Greetings! How's it going? I hope that you are all having fun, and looking
forward to summer. Here is the next chapter in this twisted little tale.
Reviews (Yay, I finally have time to do them again!):
Goku-chan2002: Cliffhangers aren't so good, are they? Sorry about that! This one isn't too bad, I promise!
LadyIcyBlue: I don't think that Yugi's hair do is possible for anyone else. That boy must use many, many bottles of gel to get it that way. . . ^__^
Lizzy9046: Are you kidding? Cell phones are absolutely invaluable, especially for someone like Kaiba. There's this great story that plays on that quiet a bit. its hilarious!
Adrienne-Lillian: Okay, now that the nervous break down is out of the way . . . just kidding. Asami did have that coming to him, right? You're welcome. It's kind of funny, picturing the expression on your mother's face!
Amiasha: Nope, no demon cliffhanger. . . just a tiny angel one. Nagging is good. . . nagging makes me feel guilty and makes me need to write faster. I think I've posted a chapter of Pain the Sky with Stars since your review, though I'm not sure. If I didn't, I'm going to post one right after I post this!
Yugi: He's going to be called Yugi by some people. . . I think Joey is going to be the only one who is going to call him Jomei.
Jaid Skywalker: Kaiba's adoptive father's name is Gozaburo. One of the readers gave me the name and I did some research on him. He wasn't a very nice guy, which of course, set off plot ideas in my head. I don't know much about Noah, but I saw an episode in Japanese (110, I think) where he turns Mokuba against Seto for some reason. He doesn't seem all that nice at all, though I couldn't tell because the episode wasn't subtitled.
Jadesaber: Yugi is going to get the puzzle back pretty soon, though I'm not sure it'll be such a good idea. I mean, what would you think if a 3000 year old spirit suddenly started talking to you? ^__^
Mercedes: I hope this was soon enough for ya!
SilverFang: YAY! Let's celebrate the return of the words!! Let's hope they don't go away again.
Setsuna-kitogem: Angst is good. . . and yes, it is horrible to love to see the poor kid suffer, but it's not entirely our fault. I've seen a few episodes of the first YGO series, and it was pretty freaking violent. Poor Yugi was getting beat up all the time. It happens in the manga too, so there is a reason for what we do. (See? There are always ways to explain ourselves ^__^)
Jailee: Spoil you guys? Of course! You all definitely deserve it for being such awesome reviewers.
Labannya: Yup, the AH did get shortened, but I got the gist of it! It's better late than never, so I'm glad you've joined the insanity. Let's hope that you keep enjoying the fic. You know, you're right about the hospitalization thing. I never really noticed it, but it's true. The new one I'm writing involves hospitals too. I wonder why that is?
Amariel: Wow. . . I'm very flattered. Thank you so much! It's good to hear from you, and I do understand about getting busy and life getting in the way. It's been happening to me a lot lately too. Though I'm not so sure Chemistry class is the best time to be thinking of fanfics. I wouldn't want you go blow something up, you know ^__^
Cyberkat: Yugi is very huggable, isn't he? It's too bad not many people get to hug him in the anime or in the fics I've read. I'll have to take that into account and have some people hug him.
Okay, that's it for reviews. I hope that you all enjoy this chapter!
**~~**
Part 10: Childhood Nightmares
"Will you stop pacing? You're making me dizzy."
Joey turned to glare at him, but Kaiba brushed it off. The mutt had been pacing for the last thirty minutes and it was getting downright annoying. Too bad he didn't have a leash, or he'd be only too happy to tie Joey to the nearest post.
"I hate waiting to see if someone I care about is going to be okay."
Kaiba frowned. He'd expected some kind of smart remark from Joey, not the honest response he'd gotten. He supposed he should be happy that Joey was saying anything at all. During the trip back to the hospital, the blond had simply stared out the window, a lost look on his face. It had gotten to the point where even Yugi had noticed, which, considering the kid's state, had been telling indeed. Kaiba didn't understand why Joey was being quiet all of a sudden, but couldn't bring himself to ask him.
"The doctor will come tell us in due time. Besides, we're not important. We'll be the last item on their list."
Joey whirled around and pierced him with a look.
"How can you stand there and be so calm? Aren't you even a bit worried about Jomei? Can't you be concerned for someone other than yourself for once?"
Kaiba's eyes narrowed. He straightened up from where he'd been leaning against the wall and advanced towards Joey.
"Do you really think that ranting and raving is going to accomplish anything? I may not wear my feelings on my sleeve and vocalize them like you do, Wheeler, but I do have them."
"Oh, really? And here I thought you were a cold hearted bastard."
Kaiba clenched his jaw. He was not going to rise to the bait, no matter how hard Joey pushed his buttons.
"Think what you want, Wheeler. I could really care less."
He turned away from Joey and sat on one of the hard, plastic chairs that lined the waiting area. He sat ramrod straight, assuming a position of authority and complete calm. It was the way he felt more comfortable, the way he felt safe. After all, if he was in control, no one else could get to him. Inside, he was just as worried and anxious to hear about Yugi's condition than Joey was, but he wasn't about to break down to Joey's level and express it in the way the younger man did. Kaiba would deal with it his way, as he always did.
From his pocket, he felt his cellular phone vibrating. Kaiba quickly took it out and read the short, text message displayed there. He nodded once to himself and was about to speak to Joey, when he saw a doctor come out of the room Yugi was in and head towards them.
"Are you two Mr. Asami's friends?"
Joey was the first to respond. "Yes, we are. Is he okay?"
The doctor nodded. "He's in shock, which is understandable after what he's just experienced. Physically, he's bruised but not seriously injured. I've given him some medication for the pain, but other than that, he's fine. As soon as his guardian, his real guardian," he added, letting them know that he knew what was going on, "arrives, I will release him."
"Dr. Kido, please report to the operating room."
The doctor looked up at the speaker, and then smiled apologetically at them. "I'm sorry, I have to go. You can go in and sit with your friend if you'd like. He's asleep now. Have one of the nurses call me if he needs anything."
"Thank you doctor," Joey said.
The younger man began to walk towards Yugi's room, but Kaiba reached out and stopped him. Joey turned around and stepped back, letting Kaiba's hand fall off his shoulder and to the side.
"We need to tell Yugi's grandfather."
"I know that," Joey snapped. "As soon as I see Jomei and make sure he's okay, I'm going to go back to Domino to tell Mr. Moto, and then bring him back here."
"How are you going to get there, and then bring back a wheelchair bound man? Domino is a few hours away from here, you know."
Joey frowned. "I'll think of something, Kaiba. I always do."
Kaiba sighed. Joey would always be too proud for his own good.
"There is a helicopter waiting on the roof of this hospital, where the emergency helicopters land. The pilot has instructions to take you back to Domino and then bring you and Mr. Moto back here. If you leave as soon as you see Yugi, you should be back here in a few hours."
For the first time, Joey was speechless. Kaiba could see surprise and suspicion in his eyes, as if he were waiting for Kaiba to tell him what the catch to the offer was. Why did everyone automatically think that he was never sincere?
