Chapter 10

I sat straight up as a lump formed in my throat and in the pit of my stomach. To hear those words…

I swallowed, "Oh? Do… do I want to know?"

She fidgeted with her retractable claws, a trait she'd picked up from me I'm sure.

"At least, I'm pretty sure. I got a good look at him when he was unconscious, b-but I've seen pictures. He looks like Mokuba's older brother."

"…Mokuba's brother?" I found myself saying through clenched teeth. Was it hot in here all of a sudden? Why am I so dizzy? Was there a metallic smell in the air?

After feeling fluids on my hands I looked down to see I had squeezed my fists so hard my claws had drawn a bit of blood.

Serenity was still looking at her fingers.

"If he is who I think he is, his name is Seto. H-he's the CEO of Kaiba Cooperation. If he is Mokuba's brother, then he could be in some real trouble! He was supposed to be on a business trip and Mokie's been so worried about him, why doesn't he remember…"

I heard Serenity's voice but the words weren't processing.

My bloodied hand now covered my mouth as I squeezed my eyes as tight as I could. This was a good thing! We know who he is! He can go home, right? But why… a part of me really wanted to never know, so he could stay with me for… longer I suppose.

"Wait…wait… Seto Kaiba as in Kisara's fiancée?" The lump in my stomach turned into nausea as everything started to make sense.

Serenity cringed and remained silent.

When had I started crying? I couldn't sit still, so I started pacing back and forth.

"So, the man who's supposta' be partaking in the most importan' treaty in the history of our races has been cheating on his fiancée, who is one of my friends, with me?" My voice increased in volume and I could hear the others starting to stir in their sleep.

"You've slept together?!" Serenity's eye's shot up at me in an emotion I couldn't decipher.

"NO! I just, I mean, I've considered- I mean no! We haven't sleep together, but it's still cheating and, but, I mean, neither of us knew, and I… I… what the FUCK AM I SUPPOSED TO DO?!" I plopped down with my hands pulling my hair and elbows resting on my knees, trying to prevent my voice from cracking. I don't know if I couldn't see from stress or from the tears, but I didn't want to step on anyone.

I felt a pair of arms wrap around my shoulder and Yugi's voice trying to comfort me, but I didn't hear what she said.

Bile burned my mouth, but I swallowed it back down. I was dead. Why do the Spirits hate me?

Serenity grabbed my hands and held them in her lap.

"What am I supposed to do…" my hoarse voice whispered.

This was becoming a reoccurring thing, these wonderful meltdowns in front of my little sister. Good for morale right?

"I… I'll call Mokuba…" Serenity finally decided, since it was obvious no one would be getting sleep tonight.

000000

The whole gang walked to the first floor to Ryou's apartment where Bakura was watching over Set's - I mean Seto's – sleeping form.

"What going on?" Bakura questioned, standing from his place on the couch. I was taken back to see he was shirtless and in a pair of black boxer's but he didn't seem the least bit phased.

"Set is leaving," Ryou answered, since my words were failing me today.

Bakura's eyes looked me over before he crossed his arms and finally declared, "You look like shit."

A burst of laughter escaped my lips, "Great observation skills, buddy. How's that ankle?"

He grunted and showed off the intricately bandaged job. So he didn't heal as fast as pure vampires then.

"Kura, please be polite," Ryou scolded before turning to me, "He is back in my bedroom if you would like to see him before he leaves. We will all wait out here."

Yugi, Honda, Otogi, Mai, Serenity, and Ryou all looked at me in the upmost respect. Or maybe it was just pity, who the hell cares. But seriously, what did I do to be rewarded with such awesome people? I was a hot mess and they were all here for me.

"Thank you, for everything," I choked out.

"I'm gonna miss the guy," Yugi said as she sat in one of the arm chairs.

"I'm gonna miss that ass," Mai whispered under her breath, only to be slapped in the shoulder by Otogi.

The walk to Ryou's room was probably the longest one I'd ever taken. I sank on the bed next to Set's sleeping form and look at the wall. Tears brewed in my eyes, but I refused to let them fall.

"Your… uh…" I turned to look at him, "Your brother is on his way to come getcha. He was pretty freaked out ta hear what happened."

