Chapter 4
Love at Last?
The next day, Nodoka awoke on the hotel bed once more. She sat up and looked around, no one was there. In her hand she found a note. She unfolded it and began to read. It was written by Terran saying that the rest of them went out to eat lunch and would be back soon. Nodoka sighed and then yelped when her pager went off. She pulled it from the side of her pants and looked at it. It was her boss.
Nodoka picked up the phone next to the bed and called her boss. "Yo," she said when he answered.
"Nodoka!" growled her boss. "Where have you been? You were supposed to have the story on Seto Kaiba's marriage on my desk by today."
"Sorry! I don't want to do the story!" said Nodoka. "Seto, he's well. . ." Nodoka paused for a long moment. She didn't know what Seto was to her anymore.
"Nodoka?"
Nodoka shook her head. "Yeah," she responded. She rubbed her head and continued. "Sorry I just started thinking."
"Are you going to get me that story, or not?"
As much as Nodoka wanted to, she equally didn't want to do the story. "I can't."
"Figured as much," said her boss. "Well then, I want you to get an interview with an idol singer named Arian Kitone."
"Alright, where and when?"
"Saturday," said Nodoka's boss. "In Dallas, Texas."
"But Saturday is in two days!"
"Hurry up then," and with that her boss hung up.
Nodoka set down the phone. She shook her head and took out a small pencil. On the back of the note she had gotten from Terran, she wrote 'Hey, I got work to do, don't worry. I'll see ya when I see ya. And Seto, I'll pay you back for the phone call. Bye, and sorry again.' And with that, Nodoka placed the note by the phone and left the hotel.
When the others got back to the hotel, Terran immediately found the note and read it aloud. Mokuba was the most upset of them all. "She just left us?" he growled.
Nodoka went to the airport and waited for her flight. Her boss had already bought her the ticket, she had gotten it, all that was left was to get on the plane and go to Dallas. When she got there, she stayed in another hotel and before she went to bed she decided to watch a bit of TV.
Changing the channels, Nodoka stopped when she saw a picture of Seto. "On other news," said the reporter. "Seto Kaiba is getting married. To who?" The picture changed. "To this lady, Ms. Mai Valentine. Sorry ladies, this rich heart-throb of the world is now taken and off limits!" Then the reporter squinted her eyes. "This means you Nodoka."
Nodoka twitched awkwardly and shook her head. She thought to herself that maybe it was just her mind playing tricks on her. Yet when she changed the channel to another new station, the reporter there was talking about the reporter on the other channel naming out someone named Nodoka.
Shaking her head, Nodoka turned off the television and went to bed. She didn't change her clothes; she even kept her shoes on. Even the next day, with the exception of eating, Nodoka stayed in the hotel. She checked through the closet and found a package with her name on it. She took it to the table and opened it. It had been sent from her boss. It was the equipment she had left back in Domino before she went on vacation, and a new outfit.
Friday passed slowly. On Saturday, Nodoka got ready, and looking professional, she went to where the concert was going to be held. When the singer Arian appeared. Nodoka pulled out her note pad and got as close as possible. "Ms. Kitone!" she said. "Ms. Kitone! A few questions please?" Nodoka said.
The singer with dark brown hair and hazel eyes turned to Nodoka. "Okay, sure," she said.
"Excellent," Nodoka whispered to herself. "Ms. Kitone, what exactly sparked your interest into becoming a singer?"
Arian laughed. "Well, it was my sister. My sister just seemed so interested in singing, and then after she died, I didn't want to give her up. So I took my brother and his band, which at the time was my sister's band and we started up."
"So, you're fulfilling you're sister's dream?" asked Nodoka.
"Yeah, basically," said Arian. More questions were asked and then the singer left. Nodoka had all that she needed for her report in the paper so everything was okay.
