A/N: I'm not sure how I feel about this chapter. I hadn't made up my mind whether to finish it up or go for one last conflict when I started writing, and… well, you'll see what happened. I hope it doesn't feel tacked on. I got some really glowing reviews over the last chapter. I'm glad you guys liked it! Thanks to everyone that took the time to review.

Disclaimer: Me no own nothin'. 'Nuff said.

Chapter Nine: Phoenix

Lying back in his bed in the hospital, Kaiba glanced out the window. One of his hands sat on the remote to the small, cheap TV hanging from the wall of his room. The other resisted perpetually in the pile of his personal effects on the nearby tabletop, his fingers gently touching the soothing metal of the Millennium Rod.

His mind drifted to Watanabe. The doctor had been a friend ever since his stepfather had adopted him. He'd been the one to teach him fencing to begin with, a skill that had saved him from what were, apparently, his co-conspirators. The betrayal had been worse than the beating he'd taken at Vex's hands. If Watanabe had been a traitor, who could he trust? Cecil? Serenity? Mokuba?

Mokuba was trustworthy, he was sure of that. He would not allow even a sliver of doubt to creep into his mind against his brother. Serenity… the girl had betrayed his trust once before, but it hasn't been malicious or intentionally cruel. Still, the results had been serious and had nearly cost his brother his life. Perhaps it would be best to take Serenity out of his life, he thought.

He dismissed the thought as quickly as it had come up. Despite her obvious flaws, and he had noted them, he found he was completely infatuated with the short redhead. It was an odd sensation. He had known love before, of course, but never this variety of it. In many ways, it was an emotion that he hated; irrational, unpredictable, co-dependant, the emotion's flaws were manifold. Nevertheless, it was those very flaws that made the feeling so invigorating, so exciting and so incredibly beyond his control.

As for Cecil, he was both not a threat and completely irreplaceable. Kaiba found he couldn't muster even the slightest suspicion toward the disarming Englishman who had been a surrogate father to him for much of his life, and the best friend he'd had, save for his dear brother. No, Watanabe was likely the only one of his inner circle that could have been turned against him. The doctor had been the type to complain about the size of the room he was given in the servants' quarters, or the amount of freedom he was given to leave the grounds. With Watanabe out of the way, it was simply a matter of finding a new doctor and shortening the leash.

Gradually, he allowed his mind to drift back to Serenity. Glancing at the clock, he knew she'd be here in another twenty minutes. Predictably, Yugi at least would be with her, probably the rest of the nerd brigade. He almost wished he'd asked for the painkillers: he felt a headache coming on. Brushing the metal of the rod softly again, he glanced to the sleeping form of his brother on a chair in the corner of the room and thought about the guards outside. They'd recognize Serenity.

He suddenly realized what he was doing with his hand, and for a moment he wondered if he was going insane. True, he found the cold golden metal of the rod comforting, soothing even, but why? It was an ancient artefact, one that doubled as a weapon, and he had no right to it. Still, perhaps he would keep it. After all, he deserved some type of compensation for his trouble. Yes, he would keep it. It was his.

He was interrupted from his musings by the sound of the door creaking open. Serenity slipped in and walked to his side. Kaiba acknowledged her and glanced at the door expectantly.

"Just me. I thought you wouldn't want anyone else here so I convinced them to stay home, this time." Serenity explained, catching the glance.

Kaiba smirked, "Am I really so predictable?"

"When it comes to my brother and Yugi, yes." She replied, taking a seat in the free chair and turning her gaze to the sleeping boy in the corner. "How's he holding out?"

"A little shaken up," Kaiba admitted, turning his head to regard his brother, "He trusted Watanabe. So did I, actually."

Serenity nodded and a few moments passed in silence. She looked over at the bedside table where Kaiba's hand lay in his personal effects. Beside the pile lay a stack of legal papers, "What are those?" She asked, motioning to the stack.

"Oh, it's a summons. Mokuba got a subpoena as well," He explained, reluctantly drawing his hand from the pile of clothing to pick up the papers.

"What are you supposed to testify for?" She inquired, genuinely curious.

