The next morning was the most hectic morning in Kaiba's life. For the first
time in his life, Kaiba woke up late for school. Then the housekeeper was
late. Not to mention how many glasses of juice and milk Mokuba and Arielle
managed to spill. Mokuba had to go upstairs to change once. And just as
Kaiba was about to leave the youngster, the housekeeper arrives.
"I've ordered some of Arielle's things that should be arriving
today." He told Mrs. Percy, the only housekeeper that had qualified in his
interview out of about thirty-two housemaids. "Meanwhile, the house needs
cleaning and keep her out of trouble."
"Yes, Master Kaiba."
Just as Kaiba opened the door, he suddenly heard footsteps behind
him. Then came an ear-splitting howl. He turned around to find Arielle
running turbulently down the long flight of stairs.
"SETO!!" She wailed as she finally made it to the bottom. She flung
herself into Seto's arms and began crying hard.
"What is it now, Arielle?" Kaiba tried desperately tried to dislodge
her arms from around his waist. "I don't have time for this right now!" He
said exasperated when he found that he couldn't dislodge her. "I'm already
five minutes late from my usual time!" Even though Kaiba was about thirty-
minutes early for school, he still has KaibaCorp papers to go over in the
car. Arielle was sobbing unmanageable when he finally separated her from
him. He doesn't know what the devil has gotten into the child to make her
act this way every time he leaves, but he sure doesn't have time to find
out.
"No, Seto!" Arielle sobbed as Mrs. Percy restrained her, Mokuba standing
helplessly by. "Don't leave me! Don't abandon me like Mommy and Daddy did!"
The plea sliced through Kaiba's heart as he stopped, realization dawned onto him. That's why she's been so sensitive ever since she arrived Kaiba Mansion whenever Kaiba leaves. Kaiba's heart ached against his will as he thought about what could have happened. Arielle's parents must have taken her to the orphanage gate and then left her there, telling her that they'd be back and they have to do something first. That's why she wouldn't him out of her sight. "Arielle," He said slowly as he turned back. He no longer cared if he's seven minutes late. This little girl was hurt. And hurt really badly emotionally. "I'm not going to leave you." "You'll leave me." Arielle was crying. "You'll leave me just like Mommy and Daddy did." Kaiba didn't know what to do to convince the little girl that he wasn't going to abandon her until an idea popped into his head. Kaiba fumbled in his pocket. "Here," He took out a Blue-Eye-White-Dragon Duel Monster's card, his signature card. He was the only person in the whole world that owned all three of the Blue-Eyes. "This is something really precious to me. I want you to keep it for me, until I return this afternoon. Okay? Promise me you won't loose it." "I promise." Arielle clutched the card in her hand and seems to have calmed down a bit. She bit her lips. "You promise you'll be back?" She asked finally. Kaiba ruffled her deep auburn hair. "I promise."
Kaiba walked powerfully and authoritatively into the classroom. Students backed away to make a path for him as he walked over to his desk. He noticed Yugi was having a duel with the Chihuahua. Kaiba was actually fifteen minutes early, so he took out his usually thick, black hardback book. But today, instead of reading it, he took out a small file and placed it behind the book. In the small file was some information he got on taking care of minors. But before he could read them, Téa walked over. Kaiba slammed his book shut. "Hey, Kaiba!" She said cheerfully. "How's the little angel doing?" "Fine." Kaiba regarded her coldly, his voice laced with acid. "What is it you want, Téa? Money? My collaboration? Why don't you take what you want and leave us be?" Téa looked shocked. "I don't want anything from you, Seto Kaiba!" She finally cried. "All I did was ask how Arielle was, is that against the law?" "Not as against the law as someone who doesn't need you and your concerns." Was Kaiba's hard answer. Téa got up and glared at Kaiba. "Fine." She snapped. "If that's what you want, Kaiba. I won't worry about Arielle from now on!" She stalked away angrily. "That's what I want," Kaiba said quietly to the retreating figure as he opened his book once again, but class was starting. With a sigh, he put everything away just as the teacher walked in. Classes were easy and boring, as usual. He wouldn't even be taking ninth grade if it weren't required by the country. He has more intelligence than the smartest and toughest of all businessmen. He creates his own software and the duel monster's arena. He's currently working on VirtualPod right now, after finally finishing his hologram Dueling Disk. He had been working on the VirtualPod for years now, perfecting them. He didn't bother eating the cheap