"I'll trust you won't go down there again." The words echoed in Nadina's mind the next day as she walked down the familiar cool, damp steps that leads to Kaiba's cell. "I'm trusting you…"
That's why there has been no security placed in front of Kaiba's cell. But Nadina knew, this was part of a test from her brother. The test of her loyalty to him. She doesn't know what to do but to come down here today again, like routine. She wouldn't let Marik stand in her way, the path that she had chose, even though it had broken through everything between her and her brother. She couldn't.
"What are you doing here again?" Kaiba asked in a scolding whisper when he felt her soft hands brush past his chin.
"You're hungry." She stated simply, quietly.
"I may not have saw what happened," he began gruffly. "But I heard. And I want you to stop bringing me food. I want you to promise me that." If his hands were free, he would have grabbed on to her and not let her go until she promised.
"I didn't promise my brother that and I won't promise you."
"You have to."
"I didn't even listen to my brother. I betrayed his trust. I'm going against his will right now in order to keep you from starving. His heart is dying like mine is right now. What makes you think I'd listen to you?"
"I won't eat, then."
There was a silence, then Kaiba heard Nadina's voice said so quietly that at first he thought it was only part of the air. "Don't do this to me Kaiba."
"What?" Kaiba's heart lurched as he heard Nadina's voice, so filled with spirit and dreams only two days ago, now lifeless and dull.
"Don't let me die in vain for you."
"What?"
"They'll be here any minute now." Nadina ignored him. "I'd like you to be done by the time they're here."
Silenced with understanding and aching for the girl, Kaiba didn't push her any further and took the spoonfuls she offered, swallowing with pains that he couldn't describe. As if each mouthful he swallowed were eating away Nadina's very life.
Halfway through, Nadina finally couldn't control herself any longer. She threw herself beside Kaiba, crying, "Oh, Kaiba, what should I do? What can I do? What's going to happen to the both of us?"
Kaiba was silent for a long time, but when his answer came, it was strong and his voice reflected no hesitation. "Never come down here again." He said quietly.
"Is that the only way?" She looked at Kaiba with tearful eyes and nodded. "So, this is still how it ends…"
"Yes…"
"I'm so sorry, Kaiba. So sorry…I just couldn't hurt Marik any more than I already had. I tried my best and we've struggled for so long. I'm so sorry it had to end this way." Nadina sobbed into her hands.
"I understand." Kaiba said with more calmness than he felt.
"I'm so sorry…"
"Don't be." Kaiba felt emotionless, as if they were talking about anyone but himself.
They said nothing else and continued eating until Nadina's whispery voice floated up in the air.
"They're here."
Marik watched silently, as his sister fed Kaiba and didn't say anything until she was fully done. He knew that she knew he was there, watching her every move.
"Clark," he said quietly to Clark, who was beside him, so that Nadina couldn't hear him.
"Yes, Master?"
"I want you to install an alarm to the cell lock. From now on, you'll stay down here and guard Seto Kaiba. Report to me immediately if there is any problems."
"Yes, Master Marik."
They were once again silent and as soon as she was done, the Ishtar heiress picked up the tray and stood up, walking out of the cell and shutting the door firmly. Both the Ishtar siblings and Kaiba knew that this was the last time Nadina's ever coming down here again.
That night, Nadina had a strange dream. She dreamt that her mother floated down to her room from the silver cloud outside her window.
"Mother?" Nadina said shocked.
"My darling, how you have grown." Her mother exclaimed.
"Oh, Mother, I've missed you so much! Have I really grown?"
Her mother seemed to be looking deep into her soul and when she finally spoke, it was soft and slow.
"My daughter, you have grown physically, but your heart…"
"What's wrong, Mother? What's wrong with my heart?"
"I'm afraid it's not as sophisticated as your body is."
"But why? How would you know? How can you tell?"
"My dear, when your heart can tell apart right and wrong and when you trust your own judgement and follow it, it is then matured."
