Disclaimer: Takahashi and 1996 the year a God was born. You are the best. I don't own any of the rights to YUGIOH. I just don't know why but I enjoy the disclaimer. I know freaky much.

I will not give in to the despair that appears in my life, I will survive, no matter what, or how much it hurts. These are the words that held Joey together every day of his life. It was the puppy love of one boy Mokuba who gave him hope. It was his secret desire for one boy Seto that gave him strength.

Oooooo

Chapter 10: The Wakening

The boy closed his eyes and in so doing stopped his heart. It no longer beat in his chest. For the briefest of moments he floated in a sea of nothingness nestled in the little girl's arms. Only her smile gave him some contact with life and it shined in all the darkness around him. Joey was coming home.

"Come Joey, your friends are waiting for you on the other side of this darkness. It is his will that you return to the living." Spoke the small child. In Joey's mind she was an angel and filled with great knowledge. A crown of blue roses surrounded the top of Kisara's head and a long tunic drifted around her body in neat flows.

"Will it hurt? I feel happy and look." He pointed in the direction of his baby sister and grandmother. The baby sister he would never know in life. Already the images were fading and fresh tears flowed from the boy's eyes. "Please bring them back!" Joey spoke as he struggled against Kisara's gentle grasp.

"Yes it will hurt, but the pain will be forgotten." Kisara's and Joey's eyes locked in the darkness and she continued to comfort him with her words; words that touched his mind and soul. "Your family on this side of the light will become a beautiful memory in your heart. In your heart you will feel great joy when you think lovingly of them."

"Listen, your friends are calling for you, the small one with the raven hair weeps now for you. He believes he has caused your death. Do you wish for him to carry that burden on his shoulders for the rest of his life?" The angel spoke words of strength and courage to the boy although her lips did not move only a smile graced her fine features and Kisara's eyes twinkled in the dark void. The air around his body grew cold and he could feel pain in his arms and chest. The pain intensified as the light faded and the darkness tightened around his body, it had become physical in nature. Kisara's eyes closed and Joey could no longer feel the comfort of her embrace around his body. He was alone again. The last part of this journey was his to make and take. He needed the will to want to live. "Yes, I'm coming home." He cried.

The next time Joey opened his eyes he not only saw light but the faint outline of silver eyes staring back at him. His face was covered with a clear plastic mask and he could feel fluids race up his chest. The fluids strangled him and he fought for air, but the tubes blocked all the passage ways of life. 'Am I dying all over again? I can't breathe?' He thought as his strength wavered. Once again he called out to the only person he felt that could comfort him. "Seto help me." He body convulsed, he whimpered. 'Why does he touch my heart? He's my nightmare and my salvation.' He moaned. Joey clawed his way to the top and prayed someone would be there to love him.



Ooooooo

When Seto reached the room he feared the worst; Joey's death. The nightmare was brought on with a feeling of dread. "Joey don't give up; I've got a promise to keep and a lover I have yet to know." Words whispered to the wind.

"Seto, Joey's heart stopped but it has started to beat again. I think he can hear me talking and I know he wants to say something but he can't get the words out. His hand is cold but it's getting warm. He knows I'm here, I'm sure of it." Mokuba spoke excitedly all his sentences running together.

Pegasus felt a little more comfortable around the Kaiba boys so he spoke candidly. "Kaiba-kitten, Joey loves you, I'm sure hearing your voice made him happy."

"You believe me Pegasus." Mokuba smiled for the first time in days. He was shocked and comforted by Pegasus's words and he did not mind the affection they carried.

"You are a Kaiba, be strong and believe in your strength." The Toon Master winked his one prefect eye at Mokuba and took his hand. Next he readjusted the CEO on his other shoulder and waited while the doctors worked.

"He can't breathe, doctor." Seto felt Joey's steady heart beating in his mind. "Take it out, Take it out" agitated and extremely stressed, Seto spoke. Sweat poured down his face. He pulled away from Pegasus and leaned over Joey. His eyes took in every detail of the other's face through the mask, with sheer intensity.

