AN) I own nothing but my OC. Sorry for the delay in updating, I was working on my other story which I also just updated. Enjoy and please review and follow if you like and there will be more where this came from.
Chapter Four
Aliyah's POV
Blood. Everywhere my hands touched blood seeped across the floor, walls, what was left of them at least. I crawled around aimlessly scooting across the cold marble floor smearing more of the crimson liquid across myself leaving a slimy sensation as I shivered. Not from cold, the summer air even at night was hot, and the blood was still fresh, warm.
My wrists trembled under the weight of my own body, and I slumped in defeat with an earsplitting thud as my head smashed against the floor.
"Seto…Atem…" I gasped as I reached forward hopelessly.
Honestly, they were nowhere in sight, still yards away next to the throne and I silently cursed the grandness of the throne room. My fingers brushed against something warm, and I felt a surge of energy wash over me.
I grasped the millennium rose tightly and heaved myself up onto my shaky legs. I was soaked from head to toe in red and was grateful when thunder clouds rushed overhead nearly at my demand. I was more in control now with my rose at my side. I could feel my emotions under control, and a fierce determination replaced my sorrow and fear. Only the blinking anger stayed.
I faced forward and surveyed the massacre before me. The blood stretched across the entire room nearly no floor left clean.
Bodies lied scattered and torn to pieces; I spotted Atem stumbling to his feet near the throne. Most of his gold jewelry had fallen off, and his clothes were torn. The wind blew through the ruined walls of the throne room and billowed through his chaotic hair. He scowled towards the enemy and touched the puzzle that still hung around his neck.
Bakura smirked as he faced Atem. And I was once again hit with a wave of deep-rooted anger toward the bastard. I tried to pretend that it had nothing to do with his betrayal and that he had always been this evil monster, but I shook my head knowing that was a lie. I knew this day was going to come, he chose this path after all, but a tiny part of me wished that he was still the same boy he had been when we were kids.
Something touched my shoulder ever so gently but alarm bells were already ringing in my mind, and I spun swinging the Rose as hard as I could. The sharp petals served as a decent weapon when I was rendered powerless or too in a range of my attackers.
I hadn't even had time to react as I watched one sharp blade like golden petal sink into the shoulder of my husband.
Seto's eyes widened in shock, and he opened his mouth to speak only for blood to rush up his throat and out of his mouth in a little river. He gargled as he began to fall forward into my shocked arms. I screamed, and all was black as Bakura maniacal laughter filled my mind.
Tears dripped down my cold face, and I had no control as I shot forward and grabbed the blankets I was tangled in and screamed at the top of my lungs, followed by several sharp gasps as I tried to regain my control. After a moment my gasps became sobs, and my whole frame shook violently under there wake.
I was dimly aware of the lights coming on, and I could feel the ghost of touch against my shoulders, but I was so deep into my mind that I could not understand these external senses. I counted to seven thousand and thirty-eight before my sobs ebbed into shallow intakes of breath, I took note of each thought as I came back into control of myself. It was a painfully slow process to force myself to function when I was having such a severe anxiety attack. It was nearly impossible to rein my emotions in. First I could hear a familiar voice half panicked and half soothing but couldn't quite make out the words out over my blubbering, and eventually, that stopped. Soon after I could feel the warmth of touch again my sticky, sweaty skin as someone was rubbing circles on my shoulder.
Then sometime later, I could see, once the room stopped spinning and the lights became brighter. I could see Marik's worried face; he had circles under his eyes and looked exhausted.
Another ten minutes of this awkward exchange as we stared at each other and I found myself willing to speak. He sat silently while he waited.
"I'm sorry to be a burden," I said as I shifted my eyes down, I was fully aware of the fool I just made of myself. I knew how bad my panic attacks could be and especially after that dream… a chill rolled down my spine at the thought. He cracked a bewildered smile and rose an eyebrow inquisitively at me.
"That's what you're worried about?" he chuckled and removed his hand that was still on my shoulder. I moved a comfortable three inches away from him, but he did not comment on my actions.
"On a serious note princess, are you okay?" He asked looking deeply into my eyes, and I sighed. Might as well get this over with, it was bound to happen again.
"I had a nightmare. Then I had an anxiety attack. But I've learned how to… cope I guess." I said with a shrug even as my stomach pinched uncomfortably at the calm tone I had used. His brow wrinkled together a fraction.
"If that's what you call coping." He finally said and shook his head making his dusty golden locks bounce ever so slightly. I bit my lip too tight and started putting more focus on my breathing. He sat dutifully beside me.
"Do you want to talk about it?" He asked, and I shifted bringing my knees to my chest.
"Not really. Where is Ishizu?" I asked to change the subject. I was begging to get anxious just because I had been alone with him for so long now.
"If she has any sense she's sleeping." He laughed dryly. Smirked slightly but it was empty of humor.
"That bad?" I asked peeking up at him through my blonde bangs. He nodded and I sighed and looked at the watch on my wrist was four thirty in the morning. God only knows how long my episode lasted.
"I think you should call Kaiba." He said bluntly, and it caught me off guard. I made a face unsure of the flutter of nerves his mentioning caused in my gut.
"It's none of your business." I barked crossing my arms over my chest and glared. He smirked before he stood and stretched offering a hand to help me stand. Knowing I would get no more sleep I accepted his offer.
