Disclaimer: I do not own Yu-Gi-Oh! However, I am claiming this plot and any OCs I might have. I only accept constructive criticism.
Metamorphosis of the Mariposa
Chapter 25
Put Your Dukes Up
Isis sat snuggled up on one of the living chairs of the living room. A cup of hot tea was balanced on her knee and a blanket was draped across the lower portion of her body. The heavy blue drapes were pulled back and the sun was starting to peak over Domino. She couldn't see it for it was hidden by other buildings and was on her right, rather than before her, but the orange-yellow light that caressed along the windows and business's was all she needed.
This was all she needed.
Waking up to Kaiba had been odd at first but the comforts it brought her were unimaginable. Not to mention absolutely frightening. All while she sweated out the last drops of sickness, Kaiba was there. He fed her, wrapped her, made sure she got enough Vitamin C and took her medicine. He even continued to run her baths after she could walk around by herself. Gently she touched the spot on her forehead and remembered how she awoke to him rubbing some sort of salve on it. Whatever it had been, it had healed the wound quickly and the scaring was going to be barely noticeable.
Bringing her hand back down, she took in a deep breath and let it out. Today she was going back to school, and then getting a ride with Odion home. It was time to face the music and she was more than ready. The ways she had been catching the brunet watching her and even the times he caught her staring at him with the same glazed look was becoming dangerous. They needed space from one another and quick.
Taking another sip of her tea she nearly spilled it when she heard, "You're ready to go back I presume?"
She listened as the steps came right next to her and she looked up to find him standing quite professionally in front of the window. "I am Kaiba. I have really appreciated the attention of healing you have bestowed on me, and I am indebted to you, but I must return home. My—"
"Your husband awaits your return?" Looking over his shoulder he found the scowl and smirked.
"Fiancée as you well know," Isis corrected before righting her tea cup. She then took a small sip from it. "There is much to be done."
"For once, I could fully agree with you."
After everyone had showered and eaten, Kaiba started the white luxury car and headed back towards Domino High. Mokuba was talking a mile a minute to Isis who easily kept up. Ever since she was feeling better his brother had been bothering him more than usual on whether he could see her or not. He was glad the time he promised to him was being fulfilled. But speaking of time, Gozaburo had e-mailed him that morning requesting his presence. Immediately it had put him off.
He hadn't been home in a few days and neither had Mokuba. Only he had contacted his father to explain they would be unavailable for some time and that if anything business oriented came up, to just e-mail him. Nothing had come so why was he needed? He didn't like the idea of spending any amount of time with his alleged father, so to endure him out of his request was even worse. Giving an agitated sigh he changed lanes without looking and blew past most of the traffic.
"Are you in a rush Kaiba?" Isis asked in a cool manner but he knew she was freaking out do to his automotive antics.
"Not anymore of one than I'm usually in." He slid between two semis before merging towards his destination.
Isis closed her eyes, not wanting to see the reckless behavior, and fiddled with her hands in her lap. When she felt the car slow down she cracked her eyes to find Kaiba giving her an amused look. "It's not funny."
"You really should relax."
She chuckled, "I cannot believe Seto Kaiba just told me to relax."
"I know!" Mokuba said in genuine shock from the backseat. "Aren't you the one who should be relaxing Seto?"
"I'm perfectly composed Mokuba."
"Nuh uh Seto!" Mokuba leaned forward to make sure Isis heard him, "Seto has been running since we found you at the restaurant Isis. He also has been checking on me to make sure I haven't gotten sick."
"Your brother is just thorough in what he does Mokuba," Isis assured.
"He's only thorough in things he cares about Isis, in-fact I think—"
"Please sit back Mokuba. I'd hate to get in an accident and have to grab your ankle as you launch through the windshield," Kaiba quickly cut in stopping at a red light.
A knowing twinkle showed in the little boy's eyes as he nodded, "Yes Seto; safety first."
"Thank you." Looking into the rearview mirror he caught the mischievous smirk across the young features and it shook him to how alike his turned lips favored his at times.
The car soon came to a stop and Kaiba got out and opened his brother's door, carrying his backpack as he led him to the front doors. As usual, the brunet knelt down and said something to his brother before the little one hugged him as if he was never coming back. He returned the hug and headed back for the car.
"Kaiba, could I possibly impose upon something personal?"