lunch the school cafeteria had prepared. And surprisingly, by the time school is over, Kaiba was eager to go back and see Arielle. He'd never thought he'd look forward to see that little creature ever again, though they were cute, especially Arielle and her dark green eyes. Joey's heavy Brooklyn twang send the little orphan into fits of giggles every time, while Joey and Tristan had taken one look at her yesterday and concluded her "cuter than a bag full of donuts and Twinkies." Kaiba supposed, coming from those two, it was a compliment. He gathered his stuff quickly from his locker. "Darn." He muttered as he remembered the appointment he had today with head of the executives. "I'll just have to postpone that, too." He tried to make an excuse for what he was doing. He loved to work at KaibaCorp. That's his sanctuary besides his study in Kaiba Mansion. Good going, Kaiba, you're starting to care for her. His thought to himself. Now what are you going to do? You have just made the decision ten times worse. "I'll cancel the engagement." He said firmly. "That's what I'll do." He stepped into the house, ready to be tackled by Mokuba or Arielle. Instead, he was met by Mrs. Percy, who he thought had left hours ago. Besides the elderly woman, the house was deathly quiet. "Mr. Kaiba," the aged woman greeted. "Where are they?" Kaiba demanded. "They're both playing in Mokuba's game room." The housekeeper answered, looking kind of anxious and nervous. "Mr. Kaiba, may I have a quick word with you?" "Of course." Impatient to be on his way, Kaiba tried to sound gracious. "What is it?" "Mr. Kaiba," Mrs. Percy began, her brows wrinkled with disbelief. "This morning, after you left for your classes, I was calculating the costs of some grocery bills when little Arielle came over and sat right next to me." "Yes, go on, please." "I was just about to go for a calculator when she spoke up. Mr. Kaiba, she told me the correct amount for every single bill." Kaiba's eyebrows shot up. "Excuse me?" "Mr. Kaiba," Mrs. Percy repeated. "Arielle calculated every single bill correctly in her head. I don't think you have an ordinary child in your hands." "Thank you for informing me," Kaiba's gaze followed the stairs. "I think I'll go take a good look at her myself. Your agility will not be overlooked." Without another word, Kaiba walked up the grand staircase up to his little brother's game room. He found Arielle and Mokuba having a grand time playing video games. As he watched them play, his icy eyes instantly caught how quick Arielle was on catching onto new things. "I'm back." Kaiba's deep, throaty voice finally interrupted their game. Immediately, controllers were set aside as they both ran into Kaiba at the same time. "Seto!" They both shrieked as they jumped on him. Kaiba noticed the new clothes Arielle had on and her dark hair was in two, neat ponytails. "So what did you two do today when I was at school?" He asked, pushing the youngster off after they knocked the air out of him. "I taught Arielle how to play Duel Monsters and she beat me two out of three games." Mokuba piped up. "Then, Mrs. Percy made us some lemonade and we played hide-and-go-seek outside. And we were just playing video games when you came home, big brother." "So did you guys have fun?" Kaiba asked, wondering how he should open the subject about Arielle. He doesn't want to come down too blunt, or he might scare her, but he's got to know. "Of course we had fun!" Arielle chirped. "You have a big house and a big yard, Seto. I've never seen such a pretty backyard. It has forests and ponds with pretty flowers in it." She snuggled closer to Kaiba's chest. Kaiba was having a hard time not to let Arielle warm herself into the center of his heart. "We had so much fun, Seto!" Mokuba's eyes were bright. "I've never had anybody to play with like that! Can we keep her forever? Please?" Kaiba had to laugh at the two innocent puppy dog faces in front of him but he avoided the question. Remember your mission, Kaiba. He told himself. Remember she's not yours to keep. She doesn't belong to you because you don't really want her. "How about we play a little game?" Kaiba tried to sound casual, but inside he knew that Mokuba knows that he had never played anything in his life. Well, besides a few games of chess when they were small. "What are we going to play?" Mokuba looked kind of suspicious, which Kaiba wasn't surprised. "I'll write a few math problems on the paper and you two can see who finishes the problems faster." Kaiba decided that this way would be for the best. So Mokuba wouldn't feel left out if Kaiba just pays attention to Arielle and he wouldn't feel embarrassed if she does the problems correct and faster than him. "Okay!" Both kids were eager to please the eldest Kaiba. Swiftly, Kaiba took out two pieces of paper and wrote a few problems on the paper. While Arielle and