AN: Sorry to all Tea fans in advance. Loads of Seto going nuts in it. Lots of language, violence, fighting and more language. Limited Seto/Tea but we're almost there. What do you think? Up the rating or not? I'm beginning to think I should. R&R!

Hurts XII

I sat up and watched as a nurse opened the door. She kept giving me strange looks as she put my food down on the table, but I chose to ignore her. Some people are not worth my time or energy. She handed me a few pink pills and a glass of water.

"Pain killers." The nurse shrugged, when she noticed my dubious look. "Thought your shoulder might be hurting."

I nodded and flashed her a quick smile, swallowing the pills and half the glass of water. She took the glass from me and left me alone again. I looked down at the food that could most probably pass as toxic waste and suddenly felt very sick.

'No matter what!' I vow privately. 'No matter HOW hungry I get, I will DIE before eating this crap.'

I pushed the plate away and stared at it in disgust. I slid back so the back of the bed would support my back. After a few minutes of staring out the window and mentally reviewing my duel monsters deck, I was beginning to wish I had brought a book. I was relieved when a doctor came in the room and I could do something.

"Hello, Mr. Kaiba." The doctor smiled. "Just a routine check-up; nothing to worry about. If you could please unbutton your hospital shirt? I need to have a look at your wound."

I nodded and slipped the green hospital shirt off. (AN: excuse me while I drool!! Okay, better now.) The doctor prodded my shoulder twice and watched as I flinched a little. Obviously, the painkillers hadn't kicked in yet. He wrote a few notes down and then took off the bandages. He took a look at the stitches and I noted that it was no longer bleeding. The doctor pulled out some new bandages and re-wrapped my injury.

"I'm going to keep you on those pain killers for a while and give you a list of physical therapists. You should contact one and they'll help you build up the muscles in your shoulder. I'm not promising you anything. The chances of you getting back a full range of motions in that shoulder are slim to none. The best you can realistically hope for is being able to lift your arm just over ninety degrees. I'm done now, so you can put your shirt back on. Actually, a few friends of yours are waiting outside. Want me to send them in?"

'Friends, huh? We'll see about that.' I mussed.

"Sure." I nodded, pulling my shirt on over my left shoulder. The doctor left and a figure came in. I was still looking down and didn't notice the person's face.

"Sorry!" The person apologized quickly, evidently seeing that I was putting on my shirt. I felt my head shot up and I was looking into the eyes of Tea. I blushed and hurried to button the last few buttons, trying to hide my old scars. Tea placed a hand on my shoulder and gently stopped my hands from closing the top few. I looked down, embarrassed that anyone should see my old scars of pain and failure, even if they were the small ones. Not even Mokuba knew I had them; I took great care to hide them all. "What happened, Seto? You have some scars on you're neck."

"They're not important." I whispered, buttoning the last two, hoping she would leave. "They are not your concern."

"What do you mean?" Tea asked. "Seto, you saved my life. I think I have a right to be concerned."

"Look, it's my fault you were in that mess at all. I was stupid." I shrugged, surprised that the action didn't pain me any more. 'Whoever invented painkillers must have been a saint!'

"What do you mean?" Tea asked.

"He was killing everyone who was important to me. He mistook us for an 'item', as you call it. I should have known. Anyone I care about, even in the slightest is hurt. You'd think I'd have learned by now, but no."

"Seto. It was not your fault."

"It was. You should leave now." I told her, pushing her hands off my chest.

"Seto!" Tea cried hurt by my rude actions.

"I was right! I show emotion and I get hurt or someone else does! I shouldn't do anything! Now get out of my face!"

"Seto." Tea pleaded. "I just want to help!"

"No one can help me." I snarled. "I'm lost cause. You heard it with your own ears! I killed a man!"

"But you saved me." Tea whispered.

"That doesn't change anything." I shrugged. "I'm still a bastard. I'm still a cold hearted bastard."

"Please, Seto." Tea begged, putting her hand back on my shoulder. "Let me help."

"Shut up you bitch!" I screamed, slapping her hard on the face. "I hate you! I hate you all! Get out of my face! I hope I never see you again."

