Next chapter will be longer.

Rewriting the Soul

Chapter: 21

Behavioral Dysfunction

Kaiba was on that verge of sleep - when your eyes have finally closed for good and you can hear the calming, soothing sounds of your own rhythmic breathing… The quiet around seems peaceful and for once you feel a good sleep coming to you… "Kaiba, you want some coffee?" A voice, a bit shaky and strained, broke through. He recognized the owner immediately and inwardly groaned. He was so relaxed too…

The brunet opened his burning blue eyes, noting the slim brown coffee table a little ahead of him, the smooth dark carpeted floor. Glancing at himself before straightening and standing he sighed as a random thought, almost irking him to smirk at his own insane moment, came to him. 'I really need to update this hotel of mine. It looks like the perfect place for old people.' Still, he remained his crystal ice self and turned to find Pegasus walking into the kitchen. Frowning, having been pulled from a wonderful sleep, he followed after leaning against the small entryway.

"Did you want some coffee?" He asked all too politely. 'Probably still embarrassed about last night.' Kaiba mused.

"Hn. I need something to keep me up the rest of the day." He answered staring intently at the other. The young brunet was impeccable when it came to reading people; it was a fantastic ability when it came to making deals.

Pegasus nodded solemnly. "Yes. I'm sorry about all that. It really wasn't my intention to involve you." He repeated bringing the other back to the incident. "It ironically slipped my mind when I asked you to stay the night."

Kaiba saw the pain on the older one's face - the same aching desperation he'd seen many times now. He was starting to realize the other was hurting a lot more than he first believed. "Tell me, had you been thinking, would you have invited me over?" Kaiba asked, keeping his tone as solid as usual.

Pegasus was silent for a long while staring down at the empty coffee mugs. "You know," He picked up the pot and began pouring. He smiled to himself and then stared over into deep azures. "That's a really good question. I don't think I have an answer for that."

Kaiba met his gaze and it was silent for a long while. Finally unable to take the warm gentleness in those beaten, broken eyes, the brunet looked away and nodded. "It isn't that important anyway." He muttered.

The older watched quietly, noting how Kaiba seemed to be 'here' but his mind was somewhere else, thinking and perhaps even examining his pathetic self. Well, to see someone that used to be higher than life, so powerful and boastful - an enemy - on his bed screaming like a big baby, one would no doubt feel a little disappointed…

"Pegasus." Kaiba held a deeply irritated tone, cutting right to the other's attention. He sighed and shook his head. "It isn't polite to stare." The accused quickly averted his gaze and he smiled at his own spacing out. The two stepped out of the kitchen and back to the living area of the hotel.

It was silent as the two drank their coffee. Kaiba wasn't used to company, not used to spending the night at someone's place like this. 'It feels very strange, awkward really.' But he didn't expect to feel 'right-at-home' to begin with... It wasn't like him to accept invitations. As everyone eventually learned, he just wasn't into making friends. Still...

"So, what's on your agenda today?" Pegasus asked placing his nearly empty mug on the coffee table in front of them.

Kaiba bore down into the pitch-black abyss in his own cup and sighed. "I have some meetings to attend today with the president of Onxy Crystals Corporation and another one dealing with the Misawa Association." He leaned back against the cushions of the sofa and relaxed slightly against the soft fabric. He had to be careful - it was the same spot he fell asleep just the night previous... And he was still very, very exhausted. Now that he thought about it... He felt a bit more than really tired.

Pegasus shook his head. "You should consider taking the day off. You didn't get much sleep last night. Why don't you just stay home and-"

"These meetings can't wait Pegasus, I've been waiting for them for two months now. And whose fault is it for my lack of sleep?" He asked in a scolding manner.

The other nodded apologetically. "I know. I'm sorry about that but still, you're too young to be neglecting your health."

Kaiba quirked an eyebrow and smirked, standing to his feet. "Pegasus, don't waste your time worrying about me. Sleepless nights are nothing new to me - I've done it many times before." He replied hiding the fact that a headache was forming in his mind. He could feel a throbbing pain beginning to build between his eyes. 'All the hours at the office must finally be catching up with me.' He mused mentally on how he wasn't even halfway through his twenties yet.

