Wow, I haven't updated in a while. But better late than never, I always say! Sorry to make you wait :(
Disclaimer: I don't own YGO GX :(
Enjoy!
--
What will happen to me? What am I going to do?
Syrus remained curled in fetal position on a bed in the infirmary. Fear stronger than anything he had ever experienced was coursing through his body. The blackness that covered his vision seemed to be pressing down more every second, trapping him within his own body.
The school nurse had been unable to do anything for him, except keep him 'safe' until he could be returned back to the hospital. Safe. That was a laugh; what else could go wrong?
I hate that place; it's just too impersonal and frightening. Just like Zane used to be. Thinking about his brother made Syrus's gut clench. He is going to be so angry. I hid the headaches and now I'm…I'm… he couldn't make himself think it. Zane would kill him if he ever found out the truth. And yet, more than anything else, Syrus just wanted to see his brother.
"Syrus? Sweetie, you should try and rest a little." The nurse came into the small room where he was curled up. "Once you get back to the hospital, the doctors will have lots of tests they'll need to run. Save your strength." Syrus rolled over on his side and didn't speak. He was being consumed by the ever-growing terror that lurked within his brain.
I will never be normal. I'll be disabled and everyone will look down on me for the rest of my life! I can't stand this. I should end my pathetic excuse for a life right now. It'll be doing everyone a favour; no more looking after the loser younger brother for Zane, and my friends won't have to stand up for me all the time.
Shaking now, the young Truesdale wound his clammy hands around his sheets. But I can't. Doing that would leave Zane all alone, and that might drive him back into the Underground. It might be the death of him the second time around.
Another malevolent thought swirled its way around his mind. What happens if I never regain my sight? How can I be a duelist when I am blind?
--
"I want to go! He's my best friend, and I'm not going to leave him alone!" Jaden was defiantly staring down both the Chancellor and Dr. Crowler. "Come on!"
"Jaden, we realize that. But a storm is coming in and I don't want to risk any of my students' lives. Syrus will have the best care possible on his way over, and Zane is waiting on the mainland."
Syrus was currently in the infirmary, awaiting the medevac helicopter that would take him back to the mainland. Unfortunately, storm clouds were rolling in, making the window for transport very slim.
"He needs ―" Dr. Crowler abruptly cut him off.
"Mr. Yuki! We know you're concerned about your friend, but that is quite enough. You heard the Chancellor; it is dangerous." Jaden looked ready to explode.
"Jaden, maybe you should listen…" Alexis put a hand on his arm. "Syrus wouldn't want you to put yourself in danger."
"Quite right." Bastion put in. "Syrus didn't like to cause anyone trouble."
"What's with the past tense? Why are we talking about him like he's comatose?!" Chazz interjected angrily. "Just ask Syrus what he wants!" Everyone stared at him. Chazz and Syrus had never been the best of friends, so it was odd to hear him say such a thing. Chazz went a bit pink after his declaration, knowing what they were thinking.
"You and Private Truesdale don't usually get on too well," Hassleberry looked Chazz in the eye. "Why do you care all of a sudden?"
"What, I'm not allowed to tease him, and I'm not allowed to show that I might care either?" The two would have come to blows if Atticus hadn't shoved his way between them.
"You know what? You are all acting like little kids! Chazz, Hassleberry, Bastion, you guys can it!" he started, whipping around to face them, "I know things are bad right now, but we don't need to be sniping at each other. And Jaden, you are staying here."
Jaden glared at him. "I am not."
"You are. Because I'm going to go instead." This statement made everyone in the room burst into a cacophony of protests.
"Stop yelling!" Chancellor Sheppard tried to make himself heard over the yelling by yelling, which kind of defeated his intentions.
"EVERYONE SHUT UP!!"
Syrus appeared in the doorway of the room, one hand on the frame to steady himself. His blind silver eyes swept the scene. His light blue pajamas served to make him seem smaller than usual.
"I don't want you to fight anymore." He whispered. Tears formed in his eyes. "Please."
Jaden bounded over and tried to tug him back to his bed. "We won't. Come on, Sy, you need to take it easy."
"I can't take it easy when you guys are yelling at each other! Nobody is coming with me; I'll be fine on my own." Syrus glared at the wall that Atticus was leaning against. No one dared laugh, though.
