holding himself from going to offer a piece of his mind to Katsuya senior. "Yes." Seto answered, as coldly as he could.
"Very well..."

"When can we see him?" Anzu said quietly.
"I would advice you to come back tomorrow. I am allowed to let only close family members see him today. Visiting time is from six to eight pm." the doctor answered.
"He's... going to think we left him alone." Anzu said softly.
"We will wait until Shizuka gets here... She will tell him we are all here." Honda said, reassuring the girl.

The doctor walked away from the group. Seto followed him to his office. The man didn't notice he was being followed, until he got in the small room. "Can I help you, mister Kaiba?" he asked, sitting behind his desk.

"Is there anything else we need to know?"
"No, mister Kaiba, I already told you everything." the doctor said, removing his glasses.
"Are you sure? I understand you have no reason to hide anything, you are doing your job, but I wanted to be certain."
"Very well. How long will it take for him to recover?" Seto asked, folding his arms on his chest.
"I estimate about four weeks. He is perfectly healthy..." he answered.
"Can he be moved?"

The doctor tilted his head slightly. "I... I am sorry?"
"Is staying in the hospital mandatory?" Seto asked.
"Well... mister Kaiba-" he interrupted his phrase when he saw the impatient look on Seto's face. "Don't you trust us?" he said.
"Not at all."

The doctor raised his eyebrows.
"I can provide him with the care he needs. I understand there has to be certain paperwork done first, but considering he consents to it, can I take him out of here?" he said.

The older man sighed. "I am going to have to answer that in a few days, mister Kaiba. You see-"
"Good." Seto nodded, interrupting the doctor once again. "I shall return soon." he said, leaving the doctor's office.

The man smiled. Seto Kaiba was said to be cold and uninterested, sometimes rude. he was rude alright- whatever his relationship with this boy was, though, he certainly cared a lot...
When Seto returned in the waiting room, Yugi was by himself.

"What happened to the rest?" Seto asked the small boy.
"Honda and Anzu went out for a bit, just until Shizuka arrives... and Yami expected you would come back and I would want to talk to you, so he left. He will probably get lost in here." Yugi answered, smiling softly.

Seto took a deep breath and sat next to Yugi. "Why did you call me, really?" he asked quietly.

"Because I knew you would want to come... and he will be happy to hear you came for him." Yugi answered.
"Would he?"
"Hey- you are a complete jerk and you did break his heart, but he's head over heels with you. And honestly, I know you are too." Yugi said, a cunning little smile appearing on his face.

They were silent for a few moments. "Does it show that much?" Seto muttered.
Yugi smiled happily. "No, not really. If Yami hadn't told me, I would never have suspected Jounouchi's feelings were returned..."
"Good."

Lucky for Seto, the conversation ended there, when a crying Shizuka appeared, followed by Honda, Anzu and Yami.
He wanted to see Jounouchi, but he knew he wouldn't be able to, not today. Even if the doctors allowed him- or more likely, even if he ASKED-, he doubted Jounouchi would feel comfortable talking to him in front of Honda. That is.. if he wanted to talk to him.
He left, giving Honda one last angry look.

It was raining once again but Seto decided to walk home. What was it with raining this March?!
He honestly hoped the drizzle wouldn't turn into a storm. Jounouchi would never be able to sleep during a rainstorm...