Chapter Twenty-Four – Sweet Embrace

"Serena, we're here," Kaiba spoke gently, not wanting to startle her out of her sleep.

"Hmm?" she yawned, stretching her limbs and sitting up. She blinked when she noticed Kaiba missing and a hand being held out to her. Wearily, she took hold of it and stepped out of the limo. "Seto?"

"What do you think?" she heard him asking her quietly as she held in her surprise.

She blinked her eyes a few times, trying to clear out any sleepiness and glanced around her. She had seen many pictures of the Kaiba mansion before, but she had never seen it in such splendor. "It's beautiful," she breathed, taking in the wonder of the many flowers adorning the garden.

Kaiba smirked and led her through the maze of daisies, daffodils, tulips, irises, pansies, and all sorts of flowers to one special section, close to the front entrance of the mansion. There, he bent down and snapped a stem, bringing a white rose, outlined with pink, to Serena's face. "For you," he said softly, placing it in her hands, a smile softly illuminating his features.

Serena stood on her tip-toes and kissed Kaiba's cheek in response before being pulled in another direction. Once again, he stopped and snapped another stem, before standing again. This time, he placed the flower gently over her ear.

"Even the purest of snow edelweiss cannot compare to the beauty of your pure heart," he whispered softly before pulling away and staring straight into her eyes.

A small crystalline tear formed at the base of Serena's eye before slowly taking its exit and trickling down her face. In all my life I have searched for someone I could trust fully…with my heart. And now, after seeing who he truly is…I know I can trust him completely. "Seto," she whispered gently, leaning her head against his chest.

"Hmm?" he questioned, his arms wrapping around her and his hands running gently up and down her back.

With nothing standing in the way of her saying what she had longed to say for a few days, she faltered. Taking a deep breath, she mumbled quietly into his chest.

Kaiba chuckled slightly before lifting her chin and searching her eyes. For the first time since his parents' death, his eyes were ablaze with life, and now they matched those of Serena's. "I love you too," he whispered, covering her lips in a warm kiss of passion.

~*~*~*~*~

The two lovers walked hand in hand among the gardens, slowly making their way around the mansion and to the back. The sun had begun its descent from the sky, painting the blue pallet with blends of pinks, oranges, and purples, and creating oblong shadows in the fading light. The circular orb of the moon could be slightly seen on the other side of the early evening sky, while a few stars peaked their faces out from behind their hiding.

Slowly, they approached a wire gazebo set near a small pond with a white wooden bridge crossing from one side to the other. Small icicle like lights hung from the sides and water lilies floated in the shining waters. The gazebo was that of white wire with green ivy running up the sides of it and pink roses adorning the circular top. Within the gazebo sat a small table with two chairs on opposite ends. Sitting in the center of the table was a single candle, brightly shining in the fading light.

Without a word, the two walked into the gazebo, passing by the hanging lamps on the sides of the cobblestone pathway.

"It looks like something from a Monet painting," Serena whispered silently, her eyes glancing around her as Kaiba took his seat.

"I thought you may like it," he commented, smirking.

"And I always thought that Seto Kaiba was never one for soft spots," she teased.

"Maybe so, but I am one for studying and I learned it helped to have an inspiration, so despite what everyone may thing, there is an inspiration for Seto Kaiba outside of the world of technology."

"Oh really?"

"Yes."

"And when did you discover this?"

"Actually, a young lady taught me. Very beautiful in fact. Charming too. You may know her."

Serena smirked before replying, "Who might she be?"

"You," he mouthed, taking her hand from across the table. "You gave me an inspiration that night I took you to dinner on 'business.' I knew there needed to be life outside of the mansion, so I hired some landscapers – only the best – and this is the result. You showed me there's more to life than dueling and revenge. That there's more to life than darkness," he whispered softly, gently caressing her hand.

"Seto, I…I want you to have this," Serena faltered after staring at him for a few minutes. She quickly pulled a ring off one of her fingers and placed it in his palm, closing his fingers around it. "My uncle had kept some things from my mother's childhood and teenage years safe, knowing he would one day be able to give them to me. Anyways, my grandfather gave this to my mother on her thirteenth birthday and ever since my uncle gave it to me on my thirteenth birthday, it's been very special to me."

Kaiba raised his brow and glanced at the ring in his hand, his eyes widening in sudden fascination. The ring was a twist of white gold and black pearl with a small golden heart shape at one point. Lightly, he ran his fingers over it, before glancing up at Serena in question.

"My uncle told me there's a story behind the ring, behind the colors that make it. See, the white and black symbolize the light and darkness within everyone and how they exist together. 'With every good there is always bad,' he would always tell me. But even though there is darkness within everyone, there is still that…heart of gold. I want you to have this…as a reminder that no matter how dark and bleak things may seem, there is always that hope of light from within. And…I want you to always remember me, no matter where our lives may lead us."

Kaiba smirked before bringing her hand to his lips and softly kissing it. As long as I trust others, I will never allow you to leave me.

Serena laughed softly before standing up and grasping Kaiba's hand, tugging on him in an effort to make him stand. You don't have to worry, I'll never leave you. As long as I am able to make choices of my own, I will choose to always be here.

"And where are we going?" he asked, standing to his full height and following the blonde haired beauty to the bridge.

"To catch the last rays of sunlight and the last hues of the sky Mr. Kaiba," she replied matter-of-factly.

"Oh really?" he smirked, coming up behind her and wrapping his arms around her stomach. "Is that what you want to do Miss Pegasus?"

"Or we could stay here," she whispered, glancing at their reflection in the sapphire colored water, shining like the stares.

A gentle breeze picked up, blowing the snow white edelweiss from Serena's hair and out over the water where the moon was now being reflected in its entire glory. Each star that was reflected back into the night sky was like a precious gem being laid upon a royal, plush pillow. The edelweiss landed soundlessly on a lily pad, creating a gentle ripple in the calm waters.

As the breeze picked up, the lovers' hair started to gently blow in the wind. But even among the rustling of the trees, grass, and clothing, the only thing that could be heard was the gentle whispering wind, caressing their ears with a sweet embrace.

*SNIFFLES!* I can't believe this is the last actual chapter of my story!!!!!! I had originally ended in it one way, but I deleted that chapter after a second of deliberation and realization that I did not like it at all. *sniffs* I'm in a romance mood tonight as I realize I will be thankful to have any in my actual life. *grabs a tissue*  I want you all to know that I've enjoyed your reviews and they were the reason I found I could not abandon this story as I had to my other two. *heh* This is not the complete end of the story, there will be one more chapter, but it's only a short epilogue around a page and a half on Word. But, be looking out for it. (I should have it posted by Saturday evening as I have a football game Friday evening and regional competition tomorrow -_-)

Thank you for all the wonderful reviews! You all are great! ^_^