Mokuba: JMeg does not own Yu-gi-oh, or anything really.

JMeg: Hey readers! Got the next chapter done! Yeah! Now go read!


Chapter 12

Mai held her sister-in-law for another minute. "Shizuka, I'm going to miss you so much. Don't be concerned about Kaiba. Your brother will deal with him. Call me when you get there okay?" Shizuka nodded and pulled away. Their tearful eyes met, and they struggled to smile in an effort to lighten the situation. "I will. Onee-chan, thank you. Please take care of Onii-chan. Tell him I love him." "Don't worry, we'll come visit soon. Have a safe trip." They embraced once more before Shizuka got on the bus. The large vehicle started to roll away and Shizuka waved from the window. "See you again Onee-chan!" "Take care of yourself Shizuka!"

Shizuka leaned back into her seat and allowed a few tears to run down her cheeks. 'I don't belong at Domino High. I'm not welcomed here. This is…what's best for me. Good bye Kaiba-san.' She slumped against the glass, and steadily slumber overtook the drained girl. Subconsciously, she fingered the ring on her left hand.


10 years ago

"So this is what you've been doing during your leisure time; playing games with an intruder. Wait until I inform Chichiue about this." Shizuka and Seto looked up from their game of checkers, and out from some bushes, a green hair boy appeared. A smaller boy with long black hair peeped from behind the first child and stared at Shizuka. It had been a month since Shizuka first stumbled into "Wonderland", and Seto had done well in concealing her from the others. He knew she would have to meet his siblings eventually, but he was not planning on revealing her so soon.

Seto stood up and glared at Noah. "She's mine. I granted her permission to play with me, so back off!" Noah scoffed and crossed his arms, "I don't believe you have any power in this area." Noah glanced at Shizuka and tried his best to keep the heat from rising in his cheeks. "Who are you girl?"

Shizuka quickly gathered herself up and curtsied. "I'm Shizuka Jounouchi. Six years old. Nice to meet you!" Noah was taken aback by the brilliant smile she gave him, and his face turned a faint shade of pink. "Noah Kaiba. I'm eight years old, and I suppose I won't tattle to Chichiue." Seto frowned at Noah's sudden change in heart.

Sensing a change in the situation, Mokuba left his step-brother's side and ran over to Shizuka. "Hi I'm Mokuba Kaiba. I'm four! You can call me Mokie!" The two grinned at each other before Seto coughed. "Well Shizuka, now you've met the other princes." "Princes?" He shot daggers at Noah for his interruption. "Yes we are princes. They live in the castle with me, but I'm the oldest prince." "By two freaking months." "Shut up Noah, I'm speaking. Anyways I guess we can play with them too, as long as everyone here makes sure the adults don't find out."

In unison, Shizuka and Mokuba cried out, "Okay!" Noah only nodded his head as a sign of his compliance. "Alright let's play a game that all four of us can play." Mokuba raised his hand and cried out, "I know! I know! Let's play gold fish! I have cards in my pocket!" Shizuka sheepishly rubbed her head and announced, "I don't know how to play that."

Noah rolled his eyes and walked over to Shizuka. "I guess I have no choice but to teach you." He took the cards from Mokuba and began a long thorough explanation of gold fish. While Shizuka and Mokuba listened attentively, Seto leaned against a tree that was farther away from the trio. Irritation made its way into Seto as he watched their interaction. He scowled when he witnessed Shizuka laughing at Noah when he dropped a few cards. Noah's blushes also did not escape his observation; they only added towards his overall hatred of Noah. At last, Noah finished talking, and the three sat down to play.

The young girl's attention began to waver when she realize Seto wasn't participating in the card game. 'I can't have the prince bored when he asked me to help enjoy life as a kid!' While Noah shuffled the deck, Shizuka ran over to Seto and took his hand. She felt her young heart skip a beat, but disregarded it. "Kaiba-san come play with us!" Without his answer, she dragged the older boy over to his brothers and did not notice his frown turning into a faint smile.


Present

Seto's face turned a few shades darker as his step-brother entered the meeting room. "What are you doing here?" Noah smirked and sat down across from Seto. "I'm here to end your engagement. Simple as that." Seto sneered, "What did you say jackass? As if you could accomplish such a feat." Glaring at the man across from him, Noah stated, "I offered her brother a better deal. A deal he wouldn't refuse."

Seto sat back and chuckled, "I know you offered to back them up in America, but you don't have what they really want." Noah's eye brows furrowed as he inquired, "Is that so?" "That's what happens when you're born out of wedlock. Your brain can't perform at the same level as mine." "At least I've always had Chichiue's blood flow through me! I am the true C.E.O of Kaiba Corp! And I deserve Shizuka!" "Just because Gozaburo married your mother after his first wife died doesn't excuse you from being a bastard."

Noah slammed his fists against the table and abruptly stood up. His chair rolled backwards from the momentum and slammed against the wall. Eyes blazing, Noah seized Seto by the collar and held him from across the table. Icy blue eyes met fiery blue eyes. Tightening his grip, Noah hissed out, "Don't you dare call me a bastard, orphan. Unlike you, my parents wanted me." Seto's eyes darkened as right hand came up and savagely twisted the hand clutching his collar. Noah cried out in pain and attempted to punch Seto, but his fist met Seto's left hand which began to bend his wrist backwards. "Damn you!"

