Desidera: Re: Brothers' reactions - Hey! Get outta my head! Re: switching narratives - Honestly, I didn't have a reason for that. It just fit well at the time. Thanks for the encouraging words! I hope you enjoy these next two chapters.
Mezu: Thanks for the compliment!
Disclaimer: Just own the words, not the folks.
These tumors are "silent". S+YY, if you squint. Warning: Character death.
Spring – Part 4
T-minus 119 – March 21 - Noah
I can't do this.
I know I offered…volunteered to watch over Set during this treatment, but…
"Hello?"
"Yami?"
He yawns loudly into the phone. "Noah? What time is it?"
"Umm, probably about 3:30 in the morning in Japan."
I can almost hear his frantic scramble out of bed. I knew he'd react this way if I called now. Good. I need him awake. I need him to get here as soon as possible.
"What's happened? Is Seto all right? Noah?"
"He's…as well as can be expected," I reply quickly. I don't want him panicked.
"Then what's wrong?"
I can tell him. I know he won't think any less of me.
"I-I can't do this," I confess. "I just can't watch Seto wasting away. My brother Seto isn't that…I just can't do it, Yami," I sigh.
From the silence on the line, I think I've misjudged him. Maybe he doesn't understand. Maybe he thinks I'm just as weak as I do. I take another drag from my forbidden cigarette. I haven't smoked in years, but Seto…I just needed something to calm my nerves and I couldn't very well go out and get plastered. I feel guilty enough leaving Seto alone for these few minutes while I escaped to make this call.
"Yami?"
"I'll be there as soon as possible."
"I'm sorry."
"Don't be. I know it's hard seeing him like this. Mokuba and I have seen him in weakened states, you haven't."
"No."
No, I haven't. My brother Seto is a towering, imposing figure who I could confess anything to and lean on completely, not that frail, sickly man in the hotel room.
"I'll be leaving within the hour," Yami assures.
"Okay."
I hang up the cell phone and finish my cigarette, desperately trying to convince myself that I'm not a bad brother.
T-minus 107 – April 1 – Mokuba
Noah got back a few days ago. Yami stayed with Seto. The doctor suggested that Seto stay there for the last treatments instead of trying to fly back home. I agreed. After all, it wasn't like he had to come home. I run Kaiba Corp. now. Seto hadn't been to the office since we got back from vacation except to set things up for me.
He can be so stubborn sometimes! After the first two treatments in January, I could see that Seto wasn't going to be able to fly back and forth, run Kaiba Corp. and get treatments. Something had to give. It took Yami and I three weeks to convince him that handing the company over to me now would not be admitting that he was going to die, but a smart business move.
"Seto," I'd argued," if your enemies see you like this, suffering from memory loss, obviously fighting to contain your emotions, sickly, they're going to think it's a good time to stage a hostile take over, and they'd be right! Think about it, if you saw Pegasus trying to operate in this state, would you hesitate to make a move on him?"
I knew appealing to the ruthless businessman in him would work far better than Yami's failed attempts to convince him with logic and medical realities. He'd kicked us both out of his room that day, but relented a few days later. We sent out a press release that I'd be taking over temporarily in Japan while Seto "explored the American markets." Yami had suggested the 'recovers from exhaustion' ploy, but I knew Seto wouldn't allow for any hint of weakness on his part. Of course that meant we had to set up meetings for him in America, which further strained his already deteriorating mind, but it couldn't be helped if we were to keep up the façade.
Watching him on the video conference calls conduct business meetings by sheer force of will cemented my belief that he'd make it through this.
He won't die. He wouldn't give Death the satisfaction of beating him.
T-minus 95 – April 14 - Yami
Lightly, I stroke the damp hair back from his pale, gaunt face.
What I'd told Noah was true; Mokuba and I had seen Seto in weakened states. But not like this. Every breath was an effort, even with the oxygen mask.
