Chapter 35

New Chapters

Author's note: just to not get in trouble, I should remind everyone that I don't own anything YuGiOh. I just own my characters and Dark Mage of the Sea owns hers.

When a sentence is ~like this~, it's phoenix speech.

Thank you, Dark Mage of the Sea, my coauthor and best friend.

About two weeks before Tiki and Merina were set to move to New York, Kaiba took Tiki out to dinner. Dressed in lavender lace dress, Tiki looked around the restaurant. "So fancy…you didn't have to do this, Seto."

Kaiba smirked. "Anything for you, my star. Besides, while I will be in New York from time to time, I don't know when I'll see you."

Tiki agreed. "Yeah…I'm not thrilled about that part. But this is the next step in my life and I'm really excited for this."

Kaiba smirked. "And I am proud of you for getting in."

Tiki smiled happily. After they ordered wine and dinner, she turned serious. "Seto…is there an open apartment at your apartment complex?"

Kaiba was a little suspicious, evident by his raised eyebrow. "Why?"

Tiki sighed, knowing Kaiba would not let her beat around the bush. "Well, Atem and Tima need a place to stay."

Kaiba looked at her for a long moment. He eventually said, "You know that building is for my employees."

Tiki did but still wanted to try. "Please, Seto. Atem and Tima feel like they're being a burden to us at the Game Shop. Mom and Grandpa always tell them they're fine but they really want to be on their own. They've looked at other apartments but they can't afford even the cheapest rent."

Kaiba closed his eyes in thought. He said quietly, "I will not let them live there for free."

Tiki nodded. "I agree. You can charge them the same amount you charge your employees. And this won't be forever: just until they find stable jobs and can stand on their own two feet."

Kaiba kept thinking with their eyes closed. After a minute, Tiki lowered her head. 'It was a long shot…I guess—'

"On one condition."

Tiki perked up. "Name it."

Kaiba opened his eyes and looked at her. "When you are in New York…promise me that you will stay in contact with me."

As their food and drink arrived, Tiki giggled. "So protective."

Kaiba gestured to the waiter to stop pouring before continuing. "I can't help it, Tiki. You're going to be in New York and that is a dangerous city."

Tiki agreed but was optimistic. "Seto, I'll be all right."

Kaiba remained firm. "Those are my conditions. If they want the apartment, I want to be in contact with you."

Smiling, Tiki went over and kissed his cheek, making him smirk. Sitting back down, she said, "You're a wonderful man and a wonderful boyfriend."

Kaiba continued to smirk and made an amused noise. "When have you known me to be anything less?"

Tiki giggled and started to eat. Kaiba then thought of something. "When exactly are you leaving for New York?"

Tiki thought for a moment and told him. Kaiba scowled. "I am sorry but I won't be able to see you off."

Tiki blinked in surprise. "What? Why?"

Kaiba explained, "KaibaCorp is opening a new branch in Korea. I've been trying to get a branch there for years and we're finally moving forward with it."

Tiki smiled. "Okay, I understand."

Kaiba smirked. From outside, he heard Itami (who was by the window), ~You are lucky to have someone so understanding.~

Kaiba mentally agreed. "But I do want to be a part of you going."

Tiki shook her head. "If you can't make it, it'll be okay."

Kaiba smirked in amusement. "Let me finish, Tiki. While I won't see you off, I want to be a part. Therefore, you will go to New York in my private plane."

Tiki's eyes widened. "Seto…"

"I will be in Korea for a few days and then in New York in a few weeks. So it will be no issue for you to use it."

Tiki's eyes started to sparkle. "That…that sounds great." She quickly added, "As long as Merina can go with me."

Kaiba looked at Tiki and widened his amused smirk. "I take it those are your conditions?" Tiki stifled a giggle so Kaiba nodded. "Very well."

Tiki smiled.


A few weeks later, Tiki and Merina found themselves in New York. To their delight, they were rooming together in Goddard Hall. Right away, they dove into the streams that came with their living arrangements. Luckily, their streams fit them perfectly (Tiki got Artistic New York and Merina got Social Justice League). They also dove into their classes. They first went for auditions with songs, monologues, and sight reading so their professors could see their existing skill and what they needed to improve. After one such audition, Tiki came up to Merina, very surprised by what she just heard. "Since when can you sing opera?"

Merina blushed slightly. "It's, um…a skill I developed in honor of my mother. One of her favorite shows was an opera set in Egypt."

Tiki smiled. "Well, I can say this: you made your mom proud."

Merina blushed deeper but smiled.


As life went on, they found themselves very busy with classes and rehearsals. They did enjoy their lives, even if it was demanding with starting early and ending late. One such late night, Tiki stayed later than the rest of the class getting advice from the current show's director. Satisfied with the advice, she stepped out of the building and shivered in the night air. "Ooh…cold."

