Disclaimer: I don't own Yu-Gi-Oh, yadda yadda yadda

Note: Um...extreme change in character ahead ^_^

Chapter Nine – Death Threat Removes Mask

~~~ He closed his eyes, wondering why he had come to her. He didn't want to see her, did he? The events of earlier that morning returned to his thoughts and he knew he had to speak with her, regardless.

Taking a deep breath and putting his hard exterior in place, he turned around and faced Serena, his eyes as cold as always. He was surprised to see her eyes stare at him with a seemingly cold expression of their own. Slowly, her eyes began to glow, but as quickly as the glow came, it left.

"Hello again," she said softly, her voice too kind for the expressions they were giving each other. ~~~

"Can I help you with something?" Serena asked the harsh-eyed man standing before her.

He brushed past her and forced his way inside, bringing her with him, and shut the door, locking it. For a moment, she thought she saw something in his eyes, worry, concern, but it quickly past. She did notice that he searched the apartment and made sure all the windows were shut tight with their locks in place.

"What is going on Kaiba?" she asked, folding her arms across her chest and setting her eyes in a glare.

He looked at her, his eyes softening slightly. She had no idea her life was in danger. She had no clue whatsoever.

"Serena, I have to speak with you, but I can't do it here. I need you to come with me," he said emotionlessly, his eyes hardening, but his heart softening as he glanced into her gentle eyes.

"Why should I go with you?" she asked, her voice skeptical.

"I just need you to trust me." No sooner were the words out that he realized he had made a bad word choice. Why should she trust him, he gave her no reason to. Somehow, he already knew what she would say to him.

"Trust you? How can I trust someone who only trusts in himself? You ask me to trust in you and yet if someone were to ask it of you, you wouldn't; you've proved that to me recently. So tell me Seto Kaiba, why should I trust you and why can't you speak with me here?" Her voice was even to his tone and her eyes narrowed. Angrily, she turned her back towards him and looked out the window of the apartment. Strangely enough, the scene unfolding before them seemed to bear a minute resemblance to Kaiba's dream.

Slowly, he walked up to her and placed his hands on her shoulders, drawing her closer to him. Instead of resisting, she allowed herself to be brought closer to a man whom she knew she was falling for, but wasn't ready to admit it to even herself. Hot tears burned in her eyes, falling one by one, creating a crystal trail as they fell from her eyes to the floor.

"Serena," he whispered hoarsely, nuzzling his face in her hair. "I know I give you no reason to trust me, but I need you to. Your life is in danger." Why am I doing this? Why do I even care? Is it because what Mokuba said earlier is true? That somehow, I've managed to give away my heart?

She swallowed hard and turned to face him. I have to trust him… "How long do you plan on keeping me?"

As long as it takes to keep you safe. "We can return tonight, but I expect everything to be securely locked before you sleep," he said, ignoring his thoughts. Serena, however, pursued them.

"As long as it takes?" she questioned, her eyebrows rising.

"I didn't say that," he countered, his eyes narrowing.

"You didn't have to; your thoughts did all the speaking. May I have your word on returning tonight?"

"I promise, we'll return tonight, we just need to go. I have to speak with you." His words were urgent and for once, spoken as a person worried over another. He watched as Serena slowly nodded her head and without allowing her to change her mind, he grabbed her hand and headed for the door.

"Wait!" she said, trying to escape from his grasp. "I just need to get something and leave a note for Téa," she explained and found he slowly released her hand.

"Make it quick," he said curtly and she nodded.

She could feel his gaze on her as she grabbed her new cards and her duel disk and placed them in a bag. There was no way she was leaving them behind. Grabbing a pen and paper, she hurriedly scribbled a brief note for Téa, explaining she would return later that night. Taking a deep breath, she grabbed her bag and walked up to Kaiba. "If you plan on not bringing me back here, I need to know."

"I'll bring you back Serena, but I don't know if I can allow you to stay after you understand what I must tell you," he said softly, placing a stray hair behind her ear. "Come on," he said, regaining his composure and grabbing her hand. He made sure the door was locked before he led Serena to the waiting limo, hoping desperately none of the men after her were watching.

~*~*~*~*~

"What's going on?" Serena asked when she could take the silence no longer.

"Your life is in danger," Kaiba replied softly, turning his body to face hers.

"I don't understand," she replied softly, confusion etched across the features of her face.

"If you have never believed a word I've said since the first time I met you, please believe me now," Kaiba pleaded, his voice still cold, but his eyes were anxious. He reached out and took her hands in his as he recalled the events of earlier that morning.

~*~*~*~*~

"Ah, Mr. Kaiba, it is a pleasure to meet you," Corinth said, shaking Kaiba's hand and placing his brief case on his desk.