"He's quite a fighter," Dr. Corey had remarked earlier. "Frankly, I didn't think he'd make it this far. When I suggested this trial, I told him that the chance of success wasn't high, ten percent at best, but he opted to go for it. Remarkable. He's a medical miracle, you know. The last of the 85 other patients in the trial died two months ago."
"Seto's always been a pioneer," I'd whispered because that was all I could think to say at the moment. Ten percent at best. He'd certainly kept that bit of information to himself. I guess he didn't want us to worry.
One more treatment to go. Dr. Corey postponed it until next week, trying to give Seto more time to recover from the last one. He admitted that he didn't have a clear plan of action, as Seto would be the first to complete the treatment. They were 'completely off the grid' he'd confessed.
Seto would be glad to know that when he woke up. Being the first to survive the trial he'd wear like a badge of honor. One thing he loved more than anything was winning.
T-minus 80 – April 29 - Yami
We lost him today.
For nearly ten minutes, the heart monitor registered only a line where a steady beat danced before. I watched with horror and fascination as they worked on his still, emaciated form, praying to the gods to spare my friend.
Either they heard me or Seto is just too stubborn to give up, because I saw him gasp with life as the steady beat returned to the monitor, faint, but there. Dr. Corey beamed.
Though he didn't have to, Dr. Corey checked on Seto regularly himself. He'd just happened to be there when Seto...died and went to work on him immediately, telling me to press the emergency button on the wall, which brought nurses and other doctors running.
Since the last treatment a few days ago, really since early March, Dr. Corey had become Seto's one-man cheering section. He'd come by and just talk to his prone form about the treatment and how he would go down in history as the first to complete it, how strong Seto proved to be, and how proud he was of said strength. It warmed me to watch this compassionate man try with all his might to keep Seto's spirits up, even though my rival gave no outward sign of being able to hear him. He even encouraged me to talk to him, suggesting the sound of a familiar voice would be beneficial and possibly aid in his recovery.
So I started talking to him too. Randomly. About anything that came to my mind. I don't know if it helped him any, but it certainly made me feel better.
T-minus 60 – May 19 – Mokuba
I spoke to Yami today.
Seto's still unconscious. They won't know if the treatment worked for several weeks. Something about having to test his blood over a period of time to see if there are any changes in the cell count. I think he also mentioned a series of CAT scans.
Yami didn't sound too good. I think this ordeal is taking more out of him than he's letting on. I offered to take his place for a few days, but he adamantly protested. At first, I was angry. Who did he think he was telling me I couldn't see my own brother? But then I realized that Seto must look pretty bad for him to be so sure that I shouldn't come.
But I still want to. What if….? No, he won't die. I know he won't. He's too stubborn for that. He'll be home in a few weeks and everything will start going back to normal.
Noah has disappeared. Oh, he's still here physically, though he spends most of his time in the backyard smoking, but his spirit left some time ago. He hasn't been to work in ages and nothing I say brings any light to his face. He thinks he let us down by coming home after Seto's next to last treatment. Worse, he thinks he let Seto down. Until my brother can tell him otherwise, I don't think anything will change.
Yugi came over last night.
He understands that I haven't felt much like going out lately, so we just cuddled on my bed. I hope when Seto recovers it doesn't kill him to find out about us. It just happened, really. Yugi made it a habit of coming by to check on us, Yami mostly, and we started hanging out together. Once Yami went to San Francisco for the remainder of Seto's treatment, Yugi came by to see about Noah and me.
Then he started coming just to see me.
About a week after Noah got back, Yugi and I were playing chess in my room and I had a mild panic attack. I guess I'd been pushing myself too hard trying to be like Seto.
I would go to school everyday, then go straight to Kaiba Corp. until about 10:30 pm, then I'd come home and do my homework, getting to sleep at around 1:00 am. My mornings started at 6:00 am where I would do a little work from home, then leave for school, which started at 8:00 am. On the weekends, I'd spend most of Saturday trying to catch up with whatever I couldn't get done during the week. Once, I'd asked Noah for help, but the dead look in his eyes told me I couldn't count on him for anything right now.
