Chapter

2

"Ms. Miyaki, we were expecting you to come by again..." The nurse said softly, "Though you're later than usual."
"Yes...I'm afraid School ran a little later for me." she said softly, "I'm sorry to be late...is he still awake?"
"Indeed." The nurse chuckled, "You know that boy refuses to sleep unless he gets his daily visit from his big sister~"
Oh Tobi...
Shizuka chuckled.
You silly stubborn boy...
You need your rest if you have any hopes of getting better you know...
"Right...I suppose I better head in now then." She said softly.
"Of course, Ms. Miyaki, visit as long as you like..." The nurse sighed softly, "Though...once it's over, I'm afraid there are matters we must discuss..."

Shizuka didn't like the sound of that...
But now wasn't the time to worry about it.
After all...Tobi was waiting for her.
xxx
It took some doing, but Bakura managed to sneak by the nurses...though trying to find Shizuka wasn't as easy.
What on earth could Ms. Shizuka have to do at the hospital?
He wondered to himself as he wandered the halls.
Being led by the mysterious pulsation in his chest...
Is she sick perhaps?
Is that why she was late?
His eyes scanned the halls and each of the passing door in search of her...when a Name plate caught his attention.
"Miyaki?" he said softly, "Ah, That's Ms. Shizuka's name isn't it?"
Is she really sick after all!?

"I attack...With Fairy's gift."

"Ah! That was Ms. Shizuka's voice, wasn't it!?" He stated. And it was coming from the room the nameplate was attached to.
Funny.
She sure didn't sound ill...
He scurried over toward the door and pressed himself against the wall, peeking in through the crack.
"I see...that is Ms. Shizuka...but...?"
"Awe, nuts!" Tobi groaned, "You got me again-"

Duel Monsters was actually her brother's favorite game-
He taught his sister to play so that they could have something more interactive to do than just have her staring over his limp body in a hospital bed, attached to machines and wires...
So because of him, Shizuka decided to learn how to play herself, and let him teach her.
The boy was excitable, win or lose, with the same wine colored hair as his sister, and pale blue eyes.
"You're really amazing sis, I can't believe you picked up the game so quickly after I taught you..." he said softly, " You should compete in tournaments~!" something he wished he could himself...unfortunately it seemed fate and his health had other plans for him...
"If I did that though, then I'd never have time to come play with you." she chuckled softly, "And you're my favorite opponent."
The boy laughed as she playfully tickled him before tucking the blankets back in place.
"Yeah? You mean it? Tha-" Though before he could finish his sentence the young boy broke into a coughing fit.
"Tobi!" Shizuka called out for him and leaned over to pat his back until his breathing calmed again, "Are you okay, little brother? Does it hurt?"
"Unh-uh..." the boy said softly once his breathing stabilized, "It's okay sis, I'll be all right." he said softly, "Though you know...if I had an opportunity to play in tournaments like you do? I'd take it in an instant!" he smiled at her as a way of reassurance and comfort to emphasize that he was all right, but his saying he was fine did not take the worry away from her face...

"Little brother?" Bakura blinked.
I see...
he thought to himself.
So it's not Ms. Shizuka who's ill...
Bakura's eyes narrowed sadly.
Upon seeing the boy in bed he felt his Heart clutch.
He wasn't sure why...
Albeit it was a sad sight, weather he knew them well or not...
But some how he couldn't help but feel as though it were somehow familiar...in a painful sense...
Like he had seen and experienced this view somewhere before...
Or at least part of him did...in another place...
At another time...
"Poor boy...he's so young- Oh!"
Uh-Oh.
The nurses were coming.
Bakura needed to duck for cover-
After all it had to look more than suspicious to see a young man peeking in and spying on a young woman and child...

" ?" The nurse spoke out softly, "Visiting hours are about over...I'm sorry but I'm afraid it's time for Tobi to try to get some rest."
"Right..." Shizuka said softly with a sigh, "I understand...I'll come back to see you again really soon, All right, Tobi?"
"All right." the boy smiled, "See you soon!"
She gently closed the door behind her while the night nurse was in preparing to give the boy his meds.
xxx
As Shizuka signed out for the day, she let out a heavy sigh...
The bills for these medical expenses just keep getting bigger and bigger...
And so does the pile they're forming.
She paused in her steps and took a moment to glance towards the setting sun.
I can't get ahold of our parents...
Not that they seem to care anyway.
They're both so busy with work and care more about their jobs than about us...
She sighed.

Their parents worked over seas...
They sent money for the bills and to keep the house up that Shizuka now stayed in alone...
Since Tobi lived in the hospital.
It was a nice house.
Large...
No mansion, but certainly not too short of one-
Their parents were well off on money- and yet still struggled to keep up between the medical expenses and the home their children were to live in...
A Large...cold...and empty house...
They haven't even bothered calling...
Sure they send money but it's just barely enough to get by with what they have to give to the hospital...
...What am I gonna do, Tobi?
I don't know what I CAN do to help you...and if I can't give them something...
I don't know how much more they can continue to take care of you...
She could feel the sting of tears in the corner of her eyes as everything around her but her struggles seem to be fading away...

To Be Continued