"We can't let you go on your own. I don't mean to sound callous, but the school is responsible for your welfare, and we could get in plenty of trouble if something happened to you." Sheppard looked a little uneasy. "Not to mention that Zane wouldn't be too pleased…"
Syrus hesitated. The last thing he wanted to do was antagonize his brother, especially since he might find out that the younger Truesdale had lied about how his medical condition…
"Logically, I'm the only one who can go," Atticus started. "I'm the only one done all my exams, and I have the unique ability to make Zane listen to me." Everyone nodded. He was correct on that point. (Hey, miracles do happen, right?)
"Very well, Mr. Rhodes," Chancellor Sheppard nodded. "But bear in mind that you are going on a very serious matter. You are not to run off and do your own thing."
"Of course, Chancellor. When have I ever done that?" Alexis just stared at her brother in disbelief.
"Atticus, you amaze me sometimes. You really do."
"Ahem. The helicopter is here." The nurse appeared in the doorway. "I hate to break up the discussion, but Syrus and anyone going with him have to go now."
"Let's go then." Atticus snapped to attention. "Come on, Little Blue." He promptly made for the door. Before he could drag Syrus off single-handedly, though, Jaden ran forward and gave his friend a hug. Everyone else followed suit, excluding Dr. Crowler and Chancellor Sheppard.
"Stay strong, buddy." Jaden squeezed his shoulders. "The doctors will fix you and you'll be back here soon."
"I wish I had your confidence, Jaden." Syrus whispered. "What if they can't fix me?"
"They will," Alexis wiped a tear from her eye. "Take care, Syrus. And Atty, keep an eye on Zane. He'll need some help too." Chazz patted her shoulder awkwardly, earning him a thumbs-up from Atticus.
"Get well soon, shrimp. Teasing dino-boy isn't as fun as getting your goat. Ouch!" Hassleberry had whacked Chazz over the head.
"The Private doesn't need to hear that, you know!"
Syrus laughed out loud, the first time he had done so since finding out he was blind. "Try not to kill each other when I'm gone, guys. I'll try and get better as fast as I can."
Chazz looked a little abashed. "You know I didn't mean that, right, Syrus?"
"Thanks, Chazz. I know." Syrus turned to face them all. "Goodbye, everyone. Thanks a lot." He blinked quickly and sniffed. "I don't know what I'd do without you." The whole room might have turned into a swimming pool if the nurse hadn't intervened and sent Syrus and Atticus to the helicopter as quickly as she could.
"Once again, I hate to break this touching moment up, but the helicopter has to leave right now, before this wind gets worse!"
--
The two students fought their way through the cutting wind and rain that soaked them to the skin. Atticus kept an iron grip on Syrus's arm so that he wouldn't lose balance. "Are we there yet?!" Syrus had to yell to be heard over the howling tempest. The trees snapped back and forth as they were buffeted by the wind. Wet leaves coated their path and made them slip.
"Almost!" Now, Atticus was usually a very cheerful ball of sugary sunshine. It took a lot to make him worry. Right now, he was worried. With the intensity of the storm, could the helicopter even get up into the air steadily? Even if we can lift off, it's going to be one hell of a dangerous flight. The two reached the pier and the pilot slid the door open, yelling instructions.
"Get in and strap yourselves down! I just need to get clearance before we can take off!" As the pilot chattered indiscernible phrases into the radio, the on-board nurse settled Syrus onto a cot near the opposite wall. Atticus sat in a seat and busied himself with buckling his chest harness.
You know, normally I'd take the opportunity to flirt with her, but not while she's trying to save Syrus. Maybe that was a bit of an overstatement, because she was doing nothing more than trying to keep him calm as the helicopter took off. The brunette was having a hard time keeping calm himself, as raindrops that sounded like bullets splattered against the machine and it rocked back and forth as it flew.
He gulped. If we live through this flight, I'll…give up surfing for an entire month. Yeah, that should seal the deal.
--
Zane flipped through the channels with growing speed.
Cooking.
Health.
Fashion.
He was sitting in a private waiting room in the hospital, awaiting the medevac helicopter that carried his brother.
Realitygameshoweducational.
Zane couldn't believe what was happening. Just when I thought the worst was over, in reality we were just sitting in the eye. We just got hit by the other wall of the storm. Poor Syrus. That kid had had so much to deal with already.