"What?" Kaiba finally asked. "You don't believe me?"
"Why?" was all Joey said.
Kaiba frowned. "Why what?"
"Why are you doing all of this?"
"Why not? I want Mr. Moto to see his grandson just as much as you do. I want Yugi to see that someone does love him; that not everyone in his life mistreated him. If it's within my power to make it easier for that to happen, then I'm going to do so. Is that so hard to believe?"
Joey didn't reply for a few moments, and Kaiba was beginning to wonder if he wasn't going to answer the question.
"Yeah, it is. What's in it for you?"
Kaiba shook his head. It was useless to try to explain himself to Joey. No matter what was said, Joey wasn't going to believe him.
"Are you going to take the offer or not?"
Joey thought about it for a moment. "Yeah, I will."
"Good. I'll stay with Yugi until you get back. I doubt he'll be waking up for a few hours anyway."
Joey nodded his head once before turning around and heading into Yugi's room. Kaiba followed him, but stayed a few paces behind.
The room was like any other hospital room he'd ever been in, with bland, white walls, a bed, a few chairs, and a lot of electronic equipment. Kaiba hated hospitals, because they held very bad memories for him. It was easier to detach himself from the fact that he was at a place where death was normal and, in some cases, even expected. He shuddered inwardly before entering the room. He stood on the opposite side of where Joey was standing.
Yugi seemed better in the light of the room than he had outside in the dark of night. His face was scratched, and there were bruises in the shape of fingers on his throat, but other than that, he seemed okay. To Kaiba, it still seemed like a miracle to be seeing him at all. Yugi was sleeping, and Kaiba didn't want to wake him, so he kept his distance. Joey, in contrast, immediately walked to the bed and stood very close to his friend.
"The helicopter is waiting, Wheeler," Kaiba whispered. "I'll stay with him until you come back."
Joey looked down at Yugi, brushed the blond bangs out of Yugi's face, and then nodded.
"I'll be back as soon as I can. Oh, before I go, here."
Kaiba looked down at the golden object Joey was holding out to him, recognizing it as the necklace Yugi had worn around his neck, the one that held the spirit of the pharaoh.
"Give him this when he wakes up. He needs it, and so does Yami."
Kaiba nodded and took the golden object.
"There'll be a car waiting for you at Kaiba Corp. to take you home. Have the driver call me if anything comes up."
"Okay. Don't leave him, Kaiba."
"I won't."
With one last look at Yugi, Joey left. It seemed to Kaiba that the blond teenager was afraid to leave his best friend. It was as if Joey thought that Yugi wouldn't be here when he came back. Kaiba was going to stick around and make sure that didn't happen.
He took a couple of steps towards the bed, making sure that he didn't make any noise that would wake the sleeping teenager. When he got to it, his right hand reached out and was almost on Yugi's arm when Kaiba retracted it. He frowned at what he had been about to do, chastising himself for almost doing something that would show that the person on the bed mattered, which in turn would make him seem weak.
Kaiba wasn't a very tactile person, not when it came to people at least. He was always more comfortable when the people around him kept their distance. Handshakes from his business associates and hugs from their wives or daughters were acceptable only because they were required, but if Kaiba had a choice in the matter, he'd keep everyone away from him. He felt more in control that way, which was very important to him. The only person he didn't keep his distance from was Mokuba. Mokuba, unlike him, was a very tactile person and would always grab his hand or hug him, which Kaiba didn't mind. As long as they were home and no one else was around, Kaiba didn't feel the need to keep his rigid self control.
That hadn't always been the case, though. As a child, he'd often ridden on his father's shoulders when they went places, because he'd always wanted to be taller than everyone else. He'd enjoyed the view too, which his father had said would lead him to aspire for greatness. He hadn't been afraid or ashamed then to have people see that he was happy, sad, or angry. His father had always told him that it was better to say what was on his mind rather than to keep it bottled up, because it would lead to better mental health. Kaiba smiled sadly. At times like this, he really missed his father.
He and his father had been close, and they'd often indulged in hugs and mock wrestling matches. He'd always made it a point to remind Kaiba that he was loved and treasured. When his parents had been killed, however, all of that had changed. When he and Mokuba had been placed in the orphanage, Kaiba had to keep his feelings in check because Mokuba was counting on him for comfort and reassurance, and he hadn't wanted to let his brother down. In addition, an orphanage wasn't a place that lent itself to comforting youngsters. If he'd cried, he'd only get picked on by bullies, so he'd learned early on to keep his emotions bottled up.
After a few years in the orphanage, Gozaburo Kaiba had come along and. . . Kaiba shook his head. That period of his life was better left untouched and out of his mind.
He looked around and spotted a chair. He pulled it over to one side of the room, a good distance from Yugi's bed, and sat down. Unbidden, a picture of his adoptive father's face came into his mind, causing him to gasp in surprise. As quickly as it came, however, it was gone. Kaiba sighed and tried to find a comfortable spot on the metal chair. He was tired. It had been a very long, emotionally draining day and it was taking its toll on him.
Kaiba closed his eyes for a moment, and slowly succumbed to sleep.
****
Eleven year old Seto Kaiba opened his eyes to see someone standing at the edge of his desk. Suddenly, his straightened up, popping his neck in the process. His heart sank and he began to shake slightly when he realized that he'd fallen asleep while studying, and that Mr. Kaiba had found him. He didn't look at his adoptive father. Instead, he bowed his head, conceding defeat.
"You ungrateful little boy," Mr. Kaiba roared. "I have given you and your brother more than you could ever have dreamed of, a life better that you would have had in that orphanage. In return, I only ask that you learn about my company. It seems that you can't even do that, can you?"
Seto remained silent. No answer he could give would ever be good enough, so he wasn't going to attempt to give one.
"Look at me when I'm talking to you!"
Seto complied and lifted his head to face the angry, older man. He hadn't completed the motion when a vicious backhand sent him flying out of his chair and onto the floor. Most of his books fell to the floor as well, some landing painfully on top of him. Blood splattered on one of the open books from his busted lip, marring the pages with drops of crimson. He didn't have time to attempt to lift himself up, because Mr. Kaiba had already reached down and dragged him up by the hair.
"What do you have to say for yourself, Seto?"
Again, Seto said nothing. Anything he said would only make whatever punishment Mr. Kaiba had in mind for him that much worse, so he kept his mouth shut and his eyes averted. His head hurt, but as time went by, Seto was getting used to the pain. He would never understand why Mr. Kaiba treated him the way he did, but he could get used to it. He had to, if he wanted to keep Mr. Kaiba from doing to Mokuba what he was doing to him.
When no answer was forthcoming, Mr. Kaiba hit him again. This time, Seto's head had been immobilized by the hand holding on to his hair, which made the blow hurt that much more.
"I'm sorry, Mr. Kaiba."
The whispered reply was so soft that Seto doubted his adoptive father had heard it. He was flung aside, colliding with the edge of the desk he'd been sitting at. His right side flared in pain, and Seto fell to the ground. He curled up in a protective ball, knowing what was coming next. He'd been on the receiving end of plenty of Mr. Kaiba's 'lessons' to know that no matter how he tried to protect himself, it wasn't going to work.