'There's no doubt in my mind. The dark circles under your eyes are proof that you believe there is no rest for the weary. Spending all your time in an office Seto, my friend, isn't the way to live. You'll end up wasting your entire life and losing all those around you.' "You cannot have someone take these meetings for you?"

"Pegasus, that's enough. I'm not trusting any employee to land these deals with them - and to pay attention throughout what could be a three hour meeting." 'And Mokuba, simple little brother of mine, doesn't have the passion to run a company and it shows. He lacks interest in the business world.' "Since when is it any concern of yours?" He asked feeling quite irritated by the other's misplaced worry. He already had Mokuba on his back about stuff like this - he didn't need him too.

"You're exhausted. I can see it on your face - I doubt you've been sleeping and eating properly for a while." He couldn't figure out what it was but Kaiba didn't seem to be in the right state of things to be doing anything laboring or mind-consuming.

The stubborn brunet shook his head and shrugged. "Whatever. It has to be done. I'll let myself out, we'll discuss more details in a couple of days." He nodded once and headed for hte door.

Pegasus stood, not being one to NOT show proper mannerism for his guests, and followed after the brunet. A thought had come to him in a sudden burst of irrational thinking - but with an ironically rational explanation. He knew it would end badly but no harm in trying right? "Kaiba wait."

The brunet's hand rested on the doorknob and he turned to face the other, hand still clutching the knob. Pegasus' cheeks flushed slightly as he replayed the idea in his head again. Kaiba watched the effects of an apparent debate on the other's face, whatever it was the other was about to ask him, obviously conflicted with another part of Pegasus judgment. In either case, Kaiba wasn't sure if he was going to like it. "Pegasus. What is it?" 'Hurry up. I'm already running very behind.'

"Well, since it is my fault, I was thinking that I could do these meetings in your place. I don't know how you feel but you honestly don't look well at all." Kaiba stared at him unable to comprehend what the other had suggested. Was he being serious?

'He really wants me to entrust something so vital to him? He could easily sabotage my efforts and...' "Why on earth would you want to subjucate yourself to a torturously long array of meetings?" He asked.

Pegasus knew what the CEO of Kaiba Corporation really meant was, 'What makes you think I would let you have that much control over me?' Wasn't he lucky Kaiba decided to sugarcoat his suspicions? "We are partners now and I know you don't trust me at all, but I honestly do want to help. Besides I'm used to sleepless nights too and it makes more sense for me to go than for you to over-exert yourself."

Kaiba frowned. He did feel lightheaded and sleeping in sounded amazingly perfect to him right now but... 'Can I really trust him to handle things?' "I don't know Pegasus. As much as your reasoning makes sense, I think it'd be better if I took care of it."

The older saw the rejection coming before he had even mentioned it but the initial sting hit him a bit harder than he expected. He knew it hadn't been that long and they were just beginning a solid relationship but he sort of hoped for a bit more cooperation. Though he couldn't blame the other for obvious reasons. "Well, take care of yourself and don't over do it. You really need to rest some more and take some time out for yourself."

Kaiba felt a tinge of something nipping away at him. Was it really guilt? He sighed, he must be coming down with something - probably picked it up from the bar, it was filled with a lot of people that night. "But then again," He couldn't believe what he was doing. 'Oh he's going to kill me. I'm being so irresponsible.' "I honestly don't think I can handle today without straining to keep focus and whatnot. Besides a lot of the people I'd be dealing with today want to know more about our alliance anyway..." He frowned and mentally sighed in defeat. Kaiba never relented to anyone without a cause so why now? "I guess it wouldn't hurt too much to have you take my place - for just today at least."

