Yu-Gi-Oh! Fan Fiction ❯ Pools of Glass ❯ Forgive and Forget ( Chapter 16 )

JG-chan: ceeeeeelebrate good times, come on! *sees viewers staring at her aghast* O.O … I didn't know you were watching!

Nyoko: O.O -_- Don't ask. Onto the reviews!

Fantasymichelle14: Fear not! Ryou will be okay ^_^ I don't like killing off my favourite characters much… unless I'm in a mood for writing angst, which I suck shit at.

DISCLAIMER: -_- why do I even bother with this anymore?

WARNING: Honda x Otogi fluff and… maybe cursing o.O I think that's it XD

Forgive and Forget
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

It was late on Saturday evening, about four or five hours after Ryou's incident. Bakura sat alone in the intensive care unit of Domino Public Hospital. He leant over the railing of Ryou's hospital bed, watching him, and feeling guiltier than ever. Malik and Marik had left earlier to get something to eat. The limp body on the bed was sleeping for the time being, with a tube down his throat hooked up to a ventilator, a drip in his arm and a cardiograph monitor at his side. He had been diagnosed with a serious case of Heat Stroke.

Before the ambulance arrived to take Ryou to the hospital, he had been drifting in and out of consciousness, vomiting, refusing to eat or drink anything, and had been having periods where he would stop breathing. Bakura was only glad that he didn't start having convulsions. The other boys had never been so alarmed in their lives.

Exhausted and completely on edge, Bakura nearly jumped out of his skin when he heard the door open behind him. He noticed it was the nurse that had been tending to Ryou earlier in the day. She smiled sweetly at Bakura and made her way to the other side of Ryou's bed and started to examine him.

"Is he any better than he was?" Bakura asked in a coarse and fatigued manner.

"Yes, he's doing much better." She replied as she changed the IV over. "We should be able to take him off of the ventilator when he wakes up."

"When will that be?"

"As soon as the drugs in his system have worn off… It shouldn't be too long now, maybe about half an hour."

Bakura nodded and held his head. "He won't…" He gulped. "He won't die, will he?"

The nurse shook her head. "You'll have to speak to the physician about that… he is still in a very critical condition, sir." She finished her observation. "If you'll excuse me.

Bakura looked at Ryou's sunburned cheeks and the peaceful white lashes resting above them. He stroked his bangs and sighed.

This is all my fault…

*~***~*

"That really sucks about Ryou, huh?" Honda said as he and Otogi were lying on his bed later that evening. He had received a call about it not long ago.

"Yeah… I hope he'll be alright." Otogi replied and cracked open a beer, taking a sip.

"Me too." Honda also took a beer from the crate and took a swig. "So, what should we do?"

"I say we get legless and put all our worries to the back of our minds for the time being… and just enjoy what we've got." Otogi said, smirking infernally and taking another swig.

Honda raised an eyebrow. "Well… I don't mean to pike out on ya here, but, I was drinking all last night so… I might just take it easy tonight, I think."

Otogi calmly put his beer down. "Hmm… you know you may have a point. I think I will too."

Ryuuji, how could you have been so stupid? Otogi thought. This is a one-and-only opportunity that you've got with Honda and you want to screw it up by getting drunk?! Idiot!

"Alright so, how about a DVD, then?" Honda suggested, getting up and walking to his bookshelf where his DVD collection was.

"Sure, what'dya have?"

"Hmm… I've got House on Haunted Hill, The Butterfly Effect, Cruel Intentions, The Matrix Revolutions, The Missing, Hidalgo, Underworld, Van Helsing…just to name a few." Honda said, filtering through his collection. "Or… I've got porn."

Otogi nearly died. "What kind of porn?!"

"Take your pick!" Honda laughed. "We don't have to watch it of course but… if you're keen then I am…"

Otogi - sprawled out on the couch in just a pair of shorts and a loose t-shirt - gave Honda a peculiar look. "I'm… not bothered."

"Alright…" Honda replied seductively with a wicked grin on his lips. "Let's put this on, then."

*~***~*

"Why would Mai be in the USA?" Kaiba questioned. "It's rather rude especially when she's been invited…"

"Uh… she got a job over there. She flies between Domino and Los Angeles quite frequently." Jou replied.