Kaiba sighed heavily, "My own trial. I've had to keep the media away from it with a sharp stick, but that won't last once hearings begin." He answered, dropping the papers back to the tabletop.

"Trial?" she gasped incredulously, "What are you being tried for?"

"Murder," he answered flatly, "Sixteen counts. The largest murder trial in the history of Domino. It's sixteen counts because of my earlier statements. They tell me that what they sifted from the rubble so far amounts to eleven bodies, but it's likely the explosion disintegrated even more."

Serenity nodded slowly. She had heard about what Kaiba had done at the warehouse. It was clear that he had only done what was necessary to save his brother, but she understood that Domino's district attorney had always been one to see in black-and-white. "How do you feel?"

"About the trial?" Kaiba asked, and Serenity nodded. "Well, I killed them. In fact, I killed seventeen of them if you count me responsible for the way Koji died, and I do. It stands to reason that I should be held accountable for their deaths."

"But you were only defending yourself and your brother!" She cried, "You didn't have any choice in the matter."

Kaiba ran a hand through his hair and sighed audibly, "I don't want to justify murder. It's true, I didn't have any choice in the matter but if I start justifying killing than I'll become no better than my bastard stepfather, the creature that sold weapons to both sides of a conflict in the interests of keeping it going. If I start justifying the deaths of others as necessary then I'm no better than anyone who sacrifices others for personal gain. If I start-"

"Seto!" Serenity yelled. Kaiba stopped his tirade, relaxing a bit in his bed. "You aren't your stepfather, and you aren't a killer. Come on, you know better than that. You did what you had to in order to save your brother. You did the right thing."

Nodding slowly, Kaiba sighed. "I know. This whole affair has left a bad taste in my mouth, though. Where does it end?"

Serenity shrugged. She honestly didn't have an answer, but the exhaustion that played across Kaiba's face gave her an understanding of what the problem was. Seto had dozens of enemies, had been through seemingly endless struggles his entire life. This seemed like it was simply the next chapter in a story of battle and discord. And it was obvious that Kaiba was tiring of it. She decided to let the subject die at that. "Vex died earlier today," she stated, gazing out the window, "They said his injuries didn't look lethal, but it looks like he just…"

"Gave up." Kaiba finished for her, "Without his vengeance driving him he didn't have anything to keep him going, so he gave up."

The auburn haired girl had been nodding before Kaiba had even finished. Smiling, she turned back to Kaiba, "So what keeps you going, Seto?"

Kaiba thought about the idea for a moment. What did keep him going? His life had been a struggle since the beginning, and he knew that it wasn't likely going to get any easier. Still, he knew what the answer was, "Two things. Those I have to protect," he stated, looking to Mokuba, "And the driving force to be more than I am."

Serenity took Kaiba's hand and looked down at him. She smiled warmly, and used her free hand to brush the hair from his face. "I think you're plenty already."

Turning back to Serenity, Kaiba glanced into the girl's eyes. Why was she able to do this to him? To make his chest feel warm and sick all at once, to make him flush in the face and be more relaxed than he could with anyone. She was a paradox, that one.

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The wind howled and tore at his open wounds, unclosed since his most hated enemy had inflicted them upon him. His mind, usually so clear and calculating, was a blur of hate and anger. In a few moments all of his plans he'd built for so long had come crashing down around him. In a few moments, his very life had been taken from him.

They thought he was dead. That was his only advantage. He'd survived, and now he planned to exact his vengeance. He knew Kaiba. Inside and out, he knew the intricacies of the powerful CEO. Even once he recovered from his injuries, he'd never find the strength to challenge Kaiba head-to-head. He had no intention of doing so. No, he knew Kaiba. He'd take away from him the things that he loved.

The injuries he'd inflict on his foe would be more than physical. He wanted more than just to watch Seto bleed. He would destroy his dreams, his hopes, and his loves. He'd break his spirit and leave him a weeping mass on the ground. He would make Kaiba regret his screaming, shrieking birth.

He lifted a hand and touched a patch of his black hair. A dull squealing noise emitting from his throat every time he forced a breath, but he pushed back his pain and his misery. The perch he'd found atop the building across from the Kaiba mansion would provide him with the sight he'd need to work his plans. The girl that Kaiba cared so much for would go first, he decided. The butler would be next, and he would relish that kill. He'd end his rampage with the bastard brother of the brunette. Yes, Kaiba would know great suffering. He would see to that.