Mr. Kaiba kneeled down and picked up a book from the pile beside Seto, before grabbing the front of his shirt and dragging him up as well. The man began to lead him out of the room, and when Seto couldn't walk fast enough, Mr. Kaiba decided to simply drag him.
Seto didn't know where he was being taken, but he didn't like it. He weakly attempted to struggle for a moment, but a well placed blow silenced him. After a few moments, he found himself outside. Mr. Kaiba didn't seem to be slowing down, and all Seto could do was look around and notice that they were at the back of the mansion, heading towards the stables. Why were they going to the stables in the middle of the night? It was a chilly night, which caused Seto to shiver, which only brought to his various aches and pains to his attention.
Mr. Kaiba walked around the stables, and kept going. Directly in front of him, almost to the edge of the property, Seto could vaguely make out a small shed. Mr. Kaiba stopped directly in front of it, threw open the door, and then flung Seto inside. He landed on the cold, wooden floor with a thud, and then winced when the book Mr. Kaiba was holding landed on his left arm.
"You will learn my company's history and method of operation by tomorrow morning, Seto. Everything you need to know is in that book, so I suggest you read it thoroughly."
The door to the shed was slammed shut, and Seto could hear a chain being looped through the door's handle, followed by the click of a lock. He got up and ran to the door, unsuccessfully trying to get it open.
"Don't leave me in here! Please!"
Silence. Mr. Kaiba was already gone.
Seto turned around, his back to the door, and caught his breath. He hated the dark. He always felt vulnerable and frightened, and Mr. Kaiba knew that. The night was cold, and he was wearing only what he'd worn to school that day, which was not enough to protect him from the chill. The shed was entirely dark, except for a shaft of moonlight that entered through a crack in one of the walls. Seto didn't want to move, afraid that if he did, something would come out of the dark and attack him.
He sank to the ground, bringing his knees up to his chest in a meager attempt to keep warm. His body hurt. He should count himself fortunate that the beating hadn't been too bad this time, though. Seto couldn't understand what he'd done to get Mr. Kaiba to treat him this way. He was a good kid, he did what he was told and wasn't a trouble maker. He didn't ask for much and was very grateful to have been given a place for him and his brother to live, and made sure to tell Mr. Kaiba that when he could. That never seemed to be enough.
A sob escaped him, and Seto buried his face in his knees. He missed his mom and dad so much. They would never have treated him like this. They had loved him, and would never have hurt him.
Seto sat by the door for a while, until he remembered what he'd been told to do. If he didn't learn what he needed, the punishment would be much worse tomorrow.
Tentatively, Seto got to his hands and knees and began to move towards where he thought the book had landed. As his eyes adjusted to the dark, he saw the book's outline a few feet in front of him, which made it easier. Once he'd gotten near it, he reached out for the book, only to feel something crawl over his outstretched hand. Seto quickly recoiled, not knowing what had passed over his hand. He heard the animal moving and became very still, not wanting to get the animal to come towards him.
After a few minutes, Seto reached out for the book again, only to have the same animal crawl over his hand once again. It was something big, and Seto was afraid that he was sharing the shed with rats. He shivered violently at the thought. If there was anything he hated more than being left in the dark, it was being left in the dark with rats. He didn't have a choice, though; he had to get that book. After taking a deep breath, Seto decided to just grab the book. When the animal crawled over his hand this time, Seto let it. It took all of his will power not to scream and move away, but he had to get the book.
After the first animal had crawled over his hand, a second one did the same. Seto ignored this one too and grabbed the book. As his fingers touched the leather surface, he felt something bite him on the side of the hand. He yelped and pulled the book towards him, dislodging whatever had bitten his hand. The animal went flying and hit the side of the shed with a very loud thud. Seto heard more scurrying sounds coming from the direction the animal had gone, and he headed in the opposite direction, the book in his hand. He sat down in front of the shaft of light and cradled his hand in his lap. It stung horribly. He felt something warm trickle over the hand and knew that the wound was bleeding. He had to make sure not to touch the book with that hand.
Slowly, so that he wouldn't attract the attention of the animals he was sharing the shed with, Seto opened the book and placed it on his lap. The light was not good, but with effort, he was able to find what he was supposed to read. He concentrated on the blurred words, forgetting everything else. He had to commit what he was reading to memory, so everything else, his pain, the cold, and the animals, ceased to matter.
Before he knew it, the sun had come up and he heard the lock being removed. The door opened, and Mr. Kaiba walked inside the shed. With difficulty, Seto got up from the floor and faced his adoptive father.
"Did you learn what you were supposed to?"
Without being told, Seto recited what he'd read while in the shed. He didn't know how long it took, but when he was finished, he bowed his head.
"Very good," Mr. Kaiba said, his voice emotionless. "You don't have school today, Seto, so you can go to your room. We will continue this after lunch."
With that, Mr. Kaiba left, leaving Seto, once again, alone in the shed.
Seto leaned down to pick up the book, and noticed the furry body of a dead rat that had been lying a few feet from where he'd been sitting. Seto shivered, the bite on his hand choosing that moment to flare painfully. He quickly got out of the shed and began to walk back to the mansion.
When he reached his room, one of the servants was waiting for him. It was the same person who always attended to him after one of Mr. Kaiba's 'lessons'. Seto let the man in without a word. They both knew the drill, so it was pointless to pretend otherwise. He walked into his bathroom and took off his shirt, revealing the nasty bruise on his side. When he looked into the mirror, Seto saw that his lip was swollen along with his nose, and that blood had dried on his upper lip and chin. His eyes looked empty, and he seemed like a different person. Seto shrugged and turned away from the image of himself. It didn't matter anyway.
"Please take a seat."
Seto did what he was told and sat on one of the chairs in the large bathroom. The servant began to clean up the cuts on his face, and bandaged the cut on his side.
"Is there anything else?" the man asked.
Seto refused to look at him, because the last time he had, he'd seen pity in the man's eyes. He didn't want to see that again, not from anyone.
He held out his hand, and was shocked to see that it was red and swollen. The man was surprised too, because he gasped.
"What happened to that?"
"A rat bit me," was all Seto said.
The man said nothing. He reached into the bag he always carried into the room and took out a bottle.
"This is an antiseptic. It will kill any germs left in the wound. If it gets worse, you have to tell me immediately so that I can treat it with stronger medication."
Seto nodded and watched the man clean the wound. It was a nasty wound, and Seto noticed that he could see tiny bite marks on his skin once the blood had been cleaned up. The antiseptic stung, but Seto didn't react. He was used to much worse. The man, a doctor, Seto figured, bandaged the wound, then wrapped a longer bandage around his hand and wrist.
"Is that everything?"
Seto nodded.
Without a word, the doctor picked up his supplies and left.
Seto changed into his pajamas, still feeling the chill of the night before. He wanted nothing more than to get into bed where he hoped to finally get warm. He poured himself a glass of water, took a sip of it, and then walked to his bed. He got underneath the covers and turned onto his side, curling his aching body into a small ball.
