~chapter 11
The phone rang.
Bakura hurried to unlock the door to his apartment and barely managed to kick off his shoes before diving for the phone. "He-Hello?" he answered, voice slightly breathless.
"There you are! I've been calling for hours! Where have you been?" Mokuba demanded.
Bakura blinked. "Mo--Mokuba-kun...?" he asked in a bewildered voice.
"Get over here now!" the boy ordered.
"H-how?" Bakura stammered nervously. "Where-- where are you?"
"I need your help with Niisama! Come quickly!"
Bakura's eyes went wide. "I'll get a cab," he said quickly.
"Hurry! I'll get the doctor." Mokuba hung up.
"Doctor...?" Bakura whispered, eyes. He swore softly and ran for the door.
"Mokuba-kun?!" Bakura called as he pushed open the door to the Kaiba home, trying not to panic. There was no sign of life anywhere on the grounds. No one had come to greet the cab and the door been unmanned and he was too worried to knock.
"Up here!" the boy called from the top of the stairs. "Niisama's in there!" He pointed towards Kaiba's office.
Bakura quickly removed his shoes and near ran up the stairs. "What happened? What's wrong with him?"
"Go help him!" Mokuba begged. "Try to make him go to bed. I'll wait for the doctor." He scampered down the stairs in the direction of the door.
Bakura hesitated a moment, looking at the door to Kaiba's study before cautiously pushing it open. "Kaiba-kun...?" he called softly.
Kaiba was half slumped in his chair, poking at the laptop keyboard with a tired concentration, eyes half lidded with exhaustion.
"Kaiba-kun..." Bakura walked over, eyes concerned. "You look exausted... you should get some sleep...." he said softly.
"No," Kaiba answered in a pouty voice. "Busy."
"You're typing one finger," Bakura pointed out. "You can get it done much faster after you've slept."
"Go 'way."
Bakura gave a small smile despite his worry. Kaiba was acting like he was a child. It was almost--
He shook his head slightly. "Kaiba-kun...." He pulled the boy's hands away from the keys. "You need to go to sleep."
Kaiba poutily glared up at him. "Busy," he repeated.
"You can finish it later," Bakura said firmly, awkwardly closing the laptop cover with his elbow.
Kaiba pouted. "Wanna type more," he whined.
Bakura smiled fondly at the boy. "Later," he promised, gently tugging Kaiba's hands in the direction of the door.
Kaiba resisted, pouting at Bakura, who did his best not to laugh. Kaiba was looking utterly adorable. "Come on," he tugged again, then shifted to put an arm around the taller boy to try and pull him from his chair.
Kaiba nuzzled against him, arms snaking under the boy's shirt.
Bakura gave a startled exclamation. "Ka--Kaiba-kun!" He tried to ignore the other boy's hands, shuffling a few steps forward, hoping Kaiba would follow.
Kaiba leaned forward in his chair, nuzzle falling down to Bakura's stomach.
Bakura gasped slightly, sucking in his stomach to try and get it out of range. "Ka--Kaiba-kun! Stop that, you need to get to bed, not---"
Kaiba giggled and nuzzled him again.
"Kaiba-kun!" Bakura exclaimed, face reddening as his body began to react to Kaiba's touches.
Kaiba pouted and pulled Bakura forward by his pants.
Bakura squeaked, eyes going wide. "Kaiba-kun!" he protested, blush deepening. "Kaiba-kun, please, we can do this later, you need to get some sleep before you'll be in any condition too--"
"No. Wanna."
Bakura gave a sigh. "Later," he promised. He paused a moment, then careful disengaged, taking a few steps back, hoping Kaiba would follow.
Kaiba pouted at reached forward to grab Bakura's fly. He tugged at it, giggling at some of the buttons came undone.
The paler boy squeaked again, barely managing to pull back another few steps out of range.
Kaiba started whining incoherently, reaching out for Bakura.
Bakura couldn't help but smile. "Come with me," he invited, holding out his hands.
Kaiba took Bakura's hands and pulled the boy into his lap, taking the immediate opportunity to nibble on his ear.
The boy gave another squeak, squirming slightly. "Ka--Kaiba-kun!" he protested, face heating up. "Not here, not now! You need to be in bed!"
Kaiba giggled. "With you?" he asked into Bakura's ear.
Bakura tried to get his breath under control. "If it'll get you to sleep," he returned.
"Don' wanna sleep. Wan' play with Baaakura."
"After you sleep, you're not in any condition to--" he gave another small startled exclamation and pushed Kaiba's hands out of his shirt, blushing again.
"Not tired," Kaiba insisted.
"When did you last get any sleep?"