The only movement from him was the slight rise and fall of his chest. I brushed a few stray strands of hair from his face.

I scratched the back of my head before looking back at the wall.

"I'm such an idiot, I should've figured it out. I should've taken you to the hospital right away, we wouldn't be in this stupid mess and…"

My breath caught in my throat as his hand brushed against mine. Leaping off the bed and pressing my back against the wall, all I could do was stare at him.

He opened him mouth a few times, swallowing or something, but it looked absolutely adorable. He turned on his side, mumbling.

"Shit…" I groaned, running my hands down my face.

Silence filled the room, save the soft breathing noised Set made.

"I guess I call you Seto now huh?" I spoke more to myself, "Seeet-oooh…." It sounded odd on my tongue, so I said it a few more times.

"Jooo…" he whispered ever so faintly. My breath caught in my throat and I felt the tears sting my eyes again. He wasn't supposed to do stupid shit like that anymore. He wasn't allowed to make me feel this way anymore. So why did he still have such an effect on me?

I stood against the wall for the longest time, battling my thoughts before I heard Ryou's door swing open with such force it shook the whole apartment.

"Where is he?" I heard Mokuba's frantic voice.

He stormed into the room and looked right at me, frazzled. I could only imagine. He looked different, bags under his eyes and in a fancy suit, he must've been working late. He looked so grown up, it was bizarre. Serenity trailed in behind him.

He looked at me for guidance and I nodded at the bed. He followed my gaze and ran over to Set.

Please say it's not him.

I grabbed my forehead at the thought, wanting to cry again. I shouldn't want things like that, but I do? Why do I want things like that? I know it is wrong, but…

"Oh my god, Seto! Big brother!" he yelled, shaking his sleeping form. Seto groaned, but made no effort to awaken.

It was the saddest sight I'd seen in a long time, Mokuba's frantic shaking to an inhuman speed, but no response. Tears were streaming down his face as he called his brother's name over and over again.

"No need to worry, Mokuba is it?" Ryou said as she walked in.

He nodded hysterically.

"He has just taken some rut medication, he should wake up in about 24 to 72 hours from now, no need to worry about that."

He looked instantly relieved. Serenity massaged his shouldered as he sat next to the bedside holding Seto's forearm.

"Where did you find him?" He asked me without taking his eyes off Seto.

"He ran in front of my car when I was driving home from my fathers. It's all open forest out there, so who knows what he was doing or where he came from," I replied as honestly as I could. If it was Serenity laying on that bed in the same situation, I'd want all the information I could get from people.

"Goddamnit Seto, what were you doing?!" Mokuba yelled and shook him. I cringed at his rage, I could feel the stress he'd been enduring through the strain in his voice. He must be running the whole company by himself these last weeks.

After a few deep breaths, he finally stood, completely composed and business ready. It threw me off guard when he grabbed his cellphone and called for someone to come in and help carry him out.

Mokuba then walked up to me and smiled, "Thank you for taking care of him for me, Jou."

A male and a female dressed like the secret service entered the room shortly after, and lifted him up and out of my life, Mokuba following after. I noticed him give Serenity a light kiss before finally leaving and thanking all of us for the trouble.

It was at that point when I sunk down into a ball and just let the tears flow wild.

00000

Jab, jab, cross, hook, upper cut, upper cut, slide up front kick, again.

My physical training went on for hours on end, it was the only way I could spend my time lately.

My apartment was under remodel, so I ended up staying with my father for the next couple weeks. Serenity was busy since she got a job as a babysitter for all of the liters born over the summer, so it was just me for a while. Then she decided it would be a good idea for me to watch over Juno for a while, to keep me company.

I'm not complaining she was a sweet dog and she kept my attention when I wasn't working. She'd come with me to the council meetings and sit by my side without making any noise, and she's sleep right up by my stomach. Mokuba was correct, she was just a bony little gal, but she loves peanut butter and marshmallows made her run around like she was crazy, so I know with a little time I could get her fattened up.

I began my favorite part of working out, the stretching. As I sat on the ground I tried to do a splits position but didn't get anywhere close. It was the thought that counted right?

It had been two weeks since Seto had been reunited with his family, and within those two weeks there has been no attempt to contact me. Mokuba told me his memories came back once he entered Kaiba Corp headquarters, and he's been trying to figure out who attacked him.

