Title: Virtually Perfect

Author: Wintersslayer

Rating: PG-13

Pairing: Seto/Yami

Spoilers: None that I know of.

Warnings: Some language maybe. AND THIS IS A STORY ON SETO/YAMI! SO DON'T READ IF YOU DON'T LIKE THIS PAIRING!

Disclaimer: I do not own Yugioh.

Summary: AU- Seto Kaiba's the greatest duelist ever- no one comes even close to besting him. So, Mokuba creates a hologram to challenge his big brother. However, no one ever expected the hologram to develop feelings…or for Seto to return those feelings.

Status: 8?

A/N: Not much to say this time, 'cept thanks for all the nice reviews! Heh, a reviewer commented that if she killed me for that cliffy last chapter, then who'd finish the story? LOL that amused me.

START OF CHAPTER

Chapter 8

Everything had passed in a slow-motion blur for Mokuba.

Dartz standing there in the doorway, firing a shot from the gun in his hand. The bullet whizzing through the air, directly into his brother. Yami, forgetting that he was a hologram, shifting his position so that the bullet would hit him, only of course to have it pass right through him and into Seto. Mokuba screaming his big brother's name as he dashed forward as his brother fell to the ground in shock, a hand clutching his chest.

Roland and Kaiba Corp security had arrived a mere moment after the shot was fired to grab Dartz and haul him away. But it was the hologram who had tapped into the phone system, and called the nearest emergency hospital. An ambulance arrived shortly after, the medics working quickly to get Seto stabilized enough for transport. While they worked at getting him onto a stretcher, Mokuba took a few staggered steps back, both him and Yami staring as the medics continued with their work. When they were ready to go, with a silent nod of support and small smile to Mokuba, and one last glance at the still-brunette lying on the stretcher, Yami disappeared into his metal canister. Mokuba grabbed the container as he hurriedly followed the medics out the room.

Now, he was pacing anxiously around the hospital waiting room, clutching Yami's canister to his chest. He wanted desperately to talk to Yami, to have someone to talk to at least, but decided against it. He didn't want to cause any further commotion by having the rather now-famous hologram by his side. News spreads fast- already the media had gathered outside the hospital (thankfully, they weren't allowed inside). The presence of the hologram might further their frenzy for getting a "good, entertaining story". Mokuba narrowed his grey eyes at the thought. As if the Kaibas and their lives were merely "entertainment" for the rest of the world.

After what had seemed like an eternity, a doctor finally came out of the emergency rooms. Mokuba stopped his pacing as the doctor walked up to him, holding a clipboard. "Mr. Kaiba?" he asked in a gentle voice, looking up from his clipboard.

Mokuba nodded slowly, unable to speak, fearing the worst.

"We were able to successfully remove the bullet. Luckily, it hadn't damaged any major organs."

The younger Kaiba let out a sigh of relief. "So Seto is going to be okay then?" he asked in a hopeful voice.

The doctor's eyes saddened behind his thin-rimmed glasses. He hated being the bearer of bad news, especially when it was to a little kid, a kid who only had his big brother left in the world (yes, of course he paid attention to the news). "Mr. Kaiba, I'm sorry to tell you this, but your brother has fallen into a coma. He could wake up today, tomorrow, next week, next month…" he trailed off, noticing the heartbreaking look on the boy's face. "I'm very sorry," he murmured.

The raven-haired boy nodded, trying to keep his composure. "Th-thank you, Doctor," he said in a near-whisper. "Can I see him?"

"Of course."

Mokuba walked quietly into Seto's room (he had already been moved into a regular room), still clutching the metal canister to his chest. The doctor kindly shut the door behind him, leaving him alone with his big brother. His eyes got teary as he saw the strong form of his brother lying on the bed, covered in a clean white sheet, with all sorts of tubes and wires coming in and out of him. With a small cry, Mokuba fell into the chair next the bed, finally allowing his tears to fall. "Big Brother…" he whispered. With one hand he reached out to grasp his brother's, the other hand still unconsciously gripping the metal canister. "You gotta wake up...please wake up…"

After several long moments, the boy realized that he still had Yami's canister gripped in one hand. Sniffling a little, he gently placed the canister onto the small table next to the bed, and pressed the button. Yami immediately appeared beside him, concerned crimson eyes at once sweeping over Seto. They turned towards Mokuba. "How- how is he?" he asked in a quiet voice.

