Disclaimer: I do not own any of the rights to the characters of YuGiOh. But thanks Kazuki Takahashi for the brilliance of your mind, I am having so much fun using them...
Hey, this is a little sad, so don't get upset, I promise I'll make you smile in the end. It's a story of trust, pain, and love, enjoy...
Oooooooooo
Chapter Five: Give me your pain, despair
Oooooooooo
'Joey, is it really you? Am I being deceived because I want him to be there?' Thought Kaiba. Except for strains of golden honey blond hair, the boy was hardly visible. Joey's body appeared to be buried underneath a table or tomb of sorts with books and pictures laid around him. Kaiba could only make out pieces of Joey's body which alarmed the usual calm CEO greatly. Limbs were scattered about the fallen plaster and it did not look as though the arms and legs belonged to the same body. To the CEO, Joey's body mildly resembled a puppet in the carnival shows, those puppets attached to strings with jointed arms and legs. The puppet master usually moved his little dolls into grotesque positions for the amusement of the crowd. Seto wondered if he would be the puppet master in the tragedy. 'Am I going to put all the broken pieces together again?'
With his keen eyes, Seto accessed the possible ways to descend down to Joey without killing himself in the process. He chose to climb down using whatever he could grab onto along the way down the wall. Sometimes he would grab hold of a beam and swing to the next floor. Each move had to be calculated and carefully executed. The quake had redefined the interior of the building and Joey's body lay about six floors down, in a pile of rubble.
Only inches away from the boy, Seto crawled along a narrow ledge being careful not to bring down more debris on the boy. With each step the CEO's logical mind filled with dread. As he inched towards the boy, the smell of blood was very strong in the air. Seto reached out tentatively to the still form of Joey and touched his hair, it was so soft and silk, yet cold. He closed his eyes only for a moment and placed two fingers at the base of the injured boy's neck, hoping to find a pulse. Thump... Thathump... thump... . With relief he sighed stilling the pounding of his own heart. Just to feel the beat of Joey's heart, though very slow gave him comfort. 'He's alive, he's alive.' Seto dropped to his knees, his eyes grew dark and clouded over with undefinable emotion.
The young artist, known only to Mokuba and hero to some was practically buried under an ancient tomb. "I've got to move this and quickly," voiced Seto. Seto positioned his body over the youth, then he took a deep breath and with a beam in his hand he used it as leverage to lift the tomb from Joey's body. With the strength given to mothers in times of need, Seto was able to lift and roll the stone away. The boy's body convulsed and blood ran from his mouth. "Shit," Seto flinched at the site of Joey's bleeding mouth and a cold shiver ran down his spine.
Seto, who was a young man always able to make quick and decisive decisions found himself in a new situation. Looking at Joey's broken body the CEO understood he had the power of life and death and it shook his normally stable somewhat ridged world, to the core. Feelings of anxiety and uncertainty started to creep into his conscious thoughts. 'I don't like this one damn bit, but he's alive and I will keep him that way.'
Seto, carefully moved around and gathered up a few light boards which he'd use as splints and opened the emergency kit which had been strapped to his back. He quickly laid a variety of items next to Joey prone body; scissors, bandages, water, antibiotics . The CEO knew he had little time and a lot to do. There was no way he could move Joey without stabilizing him first.
With a steady hand Seto felt along Joey leg it was difficult to tell where the break began and ended, so he carefully cut away his pants leg to better view his limbs. "Shit ... this is ... a freaking nightmare. . . ." Seto turned to the side and placed his own right hand over his mouth and tried to hold back the bile which rose from his stomach. Joey's leg was a mess, his upper thigh was twisted and a bone jetted out. Seto could see exposed bone and flesh mangled together. He tried to fight the nausea , but seeing Joey's raw flesh caused him to lose it. After a moment he held his stomach and wiped the contents of his spit from the back of his hand and in between his fingers. " Ok Seto, get it together, you are the only one here. Colors of red, pink, and pasty white lay before my eyes. So, this is the color of flesh and bone."
