Yu-Gi-Oh! Fan Fiction ❯ Chrysalis ❯ In the City by the Bay ( Chapter 14 )

Disclaimer: Yugi-oh is the property of someone else. I can only humbly worship the artist. Don't sue, all I have is two cats, a dog and a goldfish.

Chrysalis

Chapter Fourteen: In the City by the Bay

~*~*~*

Kaiba and Jonouchi

~*~*~*

"Take it." Jonouchi grumbled. Having a battle of wills with a sleep fogged, half sane, Kaiba at three in the morning was definitely going on his `Not to Do Ever Again' list. The directions clearly stated that Kaiba was to take the little pink pills every four hours, the small blue ones every eight hours and the microscopic, white ones, that had a tendency to want to bounce across the counter, every twelve hours. No one, however, had consulted Kaiba.

"No." Kaiba yanked the covers out of Jonouchi's hands, thumped back onto the pillows and pulled the blanket over his head.

"Next time, I'm leavin' you to your secretary." Jonouchi took a firm hold of the covers and yanked. Kaiba grumbled and snarled, but after the three o'clock tussle, seven o'clock wrestling match and the eleven o'clock war, he wasn't about to let Kaiba back him off with a little show of dragony temper. He pounced and pinned Kaiba down, feeling a bit glad that he was dealing with a sick, weak Kaiba, and not having to force medicine into a stronger, far more able to create havoc and mayhem, Kaiba.

"Get off." Kaiba twisted, trying to dislodge his caretaker.

Jonouchi had learned, at about five after seven pm, to catch both of Kaiba's hands on the first pounce. This had occurred to him when Kaiba had slammed his fist into his solar plexus sending him into a breathless heap on the floor. Around eleven o'clock, give or take a few minutes, he'd learned to have the medicine in his shirt pocket, after rudely having his head bashed into the bedside table while reaching for the pills. He was starting to wonder if, after nursing Kaiba, he would need to take Kaiba's place in the hospital. Next time, I'm going to see if I can borrow Merik's Millennium Rod thingie.

"Take `em." Jonouchi transferred both Kaiba's hands into one of his to pull the medicine out.

"Go to hell." Kaiba tried to slam Jonouchi in the back with a knee and twisted. Jonouchi had learned this maneuver though at three and managed to avoid the full impact of the blow.

"Been there, I'll show you around when we get home." Jonouchi now had the medicine in his hand and tried to get it in Kaiba's mouth. "Just don't play country music on the juke box."

Kaiba clenched his teeth closed, glaring at him with not too sane blue eyes. Jonouchi applied pressure against the sides of Kaiba's jaw, trying to force his mouth open. Kaiba shook his head, trying to free himself from Jonouchi`s grip. He unfortunately, had learned to not try and bite at three, when Jonouchi had used the opening to shove the medicine in. Jonouchi pressed down harder, finally forcing reluctant teeth to part allowing the pills in.

"Swallow `em, or no water." He pressed up on Kaiba's jaw, keeping his mouth closed till finally the pills were swallowed.

Jonouchi quickly hopped off his patient and held out a glass of water. Kaiba snatched it from his hand and gulped it down quickly.

"There now, that wasn't too bad." Jonouchi grinned, happy not to have collected more bruises from his beloved. "You must have been hell as a kid."

Kaiba didn't reply. Already, his eyes were closing, settling back into sleep, tired after the strenuous exercise of taking his pills. Jonouchi pulled the blankets back over him, turned the lamp off and settled back into his chair next to the bed, to catch whatever sleep he could manage till the seven o'clock match started.

~*~*~*

Yuai

~*~*~*

The apartment was actually nice, with contemporary furniture in soft tans and blacks, a thick beige carpet, modern lighting, and nice prints on the wall. It had a great view of the harbor, easy access to public transportation and in a nice, if not exactly upper class neighborhood. Too bad the occupant was slime.

Ekko smirked from where he lounged on the futon couch, as Yuai pulled her jacket on and opened the door. "Same time tomorrow, baby."

Yuai slammed the door behind her and ran down the four flights of stairs to the exit. Damn, damn you to hell. Same time tomorrow. Damn, damn, damn.

She checked the time on her watch. It was nearly time to pick up Mokuba and get him home, fed and tucked safely in front of the TV watching whatever hit the present day fancy of eleven year olds. Hopefully, today Kaiba would call. That would make Mokuba happy and a happy Mokuba was a non-demonic, hell beast, Mokuba.

