Kaiba: (in a very annoyed tone) Took you long enough to update!
Anaya's Creator: (points a finger towards heaven) Damn teachers and their obsession with tests and the stupid midterms! It truly puts a serious damper on the imagination.
Malik: Here are the reviews:
Silver Moon Phoenix:
(Laughs villainously) Mwa ha ha ha! Me and my cliffhangers :-P ... have a cookie. (gives you a cookie)
Gardevoir-Mages:
You guys reviewed twice, two cookies for all of you (gives cookies) and yes, GM, you have to share them or I'll take away your two cookies! Love your guys' story! Keep up the good work.
Daydreamer:
I meant the American Idol pretty boy. I didn't care about spelling his name right.
Abyss Rikku:
You confuse me, could you please clarify some things for me? Malik needs help? Rogue doesn't deserve him? What do you mean by asking those questions?
As for when they'll screw... very soon, my dear reviewer, very soon.
Malik: (Gets excited) How soon is soon?
Anaya's Creator: I call all time soon. Now let me finish or I'll hit you on the head with my iorn frying pan! (Holds up frying pan and waves treateningly)
Malik: (Calms down)
Stormtracer:
(Looks confused) What point? Apology accepted. Did you enjoy your vacation? I did mine... I stayed home!
Peachi Goddess:
Glad you liked it. Update your story soon and I'll review again!
Anaya's Creator: On with the long anticipated, I hope it was worth the wait...
Kaiba, Malik, and Reviewers: GET ON WITH IT!!!!
Anaya's Creator: Okay, okay... on with Chapter 20
-8-8-8-8-8-8-8-
"BROTHER!!!"
The yell was so shrill that it echoed in her brain and Rogue could have sworn that she heard the furniture rattle against the floor. Beside her, Malik shifted a little.
"Ishizu, I don't wanna get up yet," he moaned, tightening his grip around Rogue's hip and burying his face in her neck.
"Malik, get off me you lazy bum," Rogue demanded playfully.
Sleepily, Malik lifted himself up and opened his eyes. "Good morning kitten," he said as he ran a hand along her rough stomach. He was about to kiss her when Ishizu stomped over and yanked him back up by the ear.
"THE NEXT TIME YOU DECIDE TO SPEND THE NIGHT WITH YOUR GIRLFRIEND, CALL!!" she shrieked in the ear she held.
Malik leapt off the couch. "I GET THE MESSAGE YOU HARPY! YOU DON'T NEED TO SCREAM IN MY EAR LIKE THAT!! OR I'LL START LOOSING MY HEARING BEFORE I'M IN MY TWENTIES!!"
But Ishizu wasn't listening to him; she was too busy muttering to no one in particular. "Damn it all Malik... what am I going to do with you...? Out of my mind with worry... Nearly asked Odeon to go out searching for you..."
"Sister, I'm not a little kid anymore."
"Then you'd better start acting like it!"
I think I should stay out of this little sibling squabble, Rogue thought. She sneaked off the couch and went into the kitchen to fix her breakfast.
A few minutes later, Malik sat at the table in the kitchen across from where Rogue was sitting. "Jeez, I hate my sister's damn mood swings."
"Oh goody, you're still alive. Well, if you're hungry, help yourself to food. There's some in the fridge as well as in the pantry beside it," Rogue offered sitting at the table with Adan pearched on the back of it.
"Thanks, Rogue," He got up and went over to the pantry, putting a hand on her shoulder as he passed.
Ishizu entered the room a few moments after Malik got up. "So Rogue, how have you been this past year and a half?" she asked in her normal serene tone.
"I've been alright. Mom's been going on longer digs more and more often, but with the tests at Kaiba Corps nearly every day and studying for school I barely notice she's gone. Speaking of school, Malik, are you going to join us at Domino High for the rest of senior year?"
"I think so, but it'll be after you guys take midterms. I already took them at my other school in Egypt. (1)"
"How are those tests at Kaiba Corps Hospital going?" Ishizu inquired.
"They're going well; they told me that they will be able to perform the operation sooner than expected."
"How soon is soon?" Malik queried.
"I'm waiting until I get a definite date before I tell people that."
A few days after midterms ended, and every one was gathered at Rogue's house.
"So what's the big news Rogue?" Serenity asked as she sat down next to Mokuba and Kaiba.
"Well as many of you undoubtedly know, from one source or another, that for around the past seven months, I've been going to Kaiba Corps for tests on my eyes. The doctors have made their decision. The operation will be performed about a week from today."
"That's awesome, Rogue!" Yugi exclaimed, jumping up from his chair in excitement.
"No kidding," Malik said. Running over to Rogue, he threw his arms around her waist and spun her around, lifting her off the floor a bit.
Yugi felt a pang of jealousy come from Yami at the sight of this.