Seto leaned close to the boy's ear and whispered. "Joey, I've got to set the bone back in place. I know this is going to hurt you baby, please forgive me. I have to believe you can hear me and give me courage to help you, man." With one hand he held down Joey's leg and with the other he snapped his leg back in place. Pieces of flesh seem to hit his face or was it blood? Seto couldn't tell, he only knew with speed and precision, sweat dripping down his brow, he bandaged Joey's leg together at the break. Using two boards he strapped the boys entire leg onto a split, and let his breath out.
"I know you're in there. Just hold on, I won't let you go, ever." Never had the CEO used such a calming and soothing voice, accept with Mokuba as a little child, but his heart moved him to do so with the boy. A tear trickled down Joey's face, which caused Seto to flinch, because he believed he had been the cause of the boy's destress. Although Seto teased the boy relentlessly, he never truly meant him harm, but the tear showed life.
When Seto set the boy's leg, the snake, called pain lashed out and woke Joey up from a deep sleep. He was afraid to open his eyes because he thought his father had returned to kill him. He couldn't talk nor did he want to. What if his father heard him and tortured him more. At the time, Seto did not realize Joey's throat was filled with liquids and debris, choking him. Seto had no idea Joey could feel the pain in his leg which almost brought him to the brink of death it was so intense. Maybe it was for the best he was completely unaware of these factors, simply because there was nothing he could have done to change the boy's condition but to worry more.
'I want to rest. Please, stop it, dad. I don't want to feel this anymore. Stop hurting me.' Joey's confused thought rattled on in his head. Alone in the darkness of his pain, he felt only the presence of his father, beating his body, but there was also the presence of the other, someone else was in this hell with him, someone he fell connected to. He want to reach out and touch this person, but all he could do was cry and suffer. Gone were the memories of the quake and his only thought centered around his daily pray, 'I will not give in to the despair that appears in my life, I will survive, no matter what, or how much it hurts.'
Next Seto examined the boy's arm, because after moving the tomb it appeared to be crushed. In an attempt to cover his face from the falling plaster he had twisted it horribly. Seto remembered Mokuba's words. "I think he broke his arm while protecting me. Seto you got to save him please." Seto couldn't begin to imagine the trails his puppy went through just to survive and rescue Mokuba. His respect for Joey grew with each passing moment.
Seto held back a sob, as he looked up and down Joey's arm," Yes, this precious arm saved my brother's life. Lucky it wasn't his painting hand. Yeah, they thought I didn't know. Seto knew every move Mokuba made, but he didn't question the harmless act of kindness nor did he really know the details or care. The investigators merely said the boys were meeting at an old meat storage center owned by the Kaiba's. The meetings were harmless just fun between two friends. Joey painted and Mokuba worked on his homework. Sometimes the blond came late at night and actually slept over and painted. What could his puppy possible be painting of interest to anyone? Seto had to admit Mokuba's grades and his interest in school had improved although he still hated his math teacher. Seto had no idea just how talented Joey really had become or that Mokuba made himself his self-appointed art benefactor.
He straightened out two fingers and taped them together then popped his thumb back in place. Seto leaned forward again, to check his heart rate, only to find it was slower. "Shit," he checked his watch and realized only five minutes had passed sense he started work on the boy, but every second took away life. At least no flesh protruded from his bent elbow, but it was sticking out at an odd angle from his upper arm to his collarbone and socket joint.
'I remember, yes I've set Mokuba's arm lots of times, he was so physical as a child. Think Kaiba, . . . hold the shoulder with my palm down, pull the arm toward the right, and let it slowly snap back into place, guiding it back into a socket. Seto knew he had to do this or Joey could lose the use of his arm forever. I'm so sorry, baby but I can't give you anything for pain and I don't know how much you can feel. I hate doing this to you, but. One. . . .Hold, two . . . .Push, three. . . . Snap. Joey scream and his eyes popped open. He tried to focus, the once vibrant hazel eyes, but they only rolled back into his head, leaving Seto staring into darkness. "What have I done, will I ever see his eyes sparkle again?" Seto had gone pale yet in desperation he secured Joey's arm to his side.
