Sorry for the delay with updating, guys. Been a bit busy as of late. Just a few notes before we get started. :)

I'll be making that Christmas story for Just the Secretary (I've already begun to work on it, and it's probably 1/4 - 1/3 done). Mind you, it hasn't been typed up yet; I'm writing it on paper first. But when it's done, I'll type as fast as I can to get it out for Christmas. :) And for anyone who's a fan of BleedingAutumn's YuGiOh! story, Am I Lovesick? (featuring our favorite corporate couple, Seto and Leena!), I've gotten permission to use her character, Faye Rumi, in the story as well (so there will be two, count 'em, TWO Christmas one-shots).

Also, for you fans of Just The Secretary and Am I Lovesick?, please check out BleedingAutumn's DeviantArt account for official fanart for both stories! (Yes, you heard it right. There's FANART for Just The Secretary!) Seeing as I can't really link anything in a word document, I'll just tell you all to go to bleedingautumn(dot)deviantart(dot)com to check out her amazing art!

And now, on to reviews!

Smash41KMF: Glad to have you back for another chapter. Thank you so much for your review!

Manderss.x.x: I'm glad I've changed your opinion of him, even slightly. :) I'm honored that you consider Leena your favorite OC, and thank you for your well-wishes and the high expectations you believe this fanfic will reach. Thanks for being a great fan and reviewer, and thank you so much for your review!

BleedingAutumn: I agree whole-heartedly. While Kaiba is a technological, virtual-reality geek (and I use the term lightly when I probably shouldn't, XD) many believe him incapable of feeling emotion. Yes, he is cold and indifferent most of the time we see him, perhaps even bitter and (dare I say it) grumpy, but a lot of people tend to forget that those are the negative ranges of the human emotion spectrum. We only see him in the light when he is around his dear baby brother. And, in a lot of fanfics I read, when an OC is introduced, he jumps right from that cold, isolated shell to a lust-hyped, sex maniac (and everyone assumes he is a god in bed... as they do with all bishounen... Hmmmm. Fanciful thinking on their part, perhaps? XD). All of that needs to be brought down to the realistic level of "Okay, he's human. He's got human emotions, and he's not going to automatically chase any skirt he sets eyes on without reasonable cause." Seto Kaiba is arrogant, snobby, while independant, still needy (as you can see with his stubborn attitude towads Yugi. He needs Yugi to accept a duel with him to boost his own wounded pride back to where it once was. And I believe that will never happen, seeing as he just cannot beat Yugi in a duel) thus he is also wounded, in a sense. Wow, this may be the longest review response I've made thus far. I feel proud of myself, ayup-yup. *pats self on back* Anywho, thanks SO MUCH for your wonderful fanart which I will sing praises of in my own religion of my design. XD Thanks so much for your reviews, as they keep me going (and going, and going, and going, and going...), and our wonderful, wacky conversations at 1 am (for me, anyway XD). Have a cookie! *hands otu cookie with the words "Ryou x Faye!" on them, and little cookies of their chibi heads* Thanks again!

Raina Darlig: Thank you so much for your review! Glad you like it! :)

shadow182angel: Thank you for your wonderful review! I'm so glad so many people find my Kaiba to be in character (I try. *puffs up proudly and preens*). I'll try to make the chapters a bit longer (if I can get more ideas out and not have it seem run-on-ish). Glad I've got so many eager reviewers like you! *gives cookie* Thank you so much!

ShadowedPuppeteer: Well, I have some very dedicated reviewers, and I, myself, am very dedicated to them (including you!). Lolz. It's alright to write such long reviews (I enjoy them the most because I love listening to what you all have to say); as long as you keep on a-reviewin', I'll keep on a-respondin' in kind. :) I also love giving things out. *hands out cookies* And I'm so glad you like her dad! I kinda-sorta modelled him after my own father (May he rest in peace, the saint), yet I haven't even gotten to HIS background yet. I like Kaiba to be a little awkward sometimes; *yelling at Seto, sitting in the corner of the room* it's only human, Mr. High-and-Mighty! *sticks out tongue* And I figured he would do that for his own brother. Having Leena pick up on those sorts of traits only hightens her admiration and devotion to him. And you know what? I was looking up online what Mokuba's birthday was while I was writing this, and was like "Oh snap, it was in JULY? That kinda kills things since this takes place in NOVEMBER (now Deccember). Must. Think. Of. Excuse." Glad you like the plushie and cookies. :) I should probably start giving out other things, too, now... Hmmm. PILLOWS! *gives out pillows with Kaiba's face on them* And if you squeeze them, they have ten different abridged catch-phrases! *squeezes pillow* *Pillow: "Screw the money, I have rules! ...Wait, let me try that again..."* Thank you so much for your review!