She knew Goddard Hall was only a building away and started to head out. Suddenly someone ran up from behind and grabbed her purse. Yelping, she cried for help. To her relief, someone was up ahead and grabbed the mugger. "One should not take things that don't belong to them…especially when the victim is my girl."

Tiki's eyes lit up. "Seto!"

Taking the purse back, Kaiba smirked at her. The mugger, however, struggled out of Kaiba's grasp and pulled out a gun. Tiki paled and her eyes widened. "Seto, look out!"

Kaiba looked at the mugger and did not react. Not recognizing Kaiba in the dark and thinking he was crazy, the mugger went to shoot. He never got the chance: Itami flew down and dug her talons into his wrist. The mugger screamed in pain and tried to get Itami off him; that gave Kaiba the opportunity to take the gun away. Itami did not let go until the mugger was on his knees in pain. Feeling his arm let go, the mugger looked up. To his fright, his own gun was pointed at him by Kaiba, who had a dark smirk on his face. "You should consider yourself lucky. She usually goes for the eyes."

Itami lowered down to Kaiba's shoulder. She crested her feathers and spread her wings out, hissing. She looked even more frightening, like a genuine bird of prey. The mugger was frozen in fright. Just then, a couple of security guards ran up and grabbed the mugger. One guard asked, "Mr. Kaiba, are you all right?"

Kaiba nodded and handed over the gun. "Yes. He didn't do anything."

The guard took the gun and smiled. "Thank you for apprehending him. You made our jobs easier."

Kaiba nodded and went to Tiki. He gave her back her purse and wrapped his arms around her. "Are you all right?"

Tiki nodded and hugged him back. Itami's eyes sparkled. ~Good thing that jerk was only interested in your purse.~

Kaiba glared at Itami and turned back to his girlfriend. "This is why I wanted to be in contact with you. I want to know that my girl is safe." She nodded. "What are you doing out there so late in the first place?"

Tiki shrugged a little. "Talking to the director. This musical we're rehearsing breaks the fourth wall a lot and I'm having trouble with that."

Kaiba looked at her with an almost blank stare. Itami's eyes sparkled, as if she was smirking. ~You have no idea what she's talking about, do you?~

Kaiba mentally glared at her and asked Tiki, "Have you eaten yet?" Off her shaking her head, he added, "Then I'm taking you to dinner."

Tiki's eyes sparkled. "Really?"

Kaiba smirked and kissed her forehead. "Of course."

Itami's eye sparkled changed to mischievous. ~Good thing, too. I was about to scold him for not getting something to eat soon. Now he doesn't have an excuse.~

Kaiba glared at her, making Tiki giggled. She then remembered something. "Give me a second. I need to make a call."

Getting out her cell phone, she called Merina. As soon as she answered, she was so loud even Kaiba heard her. "Tiki, what the hell is going on?! I'm looking out the window and seeing security and a police car at the performing arts center we were just rehearsing in! Are you okay?! That's the last time I'm leaving you behind!"

Tiki winced at the volume. "Merina, I'm fine. It's okay."

"No matter! You're not going out alone anymore! You know this city is crazy!"

"I'm not alone, though! I'm with Seto right now!"

Merina took a second to register what she said. "Wait, Kaiba's there?"

Tiki nodded. "I think he's here on business. Anyway, he's going to take me to dinner right now."

"Okay. Where are you going?"

Tiki sighed a little. "Merina…"

"Don't give me that. Yugi and Kaiba would kill me if something happened to you."

Tiki sighed a little before saying, "We'll go to that 24 hour ramen place that's nearby."

"Okay. Just let me know when you're on your way back."

Tiki agreed and hung up. "I guess she saw the security guards coming over and got worried."

Kaiba reached over and put his arm around her. "How can anyone not worry about you?"

Tiki giggled.


Having looked at the menu and ordered, Tiki looked at Kaiba while drinking her milk tea. "I was surprised to see you."

Kaiba smirked. "You shouldn't be. You know I have a branch here."

Tiki giggled. "I know. But I didn't expect to see you at NYU."

"I was here opening an internship with my company."

Tiki smiled. "Always thinking about moving the company forward, huh?"

Kaiba's smirk made Tiki's smile widened. He then asked, "So how are your classes?"

Tiki sighed, sounding tired. "It's hard but all worth it. You should come to our performances."

Kaiba's eyes looked away. "I don't think I would do well with…art."

"I know. But it would mean a lot if you do come."

"Are you the lead?"

Tiki shook her head. "I won't be the lead until at least my second year."

Kaiba raised his eyebrow. He had heard her singing voice and knew she was a good singer. "And why is that?"

Tiki swirled her straw around her drink. "The professor doesn't believe in handing out leads to first years, unless literally no one else can do something that needs to be done."