Where are they? The tag end of the report on the weather channel. Zane flicked his eyes across the scene without really taking it in, until he heard the words 'Duel Academy'. Wait, what?
"Reports show that the island of Duel Academy is experiencing a mild tropical storm. High winds and plenty of rain are hitting the island as I give this report. This weather has not been unexpected, as it is spring. However, any pilots out there are advised not to go near the area. Now, on to Chuckie with sports…"
"No!" Zane stood up, the remote going clattering to the floor. Pulling his cell phone out of his pocket, he dialed the number of his former teacher.
Answer…answer…
"Your call could not be completed as dialed. Please wait a few minutes and try again." Zane swore and shoved the phone back into his pocket, trying to think of a new plan of action.
"Zane? I just came by to tell you that I've called in a few favours, so my college friend Red will be the one overseeing your brother's care…" Dr. Salin stopped at the look on his face. "What's wrong?"
"The helicopter; has it arrived yet?!" He demanded. She took a step back, and then shook her head.
"No. But Zane, I don't want you to worry. Those machines are made to withstand the most grueling conditions. They may just fall behind schedule slightly…"
Zane glared at her. "My brother is blind, and is flying in the middle of a storm, and you're telling me not to worry? How can I not worry?!"
Dr. Salin stepped forward and placed her hands on his shoulders. "Zane, listen to me very carefully. Your. Brother. Will. Be. Fine." She punctuated each word by giving him a little shake. "This is no time to be getting hysterical."
The bluenette appeared to deflate right before her eyes. "But what if?" He whispered. "If something happens to him, I'll have failed."
"Failed?"
"I promised my parents that I would take care of him." Zane sat back in the chair.
"Oh, Zane. I understand that you feel a sense of responsibility, but as I have told you before, you cannot let it control you." She sat beside him. From her psychological training, she knew that keeping Zane talking on one subject would keep his mind off of Syrus's current situation.
"I just don't want anyone to insinuate that I don't care enough about my brother."
Her brow furrowed. "Nobody said that." Zane wove his fingers together, clearly troubled.
"Well, you see…" he told Dr. Salin all about the visit from the social worker, and the anonymous complaint that her office had received. At the end, she looked just as troubled as he.
"I can't say that that isn't strange, but as long as…" she was interrupted by her pager. "Hang on." She read the message, her face brightening. "Zane, your brother's helicopter just arrived. He'll be coming through the lobby in five minutes." Dr. Salin barely finished her sentence before Zane was up and out the door.
--
"Oh, thank God!"
Zane rushed across the lobby and threw his arms around Syrus, nearly crushing his younger sibling. Atticus made no move to separate the two; rather, he stood to the side and waved off doctors who had come up to receive Syrus.
Syrus squeaked as the oxygen was squashed out of his lungs. "Wha…" he was just about to demand who was trying to kill him when a familiar scent hit his nose. It was the cologne that his brother had been favouring for almost three years, even during his stint as Hell Kaiser. Syrus was as used to it as he was the smell of salt water that permeated his school's air. "Zane!"
"Are you alright?!" The question was absolutely absurd, but Zane could think of nothing else to say.
"I…I'm o-okay." Syrus was weeping now, his tears soaking his elder brother's shirt. "The h-helicopter ride wasn't the b-best, though…" Zane laughed shakily.
"I was so scared. I saw the news about the weather, and I assumed the worst." He wiped the tears from his brother's face.
"Oh, Zane. I was s-scared this morning. I w-woke up, and I…I…I couldn't s-s-see…" Syrus was bawling now, feeling slightly ashamed, but also relieved.
"Shhhh. You'll be fine." Zane stroked his hair, feeling that this was an inadequate gesture, but it did calm his brother down some.
"He's right, Syrus. You'll be great in a few weeks," Atticus cut in before Zane started to melt. "Now, we're both really wet and I'd like to change before I start to mold. Besides, these lovely ladies," he winked at the nurses standing by, some of whom blushed, "are here to help your brother, so let's not make them wait." Zane rolled his eyes, and then nodded.
"How are your eyes?" he whispered to Syrus, as they slowly made their way away from the doors.
Syrus instantly clammed up. "They don't hurt anymore. But they don't work either." He said after a pause. Zane gave a strange little smile.
