Author's Note: Hi guys! Thanks so much for the warm reception on the first chapter and I hope you like this one! xx
Don't you take chances, you might feel the pain.
How many different countries had she lived in now? There was France mainly, Ireland for a little while, then China, followed by Belgium and Britain, and South Africa, Hong Kong, the USA and now Japan. Surely there were airlines that couldn't boast such extensive air-miles as she could. After spending a few months or so in each country, the girl had always returned to her home at the Ashbrook Estates in the south of France, but she wouldn't be doing that anymore.
With a heavy sigh, she glanced out the tinted windows of the limousine and watched the scenery pass outside, stifling a yawn as she did so. Almost thirteen hours on a plane tended to make one a bit jaded, more so when her internal clock had just received a shock. So if Japan was eight hours ahead of France and the flight had taken almost thirteen hours, then the time should be …
Her mind refused to come up with an answer; it merely shut down and thought of sleep. Such a mathematical sum was beyond her reach at this moment in time.
"Excuse me, driver …"
"Yes, Ms. Ashbrook?"
The middle-aged man driving the limousine looked into the rear-view mirror at the sound of her voice. Seeing his eyes looking at her, Kisara averted her gaze and felt the redness rushing to her cheeks in a bright blush. It was always the same; she'd blush for the smallest of things – it was the key reason her uncle ran the Estates; put her in front of a camera and she'd probably clam up completely, and that wouldn't reflect very well on her family's business. Increasingly uneasy under the kind driver's gaze, she wrung her hands together and kept her eyes on the vacant passenger chair as she stammered her words.
"I …umm, was wondering if … if you possibly had the time?"
"It's just gone two pm, Miss."
"Th-thank you."
With that little nod of her head, her she looked back out the tinted glass of the window; skyscrapers rose to impossible heights on each side of the road. One such building was still in the throes of construction on the left-hand side. Domino was a completely different world compared to the country estate she called home; this city was a concrete jungle with the constant sound of car horns and urban chatter.
The driver looked back to the road ahead, shifting down a few gears as they entered the crowded centre of Domino City. He felt pity for the young woman riding in the back, especially at seeing her blush so suddenly. As of two weeks ago, the whole world had been captivated by her name and that of his employer. An arranged marriage? He hadn't even believed such things still existed in modern days until Mokuba had mentioned it while hitching a ride into the city. The world had waited for two whole weeks with anticipation building and building. The television constantly aired press conferences featuring Seto Kaiba avoiding any mention of engagement. This evading had been the norm for all of his appearances up until a few days ago, when the KaibaCorp public-relations team had issued a statement announcing his engagement to Kisara Ashbrook … and all hell had broken loose in the media world.
Every second person walking around Domino City today was a journalist of some sort. Acquaintances of the Kaiba brothers had been plagued by reporters all day; from Duel Monsters champion and rival of Seto Kaiba, Yugi Muto, to Rebecca Hawkins; Mokuba Kaiba's young girlfriend. The airport had been crowded with news crews that had somehow heard of the young woman's arrival time. Lucky for the poor thing that KaibaCorp's security personnel had been awaiting her plane and had been at her side the moment of touchdown on Japanese soil.
"Why all the c-cameras?"
Her voice was barely audible above the shouts and calls outside the limo; they'd just pulled up at a red light and the large KC on the side of the vehicle had given away the identity of the passenger. Lights flashed outside the tinted windows, causing her to start back. Unsure if she had been musing to herself or questioning him, the limousine driver answered in a kind voice, not wanting to cause her to blush again.
"You, Ms. Ashbrook; your engagement to Mr. Kaiba has caused quite the stir over here in Japan. The whole world is interested now; surely you must have heard of this is France?"
The light turned green, the handbrake released and the limousine was moving away from the reporters. Engagement and marriage ... two words a girl was supposed to dream about her whole life, finding Mr. Perfect and getting to know everything about him. Then he'd drop down on one knee and ask the most important question of all. At least that was the way it was supposed to happen.
"I … I try not to p-pay attention to the, ummm, media back home. I'm sorry to ask, b-but … what is he like?"
"Mr. Kaiba?"
Only a nod of her head answered him, an intense blush taking over her cheeks. She was nothing more than a child really; his youngest daughter was older than her few years, and she was unmarried. The papers had quoted the young Ashbrook to be somewhat shy, but now he could see that was an understatement. The poor girl obviously wasn't used to the media attention her name was receiving.
"You just need to get to know each other a bit."