Kaiba raised an eyebrow. "What sort of job?"

Jou immediately felt embarrassed. "Err… she's a porn star." He said. "Or going to be, at least."

Kaiba shot a disgusted look. "Eeww."

"Uh, but don't worry!" Jou replied. "If she's able to make it, I'm sure she'll be fine."

Blue eyes rolled. "Please. You really think a twenty-four year old whore is welcome to my little brother's birthday party?" He scoffed. "She'll probably start strip dancing on the table or something."

"Mai is no whore!" Jou cried. "Well… not really."

Kaiba smirked. "How can you not agree with me? She has sex for a job."

"You gotta stop being so judgmental, Kaiba." Jou replied.

"I'm being realistic." Seto argued. "I don't want Mokuba to be influenced by tramps strutting through my house."

Jou rolled his brown eyes. "Kaiba, listen. After my parents split, my Dad brought home nothing but whores."

"Your point?" Kaiba asked, expressionless.

"My point being, that you shouldn't be so narrow-minded and let Mokuba grow up in the real world. He's living in a fantasy world at the moment… you guys have got everything…"

Kaiba gave Jou a long, hard stare. "In case you've forgotten, I have been Mokuba's parent role-model ever since our own parents passed away." He said. "Yet you dare try and tell me how to raise him? Who do you think you are, Jounouchi Katsuya?"

Jou looked at him, slightly disoriented. "I - I didn't mean it like th-"

"I only want the best for Mokuba, mutt. He's the only living blood relative I've got left, and he means the world to me. So don't you ever try and challenge that. Now get out of my sight." Kaiba said bitterly with a murderous glare.

Jounouchi - flustered as he was - got up from his chair, shoved his hands in his pockets, and began to walk toward the lounge doors. He didn't even see Mokuba hiding behind the doorframe as he walked out. He hadn't any idea that the raven-haired boy had heard everything during the teenagers' clash.

Feeling completely unwelcome and upset, Jou headed toward the grand front entrance to the mansion.

"Jou-kun…?" Mokuba asked quietly. "You can still come to my birthday, can't you?"

Jou turned around and smiled at the small boy. "Listen kid," He said as he knelt down to Mokuba so they were eye-to-eye. "It's quite clear that I've outstayed my welcome here… I guess I just cramp your big brother's style too much. Unless you ask him really nicely, I don't think I'll be able to come."

Mokuba looked at the ground, and then to Seto, who was standing in the living room doorway with his arms crossed, looking down at Jounouchi sourly. Mokuba looked back to Jou and cupped his hands around the blond's ear and whispered, "I'll find a way."

*~***~*

"How's he doing?" Malik asked as he walked into Ryou's hospital ward.

"The nurse reckons he's improving…" Bakura muttered. "It doesn't seem like it though. He hasn't woken up yet…"

Malik handed Bakura a can of coca-cola and a packet of corn chips. "I got these for you… You must be hungry."

"Not really," Bakura said. "Where's Marik?"

"He disappeared into the Sennen Rod not long ago… I think he's asleep."

"Selfish bastard." Bakura spat. "Ryou's pretty much dying here and he doesn't even give a toss."

"You know Marik, Bakura." Malik reassured. "He's not good with these sorts of things… and Ryou's going to be fine. You have to stop blaming yourself for this."

The ivory-haired spirit sighed and leant his head against the wall. "It's just so ironic… I thought I would be the one that would die from this and that history would repeat itself… But instead it was my hikari that ended up in hospital, not me. How selfish is that?"

Malik gave Bakura an affectionate hug. "Everything will be okay… Trust me on this one."

*~***~*

Otogi was slumped quite comfortably between Honda's legs on his back, leaning his head against Honda's chest. They were both lying on the couch watching an erotic DVD that was rather absorbing. To Honda it wasn't though, really. He'd seen it that many times. Otogi just felt more so embarrassed, but couldn't keep his eyes from the screen. The only thing porn-related he ever looked at was magazines; not actual movies. He had to admit it was rather arousing though, watching a girl and two guys make passionate love with each other in a well-decorated penthouse.