"But Mother, Marik has already planned my future for me. I can't follow my own will or heart. He said women shouldn't be so independent and should honor their husband's authority."
"Lovey, Marik is a young man with good heart. But don't let your love for him blind yourself from the truth. You know what you must do."
"What must I do, Mother?"
"You must do the right thing. Follow your heart. Trust your heart. Let your heart guide you."
"But, Mother, I don't want to hurt—"
"Let your heart guide you. Do what's right." Nadina watched as her mother began to fade into a bright light.
"Wait, Mother, how would I know what's right?"
Uncle Joe's voice all of a sudden said in the mists of blinding lights: "Remember this, lass: Follow ye's heart. Do what ye's heart tells ye' to do even though it means hurting the one ye loves. Tis'll be the right thing."
Nadina woke up from a sudden start and sat upright in her bed.
"Oh, my gosh!" She gave a little cry. "What was I about to do?" She thought incredulously back. Was I really about to leave Kaiba?
"I can't believe I even had that thought!" She gave a little indignant squeal and bounced off her bed, walking back and forth in her room. She didn't know what happened to her this afternoon, but now her senses were fully restored. "Was I crazy? It must have been the wine." She looked up just in time to see her reflection in the mirror.
She gave a start as realization dawn down upon her.
I never did this for Kaiba, she gasped at the thought. At least, not in the beginning. Maybe I did it for myself. To see that I can do things right. So when I look in the mirror, I'd see somebody worthwhile. Not just a pretty face. So I can prove to myself that I'm not an empty-headed ninny that has the beauty but nothing else. So that I can prove to Marik that I can be somebody valuable. She glared into the mirror. But I was wrong. Right now, I see nothing.
Unless…
…I can mend my wrongs and do what's right for a change!
Even though it was in the middle of the night, Nadina's brain was as sharp as it was in the morning. Tears pooled under her eyelashes as she realized what she must do the next day.
"I'm sorry, Marik." She whispered into the midnight sky softly. Then she added in an even softer voice before closing her window. "Thank you, Mother."
So this is it…Kaiba thought dejectedly. So this is how it ends after all. After all we've been through. I thought Nadina was different. I thought— Kaiba shook his head and shivered in the darkened cell. I wanted her to leave me. She should. She should never have helped me in the beginning. It only lengthened the inevitable. I'm such a fool.
"It's so quiet here." He said out loud. "I don't know whether it should be described as peaceful or a dead as a graveyard."
Little did he know that his "peace" wouldn't last long and disturbance would soon take its place.
He didn't hear her until he heard Clark gasp.
"Miss Nadina!" Clark exclaimed as Nadina appeared at the bottom of the staircase. Without answer, she rushed forward and tackled him. Clark was so taken back by Nadina's new manners that when his brain comprehended to what was happening, a piece of the lacy handkerchief was shoved in his face and covered the lower of his face.
"C-chloroform. Nadina, you…" he gasped out before passing out and collapsing on the cold ground. Nadina quickly dropped by his side and felt gingerly around his shirtfront for the key. When her fingers closed around it, she stood up and faced the dark cell, her darkness only lit up by a torch and a small candle.
Nadina's face softened and lost the hardness that was there a second ago when she saw the lone figure that sat on the ground.
"Kaiba," she said softly. She allowed herself to drink in the sight of him for a full thirty-seconds. This would be their last time together again. Watching Kaiba's lanky figure lounge on the ground reminded Nadina of all the afternoons they spent together, laughing and talking, arguing and crying.
She brushed the tears ago angrily and hurried to the lock. By this time, Kaiba was alerted and he struggled to stand up.
"Who's there?!" He demanded, in a voice so like he used the first time they met.
"It's me." She replied hoarsely. "Who else?"
"Nadina? What in the seven hells are you doing here? I thought—"
"Damn lock!" Nadina interrupted him by crying out. The key which she had so naively thought would free Kaiba was merely the first part. The new lock that Clark had set up included a digital password, which she didn't know. "No…! What's the password?!" She wailed.
