Author's Note: Hello, loyal readers! Here we come to the penultimate chapter of this epic (haha) saga.

As they say, it's always darkest before the dawn..

As always, please read/review/follow/fave (and tell your friends! :D)

Enjoy!

"We have to do something, Odion-" Marik's voice was high-pitched with quavery panic as he paced back and forth in the living room, clutching a pillow to his chest with one hand, the other fiddling with his glasses.

The morning sun had just begun to peek in through the dusty window blinds. Thin strips of light falling along the scratched wooden floor.

Marik swallowed hard, that sticky lump in his throat refusing to disappear, and threw his gaze over to where Odion stood at the kitchen sink, methodically cleaning off the dishes from breakfast and rinsing each utensil, polishing everything until they gleamed. His back and shoulder muscles tensing and relaxing without cease. His motions mechanical. His face blank and perfectly neutral.

Ever since Ishizu left yesterday-

-not a word-

The silence in the Ishtar apartment had nearly been enough to drive Marik mad. Leaving him clawing at the walls. Wanting to scream. Staying downstairs in the shop until midnight just for the hope of someone coming in-a customer with whom he could converse.

Breathing in that dust-choked air of the shop.

The anxiety racing in his veins as he'd lain awake in bed, knowing sleep was a long way off.

How could she have done this? To us?

-she must have been coerced-

-by that scumbag. That creep. That bastard. That asshole-

-that asshole she's chosen over us-

Nervousness rising up to a boiling point.

And then-

-like the proverbial tea kettle-

"Odion-" He dropped the pillow to the ground and walked over to where his brother, tightly wound around his solid iron core, was emptying the dishwasher load. Putting utensils back in their drawer one at a time. Points and flashes of light glancing off metal like jolts of lightning.

Marik's eyes filled with tears. Acid. Painful.

They began to run down his chin, accompanied by a running nose that he did nothing to ameliorate.

Odion-

-Brother-

-why are you so cold-

"It's like you don't even care-"

He suddenly grabbed Odion's wrist as he spoke, voice cracked and petulant, causing his older brother to turn his head sharply, eyes narrowing with barely suppressed rage.

The plate in Odion's hand, a nondescript cream color, fell to the floor, shattering into bits and pieces.

A tiny cloud of ceramic dust rose and dissipated between them as Marik looked down, a drop from his nose falling onto the mess.

He looked up again slowly, eyes impossibly wide, breath catching in his chest as he regarded his brother with a measure of worry.

Fearing what would come next.

"It's like I don't even care."

Odion's low voice came out tense and gruff as he wrenched his wrist out of Marik's grip and picked up another plate. This one a light peach.

As Marik watched in horror, Odion let the plate fall to the ground and break. Carelessly. Casually.

Another cloud of dust polluting the air between them.

He bent down and picked up another peach-colored plate. Before Marik could stop him he flicked his wrist and practically threw the plate onto the ground, creating an ever-growing mass of broken ceramic.

"Odion-"

What is he doing-

I shouldn't have said that-

-of course he cares-

"You're an idiot-" Odion gripped the countertop, his arm muscles tensing as if he were preparing to rip the linoleum out of the wall-his shoulders rising up nearly to his ears as his voice grew rough with emotion-

Marik's eyes filled with tears again, his hand hesitatingly reaching out to squeeze Odion gently on the shoulder. "I-I-"

I'm so sorry.

Odion fixed his dark eyes on his younger brother, watching the smaller man's lower lip quiver with regret at his hasty words.

If we're going to get Ishizu back, there's no point in acting foolish-

-still-

"Marik, you should learn to hold your tongue."

Odion sighed to himself, bent down and began stacking plates from the dishwasher. To Marik's relief, he placed the stake back into the cupboard and closed the wooden door behind them.

"And you're cleaning this up." He gestured at the mess at their feet. The three broken plates, crumbled vetoing recognition or use.

Marik nodded feverishly, eager to do anything to stumble upon his brother's good graces once more, and walked out of the kitchenette to retrieve the broom and dustpan.

It was then that a single tear rolled down Odion's cheek, which he quickly wiped away with the pad of his thumb.

Sister-

-what have you done?

-why have you done it?

As Marik returned with the dustpan and broom, its splintery handle uncomfortable against his palm, Odion spoke again, his voice pensive.

"Don't you think her phone calls were strange, Marik? -The way she went on and on about some ridiculous medical tests I was supposedly having-and of course I would have told you were that the case, Brother-" He reached out and ruffled his younger brother's fair hair as the latter carefully swept up the ceramic bits into a manageable pile.

Marik bent to his knee and collected the shards in the dustpan. "I know now, Brother-it was just rather frightening to hear her say such things when I had no possible idea of what she meant-"

And then-

When she called the next day-

-it was like she wasn't even speaking to us. Talking past us. In some kind of code-

Marik dumped the broken pieces into the dustbin and grabbed a towel from by the sink, wetting it and beginning to scrub at the floor where the mess had lain.

"Something's clearly not right."

Marik lifted his head, pushing his glasses up his nose as he glanced up at the hulking figure of his brother. "I mean-I know, but is there anything we can do at this point? She said he's not forcing her to stay with him anymore-"

Anymore-

Not anymore-

Odion's eyes widened briefly, then narrowed as he walked around his brother's crouching form. Over to the wall telephone, which he picked up and held in his hand, twisting and untwisting the curly cord in his other hand as he looked back at his brother pointedly.

"You're right, Marik-that's what she told us-but given the strangeness of those phone calls, there's no logical way we can take that claim seriously-"

Marik stood up then and dropped the washcloth into the sink, running his hands under a stream of lukewarm water and drying them quickly on his khakis as he caught on. "And besides-while she says she's free now-we know that she wasn't-hasn't been-for the past few weeks-"

The only thing we can't do if our sister is still trapped-

-trapped by that monster-

-or if she won't listen to reason-

Odion put the receiver to his ear, his hand lifting to punch in the buttons.

"This is the only way we can help her now."

A sudden feeling of warmth bloomed within Ishizu, prickling at her skin as her eyes flickered open.

Gorgeous sunlight, radiantly golden, streaming on them in waves. Infusing the coverlet over their bodies with heat. Cozy. Comfortable.

She was lying on her side on top of the picnic blanket, with Seto right up against her. She felt his lips resting on her neck, his cool breathing even and rhythmic. His chest pressing into her back, his arm wrapped around her waist. Keeping her close.