That night, after retrieving her belongings from the hotel room, Nodoka went to the airport and left for Domino. Upon arriving in Domino, Nodoka caught a cab to take her home. The weather was cold and Nodoka, still in a skirt and dressed up from her interview, was having a hard time keeping warm.
When the cab stopped infront of her house. She stepped out and walked over to the cab driver's door. He told her the cost but when she reached into her purse, she heard from behind, "I got it."
Nodoka turned around and Seto walked over to the cab driver. He paid her fair and the cab then left. Nodoka looked to Seto. "Thank you," she said. "I guess I owe you for the phone call in the hotel and the cab fair."
"No, it's alright," he responded.
Nodoka nodded and then walked up to the front door. Seto stayed in the street. Turning around, Nodoka said, "Do you want to come in for a while?" Kaiba nodded and followed her inside the house. After closing the door behind Seto, the reporter went to the heater and turned it on. She stood infront of the heater and took off the jacket of her suit. "It's so cold," she whispered. She walked up the stairs and into her room where she changed into a pair of sweatpants and a sweatshirt.
"Nodoka?" whispered Seto when Nodoka left her room and was coming down the stairs.
"Sorry," she said. "I look like crap." She placed her hair back into a low ponytail. She stopped and then looked to Seto. "What is it?"
Seto walked over to Nodoka and placed his left hand under her chin. He lifted her face so that their eyes met and he leaned down to kiss her, but Nodoka turned her head. She closed her eyes and a silent tear fell from each of her eyes. "Arilana?"
Nodoka's eyes opened suddenly. They were watery but no more tears fell. "Seto?" she whispered. She turned her head and looked him in the eyes. "Please don't kiss me," she said.
Seto blinked and then looked at her questioningly. "Nodoka," he whispered. "I'm a free man." He turned around and walked to the archway that led to the living room. "Mai was watching the news and when she heard that announcement from that one reporter, she said she never wanted to see me again, like she was embarrassed to be with me."
"So you come to me? I'm second, huh?" Nodoka crossed her arms and her eyes fell to the floor.
Seto spun around. "Nodoka! Look, you weren't second! You never were!" He paused and looked away. "When you left for you job and left me, I didn't know what to do. I thought you were never coming back." He sighed and then looked back to Nodoka. "Arilana. If you don't want me, then I'll leave. I'll never bother you again."
"Then go," she whispered, still not looking up at him.
Seto nodded and without a word, walked over to the door. He opened it and just as he was about to take a step outside, Nodoka's arms wrapped around him and he stood still in the doorway. "I thought you said. . ." Seto began to say.
Nodoka interrupted and mumbled, "I lied."
"I'm glad."
Stepping backward, Nodoka dragged him out of the doorway and Seto closed the door. She then let him go and he turned around. Nodoka jumped up and wrapped her arms around the blue-eyed man's neck and hugged him. Seto wrapped his arms around Nodoka and held her close. The reporter looked directly into Seto's eyes and kissed him. When they broke the kiss, she whispered, "Please don't leave me."
"I promise I won't," Seto whispered back and kissed her on the forehead.
The next morning Nodoka awoke and everything from the previous night seemed like a dream. She sat up and rubbed her head. Looking around her room, no one was there. She laughed and thought of what Seto said, 'I promise I won't'. She smirked and realized how stupid that sounded coming from the CEO of a multimillion-dollar corporation. She got out of bed and went to take a shower. When she got out, she put on her bathrobe and went downstairs. When she turned to the living room, she spotted Seto asleep on the couch.
Nodoka shook her head again. "Just a dream," she whispered to herself. "After I make coffee and fully wake up, he probably won't be here." She walked into the kitchen and began to make a pot of coffee. From there, she cleaned up the kitchen and then rested for a few minutes while she sat on the counter.
Seto sat up on the couch. "Nodoka? Are you making coffee?" he asked.
"Yes," she said. She still kept wondering if this was all a dream.
Standing up, Seto went to the kitchen and stood in front of Nodoka. "Mind if I have some?"
