Why the hell he was here, he did not understand.
Perhaps it had something to do with a sense of "owing" something. Debt.
What he owed someone who had ruined his life, he had no idea. Perhaps a "hi, you ruined my life, so I'm just going to strangle you while your incapacitated" visit would be too much for his nerves to-day, anyways.
He really didn't like this time of year.
So here Siegfried was, at a time of pain and bad feelings for him, standing outside the hospital room of the man who had caused him to have a number of other rather bad feelings. It was pointless. It was meaningless. He'd just be kicked out of the room immediately.
Somehow. Could Kaiba manage that much?
Don't know, but here I will take my chances, he reflected, clutching the parcel he held slightly closer to his body. Hesitantly, he pushed the door open

How many times had he told those damned docs and nurses no visitors? Just how many times, honestly, had he been thiiiis close to taking someone's head off the moment they peeked through the door to ask him? Innumerable times, he was certain.
But there were to be some exceptions.
Seth. Seth was, of course, an exception. How could he deny him the right to see Seto now of all times? Perhaps for the last time? Seth was an obvious exception.
When he heard that a Siegfried von Schraider was here to see him, Seto decided that he, too, would be an exception.
Why? Because why the hell would Siegfried take time off of his not-so-busy schedule to see him, of all people? Sans the whole 'love/lust/UST' business. It was...atypical. It was, at the very least, worth checking out. If Siegfried began being snarky and acting like a jackass, Seto could always have him kicked out.
His eyes gazed over when the door opened, then went back to staring at nothing in-particular again. This wasn't likely to end well.
I should be sleeping, damn it. Or at least drinking some fucking coffee. Or dying. That'd be nice, too. What the hell do you want...?

"Kaiba," Siegfried stated simply. He was suddenly uncertain of what he could say. He duly tossed How are you feeling? It's a nice day, don't you think? How've you been? out the window, and just...was silent. He slipped inside the room, half-closing the door behind him, and then after a moment choosing to close it fully.
"I see you are...oh, never mind that, it is quite apparent. I hope that you are having a decent enough day, for the circumstances." Unlikely, but oh well. "And that I have not made my appearance at...a particularly bad time."

Seto was silent for a while, still finding that nothing in-particular quite interesting. He picked idly at a few bandages and sighed. "What is it that you want, exactly, Siegfried?" he finally asked. "Come to try to humiliate me? Kiss me? Smack me? Has your bad--well, worse than usual--mood lifted, and you decided to celebrate by making me miserable?"

"What do I want in life, or by coming here?" Siegfried rolled his eyes. "Well, perhaps I've come to strangle you. Or to kick you in the head. Or maybe just to tie you up in an uncomfortable position and leave you, walking away and laughing nastily. I don't see how it matters..." he said, "If you know why I'm here. I know the reason and I assure you you are missing out on nothing."

"I'm certain," he muttered darkly. "There must be a reason, and I don't see why I shouldn't know it. You are, after all, the one who came to see me, not vice versa." An equally dark chuckled escaped him. "Of course, who hasn't wanted to come see me? Oh dear, I'm much the talk of the town nowadays. How utterly peachy. I'm sure you hate it as much as I do."

"Sure..." Siegfried said, raising one eyebrow. "You know, you might as well just block them at the door. Get armed guards outside, deny everyone access. D'you mind if I pull up a chair?" Without waiting for an answer, he did so. "It's what I would do if I were in your situation."

"I don't think the docs would take too kindly to seeing people like that outside the door. Hell, I ought to do some kind of breakout like Ryou pulled and get myself out of here, but..."
He stopped picking at the bandage and glanced at Siegfried, finally. "Is there something you want, anyway? From me, from coming here, whatever."

"...I suppose so. It's really quite interesting, I find, to see you like this. Hn." Sieg grinned wryly. "And here we all thought you were the inviiiiiincible Kaiba Seto, never to be destroyed, defeated, brought down. The best of the best came up against you; how many defeated you? So few. And yet, a simple car crash..."

