Riddles of the Heart
written by Atlantis
© 2002
I don't think I'm gonna waste my breath on heart-felt apologies because I know you all want to kill me for the long wait, regardless of what I say. Oh well. If you kill me, then you'll never get an update ever again! Ha! Take that!
I said it wouldn't take another four months and I was right: just barely. Okay, so it was two and a half weeks past three months, but it still wasn't four! I'm slowly getting better.
Thank you to all of my reviewers from the last chapter: Aaron Chang, BBB, kawaii* cherry, LadySilverDragon2, ShinakaStar, SailorPanda, Dazma, Lita Maxwell, Raye, Lonely Night Angel, DarkSetoKaiba, Saiyan Rage, Ferret Girl, Serena4, Tara-hime, American Badass, SpiritAnzu, Guardian Kysra, starkitty, and Quickening. My replies to your marvelous reviews will once again be at the end.
Disclaimer: Yes! I admit it! I own Yu-Gi-Oh! and everything affiliated with it. If you touch one little thing, I'll sue your pants off... Huh? Oh, it was just a dream... *goes into a corner and cries*
Rating: PG-13
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Trust in the Lord and do good. Then you will live safely in the land and prosper. Take delight in the Lord, and he will give you your heart's desires.
Psalm 37:3&4
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PART 6
After Harry had answered any and all questions regarding the girls and the death of their parents, he excused himself, saying that the conference had now ended and ushered Téa and her sisters into a building across the way from the podium. As soon as they made it inside the door, Téa knelt by her sisters' sides, pulling a handkerchief from one of her pockets and gently removed the tears from their faces. Arashi and Kiri buried their faces into Téa's sides, their small arms attempting to span her waist and hug her tightly.
Tears crept out of Téa's eyes as she kissed the tops of the little girls' heads and pulled them closer, sighing into their hair and smiling faintly. Reluctantly, after a few minutes, Téa stood and pulled away from them because kneeling on high-heels was murder to her feet. They trailed after her to a plush couch that sat up against the far wall and folded themselves on either side of her, cuddling up and shutting their little eyes. Téa's arms wrapped around them securely and within ten minutes, both were soundly asleep.
Letting her head fall back against the couch, the teen breathed out steadily and stared at the ceiling, content to have her sisters so near to her, trusting her. She stretched her neck as she looked back down; Harry stood by the door they had entered, whispering to another man with an earpiece and a black suit before the guard nodded and shut the door behind him as he left. Harry turned as he wiped his forehead, noticing Téa's stare. A small smile lifted the corners of his lips and the corners of his eyes crinkled, making him look more like a grandfather than a lawyer.
"I don't know how you've always been able to do that with them," he said quietly, indicating the little girls, "but you surely have a gift." He took a few steps toward the trio. "You look exhausted."
"You're right," came the simple reply. "Maybe I shouldn't have taken the girls to the press conference today. It really shook them up, especially with all of the cameras and flashing lights. They were so intimidated and they certainly didn't need to feel any smaller in the world than they have been lately," Téa's tired voice added. "But I can't undo the fact that they were there today so they'll just have to take it in their stride. Just like me."
"Would you like to rest?" Harry asked, kneeling in front of Téa and putting a hand on her knee. She nodded. "How 'bout I take these two up to the suite upstairs where they can nap in peace and you can crash in here and unwind?" Téa smiled gratefully at him and gingerly removed her arms from around Arashi and Kiri's small bodies, allowing Harry to take one in each arm, their heads cradled against his shoulders. He smiled at her as he passed through the doorway that led to another room and up the stairs before Téa finally let her muscles relax fully.
Standing up, she shrugged off her jacket and unbuttoned the cuffs of her blouse, as well as the top two buttons that led up to her neck before tossing her shoes into a corner. She kneaded the pads of her feet for a few moments before sinking back into the leather couch after flipping a switch to turn on the above ceiling fan. Cool air whirled around her as she laid down, stretching across the furniture with a worried countenance.
Confusion and fear filled her mind as she thought about the consequences of keeping her life so secretive. It was enough to have Kaiba know the truth about her family after spending time with her and comforting her after her parents' death, but for the rest of the nation and her *friends* to find out everything that happened through a newscast... the thought was almost unbearable. She wouldn't blame them if they were furious at her for keeping so much from them. After all, they were supposed to be her best friends and all she had ever done was put up a happy school girl facade.
Deciding not to dwell on it too much, Téa shifted to her side and gazed at the room around her. From the outside it looked like an old factory or warehouse, when in fact it was more of an after-conference retreat, at least until the press disappeared completely. The colors were all neutral but had a subtle liveliness that kept it from being bland. Soft, thick carpet covered the entire floor and was a light beige; light brown leather furniture was spaced throughout the room so that numerous people could be comfortable; several stylish coffee tables were dispersed between the chairs; and stand-up lamps stood as sentry every few feet to keep the room well-lit. It was dark now though because Téa had turned off the lights, deciding she'd rather think and brood in the dark.
She flipped to her other side so that her back faced the wall and figured she may as well try to rest. The only problem was, her eyes refused to stay closed. Téa felt wired and agitated, and unbelievably alone. Her skin shivered but not from the cold. Perhaps she should have gone upstairs with her sisters because at least then she wouldn't be by herself. Harry had mentioned the day before that she was handling herself marvelously, especially since the accident was still so fresh in her mind and she was refusing counseling. Téa couldn't have felt more like a liar in her entire life.
Yes, she had decided to work on her problems alone, but the problem with that was that she was alone. Left to fend off the demons of her nightmares by herself, the insecurities that made her shake with shame, and the fears of losing others who meant so much more to her... all alone. Nobody knew that she woke up in the middle of the night in a cold sweat and jumped up to check on her sisters, watching them sleep, and ended up sitting in their doorway the rest of the night just to hear them breathing. Nobody knew that she still had thoughts of suicide that passed through her mind. And nobody knew of the cleverly hidden bandages around her wrists that hid the secrets only the knives in her kitchen knew about.
A broken sob passed through her lips and her body tightened, trying to come in on itself and feel closer to something.
She nearly jumped when a firm hand ran down her back slowly, with a firm but gentle pressure that made its way up again. Turning her head, she gasped through tear-clouded eyes to see the blurred image of Seto Kaiba on his knees by her side, his hand still comforting her. Sitting up and turning, she pulled him into a fierce hug, crying into his neck and gasped for breath as if she had been drowning. He sidled up next to her on the couch and his arms made their way around her back, pulling her firmly into his chest where her head dropped into the space between his shoulder and neck.
He shushed her gently, his fingers trailing up her back and into her hair, his body rocking to assuage whatever anguish she was feeling. Resting his chin atop her hair, his mouth mumbled comforting words to her that neither he nor Téa really cared about. All that mattered was that she was in his arms and he was there for her. Tilting her back but keeping his embrace tight, Kaiba laid her back down on the couch and himself as well, both of them able to fit on the large cushions easily, so as to let her body relax. She was wound tighter than a spring and it certainly wasn't helping to calm her down being in that condition!