"At any rate, you kept saying his name. For a minute there when I first ran in the room and found you screaming, you thought I was him. You grabbed at me and then started sobbing." He said looking out the store window. My jaw snapped shut, of course, I had.
"I can't," I admitted so quietly I wasn't sure he heard me until he turned to watch me and I inspected the floor. He sighed when he looked back out the window at the star-filled sky. Far across the horizon were pink lines as the sun began to peek over the dunes.
" Not so long ago I made the wrong choice. Regret is far worse than the fear." He said just as quiet, and I watched his back and stared at the intricate pattern of his tattoos. Just when I thought he wasn't going to elaborate, he turned with a sheepish, guilty look, and I didn't understand the apology in his gaze.
" I spent my whole life here, in Egypt and back then we didn't live in a house like this. We lived in underground temples near the tomb of the pharaoh. I had never seen the outside world, until one day Ishizu and I snuck out, or rather I snuck out, and she followed me to try and convince me to come home. But I was enthralled by the world, the people and the market. I saw a TV for the first time. All of it was so brilliant. I didn't understand back then how important my duty was. And I got the idea that I had been robbed of a proper childhood, in the sun, and with people. Perhaps I had been robbed, but I let resentments fill my heart." He frowned, and a profound sorrow etched into his whole face making him look years older than he was. One of his hands snaked around his shoulder to trace over the ink there before he continued.
"When my father found out we had been outside he was furious. But our older brother Odin took the blame. Father killed him as a punishment for me allowing him to lie, and you have to understand we were of the old ways. We had a mission from the Gods to protect the royal family and the millennium items, but I was too young to understand any of that. All I knew was it was my fault that my brother was dead. I was given the mark of my family that very night, and I was completely informed of the prophecy and the past. When Ishizu was given the millennium necklace, and I was not chosen, I grew enraged. I stole the millennium rod before Ishizu was planning to give it to Kaiba." He said the sheepish look returning and I gasped surprised at the territorial feelings that swelled through me.
"But Seto cursed the rod so that any man who took it upon his death would go mad." I pointed out matter o factly. His eyes widened in thought as he nodded.
"That explains a hell of a lot. I was possessed in a way by an evil spirit that I thought invaded the rod, but perhaps it was just the priest's maddening curse. This darkness led me to destroy the world and the Pharoah nearly, but he managed to win and ripped the darkness from myself and the rod. Only then was I able to see the destruction my choices had brought. I am lucky that Ishizu has been so very forgiving with me." He muttered the last part, and I gave him a moment to think as I absorbed what the point was. As if reading my thoughts he answered my unspoken question.
" Anyways, I choose to fight against my destiny once. I do agree with Kaiba, some of our choices are up to us, and we can defiantly create our destinies and walk whatever path we desire. Most people spend their whole lives trying to find their places in the world, But when you already know what you need to do, and the path is laid right before you why would you choose to take a harder path? I mean why build a desk blind when you have an instruction manual, you know?" He said giving me a very pointed look, and I gasped at what he was saying and chewed over it.
If I knew that seeing Seto again, and finding Atem was the next step then why was I hesitating? I logically knew I had no other option and that delaying was pointless. I was procrastinating because I was afraid of dealing with the pain it would bring up, but my nightmares were doing that just fine. I nodded slightly to myself, once having made up my mind feeling most of the anxiety melt away. As usual, I panicked over the decision, not the outcome.
He yawned, and I smiled slightly deciding that Marik had passed my initial judgment. He was alright, as any guy is I suppose.
"Thank you," I said, and he shrugged and mumbled about getting a few hours of sleep before Ishizu woke him up and I apologized once more only for him to shrug me off.
He retreated to his room leaving me sitting quietly in the edge of my bed with my thoughts. So I would call him then.
I pulled out my phone and looked at the time again. It was now five ten. Making it two pm in Japan if I remember correctly it was nine hours ahead. Seeing that as best a time as any I sighed and dialed the number before taking a deep breath and holding the phone to my ear. After the third ring, he answered barking out a raspy and irritated,
"Hello?" I gulped at the harshness but took a deep breath before I spoke.
"Seto." I listened quietly and counted to five before he took a deep breath himself and spoke.
"Aliyah… is that you?" He asked quietly, and I heard him shift the phone around. I nodded and then mentally smacked myself for not realizing he couldn't see me before I checked out a low yes.
"I can't believe, I mean are you okay? Where are you?" His voice was much softer now almost like he was whispering but not entirely. It was a much different tone than when he had answered. My stomach twisted uncomfortably, and I forced down the warmth that the sound of his voice caused.
"I'm okay. I'm in Egypt." I said and bit the inside of my cheek. This conversation wasn't even that bad, and I still felt like I was in a roller coaster.
Part of me wanted to cry and tell him beautiful things that had waited five thousand years, part of me wanted to yell at him for abandoning me, but the most significant part just wanted to hang up and run away.
"Can I come to get you?" He asked, and it almost sounded pleading. I closed my eyes. This is inevitably what I wanted right? But why couldn't anything ever run on my time? The world always moved too damn fast, and it was hard to handle most of the time.
"Please. " He continued, and I sighed again. Of course, I would let him get me. What choice did I have, and I did want this anyways. I didn't know how to handle the way I felt.
