The mansion all of a sudden burst with life. Mokuba's hot chocolate was forgotten and so was Kaiba's work as both Kaiba brothers tended to the young lady that was carried in by Kaiba and set in front of the fire.

"Mokuba, get all the extra blankets you could find in the hall closet. I'm going to need the brandy, towels, and get a robe from the upstairs closet." Kaiba ordered his brother as he began to rub the blood circulation back to Kaiba's hands and feet. "Come on, Nadina," he willed silently. Her complexion scared him witless, it was so bloodless. Her hands and foot were icy cold and her pulse faint.

He immediately began to set on drying her. He rubbed the blood circulation into her aching hands until he could feel them return to normal then he wrapped her in the layers of blankets before he left to help Mokuba get the brandy. He returned with the bottle in his hands and dropped to the floor on his knees, pulling Nadina into his lap. Bundled in warm blankets, she was seated before the fire, and Kaiba forced brandy down her throat. In a minute, Nadina was sputtering and coughing, as the fiery liquid coursed through her body and down to her toes, warming her.

"The fool," Kaiba muttered. "I wouldn't be surprised if she gets pneumonia, running in the rain wearing these." Nadina's body was warm now, but she still hasn't regained conscious because of her exhaustion and chill.

"Mokuba," Kaiba beckoned his little brother to come over. "I'm going to need your help."

"Big brother," Mokuba sputtered. "I-is she going to die?"

"No." Kaiba said firmly as his heart tripped a beat. "Not if we do things right. Do you have the robe?" Mokuba nodded and held up the fleecy robe. Kaiba took a deep breath.

"Okay, I'm going to get her out of her wet clothing, but you need to help me by keeping her covered while I'm taking her wet clothes off."

"Y-you're going to undress her?" Mokuba's eyes widened and for a minute there, he almost laughed.

"Well, you don't see anyone else here who would do it, do you?" His brother shot back. His eyes strayed back to Nadina and he swallowed…

"Well?" Mokuba said impatiently after Kaiba hadn't moved for a whole minute.

"Give me some time." Kaiba snapped.

"If I didn't know better, big brother, I'd say you don't know what to do." Mokuba remarked. In the maleness of the Kaiba household, a girl was like a creature from another planet.

"I don't know what to do." Kaiba mumbled to himself under his breath. He took another deep breath and began to undress her.

Neither brothers knew how they did it, but they did. They got Nadina's wet clothes off, dried her, and tucked her into the warm robe without seeing anything inappropriate. Mokuba's help was greatly needed when Kaiba reached the Nadina's lacy chemise. He had grunted and wrestled and attacked the corset-like thing with ferocious vehemence. He didn't realize that he had almost clawed the whole thing to pieces when Mokuba just…unfixed it for him. Just like that.

"What now, big brother?" Mokuba asked as Kaiba secured the sash around Nadina's slender waist.

"Now, she rests." He replied. "That's all she needs. Rest. From her face, I could tell things haven't exactly been heaven ever since I left." His face darkened for a moment before he stood up and stretched, then reaching over and picking the girl up. "Come on, Mokuba. Bedtime for you, too."

"Aw…" He heard a mutter as he smiled to himself and began walking up the stairs. He took Nadina to a spare bedroom near his and Mokuba's room.

"Get well, Nadina," he whispered as he pulled the covers over her. "Get well…"

"What?!"

Marik's roar echoed through the whole Ishtar Estate as he jumped up from his chair, where he's been seated behind his large desk. The cup of coffee he was sipping sloshed out of the mug as he slammed it carelessly onto the table. "What do you mean she's gone!? Gone where?!" His voice rose higher and so did his alarm.

"We don't know, sir." Clark managed to keep his expression from panicking as he reported. Everybody's been trying to keep calm this morning though the whole household, even stable boy Dan, was in hectic. An heiress lost in the family of Ishtar's was a big deal. Not to mention no had the courage to report the young lady missing to their hot-tempered master.

"She can't be gone!" Marik desperately argued.

"It appears that she is, Master." Was the grave answer.

"Don't tell me that, fool!" The Ishtar snapped. "I'll go see her myself!"

On the way to her room, he convinced himself that Nadina was simply throwing a tantrum, probably hiding in the closet or something.