"Nadina—" Kaiba started again before a sound made him stagger backward, back to his sitting position. It sounded like something's bashing metal. The metallic sound of metal connecting with metal echoed and was sharp enough to deafen him.
"Nnng…" Nadina used all of her strength and hit the security lock again. The lock broke loose and unfortunately, so did the alarm that was placed upon it.
Kaiba heard the alarm and was still trying to figure out what's happening when he sensed someone beside him.
"Nadina, what's going on?" He finally demanded, looking about him wildly for answer. His ears couldn't detect any tinkering of bells that he had grown so used to.
"Listen closely to me, Kaiba," Nadina said by his ear, as she worked her nimble finger through the bindings of his wrists. "We don't have much time, they'll be on us any minute now." She was working fast now as Kaiba tried to regain the blood circulation in his wrists and take in all that was said to him. "The exit to this underground maze is just straight ahead."
"What's going to happen to you?" He asked, trying to until the blindfold. But his fingers were still numb and stiff from the lack of use. He felt feminine fingertips take the place of his own and untied the blindfold.
"Don't worry about me," the female voice said behind him. "Start worrying about yourself."
Kaiba turned around…
…and there she was.
This was the first time Kaiba saw the maiden who had helped him through the hard times and whom he had grown fond of. The twinkling light of the torch and candle cast a rosy glow on her face. He was struck by her ethereal beauty and swallowed hard.
Her skin was creamy and he saw a teardrop trailing down her cheek. And her eyes, those dark violet pools were so deep and expressive that they seemed to be pulling Kaiba in within their depth. She had lips that shamed the red, red rose. Her hair, the color of sunshine gold, was pulled from her face and a few tendrils found themselves framing against her pretty face.
Their eyes met.
The fear in her eyes, so vigorously denied, had touched Kaiba's heart with regret.
Kaiba found his finger lift up as he gently touched the uplifted face. His cool fingers brushed against her silky skin and a few more crystal tears pooled up.
Blue. Nadina stared, mesmerized, into the midnight blue eyes that stared right back at her. She had wondered so often what the color of Kaiba's eyes might be and now she had her answer. They're so blue. I…I think I'm going to cry…
She reached up to her cheeks and took Kaiba's hands, clasping them to herself and saying, "Listen carefully, Kaiba. You must leave now. We don't have any time." To Kaiba's ears, her voice sounded even more lilting when he was staring at the owner of them. "—past the stables. Go to Uncle Flyer Joe's cabin. It's about fifteen miles from the stable. He'll take you away from here. You must leave, before the whole house is down here, before Marik gets here." She gasped as footsteps thudding down the steps were heard. She shoved a tan knapsack at him.
"Go!" She whispered hoarsely, withdrawing her hand. "I have placed in there a map and compass and your deck of cards, including the three Blue-Eyes-White-Dragon and Obelisk." She stopped to catch her breath. "There is a small sack of pepper at the side of the pack. Scatter them once you get outside, and especially past the stables. Marik's got dogs. The scent of peppers would dull their sense of smell. There is also a canteen of water and enough food for you to last till you get…home."
"Nadina, I don't want to leave you like this—" Kaiba began, but was interrupted.
"No tears in heaven, Kaiba," she placed her fingertip against his lips. "Remember that." She said without coyness, which was what Kaiba liked about her. There's always something flattering under the natural innocence sweet voice of hers. She gave him a wide, honest look of hers that made him feel that he had known her forever.
"After all you've done for me—" but was interrupted again.
"Maybe I didn't do it for you." She said flatly, trying to speak with ease and without emotion. "Maybe I did it for myself. To see that I can do something right. So when I look in the mirror, I'd see somebody worthwhile."
"I think I hear them talking down here!" A voice shouted from behind them. It sounded way too close for their comfort.
