It was 7 p.m. Seto was leading Ryou to the containment device; the end of the line for the spirit.

All of a sudden, Ryou heard echoing laughter. He stopped dead in his tracks.

"Is everything alright?"

"I don't know." In a short moment, he held an arm over his torso in grimace. A few seconds later, blood was coming through and his shirt.

"Ryou," Seto said in alarm, putting a hand on Ryou's shoulder. "Are you okay?"

"I'm sorry, Yadonushi. Looks like it's end of game for Kaiba."

"End...of...game?" Ryou asked in fear, not even registering Seto's question. Then he exclaimed in agony from the splitting headache he now felt, his breathing quickening.

"Ryou!" Seto interjected. The blood stain on Ryou's shirt was getting noticeably bigger.

Ryou remained hunched over, whimpering in pain until he suddenly went quiet. Dark laughter escaped his lips as he stood to full height.

"You didn't think you'd get away with your plan THAT easily, did you?" Bakura inquired with a sick smile. "If you want the Ring, you'll have to come and get it yourself." He immediately pivoted on his heel and ran away. He knew he couldn't win in a one-on-one fight with Kaiba, but thankfully for him, his host was fast. If he could outrun Kaiba, then he could get to a point where he can trap him. From there, he'll decide if he wants to hurt Kaiba or not.

Seto gritted his teeth and started running after Bakura. Why did he always have to make things difficult? Confronting him at school was hard enough, but now he was chasing the guy when Ryou's body now needed medical assistance and he didn't want to see if his suspicion for the cause of the bleeding was correct or not.

Bakura dared a look back. He hadn't gotten much more distance between him and Kaiba yet so, though it took more effort, he sped up.

Seto cursed in his mind. How fast was Ryou normally? He started planning his course of action in his mind. Bakura may have speed on his side, but Seto knew the layout of the building. Not just the building, actually. Bakura doesn't know much about the layout of many places. He doesn't have the opportunity of being anywhere other than Ryou's house and school to be very familiar. This idea was proven correct as Bakura entered a dim hallway and passed a door that opened to a shortcut. Seto exploited this and used the shortcut for himself.

Bakura had been running at 75% speed until he heard the shutting of a door behind him. He stopped. If Kaiba had taken an alternate path, then he must be planning to cut him off. He could either go back and follow Kaiba or keep going am anticipate Kaiba in the route ahead. He didn't have much time to think. He chose the latter. He kept going. No matter what, he had to be careful to not cause too much blood loss. After all, what use is a host that's dead? He kept an eye out, watching the walls. When he thought he was up against only wall for 5 matters, Kaiba seemingly came out of nowhere.

Seto internally laughed when he saw the look of surprise and confusion on Bakura's face. He grabbed him by the wrists as he ran into him, he turned him around and kept his hand's behind his back. "I was hoping it was going to go off without any problems, but I knew something was going to go awry."

In one quick motion, Seto pulled Bakura's left wrist closer and held his shoulders with one arm so he could use his free hand to take out his phone and call for an ambulance.

"I don't cooperate with you, what makes you think an ambulance will be any different?"

"Because you won't have to cooperate. They have their ways to make even violent people to let them do their job."

Bakura was about to give Kaiba a mean glare when his attention was brought to the fact that his muscles felt weaker. He was not sure if it was from blood loss or fatigue.

Seto felt Bakura's muscles relax, but not in defeat. When he saw the dazed look in his eyes, he knew the cause. He looked at his chest. The stain looked worse now.

"Spirit, I'm going to take you to the front of the building. If you put up a fight, you're going to risk Ryou's health. If you aim to still have a host," The words were painful to say. "then you shouldn't risk losing too much more blood."

Bakura looked up at Kaiba. "What are you going to do that you have to notify me?"

"I'm going to carry you."

"No! I'd rather run."

"If you run, then your blood pressure will increase and you're going to lose blood faster."

Bakura bared his teeth. ". . . Fine."