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It was good to be back in his office, in his comfortable chair behind his familiar desk. Kaiba had been released the day of Serenity's visit and had immediately set to work on finding a new resident doctor for his mansion. The position was well sought after even though he hadn't advertised it. It was understood that it carried a hefty salary and a miniscule workload, as well as room and board beside that.

He had narrowed his choices down to three, and the one in front of him was currently his favourite. Mainly, he liked the fact that he'd had to pursue the doctor even to get him to agree to apply for the position; the idea of a doctor that took a job for money and laziness was unappealing. The physician was named Tai Kitsune, a twenty-something doctor that showed great promise in his early career. Despite the fact that Seto was at least five years younger than the doctor, he was clearly intimidated.

Kaiba looked up from the folder and nodded. "You have an excellent record, Doctor Kitsune-"

"Please, call me Tai." The older brunette chimed in, sitting bolt upright in the chair across the desk.

"You can relax, Tai," Kaiba replied, raising an eyebrow toward the other man. "You understand what the position entails?"

Tai nodded slowly, "Yeah, therein lies my only problem with the job. I… well, I became a doctor to help people. I don't think I'll be doing that much of that working in your mansion only looking after you and your staff."

"I can understand that," Kaiba muttered, glancing back down to the folder, "All the good doctors say that. Fact is, I don't expect this will be a lifelong position for you. Since my last doctor co-conspired in my attempted murder, I've grown loath of keeping staff around for more than a few years. You could use the experience, and the money you would make would certainly be useful in paying off your extensive student loans," he smirked, looking up from the paper, "And even more useful in furthering your career. A brief sojourn in my employ would allow you to fund a lot more work later in life." He stated matter-of-factly.

The brown-haired doctor nodded again. "Alright. I'll take the position." He answered.

Kaiba reached across the table to shake the doctor's hand, "Welcome to the mansion."

Tai shook Kaiba's hand and left the room, bumping into Serenity as she entered. Serenity made her way to the chair and smirked at Kaiba. "Well he's cute, is he your new doctor?"

"Not if you think he's cute." Kaiba stated flatly, not looking up from the paperwork he had to finalize to complete the employment.

Serenity giggled, "Well in that case, he's a horse-face."

Kaiba rose from his seat and made his way to Serenity's side. "Better." He stated simply and kissed the red haired girl.

Smiling brightly, Serenity hopped atop the couch next to the wall-mounted TV, eyes focussed on the handsome brunette, "So, what do you want to do?"

"Unfortunately," Kaiba groaned, sitting back at his office chair, "I have a fair amount of work that needs to be finished. So, well I'd love to beat you at the game of your choice I'm afraid I won't be able to find the time."

Serenity made puppy dog eyes at Kaiba, who simply rolled his eyes by way of reply. "Fine." She pouted as she hopped off of the couch, "When will you have time for me, your majesty?"

"Come back tomorrow." He said, looking apologetically to the pouting girl, "I'll have something planned by then."

Grinning, Serenity hopped to the door. "Oh, an ever-so-romantic surprise from the cold Mr. Seto Kaiba?" She asked.

"Something to shut the mouth of the girl who doesn't know when to stop pushing her luck." Kaiba shot back sarcastically.

Serenity stuck her tongue out at Kaiba and closed the door as she left the office. She strolled down to the lobby, where Cecil was waiting for her.

"Going home already, Miss Serenity?" He asked sadly.

"Yeah, I guess so." Serenity replied, "Seto's far too busy working for little old me."

"Sometimes I think that boy needs to straighten his priorities." Cecil remarked with a smile, "A girl as cute and caring as yourself ought not to be neglected."

Laughing, Serenity opened the door. "You tell him that, Cecil!" With that she walked out into the calm evening.

Despite being dismissed from the mansion so uneventfully Serenity found herself with an extra skip in her step. It seemed as though Kaiba and her brother had come to some kind of an understanding. Neither seemed to mention the other to her, and when it did come up they tended to respond with apathy instead of the usual ire. Kaiba was finally opening up to her like she'd hoped he would. He could be such a compassionate soul, but he chose to hide himself behind and icy exterior. Still, she was beginning to get a sense for who he was. She liked what she was finding.

