Warning: MAJOR and complete ANGST and yaoi. If you are not 13 or older. Leave now.

Thank you reviewers.

Kaiba's thoughts.

Chapter 5
Water Logged: Owari

"We've done the cat scan and surgery."

"And?"

Pause.

"Well?"

"I'm sorry Mr. Kaiba. But it's unlike we've ever seen."

"What are you talking about?"

"Come. We'll talk."

He couldn't believe it. He just couldn't. He's known him – what? – almost his whole life? And he disappears for almost a fortnight. And then returns with no memory. Why was this bugging him so? It's not like he cared for the boy anyways. He was just a lowlife, mangy Mutt. That always had his attention. Even when he didn't want to even acknowledge him for the day. But the way his hair moved when he swiveled around to greet the face of his rival. It was like silk that bounced around his face. Or the way his cheeks would heat up when he got really irritated. (It was almost like he was blushing.) And would clench his fist to stop from actually tackling Kaiba to the ground because of the insults that he would throw at him.

But no matter how much he got angry. He never made any contact.

No punching.

Just empty threats.

Kaiba admired him for that.

Why was he thinking like this?

Just because the Mutt ended up in the infirmary, doesn't mean he should be changing any judgment on him. He was still the same beat down and empty-minded clueless dog that he was.

But that dog was lying in a hospital bed.

Kaiba clenched his fists. He stared out into the park's pond as the sun suffused the sky to blood red. He could still hear the doctor's voice echoing in his head as the memories flooded with anticipation.

"Come. We'll talk." The man immediately left the room and out into the hall.

Kaiba quickly followed the white coat. "Where are you talking me?"

"To the laboratory."

xxx

"Good morning Dr. Mochizuki."

" 'Morning. Could you get me that report I filed not more than an hour ago? And where is the entity?"

"Yes sir. And they are working on it in the laboratory now." A few moments and papers shuffled, "here you go sir."

"Thank you. Follow me Mr. Kaiba."

Seto kept his patience in check as he followed the coat once again down a hall and through a door into another room. It was empty except for the one-way mirror, which overlooked the laboratory.

Kaiba walked up to it, "What is going on?" he questioned.

"I told you. It's unlike we've ever seen. We have to take extra precautions."

Teal eyes narrowed at the laboratory suits the men were wearing. He growled, "You better explain."

The doctor stepped up to Kaiba and held out the paper his assistant handed him earlier. "This is what we are dealing with."

Kaiba glanced down at the paper. His eyes widened as he scanned.

"Unidentified object – found imbedded in his skull – not on charts –

"What the hell does this mean!"

"It's exactly what it says." The doctor glanced out the one-way mirror before walking up to the wall and pressing an intercom, "Bring in the object." He turned back to Kaiba as he stared at him in bewilderment. "Mr. Kaiba. We did the cat scan-"

Seto clenched his teeth, "We already went through this!"

"Yes sir I understand. But what we found we haven't talked about." the same door that they entered through opened. Kaiba's eyes glared at the person clothed in one of the suits as they handed a plastic bag over to the doctor. He nodded in acknowledgement before he walked away through the closed door again.

"This," The doctor held up the bag, "is what we found in Mr. Wheelers skull almost at his base."

Kaiba grabbed the bag without thinking as the doctor continued. "The object you now hold has baffled us all. We have run tests and done almost everything and anything in our will to find out what it is. But the minerals, oxides and sanctities are off or not on the charts."

"You've got to be kidding me."

"No. I assure you, I am not."

All Kaiba could do was stare at the object in his hand. It looked like a rock no bigger than a necklace bead. It held the color of metallic.

Wheeler, I refuse to believe you were abducted.

He just couldn't – didn't – want to believe. But it explains everything that has been happing. It explains his memory loss. Or why all of the sudden he was getting good grades. And perfect attendance.

Wheeler had become someone's lab rat. Or –

Lab dog.

What if there are others?

Gritting his teeth, he turned around and walked in the direction of the hospital.

He looks pathetic. Just plain…pathetic.

A few days have passed and nothing. He's just a body lying there on the bed. As for himself, Kaiba, he had become a vigilant hawk. Wheeler almost looks….

"zzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz."

Kaiba reached into his coat pocket and pulled out his phone. It vibrated in his hand before he answered it, "Seto Kaiba. Speak."

"Seto. Have you watched the news lately?" Mokuba sounded feign – like he was hiding something.

"No."

"I think you should. I'll talk to you later." It was a rush. It ended too promptly.