Mokuba quickly relayed the doctor's news. The hologram walked over to the other side of the bed, reached out and lightly stroked Seto's cheek with the back of his fingers, leaving a shimmery trail as he did so. "This is all my fault…" he whispered. "If it wasn't for me, this would have never happened."

"Don't think like that!" Mokuba said harshly, startling Yami and causing him to glance at the other. "The only person to blame for this is that creep Dartz. You didn't pull the trigger, Yami. He did."

"But if it wasn't for me, then there'd be no need for him to pull the trigger."

"If that's the case, then it's my fault that Seto is in a coma, because I'm the one who created you in the first place."

Crimson eyes widened. "No…Mokuba…I…I didn't mean it like that," he stammered frantically.

The younger Kaiba smiled gently. "I know you didn't. But, the point being is that you can't go around feeling guilty and blaming yourself. It won't help Seto get better."

The other smiled in return. "Thank you, Mokuba." He reached over Seto and placed his hand over Mokuba's and Seto's still-joined hands. "He will get better. He's strong, and he won't give up without a fight."

The boy nodded, tears threatening to return. "I know Yami, I know. And neither will we then."

The next several days passed by agonizingly slow for both Mokuba and Yami. The younger Kaiba had left Seto's KC logo pin on the small table next to the canister, so that the hologram could stay with Seto even when Mokuba was not in the room (which was rare anyways). Yami only disappeared back into the metal canister when the doctor or a nurse would come in the room. At all other times, he was sitting next to Seto, staring at the comatose boy, or murmuring things to the other quietly. The doctor had told Mokuba that talking to Seto might help bring him out of his comatose state. So, the two kept talking to him. Of course, the two often talked to each other as well, and over the days became quite close, almost like brothers really.

The only other people the younger Kaiba had allowed to visit his brother were Yugi and his friends, who came by each day to chat with them for a few minutes. A few days after the shooting, they had come with a box full of colorful, folded papers. Mokuba peered into the box curiously. "What are those?"

Yugi smiled. "They're origami cranes. In school, we learned that according to a folk tale, if you fold a thousand paper cranes, then the gods will grant your wish. So, we all started folding cranes, with the wish that your brother will get better soon. We've already folded a hundred or so, and will keep folding them."

The raven-haired boy smiled. "Thanks everyone. This means a lot to me." He took a folded crane in his hands, turning it over and looking at it. "Could you teach me how to fold these? I'd like to help as well."

The group smiled brightly. "Of course!"

And so, Mokuba set about folding paper cranes, carefully folding each one as he continued his conversations with his brother and with Yami. Upon finishing a crane, he would wish softly, "Wake up soon, Big Brother." Then he would gently place the finished crane in the box.

One day, Yami was gazing thoughtfully at the wires running from Seto's head to some machine. "Mokuba?" he asked gently.

The boy looked up from his half-folded crane. "Yeah?"

The hologram pointed to the machine. "What does this do?"

"That monitors Seto's brain waves. See those squiggly lines on the computer screen? Those show his brain activity basically."

"So…this computer is connected to Seto's brain then?"

"Yup." He saw a curious look in Yami's eyes. "What are you thinking?" he asked in an uneasy voice.

Yami was now gazing thoughtfully between the computer and Seto. "I'm thinking, if I can get into Seto's computer, then maybe I can get into this one and figure out what's wrong with Seto, and help him."

Grey eyes widened briefly, then the boy smiled gently. "Yami, I know you want to help. But this computer isn't like the type Seto uses. Once you go in there, there's no way for you to get back out. And while I could generate another you from your program files, it wouldn't be the same you. Seto was right- you do have an unique personality all your own, and it can't be duplicated." He sighed. "It's a kind gesture, but I don't want to risk anything happening to you, and Seto wouldn't either." He went back to folding his crane.

The hologram continued to gaze thoughtfully at the comatose brunette lying on the bed. How long until Seto would finally wake up? What if he never woke up at all? Yami hastily shoved that thought away- he couldn't bear life without the other. And, even with the younger Kaiba's words, he still felt rather responsible for what had happened. Mokuba, at least, could actually do something, folding cranes and making his wishes. Though he didn't know much about gods or religion, except for the stuff on Egyptian gods that Mokuba had downloaded into him, he still hoped that whatever gods his creator was asking for help would listen to him.

