When The Angels Cry

Chapter 08:

It's Falling To Pieces

Kaiba stared straight down the white land before him, driving as carefully as he could. So much ran through his mind though and for the first time he wasn't sure what he should be feeling or doing. It was always his mantra to remain focused and never reveal emotion but right now all he wanted to do was scream and… And do something that would betray his very soul's nature.

Kaiba wasn't a weakling. There was nothing that could falter his strength or hinder his determination to survive. Of course. Mokuba would be fine because it's impossible for either one to fall to such pathetic feats. He took a deep long and satisfied mental breath; that was good enough. He could convince himself and cheer himself up without any one else to ramble any speeches. He was Seto Kaiba; didn't need anyone.

Jounouchi stroked the boy's hair and bit his lip to keep from crying. He sighed at the sight of Yugi doing everything he could to stifle his moans and tears, which were already trailing down his cheeks. He wondered now if it was a good idea for his best friend to come, but then he doubted he'd be able to handle this without him anyway. It was okay for Yugi to cry; in fact he could tear for all of them. He could because Kaiba couldn't.

Jounouchi knew on an average day the hospital wasn't that far from the house, a good twenty minutes maybe, what sucked was the snow made the trip more like an hour or almost two. 'Mokuba may not have even an hour.' He found himself thinking before erasing the thought from his mind. 'No, he'll be fine. Everything will be fine and we'll all be sitting around a table in time for the big Christmas feast.' He told himself and smiled ever slightly. 'What was I thinking? Everyone will be just fine.'

After what seemed like an eternity, the car parked in front of the emergency entrance. Kaiba opened his door and opened Jounouchi's. Slowly the blond climbed out and hovered close as they gently took the unconscious raven-haired boy out. Kaiba carried him in with Yugi and Honda holding either side of the boy. Jounouchi was right behind them swallowing hard and breathing heavy.

"Oh! Mr. Kaiba!" A nurse very familiar and close to the Kaiba family stopped and ran to their side.

"Liea he needs help fast." Kaiba ordered, his voice a bit rugged and yes, shattered.

She stood straight and shouted for immediate doctors' attention and assistance. She gave a list of instructions and within seconds a stretcher was being carted towards them. "Hurry!" A doctor shouted rushing the boy away from his older brother and friends.

Honda and Yugi plopped down in two of the waiting room chairs. Jounouchi did beside them not wanting to sit down. He stared at Kaiba, whose back was facing them as the brunet remained standing and staring in the direction of the closed doors Mokuba had been pushed through.

"Everything will be okay." Yugi said touching the taller teen's arm sympathetically.

Kaiba twitched and jerked the hand away. "How many times do I need to repeat myself? I don't want to hear your pathetic rambling nonsense. I don't need nor desire to hear idiotic pep-talks and whatnot from the Dream Team." He turned and glared at each one of them with a look of rage and disgust. And his lips parted slightly as if there was something more he wanted to say but nothing came. He took one last look at the doors before leaving, heading towards the way they had entered. "I don't want to hear it." He mumbled to himself but it wasn't Yugi that he was referring to anymore.

Jounouchi stood to his feet and headed out after him. "Jounouchi where are you going?" Yugi asked softly with confusion laced in his tearful voice.

The blond shook his head. "He shouldn't talk to you like that. I know this is a hard and complicated matter but he shouldn't." He pulled the coat over his body a bit more and walked away despite Yugi's objections. After all wasn't Jounouchi the one that suggested leaving the brunet to his mulling and troubles in the beginning? So why did the blond seem so intent on taking control of this situation?

It was unknown to the shorter teen and his friend Honda as they sat in their own silence and despair. This new wave of determination that ran through the blonde's veins was peculiar to him too. But along in that car ride he had come to realize how painfully tragic this really was. He couldn't even begin to fathom how awful it'd be to have Shizuka hurt near to death's door. Even knowing everything would turn out okay, it still would just about kill him inside and out. 'I wonder if the pain is worse since Mokuba is all Kaiba has, literally. He doesn't have close personal friends. His only affection is Mokuba.'