Mokuba thought they were the same problems, they were different. Mokuba had questions standard for his age, Arielle had some tough ones. "Okay, go." Kaiba said, setting his watch to the timer. Even though he expected Arielle to be smart, he hadn't quite expected when Arielle finished the paper within five minutes. Mokuba finished a minute later. "Okay, it's a tie." Kaiba took the papers and hurried away to his study. "She got the problems all correct!" He whispered to himself with disbelief as he looked over the answers to the business calculating problems that had given his accountant a hard time. Kaiba walked over to the phone and dialed a few numbers. "Hello?" He balanced the phone between his ear and his shoulder as he took a closer look at her work. "Yes, this is Seto Kaiba, owner of Kaiba Corporation, I'd like to speak to administrator of the Gifted Program for Minors. Yes." He could hear Arielle and Mokuba laughing and giggling over something in the other room. "Hello? How may I help you?" A male's voice came up on the phone. "Yes, this is Seto Kaiba, I'd like to arrange a test for my...little sister." He said into the phone. "No, today would be the best. Yes, we'd be there immediately." "Arielle!" He called as soon as he hung up the phone. "Come here for a sec." "Yeah, big brother?" Kaiba just couldn't get over how fact Arielle acknowledge him as her brother. Doesn't she remember her own family at all. But it's all for the good, Kaiba envied. He just couldn't forget his past. That's what makes him so cold and bitter. "You and I are going downtown. Go get your coat." "Okay!" Arielle raced back to get her coat. "Bye, Mokuba, see you later!" She called as she ran into the limo, skidding across Kaiba's lap to her seat. She scrambled upright. "Now, listen carefully to me, kid." Kaiba waited until Arielle's dark green eyes were looking straight into his dark blue ones. "We're going to go into this building, where you're going to have to leave me to take a test." Kaiba saw Arielle's lips beginning to stick out, but he hurried on in a calm, reassuring voice. "You have to take this test, kid. We have to know what level you're on. You're not a ordinary kid, you're way too smart for your age." "But I don't wanna..." Arielle's eyes began to tear up. Kaiba sighed. "You have to." He said firmly, but added afterward in a gentler voice. "How about this, kid. You be a good girl and take this test and I'll bring you a surprise this week." Arielle's eyes lit up. "Really? What is it?!" She squealed. Little kids, they're so easily distracted. "It's a surprise, now come on. We're here." Kaiba stepped out of the sable car. He heard the door being shut by the chauffeur and heard little footsteps following him. He was surprise, though, when he felt a warm little hand slip into his. He looked down to see Arielle, no taller than his waist, walking dutifully next to him. Kaiba swallowed hard as he remembered that she wasn't going to stay in Kaiba Mansion. Stop this, you fool, he scolded himself as he walked over to the reception table and signed in. You don't love her. You love Mokuba. You just think she's...unique. Yeah, unique and incredibly cute. But You don't really love her. This is just one of those things that you would forget right after it's over. Don't let her soften you up. You need to keep your cool attitude. Set a good example for Mokuba. After all, you are still Seto Kaiba, CEO of Kaiba Corporation, owner of Kaiba Mansion, and the youngest multibillionaire alive on earth. Seto Kaiba DOES NOT adopt kids. He doesn't baby-sit, he doesn't let them live in his house, and most of all--SETO KAIBA DOES NOT LOVE THEM!!! "We're here, kid." He said, stopping at a door. "This is where you leave me." Arielle didn't say anything, but Kaiba saw her lips quaver and her hand had grown cold and clammy. "I'm...scared." She finally said in a wavering voice. Kaiba bent down to Arielle's height. He doesn't know what to say. "Listen," he forced her look into his eyes. "Remember the Blue-Eye- White-Dragon card I gave you? Pretend that I'm there with you. Pretend I'm right there." "Okay." She agreed as she skipped off into the room. Kaiba settled down in a chair outside and tried to make himself comfortable. He opened his briefcase and took out some work, but found that he couldn't concentrate. How could he be concentrating when his Arielle is in some strange room with some strange men? He was just getting into his work, when he heard the door burst open. He looked up and saw Arielle, with tears streaming down her face. Kaiba had just put down his file when she gave a long leap and hurled herself into Kaiba's protective embrace. "What happened, kid?" Kaiba made his voice as soothing as possible, which was not easy, since his temper was flaming. "They were asking me questions..." Arielle buried her face in Kaiba's broad chest and