Mm.

Trying not to wake him, Ishizu couldn't help but chuckle quietly under her breath.

Somehow-through some strange, half-asleep change in their configuration-she had indeed become the little spoon. And-

-judging by the unconscious, mumbled groan that tumbled from his lips as she shifted against him-

-he seemed to be enjoying it-

Ishizu flushed-or perhaps it was merely the now-slightly oppressive sunlight-and gently unwrapped his arm from around her and wriggled out of his grasp, coming to lie on her back, her face turned towards his.

His long eyelashes casting shadows on his cheeks. The way his lips parted when he breathed. The faintest shadow of stubble beginning on his chin. His hair, filled with all those dark and light brown strands. Locks falling on top of his closed eyes.

He was so damned beautiful when he slept-

Without her fitted against him, he seemed to be lying in a fetal position.

So vulnerable that way-

"I never told you about my childhood, Ishizu."

The boy he had been-brilliant, no doubt. Protective. Innocent. In the orphanage. Caring for Mokuba the way a parent would have-

"I'll protect you now. Okay?"

She blinked back a tear as she saw little Odion and even littler Marik before her. The former's face soaked with tears, the latter mewling and wailing in her arms.

She'd had to become their mother in much the same way when their real mother had passed-

-And then-

-in the rain-

-in the graveyard-

Ishizu shuddered to herself, an errant drop of water running down her face as she recalled Odion's empty gaze. Crueler words.

"You said you would always protect us, Ishizu. That you would never let anything hurt us."

I did what I wanted to do.

I made the choice I wanted to make.

Much the same way Seto had-

"I killed my stepfather, Ishizu."

She shuddered to herself. The fear in his eyes as he'd anticipated her leaving. That same sadness that had flickered. Twisted itself into his features in his study. When he'd thought he'd lost her. Given her leave to depart. Seen her waver before him.

Seen her choose. Him.

For all the strangeness of him. The goodness buried deep. Struggling to tear through the cracks in the façade.

The attraction surely hadn't hurt-

And yet he thinks he killed his stepfather.

Seto Kaiba thinks he has that power within him.

The darkness required to kill someone-

Ishizu chewed on her lip, remembering that night when she'd stood poised by his sleeping form. Clutching that fluffy white pillow in her hands. Arms tense and ready.

That feeling of rage quivering within. Her hatred of the man she now lay beside-

I very nearly did.

I tried-

She felt Seto stir beside her. A tiny sigh issuing from his lips as he shifted. Lowering his head to press a kiss to her forehead, trailing a string of gentle pecks and nuzzles down her cheek and neck, his hand coming to rest on her hipbone as she shivered automatically.

A smirk against her skin. "Good morning, Ishizu."

How could such innocuous words hold so many filthy implications?

Ishizu rolled onto her side to face him, propping her head up on her elbow. Sweeping her eyes over his form, her lips moved into a cheeky smile as she moved the blanket off his hips and looked downwards. "And good morning to you, Seto Kaiba-"

His mouth pressing against hers hungrily swallowed the last syllable as the hand on her waist curled around her body to her rear. Pulling her hips against his fully, making her hiss out a breath of anticipation.

Moving her free hand to his shoulder, she opened her eyes between kisses and looked at him seraphically, raising an eyebrow before pushing him onto his back, he falling onto the blanket with a slight "oof", hair falling into his eyes as she moved to straddle him. A groan issuing from his lips as she ground her hips against his lightly.

"Geez, Ishizu-sometimes I think you only want me for my body-" Seto's voice was lighthearted and teasing, his eyes bright and dark as he gazed up at her, his hands gripping at her hips to hold her in place against him.

Ishizu blushed then, and giggled as she leaned down to kiss him again, biting his lower lip gently, then tilting her head to suck on his earlobe, calling forth something very like a lovely whine.

"Well," she whispered coyly, her warm breath tickling his skin, sending tiny jolts down his spine, "it's not like it's exactly a drawback for me, hmm?"

This woman is going to give me a heart attack-

"I suppose you're right." Finding an errant ounce of strength, Seto rolled them over so that he was above her, looking down at her and resting on his forearms. Straddling her hips while Ishizu looked back up at him, still more predator than prey as her hand lifted to push his hair out of his eyes, the other moving to rest on his thigh.

This-

-this is something.

Seto's heart thrummed almost too quickly in his chest as his eyes met hers, causing his breaths to come out labored and painting.

Strange though it may be-

As he bent down to kiss her again, something tugged at the corner of Ishizu's mind. A question bubbling behind her lips. Simple, but-

-perhaps the mood for it had passed?-

"Seto?" she asked quietly between kisses, her voice soft and hesitant.

Seto's eyes grew large and concerned. Is she all right-? Climbing off of her as quickly and smoothly as he could manage, he landed back on the blanket and touched her arm gently. "Everything all right, Ishizu?"

Ishizu almost wanted to weep with joy at the worry. The acute care for her well-being-something she never could have considered prior-shimmering in his eyes. Threaded in the caution of his voice.

She sat up slowly, crossing her legs pulling the blanket over her lap, moving her hand to rest on Seto's own. "Oh, no-don't worry, I'm fine-it's just-"

I shouldn't be so curious-

"I had another question-about the things you told me last night-"

Seto's mouth tightened almost imperceptibly, his back muscles clenching suddenly. "Ah."

The macabre fascination with the awful person I was-

-that I still am-

Ishizu noticed, and immediately her cheeks pinked with shame, her hands lifting to cover her mouth as if to stop the already-uttered words from hanging in the air between them.

Seto sighed heavily, his hand moving to tuck a lock of her hair behind her ear. "You can ask me anything you like, Ishizu."

Though the answers will likely disgust you-

She spread her fingers over her lips, the words edging through the spaces between. "Um-I was just wondering-that ramen place you took me to-when I asked you about it, you said you didn't want to talk about it because it-because it was related to your childhood-"

Seto's shoulders relaxed noticeably, his facial muscles softening along with his gaze.

Clearly this was not was he anticipated-

"Oh, that-? Well, when I was twelve, I-I had a minder-a nanny of sorts to watch over me between my lessons and exams and such-"

That day-

His voice came out almost casual. Practiced lightness that made Ishizu's stomach twist.