"Dunno," Kaiba admitted cheerfully, pushing his hands into Bakura's back pockets.
Bakura squirmed slightly, trying to pull away. "Then you should get some sleep, else you'll pass out in the middle of it."
"No," Kaiba pouted, squeezing his hands. "Wan' play."
Bakura's blush deepened. "In bed, not here."
"Ok," Kaiba said, not letting go and biting on Bakura's neck.
Bakura's eyes went wide and he gasped. "Ka--Kaiba-kun!" he stammered, trying to push away. "Not here!"
"Yes here," Kaiba insisted.
"No," Bakura said firmly, trying to wriggle out of Kaiba's grip. "You need to--"
"Bakura! I called the doctor again, he said--" Mokuba froze in the entry of the room. "... I did NOT need to see that!" he protested, shielding his eyes. "Niiisamaaaaa!"
Kaiba giggled against Bakura's neck.
"Kaiba-kun, please? We can do this in your bedroom," Bakura near begged, trying to ignore the tickle of Kaiba's breath. "Not here, not in front of Mokuba, please?"
"Mokuba c'n leave," Kaiba protested in a soft whine. "Like it here."
"It's nicer in your room," Bakura tried to convince. "We can have fun on your bed, you'll have more room to play."
"Play?" Kaiba asked hopefully.
"In your room," Bakura smiled.
Kaiba smiled, hugging Bakura tightly.
The paler boy hugged back, eyes troubled. If he wasn't so worried, he'd be enjoying Kaiba's affectionate actions, but the very fact that Kaiba was acting so differently....
Kaiba's smile turned crafty as he groped Bakura.
The boy gave a small startled exclamation. "Mou, Kaiba-kun!" he protested with a small laugh. "No more until you get to bed," he said sternly.
Kaiba pouted and looked like he was going to cry.
Bakura nearly melted, but caught himself. "So let's go to bed," he smiled, pulling out of Kaiba's embrace.
Kaiba sniffled and reached for Bakura's hand.
The paler boy gently took it and tugged him in the direction of the bedroom.
Kaiba giggled and moved closer to Bakura, snuggling against him and trying to kiss him as they walked.
Bakura smiled softly, putting an arm around the taller boy to help support him.
Kaiba nuzzled him happily as they made lurching progress to his bedroom.
Bakura smiled again and barely resisted the urge to muss his hair fondly.
Finally, they reached Kaiba's bedroom and Bakura shifted to help Kaiba out of his duster as he maneuvered him towards the bed.
Kaiba dropped his coat and then pants, and then pushed Bakura onto the bed.
The paler boy gave a small startled exclamation. "Kaiba-kun, you should rest before you--"
"No," Kaiba said poutily, climbing onto the bed and cuddling with Bakura. "Wan' my Bakura."
Bakura gave a small smile, snuggling back. "We'll rest together, okay?"
"But I wanna..." Kaiba leaned closer and whispered into Bakura's ear what he wanted to do.
Bakura squirmed slightly, face heating up as he blushed. "But... You need to rest first."
"Now!" Kaiba insisted.
"No," Bakura said firmly, looking into Kaiba's eyes. "You need to sleep first or it won't be any good."
Kaiba looked like he was going to cry again. "Bakura no like me?"
"No, I like you!" Bakura insisted, putting a hand to Kaiba's cheek fondly as something inside him melted in happiness. "You just need to sleep first. After, then we can," he smiled.
"Really?"
Bakura nodded. "Promise."
Kaiba smiled brightly and settled down, hugging Bakura as if he were a teddy bear.
The paler boy smiled, snuggling close once again. It was nice, he reflected, to be able to snuggle without wondering when Kaiba's dislike of being touched would override his post coital bliss. It was also the first time he had really seen Kaiba without any of his defences. There was nothing cold and calculated about the Kaiba who held him. It was just unfortunate that he had to fall so far into exhaustion before he could lower his barriers....
Kaiba sighed softly as he fell asleep, arms tightly wound around Bakura.
Bakura smiled contentedly. "Was this what you were fighting to hide...?" he whispered, knowing he would get no answer.
"Bakura?" Mokuba called almost timidly from the doorway. "It's it... safe?"
The pale haired boy gave a small laugh. "Un. He's asleep."
"Really?" Mokuba poked his head in the room and his eyes widened slightly a moment before he shook it off. "The doctor's here, just wanted to make sure you and Niisama were decent before I sent him in." He turned to call down the hallway before entering the room. "I can't believe you got him to sleep!" he grinned. "Last time he did this I had to put sleeping pills in a glass of water to make him pass out."
