When The Angels Cry

Chapter 04:

It Ends With Me Feeling Low

Kaiba stood at the only room with the door closed. He knocked two or three times before heading in. It was just about impossible to see his small form sitting up on Yugi's soft bed, almost impossible if not for the dim candlelight on the desk. The tall brunet closed the door behind him and made his way to the bed. "That was an impressive scene you pulled off in front of your friends." He said as he sat beside him.

Mokuba didn't say anything for a long while. A quiet game ensued but it was obvious which would snap from the intensity and pressure of the silence. "It was more than just a scene. I'm really mad at you. I don't need you patronizing and treating my feelings like they don't matter." He replied.

"Like they don't matter. I apologize Mokuba; I don't recall ever treating you as such. I know exactly why you're mad at me."

He narrowed his gaze, "Why because you can read me so easily like a book? You know every emotion that I feel before I do?" He pouted staring off the opposite way of him.

Kaiba smiled and inhaled softly, "Because it was a reckless and foolish thing to drive in such conditions. I know the first thing you probably felt was fear when you saw me." He stated nudging his unresponsive brother.

"That's not completely true. When I first saw you I was happy because I had heard Yugi and Mr. Mutoh talking about how Jounouchi and Honda were out in the cold somewhere and seeing you was instantly a happy thing for me but, when I thought about how you got here." Mokuba brought his gaze to his brother, "You shouldn't have risked your own life to come here. What if you had skidded out of control or fallen off a bridge or if the car broke down in the middle of home and here? You didn't think of the huge possibility that you could've died out there." He fumed standing to his feet.

"Mokuba I did consider the thought but I realized there was something more important than my safety and that was you. I was going crazy not knowing if you were all right. This was a big storm and I was damned if I was going to sit back and wait it out at home safe and warm when I knew that you were in a place where there was no power and a limited supply of food. And I battled with my better judgment to stay put and wait it out but the longer I waited the heavier the storm blew and I just couldn't sit back any longer. And look, obviously it was the right choice. I'm fine, I brought back those two morons downstairs and I know you're safe and warm now. I had to make sure you were all right."

Mokuba hugged him and nodded, "I just- something could've happened to you. Something could've happened to Jounouchi and Honda and you." He muttered into his brother's coat.

"But nothing did. Now stop this crying. I brought you some food, so eat." He commanded and the younger pulled away and nodded once more.

Jounouchi sighed irritated by his friends fussing and worry. "I don't need anything else. Please stop bringin' me all these blankets and pillows." He implored tapping his hands against the armrest. He shifted a little and winced again at the pain shooting up and down his lower and upper back.

"You're not okay. You're in pain. What can we do for you? Do you want another pillow? Are you sure you aren't cold?" The group seemed to cite all together. "We just want you to be as comfortable as possible."

He leaned his head back and took a deep breath, "If any of you have any aspirin that'd be great. Other than that I have enough blankets and pillows, so please just finish eating and lie down to sleep." He replied. He didn't dare mention that his head was hurting him too.

Honda laughed gently, "But are you sure?" He asked in a nurse mock tone.

He earned a deep penetrating glare, "Shut it Honda, you started this whole mess. It's not that big a deal like I've been sayin' since I got here." He repeated for the hundredth time that night.

The group settled down and ate their warm meals courtesy Seto Kaiba. Anzu and Solomon set up a throw rug on the floor near the fireplace and threw pillows and bundles of clothes down and set up some blankets. "Okay Jounouchi, if you don't feel like staying and sleeping in that chair there's a place for you to lie down over here. Just tell us when you want to get up and we'll help you." She said.

"Just go to bed. I'm fine right here." He assured nicely. Though his patience was boiling with annoyance for his friends. He leaned into the seat and shut his eyes. He was really tired and ready to quit thinking for the day- or night or whatever time it was.

Minutes rolled on as Kaiba stroked Mokuba's raven locks. He listened to the even breaths of his sleeping brother for a while as he thought about the changes this Christmas would make. Now that he was here at Yugi's house he frowned and shivered slightly to think that Mokuba would never let him go back home and there was no way he was taking Mokuba out until the roads cleared, which could take some days. That only left one decision and it was to stay here with the people Kaiba couldn't stand most.

He personally didn't mind going out again, in truth he kind of enjoyed the danger of the winter but to say that out loud would reveal an immature demeanor. His focus fell on Mokuba again and he examined the rest of the room. 'I should take him back downstairs, it's cold up here.' He stood up and opened the door slowly. There was no noise down on the first floor so he figured everyone must be sleeping or about to enter the land of slumber.

Kaiba leaned over and picked up his brother and headed out the door. Slowly he descended the small stairwell and entered the quiet and dimly lit living area as he suspected everyone was down for the count- save for a certain blond leaning on the counter to the right. The brunet stared at him for a moment before finding a place for Mokuba near the group on the floor.

After making sure his brother was covered up and warm, his attention shifted to the other teen. Something odd caught his eye about the other, for one thing 'He didn't say anything or even look in this direction when I came down. The way he's holding onto that glass counter is suspicious as well.' Without another second wasted on thought, he walked over to the one he labeled dog so often a time and leaned against the counter beside him and he glanced his way at first.

Jounouchi really didn't even notice the one now standing just to the left of him, his eyes were closed tight and hands clenched into tightening fists, his face held such a pained expression. "Are you all right?" Kaiba's voice cut straight through the peacefully silent night like an alarm going off in the dead of morning. Jounouchi almost leaped right out of his skin, jumping backwards and wincing even more as he began to fall, but Kaiba grabbed him by the arm.