I looked her in the eye and saw that I had hurt her deeply. 'Good. It's for the best.' I tried to tell myself. I watched her put a hand on the cheek I had smacked, tears forming in her eyes. 'I'm sorry Tea.' I apologized silently, hating myself for hurting her.

"You are heartless Seto!" Tea spat. "I hate you! I hate you, hate you, hate you!"

"Good!" I spat. "Then get out of my god-damned room!"

I watched as she ran out of the room and waited till the door slammed before letting my body slump down. I let out a deep breath I didn't even know I was holding in. I was lying back down when my excellent hearing kicked in. Tea was talking to someone.

"Come on, Tea. Ya can tell us. What's wrong?" Joey was asking.

"He... he hit me!" Tea sobbed. I heard Joey crack his knuckles and knew I was in for some company.

"Ya stay wid her, Mai." Joey said to someone else. "Kaiba and I are gonna have us a talk."

I shook my head and waited for Joey to come in. Sure enough, it was only a few seconds before Joey came in, throwing the door open dramatically. Rolling my eyes, I looked in the opposite direction.

"Now ya listen to me, Kaiba." Joey began, walking towards me. "Just because you're a little screwed in the head and a rich bastard, doesn't mean I'm gonna let ya get away wid hittin' a girl."

"Please." I snickered. "Do I have to hit you as well? Just leave, Joseph Wheeler. You don't know what or who you're dealing with."

"Sure I do." Joey smirked annoyingly. "I'm dealing with a rich arrogant asshole who doesn't know when to be thankful. Tea saved you live a few days ago."

"I know she did." I replied snidely. "I am thankful. Why do you think I took that bullet for her?"

"Yami said it was because you promised her..." Joey began.

"YAMI WHAT?!" I roared. Pushing off the blankets I got out of the bed and walked towards Joey, threateningly. "Where is he? Come on you stupid mutt! Speak!"

"Outside, since ya asked so nicely." Joey shrugged. I sneered at him and stalked out of the room. Yami was sitting there with the girl called Mai and Tea. I glared at him and walked over. Grabbing him by the collar, I lifted the shorter boy into the air, so that his feet were off the floor.

"You. Promised." I hissed, slamming him into the wall with each word.

"What? I don't know what you're talking about!" Yami protested, grabbing at my hands. I glanced to my left, noting that Mai and Tea were moving away and that Joey had come to see what was going on. I returned my attention to Yami and noticed that he looked terrified. He probably could have thrown me across the room, even though I had him by his shirt collar, and I knew it. I was actually surprised that he hadn't killed me yet! Deciding to press my luck, I slammed him into the wall again.

"You. Lie. How the hell did Wheeler know if you didn't tell him?" I asked. "He knew I promised!"

"It wasn't me!" Yami told me.

"That's not what I asked!" I told him, dragging his body away from the wall so that our noses were touching. I pushed him into the wall again but let go of his shirt so I wasn't holding him anymore. "You promised me! You broke that promise!"

I brought my fist back to punch him, but Yami caught it.

"I didn't!" Yami hissed angrily. Our eyes fought a silent battle for a few minutes until I brought my fist back and laughed.

"Yes. Sure you didn't." I sneered. "I should have remembered. I can't trust any of you. You all make promises and break them. I was a fool."

I turned around to look at the crowd that had gathered.

"Fuck off." I snarled. Most of them did except Yami's friends. They were all staring at Yami and me in confusion. I glared at them. "Go home! Shows over. I never want to see any of you idiots again."

They all continued to stare at me.

"Inane morons." I mumbled before turning and going to visit Mokuba's room.

* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *

I was kneeling on the floor, trying to catch my breath when I felt a hand rest on my back. It was Yugi.

"You okay?" He asked me. I nodded.

"Hey, Yami." Joey called. "Why didn't you just kick his ass to kingdom come? Stupid asshole would have deserved it."

"Yea, Yami!" Tristan nodded. "He had no right to start slamming you into walls! Or to hit Tea!"

"It's all right." I muttered, picking myself up. "I should have known he took my words as a promise. You shouldn't have told him though Joey. He's scared and worried now. He might try something desperate."

"Let him." Joey shrugged. "We'll stop him before anyone gets hurt."

"It isn't us we should be worried about." Tea muttered, echoing my own thoughts.