"One day, Gozaburo-my stepfather-went a little hard on me-" Sprained my wrist, matter of fact-

Ishizu's eyes grew blurry with simmering tears as Seto continued, his gaze focused on her neck. The delicate architecture of her jawline. Her collarbone.

"She took me there to try to cheer me up that afternoon. It was a place she'd grown up eating at, in her neighborhood-and she thought I deserved to get away from the Manor for once-"

That first bite of steaming hot ramen still a memory on his tongue. Comforting. Safe. The restaurant a refuge. Then and now.

"I-I see-" Ishizu murmured, trying to keep her voice even. Her nose slowly growing red from the effort of suppression.

Seto's voice turned bitter. "Of course, she was sacked that evening for letting me out-"

That bastard stepfather of mine-

"I never saw her again."

-and she was the only adult who ever cared for me-

A loud, unintentional sniffle from Ishizu disrupted his reverie; he lifted his eyes to her and blanched at the obvious tears threatening to spill over.

Dammit-

"Ishizu-" he reached out and wiped the escaping tears off her cheeks with the back of his hand.

Ishizu looked down at her blanketed lap, clasping her hands there, interlacing the fingers tightly. She closed her eyes, pushing out the last of the tears, which Seto quickly brushed away. Eyelashes fluttering as her nose began to run.

"I'm so sorry-I shouldn't even have asked-"

Another rock sitting on her chest. Blocking her windpipe. Making her gasp for air.

A knife in her back between her ribs. Rotating slowly with each shuddering breath she took.

Why does hearing about this story-

-about Seto's past-

-why does it make me feel this way-?

Seto-

Ishizu felt him press his forehead to hers. His breath tickling her lips as he said softly, running his hands through her hair almost reverently:

"Don't worry about it-please-"

His usually smooth and controlled voice rough with worry. Anguish. So earnest. Open. Made vulnerable in so doing.

Something else that she hadn't dared to dwell upon. Recurring in his words and manner towards her. Increasingly frequent-

Ever patient. Impatient at the same time.

Ishizu opened her eyes slowly, unsure why the prospect of looking into those all-too-fathomable eyes scared her. Thrilled her in equal measure.

Seto bit the inside of his cheek to stop from gasping aloud at the sight of her. All crumpling and radiant at the same time.

Ishizu-

She leaned in towards him to press her lips to his before he could say it. The thing that scratched at his lips from the inside. The thing he knew would eat away at him until he got the words out.

Putting it off for only a moment as his tongue moved into her mouth, her hands lifting to pull him closer to her by the shoulders. Every cell in her body coming frighteningly alive as he wrapped his arms around her tightly, pulling her onto his lap.

The moment ended when she pulled away. The words she needed to say choking her. Demanding to be given voice. Determined to stop her breathing until she told him.

This.

"Seto," she panted, trying to stop the incessant, wild beating of her heart in her chest. The shaking feeling reverberating within her.

"Nn?" Seto swept the pad of his thumb over her lower lip almost sweetly. Making her melt.

"I-I know you're going to laugh at me or shrug it off. And I know that it-that it honestly makes no sense for me to-to be saying this-but-"

Seto's eyes grew bright as he understood.

Ishizu's cheeks had never felt so painfully, brilliantly red as she managed to whisper:

"I think I might love you."

Blast it-

Seto paused for a moment, a wide, almost greedy smile spreading on his lips.

She said it-

-that was unexpected-

"What was that, Ishizu? I couldn't quite hear you..." He leaned forward and brushed his lips along the shell of her ear, laughing quietly when he heard her groan in response, knowing without seeing that she was rolling her eyes.

"I'm not going to say it again-Seto-"

Of course he wouldn't be one to make this easy-

Seto went on blithely, pressing a kiss to her jawline before his arms tightened around her once more, "I mean, I have to say, while I know I'm no slouch in bed, I can quite honestly say that this is a first-"

Ishizu gritted her teeth irritatedly. "A first for what, Seto?"

Seto took her earlobe into his mouth, making her shiver helplessly in his arms, before continuing. "I mean, my sexual skills have never made a woman fall in love with me before-"

Ishizu laughed despite herself, the sound almost a bark as he moved to sucking gently on a tender patch of skin on her neck. "I suppose it's your vast wealth and incredible charm that gets them to do that?"

"Something like that." He flicked his eyes back up to her, hungry and bright. "Honestly, Ishizu, you're sure you're not just saying that so I'll have sex with you right now?" He ran one of his hands along her arm before lifting it, then eliciting another gasp from her as his pointer finger circled a sensitive spot on her chest. Then the other, his pointer finger quickly being replaced by his thumb. Moving gently. Stoking the fire simmering within her.

Her voice trembling with rising need, struggling to make itself audible over his chuckling, Ishizu managed to gasp out, "Seto-you asshole-I tell you I'm in love with you and this is how you respond?"

Seto didn't speak then, instead letting go of her entirely, she moaning quietly at the loss of his hands, then gently pushing her to lie on her back. Ishizu pushed the blanket off her lap with shaking hands as Seto moved to lie on top of her, their hips rubbing together in an increasingly frenzied motion.

Yes-

Seto's breath now throaty and uneven as he moved his lips to her ear again, propping himself up on his arms.

"You're right, Ishizu."

His voice like velvet, making her squeeze her inner thighs together as he planted a heated kiss on her forehead. Then another lower down. On her ear.

"I love you."

Like a breath. Natural. Easy.

Perfect.

Another kiss. This time on her cheek.

"I love you."

Like he'd been waiting eons to say it.

Another kiss. This one on her neck, making her sigh heavily as he straddled her hips again.

"I love you, Ishizu Ishtar..."

Ishizu pulled her dress over over her head and slid it over her legs, then stepped into her panties and pulled them up around her hips as Seto watched her half-distractedly, still in the middle of re-dressing himself in the prior day's clothes, his pants around his ankles, undershirt and button-down and all still on the floor of the deck.

Ishizu smirked and gave a pointed look towards his boxers, which hung loosely around his skinny hips. "Enjoying yourself?"

Seto finished pulling up his trousers, a leery grin appearing on his features as he looked down at her. "I'd rather enjoy it more if it were the other way around…"

Ishizu raised an eyebrow questioningly as Seto bent down with unconscious grace to retrieve his undershirt. "I'm sorry?"