"Okay. I'm with Ishizu." I said assuming he would know where to find me from that alone he didn't question me for directions or an address, so I thought my assumption was correct.
"Seto, I just… I need time okay?" I muttered feeling few tears slip down.
I knew I didn't have to elaborate; he understood that I meant I needed time before we talked about it. About us.
Now that he had his memories he had to know what I had done to him, as children I had thought foolishly that as long as he stayed in the dark, we could be friends.
I was surprised he didn't hate me, but I wasn't convinced he didn't yet. After all, I deserved that much anyways I was a monster. He didn't answer; instead, he took another breath.
" Do you still want me to come to get you?" He asked in a monotonous voice. But I could pick the sadness out from underneath the tone, and the intensity of it floored me. I tried to picture him as I had seen him in the belly of the beast when we were trapped, but all I could make up in my mind was his slightly chubby cheeks and bright smiling face of his ten-year-old self.
"Yes, I don't want you to misunderstand. I'm not ready to deal with the past, or the distant past because I'm just not capable yet. I don't want to disappoint you, but I've brokenI'm broken somehow and I just… I just…" I couldn't finish as I started to completely dry heave with the occasionally broken sob. He didn't speak, probably unsure what to do over the phone. After a moment he cleared his throat, and I swallowed the last sob.
"I am sorry about the past; I'm sorry I abandoned you. But I don't consider you to be broken, just damaged. Trust me when I say that I am in no better condition. I've come to a Point where I don't want to be alone anymore before I had my memories returned. And now it goes deeper than that because I know I belong with you. A year ago I would have laughed at the thought of Egypt, of me having some predestined future. I thought I was always going to be alone; I didn't believe in Soulmates or magic. I believed in facts, and I still do. It is a fact that I love you Ayla, Aliyah… if you're not ready then that's okay I want to see you. I want to know you're okay and be there for you. I don't need more than that; just you are enough. All the broken pieces." He said, and I found myself surprised by the wave of nostalgia that washed over me at his repeat of something he said to me when we were kids about me being enough as I was. I chuckled a little, and I heard him sigh in content on the other end.
"Okay," I whispered, and he returned the chuckle but didn't ask me to elaborate. I was sure we would end up having more conversations about this later and if I knew him as impatient as he is sooner rather than later.
"I'll be there before the sun sets tomorrow." He said his voice was slipping back into an almost business-like tone. My stomach flipped uncomfortably at the thought of seeing him so soon.
"I can't wait," I said trying to sound excited and failing miserably even though a good portion of me was internally thrilled that I would be seeing him I had always been and would still be far too socially awkward to get my feelings across. I heard him chuckle and the phone shifted around again.
"Ally…" he asked as if he thought I wasn't there anymore. I replied with a soft yes.
"I missed you." He admitted, and I could hear his discomfort to his declaration. I don't remember either of us being, so award in Egypt; both of us held authority and power and were leaders back then. Funny how much things had changed.
"I know. Me too." I sighed and clung to the phone as overwhelming waves of sorrow washed over me, and I felt lost in the regret of so much wasted time between us. I had known even the first time Seto found me in the woods who he was and what we were also if I had been in denial. For two years in the orphanage, I had pushed him away, too scared to be close. Even now the thought of letting anyone in my life even Seto was petrifying. I had spent so very long making sure that I stayed in my lonely bubble. I didn't know how to let someone in.
"I have to go, Aliyah, I have to speak to my pilot, but I will see you soon." He said, and I sighed as I heard him hang up.
I stood perfectly still processing what just happened.
To my surprise, a bright smile managed to sneak it's way up onto my mouth. The twisting in my stomach turned to a flutter of butterfly's, and in a girlish impulse I couldn't entirely control I pulled my arms together, and I made one gleeful yet shill squeal.
"Good morning Princess. It is nice to see you in better spirits." Ishizu startled me by saying behind me in the still open door frame. My face grew hot, but I frowned at my behavior, I didn't act like that. Like some silly over-hyper kid.
"Did I wake you? I'm so sorry!" I said sheepishly as she shook her head.
"No, I am usually up with the rising of the sun. I was correct to give you privacy this morning then?" she questioned giving me a knowing look, and I smiled in thanks while nodding my head.
"Seto will be here sometime tomorrow evening," I replied as she leads me to the kitchen where I could see she already had breakfast ready. It was an American breakfast, and I found myself genuinely hungry again today, but because I was comatose for nearly two weeks, I didn't see it odd.
She handed me an empty plate and instructed me to eat my fill as she disappeared down the hall while I choose scrambled eggs and bacon with a biscuit even though I was sure I couldn't finish all of the food I choose.
She returned with Marik in tow looking disgruntled, and I frowned.
"I'm sorry." I mouthed as his locked eyes with me. He waved me off and started to make a plate twice the size of my own.
Ishizu excused herself saying she had already eaten and disappeared again.
"Don't worry about her. If she eats anything besides vegetables, she gains weight like crazy. I bet she ate celery for breakfast." He laughed as he shoveled a whole piece of bacon in his mouth and moaned.
"I never get to have bacon. God, you should come over more often." He sighed making me chuckle a laugh of my own.