"Make this quick, I have other things to do," Kaiba replied, highly annoyed with the man.

"I believe I have something that would interest you. Information you've requested on Serena Pegasus."

His attention was focused and his eyes softened at the mention of a girl who was slowly changing him and bringing out his feelings. "What have you found?"

"Well Mr. Kaiba, it seems Miss Pegasus' story was true. She lived with her mother in her uncle's mansion until she was two. When she was six, her mother died. For two weeks, she lived with her uncle and then she was sent to boarding school," Corinth replied.

"I knew that already man, tell me something I don't know," Kaiba's anger flared up. The man was wasting his time.

"I could find no information on her from the time she left with her mother to the point when her mother died. Those four years remain a mystery to all except for the girl who experienced it. As for something you don't know," Corinth paused and opened his briefcase. He had spent over a month doing research on Serena since Kaiba had called him. He pulled out a file and handed it to Kaiba. "Her father's name is Jared Russell. He is now near forty years of age. I did more research on him and found out he has a group, or I should say 'tribe' of followers. Apparently, these followers listen to his every command. I have reason to believe he is after his daughter."

Kaiba sat in his plush leather chair, allowing this new spurge of information to sink into his skin. He wondered if Serena knew about her father, or if she even knew his name. "Continue," he said briskly.

"Well Mr. Kaiba, I also researched Miss Pegasus' mother, Celeste Pegasus. I found that she never married and died of a gunshot wound. Police believed it to be murder, but had no suspects to look for because when they found her body, it was much decayed and the bullet was gone, but the hole was there. It had done enough damage to harm her and cause her to lose a lot of blood. There was no evidence pointing them in any particular direction."

Kaiba took a deep breath and closed his eyes. If Serena's mother was murdered…His thoughts were interrupted by the telephone. "Excuse me for a moment," he said, picking up his phone and turning his chair around.

"Mr. Kaiba," a voice was heard, crackling through the static.

"Speaking."

"If you don't get me what I want, I will kill Serena Pegasus and send her to a watery grave."

Kaiba's eyes filled with fire as he yelled into the phone. "Who is this?" he demanded.

"That is my secret Mr. Kaiba. If you want her to live, I suggest you get me her millennium ruby necklace. I killed her mother, I can kill her too."

"Who are you?" he demanded again, standing to look out the window of his office.

"You can't see me Mr. Kaiba, but I can see you. I know you did a search on Serena and you've found out by now that she never knew her father. Be careful Mr. Kaiba, my men are all over the city, on the lookout for her. She's already defeated one in a duel, but this next time, she won't be so luck. Once they find her and defeat her, you will never see her again." The voice crackled and the line was cut off.

Kaiba slammed the phone down and instantly realized a death threat was made on Serena. As much as he wanted to remain steel, he couldn't help but feel worried. He had to reach her before her father did. Her father! That was the man Kaiba had just spoken with. "Thank you for your services Corinth, my secretary will send for your car. I have other business I need to take care of," he said coolly as he hurried out of the office.

~*~*~*~*~

"You did research on my past? You invaded my privacy," she said quietly, stunned, but strangely not the least bit annoyed. Why?

Kaiba sighed. "I'm a very secure person Serena. You were a mystery waiting to be discovered. You mentioned a part of your past, a very condensed version which caught my interest." He took a deep breath and looked straight into her eyes. "I'm sorry."

Serena sat there, not believing Kaiba had just apologized to her. She closed her eyes and reopened them, staring back into his. She was almost certain she saw Kaiba's eyes misting slightly. She decided to let her guard down this once and try to trust him; even if he wasn't a trusting person, he did seem to be trustworthy.

"I was sure he had gotten to you," he said quietly, squeezing her hand tighter.

Her lip trembled. Kaiba knew her past, more than anyone knew. She felt herself being pulled closer to him and his arms wrap around her tightly. She knew this was his way of telling her it was ok, and she let the tears fall. "I'm sorry," she choked out as his shirt was slowly becoming drenched with tears.

"I need you to tell me of your past Serena, it's the only way I can…the only way I can help you," he whispered, wiping the remainder of tears from her eyes.

"I don't know if I can do this…"

"You need to, I have to know Serena. I need to know."

His eyes locked with hers and for the first time, Serena saw the real Seto Kaiba. A kind, caring, gentle yet forceful man who put on a mask for the world; and here he was, taking down that mask and opening his heart for her, to save her.

She took a shaky deep breath as Kaiba took hold of her hands, squeezing them to let her know he was listening. This is it…it's time to finally tell someone…help me Kaiba…because if you don't…then no one can…