To say the least, the teen was a bit apprehensive to say yes but his curiosity got the best of him, "What?"
"Do you say the same thing to Mokuba every morning you drop him off?"
"I do." He waited for her to continue but she said nothing else as he found a parking spot on the school's lot. "You know Isis, that wasn't personal at all. If you would have asked me about what we discuss, that would have been the proper follow up question to your opening."
"Well, I felt it wasn't even my place to ask that much. I wouldn't push it with the content of the conversation." She watched as he put the car in park before killing the engine. She shifted her feet together before finally taking the latch to open the door.
"I always tell Mokuba that if he doesn't want to go in, that if he really feels something within himself that is pleading with him not to go, that I'll put him back in the car, no questions asked, and take him home."
Slowly her hand dropped from the handle and she shifted her body back towards the brunet. The expression on his face was unreadable and his eyes seemed harder than usual. "Yet everyday he goes inside without a single rebuttal."
"Mokuba's no weakling."
Her eyes trailed along the interior of the car as she finally understood the hug. It was a place of comfort, strength, and understanding. His brother knew of his struggles and always offered him an escape but it was he who took the more mature route and took the world head one. Who knew a child could be so wise? Using the physical advice given, she looked over at Kaiba's uniform sleeve and frowned.
"Hm…" Extending her hand she brushed the nonexistent wrinkles away before placing her hand back on the latch. Kaiba followed suit and they got out of the car, closing the doors back. He immediately locked the car back.
"A quickie before school?" Isis faced the familiar voice to find Marik looking back and forth between the two. "Well, you're not showing the 'just-been-fucked-signs' but I bet Kaiba's into that clean sex anyway."
The brunet snorted before leaving Isis alone with the lunatic. After she watched Kaiba go, she turned back to Marik just to find Malik nearly body slam her down. The younger sibling wrapped his arms around her neck and pulled her head to his chest, squeezing the life out of her. She wasn't sure what he was saying but she was sure it all amounted to praise for her restored health.
"Akhi, please, I cannot breathe."
"Oh right!" Malik quickly let Isis go and stepped back smiling at her.
"My apologies Isis," Odion chuckled as he approached the two, "as soon as I unlocked the doors, Malik scurried from the car. I couldn't stop him."
"Its fine Odion; it's nice to know I was missed." Looking out on the street she let out a sigh of relief when she didn't spy Shadi's Lincoln. "Why are you all here so early?"
"Kaiba called us," Odion said with a bit of surprise. "He assured us you would be back today so we made sure we didn't miss you." To say the least, she was surprised. Kaiba had actually contacted her brothers to assure them she was once more healthy and would be in school. Despite herself she smiled and twisted her fingers with her opposite hand.
The morning went unexpected. Yugi and the gang had all been more than happy of her return. They explained how Mokuba had alerted them of her sickness and how she was home getting some rest. Of course Yami had given a knowing smile along with Mai while Yugi explained and of course Isis acted as if she didn't notice them. Her teachers had even welcomed her back explaining how her father alerted the school of her fever. She wasn't able to hold back her surprise there. Her father had actually called to have her excused? Quickly she pushed it from her mind so that she wouldn't hold onto it as some last speck of hope.
There was no hope for that man and the quicker she accepted it the quicker she could move on with her life.
Before she knew it, it was lunch time and she sat around a table with her friends. Ryou of course had offered more than enough notes for the school year that she had quickly declined. Her teachers had supplied her with all she missed. Isis looked between Joey and Mai to spot a retreating Kaiba. He was walking quite swiftly through the cafeteria and didn't even stop to look in anyone's direction. When he exited through the doors, she finally heard Ryou.
"Are you okay?"
"Hm?"
Immediately the British boy went to checking for a fever, "You were rather sick Isis. Are you sure it was a good idea to return? Perhaps you should still be resting."
"No really, I'm fine Ryou. I simply phased out for a moment."
Mai looked over her shoulder to see the brunet past the courtyard windows, "I'm sure she did." With a very prominent smirk she bit into one of her carrots.
"There are many distractions to drift the mind here, wouldn't you say Isis?" Yami's tone and features were schooled serious but his crimson orbs contained a glint of mischief.