But her room was immaculate. Her bed had not been slept in. Nothing on her vanity was touched. The gowns and dressed in her closet remained neat and untouched. In face, the only life in the whole room was Charcoal, the kitten. She meowed when she saw Marik, before getting to her feet and stretched. She hopped lightly to the ground and rubbed against Marik's ankles. Somehow, even though Marik hates cats, Charcoal had always liked him.

Seeing Charcoal rubbing against him, Marik bit back a sharp pain in his heart. If Nadina were here, she'd have already scooped up the kitten and rescued it from his wrath. But she wasn't here.

And he had no clue where she is.

"No," he whispered. Then, he began shaking his head viscously back and forth. "No, she can't be gone." He said louder, more to convince himself than anyone else. As if he had sudden gone mad, he began tearing around her suite of room, shouting her name, as if expecting her to come out from her hiding place.

"She is gone." He said softly after his rampage. He stood in the center of her room, panting and hurt. "And it's all my fault." He added.

"Master," Edward stepped forward. Odion held up a hand to stop him from continuing. He eyes his brother from the back.

Marik's shoulders slumped and his head was lowered, his hands were clutched tightly at his side. He was breathing deeply, which everyone assumed that it was from the excitement.

When Marik finally whirled around and stormed out of the room, nobody saw the tears glistening in the corners of his eyes. He slammed his study door shut and sank down, covering his face, and Marik Ishtar wept.

Nadina's eyelashes fluttered open. The crystal clear dark orbs stared straight up at the ceiling for a while and seemed confused about where she was. The first thought that came into her head was:

I'm alive…

Then, incredulously, she whispered out loud, "I'm alive…?" She sat up cautiously. Where am I?

She started to get out of bed, but a light knock on the door sent her back under her covers after seeing that she was only wearing a robe.

"Come in." She called. The door opened and a boy younger than her popped his head into the room.

"Hi!" He greeted, coming in and crossing over to the bed. "I can't believe you're actually awake. You've been sleeping for three days." He added, before sticking his hand out. "I'm Mokuba. You probably don't know me. But I'm Kaiba's brother."

"Hi, Mokuba. I know you, you're all Kaiba could talk about. I'm Nadina." She shook his hand just as a thought struck her head. "If you are Kaiba's brother, does that mean…" Mokuba nodded understandingly.

"Yep, you're at our house. You've been here for the last few days, don't you remember when Seto made you swallow the broth and drink that awful tonic?" He wrinkled his nose. "I hate the tonic." He explained. "But Seto always makes me drink it if I was about to catch a cold. He wanted to make sure you don't get pneumonia."

"Oh…" That was a lot of information for Nadina to take in at once. She was at Kaiba's house for the past three days sleeping? And he was the one that's taking care of her?

Mokuba was still running at the mouth, "We took your clothes and they're being cleaned right now. It's probably really hard to get all that mud out of it. You should have seen Seto's expression when it comes to the part of undressing you. You're lucky I was there. My big brother's a great guy, but he's never really professional when it comes to girls. But he told me you were pretty and I think you are too. You should have been there when—" He stopped as Nadina blinked, having not caught more than two or three sentences out of everything he just said. "Oh, yeah," he ran his hand through his hair sheepishly. "You probably want to dress yourself and get some things taken care of, huh. Well, Seto got you a dress and it's hanging in the closet and the bathroom is the third door on the left. Make yourself at home! I'll pick you up in about fifteen minutes!" He rushed out before bouncing out of the room, disappearing as fast as when he appeared.

Nadina slowly got out of bed and looked out the window. The beautiful sun rising over the beautiful lush landscape, flanked by trees that gracefully covered estate. The grounds had been trimmed and pruned until they were postcard perfect. She took a deep breath of the fresh air and headed for the closet.

The one gown hanging along in the closet of empty racks was a frosty rose silk, the fashionably full skirt embroidered all over with tiny crystals. The bodice was brief, modestly cut, the neckline trimmed with a fretwork lace of the tiny pearls. There were no sleeves, but a stole of pale pink tulle, embroidered with crystal flowers, were folded underneath. There was also a small bag on a gold chain of the same rose-pink silk, a pair of long soft pink gloves, a filmy silk shawl, and a pair of pink silk tissue-thin slippers. Apparently, when Kaiba was selecting the gown, he had the help of a saleswoman, who talked him into buying the whole assemblage.

