Greetings! Here's the latest.
Reviews: Thanks, by the way, for letting me know that there was still interest in the story. I just thought that maybe since it was winding down, it'd gotten boring or something. I'm glad to know I was wrong.
Angel-Belle: I think you're going to be happy with this chapter!
Jaid Skywalker: You'll be happy with the chapter too. Not much Kaiba angst here, though, just a bit!
Adrienne-Lillian: Whew! Glad to hear you didn't steal my plushies. I was about to send Yami Bakura after you. You'll only have to wait two more chapters to see the ending. . . sniff, sniff.
Starheart: Good aim is a good thing, right? :o)
Ryuujin Dragon King: Wow, I've made you worried about Seto? How cool! You'll find out what happens to Joey in this chapter.
TZ: Thanks for the reassurance! I just tend to get paranoid sometimes. I'd write it anyway, but it's always nicer when I know people are reading it.
benign sadist: I take great pleasure in doing stuff that's unique and not found in other fics. It makes the writing that much more fulfilling. And yes, the authoress creative license says that I get to put the characters through lots and lots of hell! I'm not sure about linking this story up to the beginning of Battle City. I've already veered off course by having Kaiba and Yami meet Marik long before they do in Battle City. I think that if I do it, it'll be in a limited sort of way.
Jadesaber: Doesn't Yugi seem like he'd be everyone's conscience?
Amiasha Ruri: *takes bat and starts to take aim* Yeah, some of those coppers do need some sense knocked into them. No apologies necessary about the review. I just tend to get a bit paranoid about my stories getting boring and dull.
Tira: It's never too late! Thanks for sticking around for all the chapters.
SerafinaMoon: Thanks for reading both fics. I'm gald that you're enjoying them. I hope that your writing goes well.
Labannya: Don't sweat it! Thanks, though, for reading!
Ginger Ninja: Thank you for the compliment and for adding me to your faves. I'm glad you found the fic and enjoyed reading it.
Mutou Yasu: No apologies needed! I think your questions will be answered at the end of this chapter.
Linchi: Thank you very much!
Now, on to the fic.
**~~**
Part 19: Choices
"This duel is your choice, Joey. Whether you live or die depends on the outcome of this duel."
Joey regarded the spirit, confused. Since when was Yami melodramatic? Besides, shouldn't Yami be telling him not to give up and to have faith in his dueling abilities? Yami would never tell him to walk away from a duel.
"What is up with you, Yami? Why the melodrama?"
Yami frowned. "Melodrama?"
Joey shook his head. "Never mind. Seriously, though, what's up? Why are you here? Better yet, why are you telling me to walk away from my duel?"
Yami's eyes narrowed, and Joey could see that the spirit was getting annoyed.
"I already told you, Joey."
Joey sighed. "Yeah, you told me something about my life or death. I just don't see what dueling has to do with this. I mean, look at all these people, Yami! They're cheering for me!"
Yami looked around then, noticing his surroundings for the first time, or so it seemed to Joey. He shook his head slowly, and then turned to regard Joey.
"When Yugi was in the hospital, after he was attacked the first time, he went through something like this. Except that he pictured an open field under the stars, not a dueling arena."
"Okay, Yami, you're really starting to freak me out here. Why don't you just come out and say what you're trying not to say?"
Yami sighed. His hands momentarily clenched into fists, before he relaxed.
"Very well, since I seem to have to come out and say it. Do you remember when I asked you to put the puzzle together so I could help Yugi?"
Joey nodded.
"When I got into his head, he was in an open field under the stars, beside a stream. He'd pictured that in his mind as a way to cope with what he was going through. You decided on a different route and pictured a dueling arena and a duel against your most hated opponents. Let me guess, Kaiba is next."
Joey was startled. "Actually, I just finished with Kaiba. It was very satisfying to mop the floor with that bastard."
Yami nodded. "It's just as I suspected," Yami said and took a deep breath.
Joey continued to watch the spirit, getting more and more puzzled as time went on.
"Joey, you're not really here. I mean, you are here, but you're not."
"What do you mean? This isn't another one of those stupid riddles, is it?"