He stopped and paused at the sight of the brunet sitting against the brick railing on the side of the building. He looked nothing like the proud pillar of invincibility he so wore every day of the year. Jounouchi found himself at a loss of strength; he has never seen the other so broken. It wasn't natural, for the CEO to be weak and full of emotion.

He stepped up and sat right beside him on his left. There was silence; he was surprised the other hadn't questioned his arrival. "Kaiba."

"Just leave." Was the simple command, or was it request?

The blond gulped the lump in his throat. "I don't want to, not unless you come in with me." He spoke in the same soft mannerism as his company. Nothing was said between the two for several minutes as the chilling wind stabbed at their faces and made a mockery of Jounouchi's long golden locks.

"You're freezing." Kaiba muttered keeping his eyes to the floor.

Jounouchi leaned forward, leaning his elbows on his knees and he sighed. His teeth were chattering and his body was shivering. He stared over at the brunet and any signs of coldness were not apparent on his face. But he had to be just as cold as Jounouchi was, right? No human could possibly find this weather comfortable. "I'm fine. Unless you want to come inside."

Kaiba shut his eyes softly and swallowed deeply. "Can't you just go?" He asked in a mere whisper that the other barely heard through the wind's scream. The blond put his hand on Kaiba's thigh and straightened up, Kaiba stared at him with nothing but an empty emotionless gaze. There wasn't even a trace of the glare he always gave.

"I think we both should go." He insisted. "Whether you're out here or in there, it won't matter. He's fallen down. He's injured. You can't escape that no matter how badly you want to." Jounouchi removed his hand from the other and looked to the floor.

Kaiba lowered his face and shut his eyes once more. "I'm not trying to escape. I'm not some coward unable to face his troubles you worthless mutt. And you guys need to knock it off with these rants of friendship and-"

He stood to his feet. So did Jounouchi. The blond clenched his fist and pushed the other, "I don't give a damn. You're so ridiculously clueless. What, you think because you aren't our friend that you shouldn't hear this? Moron, you are the one that doesn't want to be associated with us, we have accepted you." He fumed and shook his head. "Even as you are." He exclaimed. "I just want you to know that we're here even if you hate us. I can't comprehend how you feel. Just the thought of Shizuka getting hurt like this kills me and forces me to stop crying." He narrowed his brows and sighed. "Don't you understand how much we care?" Kaiba didn't say anything. The blond shook his head and raised his hands in the air. "Ugh!" He turned his heel and started walking away.

Kaiba slumped his shoulders and stared up at the falling snow. "He can't die." He pleaded.

Jounouchi stopped and stared back at his miserable posture. He came back to him and stopped right behind him. "What did you say?" He asked tears starting to fall.

"He can't." And Kaiba could feel it. His eyes were beginning to hurt, burn and give him a greater headache than before. His body was begging to cry, to break. "He can't die. I couldn't take it." He stated.

Jounouchi nodded solemnly. "He won't." He comforted and put his hand on the other's shoulder. "You just have to put it together and believe everything will be all right."

The two walked into the waiting area and sat down a few chairs from each other. Honda and Yugi didn't even ask what happened outside. A few minutes later the nurse Kaiba had called Liea approached them. They all jumped up but Kaiba was the only one allowed to follow.

"So tell the truth. Is this something serious?" Kaiba asked placing that stoic rough emotion in his voice.

She frowned and thought on her words carefully. "It is serious, Mr. Kaiba." She spoke painfully disappointed, saddened.

"But is this," He didn't know what word to use. His mind was spinning with all kinds of nonsense. "Is this something he'll walk away from?" Kaiba finally managed to ask.

She stared at him, the doctor entered the small room and she quickly averted her eyes. "Ah, Mr. Kaiba." He nodded and the two shook hands. "I'm Dr. Shizui."

Kaiba glanced back at her and then to the doctor again. "What is the extent of my brother's condition?" He more or less demanded.

Dr. Shizui sighed with a horrible frown adorning his face. "Well, I'm afraid that it isn't at all well."