sobbed. "Mr. Kaiba," one man stepped forward and tried to explain. He had on a white lab coat and he wore glasses. He smelled like medicine and death. No wonder the kid was afraid of him. "You had better explain yourself," Kaiba stood up with Arielle in his arms. "And it had better be good." His face was pinched white with rage. "Arielle had passed her test with no problem at all. In fact, she showed so high in her intelligence that we asked her some questions. That's when she ran out." He waved his arms, dismissing the whole thing. "Kids, you know them." "Are you saying this is all her fault?" Kaiba was fuming that his eyes were smothering a fire. An apprentice saw this and silently jabbed his elbow into the doc's ribs. The doctor noticed this and stammered, "Uh, no. That's not what I mean at all." The man cleared his throat nervously. "What I mean to say is that, Arielle might be even too advanced for your high school. Of course, we could always try, but then--" "Thanks for your time and--" Kaiba interrupted somewhat sarcastically. "--Your cooperation." He grabbed his briefcase from the table and walked out the door. "You may fax this information to my office." "Are you feeling better now, kid?" Kaiba asked as they settled back in the limo. "Yes." Arielle didn't meet his eyes. Maybe this isn't such a good time to ask her about her past, but Kaiba had to know. There were so many things that Arielle does that amazes him. Like she stubbornly would not let him out of her sight if it was possible. She isn't afraid of anything and was bold for her age, but now, a few men asking her questions had her in tears. Who is she? What had happened in her mysterious past that made her act this way? "Can you tell me what happened?" Kaiba asked gently. He knew that Arielle would know what he means. Numbly, she sat on his lap, quiet. "It was all about daddy's partner in his business." She finally said, her lips quivering. "Daddy owned a company and his partner was my god...god..." She seemed to be struggling over a word. "Godfather?" Kaiba offered "Yeah." Arielle nodded. "Well, then I don't know what happened. He discovered something about me and he started asking me a lot of scary questions." Her eyes teared up once again. "And right after that, he started forcing information into me and yelled at me if I don't answer the question right. He hit me and he was mean, but he said if I ever tell mommy or daddy, I'd regret it." She stopped, quiet, apparently thinking. "This is the part I don't really get." She finally said. "One day, daddy burst into the room and urged us to pack our bag, saying that we had to escape to somewhere, that someone was after us. But on the way to the airport, they decided it wasn't safe to keep me with them so they left me at the orphanage, telling me they'll come back for me later. They never did." Her voice was full of hurt. And Kaiba could see the pain and distress rippling out of her eyes as his own heart ached for this young girl's misfortune. He couldn't help cuddling her more securely as the limo moved smoothly down the street. "They left me and they never came back." She choked. "Oh, kid, I'm so sorry." Kaiba murmured as he stroked her hair. He wanted to stop and comfort the girl, but he had just one question to ask. "What was your daddy's company's name?" Arielle hiccuped and looked up at him with her teary, green eyes. "Industrial Illusions." She hiccuped again. "My daddy's company was called Industrial Illusions."
The plea sliced through Kaiba's heart as he stopped, realization dawned onto him. That's why she's been so sensitive ever since she arrived Kaiba Mansion whenever Kaiba leaves. Kaiba's heart ached against his will as he thought about what could have happened. Arielle's parents must have taken her to the orphanage gate and then left her there, telling her that they'd be back and they have to do something first. That's why she wouldn't him out of her sight. "Arielle," He said slowly as he turned back. He no longer cared if he's seven minutes late. This little girl was hurt. And hurt really badly emotionally. "I'm not going to leave you." "You'll leave me." Arielle was crying. "You'll leave me just like Mommy and Daddy did." Kaiba didn't know what to do to convince the little girl that he wasn't going to abandon her until an idea popped into his head. Kaiba fumbled in his pocket. "Here," He took out a Blue-Eye-White-Dragon Duel Monster's card, his signature card. He was the only person in the whole world that owned all three of the Blue-Eyes. "This is something really precious to me. I want you to keep it for me, until I return this afternoon. Okay? Promise me you won't loose it." "I promise." Arielle clutched the card in her hand and seems to have calmed down a bit. She bit her lips. "You promise you'll be back?" She asked finally. Kaiba ruffled her deep auburn hair. "I promise."
