Truth

Monitors beeped in the softly lit private room. Two beds occupied it with one of the patients on her side. She surveyed her friend with a heavy heart as she took in the pallor of her skin and dark smudges under her thick lashes. Since when had she become so thin and how did she miss it? "I'm sorry, Akira. I knew something was wrong, but…"

"Not your fault, Aya, I'm the one who lost." She whispered groggily as her surroundings became clearer.

"What do you mean, lost?"

Akira turned her head toward her friend and her eyes widened in alarm. "Aya, what happened? Are you okay? Is the baby…"

A tired smile crossed her features." He's fine and I have high blood pressure. They just want to keep me a few days to see if I need further bed rest or not."

Her vision blurred as her inner walls started to crumble. "I should have been there more like I promised! It wasn't supposed to be like this! If I hadn't agreed to his terms none of this mess would of happened, but I just couldn't let my secrets destroy them! Instead I lost my freedom and the one I love all in the same day."

"There was no way out of the darkness." Her voice dropped to a whisper when her eyes closed again. A gentle hand brushed away the tears, which caused her to gaze up into the brown orbs that haunt her sleep. 'They are so sad.' Crossed her mind before a memory chased it away. "Joey, you shouldn't be here."

Hurt shone in his eyes as he took her thin hand in his warm ones. "Yes I should, because I know the truth now. I love you, Akira, and what happened these past months doesn't matter to me."

She ignored the sharp pull of the needles as she sat up to push him away. "Don't lie to me, Wheeler! I saw you with her and it proves the tabloids were right about you two."

Joey stumbled back. "It's not what you think, Kira. There was never anything between us except for friendship and she's with Valon. The only one I have ever loved is you."

"Don't. Please don't." Akira chocked, "I was there I saw you through the window as that slut marked her territory in your bed!"

He brokethrough her walls to pull her into his arms. Her fists beat as his chest weakly until her unwanted tears turned into a storm. Blood trickled down her arms from the broken needles, but she barely felt it until the storm passed. He gently stroked her long hair until she relaxed in his arms.

"Mai was the one who came to my home and tried to seduce me. I'm not sure why I let her kiss me or let it get as far as it did, except for some old feelings I never sorted through. Truth is I never kissed her back, all the action was from her until I pulled away to tell her to stop. It wasn't until she pushed me down that I realized she had no intention of listening to me. Though I didn't want to, I had to get rough to get her off me. Once she understood who I truly love, she left for New York on the red eye back to Valon. Kira, you're the one I love and I missed you so much."

Her eyes glistened with too many emotions to list when she searched for the truth in his hopeful eyes. Akira's lips trembled as she touched them to his. Chemistry flowed between them in the sweet forgiveness of their kiss. Sudden exhaustion from their drama caused her to become limp in his embrace. The door snapped open when laid her back down on the bed. Joey stepped out of the way while they tended their patient then he was lectured properly by the doctor.

Mokuba leaned against the wall in relief. The truth finally came out to set them free and repair their relationship that two people had tried to destroy. He cast a speculative glance at his brother, who had planted himself in a chair between the two beds. Aya had placed a hand on his shoulder in comfort while they waited for order to be restored. A crafty grin quirked the younger Kaiba's lips as his grayish blue eyes sparkled in anticipation. 'Now for phase two of my plan.'

AKAKAK

'Now that looks uncomfortable.' Akira tried not to snicker after she had woken up to see Seto asleep in a chair. 'Or rather draped over it.' His head lay against Aya's shoulder while his body was over the chair with one arm over the back and one on his stomach. Her nose wrinkled when she found the source of the odor that had woken her up. His feet were on her bed, minus his boots, and presented a temptation too great to ignore. An evil grin crossed her face when she traced the sole of his foot with her long fingernail.

Seto jerked and hit the floor with a startled yelp. Joey's voice joined Akira's in laughter at the disgruntled look that soon faded into relief. Mokuba and Aya woke up with a start. "What did I miss?"

Akira held her sore stomach. "The smell from Seto's feet woke me up so I decided on payback for the pranks he pulled when we were kids."

Joey wiped away a tear. "Good one, Ai."

"To think I had wanted you to regain your memory, Sis." Seto grumbled as he lent down to hug her.

The others smiled when she hugged him back. "Be careful for what you might wish for, huh."

"No joke." Mokuba agreed. "Big brother is stellar when it comes to payback so watch out, Sis."

Akira smiled as she ruffled his hair when he hugged her. "Thanks for the warning, Mokie, but I have a few tricks of my own. I should show you some of my work when I get out of here."

"Which won't be for a few days." Seto said sternly. "You collapsed due to severe malnutrition and dehydration. Care to tell us how starving yourself could solve anything?"

Her smile faded and she sighed. "I didn't do it on purpose, Seto. I've been so depressed lately and lost my appetite shortly after Kana died. It also became harder to sleep and even harder to hide my depression so I went to see a doctor. The sleep aids I got from him further affected my appetite and the depression meds further messed me up. Then with the other crap going on and extra work to avoid certain issues…"

Aya broke in. "You should of told us instead of trying to bury your feelings."

"Like what exactly? How foolish I was to accept a challenge to a version of Duel Monsters I had never played with an unfamiliar deck? Or what about a past porn collection that almost made it to the web? What reputation I had managed to earn would have been destroyed along with those I care about the most. Or the hell my life has become these past months?" Tears spilled down her cheeks as deep sadness replaced the anger. "What about the times I spent at the docks wondering what it'd be like to feel the cold water close over my head…to feel my last breath leave?"

Arms clutched her to a chest where she heard his heart beat wildly as the accent returned. "If it wasn't for my sista, I woulda drowned in dat same spot. It was one of da scariest things I went through and I couldn't bear it if I eva lost ya like dat."

Akira sniffed with the feeling of guilt that filled her. 'Maybe it would have been better if…' "No it wouldn't of been."

Joey lifted her chin to look into her eyes. "Promise me you'll never think of suicide again. Or if you do, just think of everyone who cares about ya. I don't think Yugi could handle losing another friend ta death anytime soon. Remember how his eyes looked when we lost Tristian and then when Gramps died?"

She shivered when the image of haunted amethyst eyes dulled with tears crossed her mind. "Thinking and doing are two different things, Joey, but I promise. I'm so sorry that it all came out like this."

"Well, it explains why Duke was the one to call Yugi." Mokuba stated.

Akira stiffened with dread heavy in her heart. She looked away to bury her face into the pillow to hide from her shame. 'They must never know what I've done.' "Would you mind if I go back to sleep? I'm still quite tired."

Joey looked at her uncertainly then stood in silent understanding. "No prob, Kira, this has all been a bit much with info overload and all."

Seto ruffled her hair then cast an apologetic look to Aya. "I have to get some work done so we'll see you girls later."