She slipped into the gown and tied the sash and brushed her hair until it felt like silk and gleamed like spun gold. The purse and the gloves she left on the dressing table, but the slippers were a blessing and so was the gauzy silver filmy silk shawl hung loosely from her elbows. She finished just as Mokuba knocked on the door.

"Wow," he said admiringly, admiring the gown that would have been any other girl's party gown, but put together with Nadina's looks, the dress seems like a perfect match. "My brother was right. You are really pretty." A becoming blush sprinkled across Nadina's nose.

"Thanks." She said shyly.

"C'mon, I'll take you to my brother."

"Where is Kaiba?"

Mokuba winked. "I haven't told him you were up yet. All I told him was that you're awake. Is he going to be surprised!"

As they began through the maze of the mansion, Nadina marveled at the majestic and regal splendors of the house. Mokuba willingly gave the history of everything. Minutes later, they reached Nadina assumed was the kitchen. A very large kitchen that was airy and filled with sunlight.

Her breath caught as she spotted the lone figure that leaned against the counter, staring out the window absentmindedly, sipping a mug of coffee while his other hand held the business section of the newspaper.

"Set-o!" Mokuba said in a singsong voice. "Look who's up and about." Kaiba turned from his position and his eyebrows shot up.

He looked wonderful. He stood tall, powerful, and so…familiar, that Nadina felt tears filling up her eyes. And those eyes. The pair of midnight blue eyes that she had never been able to forget ever since that day.

"Nadina…" His voice. The same deep, throaty voice that she had gotten so used to. A smile found their way to his lips, but his expression turned somber as tears began rolling from her eyes and she flung her arms around him.

"Kaiba!" She managed to choke out as she wept for the past, for her and her brother, for the way things turn out, for the cruel twist of fate, for everything she's never cried for before.

Kaiba didn't say anything, he didn't need to say anything. No words were needed, only understanding and the presence of each other.

The heiress finally pulled back and brushed her tears away. But Kaiba saw something that made him grasp her wrist and pull them away.

"Nadina, what's this on your cheek?" He took a closer look. "Is that a bruise?" He sounded astonished. At once his other hand caught her chin and jerked her head to the other side. His fingers tensed when she winced again and he saw the reason why.

Nadina gasped as she pulled away and brought her hand up to the bruise that was caused when Marik slapped her.

"It's nothing. I…I fell." She faltered. She swallowed nervously and refused to meet his gaze.

"You couldn't have gotten a bruise if you fell." Anger was mixed up with astonishment as he contemplated the large bruise that was upon Nadina's cheekbone.

"What happened?" He finally asked softly. "Why did you leave? Why did you come here."

"Well," Nadina stammered. "I thought…I thought I would pay you a visit and see how you're doing."

Kaiba didn't believe her. And he knew that she knew that he didn't believe her nonsense. But he didn't say anything, he only looked at her with a whole lot more compassion than she'd ever expected.

He turned to get another cup. "You were quite a sight for a visitor three days ago." He remarked casually. "Tea or coffee? I made both."

Before Nadina could say anything, Mokuba interrupted in his eager voice, "Did you make hot chocolate?" Kaiba sighed.

"Yes, I made hot chocolate too." He handed his little brother a cup before turning back to Nadina.

"Tea, please."

"Just plain?"

"No, I—" Mokuba's voice interrupted again.

"Can I put marshmallows in my chocolate?" He asked his brother, giving him a grin.

"No." Kaiba snapped. Mokuba gave a pout. "Fine." He got out the marshmallow from the high cabinet and finally turned back to Nadina. She giggled and told him that sugar and cream would be fine.

They sat down and Kaiba managed to drill Nadina until she told him the whole story. Of what happened after he left and what caused her to leave Marik and the Ishtar Estate.

"He hit you?!" Kaiba was enraged when he heard.

"It was mostly my fault." Nadina said quickly. "I shouldn't have taunted him so."

"No, he shouldn't have hit you whether you taunted him or not." Kaiba insisted, shaking his head. Nadina didn't say anything, she only stared at her teacup.

"I can't go back." She finally said in a feathery voice.

"Of course not." Kaiba agreed. "You're staying with us from now on."

"I can't do that…" Nadina looked embarrassed.

"Why?" Kaiba demanded. "Do you have anywhere else you can go?"

