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Shizuka let out a tortured gasp and buried her hands in her face upon hearing the verdict. She felt overwhelmed with guilt, had she not just up and abandoned her mother this never would have happened. Unable to control the sobs she curled in on herself, desperately searching for an answer for what she could do for her mother, for what she needed to do in general now.

((Oh I know, and I enjoy plenty of them, I like the pace now just perfectly fine. Just every time I slip off I feel like I'm killing the story. I know we've both done it several times but I feel bad about it nonetheless. Anyhow finally made it in less than a week, improvement! Getting nervous about my doctorate though so we'll see how long this can last. I have like a million things to do before I even start. Got an email about this Hidden Collections project, which basically offers cool opportunities to work with material forms of research (I'm looking at projects in relation to digitized content and corpora as that's most related to my literary research, but they have objects, film and theater projects as well). There are 30 funded places and I don't know that I even have a shot to get one but I've got to apply. However I only got the email less than a week ago and applications close the 20th - even though they opened August 20th I think, possibly earlier. Way to be on top of it my uni. ~_~

They do sound harsh but they still made me laugh. I totally got that vibe yet I was tickled nonetheless. I'm a horrible person. xd ))

It took a few moments for what the doctor had shared to properly sink in given Shizuka's frazzled state. She panicked over the meaning of next steps. Next steps with coma patients always seemed to relate to deciding on whether to continue life support, on patient viability. How could she possibly decide on such steps in relation to her own mother. Shizuka buried her face in her lap again and proceeded to cry harder.

- - -

Seto felt uncomfortable with the whole affair, as if he were intruding on a very private family moment. After hedging about what to do a few moments longer he excused himself on the pretext of needing the facilities. He made his way toward the restroom before heading off toward a momentarily vacant room. Seto was never one to wait around, and while Jounouchi was otherwise engaged it would be up to him to prepare the next necessary steps. Pulling out his phone he selected Yuugi's number and pressed send. He only had to wait two rings until that optimistically bright voice picked up on the other end. "Yuugi," he began, unsure of exactly how to phrase his request, "I...Jounouchi and I require your assistance with a small matter, if you've the time."

"Oh brother, this is all my fault," Shizuka lamented, burying her face in Jounouchi's chest.

- - -

"Not exactly, though I don't feel comfortable speaking over the phone. I'm not in the area at the moment, but I can fly back now. I can meet you in an hour if you're available, let me know what location would be most convenient to you," Seto relayed while heading back toward where his company helicopter was still likely to be waiting. Jounouchi wouldn't be thrilled that he was doing this without him, but who knew how long his sister would need him here for, and this couldn't wait. Likewise Mokuba wouldn't like the secrecy, the lies, the fact that Seto was about to take off without actually being medically cleared or even talking to his brother. He really saw no other way to get how he wanted right now though, and patience was certainly not one of Kaiba Seto's virtues.

Climbing into the helicopter he composed a text message to send to Mokuba after they were in the air. When an opening arrived Mokuba could talk to Jounouchi. The two could chew him out later, right now he needed answers, and hopefully Yuugi would be able to help him.

"If I hadn't just left her this never would have happened," she lamented, refusing to accept any explanation of the situation that didn't either directly or indirectly place the majority of the blame on her shoulders.

Her self-pity was momentarily interrupted when she heard Mokuba's text tone chime, it wasn't until that moment that she had realized Kaiba was no longer in the room with them.

- - -

"That's fine, I'll be at yours shortly," Seto replied, curtly ending the brief conversation. He instructed his pilot on where they were heading and where the closest landing spot to the gaming shop would be. As soon as they were in the air and on their way he pressed send, leaving Mokuba with the simple message:

Needed to head home, took the company helicopter. Stay with Jounouchi and his sister, I'll be back soon.
-Seto

He felt bad stranding his brother at what had to be a bit of an awkward family moment. However if he didn't leave Mokuba with the Jounouchis the kid would come with him, and that most certainly was not an option.

Seto briefly debated just pressing the end call button when Mokuba's name flashed across his mobile display screen. With a sigh he put the device to his ear and clicked answer. "Yes?" he asked, attempting to sound disinterested and neutral.

((Oye, first week of PhD intense, and I haven't even really done that much work which will have to change. Need to find a job so I can set up a consistent schedule to work around, plus I really need some monies. xd ))

"Look Mokuba, I can sit here and concoct a lie that I know won't satisfy you but you'll have to swallow because I'm hundreds of feet above you now, or you can just accept that I've taken off for reasons of my own and I'll be back shortly. There are things I just need to see to now that for your own good I won't have you involved in. Stay with Jounouchi and his sister, keep me updated on anything relevant to either them or yourself. I'm sorry Mokuba, please try not to worry," Seto prattled off in one hopefully controlled breath. He debated just disconnecting the call while Mokuba processed, but he decided to wait and give his brother the last word. He owed him at least that.

((Thanks, there seems to be a good amount of things I'd be interested in doing, it'll just depend on competition. I've signed up for 5 intro to teaching courses throughout this term and next and I'm hoping I'll get the opportunity to teach in my second year. Research is my primary interest I think, but academic teaching is still on the interest list, and in general has more opportunities. There are more university lecturers than university researchers out there. I wish you luck and hope you find something good for you as well, I certainly know the hunt is difficult now. I have a friend back in CA consider jobs in other States just because she's just desperate to be working full time. She has a job right now but it's in aquatics, and barring summer at max is only like 10-20 hours a week, and I know she's well under that. Life is hard. And I'm sick again for the third time in a month. xd ))

Seto sighed heavily. "Mokuba if this had anything to do with the company or the game I'd of course have let you in on it. I honestly don't think I'd be jetting off for either of those things at the moment now though. My job is to protect you Mokuba, and I'm doing that, I apologize if that inevitably causes you pain. I promise to be open with you as soon as I am able, but unfortunately now is not that time. Take care of Jounouchi, I really need to end the call now. Bye Mokuba," Seto replied heavily. This time he did not await a reply before ending the call. He just hoped by the end of this trial he won't have ended up alienating the only person who'd always truly cared about him.

((It can definitely be difficult. I got an email about an interview today for that research assistant job I applied for so fingers crossed it'll work out, that'd be really great. It'd be 5 hours a week for me but I'm okay with that as I don't want something too detracting from the PhD. Hopefully you'll find something suitable, or at least offering more hours, soon. Any prospects at the moment? And yes, traveling, particularly international traveling can definitely be hazardous to the help. Here's to hoping I'll adapt soon and this will be the last brush with illness I have for awhile.))

Shizuka continued to sob into her brother's shoulder, though at a much less audible level, for several more minutes before finally noticing Mokuba had returned. His brother was still nowhere to be seen, and Mokuba looked both upset and frustrated. Startling the dark haired man slightly, as he hadn't been focused enough to realize she had been watching him, she asked, "Mokuba where is your brother?"

((Haven't had a moment to sit down and reply before now but definitely had my fingers crossed for you, hope the interview went well. Gamestop would be a fun place to work.))