Middle of the Summer
Chapter: 29
Title: Despite the Insanity
Fiction Rated: R for language, mature themes, adult humour and just stuff that tiny little people should not be reading about.
Disclaimer: I own only the characters that I create, and have no desire to kidnap those which I do not. I haven't the time (or the money) to organize such an event. Yu-Gi-Oh! Is credited to its respective owner— Takahashi Kazuki, I am simply borrowing his creations to carry out my biddings. Any songs that are mentioned in the duration of this story belong to (unless otherwise stated) the original composers. So ch'yeah! Keep your lawsuits in your pocket!
Summary: The two of them were nothing alike, and would probably have never become involved in each other's lives by choice. However, Mokuba's aspirations forced them to put up with each other, and much to their dismay- even enjoy it from time-to-time.
Seto stirred in his sleep, his eyes flitted open momentarily before he clamped them shut again, it was pitch black. He tried to recall falling asleep, but couldn't. All he knew was that it felt good to sleep so rather than question it, he was ready to let his ever-busy mind drift off again.
Against him, another figure stirred also and backed into him. He was already lying on his side, his hips curved around the back of the figure. He immediately assumed it was Mokuba, his brother was the only person who ever crawled into bed with him so late.
Naturally, Seto pulled his arms around the sleeping figure. Mokuba only snuck into his bed after a nightmare, Seto was momentarily puzzled as to how he had not woken the moment Mokuba stepped into his hall. Even a shift in the air usually had the CEO startled awake. But again, he numbed the questions.
Only as he breathed in, did he notice that something was off. The back of Mokuba's head was tucked against Seto's chest, but rather than the kid's thick hair tickling his nose, it seemed limper than usual. And it was giving off the smell of cigarettes, and wildflowers. Seto frowned softly, he smelled just like Ali.
Seto didn't generally recognize scents, but after Ali had lain on his bed the week before, he had her smell memorized. It seemed to rub off on all of his things these days. No matter what he did, he was inhaling smoke and wildflowers, now even his baby brother reeked.
He moved his arm to pull away when things got even stranger.
Mokuba had most certainly not had those curves last time he checked.
Then, it hit him like a brick. Seto recalled the concert, Mokuba's pleas to visit Ali, walking in on Ali groping his lawyer… the photo. He felt a hot white pain explode into his chest.
He hadn't realized the extent to which Ali's actions were justified, before that moment. It wasn't often that the CEO was overwhelmed, but in that moment he couldn't even see straight. Seto pursed his lips; Ali had seen him in a way that only Mokuba and his doctor had ever seen him.
And she was lying next to him, on what must be her bed. She wasn't calling all her friends and laughing about it, she wasn't gone away so she'd never have to see him again. She'd seen him, weak… and she was closer than ever.
The brunette didn't move, he was too caught up in the hurricane raging in his mind. He couldn't get Kanata's broken face out of his head; he let his eyes open again. As he waited for them to adjust, he tried to recall the anatomy of the condo, plotting his quickest escape.
Ali stirred again and flipped around so that she was facing him, a loud grunt escaping her lips. Seto simply watched as she pulled her face into his chest and shivered lightly. He realized that they were atop the covers… she must be cold?
A loud snore escaped from her and Seto rolled his eyes, he must have been truly out of it to be able to sleep through that. He shifted away from her on the bed, and swung his feet over the side, he didn't know the time, but it had been eleven-ish when he'd arrived at Ali's apartment, and it was still dark outside so he couldn't have been out… too long.
The moment they were no longer touching, Ali rolled over a few times and muttered some incoherent string of words in Russian before her breathing signalled that she had awoken. For some reason Seto was suddenly curious.
"What is your first language?" he asked, his voice low as his vocal cords were not entirely awake yet.
"I grew up speaking mostly Russian," she yawned, pulling herself into a sitting position, "'cause I was in Russia. Then when we moved to America I learned English."
"Your parents met in Russia?" Seto's feet were still dangling off the side of the bed, but he wasn't making a break for it quite yet.
"Yeah, my dad liked to travel, and he met my mom on one of his adventures. Accidentally knocked her up, and since they're both old fashioned, they got married in Russia." Ali was waking up slowly, "Why?"
The CEO didn't answer, he didn't really have time to, as in seconds a realization hit Ali and she threw herself at him. Snatching him from behind and pulling his face around.