A small gurgling sound escaped from Joey's mouth. Seto leaned in closer to listen. "Mokuba . . . Mokuba . . . Mo . ." Could it be Joey was trying to talk. Again he could only make out muffled sounds. "Help Mokuba, " Joey gasped.
Seto, flinch at the words. Seto felt sure Joey suffered from pain and he was so weak, yet his only thoughts were of Mokuba. Filled with renewed hope he whispered to Joey. " He's ok, my sweet baby. You saved him. Mokuba is safe, now it's your turn. I'm taking you home." Seto though, ' When did he become so dear, my baby?' He wiped Joey's brow and listened for more sounds. It was time to go.
A small sigh escaped Joey's lips, and his body relaxed, knowing Mokuba was safe. Yet Seto couldn't see or foretell the next turn of events or the test he would have to endure for the next three minutes of his life.
Without warning, the boy's heart rate quicken and his body convulsed. Through the thin lids of his eyes, Seto witnessed the rapid movement of Joey's eyes. Joey cried out again, but only a small whimper escaped from his lips. " Ah. . . it hurts. I can't breath! His body went limp. Seto opened the boy's eyes and he only saw emptiness. Joey's breathing had stopped and there was no heart beat.
Frantically Seto tore away at the boy's shirt and flinched at the discoloration and bruising he saw on Joey's chest. The boy's chest cavity had turned a dark blue and he had red patches all over his lower abdomen.
The boy was bleeding internally and now his heart had stopped. "AHHHH, shouted Seto!" Quickly he tilted Joey's head back and cleared his airway with his two middle fingers. Think, think must get the air inside his lungs. Seto took a deep breath and covered Joey's nose, pinching it with his thumb and index finger. . . . One, two, three, . . . press-massage- breathe, . . . one, two, three, . . . press-massage-breath breathe, . . . one, two, three, . . . press-massage-breathe . . . no response.
One, two, three, . . . please. . .breathe. . . breathe . . . no response.
Sweat poured down his brow and his face muscles started to constrict. No response. Again with his palm faced down together in a criss-crossed fashion Seto applied deeper pressure trying to get closer to his heart. One, two, three, . . . press-massage-breathe, . . . one two, three, . . . press-massage-breathe.
Seto put his head against Joey's chest, thinking, 'Damn it, please somebody, help me, please God, not for me, but he believes in you.' He pressed again and Joey's ribs cracked, my god! Ahhh again . . . . one, two, three!!!! Blood squirted from his nose, mouth, and eyes, the smell caused Seto to gag, but he kept up the massage.
"Please Joey, you can't leave me now. Joey's body flopped up and down, just like a rag doll or rubber ball. No life could be found. Finally after five minutes, Seto could fill a coldness surround his very heart and soul, and Joey lips had completely turned blue and his face a pale white. Seto resigned himself that Joey had . . . . .
For a moment time stood still and he roared NOOOOOO!!! You can't die!! Seto's voice rose deep in his chest and appeared to scattered the remaining walls with the intensity of his cry. The broken CEO kept up the massage and swore, he would never stop, never. Tears tricked down his pale cheeks, and one landed on the ice cold lips of Joey's lifeless body. One lone tear, bent on a journey slipped inside Joey's purple lips and somewhere in the fog of pain, death, life, and grief, Joey tasted love. Some would say the moisture open up his airway. But the tear of love and hope traveled down his throat and washed away the emptiness of despair. Seto's heart continued to bleed and more tears followed the first tear, each one guided by the previous tear of love. Seto touched Joey's very soul with his love and hope.
From this simple act the boy started to breathe. Some would say it was a miracle, yet only the two boys joined in a struggle of life and death would really know. You see it was a will to live and to reach beyond the stars that drove them. It was not a time to die, but their time to live.
Joey took a breath of life, and his whimper was strong and it filtered through to the weeping CEO. It was the whimper only lovers could communicate to each other and understand. The unique call of one lover to his soul mate and Seto responded with a call of his own. He comforted the boy's cry with a purr and growl of his own. Joey whimpered and whined back as he tried to find his mate and breathe at the same time.
