Chapter 44

Trespassing

The sound of their footsteps echoing off the hospital walls accompanied them as they walked.

"I feel so guilty." Yugi said with a sigh. "I should have been here for her."

"You can't blame yourself." Anzu chimed in. "You had exams, we all did. If you could have been here you would have."

"Besides," Honda added. "You know how obsessed Anna is with you getting a good education. If she were awake she would have told you to go home and study, anyway."

"What's the big deal? She's in a coma; it's not like she's going to complain." Joey got some harsh looks from the others. They weren't too thrilled with his attitude.

The gang walked into her room and was surprised by the change in her surroundings. Her bed was propped up, the blinds were open to let in some sunlight, and there were flowers, lots of them.

"Hey, they took that tube out of her mouth, that's a good sign, isn't it?" Yugi whispered his observation. But he was still sad that she hadn't regained consciousness.

"She must be making progress." Anzu whispered back. Neither of them knew why they were whispering. It wasn't required, nor did they think they would disturb her, it was more like an instinct. On the other hand, Joey wasn't as tactful.

"White roses...one guess who these are from." Joey scowled as he inspected the flowers. "The nerve of that guy!"

"You shouldn't insult Anna's friend like that." Anzu whispered harshly back. "He sent those as a gift."

"These are roses, not a gift." Seeing everyone's confusion Joey knew he should elaborate. "A gift is a card or a nice potted plant, but roses...well, you know what roses mean."

"White roses mean loyalty." Came a weary voice from the bed.

Yugi almost got whiplash from flinging his head around to look at Anna. "You're awake!"

"Joey's loud enough to wake the dead." She half teased with a faint smile.

"When did you wake up?" Yugi asked anxiously.

"Late last night." Anna was still pretty groggy.

"I'm so sorry Anna; I should have been here." Yugi apologized.

"Don't worry about it. You couldn't be here all the time, you had school. I understand."

"I won't forgive myself."

"You can do me a favor."

"Anything." Yugi was so happy to be of any assistance.

"Can you get me some water?" Anna gestured to the table with the water pitcher.

A huge smile crossed Yugi's face. "It's the least I can do; you did save my life."

Anna smiled as she took the glass Yugi prepared. "In some cultures saving someone's life makes them your servant."

"You've already got him wrapped around your finger, what else do you want?" Honda joked from the foot of the bed.

Usually Anna would have had a smart-ass comment to follow that, but today she was too tired and her head still ached. She didn't have to do too much talking, for the rest of the gang were delighted to tell her all the happenings since she'd been gone. Including the torturous exams they just took and the terrible aftermath of the car accident. Anna was disappointed to hear that the driver was not apprehended. She had wondered in the back of her mind if her uncle hired the driver. She didn't get a good look at him and without his arrest, she had no proof. Once again a dead-end. Her and Seto both had nothing as of yet to convict her uncle of foul play. It was beginning to look hopeless.

Speaking of Seto Kaiba...Seto burst through the apartment door. The sudden entrance scared Mokuba, but once he saw who it was, he became overjoyed and angry.

"Where have you been?" Mokuba shouted as he jumped off the couch and followed Seto down the hall. "It's been three days, I was worried!"

"I found Anna."

"Where, in a dumpster? You look terrible!"

"She's in the hospital. She was hit by a car."

Mokuba stopped dead in his tracks, right at the entrance to Seto's room. "Is she okay?"

"She is now." Seto said as he peeled off the top layer of his clothes.

"You've been with her at the hospital for three days?"

Seto just nodded as he entered his walk-in closet looking for clothes that were clean and pressed. He emerged with a suit that Anna had picked out for him. "She is asking to see you. I'm going to get cleaned up, then we're leaving. So go get ready."

Mokuba headed toward his room and Seto went into the bathroom. He had no idea how bad he looked until he saw himself in the mirror. He was in shock. He couldn't believe that he let himself get this bad. He was a perfectionist and a businessman. And in business, your appearance can make or break you. It's a good thing that no one saw him like this. But deep down, he didn't care. All that mattered was Anna. He had come very close to losing her. Not to a boyfriend but to death. That scared him. He had fooled himself for a long time. He thought he could handle anything that was thrown at him. But what a cruel joke life played on him. In those few days when all he could do was sit there and wait, he felt himself going mad. He was a madman obsessed with this woman. And now he looked the part. What would he have done if she didn't wake up? He probably would have stayed there until someone dragged him out of the room. Or he would have ended up in a hospital bed of his own. He hadn't eaten in all the time he was there. He didn't even realize how hungry he was until just then. He had blocked it out. The image of her lying there in that bed with all those wires and tubes, kept replaying in his head. His emotions were overwhelming. He had never felt like this about anyone or anything. He sat down on the bathroom floor and buried his face in hands. His heart bounded and with each beat his chest hurt more.