Unwanted, the tears began to come. They slid down the side of his face and pooled on the silk pillowcase underneath his head. Seto didn't want to cry, because crying only made him weak. But he was in pain, both physical and mental, and no matter how much he told himself that he could get through it, Seto didn't think he believed it anymore.
Suddenly, the door to his room opened and then closed. Seto didn't hear any footsteps, but he felt someone climb up on the bed with him. He felt a hand on his back and flinched, causing the other person to immediately remove the hand.
"I'm sorry, big brother. I'm sorry."
Mokuba's voice was tiny, but full of sorrow. As much as Seto tried to keep this away from Mokuba, he knew that he wasn't always successful. The way his brother looked at him and acted around him after going through one of Mr. Kaiba's lessons told Seto that Mokuba, even at six years old, knew more that he gave the kid credit for.
Seto reached out his good hand and Mokuba took it, squeezing it as hard as he could. Seto pulled his little brother towards him so that they were facing each other. Mokuba's big eyes were full of sorrow and unshed tears, causing Seto's own tears to flow a bit harder. He pulled Mokuba to him, and his little brother curled up on the bed beside him. Seto put his arm around his brother, burying his head in Mokuba's hair.
"I'm sorry too, Mokuba."
As long as Mokuba was safe and well taken care of, it was all worth it.
****
"I'm sorry. I'm so sorry."
Kaiba suddenly jerked awake, his back protesting at the uncomfortable position he'd been in. He was shaking slightly, as he usually did when he dreamt about what he'd gone through with his adoptive father. Phantom pain coursed through his body, letting him remember in vivid detail what had happened that night. His eyes traveled down to his hand, where a small scar remained in place of the rat bite. It had taken months for it to heal and had left its mark, making sure Kaiba would never forget that night.
He took deep breaths as he tried calm down. It amazed him that ever after all of this time, the dreams could still get such a reaction out of him. He was okay now. After Gozaburo had died, no one had ever laid a hand on him. He controlled his life and no one would ever treat him like his adoptive father had treated him. And yet, the memories were all too real, as were the emotions they produced.
"I didn't mean to. . . "
Kaiba frowned, for a moment thinking that he was still remembering something from his past. It took him a moment to realize that it wasn't his voice he was hearing, it was someone else's. He looked around, confused, until he remembered where he was.
He got up and saw Yugi tossing and turning on the bed, muttering in his sleep. The teen's eyes were tightly shut, and tears had leaked out from underneath his eyelids. Against his better judgment, Kaiba walked over to the bed. He was already on edge because of his dream, but he was pretty sure that he knew what Yugi was dreaming about. Seeing Yugi's reaction to Asami had immediately reminded him of Gozaburo, which had led him to believe that Yugi had suffered some of the same type of mistreatment that he had.
"I didn't mean to," Yugi whispered, still dreaming.
Yugi was clutching the blanket to him as if it were a lifeline. He shook his head from side to side, muttering something that Kaiba couldn't hear. Kaiba didn't know what to do. Should he wake Yugi, getting him out of his nightmare, or call the doctor and have him do it? With a sigh, he decided that there was no point in waiting for the doctor.
Kaiba sat on the edge of the bed, and put his hand on Yugi's shoulder. He shook the younger teen slightly, causing his eyes to snap open. Yugi sat up quickly, wildly looking around the room. He was panting and his hands were still clenched around the blanket that was covering him. After a few moments, his eyes finally settled on Kaiba.
"It's okay, Yugi, I'm not going to hurt you."
Yugi didn't seem too sure of that, however. His eyes narrowed as he examined Kaiba.
"I'm Seto Kaiba, remember? You're okay, you're safe."
Yugi seemed to suddenly remember what had happened, and he nodded. Kaiba was about to get up and go back to the chair, when Yugi's hand on his arm stopped him.
"I killed him, I killed my guardian."
Kaiba shook his head. "No, you didn't. You shot him, but he didn't die. After all he did to you, I think you had ever right to shoot him."
Yugi was quiet for a moment, and when he spoke, Kaiba noticed a hit of defensiveness in his voice.
"How do you know what he did to me?"
Kaiba simply gestured to Yugi's bruises.
"Oh, yeah." Yugi remained quiet for a moment, regarding Kaiba. "I figured you'd understand."
Kaiba frowned. "What makes you say that?"
Yugi shrugged. "At the apartment, when Asami was holding me hostage, the others seemed shocked, but you didn't. You seemed to almost understand and sympathize. So I figured you'd been through the same kind of thing." Yugi paused. "Did your father mistreat you too?"
Kaiba was shocked. He wasn't that transparent, was he? Yugi, the Yugi from before, at least, had never noticed. Then again, that Yugi hadn't experienced the things this Yugi had.
"My adoptive father," Kaiba said before he realized what he was saying. He immediately regretted what he'd said, because no one was supposed to know. Yugi must have noticed his discomfort, because he patted Kaiba's arm.
"It's okay, I won't tell anyone. Where is your adoptive father now?"
"He's dead," Kaiba replied. "He's been dead for a few years."
Yugi nodded. "What about your real parents?"
"They were killed when I was ten."
Kaiba clenched his jaw in an attempt to keep from saying anything else. He didn't want to tell Yugi his life story, but he couldn't understand why he was being so open right now. It was unlike him to share like he was doing now.
"What about my parents? Do you know what happened to them?"
Kaiba frowned at the question. He didn't really know all that much about Yugi. He'd never bothered to find out, since it hadn't seemed important at the time. He wished he'd bothered, though, because Yugi's face was so hopeful. Kaiba wanted to give him some answers, but didn't really have many to give.
"I don't really know. All I know is that you lived with your grandfather. I never saw your parents."
"Why are you here?" Yugi asked, changing the subject, which Kaiba was very grateful for.
"I'm here to make sure you're okay. How are you feeling?"
Yugi lay back down on the bed, wincing as he did so. "I'm okay. I've been worse."
Yugi's voice was calm and emotionless. He'd gone from frightened after his dream to completely detached and calm, which reminded Kaiba too much of himself. It was odd, seeing this type of behavior in Yugi, who was never detached and emotionless.
"Joey went to Domino to get your grandfather. He should be back in a few hours."
Yugi remained quiet for a moment, giving no indication that he was happy to hear the news.
"Were we friends?" Yugi suddenly asked.
Kaiba thought about what to say to that. After a few moments, he decided that the truth was better.
"No. We were acquaintances. We went to school together and occasionally crossed paths, but nothing else."
Yugi turned to face him, surprised. That had apparently not been the answer he'd been expecting.
"Why are you here then?"
Since they were dealing with the truth, Kaiba gave the only answer he could.
"I was responsible for what happened to you, so I owe it to you to be here."
**~~**
Okay, let's hear it for Kaiba angst. Or maybe not. . . Kaiba doesn't seem to be as popular as Bakura in the angst department, but he's got such a dark past. Anyway, I just thought it'd be interesting to give Jomei someone to talk to about Asami.
Next up: Yugi's grandfather finally comes around. I have this annoying habit of making my chapters longer than they need to be, so stuff gets cut off. Sorry!