"Dammit. Don't be sneaking up on me like that. You could kill someone." He continued to mumble and curse under his breath.

"Whatever. I was trying to be considerate since you are obviously in a lot of pain. But I don't need to be insulted and be given your whispered obscenities." He said and let the blond go.

And ironically Jounouchi actually felt bad for his long time personal rival. When he thought of what the other had said it hit him that he was acting rudely considering what Kaiba had asked was if he were okay. "Kaiba wait." He turned, slowly, and faced his bitter enemy and nodded, "I'm sorry. I didn't mean to snap I just didn't know you were down here. I was in a deep thought and I" he paused for a moment and groaned as his lower back remained aching still.

Kaiba would normally have walked away and ignored the teen's physical problems since it was no business of his but since all the mutt's friends were sleeping and there was no place he could escape to he sighed and helped Jounouchi to the corner slightly further away from the others but still warmed by the brilliant fire. "What the hell happened to make your back hurt like an old man's?" He asked bringing him a pillow and extra blanket from the couch he'd been sitting in.

Jounouchi accepted the things without hesitation and scooted over so the brunet could sit beside him. He didn't want to admit his reason for his pain since it would only aid to amuse the other and give him more ammunition to insult and humiliate him but he didn't like silence too much either and since his friends had actually taken his advice and left him awake all alone, he complied to the question. "I sorta fell outside on the ice right before you picked me an' Honda up. I hit the curb with my back… end and it just it didn't hurt so much at first but when I came inside and warmed up it really started to hurt. None of them carry aspirin or pain relieving stuff either so I guess I just gotta endure it huh." He replied sharing a little more information and words than he meant to.

Kaiba shut his eyes for a moment and considered his reply to him-if there'd be one, Kaiba didn't really find the idea of talking with him all that appealing but so far he supposed it wasn't so bad. Besides he really didn't want to leave the other awake all alone and he honestly wasn't in the mood to be rude or well, his usual cold-as-ice self. Imagine that if you possibly could. "You know what, I think I might have something."

The tone caught him completely off guard and he wasn't ready for such a normal sounding voice. "Something like what?" He asked totally forgetting everything they had discussed at the very light-hearted reply. He blinked as Kaiba pulled out a small bottle, twisted the top and dispersed two pills from it.

"Here." He handed them to him and then stood to his feet and went to the gallon of water he had brought with him as well. Pouring some in a cup from the cupboard he sat back down beside the other and gave him the glass as well. "Take them, you'll feel better." He insisted putting the bottle back in his pocket.

He studied the two medium-sized pills unsure since he'd never seen them before; they weren't ordinary over-the-counter aspirin he could tell. "Are you sure I should-"

"Fine. If you don't want them then don't take them. Once more I was just trying to be nice to a worthless mutt like you. I don't know why I bothered in the first place if this is how you choose to react to me." He said disgusted with the very hesitation Jounouchi's voice had entailed.

The blond felt really bad now. Despite his grudge it just didn't seem so easy to stay angry after all he'd done and risked to be here in the first place. He put his hand on Kaiba's shoulder and stared at him apologetically. "I'm sorry again. I dunno what's wrong with me. I've been rude to my friends all night long and now I'm snapping at you for no reason." He removed his hand from Kaiba's arm and stared into the endless blaze of red among the wood and he swallowed the pills given to him so generously.

"So did you fix things with Mokuba?" He asked after a while of silence. His eyes continued glued to the fire.

Kaiba relaxed at the change in topic and nodded softly to his rather pleasant guest. "There was nothing to fix. I expected his anger and hurt when I left the house in the first place." He answered matter-of-fact.

"I understand. It was pretty crazy to be drivin' in this weather. You really could've gotten hurt out there, like seriously badly and no one would've been able to help you until everything melted but by that time-"

"Would you shut-up all ready?" He muttered a little bitterly. He didn't want nor desire to hear the negative side of his under appreciated good deed. "If I hadn't come when I did you might not have returned back yourself. I find it strange that Mokuba gets upset with me and yet praises you for your bravery in finding- or failing to find –wood."

Jounouchi smiled and nodded, his eyes beginning to droop and drift close, "Well that's the difference in younger siblings I guess. I know Shizuka would kill me for going outside. He's more afraid of you getting hurt than anyone else. It's not so hard to understand." The blond yawned and sighed.

"I suppose you have a point." Kaiba joined his gaze into the embers and silence surrounded the room once more.

Everyone snickered and laughed as the shook Jounouchi lightly. "Hey Seto, it's time to get up." Mokuba said tapping his brother on the shoulder. Kaiba and Jounouchi shifted slightly and opened their eyes to find everyone staring at them with smirks and grins. The brunet tried to sit up but as he looked down he met a pair of browns and instantly the two boys jumped up into sitting positions. Anzu started laughing lightly. Somehow the two had fallen asleep together, Kaiba on his back with Jounouchi resting his head on him.

Kaiba folded his arms across his chest and shut his eyes gently, "It's not that hilarious." But no one thought that way. "Immature morons." He muttered and sighed.

"I didn't know you two had grown so close to one another." Honda stated in a stunned tone.

Jounouchi reddened some but pretended not to care about their teasing. "Whatever."