A/N: hey guys! completed this chapter just now and... well, i have no idea how my brain functions so twistedly past midnight o.O

in any case, thanks for all the reviews and reads! (:

and... we're nearing the end of this tale!

so, without further ado, Chapter 37!

hope you guys enjoy it~

Love,

Fika1603.

Seto frowned at the outfit Mischa had set aside for him after rummaging his limited wardrobe. "I thought I'd just wear what I usually wear," he declared.

Mischa snorted. "Even if it's for a mockery of a marriage, at least look more presentable for it. Which means no purple studded trenchcoat. And besides," she waved her hand over her fantastic selection of a deep crimson shirt paired with ebony suit and tie. "This looks suave even before you wear it. And be grateful I actually tried to have it to match Caroline's red Vera Wang dress."

Seto frowned deeper. "Whoever said that dress was for her," he muttered, but picked up the shirt and suit anyway.

"Eh, it wasn't?" Mischa sounded surprised. She would have pressed on further, if her employer had not retreated into his bathroom to get dressed. Harrumphing, she sat herself in his chair and waited impatiently for him to re-exit the bathroom. The moment she saw him, she leapt up in glee, clearly proud of her own selection. "If you just have better fashion sense to the office, I'm sure you'll be a much more cheerful person."

"Whatever," Seto retorted dismissively. He headed over to his desk and was seemingly rummaging for something when he stopped abruptly, turned slowly towards Mischa and eyed her warily. "Where's my laptop?"

"Mr Boss, you're getting married!" Mischa responded exasperatedly. "What do you need a laptop for?"

"It's a business negotiation contract that I'm attending, not a wedding," Seto responded tersely. He held out a hand and repeated his question in a lower, more dangerous tone. "Where is my laptop, Mischa?"

Mischa swallowed hard as she shakily took it out from behind her and handed it back to her employer, who snatched it immediately from her without so much of a thank you. Barely giving Mischa a chance to ask him what was so pertinent that he just needed to have the laptop at that time, Seto quickly plugged it to his printer, which soon came to life, coughing out several sheets of documents. Once he was done, he quickly scanned through them, satisfied that they were the correct ones before hurriedly putting them into a folder. Without warning, he tossed it to Mischa, who had to jump out of her seat to catch it before it hit the floor.

"Come on, let's go," Seto said determinedly, heading for the door.

Mischa stared after him, bewildered, but scrambled to her feet to keep up with him. What precisely her employer was planning, that was what she'd like to know. By the time she caught up with him, he was already getting into his Mercedes. Mischa threw a quick glance at her own convertible, at the empty space next to Seto in the backseat, at hers again, and back to the Mercedes. Without further contemplation, she jumped into the backseat with Seto, thanking Roland who closed the door after her.

"I'd really like to know what you're planning," Mischa finally voiced out once the car was already cruising along the roads.

Seto, who had seated himself right at the end, staring listlessly out of the window, merely said, "Spare your self-imposed misery and just read the folder."

Without waiting Mischa jumped right into the task. The first document that greeted her was her employer's and Caroline's amended pre-nuptial contract. The next, legitimization and subsequently the changing of Seth's last name from Lobo to Kaiba. The third was, to her surprise,

"Divorce papers?" she exclaimed out loud.

"It's in the contract, isn't it?" Seto replied coolly. "I've already set the date. There's no way Caroline can even hope to renege on her agreement."

Mischa inched away slightly as she stared at her boss in horror. "Mr Kaiba, do you know what you're doing?" she asked seriously. She waved the folder furiously in front of him. "These. Mr Kaiba, a marriage is not a business contract! In business you can crush people without sympathy for anyone. A marriage, sir, is considered a holy union by some people, if you must know. And your business-like decision with regard to this marriage with Caroline is hurting a lot of people, far more than you can imagine."

Seto glared at her silently with an expression she could not comprehend. Finally, before he diverted his attention to the scenery outside the window, he said softly, "Don't tell me things that I already know."

XO XO XO XO

The registrar glanced up impatiently at the attractive, young blonde in front of him. She was wearing a simple strapless evening gown in a shade of Prussian blue, paired with heavy white gold plated with diamonds and sapphires. Her blonde hair was worn loose. Needless to say, she looked like someone who was going to start a new chapter in her happy life. The problem was, unfortunately, she had been waiting for the past one hour, and he too had been forced to sit and wait with her.

"Is your intended groom coming?" the registrar asked again, annoyed.

The blonde woman threw a look at him. "Can't you just wait a bit longer?" she snapped.