"You seem very calm about the whole thing."
"I freaked out earlier today."
"Hmm. After the nurses get you admitted, I want to have a talk with you about this. About everything." Giving him a brief hug, Zane sent him off with a nurse. Or a doctor. The younger couldn't tell.
Feelings of trepidation rose in Syrus's body as the nurses led him to his room. Not for the first time, he wondered if Zane could read his mind just by looking at his face. "Ow!" The bluenette stubbed his toe on a corner.
"Are you alright?"
"Fine." Syrus ground out through his clenched teeth. He had the feeling that he was going to be asked that question quite a bit in the next while.
--
"I didn't expect you to come, Atticus." Zane and his best friend were walking slowly down the hallway, towards the pediatric ward.
"Well, I don't think the Chancellor and Crowler were too keen on anyone going, because of the weather, but I changed their minds. Besides, I couldn't just let him go on his own."
"I'm grateful for that." Zane stopped dead in the hallway. "But, Atticus, you shouldn't have come." The latter's jaw dropped.
"Are you serious? You think that I should have let that poor kid go on his own?! Geez, Zane, I thought you cared about him more than that!" Zane glared at him, his mouth set in a line.
"I didn't say that I didn't care. You've missed enough school as it is, and you could've been hurt if that helicopter ―" Atticus raised a hand to stem his friend's rant.
"So could he. That's what life is about, Zane. To get where you want to be, there are risks that have to be taken." Zane twitched his nose, a peculiar habit that displayed itself when another person had him on a point.
"That may be, but there are risks and then there are risks. Risks I don't feel comfortable with friends of mine taking."
"Hey, it was my decision."
"Zane, sorry to interrupt, but Red wants to see you and your brother right away." Dr. Salin came out into the hallway. Zane and Atticus traded a puzzled look. Red?
--
Dr. Red Penz. Zane tried hard to hide the smile that was creeping across his face. He knew it was rude, but he couldn't help but see the humour in the name.
That was the name of the neurologist who was in charge of his brother's file. And if that name wasn't enough to make Zane wary, the guy's first name was Red. What were his parents high on?! This is the guy who is supposed to be a renowned brain expert? Dr. Penz had come all the way out from Los Angeles on Dr. Salin's request, as they were old friends.
Dr. Penz sat forward in his chair, placing the palms of his hands slightly on the desk to support himself. "What I don't understand, Mr. Truesdale, is how your brother progressed to blindness without any medical staff knowing."
"What do you mean?" Zane glanced over at Syrus, who was staring sightlessly at his shoes. The expression on the younger's face was neutral, but Zane thought he could detect the smallest bit of defensiveness.
"Full-scale blindness occurs progessionally, meaning that a person doesn't go blind in a few seconds unless there was severe damage to the eyes themselves. In your brother's case, the blindness was most likely caused by the concussion he received in the accident. And so, he should have been showing symptoms long before this." He rubbed his temples. "It's very perplexing."
Zane nodded. "I see." Argh, wrong choice of words, he thought; wincing internally as he saw his younger brother flinch at the word. "So, how did a simple concussion lead to blindness?"
The doctor picked up a plastic model of an eye from his desk drawer. "Well, the eyes are controlled by the occipital lobe in the back of the brain, which is the part where your concussion occurred. I believe that when you received the injury, the resulting pressure caused the blood vessels to burst and clot. Those little clots are most likely blocking the nerves that control your vision. It can't be confirmed until I do some more scans, but I am ninety percent certain."
Syrus nodded; a barely visible movement. "Can you fix it?" The hope in his face was apparent to the both the doctor and his brother.
Dr. Penz looked at Syrus for a moment, and then said kindly, "Syrus, I think you should probably get back to your room. It's been a long day for you, I'm sure. Go get some rest."
"No! I want to hear this. Just tell me yes or no."
The doctor's mouth thinned and he blinked slowly, as if trying to think of what to say. "Right now, I'd say that there's a sixty-forty chance that you will be blind permanently." Taking advantage of the sudden silence, he added "I have a few little matters to discuss with your brother, so go back to your room and sleep."
Syrus might have burst into tears, but Zane gently pulled him out of the chair and led him to the door. "He's right, Sy. Get some sleep. I'll tell you everything he says."
