Chapter 3 shattered ice

Oceana looked out the window from her perch up in the attic. From her point of view she could make out what the adults had called 'the playground'. She could see all the children outside, playing in the mud from the rain the previous day.

She could see Aiaka, Miro, Natsumi… She could see everyone… except the two boys. Oceana pressed her face up against the window. She couldn't see the two brothers who'd come out the other day. For the first time since the accident she wanted to see someone. She wanted to see them!

At first she tried to ignore it. She'd learned that nothing good comes from getting close to people, but her desire to see the two overpowered her better judgment.

Oceana had been in the orphanage for almost a year, but she didn't know her way around. Probably a result of her time spent in the attic. It took her more time than she'd thought it would take for her to find the two.

The brothers were in there over crowded bed room. The older of the two was in one bed coughing, the younger was sitting in another bed watching his brother. He didn't notice Oceana enter.

Oceana stood by the door and stared at the two. The older one had caught a cold trying to get her to come inside. It was his fault for coming out while the clouds were crying.

"Big brother…?" Oceana just watched. The little one was very worried about the older one. There were other siblings at the orphanage but they just fought one another, these two loved each other. It was so sweet. It seemed just like what things were like when Crystal was alive.

The older of the two coughed and opened his eyes. He was facing the wrong way to see his younger brother, instead his gaze looked with Oceana's. His ocean blue eyes stared in to her pale blue eyes. It was then that Mokuba noticed that Oceana had entered the room.

"You're… that girl who was out in the rain!" Oceana stared at the littler one for a moment, the boy started to look nervous. Oceana nodded.

Seto held his hand out from his bed "Oceana I-" he coughed "I'm Seto…" Oceana looked at his hand for a minute. He and his brother clearly loved each other more than most siblings did, just like Crystal…

Seto figured she wouldn't take his hand. He was sick and either way she seemed a little… different. So he was surprised when she suddenly took it "I am Oceana Connors. Nice to meet you Seto."

Seto smiled he started to say something but was thrown into a rough coughing fit. "You should sleep. Some people don't do that well in bad weather." Oceana smiled at Seto and left the room.

Seto smiled back and watched her exit with an unearthly grace.

OOOO

"STOP!" Seto stood in front of Mokuba, guarding him from Itachi, the new bully who'd arrived at the orphanage while he was still sick. It was only his first day out of bead but nothing would stop him from standing up for the last of his family.

Itachi took one look at him and laughed "You're that sick kid right? Man, what a joke!" Seto knew it wasn't a good idea to pick a fight with a kid two feet taller than him and at least five years older, especially because he hadn't completely recovered from his fever yet, but he wanted to defend his brother

Itachi laughed again and shoved Seto into Mokuba. "LEAVE THEM ALONE!" everyone looked around trying to find the source of the unfamiliar voice.

"WHA-?"

Everyone looked at what Aiaka had pointed too. An infuriated looking Oceana was making her way towards Itachi. "Leave them alone… or answer to me!" The other kids were amazed. Oceana never talked, let alone threatened. They'd never seen her mad either, just depressed.

Itachi collapsed in hysteric laughter "You're… gonna get… me?" he managed to say between laughing "What could… you… do to… me?" He stood back up still laughing a little and grabbed Oceana by the collar of her shirt. She did nothing to resist, simply let him pull her up close.

Seto watched horrified. He let out a cough as Itachi pulled her closer. She would be crushed! He'd destroy her! She'd be mashed up, and ground into little pieces and… kick him in the groin? Yes, Oceana had just chosen to kick Itachi in one of his most sensitive places.

Everyone let out a gasp as the toughest kid at the orphanage went down. There was a thud as he hit the ground, cringing in pain.

Oceana ran over to help Seto and Mokuba (who she had managed to learn the name of) up. "Are you okay?"

Seto nodded "Why did you… you could have been…"

Oceana just smiled and turned to walk away. Before she entered the building she looked back "'Cuzz you're nice." She looked up at the rain clouds collecting in the sky "Just like… Crystal…" She went inside, leaving the other children to wonder what had happened.

Author's note: Yes. I am well aware of the fact that these chapters are short. This way I can finish them quicker!

Now, what was I gonna say? Here: 1) If you want to know who Crystal is, read the next chapter. 2) Oceana's name is pronounced Oh-sea-ah-nuh. 3) There wont be a flash forward 'till Kaiba's adopted, don't ask when that happens.