Nestling Téa between his body and the back of the couch, he felt her finally start to slow down in her crying, hiccupping occasionally between each heart-wrenching sob and shivering against his chest. Knowing she needed as much touch as possible, Seto wrapped one of his legs over Téa's and pulled her as close as she could get to him, allowing her to feel the beating of his heart through his chest and the rushing of his blood through warm arteries and veins. Minutes passed and she finally quieted down, one of her arms still thrown desperately around his neck and shoulders while the other grabbed viciously at his shirt. Seto had no idea what was wrong, but was somewhat glad that he was able to help her and breathed in the clean scent of her hair as he cuddled her body. His lips pressed against her forehead with infinite care and the warmth there surprised him.
Pulling back only slightly, he found Téa's bleary eyes watching him, half-closed and still glazed with tears. Feeling bad about it, Kaiba couldn't help but admire her beauty even through her pain: the sooty lashes that framed those shining blue orbs, pink nose, swollen cheeks, and lips that tempted him more than gold tempted Midas. Not to mention the sinful body that he was stretched entirely against, nearly forcing his thoughts into naughty territory if not for the despair he watched soar through her eyes. The room was so quiet as they stared at each other that Kaiba could hear the quick little gasps of air passing through Téa's lips and he felt worry slice through him.
"You've got a fever," he told her quietly. She said nothing in response, simply shut her eyes and pushed her nose against his neck, sniffling and rubbing against him. Biting down on his lip till it nearly drew blood, Kaiba sucked air through his teeth. "Baby," he said affectionately, "I want to take care of you but you make it so damn hard." The devil in his mind threw in a reference to a certain body part in regards to his statement and Seto himself beat the little imp mentally with a mallet until his body was crumpled in a corner and swirlies whirled in his eyes. He would have none of that while his girl was hurting!! Téa murmured something against his throat, making his skin tingle.
"Thank you," she said once more, her hand gentling on his imported shirt. Téa breathed deeply and began to push herself up but Kaiba caught her and kept her down. Instead, he sat up, careful of Téa to the extent of putting some of his limbs in awkward and painful positions until his back was upright against the couch and his legs were settled, feet planted on the plush carpet. Yanking a throw pillow from a nearby chair, he placed it on his lap and then helped Téa settle herself there as well. Her glassy eyes stared up at him in confusion and then shut languidly as his fingers began to trail through her hair, running over her scalp to massage and then gently pulling at the silky strands until they were spread all over his legs.
After some time of Kaiba's gentle petting and grooming, Téa fell asleep, her breaths finally even and steady, face relaxed in repose. Kaiba's thoughts drifted over his strange care for the girl in his lap before worriedly focusing on the fact that she was unwell. It didn't seem like her to allow herself to get sick and he wondered, not for the first time, if she was handling the death of her parents as well as everyone presumed. He'd be one of the first in line to say that she looked like she was doing fine, but having been through it himself, he knew better. His brow wrinkled in thought. She was making herself sick, of that he was positive, but why was the true question.
Was it pressure?
The sudden acquisition of a global company?
The deaths of her parents?
Having to take care of her sisters on her own?
Worry over how she was going to stay updated with all of her school work?
Everything?
Or nothing?
Shaking his head, Seto found it easier not to travel down that road. There were far too many rabbit trails that he could find himself on and then, before he knew it, he'd start making assumptions. And playing guessing games about Téa was not something he wanted to do. His feelings for her went deeper than that. How deep, exactly, he wasn't sure, but nobody had ever come this close to his heart besides Mokuba since his parents had died and he didn't want to let go of the feelings... even at the risk of being hurt.
He knew what people said: that he was cold and heartless because he was afraid of being hurt, obviously because he had been hurt in the past. Well, he thought sarcastically, they were right that he had been hurt, but he was in no way afraid of caring for someone. In fact he embraced the idea with arms so wide open that it frightened him, but he couldn't just let anyone in. No superficial friends were going to weasel in on what he had worked so hard for, with blood, sweat, and tears.
His mind suddenly jumped to the press conference and the announcement that Téa had made. Until now, it hadn't really sunk in, but now that the reality was trickling in, he was glad he was sitting down. Kevin was dead. Mr. Hurikama and Mr. Gardner were one in the same. Téa was taking control of a company that rivaled his own and would soon be his business partner... It was almost too much. Absently he wondered, almost marveled at how she had been able to hide all of this from people, from her friends, and from him for so long. She seemed like any other middle-class girl, going to high school, hanging out with friends, active and a good student but suddenly she was an entirely different person. Selfishly, Kaiba thought to himself that he might have more of a chance with her now that he knew she was in his social class. He wanted to bash his head in with a bat; he felt so damn shallow.
Chewing the side of his lip, he took up running his fingers through Téa's hair once more, feeling a sense of calm wash over him as he did so. It was almost like he was in a family setting and he enjoyed basking in the warmth he felt and the trust that Téa had in him to sleep on his lap. Desiring a doze himself, he tilted his head back on the couch and settled deeper into the cushions, rolling his shoulders. Leaving his right hand over Téa's hair, he moved his left hand to entwine with one of Téa's even as she slept. He heard her sigh and gave a little smile before shutting his eyes and succumbing to the lull of a short rest.
***
Téa opened her eyes to see an unfamiliar fan whirring above her and in an all-too-comfortable position. Her head was pillowed in Seto Kaiba's lap and his hands were in her hair and locked with her own: his touch gentle. Looking up at the young man who was sleeping peacefully, she stifled a yawn with her free hand, her gaze soft on him. He looked boyish with hair just a tad too long that fell over his eyes and brushed the sides of his face and a small pout on his firm lips. His shoulders were relaxed, sagging into the expensive leather without a care in the world, unafraid that anyone would see him in a posture that was something other than stiff and formal. Craning her neck, she noticed that he was wearing black lace-up shoes, a black pair of slacks which she thought were Dockers, a long- sleeved baby blue shirt which stretched across his torso in a tempting fashion with the top two buttons undone, and a fine leather jacket slung across his shoulders.
"Damn him for looking good even when he sleeps," Téa muttered with another yawn.
She felt his hand clasping hers and she tightened her grip on him, giving his hand a sentimental squeeze. Bending her knees, Téa set her legs up so that they wouldn't get cramped, wiggling her toes in her confining nylons. Trying to open her eyes all the way, she discovered it was much too painful and decided instead to gaze at the world through half-closed lids. Her head was throbbing now and she put a hand to her forehead, hissing through her teeth when it felt like a mallet was smashing her brains in. She groaned, biting her lip and turning her body to get away from the light in the room, minimal as it was, and found her cheek resting against a firm stomach. Her face heated and she knew she was blushing.
Kaiba stirred and then stilled, causing Téa to think he hadn't wakened until his husky voice chuckled, "Never thought I'd see the day when someone chose my stomach over a pillow."
"Nghhhhh," Téa groaned, holding her head. Even Seto's quiet laughter was making the pain worse. He stopped and ran his fingers over her cheek.
"You let yourself get sick," he whispered, bending at the waist to talk into her ear, careful of her head. "You should be in bed with medicines and fluids," he chided softly.
