Chapter 13

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Kaiba was having trouble focusing at work. The weekend had passed and no matter what he tried or who he hired, he got the same answer every time. Sakura would die. He didn't want to accept it. He couldn't. But it seemed as if she already had. During the tests and all his attempts to find a new method to remove the tumor she sat lifelessly. She never told him no. Never tried to stop him, but she was just torn up inside.

He went over it all again in his mind, hoping to wake soon and have it all be just a bad dream. When he opened his eyes Sakura was standing before him.

"It's five past." She said with an empty voice. He glanced at the clock and it was true. Where had the time gone? He nodded absently and started packing up, but something caught his eye. A paper on his desk. He watched as she slid it towards him, then looked up at her questioningly. She only looked at the page. His eyes scanned the document and he froze.

"Wh... Why?" His eyes darted up to her and he had a pained look in his face.

"I want to do all the things I've never been able to. I really loved working for you, but now... I just... I don't think I can." She watched him nod and slowly put the paper into the employee files. "Also..." He looked up but her eyes wouldn't meet his. "I... I'm leaving."

"What are you talking about?"

"I think it's best... If we don't see each other anymore." Tears lined her eyes and she still couldn't meet his gaze. He rose suddenly, startling her, and rounded his desk. She let him pull her against him, but didn't return the embrace.

"Sakura, don't. Don't leave. Don't do this." He begged. He didn't think he could go on without her. She was to big a part of him now.

"Seto, it's not fair. I don't want you to go through what I did. I've seen it starting. The panic. The hope that a cure will show itself. I couldn't stop you. You wouldn't have stopped even if I tried." He knew that was true. He still wouldn't. "But I've been there. Searching. Waiting. Trying my damnedest. But it didn't come. I lost my brother. And now I know there is nothing left. I'm going to die. And I don't want you dragged through the pain and hurt like I was."

"Sakura, this is going to hurt me whether you leave now or I lose you to this. I'd rather spend as much time with you as I have then lose you now to spare me. I don't care if you want to quit. You can do whatever you want. Just don't leave me." She opened her mouth to argue farther, but he continued. " I... I don't chase girls. Never have. I lived like I could get anyone. And it was true. I could walk down the street and pick out a girl, and be sure she would come home with me. If she didn't, I'd move on, knowing there was always the next girl. I don't play the cat and mouse game. But... You are the only exception. For you, I would go anywhere. So tell me. What do I have to do? Where do I have to go? I'll do it. I'll go there. Just tell me so I can have you. Be with you. I love you."

"Seto..." He was more than she could have ever wanted.

"Sakura, if Jiro gave you the chance to leave... To not suffer with him in his last time here, would you have left?" Sakura's head sunk down low and she squeezed her eyes shut and clenched her fists. She would never have left him. No matter what. Kaiba wouldn't leave her. No matter what. "I'll miss working with you. You were the best secretary I've ever had. And... I'm going to miss seeing you where I work." He said sadly. She hugged him, finally returning his embrace and he sighed.

"I love you." the words barely floated to his ear, but he knew them to be true. He wouldn't let her go. He wouldn't let her be alone. He would stay with her until the end.

Sakura woke to the beeping of a machine. Had she passed out again? She definitely recognized the hospital. She'd been there so many times, the smell, the sight, the sounds, they were unmistakeable. Where was Steph? She was her emergency contact. She wouldn't have left her until she woke.

But she felt fine. Actually, reminiscing on the day before, a smile came to her lips. Kaiba loved her so much. He wouldn't let her go, and that warmed her. She would still prefer him not to see her die slowly, but having him was a comfort she didn't think she could afford to lose. A nurse poked her head in the room and greeted Sakura.

"Ah, finally awake, how are you feeling?" The nurse said, opening the blinds and letting in the light.

"I feel fine. Can I leave now, I know what caused me to pass out." The nurse paused and sighed.

"First, can you tell me the date?" The nurse asked. They had asked her brother that all the time when he passed out so Sakura shrugged and complied.

"January 24th, 2012." She answered, figuring she had been asleep for a day or so. The nurse smiled and tilted her head.

"Mr. Kaiba is on his way, so just sit tight." The nurse said, bowing and leaving before Sakura could get another word out.

The nurse rounded the corner and went behind the nursing station, but barely a minute passed before she saw the famous CEO marching down the hall followed by a younger Kaiba attached at his hand.

"How is she?" He asked quietly. The nurse gave him a small smile.

"She believes it's January 24th, 2012." Kaiba looked down and sighed.

"Stay with the nurse." He said to the younger one, and the nurse offered her hand to him. Kaiba moved to the room Sakura was in and turned into it. She was sitting on the bed, as beautiful as ever, and looked up to him. Her smile warmed him and he gave her a gentle kiss before pulling a chair next to her bed.

"Seto, cant I leave now? I feel fine." In truth, she was a little tired, but other than that, she just wanted to go home.

"Sakura... you cant leave." She glanced at him confusedly and began to get uncomfortable with the way he was looking at her.

"Why?"

"Because... it's not January. It's not even 2012. You cant remember. The tumor is pressing on the memory section of your brain." Sakura's chest felt tight and knotted. Kaiba moved to her and held her trembling hands as she absorbed the information.

"Wh-What time... what year is it?" She looked to him and he could see the panic in her eyes.

"It's 2019. October 21st." Her breathing stopped. Seven years had passed? How was that possible?

"But the doctors... they said-"

"I've been able to find treatments to prolong your life, but nothing to cure it. You're still dying." he finished, hanging his head and holding her hands against his lips.

"You've been here the whole time..." She thought out loud. He smiled and squeezed her hands.

