The first time he woke up, Kaiba could hardly bear to keep his eyes open. It just hurt – he hurt. In fact, he could barely focus on anything he saw or heard; he caught a few fuzzy images and a couple of muted words.
Yugi was there, rambling and rambling and rambling… Kaiba would have been much happier if he just shut up. All he caught were the words "plane" and "car." After that the pounding in his head became unbearable, and he decided he'd rather go back to sleep and pretend he hadn't noticed Yugi at all. He was still angry at the smaller man anyway.
The second time he woke up he could see, hear, and generally focus just fine, but he felt like a wreck and didn't really WANT to focus. There were too many questions bothering him. Where was he? Why was he there? He might have closed his eyes and gone back to sleep if he hadn't noticed Mokuba leaning over him. That was odd – why wasn't Mokuba in China? The younger Kaiba was red-eyed, as though he'd been crying. Kaiba tried to smile reassuringly, but that only made Mokuba cry more.
"Big brother, you woke up," he sobbed softly, wiping his eyes and smiling.
Kaiba fell asleep some time after that.
It was all rather disorienting, the waking up and falling asleep, and Kaiba had no clocks to tell him the time; he just looked out the window when he woke up to see approximately what time it was. He was sure that he was in the hospital: the smell, the look, the occasional nurse checked on him… it all indicated that he was right.
Once he thought he heard Alex yammering, but had decided that he was still dreaming and didn't even bother to open his eyes and look around. Another time he woke up and thought he saw Joey. He had only blinked and closed his eyes; he didn't know what to say, and he was a little worried that he was hallucinating – he'd heard stories about some painkillers...
He finally woke up completely coherent, and he heard Mokuba yelling at someone – no, he was screaming. Whoever it was, they were arguing back, and then another voice joined the din… There were four or five people shouting in the hallway, and Kaiba had a pounding headache. He endured it for maybe five minutes before he finally shouted, "Shut the hell up out there!"
A doctor had threatened to sedate him after that, but he didn't particularly need it – yelling had taken enough out of him. Wimp, he mentally chastised himself. He must have been really messed up if he could barely yell. If only he knew WHY he was in the hospital.
Oh. Right. The car.
He cringed and closed his eyes. Suddenly, he didn't even want to know what happened. He opened his eyes again and surveyed his injuries. There was a bandage on his head – probably covering stitches, from the feel of it – and brace on his right wrist. All things considered, he looked like he was doing pretty good compared to how shitty he felt.
After a while he woke up feeling something close to normal, just sore. He sat up slowly, and it was something of a personal triumph that he didn't feel like passing out once he was upright. It was dark in the room.
Joey was by the window, staring out. The image was strangely comforting, if not confusing. So Kaiba hadn't been hallucinating…
"So you're not dead," Joey sighed. He sounded more relieved than angry. "I was getting a little worried."
"What are you doing back?" Kaiba asked.
"Just making sure you're alive, but I probably should've known that you're too stubborn to die yet." Joey didn't move from his seat, still gazing out the window. It took Kaiba a minute to come up with a decent reply. He couldn't understand why Joey would be worried when it had been clear to him that the blond hadn't cared that much when he left. Was he supposed to be happy to see Joey, or angry?
He had to say something. "You didn't need to wait by my bed to see if I'm alive."
"No, I guess not." Joey's tone was purposefully even, a façade of calmness. That usually meant he was angry. Kaiba wasn't sure what Joey thought he had the right to be angry about.
"And you don't need to stay now that you know I'm okay."
Joey nodded but didn't move to leave. Kaiba didn't exactly ask him to either. If they didn't talk, if they just sat there, it almost felt like nothing had happened – a coping method Kaiba had gotten quite good at since starting his relationship with Joey. It could just be another night where they sat in silence, enjoyed each other's company while they got over whatever they had been fighting about. Nights like that, Joey would pretend to be half-asleep and cuddle against him, nestle his head against Kaiba's shoulder…
"That was really stupid," Joey said suddenly, a new edge to his voice. Of course he wouldn't shut up. Kaiba had to have known it would be a short-lived delusion.
"Pardon?"
"Getting in the car like that – I would think that you'd know better, Kaiba. As your lawyer, I should let you know that – "
"Hold the speech, Wheeler."