"Son, I understand this is not the best thing to look at, but you are not a doctor and if we take him off the machines he could die." The doctor spoke sternly to the group.

"He's already died and gone to hell and back. I don't think you are in a position to say where he is now!!"Spoke Pegasus. 'I don't believe Seto's insanity has reached his mouth either.' He thought.

Seto completely void of emotion- or so overloaded with emotions -understood his puppy's heart. "He can't breathe and he trying to fight for air." Seto's legs started to falter, the exhaustion taking control of his body again. Pegasus moved closer to his friend and supported his weakened body.

"Look at his eyes," whispered Seto. "Please trust me, you've got to remove the tubes and turn off the machine."

"Seto, I think you are right." Mokuba walked over to Joey's side. The same side of the bed he just left and touched the blond's chest. "Seto he . . . . . feels cool, almost warm. I can feel his heart beating it is very strong, listen."

Seto spun around and spoke demandingly to the doctor. "Do it now!!"

The nurse stood near the boy on the bed and the nervous doctor pushed the switch to a down position which meant off. The steady whoosh died to nothing. Slowly heads turned to the boy in the bed; everyone was afraid to move except Seto. Joey's heart monitor moved slowly up and down. He was alive.

No one dared to stop Seto as he slowly lifted the wet plastic covering from over Joey's face. It was sticky with fluids, yet the only thing visible to the CEO was the twitching in his baby's eyes. 'He's alive!' Seto faltered in his step. Pegasus was there to catch him. Next the nurse pulled a long tube from his nostrils.



"Wow! It's ok big boy, I got you," Pegasus held Seto slightly in his arms; his gaze never leaving the boy as he slowly struggled to come back to life.

Long wet blond eyelashes flittered open and a very weak voice called out, "Where am I?"

"Joey, you are in a hospital . . . You almost died . . ." Mokuba held his warm hand, tears in his eyes. "Earthquake and the museum fell . . . You saved my life . . . Joey . . ." he sobs into the boy's hand. "Joey I didn't go back for you . . . I was so afraid."

"Mokuba, you're alive . . . . Kaiba he left you in my care. He probably wants me dead, I'm sure he blames me for everything . . . . . ." Joey started to cough and blood spurted from his nose. "I'm so useless, he hates me."

"Joey no, Seto he . . ." before Mokuba could finish the sentence, Seto touched his arm. He motioned for him to stay silent. "Joey don't move, just rest." Spoke Mokuba.

"Mokuba, are you ok, I couldn't live if you were . . ." he coughed again and this time the blood came from his month. "Mokuba, please he can't see me like this, please. I'm so afraid of what he might do to me." The coughing intensified and blood spurted on Mokuba's shirt.

"Joey don't move, please calm down." Mokuba looked at his brother. 'Did Joey really think he was that kind of monster, to kick him when he was so weak,' he thought. Mokuba's eyes pleated with his brother to understand or at least believe Joey was under stress and did not know what he was saying. The blond had no idea he was a hero.

The doctor and nurse moved in and removed the fluids from his mouth that had caused the stress and motioned for Mokuba and the guys to back up. The boy just woke up and his condition needed to be analyzed.

"I can't feel my legs, please somebody help me!" Joey cried out the blood mixing with his tears. All the pain returned to his body, or at least his upper body. "My arm, my hand, I can't . . ." Joey could not finish the words he hurt so much.

Mokuba's heart exploded and he grabbed at his chest. One nurse pushed him back against a wall and he stood in the corner while the doctors continued to work on the now hysterical youth. Awake for only moments and they were afraid he would have to be satiated.

Seto had already left the room. The hurt and pain he felt at Joey's words bore into his soul. 'Did the boy really think so little of me? But worst of all was the thought he was the cause of his condition; the lack of feeling in his legs. Maybe he should not have tried to be the hero and drag him out of the building?' He agonized over his decisions.

"Don't Seto, you did the right thing." Pegasus spoke the words the CEO was afraid to say. He reached out to touch the tired CEO, but Seto recoiled and dropped to the floor. Everything caved in on him at once. Again the pale beauty felt tears on his cheeks. He looked up at Pegasus and spoke. "He's alive! He's alive!"