"I wouldn't rejoice just yet, Ishtar." Kaiba's cold voice stung the room like a sudden cold wind stings an unprepared child's skin.
"How can you say that, Kaiba?!" Joey barked. (A/N: Ha, ha) "One of our friends has the chance to get her sight back; we got every reason to rejoice!"
"The operation hasn't even been performed yet, mutt. Who's to say that it will work? Rogue's condition is one several doctors can't even fathom how to treat."
"But still Seto, it's not like the odds are against her," Serenity said gently.
"I'm just saying that they shouldn't get their hopes up too high."
"THEN WHY DIDN'T YOU JUST SAY THAT IN THE FIRST PLACE?!!!" Joey bellowed.
-8-8-8-8-8-8-
A week later, Rogue's mom, Malik, Odeon, Yami, Serenity, Kaiba, and Mokuba were sitting in the hospital waiting room, waiting for someone to come out and tell them what the fuck was happening to Rogue in the surgical room. They had all been waiting there ever school let out. Finally, a nurse came out of the surgical ward followed by a hospital bed carrying Rogue came out behind her on it pushed by some aids.
Mokuba, Yami, Serenity, and Malik jumped up from their seats intending to follow, but the nurse stopped them. "You can't see her just yet," she informed them.
"Ma'am what do you mean? The operation is over, isn't it?" Serenity asked.
"Serenity, the doctors probably just need to make sure that Rogue is ready for visitors. That surgery was very extensive. No doubt it's taken a toll on everyone, including Rogue," Kaiba said, putting his hands on her shoulders.
"You got that right, Mr. Kaiba. Miss Kaisaris has been in surgery for quite a while. For eight hours at least, if I'm not mistaken."
"Will she be able to see again?" Malik and Yami inquired simultaneously.
"Only the doctors will be able to tell you that." And with that the nurse walked away.
"Seto, Rogue'll be okay, won't she?" Mokuba asked.
"Let's hope so."
About ten minutes later, one of the doctors that had been working with Rogue throughout the testing came over. "Miss Kaisaris will need overnight to recover from the anesthetic and for us to give her medicine and such before she sees visitors. You may return tomorrow during visiting hours which are from seven o'clock in the morning to around seven o'clock in the evening."
"How is she otherwise?" Rogue's mother demanded.
"Madam, your daughter will need a night's recovery in order for us to give you a definite answer. As for now, her system seems at least stable, but we mustn't rush. If all goes well, then she'll be here for about a week. We will remove her bandages after the skin around her eyes heals, thatcould take anywhere from three days to a week. Then we will do an eye exam and depending on what the results are, she may need to stay longer. There's a possibility that she may not be able to see right away or she may need glasses. Good night." The doctor bowed to his employer and left.
"Well," Rogue's mother sighed. "There's nothing more we can do, I guess, until morning." She sighed again and sat back down in a chair, her head resting in one of her hands as she stared at the floor.
Kaiba put his arm around Serenity, "Come on 'Ren, I'll take you home. Don't look so glumMokuba, you can see Rogue after school tomorrow."
Serenity gave a final glance at Rogue's mother and left with the Kaiba brothers. Soon after, everyone else followed suit.
The following days in the hospital went by slowly for Rogue. Waiting was not something she enjoyed. She tried to keep her mind busy by doing the homework that her friends brought her, but she eventually grew bored with it or got too tired and would simply speak with her mother, who had taken off work to be there with her. Malik, Serenity, and Yami and Yugi visited her often and kept her company.
One day...
"Well Rogue, it looks like it's time to take your bandages off," the doctor said as he wrote something on his clipboard.
"Do you really mean it, Doctor?" her mother asked excitedly.
"I do, Mrs. Kaisaris. I'll call Mr. Kaiba immediately; no doubt he will want to hear the good news." The doctor left the room, leaving Rogue and her mother alone.
Rogue felt her mother grab her hands and squeeze them in anticipation.
"I can't believe it, daughter. I just can't believe it. You're finally going to see again. If only your father..." She broke off, hardly able to contain her joy. Dropping Rogue's hands, she placed hers on her daughter's cheeks and kissed her forehead.
The smile that had been on Rogue's face faltered slightly as a familiar doubt entered her mind. What if the operation hadn't worked? What if she still couldn't open her eyes? She didn't even want to think of her reaction if those doubts turned out to be fact.
-8-8-8-8-8-8-8-
In his office, Kaiba was sitting at his laptop, working and Mokuba was sitting on the couch with a stack of American X-Men comic books. Then the phone on Kaiba's desk rang.
"Kaiba," he said, picking up the phone.
"I beg your pardon for interrupting your work, sir, but one of the doctors just informed me that they're ready to take the girl at the hospital's bandages off.
