Now that Arielle was back at Kaiba Mansion, Arielle's wasn't escaped from
her danger yet. An hour before midnight, she had developed a serious cough.
Kaiba paced back and forth again. Out in the hallway between Mokuba and
Arielle's bedroom door.
"Come on, Kaiba, you know what to do now." Kaiba muttered to himself
as he paced. He stopped as he heard another round of coughing in Arielle's
room. He gently opened the door and peeked in.
"Arielle?" He whispered softly. The only response he got from her was
another fit of hacking. But just as he was about to close the door, he
heard a small voice halt him.
"Seto," she whimpered. Instantly, Kaiba was by her side.
"Kid, what do you need?" Kaiba laid a cool hand on the little girl's
forehead and drew back in horror at the feverish burning of her
temperature. Not only that, but he also noticed that she was struggling for
every uneven breath. And when she breathe, a little wheezing sound with
come along with the shallow breath. Things are getting complicated, he
moaned in his head. It's not just a kid in his hands anymore, but a sick
kid. A really sick one.
"I'm hot." Arielle's lips stuck out into a cute, but sick, pout.
Kaiba would have smiled, but could not, for a sharp pain took Arielle's
breath away and made her cry out. Kaiba grasped her hot little hand until
he was sure she was breathing more even than before. "I don't feel good,
big brother. It hurts."
Kaiba leaned over and urged, "What hurts? Where are you hurting, Arielle?"
"Here." She squirmed a little, then managed to point to her chest. "Am I
going to die, Seto?" She asked, her big innocent eyes looking up at Kaiba
expectantly. She isn't scared, Kaiba realized with a start, she isn't
scared of dying. She's simply waiting.
"No." He said abruptly, straightening back up. "Of course you're not going
to die, kid. Now, go back to sleep." He prepared to leave the room, but
stopped at the door, when Arielle started coughing again.
"Here, kid," Kaiba sat on the edge of the bed and supported Arielle with
his arm around her shoulders, holding her up. He pressed his handkerchief
against her lips as her small body racked with harsh coughs. "There, you're
fine now. It'll be okay."
But as he pulled his handkerchief away, laid Arielle back in bed, and
tucked her more securely under the sheets, Kaiba knew it wouldn't be all
right or okay at all. The evident was all written out on his handkerchief.
There, against the bleached white of his handkerchief, was a spray of deep
crimson red. And Kaiba realized what it was immediately.
Blood.
"Listen, I don't care!" Kaiba yelled as quietly as he could into the phone. Even though he had locked himself in the furthest room from the kids' rooms, they might still hear him loosing it into the phone. That can't happen. Kaiba couldn't let them see how stressed and scared he was. They were looking up to him. "But Mr. Kaiba," the elderly doctor on the other line was saying helplessly. "It's simply impossible to get through all this snow just to check on Arielle. The snow is much thicker here than over at where you live. We couldn't even open our door--" "I don't want to hear your excuses!" Kaiba barked. "And what do you mean 'Just to check'? Arielle is burning up with a fever, her breaths are shallow, she's struggling for every breath, and she's coughing up blood. She could be dying!" Kaiba waved his arms around the room, glad that nobody was there to see him. "Mr. Kaiba, I live all the way across the city and--" The doctor started again. "Never mind!" Kaiba snapped, slamming the phone down so hard that he could hear the receiver crack under his grasp. He fell down on his knees and buried his whole face in his hands. What do I do now? His heart thundered. What do I do? Who should I call? Kaiba sat up suddenly and snapped his finger. There's only one person who would understand and know what to do in this whole situation. With trembling fingers, Kaiba picked up the receiver again and dialed. "Hello, Gardner resident?" Téa clear voice came up on the line. "Uh, hi." Kaiba almost kicked himself. What was he thinking? Why would he ever think about calling Téa? It's not like she can do anything. "Um, it's Kaiba." He added, knowing that he sounded like a moron. "Oh, hi, Kaiba," Téa's usually bright voice turned cool. "And what might you be wanting?" "I, uh, I--" Kaiba struggled for words. But none would form on his tongue. "Arielle's really sick!" He finally bursted out, forgetting all about his dignity. And once he started he couldn't stop. "She holding a real high fever and she's shallow on her breath and--" "Whoa!" He barely heard Téa exclaim on the other line. "Slow down, Kaiba. Now," she began calmly. "Explain everything slowly." Kaiba started over again, slower this time, as he related the whole story to Téa. Téa patiently asked questions on Arielle's conditions. Finally, she said, "I would be right over, Kaiba, but I don't know if I can get a ride this late in the snow--" "I'll be at your house in ten minutes." Kaiba interrupted, hanging up the phone before Téa could say anything else. Moving in the speed of light, Kaiba called his chauffeur, grabbed his trenchcoat, and ran out the door.