Yami shook his head.
"What's the last thing you remember? Before all of this," Yami clarified, motioning to his surroundings.
Joey frowned, trying to think. What was the last thing he remembered? He'd gone to Yugi's house to get some clothes for him, because the little guy had looked ridiculous wearing Joey's clothes. He'd gone back to the hospital to give them to Yugi and then. . . his memory stopped there. Had he gotten to the room? Joey closed his eyes, trying to remember, but instead felt an immense pain in his chest. He clutched it automatically, panting heavily. He opened his eyes and stared at Yami.
"What's wrong with me?"
"Remember, Joey. You have to remember," was all Yami said.
Joey continued to clutch his chest. He closed his eyes against the pain and saw a man pointing a gun at him. He felt himself falling and then being dragged. He then saw Bakura's concerned face telling him everything was going to be okay. The images came fast and furious and before Joey knew it, he was on the floor of the dueling platform, his knees drawn up to his chest. He opened his eyes and discovered that the pain in his chest was gone.
"I was shot? Does that mean that I'm dead? Am I hallucinating or something and imagining you?" Joey finally said to Yami.
"No, you're not dead and you're not imagining me. Your body is in the intensive care unit, fighting for its life. You and I forged a connection when you helped me connect with Yugi, and I'm doing for you what I did for him then," Yami explained. "Yugi is sitting next to your bed, clutching the Millennium Puzzle, which is resting on your chest. That's how I was able to enter you mind. I'm here to tell you to leave this place, Joey. Come with me."
Joey carefully made his way up from the floor. He looked around at the cheering crown.
"All of this is fake?"
Yami smiled sadly. "I'm afraid so, Joey. It's your mind's way of coping with the situation."
"Why is this duel so important?"
Yami thought about it for a moment. "I'm not sure. I just know that it is the choice you've been given. There is no way you're going to win the duel, unless you surrender."
Joey looked down at his cards. The Red Eyes Black Dragon, Aligator's Sword and Time Wizard. . . he couldn't win with those cards, not if he couldn't summon the Red Eyes. If the deck was really stacked against him, as Yami had implied, would surrendering be that bad of an idea?
"Oh, what's the matter Joey-boy?" Pegasus' taunting voice cut through Joey's thoughts. "You're afraid those puny cards of yours aren't good enough to beat me? You're right you know," Pegasus said, and laughed.
Joey gritted his teeth, but refused to reply. He glanced over at Yugi, who was facing in his direction, and then glanced at Yami, who was patiently waiting besides him. Who did he trust more, Pegasus or his best friend and his yami?
Joey lowered his cards and put his hand over his deck, signaling his surrender. The crowd booed loudly, and Pegasus laughed mockingly. Joey ignored all of that, however. He stepped down from the dueling platform and walked over to Yugi with Yami close behind him.
"Come on, buddy," he said as he reached his friend, "I'm taking you home."
Yugi turned to him and smiled widely, which made Joey feel good. He turned to Yami, who also granted him a small smile.
"You've made the right choice."
****
Everything hurt.
That was the first thought that entered Joey's mind as he came to his senses. His body felt as if it had been put through a horrendous workout, ending with a few hundred elephants taking residence on his chest. He wiggled his fingers and toes, content that he could feel them and move them.
Slowly, he opened his eyes to see a dark room. He heard machines beeping and hissing besides him and turned, only to be confronted with a shock of black and magenta hair. He reached up to touch Yugi's hair, but his hand bumped into something. Joey looked down to find the Millennium Puzzle resting on his chest, just like Yami had said.
Joey smiled. "Thanks Yami."
"You're welcome, Joey," came the fait response from his mind.
Yugi stirred then and slowly straightened up. Joey couldn't really see much in the dark room, but as he got a look at Yugi's face, he knew that something had happened. Yugi was bloodied and bruised, which wasn't the way he'd been when Joey had seen him last.
"Yug," Joey croaked, wincing at the horrible sound of his voice. "What the hell happened to you?"
Yugi's sightless eyes widened and he turned in Joey's direction. Yugi's hand tightened around Joey's, which he was grateful for. He squeezed back as much as he could without wincing in pain.