"But of course." She cleared her throat and went back to eating the chicken soup her brothers made and brought for her. As their conversation started back up, she couldn't help but wonder where Kaiba was headed and if it was somewhere he really wanted to be. His steps seemed force and he appeared more sullen than usual. She could only hope wherever he was going, he would fare well.
Kaiba Corp.
Kaiba stepped from the limo he had called. After taking the Jag back to the apartment and catching the train back up town, he had called the limo a block from school. He knew how frustrated and anxiety ridden he was at this point and the last thing he wanted to do was take it out on his car. He had already learned his lesson from the first car he ever owned.
He ignored the greetings from the workers of the lobby and got into the elevator, pressing the button for the top floor where his adoptive father's office was. On the way up he tried to rake his brain for what Gozaburo could possibly want to talk to him about. Sure he had been missing for sometime but he had his life to live before the one Gozaburo was trying to mutate for him. So if the older man wanted to be pissed for his teenage son doing what he constantly taught him, fine. However, Kaiba wasn't going to let him carp about it.
The doors dinged open and Kaiba made his way down the hall to the doors. Slowly he pulled one open and found the room in eerie darkness. The blinds were closed and the various screens around the room were powered down. Cautiously he stepped inside and allowed the door to swing closed.
"Seto. Sit."
"I'd rather stand."
"Of course you would; you'd also prefer me to look like a fool as well?"
"What are you talking about?"
The large leather swiveling recliner he had been talking to tossed a magazine over the top that landed perfectly before the boy. There a picture of he and Isis were walking down the street eating ice-cream. The headline read: "High School Sweethearts in the Making?" The brunet snorted in disgust, "That's an aged picture."
"That's an old magazine Seto."
Another parchment flew across the desk. He bent down and picked up the business section and was glad Gozaburo couldn't see his surprise temporarily break his mask. There on the cover was a picture and he and Isis, outside her house with them before his car, standing very close to one another. The heading read: "Is Pleasure Seto Kaiba's Real Business?" He snorted as he skimmed the article and threw the paper away from himself.
"So I had a temporary groupie."
"Temporary?"
This time Gozaburo turned around and slid another magazine across the desk. There on the cover was a picture of him and Isis dressed as a Native American in his black Jag. This headline read: "Party Time or Kinks Revealed?" Thoroughly angry for not paying attention to the media, Kaiba smacked the glossy off the desk. "Why did you want me in here, to discuss tabloids and gossip?"
"We've talked about this Seto." Slowly he rose from his chair, "I told you I would eliminate all distractions. It would be okay if there was a different person in each of these pictures, or someone else was discussed in these articles besides the 'Exotic Eye Candy' Seto. I'm very disappointed that you didn't take me seriously."
"What's wrong with having a constant fuck buddy?" The brunet asked suddenly. Sure he wasn't fucking her, yet, but she would be classified as much in Gozaburo's eyes. "Why risk contaminating myself from some random whore, getting trapped with a child from a money hungry harlot, or dealing with the emotions of different women?"
For a moment, Mr. Kaiba faltered in his steps and seemed to consider his words. "So you're telling that this Isis Ishtar is nothing to worry about?"
"Exactly."
"Then where have you been these past few days?"
"That's none of your concern."
The man took a step closer, "It is if you're missing meetings, paperwork, and tutoring."
"What more is there to learn? I could easily predict what those idiots will drone on about, anyone can sign my name and create a memo, and what more can you teach me that I don't already know?"
"I know she was at the restaurant that night Seto. I know that you and Mokuba snuck her through the kitchen, out the back and all three of you have been together in a disclosed location. I know that you haven't been to school in a few days but that you have been dropping Mokuba off." He stood up straighter, "I also know she's been missing as well. I'm not a fool Seto! So don't take me for one. If I said I would personally eliminate all distractions, then I will. I'm a man of my word you know."
"Don't touch her Gozaburo," Kaiba growled as he watched the man make his way back around his desk. "This has nothing to do with her and the last thing I want is an outside party in your madness."
"My, my, protective over an insignificant 'fuck buddy' aren't we?" He chuckled as he watched his son fume before twirling his chair back around, "I warned you Seto, now deal with the consequences."
Kaiba didn't wait for anymore dialogue. He left. He anxiously rode the elevator before swiftly making his way across the lobby and into the limo. He had to go back to school. Gozaburo wasn't one for acting slow. By the time he reached the school, lunch was about to end. He entered into the row of lockers to find Isis opening her locker. A small package of strawberry pocky was in it.