Seto carefully picked up Ryou's body, keeping the back straight. Though Bakura didn't move easily, it was relatively smooth. But it all changed when the ambulance arrived.

Once people started getting out of the vehicle, Bakura fought his way out of Kaiba's arms. "I'm not going!"

"Sir, we're here to help."

"I don't need anyone's help!"

"Well your chest is bleeding. We can fix that."

Kaiba grabbed one of Bakura's wrists and started bringing him closer to the vehicle.

"LET GO!"

The medical workers were able to get much closer to Bakura. When he tried fighting them, he was given a strong sedative. Afterwards, he was brought into the ambulance and Kaiba went with them. Bakura fell asleep just about as soon as he was put on a bed.

"How did this happen?"

"I'm not sure."

"How long has he been bleeding?"

"Only 20 minutes at most."

Seeing Ryou's body unconscious, Seto couldn't tell if Ryou's back in control again or not. Ryou's face was completely blank.

The hospital felt like utter chaos, though Seto knew there's some procedure. Ryou was brought in on the rolling bed as someone spewed info at a speedy rate.

"Bakura Ryou, age 16, has five puncture wounds in the chest and the foreign object is still in his chest."

"Then let's page a CT scan."

"We don't have enough time for that. He's already lost a lot of blood. The time that could take could cost him his life."

"Okay, then he'd need a blood transfusion and has anyone taken a look at the puncture wounds?"

"No, ma'am."

"Then take him over there so he can be examined." The woman instructed as she held an arm out to gesture to an empty spaced separated from others by two curtains.

Ryou was wheeled to the space and in less than half a minute, he was lying shirtless, the golden artifact still in his chest and soiled with blood. Seto dared to take a look and when he did, his heart hurt at the sight of the injury.

"What happened before he got hurt?" A doctor asked Seto.

"We were on our way to putting the item in his chest in a safe place when Ryou stopped walking all of a sudden. Then showed signs of pain and blood started showing up on his shirt." Seto purposefully omitted all details relating to the spirit so Ryou won't get mistreated nor have to answer questions that he doesn't know the answer to.

The woman who had been talking earlier spoke up again. "Okay, on top of a blood transfusion, we need to prepare an OR to remove this item from his chest and stitch him up. Let's get moving, people."

A few minutes later, Seto found himself in the waiting room. Of course, he couldn't do nothing while he waited. It wasn't in his nature to be idle. He took out his phone and called Isono. "Hey, Isono. I'm at the Domino City hospital. Ryou had been injured and his shirt got bloody. I'd like you to buy a sweatshirt in pale tone of a boyish color like blue or green. Aim for one to fit a skinny boy but if you ever have any doubts of whether it'll fit, it's always better to be a size too large than one too small."

"Yes, Master Seto."

Seto hummed in satisfaction and hang up the phone. A few minutes later, he received a call from Mokuba.

"Nii-sama, where are you? You're gone for a really long time."

"I'm at the hospital."

"What?! Are you okay?"

"Yes, I'm fine. Although, Ryou got injured from his relic and he is currently going through surgery to get it taken out."

"What? How?"

"I am not too sure myself. But if you're going to come over here, then have Fuguta drive you."

Within the next twenty minutes, Mokuba arrived in the lobby and rushed over to Seto. "Any updates?"

Seto shook his head. When Fuguta entered the waiting, he looked at him and said, "When Isono arrives, you two are to drive back in the same car."

"Yes, sir."

3 minutes later, Isono arrived, a pastel orange sweatshirt in his hands. The man walked over to his boss and handed him the garment. "Here is the sweatshirt you requested, sir."

Seto accepted it with a nod and hummed in satisfaction. "Very good."

Fuguta informed Isono of what Kaiba had said before the two of them left as instructed.