Gradually, she became aware of uneven footsteps behind her, like someone was limping behind her. Nervously, she glanced over her shoulder. What she saw shocked her to the core. "I… I thought you were dead!" She cried, shivers running down her spine as she looked upon one of the most appalling sights of her life.

"I almost was." The figure replied darkly. "You are."

Serenity turned and broke into a run, darting down the street and toward her apartment. She could hear the figure behind her in pursuit, and though his walking was obviously laboured and limping he was gaining ground. Turning to the street she needed to follow next, she nearly screamed when she saw that it was closed: under construction. Unwilling to stop, she darted right into an alleyway. Running at full speed, she grabbed her cell phone from her pocket, dialling the first number she could think of.

"Kaiba." The response came from the other line.

"Seto! Seto, help! I'm being chased, he's going to kill me!" She screamed desperately into the phone.

"Where are you?"

"I'm in an alley off of Seventh Street right before the construction… oh God he's getting closer!" She shrieked.

"I'm coming." Kaiba replied, hanging up the phone.

Serenity turned. The man was storming down the alleyway toward her. Pinned against a wall, she had nowhere to run. She pounded the buttons on her cell, and it began ringing not far away in her apartment. "Pick up! Joey pick up!"

Breathing heavily, the figure slinked towards her. "Just relax and realize that this isn't about you, this is about the company you keep. Kept, sorry." He corrected himself.

Terrified, Serenity screamed where she was into the phone the second Joey picked up. Dropping the phone, she grabbed the lid of a garbage can to defend herself. Lunging at her attacker, she tried to drive it into his face. Effortlessly, the man deflected the blows and pushed closer to her. Her attacks became more forceful and less accurate as he closed the distance between the two of them. Finally, they were so close she couldn't even drive the lid forward any longer. Gently, the figure drove a needle into her neck, and then all the world was blackness.

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Seto arrived at the scene not thirty seconds after Joey. He'd taken his favourite car, but Joey had been closer and so when he arrived the elder Wheeler was crouched over the younger. Striding to the pair, Kaiba kneeled beside Joey and checked the girl's breathing. She was still breathing, but it seemed shallow and forced. Her face was incredibly pale, and he knew she had been poisoned.

He rose to her feet and took a step toward his car. "Pick her up and bring her to my car, we'll take her back to the mansion."

"She needs a doctor." Joey stated, rising and turning to Kaiba.

"Which I have at the mansion." Kaiba shot back as though he were speaking to a child.

"I know what your doctors can do." Joey spat at the CEO.

Turning in a split second, Kaiba's hand shot out and grabbed Joey by the collar of his shirt. He pulled him close, fire burning in his eyes, and stared straight into Joey's. "Listen, Wheeler," He spat, "You can hate me all you like, I don't care, but if you let any harm come to that girl because you're too stupid to accept my help then you're not fit even to be called a dog. My mansion is closer and my doctor is better. We're taking her there. Now help, or I'll leave you in a dumpster in this alleyway." He let go, and Joey dropped to the ground.

Kaiba wheeled around and stormed back to the two-seater BMW. Joey followed as quickly as he could. "Put her in the front seat." Kaiba ordered, and Joey complied.

"Where will I sit-" Joey started, but Kaiba had already driven away.

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The nerd brigade had assembled and was waiting silently in the living room that had so often held so much joy. Joey hadn't even bothered to say hello to his beloved Tess. Not a word had passed since the group had assembled there nearly two hours ago. Kaiba leaned against the wall of the room while Joey paced restlessly across the centre. Yugi, Tea, Tristan and Duke sat on the couches around the TV. Mokuba sat atop the pool table, staring at the floor below him.

Finally, Kaiba's patience ran out. "Will you stop pacing like that? Serenity's life or death doesn't depend on how much exercise you get!"

"Shut the hell up, rich boy! This wouldn't even have happened to her if she weren't always walking back and forth to your mansion. What's the problem, can't afford to drive her?" Joey hissed at the passive brunette.