Seto Kaiba 4 eva: See the last third of the previous review for that explanation. XD I'm so glad to have dedicated reviews like you, hanging on for an update! Well, here you go! *tosses pillow* Glad you like the last chapter. Hopefully this next one will strike your fancy even more! Thanks so much for your faith, and your review!

DaAmazingMeepers: You're welcome! Thank you for the reviews! Glad to have your voice heard! :) *tosses pillow*

The Karma Chameleon O_O: Thank you! I'm so glad you like the story thus far. Stick around some more; I'm sure Yami and Bakura will show up. *wink-wink-OMGEPICSPOILERNESSSSSSSS-NOMNOMNOM-OMGWTFBBQ!* Thank you for the review!

MewMewRadish: Thank you so much for your review and your observations! :3 I'm so happy you think Leena is one of the best OCs you've read and I'm ecstatic you love the story! Glad to have a new reviewer! :)

For all the reviewers I forgot to give pillows to... HERE YOU GO! *tosses lots and lots of Kaiba pillows in the air for reviewers to catch* ^w^ I'm so nice. Now... On to the story!

Disclaimer:

Me: Hey, Kaiba. Can I own you?

Kaiba: No.

Me: How about YuGiOh!

Kaiba: No.

Me: *stares at hungry lawyers* There you have it.

~*K.C.*~

Monday found me sitting on my desk, looking over the papers one of the nearby corporations had just faxed me. I liked perching myself on the edge of my desk when it wasn't cluttered (not that it ever was; my obsessive-compulsive, neat-freak self just wouldn't have it), holding myself upright with one hand as I crossed my legs and read through the various contracts, applications, request forms, etc. that filed in from so many different businesses looking for a share of the Kaiba Corp. wealth, fame, and power. My right hand fiddled with my candy-cane striped pen sitting idly on my desk as I flew through the statements, my hungry brown eyes eating up the paper.

Satisfied that whoever it was who'd come knock-knock-knocking on the Kaiba Corp. door (via fax) wasn't trying to scam their way in, I set the papers back in the folder. Mr. Kaiba's office doors flew open just then, startling me so bad I nearly jumped, as he rushed out and hastened to put on a trench-coat over his black turtleneck. I glanced at my watch; it wasn't time for him to leave, unless he'd just decided to take a break on his own time. God knows he had the authority to do so; he didn't have a set, personal schedule, so I really didn't know what to expect.

"Going somehwere, sir?" I asked, curiously, sliding off my desk. I don't think I'd ever seen him this way before; he looked absolutely flustered, like he was desperate to get out. Perhaps he'd forgotten about a meeting, or needed to pick up Mokuba from somewhere... But wait, no, that didn't make sense. It was 12-o'-clock; Mokuba should still be with his tutor. Scratch that last option.

Something flickered in his blue eyes; something I recognized as anger, and a hint of fear. I tried to swallow a nervous lump stuck in my throat; why should Seto Kaiba, the world's richest, most successful businessman, have anything to be fear, aside from the paparazzi? Wait, what about other businesses trying to rise up in the shadow of the Kaiba Corporation? Would one of them try to make a hit on Mr. Kaiba? I was scared, too, now. What if someone hired an assassin to take him out?

No. I wasn't thinking rationally. My mind was getting carried away with its fantasies and daydreams. Nothing was happening. Mr. Kaiba was just late for a meeting.

But I never scheduled him a meeting for today...