"Um, go ahead," responded Nodoka.
Seto walked over to the coffee pot and then looked around. He saw a few styrofoam cups and grabbed one.
"You can use a mug if you want," said Nodoka, tapping the cabinet behind her left shoulder.
Seto shook his head and then took a sip of the coffee. He set down the cup and walked over to her. He stood before her and moved in between her legs to lean forward against the counter. "Nodoka?"
"Yeah?"
"How many times, have you been shot?" he asked.
Pondering for a while, the girl responded, "Three I think." She pause and then counted. "Once by 'Kuba, then Mai, and before those," she paused. "Screw it, I don't know."
Seto smiled, "People aren't meant to remember those things, ya know?"
"Yeah."
Leaning forward a bit more, Seto's lips met with Nodoka's. He pulled her close and when the kiss broke, they continued to hug, neither wanting to let go. Yet they had to when a knock came at the door. Nodoka ran her fingers through Seto's brown hair and then moved him to the side with her legs and jumped off of the counter. She walked over to the door and opened it.
Terran stood there in his black leather jacket. "Thanks for locking me out last night," he mumbled.
"Oh! Terran! I'm so sorry!" she said.
Seto walked from the kitchen to stand behind Nodoka. "Sorry Mason, that was my fault."
Upon seeing Seto, Terran's right arm twitched. "What are you doing here, Kaiba?" growled the self-hired bodyguard.
To try and lighten the mood, Nodoka said, "Hey, I've got an idea." Seto and Terran looked awkwardly to her and she said, "Let's have a party!"
"A what?" said the two guys in a shocked manner.
"A party!" Leaning against the doorway, she said, "Like a sleepover. We invite all of our friends and have a huge party."
Setting his weight against the opposite part of the doorframe, Seto looked down and mumbled, "Do we have to invite Yugi? And Joey?" And cringing, he added, "And Téa."
"Yes," replied Nodoka.
"Damn."
Terran pushed Seto out of the way and entered the house. Nodoka followed him and then sat on the stairs. "Terran, there's some coffee in the kitchen."
"Woohoo!" he shouted and ran of into the kitchen.
Seto walked over and sat next to the reporter. "So you're having a party?" Nodoka nodded in response. "Am I invited?"
Turning her head and looking to Seto with an annoyed look on her face she said plainly. "Of course you are, stupid." Seto smiled and then hugged her.
When Terran walked back into the room, the CEO practically jumped to the other side of the stairwell. Terran had an awkward look on his face. "Okay. what's goin on here?"
"Notta. . . Why Terran, what's wrong?" Nodoka asked as she leaned backward on the stairs.
The American shook his head and walked back to the living room. He sat down and turned on the TV. "So you're having a party, huh?" he asked.
"Most likely, if it's alright with you," responded Nodoka.
Terran looked to her from the couch. "If it's alright with me? You own the house," he mumbled.
"But you live here too," sighed Nodoka as she looked up at the ceiling.
"I do?"
"Yes Terran, you do." Standing from the stairs, she stretched vertically and popped her joints.
Terran set his coffee cup on the little table and stood up. He walked over to the archway that led into the room Nodoka was in. He leaned against the wall and said, "Well Nodie, let's party!"
"Nodie?" Nodoka mumbled questioningly. "That's the worst nickname ever." The two guys kind of chuckled.
Later that day, Terran went out to gather up the group who was to come to the party that night. While Nodoka and Seto, on the other hand, sat on the couch and embraced as they watched TV. They knew they were going to have to keep from everyone that they were together; or, would they just let everyone come to their own conclusions. They didn't really care much anymore, since after all, they were pretty much together now.
(A/N: Okay, that's it for this chapter. Thank you to all of you who have reviewed, it's been a pleasure writing for you all. So I'll keep on going as long as you all keep on reviewing. Thanks a lot. I'll have the next chapter up soon.
Nodoka: There's more of this crap coming?
Acri: Yes, deal with it.)
