PART 11

"What are you doing here?" you demanded of the stranger.

"Let's talk over here." the stranger suggested walking towards the ally. You followed him not wanting Mokuba to hear this conversation. Once in the alley, you faced the stranger.

"You didn't answer my question. What are you doing here DAD?" you forced out in broken Italian.

"Oh come on, "he slurred drunk, but you managed make out his native tongue, "Can't I see my only daughter every once in a while?"

"No, seeing there is a court order until the hearing stating you are not to come near me." You snapped.

"You know, you sound just like your grandmother when you talk like that?" He pointed out.

"Like what?" you questioned defensive.

"Italian… It reminds me of when your grandmother would scold Marcus and me as kids." He replied turning the language back to English leaning himself up against the wall next to you.

"Stop this bull shit dad! Why the hell are you here and you better answer me before I make a call to the courts?" you snapped trying to hold onto your self control.

"Do I have to have a reason? I'm on vacation in Japan and who do I come across other than my own daughter that I haven't seen in two years." Your father explained.

"Yes, well I can't stay because I have to take Mokuba home, and it would be in your best interest to leave Japan as soon as possible father, because I really don't feel like moving yet again because of your antics and lies." You snapped turning to leave. Sadly enough, you were cut short by the harsh grip of your father clasping itself on your arm pulling you back. Without realizing it, you gave a small yelp at the jerk from him pulling you back.

"Why won't the two of you listen to me?" he scolded.

"Because FATHER I know what you're capable of. Why would I think any different! If you don't mind, I must leave."

"As a matter of fact I DO mind! Who's the kid?" your dad demanded.

"The kid," you responded looking in Mokuba's direction while trying to set your arm free, "is my boss's younger brother. I'm taking care of him while Mr. Kaiba is out of town on a business trip. Now, if you don't mind, I have to take him home." You replied.

"Bosses younger brother my ass! Who the hell is he?" he demanded grasping your arm tighter.

"Release me." You yelled hoping that would get through his drunken skull. That's when you heard the opening and closing of a car door. 'NO! Mokuba can't be involved!' you thought in a panic. "Let me go this instant!" you demanded.

"Tell me what I want Nicole!" you father scolded stepping forward pulling your arm so you were now on the wall.

You suddenly heard a voice, "Hea, let go of her you jerk!"

"Mokuba," you yelled cringing slightly under your father's tight grip, "go back to the car now!"

"NO I can't!" he countered.

"NOW!!" you demanded not wanting him to get hurt.

Quickly, you looked at your dad who was busy looking at a confused Mokuba. 'Here's my chance!' you thought. Taking the opportunity, you used your other arm and punched your father in the side of the head right where he had taught you as a kid. The blow forced him to stumble back releasing you. Taking this as your only chance, you ran as hard as you could back to the car grabbing Mokuba on the way. You put your key in the ignition and looked up to see your dad coming back to his senses and looking in your direction. You started your car and backed out like there was NO tomorrow. You looked in your father's direction again to see him running after you, so you floored it out of the parking lot and into the street, and didn't stop until you knew your dad wasn't behind you anymore. Once there was no chance of him being near you, you pulled to the side of the road letting out a big sigh as you laid back.

"Who was that creep? It sounded like you knew him." He asked.

"My father," you answered, "My parents split after I started the ninth grade. My mom and I thought moving to Domino would get him away from us. I mean, you see why we ran. But why did he have to find me now?" You felt a few tears escape your eyes from the stress you had just undergone. The last fight the two of you got into almost killed you, but no one here could know about that!

"Are you OK Nikki?" he asked concerned.

"Yeah" you responded wiping the tears off our eyes, "Let's get you back home. We have a busy day tomorrow."

Upon arriving at the Kaiba mansion ten minutes later, you noticed some of the lights still on. "Are you sure you'll be ok by yourself?" you asked feeling a twinge of worry after the whole scene with your father.

"Yeah, I mean I'm used to being home alone Nikki? What are you so worried about?" He asked getting out of the car.

"I don't know. Maybe that the moment I turn around is the moment something bad happens. Then I'll not only have that on my hands but I'll have your brother to recon with, and I already know it is better for my health to stay on his good side." You explained following Mokuba up the front steps.

"Nikki, I've been fine this entire time. I'm pretty sure I'll be ok. No need to worry." He stressed as the two of you reached the door.

"Are you sure?" You asked one final time.

"Duh! I live here alone most of the time. I'll be ok. I'll drop by to see you after school to prove it ok Nikki?" He proposed making your heart feel at ease.

"All right I suppose so, but I expect to see you sometime after school then." You replied holding your hand out to Mokuba.

"Deal!" he finished shaking your hand then going inside leaving you to go back to your vehicle.

Even though it was late, you decided to make a quick run to the hospital. Surprisingly, they let you in at the hour. 'It must be different in Japan.' You thought as you boarded the elevator. No one stopped you as you walked down the hallway. Surprisingly, you didn't see a guard like before at the door, but you then saw why.

"Mr. Kaiba!" you gasped quickly turning away from the open door trying not to blush from the current predicament. Low and behold, Seto Kaiba was awake, but he was in the middle of getting a shirt on. You must have caught him off guard, because you heard quick movements from behind you.

"N-Nicole?" came the startled voice of your employer.

"I-I came to see h-h-how you were doing. Um.. No one told m-me you were a-aw-wake yet I apologize f-f-for the intrusion sir. I d-didn't know.." You stammered keeping your back to him trying to get your thoughts under control.

"What happened?" you heard him ask.

"Sir?" you attempted to clarify.

"You can turn around Miss Silvers. I wish to speak with you." Kaiba pointed out in his normal manor.

"Sir, once again I apologize.." you tried to apologize turning back around. There, stood Seto Kaiba in his tall pressed stance now wearing the school uniform that he was probably wearing the day he was injured.

"Are you alright?" he asked breaking your nervous apology.

"P-Pardon me?" you questioned.

"I wake up in here being told some crazy story that you and I were jumped right outside the school gates. Though it is farfetched, I have to believe since I can't remember a thing for some reason, and the only reason I can come up with that would cause such a thing is that the story is true, so are you alright?" He quickly explained.

You were shocked. Was he really telling the truth? "I-I-I'm fine. Thank you for your concern." You stammered quickly bowing slightly as you learned was custom here in Japan.

"And not to mention, there's a large bruise on your arm from where I assume the low lives grabbed you?" He pointed out nodding to your arm. Shocked, you looked down to, indeed, see a bruise forming on your forearm where your father grabbed you a little over forty-five minutes ago. 'The less he knows the better' you thought to yourself.

"Y-Yes sir. Thank you again. I don't know how to repay you properly." You spoke up remaining in the bowed form as you lightly rubbed your arm.

"How about staying out of trouble. We lost valuable time thanks to this" He replied rather harshly walking passed you. You were now the one caught off guard. Straitening up, you looked back to see him walking down the hall school jacket on his arm. 'What's gotten into him?' you wondered to yourself as you stood there watching him leave…

(FF Several weeks)

You really still had no clue how to interoperate the night at the hospital. For the past three weeks, Seto Kaiba had been like the guy you met on that first day of school… a total jerk. You didn't really notice the way he talked to you before until after he returned to this state. He was once again on a last name basis when it came to talking to you. What did you do? Was he that pissed about missing work? Would he be like this forever?