Disclaimer: Don't own Yu-gi-oh. Do own Toria as my OC. Do own Toria's cat, do own Toria's father, adopted father, etc.

'' is for thoughts. I am sick of trying to come up with clever ways to reveal thoughts. I'm taking the easy way out like everyone else. So pppppht. :P

On with the fic!

Chapter 1
"You'll never take me alive, Diorio!" blared the movie actor from the TV screen. The actor leapt out the window and the living room was lit with the glow of the on-screen explosion.

"You know," said Serenity reflectively as she passed Joey the popcorn, "I didn't think Mafia movies were my thing, but 'Diorio D-Day' is a pretty good flick. Nice choice, Kaiba." She sipped her soda, not catching the glare that flew between Kaiba and Joey.

Toria sent Kaiba a warning look. She was pleased that Kaiba had managed to spend a full hour with her friends without strangling someone. It was a good start. Still, he was to try and refrain from glaring. This was difficult for him.

He tried to glare at her, but it fell rather flat as Toria took the moment to kiss him sweetly on the lips. He smiled slightly and settled back into the plush sofa, his arm around her. She leaned her head against his black shirt, feeling the coolness of the card-shaped locket against his warm chest, observing the scene through half-closed eyes and wondering if it was rude for the host to fall asleep on her boyfriend's shoulder.

Yugi and Tea were on the floor next to each other, shooting flirty looks whenever the other wasn't looking, Serenity and Tristan were perched on the love seat, and Joey and Mai were enjoying a huge armchair.

She closed her eyes, feeling Kaiba stroke her violet hair softly as he watched the car chase, and only awoke when she heard the doorbell a few minutes later in the back of her half-sleep.

Stirring, she gave a sleepy yawn and rose from her admittedly comfortable spot in Kaiba's arms and went to the foyer to answer the door. Who would be coming at this hour of the night? She felt her the silk of her calico cat Marley's twisting around her bare ankles, cooing for milk as she reached for the door.

Her father nearly beat her to it, heading down the hall towards the door. He bounced towards the door energetically, his blonde poof of a hairstyle waggling in the low light, wearing bright blue pajamas patterned with computer mice. He looked more like a young 80s pop star than a Microsoft envoy of forty, but there was something friendly in his goofy smile and the hand holding a plate of Oreo cookies and milk. She smiled and picked up Marley, allowing him to get the door. He juggled his cookies and milk as well as any circus clown to reach for the doorknob.

Opening the door, his smile faded slightly to see four suits with briefcases who looked less than friendly.

He giggled nervously and proffered the plate:

"Cookie?"

The front suit ignored the tray and thrust a business letter at him. He waits, staring with cold, inhuman eyes as Mr. Hallowell mutters the words to himself.

"...Court summoning...lawyers...illegal...Mr. Shinatashi...wants his daughter back." He broke off, his eyes not moving as he stared at the letter.

Toria's mouth fell open as she caught the meaning of the letter. She felt Marley still mewing in her arms, heard Kaiba's footsteps as he came to see what was going on, but time seemed to stand still. The world was frozen...frozen with fear.

To Kaiba the scene was surreal. Four suits at the door, each looking armed and hunting for blood, a letter in Mr. Hallowell's hand, the dish of cookies broken at his feet, and the cat squirming to free herself from unmoving statue arms.

He stepped behind Toria, holding her shoulders, as he glared at the suits. His voice was icy cold, a powerful CEO with the world at his command.

"Get out. My lawyers will contact you in three days time. Report that back to your pack leader, you whimpering dogs."

The spell was broken. Mr. Hallowell's face was ashen, and Toria seemed to be fighting for breath. She collapsed against Kaiba, Marley fleeing into the next room. He held her, feeling her body shake like a rabbit.

Fear. He had never seen her so afraid.

The others crowded into the hall, listening, as Kaiba asked gently, raising her face to his with a finger,

"Now what is this all about?"