Disclaimer: I don't own Yu-gi-oh ™ or any of it's characters. I just like watching it on my TV.
%%%%%% Chapter Seven: Like This %%%%%
I have to quit my job, Tea thought, walking down the street. It was about four in the morning, pale early sunlight peeked over the top of Domino. Still, Tea never felt as rested as she did. Every bit of the night with him stuck with her, to listening to him breathe and smelling his salt-sweat skin, to the silken feel of his hair as it tickled her forearms…..
It was so strong…….Tea didn't regret confessing her feelings, not at all…even though it probably had just driven him away further…still, she didn't regret it. She always believed the truth will ....set you free, as the cliche went. I know he's got SOME feelings for me too…..he doesn't just…..do-do THAT with any plain Jane like me…Plus, it had been so passionate and tender….he was so passionate and tender….such a tough exterior, but so sweet on the inside….who is he? Which one?
She shivered, automatically rubbing her arms to keep warm as a reflex. A TV in the electronics store window showed a soap opera. "I didn't want to love him…but now I can do nothing else…" sobbed a pretty young thing. You and me both, Tea thought cynically.
Suddenly she turned abruptly. I'm going to quit! It's just a volunteer job anyway. I can do something else, like feed the homeless. Old toothless men are sure to calm me down like a cold shower, surely. She phoned the head nurse.
"Brenda? It's me…."
"Tea, dear? You'd better come here quick….."
%%%%
It was until four in the afternoon she went back to the hospital. It was simple, she'd forgotten her sweater in Kaiba's room.
It's nothing….I just forgot my sweater......In his room…..god, and Brenda found it! Does she know? And she's the biggest gossip in town! The thought of Kaiba thumbing it off her shoulders last night pushed it way into her mind. No! I can't think of that! Just hurry up and get this over with. She was actually whimpering, dreading to go there again, to the place stuffed with tantalizing memories. Like when a four year old stamps her foot and throw a tantrum….don't be childish, Tea!
When she'd gathered her wits, Tea tried the door, but it was locked. Feeling frustrated, she spotted a cart full of sheets and papers, a maid's cart. Surely it had a key…..
Making up her mind, she thrust it in the keyhole, feeling a dread like no other, like if she were opening Pandora's box….
More like the gates to hell, she thought ruefully. Tea paused, realizing something. I still don't appreciate his sour attitude, and the things he does…..but that---she struggled, forming the unknown into a thought of coherence. It doesn't matter? No one was as surprised as her to realize it. Or as panicked. Had Kaiba Seto, arrogant CEO of the richest company in the world, completely turned her life around? Her morals? Her dignity? HIM?! One guy?
Yes! Oh defintely.
The word jagged through her brain like an electric jolt. Just like what I felt….when his arms were around me…..she thought dreamily.Sheesh, one minute all panicky then dreamy the nest....
Tea shook her head so hard, her long brown hair swirled out of it's once neat ponytail. It's impossible! I'm still me! I will never be like him! So aloof and detached, and good looking and handsome. That's definitely not me, she admitted silently.
With that thought, she bravely stepped in, chin up. I will tell him it's not me! Still, Tea was glad to see he was sleeping after all. Suddenly, she heard a deep voice behind her, and recognizing it as the suited bodyguard, the big old oaf. It's 4:00! Lunchtime, you ox! Get to the cafeteria! She thought, closing the door behind here with a sharp click. Tea didn't like the big bully. At all.
She had gone to school that morning after she'd left, so she was still in her school uniform. Tea found her fingers fixing her clothes and hair nervously, and she slapped her hand down. He's asleep anyway, he can't see how you look, you idiot! Just get your sweater and beat it out of there! Tea looked all around, but it was nowhere to be seen.
Just a dark wooden table, with the "Get beary well" balloon still on it, pushed to a corner. Distracted by it, Tea found herself picking up the fuzzy bead and fondly stroking it.
"Who's there?!" a muffled, gruff voice called, as Kaiba twisted around (he'd been laying on his stomach in a robe, his face buried in his arms). He was angry for being caught off guard….
Tea tried to say, it's me, I forgot my sweater, but he was staring so angrily at her, she wondered what was wrong. The shade were drawn as always, obscuring the room in darkness, she'd assumed he hadn't wanted to light to bother him, as usual. Even though, his anger was still visible. What did I do now?
He continued to glare at her. "Get out! Get your stupid bear and get out!"
"It's not m-my bear….i-it's my sweater…." What, is he upset that I'd left? She wondered. Surely he didn't get upset over things like that! A loner like him? "What's wrong? Did something happen?"
She was right, he didn't get upset over things as such. "I said, GET OUT!" He said it with so much force, but it still came out a hoarse whisper, instead.
Tea took a step forward. "No."
"Goddammit, woman…." He said pounding his fists helplessly at his sides. The heart monitor next to him started to beat erratically. "You're going to kill me! See?!!"