"I know," she replied so softly that Kaiba had to strain to hear her words.
"Do you want me to take you home?" he questioned, moving his arms to cradle her head against his chest. She nodded, mewling in pain as even that simple movement sent pain shooting through her head. Gently, Kaiba lifted her head and removed the pillow and slid her body up until she was sitting on his lap, then, keeping an arm firmly around her back, slipped the other beneath her knees and stood, letting her shield her eyes in his jacket. Leaving her shoes and jacket, he walked over to the door and tapped on it gently with his foot, opening to reveal a security guard who held the door for them and then opened the door to Kaiba's waiting limousine. Settling them inside the long vehicle where Téa could be most comfortable, he signaled silently to his driver to get going. The engine was no more than a faint purr as they pulled away from the curb and into the streets, making their way to the opposite side of town.
When Kaiba was sure that Téa had fallen asleep again, he pulled his phone out of his pocket and called Harry, making sure to tell the older man that Téa was with him and that her sisters should be taken home as well so that Téa wouldn't worry. He also informed Harry that Téa was running a fever and shouldn't be allowed to go to work for at least the rest of the week and to have someone watch over her to make sure she got better.
"Not to be presumptuous sir," Harry said softly, "but is there any way you could take care of her?"
"Don't I wish," Kaiba replied, "but I still have a company to run myself. And with this merger coming up quick, I really need to make sure everything here is prepared and up to par." He paused. "Could you remember to bring Téa's things to her house when you bring her sisters? I left them there," the young man added, staring down at the young woman who was situated in his lap with her head resting against his shoulder.
"That wouldn't be a problem. I'll see you tomorrow, then?"
"Yes. Goodbye Harry."
"Goodbye Kaiba." The phone clicked and Seto shoved it back in his pocket, then gave his driver directions to Téa's home which they arrived at within twenty minutes. Taking the sleeping girl up into his arms once again, he carried her to the door where he found a security guard holding the door open, obviously having been given an extra key by Harry Jackson so as to let them in without disturbing Téa's sleep to ask her for her key. Kaiba slipped into the house without a sound, glancing around before riveting his eyes on the door at the end of the bottom floor hallway. A certain heated memory had leaped into his mind the moment he looked into the kitchen and while Téa was sick, he didn't want to be thinking like that.
Pushing her door open with his foot, he gazed at her sanctuary. It wasn't what he expected yet seemed to fit her. On her walls were pictures of her family smiling in front of the Eiffel Tower in Paris, the Twin Towers before they had fallen in New York, the Winter Olympics in Nagano and several professional paintings of the Greek goddess Athena. A queen bed sat in the center of her room, covered with a thick comforter and dark blue sheets decorated with gold moons and stars with matching pillows while an old, raggedy teddy bear sat in the middle, slumped on his side carelessly. Her dresser top served as a knick-knack shelf and there, small portraits of her with her friends grinned up at him from between crystal seals that balanced glass balls on their noses and a music box where a pink ballerina stood poised and ready to dance. Against the opposite wall was her vanity which had a large framed mirror and a few bottles of perfume atop it. Her closet was off to the right in the far corner with sliding mirror doors and he could see a few pairs of shoes peeking out at him where they had been thrown. The fan above them turned on its lowest setting, allowing a cool current of air to circulate through the room.
Kaiba pressed a sweet kiss against Téa's still-warm forehead and laid her down on her bed, careful not to crush the bear, and wishing he could stay with her. The space next to her slumbering body called to him, beckoning him to sleep beside her, to take this little slice of Heaven and enjoy it at least for the rest of the day before the world once again intruded. Shaking his head and going to the bathroom, he searched for some kind of pain reliever to alleviate her headache and bring her temperature back down. Finding a bottle of Excedrin, he palmed two of them and then traveled to the kitchen where he made his mission to find a small cup and fill it with orange juice.
Satisfied that he had made it through the kitchen without one dirty thought, he returned triumphantly to Téa's room and saw her blinking at him, her eyes squinting and pained. Pressing his lips together, he approached her and helped her sit up, handing her the pills and then the orange juice to follow with. She gulped them down and finished the cup at Seto's insistence, then laid back down and shut her eyes against the pillow. Kaiba stood to go, stopping at her doorway to look back at her before muttering, "Screw it."
He slid his shoes and coat off, drooping it over the vanity chair before sliding in next to Téa, wrapping his arms securely around her waist and pulling her close. His head rested across from hers and he watched her sleep for a while before letting himself fall asleep once again, not noticing the time and not caring.
***
It was close to seven when he finally woke up, his mind groggy and limbs unwilling to cooperate. He shook his head to rid himself of the sleepiness that still clung to him and reached for Téa to pull her closer but instead frowned when his arms found nothing but sheets and blankets. Opening his eyes rapidly, he blinked and was ready to jump up and search for her, his mind already in frantic overdrive after his dream, when he saw her sitting on the sill of her window. She had a book propped up against bent legs and looked so fragile in the cool blue light of the moon coming through the glass, as well as the small lamp by her side. Her head turned to regard him and she gave him a soft smile which would have undoubtedly brought him to his knees had he not been laying down.
"You are supposed to be resting," he told her, sitting up and rolling his shoulders as he rubbed his eyes. Téa giggled quietly.
"You are such a worry-wart," she joked, closing her book and setting it in her lap. Kaiba couldn't help but feel in awe at her movements, so fluid and smooth like the waters in a fountain, and had to shut his mouth when he realized it was hanging open.
"I am not," Seto replied indignantly, turning his face away and then sneaking a peek to see if she thought he was joking. By the way she bit her lip and the twinkle in her glazed eyes, he knew that she knew.
"I have been resting all day long, I'm drinking plenty of fluids," she said as she motioned to the large cups of water and orange juice by her side, "I took my medicine, and I've even changed into jammies to be more comfortable. What else could I possibly do?" Her hands rubbed over the familiar blue cow pajamas and Kaiba grinned before standing and walking over to her, sitting on the edge of the couch-like sill. His finger looped under one of her spaghetti straps and tugged on it playfully, sliding it over her shoulder.
"You'll catch your death in these pjs," he chuckled. Téa gasped when he leaned forward and placed a warm kiss on the skin of her shoulder before pulling the strap back into place. "Are you feeling better?" She nodded.
"Much better. My headache is gone and so are the chills, but I've still got a fever. Last time I checked it was around one-hundred. I can thank you for getting rid of my chills though," Téa added as she leaned forward toward Kaiba's ear. "You're better than a hot water bottle when you want to be." She watched him shiver and took delight in his unease but soon found herself face to face with him and leaning back, his arms on either side of her head with palms pressed against the wall.
"I guess it just depends on the girl I'm with," he said softly, his eyes trying to convey a special message. She understood what he was saying but decided she would tease him since the words could be misconstrued so easily.
"There'd better NOT be any other girls," she said threateningly, grabbing the collar of his shirt and yanking him closer. Kaiba blinked.