Her personality doesn't match her at all, the registrar thought silently as he outwardly bowed in apology and sat back down on his chair. As he sat, he noticed that the chair was by now rather warm. He sighed inwardly. He would not forgive the groom for making him wait this long. Actually, if he was the bride, he would have probably called this off minutes ago. But for the sake of love, which had a propensity to be deaf, blind and mute simultaneously…

All of a sudden, the doors swung open and in strode a tall young man sharply dressed in a red shirt and black suit. The registrar perked up a little. Finally, he sighed in relief. He got up, greeted the newcomer and ushered him to his seat right in front of the registrar's desk, beside the outwardly attractive young lady.

The registrar had barely started the procedures when the young man suddenly whipped out a folder and slammed it onto the desk. His future bride observed his actions from the corner of her eyes before rolling them in abject distaste. The young man barely seemed to notice the registrar in front of him. Instead, he turned to the blonde woman and ordered rather harshly, "Before anything, I want you to sign all the papers in this folder. Without question."

The woman looked at him, obviously displeased. "What do you have up your sleeves, Seto?"

"Nothing," came the harsh but honest reply. "Everything as per our agreement." He stuck a hand into his jacket and took out a fountain pen. "Sign them."

"I hope you're not attempting anything funny, Seto," the woman warned as she plucked the pen from his hand and blindly signed the papers.

The young man called Seto smirked as he too signed the documents. "Caroline, shouldn't I be the one worried and warning you instead?" He inspected the documents in his folder for a while before passing it to his assistant who was standing not too far behind him. As the non-Japanese assistant took the folder from Seto, the registrar noticed how Caroline eyed her disapprovingly. Surely this wouldn't be a happy marriage, he commented to himself even as he prepared the marriage contracts on the table.

The registrar cleared his throat, hoping to at least secure the couple's attention. He glanced at each of them carefully, "May I have your identification documents, please?"

XO XO XO XO

Mischa glanced worriedly at her watch, at the door to the marriage registration office and at her phone, even as she kept her eyes trained on her employer and his horrible future wife. Where's Marvell? She thought anxiously. And Yugi… how come he hasn't contacted me yet? Don't tell me Tea's flown off.

Clearly, her common sense told her to just ditch the marriage registration process and contact them to find out where in the world they were. Unfortunately, she had been ordered to always stick by her employer throughout the entire process, doubling up also as the person who helped him carry his briefcase around. Mischa sighed a bit too loud, and her employer threw her a warning look. Quickly she sobered up and retreated a bit further to the back.

I need to contact them come hell or high water, Mischa thought frantically. Balancing the briefcase on one arm, she shoved her other hand into her handbag, searching for her handphone. Where is it… come on…

Finally her hand hit the cool, smooth metal of her handphone and she mentally cheered. Her fingers worked furiously on the keypad, typing an urgent SMS to her husband and Yugi each. She peeked a look at her employer. Still arguing with the registrar. For a moment Mischa wondered if he was attempting to delay his marriage all on his own.

If he is, way to go Mr Boss, she applauded him as she gripped her handphone tighter. Come on… either Yugi or Marvell… hurry hurry…

Her handphone vibrated so suddenly, Mischa almost let go of Seto's metallic briefcase. She immediately opened to read the message. It was from Marvell: I'm outside. Coming into the room in a few seconds. Before she had a chance to reply, another message came in from her husband: Heads up, honey.

Accordingly, Mischa glanced up towards the door. And sure enough, her husband banged the door open with such urgency, and was effectively panting and drenched in sweat, it took all that Mischa had not to run over to him and give him a hearty kiss for an acting job well done. At the same time, Seto and Caroline both snapped their heads towards the door. Both were evidently surprised to see Marvell there, although Caroline's was probably due more to the impending fear that her marriage plan could falter. Seto got up to receive Marvell, while Mischa played along and stared after her husband quizzically.

"Marvell, what do you think you're doing?" Mischa hissed for show.

Her husband ignored her and strode up straight to Seto. He held out a purple envelope in front of the young CEO.

"What's this?" Seto asked.

"Something that somebody wanted to give you before she leaves," Marvell commented. It was evident from his countenance that he was barely happy about the entire situation, and he even gave Caroline an evil eye for good measure.

"Who?" Seto asked again, more firmly this time.

Marvell snorted. "Read it yourself." He turned towards his wife. "Are you coming with me or staying here to see your friend's life ruined?"