"You know," Seto replied silkily, voice slightly muffled as he pulled the shirt over his head, "if you were getting undressed-that's a scene I don't think I'll get tired of-"

Ishizu poked him hard in the ribs through the shirt, rolling her eyes as she couldn't help but laugh. The sound like a breath of fresh air, capped off by a gasp of surprise as Seto grabbed hold of her wrist and pulled her to him, his other hand holding her hips against his as his lips touched against hers oh-so-lightly. His breathing traveling down her spine. To below her belly, where a sudden need coiled tightly. Demanding outrageous things of her.

Ishizu murmured teasingly against his lips, "geez, Seto, it's like you only want me for my body…" Her free hand traveling up his torso to rest on his chest, feeling his heartbeat quickening beautifully as he kissed her properly. His tongue meeting hers insistently, her lips parting as he grasped her hips tightly to his, rubbing against her with no small amount of desire as his other hand left hers and move to cradle her head, winding itself through her hair.

More-

-please-

"Don't make me say it again," quipped Seto, his voice gentle as he finally pulled away.

Ishizu moved her hand to the back of his neck and pulled his face to hers, their foreheads, her eyes bright and dark as she looked into his. "Say it."

Those words-

Seto blushed then, dipping his head to kiss below her ear to hide the sudden redness of his cheeks as he whispered, his voice dark and clever, "get back on that blanket and I'll prove it to you-"

Which prompted another poke, this time to his cheek, as Ishizu tried to hide the giggle that tumbled from her lips, escaping from behind delicate fingers.

Turning on her heel, throwing him a half-lidded glance that immediately sent need quivering through his every fiber, she walked over to the blanket and turned around once more to face him. Coming to a kneeling position, then gracefully lowering herself onto her rear as Seto approached, another hungry smile appearing on his lips as she leaned back on her hands, extending her legs in front of her and bending them at the knee so that her skirts slid down her thighs to pool at her waist.

"Well?" Her voice was coy, a half-whisper delivered through pursed lips.

Seto dropped to his knees before her, his hands pulling her knees apart, smoothing along her inner thighs as his darkening eyes met hers. Understanding. "Well?"

"Show me."

"What-what is this?"

As Seto drove smoothly up the driveway of the Manor, his brow furrowed, his free hand tightening around Ishizu's, as he saw it.

Three black-and-white cars parked at the door of the house. Red lights on top flashing almost blindingly bright. Six men in dark uniforms and hats standing by the cars, all looking incredibly stern. Téa, Yugi, Joseph, Tristan, Solomon-seemingly all of the staff gathered out on the front steps of the Manor, seemingly all in a state of confusion.

The police-

Ishizu's eyes grew round and alarmed as she saw them. Behind one of the cars, looking as frantic as she and Seto felt right then-

A flash of blond hair in a ponytail-

Marik-

Odion-

Cold, lucid fear washed through her as she tentatively turned to glance over at Seto, whose hand, still gripping hers, was shaking with barely suppressed fury as he, too, saw them. The Ishtar idiot from the shop and another one, this man large and muscular with a partially shaved head and extensive facial tattoos-what a freak-

Ishizu pressed her lips together, not daring to meet his eyes as Seto pulled over and turned the car off, watching as the six men in uniform converged upon them. "I-I didn't-I told them about us-how I had chosen this-" her voice came out strangled and breathless.

What could they have told the police to get them to come over here?

Seto's upper lip curled as he looked at back at her. I have no doubt of that-

"Your idiot brothers are going to be the death of me, Ishizu-"

One of the officers, face stern, tapped on Seto's window.

"Excuse me, Mr. Kaiba-you're under arrest."

Seto rolled down the window, scowling almost petulantly, still not letting go of Ishizu. "What are the charges, officer?"

Ishizu, cheeks blazing, buried her face in her free hand with embarrassment.

Seto-this man is an officer of the law-now is not the time or situation to be rude-

The officer's expression didn't change. "Kidnapping, Mr. Kaiba. The woman in the car has been named as your hostage by Mr. Marik Ishtar and Mr. Odion Ishtar-" He gestured towards Marik and Odion, who were speaking animatedly with one of the officers behind the mass of squad cars, their features contorted in pain.

Seto's lips curled into an unpleasant smile, his eyes growing dark with anger as Ishizu watched helplessly, heart in her throat. "I see. Those two men told you that I kidnapped this woman?"

I mean, technically, they aren't exactly wrong-

-just a few weeks late for it to be relevant-

-the wonders of Domino's law enforcement-

"Yes, Mr. Kaiba." The officer withdrew a pair of handcuffs and brandished them. "I'm going to need you to exit the vehicle and place your hands behind your back-"

Seto sighed heavily, wearily, and leaned over, pressing a quick kiss to Ishizu's cheek, squeezing her hand one last time before opening his door and exiting the vehicle.

"Don't worry," he muttered sourly under his breath so only Ishizu and the arresting officer could hear, "I have excellent lawyers on retainer. This won't take very long."

Ishizu nodded, biting her lip nervously as she exited the car and walked around just in time for her to see Seto, his arms cuffed behind his back, being marched over to one of the squad cars. The officer's hand on Seto's head, pushing it down gently so that he didn't hit it on the roof of the vehicle. Seto's eyes bright and hard, his cheeks pinking with embarrassment.

My staff seeing me like this-positively humiliating-

-the only way this could possibly be worse is if that Hawkins bastard were here as well-

Ishizu felt her hands begin to shake as the officer shut the door to the backseat of the squad car, trapping Seto inside rather like some violent caged creature.

Before she could stop herself, she felt it.

Rage.

Boiling. Bubbling within her, sparking from cell to cell, coloring her cheeks and neck a deep red as she clenched her fists and picked up her pace, walking over to the cluster of officers and crossing her arms over her chest.

"I'm going with him to the precinct."

My brothers-

-you knew I didn't want to leave him-

-how could you be so cruel-

-to do something like this-

One of the other officers scratched the back of his neck awkwardly as Marik and Odion looked at one another, pure alarm flashing in their eyes. Their faces. Registering in their postures as Marik stammered out uselessly:

"Sister-"

What kind of hold does this asshole-this monster-have on you?

"Miss Ishtar, I'm not s-sure if that's standard p-procedure-" the officer replied, his words tripping over one another, the shorter man threatening to wilt under the fury of Ishizu's gaze.

Ishizu's voice dropped to a near-whisper, her eyes burning into the officer's with a frightful intensity. Her demeanor deadly serious.

"I'm not going to ask again."

