Nine Years

Chapter Eleven: Tension

"What are you doing around dis parts anyway?"

"I just came back from a business deal…" Duke Devlin explained. Duke had matured more over the years. His hair wasn't as messy; it was neatly combed and was set in a ponytail with a few strands of his hair falling carelessly on his face. He was clad in a black suit, consisting of a navy blue shirt with the first two buttons open as well as black polished shoes. "So what happened to uh…Serenity?" he asked a hint of worry in his eyes.

"She…got into an accident…" Joey muttered, looking out at Domino. The sun was slowing creeping up the horizon, gleaming its golden, scarlet, and ginger rays at them.

"Any… status?" He asked, biting his lip.

"I dun really know yet…that's why we needed a lift to da hospital" Joey explained, seeing the night landscape pass by him and being replaced with the sun and its rays so quickly.

"So…the little guy is yours?" Duke asked referring to Matt.

"Yeh…Matt"

"I can see the resemblance…" he said looking at the rearview mirror. He could see Matt sleeping on Mai's lap as well as Mai sleeping on the leather seating of Duke's car.

Domino Hospital…

Shaila and Kari were seated in Serenity's room, watching her peacefully breathe in and out which was a relief to the both of them. Kaiba was seated in the waiting room, thinking that this situation was uncomfortable as it was. Kari's mind was filled with optimistic thoughts of her mom getting well and Kaiba and her mother fixing their problems.

While Shaila's thought's were filled with Serenity's reaction of when she found out that her daughter told him that she was his daughter. She shook her head at Kari when she found out. She knew very well that her best friend was stubborn and she would probably make the matter seem that it never happened and would move on with her life. But would Kaiba think? That was another question. This situation was getting worse and difficult, for Serenity, Kaiba, and Kari.Well maybe not Kari, she was happy with the situation. If she only knew what lied ahead...

She yawned tiredly as she looked wearily at Serenity. At the opposite side of the room Kari was sleeping on an extra bed, sleeping contently. She looked at her warily. How could she sleep happily at a time like this? This girl was definitely optimistic. She couldn't help smile also; her smile was contagious. She yawned once more and looked at the bed with comfort and lumbered over to it, not caring of how hard and uncomfortable it was. She just wanted to let sleep overcome and worry about the situations in the morning.

Meanwhile, Kaiba was still sitting in the empty waiting room, burying his head into the palm of his hands. He groaned miserably as he thought of what would happen in the future, when Serenity was awake. Despite the thought that she was in the hospital and this was a time for sympathy, he was a little angry with the fact that he had a daughter and was kept away from it for about nine years! But he still had his doubts but they were hidden away. BelievingKari overcame them.

Flashback…

"I…uh…I-I have to t-tell you something" Kari said quietly, stuttering for the right words.

Kaiba just stared at her blankly thinking what could the child possibly tell him? His eyes drooped slowly from the lack of sleep while she continued to stare at the floor. The floor tile suddenly became interesting to her. He rolled his eyes at her and continued over to the door, becoming very irritated with the girl.

"Wait!" she chirped up looking up at him when he heard his footsteps out in the hallway. She quickly ran up to him and bumped into his legs. Kaiba didn't flinch while she had to endure the force of his legs, falling flat on her butt.

"Ouch…" she whined. Kaiba turned around and met with her gaze. His impatience with Kari was slowly going up again. He offered his hand to her and she gratefully took it. He could feel the warmth of her small hand while she could feel the chill of his. She shivered inwardly.

A wide smile appeared on her face as a thank you. He just looked at blankly once more. His face was cold and emotionless and she was starting to regret confronting him.

"What is it you have to tell me?" he asked with the same emotionless face.

"Um…Well…" she said, looking down. She didn't really know what to day. She couldn't just say 'I'm your daughter...'. It was hard and she didn't know why.

"Out with it already"

She was scared of his thunderous voice. She truly regretted ever confronting him. She didn't know what to do. She wanted to run up to her mom or Shaila, but her little legs wouldn't move. As she continued to stare at the floor she could see his foot tap the floor endlessly. She whimpered slightly. Before she knew it, the tears came, one by one. The floor echoed the drops of tears.

Kaiba could see her little shoulders shake violently from the tears and felt guilty. Yes guilty. He made a little girl cry. He never made a little kid cry. He never made Mokuba cry either. He softened his gaze on her and walked up to her. Having no experience of whatsoever he gave her a little pat on the back.

"Uh…there…there?" he said not sure himself of what he was doing. She hastily wiped her tears away with a swipe of her sleeve. He gave a sigh of relief when she was starting to calm down. When she completely stopped crying he asked her again, but more gently, in a softer tone.