The surprised expression on her face was all he needed to move in. He smacked the box from her hands and snatched the note from her. Just as he expected; it read it was from Mokuba. He knew damn well Mokuba was allergic to pocky and started scratching just by being in the same area as it. He also knew he wouldn't have someone else do something he could, especially if he was out of kindness. His little brother was more personal than that.
"Seto Kaiba what are you doing?" Isis was thoroughly shocked by Kaiba's behavior. He was more aggressive than usual.
"Don't eat this or accept anymore gifts from me, Mokuba, or anyone unless they go through me." He snatched up the box and threw them away.
"What is wrong with you?" One minute she had been alone the next the brunet had come out of nowhere speaking nonsense.
"Isn't it obvious—"
"THAT you need to leave Isis alone!" Before anyone could fathom what was happening an enraged blonde had tackled the brunet to the ground.
"Joey!" Mai rolled her eyes and smacked her forehead as she made her way over to the scuffle on the ground.
Joey was on top of Kaiba trying to punch him repeatedly but so far he had only gotten in one good hit, succeeding in busting his lip open. The brunet had managed to control the blonde's arms and he moved forward head-butting him back. Joey grunted in pain and Kaiba landed a fist to his face.
"Quite behaving as animals!" Isis grabbed Kaiba's shoulders trying to haul him off of the Brooklyn boy while Mai tried to grab her boyfriend's fighting arms.
The scuffle had brought a few people into the hallway and more were on their way. Everyone lived for the epic battles between Joey Wheeler and Seto Kaiba on and off the dueling arenas. They all expected Mai to be present but quite a few were surprised to find Kaiba's gym partner actually succeeding in pulling him back. Some of the people now creating the circle were aware of how strong the brunet could be, so they couldn't help but balk at the girl.
Joey was quite strong himself and the only way Mai was ever able to pull him from a fight was from her status with him, was the same true for this foreign student? They had read the articles and seen the pictures but Seto Kaiba was never known to actually have anyone and in most eyes she was nothing special. Pretty, but she wasn't what others had imagined the brunet to be with; maybe an Aires or someone with money but not this random girl.
Kaiba was finally pulled off of Joey. Isis still held onto his arms making sure he wouldn't run back towards Joey. Mai was doing the same for Joey. "What is going on here!?" The vice principle rounded the corner and gave an exasperated sigh at the sight of the busted lip on the brunet and blackening eye of the blonde. "All four of you in my office, NOW."
In the Office
The secretary looked back and forth between the four teens before her in the front office. As usual Joey Wheeler and Seto Kaiba sat on the end seats glaring at one another, occasionally mouthing threats to one another, bruised and bloodied. Mai Valentine was sitting next to her boyfriend, looking bored of the whole situation as usual, while she filed her nails. The receptionist couldn't figure out for the life of her why the Diva would want the bad boy. Ever since their relationship, she had spent more time in the office than her classes, witnessing on his behalf. But the older lady chopped it up to young love.
Despite the usual crew she couldn't believe some new girl she had learned was Isis Ishtar was also present. She was placed next to Kaiba sitting with her back straight, legs tucked under her chair with her hands in her lap. Even now she was smiling at the older lady and she couldn't understand why such a polite girl could be involved in this. She had seen the girl around school and even seen her records. She was a straight A student, polite, and quick to help out around the high school. How could she have gotten caught up with a fight between the blonde and brunet?
She wasn't sure how but it wasn't her job to find out. "Mrs. Chiba?" Mrs. Chiba looked over in the direction of the blonde female, "Yes Valentine?"
"Can we go now?" She shifted her legs and leaned in closer in the direction of the worker, "Joey and Kaiba's fathers have been contacted and Isis and I have given what happened. What more is there to do?"
"Vice principle Yoshida has to prepare the proper punishments for Mr. Wheeler and Mr. Kaiba," Mrs. Chiba explained.
"It usually doesn't take this long."
Mrs. Chiba shrugged, "I'm not too sure why but—" Just then her fax machine made a loud noise alerting her. She pulled the memo out and sighed. "Vice principle Yoshida had more pressing matters to attend to so all of you are to pick up trash before school and have detention for the rest of the week."