"You can't beat me, Noah. I'm superior to you mentally and physically. Accept your inferior position in life and move on." Noah growled out, "If I'm inferior, then why are you so jealous of Shizuka and me? It's because deep down in your black hole, you know the reality is that she'll never love a fucking monster like you!" Noah's wrist was at the point of breaking, but Seto halted his brutality when the doors were slammed open.

"Alright ya two knock it off!" They looked over and found Jounouchi and Yuugi standing at the doorway. "We're here to have a meeting, not to let ya two kill each other." "Violence won't solve anything you guys. Please stop." Seto rolled his eyes at Yuugi's request and shoved Noah back at bit. Stumbling back, Noah rubbed his bruised wrist.

Yuugi and Jounouchi sighed and sat down in the empty spaces, while Noah and Seto returned to their seats. A tense silence filled the air as the step-siblings continue their battle with death glares. Unable to accept the hostile atmosphere, Yuugi spoke. "I thank you both for offering to back my company for its expansion into America. However, Noah Kaiba I must turn down your offer." He looked at Noah's stunned face before turning to Seto.

"And I'm ending our contract Kaiba-kun." Seto's astonishment was short lived as it was rapidly converted to anger. He gripped the armrests of his chair and gritted out, "What?" Jounouchi answered, "Ya heard Yug. You're not marrying my sister. She has decided to withdraw from this arrange marriage, and we've decided not to enter the American market. In other words, we're done doing business with ya asshole."

Seto snapped his head to Yuugi and asked, "What about that Mazaki girl? Wasn't this all because you wanted her? Don't you yearn to see her again?" Yuugi closed his eyes and shook his head. "The search for the girl I love should not burden my friends. And forcing an innocent girl into marriage was the lowest thing I could do for love."

Once again Noah slammed his first on the table, "But if you let me marry her, I would care for her! I would treat her like a queen. She would have everything; luxury, wealth, my existence. I love Shizuka; please make the deal with me! And since I work in America I can help you find this Mazaki. Please Yuugi-san, Jounouchi-san." Nevertheless, his pleading only received a hand to stop him. "No. I can't do this to Jounouchi or his sister any longer. I never had the right to do such a thing. And Noah, if you truly love her, then why can't you court her? What are you afraid of? If you two belong together, then she'll marry you of her own free will."

Hastily Seto shot up from his seat and began to leave, but when he reached the door, he paused to say, "This isn't over." He slammed the door and briskly walked down the hall to the elevator. Once in, he pressed for the ground floor and punched the wall.

"Damn it." His large form sunk to the ground and then he pounded the wall a second time. "Damn it to hell." Everything Yuugi said turned over in his mind again and again. It seemed more like a reprimand to him, and he hated it. He punched the wall and roared, "I'm afraid of nothing! I know she doesn't love me!" The elevator continued to head downwards with a constant click as it passed a level.

Seto ran his hand through his hair and tried to steady his breathing. He grasped the hand rail of the elevator and pulled himself up as the bell rang. He regained his composure in time for the doors to open. As Seto left the building, he glared at anyone who glanced in his general direction. He entered his limo without the aid of his driver, and said one word, "Home."

'What am I suppose to do now? I was always one step ahead, and now Shizuka is slipping from my hands. No. I refuse to let that happen!' The ringing of his cell phone brought him out of his thoughts, and he swiftly answered with, "Kaiba."

"Nii-sama, it's a good thing you picked up!" "Mokuba?" "Nii-sama! I went to Jounouchi's place to check on Onee-chan because she was being terrorized by your fans again, and Mai-san told me Onee-chan has left Domino City!"


The setting became more familiar to Shizuka as the bus continued on its way. She noted the recognizable bank, and a few food stands. The edges of her mouth curved upwards when she passed the shrine that she visited every New Year. Soon the wheels came to a stop, and Shizuka reached her destination.

Stretching from the seven hour bus ride, Shizuka stood from her seat and went to retrieve her bag. Darkness had settled into the city, and with the aid of the dim lights on the bus, she manage to find her baggage. She looked into the night and felt her heart twinge. 'I really left…it is over.'

Shizuka pulled her luggage off the bus, and looked around. "Shizuka!" The girl smiled and turned to the source of the voice. "Okasan!" Her mother held her in a tight embrace. "I should have known better than to let you live with your brother. Look it's barely three months and now you're back in Kyoto (A/N 1). Thank goodness you decided to return home. Domino City is not for people like us, and I heard your brother tried to get you engaged-" "Okasan…I don't want to talk about this. Please. Let's go home. I'm tired." "Of course, dear."


A/N 1: No. I have no idea where Shizuka and her mother actually live. I just picked a place far from Domino City.

JMeg: Hehehe, now let's see what you're going to next Seto-chan!

Seto: You got to be kidding me! She left? I hate you so much!

JMeg: Good! Please review!