all disclaimers apply as usual
"I have a suggestion before you begin this...procedure." Yami said as he appeared to be first in line for the removal of the offending, undignified tube.
"And that is?"
"Please remove my roommate temporarily? It is for your benefit as much as my own."
"I'm NOT some crazed lunatic, friend." Bakura shot back with venom seething in the last word.
"My point is proven. Please remove him?" Yami continued.
With simple eye contact to the two burly orderlies who had escorted the doctor and nurse into the room, Bakura was strapped into his bed and wheeled out of the room. Naturally, he was ranting all the way out the door. When the two orderlies returned, Bakura could still be heard ranting away in the hall from which they parked him.
"If he doesn't quiet down, give him a sedative." the doctor muttered to the nurse.
"Speaking of sedative, would it be possible for me as well?" Yami added. He really wasn't up to more pain, especially in an area that's highly sensitive to start with.
"No, but how about a nice shot of Numbzit?"
Yami nodded his acceptance. As long as he couldn't feel what they were about to do, he didn't care if it was a knockout punch in the face from one of the ape-ish orderlies. Yami also made note to flip a blanket onto his face. He did not want to see the procedure nor did he want the others to see whatever reaction he might have.
In mere minutes, the entire procedure was done and over. Yami only felt the prick of the needle of novacaine and a slight pressure. But the doctor warned him that once the novacaine wore off, there would indeed be more pain. Yami slowly removed the blankets from his face and stared blankly. He wasn't impressed with the whole ordeal. But, he now had to quickly recompose himself for it was the tombrobber's turn.
Wheeling in a still sputtering Bakura, the orderlies kept the young man strapped down. He was obviously a very angry and thus very dangerous patient right now. One orderly suggested to the doctor a possible strap for the patient's mouth, but, with a slight chuckle, the doctor had to decline. He did however, order a sedative. Bakura was just too riled up and the doc needed him to be relaxed for this particular procedure.
"Not fair." Yami muttered under his breath as he listened to the developments on the other side of the room.
"Look, if HE has to be in here then at least pull the damn curtain." Bakura spat. It was one request he was honored as the nurse drew the curtain around and down the middle of the room, thus preventing Yami from viewing anything more. But there was no need to see. Bakura was loud enough to be heard many rooms down.
With a prick of a needle and several minutes, the thief soon quieted down and was sedate. A few short minutes later, the same procedure was complete with him as well. The nurse unstrapped the now sleeping Bakura and then the team of medical employees left the room. The doctor remained to jot a few notes down on his patients' charts, then followed the rest out the door. Being the only one awake, Yami was left to stare at the boring white walls and listen to the beeps and blips of medical machinery. He took the time to summon Yugi and speak to him through their mental link.
//Aibou? Aibou? Wake up!//
With a yawn, Yugi awoke to his partner's calling. /What is it Yami? And what is it they are putting in my body that makes me sleep so much?/
//Turkey. We had turkey for a meal earlier. And I think we're still being heavily medicated. There are many colorful pills they are still telling me to take.//
/Oh. But, overall, I think we're healing up nicely right?/
//You noticed?//
/You using magic to assist? Yes. While I'm still upset about how all this happened, you using your own powers to help fix the situation is a nice touch of apology./
//The thief is driving me nuts!//
/Why do you think I'm sleeping. I'd rather not listen to his annoying bitch and moan sessions./
//So I guess this is more punishment for me eh?//
/Unintentionally, but yes, I suppose so./
//We're going to hurt in a 'certain' area soon. Just want to warn you.//
/I know. But I won't feel it...you will./
//Thanks a lot aibou.//
/More unintentinal punishment Yami./
//I have this feeling that I'll be paying for this for many days to come.//
/Just wait til Grandpa hands you the hospital bill!/ Yugi joked.
