Welcome to Gaia! ::

Hiroto was relieved that Kaiba was, or appeared to be, alright. Primarily for Mokuba's sake, although he couldn't say there was anyone he disliked enough to want them dead, even Kaiba. That aside, he now really wished he was anywhere but here. In spite of his own personal efforts in saving Kaiba's life - not that he was looking for thanks or anything, just to mention it - the man was certainly not going to be grateful. He was probably going to be his usual miserable, annoying, insulting self. Awkward was now going to move on to just completely unpleasant.

- - -

Seto merely grunted at the mass of faces around him, streams of insults running through his head, and various justifications on why each of them deserved it. However he bit his lip, he probably owed his life to half the people in the room here, and like it or not he could at least try not to be too much of a predictable cliche. For now anyhow.

Awkwardly placing a hand in Mokuba's hair he murmured a soft hello, and an even quieter apology for making the kid worry.

Seto looked at Mokuba, slightly bemused. What exactly was he promising, never again to be haunted by his own building? To have elevators mysteriously break down on him, inexplicable power failures, completely unlikely park fights with degenerate parental figures - all of course in the company of one of his least favorite people in the entire world? Oh what he wouldn't give to be able to promise himself all that. However he was hoping Mokuba didn't know the full extent to what last night entailed, at least none of the weird magical crap, and on that though he shot an accusatory glance at Jounouchi, who better not have traumatized poor Mokuba with that nonsense. Turning his gaze back towards his brother, dropping the harsh look, he made all the promises the kid could ever want. Feeling awful that he probably would end up breaking half of them, whether he wanted to or not that just seemed to be his lot in life.

Seto felt Yuugi's eyes on him, but he ignored that for now. Yuugi's confusion was something though, Jounouchi couldn't have blabbed too much if his friend couldn't decipher what the warning look was regarding. He was happy that Mokuba wasn't going to fight him, he didn't have the energy for a fight now. It would make him feel worse in the long run, but for now he just settled back against the cushions. He really wanted to ask everyone to leave, a guilty twinge notifying him that yes that included his younger brother. He just wanted to be alone for a bit, get his thoughts into proper order. He'd wait a bit longer before asking for that reprieve though. It'd be easier to ask for than the other request he'd eventually have to make, alone time with - and here he paused to mentally shudder - Jounouchi. But he needed to get his facts straight, and he needed to know what the other had told everyone, without revealing that there might to be more to be told than what had already been shared. For that he'd unfortunately need to be alone with the blond man. However he could delay that for at least a short while.

- - -

"...and to the relief of all Kaiba Corp President and CEO Kaiba Seto has thankfully awoken after several hours of surgery this morning. Primary physician Yamada wasn't available for comment but does pass on the news that Kaiba-san will suffer no permanent damage from his ordeal, the nature of which is still somewhat of a mystery. There seems to be..."

Tetsuo sat up and squinted at the TV, focusing on the candid shot of the hotshot billionaire CEO who revamped his father's company and made his fortune in high school. He looked familiar, which didn't set right. The guy was about his boy's age, but there was no way Jounouchi...suddenly it clicked, and the events of this morning fell back into place.

Tetsuo was torn between two very different sets of emotions. First, he felt a smug sense of satisfaction that he obviously managed to do at least some damage to the proud b*****d. True he couldn't claim it all, he knew the guy had already been sustaining some sort of injury before their brawl, and he hadn't roughed him up that bad. Which brought him to his second emotion, fear. What if the guy tried to have him arrested for assault, for attempted murder? That isn't even how it happened, but look at that Kaiba fellow, then look back at Jounouchi Tetsuo. Tetsuo could have been across town with a rock solid alibi, photographic evidence, and it wouldn't even matter, not if a guy like that wanted to make a case against him. Which he probably did. Tetsuo needed to think quick.

The police weren't barreling through his door, Kaiba obviously hadn't had time to contact them yet. He needed to do something quick. He got up, grabbed his coat and headed out the door, walking in the direction of the hospital. Maybe Kaiba would have a relapse. Or perhaps, maybe Tetsuo could make sure he had a relapse. The wheels started turning in his head as he hurried on. He realized he was contemplating cold blooded murder, a crime that surpassed all his past indiscretions combined. He'd never done anything this seriously criminal. Yet he pressed forward, plotting how to get in, how to get Kaiba alone, how to make it an accident. It was like an evil force was hanging over his head, pushing him onward, and he no longer had any control over his own thoughts.