Mischa glanced at Marvell, then at Seto. Out of Seto's sight, Marvell gave her a wink. She understood well what he meant. Meekly, she told her husband, "I'm under orders by Mr Boss to stay."

Marvell looked realistically annoyed. "Fine, I understand," he said just before he stepped out to leave. "See you soon, Mis."

Mischa winced. Maybe her husband was really mad at her. Never mind that. She had an entire plan to execute, and so far only one part out of it had succeeded. She peeked at her handphone again. Where was Yugi?

"Can't you just put that letter aside, Seto?" Caroline interrupted shamelessly as she hooked an arm through his. Seto stiffened and practically shoved her away, but she seemed unperturbed. "Can we just hurry up and finish off whatever we need to?"

Seto eyed her coldly. "Don't dictate me on what I am or am not to do." Proceeding to ignore her, he tore open the envelop and unfolded the letter, ready to read its contents.

Just then, Mischa's handphone buzzed continuously. A call! She thought excitedly as she answered it without looking at the number.

"Hello?" she breathed into the receiver.

"Mischa, it's me, Mokuba," the younger Kaiba answered from the other end. Mischa nearly skipped in delight. Another part of her plan seemed to be underway. "I've read your SMS, and know everything that I'm supposed to say. Is my brother there?"

"Yes, yes," Mischa tried to sound urgent and upset instead of gleeful and excited. She glanced up at Seto and handed her phone over to him. At his quizzical look, she whispered, "It's Mokuba. He wants to speak to you."

At the mention of his brother's name, Seto wasted no time in snatching the phone away from her clutch. Almost eagerly he spoke into the receiver, "Mokuba!"

As the phone conversation went on, the relief that had came on to his face almost immediately faded away, replaced by shock that seemed to creep in to decorate his features instead. When the call ended, Seto disconnected wordlessly.

Worried, Mischa rushed over to her boss's side. She asked him quietly, "What happened?"

He said nothing even as he held out her phone. If Mischa had not grabbed it immediately, her beloved clamshell phone would probably have slipped from his grasp and lay broken on the floor. Mischa bit her lip nervously.

"Seto?" even Caroline had sidled up to his side, placing a gentle hand on his arm, peering up at him with genuinely anxious eyes. "Seto, are you okay? What happened? What did Mokuba say?"

Seto acted as if she barely existed, and instead shifted his attention to Mischa. "Did you know about this?" he asked sharply.

His question totally caught Mischa by surprise. Adamant on ensuring that her plan would work as far as possible, she stammered, "N-no, sir. What did Mokuba say?"

The KaibaCorp CEO's face blanched at her words. He glanced about in confusion for a while, refusing to answer Mischa's question (although the truth was that she was already more than acquainted with the answer). Caroline continued to press him, but the more she did so, the more resistant he was. Instead, he just pushed her aside and picked up the letter he barely had a chance to read earlier. Mischa tiptoed slightly and attempted to read it from behind his shoulder:

Dear Seto,

By the time you're reading this, I'm most probably on the plane to New York. I'm not too sure if you've heard, but I managed to get into – and accepted – a place in Juillard. I'm sorry our relationship had to end under this kind of circumstances. I'm sorry we had to part in this way. But since you've already chosen your own path, I think it's just right that I choose my own. To each, his own. Wasn't that the exact maxim you told me once?

Congratulations on starting your life anew with Caroline and Seth, and Mokuba. I have to be honest; it pains me to even write this. And if I have to be honest again, I confess that our relationship wasn't probably destined to work out from the start. Seto, I do love you still, but the way our relationship was going was only hurting the both of us unnecessarily. Maybe we weren't ready to take on such a responsibility, or maybe individually we're not cut out to be the best girlfriend or boyfriend for each other.

Whatever the case, it's probably too late to even salvage anything. Seto, I trust that you'll take good care of your new family. You've been a wonderful father to Mokuba, and to Seth. Please continue to do so. And please, treat Caroline well. I know she and I can't always stand the sight of each other, but despite everything, I do know that she really does care for you, and all the more, you should care for her a bit more too.

Perhaps we'll meet again someday, perhaps we wouldn't. But whatever the case, Seto, please love and care for your family and for Caroline. Even if you aren't able to do it because of her, at the very least please do it as a favour for me.

Goodbye, Seto Kaiba.

Tea Gardner

By the time Mischa finished eaves-reading the letter, she had to hurriedly wipe the tears from her cheeks. She glanced at her employer. She didn't know if it was any more possible for him to be paler, grimmer, and more deathly silent than at that time. His hand clutched the letter so tightly it crumpled. For a moment, Mischa felt slightly guilty. Maybe she had overdone it. Two shocking departure news of two of the most important people in her employer's world was probably too much.