"Get in." Kaiba opened the door for Téa as the limo stopped in front of her. He scooted over as she got in. None of them said a word as the limousine slowly maneuvered down the road. "You know, Kaiba, I couldn't even consider coming if it wasn't for Arielle." Téa began testily. "I know." Kaiba set his jaws. I will hold my temper, I will hold my temper, I will hold my temper, he silently willed himself. He should have expected Téa to snub him with his own actions. "But," her voice turned gentle as she laid her delicate hand on Kaiba's knee. He stared at it pointedly. "This is what friends do. We are always here for each other." This is the last thing Kaiba had expected but he wasn't surprised. Of course Téa would try to preach some friendship lecture around him. He pulled his knee away as he looked out the window. No one could hurt you if you didn't let anyone get close to you. "Don't be afraid to trust us, Kaiba." Téa continued in her soft voice. "We are here for you. We want to be your friend." "Well, we're here at my house." Kaiba ended this pointless conversation abruptly, opening the door on his side and stepped out. Then, as a polite courtesy, he walked over to Téa's side and opened the door for her. "She's upstairs," Kaiba informed her as he hung up both of their wraps. He was surprised as Téa walked up the stairs without a word. So far, she was the only one in Kaiba Mansion that hadn't ranted and gawked at the exquisite features of this huge, elaborate, elegant mansion. "Which room is she in?" He heard Téa call quietly as he followed her up the stairs, taking two steps at a time. "Second room on the left." He replied, trying to look bored. As he got to the room, he could see Téa feeling the younger girl's forehead for her temperature and he stood awkwardly by the doorframe as Téa went through the rest of the procedures. "Téa," he heard Arielle whisper feebly when her green eyes wearily opened. Then a piercing pain took her breath away. Kaiba listened and heard little moans that went into his heart and made his face as sober as Téa's. "Oh, Téa, please stop the pain and let me rest a minute!" The little broken voice begged. "Don't tell Seto I wasn't brave. I try to bear it, but it's so sharp that I can't help crying." Téa held her hand and talked in amiable voices until Arielle had dropped back to a restless, feverish slumber. "I was right." Téa finally turned and sighed. "I was afraid I would be. She has pneumonia. Probably Lobar Pneumonia from all of her symptoms. This is serious, Kaiba." "How serious?" Kaiba's voice was low. He was growing with anxiety at the feverish color began to burn in Arielle's cheeks, her breathing was quick and uneven, and now and then she gave a little moan, as if in pain. He followed as Téa walked out the door of Arielle's room, closing it quietly behind him. "Lobar Pneumonia is caused by Pneumococcus Bacterium." Téa explained as quietly as she could. "She would have harsh coughs and sharp pains in the chest when she's coughing or breathing, especially deep breathing. And she would also develop a high fever. We would need Penicillin to heal this kind of pneumonia. But considering our situation now, I don't think it's possible to get Penicillin." "How serious is it?" Kaiba repeated. Téa wouldn't meet his sharp blue eyes. "Pneumonia use to be a deadly disease, Kaiba," Téa, ignoring his low growl, continued explaining about the disease. "It use to kill hundreds of people, especially young kids. The bacteria in the lobe part of the lung would spread to the pleura, causing Pleurisy, which is what makes the pain in the chest when coughing or breathing. And if the pleura infected, it would deepen the situation to Pleural Effusion, in another word, means Emphysema, severe lung infection--" "How serious is it?" Kaiba pinned both of his arms just above Téa's shoulders, preventing her from moving, his breath warm against her skin. Téa pressed tightly against the wall in the dark hallway as she raised up her bright blue eyes to meet Kaiba's. "Without Penicillin or at least antibiotics," She finally said quietly. "Arielle would definitely hold an extremely high temperature and her whole lung may be further infected. It could possibly..." She trailed off, pulling her eyes off Kaiba's own deep blue intimidating ones. "Possibly what?" Kaiba persisted, though he knew what the answer would be, he had to hear it with his own ears. "It could possibly take her life." Téa whispered, raising her eyes up once again. This time, her watery eyes were misted with tears and Kaiba could see her forcing back a sob. "You must be prepared, Kaiba." She gripped his arm with her fingers. "You must be prepared for anything. Anything at all." She gave a small gasp as Kaiba's fist impacted against the wall next to her. She was sure he had dented it. "I will not loose her." Kaiba said through gritted teeth. His head was bowed and grazed the wall. In spite of his defiance, his heart sank when he remembered Arielle again, for the pain was worse, the hot bath and layers of blankets, the warming heater and the piping-hot herbal tea and brandy were all in vain. For several hours there were no rest for the poor child and Kaiba had caught her tossing and moaning quietly to herself, trying not to attract attention. "I dare not, will not, loose her! I refuse!" "Kaiba." Téa breathed. "No, Téa," Kaiba held up a hand. "Please don't. You don't understand." His face was very well controlled, but Téa could detect a shot of fright dart across Kaiba's fine, chiseled, features under the moonlight streaming from a window down the hall. Téa has seen such determination in his eye a hundred times. Yet, this time, she saw one more thing in their dark depths.