Love at Last?
The next day, Nodoka awoke on the hotel bed once more. She sat up and looked around, no one was there. In her hand she found a note. She unfolded it and began to read. It was written by Terran saying that the rest of them went out to eat lunch and would be back soon. Nodoka sighed and then yelped when her pager went off. She pulled it from the side of her pants and looked at it. It was her boss.
Nodoka picked up the phone next to the bed and called her boss. "Yo," she said when he answered.
"Nodoka!" growled her boss. "Where have you been? You were supposed to have the story on Seto Kaiba's marriage on my desk by today."
"Sorry! I don't want to do the story!" said Nodoka. "Seto, he's well. . ." Nodoka paused for a long moment. She didn't know what Seto was to her anymore.
"Nodoka?"
Nodoka shook her head. "Yeah," she responded. She rubbed her head and continued. "Sorry I just started thinking."
"Are you going to get me that story, or not?"
As much as Nodoka wanted to, she equally didn't want to do the story. "I can't."
"Figured as much," said her boss. "Well then, I want you to get an interview with an idol singer named Arian Kitone."
"Alright, where and when?"
"Saturday," said Nodoka's boss. "In Dallas, Texas."
"But Saturday is in two days!"
"Hurry up then," and with that her boss hung up.
Nodoka set down the phone. She shook her head and took out a small pencil. On the back of the note she had gotten from Terran, she wrote 'Hey, I got work to do, don't worry. I'll see ya when I see ya. And Seto, I'll pay you back for the phone call. Bye, and sorry again.' And with that, Nodoka placed the note by the phone and left the hotel.
When the others got back to the hotel, Terran immediately found the note and read it aloud. Mokuba was the most upset of them all. "She just left us?" he growled.
Nodoka went to the airport and waited for her flight. Her boss had already bought her the ticket, she had gotten it, all that was left was to get on the plane and go to Dallas. When she got there, she stayed in another hotel and before she went to bed she decided to watch a bit of TV.
Changing the channels, Nodoka stopped when she saw a picture of Seto. "On other news," said the reporter. "Seto Kaiba is getting married. To who?" The picture changed. "To this lady, Ms. Mai Valentine. Sorry ladies, this rich heart-throb of the world is now taken and off limits!" Then the reporter squinted her eyes. "This means you Nodoka."
Nodoka twitched awkwardly and shook her head. She thought to herself that maybe it was just her mind playing tricks on her. Yet when she changed the channel to another new station, the reporter there was talking about the reporter on the other channel naming out someone named Nodoka.
Shaking her head, Nodoka turned off the television and went to bed. She didn't change her clothes; she even kept her shoes on. Even the next day, with the exception of eating, Nodoka stayed in the hotel. She checked through the closet and found a package with her name on it. She took it to the table and opened it. It had been sent from her boss. It was the equipment she had left back in Domino before she went on vacation, and a new outfit.
Friday passed slowly. On Saturday, Nodoka got ready, and looking professional, she went to where the concert was going to be held. When the singer Arian appeared. Nodoka pulled out her note pad and got as close as possible. "Ms. Kitone!" she said. "Ms. Kitone! A few questions please?" Nodoka said.
The singer with dark brown hair and hazel eyes turned to Nodoka. "Okay, sure," she said.
"Excellent," Nodoka whispered to herself. "Ms. Kitone, what exactly sparked your interest into becoming a singer?"
Arian laughed. "Well, it was my sister. My sister just seemed so interested in singing, and then after she died, I didn't want to give her up. So I took my brother and his band, which at the time was my sister's band and we started up."
"So, you're fulfilling you're sister's dream?" asked Nodoka.
"Yeah, basically," said Arian. More questions were asked and then the singer left. Nodoka had all that she needed for her report in the paper so everything was okay.
That night, after retrieving her belongings from the hotel room, Nodoka went to the airport and left for Domino. Upon arriving in Domino, Nodoka caught a cab to take her home. The weather was cold and Nodoka, still in a skirt and dressed up from her interview, was having a hard time keeping warm.