Though I didn't exactly ask the first time-

The officer gulped audibly. "Ah-yes-if you'll come with me, Miss Ishtar-" He motioned to the squad car he had arrived in, then walked over to open the backseat door.

While Marik and Odion watched helplessly, their sister-this strange, unforgiving creature who had borrowed her face and form-bowed her head in thanks and silently dipped herself into the backseat of the car, her face disdainful and irritated as the officer closed the door.

Another officer tapped the brothers on their shoulders lightly, then pointed to his squad car. "Mr. Ishtar and Mr. Ishtar, if you'll please get in the car, we'll all go down to the precinct to process him."

Marik looked up at Odion, his heartbeat positively hammering in his ears, a sour taste forming in his mouth. "Odion-"

What more can we do for her?

Odion placed his hand on his younger brother's shoulder, squeezing softly in an attempt to be comforting. "Let's go, Marik."

Seto wrinkled his nose in what he hoped was a positively destructive sneer, wishing he could lift his hands to brush this one annoying strand hanging in his eyes…

The handcuffs don't exactly make this easy-

He tried in vain to pull his wrists apart, pure scorn flitting over his face at the fruitlessness of his attempt.

Sweeping his eyes around for what had to be the twentieth time already, he took in the depressingly nondescript settings once more. The sallow fluorescent lighting. One bulb burned out nearly all the way, creating an extremely annoying flicker. The chipped linoleum flooring. The monotony of the desks in their neat little rows, the officers in their dark uniforms scribbling away like useless worker bees.

On the other side of the low wall separating him and the arresting officer from the rest of the room sat Ishizu on a hard little bench, her hands gripping her skirt as she uncrossed and recrossed her shaking legs, her cheeks still colored scarlet with anger. Her lips moving as if she were muttering curses under her breath. Shoulders tensed. Ready to strike on his behalf.

Seto couldn't help but smirk then. It was almost touching-

Her beyond foolish brothers sitting on the other end of the bench, leaving a good amount of space between the blond cretin's knee and Ishizu's leg. Deliberate space. As if she would lash out were her brothers to come any closer. This registering with a strangely bitter feeling.

Her brothers may have done something beyond idiotic-

-but I didn't exactly intend for this sort of-damned rift between them-

Ishizu crossed her legs once more, licked her lips, and went back to gritting her teeth. Having already been told to settle down, Miss Ishtar in an impossibly condescending tone, she'd reasoned that perhaps causing a ruckus in the precinct would not be the wisest course of action.

Despite how much I'd like to do so-

She was suddenly acutely aware of her brothers' proximities to her. The way they were nearly sitting on top of one another on the other end of the bench, no doubt fearing the extent of her once-nascent wrath. Now loosed. Threatening to be unleashed.

Where was that perfect control when she needed it?

It was rather difficult to remain so composed-so placid-when the man she-

-well-

-loved-

-that trite, overly-sweet word that almost made her gag-

-was in handcuffs on the other side of the room. His eyes bright and snappish as he looked at his surroundings. The stubble on his chin making him look unkempt. Vulnerable. Unpolished. The way his fine suit was bunching around his torso, ruining it, registering with a pang.

His composure shaken. Utterly so.

Perhaps only she could see that-

And there's nothing I can do-

Marik dared to look over at his sister, studying her profile with widening lavender eyes. Biting his lower lip, his stomach doing uncontrolled flips as he watched her composure deteriorate. As if she couldn't hold it in any more.

Sister-

She was always so controlled. Serene. Motherly. Gentle and smooth and soft and all these things that seemed years and decades away from the woman sitting on the other end of the bench.

Misery plain on her face. Etching itself into her luminous features.

He could count the number of times he'd seen her look quite this way on one hand.

The last time had been in the cemetery, the beginnings of light rain beginning to dampen the three of them through.

When Father-

Marik hung his head for a moment while his eyes blurred with tears, chewing on his lower lip as his glasses threatened to slide down his nose. Unable to watch this strange creature who was not his sister.

That wasn't fair.

She must-

-really-

-care for this asshole-

Could he really fault her for that?

She'd done everything for them. For the family.

-as far back as Marik could remember-

She'd been the one who'd taught him to read. Helped him hold the tiny crayon in his chubby hand as he made the beginnings of colorful, illegible words. Writing his name. Hers. Odion's. Their father's. The family's.

She'd been the one who'd gotten him ready for school in the mornings. Woke up early in the mornings and packed his lunch-all of their lunches-and walked both him and Odion to school, even though hers was on the opposite side of Domino City.

She'd been the one who had stayed in the city for university. Attended part-time over a chunk of years as she'd helped to care for their sickening, aging father. Putting off her applications to graduate school when his condition had worsened. Only leaving for London and all its opportunities when everyone had reassured her that everything would be fine-that she should take this one thing for herself.

She'd been the one who had nobly, selflessly taken Marik's place when the rat bastard had demanded a hostage.

Marik looked away from her, enlacing his fingers in his lap and directing his gaze to the cracked tiles of the floor.

Surely she'd wanted more than to be so selfless all her life. Had desires she couldn't have expressed to anyone. Gotten tired of being the rock the family clung to. So happy. Putting up with everything.

Always keeping her promise.

"When Mother died, I made you and Odion a promise."

"I promised I would protect you."

"Just know that my promise still holds."

Sometimes promises grow too confining for their original terms. Too constricting.

Sometimes the promises made in one's youth no longer carry the same weight-

Sometimes the makers of promises don't realize the weight of the yoke they've taken on. Don't realize that things-circumstances-can change.

Promises can hold all sorts of forms-

When Marik finally spoke, it was directed at his sister. Listlessly, the words laced through with regret. Cracking slightly. Mouth dry.

"We'll be dropping the charges now."

From where he sat beside his younger brother, Odion stiffened. Reached out his arm and grabbed Marik's wrist tightly while Ishizu, her eyes narrowed with disgust, turned slightly to face them on the other end of the bench. Only a foot between them. But endless space.

Surprise crossing her face like the parting of a curtain as Odion seethed silently.

Brother-

-what in Ra's name are you saying-

-this bastard-

-took our sister hostage-

Marik looked at his brother in the eyes, his voice quiet but determined.

"You were right when Ishizu came back to get her things, Brother-well, not quite."

While Ishizu flushed again at her brother's implications, her hands growing slightly sweaty, Odion dropped Marik's wrist, clenching his fists at his sides. "What are you saying, Brother?-There's so way she could actually-"

Marik's eyes grew inexorably sad as realization dawned on Odion-faintly, slowly then all at once.