"Joey, you're awake!" Yugi cried out. He ran his free hand gently over Joey's face, pausing at his open eyes. "Thank goodness, I was beginning to get worried. Yami wouldn't say much and I thought he'd lost you."
Joey saw tears pooling in Yugi's eyes and reached out with his free hand to pat him on the arm.
"It's okay, I'm still kicking," he whispered. "What happened to your face?"
Yugi sighed. "It's a long story, which I'll tell you later. Right now, I need to get the doctor. Everyone will be so relieved, especially your mother!"
Joey frowned. "My mother is here?"
Yugi grinned. "Yeah, she's here. So is everyone else."
Yugi stood up, and the door immediately opened. "Bakura, he's awake!"
Joey frowned, wondering how Yugi could possibly know who had opened the door, since he couldn't see, and was surprised when he saw Ryou Bakura walk up to the bed.
"Joey! You're okay!"
Joey smiled weakly. "Yeah, I guess I am."
Bakura came up to him and patted him on the arm. "I'm so glad you're awake." He turned to Yugi. "Joey's awake now, Yugi, it's time for you to have your injuries taken care of, okay?"
Yugi hung back a bit and it was apparent to Joey that the younger teen didn't want to leave.
"Go, Yugi. I'll be by to see you as soon as they spring me from here."
Yugi smiled. "I know you will. I'll be waiting."
Joey returned the smile and watched them leave. An older man, whom Joey took to be the doctor, came in then and beamed at him.
"Welcome back to the land of the living, Mr. Wheeler. For a moment there, we were beginning to wonder if you were going to make it."
Joey grinned though the pain. "Joey Wheeler isn't that hard to kill, doc."
**~~**
Kaiba stumbled again, and winced as the room did another loop. Mr. Moto's arm around him tightened to keep him upright and Kaiba winced at having to depend on the older man. As far as he knew, Yugi's grandfather hated him so Kaiba couldn't understand why the man would care if he was okay or not. Then again, Yugi had asked his grandfather to get him.
"Do you want to stop and rest? I can call someone to bring a stretcher for you?"
Kaiba shook his head, which he immediately regretted when nausea overwhelmed him and it took all of his self control not to throw up in front of Yugi's grandfather.
'What the hell is wrong with me?' he thought. 'I've been in worse fights and not had this strong of a reaction.'
"Kaiba?"
"It's okay, I can walk into the hospital on my own," he gritted out.
He turned to see a displeased expression on Mr. Moto's face, but the older man didn't comment. Instead, he simply continued to support Kaiba as they walked into the hospital.
"Why are you doing this?"
Yugi's grandfather turned to him, his violet eyes open wide. Kaiba examined them, noting that they were so much like Yugi's. Mr. Moto had lived and seen much more in his life, but the underlying goodness was still there.
Mr. Moto looked away, but not before Kaiba saw a flash of anger, resentment and hatred in the old man's eyes.
"Yugi asked me to. He said that you protected him and I believe him. Besides, you're hurt. I wouldn't have left you in there even if Yugi hadn't asked me to get you out."
"You hate me," Kaiba said, immediately regretting it. It would seem pathetic and weak, and he didn't want pity from Yugi's grandfather.
Mr. Moto turned to him then, his face expressionless.
"I don't hate you. I hate what you've done. . . I hate the way you treat my grandson and his friends and the way you relate to the people around you."
Kaiba frowned. It must be his headache, because Mr. Moto wasn't making sense to him.
"Isn't that the same thing?" Kaiba asked.
Mr. Moto shook his head and sighed. "The day you understand the difference is the day you'll understand my grandson and me."
They continued to walk in silence, until Mr. Moto stopped at the nurse's station. "This is Seto Kaiba, he's expected."
The nurse on duty looked up, her eyes widening as she got a good look at him. Kaiba frowned again. Did he really look that bad?
"Yes, of course. There's a stretcher right over there."
Mr. Moto nodded, looking in the direction she pointed.
"Thank you," he said, and walked Kaiba over there.
"Mr. Moto!"
