Chapter 9

A/N: The fabled chapter 9! This reveals some fairly shocking plot twists, new hope, and a ton of romance! Just to let you know winks

I got reviews, yes indeedie, but if I answered your questions here, then why the point of this chapter???

Note: Hail Lady prayer is (c) to Silver RavenWolf, a very talented author. :)

Toria watched the gray world roll by past the tinted windows of the black Taryn & Taryn company car. The highway slid past in a roll of would-be rain and storm clouds. The Tokyo Airport was only five miles away now. Another few minutes and she would be boarding Shinatashi Airlines, one-way ticket to Nightmareland.

She wasn't the kind of girl who lived with regrets. She didn't regret challenging Kaiba to a duel, that first day she met him. She didn't regret kissing him, that night in the library. She didn't regret that day at the fortuneteller's. But for once, she did have a regret. She regretted not saying goodbye.

Goodbyes were hard for her. And this would be one of the worst. She'd thought to leave him with the charm, to ensure he would be safe...To remember her, lay flowers on her grave some day not far off. But not to dwell. To move on. Even though they would never love anyone else, she didn't want to make this worse for him...or herself.

The car slowed, and she averted her eyes from the window. She didn't want to look outside. She wanted to hug her knees to her chest like she was four again and feel Kaiba's commanding presence and protecting arms. But none of this was going to happen, and she knew it.

The click of the door and a friendly lawyer face peered in to the compartment, streaming gray sunlight.

"They're waiting," she said briskly, adjusting her glasses. The far too happy lawyer had been assigned to bring her to the jet – and insisted on treating her like she was five. She also didn't seem to be grasping the situation at hand. Apparently she shipped girls back to their abusive fathers every day and slept quite well at night, thank you.

Slowly, she swung her legs out of the car and stood on the pavement, wondering why it wasn't giving way beneath her. The lawyer gave another wide, toothy beauty pageant smile and shut the door.

In front of the gray background was the white jet, emblazoned with the legend Shinatashi Soarer. Standing beside the long white metal steps was her father, grinning in a rather sick way, accompanied by the same four bloodthirsty suits that had handed her father the letter. Even worse – his friends Barks, Clay, and Owens stood beside him, their faces masks of friendliness. She felt her stomach turn with nausea, and the scar on her back prickled. She felt the knuckles on her hand tighten as she gripped her luggage set.

"There you go, hon," said the lawyer, ushering her on. "Go see your daddy."

Toria tried to muster a glare, but barely summoned the feeblest of frowns. Placing one foot in front of the other, she started walking towards the plane, repeating the Hail Goddess Prayer over and over in her mind.

Hail Lady, full of grace, the Lord is with thee. Blessed art though amongst women, and blessed is thy fruit, the Consort and Your Son. Holy Mother –

"Toria!"

She turned around to see a crowd of kids running towards her, panting and puffing. At the lead she could see Mokuba, Tea, and Yugi, and behind them, Tristan, Serenity, Mai, Joey, Bakura and Duke. She paused, and then felt a smile pulling at the corners of her face, the faintest of expressions.

They stopped abruptly, her hollow face confusing them. They couldn't seem to remember just what they were going to do next, and stood by, bewildered. It was Yugi who took the first stab.

"Toria, we'll always be your friends. No matter how tough it is, we're here for you."

"Yeah," said Tea. "That's what friends are for. Our friendship keeps us strong..."

"Tea," said Tristan, "No friendship speeches right now." Tea fell flat, looking rather downhearted, but perked up as she pulled a black magic marker out of her bag. She took Toria's hand, and on the front, wrote an email address.

"Listen, just send me mail to this address, and we'll keep in touch, ok?"

Toria nodded dully, but her mind voiced an unspoken line:

'As if my father will even let me out of the house, let alone near a computer.'

Then, flipping Toria's hand over, Tea carefully inked a black marker heart next to several Japanese symbols. She opened her mouth to start another speech, but then closed it and, capping the marker, curled Toria's hand into a fist.

"You evah need help," said Joey, "Jus' gimme a call and we'll beat 'em up for ya."

"Yeah, we got your back, Tor," said Tristan. "You bet," said Duke. "When I go to visit my parents in L.A. I'll stop by and see you."

Another nod. 'My father, allow boys over? Never.'

"Hey, hon," said Mai. "I've got your favorite shampoo from Hikari Hair." She passed her a paper shopping bag with her favorite Lavender Shampoo, including silver hair streaker, conditioner, and mousse.

"And here's a photo album I put together for you," said Serenity quietly, passing forward a book decorated with a large, blown-up picture of them all together in front of the school. "So you don't forget us."

"Thanks," Toria said softly. "Thank you...so much."

Bakura came forward from the back. "It was nice meeting you. I know I haven't know you very long, but I'm glad we're friends."

For a moment, Toria extended her senses and felt a stirring in the psychic cosmos. Then, she saw Yugi was gone and Yami was there.

"You are a worthy fighter for justice," said Yami. "Keep fighting."

"Toria," said Mokuba, "I'll get Seto to take us to go see you. You can show us the Golden Gate Bridge!"

A sudden thought occurred to Toria.

"Where's Kaiba?"

There was a disconcerted sound from the group, and Mokuba said quickly, "He...couldn't come. Business."

"Yes." There was a pause as she remembered the locket. "Yes, I understand."

Again, she regretted not saying good-bye. She regretted not seeing him one last time. Maybe he couldn't stand goodbyes either. But whether or not he came, nothing was going to change. She held their gifts in her arms, looking into the eyes of her friends.

"Well...I had better get going," she said depressingly, turning back to the jet. The lawyer was beckoning, with a bright cheery smile on her face, and her father and his friends were trying to look fatherly...and failing miserably. As she came closer, he smiled broadly, his fake white teeth shining too brightly in the pale light.

"Ready to head for home, sweetie?" he said, his voice too loud and too energetic. His eyes followed down her body, but rested on the new gifts in her arms.

He muttered, "What is this rubbish?" He tore it out of her hands, and said loudly, "We'll have the crew package these things so they don't get broken during the flight, eh sweetheart?"

He reached for her wrist to drag her bodily up the steps if he had to – but she jerked her hand away.

"Don't touch me," she hissed through clenched teeth.

He smiled, but he snarled back, "You'll do what I say. You're mine now."

A sudden flare of fire burned from the embers she had thought died within her heart. But she felt the power of her friends – and Kaiba – by her side. She tightened her fist, the black marker searing into her hand.

"I'll never be yours. I'll die first."

"That can be arranged," he rumbled, his eyes bulging, any trace of a smile gone like sunshine before a storm. "You just say the word."

She opened her mouth to speak – and instead was drown out by the roar of helicopter blades, deafening. Everyone looked up, and before she could react, she felt herself lifting higher and higher into the air, the ground was miles below her, and she looked up to see the strong arms holding her – belonged to Seto Kaiba.