"You're up!" she said.
Seto rolled his eyes, leave it too the blonde to never notice things when a normal person would.
"Are you alright? Do you have a headache? Are you drowsy?" she began interrogating him, while scooting around so that she was sitting next to him on the edge of the bed. Now that Seto's eyes had adjusted, he could see the whites of her eyes glowing slightly in the dark.
"Fine." He grunted back, and standing up. He hated being treated like he was weak, even by someone as pathetic as Ali.
"Hold on," Ali jumped up as well, "your doctor wanted me to--"
"You called my doctor?!" Seto hissed. He hated his doctor, the man patronized him and accused him, but Seto wouldn't let him quit because he wanted to keep the people who had his medical record limited.
Ali blinked, "You fainted on my fucking floor, what was I supposed to do, watch TV?!"
"I did not faint." He growled back, striding to the wall and flicking up the light switch. Immediately both teens squinted and winced from the sudden assault on their vision. Once it didn't hurt to look anymore, Ali stared at Seto, her jaw dropped.
"Oh my God! You look awful!" she exclaimed staring at the CEO. His skin was paler than usual and his eyes looked glassy and dark. She immediately jumped to his side, blocking the path out the door. "Go back to bed, Doctor Sanji said you need to sleep."
Seto stared down at her, she had an extremely defiant look on her face, but her bottom lip was swollen and red. Her posture insisted that he obey, but one look into her eyes showed that she was tired, and worried.
Sighing, he took a step back and closed his eyes.
From a moment both teens stood in silence. Finally, Seto spoke.
"You're scared."
He reopened his eyes and Ali was looking up at him, her fingers toying with a loose string on the over-sized t-shirt she had on. She bit down on her lip again, and blinked.
"I'm terrified, Seto." She whispered. Both of them knew that they were no longer talking about Seto's episode.
"What are your chances?"
"I don't have any." Her voice was choked up and her eyes now averting his. "I… I don't know what to do…"
Ali took a quick step forward and wrapped her arms around Seto's waist, burying her face in her chest. "Tell me what to do." Her voice was muffled by his chest, but Seto understood. Her arms squeezed tighter, desperate for an answer. He was reminded of the way Mokuba used to latch on to him, crying and asking when their parents would come and get them from the orphanage.
Unsure of what to do, the brunette placed a hand on her shoulder and gently pushed her away from him, but keeping her close enough that her fingers were still at the hem of his pants. He stared into her dark brown eyes and could literally feel the pain they held shooting into his heart. It was the first time someone had made his heart jump like that in years.
"We're going to need coffee." He said; his voice firm, but in no way hostile.
Ali nodded and turned to lead him from the room.
--
When Ali woke for the second time, the sun was only just coming up from the horizon. She had fallen asleep at some point during the early hours of the morning, while going over the entire case with Seto. He had remained silent for much of it, looking away from pictures, seeming distant during her descriptions, but while he hadn't said much, Ali knew that he had been supporting and agreeing with everything she said.
As she dragged her feet down the hall to her washroom, she wondered where he had gone. Surely, she had fallen asleep before he left. She searched the coffee table for a note, telling her he was gone, or offering a 'good luck' for the day ahead. There was nothing, typical Seto, leaving without a trace or a care.
After she had showered and put on clothes that Mai had specifically picked out for the date, she stared at herself in the mirror. A pair of tailored white trousers and a matching jacket, at least she would look ready.
She brushed though her hair after it had dried, feeling numb and detached through the entire process. In her mind, she was locking herself up in a white room where she would never have to face the world. One moment in time lasting forever so that reality could never progress.
Unfortunately, it was not the case… time flew. Before she knew it she was gathering her papers and piling them neatly into a briefcase with the Kaiba Corp. logo on it. Would she be more reliable since it was known that she was backed by the richest man in Japan? Or would that only make the situation more suspicious.
Ali was sure that someone could perceive her affiliation with Kaiba Corp. as some sort of rivalry between Seto Kaiba and Takao Kijiou. She winced as she imagined the amount of press that would without a doubt be involved in the trial, all the cameras flashing as she was hauled off to jail, and the scum-bag was set free.
She sighed, "No kidding myself, now. This is my last day of freedom." She pulled open the drawer of her coffee table and pulled out a tattered magazine she had purchased, months ago. Seto Kaiba's face graced the cover, along with headlines about successful business advice. She flipped through it until she found the most worn pages.