His ear immediately heard the dial tone. He hung up and hastily put the cell in his pocket. Standing up, he took one glance at the blonde before leaving the room. Walking into a waiting room of some kind, he switched on the television. He glanced to one of the corners to find a couple crying. He had the copious of feelings to keep watching and find out why. But instead, he looked away and ignored them. He turned his attention back to the TV. Reaching up, he changed the channel to the news.

"- ten or fifteen minutes. Highway 39 has been blocked by an accident. It is said that the car randomly swerved and tumbled. The cause is unknown, but the owner of the car has been identified as Jonas Wheeler." The woman speaking on the television glanced sideways before relying, "We have just recently been notified that the owner of the car has been pronounced dead on impact."

Kaiba's eyes widened. He switched the electronic off before leaving the area. (Without a second glance at the couple.)

Opening the door, he slipped inside.

He faced the body on the bed, "Wheeler. I'm sorry." Kaiba shifted from one foot to the other. "Your old man, he was in an accident." Seto stepped closer to Joey's figure. He reached out to grab his hand. He hesitated and withdrew. This isn't right. Instead, Kaiba grabbed a chair and sat next to the bed. "I don't know how to say this, even though I have been here almost everyday talking to you, but-"

"Mr. Kaiba?" Seto looked up to see Dr. Mochizuki standing in the doorway, "Can I talk to you?"

"We'll finish this later." The brunette whispered as he stood up without nodding or acknowledgement at the doctor and walked towards the door. Seto followed the doctor out into the hall. "What!"

"We were just notified about Mr. Wheeler's father." He glanced at the slightly ajar door, "I am terribly sorry…"

Kaiba rolled his eyes.

"But that is not what I came here to talk about. The object that we pulled…it's like he can't live without it. Over the last three days I have watched his life seep. I haven't said anything because I thought he'd be right back up again. But the truth is, w-we're loosing him."

Blue eyes narrowed as Kaiba hissed, "Loosing? Loosing who? You better not mean-"

"Yes I mean your blond friend that is currently lying in that hospital room behind you."

"A few days ago, you told me he was healthy!" Clenching his teeth, Kaiba turned around to face the door, "Get every eligible doctor out here. You will, I repeat, will do everything in your power to keep him alive." Without further ado, the brunette swept into the room and closed the door.

Kaiba stepped up to the bed once again. This time, he didn't hesitate to engulf the blonde's hand with his own. On the inside he felt helpless. Joey Wheeler was now in the same boat he was. He had become an orphan. But the difference was crystal clear.

He was dying.

And he, himself wasn't.

Seto tightened his grip on the blonde's hand. Closing his eyes, Kaiba sat down in the chair behind him and laid his head on their interlocked hands. For a mere moment, Kaiba almost imagined the blonde gripping back.

So….Helpless…

"Mr. Kaiba."

Seto sat up slowly and tried to counter the dizziness in his vision. He blinked and realized he was still in the hospital. He glanced down and realized that his hand was still entwined with the blonde's and let go. He stood up and faced the nurse. "What?" His voice was raspy.

"Visiting hours is over. You need to-"

"I'm not leaving and that is final. Now leave."

"Yes sir." The nurse almost looked angry.

Kaiba turned towards the blonde on the bed. It then dawned on him…He still doesn't know…Seto sat back down. He groped for Joey's hand and held it firmly.

"Wheeler…Your old man…He's-" Kaiba couldn't finish.

For the first time in his life, he choked for words.

Seto stood up, "God Mutt. Wake-up!" He waited.

Nothing happened.

Not even the flick of wrist, or furrow of an eyebrow.

Just, nothing.

Kaiba stared at the blonde's eyelashes. "Wake-up Wheeler. I am sick of watching over you. And I am sick of being here because your so-called friends don't know you are here."

Seto could just hear is voice now, "Then leave Moneybags. No one asked you to be here!"

But he would answer, "No. Who would pay for the medical bills?" He would only use it as an excuse of course.

Joey being as stubborn as he was would declare, "Get outta here! I can pay for it on my own! Nobody needs your help!"

But Kaiba wouldn't let him live it down and would counter, "And where would you get the money!"

"I'll work!"

"No one hires dogs."

"Shut up Moneybags. Just because you have a company-"

Kaiba kissed him.

The conversation was going nowhere. Plus, the blond needed to be shut up. Even if it was an exaggeration.

Kaiba pulled back, "Joey…if not for yourself, then for me…wake-up." He was pleading. Begging the motionless boy to wake-up. All of a sudden he wanted to see the smile that could brighten anyone's day. The eyes that could put a shine in your own eyes. And hear the laugh that could make you join in with a little chuckle of your own.

Anything.

He wanted him back.

"Joey," he pleaded, "please…wake-up."