Not that I cared that he didn't want to talk to me. Not at all. He was his own person.

Every time I turned on the news now it was about the treaty between the vampire and werewolf clans and how adorable Kisara and Seto are and what the other races think of it and if they think it will last and when dates are, and blah blah blah. Kisara finally met him, so when we are together she can't stop talking about him. Which is fine, it doesn't bother me. Nope, it sure doesn't.

The fact that he was missing wasn't publicized, thank the spirits for that, but he was making public appearances places now and daaamn did he clean up nice.

Every video clip or photo I saw of him in the media portrayed him in a white suit with every hair put into place. His eyes were cold, and he held himself in such an intimidating manner, it didn't seem like Set at all. But he didn't lose any sexiness, that's for sure.

Chills ran down my spine and down my legs as I tried to touch my toes as memories of his kisses replayed in my head.

Yugi, Honda and Otogi came to visit me as often as they could, but Yugi had Atem, and a job, and the boys were working also.

So for now, it was just me and Juno.

I began reaching over my head to stretch my sides when Kisara walked into the workout room with a leash for Juno.

"Would you like to walk before our meeting?"

00000

Unlike most of our walks, this one was less chatty than usual. And, it was a fucking heat wave! My clothes were sticking to me from how warm it was and shaving my head seemed like a really good idea right now.

"Jo, what's been bothering you?" She finally asked.

I looked at her surprised. I didn't realized she'd been paying that close of attention. A smile grew across my face. "It's nothing to worry yourself with Kisara. It's something I have to handle on my own."

"You say that, but sharing problems always helps. Come on girl, you never vent about your problems to me!"

"Kisara, really it's not that big a deal."

"If you're thinking about it, and it's bothering you, than it is a big deal."

She really is so sweet. She'll make Seto so happy.

"Just lost a friend recently. There's nothing I can do about it, I'm just trying to accept it and move on. It's just taking more time than I thought."

"Lost a friend as in… did he or she pass away?"

"Oh! No, just, circumstances, ya know? It's really complicated."

"If their still alive, you can still talk to them right?"

"Well, I don't know if that'd be appropriate…"

"Why wouldn't it be? Your friend's aren't you? Did you get into a fight with this person?

"Uh… no?"

"Then why can't you talk to this person?"

"I… I… well…" damn, she was really grilling me with questions here, "He's got more pressing priorities."

"Oh, I see," she began, I could see the wheels turning in her head, "Here's an idea, why don't you invite him to my party tomorrow?!"

He'll already be there I'm sure.

I smiled at her anyways, "I'm not sure he'll make it on such short notice, uh, but I'll let him know anyways!"

That seem to satisfy her as she changed the topic to what dress I should wear tomorrow. She made it her own personal project to pick out an outfit for me, which I didn't mind at all, since I've got the fashion sense of a pubescent teenage boy.

Kisara is such a good person, I feel guilty for being so jealous of her achievements. She got the looks, the wealth, the charisma, the knowledge, the strength, and of course, she got Seto.

We made our way back my home when we noticed many fancy looking vehicles parked outside, as well as a familiar motorcycle.

Kisara turned to me with a look of suspicion, "I thought this was supposed to be a regular council meeting."

"So did I…" I mumbled, reaching down to pet Juno. What was my father up to? "It doesn't start for anther half hour right?"

She nodded at me.

"I'm gonna shower, will you take care of Juno for me, I'll be back in a second!"

00000

I was running a pick come through my hair, when my bathroom door was pushed open.

"Oh!" I heard a man's voice utter in a thick German accent, "Vell, zees es most shurprising!"

I made sure my fluffy pink towel was covering all of me before spinning to get a look at the intruder.

Honestly, I wasn't sure where I should look with this guy, it caught me even more by surprise.

The man was surprisingly handsome, with long pink hair and a tall frame, almost as tall as Seto. He was dressed in a fancy purple suit, very bold.

"Uh…" I was at a loss for words, this was so strange, "Um… Why are you in my bathroom?"

"Forgeeve me, Fräulein, I vas looking vor sie lavatory, but it seems vate has a different plan in schtore vor us," he smirked.