"Ha. Ha. Ha. It is to laugh, is it not. Watch me be amused." He rolled his eyes. "Gee, it's almost like I haven't heard that one before. See, I guess you never realized it, but I am, in fact, human as well." His arms crossed over his chest, lightly, of course, so as not to aggravate any bruises. "It's not like I'm immortal, anyway. Oh, but I'm sure you aaaall thought that, didn't you?"

"Pretty much, yes. You wouldn't understand, perhaps. It's...odd." How could you explain to someone like Kaiba that when under a person's foot and pushed into the ground it felt like they were above human, that they were a god of sorts and that you had no option but to feel inferior? Siegfried...really didn't want to, anyways. Kaiba might take it as a compliment. "Although it really wasn't a joke..." he added as an afterthought.

"Hn," was the only response to that. He had been so certain that this was a bad idea. He'd been right, apparently. Seto contemplated just ignoring Siegfried to do more work on the crappy hospital laptop, but that wasn't bound to go over well, either. His eyes wandered back to the nothing in-particular and shifted into a more comfortable position.

Siegfried cleared his throat. "I..." he began, then stopped. "Oh, wretch," he said, "I suppose it doesn't really matter, does it?" He twitched unhappily. "You would prefer that I leave, and I...cannot say I know why I am here, so what is the point? Now..." He laughed quietly. "Now I suppose I understand how you were feeling..."

"Ah, so there was no reason?" Seto replied with a sneer. "I should have figured so..." He noticed a little something and nodded a head toward it. "What's that you've got there, anyway?"

"It's..." Siegfried looked down at it. "It's for you," he said shortly. "Present, or something along those lines, if you can consider anything from someone like me a present. Perhaps 'slight slip in correct behaviour' would be better; I was thinking of getting you the Plague, but I couldn't find a big enough box, so I got this instead."

"Oh, ha ha, the plague, how amusing. You get a present for me?" A roll of the eyes. "I almost fear to ask. Well, let's see it the--"
His mouth fell open. And stayed that way for a while. Windchimes. Siegfried had gotten him windchimes. Beautifully designed crystal windchimes that created rainbows and other effects when it caught the light just so. The top was formed into dazzling, intricate shapes. Hanging down below, dangling, was a small dragon, looking serene and peaceful, regal, even.
"...That?" He pointed to it, tilting his head to one side. "...For me? That? Really?"

"Noooo," Siegfried said, sneering, "I got them for myself and am here to show them to you so that you writhe in jealousy; of course they're for you, you bloody fool. Is there anyone else within a league of here who cares about windchimes? Not that I know of, and I wouldn't give them to anyone else, anyways. Do you like them? You'd best like them."

His eyes went ZOMGSHINYSPARKLE wider as he touched it delicately. Also tentatively, he brushed his hand about it and let it play. A smile played about his lips when it did.
"Like? Siegfried, you have to ask that? 'Like' would be the understatement of the year. I love it. I...aw, now I've got to repress the urge to go all sentimental and mushy."

"If you do so, do I have permission to bring you down to earth utilising whatever means necessary, including a hard smack upside the head?" Sieg replied, only mostly sarcastic. "And yes. Yes, of course I have to ask if you like it. I don't particularly care, but it is best to know if my gift-giving reputation is safe, if you know what I mean."

"Sure, since I'd rather not be completely mood swing-y like that," shrugged Seto as he took the windchimes for himself and looked around for a good place to hang it up. ...Which wasn't all that practical, of course, but after deciding that the IV stand was as good a place as any, he didn't particularly care.
"Any...real reason why you randomly decided to get me one of these? Or anything in-general, actually?" he pondered aloud.

"...no, not really," Siegfried said, shifting in his seat. "I felt like it, I suppose. I would really prefer it if you don't question me; I can still take it back from you, you know," he said rather pointedly. "And you are surely aware of the fact that I would, if I felt I ought to."