Joey twitched, and retorted, "No, you can hold it for one damn minute. Of all the stupid things you could have done, why would you do THAT? Did you just wake up and think it would be fun to risk life and limb just to…" Joey's voice shook, and he took a deep breath. "Why were you drinking, anyway?"
Kaiba narrowed his eyes. He refused to be chastised like a naughty teenager, especially while he was in the hospital; not only was he an adult, but on top of that, Joey had no right to assume he could tell Kaiba off like that. "And how would know that I was?"
"What, you mean besides the impressive blood-alcohol level and Marianne talking to me?" Joey retorted sarcastically. "Mokuba. I've only heard bits and pieces of it, but whatever happened, he's pissed off."
Hence the yelling. "Bakura…" Oh, right; it had been Yugi. And speaking of Yugi… That'd prove to be an impressive topic change, if Kaiba did say so himself. "So, Yugi told me something interesting."
Joey stiffened and turned to look at him with wide eyes.
"So, I'm just another sob story to add to your collection? I bet I'm the most interesting, given all your issues with men."
"No, it wasn't…" Joey sighed wearily; he was turned away from Kaiba, and he head was bowed – he wasn't looking out the window. "It just happens."
"You make it happen," Kaiba accused. "I didn't bring you into my life just so you could run off like the world had done you some great injustice."
"Look, I know its – "
Kaiba shook his head and silenced the blond. He knew the routine, and he wasn't going to fall into that pattern – wouldn't let himself waste time to salvage the unsalvageable. He had better things to worry about, and he refused to get hurt again. Once was enough. "I don't care to know what it is or your excuses. I've heard enough excuses from enough people in the past two weeks; I don't want anymore."
"Fine," Joey seethed. "I don't know what I was thinking, hopin' you'd…" he murmured to himself and he stood, yanking on his jacket. "Have a nice life."
Kaiba watched him leave for the second time, but he had bidden the retreat, he wanted it…
Strangely, it still hurt just as much.
"Well, are you going to tell me what the hell is going on?" Kaiba demanded as Mokuba entered the room that morning. His younger brother smiled and held up a small parcel.
"Can I explain while we play?"
"And what is that?"
"Travel Scrabble – you still remember how to play our game, right?"
Kaiba nodded; that was something they hadn't done in a while. It sounded fun… even a little soothing. "Fine. Come here."
They sat facing each other on the bed, the food tray between them; the little Scrabble board was laid out on it.
"How long?" Kaiba asked, wrestling to shuffle around the miniscule letters with his left hand.
Mokuba looked thoughtfully at his tiles. "Four days. You were drunk. I swear once I get Yugi alone, I'm going to kick his ass from here to – "
"Whoa, kid," Kaiba interrupted. Fifteen years ago, listening to Mokuba curse Yugi's name might have been music to his ears, but at that moment, he didn't even want to bother thinking about his ex-rival. "Less vengeance, more explaining."
"Oh, right." Mokuba played a word and continued, "Well, there's not much to say; you drove, you stopped at a cross section – you dumb ass – and the other car came and hit you. The other driver is fine; not more than a couple bruises on her – I guess you both lucked out. I've already gotten a new lawyer into Kaiba Corp; I can't believe you've gone two weeks without one. All three of us sat down to discuss the issue, and we settled it."
"How much money?"
"Not too much; she didn't really want to risk taking on Kaiba Corp anyway – we just had to make sure she wouldn't go to the press either. I handled them too, for the record. Anyway, I've been taking care of business the past few days; the deal you guys were working on was settled yesterday, and Marianne is taking Friday off for her daughter's wedding. The lawyer already threatened to quit twice, and I had to fire two lower employees for trying to hack into your computers while you were gone."
Kaiba whistled lowly. "All that in four days? I'm impressed; we would've made a hell of a team."
"Three days – I had to take a day to get here. Besides, it just reminds me that I don't like business. I haven't had a decent night's sleep since I got back, with worrying about you and dealing with the company."
Kaiba resisted the twinge of guilt he felt at that and smiled. He exchanged all seven of his tiles. "It's not for everyone." Another long silence ensued, and there were four words on the board before Kaiba asked, "So how's this Mei girl you keep talking about?"