Kaiba turned his head slowly to see Bakura running towards them. Mr. Moto greeted the young man, before lying Kaiba down on the waiting stretcher. Kaiba closed his eyes momentarily, and then opened them again. He wanted to hear what Bakura wanted.
"Geez, Kaiba, you look like hell," Bakura commented, before turning his attention to Yugi's grandfather. "Joey is awake! I don't know what Yugi did, but Joey is going to be fine."
"That's wonderful!" Mr. Moto replied, grinning as well.
Kaiba nodded, glad that the mutt was still going to be around for a while. He didn't know exactly why he was glad, though, and he figured it was better not to find out.
"Where is Yugi now?"
"He's been taken to his room. The doctor is waiting for you to induce the coma."
Mr. Moto nodded gravely, but Kaiba couldn't get past what he'd just heard.
"Wait a minute, they're going to put Yugi in a coma? Why?"
Both men turned to him, and Kaiba noted how Mr. Moto's expression had darkened. It wasn't anger towards him, though. At least Kaiba didn't think so.
"He's received injuries that have worsened his already tenuous condition. A coma is going to help with the healing of his brain and help restore his eyesight."
Kaiba frowned. Okay, that made sense. "I'd like to talk to him."
"I'm afraid not, Mr. Kaiba," a doctor had walked up to them and decided to make his presence known now. "You're going to be looked at right now."
The stretcher began to move, and only then did Kaiba notice the two orderlies that were pushing it. He wanted to argue, demand that he be allowed to see Yugi, but he was too tired and in too much pain to do anything much more than lay there and close his eyes. He'd get his way eventually, he just had to bide his time.
**~~**
*So what is this they are going to do to you, aibou?*
Yugi smiled at the confusion in Yami's voice. He leaned back in the bed, glad to be able to rest comfortably again. He'd been ushered back to his room immediately after leaving Joey's room, and no amount of pleading had convinced his doctor to let him stay. Yugi wasn't even sure that he quite understood or agreed with that the doctors wanted to do to him, but he figured that anything was better than the way he was now.
**They're going to drug me and put me to sleep so I won't move around and make my head injury worse**
Yugi could still feel Yami's confusion.
*You have already moved around, Yugi. Is the damage not already done?*
**Yes, that's why they need to completely put me to sleep now, so I don't make it any worse.**
*Oh, I see. What will you do while you're in a 'coma'.**
Yugi shrugged. **I'm not sure. I guess I can go into my soul room and talk to you. My body will be sleeping, but I doubt my mind will."
Yami nodded. "I will enjoy that, aibou. We have a lot to talk about.*
**Yes, we do. You still haven't told me about Marik.**
Yugi felt Yami's apprehension at the mention of that name and wondered what had happened.
*Yes, Yugi, I have a lot to tell you*
"Yugi, are you okay?"
Yugi turned in the direction of the voice and smiled at his grandfather. "I'm fine, grandpa. Did you get Kaiba out of jail?"
"Yes. He's being treated as we speak."
Yugi nodded. "Thank you."
His grandfather held his hand and squeezed it comfortingly.
"How are you really feeling, Yugi?"
Yugi sighed. "I hurt all over, grandpa. I'm tired and want this to be finished," he replied honestly. "I don't want to be afraid anymore."
His grandfather squeezed his hand again. "I'm not going to leave you alone anymore, Yugi, I promise."
Yugi squeezed back.
"Okay, Mr. Moto, are we ready?"
Yugi turned towards his doctor. "I guess. Go ahead and get it over with, doctor."
"Good. I'm going to put an IV into your arm, so please relax."
Yugi felt something cold on his arm and smelled the alcohol, before he felt the pinch as the needle entered his body.
"I'm going to be right here the whole time, Yugi. Don't worry about a thing."
Yugi nodded to his grandfather. He started to feel woozy and very tired. His eyes drooped. He fought to stay awake, but slowly lost the battle.
"Sleep, Yugi. When you wake up, everything will be okay."
Yugi listened to his grandpa and succumbed into sleep. His grandfather never lied to him. If he said things were going to be okay when he woke up, then it had to be true."
**~~**
Sorry that this chapter was so short and crappy! I'll try to make the next one longer.