"Promise?" Syrus clutched as his brother's sleeve in a clamp-like motion, as if he was afraid of leaving with a lie ringing in his ears.
"Yes. Now, go on." The nurse who had accompanied them down to the office smoothly steered Syrus down the hallway and out of Zane's sight.
"What were you saying?"
"Zane, this is going to be hard for you to understand, but when I told your brother that he had a sixty-forty chance of staying blind, that was best case scenario. A more realistic estimate would be seventy-five/twenty-five" The bluenette went very still. His face went from a normal shade of pink to quite pale.
"What?! But…but…there has to be something you can do. Surgery, or…" Zane broke off, drawing a hand down his face in despair. "Isn't there?"
Dr. Penz picked up a pencil and tapped his palm with it, sliding his jaw back and forth. "I would prefer to talk to Syrus alone about this. No offense to you, but the presence of a family member can sway the decision of a patient."
"Decision?"
"Yes. There is a surgery we can that will hopefully restore his sight. However, it's too early to tell if that will be an option, or even if he has options." Picking up a pen, Dr. Penz scribbled something on the file that lay open in front of him. "For now, we'll run some tests to determine the exact schematics of the injury, and to make sure there is nothing else hidden. Syrus will be able to go home within a week or two."
"Thank you." Zane woodenly shook the doctor's hand, still in shock from hearing that his brother may be disabled for the rest of his life. He left the room, running a hand through his teal hair in disbelief.
"Zane! How'd it go?" Atticus approached from the elevator. "I saw Syrus go by, but the nurse wouldn't let me talk to him."
"It's not…good," Zane's throat almost closed with the prospect of saying it aloud. "He might be blind forever. There's about a seventy-five percent chance."
Atticus blinked in surprise, looking stunned. "Oh, man. That's so…" he sat in a chair, looking left and right, as if trying to find something. "Zane…I'm sorry." He felt it was an inadequate thing to say, but it was the only thing that jumped to mind. "Are they, you know, sure? Maybe it's a mistake."
"I wish." Zane flopped down beside him. "I don't know what to tell him." He clenched his fists on the chair arms.
"Tell him the truth. You didn't tell him last time, and look where we are now. I mean, not that it's your fault or anything…" Atticus saw that his words weren't helping much (so what else is new?), and leaned over to give his friend a hug. "It'll be okay, Zane. Have a little faith."
"Faith." Zane gave a bitter laugh. "Yeah, right. I had faith that my brother would be okay if I let him go back to school. And look at what happened! I should never have let him leave."
"Zane…" Atticus said placatingly. "Maybe you should take a bit of a rest while Syrus is sleeping..."
Zane sent him a dirty look. "Are you trying to say I'm too stressed out?"
"No, just that you'll need as much strength as you can get to deal with this." To Atticus's supreme amazement, Zane nodded at this logic.
"You're right." The bluenette leaned his head back against the wall and closed his eyes, preparing to take a nap.
"Ummm, Zane, what are you doing? I meant you should sleep at your house, not in this chair."
Zane answered without even opening an eye. "What if Syrus needs me? I have to stay available."
"Then I'll stay here with him! But you need to take a break too. What happens if you get sick from worrying, hm?! That's not going to help anybody, least of all your brother." Zane began to laugh. "I'm not being funny, Zane!"
"I've just rarely seen you this passionate about something other than girls and surfing. Are you sure you want to stay here? It can get pretty grim."
"I'm sure."
"Well…if you're really certain…" the bluenette didn't seem to willing, but Atticus was not going to give up without a fight. He cared too much about his best friend to let him risk his health.
"I'm positive." Atticus began chivying Zane towards the elevators before he could change his mind. His best friend gave him a long look as the doors started to slide closed.
"Atticus… thanks. For being here."
The surfer's brown eyes softened considerably. "I'd do anything for you, Zane. I…" he paused, and shook his head. "I'm your best friend." Zane had the impression that that was not what he was going to say originally, but the elevator doors closed and he moved downwards, towards the lobby.
--
And that's all she wrote! Well, not all I'm going to write on this story, but all on the chapter. You know what I mean. R&R, please and thank you!
PS: If anyone was wondering, the title of the chapter refers to the eye wall of a hurricane, which is usually the most deadly part of a storm.