"Go!" Nadina gasped as she pushing him toward the exit, stifling a sob by placing her hand over her lips. "Leave me, now! Go!"
Kaiba twisted his head away from the sight of her, then turned back, and rummaged through the pack.
"Wait," he said. "Here. Take this." He handed her something.
It was a Blue-Eyes-White-Dragon card.
"Kaiba," she breathed. "Your most priced card."
"Keep it. That way, a part of me will always be with you." He said with much difficulty. "And when you need someone, look at this and think of me."
"Thank you." Tears glistened on her cheeks and more were making their ways down. "I'll treasure it forever."
Kaiba looked at her then said in a thick voice, the words forced out cracked, "I'll never forget you, Nadina." He turned and ran…away and out of her life forever. He never looked back.
"Look, I see him! There he goes!" Said a voice behind her.
"After him, you fools!" Marik's voice was heard.
"I won't forget you either." She whispered as she took one last look at Kaiba's retreating figure.
Then, she turned around and using her full force, threw herself against her brother and Odion.
Marik tried to shove his sister off him but with no avail. Nadina seemed to be latched onto him with a death grip. Turning his head, he could see his half-brother struggling with the same difficulty. Behind, his men were trying to untangle their legs with each other. Nadina's force had caused a domino effect to the men behind him.
He finally scrambled to their foot, but Kaiba was long gone from their sight. "Release the dogs!" He ordered once the men got the their feet.
The barking of the dogs were soon heard as Marik's pack of trained German shepherds were brought out. Their yapping and barking seemed to cover any other orders Marik had.
"Master Marik!" One of his guards hurried up to him once he got outside.
"What's the matter now?" The heir of the Ishtar family snapped. "Did you get him yet?"
"The dogs…they seemed to have lost their sense of smell." The guard looked helpless and embarrassed to state such a ridiculous, but true, statement.
"What?! Are you crazy? My dogs were the best trained dogs in the country and now you're telling me that they lost their sense of smell?!"
"It's true, sir." Edward came up and informed. "The dogs immediately began sneezing when they tried to detect Kaiba's scent. And we found…this—"
"Pepper?" Marik's facial was one of disbelief, then rage. To himself, only one name drifted up to his mind: Nadina.
"Should we continue and widen the search, sir?" The guard asked.
"Yes, continue searching. But now, the chances of finding Seto Kaiba are reduced to slim. Report to me the instant he is found." Marik turned to leave. Those behind him didn't see the fire in his eyes glow and burn as he walked back through the darkness of the tunnels.
"Nadina," he said darkly. "I just can't wait to get my hands on you."
Seven miles past the Ishtar stable, Kaiba sat down by the stream, his back leaned against the tree behind him and he enjoyed the cool breeze as he gnawed gingerly on a thick slab of bread. He closed his eyes and felt his rich brown locks that's being blown by the breeze brush against his forehead.
Pepper. Kaiba smirked. Nadina is one smart kid all right. Sure beats that brother of hers. He sure is going to miss her. Her slender body, with wavy platinum hair that was piled on top of her head. She had a peaches and cream complexion. And those eyes…he couldn't get them out of his head.
"Now, she said she put my deck of cards…" Kaiba mumbled to himself as he dug through the knapsack once more. His precious cards would be much safer back between the linings of his trenchcoat, instead of the knapsack. "…what's this?"
Kaiba picked up something soft at the very bottom of the pack. "A handkerchief…?" He murmured. "Nadina's?"
A wave of flower fragrance drifted up from the dainty piece of silk lace. It smelled so familiar that Kaiba looked sharply around, almost sure that Nadina was near by. He lifted the petite handkerchief up to his nose, inhaling the soul-wrenching scent.
"Hmm?" Kaiba arched an eyebrow as he felt something between the folds of the handkerchief and pulled out an earring. "One earring?" He wondered out loud. "Aren't earrings suppose to be in pairs? And why would Nadina leave this for me?"