Pegasus stared at him with surprise etching his features. He smiled brightly, all depression leaving momentarily. "Kaiba I"

The brunet looked away not wanting to see the other's face. He hated it when people began thanking him and smiling as if he were some good guy. Although he had changed aplenty from being cold, demented and uncaring, he still wasn't used to being sweet and kind - stuff like that often left vulnerabilities behind, it was partly why he didn't make friends. "Just don't mention it. I better get going home now. So call my office, my secretary Raine, will fill you in on the meetings I can't reschedule."

Pegasus nodded. "I'll stop by your home later and deliver the files and notes from the meetings to you."

"Hn." Kaiba made his exit, pulling his phone from his inside pocket and dialing the mansion to have someone pick him up. 'I can imagine it already...' He cringed at the tone his brother would bombard him with once he got back home.

"Seto, I've been worried all morning." Mokuba chided following the other up the stairs.

Kaiba sighed. "Overreacting is more like it." He muttered opening his bedroom door. "Where is Jin at? Shouldn't you two be heading out or something?" He asked, growing tired of his rampage.

Mokuba narrowed his eyes but resigned from raising his voice any louder than it was. "Alright, alright, I'll stop." He frowned as the other sat on his bed with a heavy sigh. Folding his arms he looked away, "What happened though? I tried calling you but your phone was turned off. I realize you're mad at me but that's what I wanted to speak with you about." His shoulders slumped and his arms fell to his sides. "I'm really sorry."

Kaiba felt the other plop onto the bed, he could feel him sitting beside him. "It's okay Mokuba." He replied leaning back on his outstretched hands, palms flat on the bed's surface. "We need to expect the worst though, he may report his incident on a personal level."

The raven-haired teen nodded. "Well, I went to see him today." Kaiba turned his gaze on his little brother and let the surprise show, Mokuba smiled faintly. "I apologized. I explained I wasn't having a particularly good day and wasn't in the mood to talk about anything at the moment..." It wasn't far from the truth. "I know he will probably mention that in some tabloid or news report under a detailing of my spiraling out of control behavior... The way they overemphasize things and all."

"You did well." He nodded giving his brother a signature 'noogie'. "Now if you'll excuse me, I really want to get some sleep." He pleaded nudging his brother lightly as a sign to 'get out'.

Mokuba nodded solemnly. "Is something wrong, Seto?"

Kaiba let himself fall against the soft comforter, his eyes shutting out the light stinging his eyes faintly. "Just have a headache, nothing more."

"Perhaps something more?" He suggested leaning over his reclined body and placing his hand on the older's forehead. 'You are Warm, Seto, really warm.' "Should I call the office for you?" He asked.

The brunet smirked cynically. "Yeah about that..." The room went deafly silent as Kaiba muttered something he was sure the younger wasn't set on hearing - the tender moment had to end some time right?

"WHAT?!?!" 'Is he trying to kill me? I can't believe this... He must be so sick he's gone delirious. What is going on? Didn't Seto say that these people were important - these meetings were vital to the new systems? Hadn't he mentioned some mumbo-jumbo of great importance to me a month ago???' Mokuba froze his thinking realizing the other was watching him worriedly. 'How Jin? How do I let it go when these seem to be getting worse? What if Seto is under some trance?'

"Mokuba..."

"It's... It's a little hard to understand." He replied very quietly. Kaiba stared up at him completely in shock at his seemingly calm demeanor, just moments ago he saw rage and confusion warring within him. Mokuba shut his hazel orbs of frustration and swallowed the evil thoughts coursing throughout him. "I don't understand what it is you were thinking but I suppose if you entrusted him with such a task, it must mean you really aren't feeling well at all." He kept himself from grinding his teeth upon saying each word, which was a challenge in itself. "Was it really so important?"

Kaiba stared and strained to smile but couldn't bring himself to do so. His brother beared down at him with the utmost seriousness and he looked up with the same, "Yes. And unfortunately he's the best choice to take my place in the meetings."

Mokuba nodded and stood to his feet. "Get some rest Seto. I'll check on you later." He promised.

'I can't believe this. Chill, Mokuba, chill... I think it's about time to take Yami's advice.' He cringed at the thought but forced himself not to burst into a string of profanity. 'I think it is time I talk to Pegasus, face to face...'