Joey's POV

You plopped down on your bed. Your science homework had made your head hurt. You looked over at the clock. It was already 7:30, and Miya wasn't home yet. She had never stayed at Kaiba's for more than an hour.

"Hey has anyone heard from Miya?"

"Nope. Why? Isn't she over at Kaiba's?"

"Yeah but she's suppose to be bringing Aaron home today. Didn't think she'd be staying there that long."

You sighed and threw your head back into your pillow. You heard the song "Jai Ho" coming from your backpack. You jumped up to answer it since it was Miya's ringtone and you didn't want Serenity knowing you had such a girly ring tone.

"Hey Miya, where are you?"

"Wheeler I.."

"What? Kaiba? What do you want? Why do you…"

"Shut up Wheeler."

You were shocked by the sound of panic in his voice.

"I need you to get down to the hospital right now."

"What did you do to her Kaiba!"

"Shut up and get the hell down here now!"

You quickly hung up, threw your shoes back on and dialed Yugi. He was as freaked as you were and told you he'd call the others and they'd meet you down there. You ran out to the living room.

"Joey? Something wrong?"

You frantically explained the call you had just gotten from Kaiba. Since you were too frantic and you're mom wasn't home yet, Duke decided that he'd drive. Serenity sat in the back and was shaking with fear. You could only imagine how Aaron was taking this. First his brother had gone missing, and now Miya was in the hospital for some unknown reason.

Seto's POV

You had Roland drive Mokuba and Aaron down to the hospital. Once they had found out about Miya, they demanded that you'd let them come down. You were sitting out in the waiting room, trying to keep from breaking down and crying. They had taken Miya away from you as soon as you walked in and you still hadn't seen her yet.

Everyone who walked by you stared. You were covered in her blood. She had taken the bullet meant for you. It had hit her in the side, and you were praying it had missed her organs. If it had done enough damage, you knew there was little that could be done to save her.

Mokuba and Aaron came running into the Emergency lobby, both of them crying. It was easy to tell they'd been crying since they found out; their eyes were red and swollen.

You wanted so badly to hug them both but had to refrain since you knew it would freak them out if you got Miya's blood on them.

"Kaiba! What did you do to her!"

You were shaking so badly you could barely stand or even answer him.

"I…I didn't do this Wheeler."

"Don't you lie to me! You hate her!"

Wheeler was in your face, clutching your collar in his hand.

"I love her you stupid mutt!"

"You love her? You pushed her away! You're the stupid one for letting someone like her go!"

His words stung, and deeply. This was abnormal for something Wheeler said, but you knew his words were true. You were the stupid one for letting her go.

"So what did you do to her?!"

"Joey, stop. He didn't do this."

Yugi was the one to pull Joey off you.

"What do you mean Yug?"

"Look at him. He…he's torn up about this, just like we are. Kaiba didn't do this."

-Yugi is actually standing up for me? After all I've done to him?-

"What happened to her money bags?"

Before you could answer Mokuba stood up.

"She…went….to go see Lex. She was shot…"

Everyone standing there froze, except for Devlin who didn't know what the hell was going on.

"Why did she go see that lunatic?"

"She found out that picture was a fake and that Lex had given it to Seto."

Wheeler went pale and sat in the chair next to you. You felt extremely bad for him. You could tell he deeply cared for Miya, just as you did. You had done this to her. What if you hadn't believed Lex's trick? What if you had taken the bullet and not her?

"Mr. Kaiba?"

You turned your head to look at the nurse standing at the ER doors.

"Yes? Is she okay?"

"Ms. Suro is in recovery. She'll be ready for visitor after she wakes up and gets checked out by the doctor. It'll be about an hour. Until then , feel free to leave or go eat."

"Thank you."

Wheeler, with his face still buried in his hands spoke.

"You might want to go change. You might freak out the boys or Miya when we get to see her."

"I'm not leaving. I'll have someone bring me down some."

Joey's POV

"You might want to go change. You might freak out the boys or Miya when we get to see her."

"I'm not leaving. I'll have someone bring me down some."

That was the last thing you heard. You blocked out all sound and your mind was racing. Miya had been shot. Why was Kaiba all upset about this? Had the bullet been meant for him? If so, that meant that Miya had taken it for him. Did she still love him?

-If she still loves him…How can she say she loves me?-

"Joey?"

The voice sounded like Miya's, but it was much younger and seem more innocent.

"Joey?"

"Miya?"

"No silly. It's me, Kisara."

"Oh, you again. Why are you hear? Is Miya okay?"

"She'll be fine. But I have come for a different reason. These questions you're flooding your mind with, they are about you and Miya's relationship correct?"