When the cab stopped infront of her house. She stepped out and walked over to the cab driver's door. He told her the cost but when she reached into her purse, she heard from behind, "I got it."
Nodoka turned around and Seto walked over to the cab driver. He paid her fair and the cab then left. Nodoka looked to Seto. "Thank you," she said. "I guess I owe you for the phone call in the hotel and the cab fair."
"No, it's alright," he responded.
Nodoka nodded and then walked up to the front door. Seto stayed in the street. Turning around, Nodoka said, "Do you want to come in for a while?" Kaiba nodded and followed her inside the house. After closing the door behind Seto, the reporter went to the heater and turned it on. She stood infront of the heater and took off the jacket of her suit. "It's so cold," she whispered. She walked up the stairs and into her room where she changed into a pair of sweatpants and a sweatshirt.
"Nodoka?" whispered Seto when Nodoka left her room and was coming down the stairs.
"Sorry," she said. "I look like crap." She placed her hair back into a low ponytail. She stopped and then looked to Seto. "What is it?"
Seto walked over to Nodoka and placed his left hand under her chin. He lifted her face so that their eyes met and he leaned down to kiss her, but Nodoka turned her head. She closed her eyes and a silent tear fell from each of her eyes. "Arilana?"
Nodoka's eyes opened suddenly. They were watery but no more tears fell. "Seto?" she whispered. She turned her head and looked him in the eyes. "Please don't kiss me," she said.
Seto blinked and then looked at her questioningly. "Nodoka," he whispered. "I'm a free man." He turned around and walked to the archway that led to the living room. "Mai was watching the news and when she heard that announcement from that one reporter, she said she never wanted to see me again, like she was embarrassed to be with me."
"So you come to me? I'm second, huh?" Nodoka crossed her arms and her eyes fell to the floor.
Seto spun around. "Nodoka! Look, you weren't second! You never were!" He paused and looked away. "When you left for you job and left me, I didn't know what to do. I thought you were never coming back." He sighed and then looked back to Nodoka. "Arilana. If you don't want me, then I'll leave. I'll never bother you again."
"Then go," she whispered, still not looking up at him.
Seto nodded and without a word, walked over to the door. He opened it and just as he was about to take a step outside, Nodoka's arms wrapped around him and he stood still in the doorway. "I thought you said. . ." Seto began to say.
Nodoka interrupted and mumbled, "I lied."
"I'm glad."
Stepping backward, Nodoka dragged him out of the doorway and Seto closed the door. She then let him go and he turned around. Nodoka jumped up and wrapped her arms around the blue-eyed man's neck and hugged him. Seto wrapped his arms around Nodoka and held her close. The reporter looked directly into Seto's eyes and kissed him. When they broke the kiss, she whispered, "Please don't leave me."
"I promise I won't," Seto whispered back and kissed her on the forehead.
The next morning Nodoka awoke and everything from the previous night seemed like a dream. She sat up and rubbed her head. Looking around her room, no one was there. She laughed and thought of what Seto said, 'I promise I won't'. She smirked and realized how stupid that sounded coming from the CEO of a multimillion-dollar corporation. She got out of bed and went to take a shower. When she got out, she put on her bathrobe and went downstairs. When she turned to the living room, she spotted Seto asleep on the couch.
Nodoka shook her head again. "Just a dream," she whispered to herself. "After I make coffee and fully wake up, he probably won't be here." She walked into the kitchen and began to make a pot of coffee. From there, she cleaned up the kitchen and then rested for a few minutes while she sat on the counter.
Seto sat up on the couch. "Nodoka? Are you making coffee?" he asked.
"Yes," she said. She still kept wondering if this was all a dream.
Standing up, Seto went to the kitchen and stood in front of Nodoka. "Mind if I have some?"
"Um, go ahead," responded Nodoka.
