So I'm thinking of ending this fic soon. Mostly because if we engage into the Battle City Tournament it won't be as much of a romance story as it was now. This story started out as a strictly Seto Kaiba x OC fanfic but now that we're heading into canon events, I kind of want to branch out, I guess? Least of which has to do with the fact I want to introduce my other YGO Oc as well and have the story alternate between their stories.

Let me know what you guys think! I'd love to hear your thoughts :D

Scarlette hadn't slept much that night. She had woken up with bags under her eyes and even during breakfast she found it hard to stomach any kind of food. Dad had been nothing but supportive to her and though she didn't want him to intervene with her personal relationships, he had tried his hardest to give her the kindest advice.

Part of her just wanted to let it slide and reason Seto's behavior. She shouldn't have turned her phone off. She knew he didn't like it whenever she happened to do that; it had been her own fault. It was ridiculous and she was well aware of that. No amount of concern could make up for the fact that Seto had grabbed her with the intent to hurt her and had berated her until she was crying. He had also insulted her friends, especially Joey. Surely he wasn't jealous of the blond, was he?

'Honey? I'm off to a few hours of work', she glanced up from her staring at her blank wall to look up at her dad. He had gotten a job recently so he was getting more and more out of the house. And though she was happy, she couldn't help but want to pay for his exoskeleton so it wouldn't be something Seto could hold over her head.

Just stop it, she scolded herself firmly, Seto loves you and you love him. No need to be such a doom and gloom about one incident…

'That's great, dad', she smiled giving him a kiss on the cheek.

Dad studied her. 'Are you sure you'll be alright by yourself? Maybe call one of your friends?' he suggested.

'I'll be fine. Just go', she smiled at him, but they both knew it was an empty smile. She was confused and hurt and didn't know what to do with herself. Least of which had to do with the fact her entire neck, throat and collarbones were covered in angry, red and blue bruises. She looked like she had been in a fight with somebody.

After dad had left, Scarlette turned over to catch some more sleep only to have her phone ring. Already feeling a knot in her stomach she picked it up seeing the caller-ID read Seto.

'Hello?' she was aware she sounded groggy but didn't really care much that morning.

'You sound terrible.'

She rolled her eyes at Seto's comment. As if I don't feel bad enough as it is…

'I blame you, honestly. I'm so sore', she muttered.

The was a chuckle at the other end of the line. 'Just get lots of rest. I don't need you around today.'

Seto meant around the office, but she felt a painful jab at his statement regardless. God what was with her taking everything so personal lately? Why was she getting worked up over everything?

'Scarlette?'

She wasn't aware she had been silent until he called her name again. 'Yeah?' she asked.

There was a sigh. 'Are you alright? You've been acting a bit off ever since last night.'

I've been acting off?! She yelled internally. It's not like I'm the one that got all aggressive last night!

She then remembered what dad had said. That she had to talk to him if something was bothering her. He was her boyfriend; surely he would understand?

She sat up, pulling at her nightshirt. 'I'm not', she brought her knees to her chest to hug herself, ever fighting her tears; 'Seto you really scared me last night-'

'Is your time of the month happening again soon?' he cut her off which made her frown. What did have her period have to do with anything?

'What? No! why would you-' 'you've been very emotional lately. I'll send a doctor over later today.'

'I don't need a doctor, Seto!' she argued feeling him lead the conversation somewhere she didn't want it to go. This was not happening because of her hormones!

'The only reason I'm being so emotional is because you yelled at me and didn't apologize!' she had blurted out.

Silence.

'I'll call you back later.' She merely scoffed at him.

'Don't bother', she snapped then hung up, throwing the phone across the room. When it landed with a dull thud, more tears filled her eyes and with a defeated sob, she buried her face into her pillow.

Seto hadn't listened, Scarlette soon realized. When she woke up from the most frustrating nap that somehow left her more tired, there was an insistent ringing at the front-door.

Grumbling under her breath she got out of bed to open it finding a middle-aged woman with glasses and a too-tight ponytail at her doorstep. 'Mr. Kaiba sent me', the woman had pushed herself in leaving Scarlette to huff and shut the door.

'I'm Doctor Ryan. I hear you have been having hormonal problems?' the woman asked.

'I haven't. I don't need a fucking doctor', Scarlette grumbled.

'Irritable. And have you been sleeping properly lately?' this doctor, like Seto, couldn't take a hint and continued to invade on her space when she didn't want it. She crossed her arms over her chest, a shiver crawling up her spine at the memory of herself on her hands and knees on her bed, crying out in ecstasy while Seto claimed her.

'As well as can be expected. You should know my work schedule', she retorted with a slight blush on her face.