Mischievousness, she could handle; a few pranks, no problem; trying to slide out the bedroom window on a flimsy bed sheet, like a Victorian heroine in a cheap novel, annoying, but doable; trying to drug her food with sleeping pills, ransacking her things, then trying to bribe a limo driver to get him to the airport? She nearly tied him up with his sheet and tossed him and the limo driver into the trunk of the car. It's not like you could have gotten far without your passport, munchkin. No matter how rich you are, you won't go no place without that.

She jogged quickly to the stop as she saw her bus swerve into view, nearly broad siding a scooter, and managed to get to the stop and pause for breath before the bus swung into the stop and slammed open it's doors. She clambered up the stairs, dropped her change into the meter and found a seat in the back, lowering herself gently to the green vinyl. Her bottom hurt. Her `lover' wasn't gentle, he liked seeing her in pain, at his mercy, crying. Sick bastard, I see why you get along with my dad.

After two transfers, the bus dropped her off across the street from Mokuba's school. The limo was already waiting, parked in front of the school gate and the final bell rang as Yuai jogged quickly across the street and nodded hello to the driver.

Mokuba was the first out the door, running toward the limo with his pack bouncing on his back and his shaggy hair falling into his eyes.

"Did big brother call?" He skidded to a halt.

"We'll have to go back to the mansion to find out." Yuai slid into the interior of the limo as the driver opened the door.

Mokuba flung his pack to the floor and sat down next to her. "He'd better call. Jonouchi said he'd call in the morning. Isn't it morning there yet?"

"I think so," She did a couple of seconds of mental gymnastics, "probably around eight. It might be a bit early for your brother to be up."

"Seto always wakes up early. If he hasn't called, I'm calling him." Mokuba gave scowling like his brother another try. Yuai admitted he was getting better with practice.

"We'll call after supper. He's been sick Mokuba, like having the flu but worse. You don't want to wake him if he's still trying asleep, do you? After all he`s been through?" Yuai had learned guilt worked with Mokuba. It was a dirty card to play, but if it worked, it worked.

Mokuba sighed and looked out the window as the car pulled out into traffic. "Okay, but right after supper."

Yuai smiled and settled back into the seat, closing her eyes. It had been a tiring day.

"Uhmmm. Yuai?" Mokuba sounded worried.

She opened her eyes and looked questioningly over at him. "Yes, Mokuba?"

"There's a car." He was looking out the back window.

Yuai turned around sitting on her knees on the seat to get a look. There it was, a car, swerving through traffic, accelerating toward them, with it's side passenger side window sliding down and a dark figure starting to lean out with something in his hands. Yuai and Mokuba watched in stunned fascination as the man lifted a rifle and pointed it at the limo.

"Down!" The driver barked, swerving erratically across traffic, slamming his passengers against the side door.

Yuai and Mokuba threw themselves down onto the seat as the back window exploded. They both scuttled further down onto the floor as the limo accelerated. Another blast shattered the side window, then the limo shuddered as the sound of metal slamming into metal reverberated through two frightened minds. The limo swerved again, striking the other car harder causing Yuai and Mokuba to slam back into the door.

Mokuba screamed as another window blew apart. Yuai grabbed him by the back of the neck and pushed him down farther. The limo took a sharp turn, sending them tumbling into the other door as tires squealed for purchase. The limo shook again, then the distant sound of metal and glass crushing. Then silence, just the wind whisking through the broken windows and the low hum of the engine.

Mokuba and Yuai looked at each other, they were both covered in cuts and scratches from the broken glass that now littered the interior of the car. Both sets of eyes large, both small bodies shaking. The silence continued, they looked around cautiously. The driver was focused on driving while talking into his cell phone. The cold, winter, wind continued to pour in and swirl around the car. Silence.

"You okay, Mokuba?"

He nodded and started to sit up.

"Please, stay down." The driver called back. "I've called security. They'll meet us in three minutes and escort us back to the mansion."

Yuai nodded stupidly, "Okay."

"Are either of you hurt?" He still had his cell phone against his ear.

"Just scratches and stuff." Mokuba shivered settling back to the floor.

The driver went back to talking on the cell. Yuai looked around and started shaking when she saw a large hole in the seat where she had been sitting.

~*~*~*

Jonouchi and Kaiba

~*~*~*

The morning sun lifted itself above the horizon illuminating the foggy bay in soft haze of silver, red and purples. Seagulls dipped airy wings into the blanketing fog then lifted out in spiraling flocks of white and joy. Jonouchi watched from his chair, his wrist alarm had informed him it was again time to force more medicine down Kaiba's reluctant throat. He pulled himself out of the chair and poured a glass of water and sorted out the correct medicine.

"Wakie, wakie." Jonouchi yawned. "Time to take some more happy pills."