Kaiba thought for a moment. "I suppose that seems fair."

Tiki agreed. "Merina and I have asked around everyone in our dorm who's in the program. All the older students have gone through the same thing."

To her surprise, Kaiba seemed to go still and look annoyed with something. As the food was delivered, Tiki reached over and took his hand. "Are you okay?"

Kaiba uttered in a low voice, "My star…in a dorm?"

Hearing that, Tiki could not help but laugh. "Oh, Seto. What's so bad about that?"

Kaiba looked at her. "A dorm, Tiki? A dorm?"

Tiki shrugged. "It was the only thing I could afford; not to mention, it's pretty much next to the building all the rehearsals are in. I'm also rooming with Merina so it's all good." Kaiba still looked dissatisfied, making Tiki giggle again. "Seto, don't be like that."

Kaiba sighed and looked at his food. "Forgive me, Tiki. But…I can't wrap my head around seeing my girl living such a common life."

Tiki gave him a look. "But I AM a common girl."

Kaiba stated, "Not to me."

Tiki blushed, touched by his words, and started to eat her ramen. Kaiba started to eat as well but looked deep in thought. After a few bites, he made a decision. "You're staying with me."

Tiki looked up in surprise. She almost asked if he was joking but it was clear he was being serious. "What?"

Kaiba looked back at her. "It's better than you living in the dorm. Everything is stocked as I am going to be staying here for a while on business and it's five minutes from the campus by car." He then gave a look. "Or do you not want to live with me?"

Tiki shook her head. "It's not that: living with you sounds wonderful. But are you sure? What about Merina?"

Kaiba returned to his food. "She'll be fine; I'm sure the dorm will find her another roommate or she'll have to live in a double on her own. Besides, that particular bedroom is for you and you alone."

Tiki thought it over and smiled. Taking his free hand, she kissed it gently. "Okay. I will stay with you."

Kaiba smirked. "Good. Mokuba will be glad to see you."

Tiki's smile became a grin. "I'm sure! I bet he's missed me."

Kaiba chuckled. "He does. But…" he reached over and touched her cheek, "…not as much as I missed you."

Tiki's eyes sparkled and she touched his hand. To her delight, Kaiba gave her a smile, private, but loving smile to her. This made Tiki even happier. She then thought of something. "Say, while we're here, should we order something for Itami? We can get it to go."

Forgetting to put his mental barrier up, Kaiba shrugged. "I can ask—"

Before he could finish his thought, he heard Itami (who was waiting outside in a tree) respond. ~Takoyaki, please!~

Kaiba mentally bristled and glared out the window. Tiki giggled. "I take it she made her request?"

Kaiba nodded, still annoyed.


After dinner, Kaiba and Itami insisted on walking Tiki to her dorm after what happened. When they arrived at her door, Tiki looked up at him. "Thank you for everything tonight, Seto."

Kaiba gave Itami a side-glance. Not seeing a light or anything for her to perch on, the phoenix looked away. Kaiba then turned his attention back to Tiki. Stroking her cheek, he told her, "Anything for my star. You are the only one for me."

Tiki smiled, closed her eyes, and pushed out her lips. Kaiba smirked before leaning in to kiss her. As they were kissing, they did not pay attention to the rest of the world. After a minute, however, Itami reached out to Kaiba. ~Um, Seto? You might want to end the kiss.~

Kaiba physically ignored her but still answered. ~Not now, Itami.~

Turning back, Itami ruffled her feathers, knowing they would tickle his ear. ~But Seto…~

Annoyed, Kaiba broke the kiss and growled, "Itami…!"

Suddenly someone cleared their throat. Realizing, Kaiba and Tiki turned to see Merina and Torru in the dorm's doorway. Merina was smirking and Torru had a mischievous sparkle in his eyes. Blushing deeply, Tiki hid her face in Kaiba's chest. Kaiba glared at the blonde. "Interrupting us again?"

Merina shrugged, still smirking. "Itami did try to warn you."

Kaiba glared some more before looking down at Tiki. His glare than became his trademark smirk. "Well, you can enjoy the next few days with her."

Merina raised his eyebrow. "What are you talking about?"

Tiki pulled her head back and looked up at her boyfriend. "Seto, let me tell her. Okay?"

Kaiba agreed and left after giving her one more kiss. Tiki blushed before looking at Merina. The blonde asked, "You want to clue me in on what he's talking about?"

Tiki waited until they were in the dorm room and the door was closed. She sat on her bed and took a breath before saying, "I'm going to be living with Seto for the rest of the school year."

She braced herself for Merina's reaction. The blonde said in a very loud voice, "What?!"