"She can't always…"

Be chained to that promise in the same way.

Sacrificing everything for our sakes. For the company. Suffering for us-

-suppressing her own desires-

Ishizu took a deep, shuddering breath, her eyes filling with tears of relief as she scooted closer to Marik on the bench and wrapped her arms around him, burying her face in his shoulder.

"Thank you, Brother."

I'm so sorry, Marik… Odion…

But this is-

-something for myself-

I'm so selfish-

Odion watched his siblings embrace, his dark, hard gaze softening as he reached around Marik and patted Ishizu slightly awkwardly on the hand. "We love you, Ishizu-that's why-"

Ishizu looked up, a tiny smile glowing on her face, lighting up her features from within as she extended her arm to include him in the embrace. "I know, Odion-"

I understand.

From where he stood, Seto watched the strange display amongst the Ishtar siblings unfold. Unable to read their lips-to understand why Ishizu had suddenly decided to hug those two imbeciles she was linked to by blood-he pouted, rolling his eyes, then watched keenly as Marik walked over to the officer at the nearest desk, his lips moving rapidly, hands gesticulating wildly, occasionally pointing to where Seto stood behind the low wall on the other side of the room.

He saw the officer hunch his shoulders in confusion, Marik's cheeks growing pink with effort-with embarrassment-as he seemed to struggle to figure out what to say next.

Then, from behind, Seto observed the officer's shoulders sag slightly in a shrug, then-

-in a rather dramatic fashion-

-the uniformed man tore the processing forms he'd been filling out into two clean halves.

I don't understand-

He nearly jumped a foot in the air as he felt someone behind him pull his arms backwards, then an apologetic voice ringing in his ear- "my apologies, Mr. Kaiba-" as his cuffs clicked open.

Seto rubbed his wrists gently, wincing as his fingers brushed the red marks branded into his skin, looking down his nose at the shorter man in uniform, who quickly scurried away to whatever pathetic hole he had crawled out of.

And my damned lawyers never even showed up-

Seto finally pushed that incredibly disorienting clump of hair out of his eyes as another officer approached and silently bade him to follow, leading him out of the ridiculous pen they'd been keeping him in and around to where Ishizu and her creepy-looking brother were now standing.

Ishizu had to fight from making an idiotic scene as he approached her. From running up to him like some of foolish young girl and throwing her arms about his neck. Disgustingly sentimental and romantic of her to even consider such a thing-

Evidently Seto felt the same way. Though for him perhaps the impulse was reduced to not smiling at her fully in public. In front of these people around whom the frosty mask had to remain.

She folded her itching hands before her, but couldn't resist giving him a fleeting, beaming grin, feeling gratified when his eyes flickered at hers with almost a glint of humor. Something like warmth lingering as he smoothed out the front of his suit. Ready to dispense with this nonsense and resume matters. Such that they were…

It wasn't until they were in the squad car back to the Manor, their hands intertwined, that Ishizu began to feel them. Without warning.

Long overdue.

The first pangs of guilt.

I have to tell him.

I have to-

The remorse, sharp and cold, bubbled inside of her. Rendering her queasy as she lay beside him on what had already become her side of the bed. Her head on his chest. Her breathing in time with his, finally at a reasonable pace. Sweat finally drying on their skins. Her hand laced through his. Perfectly natural at this point for them to be like this-

-to feel like this-

And yet she was going to ruin it. Destroy her happiness with those cruel words. Their tender, fragile stab at joy. Because of that acidic remorse slowly gnawing at her.

The truth will out.

She sat up in the bed abruptly, reaching for the bedside lamp and turning it on; the lamp's golden glow lit up the room with a raking chiaroscuro effect. Casting everything in half-darkness and half-light. Little flames flickering across everything.

Seto, half-asleep, felt her sudden absence and sat up, the sheets falling down around his waist as he ran a hand through his hair and rubbed his eyes. Adjusting to the change in the lighting, the yellow-orange burning behind his closed lids.

He swallowed a yawn as Ishizu rose from the bed, clasping her hands in front of her, her arm muscles tensed and motions jerky as she shook in place. Gooseflesh chilling every inch of her skin as she gnawed on her lower lip, eyes filling with unbidden tears as Seto asked, his voice laced through with alarm:

"Ishizu-are you all right?"

The sincerity glimmering in his round eyes making her feel even sicker.

This will ruin everything-

-but he needs to know-

She looked at her feet briefly. Eyes moving upward to take in the bed. The crumpled sheets she'd been comfortably snuggled under. The mattress.

Him.

In the bed.

As if for the last time.

Surely it would be.

Seto bit his lip and asked again, more gently this time, taking in the strangled body language of the woman before him like a knife to the gut. "Ishizu-please tell me-are you all right?"

She's shaking-obviously not-

He scooted closer to her, still sitting on the bed, and reached out a hand to her arm, wrapped around her body like it would hold her together-keep her from shattering-

Ishizu nearly screamed with frustration. "Don't touch me, Seto Kaiba-please, you can't-"

You'll surely hate me-

-as well you ought-

Seto paled at her virulent response to his innocent gesture, stomach twisting into tender, tiny knots as he moved his hand back into his lap.

What can I say-

-could I have done something?-

At Seto's resigned motions, Ishizu allowed a tear to dribble down her cheek. Cooling only for a moment the heatedness of her face. The boiling blood in her ears. Heartbeat thudding like the ticking of a metronome.

Now.

Goodbye, Seto Kaiba.

"Seto-you shouldn't be with me," she managed to sputter out, wrapping her other arm around her middle for good measure as she watched Seto's brow furrow with confusion. His lips part as if to deny her claim, to protest-

"Please-please don't speak until I have finished-" Ishizu swiped at another tear with the pad of her thumb almost violently, her voice coming out uncontrolled and high-pitched.

"When-when I volunteered to-to go with you in my brother's place-I-I wasn't merely being selfless-"

Far from it-

"I-I went with you because, yes-Marik is the only one who could run the shop and do that work to support our family-to carry on our father's legacy-but-"

She closed her eyes. Not daring to look at his face. Not even to peek at the reaction he would give.

"I came with you-because I was going to kill you. Be-because you threatened my family-my brother-I was-"

I was only thinking of revenge.

Of my family.