"You son of a bitch!" Kaiba yelled, rising from the wall, "She chose to walk, she liked it. If you knew one goddamn thing about your own sister you'd know that! But you were always to pig-faced stuck on who you wanted her to be and not who she is!"

"I know who she is!" Joey bellowed, "And I know that she's lying there dying because of you!"

"Stop it, both of you!" Tea yelled, rising from her seat, "Do you think this is what Serenity wants?"

Joey looked sheepish, and sat down on one of the couches, grumbling to himself. Kaiba turned and glared at Tea, who matched his gaze. Giving a frustrated grunt he stormed off to his line of arcade games and stared disinterestedly at one of the demos.

A few minutes later Doctor Kitsune entered the room and walked over to where Kaiba was. He glanced tentatively up at his employer and finally asked, "Should I just give you the diagnosis or should I tell everyone."

"Tell them." Kaiba muttered, motioning to the expectantly watching group, "They have a right to know."

Tai nodded solemnly, and turned to the group. "I managed to diagnose the poison fairly quickly and took appropriate action. The antitoxin neutralized the poison and prevented it from doing any further damage however… much of the damage was already done. Her pulse and respiration are steady and her situation is stable, but neural function is at a nearly neutral level and her motor functions are nil. It's probable that she's aware, on a subconscious level, but her visual, olfactory and tactile senses don't seem to be responding. She can probably hear you, but for all intents and purposes she's in a coma. As there are no underlying physical causes of the coma, so far as modern medical science can determine, there's nothing I can do. It's unsure at this point whether her state will improve or degenerate as time pass. I'm sorry."

A few moments passed in profound silence. Finally, Joey piped up, "So, in layman's terms…?"

Tai glanced at Kaiba as if to ask whether or not he was serious. Kaiba gave a grim nod of affirmation and the physician turned to regard Joey. "Serenity sleepy and no wakey. Me no know why. Me no can help her."

Leaping from his seat, Joey lunged at the doctor but was held back by Tristan and Duke. Kaiba nodded again muttered, "You did what you could, Tai. Is there some kind of psychologist I can call to find out the psychological causes of the coma?"

Shaking his head slowly, Tai shrugged, "I don't think so. By all reasoning it's as though she's paralysed and in a catatonic state. Unless you have some way of convincing her not to be in a coma, I don't think there's anything that can be done."

Kaiba nodded, and left the room.

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Mokuba found his brother on the third floor balcony. He was staring off into the garden and wrapped in his own thoughts. Walking to stand next to his brother, he stood in silence for some time, hoping to comfort Kaiba by his presence. Finally, he decided to ask the question burning in his mind.

"What are you thinking?" He asked.

Kaiba stood in silence for some time and Mokuba suspected that he wouldn't say anything at all. Eventually, he cleared his throat and declared, "The sun will rise again."

Mokuba gave an acknowledging sigh. That was his brother's way of saying that life would go on. He'd said the same thing the day their father had died. Mokuba made for the door back into the house, but Kaiba wasn't finished.

"The sun will rise again, and it will set again. Summer will pass into fall, which will fade into winter and spring again. Years will pass. People will be born and people will die, and everything will continue as if there had never been a Serenity Wheeler." Kaiba pronounced, his voice showing weakness in his façade, "But not me. For me, there's only the pain of loss. I'll never see her laugh, or smile again. She'll never piss me off again only for me to realize that I can't stay mad at her. She'll just lie there. Lie there as life goes on all around her. That's what they tell me. And you want me to just accept that?" He asked, his voice beginning to crack, "Is there something fundamentally wrong with me wanting to be happy? Is that not something that I'm entitled to? Why does this happen to anyone I even begin to care about?" He demanded, shouting more at the sky above than at his brother.

"I'm still here, Seto." Mokuba managed after a moment of silence.

Kaiba knelt and wrapped his arms around his brother. "I know, Mokuba. But… but I can't accept this. I'm going to do something about it."

"What?" Mokuba asked cautiously, looking up to his older brother.

"I don't know." Kaiba admitted, "But I make my own fate, and as long as there's a chance for Serenity I'm going to fight with every once of strength I have. And nobody better stand in my way."