Reviews: Thanks, by the way, for letting me know that there was still interest in the story. I just thought that maybe since it was winding down, it'd gotten boring or something. I'm glad to know I was wrong.
Angel-Belle: I think you're going to be happy with this chapter!
Jaid Skywalker: You'll be happy with the chapter too. Not much Kaiba angst here, though, just a bit!
Adrienne-Lillian: Whew! Glad to hear you didn't steal my plushies. I was about to send Yami Bakura after you. You'll only have to wait two more chapters to see the ending. . . sniff, sniff.
Starheart: Good aim is a good thing, right? :o)
Ryuujin Dragon King: Wow, I've made you worried about Seto? How cool! You'll find out what happens to Joey in this chapter.
TZ: Thanks for the reassurance! I just tend to get paranoid sometimes. I'd write it anyway, but it's always nicer when I know people are reading it.
benign sadist: I take great pleasure in doing stuff that's unique and not found in other fics. It makes the writing that much more fulfilling. And yes, the authoress creative license says that I get to put the characters through lots and lots of hell! I'm not sure about linking this story up to the beginning of Battle City. I've already veered off course by having Kaiba and Yami meet Marik long before they do in Battle City. I think that if I do it, it'll be in a limited sort of way.
Jadesaber: Doesn't Yugi seem like he'd be everyone's conscience?
Amiasha Ruri: *takes bat and starts to take aim* Yeah, some of those coppers do need some sense knocked into them. No apologies necessary about the review. I just tend to get a bit paranoid about my stories getting boring and dull.
Tira: It's never too late! Thanks for sticking around for all the chapters.
SerafinaMoon: Thanks for reading both fics. I'm gald that you're enjoying them. I hope that your writing goes well.
Labannya: Don't sweat it! Thanks, though, for reading!
Ginger Ninja: Thank you for the compliment and for adding me to your faves. I'm glad you found the fic and enjoyed reading it.
Mutou Yasu: No apologies needed! I think your questions will be answered at the end of this chapter.
Linchi: Thank you very much!
Now, on to the fic.
**~~**
Part 19: Choices
"This duel is your choice, Joey. Whether you live or die depends on the outcome of this duel."
Joey regarded the spirit, confused. Since when was Yami melodramatic? Besides, shouldn't Yami be telling him not to give up and to have faith in his dueling abilities? Yami would never tell him to walk away from a duel.
"What is up with you, Yami? Why the melodrama?"
Yami frowned. "Melodrama?"
Joey shook his head. "Never mind. Seriously, though, what's up? Why are you here? Better yet, why are you telling me to walk away from my duel?"
Yami's eyes narrowed, and Joey could see that the spirit was getting annoyed.
"I already told you, Joey."
Joey sighed. "Yeah, you told me something about my life or death. I just don't see what dueling has to do with this. I mean, look at all these people, Yami! They're cheering for me!"
Yami looked around then, noticing his surroundings for the first time, or so it seemed to Joey. He shook his head slowly, and then turned to regard Joey.
"When Yugi was in the hospital, after he was attacked the first time, he went through something like this. Except that he pictured an open field under the stars, not a dueling arena."
"Okay, Yami, you're really starting to freak me out here. Why don't you just come out and say what you're trying not to say?"
Yami sighed. His hands momentarily clenched into fists, before he relaxed.
"Very well, since I seem to have to come out and say it. Do you remember when I asked you to put the puzzle together so I could help Yugi?"
Joey nodded.
"When I got into his head, he was in an open field under the stars, beside a stream. He'd pictured that in his mind as a way to cope with what he was going through. You decided on a different route and pictured a dueling arena and a duel against your most hated opponents. Let me guess, Kaiba is next."
Joey was startled. "Actually, I just finished with Kaiba. It was very satisfying to mop the floor with that bastard."
Yami nodded. "It's just as I suspected," Yami said and took a deep breath.
Joey continued to watch the spirit, getting more and more puzzled as time went on.
"Joey, you're not really here. I mean, you are here, but you're not."
"What do you mean? This isn't another one of those stupid riddles, is it?"
Yami shook his head.