She saw fear. "But I do understand, Kaiba." Téa cried, grasping Kaiba's arm. "I understand everything." "You don't understand anything, Téa!" Kaiba turned to face her and Téa took a step back from the harsh, menacing tone of Kaiba's voice. Sure, she'd always know that Kaiba was a jerk, but this was so.unlike Kaiba. The Kaiba that was so silent and brood, so powerful and intimidating, with so much potential and so much undetected feeling under that dark mask. This Kaiba looked so helpless from the inside and desperate to believe in himself. "Have some faith," Téa begged, reaching forward once more. Kaiba jerked away. He held his head up and stood up tall. In the dark hallway, his shadow looked threatening and dangerous. She drew her arm back. "Everybody I have had faith in had failed me," he set his jaws and said maliciously, his face expressionless and hard. "Why should this be any different? Why should I have faith in something just to raise my hopes up and then have it broken and crash down upon my world?" "Kaiba--" Téa moved toward the slender, tall figure. "Don't, Téa," Kaiba turned and backed away, holding up a hand. His icy blue eyes regarded her so coldly that she shivered. "Don't bother." With that, he stomped soundlessly into Arielle's room. As Téa stood in the dark hallway, speechless, Kaiba stomped out again and strode into another room. In a moment, he returned with a container of cold water and a clean washcloth. She stopped him as he walked pass her in the foyer. "Kaiba," She whispered urgently, her eyes darting back and forth from the utensils to Kaiba's bored, but determined face. "What are you going to do?" "Well, seeing that you aren't going to help me," he said curtly. "I'll just have to do this myself. I'm going to bring her fever down." He walked back into Arielle's room and closed the door. "You have no idea on how to bring the fever down, you big oaf." Téa whispered furiously to herself as she glared at the closed door. "Not without my help you're not." Walking toward the closed door herself, she yanked the door open. As her eyes got adjusted to the dim lighting of the room, Téa saw Kaiba, sitting on the side of the bed, his back facing her. She stood silently as she watched Kaiba tenderly stooped over little pinched white face, one hand grasping her own and the other dabbed her forehead with his handkerchief and laying another cool towel on her forehead. He was murmuring something that Téa couldn't hear at Arielle, but Téa could tell that his voice was soothing and gentle. His deep baritone obviously calmed the younger girl as the tired lines of her face relaxed and she looked up fondly at the tall, stern, slender figure, her eyes rippling out her worship. Téa had never seen this side of Kaiba and felt like she was breaking into a private moment. She'd never seen Kaiba so.gentle, loving, and caring with anybody before. So there was some weakness in him after all, she thought satisfyingly. But what she doesn't know was his scars of the past that led him to do so. "And Mommy," Arielle saying by the bed. "What does Mommy look like? Isn't she as beautiful as the angels? Mokuba said so, but he said he doesn't remember." "Yes," Kaiba swallowed the lump from his throat, remembering the painful memories of the past. "Mommy was the most beautiful lady in the whole world, Mokuba wasn't lying when he said that. Mommy had the most luxurious raven black hair that flowed behind her and her face was glowing and radiant at anytime. But the most dazzling thing about Mommy was her brilliant, loving smile. It absolutely sparkled upon her whole face." Kaiba patted the corner of Arielle's temples with the handkerchief. Then, he busied himself as he took off the washcloth and dipped it in the basin of cool water, wringing the water out and placing it back on Arielle's forehead. He doesn't know whatever possessed him to talk about his mother. He's never talked about her to anyone, not even Mokuba. But when Arielle asked about 'their' mommy, instead of feeling like he should because it would take Arielle's mind off the stabbing pain in her chest, he felt himself wanting to talk about her. Wanting to remember her every little detail, her every little action, her every phrase and sentence. "And one of