Disclaimer: I don't own Yu-Gi-Oh!
Alright, starting on this chapter right now! I'm really inspired to write this now, since I've gotten so many reviews for it in all. I really want to finish it! And finish it soon! So that's why I'm updating sooner that I usually do.
So, enjoy the ninth chapter!
Fragile
Chapter Nine: Harder To Breathe
"Don't leave me!"
Panting.
"Seto!"
Yami seemed to be pulled back by arms made of shadows, arms that seemed hungry, needing, wanting.
"Seto!"
They pulled at him, wanting to tear him away from the cobalt eyed CEO.
Yami fought and bit at the shadows that were strangely shaped like arms, and they pulled at him, tugging him farther and farther into a black abyss that awaited him if he dared give up the struggle.
"Se - "
He was cut short by one last, sharp pull from the opposing force, sending him careening into the dark.
His head throbbed with pain as he sat up in the dark space. He must've hit it on something, he figured.
His nose picked up a strange scent, and he looked around, his blonde bangs straying in front of his face as he did so. His eyes landed on something.
The smell was of rotting flesh, it seemed, and a decapitated corpse was in front of him, its head laying somewhere he didn't want to look. Blood streaked the floor crimson around him, and his eyes caught on more dead bodies, surrounding him. The smell was terrible and it burned his nose. He turned to his side and retched.
"Nasty."
Footsteps approached him, slowly, slowly.
A figure, all cloaked in black, moved in a stealthy manner toward him. The black robe covered all of him, including his face. In his hand he carried a scythe-type weapon.
"No..."
It made no sound as it came closer, and closer, the scythe glowering menacingly at him.
"No..."
Tears sprung to his eyes as the figure prepared his weapon.
"Your time is now," He said, a dark, terrifying tone to Yami's ears.
Yami closed his eyes. Seto...
Slice!
The pharaoh would've shot up in bed, but something heavy rested on his bare chest, the very feel of it prickling the tiny hairs that graced it. Yami looked down and saw the muscular, toned arm of Seto Kaiba resting on his form, somewhat protectively. The CEO's eyes were still closed, and his breathing was still slowed, signaling that he was still asleep.
Moving the brunette's arm from his thin frame, Yami gave an almost inaudible sigh as he got off the bed and looked at the clock, "Five in the morning...might as well get up." He mumbled, putting his clothes back on.
Yami moved to the suitcase that Seto's limo driver had deposited later that night, just in time to catch them in a very awkward position. He had quickly scuffed out of the room after that. He got his extra toothbrush and went into the small, adjoining bathroom and scrubbed his teeth clean.
No extra clothes for me... Yami thought, entering the main room once more and searching the bag, Thanks, Seto. He added sarcastically, giving the bag a feeble kick as he opened the curtains that covered the window.
The bedsprings made a slight movement and Seto was up, "I packed some clothes for you in a separate bag...guess he didn't bring it." He rubbed his eyes in a tired manner that resembled a child, and Yami had to stop himself from thinking it was cute, but the thought passed his mind more than once as he looked at the mussed up Kaiba brother. It was almost laughable, Seto's appearance, that is.
Seto wore only his muscle shirt, which was slightly out of place, revealing the visible lines and curves of abdominal muscle. His strong arms were also in sight as well. He yawned once more, rubbing the sleep out of his eyes. His hair was also very crazily strewn about everywhere.
Well, it would have been laughable if Yami wasn't so...so...
Turned on? Were those the right words to describe the feeling Yami was experiencing right now?
Seto got out of bed and strode over to the suitcase. Picking out several articles of clothing - consisting of a pair of blue jeans, a white t-shirt, and a tight fitting black jacket to go over it, he walked into the bathroom, wasting no time to get dressed.
As he was pulling on his pants, Seto asked, "Sleep well?"
"Um...yeah..." Yami said, dreading to remember the dream he had earlier.
Not wanting to remember the corpses.
And not wanting to remember that one of the corpses looked exactly like Seto.
"Ah," Seto said without realizing the nervous tone in his temporary roommate's words.
Just as soon as Seto was fully dressed, they received a knock on the door, followed by a, "Excuse me, may I come in?"
Seto walked to the door and opened it. The person standing in the doorway was a man in about his mid-thirties, dressed all-out in scrubs, "I'm here to take Yami to prep for his upcoming surgery...if you don't mind, Mr. Kaiba," The man looked to his watch, then back at the elder Kaiba brother, "You'll get to see him before he goes into surgery, don't worry."
"I don't." Seto said firmly. He then looked at Yami, "Go ahead, Yami. It's no problem."
Yami looked over to Seto with slightly pleading eyes, as if to say that he didn't want to go, but instead, he nodded, and followed the male nurse out. He gave a slight wave before they exited the room, and Seto returned the gesture.
The door shut behind them, leaving Seto alone for the first time in days.
Before heading out of the room and handing the main desk their card key, Seto sat down in a chair adjacent to the bed. Beside it was a small, round table by the window. And on the table rested a phonebook. Just what I needed... Seto thought, flipping through the pages until he found the name "Mazaki, Anzu" listed.