'Please, Miss Hopkins, have a seat', Scarlette remained where she stood, stubborn as ever.

Doctor Ryan uttered something inaudible before she sat down herself. 'I disagree with Mr. Kaiba. I don't think you have hormonal problems', she stated. Scarlette wanted to thank the woman before she continued; 'I think the pressure of working for Mr. Kaiba is too much for you. You previously worked at a coffee-shop and got hired on a whim. You're out of your depth, dear girl.'

She was dumbfounded. And while she hated Ryan's snide tone she knew there was some truth to her words. Ever since she had started working for KaibaCorp. almost all her free time was monopolized for the company. And try as she might, with the tournament coming up, she was growing more and more exhausted. Not to mention how Seto could be pretty demanding as both a boss and a boyfriend.

She had sat down rubbing at her tired eyes. 'Look at you, barely holding together as it is. Continue like this and you'll work yourself into a mental break', Ryan spoke in such a flat tone that she had to wonder if this woman even knew what tact was.

'So I should quit?' she wondered however, torn.

'That's for you to decide. But given your mood swings and your exhaustion, it wouldn't be a bad decision to take a break', Ryan shrugged as she stood from her seat.

'Think it over', with that the woman had gone just as quickly as she had come. Leaving Scarlette to bury her face into her hands. What was she going to do now?

Scarlette had called Téa shortly afterwards.

Both young women were sat in the kitchen while Scarlette twiddled with the straw of the homemade smoothies they had made. She stared down into the fruity mixture feeling so off. 'What do you think I should do?' she asked.

Téa grasped at her hands; giving the warmth and comfort she so desperately needed. 'I'd be lying if I said that me and the guys haven't noticed how worn down you've been lately. I think you put too much pressure on yourself', the brunette said gently.

Scarlette took in her words and after a few moments, nodded in agreement. 'You're right', she answered.

Téa hesitated, but only briefly. 'And, you know, being with a guy like Seto Kaiba can be pretty draining as well', she shrugged.

Almost of instinct, Scarlette reached a hand up towards her neck. She had decided to wear a sleeveless turtleneck-dress today to cover the hickeys yet that didn't leave her feeling any less icky about the whole thing.

'True. But-I don't know. I'm the first person he's willing to open up to. I shouldn't expect him to just do a complete one-eighty personality-wise', she was making excuses and she knew it. Seto had crossed a definite line by breaking into her home and accusing her of cheating on him.

'As you shouldn't. But it's not your job to improve his behavior either', Téa replied with a light roll of her shoulders.

'I don't want to give up on him-' 'no-one is saying you have to', Téa hushed her, 'but just don't push yourself too far. You can only give so much', the other woman added.

Both women turned their heads at the sound of the door opening. Scarlette assumed dad had gotten home but was startled to see Seto enter instead. And she couldn't help the slight dread sinking into her; tightening her grip on her friend's hand as if to silently plead not to leave.

God, why am I getting scared of being alone with my own boyfriend? She wondered silently.

The young CEO glanced between the two women. 'Leave us', he commanded.

'She's not one of your employees. Don't boss her around', Scarlette told him off much to his already growing annoyance; 'Whatever you have to say, you can say in front of her.'

'I'd rather not', was his bull-headed answer.

Téa was the one to stand up. 'I'll wait in the living-room', she flashed a gentle smile then brushed past Seto, giving him a firm look. And at that moment, Scarlette was very grateful for her friend's no-nonsense attitude. If anyone messed with her friends in any way, she wouldn't stand for it.

Now alone with him, she sat back in her chair. 'You couldn't use the door-bell?' she asked.

Seto shrugged. 'The door was open-' 'like it was last night?' she interrupted him.

He narrowed his blue eyes at her. 'Ryan called me shortly after she left. She told me how she thinks you're close to having a mental break', his gaze seemed to soften as he approached her.

'Why didn't you say anything?' he asked.

She swallowed. She honestly didn't know. She had probably been ignoring the early signs, instead just continuing with work like nothing was wrong. She didn't want to be an inconvenience for him.

He pulled up a seat in front of her putting his palm to her kneecap. 'This is why I wanted you to keep your phone turned on at all times', he stated; 'what if something had happened to you?'

'I was out with friends. Nothing would've happened', she rebutted.

He sighed. 'I didn't come here to fight with you, Scarlette', he so sharply retorted.

Tears sprung in the corners of her eyes. 'Then why do you keep acting like such a jerk?' she choked out: 'I know you don't do the whole compassion thing well but could you at least try to spare some for me? I'm having a really hard time…'

He leaned over to kiss her forehead, nuzzling it with his nose. She wrapped her arms around his neck to embrace him, sobbing as she did. 'I'm sorry', his deep voice was almost inaudible but his quiet apology was all she needed to melt into his warm body.