"I can't lose her. I won't lose her. I need her. I love her."

Mokuba gave Seto some time before looking to see if he was ready. Mokuba knew what a complicated grooming process Seto had. The door was cracked so Mokuba poked his head in.

"I'm ready when you..." Mokuba cut his words short when he noticed Seto sprawled out on the bed. He was fast asleep. Mokuba could guess that Seto hadn't get much sleep when he at the hospital, so it was best to leave him be and let him rest. He quietly closed the door and when back to his room.

When Seto awoke he was mad. His first realization was that it was already dark out.

"Damn it!" Seto cursed as he got off the bed and marched toward the door.

He hadn't intended to fall asleep, it just happened. Kind of like his life at the moment. Things were happening and he had no control. He found Mokuba in the living room watching television. He was ready to yell at him, to ask him why he didn't wake him up earlier. But he knew why Mokuba didn't. It was the same reason Anna wouldn't have. Seto needed the rest.

"Are you ready to go?" Seto asked in a calm tone.

Mokuba smiled and nodded.

All the doctors agreed that Anna was making terrific progress. Everyday she regained her strength and vitality. One doctor even told her that he thought she wasn't going to make it. Or if she did come out of her coma that she would have some major physical and psychological problems. Anna was thankful that that wasn't her fate. She credited her recovery to good friends. The only major problems she faced were really bad headaches and a bum leg. The surgery on her knee meant that they had to immobilize it. Which resulted in a large brace. It was bulky and down right ugly, but it could have been worse, they could have given her a cast. The brace allowed her some mobility, especially with crutches. Anna joked Anzu that they were trying to start a new fashion and maybe they should order matching designer crutches. But worse then the crutches were her headaches. She didn't blame her head for hurting; after all it did get sloshed around in her brain like a James Bond Martini, shaken not stirred. But she wondered if it really had to hurt this much. Some days it felt like someone drilling a hole into her brain. And that was minor to the atomic bomb that exploded in her head every evening. She never let any of her friends know how bad it was. She didn't want to trouble them. But most of all, she was tired. She slept a lot, which was her body's way of healing itself. She wanted to get better, but mostly she wanted out.

Yugi was in a particularly good mood as he walked down the long hospital corridor. Anna was doing better and that made him happy. He normally didn't knock before entering her room, but this time he did stop. It was the sound of voices coming from inside that caught his attention. One voice specifically. He recognized it as Kaiba's. He wanted to charge right in there and tell him to go away, but he didn't. He didn't for three reasons. One was because Kaiba was Anna's friend. Even though he didn't like it, he learned he couldn't force them apart. Second was something Anzu had said to him. Yugi had gotten so mad at the way Kaiba had treated Anna before the accident that he wanted to confront him and tell him off. But Anzu stopped him. She said that Kaiba didn't know that he was her fiancee, Anna never told him. Anzu begged him not to do anything rash. She said that Anna wanted to tell him and that he would only be hurting his relationship with Anna if he spilled the beans to Kaiba. Yugi accepted that because he respected Anna's wishes, especially after what just happened to her. And third and most important reason he didn't enter the room was that he wanted to hear what they said.

"So they say you can leave tomorrow. That must make you happy."

"Let's just say that all those horrible rumors about hospital food are true."

"Name the food and I'll have it for you as soon as you get home."

"You'll give me anything I want?"

"That and more."

"Well then, I might have to make a list."

"Then it's settled, you're staying with me until you're completely recovered."

"What? I didn't agree to that."

"How am I supposed to feed you if you're halfway across town?"

"Have you ever heard of delivery services?"

"I want you to stay with me. You need someone to look after you. I can provide that. If you want I can hire a nurse to take care of you and if there is an emergency I can be in the apartment almost instantaneously. It's the most logical course of action."

"Seto, I appreciate everything you do for me. But I'm sorry I can't. I have to do this on my own."

"Is that the real reason you can't?"

"You know the real reason."

"Then I will come by and check on you."

"I'd like that."

As the conversation wandered off into other areas, Yugi was ready to jump for joy. Anna shut him out and Yugi loved it. For a minute he was afraid that she would accept. But she made it clear whose side she was on. He finally knew where her loyalties lie. Yugi stuck around and listened for a while, but when it got late and it was obvious Kaiba wasn't going anywhere, he left. He was only slightly disappointed that he didn't get to see her, the happiness of his conquest overshadowed it. And just in case she thought he didn't care, he did leave a message with the nurses' station. He wanted Anna to know he stopped by.

Anna was glad to be back home. But it seemed like there was so much to do. She tried to concentrate on work or cleaning, but she couldn't do it. She was still so tired, and also the headaches persisted. She'd manage to start a project, but after a few minutes she would have to sit down. And most of the time being stationary for more than a few minutes resulted in her falling asleep. She was woken from one of these naps by a loud knock at the door. She was a little slow in getting to the door, but once she did she was delighted to find Seto on the other end. Anna opened the door and was presented with a large bouquet of white roses.