Tiki rubbed her ear and laughed a little nervously. Torru was also shocked. ~You're going to be living with the Kaibas and Itami?!~

Tiki grinned sheepishly. "I know, I know…it's quite a shock. Heck, I was surprised myself when Kaiba asked me to live with him. But…" she smiled dreamingly, "…the more I think about it…the more right it feels. I mean, this is a big step in our relationship and…I want to do this."

Merina looked at her friend for a minute before closing her eyes and crossing her arms in thought. Tiki watched the blonde, hoping Merina would accept. As the silence continued, however, Tiki started to think Merina was against this decision. Seconds later, however, a smirk appeared on Merina's lips and she opened her eyes. "You do realize you're going to give Yugi a heart attack and make him go overprotective mode on you, right?"

Tiki's eyes sparkled with a little mischief. "Well, he's on the other side of the world so he can't stop me."


Over the next few days, Kaiba and Tiki worked with NYU to get her moved out of the dorm and into his penthouse five minutes away. To Merina's surprise, NYU got her a new roommate: a black-haired New Yorker named Cindy coincidentally had a falling out with her roommates and was looking to transfer to a new room. The two immediately hit it off, making Tiki glad that Merina and Torru would not be alone. Confident in her decision, Tiki packed up her things and went to Kaiba's penthouse. Immediately, she was taken aback by the size.

With four floors, the penthouse had everything. The first floor had a giant living room, huge eat-in kitchen, Kaiba's personal office, and two bedrooms. Kaiba explained, "The bigger room is yours. Mokuba's is the smaller."

Still in awe (especially when she saw her bedroom had a terrace), Tiki asked, "He didn't take the smaller room for me, did he?"

Kaiba shook his head. "He picked out the room when we got the place about a year ago."

Just then, his phone went off in his office. Looking at the time, Kaiba glared. "I am sorry, Tiki, but this is an important phone call I need to take."

Tiki nodded in understanding. Itami went to Tiki's shoulder. ~I can take you around, Tiki.~

Kaiba nodded in appreciation and went to his office. As the two headed upstairs, Tiki asked Itami, "Where is Mokuba, by the way?"

~Visiting some friends of his.~

Tiki smiled but her smile turned to awe at the second floor. With multiple closets, a bedroom with a terrace, and a bathroom with a terrace, she thought this floor was basically a bigger, fancier version of a dorm room. Itami's eyes sparkled. ~Kaiba and I sleep on this floor. It's so fun to wake up in the morning and mingle with the birds on the terrace.~

Tiki shook her head in awe. "I…this is amazing."

Itami's eyes sparkled, as if she was smirking. ~Oh, just you wait…~

The phoenix led her to the third floor. Tiki immediately saw what Itami was hinting at. About half the floor was made up for four terraces. The front had the skylights that looked into the first floor living room; the main had a canopy and grill; the south was standard; and the fourth had a Jacuzzi. The interior had another kitchen, another dining room, a gym, and a private screening room. Seeing the screening room, Tiki was so overwhelmed, she had to take a seat. "This is…"

Itami made a laugh-like chirp as she landed on the chair in front of her. ~I felt the same way the first time I came here.~

Tiki looked at the phoenix. "Does…does Seto really need all this stuff?~

~I asked him the same thing. He told me this was the only penthouse that had a reasonable amount of bedrooms. Apparently, the others have five or more.~

Tiki shook her head, still trying to grasp everything. "Um…what's next?"

Itami shook her head. ~That's it. The fourth floor is just a staff bedroom and a roof terrace.~

Tiki took a breath. "I…I gotta do something to thank Seto for this."

Itami tilted her head. ~Well…the kitchen has been recently stocked…and I think that phone call he's on will be at least an hour.~

Tiki's eyes started to sparkle.


Finished with the call two hours later, Kaiba groaned and massaged the bridge of his nose. Looking up, he saw Itami fly in. ~How was the call?~

Kaiba scowled. "Those imbeciles are too damn stubborn for their own good. But I finally got them to open their eyes and accept my offer."

Itami's eyes sparkled. ~Good. Now you need something to eat.~

Kaiba agreed. "Where's Tiki? Maybe there's a place she wants to go to."

Itami gave Kaiba a look. ~Really? Open that nose of yours.~

Kaiba glared at her. But he then smelled something good coming from the kitchen next door. Curious, he opened the door and was met with a surprising sight. Tiki was sitting on one of the chairs with a big smile on her face. "Surprise."

She had prepared a steak dish with scalloped potatoes and Caesar salad with avocado and bacon. Walking forward, Kaiba could only say, "What…?"

Tiki got up and wrapped her arms around him. "This is my way to thanking you for letting me stay here."

Kaiba was surprised but touched. "It's my honor, my star."

Tiki smiled and kissed him deeply. As they sat down for dinner, she thought about how nervous she had been for this new stage of their relationship. She was no longer nervous: she knew this was right.