Reviews (Yay, I finally have time to do them again!):
Goku-chan2002: Cliffhangers aren't so good, are they? Sorry about that! This one isn't too bad, I promise!
LadyIcyBlue: I don't think that Yugi's hair do is possible for anyone else. That boy must use many, many bottles of gel to get it that way. . . ^__^
Lizzy9046: Are you kidding? Cell phones are absolutely invaluable, especially for someone like Kaiba. There's this great story that plays on that quiet a bit. its hilarious!
Adrienne-Lillian: Okay, now that the nervous break down is out of the way . . . just kidding. Asami did have that coming to him, right? You're welcome. It's kind of funny, picturing the expression on your mother's face!
Amiasha: Nope, no demon cliffhanger. . . just a tiny angel one. Nagging is good. . . nagging makes me feel guilty and makes me need to write faster. I think I've posted a chapter of Pain the Sky with Stars since your review, though I'm not sure. If I didn't, I'm going to post one right after I post this!
Yugi: He's going to be called Yugi by some people. . . I think Joey is going to be the only one who is going to call him Jomei.
Jaid Skywalker: Kaiba's adoptive father's name is Gozaburo. One of the readers gave me the name and I did some research on him. He wasn't a very nice guy, which of course, set off plot ideas in my head. I don't know much about Noah, but I saw an episode in Japanese (110, I think) where he turns Mokuba against Seto for some reason. He doesn't seem all that nice at all, though I couldn't tell because the episode wasn't subtitled.
Jadesaber: Yugi is going to get the puzzle back pretty soon, though I'm not sure it'll be such a good idea. I mean, what would you think if a 3000 year old spirit suddenly started talking to you? ^__^
Mercedes: I hope this was soon enough for ya!
SilverFang: YAY! Let's celebrate the return of the words!! Let's hope they don't go away again.
Setsuna-kitogem: Angst is good. . . and yes, it is horrible to love to see the poor kid suffer, but it's not entirely our fault. I've seen a few episodes of the first YGO series, and it was pretty freaking violent. Poor Yugi was getting beat up all the time. It happens in the manga too, so there is a reason for what we do. (See? There are always ways to explain ourselves ^__^)
Jailee: Spoil you guys? Of course! You all definitely deserve it for being such awesome reviewers.
Labannya: Yup, the AH did get shortened, but I got the gist of it! It's better late than never, so I'm glad you've joined the insanity. Let's hope that you keep enjoying the fic. You know, you're right about the hospitalization thing. I never really noticed it, but it's true. The new one I'm writing involves hospitals too. I wonder why that is?
Amariel: Wow. . . I'm very flattered. Thank you so much! It's good to hear from you, and I do understand about getting busy and life getting in the way. It's been happening to me a lot lately too. Though I'm not so sure Chemistry class is the best time to be thinking of fanfics. I wouldn't want you go blow something up, you know ^__^
Cyberkat: Yugi is very huggable, isn't he? It's too bad not many people get to hug him in the anime or in the fics I've read. I'll have to take that into account and have some people hug him.
Okay, that's it for reviews. I hope that you all enjoy this chapter!
**~~**
Part 10: Childhood Nightmares
"Will you stop pacing? You're making me dizzy."
Joey turned to glare at him, but Kaiba brushed it off. The mutt had been pacing for the last thirty minutes and it was getting downright annoying. Too bad he didn't have a leash, or he'd be only too happy to tie Joey to the nearest post.
"I hate waiting to see if someone I care about is going to be okay."
Kaiba frowned. He'd expected some kind of smart remark from Joey, not the honest response he'd gotten. He supposed he should be happy that Joey was saying anything at all. During the trip back to the hospital, the blond had simply stared out the window, a lost look on his face. It had gotten to the point where even Yugi had noticed, which, considering the kid's state, had been telling indeed. Kaiba didn't understand why Joey was being quiet all of a sudden, but couldn't bring himself to ask him.
"The doctor will come tell us in due time. Besides, we're not important. We'll be the last item on their list."
Joey whirled around and pierced him with a look.
"How can you stand there and be so calm? Aren't you even a bit worried about Jomei? Can't you be concerned for someone other than yourself for once?"
Kaiba's eyes narrowed. He straightened up from where he'd been leaning against the wall and advanced towards Joey.
"Do you really think that ranting and raving is going to accomplish anything? I may not wear my feelings on my sleeve and vocalize them like you do, Wheeler, but I do have them."
"Oh, really? And here I thought you were a cold hearted bastard."
Kaiba clenched his jaw. He was not going to rise to the bait, no matter how hard Joey pushed his buttons.
"Think what you want, Wheeler. I could really care less."
He turned away from Joey and sat on one of the hard, plastic chairs that lined the waiting area. He sat ramrod straight, assuming a position of authority and complete calm. It was the way he felt more comfortable, the way he felt safe. After all, if he was in control, no one else could get to him. Inside, he was just as worried and anxious to hear about Yugi's condition than Joey was, but he wasn't about to break down to Joey's level and express it in the way the younger man did. Kaiba would deal with it his way, as he always did.
From his pocket, he felt his cellular phone vibrating. Kaiba quickly took it out and read the short, text message displayed there. He nodded once to himself and was about to speak to Joey, when he saw a doctor come out of the room Yugi was in and head towards them.
"Are you two Mr. Asami's friends?"
Joey was the first to respond. "Yes, we are. Is he okay?"
The doctor nodded. "He's in shock, which is understandable after what he's just experienced. Physically, he's bruised but not seriously injured. I've given him some medication for the pain, but other than that, he's fine. As soon as his guardian, his real guardian," he added, letting them know that he knew what was going on, "arrives, I will release him."
"Dr. Kido, please report to the operating room."
The doctor looked up at the speaker, and then smiled apologetically at them. "I'm sorry, I have to go. You can go in and sit with your friend if you'd like. He's asleep now. Have one of the nurses call me if he needs anything."
"Thank you doctor," Joey said.
The younger man began to walk towards Yugi's room, but Kaiba reached out and stopped him. Joey turned around and stepped back, letting Kaiba's hand fall off his shoulder and to the side.
"We need to tell Yugi's grandfather."
"I know that," Joey snapped. "As soon as I see Jomei and make sure he's okay, I'm going to go back to Domino to tell Mr. Moto, and then bring him back here."
"How are you going to get there, and then bring back a wheelchair bound man? Domino is a few hours away from here, you know."
Joey frowned. "I'll think of something, Kaiba. I always do."
Kaiba sighed. Joey would always be too proud for his own good.
"There is a helicopter waiting on the roof of this hospital, where the emergency helicopters land. The pilot has instructions to take you back to Domino and then bring you and Mr. Moto back here. If you leave as soon as you see Yugi, you should be back here in a few hours."
For the first time, Joey was speechless. Kaiba could see surprise and suspicion in his eyes, as if he were waiting for Kaiba to tell him what the catch to the offer was. Why did everyone automatically think that he was never sincere?
"What?" Kaiba finally asked. "You don't believe me?"