"More flowers?" Anna smiled.

"I heard somewhere that women like flowers. Besides it's the traditional gift for recovering patients."

Anna took them with glee. "I'll add these to the million others you've given me."

"I haven't given you a million roses," Seto teased. "I think a more accurate count would be around a hundred thousand. But certainly not a million."

"I'll have to find a vase for these." Anna hobbled along on one crutch.

"Let me do that, you should sit down." Seto tried to take the flowers back, but she wouldn't let him.

"No, I'm fine. The doctor said I should try putting some weight on my leg. It will make it stronger." Anna explained. "And you don't know where anything is."

Anna had him there. In fact this was the first time Seto had ever been in her apartment. In all the time he'd known her he never came here, she always came to him. He hadn't given that much thought before now. He was comfortable at his place; he could be the master of his surroundings. But in other places he wasn't as secure. At home he could be himself. Perhaps she sensed that. Or perhaps she always came to him because she didn't like being in her apartment all alone.

At Anna's encouragement, Seto sat down on the couch while she went into the kitchen. That gave him a chance to take in his surroundings without being obvious he was checking out the place. She had very eclectic tastes. She was obviously influenced by all the places she had visited or lived. He didn't think he would like such a design, but he did. Although painting a living room wall in dark burgundy wouldn't have been his first choice.

"This is a big apartment." Seto commented.

"I forgot you've never been here before." Anna called from the kitchen.

Seto walked over and inspecting some framed art. "Are these your photographs?" Seto didn't get an immediate response. "They are very good." Still no response. "Anna, do you need..."

The sound of breaking glass was his first indication that something was wrong. He rushed toward the noise and found Anna sitting on the floor and with a shaky hand trying to pick up the shattered glass around her. Seto crunched glass under his feet as he approached her. He pressed himself against her back to steady her and reached down and made her drop the glass she was holding. That's when he noticed her hand was slightly bleeding. He wondered if she even knew she had been cut.

Anna closed her eyes and winced from the pain in her head. "It's so stupid. I got dizzy and I..."

"It's okay." Seto reached up and grabbed a dishcloth off the counter and wrapped her hand with it.

"I'll be fine in a minute, just..." Anna's thoughts kept drifting just like her sentences.

"That's it, you're coming with me." That was the only excuse he needed. Seto scooped her up and carried her out of the kitchen.

"I have to clean up...it's a mess." Anna protested as she was being hauled out of her own apartment.

"It can wait."

"No." Anna gave him a weak punch to the chest, indicating that she didn't want to go, but Seto ignored it.

"You may not think so, but you need help. I'm taking you to the one place where I know you'll be safe. And I'm not going to let you leave until I'm sure you're able to make it on your own."

Anna wanted to fight back, but she couldn't. Her head hurt so much. As they exited the building, she closed her eyes to block out the sunlight. It made her head pound more. With her eyes shut, sleep took quick control of her.

Immediately upon getting home from school Yugi threw his books in his room and took off for Anna's apartment. He was determined to visit her everyday. He couldn't afford any fancy get well gifts or flowers but he hoped that his presence was enough to show he cared. He was feeling great today. He aced a math test, P.E. was cancelled because the teacher was sick, and it was pizza day in the cafeteria. All of which helped cheer him up. But that instantly changed when he neared Anna's apartment building. Yugi turned the corner just in time to see Kaiba place an unconscious looking Anna in his car, then jump in the driver's seat and speed away. Yugi ran after the car shouting for him to stop. But Kaiba neither saw nor heard him. Yugi gave chase for about a block before the car was out of sight. Yugi panted heavily from the pursuit and from panic. Did something happen to Anna? Was Kaiba taking her to the hospital? How would he find her?

A sharp prick in the arm helped rouse Anna from her sleep. As she moaned and her eyes focused she realized she was in her room at Seto's apartment. And Seto was there, sitting on the bed packing up her insulin kit. He reached over and took her wrist and pressing buttons on her watch, checked her levels.

"You're getting to be an expert at that." Anna said groggily.

"It's one thing I never thought I would have to master." Seto lightly joked back. After he was finished his project he brushed the hair out of her face and asked, "How are you feeling?"

"Tired."

"That's to be expected. Your brain was put through a blender. You need to let it rest so it can heal."

"Yes, Doctor Kaiba." Anna threw a small smile at him.

"Just take it easy. You can stay here as long as you need to."

"Do I have any other choice?"

"No."

"Then I accept."

Seto stood up and proceeded to put away her insulin and supplies. He glanced out the window. "It's snowing."

Anna tried stretching her neck and body around to see, but she couldn't because of how the bed was positioned.