"Th-that's not what I meant!" he stammered, his lips still moving afterwards with no words coming out. He watched the facade of threatening blue before him melt into laughter and she jerked back, futilely hiding her giggles behind her hands. "Such a tease," he whispered darkly, turning an innocent kiss on her temple to something utterly sensual. Téa's laughing stopped and her breathing became sharp pants as Kaiba's lips trailed down her face, planting kisses all along her cheeks and chin and nipping at her jaw gently. Her head fell back and his attentions went to her pale neck which was as warm as his lips, still carrying the heat of the fever.
Scooting closer to Téa, he angled his head and laid open-mouthed kisses against her throat, feeling her pulse leap beneath his touch. At the junction between her creamy neck and shoulder, he bit her and smoothed over it with his tongue, reveling in Téa's reaction over it. Her hands latched onto his sides, thumbs sliding over his body through his shirt, barely caressing muscles through the material. His growl against her throat vibrated and made her shiver when she found his face with slender fingers and pulled his face up to meet hers, blue locking together.
"Don't," she said quietly.
"What?" Kaiba asked of her, his head tilting to the side boyishly. She closed her eyes and looked away and his confusion began to turn into hurt. "Why?" He watched her blush and was confused again. She played more havoc on his emotions and feelings than even worrying about Mokuba did!
"Please, don't. You know where this is leading and personally, I'd like to kiss you properly, but that can't happen while I'm sick. I don't want you getting whatever it is I've got. Don't get me wrong, your lips feel entirely wonderful and I can't describe half of what you make me feel when you touch me, but I want to be able to reciprocate my appreciation and I can't right now. Is that alright? Did I offend you?" Téa asked him, one hand rising to touch his cheek gently. He turned his face and pressed a kiss into her palm and trailed light-as-air touches down to her wrist before turning his tumultuous gaze on her, effectively stealing her breath from her.
"I'll do whatever you want. It's almost worth getting sick over, in my opinion," he whispered conspiratorially to her, catching her lips with the barest kiss. "The next time I see you and you are well, I'll make sure to make up for this time," Kaiba promised. Tea gave him a small, thankful smile and he pulled her into his arms once more, lifting her away from the window and depositing her on her bed.
"Thank you for today, Seto," Tea whispered as Kaiba pulled the sheets and covers over her still-tired body. She yawned and blinked her sleepy eyes, trying to keep her gaze on the young man that had morphed into something so wonderful since she had met him. "You took care of me and didn't even say anything about my father or the company. I don't think you realize how much that means to me..." she trailed off. Kaiba smiled down at her.
"There'll be time enough to talk about those things. You're my girl Tea and I don't want anything happening to you. I'd take care of you but real life is screaming at me even now to return to the business world and run a corporation. Take care of yourself and I'll see you and your sisters Friday night for that dinner, okay?" Kaiba said, leaning over her and finding out that she had drifted off to sleep. He shook his head. He didn't mind.
Sitting down on the vanity chair, he tied his shoes back on and pulled on his jacket before leaving Tea's room, a fond shine in his eyes gleaming as he walked away down the hall. He checked on Tea's sleeping sisters quickly, making sure that the silent lumps were doing alright before making his way back downstairs and out the door, careful to lock it with the key that the guard had given him earlier. Patting the key in his pocket, he waited a few moments as his driver, whom he had called a few minutes later to come and take him home, got out and opened his door. When it had been shut and he sat in the furnished interior of the limo, he found his fingers drifting to his pocket where he took the key back out and fingered it, a smile spreading across his face.
***
End of Part 6. Well, what did you think? I did a bit more inner-conflict, deep emotion delving in this chapter than in the previous ones because it needed to be done. How did I do? Can you believe I wrote a chapter than spans over the length of only one day? Geeze, and I was hoping to get to the Friday night dinner get-together....
If you'd like me to email you when I update, just drop me an email or simply leave your address in a review so that I know. I don't mind letting everyone know since I myself can't say when the updates will come.
No question of the week, just a favorite saying of mine: There are only a few PERFECT people in the world. The rest... are right-handed! Boo-yah! Can you guess which hand *I* write with?
REPLYING TO THE REVIEWS:
Aaron Chang: Aaron, you gave your first review to me? That is, I think, the greatest compliment I can receive! Thanks so much for thinking I'm good enough to spend your review on.
BBB: Well, here's another chapter! No more teary eyes for you!
kawaii* cherry: It has NOT been four months, just so you know. Almost, but not quite! I'm so proud of myself. Thanks!
LadySilverDragon2: Gratzi!
ShinakaStar: In all honesty, there's not that many for me to compare to, but thanks anyway!
SailorPanda: That is one of the longest reviews I've ever gotten. Thanks a bunch for the kind words and the different recommendations! Totally appreciated!
Dazma: Did I really make your day better? *gives Dazma huggles* Now it's twice as good. Hope you liked this chapter and sorry again about taking so long.
Lita Maxwell: I'm SO glad you liked the kiss. Those can sometimes take a lot out of you when you're writing them. Glad you enjoy Kaiba's good and bad consciences.
Raye: Don't you 'grr' at me! *chuckles* Thanks!
Lonely Night Angel: *gulps* You've been counting the seconds?!?! I am in such big trouble...
DarkSetoKaiba: Never fear, sometimes it just takes a little longer to get accepted. Keep trying and remember that a real writer writes for themself and *then* for the fans. Thanks!
Saiyan Rage: Finally, somebody who can understand! Your kind words perked me up and made me feel a little better about the last chapter. I know I'm overdoing a few parts in this fic, inheriting a company is a little massive, but it is fiction after all!
Ferret Girl: Your favorite fic is this one! *puts hand to forehead* Wow, thanks! Professional, huh? I hope my name is on the bookshelves someday, that'd be a dream come true.
Serena4: AWWWWWW! Your comments were sooooooooooooo cute!
Tara-hime: Don't you take that tone of voice with me! *giggles* Just kidding. Glad to make you feel warm and fuzzy inside. Hope this chapter did the same as well. This chappy made me think of a warm blanket.... So comfy and toasty! MMMM! A Seto blanket! *huggles blanket*
American Badass: It's okay, I certainly have no qualms about you taking your time, as long you don't have any about me taking mine... hehe.
SpiritAnzu: Thankies!
Guardian Kysra: He does have a cute tushy, doesn't he? *grins* Thanks SOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO much for the great words and I'm glad that you are still enjoying this fic, even though the updates are few and far between. Your insight on this fic sometimes seems a little deeper than even my own! And I'm writing this thing! *mutters about ESP*
starkitty: Glad to hear your thoughts about Tea. We're just about on the same page, there. Thank you for the lengthy review!
Quickening: I sure hope you haven't forgotten this fic! You came so close last time that I'm worried now! I don't want to lose your nice words and encouragement, especially since you take the time to write more that a few words or two lines! *huggles* Haven't gotten much of a chance to check out your stuff, but I'll do that soon!
Please review, I love reading your comments on my work guys! Or email, that's ALWAYS wonderful!
