Chapter 8

(Jenrya Lee: Woot! YAY! REVIEWS WERE POURING IN, I'M SO HAPPY! I'll just go straight to the story. marikluverkaibasgurl gave me a BEAUTIFUL review. She (? Sorry…I may have gotten the gender wrong…forgive me!) said some amazing things that really forced me to get off my arse and continue this story. bows)

Kaiba P.O.V.

"You guys are gonna die." I felt my heart get stuck in my throat. I couldn't die. I still had to take care of Mokuba. He needed me. He was all alone without me. I could feel Bakura's body tense up. I slowly looked down to face Yugi.

"And when will this happen?" I struggled to keep the pain out of my voice. I imagined Mokuba crying at my funeral, his young, frail body draped around my tombstone in agony. He had already suffered so much. But if this was inevitable? Then I would make sure to tell him, to explain this ridiculous mess to him, and stay with him until my last breath escapes my body and floats off into the sky.

"Well, it all depends." Yugi took a deep breath, as if preparing to rant for a long time. "See, when the proper soul isn't in the right body, it can start to deteriorate from the inside out."

"But I haven't been bleeding or anything…" Bakura said quietly, the fear obvious in his voice.

"It will start, though I'm not too sure when." Yugi frowned. "You have to change bodies quickly."

"I can't help it!" Bakura begged. "Yugi, can't you do anything to help? Please?" His voice was pleading.

Yugi opened his mouth to speak, then closed it. He smiled happily. "I haven't got any ideas. Oh! I know! I'll go ask my grandfather! I'll be back soon!" Yugi ran out of the house as quickly as his little legs could carry him.

I stuck my head out of the door, yelling at the runt to come back and return my body. I found my hand to be trembling, and pulled it behind my back. Bakura put a reassuring hand on my shoulder.

"Don't worry. Everything'll work out in the end. It always does."

I remembered my father in the hospital when I was seven, blood streaming from his mouth, glass covering his broken and twisted body. The tubes that connected to every vein and artery that remained. His screams when they tried to move him. My running to him and begging him not to leave me alone. His announced death several hours later.

The downward spiral of hate, greed, and pain that followed soon after.

"No Bakura." I said quietly, turning to face him with what I knew were dead eyes. "It does not always work out in the end." I frowned and walked up to my room, considering how to tell Mokuba about this.

Bakura P.O.V.

I really didn't know how to take the news that Yugi brought us. I mean, I really didn't want to die, but if the only way to avoid it was to switch back…

I leaned my head onto the now closed door, thinking about life and how I should deal with mines' inevitable end. Well, that would leave my father alone, I suppose. I'm not sure how he would deal with yet another death in the family. But with me gone, I'm sure he'd be able to remarry someone and start over. He's an archaeologist, and don't women like men with exotic jobs?

I heard pacing behind me, and turned to face Kaiba, who was wandering around the room, looking for something. His face looked dark and aged, and there was a slight bit of sweat on his brow.

I'm calling a face that's technically mine 'his'. Wow, I think we might be doomed.

"Kaiba, come on, calm down, don't worry…" I grabbed his arm slowly, and placed my other hand reassuringly on his shoulder. He stood completely still for a few moments, before opening his mouth and saying something. But it was so quiet and low that I couldn't make anything out.

"Come again?"

"Who…who will take care of Mokuba? I know he won't end up in an orphanage again, he's technically independent once I die, but he's still so young. He…won't be able to deal with the world without me…" Kaiba took a deep breath, and shook his head. "No, he will be able to take care of himself just fine….I've never really been there for him, now have I?" He laughed bitterly, but his face looked pained.

"I…don't really know, Kaiba." I didn't know how to honestly answer him. I hardly knew him! I turned my head away from him, ashamed to be an unwanted guest in his home, and waltzing into his angst moment. I lifted my hand to touch his shoulder, but he shuddered away.

"Please don't touch me…." Kaiba turned to face me, his eyes dying. "Where is Mokuba?"

"Upstairs, playing. You think we should explain this to him?"

"Yes. I do."

It took several hours to get Mokuba to believe them, but once he did and the thought of losing his last family member sunk in, he cried and held onto Kaiba for a whole hour, screaming and apologizing for hundreds of little things.

Kaiba P.O.V.

I felt Mokuba's head dig into my abdomen, and his tears littered my shirt. I placed my hand on his head, and drew his head closer. I felt his arms reach up and grab my shirt, balling up the fabric in his hands.

"Seto…I'm so sorry…"

I chuckled warmly, and ran my hand through his hair. "This has nothing to do with you, Mokuba…shhh…it'll be ok…you won't end up in an orphanage again…." I was using the same tone in my voice that I used when I had to tell Mokuba that our father had died, all those years ago.

