Room 401

There was no one to blame for the accident. It
couldn’t have been helped. No experiments set it off. There was no negligence
or wrongdoing. It was just a freak accident.

How can there be no one to blame?

It has to be someone’s fault… Mokuba can’t have died
for no reason! There has to be someone at fault!

“Kaiba?”

No answer. Why bother? It has to be someone’s
fault he died…

“Kaiba, are you going to cry again?”

“Maybe.” The voice is distant and gruff, quiet, like
an admittance. Even to his own ears.

“But you’re not going to stop talking again, right?”

No answer. Maybe that is the answer.

“What’s wrong? You just learned that you’re not to
blame. Aren’t you happy that you didn’t kill Mokuba and all those innocent people?”

At least it was someone to blame… at least there was
a reason…

There’s a weight on the bed behind him as Bakura
sits there. Silence reigns.

“It was all pointless…” he says finally. “Completely
random… doesn’t it make you angry that there isn’t even anyone you can blame?”

“I didn’t have anyone before.”

“… didn’t you blame me?”

“If I’d blamed you, you would have been dead the
first time we were alone in here.” Comfortingly warm arms wrap around his
shoulders.

“Yami blames me. Blamed me.” Bitterness in the
voice.

“What, you expected him to hurt you? You probably
wanted it, huh? Because you blamed yourself?” Small nod. It feels forced from
him. Is Bakura smiling? “Stupid. You should have known I wouldn’t let him even
if he tried. And I won’t let you hurt yourself, either. Didn’t I already prove
that when I made you eat?”

Another nod, less forced. Someone actually cares… it
feels good. I didn’t realize I was missing it.

“Good. I never really blamed you for any of it,
you know; I was just fucking with you. I know that sometimes shit just happens
and you can’t do anything about it.” His voice sounds bitter… what’s this a
reference to? His life in Egypt?

After a while, Bakura speaks again. “You know… you
really are a lot like Ryou. Always trying to blame yourself for the problems
you see… and completely ignoring the others.”

Tense. “I’m not your hikari.”

“You could be.”

He remains tense for a moment… then relaxes slowly.

Bakura turns his face upward to kiss him, and this
time he lets him.