His question was soon answered as he picked the earring up. The cluster of golden bells with pearl tipped tongues tinkled as the breeze brushed past them.
Oh, Nadina…
"I can't believe you did this, Nadina Ishtar!" Marik's loud, angry voice echoed through the whole mansion.
"Believe it, Marik!"
Clark Black, Edward Black, and Curt pressed their ears against Nadina's door as they listened to the siblings' argument. Odion stood further down the hall, refusing to listen to the argument. They all cringed visibly at her last sentence.
"Why, Nadina? I just don't understand why?!"
"Because it's not right!"
"I don't believe you saved him for that reason!" Marik swirled at her and stomped his foot.
"Why don't you believe it?!" Nadina shot right back, her eyes just as defiant and fiery. "Don't you believe I could do something just because it's the right thing to do?!"
"You went against me to save Kaiba because it's the right thing to do?" Marik snapped. "You want me to believe that?"
"Why won't you?"
"I don't think you know what's going on," Marik's voice was low and threatening.
"What do you mean?" Nadina narrowed her eyes as her pupil darkened to a dark blackish-purple.
"You're in love with him, aren't you? That's why you refused to marry Blake Malone!"
"Y-you're absurd!" Nadina's face was flushed deep red. "You're impossible!"
Marik reached her side with three long strides and grabbed her wrist. "I don't think so. I think I just struck a tender point. The truth is ugly, isn't it?" Nadina jerked her wrist away from the death latch.
"I am NOT in love!" She insisted.
"You are too!"
"I AM NOT!"
"You are too!"
"Why don't you just admit that the only reason you accused me of being in love is because of the fact that you're unwilling to admit that you're wrong and I'm right!?" Marik stumbled back, as if being struck. But then spat right back.
"Why don't you just admit that you're fond of him and you have feeling for him?!"
"Because it's not true!" She paused and took a deep breath. "Okay. So I am fond of him and I do have feelings for him. But it's not love!"
Marik's jaws dropped. "So I was right? You do love him." He whispered.
"I DO NOT!" Nadina stomped her foot. "What can I do to get through that thick skull of yours?!"
Marik crossed his arms like a spoiled little kid and turned away. "What do you see in him anyway? Blake Malone has everything he has and more."
"Besides a good moral." She shot back. "How can you compare Kaiba to that slimy snake Blake Malone?"
"Because it's true." Standing outside, Clark and Edward both shared a sigh. This argument was come around again and going nowhere.
"Arghhhhhh!!!! I've had enough of this. Get out. OUT!" Nadina's shrill voice could be heard throwing her brother out of her room.
"I will in my own good time." They heard him snap right back.
"I've already been punished, what more do you want?!" Her insistent voice sounded teary.
"I want answers and my sister back."
"Because of your selfishness and greed, you laid your hands on me for the first time. You've never even yelled at me before and now you punished me with your own hands. Aren't you satisfied by that?"
"Why should I be? For a man like Kaiba, you betrayed me for the first time. If a dozen thrashings could get through to you, then I would gladly follow through."
"Betrayal? You want to talk about betrayal?" Nadina's voice was threatening.
"No," Marik dropped tiredly down on a chair. "I just want a glass of brandy."
"Well, isn't that just convenient." Nadina's voice was icy. "You could benefit me by getting out of my room and to the bar where you and your men—whom you've lied to me about for years—can sit down and have a few rounds on you."
Clark, Edward, Curt, and even Odion, exchanged glances at each other. Their little lady was really ruffled up.
"Fine, maybe I will." Marik said bitterly as he stood up. He turned back when he reached the door. "But don't gloat yet, missy, you're under house arrest."
"By whose orders?" Was the cold reply, though he noticed her complexion had turned bloodless.
"By my orders. Enjoy your stay alone, Nadina." With those last harsh parting words, Marik slammed the door and turned the lock that shut off Nadina's only connection to the world.
