Chapter 12

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Battle City had finally begun. The big five were out of the way, and Kaiba Corp was making it's big duel disk debut. Sakura decided this time she wanted nothing to do with any of the activities going on, and resigned herself to her desk throughout the entire ordeal. She kept up to date with the ending outcome of the duels, rooting for Kaiba at any chance, but didn't actually pay attention to any of the moves anyone made. Once they entered the blimp, the winners of the duels were no longer announced and she was left to work without any in-tel on how Kaiba was doing. She didn't mind much though.

She began to worry when they started running late, over two days off schedule, but heard from them soon enough. She didn't hear the outcome, but Kaiba didn't sound happy. She began to wonder if he would ever grow up, but smiled to herself as the thought of his dedication to something he loved warmed her. He could have his games. It was better than being obsessed with gambling, alcohol, or women. At least she thought so until he called her with the results of the tournament.

"What do you mean, destroyed?" She said into her cell phone.

"We've... initiated the self destruct sequence." She heard him say and she paused.

"Wait.., you've initiated... you're not still there are you?" She cried out, but she couldn't hear his voice over a large explosion in the background. "S-Seto?"

"We're fine." She could hear Mokuba hooting and hollering in the back. Her heart finally started beating again as she found they were safe.

Once back on land, and in his office it was time for the lecture.

"Seto Kaiba!" Sakura said, marching into his office and slamming the door behind her. "What exactly did you think you were doing? You could have seriously injured yourself and all the other people on that island." She nearly shouted.

"That island was going to be destroyed one way or another. I just preferred to do it myself."

"Why?"

"Because..." His eyes darkened. "It used to be Gozaburo's." She felt the venom in his tone.

"He's... gone." She pointed out, but he shook his head. He didn't want to talk about everything that had happened while the battle city went on. The virtual world. Noah... Gozaburo... no it was too painful. A hand placed itself on his shoulder shaking him from his nightmares. "Seto... what's wrong?" He sighed. What would she think of him? He had been weak before. Gozaburo had drained all the happiness out of him. Turned him cold. Made him distant. And that island... that was his. Kaiba wanted nothing to remain of his adoptive father. He wanted so badly to make a stand there on that island. To prove himself in something he loved and he failed. "Seto?"

"He was a monster." He could feel Sakura's eyes on him, but couldn't bring himself to meet them. She rubbed his back and knelt next to him.

"He's dead. Whatever he did to you... he cant reach you now." She had no idea.

"There's a part of him that will never let go of me. He made me who I am, and as much as I like being where I am today, I would have preferred to have lived a normal life." He said sadly.

"Seto, nothing about you would have ever been normal." She said, smiling up at him. "You're too brilliant." He squeezed his eyes shut.

"That's the problem." He said clenching his fists. "He wanted me because I was smart. I should have kept it a secret. I should have been quieter. I was so naive. Such a child. An easy target."

"What are you talking about, Seto?" She tried to stroke his arm, to soothe him, but he pulled away. He couldn't stand being touched while thinking of him.

"He was a monster." He said quietly. She in took a breath suddenly and he knew she had figured it out. Now all he could do was close his eyes and wait. Did she think he was weak? Pathetic? A broken child with a dysfunctional psyche? He felt her fingers trace his jaw and winced. When he opened his eyes he could see the pity in hers. It was worse than he could have imagined. She pulled him into a tight hug and he sighed and looked away, feeling utterly worthless.

"Seto Kaiba... I'm glad you destroyed it. I'm sorry about what happened to you. But you're different now. I cant imagine the pain you could cause to anyone stupid enough to try and fight you today. You're still brilliant but now you're strong and powerful too. How can anyone ever hurt you now?" She said, making him freeze up completely. He looked over her and she smiled at him. She had somehow found the words he never thought existed. Words of comfort that were free of anything that would make him feel feeble. He pulled her into a tight hug and kissed her head.

"They could take you from me." He answered honestly, and she pulled back enough to face him.

"Never."

Now that the tournament was over, Kaiba was in full forward drive with his virtual reality game. He went over everything he had done previously, fixing all the altercations the big five had made, and any bugs he experienced while inside. He wasn't about to test it again any time soon, which was disappointing, but he didn't want to take another risk.

He finished going over a file for the newest area he had created and checked the time. He looked confusedly between his clock and his office door. It was already fifteen past eight and he hadn't heard anything from Sakura yet. Normally the second eight rolled around she came into his office to 'save' him from overworking. He smirked at how she was always thinking of him as he packed up his things and exited his office. He glanced around but she wasn't at her desk. He went towards the employees lounge, but once he rounded her desk his breath caught in his throat.

She was sprawled across the floor, unconscious. The papers she was holding lay scattered around her, clipboard and pen still in her now loose grip. He rushed to her side, bending to take her pulse. It beat strong and he moved to check her breathing. Her chest heaved as she sucked in air. She seemed alright, except for the fact that she was strewn about the floor. He lifted her head and shook her gently, calling her name, but she wouldn't wake.