the best thing about Mommy," he continued soothingly, in a soft utopian voice, entwining his slender fingers with Arielle's. "Was her laugh, it sounded like the tinkering of a silver bell. When she laughed, no one could even be compared to her in words." Kaiba stopped talking, his eyes far away, remember his mother. The mother that he had loved so much, so very much, was torn away from him in this cruel world. The corner of Kaiba's vigilant eye caught a still figure standing by the door. Téa, he ignored her. Téa, he assumed, knew that he saw her and was ignoring her, turned and walked away. Kaiba leaned his body over to catch her huffing figure walk down the hall. "What about daddy?" Arielle's enchanted little voice was saying. Kaiba turned back, replacing a new cloth on Arielle's forehead. Every time she breathes, a little wheezing sound still accompanies it. Her face was flaming and she has coughs that could knock a person's breath out for good. "We can talk about daddy later," he said readily. "But right now, you need to get some rest." He gave her small hot hand a squeeze and stood up, closing the door quietly behind him. "Get well, Arielle, get well, you have to." Kaiba said quietly outside the closed door. Then, he set off on finding Téa. "Téa?" He whispered, striding down the hallway. "Téa? Where could she be?" He peeked into each room impatiently. As he peered into a room, he suddenly felt another presence with him in the hall. He whirled around. There was nobody behind him, but Kaiba's suspicion was conformed as a small hiss was heard. He looked down and saw Sugarcookie. She hissed again, her green eyes narrowing. "This is still my house, you know." Kaiba snapped at the arrogant little animal sitting on the carpet. The kitten took no acknowledge of him and started cleaning her flawless front paw, her white long tail swishing back and forth on the floor. But as Kaiba moved forward to the next room, the kitten suddenly gave a startling meow and darted down the hallway into a room. Kaiba noticed that the room was Mokuba's and a stream of light was coming from it. He walked all the way down to the room and was about to go in when he heard voices audible from inside. He pressed against the wall beside the door and heard Mokuba's anxious voice asking questions and Téa's gentle voice answering. "Is Arielle going to die?" Mokuba's quivering tone asked. "Of course not, Mokuba." Kaiba heard Téa soothed. "Nobody's going to die if they're treated correctly." "But I heard you and Seto say that we don't have the medicine to cure pneumonia. I heard you say that Arielle's temperature would stay really high if she doesn't have antibiotics." "That's right, Mokuba." Téa confessed. "But that doesn't mean there wouldn't be a change of scene in Arielle's conditions. We still have hope and we must have faith." "I have faith in you, Téa." Kaiba heard Mokuba say and he clutched his fists at his side. How just very like Téa to be trying to convince Mokuba to have faith behind his back. "I would always have faith in you and Yugi, like I do with my big brother." Kaiba decided that it was time to break this stirring little conversation, so he stepped into the room and cleared his throat. "It's past Mokuba's bedtime," he said in a strained voice. He brushed pass by Téa and fussed with Mokuba's pillows and blankets, then turned off the light. "I would appreciated, Téa, if you would keep your little faith speeches to yourself and just do what you came to do." He said through gritted teeth as they stood in face to face in front of Mokuba's closed door. "What am I suppose to be doing, Kaiba?" Téa shot back accusingly. "Since you're doing what I'm suppose to be doing, then why shouldn't I answer some of your little brother's questions and doubts when he asks me?" "I think you've done your job," he replied, ignoring her question and crossing his arms in front of his broad chest. "There's nothing more you could do tonight. I'll send for a limo to take you home." He saw Téa crossing her arms in front of her chest and he raised an eyebrow. "I came here to nurse Arielle back to health and that's what I'm going to do." She countered defiantly, looking up at Kaiba. "I'm not doing this for your sake, Seto Kaiba, I'm doing this for Arielle's and I'm not leaving until I'm sure she's out of danger." They glared at each other in the dark hallway, until Kaiba gave a little shrug and turned to walk back to Arielle's room. "Fine, do what you like, but don't expect anything from me." He said, keeping his tone low, before he closed the door. "Jerk." He heard Téa mutter from outside. "Weirdo." He muttered back as he walked over to Arielle's bed and stood by it, staring at the pale but burning face laying across the pillow. He pulled a chair over and set it beside the bed. He looked at his watch. It was twenty past midnight. It's going to be a long night, Kaiba stretched out on the chair. It would also be a night that determines three people's fate and destiny.