"I just…If she did take a bullet for Kaiba…Does that mean she still loves him? How can she love me, if she loves him? I don't stand a chance against him…"

"Joey, you and Miya have a past together. It's a complicated one and her feelings? Those are for her to explain. All I can tell you is that she might choose a different path than the one I chose. Although she is my reincarnation, we are different people. We can make different choices."

"Hey Kisara…"

"Yes Joey?"

"Can you tell her something for me?"

She nodded.

"Tell her, I'll always be here for her. No matter what path she takes."

"I'll be sure to let her know."

Once again you the sounds of the lobby filled your head.

"Hello? Joey? You in there?"

"Oh yeah, sorry Yug. Must of spaced out."

"I guess so. Well, we can go see her. She woke up a lot sooner than they thought she would. But it's only one at a time."

Yugi sat down next to you.

"We decided that we're gonna let you go in first, well after Kaiba."

You were about to say something when Kaiba spoke up.

"You guys can go ahead of me. But the boys see her first."

"Really?"

"Wheeler, I owe you. Sick as it makes me, I do."

-Did he really just say that? Or am I hearing things?-

"Alright everyone, follow me please."

Everyone but Duke followed the nurse into the ICU unit. There were chairs set up outside Miya's room and everyone sat down. Before you sat down, you caught a glimpse of Miya through the small window in the door.

She looked closer to death than anyone living should be. Her once tan skin was almost a translucent white, huge black circles surrounded her eyes. From the looks of it, she was hooked up to just about every machine you had ever seen in a hospital.

"Seto? What are all those machines for?"

"She's lost a lot of blood Aaron. They're making sure she gets it all back, one's a pain killer and they're also making sure she's not dehydrated."

Poor Aaron. He was still in hysterics over this, and was holding onto Kaiba's hand for what seemed like dear life. It was strange to see Kaiba be so loving toward someone other than Mokuba.

"Aaron, you get to go in first."

Aaron gulped down hard to try and stop his tears, and Kaiba nudged him toward the door. The hallway went silent as Aaron slowly opened the door and walked in. Everyone began listening to try and hear what was going on inside, but the only voice you could hear was Aaron's.

You glanced over at Kaiba as he sat in the chair farthest from her door. He was again bent over with his face in his hands. He was still slightly shaking. You found yourself feeling sorry for him, instead of being angry with him. Although you couldn't stand him, you knew he was taking this very hard. That bullet had been meant for him, and Miya had jumped in front of it. You were sure of that. You knew Miya loved him with everything she had, but she would have done the same for any of her friends. That's just the kind of person she was.

Yugi's POV

You sat silently watching both Joey and Kaiba. They seemed to be in the exact same mind frame. Both were pale and sickened with grief and fear. Joey was anxiously watching the clock. Aaron had been allowed 15 minutes because he was family, and that time was just about up. Joey was next.

"Joey? You can go in now." Aaron said weakly, tears falling from his eyes once again. He then walked over and sat next to Mokuba and pulled his knees to his chest.

Miya's POV

It killed you to see your brother so distressed. To worsen it all, you were in too much pain to barely move. This meant you weren't able to hug him to try and make him realize you were okay. You couldn't fake that this time.

Aaron had left the room early instead of staying his full 15 minutes. You knew he was scared, and it broke your heart to see it on his face.

You were sure who was next, Aaron hadn't told you.

"Hey…"

You opened your eyes to see Joey standing in the doorway.

"Hey…" you squeaked quietly. The lack of color in his face was frightening.

"How you feeling Miya?" he asked as he sat in the chair next to your bed, scooting it closer.

"I'm…alright. Just pissed off I suppose."

"Hey, don't be like that. You need to have a good attitude, or you'll heal slower."

"Yes Mother.." you said chuckling lightly, then cringing in pain. The morphine hadn't kicked in yet, or if it had, you weren't feeling it

"What's wrong?" Joey asked frantically.

"Nothing, just some pain. Those sniper bullets are a bitch."

"Sniper bullet?"

"Ye…Lex was trying to assassinate Seto. I…I pushed him out of the way."

"How did you…If that shooter had sniper training, how did he not kill you?"

"Must have been a bad shot."

"Well I'm glad he did. I don't know what I would have done if…"

Joey froze as the words caught in his throat.

"Don't think about that kinda stuff. You'll only freak yourself out more. Besides, I'm fine-ish. So don't worry Kay?"

"Fine-ish?"

"Mhm, fine-ish."

Yet again you cringed. It was hard to keep from laughing with Joey around. He made sure there was always a smile on your face, it was the same now.

"Well, I think my 5 minutes are over. I'll come back tomorrow, right after school."

"Take care of Aaron for me please? He's really going to need someone right now."

"Of course I will….if Kaiba lets me."

You didn't catch the end of his sentence.

"What?"