"Last time? You mean this happens a lot?" Bakura asked, voice worried as he shifted slightly to look at the black haired boy. Kaiba shifted in his sleep, sighing again and burying his face against Bakura's shoulder and the paler boy smiled, gently stroking the sleeping boy's hair.
"Not too often, only about two times before. I yelled at him and got him to go to bed one time when he had only been up for two days. He wasn't half as bad then," Mokuba commented, chuckling at his sleeping brother. He looked out the door. "You can come in, he's sleeping!" he called.
The company doctor entered the room with a small bow. "Could you move away from him so I can examine him?" he requested of Bakura.
"Un," the boy nodded, moving to try and slip out of Kaiba's hold.
Kaiba whimpered slightly and held on tighter.
"Kaiba-kun, you have to let go," Bakura said softly.
Kaiba pressed his face against Bakura's shoulder and held on tightly in his sleep.
Bakura gave a small sigh, again petting his hair to comfort him. "Can you check him like this? He won't let go..."
The doctor hesitated a moment, then nodded, setting up his equipment.
"Well?" Mokuba asked as the doctor set up the IV
"I'd guess he'd been awake for over 120 hours, looks like he didn't eat much, if anything in that time period either. Let him sleep until he wakes on his own and then make sure he gets plenty of liquids and light foods."
Bakura nodded. "I can make him soups."
"That would be best. Careful not to jostle the IV any," the doctor warned before leaving.
Bakura sighed, looking up at Kaiba's sleeping face again. "Ne, Mokuba-kun? Could you do me a favour?"
"Sure! What?"
Bakura carefully reached into his pocket and pulled out a key. "Could you go to my apartment and get the large brown teddy bear from my closet?"
Mokuba blinked. "Sure." He hopped off his chair and took the key.
Bakura gave a grateful smile. "Thanks."
Mokuba nodded and left the room.
Kaiba pulled restlessly on the IV, trying to curl away from it and closer to Bakura.
"Don't, Kaiba-kun," Bakura said softly, putting a hand over the bandage holding it on as he moved closer.
Kaiba sighed softly, relaxing.
The paler boy smiled. "Don't worry," he promised, gently brushing Kaiba's bangs from his face. "I'll take care of you."
Kaiba turned into the touch, murmuring incoherently.
Bakura smiled again, reaching up slightly to kiss the boy before snuggling close again.
The phone rang.
Bakura hurried to unlock the door to his apartment and barely managed to kick off his shoes before diving for the phone. "He-Hello?" he answered, voice slightly breathless.
"There you are! I've been calling for hours! Where have you been?" Mokuba demanded.
Bakura blinked. "Mo--Mokuba-kun...?" he asked in a bewildered voice.
"Get over here now!" the boy ordered.
"H-how?" Bakura stammered nervously. "Where-- where are you?"
"I need your help with Niisama! Come quickly!"
Bakura's eyes went wide. "I'll get a cab," he said quickly.
"Hurry! I'll get the doctor." Mokuba hung up.
"Doctor...?" Bakura whispered, eyes. He swore softly and ran for the door.
"Mokuba-kun?!" Bakura called as he pushed open the door to the Kaiba home, trying not to panic. There was no sign of life anywhere on the grounds. No one had come to greet the cab and the door been unmanned and he was too worried to knock.
"Up here!" the boy called from the top of the stairs. "Niisama's in there!" He pointed towards Kaiba's office.
Bakura quickly removed his shoes and near ran up the stairs. "What happened? What's wrong with him?"
"Go help him!" Mokuba begged. "Try to make him go to bed. I'll wait for the doctor." He scampered down the stairs in the direction of the door.
Bakura hesitated a moment, looking at the door to Kaiba's study before cautiously pushing it open. "Kaiba-kun...?" he called softly.
Kaiba was half slumped in his chair, poking at the laptop keyboard with a tired concentration, eyes half lidded with exhaustion.
"Kaiba-kun..." Bakura walked over, eyes concerned. "You look exausted... you should get some sleep...." he said softly.
"No," Kaiba answered in a pouty voice. "Busy."
"You're typing one finger," Bakura pointed out. "You can get it done much faster after you've slept."
"Go 'way."
Bakura gave a small smile despite his worry. Kaiba was acting like he was a child. It was almost--
He shook his head slightly. "Kaiba-kun...." He pulled the boy's hands away from the keys. "You need to go to sleep."
Kaiba poutily glared up at him. "Busy," he repeated.
"You can finish it later," Bakura said firmly, awkwardly closing the laptop cover with his elbow.
Kaiba pouted. "Wanna type more," he whined.