"Listen, I don't care!" Kaiba yelled as quietly as he could into the phone. Even though he had locked himself in the furthest room from the kids' rooms, they might still hear him loosing it into the phone. That can't happen. Kaiba couldn't let them see how stressed and scared he was. They were looking up to him. "But Mr. Kaiba," the elderly doctor on the other line was saying helplessly. "It's simply impossible to get through all this snow just to check on Arielle. The snow is much thicker here than over at where you live. We couldn't even open our door--" "I don't want to hear your excuses!" Kaiba barked. "And what do you mean 'Just to check'? Arielle is burning up with a fever, her breaths are shallow, she's struggling for every breath, and she's coughing up blood. She could be dying!" Kaiba waved his arms around the room, glad that nobody was there to see him. "Mr. Kaiba, I live all the way across the city and--" The doctor started again. "Never mind!" Kaiba snapped, slamming the phone down so hard that he could hear the receiver crack under his grasp. He fell down on his knees and buried his whole face in his hands. What do I do now? His heart thundered. What do I do? Who should I call? Kaiba sat up suddenly and snapped his finger. There's only one person who would understand and know what to do in this whole situation. With trembling fingers, Kaiba picked up the receiver again and dialed. "Hello, Gardner resident?" Téa clear voice came up on the line. "Uh, hi." Kaiba almost kicked himself. What was he thinking? Why would he ever think about calling Téa? It's not like she can do anything. "Um, it's Kaiba." He added, knowing that he sounded like a moron. "Oh, hi, Kaiba," Téa's usually bright voice turned cool. "And what might you be wanting?" "I, uh, I--" Kaiba struggled for words. But none would form on his tongue. "Arielle's really sick!" He finally bursted out, forgetting all about his dignity. And once he started he couldn't stop. "She holding a real high fever and she's shallow on her breath and--" "Whoa!" He barely heard Téa exclaim on the other line. "Slow down, Kaiba. Now," she began calmly. "Explain everything slowly." Kaiba started over again, slower this time, as he related the whole story to Téa. Téa patiently asked questions on Arielle's conditions. Finally, she said, "I would be right over, Kaiba, but I don't know if I can get a ride this late in the snow--" "I'll be at your house in ten minutes." Kaiba interrupted, hanging up the phone before Téa could say anything else. Moving in the speed of light, Kaiba called his chauffeur, grabbed his trenchcoat, and ran out the door.
