Author's Notes; Hey huns, so sorry about the wait- been through a major test season in school; all the teachers just decided to give us tests at the same time. The return of our original French Teacher spells detentions on the future horizon...but yaya- I got 75 in my Higher Level Biolgy tes, the highest in the class by eleven percent- go me!!


Although it was battled to its utter extent, Jazira just couldn't stop the yawn from escaping her masterful hold as they walked out the doors, but what was one to expect after nine and a half straight hours? It was only as she mentally counted off the hours on her watch that the young heiress realized just how long she'd actually been confined in that room- and the thought of it made her slightly sick…had she seriously become so much like her Dad now that time bore no significance to her? But as soon as the thought struck, the teenager grinned as she spotted her father being hounded by a woman she so recognised.

"Hi Mrs. Wong…"

Jazira tamed her smile as she spoke the greeting a tone she knew was faked, but politeness always served in hiding one's true intentions, more so when referring to this particular older woman. Vivian Wong was visually not impressed by her labelling as she glanced at the girl…that was the only problem with the man she'd had her eyes on for many years now- Seto Kaiba was quite the catch, though if she could only remove his little daughter from the equation…

"That's Miss Wong, sweetie…"

The innocent, benign tone was one that caused the teen to let the lightning-fast retort fall from her mouth without even thinking about it…more or less blurting out her piece.

"I'm jealous…you seem so happy being a spinster-"

"Jazira, your limo's ready."

It was obvious to see the amused smile on Seto's voice as he draped an arm around his daughter's shoulders and steered her away from Vivian, knowing the two females weren't all that keen on each other in every sense of the word. But what made the girl smile all the more was the light chuckle she heard her father emit as he spoke to her; he hadn't properly laughed in ages and KaibaCorp was starting to take over his life again…she could remember a time when it wasn't like that, but just barely. They passed out of the main function room, into which all the summit guests and high-profile others had congregated for to relax after the almost ten hours in that conference room. KaibaCorp was hosting a small kind of soiree before the guests' departure as a more or less complementary plus, as no paparazzi would be allowed coverage of this small, elite gathering. As the two passed by the main lobby, the daughter cast her glance up at her father.

"You can go back if you want, Dad…I know the way to the garage y'know…"

"It's okay…Mokuba can handle the function room, besides I want to stretch my legs…or are you too old to walk with your Dad?"

"You're the one who'll need a Zimmer frame next…old man."

Another chuckle, maybe even a laugh…it seemed strange that the noise should sound so alien to her, but she'd honestly forgotten what her father's laugh sounded like, and it scared her. Seto frowned slightly as his daughter leaned closer to him, but instinctively, half-hugged her; it seemed only yesterday that she'd taken her first steps in his office.

"Jase was sent ahead, he should be down at the limo already…you still pissed off at having a babysitter?"

"N'yah…he's not the worst…you picked well, Dad- he's cute!"

"Don't go getting any ideas, Jazira…"

As they entered the lift and began the numerous-floor descent, a thought suddenly occurred to the young woman, surprising herself that she hadn't asked it earlier…it seemed like such an obvious question to be asked and yet she'd allowed to slip her mind for those blissful hours in which she was merely Jazira Kaiba, daughter of Seto Kaiba and heiress to the KaibaCorp empire, but that bubble soon busted at the thought of more secrets and lies…she'd just managed to pluck up the courage to tell Anto of her past and now she had to begin with all the lies and deceit anew, and this disappointment and dread was conveyed through the fearful voice she chose to ask her question in.

"Dad, how much does Jase know?"

At this, the answer was possibly over delayed as Seto allowed for a proper smile to adorn his chiselled features upon noticing his daughter's lowered gaze as she stared at the floor of the elevator; he knew she hated keeping secrets from everyone, as the only person she'd ever told of her past had been Tsara…she'd told him earlier that the girl was sleeping over for the night and he was happy- for a few days there, Seto had thought Tsara's father would summon his daughter away from Domino…but he could understand the man's point of view in its paternal entirety.

"Jazira…he knows everything."

"What…how?"

"I don't know the full story but he said his parents were killed by the Aralanti…that's why I hired him- he seemed to know more than the other bone-heads…maybe I took pity, I don't know…"

"Oh dear Ra…my Dad has a conscience!"

The truly amused laugh, smile and hug she got in response to that well-timed comment was all she ever asked for- her old Dad back. They were once-upon-a-time close…but the girl could feel her father being pulled away from her, drawn away by the temptress that was the business world and there was little if nothing she could do about it- a fact the young Princess was all too aware of, and it hurt her.


"Are you alright?"

At the sound of his voice, Jazira looked up from where she'd been blissfully staring into space; just letting all her thoughts run freely through her mind and becoming immersed in the world of secrets, lies, and illusions that accumulated in her entire life, accompanied by intermittent flashbacks that served in almost making her jump as those violet eyes kept burning into her own as the bruises on her neck seemingly throbbed with pain.

"Jase, if I ask you a question will you answer it truthfully?"

"I'll try my best, Ms. Kaiba…"

The younger of the duo grimaced slightly before smiling to herself and carrying on with her speaking, but fixing one problem first before it became too much of a habit with this person.

"It's Jazira, I told you that…but what I want to ask…why didn't you tell me you knew about the Aralanti?"

A short intake of breath was heard in the otherwise silent limo, followed by a lengthy sigh as the young bodyguard directed his amethyst-hued irises out the tinted window of the elongated vehicle, all too aware that the blue eyes of his new charge were boring into him, their enthralling sapphire depths full of innocent and trusting curiosity.

"I don't know who my Dad was…my mother raised me as a single-parent. But she was a liaison interpreter for the Egyptian government and was involved in a few high-profile cases…I guess she must have stirred up some trouble for the Clan along the way; I woke up late one night and found a group of members in our house, my mother…they slit her throat and let her bleed out on the kitchen floor…I was four years of age- I can barely remember her."

The few minutes of silence that followed was one of respect as Jazira realized just how tragic Jase suddenly appeared; she'd only thought of him as a mere employee of her father's who'd been forcefully appointed as her babysitter…not once had it occurred to her that he could have a past so similar to her own and she felt truly sorry for him- she had never imagined the same Clan that had marred her life could cause so much pain to someone other than herself…and felt selfish for such an assumption.

"I'm sorry, Jase…I didn't know…"

"It's okay- it was a long time ago."

They arrived at the driveway of the Kaiba Mansion just as he finished saying this, subsequently lapsing into a silence that lasted the thirty or so seconds it took for the limo to pull to a stop, and the young woman felt her action were befitting. Jase glanced downwards as he felt her light hand covering his, with her clear blue eyes looking up at his ever-marring violet irises…feeling guilt bubbling as she smiled and spoke in a voice that rang with determination.

"It's okay…they won't get away with it; I promise."

A/n- So let me know what you think huns!! Big up to my boy for his help on Jase's character!!