'ello everybody! I can't describe how sorry I am for not updating sooner -.-' I just didn't really have the time since school started again (what a bore!). But anyway here's the next chapter, which is the longest so far! There really isn't that much "action" and so on in this chapter, but it's kinda needed so you'll just have to cope :3

Shopping?

Kaiba sat in his office, staring into the air. He'd just got off a telephone call with what's-the-idiot's-name-again and he was in a foul mood. He snapped out of the trance as he heard someone knocking on the door.

"Come in" he said tired.

Mokuba slowly opened the door and peek at Kaiba. "Can I talk to you for a moment?"

Kaiba sat back in his chair and closed his eyes. He really didn't want to work anymore this evening and it had been some time since he last spent some time with his brother.

"Sure, I'm done here anyway" He said gesturing Mokuba to come in and close the door.

Mokuba went over to Kaiba's desk, but instead of sitting opposite Kaiba in the most uncomfortable chair ever (Kaiba wanted to make people as uncomfortable as possible if they wasted his time), he jumped up on the desk and sat right in front of his big brother.

"How does she look?" Mokuba asked to break the silence between them. When his brother told him about the S-scar and the claw marks he went silent again.

"Hmm that is kinda weird… This doesn't really seem like an abusive stepfather… and I'd know" he added with a snort. Kaiba looked at him, hearing him snort and raised an eyebrow questioningly.

Mokuba looked at his feet wondering if he should let his brother in on his suspicions.

"I think Nikki is hiding something… something that seems far worse that what she has told us and…" he looked up at his brother and continued "… and I think she is really haunted by it… far more than she shows".

Mokuba continued to look at his brother, waiting for some kind of response.

Kaiba didn't notice; he was in deep thought over this new information. Sure, he had had his suspicions too, but he knew that he was kinda paranoid when it came to other people and therefore Mokuba's observations did give his own quite a boost.

"well," he said looking at his little brother "I aint going to waste a lot of money on a private detective to tell us something we know after half a year… and" he added "she'll regret the day she run away from home if she lies to me." His gaze went ice cold at the last statement and Mokuba felt a shiver running down his spine; his brother could be pretty spooky sometimes.

He jumped off the table and started to work towards the door. "By the way" Kaiba's voice stopped him, "I need you to go shopping with her soon… She can't keep wearing MY clothes and besides… she needs new underwear".

Mokuba's jaw dropped to the floor (figuratively speaking). It took some time before he got his voice back and then he turned pretty pink "I can't take a girl shopping not to mention to help her buy underwear!" Mokuba felt his face get hotter and hotter, he wasn't that good with girls.

"well," his brother answered with a amused smirk "I don't have the time and the only servants working here are men… but if you really are that uncomfortable, maybe you should call that…" he's face almost twisted in disgust "… that friendships-cheerleader and get her to tag along."

Kaiba really didn't want to have his little brother hanging out with those losers, but they made him happy. And that Gardner-girl could probably help him with the "underwear-problem".

Mokuba's face lit up. He always liked spending time with Tea. He decided that he would call her immediately and started to walk towards the door again until his brother's voice stopped him once more. "You can tell her what happened to the girl, but nothing more. And don't say anything about the fire or the man or what we have discussed… just say I found her in one of the warehouses and… "He paused making sure his little brother understood this fully "she is not allowed to tell any of her little friends about the girl."

Mokuba just nodded and went out to call Tea.

Two days later:

"Damn this class is boring" Tea thought while staring out the window, only listening with half an ear. She thought back at the phone call she'd gotten last night. "Wonder who Mokuba wants me to meet? He actually seemed a little desperate… ah well, he asked this as a favor friend-to-friend so of course I'll help him, but I just wonder why I'm not allowed to tell the guys about it??" She let out a sigh and tried to concentrate about what the teacher said.

Finally, school was over and Tea walked out of the class, now trying to figure out how she best could avoid her friends being overcurious about her driving home with Mokuba. "I'll take it as it comes" she thought and walked out into the cold.

Suddenly she heard noises behind her… or more like yelling, Joey wasn't really known for being discrete. Tea quickly slipped through a group of students, feeling relieved when she saw Mokuba's limousine waiting right outside the school grounds. She quickly got in and the car roared to life. She leaned back in the leather seats and let out a sigh. Boy, was she going to hear for this tomorrow. She sighed yet another time and turned her attention to the raven-haired boy beside her; "Okay Mokuba, what's this all about?"

Tea's jaw drop and she felt a little moisture in her eyes. What Mokuba had just told her was awful! "Poor girl…" she thought. "eh let me get this straight… you want me to go with the two of you shopping?" Tea asked staring at him in disbelief.

Mokuba felt his face turn red and he shifted a bit in his seat; "Yeah… she needs some new clothes and underwear... and I can't take a girl shopping for underwear!" now he was getting really red, "besides I think it would help her a lot to get a friend".

Tea's eyes softened considerably at the last sentence. Whatever this girl had been through she would be her friend!

