As part of her punishment, Aglaia was forced to assist with her mother at the hospital. Her mother was a nurse, so did that make her co-nurse?
She didn't know, but it was worthy punishment, as most of the work was dismally dull. Aglaia's basic familiarity with first aid made volunteering a part time job.
She had grown up knowing exactly what to do with boo-boos and having all sorts of medical jargon thrown at her by her ever-loving mother when she got hurt.
"Don't worry, sweetie, it won't hurt long. The endorphins and enkephalins will come to the boo-boo from your brain and make it all better!"
Aglaia was snatched up out of her memories when Doctor Mikuru woke her from her trance of massaging old Mr. Asahina, an unwanted task.
"Aglaia, I've got to make a house call. Would you come with me?" The girl nodded instantly before he added, "I've already informed your mother."
Nodding still as he turned his back, Aglaia set down the massaging cream on Mr. Asahina's bedside table, as he had fallen into a deep sleep.
After gathering the necessary items, Aglaia and Dr. Mikuru loaded into a surprisingly expensive car, chauffeur and all.
First things first, Aglaia spoke, "Doctor Mikuru, I thought that doctors didn't make house calls anymore."
"Not usually. But it seems that especially . . . favorable patients can afford such things."
"Who is it that we're going to see?"
"We're on our way to Kaiba Manor. Stay on your best behavior."
Aglaia demonstrated mannerful silence on the rest of the car ride.
After arriving at the Kaiba mansion, the medicinal pair was greeted by a hunched nanny-looking man with glasses and stressed-looking young boy with wild hair.
They took Aglaia and Dr. Mikuru through the labyrinth of halls and it seemed unlikely that with all of the maids and attendants that there was a doctor amongst them.
"Here we are," the man cracked slightly the oak double doors that looked quite regal indeed.
The three others followed. Aglaia noted the young boy looking particularly bothered.
"Mr. Kaiba has been dreadfully ill for the past few days. . . it doesn't seem to be the standard cold. Could you examine him?" Almost an inquiry as to the doctor's skills.
Aglaia wasn't sure how long Doctor Mikuru prodded the figure in the bed as he twisted and sniffled.
"It seems to me he has a very distinct variation of the Type A flu. Don't worry, it's not H1N1. I'll need to go back to the hospital to test this blood sample, just to be sure. Then a twice-daily implement of Tamiflu should do him good. For now, I have these pills. Aglaia, would you mind watching him for me? Tend to him when he wakes up."
The man followed the doctor as they left the room, shutting the door, leaving only Aglaia sitting beside his bed, the boy analyzing the nurse, and Seto Kaiba with reddened face in the moonlight.
"Don't worry. . ." Aglaia spoke gently after several moments. She wiped Seto's swollen nose and put some medicinal chap stick on his sick lips.
"What?"
"D-- don't worry. He-- he'll be okay."
In the corner of her eye, Aglaia saw the young boy scrutinizing her. He saw that she was unsure and wondered if she knew he was himself.
"I know."
Again, silence.
"Wha--- what's your name?" Aglaia whispered after a long while.
"It's Mokuba," he answered after a while.
A moment passed.
"Is he your brother?"
"Yeah. . ."
It would surely be a long night.
"I have a brother. . . a brother, you know."
"Yeah?"
"Yeah. . ."
Again, the moon was loudest thing in the room.
"He-- he's a little bit older than me, but-- not by much. . . how-- how old are you?"
"Fourteen." Mokuba saw himself inclined to answer.
Flashing him a second's look, Aglaia stared again down at Kaiba. Mokuba honestly looked much younger.
"Like I said. . . you don't have to worry." But she knew that he would, anyhow. Aglaia understood.
A near hour's hush passed and it became apparent that Dr. Mikuru was not returning anytime soon.
Mokuba had fallen asleep on the a lush armchair in the corner and the moon came to illuminate Seto Kaiba's sleeping face.
Albeit the running nose, chapped lips, and inflated nose, after studying Seto thoroughly, Aglaia came to decide him as the picture of Adonis.
His stony features and pale complexion set to epitome Aphrodite's lover.
Several thoughts later, Aglaia found herself blushing deeply, glad that he couldn't see her.
Seto, she thought, might be considered very handsome if he didn't petrify with his presence.
Funny. Only several weeks ago the man lying below her was a scary story coming to life for her older brother, and now he was pathetically sick patient in need of her care.
How fickle, she thought, Fate could be.
The night took over and Aglaia found her head rested on the bed beside him.
This time, she didn't need any smelling herbs to fall into a deep sleep.
It must have been around 3:00, Seto's inner clock decided, as he woke in the darkness.
Pushing past a warm object lying next to him (probably a cat), Seto shuffled towards his bathroom for glass of water.
Trembling, he grabbed a glass from beside his sink and ran water into it.
It never crossed his mind that he didn't own a cat.
Sitting up slowly, Aglaia was nearly blinded by the cream light from the open bathroom door.
A long, ruffled figure stood through the door.
Almost falling, Aglaia found herself and just about threw herself into the doorway.
"Se-- you. . ."
He turned with swollen shock.
"What are you doing here?" Not who are you. Let it be noted.
"I. . ." she wiped her eyes, feeling a sort of sand in them. "I'm your nurse."
All sorts of questions might have come to his mind, but none came out. Kaiba was too sore to care.
"Here. . ." Aglaia muttered. She shambled around in the bedroom for a moment. "I'm supposed to give this to you, when-- when you wake up."
Kaiba noticed that the girl seemed especially jittery as she poured two pills into his open hand.
"Swallow them, and. . ."
He complied.
After gulping several throat-fulls of water, Seto turned to see Aglaia staring at him.
She shook her head. Her impression of Seto Kaiba was conflicting, indeed.
As was his of her.
"You oughta. . ." Aglaia again rubbed her eyes. "You ought to get some sleep."
Seto promptly hmph-ed.
"I could say the same for you."
It did not go unnoticed that Kaiba strode over to his younger brother, did something in the darkness that she could not identify.
They both took their places again and waited for morning, neither fully asleep.