'Let me take you out for dinner tonight', he then suggested.

Their gazes met and with a watery smile, she agreed. She didn't want to stay mad at him. Not after everything they had been through together. She was in love with him and didn't want that to change.

When Seto's driver came to pick her up that evening, Scarlette became confused when he brought her straight to the Kaiba mansion. Thanking Roland regardless she got out of the car being greeted by the housekeeper who led her inside into the dining-room. She found Mokuba there but Seto was absent. Smiling, she moved over to him to ruffle his hair. 'You need a haircut', she teased.

'Hey! Don't mess with the hair! It attracts the ladies', Mokuba huffed with a shit-eating grin making her roll her eyes at him.

'You're only eighteen years old. You'll have plenty of time to chase girls', she further taunted making him huff before turning to look at her with his big, dark blue eyes.

'Enough about me. I heard you're not doing okay. Did Seto and you have a fight?' he asked.

She swallowed. Could she trust Mokuba not to run and tell Seto everything once she opened her mouth? Even though things between her and Seto were pretty neutral again, she still felt iffy about the fact he had accused her of cheating behind his back…

'No, not a fight. It was just an argument, that's all', she tried to play it off hoping to sway Mokuba from the subject.

'You sure?' he checked; 'you were pretty angry over the phone from what I was told.'

'Mokuba, drop it. What happens between us is none of your business', she turned her head once Seto entered. She couldn't help but immediately go to him, throw her arms around his shoulders and press her lips to his. He almost growled at her display of affection cradling the back of her neck. But before their intense kiss could turn into a full-blown make-out session, Seto pulled away from her to grin at his younger brother's reaction.

'God you guys are disgusting', Mokuba pretended to throw up; 'I came here for the food, not to watch you two make out', he scoffed in such a Kaiba-like way it made Scarlette chuckle.

She nuzzled into her boyfriend's warm chest to hide her glowing face. 'Sorry, Mokuba', she apologized.

Before she joined him at the table, Seto leaned down, his lips brushing her ear: 'It really is quite a shame we're not alone. I'm developing quite a taste for seeing you sprawled out onto a table.'

She must've blushed a thousand shades of red at his comment because as soon as Mokuba saw, he threw his head backwards. 'Ugh, Seto. Can't you do this somewhere else?' he groaned.

Scarlette puffed out her cheeks. 'You're the one always teasing us!' she argued.

'Doesn't mean I want to see you two go at it!' Mokuba stuck his tongue out.

'You two are like children sometimes', Seto cut their debacle short; 'now, please, let's have dinner.'

'I have to admit, I much prefer this over going out in public', Seto let out a chuckle at Scarlette's comment as they both laid on the couch of his home office. He stroked the length of her arms and back, cradling her close to him.

'I figured you'd be much too tired to go to a fancy restaurant', he answered then planted a kiss to her hair.

She lifted her head so that they were nose to nose. 'I should've told you sooner…' 'hush now. You're going to take a few weeks of paid leave so you can take your rest. I'll be fine', he soothed her.

She smiled, timidly so as she sat up straight. 'You're being so considerate', she drew her fingers up and down the clothes planes of his chest, being a little too aware of the fact she was straddling his pelvis.

He merely grunted at the shift of weight on top of him; dropping his large hands to cup her hips. 'As I should be. As your boss, it's my job to make sure my employees all function to the best of their ability', he stated.

She giggled at him. 'But I'm not just your employee now am I?' she teasingly grinded against him catching the way he groaned under her.

'You should know by now that you're more than that', he breathed out.

'I know', she tugged at the locket around his neck; 'I just like hearing you say it.'

Her thoughts trailed off as she opened the locket, finding a picture of a very young Mokuba staring up at her. He was quick to sit upright however, leaving her to put her legs around his waist.

'Will you ever tell me what happened to you?' she wondered out loud earning a soft kiss on the mouth.

'One day. But not today', was his stern answer.

She pursed her lips , thoughtfully. 'But you know so much about me. How is that fair?' she asked.

He took the locket from her hands, closing it and effectively shutting down the conversation. 'I'll tell you soon, I promise. After the tournament', he assured her.

She just snorted.

'You'd better.'

A bit of a shorter chapter this time. Next chapter will see the announcement of the Battle City Tournament and with it will come a lot of unforeseen drama WHUHAHAHAHA

Please don't forget to leave a comment and I'll see you loves next time! ;)

~Denise1374