The two communicated the unspoken language of one in love with the other. Sometimes a look, a touch, a smell, or cry was all that was needed. Joey called to his mate and Seto's heart soured with dragons' fire and he instinctively answered, crushing Joey close to his chest. He held him firmly, yet the touch was gentle. Slowly warmth started to returned to the boy's broken body.
Although both their hearts were young and innocent they connected to the needs of the other and each one knew the roles each would play. One to take, the other to give, yet both equally in love with the other and satisfied. You see, these two boys were united life times ago and would share many more lives in the future. There was a comfort and security in wanting to be protected and knowing you could submit your body and soul to the other without fear of being harmed, this is what Joey felt and knew to be real.
Somewhere in his heart Joey knew he was safe in the presence of this man and not in his father clutches. Seto, man of ice would always be perceived as this, except in the eyes of his mate. Because his mate would break the barriers and create a world for Seto the lover to exist. However, it would be a long time before this would come to pass.
Pressed up against this wall, solid but warm, Joey tried to breathe, but it pained him so much. For the briefest of seconds Joey felt safe. Seto could feel the tension in the boys body and he tried to calm him with soothing sounds. Joey's eyes fluttered opened and he tried to speak, while following the voice above his head. "It hurts, When I Breathe...," he coughed and his hazel eyes grew dark again with pain as he closed them tightly together. "It hur. . . ahh. . . It. . ."
Seto's heart broke all over again, he was so damn tired, but this journey was not over yet. "Hush, baby, you can't rest, not yet. Leaning closer, he nipped Joey's ear to wake him up. Joey moaned and whimpered his distress. "Hush, give me your pain, my love, and let me be your air. I will be your breath."
Seto placed one hand under Joey's neck and held it gentle but firmly in place. Again he reached inside his mouth and cleaned out his throat reaching down and pulled out the last of the mucus and bile from the pits of hell both boys had just left. Seto squeezed Joey's cheeks and tilted his jaw future back and brushed his lips against Joey's. His breath was shallow and ragged and his mouth cold. Seto took a large intake of fresh air and pressed down on the other's mouth, his tongue circling inside the coldness of Joey's bottom lip and forced the boy's mouth open. Joey's weak chest started to move up and down, slowly at first and soon with a little more power. Seto continued to take in large quantities of air and next covered Joey's mouth completely and filled Joey's lungs with air. The boy's will to live increased with each breath and soon he was breathing on his own with minor pain.
This act of love from one mate to the other would bind them together forever, although Seto did not realize it as love. Seto's only thought at the moment concentrated on Joey's tears of pain. He had to get him to safety because even though the boy was stable he was still fading fast.
With Joey dangerously strapped to his back, Seto inched his way along floors and walls, just like the rats Mokuba had described before. Seto's legs and knees were battered and bruished and his breath was ragged but he continued on. His only comfort was the heart beat of the other he could feel on his back as he crawled forward with hope. A beam of light could be seen up ahead and Seto crawled out into fresh air. The change in temperature caused Joey to flinch and whimper but Seto couldn't stop. Seto walked a small distance and Joey started to cry out again. Seto lowered him to the floor to attend once again to the needs of the other. The boy started to sweat and his leg was on fire. "Just hold on baby, I know you are hurting but we are almost there."
Seto started to lift the boy, this time bridal style for a moment and realized something started to vibrate in his pocket. The exhausted CEO reached inside his pocket and drew out a cell phone. It still worked and he could hear a familiar voice on the other end.
"Pegasus, Pegasus is that you?!!" Seto for the second time in his life sent a silent prayer to Mokuba's God
"Kaiba, shit! Kaiba. I can hardly hear you, man. Wait Mokuba, just hold on a second, Kaiba." Pegasus adjusted the frequency and he not only could hear the CEO, but was able to pin point his location. The red dot appeared on Pegasus's screen not as one but two distinct life forces.