- - -

The wicked are so easily manipulated, just a little nudge in the right direction and they fall like dominoes, spineless, no will left of their own. No moral center to steer them back towards the right. Let round 2 begin.

Jounouchi the elder's clearly raised heckles did nothing to quell the maniac laughter that sent animals on the run, and sent a chill down the backs of those preternaturally sensitive nearby.

Seto nodded along with his brother, of course it was utter rubbish. He had a vague idea of the length of time the doctor wanted him on bed rest for, and that alone was already much longer than he had any intention of acquiescing too. Though given thus, he could at least agree for now and burn that bridge when he came to it.

"Mokuba I'll rest, but if I'm going to do so you'll have to take care of some business things for me," he announced. "First off, I need you to sign a few HZP documents that my secretary will have, your signature in this instance will bear sufficiently. However I do rather need that done immediately, and I'm sorry to ask you to leave so soon, but I don't think I'm going to stay awake much longer anyhow. It would be more efficient for us both if you could just take care of this now."

Mokuba seemed to be able to handle this idea, he at least didn't look upset about being asked to leave so soon. Given such he decided he'd better attempt to talk to Jounouchi now, he appeared to be thinking, which couldn't possibly be a good idea. As much as he really would love to just lay back down, he was rather sleep deprived after all, he knew the importance of always taking care of business first. That decided, "Jounouchi, if you could stay here alone for a few more seconds I would greatly appreciate it, I want to ask you a few questions about where my own memory falters, and I'd rather do it in private." His memory of course was perfectly intact (perhaps unfortunately so). The niceties were making him physically uncomfortable, however politeness was probably the best chance of him getting his way. If for no other reason, they'd probably baffle the hell out of everyone here.

- - -

Tetsuo had halted his quest at a bar en route to the hospital. He needed to calm his nerves, clear his head, beer would be the best way to do that. He was still going to go, he needed to, he had to. It was his only option. He just wasn't sure why. A beer or two would clear it up and then he'd head out again. He just needed to pause.

- - -

He's resisting, how quaint yet annoyingly unexpected. The lapse should only be temporary, he'll move. Patience is a virtue, and a little temperance once in awhile never hurt any malignant spirit.

((Don't ask me what an HZP document is, pulling things out of my a** here. xd ))

Hiroto was agitated, he was being forced to wait even longer for answers, and for Kaiba's own comfort? So what if the man was sick. Even more than his own annoyance, he still didn't trust Jounouchi alone with Kaiba. However he wasn't about to make a scene, Jounouchi knew how to take care of himself. So he walked out with the rest, adding, "we're right outside Jou," before exiting into the corridor with the others. He waited about 5 seconds thereafter before immediately beginning an angry tirade against Kaiba Seto and all his demands, insinuating that he better not even think about blaming or attacking their friend in any way, and pondering what on earth he could want Jou alone for. Mokuba was long gone of course, it was just Yuugi and Anzu within earshot. As much as he didn't particularly care for the elder Kaiba, he wouldn't bash the guy in front of his brother, at least not under these circumstances anyhow.

- - -

Once the room cleared Seto gazed awkwardly at the foot of the bed. He'd called this meeting, so he really should be the one to break the uncomfortable silence. However we wasn't sure where to start. In spite of only having adopted the politeness to get what he wanted, he didn't exactly feel right about insulting, berating or accusing the mu-Jounouchi of anything at the moment. He really wanted to be that much of a heartless b*****d, because it would be easier. He just didn't think he was. Way to drop the ball on that one Gouzaburou, Seto thought with a bitter chuckle. A laugh that apparently was audible, if the confused expression on Jounouchi's face was any indication. Great, now the blond probably thought he was insane, although considering everything Seto was feeling pretty close. He decided to just be to the point, not unnaturally kind, but not rude and insulting. "How much did you exactly share with my brother?" he asked the man before him in as neutral a tone as possible.

- - -

Tetsuo sat down in the small seating area outside the ICU, not talking to anyone, not drawing attention to himself. He'd already found out where Kaiba Seto was, and he'd just watched a mob of reporters harass an apparent Kaiba Mokuba - who was NOT taking questions right now - out of the hospital. A few minutes after that a group of three teenagers also left and headed off towards the cafe, presumptively. The CEO was probably alone. He'd just wait a few more minutes.