Seto walked over to the coffee pot and then looked around. He saw a few styrofoam cups and grabbed one.
"You can use a mug if you want," said Nodoka, tapping the cabinet behind her left shoulder.
Seto shook his head and then took a sip of the coffee. He set down the cup and walked over to her. He stood before her and moved in between her legs to lean forward against the counter. "Nodoka?"
"Yeah?"
"How many times, have you been shot?" he asked.
Pondering for a while, the girl responded, "Three I think." She pause and then counted. "Once by 'Kuba, then Mai, and before those," she paused. "Screw it, I don't know."
Seto smiled, "People aren't meant to remember those things, ya know?"
"Yeah."
Leaning forward a bit more, Seto's lips met with Nodoka's. He pulled her close and when the kiss broke, they continued to hug, neither wanting to let go. Yet they had to when a knock came at the door. Nodoka ran her fingers through Seto's brown hair and then moved him to the side with her legs and jumped off of the counter. She walked over to the door and opened it.
Terran stood there in his black leather jacket. "Thanks for locking me out last night," he mumbled.
"Oh! Terran! I'm so sorry!" she said.
Seto walked from the kitchen to stand behind Nodoka. "Sorry Mason, that was my fault."
Upon seeing Seto, Terran's right arm twitched. "What are you doing here, Kaiba?" growled the self-hired bodyguard.
To try and lighten the mood, Nodoka said, "Hey, I've got an idea." Seto and Terran looked awkwardly to her and she said, "Let's have a party!"
"A what?" said the two guys in a shocked manner.
"A party!" Leaning against the doorway, she said, "Like a sleepover. We invite all of our friends and have a huge party."
Setting his weight against the opposite part of the doorframe, Seto looked down and mumbled, "Do we have to invite Yugi? And Joey?" And cringing, he added, "And Téa."
"Yes," replied Nodoka.
"Damn."
Terran pushed Seto out of the way and entered the house. Nodoka followed him and then sat on the stairs. "Terran, there's some coffee in the kitchen."
"Woohoo!" he shouted and ran of into the kitchen.
Seto walked over and sat next to the reporter. "So you're having a party?" Nodoka nodded in response. "Am I invited?"
Turning her head and looking to Seto with an annoyed look on her face she said plainly. "Of course you are, stupid." Seto smiled and then hugged her.
When Terran walked back into the room, the CEO practically jumped to the other side of the stairwell. Terran had an awkward look on his face. "Okay. what's goin on here?"
"Notta. . . Why Terran, what's wrong?" Nodoka asked as she leaned backward on the stairs.
The American shook his head and walked back to the living room. He sat down and turned on the TV. "So you're having a party, huh?" he asked.
"Most likely, if it's alright with you," responded Nodoka.
Terran looked to her from the couch. "If it's alright with me? You own the house," he mumbled.
"But you live here too," sighed Nodoka as she looked up at the ceiling.
"I do?"
"Yes Terran, you do." Standing from the stairs, she stretched vertically and popped her joints.
Terran set his coffee cup on the little table and stood up. He walked over to the archway that led into the room Nodoka was in. He leaned against the wall and said, "Well Nodie, let's party!"
"Nodie?" Nodoka mumbled questioningly. "That's the worst nickname ever." The two guys kind of chuckled.
Later that day, Terran went out to gather up the group who was to come to the party that night. While Nodoka and Seto, on the other hand, sat on the couch and embraced as they watched TV. They knew they were going to have to keep from everyone that they were together; or, would they just let everyone come to their own conclusions. They didn't really care much anymore, since after all, they were pretty much together now.
(A/N: Okay, that's it for this chapter. Thank you to all of you who have reviewed, it's been a pleasure writing for you all. So I'll keep on going as long as you all keep on reviewing. Thanks a lot. I'll have the next chapter up soon.
Nodoka: There's more of this crap coming?
Acri: Yes, deal with it.)