Broken

One month later…

From a distance the familiar tune played on the nightstand near the brunette's head. Akira yelped when she landed on the floor in a tangle of her silk sheets. She blindly reached for her phone then mumbled, "Lo. Who's it?"

A dull, pained voice answered, "Kana. They killed her. Those damn bastards butchered my little girl!"

"What?"

"I was away from the island to take care of a few things before going to Domino. She was in her room at the mansion with cuts and burn marks. Her throat was slit and her eyes! So much blood…everywhere." Pegasus dissolved into tears then the phone fell from numb fingers.

'Nonononono.' Ran through her dazed mind as she crawled into bed. Akira clutched a Red Eyes plushie to her chest that Mokuba had given to her the second Christmas after Joey had left. At the time she had suspected that it was his way of getting her to admit her feelings. She smothered her dry sobs into the pillow as she curled tighter upon herself. A cry on anguish tore at her throat. "Kana! Please Kami. Not Kana. Noooooooo!"

A hand stroked her dark hair and another pair of arms wrapped around her waist. She turned her head weakly to bury her face into wild dark hair. Tears streamed down her face as sobs wracked her slim shoulders. Seto sighed then lay down to hold her and rested his chin on the top of her head. Aya smiled sadly when she picked up the phone to hear sobbing on the other end. After a quiet conversation she laid the phone back on the nightstand then smoothed the light comforter over the nearly asleep siblings. With one last look at the bittersweet sight, she quietly returned to her room with a heavy heart.

AKAKAK

"She slept, but not well. I heard her a few times crying in her sleep." Seto sighed.

"Kana was like a little sister to her like she is to me." Aya wiped a tear as she caressed her slightly rounded belly. "You don't recover too quickly from that."

"Those sick bastards will pay for what they did." Joey growled.

"Yes and it won't be pretty."

Four pairs of eyes took in her pale skin and the dark smudges under red-rimmed eyes. Despite her grief, a raw fire burned in their dark depths as the sunlight caught an almost sinister glint in them. Akira walked into the kitchen and poured a cup of coffee. Her mug halted halfway to her lips under their scrutiny. "What?"

"Since when do you drink your coffee black?" Joey asked.

She shrugged then settled on his lap. "Since it's too early for anything stronger."

"Akira, it's a little past noon." Seto smirked.

"Hn."

Even the strength of the dark brew couldn't penetrate the fog that seemed to surround her until the taste of chocolate invaded her senses. Her eyes widened while she chewed each piece of sweet pastry that Joey fed her without complaint. A light blush stained their cheeks when she licked his fingers then tasted the chocolate icing on his lips. Their tongues brushed each other to savor the heady sweetness.

"Eww, you guys, get a room!" Mokuba laughed when his sister pulled away with a red face.

Akira stuck her tongue out at him childishly then smirked. "You're one to talk, dear brother, considering what I walked into before the benefit. I must say though, that was quite an interesting position."

The dark haired teen flushed deep red. "I swear it wasn't what it looked like, Sis. My trunks were still on and she was just showing me something."

Seto's eyebrow rose into a doubtful expression. "So that's your story, Mokuba?"

He nodded emphatically. "Yeah and I'm sticking to it!"

Joey laughed while the others joined in despite themselves. Warmth filled Aya's heart with the reassurance that her friend would get through the darkness. These random bits of mirth caused that warmth to grow when she found her gaze captured by deep blue hues that sparkled with a hidden secret. Aya looked away in confusion as she struggled to control the faint pink on her cheeks.

AKAKAK

"Joey, aren't you a sight for sore eyes!" A sultry voice caused him to jump from his seat.

"Mai! What are you doing here?" Joey gasped in the blonde's bear hug.

"What, can't a girl visit her old friends?" Red lips pouted with a small smile. "That is if we still are friends after how we parted in New York."

Tense finger gripped the hot cup until Akira hissed when the caramel brown liquid spilled onto her hand. Mai's lips quirked in amusement, "So whose your friend, Hun?"

He laughed and rubbed the back of his neck nervously. "This is Akira Kaiba, my…"

Periwinkle eyes widened. "Kaiba as in stone cold hearted rich snob Kaiba? So he and her…"

"He's my older brother." Akira stated coldly as she stood.

"Uh oops." Mai snickered at where her thoughts had led. "Actually you look a lot like that kid that always followed Kaiba around Battle City."

She glared at her then turned to leave. "I have better things to do than watch your little reunion. Thanks for the break, Joey, but I have work to do."

Hmph, you certainly can tell she's a Kaiba."

"Lay off, Mai, she's had a hard life. I should get going as well." Joey sighed when Mai held onto his arm with a manicured grip.

"Awe come on, Joey, surely you can take off some time for little ole me." Her voice softened. "Please for old times sake?"

He studied his old crush then smiled. "I'm sure Kaiba won't miss me for a few more hous and my projects are done. Sure, what are friends for?"

Aya looked up from her computer screen when Akira stormed past her desk. "What are you doing back so soon? Joey said…"

"Plans change, Aya. Hold my calls. I don't wish to be disturbed." She answered before her door clicked shut behind her.

Not even an hour had passed when a pale Akira hurried back out of her office. She pulled on a black leather jacket as she strode past her surprised personal assistant. "Akira, where are you going?"

"Something came up." Akira said evasively. "Tell my brothers I'll be late, so don't wait up."

"Wait, how late? Akira!" She called after her friend with frustration and worry as the elevator door closed. Aya's nails tapped the desk restlessly as she made her decision then picked up the phone. "We need to talk. It's about Akira."