"What's the last thing you remember? Before all of this," Yami clarified, motioning to his surroundings.
Joey frowned, trying to think. What was the last thing he remembered? He'd gone to Yugi's house to get some clothes for him, because the little guy had looked ridiculous wearing Joey's clothes. He'd gone back to the hospital to give them to Yugi and then. . . his memory stopped there. Had he gotten to the room? Joey closed his eyes, trying to remember, but instead felt an immense pain in his chest. He clutched it automatically, panting heavily. He opened his eyes and stared at Yami.
"What's wrong with me?"
"Remember, Joey. You have to remember," was all Yami said.
Joey continued to clutch his chest. He closed his eyes against the pain and saw a man pointing a gun at him. He felt himself falling and then being dragged. He then saw Bakura's concerned face telling him everything was going to be okay. The images came fast and furious and before Joey knew it, he was on the floor of the dueling platform, his knees drawn up to his chest. He opened his eyes and discovered that the pain in his chest was gone.
"I was shot? Does that mean that I'm dead? Am I hallucinating or something and imagining you?" Joey finally said to Yami.
"No, you're not dead and you're not imagining me. Your body is in the intensive care unit, fighting for its life. You and I forged a connection when you helped me connect with Yugi, and I'm doing for you what I did for him then," Yami explained. "Yugi is sitting next to your bed, clutching the Millennium Puzzle, which is resting on your chest. That's how I was able to enter you mind. I'm here to tell you to leave this place, Joey. Come with me."
Joey carefully made his way up from the floor. He looked around at the cheering crown.
"All of this is fake?"
Yami smiled sadly. "I'm afraid so, Joey. It's your mind's way of coping with the situation."
"Why is this duel so important?"
Yami thought about it for a moment. "I'm not sure. I just know that it is the choice you've been given. There is no way you're going to win the duel, unless you surrender."
Joey looked down at his cards. The Red Eyes Black Dragon, Aligator's Sword and Time Wizard. . . he couldn't win with those cards, not if he couldn't summon the Red Eyes. If the deck was really stacked against him, as Yami had implied, would surrendering be that bad of an idea?
"Oh, what's the matter Joey-boy?" Pegasus' taunting voice cut through Joey's thoughts. "You're afraid those puny cards of yours aren't good enough to beat me? You're right you know," Pegasus said, and laughed.
Joey gritted his teeth, but refused to reply. He glanced over at Yugi, who was facing in his direction, and then glanced at Yami, who was patiently waiting besides him. Who did he trust more, Pegasus or his best friend and his yami?
Joey lowered his cards and put his hand over his deck, signaling his surrender. The crowd booed loudly, and Pegasus laughed mockingly. Joey ignored all of that, however. He stepped down from the dueling platform and walked over to Yugi with Yami close behind him.
"Come on, buddy," he said as he reached his friend, "I'm taking you home."
Yugi turned to him and smiled widely, which made Joey feel good. He turned to Yami, who also granted him a small smile.
"You've made the right choice."
****
Everything hurt.
That was the first thought that entered Joey's mind as he came to his senses. His body felt as if it had been put through a horrendous workout, ending with a few hundred elephants taking residence on his chest. He wiggled his fingers and toes, content that he could feel them and move them.
Slowly, he opened his eyes to see a dark room. He heard machines beeping and hissing besides him and turned, only to be confronted with a shock of black and magenta hair. He reached up to touch Yugi's hair, but his hand bumped into something. Joey looked down to find the Millennium Puzzle resting on his chest, just like Yami had said.
Joey smiled. "Thanks Yami."
"You're welcome, Joey," came the fait response from his mind.
Yugi stirred then and slowly straightened up. Joey couldn't really see much in the dark room, but as he got a look at Yugi's face, he knew that something had happened. Yugi was bloodied and bruised, which wasn't the way he'd been when Joey had seen him last.
"Yug," Joey croaked, wincing at the horrible sound of his voice. "What the hell happened to you?"
Yugi's sightless eyes widened and he turned in Joey's direction. Yugi's hand tightened around Joey's, which he was grateful for. He squeezed back as much as he could without wincing in pain.
