Chapter 11

The helicopter gently touched down onto the stony ledges of Kaiba Corp Island, the wild remains of Battle City Finals, salt spray misting the windows. There was a bump in Toria's heart as the helicopter hovered to a halt. It was true that she trusted Kaiba – she trusted him more than she trusted herself – but she still couldn't get her mind around the fact that within the next three hours she would be Toria Kaiba, married to the richest teenage CEO millionaire...and the man she loved most in the world.

Kaiba climbed down the ladder onto the stone, lichen slippery beneath his feet, and extended a hand to gently guide his bride to the ground safely.

His bride. Even when he had received the email the night before, detailing a loophole to fight against Shinatashi, he still hadn't believed it would work. Even as he had explained the plan to Mokuba, even as he had done the final touches on VirtuDragon 3.0 to infect Shinatashi's lawyers' main computer frame, he knew it was a long shot. A shot he had had to take. A shot that had hit dead center in its target – somehow, miraculously, Toria had agreed – no, she had chosen – to become his.

Her foot slipped on the rungs of the steps, and he quickly caught her, smirking as he held her close to him. He bent low for a kiss, cradling her gently, and was angrily shocked to hear one of the most annoying voices in the world:

"Ya got us all da way out on dis big rock, Kaiba, so hurry it up and save da kissin' for afterward."

He glared at the blond teenager who stood in front of him – Joey Wheeler, and with him, the rest of the gang. Tea, Yami, Tristan, and Bakura were all resolutely not watching out of respect, but Serenity (who was more interested in trying not to let out a very girly 'Aww...'), Duke (who was snorting at the thought of Kaiba being romantic), and Joey (who was bent on making stupid comments even on Kaiba's wedding day) were watching with utter rapture. Toria gave a slight smile, blushing faintly, and cleared her throat, brushing aside a long violet strand of her hair.

After a second's uncomfortable silence, Toria released herself from Kaiba's embrace straightened. Kaiba was reluctant to release her, however, and kept a hand firmly holding her to him, lovingly hugging her.

Just then, two figures took control of the scene. Mai, who was carrying a large silver briefcase, was closely followed Mokuba, with another matching briefcase and security walkie-talkie in tow. Serenity finally let out her giggle, and Mokuba, authoritatively taking over the situation in an uncanny resemblance to his brother, called out to the group:

"We only have until sunset. So move it!"

Within in seconds, the newly encaged couple was torn in to separate herds – Toria was kidnapped by giggling girls, and Kaiba found himself being roughly shoved in the opposite direction, with Mokuba directing the boys.
On the other side of the quay, far from Kaiba's sight, Toria was being fussed over by the girls – in the relentless, giddy way brides were fussed over. Trying to not fill the stereotype of the blushing bride, Toria attempted to wave away their attention. But it was no use.

"Well," said Serenity, reaching for the silver briefcase in Mai's manicured hand, "Let's see what's in here." She let it fall onto one of the stones jutting out from the quay, the metal ringing sharply.

"I don't know," said Mai, endeavoring to curl Toria's hair around her finger and then giving up when the hair remained resolutely straight, "Mokuba just handed it to me. He seems to have taken over."

The girls clustered around the case as Serenity slid back the locks with a smooth, loud snap.

"Oh, my God," gasped Tea.

Neatly folded into the briefcase was the most beautiful – and knowing Kaiba, the most expensive – dress any of the girls had ever seen. The neck was low, off the shoulders, and delicately edged with ribbons of violet and white embroidery. Tea released the dress from its hold and let the skirts fall away, only inches from trailing in the soft white sand, yards of moon- colored silk, sparkling with hundreds of diamonds like ice crystals. The bodice shimmered in the afternoon light, the sun trying even harder to shine down on the scene.

The girls helped Toria into the gown, lacing up the silk ribbons in the back, straightening the sleeves, and sweeping the silk out into a perfectly smooth sheet, like wedding cake.

"There's more," said Mai, opening the bottom portion of the briefcase. She extracted a silver backed hairbrush and a circlet of shining diamonds and pearls, which bore a long flowing veil.

"I can't believe it," Toria whispered as Serenity brushed her hair out and Tea fixed the veil into her hair, "I still can't believe I'm getting...married."

"Believe it, kid," said Mai, reaching for her bag. She whipped out a mascara, lipstick and eyelash curler. "C'mon, girl, it's makeup time!"

"Uh, thanks but no thanks, Mai," said Toria, shying away from the instrument of torture called an eyelash curler. "It's, um..." She wildly cast her mind around for an excuse – she really did not want to end up with the same makeup job as Mai. "It's against my religion," she finished lamely. But Mai was satisfied and capped the magenta lipstick.

"Whatever," she said. "I think you're ready."

"Not yet!" said Serenity hurriedly. "She hasn't got any shoes." She rummaged through the silver briefcase, but it was empty.

"She was wearing shoes when she got here," said Tea with exasperation. She cast a look at the black, simple shoes she was wearing. Then she sighed.

"Yeah, I see what you mean," she reconciled. "She'll have to go without, then."
"Kaiba, do you ever wear anything that doesn't contain the two words 'trench' and 'coat?'" asked Duke incredulously, flipping open the briefcase. A white trench coat, his usual attire, was folded neatly inside, but cleaned and ironed. Kaiba flung off the old topcoat and fitted himself into the new one.

"I don't criticize your appearance, Dice-Boy," he snarled, removing the clips from the blue straps around his arms. He reached into the case and replaced them with white ones, their lines clean and simple.

"It's unbelievable," said Tristan, as he folded away the original cape. "It's unbelievable you're tying the knot."

Kaiba snorted.

"His lawyers say it's the only way to keep her in the country," chimed Mokuba. Kaiba gave him a warning look, but he continued. "He's put a virus into their system so they can't track the helicopter, but it will only last until 6:45 – at sunset directly."

"Wow, Kaiba," said Duke, "That's heavy."

"Yeah," said Kaiba abruptly. "Yugi, we need to talk?"

"What is it, Kaiba?" Yami asked as Kaiba led him away from the group. He stood watching Kaiba, who seemed to be having in inner battle with himself. A moment later, Kaiba said shortly:

"You're my best opponent. So I would like you to be my best man." He said this last bit rather quickly.

Yami opened his mouth to speak, and Kaiba growled, "Don't let it go to your head. We're still enemies, Yugi, but you're one of the few enemies I respect."

There was a silence, and Yami said quietly, "You really love her, don't you?"

For a moment all that could be heard was the surf pounding the beach, and the call of the lonesome gulls in the sky. And then –

"Yes."
A/N: The long awaited chapter! I was originally going to include the wedding in this chapter, but...I didn't get around to it. And this will give me fifteen instead of fourteen chappies. Enjoy!