Thank you everyone for your reviews! Don't forget to pay attention and point out any errors you find! (I'm sure there are a few!) It's funny, but this story almost seems to be writing itself right now, and I'm enjoying the ride. Now back to our story!!
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Ai ached everywhere, her mouth was dry and had a strange taste. A sick cloying odor assailed her nostrils as she wondered where she was. The last thing she clearly remembered was getting out of her car...she'd been grabbed, a hand holding a cloth over her nose and mouth. Then everything had spun and gone black.
She tried to move, groaning at the effort, finding herself bound, gagged, and blindfolded. She felt sick and fought the urge to retch. The slight noise she made alerted her captors.
"She's awake." a harsh male voice said.
"That doesn't matter, she won't get loose." said another.
Her head swam, tears leaking from her closed eyes to soak the blindfold as she passed out again. Her last thought fading with her consciousness "Seto...."
Gold Leaf Parties was crowded with the employees and police when Seto arrived. He pushed his way through the crowd only to be stopped by a swath of yellow tape and a burly constable. "No one past this point!"
"Let me in there! I'll have your badge for this!" Seto growled. He tried pushing past the officer when his phone rang. He practically bellowed at the caller, "What is it?"
"Kaiba-sama, if you want to see her again, you'll do as I say." an unfamiliar voice rasped over the connection, obviously disguised.
"What have you done with Ai?" Seto's voice dripped malice. A thread of fear shivered into his heart and settled there.
"Nothing yet." The voice replied before hanging up. The constable, overhearing Seto's conversation, pulled him into the shop and led him over to the sergeant who was on the radio.
"buzz...just found her car...humm...door was open...chrzz...purse untouched, Sir." The transmission was poor, static covering portions of the conversation. "chrzz...apparent kidnapping Sir. humm"
"Finish securing the area, and ask around. Maybe someone saw something." The sergeant sounded confident as he broke the connection. He turned and saw them standing there. "Yes constable?"
"This man just received a suspicious call, Sir." The officer said as he saluted.
"Thank you, I'll take it from here." The Sergeant indicated brusquely that Seto should sit down. They introduced themselves and got straight to business.
After being debriefed, and talking to the employees, Seto and the Sergeant resumed their conversation. "We shouldn't give into their demands, whatever they may be."
"Is there anything else you want from me? I'd like to go home." Seto was tired, the high frustration level draining him of energy. The only other time he'd been this afraid for someone was when Noah had kidnapped Mokuba. At least then he'd been able to do something! But the magic had been sealed away for over a decade now, his deck and dueling skills would be of no help to him.
"Sure, you've given us the numbers we need. We'll get to work and track her down. We'll also send an officer over with you in case they contact you again."
"Fine. As long as he stays out of my way." Seto walked back to his limo, an officer in tow. When he arrived back at the manor, Mokuba was waiting for him.
"I'm sure they'll do everything in their power to find her onii-chan."
"Don't patronize me Mokuba. She could be anywhere by now. The police have no clues, and unless the kidnappers make another mistake, I – I might never see her again!" Seto's voice had started strong, but broke on the last sentence. A few tears ran down his face as the feelings overwhelmed him. "You were right Mokuba. I should have told her."
"The police will find her. You need to rest, I'll stay up for awhile."
"Arigato Mokuba. I won't be long, and then we can start looking for her." Seto went to his room, but sleep was a long time in coming.
She was running to him, what was left of her clothes in tatters, and he could tell she'd been crying. "Seto! Seto, help me!"
Two massive dark forms appeared behind her, seizing her arms and dragging her away. Seto ran after them, but they were always just out of reach, laughing at his futile efforts, Ai's screams echoing in his ears. "Ai, I'm coming! Hold on! Ai! Ai!"
"Ai!" his anguished cries finally woke him from his nightmare. He groaned, running his hand through his damp hair. "Ai, where are you?"
He had actually slept for hours, exhausted from all the draining emotions and the late hour last night. The manor was quiet as Seto paced in the gentle early morning light on the balcony. They had watched the sunset here the day he'd first asked her over, and shared their first kiss that night. Seto walked, sore at heart, back into the house, fleeing from the memories. Entering the main hall, the dragon tapestry swung in the sudden air currents he had stirred up, then fluttered briefly when front door opened. Seto's eyes were like cold steel as he watched the Sergeant enter holding onto his hat like a lifeline. "Where is she?"