I kept waiting for the sadness to creep back up my spine and overwhelm me, but it didn't. Maybe I was just too excited over seeing Seto and getting to meet my brother for the first time in five thousand years. But there was an uncharacteristically bright yet small smile that I couldn't seem to shake off my face.
After breakfast, Ishizu returned to find Marik and me in the living room. Somehow he had convinced me to play his video game Skyrim. I was awful at it. But it was making us both laugh, and I realized that I liked Marik, not like that. Not like with Seto but for lack of better words he was pretty cool.
Ishizu grinned at us, and I sat the controller down as I noticed her arms were full of bags.
"There's a mall in Egypt?" I asked flabbergasted, and she smirked as she set everything down and stretched her arms above her head.
" In Cairo yes, it's only a hop skip and a beat when you use a portal." She said with a devious glint making my eyes widen.
"Hey, that's not fair! You're not supposed to use your shadow magic like that.." Marik yelled as he stood up and crossed his arms over his exposed stomach. He looked silly in his tee shirt that was way too short and all the golden bands adorning his arms.
"I can make the decision when my skills are fruitless and when it is worth the risk." She criticized and reached her arm out to flick his forehead with her fingers. He pouted looking like a petulant child.
"I got you a few things. Your bag was mostly destroyed as well as the clothes you came in and I assumed you didn't want to be wearing something so grandiose." She said with a flick of her wrist towards the lavender priestess robe she had leaned me.
I glanced at myself, and though I looked rather good with the flowing silk clinging to my body in flattering ways I wasn't used too it was somewhat pretentious.
Realizing this I smiled in genuine gratitude as I stepped towards the bags that Marik was already grabbing to carry into my temporary room for me.
We walked into the room, and he dropped the bags on the bed and began pilfering through them shamelessly.
"Nosy much?" I said nudging him over so that I could see for myself. I was shocked to see that not only did she know what size clothes I wore but also had picked out several things I liked.
I grabbed a black shirt and a pair of faded light blue jeans. Marik eyed my choice and shook his head as he pulled out a tight-fitting purple tank top that had a lighter shade of violet lace embellishing the hem of the bottom and the top.
"No," I said turning pale, that was way too much skin to show off, it would be way also form fitting.
"Aww, why not? I bet Kaiba would think you looked good. Come on trust me. I have an impeccable fashion sense." He said putting a hand on his hip and shoved the fabric into my hands.
"Really?" I asked incredulously looking at his wire outfit.
"Wear it tomorrow; if you hate it, you can put on whatever you want. Besides, you owe me." He gave me a pointed look. I groaned in defeat laid the outfit down on the edge of my bed. The rest of my day went by quickly in my excited state.
Seto's POV
The plane ride had been an awful fifteen and a half hours. Most of which I spent on the phone with first the airport in Cairo to clear my private jets landing privileges. They weren't happy about the short notice especially with everything that had been happening in the world lately, but I had enough money to make anyone do anything without really scratching the surface — one of the many perks of being a Kaiba. Then I had called a hotel and booked it for two nights, unsure what condition she would be in when I got there, and finally, I had rented a car so that I would be able to get to Ishizu's as fast as possible.
When I was done, I poured myself a drink, only one, to calm my nerves and checked the time. It was five PM now that I was in a new time zone, but to me, it was much later than that and I could feel the beginnings of jet lag setting in.
I didn't know what to expect when I saw her or how I would act, the last time I saw her we were just kids, and she had been so shut off that it was nearly impossible to get in her head and for her to trust you. But I had managed, and in Egypt, she had been entirely different, confident and proud. But it was no question to me; I loved her no matter who she was.
I pulled out my phone and texted what I assumed was her phone. It was a simple text that contained none of my excitement.
'I will be there in two hours.'
This was after, of course, I typed out three different texts and deleted them before I had gained the courage to hit send. Things my calculating mind were too embarrassed to analyze.
An hour later the pilot announced that we were about to land and I hooked my seat belt back on and waited patiently as my insides bubbled. Even if I was perfectly cool and calm on the surface, I was a typhoon of unfamiliar emotions underneath.
When the small jet, not my blue eyes jet, of course, it was too small landed, I met the pilot outside and paid him. I told him we would either depart tomorrow or the next day but to rest and he bowed as he left to go to the hotel room I had gotten for him to stay in. Not as nice as my own of course but still first class.
My car was already waiting for me at the airport, and I wagered whether or not I needed to stop by the hotel room first an decided against it. As I drove, I Texted Mokuba to let him know that I made it safely and I would call him when he got up for school.
When I found myself outside of the Ishtar home, I parked the car but didn't move. I took a series of deep breaths to try and calm myself wishing that I had a better handle on my emotions right now. I had spent too much of my life, ever since I escaped the orphanage hiding my feelings and though I didn't want to be that way with Aliyah anymore than I liked giving Mokuba the cold shoulder I didn't know how to step outside of my comfort zone and most of the time I found myself stuck under a thick layer of ice.
After seven minutes of sitting in the car, I set my shoulders and decided it was now or never. As I opened the door and stepped outside, I saw Ishizu walk out of the small house. She stood stoic as ever with her smug smile, and I groaned. I wasn't particularly fond of her.
"Ishizu." I greeted curtly with a stiff nod of my head. She eyed the Millennium rod strapped to my belt before her smirk widened.
