Disclaimer: I don't own Yu-gi-oh! ™ The plot of this fic is mine, though.
Chapter Three: Rehab of the Heart
"Bye, Kaiba…Hope you feel better!" Tea's friends called as they left the hospital. They waved to Tea, and she waved back, sad they were leaving. It was a Monday in Domino Memorial Hospital, and Tea's friends had brought Kaiba's schoolwork when they heard he was sick. They didn't get along well, but Tea's friends were always nice to him anyway.
Now, Tea swallowed nervously and stole a peek back at him, where he was in the hospital bed. She hadn't made eye contact with him since yesterday, when they went to visit his brother, who was still in the children's ward. And he could tell she was shy. Kaiba was feeling a bit regretful of what had happened, as a silence passed between them. Usually now, were at each other's throats…but now, we can't think of anything to say, they were both thinking.
Wearing the same stern expression like usual, he ordered, "Get over here, Gardener."
He always called everyone by there last names, but this time she went meekly, without a word. He patiently waited until her eyes slowly traveled from where they were (pointed at the ground) to meet his own. Then they quickly shifted away, and she backed up a cautious step. Probably she thinks I'm going to reprimand her for what happened yesterday…….he thought ruefully. Kaiba let the silence hang, like an ax it seemed, waiting to see what she would do. Tea began to fidget with her pink sleeve. "Well…..?" she said. "You wanted something?"
"About……the other day," he said gruffly, playing with the hem of his hospital gown, while she stiffened in remembrance, "I……want you to forget it ever happened, you hear me? you know what I am talking about." He frowned sternly at her, expecting her to protest his command.
"Yes I do. And okay."
"……Okay?" He looked taken aback, then suspicious. "What do you mean, woman!?"
"Exactly what I said. After all, it was a mistake. Right?" Her light blue eyes met his darker shaded eyes as she rubbed her head embarassedly.
"…..You're certainly right. It was a mistake. Your mistake, and I expect you never try anything like that with me ever again." The lights of war flashed in Tea's eyes.
"My mistake? Excuse me, but you are the one who ……kissed me….okay?!" She loomed over him, cheek flushed, but he wasn't intimidated.
He smiled in a lazy way that made her heartbeat erratic. "If I remember correctly, you were the one…..putting your hands on me when I got up. Thank your lucky stars I don't sue for harassment."
"Harassment?!" Tea could only repeat his words, sputtering in rage, fists clenched as she fought not to smack him. She was furious at herself for liking his kiss when it happened. All day at school was spent puzzling over it, and all last night, too. Now, she was tense and irritable at this boy genius who thought he was God's gift to women. And now she was furious at him for what he'd just said, and because he looked so cute with his chestnut brown locks tousled and grinning that grin that drove half the girls at their school wild. "Why don't you just kiss some bimbo at our school instead of me, huh?"
Kaiba knew full well that Tea was the only girl at school that didn't have the 'hots' for him. Mostly, they wanted his money and power and expensive presents, and he felt like reawakening of a challenge in this slip of a girl, sine it wasn't obvious she was a rare female who wasn't swayed by his power and prestige. "Because, Gardener, it was you, I wanted to…..kiss."
As expected, her eyes grew round with shock. Typical female, all right, he thought cynically. Always goes for the flowery words. Pa-thet-ic. Then she said, "You liar! You're just trying to play one of your sick games with me. You just wish I'll play."
Again he was a little shocked at the turnaround, but he didn't miss a beat. "Feh. If I kissed you right now, you would swoon on the spot," he said, smirking arrogantly. "Just like any of those 'bimbos' at our school!"
"I would not! 'Cause you have such a big head, it's a wonder it fit through the doorway!"
"I do not have a big head," he said, looking strangely offended. "And if you keep this up, I will sue, and you'll be out on your ass."
"Grr-rrr!" she turned an interesting shade of purple. "You're just lucky you're crippled!"
He turned silent, glancing down and away. The bickering back and forth had been amusing, up until now. His eye fell on the purple bear with the balloon on it. It was obvious it'd been a gift from Tea; she'd lied when she said it was from Mokuba, since he was still in a coma. Thinking about it made him feel worse. He hated being stuck in this bed, constantly on edge about his company, and how it was doing. Tea realized her words had come out wrong. "Um……I didn't mean…..I mean, I meant…." She wilted, "that……well you know what I meant, right?"
He opened his mouth to tell her to get the hell out, but then the doctor came in, wearing his usual fake, plastered smile. "And how are we doing today?" He looked from angry girl to his patient. "Hm, still the same, eh?" He forced a small chuckle. "Anyway, Mr. Kaiba, today we will start your rehab, under your orders. If you're not feeling that well, we can reschedule----"
"No. I'm starting right now." There was still pain in Kaiba's spine, but he felt sure enough to start walking again.
"Are you……sure?"
"Yes." His patient answered irritably.
"Okay, sir. Then, we'll remove the bandages, then." The doctor moved nervously, his stubby hands shaking as he put his clipboard underneath his armpit. "Volunteer, will you help him remove his shirt?"