"Can we talk it over…ice cream?" she asked, looking up into his eyes. She added a weak smile when she saw the softer look on his face. His gaze was soft to.

"It better be worth it…" he mumbled as he walked down the hallway once more. She quickly joined her, being careful not to bump into him again.

"It is!" She chirped up. Kaiba couldn't believe how many emotions she had. It was like a mini-Mokuba. He couldn't help give a small smile, but he never showed it to her.

They sat down in one of the tables there in the bare cafeteria. Lights were barely on; it was very dim. The only people there were them and the ice cream waiter. Other counters were empty.Kaiba couldn't believe that the cafeteria was still open.

"Well…it's…like this…" Kari said stuffing her mouth full of ice cream. It helped her talk confidently. She could speak and say that'I'm your daughter' . "I'm your…daughter" she said with that confidence, with the ice cream in her mouth that is.

End Flashback…

He groaned again as he saw the clock ticking on the nearby wall reading a half past seven.

'Morning already…?'

He sighed and decided to go home now, thinking that if he didn't get any sleep, he would stress even more than he stressing now. He got up and started walking towards the entrance of the entrance. He passed by several patients' rooms, even Serenity's which was partly open. He could see her still unconscious, her daughter and Serenity's friend sleeping on an extra bed.

"I could've slept there" he grumbled. As he took once last look, he turned away and walked towards the entrance, but stopped abruptly when he heard a soft whimper.

"Serenity…" he said.

Kaiba Mansion…

He groaned slightly as the alarm clock rang endlessly. He slammed it with a fist and went back to sleep. It was Saturday morning so he could sleep as much as he wanted, unlike some brother he knew. He slept contently on the king sized bed. His comforter wrapped tightly around him. Sleep overcame him once more. Suddenly, the door creaked open but he took of no notice.

"Wake up now Master Mokuba…" the maid said known as Isabella. Isabella was around her mid-thirties and was Mokuba's personal maid. She had lively raven hair, like Mokuba's but was neater and longer. Her eyes were solemn gray but sometimes held excitement. She was British and Mokuba always thought her accent was amusing.

She was wearing what all Kaiba mansion maids and butlers wore; a white shirt, full sleeveswith collar and a skirt that was up to the knees, not higher not lower. The skirt had a white apron attached to it. Socks were not allowed and so theywere replaced with black stockings and black high heeled shoes that were an inch high. For the men it was basically the same thing but with a black vest and black slacks followed by polished black shoes. On every uniform, was the logo 'KC'. Kaiba was very uptight with his maids and butlers uniform. He needed proper conduct and etiquette from the maids and butlers, even if it had to be there appearance.

She smiled sweetly at the man before her and pulled the curtains wide open. He might have not been little anymore but he sure acted little, hence the personal maid. Pulling the sky blue curtains open, she let the bright sun shine flat on his face. But Mokuba simply grumbled and pulled the covers over him, shunning him from the sun. She frowned at this and decided to do this the hard way.

"Master Mokuba…" she said going over to his bed, shaking his shoulders a bit. He grumbled something about today being a Saturday. She rolled her eyes at this.

"Saturday or not Master Mokuba your brother would have wanted you to wake up by now."

"Wadda you mean he would've…?" Mokuba grumbled.

"Well…Master Kaiba hasn't come back from Kaiba Corp. since yesterday."

This made him sit up in his bed with worry plastered all over his face. "Well…didn't he call? Or something?" he asked.

"I'm sure that wherever he is…he is fine" she said in a motherly way.

"I don't need you crap…" he mumbled but she never heard him. He got up and hastily went to his private bathroom and washed up.

Domino Hospital…

He quickly appeared in the doorway once more scanning the room for any movement or noise. He saw Serenity still in her unconscious state, breathing in and out in a steady rate. Shaila and Kari were sleeping together; Shaila sleeping like the dead. Then, where was the groan coming from? He thought.

He shook his head in stupidity and thought maybe the no sleeping was getting to his head. He thought he finally cracked. He didn't sleep in about fourteen hours. But he had to admit, all the nights he stayed up at Kaiba Corp., he could go through not sleeping a whole day. The only time he did sleep was in the uncomfortable chairs in the waiting room, but that was like ten minute dozes. He was so sure he heard a noise! He knew he heard a soft whimper. He growled quietly and strained his earsto hear any sort of noise. Nothing. He left the room as it was andslowly and headed towards the entrance when he heard another whimper.

'I know I heard that!'