Kaiba walked powerfully and authoritatively into the classroom. Students backed away to make a path for him as he walked over to his desk. He noticed Yugi was having a duel with the Chihuahua. Kaiba was actually fifteen minutes early, so he took out his usually thick, black hardback book. But today, instead of reading it, he took out a small file and placed it behind the book. In the small file was some information he got on taking care of minors. But before he could read them, Téa walked over. Kaiba slammed his book shut. "Hey, Kaiba!" She said cheerfully. "How's the little angel doing?" "Fine." Kaiba regarded her coldly, his voice laced with acid. "What is it you want, Téa? Money? My collaboration? Why don't you take what you want and leave us be?" Téa looked shocked. "I don't want anything from you, Seto Kaiba!" She finally cried. "All I did was ask how Arielle was, is that against the law?" "Not as against the law as someone who doesn't need you and your concerns." Was Kaiba's hard answer. Téa got up and glared at Kaiba. "Fine." She snapped. "If that's what you want, Kaiba. I won't worry about Arielle from now on!" She stalked away angrily. "That's what I want," Kaiba said quietly to the retreating figure as he opened his book once again, but class was starting. With a sigh, he put everything away just as the teacher walked in. Classes were easy and boring, as usual. He wouldn't even be taking ninth grade if it weren't required by the country. He has more intelligence than the smartest and toughest of all businessmen. He creates his own software and the duel monster's arena. He's currently working on VirtualPod right now, after finally finishing his hologram Dueling Disk. He had been working on the VirtualPod for years now, perfecting them. He didn't bother eating the cheap lunch the school cafeteria had prepared. And surprisingly, by the time school is over, Kaiba was eager to go back and see Arielle. He'd never thought he'd look forward to see that little creature ever again, though they were cute, especially Arielle and her dark green eyes. Joey's heavy Brooklyn twang send the little orphan into fits of giggles every time, while Joey and Tristan had taken one look at her yesterday and concluded her "cuter than a bag full of donuts and Twinkies." Kaiba supposed, coming from those two, it was a compliment. He gathered his stuff quickly from his locker. "Darn." He muttered as he remembered the appointment he had today with head of the executives. "I'll just have to postpone that, too." He tried to make an excuse for what he was doing. He loved to work at KaibaCorp. That's his sanctuary besides his study in Kaiba Mansion. Good going, Kaiba, you're starting to care for her. His thought to himself. Now what are you going to do? You have just made the decision ten times worse. "I'll cancel the engagement." He said firmly. "That's what I'll do." He stepped into the house, ready to be tackled by Mokuba or Arielle. Instead, he was met by Mrs. Percy, who he thought had left hours ago. Besides the elderly woman, the house was deathly quiet. "Mr. Kaiba," the aged woman greeted. "Where are they?" Kaiba demanded. "They're both playing in Mokuba's game room." The housekeeper answered, looking kind of anxious and nervous. "Mr. Kaiba, may I have a quick word with you?" "Of course." Impatient to be on his way, Kaiba tried to sound gracious. "What is it?" "Mr. Kaiba," Mrs. Percy began, her brows wrinkled with disbelief. "This morning, after you left for your classes, I was calculating the costs of some grocery bills when little Arielle came over and sat right next to me." "Yes, go on, please." "I was just about to go for a calculator when she spoke up. Mr. Kaiba, she told me the correct amount for every single bill." Kaiba's eyebrows shot up. "Excuse me?" "Mr. Kaiba," Mrs. Percy repeated. "Arielle calculated every single bill correctly in her head. I don't think you have an ordinary child in your hands." "Thank you for informing me," Kaiba's gaze followed the stairs. "I think I'll go take a good look at her myself. Your agility will not be overlooked." Without another word, Kaiba walked up the grand staircase up to his little brother's game room. He found Arielle and Mokuba having a grand time playing video games. As he watched them play, his icy eyes instantly caught how quick Arielle was on catching onto new things. "I'm back." Kaiba's deep, throaty voice finally interrupted their game. Immediately, controllers were set aside as they both ran into Kaiba at the same time. "Seto!" They both shrieked as they jumped on him. Kaiba noticed the new clothes Arielle had on and her dark hair was in two, neat ponytails. "So what did you two do today when I was at school?" He asked, pushing the youngster off after they knocked the air out of him. "I taught Arielle how to play Duel Monsters and she beat me two out of three games." Mokuba piped up. "Then, Mrs. Percy made us some lemonade and we played hide-and-go-seek outside. And we were just playing video