He sat down on the edge of the bed and set the glass of water on the bedside table, "Come on, wake up, just for a moment."

He gently shook Kaiba, getting only a small sigh and a tiny tightening of eyebrows. He shook harder, earning a soft mutter and twitching eyelashes. He tried it again and was rewarded with drowsy blue eyes blinking sanely at him.

"Open up."

"Don' wanna, Jo."

"Open."

Blue eyes already were drifting shut. Jonouchi gave him a small shake and they opened again. This time he didn't ask, he just pried open Kaiba's mouth and popped the medicine in. "Swallow."

Kaiba made a face as the pills started dissolving in his mouth and Jonouchi placed the glass of water against his lips. Kaiba drank it, then looked around, eyes blinking heavily. "Where am I?"

"In bed, go back to sleep." Jonouchi watched him settle him back and straitened the covers as Kaiba drifted off again.

~*~*~*

Yugi, Yami and Anzu

~*~*~*

The sun room wasn't all that sunny, which Yugi found weird, since it was bright and sunny outside. The rain had cleared away and the wind had pushed all the clouds off into unknown lands, leaving Domino City bright and clean, under deep beautiful blue skies. Even the courtyard, with it's ever present smoking guy, looked, well he couldn't actually say nice, but it was cleaner, and it didn't smell quite as bad.

That's a big quite. Yami didn't sound like his usual self.

Yugi admitted making the tidy and more than a little fussy spirit spend afternoons in a smelly, dirty hospital, was probably a bit unfair. Yami had a look on his face as if he'd like to dispose of the whole hospital in a grand sweep of shadow power. Yugi wondered if anyone here would even notice. Yugi smiled at a tall, gaunt man in gray overalls and bulging eyes, who scowled back muttering about rice balls. It's not really that bad. It had a flower in a nice pot out there.

It was being used as a ashtray. Yami had given up trying to pose dramatically, and just tried to find a place that didn't smell so bad. He was presently behind a plant near a small window that had a large crack in it that let in fresh air. The rest of the room only had a few beaten old tweed sofas, a couple of plastic desk chairs, and two nearly microscopic windows that shut out all hint of light, air or whatever scenery was behind the dingy cinderblock walls.

Anzu came shuffling in lead by a large beefy male nurse, who smiled pleasantly at Yugi and pointed him out. Anzu looked over and smiled.

"Yugi, you came." Anzu shuffled over. She was wearing a gray dress, much like the man's overalls, and soft pink slippers. "I really didn't think you would. It's not…well…nice here."

"Well, you're here, so that makes it nice." Yugi smiled back. It was strange, but since coming here it was as if he had just met Anzu again after a long, long time. As if she'd been gone and someone else had just been pretending to be her for the last few years and hadn't done such a great job at it.

Anzu blushed and looked at her toes. "Thanks Yugi, that's really sweet." She looked at him with a small laugh lurking around her eyes, "A big lie, but really sweet."

"No, really."

"Yugi, there's more sun in the bathroom, than there is here." She laughed and gestured to the room. "And it smells better too."

Yugi giggled, "It's okay. All I really wanted was to see you."

"Why Yugi?" The smile left Anzu's face, she looked sad and confused, "I treated you like dirt. I hurt your friend. I did…bad things. Why would you want to see me?"

"I`ve known you since we were kids, Anzu." Yugi shrugged. "You just weren't feeling all that great, so all that doesn't count."

"It doesn't?" Anzu smiled playfully, "None of it?"

"Nope, none of it."

"So, if I launched into a speech about the wonders of friendship and togetherness…" She arched her eyes innocently.

"I'd run screaming out the front door."

"Gotcha." She laughed and Yugi laughed with her.

~*~*~*

Jonouchi and Kaiba

~*~*~*

The heavy tapestried curtains were drawn tightly against the late morning sun, allowing only small traces to slip through the bottom and around the edges to illuminate the otherwise pitch dark room. A soft, shadowed form of a sofa sat near the window next to two arm chairs, a small table with a lamp near the bed that had a digital clock reading nearly eleven in glowing bluish green numbers. Sitting next to the bed was a chair with a slim, disheveled form, uncomfortably slumped in it. His blond head drooping against his chest, feet propped against the bed and a pillow and blanket from the other bedroom laying crumpled on the floor next to him..

Kaiba sat on the edge of the bed watching him. He'd woken up about a ten minutes ago, feeling like himself for the first time since he arrived in this city. No head ache, no difficulty breathing, his mind was clear and his eyes weren't bothering him. He still felt a bit tired, he admitted, but nothing like before. And he was hungry, starving. In fact, he felt like throwing himself at food like Jonouchi. He reached forward and gently brushed a strand of hair away from Jonouchi's sleeping face with a finger.

