Day Thirteen – Shattered Dreams - Sunday
The world shook and split apart Seto Kaiba from his brother as rain and lightning filled the sky. Kaiba saw nothing but knew his brother was there. He turned his head, only to be met with the same blackness in every direction.
"Why, Seto? Why did you let Pegasus see all your passwords?" Mokuba's voice rang out over the chasm. "Now he can take over Kaiba Corporation!"
"No, Mokuba…that's not right…"
"Honestly, Kaiba-boy, you should have known better." Pegasus's voice sounded from behind him. "I've gotten all I want from you, and it wasn't that hard to do."
"But, wait—this wasn't our deal." Kaiba's eyes widened as he searched for the voice's owner. "You wanted nothing else in return!"
"Always get it in writing." Kaiba felt a jolt against his back and fell into the dark void. He turned around in midair and saw Pegasus's face above him with an arm outstretched towards him.
~*~
Kaiba jerked awake, panting and sweating as he trembled against the blanket. He glanced around quickly and noticed he was in Pegasus's room. The rain had become a full-blown storm overnight and rattled against the window.
"Seto?" A soft whisper breathed by his ear. "What's the matter, what's frightened you?"
"You bastard…"
"Seto? You're still dreaming." Pegasus put his hands on Kaiba's shoulders.
"No, I'm finally awake for the first time since I got here." Kaiba stood and shoved Pegasus away.
"What are you talking about?" Pegasus slid off the bed and approached him.
"I can't believe I allowed myself to trust you!" Kaiba growled. "Bringing me here, feeding me with lies and sob stories—it was all an elaborate plot to lure me into a false sense of security. Damn you!" He lunged at Pegasus and grabbed hold of his throat. "I bet you staged your attempted suicide too!"
"Seto!" Pegasus gasped to take a breath. "That's not true!"
"How can I believe anything you say? You've been lying to me since the beginning!" Kaiba released him long enough to backhand him. "Quit calling me Seto, you haven't the right!" Pegasus winced and backed up to the patio door.
"Please, I'll do anything to prove myself to you, just name it."
Kaiba snorted and regarded him.
"You're a fraud and a trickster, why would anything you do prove anything?" Pegasus briefly saw tears glimmer in Kaiba's eyes which were quickly hidden. "You just want to destroy my company and my family."
"Kaiba, I don't give a damn about your company anymore! Yours and mine can burn in Hell for all I care! Please listen…"
"You know all my secrets now." Kaiba pushed him up against the glass. "I could kill you and nobody would miss you."
"That's probably true…" Pegasus agreed sadly. Kaiba shoved him once again through the glass, making Pegasus shriek as shards pierced through his skin. Kaiba backed him against the railing so that he was bent almost backwards over the balcony. Pegasus's tears were lost in the rain as he closed his eye and waited for the final shove. Instead, the drops continued to beat down on his face without pause.
"You made me care for you…" Kaiba's voice whispered and trembled. Pegasus opened his eye to see Kaiba's tears now mixing with the merciless rain.
"I'm sorry that I hurt you, I wish I could take it all away…"
"How could I be so foolish?" Kaiba's hands shook as he pushed Pegasus against the rail.
"Ai shiteru…"
"Don't…" Kaiba shuddered. "You have no concept of the true meanings of that phrase…." He looked at Pegasus and faintly saw the image of a Blue Eyes White Dragon curling around him protectively like a mother. What...? Blue Eyes?
"I'll be happy to die for you, if that is truly what you desire." Pegasus smiled effortlessly through his pain at Kaiba. "But only for you."
"No, this isn't what I want, but…" Kaiba breathed hard. "You used me! I know you're trying to confuse and trick me. If not for my company, then just to get in my pants." He looked disgusted with himself and closed his eyes. "My dream showed me the truth…it made perfect sense."
"Tell me what you saw," Pegasus winced as glass dug into his back against the railing.
"I saw…nothing. I heard Mokuba, then your voice…" Kaiba clenched his eyes shut tighter as he recalled the nightmare. "I was pushed off the cliff, but I didn't see who did it. I turned around in midair and saw your face there, and your arm was outstretched. Your lips moved…but there was no sound." Kaiba frowned. "Wait, your hand was overturned—it was reaching for me." 'I won't let you fall' Kaiba's eyes snapped open. "I see now…I didn't realize it." 'By my own hands…' "I pushed myself down that cliff, and just as I woke, your hand reached mine."
"Seto!" Pegasus gasped as the wet railing slipped beneath his hands. Kaiba grabbed Pegasus by the end of his nightshirt and pulled him upright into his arms.
"I… I won't let you fall, either." Kaiba shook. "Now you're hurt again. I'm…sorry."
"Flesh grows back, my dear Kaiba-boy. Mending the spirit is trickier." Pegasus embraced him tightly.
~*~
The doctors were concerned with Pegasus's apparent relapse and scolded them both of the dangers of pneumonia. It took hours to convince them he'd accidentally fallen backwards through the door after slipping on something. When they were sure everything was alright, Pegasus joined Kaiba in the den. He was shocked by the menacing look Kaiba was giving the television.
"What now?"
"Those bastards…" Kaiba turned the volume up.
"…the CEO's apparent disappearance was acknowledged by Mokuba Kaiba as a trip for his health, debunking rumors of any kidnappings or other…"
"How dare they involve Mokuba?" Kaiba's nails dug into the sofa.
"Humans are horrible, nosy creatures. You know that." Pegasus sighed.
"…took this picture, sprouting more rumors of a liaison between the two men." Kaiba froze as he heard the television. On the screen was a picture of him on the balcony with his hand on Pegasus's waist as he led the older man inside.
"That's it. I have serious work to do. Don't bother me for the rest of the day." Kaiba stood and ran to his former room and makeshift office.
"Seto!" Pegasus followed him and tried to open the door, only to find it tightly locked.
"Damn…"