Atlantis *^_^*
If you ever want to talk fics or my work on a more direct level, you can IM me. Screen name: godscartungrrl
I don't think I'm gonna waste my breath on heart-felt apologies because I know you all want to kill me for the long wait, regardless of what I say. Oh well. If you kill me, then you'll never get an update ever again! Ha! Take that!
I said it wouldn't take another four months and I was right: just barely. Okay, so it was two and a half weeks past three months, but it still wasn't four! I'm slowly getting better.
Thank you to all of my reviewers from the last chapter: Aaron Chang, BBB, kawaii* cherry, LadySilverDragon2, ShinakaStar, SailorPanda, Dazma, Lita Maxwell, Raye, Lonely Night Angel, DarkSetoKaiba, Saiyan Rage, Ferret Girl, Serena4, Tara-hime, American Badass, SpiritAnzu, Guardian Kysra, starkitty, and Quickening. My replies to your marvelous reviews will once again be at the end.
Disclaimer: Yes! I admit it! I own Yu-Gi-Oh! and everything affiliated with it. If you touch one little thing, I'll sue your pants off... Huh? Oh, it was just a dream... *goes into a corner and cries*
Rating: PG-13
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Trust in the Lord and do good. Then you will live safely in the land and prosper. Take delight in the Lord, and he will give you your heart's desires.
Psalm 37:3&4
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PART 6
After Harry had answered any and all questions regarding the girls and the death of their parents, he excused himself, saying that the conference had now ended and ushered Téa and her sisters into a building across the way from the podium. As soon as they made it inside the door, Téa knelt by her sisters' sides, pulling a handkerchief from one of her pockets and gently removed the tears from their faces. Arashi and Kiri buried their faces into Téa's sides, their small arms attempting to span her waist and hug her tightly.
Tears crept out of Téa's eyes as she kissed the tops of the little girls' heads and pulled them closer, sighing into their hair and smiling faintly. Reluctantly, after a few minutes, Téa stood and pulled away from them because kneeling on high-heels was murder to her feet. They trailed after her to a plush couch that sat up against the far wall and folded themselves on either side of her, cuddling up and shutting their little eyes. Téa's arms wrapped around them securely and within ten minutes, both were soundly asleep.
Letting her head fall back against the couch, the teen breathed out steadily and stared at the ceiling, content to have her sisters so near to her, trusting her. She stretched her neck as she looked back down; Harry stood by the door they had entered, whispering to another man with an earpiece and a black suit before the guard nodded and shut the door behind him as he left. Harry turned as he wiped his forehead, noticing Téa's stare. A small smile lifted the corners of his lips and the corners of his eyes crinkled, making him look more like a grandfather than a lawyer.
"I don't know how you've always been able to do that with them," he said quietly, indicating the little girls, "but you surely have a gift." He took a few steps toward the trio. "You look exhausted."
"You're right," came the simple reply. "Maybe I shouldn't have taken the girls to the press conference today. It really shook them up, especially with all of the cameras and flashing lights. They were so intimidated and they certainly didn't need to feel any smaller in the world than they have been lately," Téa's tired voice added. "But I can't undo the fact that they were there today so they'll just have to take it in their stride. Just like me."
"Would you like to rest?" Harry asked, kneeling in front of Téa and putting a hand on her knee. She nodded. "How 'bout I take these two up to the suite upstairs where they can nap in peace and you can crash in here and unwind?" Téa smiled gratefully at him and gingerly removed her arms from around Arashi and Kiri's small bodies, allowing Harry to take one in each arm, their heads cradled against his shoulders. He smiled at her as he passed through the doorway that led to another room and up the stairs before Téa finally let her muscles relax fully.
Standing up, she shrugged off her jacket and unbuttoned the cuffs of her blouse, as well as the top two buttons that led up to her neck before tossing her shoes into a corner. She kneaded the pads of her feet for a few moments before sinking back into the leather couch after flipping a switch to turn on the above ceiling fan. Cool air whirled around her as she laid down, stretching across the furniture with a worried countenance.
Confusion and fear filled her mind as she thought about the consequences of keeping her life so secretive. It was enough to have Kaiba know the truth about her family after spending time with her and comforting her after her parents' death, but for the rest of the nation and her *friends* to find out everything that happened through a newscast... the thought was almost unbearable. She wouldn't blame them if they were furious at her for keeping so much from them. After all, they were supposed to be her best friends and all she had ever done was put up a happy school girl facade.
Deciding not to dwell on it too much, Téa shifted to her side and gazed at the room around her. From the outside it looked like an old factory or warehouse, when in fact it was more of an after-conference retreat, at least until the press disappeared completely. The colors were all neutral but had a subtle liveliness that kept it from being bland. Soft, thick carpet covered the entire floor and was a light beige; light brown leather furniture was spaced throughout the room so that numerous people could be comfortable; several stylish coffee tables were dispersed between the chairs; and stand-up lamps stood as sentry every few feet to keep the room well-lit. It was dark now though because Téa had turned off the lights, deciding she'd rather think and brood in the dark.
She flipped to her other side so that her back faced the wall and figured she may as well try to rest. The only problem was, her eyes refused to stay closed. Téa felt wired and agitated, and unbelievably alone. Her skin shivered but not from the cold. Perhaps she should have gone upstairs with her sisters because at least then she wouldn't be by herself. Harry had mentioned the day before that she was handling herself marvelously, especially since the accident was still so fresh in her mind and she was refusing counseling. Téa couldn't have felt more like a liar in her entire life.
Yes, she had decided to work on her problems alone, but the problem with that was that she was alone. Left to fend off the demons of her nightmares by herself, the insecurities that made her shake with shame, and the fears of losing others who meant so much more to her... all alone. Nobody knew that she woke up in the middle of the night in a cold sweat and jumped up to check on her sisters, watching them sleep, and ended up sitting in their doorway the rest of the night just to hear them breathing. Nobody knew that she still had thoughts of suicide that passed through her mind. And nobody knew of the cleverly hidden bandages around her wrists that hid the secrets only the knives in her kitchen knew about.
A broken sob passed through her lips and her body tightened, trying to come in on itself and feel closer to something.
She nearly jumped when a firm hand ran down her back slowly, with a firm but gentle pressure that made its way up again. Turning her head, she gasped through tear-clouded eyes to see the blurred image of Seto Kaiba on his knees by her side, his hand still comforting her. Sitting up and turning, she pulled him into a fierce hug, crying into his neck and gasped for breath as if she had been drowning. He sidled up next to her on the couch and his arms made their way around her back, pulling her firmly into his chest where her head dropped into the space between his shoulder and neck.
He shushed her gently, his fingers trailing up her back and into her hair, his body rocking to assuage whatever anguish she was feeling. Resting his chin atop her hair, his mouth mumbled comforting words to her that neither he nor Téa really cared about. All that mattered was that she was in his arms and he was there for her. Tilting her back but keeping his embrace tight, Kaiba laid her back down on the couch and himself as well, both of them able to fit on the large cushions easily, so as to let her body relax. She was wound tighter than a spring and it certainly wasn't helping to calm her down being in that condition!