There were a few pictures of Set at press conferences and in board meetings and on one page, in huge bold font, a quote.
'I expect the best. If someone can't make it work, they are out of work.'
Ali signed, padding her fingers across a picture of the CEO speaking at some sort of convention. Would she be letting him down if she couldn't save Kanata? Would he hate her for being unable to keep the child from the hands of a man who would eventually kill him in one way or another?
She returned the magazine to its original place, and stared at the clock, Mai would be picking her up in only a matter of minutes. Sighing, she gave herself a long-lasting dose of insulin because she probably wouldn't have much time to later, and she needed to keep her head clear. She lit a cigarette as she waited, wondering if it could be her last… surely, they didn't allow smoking in jail.
She sighed, again. Mokuba was in school by now, it was almost nine in the morning… Seto must be at work. She chuckled and shook her head, realizing that if not for the trial she would surely be bored out of her mind and eventually wind up bothering Seto at his office.
By the time Mai buzzed up, letting Ali know that it was time to go, the Russian had achieved a completely calm façade, if she was going to be burning at the stake, at least she'd look cool and collected.
Smiling to the door-man—not knowing if she would have another chance to—she stepped into the icy January air in the parking lot, her eyes found Mai's Mercedes quickly, and she slid into the passenger seat.
"Hey, girl."
"Hi Mai." Ali smiled, trying not to let her nerves make themselves obvious. But she was never the best at lying.
Mai rested her well-manicured hand on Ali's shoulder, "It'll be just fine, hun." She encouraged. "Besides, you look amazing."
"Courtesy of you…" Ali smirked, aside from her socks and underwear, everything she was wearing had been designed by the American woman, herself. "Shameless agenda pushing…"
"Oh you bet, when you put that bastard away, I want people to know you were wearing Valentine." Mai joked. Ali smiled, softly, whether her friend was just saying it to help, or whether she truly meant it… it was nice to hear.
The drove in silence, there were no words to be said. The air was comfortable, as if both girls were sending subliminal messages to each other of comfort and love. When they finally pulled onto the street where the court house was located, the comfort turned to tension.
The entire street was covered with press, news stations and random onlookers.
"I guess they didn't think to leave a parking space open…" Mai grumbled, sarcastically in an attempt to lighten the mood. Ali barely registered her friends voice, she was staring out the window, her eyes picking apart the crowd, hoping to see a black Volvo, or a Kaiba Corp. limo.
There was neither.
Finally, Mai found an open space near the doors, one that had been reserved for trial participants. She parked the car and pulled her keys out of the ignition.
"Are you ready?" she asked, gently. Her blue eyes were fixed on Ali, reading every movement and interpreting them in the way only a best friend can.
"I guess I have to be…"
"You will be great." Mai pulled the Russian into a hug. "Trust the system, you have done nothing wrong."
Ali felt the overwhelming urge to burst into tears, but held it off… just as she had the night before, in Seto's arms. She simply nodded and pulled back. Mai placed a chaste kiss on her forehead.
"Let's go."
Outside, cameras, microphones, and reporters greeted Ali.
"Can you give us the details of the case miss? Are you directly involved?" the asked both girls. Ali was pleased to know that the details of the trial had not become public information yet. Takao Kijiou knew how to do press.
Ali pulled her chin up as she climbed the steps to the building, the lawyer who had been chosen to represent her in court stood at the top of the stairs, waiting. The man was in his forties, and didn't believe in the trial-and-error theory. In a way, he reminded Ali of Seto, but while Seto was a human in disguise, this man seemed to just be an extremely strict robot.
He nodded at her and the proceeded to enter the building, Ali slammed the door in the face of the press. Mai gave a parting smile and sauntered to find a place to wait.
"Mr. Kijiou arrived ten minutes ago, we are ready to start any time." The lawyer grunted, holding open the door to the court room. Ali's senses blanked.
The room was huge, and too much like the ones she had seen on all the crime shows she and Joey watched together, she felt guilt, suddenly wondering what Joey was doing. Why hadn't she talked to more people about the situation? It would certainly be more comforting know that Mai wasn't the only one in the room waiting for her.
"Mr. Hiaru?" she muttered to her lawyer, "Good luck."