Raking a hand through his brown hair, he huffed a great sigh, and I saw that his eyes were haunted by something eating away at him. That something, that knowledge, was what frightened him. It couldn't be just some meeting or deal. nothing like that would ever cause this. He approached me and laid his hands on my shoulders, biting his lower lip as though deciding whether or not he really wanted to tell me what rested on the tip of his tongue.

"There's trouble, Leena," he finally spoke.

"What is it? Maybe I can help," I offered, gently, trying to sound calm when my insides were flipping and boiling like a terrible storm waged in my body. He shook his head and raked another hand through his hair, mussing it even more. I imagined it must look like that in the morning when he woke up, before he combed it neatly into place.

"No, I have to do this alone." He paused for a moment, closing his eyes in pain before he spoke his next words. "It's Mokuba."

My heart gave a great shuddering leap, and I felt myself go cold as I stared at him dead on. Oh God, it couldn't be... Something happened to Mokuba...? A million questions burst in my mind, all begging answers as to Mokuba's safety. "What is it? Is he hurt? Where is he? The hospital-"

"No, Leena, no," he cut me off, "As far as I know, he's not injured. They'd better not touch him," he growled, dangerously. At once, more than fear bloomed in my mind. Mokuba had been kidnapped. "I need you to stay here, get security to lock down the building. No one goes in or out, aside from me."

"But there has to be more I could do..." I pleaded, my voice going hoarse. "The police?"

"The police in this city are useless, Leena," he barked, anger flashing in those cold, blue eyes. That was what I was drawn to; two cool blue pools, frosted over with ice. That same ice was flooding my veins now, rooting me to where I stood when I wanted to bolt and find warmer shelter, perhaps in Mr. Kaiba's arms. But he was now just as dangerous as the ones who took his beloved brother from him; I knew he wouldn't stop until he found him, and may God have mercy on his captors. There would be none from Seto Kaiba.

I shook my head in denial at his statements. There must be more than could be done. "But..."

Briefly, his eyes warmed as he stood over me, the grip on my shoulders easing. I hadn't even noticed when he clenched them; I'd felt no pain. "I appreciate your concern for my brother's safety, Leena. I know you two are getting close." Some sort of realization dawned in his eyes just then, for they widened just a fraction, but the mask was back in place. He had to be calm, cool, calculating, to find his brother. "Call security. I'll be back." With that, he swept away without a backwards glance. I was left standing helplessly before my desk.

It took me a good minute to unfreeze myself from where I stood. I whirled quickly and darted for the phone; in my haste, I stumbled and stubbed my bad foot on the corner leg of my desk, which caused me to clench my bandaged foot in pain and hop up and down on my good one for a few seconds. I imagined I must look pretty ridiculous right then, and it was a good thing my boss hadn't seen that. Limping slightly around my desk, as my injury from the past weekend hadn't really healed completely yet (since I was normally do a lot of walking around in the day), I complied to Mr. Kaiba's orders and told security his wishes. When that was done, I sat back down in my chair and fidgetted, unsure of what to do.

I was a nervous wreck. Worry and fear were eating at my heart, causing my OCD to kick in, full swing. I tinkered with my desk's layout, the placement of the bins, jars, pens, pencils, paper clips. I reorganized the whole thing five times over within fifteen minutes. My leg was bouncing up and down nervously and I had tapped out the rhythm to eight Tim McGraw songs. I got up and paced around, my hands clasped together prayer-style over my mouth and nose as my mind raced, sputtered, and jolted.

Was this was it was like for mothers who'd lost a child to kidnappings? I felt like I wanted to weep, I was so worried. I was going out of my mind!

Walking over to my ipod stereo, I just clicked it on to any random song. A soft, lilting melody flowed through the room, accompanied by words.

I am a lighthouse,

Worn by the weather and the waves.

I keep my lamp lit

To warn the sailors on their way.

I'll tell a story,

Paint you a picture from my past.

I was so happy,

But joy in this life seldom lasts.

Nickle Creek's mandolin provided a quickening melody, but I changed the song before it even got halfway through. Now was not a time to listen to a song of tragedy and the grief of losing a loved one, as The Lighthouse's Tale told.