"Joey, you're awake!" Yugi cried out. He ran his free hand gently over Joey's face, pausing at his open eyes. "Thank goodness, I was beginning to get worried. Yami wouldn't say much and I thought he'd lost you."
Joey saw tears pooling in Yugi's eyes and reached out with his free hand to pat him on the arm.
"It's okay, I'm still kicking," he whispered. "What happened to your face?"
Yugi sighed. "It's a long story, which I'll tell you later. Right now, I need to get the doctor. Everyone will be so relieved, especially your mother!"
Joey frowned. "My mother is here?"
Yugi grinned. "Yeah, she's here. So is everyone else."
Yugi stood up, and the door immediately opened. "Bakura, he's awake!"
Joey frowned, wondering how Yugi could possibly know who had opened the door, since he couldn't see, and was surprised when he saw Ryou Bakura walk up to the bed.
"Joey! You're okay!"
Joey smiled weakly. "Yeah, I guess I am."
Bakura came up to him and patted him on the arm. "I'm so glad you're awake." He turned to Yugi. "Joey's awake now, Yugi, it's time for you to have your injuries taken care of, okay?"
Yugi hung back a bit and it was apparent to Joey that the younger teen didn't want to leave.
"Go, Yugi. I'll be by to see you as soon as they spring me from here."
Yugi smiled. "I know you will. I'll be waiting."
Joey returned the smile and watched them leave. An older man, whom Joey took to be the doctor, came in then and beamed at him.
"Welcome back to the land of the living, Mr. Wheeler. For a moment there, we were beginning to wonder if you were going to make it."
Joey grinned though the pain. "Joey Wheeler isn't that hard to kill, doc."
**~~**
Kaiba stumbled again, and winced as the room did another loop. Mr. Moto's arm around him tightened to keep him upright and Kaiba winced at having to depend on the older man. As far as he knew, Yugi's grandfather hated him so Kaiba couldn't understand why the man would care if he was okay or not. Then again, Yugi had asked his grandfather to get him.
"Do you want to stop and rest? I can call someone to bring a stretcher for you?"
Kaiba shook his head, which he immediately regretted when nausea overwhelmed him and it took all of his self control not to throw up in front of Yugi's grandfather.
'What the hell is wrong with me?' he thought. 'I've been in worse fights and not had this strong of a reaction.'
"Kaiba?"
"It's okay, I can walk into the hospital on my own," he gritted out.
He turned to see a displeased expression on Mr. Moto's face, but the older man didn't comment. Instead, he simply continued to support Kaiba as they walked into the hospital.
"Why are you doing this?"
Yugi's grandfather turned to him, his violet eyes open wide. Kaiba examined them, noting that they were so much like Yugi's. Mr. Moto had lived and seen much more in his life, but the underlying goodness was still there.
Mr. Moto looked away, but not before Kaiba saw a flash of anger, resentment and hatred in the old man's eyes.
"Yugi asked me to. He said that you protected him and I believe him. Besides, you're hurt. I wouldn't have left you in there even if Yugi hadn't asked me to get you out."
"You hate me," Kaiba said, immediately regretting it. It would seem pathetic and weak, and he didn't want pity from Yugi's grandfather.
Mr. Moto turned to him then, his face expressionless.
"I don't hate you. I hate what you've done. . . I hate the way you treat my grandson and his friends and the way you relate to the people around you."
Kaiba frowned. It must be his headache, because Mr. Moto wasn't making sense to him.
"Isn't that the same thing?" Kaiba asked.
Mr. Moto shook his head and sighed. "The day you understand the difference is the day you'll understand my grandson and me."
They continued to walk in silence, until Mr. Moto stopped at the nurse's station. "This is Seto Kaiba, he's expected."
The nurse on duty looked up, her eyes widening as she got a good look at him. Kaiba frowned again. Did he really look that bad?
"Yes, of course. There's a stretcher right over there."
Mr. Moto nodded, looking in the direction she pointed.
"Thank you," he said, and walked Kaiba over there.
"Mr. Moto!"