Tea didn't know what the hell he was talking about. Clearly, he was upset, and she wanted to comfort him by any means. "what"
"Shut up! This is all your fault.....". He continued to rant at her, to insult her, and she sat stone faced. I know he's just upset...... Tea thought. He's so stubborn; why won't he tell me already?!
When at last he was drained, he felt empty and weak. Kaiba could saw one tear make it's way slowly down her pale cheek, the only sign she'd been hurt by his sayings. But that was all. Her lovely face was beautifully calm, waiting for an answer, cerulean eyes fixed on his, patiently. Rosy lips pursed in a thin line. Finally, he said haltingly, looking away in the distance, "It's……." A lengthy, defeated sigh. "…..Mokuba."
"What--" her voice sounded a bit thick, so she cleared it. "What is it?" Her eyes grew round in alarm. He looked so sad. Had the little boy died in his coma?
"He…..woke up…..this afternoon…." Kaiba trailed off, not wanting to say the rest. "from his coma---"
"But that's great! That's great news!" Tea exclaimed, throwing her arms about his neck. Thrilled, she was a little too rough, he grunted in pain. But he didn't push her off and continued.
"He's doesn't remember….." Me. Or anything else. By the growing look on her face, he could tell she understood the unsaid part of his sentence.
"Amnesia…" she confirmed in a horrified whisper. "Is that it? He's got amnesia?" Reluctantly, Kaiba nodded, not meeting her eye. He was horribly ashamed to have a relative with something so pointless as amnesia, so incurable. The doctors said he had no hope to recover; Mokuba would be as helpless as a vegetable.
It's all my fault…..Kaiba didn't realize he'd said the words aloud, until Tea said, "No, it's not! It's not your fault, Kaiba!" Yes! Yes, it is! He wanted shout back. He wanted to push her off him, push her out the door, push her out of his life, mind, send her back where she belonged. Away. From him. For he was still a CEO, but a crippled one with a vegetable for a brother.
"No, it's not!" she continued to insist. Kaiba looked at her blankly, so blank, it broke her heart. It was like the look he had on that first night he went visit at the ICU. "You're not! Do you hear me?! Because if you lose hope, I will kill you! Do you understand?" She kissed his cheek, tasting salty tears, as he bowed his head slightly, rocking him slightly for a long while, there was silence.
I wish….. I could transfer some of that sweet certainty to me, Gardener….. maybe I can, ……like this........he turned his head to one side, catching her mouth briefly, softly. Why can't you just go and leave me alone? Why must you plague me....? He hadn't been able to stop thinking about her all day, despite all his problems. Or because of it.
They parted at the same time awkwardly, unsure of what just happened. Then finally he cleared his throat.
"I think…you should leave now." There was a silence, neither moved, neither spoke.
"Okay." she agreed, surprisingly them both. That's a good idea....or else something like before might happen again! Bad. Very bad. "T-that's a good idea…." She got up unsteadily, a little dizzy. The corner of his mouth quirked up, as he watched her sway and stumbled and it was all because of him. "I'll be back later---"
"You forgot something." He picked up the sweater beside him, and threw it at her, with the accuracy of a baseball pitcher, smirking slightly, eyes saying thanks."Gardener."
"Hm?"
"Oh. Yeah. t-thanks." She turned and hastily made a getaway. He's back to normal self……
%%%%% The next day %%%%%
And how. Tea had gotten her job back, with practically zero effort, since the receptionist winked and hinted at her hot romance with the 'CEO boy upstairs'. "I have no idea what you're talking about," Tea had said, with a poker face that gave nothing away. The receptionist just laughed, until Tea laughed softly along with her, turning away so her secret wouldn't be revealed.
Even my friends are getting suspicious…
Tea first paid a visit to Mokuba downstairs, still in the ICU of the children's ward. She was surprised to see him playing with another child in a bandage in their room. Apparently, he still knew how to do things his age. Just like Kaiba to exaggerate, Tea thought, watching from the window. This is probably the same as being a vegetable to him. Slowly she entered. No memories….. she reminded herself.
She'd met the boy a few times in the past, but who would know if he'd remember? Both of them looked up, she smiled in greeting and waved. They did the same, and she hesitated.
Might as well cut to the chase…. "Hi Mokuba. Do you remember me?" she did her best to not sound condescending to the child.
The boy frowned. He still had an IV attached the one skinny arm, and was on a respirator. "No. Should I…?" He saw her uniform. "You're a nurse, right? Probably new. I have amnesia," he explained, his dark eyes staring cheerfully.
"Yes, I know….." Tea hesitated again. Do you remember your brother? But she didn't want to depress him. "I go to school with your brother."
"Uh, you do?"
