Save Me

By Ash Kaiba

DISCLAIMER!! I don't own any of the Yu-Gi-Oh! Characters. I do own the event.

Welcome my wonderful readers. I finally finished the eighth chapter. Please enjoy.

Key:

Italics- thought

Text- Kaiba's sign language

Chapter 8: Interview Gone Wrong

"'Ren, hurry up!"

Serenity jumped off her light green blanket. Her favorite journalists stayed on her white wall. The birch desk cried out to her, trying to remind her of an appointment. Warm honey eyes glanced at the desk. The first year tucked the book into her bag and tossed the blue camera bag onto her shoulder. She dashed out of her room and down the stairs. At the foot, Joey Wheeler waited patiently.

"Why this early, Joey?"

"Somethin' the guys and I do every Thursday," he answered with a grin on his face. "Say, what time will be home?"

"Around 5," Serenity replied.

Joey nodded as he closed the door behind him. He remained quiet until they left their mother's watchful eye. Then, sighed, "I wish she could understand."

"Understand what?"

"The reason I help Kai. She's now relying on the info I told her two years ago. Kai's different now," he whispered.

"Well, Mom hasn't met him."

"I know."

"Joey… Is there something I can do?"

He looked at her out of the corner of his left eye. The warm brown iris reflected his gratitude. "One of us is enough, 'Ren. I'm fine."

"But…"

"I don't want to drag you into the world of a dependent."

Serenity fell silent and allowed time to fly. She thought her paper and her mom's job as a magazine publisher. The idea of having her mom put in a copy of her assignment was thrown into the bin. Serenity only started to scratch the surface of the chained enigma. And a title never crossed her mind. She started to wonder if she made the right choice.

"About time, man!" A voice hollered at them.

Serenity directed her attention to the courtyard. Yugi Mutou, Téa Gardner, and Tristan Taylor waved at them. Her brother responded with a small chuckle. Behind them, Serenity noticed a booth. The Stu Co president, Tsubasa Tori, was arranging items on the top. In the shadows, the enigma listened to the progress. His face was dark and expressionless. Brown locks attempted to blend into the darkness. The fogged irises remained isolated. His red and white pole rested across his lap. For some reason, the darkness kept closing in.

Joey noticed him as well. For advice, Serenity looked up at her brother. Shock and concern were written all over his face. Yugi approached them and glanced into the shadows.

"I don't know how long he'll hold up," the teen whispered.

"It's depression, Yug'! We have to stop it! You know what he'll do if we allow it to continue!" Her brother screamed.

"I've tried. But, he hasn't responded to me or anybody else here."

"Then, I'll try," Joey announced.

Joey approached him. Serenity watched him kneel in front the enigma. Téa pulled her aside. "Come on. Let Joey try."

Kaiba and Joey…

"Hey," a voice called out from the darkness.

His hands didn't move. They remained firmly planted on the armrests. Something brushed the side of his face. He guessed it was the voice, Wheeler.

"Come on, man. What is wrong? You can tell us." He encouraged.

At that, his lips quivered. Joey grinned slightly, pleased to have established contact. He stared into the empty eyes, watching water forming. In response, he stroked the brunette's face.

"Just let it out, man. It won't do you any good to keep all locked up."

His mouth opened. The hands were free from their prison. Narrow fingers curled themselves up. The handicap released a silent cry of anguish. His fists hurled back to their host. Joey reacted. His hands snared the fists. Seto Kaiba struggled, silently screaming. Joey managed to grasp both hands in one. His free one dashed for the shaking back.

"Please, Kai. Don't do this. Just tell me what's wrong. Please," he begged.

Kaiba's mouth repeated one pattern. Mokuba…

Joey eased the broken teen close. He knew now. His rival's heart was aching for something he and his friends couldn't provide. Kaiba was hungry for love. The teen tried to wail and broke into tears on Joey's shoulder. The one voice that kept him alive at the crash was the one that dispelled some of his anxiety.