"Why?" was all Joey said.
Kaiba frowned. "Why what?"
"Why are you doing all of this?"
"Why not? I want Mr. Moto to see his grandson just as much as you do. I want Yugi to see that someone does love him; that not everyone in his life mistreated him. If it's within my power to make it easier for that to happen, then I'm going to do so. Is that so hard to believe?"
Joey didn't reply for a few moments, and Kaiba was beginning to wonder if he wasn't going to answer the question.
"Yeah, it is. What's in it for you?"
Kaiba shook his head. It was useless to try to explain himself to Joey. No matter what was said, Joey wasn't going to believe him.
"Are you going to take the offer or not?"
Joey thought about it for a moment. "Yeah, I will."
"Good. I'll stay with Yugi until you get back. I doubt he'll be waking up for a few hours anyway."
Joey nodded his head once before turning around and heading into Yugi's room. Kaiba followed him, but stayed a few paces behind.
The room was like any other hospital room he'd ever been in, with bland, white walls, a bed, a few chairs, and a lot of electronic equipment. Kaiba hated hospitals, because they held very bad memories for him. It was easier to detach himself from the fact that he was at a place where death was normal and, in some cases, even expected. He shuddered inwardly before entering the room. He stood on the opposite side of where Joey was standing.
Yugi seemed better in the light of the room than he had outside in the dark of night. His face was scratched, and there were bruises in the shape of fingers on his throat, but other than that, he seemed okay. To Kaiba, it still seemed like a miracle to be seeing him at all. Yugi was sleeping, and Kaiba didn't want to wake him, so he kept his distance. Joey, in contrast, immediately walked to the bed and stood very close to his friend.
"The helicopter is waiting, Wheeler," Kaiba whispered. "I'll stay with him until you come back."
Joey looked down at Yugi, brushed the blond bangs out of Yugi's face, and then nodded.
"I'll be back as soon as I can. Oh, before I go, here."
Kaiba looked down at the golden object Joey was holding out to him, recognizing it as the necklace Yugi had worn around his neck, the one that held the spirit of the pharaoh.
"Give him this when he wakes up. He needs it, and so does Yami."
Kaiba nodded and took the golden object.
"There'll be a car waiting for you at Kaiba Corp. to take you home. Have the driver call me if anything comes up."
"Okay. Don't leave him, Kaiba."
"I won't."
With one last look at Yugi, Joey left. It seemed to Kaiba that the blond teenager was afraid to leave his best friend. It was as if Joey thought that Yugi wouldn't be here when he came back. Kaiba was going to stick around and make sure that didn't happen.
He took a couple of steps towards the bed, making sure that he didn't make any noise that would wake the sleeping teenager. When he got to it, his right hand reached out and was almost on Yugi's arm when Kaiba retracted it. He frowned at what he had been about to do, chastising himself for almost doing something that would show that the person on the bed mattered, which in turn would make him seem weak.
Kaiba wasn't a very tactile person, not when it came to people at least. He was always more comfortable when the people around him kept their distance. Handshakes from his business associates and hugs from their wives or daughters were acceptable only because they were required, but if Kaiba had a choice in the matter, he'd keep everyone away from him. He felt more in control that way, which was very important to him. The only person he didn't keep his distance from was Mokuba. Mokuba, unlike him, was a very tactile person and would always grab his hand or hug him, which Kaiba didn't mind. As long as they were home and no one else was around, Kaiba didn't feel the need to keep his rigid self control.
That hadn't always been the case, though. As a child, he'd often ridden on his father's shoulders when they went places, because he'd always wanted to be taller than everyone else. He'd enjoyed the view too, which his father had said would lead him to aspire for greatness. He hadn't been afraid or ashamed then to have people see that he was happy, sad, or angry. His father had always told him that it was better to say what was on his mind rather than to keep it bottled up, because it would lead to better mental health. Kaiba smiled sadly. At times like this, he really missed his father.
He and his father had been close, and they'd often indulged in hugs and mock wrestling matches. He'd always made it a point to remind Kaiba that he was loved and treasured. When his parents had been killed, however, all of that had changed. When he and Mokuba had been placed in the orphanage, Kaiba had to keep his feelings in check because Mokuba was counting on him for comfort and reassurance, and he hadn't wanted to let his brother down. In addition, an orphanage wasn't a place that lent itself to comforting youngsters. If he'd cried, he'd only get picked on by bullies, so he'd learned early on to keep his emotions bottled up.
After a few years in the orphanage, Gozaburo Kaiba had come along and. . . Kaiba shook his head. That period of his life was better left untouched and out of his mind.
He looked around and spotted a chair. He pulled it over to one side of the room, a good distance from Yugi's bed, and sat down. Unbidden, a picture of his adoptive father's face came into his mind, causing him to gasp in surprise. As quickly as it came, however, it was gone. Kaiba sighed and tried to find a comfortable spot on the metal chair. He was tired. It had been a very long, emotionally draining day and it was taking its toll on him.
Kaiba closed his eyes for a moment, and slowly succumbed to sleep.
****
Eleven year old Seto Kaiba opened his eyes to see someone standing at the edge of his desk. Suddenly, his straightened up, popping his neck in the process. His heart sank and he began to shake slightly when he realized that he'd fallen asleep while studying, and that Mr. Kaiba had found him. He didn't look at his adoptive father. Instead, he bowed his head, conceding defeat.
"You ungrateful little boy," Mr. Kaiba roared. "I have given you and your brother more than you could ever have dreamed of, a life better that you would have had in that orphanage. In return, I only ask that you learn about my company. It seems that you can't even do that, can you?"
Seto remained silent. No answer he could give would ever be good enough, so he wasn't going to attempt to give one.
"Look at me when I'm talking to you!"
Seto complied and lifted his head to face the angry, older man. He hadn't completed the motion when a vicious backhand sent him flying out of his chair and onto the floor. Most of his books fell to the floor as well, some landing painfully on top of him. Blood splattered on one of the open books from his busted lip, marring the pages with drops of crimson. He didn't have time to attempt to lift himself up, because Mr. Kaiba had already reached down and dragged him up by the hair.
"What do you have to say for yourself, Seto?"
Again, Seto said nothing. Anything he said would only make whatever punishment Mr. Kaiba had in mind for him that much worse, so he kept his mouth shut and his eyes averted. His head hurt, but as time went by, Seto was getting used to the pain. He would never understand why Mr. Kaiba treated him the way he did, but he could get used to it. He had to, if he wanted to keep Mr. Kaiba from doing to Mokuba what he was doing to him.
When no answer was forthcoming, Mr. Kaiba hit him again. This time, Seto's head had been immobilized by the hand holding on to his hair, which made the blow hurt that much more.
"I'm sorry, Mr. Kaiba."
The whispered reply was so soft that Seto doubted his adoptive father had heard it. He was flung aside, colliding with the edge of the desk he'd been sitting at. His right side flared in pain, and Seto fell to the ground. He curled up in a protective ball, knowing what was coming next. He'd been on the receiving end of plenty of Mr. Kaiba's 'lessons' to know that no matter how he tried to protect himself, it wasn't going to work.
