Chapter Six

A cold, passionless hospital ward.

White sheets.

Paler skin.

Oh…Honda…

The soft blips and blinks of machines at the bedside were Honda's only sign of life. He'd lost most of the skin from his right elbow, shoulder, and cheek, suffered from a broken hip, a shattered ankle and two snapped wrists, and what the doctors blandly referred to as 'severe head trauma.'

"You should've been wearing your helmet, you idiot!" The side of Otogi's clenched fist hammered against the plexiglass separating him from Honda's room. The injured teenager lay unconscious against a bank of pillows, a massive pad of gauze taped to his temple. His wrists were hidden in braces; arms lined with tubes.

His eyes were closed, the rise and fall of his chest frighteningly shallow.

Three weeks had already passed, and while bandages and casts covered the external injuries, there was no sign of improvement or response.

Come on, buddy…

There was no placating Jounouchi. After somehow convincing the nurses that he was Honda's brother, the blond installed himself at his best friend's bedside, and refused to move. He blamed himself – that was plain to see – and not even Yuugi's gentle reasoning or Otogi's threats could convince him otherwise.

Jounouchi caught sight of Otogi through the glass with tortured eyes, and slowly shook his head. Green eyes darted a glance up and down the hall, and seeing no intruders, Otogi gestured to the door hopefully. A listless shrug was the only response.

I'll take that as about as close to a 'come on in' as I can get.

He slipped into the room, and commandeered the stool on the opposite side of Honda's bed. "Nothing?" He whispered.

Jounouchi shook his head again, but otherwise said nothing.

"He's gotta be better in three weeks. Maybe he'll open his eyes soon."

"I dunno."

Otogi's eyes narrowed. Softened in understanding.

"Look, man, it's not your fault."

"Yes it–" Jounouchi started to protest, but the other cut him off.

"Outside." Otogi stood up abruptly, circled the bed, grasped the blond's arm and yanked him out of the room before he could say a word. Once the door clicked safely shut behind them, he turned.

"Cool your jets, Jou. You didn't know he was going to take off like that, did you?"

"Well…no…"

"Exactly. Nobody did. And blaming yourself isn't going to help him out."

"He wouldn't be in this mess if I'd just kept my big mouth shut!"

"No, he wouldn't be in this mess if he had the smarts to wear his helmet."

Jounouchi turned to the window of Honda's room, and pressed both hands against the cool surface. "Why didn't I just shut up?"

Underneath the self-berating tone, Otogi heard another voice. Why didn't I notice my best friend's pain? Why didn't I see how much it would upset him…? His heart clenched, and just for a moment, he squeezed Jounouchi's shoulder as they stood together in front of the glass.

"If you're guilty of anything, Jou, so am I."

Somehow, pain shared was easier to bear. Neither had asked. Sure, he hadn't wanted help, but walls were made to be broken, and if they'd really wanted to help, they could have pressed him. Chased him down.

Otogi winced. He'd tried. Three weeks later, and the memory was still as fresh in his mind as though it were only an hour ago. After some minor scrambling, he'd found his keys and taken off after Honda on his own bike. His quarry apparently had better equipment, or a better knowledge of the streets, as he'd managed to elude Otogi for all of twelve blocks. Then, when Honda swung a hard left, Otogi cleared the corner in time to see him swerve to miss an old lady with an armful of groceries…

…brake to miss a little kid…

…spin out…

…and leave a bloody track across the pavement.

He hadn't even known he was screaming until his own throat closed and would bear no more.

The rest of the day was a blur of flashing lights and emergency rooms, and Honda's blood soaked into his tee-shirt.

I wasn't fast enough. I didn't try hard enough. If I'd caught you before you got out of the house, you might not have left, or you'd have at least left with your helmet. And maybe I'd be there with you, instead of watching you die from out here.

Don't die…not like this…