Nestling Téa between his body and the back of the couch, he felt her finally start to slow down in her crying, hiccupping occasionally between each heart-wrenching sob and shivering against his chest. Knowing she needed as much touch as possible, Seto wrapped one of his legs over Téa's and pulled her as close as she could get to him, allowing her to feel the beating of his heart through his chest and the rushing of his blood through warm arteries and veins. Minutes passed and she finally quieted down, one of her arms still thrown desperately around his neck and shoulders while the other grabbed viciously at his shirt. Seto had no idea what was wrong, but was somewhat glad that he was able to help her and breathed in the clean scent of her hair as he cuddled her body. His lips pressed against her forehead with infinite care and the warmth there surprised him.
Pulling back only slightly, he found Téa's bleary eyes watching him, half-closed and still glazed with tears. Feeling bad about it, Kaiba couldn't help but admire her beauty even through her pain: the sooty lashes that framed those shining blue orbs, pink nose, swollen cheeks, and lips that tempted him more than gold tempted Midas. Not to mention the sinful body that he was stretched entirely against, nearly forcing his thoughts into naughty territory if not for the despair he watched soar through her eyes. The room was so quiet as they stared at each other that Kaiba could hear the quick little gasps of air passing through Téa's lips and he felt worry slice through him.
"You've got a fever," he told her quietly. She said nothing in response, simply shut her eyes and pushed her nose against his neck, sniffling and rubbing against him. Biting down on his lip till it nearly drew blood, Kaiba sucked air through his teeth. "Baby," he said affectionately, "I want to take care of you but you make it so damn hard." The devil in his mind threw in a reference to a certain body part in regards to his statement and Seto himself beat the little imp mentally with a mallet until his body was crumpled in a corner and swirlies whirled in his eyes. He would have none of that while his girl was hurting!! Téa murmured something against his throat, making his skin tingle.
"Thank you," she said once more, her hand gentling on his imported shirt. Téa breathed deeply and began to push herself up but Kaiba caught her and kept her down. Instead, he sat up, careful of Téa to the extent of putting some of his limbs in awkward and painful positions until his back was upright against the couch and his legs were settled, feet planted on the plush carpet. Yanking a throw pillow from a nearby chair, he placed it on his lap and then helped Téa settle herself there as well. Her glassy eyes stared up at him in confusion and then shut languidly as his fingers began to trail through her hair, running over her scalp to massage and then gently pulling at the silky strands until they were spread all over his legs.
After some time of Kaiba's gentle petting and grooming, Téa fell asleep, her breaths finally even and steady, face relaxed in repose. Kaiba's thoughts drifted over his strange care for the girl in his lap before worriedly focusing on the fact that she was unwell. It didn't seem like her to allow herself to get sick and he wondered, not for the first time, if she was handling the death of her parents as well as everyone presumed. He'd be one of the first in line to say that she looked like she was doing fine, but having been through it himself, he knew better. His brow wrinkled in thought. She was making herself sick, of that he was positive, but why was the true question.
Was it pressure?
The sudden acquisition of a global company?
The deaths of her parents?
Having to take care of her sisters on her own?
Worry over how she was going to stay updated with all of her school work?
Everything?
Or nothing?
Shaking his head, Seto found it easier not to travel down that road. There were far too many rabbit trails that he could find himself on and then, before he knew it, he'd start making assumptions. And playing guessing games about Téa was not something he wanted to do. His feelings for her went deeper than that. How deep, exactly, he wasn't sure, but nobody had ever come this close to his heart besides Mokuba since his parents had died and he didn't want to let go of the feelings... even at the risk of being hurt.
He knew what people said: that he was cold and heartless because he was afraid of being hurt, obviously because he had been hurt in the past. Well, he thought sarcastically, they were right that he had been hurt, but he was in no way afraid of caring for someone. In fact he embraced the idea with arms so wide open that it frightened him, but he couldn't just let anyone in. No superficial friends were going to weasel in on what he had worked so hard for, with blood, sweat, and tears.
His mind suddenly jumped to the press conference and the announcement that Téa had made. Until now, it hadn't really sunk in, but now that the reality was trickling in, he was glad he was sitting down. Kevin was dead. Mr. Hurikama and Mr. Gardner were one in the same. Téa was taking control of a company that rivaled his own and would soon be his business partner... It was almost too much. Absently he wondered, almost marveled at how she had been able to hide all of this from people, from her friends, and from him for so long. She seemed like any other middle-class girl, going to high school, hanging out with friends, active and a good student but suddenly she was an entirely different person. Selfishly, Kaiba thought to himself that he might have more of a chance with her now that he knew she was in his social class. He wanted to bash his head in with a bat; he felt so damn shallow.
Chewing the side of his lip, he took up running his fingers through Téa's hair once more, feeling a sense of calm wash over him as he did so. It was almost like he was in a family setting and he enjoyed basking in the warmth he felt and the trust that Téa had in him to sleep on his lap. Desiring a doze himself, he tilted his head back on the couch and settled deeper into the cushions, rolling his shoulders. Leaving his right hand over Téa's hair, he moved his left hand to entwine with one of Téa's even as she slept. He heard her sigh and gave a little smile before shutting his eyes and succumbing to the lull of a short rest.
***
Téa opened her eyes to see an unfamiliar fan whirring above her and in an all-too-comfortable position. Her head was pillowed in Seto Kaiba's lap and his hands were in her hair and locked with her own: his touch gentle. Looking up at the young man who was sleeping peacefully, she stifled a yawn with her free hand, her gaze soft on him. He looked boyish with hair just a tad too long that fell over his eyes and brushed the sides of his face and a small pout on his firm lips. His shoulders were relaxed, sagging into the expensive leather without a care in the world, unafraid that anyone would see him in a posture that was something other than stiff and formal. Craning her neck, she noticed that he was wearing black lace-up shoes, a black pair of slacks which she thought were Dockers, a long- sleeved baby blue shirt which stretched across his torso in a tempting fashion with the top two buttons undone, and a fine leather jacket slung across his shoulders.
"Damn him for looking good even when he sleeps," Téa muttered with another yawn.
She felt his hand clasping hers and she tightened her grip on him, giving his hand a sentimental squeeze. Bending her knees, Téa set her legs up so that they wouldn't get cramped, wiggling her toes in her confining nylons. Trying to open her eyes all the way, she discovered it was much too painful and decided instead to gaze at the world through half-closed lids. Her head was throbbing now and she put a hand to her forehead, hissing through her teeth when it felt like a mallet was smashing her brains in. She groaned, biting her lip and turning her body to get away from the light in the room, minimal as it was, and found her cheek resting against a firm stomach. Her face heated and she knew she was blushing.
Kaiba stirred and then stilled, causing Téa to think he hadn't wakened until his husky voice chuckled, "Never thought I'd see the day when someone chose my stomach over a pillow."
"Nghhhhh," Téa groaned, holding her head. Even Seto's quiet laughter was making the pain worse. He stopped and ran his fingers over her cheek.
"You let yourself get sick," he whispered, bending at the waist to talk into her ear, careful of her head. "You should be in bed with medicines and fluids," he chided softly.