37 minutes later, a woman notified the Kaiba brothers that Ryou was in his room now. Seto got the room number and walked with Mokuba to the room. Ryou laid there, his expression of released tension rather than relaxation, like rest was more of a break than anything. Next to Ryou's bed, a nurse, recording his vitals on a clipboard.

"He just fell asleep. He's been in and out of consciousness for the past ten minutes." He said.

Seto nodded with a hum. He and Mokuba entered the room and sat by the bed. Shortly after, the nurse finished writing and left the room.

15 minutes later, Ryou shifted in the bed and muttered something.

"What did you say?" Seto asked him. He saw Mokuba look up in his peripheral vision.

"I never stole any fire."

"No one ever said that you did."

"Then why is my liver being eaten by a vulture?"

Mokuba bursted out laughing, though he tried to keep it in.

Seto had to suppressed his laughter. "What makes you think your liver is being eaten?"

"Because I'm Prometheus and stole fire from Zeus so now I'm being punished but I DIDN'T steal any fire."

"If your liver is being eaten by a vulture, then where is the vulture?"

Ryou looked around the room then stared at Seto wide-eyed and whispered with foolish disbelief. "It's invisibleee."

Seto shook his head with a smile. "You had surgery done on your chest, Ryou."

"Oh." Ryou seemingly observed the room a little bit before looking at Seto again. "But I didn't steal any fire."

"Go back to sleep, Ryou."

"But I'm not tired. Besides, Prometheus doesn't sleep."

"Then just close your eyes."

"Okay." Ryou did as instructed and soon fell asleep.

"What was that about?"

"Ryou was apparently still loopy from the anesthesia they used during surgery."

"That was hilarious!"

"Yes, it was. But if he wakes up again like that, try not to laugh, okay?"

"Okay, Seto."

They talked some but their conversation was interrupted when Ryou started having moments during his slumber where he'd tense and relax. Seto held his hand supportively despite the fact that it wouldn't change anything for Ryou.

The cycle of tensing, relaxing, and resting repeated for seven minutes before Ryou drowsily woke up, acknowledging the pain in his chest, the feel of Seto's hand around his, and the near-blinding white room. "Wha...What happened? Is everyone alright?"

"Yes, everyone is alright. He took over and in an attempt to keep from failure, he implanted the Ring in your chest. You were bleeding badly so I called an ambulance to get it taken out safely."

Ryou smiled a little, though it wasn't as wide as it could be due to his overwhelming drowsiness. "Thank you. Where IS the Ring, anyway?"

"Under the counter over there." Seto pointed to the wall adjacent to the door.

"And what's with that?" Ryou pointed to the sweatshirt in Seto's other hand.

"They had to tear your shirt in order to help you as fast as possible so I had Isono buy a sweatshirt for you because I know how much you like sweatshirts."

Ryou blushed. "Thank you. And thank Isono for me when you see him next."

"Thank him yourself when you see him."

"But I thought you said-" Mokuba was interrupted by a raised finger telling him to hush. Seto had decided that with Ryou being this tired right now, he'd want to be by his side after Ryou is discharged.

"Aside from chest pain, are you okay, Ryou?"

"Yeah. I'm really sleepy, but I'm good." He yawned, absentmindedly gripping Seto's fingers.

Seto smiled. He stood up and took a step to the bed, shifting his hand from holding Ryou's fingers to intertwining his own fingers with Ryou's. Then he proceeded to kiss him on the forehead. "It's good that that's all that's off."

The two of them exchanged a soft look while Mokuba remained quiet. After a moment, Seto requested a discharge form. As he waited for one to be gotten, he called Isono saying that plans changed again.

Soon a nurse came in and took out the IV from Ryou's arm, causing Ryou to contract and extend his formerly stiff arm. The nurse then left the room.

"Mokuba, can you please excuse us while I help Ryou with his shirt?"

Mokuba nodded obediently and stood outside the door and closed it.

"Seto, I appreciate the assistance but I can put on the shirt by myself."