Nikki walked restlessly around the big mansion. Mokuba had told her that she was going to meet one of his friends and they would go shopping. "Shopping! Of all things, he wants me to go shopping…" she thought for not the first time today. Deep down inside she knew that she needed new clothes, but she'd finally admitted to herself that she was scared… scared to death practically! She let herself fall onto the stairs and buried her face in her hands – she been on the edge the entire day and she hadn't even been able to relax at the computer which was a first. "They are out there…" she thought in despair, "HE is out there! It's just a matter of time…"

Her head snapped up when she heard a car in the driveway and on shaking legs she slowly started walked towards the door. The car outside honked just as she turned the handle and stepped out into the sun. A cold wind hit her face, but right at that moment she didn't care – this was the first time she'd been out for almost a week. She closed her eyes and inhaled the fresh air.

Mokuba looked at her through the tinted windows of the limousine. He'd seen fear in Nikki's eyes as she walked out into the open, but as always it had quickly disappeared. The corners of his mouth bend slightly upwards when he saw the peaceful expression on her face. She looked a lot better than when he'd first seen her; her nose was healing fine and the swelling was gone thanks to some of Dr. Jones "magic". The area around her eye had turned into a deep purple-ish colour, but there the swelling was also gone. A slight wind caught her waist-long chocolate brown hair making it almost sparkle.

Mokuba wasn't the only one looking at the girl with interest. Tea too found the girl very intriguing. "Poor thing" she thought as she again felt her eyes watering; she quickly blinked the tears away and took a closer look at the girl. She was pretty, Tea could tell even from the distance, but her eyes immediately locked themselves on the purple eye. They then travelled further down to Nikki's left hand and her eyes widened; it was covered in bandages. Sure she was used to Joey and Tristan having bruises all the time from all the fights they got into, but the effect on this girl, who looked so fragile, was so different and yet again Tea felt a tear in the corner of her eyes, "Poor girl..."

Nikki opened her eyes and the peaceful moment was gone and the fear started crawling back from the corner of her mind. She slowly exhaled and cautiously walked towards the car. She was nervous – who was this friend she was going to met? She cursed the tinted windows; she didn't like it when she wasn't fully aware of everyone around her.

The door opened revealing a smiling Mokuba; "Get in! I've got someone I want you to meet."

Nikki slowly got into the car making sure she could get out immediately if the situation called for it, but she was surprised when she discovered that Mokuba's friend was in fact a girl. Nikki felt herself relax as she eyed the stranger, who curiously did the same.

"Nikki, this is Tea. Tea, this is Nikki." Mokuba said and broke the somewhat awkward silence that had appeared.

Tea took the first stepped and reach her hand towards Nikki, who slowly lifted her own and answered the handshake while looking Tea straight in the eyes.

Tea glanced back at the strange girl's deep blue eyes and found herself a bit surprised of how many feelings were displayed in them: fear, mistrust and awareness, but also warmth and determination. "Nice to meet you" Tea said with a smile and let go of her hand.

"Nice to meet you too" Nikki answered and gave Tea a small, but honest smile. There was something about Tea which made her relax, the same something that also made her relax with Mokuba and she got the feeling she could actually trust her...

"well, let's get going!" Mokuba yelled enthusiastically and the limo began to move.

They drove for about 15 minutes until they reached one of the many malls in Domino. It wasn't the biggest, but Mokuba figured that this would be the one with least people. He didn't want to stress Nikki more than necessary. With that thought he cast a quick side-glance in her direction and he frowned when he saw her unsettled face.

Mokuba motioned to the limo-driver that he should follow as a bodyguard – just in case...

When they entered the mall Tea took control and quickly led Nikki and Mokuba towards a store. Nikki got slightly overwhelmed at the sight, she never really been shopping before, but before she could dwell anymore at that thought she felt some fabric being shoved in her hands and looked down only to find that she was now holding two pairs of jeans. Tea just smiled at her and guided her towards the fitting rooms.

After half an hour of endless clothing try-outs they left the shop with multiple bags and Tea ushered them towards a lingerie store. When they reached the entrance Mokuba stopped and smiled sheepishly at the two girls; "You go, I'll stay out here and wait."

Tea smiled knowingly at the younger boy's face, which was turned redder by the minute and ushered Nikki inside.

They did the same as in the other store; Tea roaming around the store finding different items while Nikki stayed in the fitting room trying endless streams of bras and panties.

"So... Mokuba told me your story" Tea said as to break the silence.

Nikki just shrugged; she'd figured that much.

"...and you're staying at the Kaiba-masion?"

Nikki nodded in confirmation concentration very hard on her mirror image.

"How do you get along with Kaiba?"

The question startled Nikki and she looked Tea's reflection in the eyes.

Tea noticed her shocked stare and quickly continued: "No it's nothing like that! It's just because he tends to be a little cold-hearted and..." she paused and looked down "... and I really worry about you..."