He had little other choice, so he reached into his pocket and pulled out his phone.

"I need an ambulance at Kaiba Corp." He told the emergency dispatch. After staying on the line and informing them of everything he knew, which wasn't much at all, he dialed her emergency contact and best friend. The ambulance beat Steph there, but he called her again to let her know where to meet.

"Sir, I cant let you in, you're not listed as her emergency contact." The doctor said, holding a hand up and refusing to let Kaiba pass.

"You idiot, do you know who I am? I'm her boyfriend, so let me see her!" He demanded, but the doctor wouldn't waver. He could hear Steph calling through the halls and waved her over. "They wont let me in." He said, staring angrily at the doctor.

"I'm Stephanie, Her emergency contact." She said and the doctor checked her ID and stepped aside. Once she was in he moved back, barring Kaiba from entering. "I'll see what I can do to get you in." She said, looking back at him. He glared at the man, but nodded.

"Take care of her." He said before moving away from the door and watching everything that took place through the glass of the window that separated them. Doctors went in and out, but refused to tell him anything. He watched Steph pace around and cast worried glances at him through the window, only pausing to rub Sakura's arm, or squeeze her hand. After a few hours of waiting, the doctor finally made his way in to the room. Steph looked to him hopefully, and Kaiba watched as the doctor began putting up some x-rays that he couldn't quite make out from that distance and angle.

The doctor had barely begun explaining when Sakura shifted. Kaiba could feel his blood rush as he watched Steph move to her and help her sit up. After a few simple tests to see how cognitive Sakura was, Kaiba watched the doctor begin again. He pointed to a few places on the x-rays that Kaiba couldn't see, and Steph sucked her lips into her mouth and looked at Sakura, who could only sit in shock.

Kaiba felt something hard well up in his gut. Not knowing was destroying him. The doctor moved towards the door, finally opening it and Kaiba could catch the last bit of what he was saying.

"I'm sorry. I'll give you some time now to process this. I'll be back in a little bit." He closed the door and turned to face Kaiba.

"I don't care what patient confidentiality says, what's wrong with her?" He demanded. He was going to get answers. He didn't care how anymore.

"I... I'm sorry sir. But she is awake now. If she wants to tell you, you are free to ask her. I just cant make that decision for her." The doctor said, trying to scoot away. Kaiba didn't care if he left anymore, he wouldn't give him what he wanted to know. He looked up and saw Sakura, still sitting in the same position with the same face full of shock. Slowly, her head turned down and her eyes began darting about the room in search for something. He watched her mouth something and Steph nodded, tears falling from her eyes.

As Steph left, she couldn't bring herself to face him. She stuttered out a few incomprehensible words and moved down the hall. As Kaiba watched her a noise ripped his eyes back to Sakura. He could barely hear her cry through the thick glass, but it was enough to gain his attention as he watched her bring her hands to her face, covering it. He opened the door, moving in and closing it behind him.

He grabbed her hands, trying to remove them from her face, but she wouldn't let go. She sobbed loudly into her palms as he glanced back and saw the x-rays. They were of her head. A large white mass sat in the center of the frame, towards the base of her skull. A tumor. He looked back at her and felt his heart stop. It must have been some mistake. These x-rays must have been switched with someone else's.

"Sakura..." He mumbled against her. She continued to cry, but leaned into him and accepted his embrace.

"Why?" She finally managed. "There... there was only a five percent chance. Do you know how small that is?" She cried, looking up at him. Her face was red and swollen and her eyes were bloodshot. He stroked a few stray hairs behind her ear, but couldn't find the words for what he was feeling. "It's not fair! I've worked so hard... I wanted... I wanted to do so much... It's not fair!" His heart broke then and there. Hearing her so utterly defeated. She wasn't a quitter. She didn't just roll over and take it. Seeing and hearing her like this... he couldn't bear it.

"There has to be something they can do. Surgery?" She shook her head.

"It's too close to the brain stem. The chances of me dying or becoming a vegetable are near one hundred percent." She sniffled.

"Chemo?"

"My tumor wont respond..."

"Radiation?" He was desperate, but she shook her head again.

"It's too big and will damage the brain and brain stem around the tumor. It'll only shrink it as well. It'll still be there. They cant do anything." Now he was angry. There had to be something. Some measure they could take. Steph re-entered the room, still teary eyed, and hugged her friend.

It was early in the morning when Sakura was released. Kaiba and Steph stayed by her side the entire time. They questioned the doctor as much as they could, but Sakura knew the full gist of it. She had just gone through it for the last few years, but now... it was her turn. Kaiba spent all of his time, hiring the best of the best for second opinions and any possible treatments, but they all came back the same.

The verdict was final. Sakura had two to five years before the brain tumor would claim her life.

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So this was such an important chapter that I ended up writing the whole thing in just under an hour and a half. Wow... Also, very very sad chappie. The whole 'tragedy' genre part is finally showing itself again.

Read, Review, Enjoy~Love