What little I had left to call my own in this world-

Seto-

Seto's spine turned rigid, his skin growing cold. Eyes narrowing. The brightness that had been so warm as he'd looked at her fading. Shifting to ice. His mouth a flat line as his mind reeled.

What the hell?

Ishizu Ishtar-

-you-

Still screwing her eyes shut, her voice trembling with hiccups, Ishizu continued. "I-I had a plan. I was going-to-to get close to you. To make you want me. In that way-and then-when I could-"

I was going to seduce you and then end you.

Heartlessly and painlessly-

I was going to do it-

"That-that day-in your study. When you were asleep-I-I went through your desk. Looking for something I could use to bring you down-I found the newspaper clipping at the back. The one you were hiding-and-"

The rest of her sins. Spilling forth like water from behind a tattered dam.

"I-I was going to do it nonetheless-"

Even though-

"But-" Ishizu took a deep, shuddering breath, trying in vain to steady herself. Call upon the placid reserves she still held somewhere. That perfect control.

Serene. Calm. The surface of a lake-

"I-I couldn't do it."

Not that night in the bed-

-not in his office-

-not when-

"I see."

Seto's voice was impossibly neutral. Devoid of anything remotely human.

Ishizu tentatively opened her eyes to look at him.

Far from the screaming, raging figure she had predicted-his frightful anger-so destructive in its power-

Her blood chilled as she saw him sitting on the bed. His demeanor utterly matching his voice. Face waxy and impenetrable. Eyes gone glassy as he looked back up at her, taking in her bereft form calculatedly and quickly.

First the arrest and now this-

It had to be too good to be true-

-for someone to actually want me-

-despite all I've done-what I did to her-

-her family-

-evidently, each move was planned from the start-

Like a chess board, he her unwitting pawn. From the way she'd acted around him during breakfast. Their dinners. Her alternating, contrasting sets of behaviors. Luring him in with her endless contradictions. Piquing his interest-and holding it effortlessly.

The tears she'd cried in her room. The innocence of her stripping. As if she'd known he could have been watching-

That vulnerability. That softness. That strength. He'd been helplessly drawn to it. To her. Her work had been easy.

And this now. The way she'd kissed him that night. The way she'd caused him to come completely undone in his study. The way they'd-

And this-

Each one-

Her bewitching, nervous eyes when she'd told him just that morning.

"I think I might love you."

A charade. A fantasy he'd no doubt incurred. Punishment for his sins. Each one piling up and giving way. Her every behavior honey-like and deadly.

He struggled to keep his mind from breaking apart into dust as he considered with no small amount of fear the naked woman before him.

When Seto finally spoke, his voice was impossibly far away. Almost wry despite the situation. "Well, I've had attempts on my life before, but none so-well-unique as this one. Well done."

He wiped one last bit of sleep from his eyes before he continued, watching her shrink before his eyes with more than a small bit of distress pouring through him.

"Yet your-well-execution was rather lacking. If you were planning to kill me, you had more than ample opportunity to do so. You played your hand quite well, and managed to, indeed, disarm my rationality and my faculties up to the point where, yes, I believed I loved you."

The use of the past tense made Ishizu's breathing stop.

"No-Seto-I-" She unwrapped her hands from around her body and clasped them together before her. "It's not-that's the point, Seto-I could have. I was going to-because I hated you so much for what you threatened to do to my family-"

At this, Seto cut her off, his voice brusque. "Yes, well, you certainly had me fooled. Rather frightening of you, isn't it? To be able to be such a chameleon-a different Ishizu for all seasons, for all possible situations. Each perfectly calibrated."

He chuckled without humor. "And they say I'm inhuman."

Ishizu couldn't help it-amidst flowing tears, her eyes narrowed. Her voice a broken retort. "May I remind you that you're the one who threatened to kidnap my little brother-you think you wouldn't have done the same-wanted the same thing-wanted to make someone who treated Mokuba the same way suffer-like I wanted you to suffer?"

As if he wouldn't have done the same thing-

Seto bristled, her remark stinging him, slicing open his too-thin skin.

"That's hardly the point, Miss Ishtar."

She swallowed hard at his verbal distancing. Already seeming so effortless, her last name dropping from his lips as if he'd never called her by her first name. Moaned it in moments of pleasure. Whispered it in moments of-

-of love-

Now this.

"I don't see how it isn't, Seto-I know my intentions were not exactly on the rational side, but don't pretend you cannot understand what my motives were-" Her voice faltered for a bit, her throat beginning to ache as still more tears rolled down her cheeks.

"You had me locked up in this house. In a single room for much of my time here. Using me for your own benefit-parading me around as your new lover because you couldn't find an actual willing partner-"

That stung.

Seto hid the automatic wince as she continued, her voice growing heated and sarcastic.

"Not to mention you monitored me in the room, Seto-yes, I realized the camera was there the night of the dinner with Pegasus-"

Seto felt something painful twist in his chest. That damned camera was obviously a mistake-

"That camera was for your safety, Miss Ishtar-how was I to know you wouldn't do something ridiculous and drastic in there?"

Ishizu couldn't help rolling her eyes at his heated response. Does he think I'm a fool?

"I suppose being able to see me naked on a daily basis wasn't exactly a drawback for you-"

Of course I had to give him a show-

-since he'd decided that I wasn't to have a moment of privacy in this blasted prison he calls his house-

-who could blame me for using it to my advantage-in any way I could-

Something else dawned on her. Something cruel and true-

Besides-

"Besides, Seto Kaiba-who are you to be so high-and-mighty-you're the one who designs and sells weapons for a living-you've likely killed more people than you can count-"

She wiped her eyes again, wincing at the fresh wave of tears brimming on her eyelashes as Seto seemed to turn even more stony before her.

Have I gone too far-

-this-

Seto's curt reply came as a slap. "Well, I must thank you for being so forthright with me, Miss Ishtar. It feels like I'm talking to an entirely new woman." He licked his lips, watching the shifting expressions on her face as something like rage and misery intermingled in his veins. Permeating him. Suffused.

Ishizu wiped at her eyes, finding them dry at last. Her cheeks still burning, the skin beneath her eyes painfully tender.

"Which begs the question, Miss Ishtar-why didn't you kill me? You had ample opportunity-foolish idiot that I was, I provided them to you in spades." He took a short, shallow breath, hoping to drive all creeping traces of anguish out of his voice.

"In fact-how do I know you won't kill me now? I told you that you were free to leave two days ago-are you still planning to kill me?"