"Good, I'll be there as soon as I can." Kaiba got up from his desk and made to leave the office. He reached the door and paused. "Hey kiddo, the doctors have said that Rogue's bandages can come off today. Are you coming with me?"
The raven haired teen immediately dropped his comic book and made a dash for the door. "Of course I'm coming."
A few minutes later, the Kaiba brothers were in their limousine driving to the Kaiba Corps hospital. "So Seto, how exactly did Rogue's operation work? You never actually explained that to me."
"It's quite simple really, kiddo. Rogue's eyes had metal shards embedded in the corneas and eyelids that needed to be removed in order for her to see. According to the x-rays she had before the operation the corneas were so badly damaged that they needed to be replaced entirely. Are you with me so far?" (2)
Mokuba nodded.
(A/N: Are YOU with me so far?)
Kaiba continued. "So the operation was originally supposed to be two separate ones, butmiraculously before the surgery was performed, a donator was found and the procedures were done together. A laser was used to destroy the shards in her eyelids and the new corneas replaced her injured ones."
"So someone gave up their sight so Rogue could see?"
"No Mokuba, the corneas she needed were from a dead person. (3)" Out of the corner of his eye, Kaiba saw the young colt shudder at the thought of putting dying people's body parts in living people.
Soon they had reached the hospital and the doctor removed Rogue's bandages.
Rogue struggled to open her eyes at first, not used to being able to open them, but they eventually opened. At first all she could see was bright white light, so bright that she had to shield her eyes from it. Slowly, the light formed into blobs of color, which formed shapes and shadows, and finally she saw a clear picture. The first thing she saw was... her arm and a wall.
Kaiba's jaw nearly dropped. With her eyes actually open, Rogue was gorgeous. Her silvery grey eyes fit perfectly with her green hair, but then again, she couldn't compare to Serenity whose amber eyes and fiery red hair , in his eyes, were beautiful beyond compare.
Rogue looked around the nearly empty room. The walls were unbearably plain, white and unadorned. Her mother, who had been so youthful when she had seen her last, had aged much in six years. She now had hair that was nearly all grey with an aged face and thin wrinkled hands.
Rogue's steel orbs fell on the Kaiba brothers for the first time. The taller one had to be Seto with his chestnut hair and cold cerulean eyes. She smiled at the smaller, and obviously younger, Mokuba. He had long black hair and blood-indigo eyes.
"Miss Kaisaris, can you see? How many fingers am I holding up?" the doctor asked, holding up three fingers. He was portly, wore huge glasses, and what little hair he had left was thin and very little was left on his slightly square-shaped head.
"As a matter of fact, I can see and you are holding up three fingers."
"Very well then," He turned to Kaiba. "Mr. Kaiba, we will perform an eye examination as soon as possible to make sure she doesn't need glasses or that sort of thing."
Later on, after the eye examination (her eyesight was a perfect 20/20), Rogue was packing up her things to take home with Mokuba and Kaiba helping. The word "helping" here means that she and Mokuba were doing the actual packing and Seto was sitting in a chair, watching. Rogue's mother had gone to warm up the car and was waiting for her at the entrance of the hospital.
"I hope you remember the deal we made, Kaisaris," Kaiba told her as they walked down the halls of the hospital.
"I do, Kaiba. If the operations were successful, I would have to cook meals for you and Mokuba from now until the end of summer, and if you like my cooking and I need money for collage, you may consider officially employing me as your cook; is that not correct?
"It is and it will be effective as soon as possible."
"Well, I need to get used to handling cooking utensils with my sight again. If you give me a week, I will be ready to cook for you."
"Fine, a week then. Don't forget."
"Why do you want me to cook for you anyways? Can't you prepare a meal for yourself and your brother?"
"You dare to mock me, Rogue?!"
"No, I'm just blatantly curious."
"Well, anyhow, that's not important."
Unnoticed by Kaiba, Rogue's eyes began to glow bright grey for a second then they became normal. Oh, I see, Rogue thought. You can't cook at all, can you Kaiba, not even something as simple as a piece of toast. What an interesting irony, the richest man in almost the entire world has the skills to run a multi-billion yen corporation, yet he can't even manage to make soup without something going wrong. How amusing...
(1) I made that up. :-P
(2) If this contradicts anything I've said earlier in the fanfic let me know.
(3) Yes, this is actually possible in real life.
Kaiba: (fuming) What do you mean I can't cook?!
Anaya's Creator: Hey, I had to think of something, didn't I? Besides it's true.
Kaiba: (tries to hit Authoress)
Anaya's Creator: (Catches his arm before it hits her) I wouldn't do that or I may decide not to put any SetoxSerenity action in the next chapter.
Kaiba: I'll be good.
Malik: Read and Review people.