Bakura smiled fondly at the boy. "Later," he promised, gently tugging Kaiba's hands in the direction of the door.
Kaiba resisted, pouting at Bakura, who did his best not to laugh. Kaiba was looking utterly adorable. "Come on," he tugged again, then shifted to put an arm around the taller boy to try and pull him from his chair.
Kaiba nuzzled against him, arms snaking under the boy's shirt.
Bakura gave a startled exclamation. "Ka--Kaiba-kun!" He tried to ignore the other boy's hands, shuffling a few steps forward, hoping Kaiba would follow.
Kaiba leaned forward in his chair, nuzzle falling down to Bakura's stomach.
Bakura gasped slightly, sucking in his stomach to try and get it out of range. "Ka--Kaiba-kun! Stop that, you need to get to bed, not---"
Kaiba giggled and nuzzled him again.
"Kaiba-kun!" Bakura exclaimed, face reddening as his body began to react to Kaiba's touches.
Kaiba pouted and pulled Bakura forward by his pants.
Bakura squeaked, eyes going wide. "Kaiba-kun!" he protested, blush deepening. "Kaiba-kun, please, we can do this later, you need to get some sleep before you'll be in any condition too--"
"No. Wanna."
Bakura gave a sigh. "Later," he promised. He paused a moment, then careful disengaged, taking a few steps back, hoping Kaiba would follow.
Kaiba pouted at reached forward to grab Bakura's fly. He tugged at it, giggling at some of the buttons came undone.
The paler boy squeaked again, barely managing to pull back another few steps out of range.
Kaiba started whining incoherently, reaching out for Bakura.
Bakura couldn't help but smile. "Come with me," he invited, holding out his hands.
Kaiba took Bakura's hands and pulled the boy into his lap, taking the immediate opportunity to nibble on his ear.
The boy gave another squeak, squirming slightly. "Ka--Kaiba-kun!" he protested, face heating up. "Not here, not now! You need to be in bed!"
Kaiba giggled. "With you?" he asked into Bakura's ear.
Bakura tried to get his breath under control. "If it'll get you to sleep," he returned.
"Don' wanna sleep. Wan' play with Baaakura."
"After you sleep, you're not in any condition to--" he gave another small startled exclamation and pushed Kaiba's hands out of his shirt, blushing again.
"Not tired," Kaiba insisted.
"When did you last get any sleep?"
"Dunno," Kaiba admitted cheerfully, pushing his hands into Bakura's back pockets.
Bakura squirmed slightly, trying to pull away. "Then you should get some sleep, else you'll pass out in the middle of it."
"No," Kaiba pouted, squeezing his hands. "Wan' play."
Bakura's blush deepened. "In bed, not here."
"Ok," Kaiba said, not letting go and biting on Bakura's neck.
Bakura's eyes went wide and he gasped. "Ka--Kaiba-kun!" he stammered, trying to push away. "Not here!"
"Yes here," Kaiba insisted.
"No," Bakura said firmly, trying to wriggle out of Kaiba's grip. "You need to--"
"Bakura! I called the doctor again, he said--" Mokuba froze in the entry of the room. "... I did NOT need to see that!" he protested, shielding his eyes. "Niiisamaaaaa!"
Kaiba giggled against Bakura's neck.
"Kaiba-kun, please? We can do this in your bedroom," Bakura near begged, trying to ignore the tickle of Kaiba's breath. "Not here, not in front of Mokuba, please?"
"Mokuba c'n leave," Kaiba protested in a soft whine. "Like it here."
"It's nicer in your room," Bakura tried to convince. "We can have fun on your bed, you'll have more room to play."
"Play?" Kaiba asked hopefully.
"In your room," Bakura smiled.
Kaiba smiled, hugging Bakura tightly.
The paler boy hugged back, eyes troubled. If he wasn't so worried, he'd be enjoying Kaiba's affectionate actions, but the very fact that Kaiba was acting so differently....
Kaiba's smile turned crafty as he groped Bakura.
The boy gave a small startled exclamation. "Mou, Kaiba-kun!" he protested with a small laugh. "No more until you get to bed," he said sternly.
Kaiba pouted and looked like he was going to cry.
Bakura nearly melted, but caught himself. "So let's go to bed," he smiled, pulling out of Kaiba's embrace.
Kaiba sniffled and reached for Bakura's hand.
The paler boy gently took it and tugged him in the direction of the bedroom.
Kaiba giggled and moved closer to Bakura, snuggling against him and trying to kiss him as they walked.
Bakura smiled softly, putting an arm around the taller boy to help support him.
Kaiba nuzzled him happily as they made lurching progress to his bedroom.
