Chapter 29

The stone tablet's shield shimmered brightly, and then began to pulse in small bursts. The shield struggled to remain bright and then faltered. The glow faded. Like a drowning man, Yugi took in huge gasps of air, back arched, and arms flailed. Suddenly, his violet eyes shot open.

Where? Huh? I'm…wha? he thought.

"Yugi!" Anzu said. She rushed to him.

"Anzu?" Yugi mumbled, still fuzzy. He sat up on the tablet, putting a hand to his head. He quickly discovered Anzu's breasts in his face. Her arms were wrapped around his head. She was giving him a big hug and crying all over him at the same time.

"Uh, A-An-zu?"

She was squeezing him tight and bending his hair at awkward angles.

"An-zhoo!" through clinched teeth.

She was still crying.

"Too…tight…killing…me."

"Sorry!" she said, wiping her eyes. She held onto his hand instead.

Jounouchi's hazel eyes were still closed. Seto and Mokuba went to Jounouchi, deeply worried because he hadn't moved at all. Without hesitation, Seto reached a hand in and felt of Jounouchi's neck. "There's a pulse," he said with a relieved sigh. He leaned his head in to listen to Jou's chest and Mokuba cringed inwardly. There's no helping it, he thought. "And Jounouchi's lungs sound bad and his breathing seems labored," Seto said with worry in his voice.

"I know," Mokuba muttered looking down.

"What?" Seto turned his head and his eyes narrowed, angry.

"He made me promise not to tell." Mokuba actually whined—which made it all worse. Mokuba never whined. Still afraid, the child forced himself to face his brother.

"Namiko said… some stuff… and then… kicked him against a table…and…" He started tugging at his black hair.

Seto's stare showed disbelief and rage. "You kept this from me…?"

"I'm sorry! I saw it all. I'm sorry." Mokuba went to Jounouchi's side again. "I'm sorry, Jounouchi. I broke my promise to you. Forgive me." The child looked up to his older brother. "I keep seeing bad things that I can't stop." Looking back at Jou, he wanted to take Jounouchi's hand, but was afraid his Nii-sama would see him as a baby. So, gently, he touched Jou's wrist.

Slowly, Jou turned his head toward the child.

"Jounouchi?" Mokuba said.

Seto stood next to Mokuba, staring down helplessly. Jou looked up into Seto's blue eyes. "Who…?" Who is waking me up? I just wanna sleep. I really hurt right now.

"Who? Do you know who I am?" Seto asked, concern in his voice.

Jou blinked and looked around the room with a vague, sleepy expression.

"Yeah… You're an ass."

"He does remember you, Nii-sama!"

"Why come back? Just send your men in and go home," Jou said in a groggy voice. "...Take Mokuba…" He held Mokuba's hand, which embarrassed him a little. Jou started to yawn, took a large breath, and shrunk back in pain. There was a catch in his breath. He pressed his forearm against his ribs. Jounouchi took a few more, less painful, shallow breaths and felt clearer. His hazel eyes were barely open now, giving Seto a quiet, serious stare. I knew why you left. It was better that way. Coming back was the worst thing you could have done. You've given me hope again.

"Jounouchi," Mokuba said, starting to feel glad.

He's alive, Seto thought with relief. "Jounouchi? Listen to me. We're leaving," he said, sliding his arms underneath the blond's back and legs-- and trying to lift him into his arms in one motion. Some part of Seto was afraid that another barrier would appear. He'd never get another chance to get Jounouchi back.

Jou felt his ribs ache hard, turning to a white-hot pain. "N-No! Stop!" Jounouchi screamed. He doubled over in agony. The thought flashed, Yelling hurts now. "No! Put me down." Jounouchi's teeth were gritting together and his voice echoed throughout the art gallery. To Seto, the real screams felt much worse than the ones he'd heard in his nightmare. Rattled, Seto put Jou back.

Yugi and Anzu stared with worried faces. Still on the stone tablet, Yugi rolled over to his friend. "Jounouchi?" Yugi called, resting a hand on his shoulder. Violet eyes deeply concerned. Jou could feel the pressure of Yugi's small hand on his shoulder. He placed his hand on top of it. "Sorry, I can't bend like that now," Jounouchi said, face turning pale. He shifted his head back against the stone. "I wish someone could breathe for me. Hurts…"

His ribs are definitely cracked now, Seto worried. I had guessed that most of them were bruised before because I could pick him up, but there's no mistaking it now…

For a second, Yugi and Seto glanced at each other, feeling helpless.