"Wouldn't want to send their hero in to surgery without them knowing..." Seto said. He took out his cell phone and dialed the number on Anzu's phone. "She'll probably be pissed because it's so early..."
The sound of the phone picking up, then a yawn, met Seto's ears. After that, a sleepy Anzu replied, "He...llo?"
"This is Anzu's residence, right?"
"Kaiba? Is that you?" He could nearly see Anzu's stunned expression in his mind's eye, "Why are you calling so early...better yet, why are you calling me?"
"Yami's having surgery at six...at the Tokyo General Hospital."
"In the morning?" Anzu replied, "It's a little past five now..."
"Yeah, they just took him in to prep him for it."
"How long do you think it'll take?" Anzu said, worried, "Do you think I can make it before he gets out of the operating room?"
That's if...no, no, Seto, think positive! "I think you might be able to see him before the surgery if you leave now."
"Oh, okay," Anzu seemed rushed, "I'll try and get the others up..."
"Alright, bye..." He began to hang up.
"Wait, Kaiba!"
"What is it now?"
"Thank you."
Click.
The group of friends arrived a while later, just as Yami was being wheeled off into surgery. They were all teary-eyed and well-wishing when they saw him. And relieved.
"Good luck, Yami!" Yugi chirped cheerily, patting him on his hand, which was lain on his chest.
Yami looked up at his other half and smiled weakly. His was lying peacefully on the gurney that would carry him into the operating room. His maroon-ish colored hair was strewn out on the white of the pillowcase, slightly mussed up from the night before, not being helped at all by him laying down.
Yugi gave his hand a reassuring squeeze before lifting it to press against his chin in thought, "Good luck..." He murmured a final time.
"Don't worry, Yami." Anzu said, smiling, slightly nestled in Jounouchi's muscular form. "I'm sure everything will come out alright."
"She's right," Jounouchi agreed, wrapping a protective arm around her.
"Yeah," Honda said, just after.
Seto remained quiet the entire time, only watching how Yami's eyelids would flutter closed every now and then, and a serene smile would grace his features.
The brunette just realized what that look meant...
Acceptance. Seto thought, a slight wrinkle creasing his brow, No matter what happens to him...he's accepted his fate. He's proud with what he's done...I know that feeling...
Yami smiled at Seto as they wheeled him off.
"Thanks," He said weakly.
And Seto had to ignore that tug at his heart.
There were few things that occupied the former pharaoh's mind as he was led down the icy corridor to the room where his future would be determined. And either way, whether he lived or died, he was happy with it.
Flashes of memories passed through his mind.
Friends.
Anzu.
Jounouchi.
Honda.
Yugi, especially Yugi, for he was his other half, the one who had brought his spirit into this world. For that, Yami knew he would be eternally grateful.
Suddenly, a flash of cerulean entered his consciousness.
Seto...
He had no idea why Seto had been so nice to him in the past month. Maybe he felt pity for him. Or maybe he did it out of kindness. As much as Yami would like the latter to be true, he doubted that Seto ever did anything out of kindness. Unless it was to his brother.
Yeah...
There was part of him that was ready to admit his feelings, yet there was his more stubborn, reluctant side that was telling him to not do it, or he'd end up getting hurt.
But, the only thing he knew was that he had some kind of feelings for the CEO.
And he knew that they weren't hate.
He was rolled into the room and the assistants placed him on a larger, more spacious operation table.
Yami gave a slight yawn. He closed his eyes only to open them again. Every time he would close his lids, he would get an image of Seto's cobalt blue orbs. Sometimes they would be caring, other times they would be passive, and yet others would be enraged.
Strange...
It took the doctor a while before entering the room and putting and oxygen mask over his mouth and nose, for what, Yami didn't know.
"Let's get this started." Dr. Shibuya said, smiling in a manner only a doctor could - one that was reassuring, yet sympathetic, and almost unsure.
Yami decided to not point out this detail and only smiled.
Well, he smiled until the nurse put a very sharp I.V. in his arm.
With that, he winced, almost feeling his thin, papery skin, due to his sickness, bruise with that sudden, sharp jab.
The maroon-haired man suddenly felt very drowsy.
His eyes began to feel like two lead weights as they closed.
An audible sigh escaped his lips as the feeling of sleep nearly overwhelmed him.
His lips formed into a bitter smirk as he remembered something. Something he would really have liked to accomplished before this whole surgery ordeal.
But, now he realized that he might not be able to.
Heh...
Another fit of sluggishness crept over him.
The only thing I regret...is...that I never got to tell Seto how I felt.
And with that, he was claimed by darkness.
End Chapter Nine.
Okay, the surgery is now underway! Aren't y'all excited that this fic is finally going somewhere? LOL.
So, anyway, I hoped you enjoyed this chapter. I guess this one was basically a filler to set up for more events. So...despite that, I hope you will review!
Ciao, Prideshippers!
