Paint It Black

Seto sighed in fustration as the social worker left the room. The cup of coffee he'd been sipping was now stone cold. He tossed it into the trash can as a nurse rushed into the room.

"Mr. Kaiba... the young man.. Mr. Katsuya has woken up and is asking for you."

Seto rushed from the room and followed the nurse into a cubicle where the now consious Joey looked at him. The look in the blonde's eyes was one of shock. His head was resting weakly against the pillows and Seto could see he was in great pain.

"Joey, how are you feeling?"


"Gee, let's see. I feel like I've been run over with a mac truck." Even now under the effect of mild pain killers, his sarcasm was still in place. "I'm just shocked tht you'd even think about helping me. The last thing I remember is you calling an ambulance."

He took a deep breath and closed his eyes. Seto reached down and took the younger teen's hand in his. Joey squeezed it weakly and opened his eyes again. He looked down at the tubes and hoses around him and sighed. With Seto's help, he lifted the blanket and looked down. Seto made no comment, but re-arranged the blankets to help keep Joey warm. The room was cold to help the machines stay cool.

A doctor in a white lab coat stepped into the cubicle and motioned for Seto to step out into the hall way. He released Joey's hand and left the cubicle. His face was serious and was etched in exaustion.

"Mr. Kaiba, I know you think that this brief period of consiousness is a good sign, but it may not be. We don't know yet. I do wish for you to talk to him now, but don't mention anything about school or ask him about what happened. He seemed to be somewhat agitated that it was you that called for help, and didn't understand why you would do this. Are you two not friends?"

"Truthfully, I really don't know. A few months ago, during the Battle City tournament I hosted, he and I didn't get along, or at all before that. I resented one of his friends for beating me at a game. It wasn't till he was hurt and then returned to school that I realized that it hurt me to know he ws hurt, not that it was at a tournament I hosted, but that I cared for him."

While they were talking, Seto noticed a man in a janitor's uniform wander through the ward, emptying trashcans and smiling at the nurses. He looked at the curtians to the cubicles in the ward, but didn't enter any untill he came to one that was marked with the name Katsuya Jonouchi. He stelthyily entered the cubicle and pulled out a knife. Joey's scream echoed through the ward as he advanced toward the bed. Seto lept into action and tackled the man. He reeked of stale beer and cigar smoke. Mingled with that smell was the overpowering smell of body odor. The man fought against Seto's strong hold, but failed to budge the younger man.

Security guards flooded the ward and pulled Seto to his feet. They carried the man away after identifying him.

At the nurse's desk, a young nurse and a janitor sat as a older looking nurse addressed them. Seto overheard some what of she was saying.

"That young man was placed here under a flase name to protect him, for for you two to let his father in here to kill him."