"We'll get you up," Yugi said.

"Couldn't I just die here?" Jou joked, opening one hazel eye in Yugi's direction.

Yugi stared back with an almost pharaoh-ish expression. "Not funny," he said sternly. There was a dangerous edge to his eyes now. Jou's eyes widened for a second, seeing Yugi change like that.

Interesting… Even Yugi has a temper, Seto thought. "Well, if you die," he said to Jounouchi with a slightly annoyed tone, "I'm sure that Yugi will just play 'Mutt-Monster Reborn' and bring you back."

Jou curled his lip.

Yugi smiled a little at the thought. He imagined the card to have a huge holo of Jounouchi dressed in a dog suit, collar, and leash with a blue background.

Jounouchi looked at his right hand. Dust and ash were crumbling out of it. "Oh, and Anzu… I'm sorry," Jounouchi said. He handed a fist-full of pink ribbons mixed with grey dust to her. She took them with both hands. "I think I owe you a deck." She shook her head "no."

Weakly, Jounouchi moved his legs, trying to roll himself off the stone without bending much or breathing. He pressed his forearm against his ribs and willed himself to stand.

The second he rolled off, the stone tablet began to shift and the room was filled with a deep cracking sound, sandy grains pouring onto the floor. The stone tablet was shifting now. Wide-eyed, Yugi tried to steady himself before giving up and jumping off. The stone broke into four large pieces and collapsed in on itself.

"That's it," Jou said, "I've had enough. I don't want to do this anymore," he said to them quietly. His eyes stared off to someplace far away for a second.

"Jounouchi?" Yugi said cautiously with an edge of panic.

Jou looked bad right now, very bad. "I'm just tired." Jounouchi tried to straighten all the way up and had a hard time of doing it. His body wanted to stay doubled over. His movements were sluggish. He almost fell.

Seto closed his eyes for a second and sighed. "Okay. Lean on me, just like the last time, if that's possible."

"The last time…?" Anzu blinked back, confused.

"I don't know if this is going to work," Seto murmured to himself as Jou's head hung down. Trembling, Jou placed his hand on Seto's shoulder and leaned. Seto continued speaking to Jou in a gentle voice and helped him straighten up his posture-- as much as the blond was able to withstand. Then, Seto put a hand to his back to support it. He grabbed Jou's forearm when he wobbled.

Kaiba, when you say it like that, it's pretty clear about us. Fine, I'll take the last step. I can't feel any worse than I do right now. And they'd find out sooner or later anyway…

Jounouchi stood shakily. "Hey, you know, Kaiba?" Jou said, feeling the world moving out of focus. He was sick to his stomach and turned weakly—reaching an arm out, pulling his body against Seto, and hugging him. Seto allowed it. "This was the worst date I've ever been on." He tried to laugh, but it came out as a huff. He rested his head on Kaiba's shoulder. "I'm glad we broke up." Jounouchi stumbled a bit and Kaiba caught him, pressing their bodies together. "I just lied. I don't hate you, Kaiba." His body crumbled.

"Hell, Jounouchi's fainted," Seto said, trying to mask his panic. Mokuba looked on, eyes wide—not knowing what to do.

Seto pulled the blond even closer to his body--one arm around Jou's waist and the other hand supporting the neck and head. Cutting his eyes sideways, Seto saw shocked faces on Yugi and Anzu. It's obvious now, Seto thought and his face hardened.

"He is mine. I suppose you understand what I mean by 'mine," don't you?"

Yugi and Anzu nodded 'up' and 'down' quickly.

"It's the same way, Yugi, that you feel about Anzu. So, you can stop looking so shocked about it," he said dryly. Seto turned his attention back to Jounouchi. He rested Jou's head back onto his own shoulder. "Wake up," he whispered in his ear.

Anzu turned to Yugi. She was bright pink. He saw and nodded at the ground. "He's right," Yugi told her.

Leave it to Nii-sama to throw the attention to the other direction when he feels uncomfortable, Mokuba smirked inwardly.