Later that day…

Serenity watched her brother yell while wearing a sign. She learned that the group raised money by selling rubber ducks, donations, and occasionally selling off Joey as your Dog for the Day. She remembered seeing her brother comfort the man he hated. And it seemed to do him some good. At lunch, Serenity noticed his hands moving. Not often, but enough to make her think on the lighter side of things. But, that gloom could return.

She shook her head as class was dismissed. Dark clouds hovered in the summer sky. A sigh escaped her lips as she headed for the place that her subject worked on sign language. Students attempt to block her path, but she forced her way through. A slight breeze caught her and chilled her body. The girl shivered, but continued towards her destination. Only to find Mrs. Wu and Kaiba-san not there. Concern filled her. Where are they?

"Wheeler-chan!" An old voice called out.

Serenity looked in its direction. Pepper headed Hanashi stood in the doorway. Behind him was the Chinese woman. Seto Kaiba remained in his chair, staring in her direction. She couldn't tell what was on his mind. But, ran to join them inside.

"Thanks," she gasped.

"You're welcome," her English teacher replied. "I'll leave you three."

"Thank you, sir." Mrs. Wu added. "Miss Wheeler, we will meet in the library today."

Serenity nodded as the teacher took her place behind the chair. The teen granted her complete control. The first year followed them, watching the brunette. He said nothing. I hope he's okay. She prayed as they stepped into the library. Mrs. Wu pushed the brunette in and turned him around. Serenity took this as her cue and set up Terri's camera. Then, took a seat across from him.

"Kaiba-san… Are you ready?"

Just get this over with. His right hand snapped.

"Um…okay…" The girl bit her lip. "I've heard what happened…"

Heard, uh? You probably heard the other half of it.

Her face turned to a light shade of red. "What do you mean 'other half'?"

For me, that moment lasted for an eternity. I remember what happened. I lost my sight and voice to shattered glass. My spine was damaged as metal ripped through the fabric. The sounds of grating metal still echoes in my ears. His hand paused as if he hesitated. You don't know what it is like to lose your independence. You know nothing of starting over. You are like everyone else… Yugi… Your brother… Everyone. They only pity me. I don't want it!

"Kaiba-san…"

"Kaiba-kun…"

Shut up… Shut up, all of you! You know nothing!!

His body rattled the chair. Ivory teeth gritted against the other. His left hand curled into a fist as his knuckles turned white. Brown bangs blocked his eyes from them. Serenity rose to her feet and he reacted. The wheelchair moved back.

Stay away from me… Find someone else. You only chose me because of how weak I am.

"Wait…"

The chair jerked forward. She reached out to stop him, but he was faster than she expected. Her feet tripped on themselves. When she looked up from the cream colored carpet, he was gone. Her mind stopped and pondered the outburst. Why? He was fine yesterday. Why is he like this now? Why did he snap at me? He doesn't even know the real reason why I chose him.

Mrs. Wu vanished into the rows of books. Serenity didn't believe that the sign language teacher didn't have the guts to go after her student. The first year rose back to her feet. I have to go after him. Kaiba-san must be really hurting inside to be like this. Her thought paused. I started this project, Kaiba-san. And I will finish it. She declared as her foot stepped over the library's threshold. Her mind replayed the first time she saw him; two years ago during the Battle City tournament. He seemed cold. One honey eye glanced outside as water snaked down the glass. She approached the door that Hana-sensei held earlier. Under the short roof, she peered out into the rain.

Seto Kaiba sat several feet from her. He appeared that he didn't hear the door close behind her. His face was tilted back. His brown hair was already plastered down by the hard rain. Fogged eyes stared up to the sky.

Serenity slowly approached him. She watched his hands move, but was unable to read them. About six feet back, she stopped.

I know…that I am not a believer or one that prays… But, please help me. Please send me a miracle. Someone that can…

Her body functions stopped. Her title came to her. And in her heart, she felt that she was that miracle.


Oh... Please review. With all my fics, I enjoy the reviews because I love relpying to them. And go ahead and guess what Serenity will name her paper. I will tell you... Later in the story.