"What?!" Mai narrowed her eyes, "Isis and I have to get in trouble as well?"
"I'm afraid so." She picked up some slips and scribbled some information before leaving to photocopy them. Once the copies were made she returned and handed them to each of them. "Here are your slips and information. Report to the room number this afternoon and with the teacher there for picking up trash in the morning."
Mai turned to Joey and gave him a withering look, "You idiot!" She turned on her heel and stalked out of the room with Joey hot on her heels.
The Student Lounge
"So I clocked the jerk—OW! Dammit Mai, what are you doing!?"
"Helping you, you hardheaded idiot," Mai responded to Joey with much patience as she continued to apply something to the cut part of his eye before placing ice to it. Realizing her baby was a brawler, she kept a first aid kit in her locker. After sometime, the school nurse got tired of seeing his face.
"I wish you really would stop fighting Joey," Serenity sighed as she eyed his swelling eye with concern.
"Someone has to knock him down a few levels and if it has to be done with fists, so be it," Joey scoffed as he held the icepack to his eye. "Besides, he was being an ass to Isis. I'm not going to let that bastard bully one of my friends."
"Really Joey, I appreciate the loyalty but you didn't have to fight on my behalf." Isis fiddled with her hands in her lap at the recap of what the argument was over, "The conversation was more heated then it should have been."
"Don't worry your pretty little head about it Isis," Joey assured giving her a smile. Suddenly that smile went a sneer as he looked past the girl, "Back for round two?"
"There has to be a round one for that to occur, but I'll excuse that considering your breed isn't good with numbers." Kaiba ignored the now growling boy. "Isis, I need to have a word with you."
"You don't have to do anything with this jerk," Tea stated as she glared at the CEO.
"It's fine. I will see you all later." She stood up from the circle of couches and offered a polite smile around the group of protective friends before grabbing her backpack and following the CEO out of the lounge during their free period.
Kaiba led her through the school and back into the now empty hallway the battle between he and Joey had occurred. "I don't care if you're mad at me, just listen for one second. Do not accept any strange packages, envelopes or anything else."
Isis wasn't sure why he was telling her this but she felt like she could trust him, even if she was displeased with him at the moment. "Okay Kaiba, I will do as such."
"Good." With that he turned and left her there. He knew she'd want to have some sort of 'heart to heart' about the fight and he wasn't in the mood.
Later That Afternoon
Isis ignored the eyes and whispers that were going around the locker room and continued to comb her hair back. Ever since she hauled a certain brunet off of the aggressive blonde, people were whirling about her relationship with him. She had briefly heard a story of how a fan-girl tried to pry him off of Joey last semester and had gotten a bloody nose from doing so. However, here she stood perfectly fine. It annoyed her that people were picking their brains about the situation; if they put that much focus into their studies they'd have just as good a GPA as she.
The black haired girl closed her locker and turned to find a round pair of chocolate eyes staring at her, "Hello Wong."
"Ishtar." The queen of dueling looked the girl up and down and gave a smile, "So Seto has chosen you? Hm."
"Kaiba and I are simply friends."
"I'm not sure I can believe that. I've seen the pictures."
Isis paused in closing her locker back, "Pictures?"
"Yea, don't you glance at magazines? You two seem to be the hot topic in the teeny bopper world as well as the business and dueling scene." She gave a smile and patted the girl on the back, "Congratulations; be prepared to be hated by many. Comes with the territory." With that she turned and left the aisle.
The Egyptian teen closed her locker and stared at the metal as she considered this. Tabloids? Did this mean her father knew more about them then he let on? And how graphic were the pictures? A sickening feeling came over her body. Mai must have spotted the expression for the blonde stood up and placed a placating hand on her shoulder.
"Don't worry about them Isis, you just live your life."
"Is that how you and Joey get by?" She turned around truly searching for some sort of advice. She and Kaiba weren't together and the idea of being confused about what they were, combined with the world trying to figure it out unnerved her.
"In the beginning, we were super pissed about having our relationship public mainly because it was and still is no one's business. But over time you realize it's your life to live and that you can't allow people to dictate it." Turning back to her locker she closed it back and turned around just to see the disappearing shadow of Isis. She could only hope she helped.