Mr. Kaiba kneeled down and picked up a book from the pile beside Seto, before grabbing the front of his shirt and dragging him up as well. The man began to lead him out of the room, and when Seto couldn't walk fast enough, Mr. Kaiba decided to simply drag him.
Seto didn't know where he was being taken, but he didn't like it. He weakly attempted to struggle for a moment, but a well placed blow silenced him. After a few moments, he found himself outside. Mr. Kaiba didn't seem to be slowing down, and all Seto could do was look around and notice that they were at the back of the mansion, heading towards the stables. Why were they going to the stables in the middle of the night? It was a chilly night, which caused Seto to shiver, which only brought to his various aches and pains to his attention.
Mr. Kaiba walked around the stables, and kept going. Directly in front of him, almost to the edge of the property, Seto could vaguely make out a small shed. Mr. Kaiba stopped directly in front of it, threw open the door, and then flung Seto inside. He landed on the cold, wooden floor with a thud, and then winced when the book Mr. Kaiba was holding landed on his left arm.
"You will learn my company's history and method of operation by tomorrow morning, Seto. Everything you need to know is in that book, so I suggest you read it thoroughly."
The door to the shed was slammed shut, and Seto could hear a chain being looped through the door's handle, followed by the click of a lock. He got up and ran to the door, unsuccessfully trying to get it open.
"Don't leave me in here! Please!"
Silence. Mr. Kaiba was already gone.
Seto turned around, his back to the door, and caught his breath. He hated the dark. He always felt vulnerable and frightened, and Mr. Kaiba knew that. The night was cold, and he was wearing only what he'd worn to school that day, which was not enough to protect him from the chill. The shed was entirely dark, except for a shaft of moonlight that entered through a crack in one of the walls. Seto didn't want to move, afraid that if he did, something would come out of the dark and attack him.
He sank to the ground, bringing his knees up to his chest in a meager attempt to keep warm. His body hurt. He should count himself fortunate that the beating hadn't been too bad this time, though. Seto couldn't understand what he'd done to get Mr. Kaiba to treat him this way. He was a good kid, he did what he was told and wasn't a trouble maker. He didn't ask for much and was very grateful to have been given a place for him and his brother to live, and made sure to tell Mr. Kaiba that when he could. That never seemed to be enough.
A sob escaped him, and Seto buried his face in his knees. He missed his mom and dad so much. They would never have treated him like this. They had loved him, and would never have hurt him.
Seto sat by the door for a while, until he remembered what he'd been told to do. If he didn't learn what he needed, the punishment would be much worse tomorrow.
Tentatively, Seto got to his hands and knees and began to move towards where he thought the book had landed. As his eyes adjusted to the dark, he saw the book's outline a few feet in front of him, which made it easier. Once he'd gotten near it, he reached out for the book, only to feel something crawl over his outstretched hand. Seto quickly recoiled, not knowing what had passed over his hand. He heard the animal moving and became very still, not wanting to get the animal to come towards him.
After a few minutes, Seto reached out for the book again, only to have the same animal crawl over his hand once again. It was something big, and Seto was afraid that he was sharing the shed with rats. He shivered violently at the thought. If there was anything he hated more than being left in the dark, it was being left in the dark with rats. He didn't have a choice, though; he had to get that book. After taking a deep breath, Seto decided to just grab the book. When the animal crawled over his hand this time, Seto let it. It took all of his will power not to scream and move away, but he had to get the book.
After the first animal had crawled over his hand, a second one did the same. Seto ignored this one too and grabbed the book. As his fingers touched the leather surface, he felt something bite him on the side of the hand. He yelped and pulled the book towards him, dislodging whatever had bitten his hand. The animal went flying and hit the side of the shed with a very loud thud. Seto heard more scurrying sounds coming from the direction the animal had gone, and he headed in the opposite direction, the book in his hand. He sat down in front of the shaft of light and cradled his hand in his lap. It stung horribly. He felt something warm trickle over the hand and knew that the wound was bleeding. He had to make sure not to touch the book with that hand.
Slowly, so that he wouldn't attract the attention of the animals he was sharing the shed with, Seto opened the book and placed it on his lap. The light was not good, but with effort, he was able to find what he was supposed to read. He concentrated on the blurred words, forgetting everything else. He had to commit what he was reading to memory, so everything else, his pain, the cold, and the animals, ceased to matter.
Before he knew it, the sun had come up and he heard the lock being removed. The door opened, and Mr. Kaiba walked inside the shed. With difficulty, Seto got up from the floor and faced his adoptive father.
"Did you learn what you were supposed to?"
Without being told, Seto recited what he'd read while in the shed. He didn't know how long it took, but when he was finished, he bowed his head.
"Very good," Mr. Kaiba said, his voice emotionless. "You don't have school today, Seto, so you can go to your room. We will continue this after lunch."
With that, Mr. Kaiba left, leaving Seto, once again, alone in the shed.
Seto leaned down to pick up the book, and noticed the furry body of a dead rat that had been lying a few feet from where he'd been sitting. Seto shivered, the bite on his hand choosing that moment to flare painfully. He quickly got out of the shed and began to walk back to the mansion.
When he reached his room, one of the servants was waiting for him. It was the same person who always attended to him after one of Mr. Kaiba's 'lessons'. Seto let the man in without a word. They both knew the drill, so it was pointless to pretend otherwise. He walked into his bathroom and took off his shirt, revealing the nasty bruise on his side. When he looked into the mirror, Seto saw that his lip was swollen along with his nose, and that blood had dried on his upper lip and chin. His eyes looked empty, and he seemed like a different person. Seto shrugged and turned away from the image of himself. It didn't matter anyway.
"Please take a seat."
Seto did what he was told and sat on one of the chairs in the large bathroom. The servant began to clean up the cuts on his face, and bandaged the cut on his side.
"Is there anything else?" the man asked.
Seto refused to look at him, because the last time he had, he'd seen pity in the man's eyes. He didn't want to see that again, not from anyone.
He held out his hand, and was shocked to see that it was red and swollen. The man was surprised too, because he gasped.
"What happened to that?"
"A rat bit me," was all Seto said.
The man said nothing. He reached into the bag he always carried into the room and took out a bottle.
"This is an antiseptic. It will kill any germs left in the wound. If it gets worse, you have to tell me immediately so that I can treat it with stronger medication."
Seto nodded and watched the man clean the wound. It was a nasty wound, and Seto noticed that he could see tiny bite marks on his skin once the blood had been cleaned up. The antiseptic stung, but Seto didn't react. He was used to much worse. The man, a doctor, Seto figured, bandaged the wound, then wrapped a longer bandage around his hand and wrist.
"Is that everything?"
Seto nodded.
Without a word, the doctor picked up his supplies and left.
Seto changed into his pajamas, still feeling the chill of the night before. He wanted nothing more than to get into bed where he hoped to finally get warm. He poured himself a glass of water, took a sip of it, and then walked to his bed. He got underneath the covers and turned onto his side, curling his aching body into a small ball.