He quickly went back to the room and searched again for any noise. Nothing. Absolute silence. He growled silently, yet again. Someone was playing with him and he was getting irritated. Suddenly he heard another whimper and it was coming from Kari's side of the room. He curiously went over to her and thought what was wrong with her. He saw her clutching her stomach and her face in a pained expression.

He went over to her and shook her little shoulders trying to wake her up. She opened one eye in response and then another. Her eyes were red from sleep. She has been up most of the night. She looked at him blankly. Then she finally sat up.

"My stomach hurts…" she said rubbing one eye while yawning, the pained expression never leaving her face. She hugged her legs, rocking back and forth softly on the sturdy bed.

"Uh…" he said unsure of what to do. What did he do to Mokuba in this situation? It has been long since he tended to Mokuba. He's grown and could take care of himself…most of the time. She looked up at him with huge, curious, eyes. "Come with me?" he said offering his hand to her. She nodded and gratefully took it, trusting him. She jumped off the bed and followed him.

The hospital was filled with doctors and nurses going room to room. It was working hours.Some gave him curious glances while he gave them a glare in return. In fright, they turned away and continued their duties because both knew what he was capable of. Both had arrived in the cafeteria again. It was illuminated with lights and doctors and visitors. It smelled strongly of fresh baked dairy items, muffinsand cookies. Strong coffee also filled his nostrils. Suddenly he was getting hungry. Hospital food or not, he had to eat something.

"I'm not hungry…" she said. The site of lookingand smellingat food raised her urge to throw up.

"I wasn't going to get you food" he said walking over to the soda machine. He looked for a specific soda and found what he was looking for.

"I'm not thristy." He just rolled his eyes slightly.

Out came a can of ginger ale from the machine and he opened it. "Here, it used to make my brother better. He reminds me a lot like you." She gave another grateful smile to him and drank it quickly.

"Thank you!" she said, grinning."My mom and sometimes Shaila gave me this too when my stomach hurted"

"You have stomach aches often?" he asked, with a little worry. He didn't know why he was feeling worry for her.

"No...only when I eat to much sweets" she said sheepishly. "Thanks again..." she siad smiling up to him again.

He gave a weak smile in return. As I said before the smile was contagious. "Let's go…" she said, throwing the can in the trash can. He was amazed at how fast she drank it.

"Wait…" he said walking over at the coffee counter. He ordered a low fat muffin and coffee, decaf. She looked at him with a blank expression, shrugged her shoulders and joined him.

"What…I'm human you know."

"Joey, wait up!" Mai said as she frantically ran up to him while clutching Matt's hand.

"Sorry" he said sheepishly. "I'm just worried of what da outcome will be."

"Me too…" Duke said. They headed for the receptionist desk and asked where she was.

"I'm sorry, visiting hours aren't till nine o'clock." The receptionist said pointing at the wall. It was a half past eight.

"Argh! Come on its only half hour short!"

"Sorry sir…but I can tell you what room she is"

Joey just glared at her while Mai nodded.

"She's in room 207A"

"Thank you" Mai said. "Come on Joey…we can at least wait in the waiting room"

They quickly walked over to her room, getting a little lost in the first two hallways but eventually found there way.

Joey swallowed hard as he saw the bandages and the I.V. cord through the window of her room. He couldn't bear to look at her this way. He retreated to the waiting room and dug his head in his hands sighing deeply. He promised that he would look after her when she was little and going. And now, she's stuck in the bed with pain by her side.

"Hun…she's gonna be okay" Mai said fondly, squeezing his hand while sitting next to him. She kissed him on the forehead lightly while wiping a tear away from his face. He nodded and gave her weak smile.

"She is gonna be alrigh'" he said confidently.

"What are you doing here Kaiba?" Duke asked with a little edge in his voice, when seeing Kaiba entering the waiting room. He knew about Serenity and Kaiba's past history and he wasn't very fond of it. But he saw another person enter the room, a little girl.

When Joey and Mai heard Kaiba's name they quickly turned around seeing him with Kari.

"Kaiba…" Joey growled.'The nerve of him coming here'

"Wheeler…" Kaiba said emotionless. His growling didn't threaten him a bit. Mai and Matt just looked at them, with Matt a little curious of whom this Kaiba person was. And what was he doing with Kari? Question's filled the little nine year old boy's mind.

Another person entered thewaiting room, the same doctor who informed Kaiba yesterday that Serenity was okay.

"Ms. Wheeler is conscious now"

(A/n: I made them all meet. Hehe. She's awake after four chapters, including this one. Please review!)