"Two things. One, it's also removing the gown that you'd need assistance with so that is invalid. Two, I wanted to go over something with you." He held out a hand to help Ryou up to his feet, subconsciously bringing his other arm up behind Ryou.

"What is it?"

Seto started undoing the gown, letting Ryou to also move himself around. "When we leave the hospital, I want to look after you while your chest is healing. I don't want anything to happen to hinder it from healing." He put the gown on the bed and opened the sweatshirt. "Raise your arms."

Ryou did so, raising his arms to shoulder level. He could feel how his movements tugged on the skin underneath the tape and bandaging. It was uncomfortable, but not too bad. Seto placed the sweatshirt over Ryou's upper body. He could feel the places where it was warmer from being directly held. It made him even sleepier.

"As long as Momoka is taken care of, I don't have a problem with that." Without even being aware of the fact his body had been swaying, he accidentally lost balance, which led to Seto catching him abruptly.

"Are you okay?"

Ryou nodded, though his head didn't rise so he rest his head on Seto's shoulder. "Just tired, and this shirt is warm."

Seto chuckled a little, picked up Ryou, and placed him on the bed. "Glad you like it." He opened up the door and sat beside Ryou on the bed.

Mokuba and a hospital staff person entered the room. She handed a paper to Seto. "Here is the discharge form, sir."

Seto nodded, the closest she'd get to a thanks, signed the form, then handed the paper back. In a moment, she came back with a wheelchair. "Alright, everything is set."

Ryou opened his eyes and sluggishly moved to the wheelchair.

"Mokuba, can you carry the Ring?"

"Of course!" Mokuba picked it up from the floor and followed Seto.

As Seto walked beside Ryou, he could see Ryou's curiosity keeping his eyes open despite his lethargy, watching the surroundings pass by.

When they got to the front, Mokuba walked around the back of the car in the opposite door while Ryou and Seto entered the passenger door facing the building. Inside the car, Seto made sure that Ryou was securely buckled before he put an arm around Ryou's shoulders, shifting the weight onto himself as Ryou dozed off. Ryou was as warm as he was content.

Before Ryou fell asleep, he lifted his head and looked at Isono. "Thank you, Isono-san for choosing this shirt."

"I was merely doing my job, but the thanks is appreciated."

Ryou sighed with satisfaction and rested his head back on Seto, falling asleep within seconds.

"Hey Seto, why are we heading back home? Wasn't this supposed to be put in the device you've been working on?"

Seto gently placed his hand on Ryou's head. "Because that relic is important to Ryou. If he is there when it's locked away, he'll find it easier to let go of it. Otherwise I would've had it locked in there as soon as the device was finished and ready."

"Why is it important to him? Hasn't it been really bad to him?"

"It has, but the answer to that is better to ask Ryou himself for."

Mokuba hummed in acknowledgement and looked at the Ring with a questioning gaze.

"Besides, it's late; for both you and Ryou. You two need rest."

"You do too."

"I can't. Not yet. Need to finish up some emails and check on the device."

"I see." Mokuba didn't like that Seto was once again staying up later, but he couldn't do anything so he left it at that.

When they arrived at the manor, Seto opened the car door, unbuckled his and Ryou's seatbelts, picked up his boyfriend, walked inside with Mokuba, pushed his shoes off on his ankles at the door, and walked to an empty guest room that was in the same hallway as Seto and Mokuba's rooms.

Seto couldn't help but to keep his eyes on Ryou's face, the boy's head tucked in, quietly breathing. In the guest room, Seto kicked up the blankets on the bed to fold it over, rested Ryou on the bed, took Ryou's shoes off, placed them by the bed, gently picked up the blanket, then draped it back over Ryou. He kissed the top of his head, inhaling Ryou's aroma as he did before leaving the room.

Lastly he made sure Mokuba was in bed shortly, finished his work for the night, checked on Ryou one last time, then retired into his own room. Now in the same hallway was both people whom he cared for. That was something he could sleep peacefully knowing.