"I know," she replied so softly that Kaiba had to strain to hear her words.
"Do you want me to take you home?" he questioned, moving his arms to cradle her head against his chest. She nodded, mewling in pain as even that simple movement sent pain shooting through her head. Gently, Kaiba lifted her head and removed the pillow and slid her body up until she was sitting on his lap, then, keeping an arm firmly around her back, slipped the other beneath her knees and stood, letting her shield her eyes in his jacket. Leaving her shoes and jacket, he walked over to the door and tapped on it gently with his foot, opening to reveal a security guard who held the door for them and then opened the door to Kaiba's waiting limousine. Settling them inside the long vehicle where Téa could be most comfortable, he signaled silently to his driver to get going. The engine was no more than a faint purr as they pulled away from the curb and into the streets, making their way to the opposite side of town.
When Kaiba was sure that Téa had fallen asleep again, he pulled his phone out of his pocket and called Harry, making sure to tell the older man that Téa was with him and that her sisters should be taken home as well so that Téa wouldn't worry. He also informed Harry that Téa was running a fever and shouldn't be allowed to go to work for at least the rest of the week and to have someone watch over her to make sure she got better.
"Not to be presumptuous sir," Harry said softly, "but is there any way you could take care of her?"
"Don't I wish," Kaiba replied, "but I still have a company to run myself. And with this merger coming up quick, I really need to make sure everything here is prepared and up to par." He paused. "Could you remember to bring Téa's things to her house when you bring her sisters? I left them there," the young man added, staring down at the young woman who was situated in his lap with her head resting against his shoulder.
"That wouldn't be a problem. I'll see you tomorrow, then?"
"Yes. Goodbye Harry."
"Goodbye Kaiba." The phone clicked and Seto shoved it back in his pocket, then gave his driver directions to Téa's home which they arrived at within twenty minutes. Taking the sleeping girl up into his arms once again, he carried her to the door where he found a security guard holding the door open, obviously having been given an extra key by Harry Jackson so as to let them in without disturbing Téa's sleep to ask her for her key. Kaiba slipped into the house without a sound, glancing around before riveting his eyes on the door at the end of the bottom floor hallway. A certain heated memory had leaped into his mind the moment he looked into the kitchen and while Téa was sick, he didn't want to be thinking like that.
Pushing her door open with his foot, he gazed at her sanctuary. It wasn't what he expected yet seemed to fit her. On her walls were pictures of her family smiling in front of the Eiffel Tower in Paris, the Twin Towers before they had fallen in New York, the Winter Olympics in Nagano and several professional paintings of the Greek goddess Athena. A queen bed sat in the center of her room, covered with a thick comforter and dark blue sheets decorated with gold moons and stars with matching pillows while an old, raggedy teddy bear sat in the middle, slumped on his side carelessly. Her dresser top served as a knick-knack shelf and there, small portraits of her with her friends grinned up at him from between crystal seals that balanced glass balls on their noses and a music box where a pink ballerina stood poised and ready to dance. Against the opposite wall was her vanity which had a large framed mirror and a few bottles of perfume atop it. Her closet was off to the right in the far corner with sliding mirror doors and he could see a few pairs of shoes peeking out at him where they had been thrown. The fan above them turned on its lowest setting, allowing a cool current of air to circulate through the room.
Kaiba pressed a sweet kiss against Téa's still-warm forehead and laid her down on her bed, careful not to crush the bear, and wishing he could stay with her. The space next to her slumbering body called to him, beckoning him to sleep beside her, to take this little slice of Heaven and enjoy it at least for the rest of the day before the world once again intruded. Shaking his head and going to the bathroom, he searched for some kind of pain reliever to alleviate her headache and bring her temperature back down. Finding a bottle of Excedrin, he palmed two of them and then traveled to the kitchen where he made his mission to find a small cup and fill it with orange juice.
Satisfied that he had made it through the kitchen without one dirty thought, he returned triumphantly to Téa's room and saw her blinking at him, her eyes squinting and pained. Pressing his lips together, he approached her and helped her sit up, handing her the pills and then the orange juice to follow with. She gulped them down and finished the cup at Seto's insistence, then laid back down and shut her eyes against the pillow. Kaiba stood to go, stopping at her doorway to look back at her before muttering, "Screw it."
He slid his shoes and coat off, drooping it over the vanity chair before sliding in next to Téa, wrapping his arms securely around her waist and pulling her close. His head rested across from hers and he watched her sleep for a while before letting himself fall asleep once again, not noticing the time and not caring.
***
It was close to seven when he finally woke up, his mind groggy and limbs unwilling to cooperate. He shook his head to rid himself of the sleepiness that still clung to him and reached for Téa to pull her closer but instead frowned when his arms found nothing but sheets and blankets. Opening his eyes rapidly, he blinked and was ready to jump up and search for her, his mind already in frantic overdrive after his dream, when he saw her sitting on the sill of her window. She had a book propped up against bent legs and looked so fragile in the cool blue light of the moon coming through the glass, as well as the small lamp by her side. Her head turned to regard him and she gave him a soft smile which would have undoubtedly brought him to his knees had he not been laying down.
"You are supposed to be resting," he told her, sitting up and rolling his shoulders as he rubbed his eyes. Téa giggled quietly.
"You are such a worry-wart," she joked, closing her book and setting it in her lap. Kaiba couldn't help but feel in awe at her movements, so fluid and smooth like the waters in a fountain, and had to shut his mouth when he realized it was hanging open.
"I am not," Seto replied indignantly, turning his face away and then sneaking a peek to see if she thought he was joking. By the way she bit her lip and the twinkle in her glazed eyes, he knew that she knew.
"I have been resting all day long, I'm drinking plenty of fluids," she said as she motioned to the large cups of water and orange juice by her side, "I took my medicine, and I've even changed into jammies to be more comfortable. What else could I possibly do?" Her hands rubbed over the familiar blue cow pajamas and Kaiba grinned before standing and walking over to her, sitting on the edge of the couch-like sill. His finger looped under one of her spaghetti straps and tugged on it playfully, sliding it over her shoulder.
"You'll catch your death in these pjs," he chuckled. Téa gasped when he leaned forward and placed a warm kiss on the skin of her shoulder before pulling the strap back into place. "Are you feeling better?" She nodded.
"Much better. My headache is gone and so are the chills, but I've still got a fever. Last time I checked it was around one-hundred. I can thank you for getting rid of my chills though," Téa added as she leaned forward toward Kaiba's ear. "You're better than a hot water bottle when you want to be." She watched him shiver and took delight in his unease but soon found herself face to face with him and leaning back, his arms on either side of her head with palms pressed against the wall.
"I guess it just depends on the girl I'm with," he said softly, his eyes trying to convey a special message. She understood what he was saying but decided she would tease him since the words could be misconstrued so easily.
"There'd better NOT be any other girls," she said threateningly, grabbing the collar of his shirt and yanking him closer. Kaiba blinked.