"That was… interesting." Otogi said once the film had finished playing.

Honda smirked. "I can tell it held your interest… pretty much for the whole hour."

Otogi looked down at his crotch, horrified that his swollen length hadn't subsided since the movie began. "Aah!" He blushed in vain and desperately tried to hide it.

"What have you got to be ashamed of?" Honda purred. "You're gorgeous… Every part of you."

Otogi grinned meekly and looked up at Honda from his up-side-down view. He hadn't been complimented so much in his life. "And so what if I am?"

"Well I might just have to… do something about it." The brunet replied with a wicked smile.

Otogi got up and turned around in Honda's lap. "Such as…?"

"Have my way with you in an animalistic, flawless passion."

Otogi reddened. "That was poetic…"

"I guess we're a good combination then, huh?" Honda suggested, giving his new-found lover a gentle kiss.

Butterflies fluttered animatedly in Otogi's insides. "Why do you say that?" He asked, after returning the kiss eagerly.

"Well, you write songs… and I happen to like writing poetry. That's a good thing, right?"

Otogi nodded. "Of course it is… It only adds to one's deepness and sensitivity."

They looked at each other for a moment and then cracked up laughing. Otogi only found himself more embarrassed, but Honda only found it more adorable than ever.

"I can't believe how mushy that sounded." Otogi mumbled.

Honda grinned. "Well at least you're not a half-assed slut who only makes up sentimental crap to get into bed." He said. "If there's anything I can't stand, it's that. And that you're not."

"What made you go off Jou's sister, Shizuka?" Otogi asked as the two boys got up and started to clean things up. "I mean… from what I heard, you wanted her pretty bad."

"Well, she was too young for a start." Honda said. "She wasn't interested, she's Jou's sister, and she's as thick as a brick shit-house, to be quite honest." He finished. "Someone has to be intelligent for me to be attracted to them… and to be quite frank, she just… wasn't."

"What about me?" Otogi asked. "Am I good enough for you?"

Honda smiled. "You're better than good; you're gorgeous, intelligent, have a sense of humour…" He said, pressing Otogi against the bench and tilting his chin up. "You're crazy and sexy and just plain cool!"

Otogi felt dazed as Honda captured his lips in an engaging kiss. Wherever this was going to lead tonight, it could only have a good outcome.

*~***~*

- Six Days Later -

Ryou was finally discharged from hospital, save for the fact that he had damaged some of his internal organs due to dehydration, and was forced to drink two litres of special mineralized water per day that he was given from the hospital. He was still in fragile condition, and was forbidden from doing any sports or excessive physical activity until he had completely recovered. Whenever that might be.

He just hoped he'd be able to make it to Mokuba's little get-together thingy that was on tonight… even if he couldn't stay the whole night. Who would turn down a party at Kaiba's? There'd be everything you could possibly imagine there. In fact, he was readying himself for it right now. He looked at his reflection in the mirror, noticing how pasty and sickly he looked.

I almost died… He thought. Oh well… that's no excuse not to have a fun time tonight, right? After all, if anything happens… I've only got thee most wealthy and powerful teenager on the face of this planet to aid me… He giggled at that thought. I've been treated by his medical team before…

Bakura then came up to the bathroom. "Are you nearly ready?"

Ryou looked up looking tired and worn-out. "Yeah, just about to wash my face."

Bakura felt terrible. "Ryou… I -"

"Don't start, please. I don't want to hear about how you blame yourself for this…" Ryou said, wetting his face with a facecloth and drying it with a towel.

Bakura hung his head and left the bathroom, feeling like there wasn't much else he could do to tell Ryou of how guilty he felt. No matter how hard he tried, he couldn't help but thinking that it was his fault. Had Ryou not survived, Bakura would have gone with him. Without a host, the occupant will also perish.

*~***~*

Tonight was the only thing that was on Mokuba's mind - and Kaiba's too, at that. It was the only thing on Kaiba's mind, in fact. He wasn't entirely sure how the evening was going to turn out, which is what was bothering him the most. Well, not the most. Jounouchi Katsuya was on his mind more than anything. He really hadn't meant to blow up at him like that last week, and hadn't talked or even made eye contact with the blond since. He'd blown it for himself really, and now Jounouchi was most likely going to repeat his last senior year at high school.