His frail body shook as his crying intensified, and I went on one knee to allow myself to be leveled with him. I drew him in, and his head rested on my neck, and, by what I suppose was his becoming tired, he stopped crying. His hands still gripped my shirt, and they didn't seem to want to let go. He hiccupped softly, and I held him closer.

I did not want to leave my only living relative all alone. I had been very wrong earlier. My brother did need me. Just as much as I needed him.

"Mokuba?" He lifted his head to look at me. I pushed him away slowly so that he would be able to look into my eyes when I spoke.

"Nothing was ever your fault. Do not blame yourself. The terrible things that have happened to us throughout out lives—"

"What are you talking about, Seto?" His voice was hoarse, and he struggled to make his speech even as he spoke. "Mom died giving birth to me. If I had never been born, she wouldn't have died!"

I vaguely heard Bakura leave the room to allow us some privacy.

I shook my head in disagreement, and opened my mouth to contradict him, but my brother beat me to it.

"And than, even if Dad did still die a few years later, you'd have still had Mom! And Gozuburo would have never adopted you and…and…you know…torture you day in and day out!" I gasped, never aware that he harbored these type of feelings in him. I had told him since he was little that it was never his fault, and I honestly thought that he had believed me.

I held onto my brother, and felt tears form in my eyes. "Nothing was ever your fault, Mokuba…don't worry…don't you ever blame yourself again…Mother died, and it hurt, yes, but it doesn't matter anymore. She's in a far better place now." I drew calming circles on my brother's back, and saw a tear fall into my brother's hair. He didn't deserve this. It wasn't fair. Nothing in our lives was ever fair. I remembered the terrible pain I had to go through when I lost my mother and my father. Mokuba had been spared at least some of the pain of losing our mother, since he never even knew her.

It's a shame that never knowing his mother was perhaps the best thing that ever happened to him.

Bakura P.O.V.

"Mokuba. I need you to be strong. Bakura and I will attempt to reverse this. I will try as hard as I can. But I need you to be strong if anything goes awry, ok? Can you be my little man?" Mokuba laughed, but it sounded hoarse and very forced. He slowly nodded and embraced his brother once more, before his head drooped and his breathing slowed as he calmed down.

Kaiba stared off in the distance, his eyes slightly unfocused as he continued to hold his brother close. He looked very hollow and dead, the way he looked when I saw him during the Duelist Kingdom.

I remembered my father, and figured that I would have to tell him this as well. I've been prepared for death ever since I met my Yami, and I know the world wouldn't grieve too much in my absence…but I owe it to my father to explain this to him. And I need Kaiba for that.

"Seto? Um…I sorry…I need you to help me explain this to my father…" I whispered slowly, placing a hand on the shoulder. His eyes slowly refocused and he glared at me, and pushed his brother away, kissed him firmly on the cheek, and promised to be back very soon.

I found myself calm, the exact opposite of Kaiba, who was visibly shaken up. He bumped into things, and seemed to be very lost in thought.

I turned to stare at him once we left the house and reached the end of the block. He had tiny tears in the corner of his eyes, but would not let them fall.

A thought struck me like a ton of bricks when I saw an annoyed person walking down the street who looked exactly like me. He lifted his eyes to look at me.

"YOU!"

I immediately turned in the other direction, running as quickly as I could, grabbing Kaiba as I passed him.

"What-what are you doing!"

"Do you want to die!"

"No, but, Bakura, let me go!"

"Shut up!"

And with that, I ran back into the house, slamming the door behind me as quickly as I could, gasping for breath.

"I forgot about him…." I said sadly.

Kaiba was red in the face, but I could not tell if it was from fury or from running.

"DON'T YOU EVER GRAB ME LIKE THAT AGAIN!"

Eh. I reckon it was fury.

Kaiba P.O.V.

Back in my house. Mokuba was resting on the sofa, snoring softly. I did not know why Bakura grabbed me and ran for his dear life…

"YOU WORTHLESS PIECE OF CRAP! OPEN THIS DOOR RIGHT NOW! I WANT MY SOUL ROOM BACK!"

…until the insane ramblings of Yami Bakura rang through the house. I rubbed my temples, and noticed that Bakura was on the phone, begging Yami Yugi to help.

"He's gonna break down the door! Ahuh….ahuh…But he does have an ax! What? No…I'm not sure if he has it on him….Do you really want to take that chance!"

I sighed softly and walked over to where Mokuba was sleeping. I had been thinking about death since Yugi came. I know Mokuba will pull though. He is strong. He is brave. And he is pure. The world will never tarnish his soul.

Hopefully.

"Hey, Kaiba? I'm hungry. I'm gonna make myself some food, you want any?"