"It is nice to see you once more priest." She greeted chuckling. I narrowed my eyes but did not comment. What would be the point in wasting my breath arguing the obvious truth?
"Aliyah?" I asked losing my patience as I tried to look behind her. She moved aside and motioned me into her home, and I was surprised at how nice it was on the inside. I guess her gig at the museum had paid well if the lavish decorations and pleasant ambiance were any indicators.
She led me into the living room quietly and stood to the side once we entered. I saw Marik as he turned and grinned his crazy grin with an irksome mischievous glint in his violet eyes.
"Ishtar." I nodded back at him. He took three steps out of the way then and there she was.
She turned with widened crimson eyes and her mouth piped open ever so slightly in surprise. I watched as her gaze drifted from my face down and quickly back into my eyes. I wondered idly if she liked what she saw, disturbed by my silly thoughts.
I found myself following her lead as I checked her appearance, to make sure she was indeed okay of course, I reasoned.
She was wearing a deep purple camisole with lacy fringe across her chest and along the bottom hem, and a tight-fitting pair of faded jeans and skateboarding shoes much like the style Mokuba wore except hers were black and neon colors. She was dressed simply, but she looked terrific, the purple brought out the exotic highlights in her hair which flowed down to her mid back in tousled waves while her soft golden bangs swept over the left side of her face and cascaded like liquid gold across her shoulder begging for me to reach out and touch. I restrained myself of course.
I opened my mouth to greet her, but no words came out while I gaped at her in a very un-Kaiba manner. It wasn't that I was shocked silly, just I hadn't expected her to look so… womanly. Sure I had a good memory of what she had looked like in the past, just as beautiful as she was now but in a different way. She was edgy now, she had an air about her that was unlike her former self, and I struggled to come up with the words in my head to describe it.
"Seto…" She whispered drawing me out of my reverie. Her shock had melted into sadness while I had been thinking and I blanched at by the sight of her doe-like orbs and pouted biting her lip and twisting her hands in front of her nervously.
I don't remember what I had planned to say or what I intended to do but the sight of her naturally plump puckered lips as she frowned ceased all thought, and in a decidedly bold move I took the three long strides to stop directly in front of her. I wrapped my arms quickly around her waist and pulled her off of the ground in a bone-crushing hug.
For a second she was frozen, but soon she buried her face into the tender spot behind my ear and wove her arms around my neck. I heard her give the smallest sigh of content.
"I missed you." She eventually said in a soft tone as I sat her down. I realized the room had been cleared, the Ishtar siblings giving us a moment of privacy and I was secretly grateful for that as I watched her intently.
Her nervousness returned as she started to fidget again. I could have teased her if I wasn't feeling much the same under my stoic façade.
"Are you okay?" I asked as I pulled her towards the offered couch behind us. She sat with me and blew a lock of her hair out of her face making it flow slowly to the side in a soft glimmer.
"I'm okay just a few bruised ribs and one hell of a sunburn. Luckily I tan quickly." She joked, she was indeed very tan, and I knew it was from being out in this blistering sun. Truth be told I was enjoying the feeling of warmth on my skin from being back in the desert once again, but I knew I was far too pale from countless hours spend inside in front of my computer programing if I spent too much time out in this head I also would have a sunburn. Not something I was looking forward to.
"Are you sure your ribs aren't broken?" I asked reaching a hand out to brush her arm but stopping when she flinched away.
"I'm sure. I know the difference." She muttered looking away and ending the discussion. I frowned at the thought.
"When we return to Domino we will need to figure out a few things." I shifted the conversation to more business-like matters glad that her defensiveness melted a little bit.
"Like what?" she asked sounding surprised as she looked at her lap and began pulling off invisible lint.
"Well have you graduated school yet?" I questioned starting with the most comfortable topic; she was still seventeen after all. She grinned.
"I was able to take summer school for the last two years to get ahead. I graduated a year early so no more school for me." She grinned sounding rather pleased with herself; I'm sure she was as proud of her hard work as I found myself to be. Having graduated early myself, I knew what it took to get ahead.
"Okay, well I think the next thing we have to worry about is where you will live." I punctuated each word slowly glancing into her eyes and feeling my stomach tighten in anticipation of her answer.
"Well, it is defiantly going to take me some time to get on my feet. I have a little bit of money but not enough to afford an apartment in Domino by myself yet. I'll have to get a job pretty quick, but I'll be okay until then. There is no reason for you to have to worry about that." She began to chew one of her nails when she finished, and I recognized most of the signs that she was way more anxious than she was letting on.
"You can stay with me you know," I added my voice was sounding off and uncomfortable with the declaration. A blush spread to her cheeks.
"Seto, I told you I need time to… sort out my thoughts before I can…" She didn't finish her sentence, and I found myself wishing I knew what she wanted from me in the end. I didn't want to let myself believe it could ever be more than this just in case it never was.
"I don't mean like that. You would have your room, you wouldn't have to worry about rent or food, and I could even help you get a job if you insist though it really wouldn't be necessary. I can more than provide for you." I offered to shift to open my palms up to her, wanting to touch her and hating having to resist. Seto Kaiba took what he wanted, but this situation was a little more delicate than that.