"Excuse me?" Was his tone oddly flirtatious?

He lifted my hand to his lips and whispered, "Eis not very often to meet schuch a vine young voman schuch as yourself. Your orbs are like radiant gems, I cahn't look avay."

He was being flirtatious with me.

"Dude, I'm literally soaking wet in a bathroom and you think making a move seems like a good idea? And did you refer to my eyes as orbs? All I can think of is dead doll eyes, ya know? And my eyes are brown, what gems are brown?" I ranted, pulling my hand away. His face paled at my bluntness.

I probably would've been a bit nicer to the guy, but when you walk in on someone fresh out the shower that you've never met, you don't flirt with them, you apologize and then you get on with your life. I'm really not in hook up mode right now.

"Oh, vell, of course, Fräulein, I vill just ve on my vay," he coughed uncomfortably and shuffled away.

That was fucking weird.

I made my way into my bedroom across the hall from the bathroom once he was for sure gone to see Kisara waiting for me with a form fitting dress picked out.

"Ooo! You know what, you should let me waterfall braid your hair! It'd look so nice with the blond!" She giggled as she picked out a pair of flats. She knew I wouldn't wear heels and gave up on that mission pretty quickly.

"Did you see that pink haired guy?" I asked her as I sat between her legs on the floor so she could braid my hair.

"Who? Oh yeah! That guy! He is…oh what's his name? Right, of course, it's Zigfried von Schroeder! He runs Schroeder Corporation, which is like one of the top rival's against Kaiba Corp. these days. He's very nice, has a reputation as a womanizer though."

"Oh, I've already had the pleasure."

"What for real?"

"He walked in on me in the bathroom and released his French like charm!"

"French?"

"Yeah it's a French accent right?"

She gave a hearty laugh, "It's totally German, you goof!"

"Oh, well that's what I said."

"Seriously in the bathroom, though? That's kinda creepy."

"Maybe his womanizing hasn't been doing so well lately."

She laughed again, "Maybe not. Mr. Kaiba actually told me about him, I wonder why he is here though, he's a vampire."

"I wish my father would keep me more involved with these things."

"He's never had to train anyone like this before Jo, you have to give him a bit more credit. He is trying."

"Yeah, yeah, your right."

"All done!" she stated, patting her hands on her knees as a job well done, "you ready?"

"Ready as I'll ever be."

00000

I was truly surprised by the amount of people in our council room, almost every werewolf pack had one representative and there were many vampires, including Atem. Based on Kisara's face I could tell she was surprised too.

Making my way through the crowd, I quickly flagged down my father, Kisara right behind me.

"Dad, what's going on? Why are there so many people here?" I inquired.

"Your fiancée," he gestured to Kisara, "asked that we all meet here to discuss the treaty. Spirits only know what for."

"What? This is the first I've heard about it," Kisara proclaimed, looking quite frustrated.

"Why don't you two take a seat, he should be here any minute," my father suggested.

Seto was coming here? Why? I felt my heart pound just little faster with the idea of seeing him. Damnit, it's been two weeks and he still has such a strong hold over me. Snap out of it Jo, come on.

We sat next to Atem, and Zigfried wouldn't stop staring at me from across the room. It made me quite uneasy.

My father conducted business as usual, since there was no Kaiba in site.

About 15 minutes in, I began losing interest and started doodling on my notepad.

My concentration was quickly broken when the double doors were thrown open and in walk Seto Kaiba and Mokuba hot on his trail. Mokuba spotted me in an instant and gave me a smile. Seto didn't even look in my direction. I noticed Kisara light up a bit and sit straighter at the sight of her future husband.

I pressed a palm to my chest. My heart bounced off my ribcage.

This wasn't good. I'm sure everyone could hear it, by the way Atem glanced at me in worry. Hopefully, he thought it only startled me when the door slammed open.

The Kaiba brothers sure did know how to make an entrance.

"I'm sure you're all wondering what changes I am going to make to the treaty, which is why you are all here today," the elder Kaiba brother spoke strong and firmly, capturing the attention of everyone in the room.

I wasn't used to this, it made me nervous, intimidated, but so… turned on. He looked so intense, serious, and sinister. What was he up to?

"It's quite simple. I will marry Johannah Katsuya."