"Nothing, was just talking to myself.

Joey stood up and kissed your forehead.

"Miya, I hope you now…I'll always be here for you. No matter what your heart decides. Now get well soon. We'll miss you."

He then quickly left the room. You weren't sure what he meant by what he'd just said, but it was comforting. He couldn't have possibly meant Kaiba, you would never have another chance.

You smiled as Mokuba rushed into the room and took a seat.

Seto's POV

Time crept by slowly as everyone took their 5 minutes with Miya. Now it was your turn as Yugi shut the door and looked back at you before walking down the hallway. Wheeler had taken Mokuba and Aaron home with him, leaving you alone. You ran a hand through your hair hoping that it didn't freak Miya out that you were still covered in her blood. Roland had gotten stuck in downtown traffic and wasn't here yet.

You got up from your chair and walked over to her door. Your guilt began to eat away at you as you slowly turned the handle and took your first step in her room. When you laid eyes on her, her pale skin and darkened eyes made the pit in your stomach grow.

"Hey…how you doing?"

"Why is that the first thing everyone asks me?" she said with a smile.

"We…just don't know what else to say."

"Oh… and I'm alright I guess. Pain meds are really beginning to help."

You took a seat in the chair next to her bed, you could see the 20 some stitches in her side through the slit in her hospital gown.

"Miya…Why did.."

"Hush. I did it for my own reasons, so don't…"

You lowered your head into your hands again, wanting to release everything you'd been holding in.

"Seto, you shouldn't feel guilty. It wasn't your fault. I did it because…I couldn't loose you. When I heard Lex telling them to set up a sniper, I about died inside. I had to do something." her voice started to shake.

A single tear fell from her eye then she hid her face in her hands. There were at least 3 different tubes stuck into her right hand.

You weren't sure what to do. You stared down at the floor until you heard a small whimper escape from her throat as more tears came running down her face.

"Miya…I'm so sorry." you got up and sat on the very edge of the bed, making sure not to touch her side. You carefully wrapped your arm around her shoulders.

"It's okay Miya…I'm right here."

-And always will be- you thought to yourself as she laid her head on your chest.

Miya's POV

When you felt his arm around you, a rush went through your body. You weren't sure what it was, but you felt calm and safe.

You put your hands back down to your sides as you turned your head and rested it on his chest. His strong, steady heart beat began to lull you to sleep.

"Miya…"

You lifted your head off his chest and locked with his gaze. Just like the times before, you felt you could loose yourself in his sapphire eyes.

You weren't sure how long you stared into them but you were snapped back into reality when his lips softly pressed against yours.

Seto's POV

You couldn't resist the urge to kiss her. She was absolutely everything to you, you realized that now. You had almost lost her, and now you knew you couldn't live without her. You wanted so badly to be able to hold her close to you again.

When her head laid softly on your chest, you felt your heart speed up. You kept talking yourself out of trying to kiss her, then the desire would come back even stronger moments later.

-It's now or never Seto- you said to yourself.

"Miya…"

Her ice blue eyes slowly made their way and met yours dead on.

It seemed like forever before your lips met hers. The rush you felt was like nothing you'd felt before. This kiss was like your first a million times over. You now truly realized how much you had missed her.

She broke the kiss, much sooner than you had wanted.

"Seto…"

Her heart rate monitor went into a frenzy and sent out high pitched screeching. Seconds later the doctor and two nurses came rushing into the room.

"Mr. Kaiba, we'll need you to leave the room." said one of the nurses as she shoved you out the door and shut the curtain so you couldn't see in.

You felt weak and fell into one of the chairs closest to her door. You couldn't loose her, you needed her to live. You couldn't go back to a life without her. If you lost her, you knew you'd loose what sanity you had left.

After about 10 minutes out in the hall, the doctor and his nurses came out in the hall. His sleeves were covered in blood. You felt the pit in your stomach again.

"Is she okay?"

"Yes, she's fine. The IV pumped too much morphine into her system and it caused her blood pressure to spike."

"The blood?"

"We had to drain out a bit to lower the morphine right away. She's fine Mr. Kaiba. You can go back in."

You sighed in relief. You calmed yourself down and quickly went back into her room. Her breathing was shallow and her skin was even paler.

You went to sit back in the chair when she grabbed your hand. Cringing, she moved over just enough so you could lay next to her.

"You gonna pass out on me?"

"Hmm, probably. Overdose of morphine will do that to ya."

You got up on the bed next to her and wrapped your arm back around her. Within moments of her head resting on your chest, she was asleep.

"I don't know what I would have done if I had lost you…" you whispered then kissed the top of her head.

"you're crazy Seto Kaiba." she mumbled.

"Heh, I love you Miya."

"I love you too Seto." she whispered, moving closer to you.