Her eyes narrowed slightly as she tumbled my idea around and I prepared myself for the onslaught of her anger. I was ready for this reaction, remembering she would be quick to temper quite like myself when she was put on the spot.
"Look I don't need you to or anyone to take care of me. I'm not some charity case." She demanded to huff and to cross her arms as she looked away. I sighed.
"I know that. You're family." I said forcing out the words that made me uncomfortable. I genuinely didn't like to step out of my comfort zone for just anyone. Her sudden anger melted away but she didn't return her gaze, she just put her arms back down.
"I don't want to be a burden on you. I've always been on my own; it's better that way." She spoke so quietly, at first I wasn't sure she had spoken at all, and it was my imagination, if not for the way she bit her lip as she kept her gaze averted I would have thought I had.
Her words floored me, and I found myself reaching forward and gently and slowly grabbing her chin to turn her back to look at me. I could see tears fighting under the surface of her eyes. I held her gaze for a few moments before I spoke.
"You never have, and will never be a burden to me Aliyah. If I had it my way you would never leave my side again, and it's not often things don't go my way." I smirked trying to diffuse her anxiety. She didn't look away, perhaps as mesmerized by this moment as I was and I found myself desperately wanting to lean down and gap the short distance so that I could capture her plump lips against my own, but I restrained myself.
"Do you want me to leave you alone?" I asked after a minute, to make sure she knew the option was there. I wasn't going to force her to stay with me. If she wanted I would gladly buy her an apartment, or take her to the game shop as long as they had the room.
I could see even as she tried to disguise the fear that crossed her eyes, and I knew no matter what she said alone was the last thing she wanted to be.
"No." She chirped and rubbed one of her arms as if she were cold, but I knew that couldn't be the case. It was sweltering here.
"Then it is settled. I'll call Mokuba and have him get the maids to prepare a bedroom for you to stay in." I said glad to have the issue resolved.
"Are you sure?" she asked quietly. I realized my hand was still on her chin and I released her quickly.
"Of course." I sighed softly.
"I'll pay you back once I get a job." She confirmed the corners of her mouth were turning up ever so slightly.
"There is no need. You'll see when we get there. I have more money than I know what to do with." I joked completely serious. She arched one delicate brow but didn't say anything, and I knew she must have a hard time imagining that much money.
"Fine." She finally agreed, but I saw her relax a little. After a few seconds, she placed her warm hand over my own stiffly. I looked up at her but she was turned away with a distant look, and I was reminded of a much younger Ally, from my childhood. One day I was going to wipe that look off of her face forever.
We grew quiet then, both reflecting on our thoughts until Marik came in carrying an adornment of bags. He sat them down at her feet, and she grinned up at him letting go of my hand too fast.
"Thanks." She said as she stood up and just like that I was forgotten as she began talking to the Egyptian twit. I watched as she smiled, waved her arms around and giggled. I could feel the hot bubbly sensation of my jealousy that he could so easily joke with her yet I could not.
"You have to come to visit me sometime. I'll be staying with Seto so as long as he doesn't care…" She trailed off as she looked at me; all of her excitement still on her face. As much as I detested the idea, I found myself nodding grimly. As long as she stayed by my side, she could have whatever she wanted.
"Of course I'll visit. Ishizu has been pondering the idea of moving back to Japan. It seems like our jobs here are done." He grinned at her like the Cheshire cat, and I narrowed my eyes when he looped an arm over her shoulders, and she didn't flinch. How could she be so calm with him when our whole lives she was nearly afraid of me what the Hell made him so special. I clenched the fabric of my trench coat in my hands and looked away.
"Seto?" Aliyah said shaking my shoulder softly, and I blinked realizing she was inches from my face giving me a pointed look. Had I zoned off?
"You okay? You fell asleep." She said, and I shook my head to clear it as her sweet breath cascaded over my face. How could I have fallen asleep, I mean sure I hadn't been sleeping lately and I had been on a fifteen-hour flight but I was Seto Kaiba, I did not just fall asleep on a whimsy especially without being in the comfort of my own home.
I noticed it was much darker now that it had been and I groaned as I stretched my arms above my head.
"I'm sorry. How long was I out?" I asked shifting my face back into its emotionless mask. She checked her phone.
"About three hours. Ishizu wanted to know if we were staying here tonight?" she asked softly sitting down next to me. I shook my head, that wouldn't be necessary.
"I booked a hotel for us," I said and found myself leaning closer to her unconsciously.
"Oh…" She chirped surprised, and a beautiful blush spread over her tanned cheeks.
"Don't worry you can have the bed," I said and stood up. She stayed quiet, and I noticed that her bags were gone.
"Marik helped me move them to the car. I guess they knew that I wasn't staying here tonight. It was me that was unsure." She spoke softly, her voice sounded tired, and I figured she probably was.
"Are you hungry? The hotel is about an hour away in Cairo, and there happens to be a Wonderful French restaurant there that is world renowned though I have never been myself." I offered to take my chances and to grab her hand as I walked towards the door. She didn't complain, and I wondered exactly where my limits were. What would she do if I pulled her to me and showed her what she meant to me?
"Do you need to say goodbye? You seemed pretty close…" I asked grumbling at the end in discomfort. She chuckled, apparently in a good mood and shook her head.