So, Yugi and I were in my room and I suddenly couldn't breathe. He'd pulled me to him and held me as he murmured soothing words and lightly rubbed circles into my back. I don't know if I kissed him first or if he kissed me, but we found ourselves on my bed groping and kissing with wild abandon.
After two months, we haven't progressed much farther than that. I guess I'm still getting used to the idea because I've never been attracted to a man before.
And I really haven't taken much time to deal with it because of Seto. Yugi's been really patient with me and I love him for that.
T-minus 55 – May 24 - Noah
Mokuba had Yugi over again last night. He must have stayed because I saw him leaving early this morning. I wonder what they'll do if Seto comes home.
When. When Seto comes home.
Mokuba is sure he'll be okay. Yami too. Even Yugi thinks so.
I want to believe. Really I do. I don't know what I'd do if he never came home. I know Mokuba wouldn't kick me out, but I don't think I could stay here without Seto. Mokuba found me, but Seto saved me.
He listens to everything that happened when I lived on the streets and doesn't judge me. He paid for private tutors to make sure I finished high school. I think he would have paid for college if I'd wanted to go. He even let me take my time to stop smoking.
But the listening is what I'll miss most, his listening to me about my life. I never had anyone really listen to me before. But somehow, even with his horribly busy schedule, and spending time with Mokuba, he found time to listen to me. I have no illusions that Mokuba is his favorite, which is why his sacrifice of time is even more precious to me.
Please don't die, Seto.
T-minus 40 – June 8 - Yami
We spent my birthday in the air on our way back to Domino.
Seto's condition had stabilized, though the doctor still couldn't tell if the treatment worked.
"He really needs to be awake for me to do some of the other testing," Dr. Corey had stated. "There's no sign of the tumor spreading, but it will take a few more weeks to see if it's shrinking. And until he wakes up, I can't check for any permanent motor function damage or personality changes."
I'd looked at his pale face, knowing, instinctively that he wouldn't get better here. He'd been away from home too long. He needed to be near his family. He looked healthy enough now for them to see him, though he was still rather pale.
"Can I take him home," I'd asked.
"I wouldn't advise it," he'd replied. "I can't guarantee his safety on a commercial flight."
I'd smiled. "He won't be on a commercial flight."
I called Mokuba and told him I was bringing Seto home and that I needed one of the corporate jets to be specially equipped to do so. He then got one of the jet's engineers on the phone and I had him talk to Dr. Corey. The plane was ready in three days. Seto lay comfortably in a state-of-the-art hospital bed the whole way.
Now if he would only wake up.
T-minus 36 – June 12 – Yami
I've taken to sleeping in Seto's room to be near his bed just in case, even though we have nurses there 24 hours a day.
I'm just drifting off when I hear the moan. Scrambling from his king-sized bed, I nearly fall face first onto the floor. Catching myself in time, I look up to see a nurse hovering over him as his eyes blink slowly. A smile of joy nearly breaks my face in half.
T-minus 28 – June 20 – Noah
I must have talked for three hours straight. And he listened to every word. Seto's doctor had assigned us each a day to spend with Seto so we wouldn't tire him out by visiting all at once. Mokuba went first on Tuesday, I went second yesterday and Yami was spending time with him today.
But he listed to me. Actually listened. And he didn't blame me for leaving him. He even complemented me for making the decision to do what was right no matter what I felt.
"Noah," he'd intoned, "you realized that you weren't up to the task at hand and acted in my best interest. You could just have easily left me there. Or left after you called Yami and not waited until he got there. But you didn't. I can't fault you for knowing your limitations. Stop beating yourself up about it."
It was great having him back. Even if the treatments didn't work, I'd had one more chance for him to listen to me.
And to forgive me.