Nikki got even more startled. She turned around and hugged her new found friend, leaving Tea startled too. "Thank you..."

It was first when they left the store with yet another load of bags that Tea realized Nikki never answered her question...

They met up with Mokuba outside the store and started walking towards the exit, when Nikki paused gazing towards another store. Mokuba followed her gaze and saw a hair-dresser's. He looked questioningly at Nikki.

"ehh do you mind?" she asked a little anxious, "it's just because it's been so long since it was last cut and the length is really starting to annoy me."

"Not at all" Mokuba smiled as she nodded and went to the store. It wasn't entirely true – he really liked her long silky hair, but he got the feeling that the reason for the haircut wasn't the length annoying her but rather the length making her more recognizable.

After half an hour Nikki came out again and Tea and Mokuba's jaws dropped. Her hair had been cut short very short in fact, just beneath her ears and it had been styled so she looked like she just woke up. She actually looked like a pixie; "A very cute pixie..." Mokuba thought by himself.

Tea was the first to say anything, "Wauw! That just looks amazing!" she exclaimed, making Nikki blush. "Thanks" she said, not daring to look her companions in the eyes.

The new look didn't chance her appearance as much as she had wished, but at least she was pretty unrecognizable from behind now. She had considered dyeing it too, but she figured that would make them suspicious.

The three of them walked out the mall, got into the limo and drove off. Nobody noticing the dark figure which had been lurking in the shadows through their entire trip.

Nikki closed the door to her room and threw all the clothes on the bed. She stepped back and viewed the "harvest" of the day.

She'd never had this much clothes in her entire life! Slowly she picked each item up and looked at it. After 10 minutes she'd chosen her outfit and started to change.

"Wauw... these are just amazing! Tea really knows how to pick out clothes" she thought while slowly pulling on some rather tight jeans "They just fit perfectly! I wonder if Kaiba will li... No! Why do I care what he thinks?!"

Nikki shook her head to get rid of the ridiculous thoughts, but she couldn't quite ignore the tickling in her skin where he'd touch her when he changed the bandages.

"Which reminds me... He has to do it tonight again!! Argh!! I can't take this anymore.. why me?" She finally buttoned her jeans with one hand and got to the difficult task of pulling on a sweater – even though she looked better and certainly also felt better, her body still hurt like hell.

After 15 minutes she stood in front of the mirror to view the result, only to find that a rather strange pixie-like girl looked back at her. She walked closer and gave herself the infamous top-to-bottom-look: She actually liked her new hair style, even though it, with her skinny appearance, gave her the above-mentioned pixie-look. The clothes she'd chosen were simple; a pair of ordinary dark blue jeans and a black sweater, which looked suspiciously similar to the one she had borrowed from a certain blue-eyed CEO.

Suddenly someone knocked at the door making Nikki flinch. "I really got to get rid of that habit... the bad guys never knock anyway".

"Nikki, dinner's ready!" she heard Mokuba yell through the door. She quickly opened the door and followed Mokuba to the kitchen.

They'd just sat down when the door flung open, revealing a rather pissed Seto Kaiba. No one said a word as he strode to the room and seated himself in the chair right across from Nikki's.

"Tough day at work, huh?" Kaiba didn't say a word he just looked at his brother and then slumped back in his seat with a big sigh.

"I'm surrounded by imbeciles, idiots and gorillas... and apparently it's not enough for them just to do nothing... Nooo, they have to ruin things too!" he threw his hands in the air at the last remark; "I had to fire 5 today, which means I now have to find 5 new people to replace them.." he finished of grumbling something about "waste of time".

Mokuba could see that his brother just needed to let out some steam and therefore remained silent. And just as he had expected; when Kaiba was done talking (or more like ranting) he relaxed a bit and started eating.

They all remained silent through the meal. Mokuba was just happy finally to spend some time with his big brother, Nikki was too intimidated by Kaiba's outburst to say anything and Kaiba was busy eyeing up the girl in front of him.

He knew they had been shopping today, but he hadn't expected her to get a new haircut too. He found that he actually rather like this new hair-do; it made her look more alive and it just seemed more fitting to her personality. Besides, the short hair gave him an unobstructed view to her long, slim neck... He frowned; the thought of her neck immediately brought a picture of the S-shaped scar up and his frown turned to a look of disgust – how could anyone to such a thing to such a girl?

Nikki had been watching Kaiba through her lowered eyelashes and she felt her stomach turn as she saw the changing expressions in his face – first something that looked like curiosity, then seriousness and eventually disgust! Did he really hate her that much?

Nikki let out a sigh and continued her meal.

When Kaiba later on changed her bandages she remained as silent as he did.

Why did he hate her? Why did it bother her? And why did she feel a tear running down her chin as she lay in the bed, trying to sleep?

*Jaws-theme song*

Did you like it?? did ya?? Argh come on! admit that you loved it! Please review *puppy eyes*

I'll try to update as soon as possible!