"No, they went out about an hour ago to give us time alone." She laughed and waggled her brow at me. Did she have any idea what she did to me? Where had this playfulness come from anyways?
"I'm sorry to have wasted our time sleeping then." I found myself joking with her to hear her bell-like laughter again. She seemed different now than she had before I fell asleep, softer and more carefree. Had something happened while I had been stupidly sleeping?
I walked her to the car, watching as she locked the bottom lock of the small Ishtar house all the while never letting go of my hand.
"Are you sure you want to go out to some fancy restaurant to eat. I'm not dressed." She complained glancing at her outfit.
"You look… lovely." I admitted stuttering only slightly through my anti-social tendencies. She made a face disagreeing with my observation.
"But if you would prefer to stay in we can always order something from room service." I offered, and she smiled nodding. I made a mental note that I would eventually have to take this beautiful woman out for a proper dinner.
The ride to the hotel was quiet but not uncomfortable, which I enjoyed. I didn't always like to feel as if I had to speak all the time, but some people made it impossible to sit in silence. Aliyah played with her Rose, and I noticed it for the first time. Her item looked so much like my own. Almost as if they were made for each other.
"So how did you end up getting your soul taken?" I asked her remembering how we had been trapped together. She scrunched her face up.
"Some stranger ambushed me, and I got a little hot-headed. I assumed I could take him and I probably could have if it weren't for that stupid card." She explained, and I nodded remembering my fall downward. At least Yami had been there beside me; I hadn't spent long lost. She had spent nearly two weeks, and I felt sorry for her.
"I'm sorry I wasn't there for you." I suddenly found myself saying. She hesitated but reached across the center console and rested her hand on top of mine again.
"It's okay." I frowned at her easy acceptance and found myself wondering how many years she had spent on her own. I would have plenty of time to learn about everything I had missed.
"I'm sorry about your adopted dad. I heard about him jumping from his office window." She said out of nowhere with a very distant look on her face. I ignored the clench of my stomach and gritted my teeth.
"Don't be. He deserved it." I growled startling her with the intensity of my hatred.
"Why?" she asked watching me intently, and I sighed. I considered backing out and telling her later, but I had already decided I didn't want to be dishonest with her.
"He was a bastard. I should have never cheated during that chess game. He put Mokuba and me through a living nightmare. I'm glad that you weren't a part of it." I gave her a sideways glance while she considered this.
"I would have walked through hell to stay by your side. Even then." Her voice was small but not unsure. I felt her grip my hand tighter and wondered if she would say anything else, but she looked out of her window with a somber expression.
"We're here," I announced finally as we pulled up to the large hotel. It was nothing like what you would find in the states or even in Domino for that matter, but it was still grand enough for me, and I was sure Ally had never stayed in a five-star hotel before now.
"Good. I'm so tired." She said yawning, and I saw how her ruby eyes drooped slightly and found myself glad we had decided against going out for dinner. As it was all I wanted was a cheeseburger which was out of the norm for me, but every once in a while I would indulge myself.
"Hello how may I help you?" a perky darkly tanned girl asked in choppy English as we reached the counter. She smiled at me brightly, but I paid her little mind.
"I have a reservation for Kaiba." I barked rudely. I saw Aliyah blanch besides me probably because she hadn't heard how I spoke to ordinary people yet.
The girl paled a little and began typing to look up my room number.
"Ah yes you reserved a suite on the top floor, am I correct?" she asked in a small voice, and I nodded trying to be a tad bit more forthcoming.
She handed me my key card, and without so much as acknowledging her presence again I turned, my white trench coat swirling behind me with a bewildered Aliyah behind me. I heard her utter a quiet 'Thank you.' Before she grabbed my elbow tightly.
I glanced down at her to see her jaw set tight and her brow knit together. She had one hand clenched into the fabric of her shirt right over her heart, and she was breathing in low but quick gasps.
Realizing that she was beginning to panic and recognizing that she was still struggling with whatever it was, she had been dealing with when we were kids.
Without giving myself time to analyze it any further I slipped my arm around her shoulders and pulled her against me as we kept walking. I saw her face brighten and her breath hitch but I had effectively distracted her. My smirk shifted into a grin, and I gave my surroundings a first real glance.
I looked around and saw how many people there were around us surprised to see that the room was quite full. I had been so focused on her; even when I wasn't staring at her, I was listening, using too much of my focus to be aware of her. But I couldn't help it; I felt so empty before. Just having her near me had all my senses on red alert. I felt alive. Possibly for the first time in my whole life.
We reached the room at last, and I released her to unlock the door. I swooped my arm out for her to enter first. She gasped and looked around the room with a grin before she smiled back at me.
"Just wait until you see the mansion." I boasted checking to see that our bags had already made it up from the car. And tipped the bell boy who was standing at the door.
"You have a mansion?" she asked sounding genuinely surprised, and I laughed.
I checked the time and realized it was midnight meaning it would be around nine in the morning back home.
"I need to call Mokuba to check on him. Why don't you get comfortable; you can use the phone to order something to eat…get me a cheeseburger." I added as an afterthought as I started dialing the familiar number on my iPhone. He answered after the second ring.
"Seto!" He said gleefully, and I found myself smiling.
"Hey. How are you? Is everything okay?" I asked worriedly. I Hated leaving him home all alone.