"She's doing good," Mokuba answered fondly. "I was considering bringing her back with me, but I didn't really want her to meet you when you've been messed up like this – which reminds me, the doctor told me to let you know that you need to lay off the computer work for a while unless you want an impressive case of carpal tunnel." He added triumphantly, "I told you that you work too much."
"I'll live."
"You almost didn't."
"Almost doesn't count for anything." Kaiba played a word.
Mokuba just sighed and shook his head. "Sometimes I don't get you, Seto," he said.
"Sometimes I wouldn't want you to."
They ended up finishing the sentence without talking – Mokuba's point – and had started another before Mokuba spoke again. "I've never played this with anyone else. I always thought it was special because it was ours, so I don't want to share it with just anyone; it'd have to be someone important. Don't you agree?"
Kaiba nodded, focusing on his tiles.
"Besides, it's a hard game to play; not everyone really has the patience. Sometimes, I like to play alone because it makes me think of you. It's not the same, but it's nice."
"You're awfully affectionate over a game," Kaiba responded, not looking up. Mokuba was talking strangely, like he was reading out of a book, or reciting something he memorized.
"I'm just saying that the game really stirs some emotions in me. Maybe I'll play it with Mei. Do you have anyone to play it with?"
"I've only played with you and…" Kaiba stopped and looked at Mokuba, and it was like the whole plan had been unveiled. Clever kid as always.
Mokuba nodded, as if in encouragement. "Joey."
With a quick swear, Kaiba nodded.
"And who won?"
"We… tied."
"Ooh," Mokuba sounded too interested. "You should finish that game; I hate ties."
"That won't be necessary." Kaiba would be damned before he got tricked into opening THAT particular Pandora's box again, not after he'd succeeded in all but throwing Joey out the night before.
There was a pause – obviously something Mokuba hadn't planned on.
"Damn it," the younger finally sighed. "It's impossible to make you do something using subtlety, did you know that? Seto, I know things went bad between you and Joey; I've heard bits and pieces of it from everyone – well, everyone except you and Joey. Usually I'd just let you… well, make up your own damn mind about this sort of thing, but… Well, I like knowing that there's someone here to keep an eye out for you. Seto, do you know Joey has been in here the past two nights? I'd leave, do some work, take a nap, come back at midnight, and he'd still be watching you."
"Hmph. Probably trying to find ways to kill me and make it look like an accident."
Mokuba shook his head. "No, you'd have to see him… You haven't looked at me since I mentioned him. I bet you don't want me to see that look in your eyes."
"What look?" Kaiba asked cautiously.
"The same look he had when he watched you: the one that screams that it shouldn't be over. I don't know what happened, and I don't really know how you feel about it, but I do know what you're unhappy. I can see it. Marianne told me that you've been being tougher than usual. Hell, even that son of a – " Mokuba paused, took a breath. "Even Yugi can see it, and he… Well, he's biased."
Kaiba looked up to find Mokuba watching him. There wasn't pity or contempt in his eyes, just… understanding, almost. "It's my job to watch out for you," Kaiba said softly. He was starting to feel like the younger brother, and he wasn't so sure he liked it.
"Everyone needs a break," Mokuba replied. "But don't worry too much about this thing with Joey, okay? Focus on getting better first. Besides, you're my big brother – you can solve any problem, and you'll figure out the right solution eventually."
Problem… That just left Kaiba to discern exactly what his problem with Joey was: that Kaiba missed him, or that he wanted to try to get Joey to come back.
He nodded mutely and turned back to his Scrabble tiles.
notes
*bow* to Sarasusa. ^_^
FALSE ALARM!!! XD Lol, I feel ~really~ bad, because as worked up as everyone seems to have gotten, this is sort of anticlimatic in comparison. ^^;;;; *amused* Okay, okay, so am I allowed to say the word 'funeral' now without scaring people? XD
So, true, the car accident was a bit cliche'd -- I admit it, *bow* -- but I don't think anything short of death or kidnapping was going to get them in the same room together, lol. And on injuries... yeah, they sucked. ;.; We're going to call Kaiba very lucky at this point. ^_~
As for the conversation between Kaiba & Joey: it's difficult, lol, because there's a lot of anger and typical indifference to deal with, plus the fact that they have more of a past... There's a lot going on beneath the surface that I don't think either was quite willing to say, so it comes off very weirdly. Plus, I think Kaiba would definitely feel like a tool after Yugi told him that Joey had a habit of sabotaging relationships. So... I don't know, as much as it DOESN'T convey, I hope it does enough.