"Would you like to see?" Seto offered and Anna nodded.

A few minutes later Anna was being carried up a flight of stairs.

"You know there are windows on lower levels." Anna commented as she wrapped her arms around Seto's neck.

"Just wait, I think you'll like this."

"You don't have to carry me, I can walk."

"By the time you hobbled up these stairs it would be spring." Seto stopped at a door. "I have my hands full, do you think you can turn that knob for me."

Anna reached down and did as she was told. The rush of cold air was the first to greet her. No wonder Seto made her put on a coat before they left the apartment. With a couple of steps, they found themselves surrounding by nothing but sky. The soft snowflakes drifted and danced around them, sometimes catching on their clothes or hair. But only for a brief moment before they disappeared from their warmth.

"Wow." Seto thought Anna was talking about the snow, but he was wrong. "I didn't know this place had a roof access."

Leave it to Anna to turn a romantic moment into an acute architectural observation.

"And the snow's pretty cool too." Seto remarked.

"Oh yeah, the snow." Anna joked. "You do know what snow is, don't you?" Seto raised an eyebrow at her. "It's frozen rain. And you know how I just love rain." Anna's comments were pure satire.

"Are saying you want to go back inside?"

"Not right this second." Anna tightened her grip around his neck and nuzzled her head against his shoulder. "I'll give it a chance. Maybe it will grow on me."

Seto happily obliged.

Everything about having Anna there made him happy. Even on the really bad days, he couldn't help but be joyful. She needed him, and that was all he wanted. He didn't know any other way to prove to her how much he cared.

The book she was reading hit the floor with a gentle 'thud'. The carpeting hushed the impact. He didn't have to see her to know she had fallen asleep again. Seto put aside his laptop and picked up the blanket off the back of the couch. He kept the blanket there because he was becoming accustomed to Anna taking naps in the living room. She would doze off for an hour or two, then be wide-awake again. He found it was just easier to let her stay where she was at than to tote her away to her bed each time. He advanced to the chair where she sat and gently plucked the reading glasses off the end of her nose. Placing those on the table he covered her with the blanket and gave a quick touch to her exposed cheek. He bent down and picked up the book she had been reading. Giving it a quick glance he realized it wasn't a book, it was more like a diary. It contained hand written entries that seemed to date back nearly ten years. He hadn't seen this before nor had she mentioned it, but never did it occur to him that he couldn't read it.

Yugi was completely fed up. He totally freaked when Kaiba took Anna from her apartment, and his panic got worse when he couldn't find her. He checked with the local hospitals, but none had record of her being admitted. That led Yugi to the conclusion that Kaiba took her to his home, just like he had planned to. What upset him more was the idea that Anna might have been a willing participant. Sure she told him no at the hospital, but she didn't seem to resist him when he carried her off. Yugi stopped and corrected his rage. She didn't look awake when he did that, so how could she resist? But the fact still remained that once she was there she stayed. And it was three days before she called and let him know she was all right and not to worry. He insisted that she go home or if she needed care that he would provide it, but she wouldn't do it. She claimed that he couldn't care for her and go to school at the same time. Then how was Kaiba going to look after her and run a multinational corporation all at once? He knew it was an excuse so she could be with Kaiba instead of him. These thoughts made him fume as the doors to the elevator opened. He had gone straight to Kaiba Corporation's headquarters from school. He didn't know where else to look. He didn't know where Kaiba lived, apparently no one did. And his phone number wasn't listed. So the only way to get answers was to confront him where he worked.

"Can I help you?" Said the older woman behind the secretary's desk.

"I'm here to see Kaiba." Yugi wasn't in a mood to be his normal polite self.

"I'm sorry sir; he's not in the office today."

A sigh of relief and frustration escaped Yugi's lips.

"Would you like to make an appointment or leave a message?"

"Yes. Tell him to take Anna home. She doesn't belong to him." Yugi turned to walk out.

"Who may I say this message is from?" The secretary called after him.

"He knows who I am."

The secretary gave him a strange look as he re-entered the elevator for the ride down.

Anna was in another of her power naps, so Seto thought he would take advantage of the situation. He decided to skip up to the office for a few minutes and get some work done. Passing by the secretary's desk, Mrs. Wong handed him his messages and informed him of his appointments that were canceled or rescheduled. He read the messages as he walked into his office. One caught his eye.

"One of these messages is unsigned, who is it from?" Seto asked over the intercom.

"It was a young man, sir. He refused to give me his name. He said you would know who he was."

Seto did know, it was Anna's mysterious fiancée. He had come looking for her. And failed miserably. He read the message one more time before crumbling the paper in his hand. An evil smirk crossed his face.

"Mrs. Wong." He called again over the intercom. "If he comes back, call security and have him arrested for trespassing."

Anna was his. And Seto wasn't going to give her up. Not now, not ever.