"We're still looking Kaiba-san. We tracked her cell phone to the docks where they apparently ditched it. It's at the lab for processing now, but no one at the docks saw anything out of the ordinary the last two nights." The officer bowed slightly as he made his next suggestion. "Kaiba-san, if you could make an appeal through the media, it might bring someone forward?"
"Get back to work." Seto growled.
"Yes Sir, we will keep you apprised of our progress." The Sergeant found his way out as Seto stalked off to find Mokuba and have him arrange the press conference. He found Mokuba at breakfast in the dining room finishing up a call on his cell phone.
"...Arigato, I will tell him." Seto sat across from his brother in the dining room as Mokuba disconnected. "I sent out a company memo last night, alerting our employees that there had been a kidnapping, and asking them not to talk to anyone from the media. The department supervisors just finished calling – everyone is supportive and will help in any way possible."
Seto looked at Mokuba strangely. It felt odd asking his younger brother for help when he was the one normally in charge. Mokuba did have a talent for dealing with the media though. The first faint stirrings of hope entered Seto's heart as he began. "Good, let's find a good picture of Ai and begin. I want you to hold a press conference, to get the help of the public. Release her picture to the papers and get as many eyes looking for her as possible."
Mokuba could only gape at his brother. "You really want to go public with this? You've always wanted to keep our personal lives out of the media."
"We may not have any other choice." Seto said quietly. He leaned back as the housekeeper took advantage of the lull in conversation to place breakfast before him and remove Mokuba's empty plate. Seto felt sick as he looked at his food.
"You should try and eat something. Once I get hold of the networks, things will move quickly. The press conference could be as soon as this afternoon." Mokuba's mind raced. If all went as he planned, Seto would only have to say a few words and be spared any questions. As he stood to begin his work, Seto's cell phone rang loudly in the quiet room.
"Hai." Seto spoke tersely, already half knowing who this would be.
"Sh-Seto-chan?" Her voice was weak, her words slightly slurred. Seto stood, his face betraying the shock and fear that suddenly filled him.
"Ai? Ai!" Seto's face darkened as another voice took over the connection. "You bastards! What have you done?"
"Now Kaiba-sama, don't get so worked up. She'll be fine as long as you do as we say." The disguised voice was oily and condescending. Seto bristled at the tone.
"What do you want from me?" He said coldly.
"Ten million American dollars would be a start. You have twelve hours." Seto slammed his phone down as he heard the disconnect. That amount of money shouldn't be a problem for him. He'd do anything to get her back. He saw Mokuba motion to the officer outside from the corner of his eye before leaving. The officer stood respectfully just inside the dining room doorway, waiting patiently.
"They want Ten million, American, in twelve hours." The officer nodded and spoke into his radio as he walked back outside. Seto contacted his secretary and had her arrange to have the money delivered to the manor, then went to his home office to see if he could get anything else done.
The mini-projection glowed, Ai turned, the smile on her face transforming her. "Seto!"
Her recorded voice was slightly tinny as she complained good-naturedly. She was like him in not wanting her picture taken, but he had talked her into recording this. He had made one for her too. Seto sat at his desk, idly swinging his chair as he watched her image; he'd planned to give his to her this weekend. When he wondered if he'd be giving it to her at all, he suddenly slammed his fist into the wall. Tears sprang to his eyes, but not from the pain throbbing in his hand. This feeling was the very reason he'd shied away from becoming truly involved with anyone. Mokuba's engagement and wedding had left him feeling he'd missed something all these years. Then Ai had come into his life like a ray of sunshine, lifting a darkness of which he had been previously unaware. Now he'd been flung headlong back into the darkness, his heart wailing like a lost child.
The money had been delivered nearly an hour ago, right after dinner. He hadn't been able to concentrate on work, or anything else for that matter. Mokuba had sent out her photograph and a short statement to both the employees and the papers, but so far, nothing had turned up. The press conference was scheduled for tomorrow morning, and would be handled entirely by Mokuba. The faint sensation of hope began to slip away from him just as the sun slipped behind the horizon.