"Get in." Kaiba opened the door for Téa as the limo stopped in front of her. He scooted over as she got in. None of them said a word as the limousine slowly maneuvered down the road. "You know, Kaiba, I couldn't even consider coming if it wasn't for Arielle." Téa began testily. "I know." Kaiba set his jaws. I will hold my temper, I will hold my temper, I will hold my temper, he silently willed himself. He should have expected Téa to snub him with his own actions. "But," her voice turned gentle as she laid her delicate hand on Kaiba's knee. He stared at it pointedly. "This is what friends do. We are always here for each other." This is the last thing Kaiba had expected but he wasn't surprised. Of course Téa would try to preach some friendship lecture around him. He pulled his knee away as he looked out the window. No one could hurt you if you didn't let anyone get close to you. "Don't be afraid to trust us, Kaiba." Téa continued in her soft voice. "We are here for you. We want to be your friend." "Well, we're here at my house." Kaiba ended this pointless conversation abruptly, opening the door on his side and stepped out. Then, as a polite courtesy, he walked over to Téa's side and opened the door for her. "She's upstairs," Kaiba informed her as he hung up both of their wraps. He was surprised as Téa walked up the stairs without a word. So far, she was the only one in Kaiba Mansion that hadn't ranted and gawked at the exquisite features of this huge, elaborate, elegant mansion. "Which room is she in?" He heard Téa call quietly as he followed her up the stairs, taking two steps at a time. "Second room on the left." He replied, trying to look bored. As he got to the room, he could see Téa feeling the younger girl's forehead for her temperature and he stood awkwardly by the doorframe as Téa went through the rest of the procedures. "Téa," he heard Arielle whisper feebly when her green eyes wearily opened. Then a piercing pain took her breath away. Kaiba listened and heard little moans that went into his heart and made his face as sober as Téa's. "Oh, Téa, please stop the pain and let me rest a minute!" The little broken voice begged. "Don't tell Seto I wasn't brave. I try to bear it, but it's so sharp that I can't help crying." Téa held her hand and talked in amiable voices until Arielle had dropped back to a restless, feverish slumber. "I was right." Téa finally turned and sighed. "I was afraid I would be. She has pneumonia. Probably Lobar Pneumonia from all of her symptoms. This is serious, Kaiba." "How serious?" Kaiba's voice was low. He was growing with anxiety at the feverish color began to burn in Arielle's cheeks, her breathing was quick and uneven, and now and then she gave a little moan, as if in pain. He followed as Téa walked out the door of Arielle's room, closing it quietly behind him. "Lobar Pneumonia is caused by Pneumococcus Bacterium." Téa explained as quietly as she could. "She would have harsh coughs and sharp pains in the chest when she's coughing or breathing, especially deep breathing. And she would also develop a high fever. We would need Penicillin to heal this kind of pneumonia. But considering our situation now, I don't think it's possible to get Penicillin." "How serious is it?" Kaiba repeated. Téa wouldn't meet his sharp blue eyes. "Pneumonia use to be a deadly disease, Kaiba," Téa, ignoring his low growl, continued explaining about the disease. "It use to kill hundreds of people, especially young kids. The bacteria in the lobe part of the lung would spread to the pleura, causing Pleurisy, which is what makes the pain in the chest when coughing or breathing. And if the pleura infected, it would deepen the situation to Pleural Effusion, in another word, means Emphysema, severe lung infection--" "How serious is it?" Kaiba pinned both of his arms just above Téa's shoulders, preventing her from moving, his breath warm against her skin. Téa pressed tightly against the wall in the dark hallway as she raised up her bright blue eyes to meet Kaiba's. "Without Penicillin or at least antibiotics," She finally said quietly. "Arielle would definitely hold an extremely high temperature and her whole lung may be further infected. It could possibly..." She trailed off, pulling her eyes off Kaiba's own deep blue intimidating ones. "Possibly what?" Kaiba persisted, though he knew what the answer would be, he had to hear it with his own ears. "It could possibly take her life." Téa whispered, raising her eyes up once again. This time, her watery eyes were misted with tears and Kaiba could see her forcing back a sob. "You must be prepared, Kaiba." She gripped his arm with her fingers. "You must be prepared for anything. Anything at all." She gave a small gasp as Kaiba's fist impacted against the wall next to her. She was sure he had dented it. "I will not loose her." Kaiba said through gritted teeth. His head was bowed and grazed the wall. In spite of his defiance, his heart sank when he remembered Arielle again, for the pain was worse, the hot bath and layers of blankets, the warming heater and the piping-hot herbal tea and brandy were all in vain. For several hours there were no rest for the poor child and Kaiba had caught her tossing and moaning quietly to herself, trying not to attract attention. "I dare not, will not, loose her! I refuse!" "Kaiba." Téa breathed. "No, Téa," Kaiba held up a hand. "Please don't. You don't understand." His face was very well controlled, but Téa could detect a shot of fright dart across Kaiba's fine, chiseled, features under the moonlight streaming from a window down the hall. Téa has seen such determination in his eye a hundred times. Yet, this time, she saw one more thing in their dark depths.