"Sure!" he was agreeable, continuing to play with his little friend as she walked out. Well, at least he's happy and well….Tea checked his chart. It says, no external injuries, just bumps and bruises……but was in a coma for seven days…..must be a head injury, then….The details were vague. Tea replaced the chart, took one last look at the closed door, then walked upstairs."Yeah….." It was painfully clear he didn't know. "Well, I'll check on you later, okay?"
For once, she wasn't fretting about nonsense when she peeked into Kaiba's room. There was his physical therapist with him, a balding man, sweating and nervous, his hands shaking as he tried to make the most powerful CEO walk a few steps.
Tea could sympathize with the doctor. He didn't want to lose his job, and he couldn't allow any pain, but he had to complete his job. And Kaiba wasn't the most courteous patient…..Tea thought with and eye roll, still peeking in. Both their backs were to her, so she wasn't seen.
"Dammit, it hurts!" Kaiba was yelling, as he clumsy gripped the walking bar.
"Yes, I know, Mr. Kaiba, but you are behind on schedule! You must walk a few paces!" the doctor pleaded.
"Yes, I know I am behind on schedule, and it's thanks to you!" he roared, grunting as he hoisted himself up. He was wearing a long hospital shift, and his biceps bulged from the strain of just standing. The medical doctor had given him enough painkillers to just dull the pain, since too much would be numbing. "I want more drugs! Call that stupid man, NOW!"
"Yes sir!" the therapist yelped, nearly bumping into her as he tore out of the room. "Oh! Nurse, could you stay a few minutes and get Mr. Kaiba comfortable while I fetch the-the-" he was so nervous, he could barely talk. "Please, miss!"
" But I---" Too late, the man was gone, and Tea watched as he crazily made his way down the stairs.
"Gardener. You went to see him, didn't you."
"Yes…I did." Tea answered truthfully, entering the room as Kaiba brushed his sweaty bangs off. They were both talking about Mokuba.
"So? You see?!" he said only, limping away to sit at his wheelchair again. It's hopeless….
Tea chose her words carefully, but he wasn't assured. "At least he's healthy and happy…."
He sank back in a gracefully in the chair, slouching. "What good is that," he said sarcastically.
"YOU SAW HIM!" he yelled suddenly. She was reminded of a child throwing a temper tantrum. Even his brother is more mature about this situation……Just then, a medical doctor came in again, with the head nurse, Brenda."Don't say that!"she said. suddenly angry.
"Hello again," he said cheerfully, setting up his needles. "Ms. Gardener giving you another rough time?" he joked, filling it up from a bottle.
"They always fight, these two," Brenda said smilingly, while the two teenagers scowled at the same time. She went and opened the blinds, letting in sun at full power.
"Close it!" Kaiba ordered. Old nosy bat!
"Now, now," the old lady tutted, "Healthy young boys need some fresh air! How are you going to get all better?" Tea hid a smile at his expression. Brenda talks that way to everyone…..
"I don't want fresh air! And the sun hurts my EYES!" he went on raging, as the doctor jabbed a needle in his arm instead of his IV.
"Now, now, Mr. Kaiba," he smiled, as the grumpy CEO gritted his teeth in pain. "You mustn't argue with Brenda! It's pointless," he joked. "Anyway, that drug should be working in a few minutes, and I'll call in the scared therapist back." He didn't point out that Kaiba had done the scaring, but it was definitely implied. "Ah, there he is. Come in, he won't bite," said Dr. Erik. The therapist's name was Dr. Wim. Tea smiled at Dr. Erik's joking and gentle way. He was relatively new, and had movie star looks. Even Kaiba's threats didn't faze him. "We'll all stay with you, Mr. Kaiba."
Kaiba didn't like all the pairs of eyes on him, but he was eager to get this over with. "Whatever."
"We must use your walker first," Dr. Wim pleaded.
"I hate this thing, it makes me look like an old lady," he muttered between his teeth, but got up and took it.
"It doesn't," Brenda soothed. She watched as her patient took a few limping steps with it. "See? Now just keep doing that for a while…." Easier said than done. Within minutes, Kaiba was complaining about the pain, saying he couldn't walk anymore all because of them, and threatening all their jobs with a heated passion. Dr. Wim looked on the verge of tears.
"Well, he's getting better," Tea murmured after a while, seeing a definite improvement; the limp was hardly visible anymore.
"But without the right attitude, he'll never get back to as he once was," Dr Erik answered. "Okay, take five…..help him back to his wheelchair."
Kaiba snapped at her as Tea tried to help him back, saying he didn't need any help, but she snapped right back at him and paid no attention! All the staff blew relived sighs once out the door, then collapsed in the middle of the hallway, more tired than the patient. They needed the five minutes more than the patient.....
To Be Continued Next Chapter....
A/n: Poor people, LOL. Well, Kaiba is getting better…….but will Mokuba get his memories back? Even I don't know….. And what'll happen between our couple.. Good things? =) Review.