Boy's Locker Room
Kaiba glared at another circle of guys watching him. They quickly turned their heads away and he continued on to his locker. Everyone was really starting to piss him off. Between the bold ones trying to high five him for 'tapping international ass' and others asking stupid questions about whether or not she was off limits, he was just about to put in a few calls.
He undid the towel from around his waist and ignored a few gawkers while he opened his locker and slid on his boxers. He then went to looking for his clothes when a tap on his shoulder interrupted him. Turning around he let out an annoyed sigh as the blonde violet eyed Ishtar glared at him. Isis' brother was really starting to annoy him.
"What?" He spat.
"I dealt with you trying to get in my sister's pants but I don't appreciate you spreading word about her. She's not like that." Malik crossed his arms over his bare chest. The teen had been hearing his sister's name in too many mouths accompanied by Kaiba's and he was ready to handle it. No one degraded his sister's name.
"I'm not going to waste my time on this conversation," the brunet snorted before he went back to turn around.
A small but stronger than he expected hand grabbed his shoulder and spun him around. A set of knuckles collided with his healing lip and busted it back open. He bumped back into the lockers and before he could stop himself he retaliated with his own fist. Decking the smaller in the nose he wasn't prepared for the almost war cry like sound that left the tan throat before he tackled him onto a bench, breaking it in half from the force.
Many people had jumped from their showers and conversations to watch the two do battle. Joey, Honda and the others watched with morbid fascination as the two battled it out while Marik wasn't sure whether he should grab his pretty boyfriend before he wasn't so pretty. However, the sight of the shirtless brunet and topless blonde tussling, growling, and grunting, clad only in their boxers, on the locker room floor proved to challenge his decision.
However, when he heard his love curse in pain he motioned to Bakura and the two stepped in. Marik hauled the flailing male off of the older boy while Bakura helped Kaiba up who jerked away from him. "You fucking asshole! Stay the fuck away from my sister or next time I'll kill you."
The Japanese school boy didn't even listen to what he had to say and dressed angrily before stomping out of the locker room. 'Fuck detention,' he thought to himself. After his day all he wanted was to be alone and maybe being alone was what was best for him. He was tired of taking mouth and fists all for some girl he really didn't know. In the end, he was thinking Isis wasn't worth all the trouble.
She had her fiancée and father to worry about, while he had his brother to take care of and Gozaburo to avoid. The melding of worlds didn't work for him and he was tired of all of the changes that had been occurring. He didn't hate change, but he only liked it when he caused it. Stopping suddenly, he realized he was the reason for the change. Somehow he had redirected his life in the pursuit of…her. Gagging on the idea he headed back to the apartment. He needed a drink.
PLEASE READ:
Let's get ready to RUUUUUUMBLLLLEEEE! LOL. So, I threw in some violence for you fight lovers out there. Also! The shirtless battle commenced. I hope you all enjoyed that. Anyway, I have too many ideas for the next chapter so I need to hurry up and work on it before I forget.
Arabic Words:
Akhi – Brother
Japanese Words:
Pocky – A tasty Japanese snack food.
This was posted especially for:
Lace Kyoko – I laughed so hard and for the rest of the day, when people cut me off in traffic I yelled: "Sharmuta!" It is fun to say come to find out. I called my brother one not too long ago and he just rolled his eyes. If I had a mother hen Kaiba, I'd MAKE myself sick as often as possible. Okay, now you've made me scared of leprechauns. And thank you! Occasionally the inner English Major peeks its head.
Tru Mel Meiko Mei Ling – After revising it, I noticed that as well. So I took a stew approach to it. There's a whole lot of stuff in that pot but boy does it taste mighty good together. LOL. Hm…maybe you discovered a secret about the butterflies? (shifty eyes) No, her hair is still up. When it comes down, oh, you'll know for sure. I was shocked when I saw a payphone recently in a restaurant. I was like, "This needs to be in my story." LOL. Also! I threw in a little Yami in this chapter since you looooove him. Hee hee.
MustLoveGreg – Yay! I'm glad you love it. Makes me happy.
Dragonlady111111 – Glad you like it and your reviews definitely help me keep it up. Thanks for reviewing!
Zooelle – In that case, I will keep the blizzard going down my throat! LOL.
Still Stands: If I don't get one measly review, no new chapter, however if I do get one measly review, new chapter.
REVIEW!!!
Well I'm Out.