"M-me?!" Tea squeaked, backing away towards the door. She caught Kaiba's smirking gaze over his broad shoulder, and with a determined look, remembered what he'd said about her swooning in front of him. I'll show him who's swoons! She went to his back and hurriedly started untying the ties which held the gown together. Both of the others helped to make it go faster, and her fingers touched Kaiba's briefly. Tea backed away as if burned, face scorching. Luckily the doctor didn't notice, and Kaiba's back was turned. Get a grip, girl! But she was starting to think he had been on to something…….
But I'm going to fight it tooth and nail!
Then, the doctor gave her a pointed look that said she must leave for the sake of his privacy, and out she went, not liking that LOOK or Kaiba's face as she did so. A look that said, I just KNOW you'd rather stay and look at my body…..!
"Idiot….." she muttered. "the nerve of that Kaiba…….'and if you keep this up I'll sue!' " she mimicked his deep voice, walking down to get a snack. She wandered around, chewing on her chocolate bar (she was a junk food junkie) and daydreaming. Mostly, unwantedly, of how he'd looked at her, right before the Kiss, shock of brown hair falling over one eye, firm mold of his mouth held shut. How are he and his brother even related?! Tea went to check on the little boy. Mokuba's always polite and thoughtful…while his brother's a cute pain in the neck!
Omigod….did I just say that? She went to Mokuba's bedside and cradled her head in her arms. It doesn't matter how I feel about Kai-ba…..he'll never change. Never. I can't make him change, and you can't make him change, she mentally told the little boy, only he can change himself. And mostly he just like a toy around with me. Kissing me, then accusing me of harassment!
Mokuba's hand twitched. Tea looked carefully at the boy's eyes, but they were tightly shut. Just a reflex…..
"Take care of my brother…." Tea heard the boy's voice inside her head just then. "Go check on him….for me, Tea."
What did that mean? Does he know he'll never wake up?! No, it's impossible; he has to!
Still, Tea wished to do his bidding, just in case those were his last wishes. She got up and went all the way to room 516. "Get me a mirror!" Kaiba was shouting. He was standing up!
"Ah…..no, sir." The man was twitching nervously, and wringing his hands at his angry patient. Tea saw Kaiba hobble his way unsteadily to the bathroom mirror and try to twist around to see his scar on the incision of his back. "Please, don't sir! You'll tear out your stitches and----"
When a groan of pain, Kaiba half-fell, sweat pouring from his forehead, teeth gritted tight. Without a word, Tea helped the doctor get him back to his bed. All the while, he cursed and muttered oaths about their jobs being on the line. After injecting some painkillers to numb the pain, the doctor was very happy to leave.
Tea stayed. She shot Kaiba an angry look, as she picked up his tray of food and sat by his bedside. "That was a very stupid thing to do. And dangerous, too."
"Shut up, already!" He scowled fiercely, one that made the bravest men cower away. But she just spooned up some applesauce, tucking the bed sheet up to his neck again for a bib. He tried to slap her hands off, but the painkiller were taking effect and his limbs felt 15 pounds each. "Damn drugs…..won't let me hit you!"
"But your mouth sure still is working," she said sarcastically, aiming a spoonful at it. "So open up, already!"
"Just get the hell out--mmph!" the spoon went in, and he almost choked. "Damn you, woman! You're trying to kill me, aren't you?!"
"Bite me," she said amicably, unconcerned with his ranting, taking up around spoon of the sauce. Tucking a piece of her hair behind her ear she aimed again. "Say 'ah', for the little plane," she said and when he gave her an incredulous look, she said with a smile and shrug, "Well, you are acting like a two year old, so when in Rome…."
A glob of applesauce stuck to the end of his nose, and her fingers twitched to swipe it off. But then he'd probably do as she said before and bite her. But it didn't look like he would bite her now, he was looking at her in a way that made her blush. Again, she felt his face pulled up close to hers, his soft kiss in her head….
"You're thinking about it, aren't you."
"S-so?" she said defensively. "So what if I am!"
"Well, since you're feeding me, you can at least wipe my face off for me." he said pointedly, looking at the glob on his nose. He looked cross-eyed when he did that, and she laughed to see it. "What's so funny?" he questioned.
"None of your business." Since with no napkin, she decided to take a chance and quickly swiped it off with a forefinger, nearly scratching him in the process, feeling a funny tingling that told her she was in love. Looking away from those horribly penetrating, beautiful eyes, Tea started to wipe it off on the blanket. His hand caught her wrist in a firm, almost painful grip before she could. It snaked along her hand to gently grasp the forefinger, still dripping with applesauce, before putting it to his lips and gently licking it off. Tea felt every sensation there was, in just that split second, the feel of soft, firm lips and the gentle rasping of his warm moist tongue, plus the warmth of his gaze and on her cheeks……
Omigod…..Just that. Omigod.
And, Girl. You are in tra--bull……
"Kiss me," he dared softly. "And then we'll see who faints….." His eyes glowed with the challenge, a slight smirking gaze.
Tea took back her hand, the sensation of his touch still lingering. She never noticed, but those sapphire orbs were fringed with little dense chestnut brushes, and she looked at him longingly, wanting to do as he said, and put her lips on his and possibly kiss that breath out of him……
Um. I didn't mean to leave you hanging there. But my poor fingers are cramped from too much typing! Sorry. But I'll update soon, I promise. And I never break a promise. So review if you want another chapter, okay?