"I need to tell you something but don't be mad." He warned, and I sighed.
"I let Yami stay here last night, and I was going to let him stay again tonight..." He admitted sounding guilty, and I realized he thought I was going to be mad about this, maybe before I would have, but I was just happy he had company, and I assumed that Yami would want to see Aliyah when I brought her home tomorrow.
"Mokuba that's fine. It is your house too, besides you could pick worse company this. Like the filthy fleabag for instance… why is something going on?" I said as I questioned why he was there.
" Well actually… Yugi's grandpa kicked him out." He said in a much lower voice sad.
"What?" I asked honestly shocked. That didn't seem like something he would do.
"Here." He said as he must have handed the phone over as I hear shuffling.
"Kaiba." I heard Yami's voice over the line he sounded a little embarrassed if you asked me, but I shrugged it off and asked what was going on.
"Ah well, Yugi's grandpa had a few words about how much danger I've put Yugi in as of late. He hasn't banned me from seeing my aibou, but he did put a cap on how often we could spend time together. He said that we had become too dependent on each other's company and needed to learn to be alone." He muttered sounding depressed, and I thought about how hard it much be for him to be without his Hikari after nearly losing his very soul, but I had to agree with the old man. I had seen more out of the Pharoah since he had forgotten that duel with Raphael than I ever had across the field from him.
"I have to agree with him though. It's great you have him back home, that you have your own life now it's time you learned how to live it. The danger has passed; now you get to live." I said keeping my voice leveled and neutral.
"I'm sorry that to have intruded like this, I just didn't know where else to go." He admitted, and I sighed realizing that my privacy was about to be wholly intruded on. But he was Aliyah's brother and my former best friend and Pharaoh, and though I would never admit it out loud, somehow I felt honor bound to help him.
"It's okay you can stay. I have enough space. I can put you clear on the other side of the mansion and then you won't be a bother to me." I said making sure to sound annoyed. He thanked me and handed the phone back to Mokuba.
"So you're not mad?" he asked sheepishly.
"No Moki it's okay. Aliyah will be staying with us too. Let the maids know to set her up a room as well as one for Yami." I explained and heard him yelp in excitement as he began blubbering a mile per minute about all the games he would play with her and the things he would do. I listened dutifully until he was done.
"Hey kiddo, I'm going to get some sleep, it's late here. Have a good day." I said, and he told me bye. Just before I hung up, I stopped.
"And Mokuba, I love you," I said softly and imagined the smile he would have.
"Love you too!" He said, and I hung up. I turned around to find Aliyah asleep on the large bed, and I smiled before I pulled the comforter closer around her shoulders and tucked her in.
I found my food sitting on The table, I hadn't even heard the door when it was brought up here, but I noticed she hadn't ordered anything for herself to eat. I narrowed my eyes as I quickly swallowed my food, not enjoying it as I had hoped since it was cold.
I grabbed the other pillow from the bed then turned off the lights and laid down on the couch with a sigh wishing I could sleep next to her. It wasn't long, and I succumbed to my exhaustion.
Sometime later I woke up disoriented and looked around. I could hear soft crying and saw Ally sitting up hiding her face in her pillow. Her shoulders were shaking, and I jumped up quickly.
I climbed into the bed and pulled her against me whispering words of comfort.
"Seth…Oh, Seth, I'm so sorry." She wailed hysterically and clung to me still sobbing. I buried my head against her shoulder as I held her.
"I'm here," I said softly hoping she would calm down soon. Seeing her like this had my stomach in knots.
"No, you're not… I didn't mean to. I'm sorry. It was an accident, an accident!" She gasped, completely lost in her anxiety and sorrow. My brows knit together.
"I'm right here Ayla," I said using her old name as she had mine. This made her shaking worse, and she turned her head from side to side desperately.
"No, I killed you. Oh god, I killed you." She cried, and then so suddenly it scared me she went limp in my arms, and her head slumped on my shoulder softly. I shifted her to see that she had merely passed out probably from the severity of her anxiety.
I lowered her down onto the mattress, but as I began to pull away, she whimpered causing me to stop. Shifting next to her I stared at her now peaceful face while I thought about what she had said.
I remembered what she was talking about; I hadn't had much time to think about how it made me feel.
It had happened so quickly, but I never blamed her. I could remember how she had wailed out and pulled the Rod from my weak hands thinking I was already gone. She pulled out the hidden blade and readied herself to impale it through her stomach. I had tried to say something, but all that escaped was a gargle of blood. She had faded before my panicked eyes, and then everything went black.
I felt tears pour down but made no move to wipe them away realizing she blamed herself for my death, she blamed herself for her mother's death before she came to the orphanage and she was terrified that it would happen again.
I could understand her fear with blunt clarity. I was terrified to see her die too; she more than likely didn't know I had still been conscious of seeing her end her life to follow me into the afterlife. I had even seen her brother as he had run to us lost in complete sorrow.
If only I knew how we had ended up being reborn and how Yami had been trapped in the puzzle, what forces were at play to grant us this second chance and what would be the price we would have to pay this time…
AN) well there's the chapter. I hope this is turning out alright; this is a different take on the whole idea I am obsessed with about Seto being with the Pharaoh's sister. Let me know what you think.