The brunette started slipping his trench coat off his shoulders. He placed it on the chair; Kaiba didn't know what he was doing until he was already lying next to the blond. He shifted up the bed so Joey's head was lying on his chest as he had his arms around the blonde. Seto leaned down to whisper in the boy's ear, "I know we have had our differences, but I care about you Joe. And I don't care if your memory was stolen from you…but I promise…I promise I won't let anyone steal you away from me." Placing his chin on his head, Kaiba closed his eyes.

He disregarded the white patch on the base of his head and neck.

He didn't want to believe it.

All he wanted was the snotty blonde back.

Kaiba's eyes flickered open. How long has it been? What time was it? Glancing over at the clock on the wall, he noticed it was past midnight. He was asleep no longer than an hour or two. He sighed. He went to tighten his grip around Wheeler, but he felt something. On his chest. Seto slightly sat up and looked down at his upper body. Somehow, Joey had his hands up his shirt. But…How? Kaiba's eyes trailed up to the blonde's eyelids. Only, he couldn't see them.

Honey-due eyes stared back at him under blonde silk strands.

Kaiba's eyes widened. Deep inside of him…he felt happy.

He was about to back up when the hands under his shirt found their way to his waistline. He stopped.

"Joey-"

"Shh…"

His hands were loosening his belt.

"What the heck are you-"

"Shut it Moneybags."

Kaiba's leg was going numb. He shifted but only found Joey's hands farther down his slacks. One of them resided against his hip as the other nicked at the waistline of his boxers.

"Joey."

"That's my name. Don't wear it out." Kaiba's eyes widened as he was being pulled down on top of the blond. The hand slid down farther.

Seto's breath seemed to get heavy.

"Stop it Mutt."

"Or what?"

"I'll-"

"You can't do anything. We're in a hospital. And you are at my command."

"No I'm no-"

Joey slowly brushed his lips over Kaiba's. "It's nothing you haven't done before. Especially when you kissed me earlier."

"Y-You…heard….er…felt that?"

"I heard everything." Kaiba watched as Joey's eyes dimmed slightly.

"I'm sorry."

"Do you know if they were able to save the body? You know…for a funeral?"

Kaiba shook his head, but watched as silent tears make their way down Joey's cheeks. Gulping down his pride, he ignored the fact where Joey's hands were, and bent down and kissed the droplets away. "Shhh…It will be ok." The brunette watched as the blonde slowly calmed down and stared back into Seto's eyes.

"You may be a rich prat . . .but I am sorry for everything I have caused."

"Mutt. Save it."

"Why! Bec-"

"You need your rest and sleep. I need to get the doctor in here and tell him you are awake."

"Fat chance."

"Dog – I am warning you. You are sick." He growled.

"You know. I believe you."

"You should."

"That's not what I am talking about moneybags."

"Then-"

"What would you say if I said it back?"

"What back?"

"I never hated you. In fact…I care about you too."

"You are delusional. I am getting the-"

"Stop acting sober. As I said, you are at my command."

Kaiba gasped!

Joey smirked.

The blond quickly covered Kaiba's mouth with his own before the brunette could retort about where his hands were.

The brunette's eyelids fluttered. It was still dark inside the room. He must have fallen asleep. Lifting his head from Joey's he glanced at the clock on the wall. He could barely make out the numbers before the outline of the figures dawned in his mind.

4:13 AM.

Sighing, Kaiba closed his eyes again and replaced his chin on top of the silken tresses of Joey. Tightening his grip around the blonde he remembered something. His cheeks warmed up at the thought. It was kind of weird to see the blond as something more than a friend. Would it come true if he woke?

Kaiba's face disheartened. The dream…It felt so real.

For a second it felt like deja'vu. Shifting his leg, he could feel the blood circulate it.

"Thank you….Moneybags."

It took a moment for Kaiba to realize it wasn't his imagination.

"Jo-"

BEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEP!

"Joey! Joey!" Kaiba screamed as he jumped off the bed. He threw open the door and shrieked, "DOCTOR! WE NEED A DOCTOR!" The brunette was shoved aside as he watched almost a dozen people run towards or inside the blonde's room.

He couldn't take it any longer. His knees buckled as he collapsed on them. He smothered his face with his hands. The one and only tear escaped his grasp as he inhaled to get a hold of himself. This wasn't happening.

It's a dream! I know it is! Please let this be a dream!

Kaiba sat on the ground by himself. . . . maybe … somehow…the dream really happened. If only he hadn't been so water logged with his pride, Joey might have had a chance. The brunette stood up from the ground. He had to be strong.

Besides, he had a promise to keep.

-Owari for some-

A/N: You pick if you want it to be your ending. IF not...read the alternate ending...Chapter Six