"Th-that's not what I meant!" he stammered, his lips still moving afterwards with no words coming out. He watched the facade of threatening blue before him melt into laughter and she jerked back, futilely hiding her giggles behind her hands. "Such a tease," he whispered darkly, turning an innocent kiss on her temple to something utterly sensual. Téa's laughing stopped and her breathing became sharp pants as Kaiba's lips trailed down her face, planting kisses all along her cheeks and chin and nipping at her jaw gently. Her head fell back and his attentions went to her pale neck which was as warm as his lips, still carrying the heat of the fever.
Scooting closer to Téa, he angled his head and laid open-mouthed kisses against her throat, feeling her pulse leap beneath his touch. At the junction between her creamy neck and shoulder, he bit her and smoothed over it with his tongue, reveling in Téa's reaction over it. Her hands latched onto his sides, thumbs sliding over his body through his shirt, barely caressing muscles through the material. His growl against her throat vibrated and made her shiver when she found his face with slender fingers and pulled his face up to meet hers, blue locking together.
"Don't," she said quietly.
"What?" Kaiba asked of her, his head tilting to the side boyishly. She closed her eyes and looked away and his confusion began to turn into hurt. "Why?" He watched her blush and was confused again. She played more havoc on his emotions and feelings than even worrying about Mokuba did!
"Please, don't. You know where this is leading and personally, I'd like to kiss you properly, but that can't happen while I'm sick. I don't want you getting whatever it is I've got. Don't get me wrong, your lips feel entirely wonderful and I can't describe half of what you make me feel when you touch me, but I want to be able to reciprocate my appreciation and I can't right now. Is that alright? Did I offend you?" Téa asked him, one hand rising to touch his cheek gently. He turned his face and pressed a kiss into her palm and trailed light-as-air touches down to her wrist before turning his tumultuous gaze on her, effectively stealing her breath from her.
"I'll do whatever you want. It's almost worth getting sick over, in my opinion," he whispered conspiratorially to her, catching her lips with the barest kiss. "The next time I see you and you are well, I'll make sure to make up for this time," Kaiba promised. Tea gave him a small, thankful smile and he pulled her into his arms once more, lifting her away from the window and depositing her on her bed.
"Thank you for today, Seto," Tea whispered as Kaiba pulled the sheets and covers over her still-tired body. She yawned and blinked her sleepy eyes, trying to keep her gaze on the young man that had morphed into something so wonderful since she had met him. "You took care of me and didn't even say anything about my father or the company. I don't think you realize how much that means to me..." she trailed off. Kaiba smiled down at her.
"There'll be time enough to talk about those things. You're my girl Tea and I don't want anything happening to you. I'd take care of you but real life is screaming at me even now to return to the business world and run a corporation. Take care of yourself and I'll see you and your sisters Friday night for that dinner, okay?" Kaiba said, leaning over her and finding out that she had drifted off to sleep. He shook his head. He didn't mind.
Sitting down on the vanity chair, he tied his shoes back on and pulled on his jacket before leaving Tea's room, a fond shine in his eyes gleaming as he walked away down the hall. He checked on Tea's sleeping sisters quickly, making sure that the silent lumps were doing alright before making his way back downstairs and out the door, careful to lock it with the key that the guard had given him earlier. Patting the key in his pocket, he waited a few moments as his driver, whom he had called a few minutes later to come and take him home, got out and opened his door. When it had been shut and he sat in the furnished interior of the limo, he found his fingers drifting to his pocket where he took the key back out and fingered it, a smile spreading across his face.
***
End of Part 6. Well, what did you think? I did a bit more inner-conflict, deep emotion delving in this chapter than in the previous ones because it needed to be done. How did I do? Can you believe I wrote a chapter than spans over the length of only one day? Geeze, and I was hoping to get to the Friday night dinner get-together....
If you'd like me to email you when I update, just drop me an email or simply leave your address in a review so that I know. I don't mind letting everyone know since I myself can't say when the updates will come.
No question of the week, just a favorite saying of mine: There are only a few PERFECT people in the world. The rest... are right-handed! Boo-yah! Can you guess which hand *I* write with?
REPLYING TO THE REVIEWS:
Aaron Chang: Aaron, you gave your first review to me? That is, I think, the greatest compliment I can receive! Thanks so much for thinking I'm good enough to spend your review on.
BBB: Well, here's another chapter! No more teary eyes for you!
kawaii* cherry: It has NOT been four months, just so you know. Almost, but not quite! I'm so proud of myself. Thanks!
LadySilverDragon2: Gratzi!
ShinakaStar: In all honesty, there's not that many for me to compare to, but thanks anyway!
SailorPanda: That is one of the longest reviews I've ever gotten. Thanks a bunch for the kind words and the different recommendations! Totally appreciated!
Dazma: Did I really make your day better? *gives Dazma huggles* Now it's twice as good. Hope you liked this chapter and sorry again about taking so long.
Lita Maxwell: I'm SO glad you liked the kiss. Those can sometimes take a lot out of you when you're writing them. Glad you enjoy Kaiba's good and bad consciences.
Raye: Don't you 'grr' at me! *chuckles* Thanks!
Lonely Night Angel: *gulps* You've been counting the seconds?!?! I am in such big trouble...
DarkSetoKaiba: Never fear, sometimes it just takes a little longer to get accepted. Keep trying and remember that a real writer writes for themself and *then* for the fans. Thanks!
Saiyan Rage: Finally, somebody who can understand! Your kind words perked me up and made me feel a little better about the last chapter. I know I'm overdoing a few parts in this fic, inheriting a company is a little massive, but it is fiction after all!
Ferret Girl: Your favorite fic is this one! *puts hand to forehead* Wow, thanks! Professional, huh? I hope my name is on the bookshelves someday, that'd be a dream come true.
Serena4: AWWWWWW! Your comments were sooooooooooooo cute!
Tara-hime: Don't you take that tone of voice with me! *giggles* Just kidding. Glad to make you feel warm and fuzzy inside. Hope this chapter did the same as well. This chappy made me think of a warm blanket.... So comfy and toasty! MMMM! A Seto blanket! *huggles blanket*
American Badass: It's okay, I certainly have no qualms about you taking your time, as long you don't have any about me taking mine... hehe.
SpiritAnzu: Thankies!
Guardian Kysra: He does have a cute tushy, doesn't he? *grins* Thanks SOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO much for the great words and I'm glad that you are still enjoying this fic, even though the updates are few and far between. Your insight on this fic sometimes seems a little deeper than even my own! And I'm writing this thing! *mutters about ESP*
starkitty: Glad to hear your thoughts about Tea. We're just about on the same page, there. Thank you for the lengthy review!
Quickening: I sure hope you haven't forgotten this fic! You came so close last time that I'm worried now! I don't want to lose your nice words and encouragement, especially since you take the time to write more that a few words or two lines! *huggles* Haven't gotten much of a chance to check out your stuff, but I'll do that soon!
Please review, I love reading your comments on my work guys! Or email, that's ALWAYS wonderful!
Atlantis *^_^*
If you ever want to talk fics or my work on a more direct level, you can IM me. Screen name: godscartungrrl