Yami groaned. //You aren't serious are you?!//
/I think I'm under his insurance. You should be okay. But, I bet he'll have some 'lesson' to teach you./
//I now know why I usually avoid stupidity.//
/Welcome to Joey's world!/
//One way ticket out of this place now please!//
/Heheheheh, sorry Yami...boat's not leaving for you yet. Relax. The worst is over now...I think. I'm going back to sleep. I'm making up for sleep I lose whenever school's in session./
//Aibou, there's no such thing as making up sleep.//
/Doesn't matter. I enjoy sleeping anyway./
//Sweet dreams then aibou.//
/And don't let the thief get the better of you Yami./
//Right.//
And with that their mental link was broken. Yami refocused on the here and now. With Bakura sedated, he could do more tranquil things. Finding the tv remote once again, Yami flipped through channels seeking something that may be of interest. He stopped short on a channel with documentaries. It was featuring a show about Ancient Greece.
*Greeks had more nudity than all of Egypt combined.* Yami thought. While he didn't have his memories yet, he had a vague idea of how things were. Reading many books and papers about ancient Egypt from Professor Hopkins and others brought the once pharaoh up to speed. He was easily relearning reading of hieroglyphs and his ancient language.
With slight disgust and conetempt for the rival Greeks, Yami flipped through channels once again. He found a sports channel with gymnastics on. *Hmmm, now I could get used to this.* Yami thought as he watched young women display a competitive edge all the while flipping and contorting in ways that well, amused the ancient ruler. But then, as time passed, he had to change the channel once again. Watching young women in skimpy leotards flitting about was beginning to make the body's hormones rise and that could be potential trouble for an area of the body that was extremely sore and trying to heal. He found a more 'neutral' show...the news. True to his regal nature, he had to know anything about everything that was going on around him and the world. Keeping up on the latest current events just seemed so natural for the once king.
As an hour passed and the novacaine wore off, Yami felt the pain the nurse had warned him about. He didn't want to move his torso or legs period. *Well, this is going to prove interesting. How am I supposed to relieve myself if I'm in so much pain, I can't even walk?* Yami pondered as he knew eventually that dilemma would become a reality.
Moments later, groans from the other side of the room were heard. Bakura was regaining his senses.
"Damnable place with its white walls and white clothed employees!" Bakura seethed. He was in obvious pain and naturally he had to move and squirm about to worsen his situation.
"Hey thief, keep it down over there." Yami commanded, but ended up laughing halfway through it.
"Not funny king."
"Yes it is. Simple laws of physics thief. Don't move and it won't hurt."
"Since when did I ever listen to laws or rules! BAH! I need to take a leak!"
"Already?"
"Just shut up." Bakura moaned as he tried to manipulate his body. With a broken arm and broken leg in full casts, moving proved to be a challenge. "DAMN THIS STUFF! I'M NOT A FREAKIN' MUMMY!" Bakura spat as the casts impeded and fought his every attempt to get up. Eventually, with much effort, he stood...then fell back onto the bed as gravity tugged on the newly painful area. "I WILL CURSE EVERY DAMN ONE OF YOU!" he yelled at no one in particular. He just felt a need to say that.
"Isn't a curse and a damn the same thing thief?"
"DAMN YOU TO HELL KING!"
"That's more like the thief I know. But honestly, I don't want to be anywhere you will be. I think you wish the same."
There were utterences and mutters from the other side, but Yami couldn't make out anything as far as words. All he heard were more bitches and moans from the tomb robber and a bunch of crashes and thuds then suddenly silence.
"You dead yet thief?"
No response.
"Bakura?"
"Can't you leave me in peace for two seconds!?"
"Fine, wallow in your misery then." Yami shot back as he turned back to the television.
Several hours passed in silence. Then the smell of food returned to the hallway. Both ancient Egyptians perked up at the smell and anticipation of more food.
"It must be early evening and dinner is being served." Yami observed. He couldn't see the clock on the wall as it was over the doorway and the curtain was still closed.
"About time. They have no right starving me like this."
"Still cranky I see."