"Seto, give it time." Pegasus's eyes watered. For the first time he saw doubt and hurt in Kaiba's eyes and it was frightening.

"Time, yeah . . . I've said some cruel things to him, and now he can live as a cripple who hates me." The words spilled out between sobs.



"My God, Kaiba . . . You. . . You really care for that boy in there!!" Pegasus whispered. He kneeled down next to his friend. "Does Mokuba know how you feel, because I get the impression he sort of likes the blond."

Seto started to shake and the words became harder to speak. Why in the hell he felt the need to confide his feeling to the Toon Master, was a novelty. 'Damn it,' he mused. The sweat covered his upper body his gown was drenched. "Max, I swear, if you ever say a word about this . . ." He threaten. The boy doesn't know and I have no intention of hurting Mokuba or Joey anymore than I have."

"Seto, but what if he feels the same way?" voiced Pegasus. He could not believe what he was saying. 'Yeah I've entertained the thought of a relationship with the sexy Ice Man, but if Seto really wants the boy, then he should have him. Funny, never imagined I'd be in his corner,' Pegasus helped the man to stand and led him to a bed in the hall. Seto gathered his emotions and once again he was in control.

"He's alive, that's enough for me." This time he spoke the words with defiance and dared Pegasus to comment. The events of a few moments ago never happened. That was the message his cold eyes conveyed. "Joey has no idea who is in the building with him. Keep it that way!!" Seto trembled at his own words. This simple act could cause a barrier between him and his love he could never mend. The ice slowly covered Seto's heart and he was once again the ass everyone had grown not to love.

"Nii-sama!" The door to Joey's room opened and Mokuba ran to his brother.

"Help me Max," his voice low and full of pain. Pegasus quickly supported Seto to an upright position on the bed and straightened his gown somewhat. The boy leaned only a little on Pegasus's shoulder. The Toon Master kept his one good eye glued to the sorrowful man.

"He is going to be ok. Well Joey is alive, but the damages are heavy. I don't care we can work it out . . . right, big brother?" Mokuba's eyes searched his brother's face for reassurance. "He's resting, but I'm going stay here in case Joey wakes up. I don't want him to be alone."

"Yeah, Mokuba, we can work it out." Seto sighed. "You stay by my puppy's . . . ah. . . Joey's side, nobody should be alone."

"Nii-sama, why don't you want to tell Joey the truth? You saved his life." questioned Mokuba.

"Don't Mokie, it was a stranger!" Seto frustrated cried out. "He doesn't' need me to complicate things, don't you understand. You are his closest friend leave it at that."

"Well, no, but I will listen, for now. I gotta go." Mokuba turned and nodded to Pegasus. "Will you stay with Nii-sama?"

"Sure Kaiba-kitten." Whispered Pegasus.

"Nii-sama, will you please make him stop calling me that silly name. It's embarrassing!" He whined. The boy did not wait for an answer. All you could see was his raven hair flying in the wind.

Mokuba did not see the tears rolling down, neither the look of defeat mirrored on his brother's face, nor the pale skin that was completely devoid of color. Shoulders slumped he gave Mokuba a little shove towards Joey's room. "Go!"



Seto walked away and Pegasus trailed behind. "He's alive, I'll live with that." Seto walked one more step and swooned elegantly in Pegasus's arms.

"Well this time my friend, I'm taking you home. Wherever the hell that is. He smiled down at the sleeping CEO and marveled at his fine features. 'Damn Seto was a beautiful man and here he is in my arms, again.' Pegasus's thoughts ran wild for a moment, but only briefly. 'Well I can't have your love, so I'll take your friendship and continue to be your loyal servant and business partner, but I won't give in so easily. . . Joey you are in for a fight!'

Oooooo

Wow, not easy, but he's awake and the healing will begin winks and sighsssssssssss. But there is more drama in this fairy tale, so don't think it is over yet.

Thanks for the time and review….energy to write on!