"Hell no," he said in an airy tone. "It's mine now, even if you did give it to me. And I'll question you all I want. Why? Because it amuses me, and I also hate being without answers." Seto made it chime again and nearly squee'd--WTF is he turning into Malik now? and grinned. For the very first time in days, he was happy. Hell, happy didn't even begin to describe it.
"God, it's great. Thanks. Seriously, thanks a lot. It's...wow."

"Stop questioning me..." Siegfried said, lip curling slightly into a less-smirk-than-smile. "I don't like it, and you know it. FEAR ME Come now, Kaiba, I'm do something less-then-nasty for once, and you don't even take me seriously. It's not encouraging me to act this way ever again, to be sure..." His expression became rather more serious. "Really, I don't even know why I did it. Seems a waste; you would've gotten one eventually anyways."

"Why ever would I take you seriously when you do something like this?" pondered Seto. "For all I know, it could be booby trapped or something. I honestly have no idea what to think about anything you do now, so..." He quirked a brow. "But you did it anyway, so I guess I'm rather grateful."

"Indeed. You ought to be..." Siegfried said, narrowing his eyes. "And no. No, it isn't booby-trapped. If I wanted to kill you, I could do it right now, and I could destroy the building's security cameras, and no-one would ever know. But I'm not going to, because there is no point in hurting you. You're already..." He smirked slightly. "...hurt enough, I daresay. No need for me to finish you off."

"So if I was, say, not hurt at all, you would have done something different?" He shrugged, small smile still on his face. "I think it's rather sweet and thoughtful, even if you won't admit it. Rather...odd...seeing as it's not like I did anything for your birthday, yet here you are, handing out gifts like my very own Santa. Heh. If only I had a camera."

"Sweet and thoughtful, me? Your own Santa? You overestimate my capabilities for kindness, Kaiba," Siegfried said, folding his arms. "Why, I could very well deliver a virus to your computer, you know. Ho-ho-ho." The description of his action as "sweet and thoughtful"...unsettled him, somehow.
I had best not be growing disgustingly emotional. I'd have to hurt myself.
"And if you had a camera, I'd break it, mark my words. I don't need this getting out."

"Aw," Seto replied with a roll of his eyes, "and I was gonna tell eeeeeeveryone on LJ about this remarkable once-in-a-lifetime event. Damn." His fingers idly strummed across it again. If only there was a breeze in this room. "And, honestly, if you wanted to infect my computer with one of your little viruses so badly, you would've done that long ago. And many times over. Yet you haven't."

Siegfried leaned forwards slightly. "And I didn't do it at first, not for a long time, Kaiba. It's called biding your time, and I am very good at it. Very..." he said, eyes narrowing. "Just because I have made no move recently does not mean I'm not actively studying the board looking for a winning strategy, to throw in a chess metaphor...I'm sure you appreciate it."

"That, or you just don't want to," the other shot back without missing a beat. "Oh, try to hide it aaaaall you want, Siegfried, really--it's quite amusing to watch from a distance. But I highly doubt that's the reason."

"Believe me, or not. If that's not the reason, then what is?" Sieg asked. "Why else would I not actively persue you with virus and pain? It seems to me I have no reason not to...and yet you insist that I do. I do not follow."

"Let's see, let me count the ways... First and foremost, your obvious feelings for me. Hell, if this--" he motioned to the gift "--doesn't tell me you still feel at least a little something, then I don't know what does. And honestly, I don't think it'd be like you to wait so long for you to strike back when you could at any time and practically crippled me and/or my company in one fell swoop."

"Kaiba, you put too much stock in pesky emotions. You'd think I was a weak fool with a crying heart, the way you make me out to be. I'm not, you know. I hate you, as well you should know, and am actively working to exact my revenge. Just because it is not immediate does not mean it's not coming."