That was her uncle's intentions too and the whole reason she was now moving into the Kaiba Mansion; for her and her fiancé to get to know each other before the wedding. A wanly smile towards the driver and weak nod of the head before looking back down to the ring on her finger. The fourth finger on her left hand. White gold, with a magnificently-cut diamond set in the centre, a smaller diamond on each side of it. It had arrived yesterday, a KaibaCorp envoy personally delivering it to the chateau, announcing Seto Kaiba's participation in the marriage. She'd never had a choice; it was all up to him. If he had declined, then her family's estates would have been forfeited to the German Schroeders, along with certain aspects of KaibaCorp and her hand in marriage. Her uncle had watched the television set eagerly, tension building until all of the news stations had aired the press conference that had saved thousands of jobs, sealed her fate and would most likely ruin two lives.
"Ms. Ashbrook?"
She could hear the driver's voice, but her eyes refused to open; sleep seemed a much better option in her opinion. The jetlag had captured her without a warning and Kisara could think of nothing but getting some rest.
"Kisara?"
The voice was different; younger than the driver's. Sleep rapidly dissipated when she realized that the limo had stopped moving. The dark blue eyes flickered open to find violet ones staring back down at her, amusement in their depths. A deep blush surfaced on her cheeks once more as she discerned she had fallen asleep in the limo.
"I … I'm terribly sorry-"
"Don't be; you must be exhausted after that flight."
The younger voice was speaking again, half-laughing as he took her hand and helped her out of the limousine. It was only as she stood and faced the youth that Kisara recognised him.
"You're …"
"Yup, I'm Mokuba; the other Kaiba brother."
His smile was one of acceptance, as though used to the title. Feeling her blush receding slightly, Kisara turned around and looked to the Kaiba Mansion; her new home. And what a home it looked to be; an elegant set of stone steps leading up to grand double doors made of dark wood. Though not as visually aesthetic as the family chateau she knew so well, the Kaiba Mansion was a whole new world to her.
"Want to take a look inside?"
The purple eyes were looking to her again, an elbow offered in her direction and an eyebrow rose inquisitively. Still blushing, she nodded and timidly took the teenager's arm as he led her up the steps to the front door of the mansion. There was something about Mokuba she immediately liked; maybe it was his affable attitude or that guileless smile.
"Seto is a bit caught up at KaibaCorp but he should be home soon."
Mokuba scratched the back of his head and offered a guilty excuse for his brother's absence; truth be told some idiot hologram technician had almost blown up the main development lab and Seto was most likely firing the dolt. But that didn't matter. Pushing through the front door, the teen flashed a grin and led the way across the threshold.
"Anyways, I'm here to give you the grand tour instead!"
Fighting a blush, Kisara smiled at Mokuba's animated actions and looked around the wide room; the foyer was huge. A grand staircase led to the upper floor, wide enough to stand five people side-by-side. The marble floor seemed to give the room more depth as her footsteps echoed off it and reverberated off the walls. Hallways led every which way, with closed doors facing her. It was all very overwhelming; the chateau was open plan with huge rooms, stone walls and floors, not this maze.
"It's okay; you'll get the hang of this place soon enough, Kisara."
Despite his words, Mokuba noticed she still seemed a bit lost so he approached the first door and opened it wide to show the room behind.
"See; first door equals living room with a huge TV, normally you can find this room because I forget to switch the television off. When you come out of here hang a left and straight on to the kitchen, and those are the two most important rooms in the house. You got a phone?"
She was smiling as she handed over her silver phone, amused at the teenager's description of his own home. She was taken aback at his forward friendliness; she was a stranger and intruding into his home and life. A few more seconds and Mokuba had handed back the phone.
"Now you have my number so if you want to know where a room is call or text me; it also works if you get lost in here."
Kisara found she couldn't help but giggle then; the kid was really putting her at ease with all his smiles and easy conversation. Feigning a frown, Mokuba shook his head and winked.
"It's not a joke; I still get lost in this place, just ask Seto."
"He's getting better; it only happens once a month nowadays."
Starting as a third voice entered the fray, Kisara turned on the spot. A blush immediately set her cheeks aflame as she saw who was standing in the open doorway. He was tall with brown hair and blue eyes, both handsome and intimidating. This was Seto Kaiba, the man she would be marrying.
A/n- Thanks again for taking the time to read guys! xxx
2nd Revision - 12/January/2011
3rd Revision – 18/June/2015
4th Revision – 17/May/2016. A few unneeded lines and adverbs deleted to better streamline the chapter.