She saw fear. "But I do understand, Kaiba." Téa cried, grasping Kaiba's arm. "I understand everything." "You don't understand anything, Téa!" Kaiba turned to face her and Téa took a step back from the harsh, menacing tone of Kaiba's voice. Sure, she'd always know that Kaiba was a jerk, but this was so.unlike Kaiba. The Kaiba that was so silent and brood, so powerful and intimidating, with so much potential and so much undetected feeling under that dark mask. This Kaiba looked so helpless from the inside and desperate to believe in himself. "Have some faith," Téa begged, reaching forward once more. Kaiba jerked away. He held his head up and stood up tall. In the dark hallway, his shadow looked threatening and dangerous. She drew her arm back. "Everybody I have had faith in had failed me," he set his jaws and said maliciously, his face expressionless and hard. "Why should this be any different? Why should I have faith in something just to raise my hopes up and then have it broken and crash down upon my world?" "Kaiba--" Téa moved toward the slender, tall figure. "Don't, Téa," Kaiba turned and backed away, holding up a hand. His icy blue eyes regarded her so coldly that she shivered. "Don't bother." With that, he stomped soundlessly into Arielle's room. As Téa stood in the dark hallway, speechless, Kaiba stomped out again and strode into another room. In a moment, he returned with a container of cold water and a clean washcloth. She stopped him as he walked pass her in the foyer. "Kaiba," She whispered urgently, her eyes darting back and forth from the utensils to Kaiba's bored, but determined face. "What are you going to do?" "Well, seeing that you aren't going to help me," he said curtly. "I'll just have to do this myself. I'm going to bring her fever down." He walked back into Arielle's room and closed the door. "You have no idea on how to bring the fever down, you big oaf." Téa whispered furiously to herself as she glared at the closed door. "Not without my help you're not." Walking toward the closed door herself, she yanked the door open. As her eyes got adjusted to the dim lighting of the room, Téa saw Kaiba, sitting on the side of the bed, his back facing her. She stood silently as she watched Kaiba tenderly stooped over little pinched white face, one hand grasping her own and the other dabbed her forehead with his handkerchief and laying another cool towel on her forehead. He was murmuring something that Téa couldn't hear at Arielle, but Téa could tell that his voice was soothing and gentle. His deep baritone obviously calmed the younger girl as the tired lines of her face relaxed and she looked up fondly at the tall, stern, slender figure, her eyes rippling out her worship. Téa had never seen this side of Kaiba and felt like she was breaking into a private moment. She'd never seen Kaiba so.gentle, loving, and caring with anybody before. So there was some weakness in him after all, she thought satisfyingly. But what she doesn't know was his scars of the past that led him to do so. "And Mommy," Arielle saying by the bed. "What does Mommy look like? Isn't she as beautiful as the angels? Mokuba said so, but he said he doesn't remember." "Yes," Kaiba swallowed the lump from his throat, remembering the painful memories of the past. "Mommy was the most beautiful lady in the whole world, Mokuba wasn't lying when he said that. Mommy had the most luxurious raven black hair that flowed behind her and her face was glowing and radiant at anytime. But the most dazzling thing about Mommy was her brilliant, loving smile. It absolutely sparkled upon her whole face." Kaiba patted the corner of Arielle's temples with the handkerchief. Then, he busied himself as he took off the washcloth and dipped it in the basin of cool water, wringing the water out and placing it back on Arielle's forehead. He doesn't know whatever possessed him to talk about his mother. He's never talked about her to anyone, not even Mokuba. But when Arielle asked about 'their' mommy, instead of feeling like he should because it would take Arielle's mind off the stabbing pain in her chest, he felt himself wanting to talk about her. Wanting to remember her every little detail, her every little action, her every phrase and sentence. "And one of the best thing about Mommy," he continued soothingly, in a soft utopian voice, entwining his slender fingers with Arielle's. "Was her laugh, it sounded like the tinkering of a silver bell. When she laughed, no one could even be compared to her in words." Kaiba stopped talking, his eyes far away, remember his mother. The mother that he had loved so much, so very