"Doesn't mean you don't still want to do me. Because you just can't forget a pretty face like mine." He finally tore his eyes away from the windchimes and gazed at Siegfried once more, a serious look settling on it for once.
"Got a question for you. I've asked it once before. I'm going to again, just to see if you've changed your mind." Seto plucked at his bandages again in an almost nervous way, yet none of it showing in his expression. "Just what would you do if I died?"

"...I would..." Siegfried leaned back, closing his eyes. "Well, first I would celebrate," he said presently, "And then...then I would be a little unhappy. I would've lost a great opponent and a nasty obstacle. And then...after that, I am not quite sure; I have never thought that far ahead. 'What if's don't quite make my day, if you understand what I mean."

"I can't exactly do much else but ponder these sorts of things, unfortunately," muttered Seto, choosing to stare at the wall now. "And considering the circumstances, guess what sorts of morbid things are on my mind lately? Hn. Anyway...so you'd be happy, gloomy, then probably just go on being happy again."

"Maybe, maybe not. The mind works in many interesting ways, does it not? Besides..." Siegfried said, crossing his legs self-consciously, "Even after your dead, I'd still go on being your enemy, despite...well...despite it all."

"'Despite it all', hm...? There wouldn't be anything to be an enemy of, you know. Rather pointless to hate what is no longer there. Well, technically, I'd still be there, only rotting six feet under." The nurse wasn't going to like having to change that bandage again all frayed like it was. "Oh, hell, just forget it. It was a rather stupid question in the first place."

"Yes, the worms would go in, the worms would go out, the worms would play pinocchle on your snout...and I would still hate you. You should know why..." he responded quietly. "You know how I am. I am nothing if not determined to accomplish my goal...and this is the only one I've had so long to work towards. I couldn't let it disappear at once..."

"...Yes. Yes, I know just how you are, don't I..." A sigh. "I don't suppose you would give up just like that. Oh, you'd still go on even after you'd won, wouldn't you... So you are still planning on taking me down? Oh, then just get on with it and do so now. When I'm weak. When I'm...like this." He motioned around the room in a disgusted way. "If you're going to kill me, do so. If you're going to hurt me, do so. If you're going to ruin me, do so. You've the perfect opportunity."

"Kaiba, that would be...pointless. Why on earth I would...really, now, kicking you when you're down? Enjoyable as it would be, it would in no way be worth all the time and effort I have put into revenge attempts. To take you down at your weakest would be a pale vengeance."

"Hn." There went the chimes again by way of Seto making them ring. "Fine then. Besides your lovely little gift, is there anything else you want at this moment?"

"Not really, no," Siegfried said showly. "I...should get going, perhaps?" He stood up to leave. "If that's what you're asking, I mean..." he said, a slight tinge of hope barely evident in his voice.

"I really wish people would stop thinking I say or mean something that I didn't even say. My point is that if there's really nothing else, you could go. If there was, then by all means, stay. I'm not telling you to go." An eyebrow raised. "Or is it that you just want to stay?"

"It really doesn't matter to me," Siegfried said, expression and voice carefully emotionless. "Whichever you prefer, you know; you're the incapacitated one I'm visiting, and the decision lies very much with you..."

"I haven't wanted anyone here in the first place," he murmured. "You, I let you come only because you visiting intrigued me, as I never thought you'd want to. Not because I desired the company."
His arms flailed around a bit. "I've got people monitoring me twenty-four/seven, and they won't ever leave me the hell alone when I tell them to, damn it. Is it so wrong to want to be alone? Is it so wrong to want a little privacy now and then? Hell, just a few moments of complete loneliness...I could..."
He shook his head, arms flopping back to his sides again. "Whatever. You know, I just don't give a damn anymore, I just... I just don't, I can't."

"Ah. I suppose..that I ought to leave then..." Siegfried stood up. "That does seem to be what you're saying, and I really don't want to make you miserable at the moment. I suppose it's pity, or something like that, but it really doesn't matter to me."