But as for himself…

What could he possibly do? Being a hologram, there wasn't really much he could do. He couldn't fold cranes and make wishes like Mokuba and the others could. He couldn't even hold Seto's hand to give him support and encouragement to come back, as he had often seen Mokuba do when the boy was taking a break from folding cranes. He could keep on talking with him- but honestly, he didn't know if that was helping much, if at all. It had been nearly a week already since the shooting, and still there was no change in the CEO's condition. Yami wasn't sure how much longer he could take this. And, although Mokuba hid it very well, he was sure that the younger Kaiba as well was getting more and more worried each passing day. For one so young, he was holding himself together surprisingly well. But the hologram knew he wouldn't be able to hold on for much longer.

With a small sigh, Yami reached out and gently stroked Seto's cheek with the back of his fingers, leaving a shimmery trail. He often did this when he was deep in thought, as he was now. How he longed to see the other's stunning, intense blue eyes, hear his smooth, confident voice, catch that breathtaking smile of his…How he longed to be able to feel his strong arms around him, feel those lips against his own…

He continued to stroke the other's cheek as he thought about what Mokuba had said about the computer. Once you go in there, there's no way for you to get back out. But, if going in there meant that he might be able to help Seto, help bring him back to this world, where Mokuba needs him so much…then there was really only one choice that he had, right? Even if it meant that he'd probably never come back to this world, would never see Seto again…

"Seto…" he murmured gently to the other. "I hope you can hear me, even though I know you are not going to like this. Ever since I came into this world, you were always looking out for me, protecting me. Explaining things to me, helping me." He paused, taking a deep breath. "Well now, it's my turn to help you. I hope that you won't be too angry with me, or with Mokuba, because there is nothing that he can do or say that will change my mind. My only regret is that I never got the chance to say good-bye."

Mokuba had been listening the entire time, his grey eyes wide now. "Yami, you aren't thinking of going into that computer, are you?" Hadn't the hologram listened to a word he had said?

The hologram nodded, still stroking the brunette's cheek, his eyes never leaving his face. "Yes, Mokuba. I've made my decision."

"Well, I won't let you then. I'm not going to allow you to sacrifice yourself like this, and if Seto were here, then he wouldn't allow it either!"

The hologram smiled wistfully. "Your concern means a lot to me, but I'm afraid the choice isn't up to you. Seto once told me that I have a choice in things. Well, this is my choice, and there's nothing you can say that will change my mind."

Tears started to brim in Mokuba's eyes. "But Yami…" he whispered, "I don't want to end up losing you and my brother."

"You won't lose your brother, Mokuba. You have my word." He paused briefly before continuing. "Now Mokuba, your brother and I both need you to stay strong. Can you do that for us?"

The boy nodded, suddenly unable to speak, tears rolling down his cheeks.

"I just wanted to say thank you…for everything. You've done so much for me. I've greatly enjoyed your company, and getting to know you. I know you'll be very successful in whatever you do."

The other nodded again, still unable to speak. Long silent moments passed, before Yami sighed a bit. "Well then…I guess this is good-bye…"

Mokuba suddenly jumped up and ran around the bed to where Yami was sitting. He threw his arms around the other, producing that shimmery effect wherever his clothes came in contact with the hologram. "I'm going to miss you so much," he murmured. "You're the best thing that ever happened to me and my brother."

Yami gently patted the boy's back, and though he knew the other couldn't feel it, at the same time he knew he could. Long moments passed again before Mokuba finally released Yami, sniffling a little.

The hologram stood up, and reached up to gently brush Seto's cheek one last time. "Hang on Seto, I'm coming," he murmured quietly. With one final smile of gratitude and thanks to Mokuba, he went to the computer, closed his eyes, and touched its screen. In a flash he disappeared inside. Mokuba watched in a slight awe as he saw a tiny red pulsing light travel along one of the wires that connected the computer to his brother's brain. With a small sigh, he plopped into Yami's chair, taking his brother's hand in both of his.

"Good luck, Yami," he whispered to the silent room. "And thanks."

END OF CHAPTER

Well that was…sad. Hope the characters didn't come off as too OOC.

A note on the thousand cranes tale. Actually, I think it's if a sick person folds a thousand cranes, then the gods will grant their wish to heal them. shrugs I had to change it a bit to fit this story. It'll come up again later.

Next chapter, Yami goes into Seto's mind and finds a bit of a surprise.

Thanks for reading, and please review! ;)