Everyone from the moron brigade will be coming tonight… Kaiba thought in monotony as he washed liquid soap all over his body. Mokuba better not just ditch me with them… it's his party, after all. That thought still didn't put his mind at ease, however. What on earth was he going to say to Jounouchi if he came? It wasn't likely that he would show up. But if he did… then there could be some problems. The last thing he wanted to do was ruin his brother's twelfth birthday party. He sighed and stepped out of his bathroom and began to towel himself dry. After getting changed into some comfortable clothing - probably worth more than the Hope Diamond itself - he stopped dead before the desk in his room. Something was missing off of the top of it… his journal.

*~***~*

Jou, slumped on his couch sipping on a can of coke, didn't have the slightest intention on going to Kaiba's tonight. Although he had nothing better to do, he'd sooner eat African cave-dwelling spiders* than see Kaiba's face tonight. He had had no idea that the CEO could be that sensitive, and he was by far overprotective of his younger sibling. Sure, Jou could be protective of Shizuka at times, but not to the lengths that Kaiba was over Mokuba.

He stared at the TV, wondering if this would be the end of his and Kaiba's `attempted' friendship. He wasn't really sure what it was between them, whether it was a friendship beginning to actually develop, Kaiba just being nice (or possibly just pitying the flaxen-haired boy), or otherwise. It was something he had wanted to ask Kaiba from the beginning, but feared he might upset the teenage billionaire. He had a tendency to throw people off balance from time to time, which he knew. Either that or he just had a big mouth.

Just as he was settling into an engrossing drama on television, the phone rang. Jou groaned and got up to answer it. "Yeah?"

[Hi, Jounouchi-kun!]

"Mokuba…?" Jou murmured more so to himself. "Happy birthday, kid."

[Thanks! When are you coming over? Pretty much everyone is here. We're just waiting on Ryou, Bakura and you!]

Jou sighed. "I can't come, kid. You know I can't."

[Nii-san doesn't mind! Really! He wants you to come! He was just in a… bad mood that day…]

Jou frowned in suspicion. "I don't believe you…"

[Come on, Jounouchi-kun! You gotta come! I've got lots lined up for us tonight…]

"Like what?"

[Hide-and-go-seek, Twister, Duel Monsters, Dungeon Dice and Dragons, Truth or Dare, PS2 and X-Box games, DVDs in our home entertainment theatre, dinner, desert, wine---]

"Woah, woah, woah! Hold the phone!" Jou cried, dizzy from all of the things that Mokuba had mentioned at a million miles an hour. "Since when were you allowed to drink wine?!"

A giggle sounding frighteningly similar to Kaiba's came over the receiving end. Jou figured it was the resemblance finally showing in Mokuba as he was becoming older. [Well it's not for me… but you guys are old enough to drink… almost…]

Jou snorted a laugh. "It all sounds good… but I dunno… Are you sure about this?"

[Of course!] Mokuba shouted so loud it nearly knocked Jou over. [I'll see you soon okay, Jounouchi-kun? Bye!]

Before Jou could refuse a third time, there was dial tone. He deadpanned, hung the phone up and bashed his head on the wall. Now what? He thought. Mokuba wants me to be there, but Kaiba doesn't want me to be there… or at least that's what I think. The kid must have bribed him or blackmailed him somehow… But with what? What does it matter that I'm there anyway? Sighing very loud and very long, Jou put his clothes on, grabbed his car keys and left.

* * * * * * *

*African cave-dwelling spiders = Got it off - you guessed it - Fear Factor. It was the worst episode I think I've ever seen. I had to change the channel ><

JG-chan: Attention people! That might have been a rather boring chapter, but the excitement is yet to come! And I am working on it right now, so it should be out in a couple of days, depending on what I'm doing… Maybe even tonight, if I work really fast!

Nyoko: *sweat drop* Fat chance *cough* Anyway, if you have any ideas for this fic then we'd be happy to use them =^_^= Credit will be given to all!