Ishizu shook her head furiously, her lower lip wobbling as she lifted her hand to wipe at her still-dripping nose. "No-Seto-that's the point-what I told you this morning is the truth-what I'm telling you now is the truth-"

She planted her feet more firmly on the floor, feeling as raw and exposed as she'd ever felt under Seto's intense, unwavering gaze.

"I love you. That's the truth of it. The whole blasted, bloody truth of it. I-I can't bear to think of you being hurt now-by anyone-though I earnestly wished for it before. I don't want you to be hurt-or angry or bitter any more-I want to stay with you, Seto-I want to be with you-to make you happy-and for my own sake-that's why I didn't go home then-why I didn't go home today when my brothers-when the police..."

She trailed off, coughing roughly as her voice groaned into a murmur.

"And how exactly am I supposed to believe that, Miss Ishtar?"

The question hung in the air between them, sharp as a guillotine.

Seto turned around and scooted over to his side of the bed, climbing out and pulling his boxers up over his legs and hips. "Ah-well. Nothing ventured, nothing gained, right?"

His overly casual demeanor made Ishizu almost double over in an acute bout of pain.

"After all, while I may have convinced myself that I was indeed in love with you, your confession makes it that much easier to let go of." He bent down and picked up his white undershirt, sliding the garment over his body, pulling it down. Covering himself. Concealing the way his heart threatened to bleed out from within.

What is he saying-

-he's trying to bury it-

-to protect himself-

Ishizu almost spoke-to contradict-to protest-then caught herself. Swallowing the contorted, near-weeping words neatly.

If that's how he wishes to see it-

-who am I to deny him this?

As Ishizu watched helplessly, biting her tongue, her hands folded in front of her, Seto pulled his trousers up his legs and buttoned them.

Bending over, he found her panties and dress by his feet. A lump formed in his throat, making his voice strangely pinched as he picked up the garments and turned, throwing them to her.

"Get dressed." His voice was authoritative. Cold. All traces of warmth evaporated like most.

The way she'd heard it the first time. In the Ishtar apartment. When he'd made his awful threat.

Started this dreadfully tangled mess that threatened to be both of their ruin.

Ishizu complied, reaching for the garments and dressing herself quickly. Roughly. Smoothing the shapeless dress over her hips.

"You will gather your things and leave. When you are ready, Roland will be waiting for you outside with the car to take you back to your home."

Ishizu's eyes widened, panic rising in her chest. Electrifying her veins with a burst of shock.

Of course.

What else could I have expected?

She closed her eyes briefly, remembering with a bitter pang the warmth she'd once seen in his face. The softness. Honesty. Worry. Care. Etching themselves into her memory with a sharp chisel. Carved and recarving everything there each and every time she closed her eyes.

"I love you, Ishizu Ishtar..."

His admission, though hardly a surprise, had been like gentle music in her ears. A revelation for both of him. That he could love this way. That someone could love her like this. That he could love her like this.

"As you wish, Seto Kaiba."

Two can play at this game. I won't beg for him to change his mind-

Seto nodded curtly, his face a perfect mask, and walked over to the door, pulling it open and waiting for her to cross the threshold into the corridor.

Ishizu clenched her fists at her sides, taking it all in with one last sweep of her eyes. The elegance of the space. The simple furnishings. The bed where they'd managed to spend enough happy moments in this short span of time to make her nearly vomit upon thinking of them.

This is the last time-

The last of all of this.

The last of him.

Something like a sickness making her go completely numb she she walked slowly to where Seto was standing. His gaze directed outwards towards the hallway. Pointedly not looking at her. His gaze nigh-impossible to read. And all too easy at the same time.

Seto-

She held her features together in a neutral position, winding so tightly she thought she would fully unravel once out of his sight.

I won't cry again.

Not for this-

He didn't speak as she walked past him, her bearing regal like that of a queen. Her face once again impassive and perfectly composed.

No shame from having spilled her guts in such a shameful way, it seemed…

It truly had all been an illusion of her making.

He would die before he let her see what her admission had done to him. The strange, nauseating heaviness of his chest. The disconnected lightness of his limbs, as if they were encased in pins and needles.

As soon as she was in the hallway, Seto followed her out, pulling the door closed behind him. Then he crossed in front of her, trying not to think of the way she'd adorably been lost the prior day, and began to lead her silently through the hallways of the Manor.

I've grown stupid. Complacent. Foolish.

To think that she could actually be in love with me-

-to think that she could return my wretched affections-

-it was all a lie.

Once Ishizu had gathered up her things-the duffel bag made things quite easy in that regard-Seto escorted her silently to the foyer of the Manor. The house largely quiet at this late hour. The yellow ceiling chandelier lights throwing everything into harsh, bright color. Sickeningly so.

Thank god none of the main staff are wandering around-

-god forbid if I ran into Téa-

Of course, Joseph or Tristan-whichever one of them had that night's shift-would see.

Seto's jaw tightened. He'll keep his mouth shut if he values his job.

Ishizu hoisted her bag over her other shoulder, rubbing the red marks left by the strap prior as Seto watched. Watched her every motion. Like she was a merely a scientific curiosity to him now. A thing to be observed and quantified.

She bit her lip as she caught him tearing his eyes away.

It would do no good-

-no good at all-

-to tell him again-

Seto opened the front door for her, his postured stiff and formal as she walked outside into the cool night air. The black limousine, Roland standing by solicitously, gleaming in the moonlight. Crickets chirping insistently in the neatly groomed shrubs as she walked over to the car, allowing Roland to take her bag and place it in the open trunk, closing it securely before he walked around to open Ishizu's door for her.

Ishizu didn't look back towards the house as she gracefully slid into the pitch-black recess of the backseat. Feeling disembodied. Not even able to see her own hands in this lack of lighting. As if she could scream and the sound would be lost. Snuffed out like a candle.

This is what I wanted, right?

To be able to go home-

Roland closed the door and walked around the front of the car to the front seat.

It was then that she allowed herself to weep again, the thick tears brimming and trickling down her face silently.

No good at all-

Seto watched her vanish before his eyes like some sick magic trick, trying to keep himself from crumbling, from wasting away from within as he closed and locked the door.

It was all a lie-

The screaming racking his body somehow coming out as the lightest of sighs, he turned on his heel and retreated into his castle, a solitary king once more, as the car pulled away.