I shook my head, and Bakura frowned at me but refrained from saying anything as he left the room.

The banging on the door became louder and more persistent, but after a few minutes, it died down to a light patting.

A few more minutes passed, and the tapping stopped altogether.

"I KNOW WHERE YOU LIVE!"

And I saw the white haired psychopath leave.

That was….amusing? I guess. Maybe. I knew he'd be back soon, but he was reduced to a normal human in his body now that he lost his connection to his host. But once we switched back…that would be just…terrible.

Bakura walked in a few minutes later, carrying a tray with two plates. He placed one in front of me, and the other on a table a few feet away.

He sighed. "That idiot stopped by again, didn't he? He's been harassing me for two days now…What a prick, seriously…" I raised my eyebrows, and opened my mouth to ask something, but he interrupted me.

"He'll kill me eventually." Bakura ran a slightly shaky hand through his hair. "I'm scared."

I frowned up at him.

"Well…I could always help you. And who knows, maybe by doing this, we're wearing the Millennium Item out?"

"I dunno….maybe. I shouldn't worry so much. Ignore me."

"Bakura…." I walked in front of Bakura, so that I could face him. "Feel free to speak to me about whatever may be concerning you."

Bakura frowned. "Kaiba, you have enough on your plate as it is."

I raised my eyebrow. "What plate?"

Bakura, to my astonishment, chuckled good-naturedly. "It's a saying," He explained. "Plate is like…a metaphor for your life. You have enough going on in your life to be bothered by me, Kaiba. And…" He grabbed my shoulder and squeezed. "Thank you for coming with me to explain this to my father."

And, once again, we were off.

This time, no homicidal white haired psychopaths disturbed us.

Bakura P.O.V.

The rain started out of nowhere, and was very, very heavy. There were little drops here and there all day long, sure, but for it to look like all the moisture in the world decided to fall from the sky at once? That was not expected. Not at all.

He seemed disturbed. And upset. And worried.

We were half way to my house when it happened. I thought about stopping. Kaiba caught on.

"No. We aren't stopping. We aren't delaying this any further. I'm here. I'll help you. Come on."

I slicked my thick, brown bangs out of my eyes. I immediately found it…well, I found it funny that I considered them my bangs. They're Kaiba's bangs. Every single split-ended and dead strand belonged to Kaiba.

"Kaiba!" I yelled out. His tense form stopped in his tracks. He turned bitterly to face me. "It's far! My house is far! It's raining like it's the end of the world, I'm cold, soaked, and not in a very good mood! Let's. STOP."

I think Kaiba chuckled darkly at me. But some of his voice was drowned out by the sound of the rain hitting the concrete under us.

"Where! It's only a bit of water!" I thought that I saw tears flow down the sides of his face. But it could have been the rain. I wasn't sure. But I knew something was wrong.

I walked up to him, slowly, and grabbed his shoulder in the same way I had before. "Kaiba, what's wrong?"

"Nothing, let's just go, ok!"

"You don't have to come with me, Kaiba. Your brother needs you. Go to him."

Kaiba's eyes snapped at me. Brown and dark and hollow.

"Don't you dare tell me what my brother needs. I know what my brother needs. Let go of me." He thrust his shoulder out of my grasp and stormed off, pushing his long hair out of his way.

His hair? Isn't it…my hair?

Oh hell, does it even matter at this point?

Kaiba P.O.V

I couldn't tell him. I couldn't let my emotions leak out like this. I…couldn't. This weather…this apocalyptic type weather bothers me so much.

I couldn't, shouldn't, I shouldn't think of what he did to me on days like this. When he was bored and unable to leave his house due to the terrible weather and threats of flooding.

I couldn't think of the screaming and pleas from my voice that echoed through the halls, and the tears and sweat that stained the silk bed sheets.

Shouldn't. I shouldn't think of them.

I could hear Bakura talking to me, from far away, from where the real world was. Yes, it all happened in the past. It wasn't happening now. I could barely hear myself responding.

He grabbed my shoulders. The way he did before he pinned me down. Before he used his amazingly superior strength to force…to force…

No. I shouldn't think of this.

I uttered some dark response and stormed off, determined to perhaps leave my scarred and tainted memories where I was last standing.

Only, it doesn't work that cleanly. It never does.

I heard footsteps running after me. Like how he used to chase me when I ran away, naked and scared.

The rain clung to my clothing and seeped through, into my skin, and it leaked into my mind. Slowly. Carefully. This mind didn't have the strong barriers and defenses mine had.

"Kaiba!" Bakura grabbed my arm, and I felt myself flinch. I turned, and was met with warm, blue eyes, full of kindness and concern.

I felt my airways, which were constricted in panic and fear and the past and the pain, open as air rushed into me.

