Disclaimer: WookieeBeta does not own Yuugiou, or anything else that may be mentioned in this fanfic.

A/N: This chapter's a bit on the short side…

Responses:
Strega: Hey, thanks! Yeah, well, they're not the most observant of people, are they? And Yuugi's probably a really good actor.

Hateful Love

By WookieeBeta

Chapter Two: Conversations

"Hey, guys!" Yuugi chirped, beckoning his friends in with his good hand. Three days had passed since the incident; he was still in the hospital, but at least he was off the IV machines. More importantly he'd heard his doctor talking with one of the med techs, and apparently he was going to be released pretty soon. So he was in a good mood.

"You're looking bright and chipper," Anzu observed.

Yuugi flashed her a grin. "That's me! Come on in and sit down – I made the tech bring in some more chairs today – Joey, the rest of my lunch is over here on this table if you want it."

"Shouldn't you be eating more? Keeping up your strength and all that?" The blonde's voice was worried.

But Yuugi just made a face. "Not on the stuff they feed you here. I think they just boil cardboard and add food coloring and salt."

"I think I'd have to agree." Honda's face was an interesting shade of green; he put the spoon back in the bowl and handed it to Jou, who sniffed at it. "That stuff's disgusting."

"Not too bad, considering it's hospital food," Jou said with a shrug as he wolfed it down. Honda just stared in disbelief.

"So how do you feel?" Ryou came over and felt Yuugi's forehead and glanced over at a few of the machines – how he could read the things, no one ever knew, but he seemed to have an innate knowledge of all things medical – and whatever he saw seemed to please him.

"Pretty good," Yuugi said. "I mean, I kind of look like a mummy, with this many casts and bandages, but I'm not dizzy or nauseous anymore."

"The chemistry teacher wants to know when you're planning on coming back."

A cloud passed over Yuugi's face. He hadn't gotten around to thinking about that yet. With one arm, one leg, several ribs and a few fingers broken, not to mention his head half-covered in bandages (and all still very sore, regardless of what he told Ryou), he was positive he wouldn't be able to go back for some time. And then there was always the question of his extremely protective grandfather; he wasn't entirely sure he'd be allowed to leave the house. He wasn't even going to think about his darker half yet.

Fortunately, Honda caught his expression and changed the subject. "So…has anyone been watching the news lately?"

Jou gave him a queer look. "Uh…Honda? That really you in there? Since when do you pay attention to the news?"

"I read the paper every day!" Honda cried, indignant.

The blonde snorted. "Yeah. The funnies." Honda just glared at him.

"Actually, I was watching yesterday when they were talking about that murderer," Anzu said. "What was his name again?"

"They're calling him the Knife Master, since he's used a different knife on every person he's killed, and he always leaves it behind. But they still don't know his real name, or what he looks like."

"You watched it too, Yuugi?"

The injured duelist grinned and shrugged. "Not much else to do around here, is there? And actually, I didn't see the broadcast – the nurses were talking about it, so I asked them."

Anzu shuddered. "It's scary. I mean, there's a murderer walking around Domino, a murderer who's already killed ten people, and we still don't know even what he looks like." There was a moment of uncomfortable silence.

"Ah…anyone up for a duel?"

Outside in the hall, a handsome nurse hesitated in front of Yuugi's door and smirked. He glanced at the chart in his hand. Yuugi Mouto…how very interesting… He closed the chart and opened the door quietly.

"Yes?" Yuugi asked, looking up from his hand as the door swung open. "What is it?"

"Are you done with your lunch, Mr. Mouto?" the nurse asked, gesturing to the laden card behind him. Jou picked up the now-empty tray and carried it over as Yuugi laid another card face-down. The nurse left.

Good-looking, too. The nurse smirked again as he made his way down the hallway, picking up the empty lunch trays from each occupied room. That'll be something new.