"Jounouchi?" Seto whispered, still supporting the body. He got a "Hmmm?" with Jou leaning his head back, eyes slowly opening. For a second, hazel eyes met blue with regret. I'm sorry, Kaiba, for letting them know this way. Forgive me for ruining your life. "Jou?" Seto watched the light leave his eyes and gripped tighter when the body became a rag doll. This time, Yugi and Anzu helped Seto lower Jou's body to the floor, and everyone knelt down beside him.

Maybe, there's a chair or furniture…? Seto thought. He scanned the room. Suddenly, Seto caught onto something that he'd been seeing but had not registered with him. It was the wedding portrait by the hard backed chair that Seeker had been sitting in.

The portrait was of Pegasus and Cyndia. In the picture, a younger Pegasus' dark silver hair was pulled back and tied at the base of his neck with a black string. He was wearing a simple, black tuxedo with a cream colored cummerbund and white rose at the lapel. He was standing with her, seemingly surprised to have her arms around him. He must not have seen her rush at him. But, he was honored, too. Cyndia's dress was ornate, layers of Spanish lace and pearls covering the bodice. The wreath on her head was made of silk strands and flowers. The veil stretched behind her, caught by the wind. Just as in her sketches and paintings, she had that look of total adoration when she saw her artist-husband, Pegasus. But, what he had missed, Seto saw, in drawing after drawing, was the look of trust. It was basic and simple. It was the foundation for everything that she ever felt for him.

Seto could hear Pegasus' words: "Do you know what I hope for you, Kaiba-boy? I hope your lover dies first. To see the light die out in their eyes…and there's nothing you can do to stop it."

Pegasus, you're a rotten bastard.

Seto watched Jou's face. I know he's not dead. I would have felt it, Seto thought. He placed a hand against Jounouchi's cheek. "Wake up," Seto ordered, and patted the cheek like a gentle slap. "You just fainted again." Yugi and Anzu were still by his side. Yugi took Jou's hand and held it. There was something innocent and intimate in the way he did it. Seto pretended he didn't see that.

They're friends. I'll just have to accept it, Seto thought.

Jounouchi opened his eyes. The floor felt cool against his back, and he had an excellent view of the ceiling now.

"Jounouchi?" Mokuba said.

Jou looked at the faces staring down at him. He could feel someone holding his hand with a slight tremor.

Not again! I hate fainting. When will I stop doing this?! He frowned at the group. "I'm not going to another hospital," he said firmly.

"Care to debate me on that?" Seto said back with a stern tone.

"Yes, I do," Jou said with a cold stare. "Take me anywhere but there. And if someone takes me to a hospital anyway, I'm going to start yelling. And I can yell pretty loud!" Then again, yelling hurts. But, I'm not telling them that, he thought.

"Fine…I'll take you… back… home," Seto said with a sigh ending the sentence. "But, with you like this, the trip will be a long one." Seto sat on the floor, now, cross-legged. He was back to wearing his emotionally blank mask.

Hazel eyes looked away and he gave a brief shake of the head. "I'm okay with that, but I need some sleep first."

Seto nodded grimly.

"So, what happened to you guys?" Mokuba asked, hoping to shift the conversation and allow Jou the chance to wake up more.

"Yes," Anzu said expectantly, "I'd like to know, too."

"Oh…umm…well…," Yugi said, allowing his thoughts to ramble. He thought back to Atem's words. He wasn't alone. He knew that. Atem was watching over him and loved him unconditionally. Anzu loved him, too. He could see that. He had years, decades, to think over his life and the choices he'd have to make. He wanted to do that with Anzu—to decide together.

Yugi thought about it. Whether he'd become one with Atem or not… It would be fine—it would all be fine. Atem, he now knew, loved Anzu as well. But, he'd always known that, too, somewhere deep down in his soul. And Yugi knew he would have to tell her that, in time. But he also understood that he could say the words to her without a thread of jealousy.

Yugi thought about it again. There were three of them who loved each other. It was as simple as that. And they were lucky. Yugi put a hand on Anzu's shoulder for a brief second.

"It's too much right now. Can we talk about this later? I'm really worried about Jounouchi," Yugi said.

"Much, much later," Jou agreed wearily.

"Yes," Anzu said back with a grin.

Yugi smiled. Maybe the decision isn't mine after all. Maybe it's hers. I wonder how she'll feel about having two husbands in the afterlife…?