"No…"

"Then it's settled." Kaiba's no nonsense voice gave Nadina a sense of security and comfort, as if she knew she would be taken care of here, unconditionally. She was snapped out of her thoughts by Kaiba's next words, "You're also going to start school while you're here."

"School?" She gawked. She had never stepped into a school her whole life. In fact, she could barely remember the last time she left Ishtar Estate. Her dark eyes regarded the dashing CEO with a combination of suspicion, excitement, and anxiety. A part of her wished he would just keep her in Kaiba Mansion away from the unknown society, yet another part of her wanted to experience what all the other kids her age are experiencing.

"Yes." He eyed her, before his eyes softened. "But don't worry. I go to that school also."

"You go to school?" He gave her a look that told her that it was a foolish question. She got defensive, "Well, I thought you owned your own company."

"I do."

"Then…oh, never mind." She threw up her arms. Trying to understand Seto Kaiba right now was just impossible and her headache wasn't helping.

"Hey, did you see the bouquet that Seto ordered for you?" Mokuba interrupted, chomping on a cookie. Kaiba's eyes immediately zoned in on that double-fudge chocolate cookie with white-chocolate chips and Macadamian nuts.

"Cookies? For breakfast?" He held his hand out for the cookie. "Where did you get the cookie anyway? You know better than that." Mokuba, seeing his brother reach for his cookie, made an immediate decision and stuffed the whole cookie in his mouth.

"Mokuba!" Nadina giggled to herself. Kaiba looked exasperated as Mokuba evidently decided that a lecture from his brother was better than letting go of his cookie.

"Anyway, like I was just saying," Mokuba said with his mouth full. "Did you see that bouquet Seto ordered for you?"

"No, I haven't."

"It's in the living room."

"I'll go take a look." Nadina started to get up, before noticing Kaiba blocking her way. "Kaiba?"

"It's not a big deal, really." She could swear his face was tinted with color. "I remembered you said you loved flowers."

"I do." He gave up and she pushed herself into the living room as her breath was caught. "It's gorgeous!"

It wasn't really, to Kaiba's eyes. It was a little on the wilted side, the wild rose and lily combination, thrown together at the last moment by a harried florist who had already put together a hundred Christmas corsages or bouquets. Most girls would have found it disappointing, but Nadina's eyes were shining.

"It's beautiful, Kaiba." She lifted a rose to her face and suddenly, startlingly, she was more beautiful than any girl that Kaiba's ever known. So aglow with life and happiness that his heart had lifted in a quick rise of wonder.

It also brought him a little ache. How long had she gone without the basic care and love or even the tiniest token of affection that everyone was entitled to, he wondered, and did she realize that she was cradling the rose? Or that she was stroking the petals?

Nadina glanced up and saw Kaiba watching her. He was standing at the door with Mokuba by his side. She wondered what he was thinking. He had the strangest look on his face, as though he didn't know what to make of the sight, but there was such tenderness in his eyes, she knew she didn't need to worry about anything.

"There's more flowers in the hallway and upstairs."

"Really?" She looked delighted.

"Come and see," he suggested. As she stood up, something shimmery fell from the folds of her dress. Kaiba bent down to pick it up.

"Um…I've kept that with me ever since you left." She hastened to explain as Kaiba lifted up his Blue-Eyes-White-Dragon card. He stared at it for the longest time, before finally turning back to her.

"Oh…" He offered it back to her, his expressions betraying nothing.

"Oh no, now that I'm here with you, perhaps you should hold on to it." She rejected as her face heated up. He probably thought she was silly for holding on to something like this. But he took it back without another word. Their eyes met and they stared at each other in silence. Kaiba finally broke the silence,

"About the school…" He cleared his throat. "I have already enrolled you as a student in Domino High School."

"Huh…" Nadina looked at him dumbly for a second before her face lit up. "Oh, you mean school…"

"Yes, you'll be having the same classes I do so you don't have to worry about anything."

"I won't worry." The look she gave him was so trusting and faithful that his face darkened in color as he fake coughed and turned away.

"You'll began school the day after tomorrow. You have another day to rest up. I've already gotten your wardrobe taken care of."

"Thank you, Kaiba." The voice was soft and Kaiba turned around. Naidina's smile reached his heart and his very soul.

"Thank you for everything."