I really don't deserve you. Kaiba studied how, even in the dim light, Jonouchi's blond hair seemed to pick up light, collect it. He loved watching the light play in Jonouchi's hair. He loved being able to wake up on peaceful weekend mornings and watch the sun slip through the window and dance through each strand, then, wait till sleep soft eyes opened to smile at the world, to claim the day's first kiss. After all the shit in the last few weeks, you came when I needed you. But then, you always do.

Beep. Beep. Beep.

Jonouchi blearily opened his eyes and shook his wrist, as if trying to dislodge his watch. "Shuddup already."

Kaiba grinned, reached over, caught Jonouchi's arm and pushed the button to quiet the watch. Jonouchi blinked at him looking uncertain and adorable. His hair was tousled, his clothes rumpled, his brown eyes were still bleary with sleep as he looked at Kaiba's hand holding his wrist, then back to Kaiba.

"Go back to sleep, Jo."

"Nah-uh, ya gotta take your pills." Jonouchi grumbled sleepily as he got unsteadily to his feet.

Kaiba reached forward and pulled him onto the bed. "Go to sleep. I can do it myself."

Jonouchi struggled up frowning at Kaiba. "Ya don' know whatta take. They're all at different times and the little suckers bounce all over and then ya gotta go get `em, and they're hell to find in the carpet, an…"

Kaiba got up and shoved Jonouchi back onto the bed. "Just tell me which ones."

"Pink and white." Jonouchi settled back into the pillows, they smelled like Kaiba, and sleep. I'm probably dreaming. But what the hell, it's a nice dream. My watch will wake me up for real later.

Kaiba padded into the bathroom and found the brown medicine bottles. He looked them over, found the pink and white pills and swallowed them. Jonouchi's things were in a clutter across the surface of the counter, half unpacked. He looked at himself in the mirror, grimacing at his greasy stringy hair, then sniffed his clothes distastefully. He considered a moment. I'll feel a hell of a lot better if I didn't smell like that damn hospital.

He went back into the bedroom and walked over to where his bags were sitting, still unpacked and opened them. He shoved them over and snapped them open. He dug past his thick winter trench coat, his rather creased business suite, and the bathing suite Mokuba had insisted he bring, (Because, it's California!) and came up with a pair of badly creased, black, cotton pants, a mostly wearable blue sweater, a pair of squished black socks and a pair of black briefs. He found his travel pack, scooped up his clothes and headed back to the bath.

The shower was heaven. It felt like the hospital, the sickness and all the confusing nightmare that he'd been living since he arrived in the city slid down the drain with the bubbles. He finally emerged wrinkled, clean and feeling pleasantly ….well starved and after a moments reflection, as he toweled himself off, it wasn't really all that pleasant. He dressed quickly, then walked back into the bedroom.

Kaiba sat down on the edge and called room service, ordering enough for three people. He looked over at the blond as he hung up. Jonouchi was now sprawled across the bed snoring. He had pulled the covers around him and half buried himself under the pillows. I can't believe it. I even missed his snoring. He reached over and shook him awake.

"Wake up, Jo. Breakfast."

Jonouchi lifted his head, "Wah?"

"Breakfast. Go shower and come out." Kaiba walked back out the door.

Jonouchi watched him leave. Ya know, I don't think I was dreamin'. He scrambled out of bed grinning as he headed for the shower.

Kaiba looked around the suite, Jonouchi's jacket was tossed across the back of a plump leather sofa, a piece of carry on luggage was tipped over next to the side table with a tangled snarl of chip bags, plane tickets and headphones, tumbling out of it's un-zippered top, a pile of papers that looked a lot like forms were sitting on the low coffee table, a overstuffed armchair was surrounded by Jonouchi's notebooks and a couple of texts with the cordless phone resting on the seat. A typical Jonouchi style mess. It seems I missed this too.

~*~*~*

Okay. I promise no more characters go to the hospital. I really didn't realize I had done that till last chapter, then it was too late. *sigh* Guess that's what happens when you don't plot everything out till chapter seven.

Oh, yeah, Jonouchi did put away a lot of vodka in the last chapie. I modeled this after a friend of mine who'd do this trick every weekend. It was impressive, if you didn't mind the little ick factor the next morning and the fact I wasn't sure all her brain cells were present and accounted for.

Thanks for the reviews. I haven't been able to read them yet, but I really love getting them ^_^

All reviews are loved and adored.

All flames are hated and ignored.