((I wish Gaia had a save draft function, I started this earlier but didn't have time to finish before heading out to my concert. Annoying. xd ))

Hiroto huffed but he had to agree with Anzu. Generally Kaiba seemed to prefer an audience when taunting and insulting Jounouchi, if he was going to be a jerk - intentionally - he'd probably have wanted the rest of them to stay. "Yea, ok, but you guys had better be right, or else Kaiba is going back into that coma," Hiroto threatened loudly as they headed off towards the cafe.

- - -

Tetsuo chuckled to himself quietly, the nurses all seemed to be on edge, and it appeared to be in reaction to the loudmouth brunette who had just threatened the CEO as he walked by. It probably couldn't be taken seriously, but still, always good to have someone to pin your misdeeds on, just in case. Teenagers were famously prone to violent outbursts, undeveloped self-obsessed brains and all. Tetsuo glanced down the hall, he'd wait a little bit longer, the nurse who had Kaiba on her rounds had yet to make her way back into the room for a final assessment after visitation. Someone else could still be in there, at the very least he should go in after the nurse declared everything to be fine.

- - -

At first Seto was pretty furious, there was an unnecessary amount of information in that speech, such as his manhandling the generator. Frankly he didn't feel Mokuba needed to know any of that, he was his little brother, Seto looked after him. Not the other way around. He glared at Jounouchi furiously for a few minutes, before finally deciding to just let it go. It's not like Jounouchi had been trying to hurt his brother, and maybe he should feel a little guilty that the teen felt more obligated to be forthcoming with the kid then his own brother did.

He was taken aback a bit by the reminder of Jounouchi's father's role in this entire affair. Not that he'd forgotten, he just hadn't had an opportunity to think on it until now. The man was clearly a lowlife violent drunk, which he had probably at one point or another insinuated in insult, although he'd never put any serious thought behind what kind of home life Jounouchi actually had to put up with. I mean his own childhood had been such a nightmare, he didn't often spare much concern for the lives of others. He just assumed theirs were better.

"I don't really go out of my way to talk to Yuugi or any of the rest of them if I can help it," he commented nonchalantly, hoping that would be enough to relay that he had no intention to elaborate with Yuugi and crew about the particulars of Jounouchi's life in which they were clearly being kept in the dark for the time being. He thought about continuing that Mokuba didn't need to know anymore than he already did, but what did it matter at this point. He deemed that at least this information would in no way lead to Mokuba demanding more promises that Seto couldn't keep, if Jounouchi wanted to share his own personal history with the kid, well that was his prerogative.

He was exhausted, and if Jounouchi was done he wanted him to leave so he could sleep. At the same time he had this eerie feeling that he really didn't want to be alone right now, that something was lurking. However in spite of everything he'd gone through in his entire life, and especially last night, he still wasn't willing to open up to the possibility of supernatural influences. So he tried to quash the unease, and just waited patiently for Jounouchi to respond and/or raise his own questions and concerns. He'd justify it as making a rare attempt at being polite and making sure Jounouchi himself was content before sending him off, rather than keeping him around to dispel his own paranoia about evil forces just waiting to get him alone. Logically, what would evil forces want with him anyhow? He wasn't evil enough to merit reprimand, nor good enough to tempt wickedness to ruin him.

((Yea I just save it in Works but still, it'd be nice not to have to transition.

And I resisted concluding with: Anti-hero status ftw! stressed ))

Hiroto just chuckled as they strolled through the corridors, Anzu worried too much.

- - -

It had never even occurred to Seto to consider suing the elder Jounouchi for damages, to press charges or attempt to have him penalized in any way. Which should of course strike him as odd. Maybe because the situation had been to personal, it wasn't some random creep in the park, it was Jounouchi's creep father. Not to say he felt any obligation to Jounouchi, still...

"Why should I sue someone who doesn't have one yen to his name?" Seto muttered offhandedly, looking out the window. Before Jounouchi could question further he added, "I'll be fine, so I don't need to waste my time pressing criminal charges either."

Glancing to the side he refrained from smiling at the look of relief on the blond man's face. At least now Jounouchi couldn't claim Seto had never done anything nice, not that he cared.

((I did end my post on that note, which is why I did that, but I didn't end Kaiba's sentence on that note, which probably would have been WAY out of character hahahaha.))