much, was torn away from him in this cruel world. The corner of Kaiba's vigilant eye caught a still figure standing by the door. Téa, he ignored her. Téa, he assumed, knew that he saw her and was ignoring her, turned and walked away. Kaiba leaned his body over to catch her huffing figure walk down the hall. "What about daddy?" Arielle's enchanted little voice was saying. Kaiba turned back, replacing a new cloth on Arielle's forehead. Every time she breathes, a little wheezing sound still accompanies it. Her face was flaming and she has coughs that could knock a person's breath out for good. "We can talk about daddy later," he said readily. "But right now, you need to get some rest." He gave her small hot hand a squeeze and stood up, closing the door quietly behind him. "Get well, Arielle, get well, you have to." Kaiba said quietly outside the closed door. Then, he set off on finding Téa. "Téa?" He whispered, striding down the hallway. "Téa? Where could she be?" He peeked into each room impatiently. As he peered into a room, he suddenly felt another presence with him in the hall. He whirled around. There was nobody behind him, but Kaiba's suspicion was conformed as a small hiss was heard. He looked down and saw Sugarcookie. She hissed again, her green eyes narrowing. "This is still my house, you know." Kaiba snapped at the arrogant little animal sitting on the carpet. The kitten took no acknowledge of him and started cleaning her flawless front paw, her white long tail swishing back and forth on the floor. But as Kaiba moved forward to the next room, the kitten suddenly gave a startling meow and darted down the hallway into a room. Kaiba noticed that the room was Mokuba's and a stream of light was coming from it. He walked all the way down to the room and was about to go in when he heard voices audible from inside. He pressed against the wall beside the door and heard Mokuba's anxious voice asking questions and Téa's gentle voice answering. "Is Arielle going to die?" Mokuba's quivering tone asked. "Of course not, Mokuba." Kaiba heard Téa soothed. "Nobody's going to die if they're treated correctly." "But I heard you and Seto say that we don't have the medicine to cure pneumonia. I heard you say that Arielle's temperature would stay really high if she doesn't have antibiotics." "That's right, Mokuba." Téa confessed. "But that doesn't mean there wouldn't be a change of scene in Arielle's conditions. We still have hope and we must have faith." "I have faith in you, Téa." Kaiba heard Mokuba say and he clutched his fists at his side. How just very like Téa to be trying to convince Mokuba to have faith behind his back. "I would always have faith in you and Yugi, like I do with my big brother." Kaiba decided that it was time to break this stirring little conversation, so he stepped into the room and cleared his throat. "It's past Mokuba's bedtime," he said in a strained voice. He brushed pass by Téa and fussed with Mokuba's pillows and blankets, then turned off the light. "I would appreciated, Téa, if you would keep your little faith speeches to yourself and just do what you came to do." He said through gritted teeth as they stood in face to face in front of Mokuba's closed door. "What am I suppose to be doing, Kaiba?" Téa shot back accusingly. "Since you're doing what I'm suppose to be doing, then why shouldn't I answer some of your little brother's questions and doubts when he asks me?" "I think you've done your job," he replied, ignoring her question and crossing his arms in front of his broad chest. "There's nothing more you could do tonight. I'll send for a limo to take you home." He saw Téa crossing her arms in front of her chest and he raised an eyebrow. "I came here to nurse Arielle back to health and that's what I'm going to do." She countered defiantly, looking up at Kaiba. "I'm not doing this for your sake, Seto Kaiba, I'm doing this for Arielle's and I'm not leaving until I'm sure she's out of danger." They glared at each other in the dark hallway, until Kaiba gave a little shrug and turned to walk back to Arielle's room. "Fine, do what you like, but don't expect anything from me." He said, keeping his tone low, before he closed the door. "Jerk." He heard Téa mutter from outside. "Weirdo." He muttered back as he walked over to Arielle's bed and stood by it, staring at the pale but burning face laying across the pillow. He pulled a chair over and set it beside the bed. He looked at his watch. It was twenty past midnight. It's going to be a long night, Kaiba stretched out on the chair. It would also be a night that determines three people's fate and destiny.