"Pegasus, listen. I need a medical team, ready . Joey's hurt bad."
"Kaiba, all the hospitals are tied up and overflowing, it may take a while before I can get..."
"Damn it, Pegasus, I don't have a minute. I need your help. His legs and arms, his body, Pegasus." Seto, just couldn't say another word. "His lungs, Pegasus." Seto understood there were many out there dying and hurt, but Joey was his, he was special. " Please Pegasus."
The line was silent for a moment, and Pegasus could hear all the pain in the CEO's voice and he did not fight. His fingers started to fly across the keyboard. He had to come up with a plan and quick. Not only Joey's life force was leaving, but Seto was fading fast as well.
"Pegasus, are you there?"
"Yes, Kaiba, just stay put, here's Mokuba."
Mokuba's wipped the tears flowing down his cheeks and grabbed the cell phone, "Nii-sama," choking on the line. "Are you all right? Did you find him?"
"Moki, it's ok, don't cry. I have Joey. Mokuba he's alive. Ok. He's alive. Mokuba , listen . Do you know if Joey is allergic to pain pills or something?
Mokuba eyes lite up, "Look in his shoes, his left sock. I know he carries pills for pain, when his father beats him up. He keeps them hidden so the teachers won't find them. Seto." Seto didn't mean to be harsh, but time was running out.
"Not now, Mokuba, put Pegasus back on the line, hurry."
Seto fished inside Joey's shoe and found the pills, he crushed it in his mouth and made a fine paste, quickly he pushed his tongue down Joey's throat and coated his cavity with the pain killer. Joey cooed, at the instant relief of the pills, as they coursed through his blood stream.
"Pegasus, I don't think I can move Joey any more."
"Hush man, save your strength. I've got a team coming to get you. Just listen. We should be there in fifteen minutes." The line went silent. "Kaiba, Kaiba man, talk to me."
"Ahh. . . . Max, I don't have fifteen minutes. He's bleeding again. I can feel it. I'm so dizzy, I can't breath, it hurts. . . .
"Kaiba, Kaiba man, wake up! Kaiba!"
Just as Kaiba started to pass out holding Joey close to his chest, the team broke through the wall and immediately applied oxygen to both the youths. The fresh air brought Seto out of his faint and he watched as the team strapped Joey to a rescue board. They walked out into the light and lifted both youth out onto a small remaining portion of the roof. Pegasus had arranged for a helicopter to air lift Seto and Joey to a hospital outside Japan where specialists would be waiting. Mokuba had Roland arrange for private doctors based on the little information they had received concerning Joey's injuries.
Mokuba sat in a comfortable silence with Pegasus as they rode in the limo to the airport. Mokuba allowed Pegasus to hug him briefly before boarding Pegasus private jet to get them to the hospital. "Pegasus, is my brother going to die? Please tell me." Pegasus tilted Mokuba's chin up and answered his question as best as he could. "Mokuba, I don't know much about living, sense my wife died, but I will tell you this. Your brother went into the pits of hell and he walked out. I know death and Seto is not going to let it happen, not today Mokuba.
Seto's eyes never left Joey, as he watched the emergency workers try and force the oxygen tube down the boy's throat. Joey, continued to fight and Seto realized what he wanted and he whimpered his need and protested. Seto smiled and reached out under the blanket for his hand. With his thumb he applied pressure and massaged the soft tissue. Joey relaxed and allow the workers to help him. How did Seto know this would comfort his mate. In the twilight of unconscious Joey reached out to Seto, unaware who he was and wrapped his little finger around the other's hand. He held on and felt loved.
Only twenty minutes passed from the time Seto found Joey and the team arrived, yet to Seto he'd experienced eternity. His strength and emotions had been tested. Seto looked down at Joey and wondered when did this desire for the boy's survival envelope his soul. For the third time he prayed to Mokuba's God and realized just how worthless his money had been fifteen minutes ago.
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R/R I hope I have entertained you. Let me know if we should continue. Will he recovery? Will he stay with Seto, or will he leave...Hey talk to me...
Goodnight...Sherabo loves you...