Bakura smiled again and barely resisted the urge to muss his hair fondly.
Finally, they reached Kaiba's bedroom and Bakura shifted to help Kaiba out of his duster as he maneuvered him towards the bed.
Kaiba dropped his coat and then pants, and then pushed Bakura onto the bed.
The paler boy gave a small startled exclamation. "Kaiba-kun, you should rest before you--"
"No," Kaiba said poutily, climbing onto the bed and cuddling with Bakura. "Wan' my Bakura."
Bakura gave a small smile, snuggling back. "We'll rest together, okay?"
"But I wanna..." Kaiba leaned closer and whispered into Bakura's ear what he wanted to do.
Bakura squirmed slightly, face heating up as he blushed. "But... You need to rest first."
"Now!" Kaiba insisted.
"No," Bakura said firmly, looking into Kaiba's eyes. "You need to sleep first or it won't be any good."
Kaiba looked like he was going to cry again. "Bakura no like me?"
"No, I like you!" Bakura insisted, putting a hand to Kaiba's cheek fondly as something inside him melted in happiness. "You just need to sleep first. After, then we can," he smiled.
"Really?"
Bakura nodded. "Promise."
Kaiba smiled brightly and settled down, hugging Bakura as if he were a teddy bear.
The paler boy smiled, snuggling close once again. It was nice, he reflected, to be able to snuggle without wondering when Kaiba's dislike of being touched would override his post coital bliss. It was also the first time he had really seen Kaiba without any of his defences. There was nothing cold and calculated about the Kaiba who held him. It was just unfortunate that he had to fall so far into exhaustion before he could lower his barriers....
Kaiba sighed softly as he fell asleep, arms tightly wound around Bakura.
Bakura smiled contentedly. "Was this what you were fighting to hide...?" he whispered, knowing he would get no answer.
"Bakura?" Mokuba called almost timidly from the doorway. "It's it... safe?"
The pale haired boy gave a small laugh. "Un. He's asleep."
"Really?" Mokuba poked his head in the room and his eyes widened slightly a moment before he shook it off. "The doctor's here, just wanted to make sure you and Niisama were decent before I sent him in." He turned to call down the hallway before entering the room. "I can't believe you got him to sleep!" he grinned. "Last time he did this I had to put sleeping pills in a glass of water to make him pass out."
"Last time? You mean this happens a lot?" Bakura asked, voice worried as he shifted slightly to look at the black haired boy. Kaiba shifted in his sleep, sighing again and burying his face against Bakura's shoulder and the paler boy smiled, gently stroking the sleeping boy's hair.
"Not too often, only about two times before. I yelled at him and got him to go to bed one time when he had only been up for two days. He wasn't half as bad then," Mokuba commented, chuckling at his sleeping brother. He looked out the door. "You can come in, he's sleeping!" he called.
The company doctor entered the room with a small bow. "Could you move away from him so I can examine him?" he requested of Bakura.
"Un," the boy nodded, moving to try and slip out of Kaiba's hold.
Kaiba whimpered slightly and held on tighter.
"Kaiba-kun, you have to let go," Bakura said softly.
Kaiba pressed his face against Bakura's shoulder and held on tightly in his sleep.
Bakura gave a small sigh, again petting his hair to comfort him. "Can you check him like this? He won't let go..."
The doctor hesitated a moment, then nodded, setting up his equipment.
"Well?" Mokuba asked as the doctor set up the IV
"I'd guess he'd been awake for over 120 hours, looks like he didn't eat much, if anything in that time period either. Let him sleep until he wakes on his own and then make sure he gets plenty of liquids and light foods."
Bakura nodded. "I can make him soups."
"That would be best. Careful not to jostle the IV any," the doctor warned before leaving.
Bakura sighed, looking up at Kaiba's sleeping face again. "Ne, Mokuba-kun? Could you do me a favour?"
"Sure! What?"
Bakura carefully reached into his pocket and pulled out a key. "Could you go to my apartment and get the large brown teddy bear from my closet?"
Mokuba blinked. "Sure." He hopped off his chair and took the key.
Bakura gave a grateful smile. "Thanks."
Mokuba nodded and left the room.
Kaiba pulled restlessly on the IV, trying to curl away from it and closer to Bakura.
"Don't, Kaiba-kun," Bakura said softly, putting a hand over the bandage holding it on as he moved closer.
Kaiba sighed softly, relaxing.
The paler boy smiled. "Don't worry," he promised, gently brushing Kaiba's bangs from his face. "I'll take care of you."
Kaiba turned into the touch, murmuring incoherently.
Bakura smiled again, reaching up slightly to kiss the boy before snuggling close again.