"More than that." He said, his fingers tracing hers until they settled on a little gold ring. She looked intently at the ring, then her eyes darted to his hand where a similar one sat.

"When?" She had gotten married? And she couldn't even remember it. How awful was she?

"October 19th, 2013." he brushed away the tears that lined her eyes. He was used to breaking the news by now. It was still difficult to watch her go through it over and over, but he wasn't about to back out now.

"I'm so sorry! I cant remember any of it. The most important day of my life..." He guided her eyes to his and smiled.

"Second most important." She gave him a questioning look as he turned to the door. "Jiro." He called, thoroughly confusing her. The nurse entered, holding the hand of a small boy. He couldn't be more than four years old. Kaiba lifted the young boy easily and he giggled, turning to her.

"Mommy!" The boy raised his arms in a 'Hold me!' fashion and Sakura could do little but reach out to him. He looked like her brother when he was young. The short brown hair and the warm chocolate eyes. He hugged her sweetly and she could feel her breathing becoming ragged. She looked up at Kaiba... Her husband, and the tears could no longer be held back. The little boy pulled back, looking at her and she saw herself in his eyes. "Mama, why do you always cry when you see me?" Her heart broke right there and then. She couldn't tell the boy, her son, the truth. That his mother forgot all about him. She kissed his head and smiled.

"Because, I'm just so happy to see you." The boy looked from her to his father and back and smiled.

"I missed you too!" He hugged her again and she felt warm inside. This little boy. This little angle. He was perfect. He was the most beautiful child she had ever seen and she knew he was hers. She loved the boy. She couldn't even remember him and she loved him.

"Hey, maybe you can help the nurse get mommy some water?" She asked sweetly and the boy was almost too happy to help. He ran off and took the nurses hand, moving out into the hall. Once he was out of sight, she fell, sobbing into her hands again. Kaiba's arms circled her and she clung to him. It must have killed him to have to watch this over and over.

"Am I always this bad?"

"No. Sometimes you remember everything. Sometimes you don't even remember working for me. It's not half as bad as when you thought you were still in a relationship with Wheeler." he said in disgust, and she actually almost laughed. "I never know how much I have to break to you when I come in. Sometimes, we talk about the last time I visited. Sometimes I have to tell you about your brother." She looked up at him with sorrow in her eyes.

"How... long do I have left." Kaiba fell silent. This question was the one he hated most. She looked at him expectantly and he had no choice.

"Any day now." he watched as she sucked in her sadness and nodded.

"Seto... I love you." He smiled, already knowing what she said was true. "You're the most amazing man I've ever met. I'm glad you're the one who's been with me this whole time. I'm sorry I couldn't be more." He shook his head, about to say something when little Jiro came back in, barely holding a cup of water. She spent the rest of the day with her family and when they finally had to leave, she didn't want to say goodbye.

"I'll be back tomorrow." Kaiba said, kissing her forehead.

"Seto?" He paused, looking at her. "I love you. I always will. Don't ever forget that." He smiled and nodded. When they were gone Sakura stopped the nurse.

"Yes?" She turned to the patient, waiting for what she needed.

"What do these do?" She asked, pointing to the machines she was hooked up to.

"This one monitors your vitals, this one keeps you hydrated in case you pass out for the day and cant drink enough water, and... this one is the medicine that keeps your tumor from swelling." The nurse said, pointing to the respective machines.

"From swelling?"

"Yes, the tumor would normally be about one and a half times the size. It would be fatal at that size, so we use this to control it."

"What would happen if it was turned off? How long would it take for the tumor to swell?" the nurse paused, but answered the question.

"It would take an hour or two before the meds passed through your system, and then the swelling would begin immediately. You... wouldn't make it to morning." Sakura nodded and looked at her hands, lightly touching the ring on her finger.

"Turn it off."

"But..."

"Please. I'm going to die any day now anyways. I cant make them go through that again. I wont. Do it." The nurse hesitated, but couldn't deny her. There was no cure for her. Only treatments for the symptoms. It was her decision. "But-" Sakura said before she could unplug the machine. "Don't tell them until the morning. Don't wake them. Let them sleep." The nurse nodded again. The machine's buzzing faded as the power was cut, and now it was only a matter of time. She grabbed a pen and some paper and began to write.

-Dear Seto,

You've made my life worth living. I know you've been taking wonderful care of me, but I cant be a burden on you any longer. The thought of making you go through this every day... It destroys me more than my illness ever could. Don't be upset with the nurses, I asked them to remove the medicine. I also asked them to give you the night's worth of rest. I wanted it this way. I know I haven't had much control over my life, and I wanted at least this much. I hope you understand. I don't want to fear death anymore. I don't want to worry about not being able to say goodbye.

Goodbye. I love you. Take care of our son. He's so much like you. I hope he'll remember me well.

Jiro,

I love you so much. You are so wonderful and sweet. Never let go of that. Be strong, work hard in everything you do, but don't forget kindness. Just know that your mother wants nothing more than for you to be happy. I love you. I always will.

Goodbye, my boys. I just cant express how much you mean to me. I love you.

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So... sad ending. The first I've ever written. I hope it's not too cheesy. This ends another of my fics. I hope you guys will continue to read my work in the future.

The first chapter of my pokemon/yugioh SetoXserenity fic is up. It's called "To Answer It's Call". Also I've posted a picture of Sakura's goodbye kiss to Seto on my deviantart account. Link to my page is in my profile. I've also got pics inspired from the fic "Last Night of the Kings" and from the pokemon fic. If you're interested, check them out and let me know what you think.

Dont forget to review the last chappie and tell me what you think of the fic.

Read, Review, Enjoy~Love