Chapter 6
A/N: Chapter 6 takes up exactly where Chapter 5 left off...On the chopper landing pad, Kaiba and Tor, you know the scene if you read 'You'll Pay'.
I am also pleased at how well people are taking the violence, glad it wasn't too much. I don't think there will be any more violence in this fic. And, people, to ensure I finish this story, REVIEW!
The harsh wind of the helicopter's blades slashed through Kaiba's hair, tossing back the dark strands. He glared into the sky, his eyes blue chips of sapphire – hard, cold, trying to keep from feeling. But as her ragged breath vibrated in his arms, he looked down at her face, and felt Humanity wash over him all over again – like a cold wave, freezing numb, but relieving. He felt her shiver and wrapped the cape around her more tightly, trying not to damage what was surely a broken rib.
The helicopter touched down to the pad, a dull thump that couldn't be heard over the roaring of the blades. In a second, a mass of black hair darted from the cab.
"Seto, Seto!" cried Mokuba into the noise. "Are you okay?" He got a good look at the broken and abused face in the cloak. "T-toria?" His voice shook slightly to realize this was the girl who insisted on making him breakfast in the morning, the girl who was so much a part of his household she almost lived there...possibly the closest thing to a mother he had ever known.
"Get in the cab, Mokuba," said Kaiba, his voice rough but soothing. Mokuba nodded, and, portraying calmness, a certain methodical state of mind during crisis, so like his brother, he activated the microphone in his collar and spoke into it:
"Domino City Hospital? We need a set of paramedics at KaibaCorp Mansion. I mean now! This is an emergency!"
Kaiba barely heard him; he was gently mounting the steps to the cab, gazing down at the sorry bundle that used to be one of the fiercest girls in Domino City. He seated himself on the stiff leather of the helicopter's seats, her head in his lap, willing her to wake up.
Gently, he ran a hand down her stiff, blood-soaked hair, which only yesterday had felt like silk in his hand. He laid another gentle kiss on her lips, and she stirred awake, her eyes opening ever so slightly.
He was shocked at the change. Once blazing majestic violet, now dull, worn purple, like worn pebbles that had seen too much.
"Seto?" she whispered.
"Yes, I'm here," he said quietly, but a hint of desperation gave him away. "He reached for her hand, and held it tightly in his own.
"A-are they gone?" The dry whisper past cracked and bleeding lips stung his heart.
"They're gone, we're taking you home, you'll be fine," he whispered, over and over again.
"Just hold on."
Kaiba's eyes flicked to the glowing digital clock across the room. 4:00 a.m. Then, without a seconds pause, they flicked back to the still form wrapped in the sheets of his own bed. Sleeping...at long last.
The paramedics, he thought, remembering the scene from when he had brought her to the mansion that evening, had diagnosed her with a broken rib, a cut across her back that would scar, and numerous bruises and gashes that would take ages to heal. Thankfully there had been no hemorrhaging. But she needed constant surveillance...a task he was only too happy to perform. He wouldn't have those stupid technicians swarming around her in the hospital, the paparazzi after her every move...
Ever since she and Kaiba had gone their last date together, at their favorite traditional Japanese restaurant, they had had to keep a low profile and dodge People's Magazine, The Real World tabloid, and The Inquirer. Kaiba had grumbled, but a fleeting kiss and smile from Toria revealed she didn't mind. More time for the two of us to be alone, she had commented lightly, before kissing him again.
Alone time together...he thought dryly...I thought we'd be making out, not struggling to survive...
He rose from his chair by the bed and dipped a soft cloth into the bowl of water on the nightstand. Reaching over gently, he dabbed at her feverish forehead. Then, pushing back the covers, he unwrapped the heavy white bandaging so as to clean underneath – the long, flaring, angry red cut on her soft, lace-pale skin.
He chuckled humorlessly. It was the most he'd seen of her since that night in the library, and they were both too drained to appreciate it.
His anger smoldered, a blaze inside his heart, at the memory of seeing those men clustered around her, like vultures picking off meat...They would pay, pay until they were bled dry, he would make sure of it...
He was pulled from his reverie at the sound of soft whisperings and moans escaping from Toria's lips.
"No...no, please, Father, no...Daddy!"
Horrified, he reached down to pull her out of it, stop her from reliving it again, the way he did every waking hour...
"Toria," he said quietly, "Toria, it's ok, wake up, it's me."
Her eyes fluttered open. "Seto? It...it was just a nightmare, that's all." She tried to sit up, to wrap her arms around his neck, but winced as her abdomen's muscles, sore and bruised as they were, flexed.
"Don't worry. I'll come to you." He bent down across her, and she felt his brown hair tickling her eyelids. For the first time in days, she smiled. He kissed her gently, running his fingers through her hair, silky once again, and fully kissed her mouth.
She gave a soft moan, giving away to the sweet love that almost, almost – melted away her pain.
"His voice whispering softly in her ears: "I will always come for you."