There was originally a pink bunny incident that got cut from this chapter -- that is, a lot of the people I've known who've been on painkillers talk about seeing little pink bunnies. However, it turned out a little too goofy, so... ^_~
..::reviewer responses a-hoy!::..
Ember Elidd, eyes0nme19, redkite1019, Lightning Sage, AllMetalTarnishes, Ranma Higurashi, Eikou: ^_^ arigato!!
ColeyCarissa: Well, as you can see, Seto is fine, just a little banged up. *thumbs up* Yeah, Bakura was being awfully sneaky about that.
omg: nice name. ^_~ Well, he's not dead, and Joey... well, I'm hoping this cliche isn't going to be TOO awful, but I couldn't think of any other way to get them in the same room after that fight, lol. XD
Tanya Maxwell: lol, that WOULD'VE been a riot if Joey had been in the other car -- "Yeah, I was just on my way to see you!" *snicker* Yeah, I had a lot of fun with Bakura (and am not quite done with him ^_~).
Kagemihari: lol, yeah, that thingie. Is there a button for that on the keyboard... *looks around* There's the apostrophe... Anyway, yes, angst. ^^; I pity poor Kaiba. ;.; The guy just can't cut a break.
Alexander the God: Haha, I know so many gods, its not even right. XD lol, thanks. :) I think I made up the drinking game, though with the way the world works, someone else thought of it first -- I was sitting around, thinking about drinking games, thinking about what to do for this chapter, and that occured to me. Ooh, hope your self evaluation went well!
darkmus: XD Are you implying that Kaiba is 'loose'? ^_~ Bad humor aside, oh! Don't cry! It was all just a ploy to get them in the same room, see? ^^ and breathe, dear. :)
Tadashi: lol. Ten points on clairnoyance. XD
Sakata Ri Houjun: ^_^ Thanks. Yeah, we have some pretty typical cliches, admittedly, but I honestly couldn't think of a better way to get them in the same room, lol. ^^;; *cheating* But yeah, ending wise... well, lets just say it took me a while to figure out what ending to come up with.
laedii: you're not dying, are you? *panic* lol, thanks. :)
youko-moon: lol, yeah, Bakura and devious are just a cute combination. ^^ I don't know, I think Joey was the one doing more hurt in the relationship. :) thanks. ^^
Nenya85: Heeeyyy, that ~is~ sad -- I never caught on to that. *ponder* But that is a good point; they sort of don't see both sides of the issue, but they aren't quite done yet. Thanks!
BarbedWire23: Awww, that would be cute. ^_^ Thanks!
Fire Dragon of Darkness: Tea is yummy. Pick one. XD Awww, I kinda like fluff. You know, you're the second person to mention the idea of Joey being in the other car -- that had never occured to me at all! Interesting. But yeah, Kaiba ~really~ shouldn't have gotten in the car.
Yami) White Rain: It's all good -- FF.net has been a real meanie lately, eh? ^_^ Aww, sorry to have made you cry -- Thanks!
Cynthia Chen: It's all good on not reviewing -- I'm glad you've been enjoying it. :) Yeah, it seems that Joey's at fault more often, but there is a bias there. But no matter how ~I~ look at it, Kaiba was doing a pretty good job, so... Yeah. But Joey's past definitely interests me; the only thing we really know is that he had a bad time with relationships. Thanks! ^^
Mors Laminil: Yeah, it was definitely one of those "Oh! I see it coming!" But, personally, I enjoyed his ranting in the car. Thankies!
Elsalhir Erestar: *is hardkore glomped* lol. Yes, well, it would have been a pretty funny April Fools, and you know it. XD But that was an interesting chain of ideas you tied together there. We'll have to see what happens. ^^
Angel-Belle: Heh, yeah, I could see Mokuba and Joey cracking some skulls. ^_~ They'd make great Seto bodyguards. Aww, happy belated easter, and I'm sorry it sucks. ^^ Thanks!
Alana-Star: Heeeyyy, no one said he was dead. Though I was trying to scare everyone into thinking it. ^^;;;
Shousetsuka1: #^_^# Thanks. Yeah, domesticality (is that word?) wouldn't have felt quite right. But two days? Wow -- go you. ^^