"Mr Boss?" Mischa dared herself to ask him, cringing with every syllable. "Are you… alright?"

"What time is their flight?" he demanded.

"Huh?"

"Don't act dumb with me, Mischa," Seto snapped. "What time is their flight?"

Mischa swallowed hard. "I… Tea's is…"

"Now," Caroline interjected unfeelingly. She frowned at him. "Why are you bothering about her, anyway? I thought we already have a pre-nuptial agreement that I intend to honour."

To both Mischa's and Caroline's surprise, he barked out a laugh. "You can intend to honour it for the rest of your life," he responded bitterly. He turned to the registrar. "Hand me the marriage contract." Shaken, the registrar gave it to him without much words. Without hesitation, Seto penned his signature to the dotted line. Mischa could only gasp in horror. What was her boss doing?

Caroline, meanwhile, looked shocked but eventually a pleased smile ruptured her features. Almost too happily she penned the signature next to his. She turned to regard Seto with a huge smile, barely able to contain her excitement. "Seto, we're finally married!" she announced, inching forward to give him a customary kiss.

Surprisingly, Seto held up a hand which stopped her right in her tracks. Instead, he reached out for his folder containing the documents that already bore her signatures, and gave her a mirthless smirk. "And we're also effectively divorced."

"What?" Caroline stared at him, stunned. Behind him, Mischa nearly dropped his briefcase onto her feet.

Seto held up the documents in the folder, one by one. "Pre-nuptial agreement, Seth's legitimization document and our divorce papers, effective an hour after our marriage," he explained coldly. "Hasn't all these years in business taught you to never trust anyone, not even your business partner?" He tossed the folder to Mischa, and issued his orders loudly so Caroline could hear his every word, "Get this to the courts. I'm sure we'll be able to ratify everything by the end of this week."

Caroline was having none of it. She leapt to her feet and tugged at Seto furiously. "What's the meaning of all this?" she nearly yelled, half in tears.

Seto was barely moved. "Something that you deserved for tricking me into marrying you," he replied contritely. "Now unhand me." Caroline, too struck by everything that was happening, obliged and slackened her grip. Without another glance at her, Seto turned on his heels and headed for the exit, gesturing to Mischa to follow after him.

Mischa's mind was in a whirl. What exactly happened in there? She threw a glance behind her. Caroline was crumpled in her seat, possibly too furious or too dejected to even cry properly. For a split second, Mischa actually felt sorry for her. She turned to her boss who was angrily striding towards his car, intending to make some comment but wisely kept quiet even as she piled into the backseat with him.

"Get me to the airport," Seto ordered. "Fast."

"Yes sir!" Roland answered stoutly.

In the backseat, sitting beside her blatantly irate boss, Mischa hugged his briefcase tighter and wished she could just disappear. Nothing was more intimidating than being in the same tight space as a dragon. Mischa readied herself for some silent treatment during the rather long ride to the airport.

"Have they left?" Seto asked her all of a sudden, even as he kept his eyes trained to the blurred scenery outside of the car.

"I… I don't know," Mischa answered honestly. "I tried to contact them, but I haven't been getting any reply…"

Without looking at her, Seto gave her a cruel smile. "And Mokuba, is he still at Tanaka dormitory?"

"He… yes, he is," Mischa had never felt a strong urge to be so honest in her life until this recent interrogation by her own boss. "How did you know?"

Seto said nothing for a while, before he finally commented quietly, "He's my brother. I don't have to know anything."

After that, the backseat fell silent again. Mischa shifted uncomfortably in her seat. This is unnerving, she thought regretfully. I wish I never planned this. And in her guilt, the image of a crumpled Caroline earlier re-entered her mind. This time round, Mischa could barely hold it back.

Forgetting that he was mad at her, Mischa asked Seto rather bluntly, "Weren't you a wee too harsh on Caroline just now? She looked really devastated."

Mischa had expected him to give his customary derisive snort, or another cruel smirk. Instead, she could swear that the smile he elicited contained as much traces of guilt and regret. "She'll understand," was all Seto said. Then, he turned to her sharply, and Mischa could see the CEO back in Seto again as he snorted, "Why are you still sitting there looking at me? Keep contacting the geek squad to see if they've decided to kidnap my woman."

Mischa frowned at him even as she dialed. "But it was her decision, you know."

"Whatever. Keep contacting them."