Unwanted, the tears began to come. They slid down the side of his face and pooled on the silk pillowcase underneath his head. Seto didn't want to cry, because crying only made him weak. But he was in pain, both physical and mental, and no matter how much he told himself that he could get through it, Seto didn't think he believed it anymore.
Suddenly, the door to his room opened and then closed. Seto didn't hear any footsteps, but he felt someone climb up on the bed with him. He felt a hand on his back and flinched, causing the other person to immediately remove the hand.
"I'm sorry, big brother. I'm sorry."
Mokuba's voice was tiny, but full of sorrow. As much as Seto tried to keep this away from Mokuba, he knew that he wasn't always successful. The way his brother looked at him and acted around him after going through one of Mr. Kaiba's lessons told Seto that Mokuba, even at six years old, knew more that he gave the kid credit for.
Seto reached out his good hand and Mokuba took it, squeezing it as hard as he could. Seto pulled his little brother towards him so that they were facing each other. Mokuba's big eyes were full of sorrow and unshed tears, causing Seto's own tears to flow a bit harder. He pulled Mokuba to him, and his little brother curled up on the bed beside him. Seto put his arm around his brother, burying his head in Mokuba's hair.
"I'm sorry too, Mokuba."
As long as Mokuba was safe and well taken care of, it was all worth it.
****
"I'm sorry. I'm so sorry."
Kaiba suddenly jerked awake, his back protesting at the uncomfortable position he'd been in. He was shaking slightly, as he usually did when he dreamt about what he'd gone through with his adoptive father. Phantom pain coursed through his body, letting him remember in vivid detail what had happened that night. His eyes traveled down to his hand, where a small scar remained in place of the rat bite. It had taken months for it to heal and had left its mark, making sure Kaiba would never forget that night.
He took deep breaths as he tried calm down. It amazed him that ever after all of this time, the dreams could still get such a reaction out of him. He was okay now. After Gozaburo had died, no one had ever laid a hand on him. He controlled his life and no one would ever treat him like his adoptive father had treated him. And yet, the memories were all too real, as were the emotions they produced.
"I didn't mean to. . . "
Kaiba frowned, for a moment thinking that he was still remembering something from his past. It took him a moment to realize that it wasn't his voice he was hearing, it was someone else's. He looked around, confused, until he remembered where he was.
He got up and saw Yugi tossing and turning on the bed, muttering in his sleep. The teen's eyes were tightly shut, and tears had leaked out from underneath his eyelids. Against his better judgment, Kaiba walked over to the bed. He was already on edge because of his dream, but he was pretty sure that he knew what Yugi was dreaming about. Seeing Yugi's reaction to Asami had immediately reminded him of Gozaburo, which had led him to believe that Yugi had suffered some of the same type of mistreatment that he had.
"I didn't mean to," Yugi whispered, still dreaming.
Yugi was clutching the blanket to him as if it were a lifeline. He shook his head from side to side, muttering something that Kaiba couldn't hear. Kaiba didn't know what to do. Should he wake Yugi, getting him out of his nightmare, or call the doctor and have him do it? With a sigh, he decided that there was no point in waiting for the doctor.
Kaiba sat on the edge of the bed, and put his hand on Yugi's shoulder. He shook the younger teen slightly, causing his eyes to snap open. Yugi sat up quickly, wildly looking around the room. He was panting and his hands were still clenched around the blanket that was covering him. After a few moments, his eyes finally settled on Kaiba.
"It's okay, Yugi, I'm not going to hurt you."
Yugi didn't seem too sure of that, however. His eyes narrowed as he examined Kaiba.
"I'm Seto Kaiba, remember? You're okay, you're safe."
Yugi seemed to suddenly remember what had happened, and he nodded. Kaiba was about to get up and go back to the chair, when Yugi's hand on his arm stopped him.
"I killed him, I killed my guardian."
Kaiba shook his head. "No, you didn't. You shot him, but he didn't die. After all he did to you, I think you had ever right to shoot him."
Yugi was quiet for a moment, and when he spoke, Kaiba noticed a hit of defensiveness in his voice.
"How do you know what he did to me?"
Kaiba simply gestured to Yugi's bruises.
"Oh, yeah." Yugi remained quiet for a moment, regarding Kaiba. "I figured you'd understand."
Kaiba frowned. "What makes you say that?"
Yugi shrugged. "At the apartment, when Asami was holding me hostage, the others seemed shocked, but you didn't. You seemed to almost understand and sympathize. So I figured you'd been through the same kind of thing." Yugi paused. "Did your father mistreat you too?"
Kaiba was shocked. He wasn't that transparent, was he? Yugi, the Yugi from before, at least, had never noticed. Then again, that Yugi hadn't experienced the things this Yugi had.
"My adoptive father," Kaiba said before he realized what he was saying. He immediately regretted what he'd said, because no one was supposed to know. Yugi must have noticed his discomfort, because he patted Kaiba's arm.
"It's okay, I won't tell anyone. Where is your adoptive father now?"
"He's dead," Kaiba replied. "He's been dead for a few years."
Yugi nodded. "What about your real parents?"
"They were killed when I was ten."
Kaiba clenched his jaw in an attempt to keep from saying anything else. He didn't want to tell Yugi his life story, but he couldn't understand why he was being so open right now. It was unlike him to share like he was doing now.
"What about my parents? Do you know what happened to them?"
Kaiba frowned at the question. He didn't really know all that much about Yugi. He'd never bothered to find out, since it hadn't seemed important at the time. He wished he'd bothered, though, because Yugi's face was so hopeful. Kaiba wanted to give him some answers, but didn't really have many to give.
"I don't really know. All I know is that you lived with your grandfather. I never saw your parents."
"Why are you here?" Yugi asked, changing the subject, which Kaiba was very grateful for.
"I'm here to make sure you're okay. How are you feeling?"
Yugi lay back down on the bed, wincing as he did so. "I'm okay. I've been worse."
Yugi's voice was calm and emotionless. He'd gone from frightened after his dream to completely detached and calm, which reminded Kaiba too much of himself. It was odd, seeing this type of behavior in Yugi, who was never detached and emotionless.
"Joey went to Domino to get your grandfather. He should be back in a few hours."
Yugi remained quiet for a moment, giving no indication that he was happy to hear the news.
"Were we friends?" Yugi suddenly asked.
Kaiba thought about what to say to that. After a few moments, he decided that the truth was better.
"No. We were acquaintances. We went to school together and occasionally crossed paths, but nothing else."
Yugi turned to face him, surprised. That had apparently not been the answer he'd been expecting.
"Why are you here then?"
Since they were dealing with the truth, Kaiba gave the only answer he could.
"I was responsible for what happened to you, so I owe it to you to be here."
**~~**
Okay, let's hear it for Kaiba angst. Or maybe not. . . Kaiba doesn't seem to be as popular as Bakura in the angst department, but he's got such a dark past. Anyway, I just thought it'd be interesting to give Jomei someone to talk to about Asami.
Next up: Yugi's grandfather finally comes around. I have this annoying habit of making my chapters longer than they need to be, so stuff gets cut off. Sorry!