Chapter Twelve

"How is he?"

The soft inquiry startled Otogi out of an exhausted torpor, as he'd fallen asleep across Honda's bedside. Guh. There was a patch of drool on his forearm, his mouth still tasted like the greasy snack-machine popcorn, and…there was his free hand, fingers still treacherously twined with the unconscious youth's as they'd been since….when? A check of the clock over Honda's head said an hour ago.

Jounouchi regarded the scene from the doorway, careworn, haggard, and expressionless. With an unaccountable feeling of guilt, Otogi freed his hand from Honda's.

"Has he…?"

The blond left the question hanging, and sighed as all Otogi could offer in answer was a listless shrug.

"No better, no worse…that's good, I suppose, isn't it? The doctors say he can breathe on his own, and he responds to…uh…stimulus? The lights are on, but nobody's home. Though he…he smiled…"

"He did?"

At Otogi's nod, four eyes turned as one to study the fallen boy's peaceful mien. The brown were bright with hope and laced with guilt…the green softened by concern...

…from across the bedside, Jounouchi saw the flicker of tenderness smooth Otogi's features as the ponytailed inventor's fingertips caressed the sheet beside Honda's still palm, relaxed and open on the bedclothes. For a moment, the blond's shoulders tightened, eyes narrowed in confusion as he stared after the unexpected tableaux. What the hell…? No, it couldn't be! It shouldn't be! He thought…the pair of them were always fawning over Shizuka…

What had happened?

Jounouchi's eyes flickered towards the lithe form curled dejectedly at the bedside. This was an excessively long time to stand vigil for anyone. And he should know. He'd logged just as many hours in that very spot.

…Otogi? He'd chased after the taller boy…had called the ambulance, and then held Honda's head still until the paramedics could get there…they said he'd probably saved the injured boy from being choking to death on his own blood.

And then he'd called them all together, met them at the hospital doors with Honda's blood coating his shirt…and told them…hadn't his tears mingled freely with those of the others…?

Every day after that, Otogi came to the ward, if only to keep Honda's mother company – poor phantom of a woman as she was reduced to. Only just now, Jounouchi caught him asleep…clinging to his best friend's hand as though it were the only lifeline in a storm.

Otogi? In…in love?

With Honda?

It didn't make any sense!

I need to sit down…Jounouchi fell into the vacant visitors' chair beside the softly blipping machines, and watched, as Otogi already seemed lost again in his own game of guarding.

He looked awful.

He also looked very bored.

Well, there was something Jounouchi could do about that, wasn't there?

Despite himself, he found a smile tugging at the corners of his lips.

"Here."

The soft plumpf of a handheld gaming platform hitting the coverlet brought Otogi's head shooting up. He stared at it. "What's this?"

"Something to do." Jounouchi replied, simply, from his place looming over Otogi's back. "You look really bored. It's just Tetris…that's all they had at the game room to rent."

Otogi went on staring at the game for another few moments, and Jounouchi harrumphed uncomfortably. "Look…I've…gotta go, you know? Dad's going to kick my butt if I screw up on another history test, so I've gotta study…"

It was a lame excuse, and he saw the truth in Otogi's upraised browline as the green-eyed boy turned back to meet his gaze. If Jou wanted to, he could study here. There was no earthly reason to go – didn't he want to be here? – unless...

He was backing off? Bowing out? No…that wasn't it, Otogi was sure. Honda and Jounouchi had been close, but not like that…had they?

"You don't have to," he protested, quietly.

"I gotta," Jounouchi insisted. "You…watch out for him for me, huh, Otogi? If anything happens to him on your watch, I'm coming after you, clear?"

"Crystal," Otogi grinned, "I won't let anything happen to him. Jou? Thank you…"

"Yeah," Jounouchi found himself smiling in return, and unbent his machismo long enough to squeeze Otogi's shoulder in silent camaraderie, before heading out.

He took one last look at the brunet, laid out and pale gold against the pillows.

I'll see you tomorrow. You wake up, buddy, and you do it soon.

I don't want to have to comfort the Mascara Kid if you don't.