.

Seto

I was thinking about it again. It had crept into my thoughts more and more lately. How she always left to go back to her own space until I had to call for her again. When I was busy I would go stretches without seeing her. When she stopped in, even for a few minutes, or whenever she spent the night, I felt so rejuvenated after. But it wasn't practical to have her continuously show up for five minute intervals, nor was it conducive to have her spend the night when I went home and crashed, only to wake up and leave again a few hours later. But those were more important times to have her, as she somehow acted as a recharge.

I recalled how back when she was having those migraines, I had no say in her doing something about it, and how much I hated it. I had earned her trust, her love, but even though it had been years, I still had no actual right to her. And it was bothering me. I now knew it was something I wanted.

As I realized this, I knew exactly how I would earn every privilege to her, but I still had major concerns about it - as I should. Since it crossed my mind so often, and since my mind mostly knew how to create things, I had started a small side project as an outlet for the ideas. A side project that was now becoming yet another instance where I was one step ahead, this time of myself.

"You ok in there, bro?" Mokuba asked, waving a hand in front of my face and bringing me back to my office.

"Yes, Mokuba," I responded. "I just have a lot on my mind." My phone rang and I hit speaker again. "What?"

"Sir, the jeweler is here to meet with you," my secretary informed.

"Excellent, send him in." I hung up, leaning my elbows on my desk and folding my hands before my face.

"Did she just say... jeweler?" Mokuba asked, confused. I didn't respond.

Soon the jeweler entered, nodding his head in greeting. It was the first time I had met with him in person. "Mr. Kaiba, nice to finally meet you."

Perhaps he was expecting me to stand up and shake his hand, but I only narrowed my eyes. "Do you have it?" I asked.

"Of course, yes," he answered, digging in his front pocket. Mokuba took it all in beside me in silence. "It's a beautiful design, sir," he complimented, extending the case to me. "I've spent my life designing jewelry for the finest people, and I have seen many designs, but this is by far one of the best pieces I've seen. I'm honored to be the one you asked to craft it." I accepted the case, sitting back and snapping it open as he concluded, "She must be a real gem, and obviously a very lucky lady." Whenever I heard the word 'gem' now, I immediately thought of Jem, then after a second my brain would reevaluate and correct itself.

I took the ring out of its case and examined it. "She is so much more than that," I told him off darkly whilst twirling the piece in my fingers.

"Right, of course I only meant-"

"And luck has nothing to do with it." I continued to turn the ring in my hands, giving him no reaction as I studied it.

"My apologies."

I had made careful considerations when designing it, such as how it would be proportional to her hand. I had started discretely paying attention to that finger whenever she was with me, and I was certain it would fit, and the stone was not so big it would overwhelm her hand. Knowing how the stars and city lights always enchanted her, I had also given a lot of consideration to how it would best catch the light. As I sat in my office, the slightly blue diamond split the afternoon rays even better than I expected it to. He had crafted the band to be on the thin side, yet filled with intricate metal workings that worked up to hold the stone, and were so detailed, she would always have the thrill to discover another. Finally, on the inside, the word 'treasure' was etched, because- she was my treasure. I wanted that to be established, but I wasn't much for sentimental moments and emotional disclosures. But this way, I would never have to say it once, but it would always be there, only to be revealed to her.

"This is precisely what I wanted." I acknowledged. "Do you have the designs for the other two?"

"Yes, just say the word and I will start on them immediately," he exhaled.

"Hm. My secretary will handle any more details of this transaction. You can go now."

"Yes, hopefully I will be seeing you again soon." I put the ring back in the case just as the door closed behind him.

Mokuba had been watching wide-eyed the whole time. "Seto, is that-"

"It's nothing, Mokuba," I answered, snapping the case shut.

"Nothing? Seto, I'm not a naïve little kid anymore. Credit me that." Dammit, he's right.

"I haven't even made a decision yet, Mokuba. I'm always one step ahead of everything, and this is no different, that's all," I tried to convince him, and myself.

"Oh, so you just designed a ring and had it custom made, just- because? Did you do it while you were bored during all that free time you have?" he refuted. I was trying to retain a sense in this whole process, and could not risk talking to Mokuba, who would easily have a winning argument.

"Mokuba, go help Yugi," I redirected. He sighed and turned to leave. "And Mokuba, I trust I don't have to tell you not to say a word about this."

"I know, Seto. I know," he replied dully, all too familiar with my antics.

I watched him walk out the door as I leaned an elbow on my armrest, the other hand outstretched and resting on the desk, holding the case. As soon as the door had closed, I glanced back down at my hand, opening the case again. Holding it, everything felt a little more real, but somewhat surprisingly, I did not feel scared, just closer to getting what I wanted.

Next Chapter: Breaking News

Then she stood up and began to walk out. I was silent as I watched her. When she placed her hand on the door, she glanced back at me, "I love you, Seto." Without another word, she was gone. I sat there for a few minutes, left to process what she had just told me.