games when you came home, big brother." "So did you guys have fun?" Kaiba asked, wondering how he should open the subject about Arielle. He doesn't want to come down too blunt, or he might scare her, but he's got to know. "Of course we had fun!" Arielle chirped. "You have a big house and a big yard, Seto. I've never seen such a pretty backyard. It has forests and ponds with pretty flowers in it." She snuggled closer to Kaiba's chest. Kaiba was having a hard time not to let Arielle warm herself into the center of his heart. "We had so much fun, Seto!" Mokuba's eyes were bright. "I've never had anybody to play with like that! Can we keep her forever? Please?" Kaiba had to laugh at the two innocent puppy dog faces in front of him but he avoided the question. Remember your mission, Kaiba. He told himself. Remember she's not yours to keep. She doesn't belong to you because you don't really want her. "How about we play a little game?" Kaiba tried to sound casual, but inside he knew that Mokuba knows that he had never played anything in his life. Well, besides a few games of chess when they were small. "What are we going to play?" Mokuba looked kind of suspicious, which Kaiba wasn't surprised. "I'll write a few math problems on the paper and you two can see who finishes the problems faster." Kaiba decided that this way would be for the best. So Mokuba wouldn't feel left out if Kaiba just pays attention to Arielle and he wouldn't feel embarrassed if she does the problems correct and faster than him. "Okay!" Both kids were eager to please the eldest Kaiba. Swiftly, Kaiba took out two pieces of paper and wrote a few problems on the paper. While Arielle and Mokuba thought they were the same problems, they were different. Mokuba had questions standard for his age, Arielle had some tough ones. "Okay, go." Kaiba said, setting his watch to the timer. Even though he expected Arielle to be smart, he hadn't quite expected when Arielle finished the paper within five minutes. Mokuba finished a minute later. "Okay, it's a tie." Kaiba took the papers and hurried away to his study. "She got the problems all correct!" He whispered to himself with disbelief as he looked over the answers to the business calculating problems that had given his accountant a hard time. Kaiba walked over to the phone and dialed a few numbers. "Hello?" He balanced the phone between his ear and his shoulder as he took a closer look at her work. "Yes, this is Seto Kaiba, owner of Kaiba Corporation, I'd like to speak to administrator of the Gifted Program for Minors. Yes." He could hear Arielle and Mokuba laughing and giggling over something in the other room. "Hello? How may I help you?" A male's voice came up on the phone. "Yes, this is Seto Kaiba, I'd like to arrange a test for my...little sister." He said into the phone. "No, today would be the best. Yes, we'd be there immediately." "Arielle!" He called as soon as he hung up the phone. "Come here for a sec." "Yeah, big brother?" Kaiba just couldn't get over how fact Arielle acknowledge him as her brother. Doesn't she remember her own family at all. But it's all for the good, Kaiba envied. He just couldn't forget his past. That's what makes him so cold and bitter. "You and I are going downtown. Go get your coat." "Okay!" Arielle raced back to get her coat. "Bye, Mokuba, see you later!" She called as she ran into the limo, skidding across Kaiba's lap to her seat. She scrambled upright. "Now, listen carefully to me, kid." Kaiba waited until Arielle's dark green eyes were looking straight into his dark blue ones. "We're going to go into this building, where you're going to have to leave me to take a test." Kaiba saw Arielle's lips beginning to stick out, but he hurried on in a calm, reassuring voice. "You have to take this test, kid. We have to know what level you're on. You're not a ordinary kid, you're way too smart for your age." "But I don't wanna..." Arielle's eyes began to tear up. Kaiba sighed. "You have to." He said firmly, but added afterward in a gentler voice. "How about this, kid. You be a good girl and take this test and I'll bring you a surprise this week." Arielle's eyes lit up. "Really? What is it?!" She squealed. Little kids, they're so easily distracted. "It's a surprise, now come on. We're here." Kaiba stepped out of the sable car. He heard the door being shut by the chauffeur and heard little footsteps following him. He was surprise, though, when he felt a warm little hand slip into his. He looked down to see Arielle, no taller than his waist, walking dutifully next to him. Kaiba swallowed hard as he remembered that she wasn't going to stay in Kaiba Mansion. Stop this, you fool, he scolded himself as he walked over to the reception table and signed in. You don't love her. You love Mokuba. You just think she's...unique. Yeah, unique and incredibly cute. But You don't really love her. This is just one of those things that you would forget right after it's over. Don't let her soften you up. You need to keep your cool