I had to be strong. I had to believe Mr. Kaiba would bring Mokuba back safe.

I knew he would; there was no other option.

Rubbing my hands over my face to wipe away the weariness, I hunched over in my chair and tried to continue my work, though my mind and heart were elsewhere.

~*K.C.*~

The elevator's careful beep had me holding my breath as I paused over what I was working on before. I glanced at the clock. Six hours had passed; six hours and Mr. Kaiba still hadn't come back. Every hour, I'd made sure to check in with security to make sure my boss's orders were still in effect. My shift had ended three hours ago, but I was still here, still sorting, shifting, sifting, stamping, signing, and sighing. Katsu, one of Mr. Kaiba's personal guards had offered to send someone else up to take over my position so I could take a break, but I'd declined. I'd wait this storm out to see the sun shining as the black clouds dispersed.

Just like that little sunbeam breaking through the clouds, the elevator doors opened slowly and I nearly jumped out of my seat and wept with relief. Mr. Kaiba and Mokuba strolled into my office like nothing had ever gone wrong in the first place; though the kid's shoes were tied together in a mockery of bondage and I laughed as he hopped along to keep up with his brother before collapsing in on of the plush window seats.

I stood and made my way over, holding a hand over my heart. "You both had me worried sick," I turned to Mokuba and bent to help him untie the knots in his shoes. "Are you alright?"

He beamed at me. "Never better!" he laughed, "You should have seen my brother! He wiped the floor with those punks!" He made light jabs at the air as though he were locked in combat with a boxer. "How's your foot?" he teased.

I shook my head, smiling. "You want the honest truth?" I asked, shifting to my good leg. "I think I'm only making it worse on myself. This whole time, I was pacing around the room like a bear with a sore tooth." I rubbed my ankle a bit. "I stubbed my toe five times."

Mokuba laughed and winced. "Ouch. That sucks."

I rolled my eyes. "Tell me about it..." After getting Mokuba's laces from one big knot to their individual strings, I stood and turned to his brother with a smile. I resisted the urge to run to him and embrace him, knowing it wasn't my place to. I wasn't Mokuba's mother or sister, I was just the very concerned secretary of an multi-billionaire whose brother just so happened to have been kidnapped this day. I'd suffered greatly, not knowing the fate of the poor thirteen year old (though, fortunately, he didn't seem at all traumatized my the event whatsoever, causing me to question if this had happened before; I concluded that it must have) but Mr. Kaiba had suffered much worse.

I just wished I could tell him he didn't suffer alone. I wanted so bad to reach out to him and comfort him after this ordeal, and have him comfort me, but he seemed over it already, so I made no move. I waited for his next orders.

"Thanks for staying past your shift, Leena," he brushed aside like nothing happened, "You'll get compensation for tonight, I promise. You can go home now. I'll see to Mokuba."

I nodded and slowly went to pack my things to leave for the night. I was glad I wouldn't have to sit another few hours in this office alone; I could go and rest for the night and try to recover my nerve that had been so rattled in the past six hours. I turned and glanced back at the brothers.

Mr. Kaiba was now sitting on the seat with Mokuba curled up next to him, a long arm draped over his shoulder, hugging him snuggly to the older man's side, while Mokuba's arm crossed over his brother's chest and he buried his face in the warmth of the black turtleneck. Mr. Kaiba's head was drooped over Mokuba's, his forehead resting atop a mop of black hair, as though he, too, were looking for respite from the day's events. This was their time, and I was intruding upon it.

I grabbed my bag and said my goodbyes, turning into the elevator before I had a chance to hear their replies.

I can't honestly tell whether or not this was longer than other chapters or not, but it took the whole day to write. Ughhhh... Hope you liked it guys. Little bits of foreshadowing (you'll have to be really good to catch it. Teehee.) and a lot of stuff happening. I figured, we see a lot of the action of Mokuba's numerous rescues. What about the person who has to just sit tight and pray everything turns out ok? Hope you liked this one, guys! The next one's coming soon, and prepare... for the Christmas story! It's coming, guys~! Don't miss out!