A scoff. "Don't want to...heh..." He went into a small fit of dark laughter before it abruptly died down again. "Don't want to make me miserable now, do you? That's bullshit. Don't give me that. You'd rather see me squirm or in pain or even dead. But no, you have to go for the route of 'biding your time' and torture or whatever the hell it is you're waiting for and planning. I'm already miserable, don't you get that? I thought that was already a given. Damn it, nobody..." His voice dropped to something very quiet. "Nobody sees anymore."

"Nobody sees what anymore? I have absolutely no idea what you are talking about..." Siegfried said, arching an eyebrow. "Please clarify."
...I really SHOULD leave...but...I am not certain for now. Perhaps...it would be more better for me to...

Seto waved it off. "Nothing...nothing at all, Siegfried." That nothing in-particular was starting to look good again all of a sudden. "If you're going to leave, do it now, then."

Siegfried shifted slightly, then chose to sit down. "I am not certain which would be better at the moment, Kaiba. Perhaps I might as well stay here until you insist angrily that I leave at once. I have nothing better to do right now..." he lied.

"...All right..." he nodded in a resignated way. The windchimes softly played a tune as he constantly strung ha hand through, all the while keeping his eyes from the visitor. Why should he tell Siegfried anything? It's not like the guy was going to listen or care anyway.

Siegfried leaned back and merely watched his enemy with a look of slightly unnerved fascination. He didn't have anything to say at the moment, but he felt that saying anything would be nearly pointless. For now, he would watch his...whatever he was.

...Well, this was more than a little...what was it? Annoying? Sure, that would work. Disturbing? No, not quite it. Whatever the exact right word for very, very uncomfortable was, it was. "So...you're just planning on sitting there all day and watch me?"

"Pretty much, yes," Siegfried said nonchalantly. "That is, unless you have any objections..."
Mmm, and no doubt you will.
"In which case I'd be perfectly willing to leave, I suppose..."

"Oh, so the plan was just to annoy me until I forced you to leave? Brilliant, I must say. Not." Seto paused and listened to the wonderful sound some more before adding, "There wasn't a point to it at all, was there?"

"To...what?" Siegfried said skeptically. "A point to what?" He shrugged, leaning back in his seat. "Hn..." he murmured under his breath, "I'm sure you just want me to leave, anyways..."

"A point to you coming. A point to you staying. A point to you just sitting there right now." He waved about a hand. "Take your pick, one, two, all of 'em. There wasn't a point, right?"

"No, there wasn't," Siegfried said, sighing quietly. "No, for some reason, I managed to forget to bring my reason. I do wonder about that, but...it really is a bother, isn't it?"

Seto waited a moment, then felt a twitch. "Yes, a bother, quite. Are you leaving now? That would be nice, thanks. I'll just go back to doing absolutely nothing. Which I seem to be doing right now, too. Oh, fancy that."

"Very well," Siegfried said, snerking, "I suppose I might as well." He stood up, brushed himself off slightly, and headed for the door. Stopping there, he turned back and looked at his enemy, grinning. "No good-bye, Kaiba?"

"...You know, I'd come up with some scathing, snarky remark, but that'd be rude, considering you gave me this thing here. And the fact that I don't give much of a damn anymore. Or maybe I do but just don't want to." He was going to say more, but he really didn't feel like it. He never did feel like much of anything nowadays. Instead of getting pissy and argumental, he curled up on his side and decided the floor would be a nice change of something to stare at, still listening to the chimes.

"Hm. Well, I'll see you later, then, shall I...?" Siegfried said, smirking. "Get well soon, why don't you...? Wouldn't want you to grow old and die in that bed, would we?"

He kept his face surprisingly emotionless. "...Maybe..." An empty little smile that he wasn't sure where exactly it came from. "...Not," he added after a while. "Maybe not. Hn..."

"Mmm. Farewell, Kaiba~" Siegfried said, rather mocklingly, opening the door and slipping out, then closing it behind him.
...well. That was abso-bloody-lutely pointless... he reflected. But we'll see... he thought, as he set off to the exit, We'll see, with time...