He smiled a smile only he could wear.

"Let's rest."

Bakura P.O.V.

I dragged Kaiba into an empty bus stop. The water slid down the sides of the stop, and it reminded me of those little accessories rich people had in their houses, of two pines of glass that somehow always had water moving in between them.

His back was curled next to me on the cold metal stool. His hands were through his hair. Yes, his. He has to struggle with combing it, with washing it, it's on his head, his hands are going through it now, if I pull it, he'll feel it. It's his hair. We waited patiently for the rain to stop, and I noticed that he seemed more burdened than usual.

I sighed and realized that I felt so utterly sorry for him that if he knew how I felt, he'd despise me.

"I..I'm not too…I'm not too sure how to tell him." I whispered. Kaiba stopped running his fingers through his hair and stared up at me. He understood. I didn't need to say that I was speaking of my father. I knew that that word upset Kaiba greatly.

Nothing from the crouched figure next to me, so I decided to continue. I needed to vent. I was worried and it was eating me up inside.

"He doesn't know about Yami. Or the items. Or any of this." I noticed that Kaiba was trying to ring the water out of his hair now. I chucked softly. "You're pulling too hard. You need to twist it out. Or just run your hands through it like this." I demonstrated how I usually got the water out of my own hair on his hair.

That…didn't make much sense. I know. None of this makes sense.

Kaiba was obviously crying now, the tears slow and gentle. I noticed that my face, now that it was his, was obviously worn and tired. His eyes were full of emotion. Pure, raw emotion that had obviously been held back for years.

That's when it struck me. Kaiba was not a cold person by nature. Here, with him sitting next to me, crying softly and yet making no attempt to get me involved, showed that he was not just an attention-seeking, angst-filled teen. It was deeper than that.

His body wasn't the source of his bitterness. I was in it, and my attitude had changed, albeit not much.

For the first time, did it really strike me that Kaiba was the way he was due to circumstances he could not control? That he could never control or change...

I needed to know.

"Kaiba…why are you crying?"

His strained sobs stop momentarily, and he looked up at me again. "It's not important."

I frowned at him, and realized this was going to be more difficult than I thought. I suddenly found myself wishing to get hit by those memories that I used to see that would belong to Kaiba. And I instantly regretted thinking that. If he didn't want to tell me, I shouldn't know.

"He…on days like this…" Kaiba's eyes were dead now. Dead, hollow and scary. "He would…force himself on me. On days like this. On…on days like this."

I knew who he meant. He didn't have to say, "Father." I grabbed his shoulders, and held him. Like a friend. Like someone who he needed. Someone he never had.

"Don't tell Mokuba."

That one statement from him, three words, and his measure was clear to me. He was protective, lonely, and scarred. Three simple descriptions took all of this for me to understand.

I appreciate this experience now. Even if we may both die, I appreciate it.

God. I don't want to die.

And I felt that tug that happened all that time ago, only it was shorter and I did not feel sick afterwards. It may have been the fact that we were right next to each other relatively. Or close to each other figuratively.

None of that mattered now.

The point was…I was back in my original body.

Kaiba P.O.V.

God, I must have looked pathetic. My past eating away at me. I had to admit it, though. Bakura asked me what was wrong. His eyes…they seemed understanding. As if, no matter what I said, he would still accept me.

Since when has his acceptance meant this much to me?

I wanted to say it in a few words as possible. I needed to get it off my chest. It was the only thing that ever happened to me that I never told someone out of confidence. I…needed this. I thought, and my words were quiet, and I was afraid that the rain drowned them out, rendering them meaningless.

"He…on days like this…" I took a deep breath. I readied myself against the onslaught of memories…but none came. They grew weaker with the more words I said. "He would…force himself on me. On days like this. On…on days like this."

Bakura did not flinch. He did not edge away from me or gaze at me with pity. When his arms reached out to embrace me, like a companion, I did not flinch. I accepted the arms and their warmth, oddly contrasting with the freezing torrential rains just outside.

"Don't tell Mokuba." The words slid out of me quickly. I thought of what he had revealed to me earlier. About how he blamed himself for all our hardships. I did not want anything else on his young mind.

Anyway, this burden…this memory, that bound and shackled me, by telling Bakura…almost immediately became so much lighter.

I have a friend. And a loving brother back home. And a successful company. That's when I realized, again, for not the first time, that…

I did not want to die.

A tug.

Small and insignificant…until I realized that I was the one holding the smaller Bakura in my arms.

I was back in my own body.

(Author Note: WOW. That took a while. I'm sooo sorry. I worked on this in two separate halves, several months apart, but I like the outcome. Here. I hope you enjoyed it.

ONE MORE CHAPTER TO GO!)