Ai awoke in a dimly lighted windowless room. There was a small portable toilet under a mirror in one corner, discreetly placed behind a tall screen, a simple chair, the bed she laid on, and the seam of a closed featureless door in one wall, the doorknob missing. The bed and the screen held the only color in the room, a matched set in pale hospital blue. She sat up slowly as she contemplated her situation; other than being very thirsty, scared, and confused, she seemed to be fine. Someone had taken the time and effort to wash her hands and face, for they were clean. She listened carefully, but heard only the gentle sigh of the ventilation system. A gentle rap startled her before the door opened just wide enough to permit someone with a tray. He was average height, wearing causal clothes, his head covered by a werewolf mask preventing her from seeing who he was. He placed the tray down on the bed next to her and sat down in the chair.
"You should eat, you haven't had anything all day." His voice sounded strangely deep, mechanical almost. She couldn't tell if he were young or old by his voice, but his hands said he was about the same age as herself. The tray held a large glass of water and a sandwich. She guessed by the smell that it was peanut butter and took a small bite.
"Where am I?" She tried desperately not to sound as nervous as she felt and took a cautious sip of water.
"Safe, for now." Whatever he was using to disguise his voice also removed any inflection to his words. "As long as you and your boyfriend Kaiba do as you're told, you'll continue to be safe."
He continued to sit there as she finished the water and half the sandwich before she began to feel strange. Her body became numb as a lassitude overwhelmed her and she would have pitched forward if her captor hadn't caught her, removing the glass from her hand and laying her back on the bed. He must have seen the frightened look in her eyes because he explained. "It's just in case we have to move, we can't have you putting up a fight. Get some rest."
She closed her eyes as her head fell so she faced the wall, tears falling onto the pillow. She dimly felt a blanket cover her as she wondered why they were doing this. She slipped into a deep sleep as the drug took full effect.
They were sitting in the moonlit meadow, the Blue Eyes a black dot soaring overhead, and the remains of their picnic lay between them as they talked. They had been talking together most of the day and had reached a point where they were very comfortable with one another. When the sun had set, they had come here. The picnic dinner was a romantic surprise for Ai. She really hadn't thought of Seto as a romantic, and he had confessed that it had been Mokuba's idea, he and his wife suddenly backing out to leave the two of them alone. Seto moved to sit next to Ai as they watched the moonlight play on the surface of the ocean in the distance and silver the back of a pale unicorn as it appeared on the far side of the clearing. Ai laid her head on his shoulder, entranced by the beauty in his program.
As the unicorn left, he turned her face toward him, the heat of his desire shining in his eyes as he gazed deeply into hers. She closed her eyes as he bridged the small space between them, capturing her lips with his own, his hands disappearing into the wealth of her hair and undoing her braid. They kissed again, deeply, passionately, as if they were ravenous. She sensed the fight for control, saw the brief flash of uncertainty in his eyes as he pulled back and stood. They were both visibly shaken at the intensity of their feelings, Seto half turning away as she watched. The awkwardness didn't last long before they were drawn back together as she stood gazing up into his eyes. They kissed tenderly, savoring each other like fine wine.
A cloud covered the moon, plunging the land into darkness as they parted, Ai losing Seto's hand when he pulled away. Suddenly alone in the dark, panic wound itself around her waist, squeezing the breath from her body. Someone grabbed her from behind, shoving a cloth in her mouth when she tried to scream, pinning her arms as she tried to struggle free. Something hit her hard and she fell to the ground.
"Spiteful Bitch!" a man in a different mask stood over her as she struggled to get back up, her shirt torn. His voice was also unnaturally deep and mechanical sounding. He flipped her onto her stomach, securely tying her arms behind her, pinning her legs when she tried to kick, then tying them as well. He raised his arm to hit her again but was halted mid-swing by the werewolf.
"That won't be necessary. Wait outside for a moment." He stooped down and lifted her to sit on the bed. "Don't say anything, or he'll come back."
The man in the werewolf mask removed her gag and used the cloth to wipe the tears from her face. "Would you like something to drink?"
At her nod he held a soda to her lips and helped her to drink it all. The drug he had added took effect quickly, sending her once again into unconsciousness. He gently tied the gag back into place and blindfolded her again before picking her up and carrying her out of the room.