"King, I'd watch your tongue. As soon as I figure out how to get out of this bed, I will be able to personally come over there and knock some sense into you."
"I do not fear you thief."
"All the better. I love a challenge."
Then their door was opened. The nurse's aide peeled the curtain back and tucked it away. She then pulled up their trays and set dishes of food down for both. Both young men remained silent as their focus turned to their meals and the yummy aromas that filled their room. This time it was salisbury steak in gravy with sliced carrots and mashed potatoes. They even had a little slice of chocolate cake for dessert.
It didn't take either very long to clean their plates.
An hour later, visitors arrived. It was Tea, Joey, Tristan, and Marik.
As Marik entered, he looked at the two ancients with wonderous amusement. He'd seen them both briefly on the ski slopes, but both were bundled up and difficult to fully see. Both Bakura and Yami had dark skin tones that rivaled his own. The pharaoh appeared very much as his likeness did on the stone tablet and almost as if he and Yugi could pass as near twin brothers.
"Well hello you two. Getting along?"
"What's it to you?" Bakura shot back.
Marik instinctively headed closer towards the pharaoh's side of the room.
"Cranky aren't we?" Tea replied as she walked past Bakura who merely shot his tongue out at her.
"Healing nicely I see?" Marik asked Yami with a wink. He knew the pharaoh was likely tapping into his magical powers.
"Not fast enough however." Yami replied as he gave a slight nod towards Bakura.
"I SAW THAT KING!"
"I'm sure you did." Yami deadpanned back. "THIS is what I've had to contend with since we both awoke from that accident." Yami remarked back to his friends.
"Want me to pummel him?" Joey suggested with an evil smirk and flexing of his fist.
"He'd actually enjoy that Joey, so it's best not to indulge him."
"That's right. He's a strange one. Seems to feed off and strengthen with pain." Tristan added.
"News Yami?" Tea asked as she noticed what was on the television.
"Not much on. Ancient Greece doesn't appeal to me and what does, turns out to be a bad thing at this time. Where's your sister Marik?" Yami replied, changing the subject before it became awkward.
"Oh, she's tied up at the convention. She tried to get over here, but some dignitaries showed up and well, that was the end of that. She sends her regards though and wishes you a speedy recovery."
"I see."
The group conversed for a while longer then departed to eat and retire for the evening themselves.
Bakura, ever the bored one was busy checking more gadgets in his surroundings. "Hey king, there's a phone here. Wanna pick on the priest?" he suggested with a wry grin.
Yami rolled his eyes as memories of the last conversation he had with Kaiba replayed in his mind. "No thanks. I already did that a while ago, with most uncomfortable consequences. He and I aren't on speaking terms at the moment."
"Aww, what's the matter? Can't kiss and make up?"
Yami couldn't believe how eerily close Bakura came to guessing what transpired during that phone conversation! "Let's just leave it as is." he replied vaguely trying to find a way out of that subject.
"Fine then, have it your way." Bakura replied as he started pushing buttons.
"Just what do you think you're doing Bakura!?" Yami asked, shocked that the thief was taking his liberties with the phone.
"Dialing for pizza. You're paying."
"I'm WHAT!?"
"What room number is this...ahh, nevermind, found it here on the phone. How convenient eh? Yeah, three pizzas, everything on them but those cursed anchovies got that! Hospital...room 215A. Yeah, add it to the hospital bill...Motou's the last name. Oh and if they're not here in 30 minutes, YOU will pick up the tab!"
Yami could only look in wide-eyed horror as the thief found a way to fill his apparently still empty stomach! Leave it to Bakura to memorize the phone number in the hotel of the nearest pizza place.
Bakura hung up the phone and relaxed. with a devillish smirk of accomplishment on his face.
"You're so dead thief."
"Already am dead. Can't become dead if already am dead."
Yami was left to growl in disgust. "You're unbelievable!"
"And you love me for it."
"One of these days thief, one of these days..."
"But not today king."
Pharaoh-7 Thief-7
to be continued...