"And to you Miss Shvakova." The man responded as the stepped down the aisle, both with their heads held high, Ali was determined to look confident in the eye of the storm.
"Good morning your honour." Mr. Hiaru greeted the judge who had, far escalated, in front of them. Ali nodded curtly, as well as she took her seat at one of the tables next to the second lawyer at her table, and Mr. Hiaru slid in next to her. She sent a sideways glace to the table on the other side.
Takao Kijiou and his lawyer sat, looking just as confident. Takao was a short, thick, who simple reeked of power. At first glance, anyone would believe that he had the trial in the bag. Ali bit her lip, he just might…
After all the traditional opening speeches and oaths, which Ali had been briefed on by the lawyers, she was immediately called to the stand. She sat, escalated and stared down at the court room. Mai was sitting in the crowd, keeping a resigned smile of encouragement on her face. Ali took a deep breathe and kept the mask of confidence on.
One of Takao's two lawyers rose—Reiki Komoro the man who had visited Seto's mansion that night so long ago—and walked forward until he was standing in front of her, his steely grey eyes stared at Ali. She wanted to bite her lip, but fought of the urge, knowing it would make her appear weak. Instead, she chose to chew on the barbell sticking through her tongue. She was suddenly extremely pleased that she had decided to get it pierced.
"Aldorina have you and Mr. Kijiou ever spoken one-on-one?" the man immediately launched into questioning.
"No." Ali replied, honestly. Even when he had offered her money for her testimony, he had sent someone else to make the offer.
"So what makes you think you have the right to accuse him of child abuse?"
Ali blinked, "I knew Kanata well, and it is not a coincidence that he had not spoken since you took me out of his life."
"How can we be sure that it is not simply trauma from the kidnapping?"
Ali straightened herself out, "He has not been allowed to see me, has he? If I could see him, I would ask."
"Yes well, your lawyers have maintained the right to call Kanata to the stand should the opportunity arise." The man smirked. Ali frowned, she had known this, both sides had reserved the right to call Kanata to the stand. But the group home he had been placed in would not allow him to testify.
Ali was sure that Takao had paid them to keep the kid quiet, if he wanted his step-son in the courtroom, he would already be there.
"You have no evidence, Miss Shvakova. You have no witnesses, you have no solid proof that Mr. Kijiou is anything but the victim of having his only child taken away from him. Give up now and let's just negotiate your sentence."
"Objection!" Mr. Hiaru shouted, standing up. "Harassment."
"Overruled," the judge responded, turning to Ali, she was a woman in her fifties, perhaps. "the counsellor has a point, Miss Shvakova. Do you have anything except speculation in this case, or are you wasting time that I don't have?" her words were sharp and Ali felt her heart jump.
Wasn't this supposed to happen later? It had barely been ten minutes and already she was facing losing the trial. Ali forced her mouth open, hoping something would come out on its own.
It didn't have to.
The court room doors slammed open and all heads turned, Ali's ears were assaulted by the familiar sound of polished dress shoes clicking against the floor at a fast pace. But her eyes immediately rested on a young boy.
She felt her eyes widen, Kanata's hair was so much healthier than when she had last seen him, sick, thin and beaten. His blue eyes sparkled with determination, the bags under his eyes were gone. The child and his escort pushed to the front of the room, Kanata gave Ali a quick nod. Ali knew what it meant, he was not here to go against her…
Her eyes felt it safe enough to study the figure next to Kanata. A black suit tipped her off that this wasn't spur-of-the-moment, he had planned it. His brown hair fell softly on his face and he stared up at the judge.
"I believe both parties have reserved the right to question Kanata Kijiou should the opportunity arise?" he asked the judge. Ali smiled, despite everything he had pulled through, again. Sweeping in to save the day.
"May I ask your name, sir?" the judge inquired, obviously shocked by the turn of events.
The man turned to Ali, his devilish green eyes flickering with triumph, "I am Mikhail Sonnath."
Don't hate me. I was trying to screw with you guys all along. I was happy no one predicted what I was actually planning… haha, psyche. Sorry it took so long… I'm working on a bit of a home-studio project. I'll be updating me blog with more info, if you're interested! Video responses are up from last chapter! Check it out.
ALSO! If everyone who reviewed on the last chapter reviews on this one I swear I won't take an entire week to update. I'll put my project on hold. Writing is my calling, after all… music is just a hobby.
KC