Kaiba turned his head slowly to see Bakura running towards them. Mr. Moto greeted the young man, before lying Kaiba down on the waiting stretcher. Kaiba closed his eyes momentarily, and then opened them again. He wanted to hear what Bakura wanted.
"Geez, Kaiba, you look like hell," Bakura commented, before turning his attention to Yugi's grandfather. "Joey is awake! I don't know what Yugi did, but Joey is going to be fine."
"That's wonderful!" Mr. Moto replied, grinning as well.
Kaiba nodded, glad that the mutt was still going to be around for a while. He didn't know exactly why he was glad, though, and he figured it was better not to find out.
"Where is Yugi now?"
"He's been taken to his room. The doctor is waiting for you to induce the coma."
Mr. Moto nodded gravely, but Kaiba couldn't get past what he'd just heard.
"Wait a minute, they're going to put Yugi in a coma? Why?"
Both men turned to him, and Kaiba noted how Mr. Moto's expression had darkened. It wasn't anger towards him, though. At least Kaiba didn't think so.
"He's received injuries that have worsened his already tenuous condition. A coma is going to help with the healing of his brain and help restore his eyesight."
Kaiba frowned. Okay, that made sense. "I'd like to talk to him."
"I'm afraid not, Mr. Kaiba," a doctor had walked up to them and decided to make his presence known now. "You're going to be looked at right now."
The stretcher began to move, and only then did Kaiba notice the two orderlies that were pushing it. He wanted to argue, demand that he be allowed to see Yugi, but he was too tired and in too much pain to do anything much more than lay there and close his eyes. He'd get his way eventually, he just had to bide his time.
**~~**
*So what is this they are going to do to you, aibou?*
Yugi smiled at the confusion in Yami's voice. He leaned back in the bed, glad to be able to rest comfortably again. He'd been ushered back to his room immediately after leaving Joey's room, and no amount of pleading had convinced his doctor to let him stay. Yugi wasn't even sure that he quite understood or agreed with that the doctors wanted to do to him, but he figured that anything was better than the way he was now.
**They're going to drug me and put me to sleep so I won't move around and make my head injury worse**
Yugi could still feel Yami's confusion.
*You have already moved around, Yugi. Is the damage not already done?*
**Yes, that's why they need to completely put me to sleep now, so I don't make it any worse.**
*Oh, I see. What will you do while you're in a 'coma'.**
Yugi shrugged. **I'm not sure. I guess I can go into my soul room and talk to you. My body will be sleeping, but I doubt my mind will."
Yami nodded. "I will enjoy that, aibou. We have a lot to talk about.*
**Yes, we do. You still haven't told me about Marik.**
Yugi felt Yami's apprehension at the mention of that name and wondered what had happened.
*Yes, Yugi, I have a lot to tell you*
"Yugi, are you okay?"
Yugi turned in the direction of the voice and smiled at his grandfather. "I'm fine, grandpa. Did you get Kaiba out of jail?"
"Yes. He's being treated as we speak."
Yugi nodded. "Thank you."
His grandfather held his hand and squeezed it comfortingly.
"How are you really feeling, Yugi?"
Yugi sighed. "I hurt all over, grandpa. I'm tired and want this to be finished," he replied honestly. "I don't want to be afraid anymore."
His grandfather squeezed his hand again. "I'm not going to leave you alone anymore, Yugi, I promise."
Yugi squeezed back.
"Okay, Mr. Moto, are we ready?"
Yugi turned towards his doctor. "I guess. Go ahead and get it over with, doctor."
"Good. I'm going to put an IV into your arm, so please relax."
Yugi felt something cold on his arm and smelled the alcohol, before he felt the pinch as the needle entered his body.
"I'm going to be right here the whole time, Yugi. Don't worry about a thing."
Yugi nodded to his grandfather. He started to feel woozy and very tired. His eyes drooped. He fought to stay awake, but slowly lost the battle.
"Sleep, Yugi. When you wake up, everything will be okay."
Yugi listened to his grandpa and succumbed into sleep. His grandfather never lied to him. If he said things were going to be okay when he woke up, then it had to be true."
**~~**
Sorry that this chapter was so short and crappy! I'll try to make the next one longer.