Chapter IV

It Talks?

            "Last night, I had this weird dream…" Mokuba said talking to Seto at the breakfast table.

            WHUMP!...WHUMP-WHUMP-WHUMP-WHUMP-WHUMP-WHUMP-WHUMP-WHUMP-WHUMP-WHUMP-WHUMP-WHUMP!

            "What was that?" asked Mokuba.

            "Kaori, be more careful when you walk down the stairs," said Hemera.

            "Talking to yourself again Kaori?" commented Seto as she stumbled in.

            "That was Hemera talking…"

            "Nyao?"

            "Please, Kaori, enough with thinking that you can talk to your cat."

            At this point, Kaori didn't hear a single word that Seto made because she had made herself busy shoveling food down her throat.

            "So Mokuba, what were you saying?"

            "Oh yea, last night, I had a dream where Hemera was talking to me."

            "You mean Kaori."

            "No, Hemera, the cat."

            "The cat was talking to you?  What did she say?"

            "Oh, she told me not to tell anyone, but you know what's really weird?  The cat had the same voice that was heard after Kaori fell down the stairs."

            "You probably heard Kaori talking to herself last night.  She uses different voices when she does that."

            "I do not!"

            "It's true, she doesn't," said Hemera.

            Seto stared at the cat.

            "See I told you she could talk," said Mokuba.

            "Actually you didn't ," the cat said.  "You just said that I did in your dream, which in fact, was not a dream."

            "What did you tell him?" asked Kaori eagerly.

            "You'll find out sometime."

            "Hmph."

            Seto still stared at the two of them in shock.

            "Yes Seto, I know this is quite surprising to you, but there are some things that I need to tell you.  Kaori and Mokuba, will you please leave the room for a moment?"

            "Aww, why Hemera?  What are you telling him that you can't tell us?"

            "Please Kaori."

            "Fine!" she giggled as she and Mokuba walked out and slammed the door.

            "Now, Seto…" Hemera opened the door with magic.  Kaori, who had been leaning with her ear pressed against the door in attempts to listen in, completely fell over.

            "You could have warned me when you were going to door that you know!"

            "Kaori, please,"  she walked out obediently.

            Hemera used some of her magic and formed a cloud around herself and Seto allowing no one else to enter and no sound to escape.

            "Get this over with quickly.  I have a company to run."

            "Seto, you must take Kaori into your custody.  She, and I, have both come from from different worlds, all of us destined to battle against an evil force.  With more training, she will be able to protect you…"

            "I don't need protection.  I can take care of myself."

            "Then you must protect her."

            "I don't see what your point is.  Explain yourself.  What do I have to do with this?"

            "You will not understand what I have to tell you.  The only person who can is Kaori, but during the transportation between worlds, there have been certain memories that have been lost and will only be regained with time."

            "How could she have come from a different world?"

            "Trust me, you will learn in due time.  But please, she must be entrusted into your care."

            "I don't have time for little girls."

            "You don't have to actually watch over her, but she must have somewhere to live here.  Please, for Mokuba's sake."

            Seto's annoyed expression softened a bit for the slightest second.  He looked down and breathed deeply.

            "Fine.  But only because she had helped my brother."

            "Thank you Seto.  You will not regret it.  I only ask that you enroll her in school, preferably the same one you go to.  She is sixteen and a junior in high school."

            The cloud vanished and the cat walked away.

            Seto sat down, a million and one thoughts swimming through his head.  Where did this Kaori girl come from?  What about the cat?  How can she talk?  What was this evil force?  What were the magical powers that Kaori had displayed the previous day?  Hemera told him that he has to protect her.  What did she mean by that?  What did Kaori forget?  What did Hemera tell Mokuba?  What was this about different worlds?  How was he going to deal with a girl his age living in his house?

            "I might as well take her to a room that can hereby be known as hers," he thought.

            He straightened himself up and walked out of the room.  Everything was quiet.  Where on earth could this girl have gone to?  His house and land were huge, she could have gone anywhere, and he certainly didn't have time to go searching for her.

            "BOO!" Kaori shouted as she jumped from behind a statue.  She had meant to push his back slightly, but with a combination of him turning around and her coming harder than she had intended, he was knocked to the ground with her on top of him.

            "Oh my gosh!  I am so sorry!  I really didn't mean to make you fall!"

            Seto was more disturbed by the position they were in.

            "Here," she held out her hand as she helped him up, laughing.  "I swear, I won't do that again."

            "It's okay," he said.  Then he thought, "why am I not yelling at her?  I would have to anyone else."

            "Hemera tells me that you are to live here.  May I show you to your room?"

            "Uh, yea, sure," she said.  He couldn't help but notice how high pitched he voice was.

            The girl followed him through the many corridors and staircases.

            "Ooh!  This looks just like a castle!" she exclaimed.  "Just like in a lot of the faery tales I've read!"

            Seto found himself lessening his stern expression.  He also thought, "I'm glad to know that she can read."

            "Ooh!  Dragon!  Oh my gosh!  This statue is so cool!  Where do you find stuff like this?  I used to have little mini statues of dragons at home, but this thing is huge!..."

            Seto turned to see Kaori still talking about the five foot tall statue of a Blue-Eyes White Dragon.

            "I've never seen a girl so excited by the sight of a statue of a dragon before."

            "Oh, I love dragons!  And faeries, and unicorns, and elves!  I love all fantasy, but especially dragons!"

            "Well, I see we have one thing in common, but they're not real so you can keep quiet."

            "Hmph." Kaori seemed like a disappointed five-year-old being told that faeries weren't real.

            "Well here's your room."

            Seto opened the door which led to a lavishly decorated room.

            "I'm sorry," said Kaori.  "I cannot stay in this room."

            "Why?  What's wrong with it?"

            "Nothing…it's just…just…well you see…I don't…don't' deserve this…I mean…you saved me…I have no where to go now…so your letting me stay with you…and…and…and then you treat me like a princess."

            "It's barely an expense.  Now I have a business to run, so I would prefer it if you didn't bother me," having said that, Seto turned and walked way.

            Disclaimer:  I do not own Mokuba or Seto (well maybe Seto…) but Kaori, Hemera and the goblins are my own creation.  Thanks to all of you who have continued to read this because they like it!