attitude. Set a good example for Mokuba. After all, you are still Seto Kaiba, CEO of Kaiba Corporation, owner of Kaiba Mansion, and the youngest multibillionaire alive on earth. Seto Kaiba DOES NOT adopt kids. He doesn't baby-sit, he doesn't let them live in his house, and most of all--SETO KAIBA DOES NOT LOVE THEM!!! "We're here, kid." He said, stopping at a door. "This is where you leave me." Arielle didn't say anything, but Kaiba saw her lips quaver and her hand had grown cold and clammy. "I'm...scared." She finally said in a wavering voice. Kaiba bent down to Arielle's height. He doesn't know what to say. "Listen," he forced her look into his eyes. "Remember the Blue-Eye- White-Dragon card I gave you? Pretend that I'm there with you. Pretend I'm right there." "Okay." She agreed as she skipped off into the room. Kaiba settled down in a chair outside and tried to make himself comfortable. He opened his briefcase and took out some work, but found that he couldn't concentrate. How could he be concentrating when his Arielle is in some strange room with some strange men? He was just getting into his work, when he heard the door burst open. He looked up and saw Arielle, with tears streaming down her face. Kaiba had just put down his file when she gave a long leap and hurled herself into Kaiba's protective embrace. "What happened, kid?" Kaiba made his voice as soothing as possible, which was not easy, since his temper was flaming. "They were asking me questions..." Arielle buried her face in Kaiba's broad chest and sobbed. "Mr. Kaiba," one man stepped forward and tried to explain. He had on a white lab coat and he wore glasses. He smelled like medicine and death. No wonder the kid was afraid of him. "You had better explain yourself," Kaiba stood up with Arielle in his arms. "And it had better be good." His face was pinched white with rage. "Arielle had passed her test with no problem at all. In fact, she showed so high in her intelligence that we asked her some questions. That's when she ran out." He waved his arms, dismissing the whole thing. "Kids, you know them." "Are you saying this is all her fault?" Kaiba was fuming that his eyes were smothering a fire. An apprentice saw this and silently jabbed his elbow into the doc's ribs. The doctor noticed this and stammered, "Uh, no. That's not what I mean at all." The man cleared his throat nervously. "What I mean to say is that, Arielle might be even too advanced for your high school. Of course, we could always try, but then--" "Thanks for your time and--" Kaiba interrupted somewhat sarcastically. "--Your cooperation." He grabbed his briefcase from the table and walked out the door. "You may fax this information to my office." "Are you feeling better now, kid?" Kaiba asked as they settled back in the limo. "Yes." Arielle didn't meet his eyes. Maybe this isn't such a good time to ask her about her past, but Kaiba had to know. There were so many things that Arielle does that amazes him. Like she stubbornly would not let him out of her sight if it was possible. She isn't afraid of anything and was bold for her age, but now, a few men asking her questions had her in tears. Who is she? What had happened in her mysterious past that made her act this way? "Can you tell me what happened?" Kaiba asked gently. He knew that Arielle would know what he means. Numbly, she sat on his lap, quiet. "It was all about daddy's partner in his business." She finally said, her lips quivering. "Daddy owned a company and his partner was my god...god..." She seemed to be struggling over a word. "Godfather?" Kaiba offered "Yeah." Arielle nodded. "Well, then I don't know what happened. He discovered something about me and he started asking me a lot of scary questions." Her eyes teared up once again. "And right after that, he started forcing information into me and yelled at me if I don't answer the question right. He hit me and he was mean, but he said if I ever tell mommy or daddy, I'd regret it." She stopped, quiet, apparently thinking. "This is the part I don't really get." She finally said. "One day, daddy burst into the room and urged us to pack our bag, saying that we had to escape to somewhere, that someone was after us. But on the way to the airport, they decided it wasn't safe to keep me with them so they left me at the orphanage, telling me they'll come back for me later. They never did." Her voice was full of hurt. And Kaiba could see the pain and distress rippling out of her eyes as his own heart ached for this young girl's misfortune. He couldn't help cuddling her more securely as the limo moved smoothly down the street. "They left me and they never came back." She choked. "Oh, kid, I'm so sorry." Kaiba murmured as he stroked her hair. He wanted to stop and comfort the girl, but he had just one question to ask. "What was your daddy's company's name?" Arielle hiccuped and looked up at him with her teary, green eyes. "Industrial Illusions." She hiccuped again. "My daddy's company was called Industrial Illusions."