A/N- I will admit that I know virtually nothing about the geography of Japan and I picked the city/town of Honshu for this setting simply because my calendar has a picture of Mount Fuji on it, which is in Honshu and TADA! A Japanese City! I love my calendar. *hugs calendar*

Disclaimer: I don't own YuGiOh.

Fire in Ice

Chapter 9

"Stop fidgeting," Seto snapped and the young woman froze like a living photograph. Her tension was tangible and making him edgy.

"I've never flown before," she murmured, not sure if he even cared.

"Never?" he said unexpectedly. "Not even in Ashine's helicopter?"

She shook her head, knowing the action made her look childish. Indeed, they were an unusual pair to observe. In contrast to his stiff business-like appearance and frosty air, she was a warm, fluttery creature. Her white cotton dress with yellow flowers made her look as innocent as everyone thought her. Kaiba rather liked the choice because it was this very nature of hers that drew people to her. Now if she would just stop fidgeting!

He clamped his hand down on her tapping fingers and she fairly jumped. There was no describing the anxiety in her pale eyes.

"Just relax. We'll be there before you know it."

"I can't—."

"Close your eyes."

She stared at him uncertainly and he could feel her hand tense beneath his.

"Ari, close your eyes," he ordered more sternly.

She waged a silent war within herself and gave in. With a shaky breath, she leaned her head back and closed her eyes.

Seto smiled to himself and turned his attention back to his laptop for a few minutes before the pilot announced their departure.

As the private jet lurched forward, Ari suddenly clenched his hand. Kaiba winced slightly. It better not be like this every time.

Her hold relaxed slightly and he slid his fingers down to encircle her wrist. Her pulse was racing, yet outwardly she appeared relatively calm. As if it were natural to do so, his thumb started tracing a circular pattern on the back of her wrist.

The jet gently lifted off the ground and the minutes passed as Ari finally started to relax. She kept her eyes closed as Kaiba had ordered, concentrating on the disturbingly calming effect his touch was having on her. It didn't make any sense to her, and yet….

Seto glanced at her serene face and was relieved to see she had dozed off. Well, how about that. Gently releasing her wrist, he rebooted his laptop and tried to ignore the fact that she would be furious when they arrived in Honshu.

"You didn't tell me you were meeting with Sain Fiber-optics," she growled.

"Must have slipped my mind," Kaiba returned. "Now be a good little girl and smile."

Her malicious retort died on her lips as they were greeted by Nio Sain.

"Such a shame, Nihm falling apart as it did," Sain smiled at her, not even trying to hide his delight. "I'm surprised to see you working for Kaiba Corp now."

"Me too," she returned with a flawless smile.

"Let's get this over with," Kaiba grumbled sternly.

"Of course. This way, please."

As expected, Nio Sain could not help boasting about his company's accomplishments and recent developments with Ari Nieche present. Kaiba watched her reactions intensely. Either Sain's boasts were beginning to roll off her shoulders, or they were no longer reaching her.

Why would they, if she has something better, Kaiba thought grimly. In any case, Sain made the fatal mistake of revealing too much and found himself agreeing to an astonishingly low bid.

"That was most profitable," Seto spoke with satisfaction when they left the building.

Ari nodded mutely, seething inside. Knowing Sain couldn't come near Nihm's latest unreleased development was comforting enough, but when he started hitting on Kaska Ashine's inferior productions she had to suppress the urge to scratch his eyes out. If Kaiba hadn't been standing beside her, she probably would have. Even now, she could not stand for strikes against Kaska. It was a sore spot.

"They have nothing on Nihm," Kaiba spoke suddenly and she looked up to find him regarding her in a most peculiar way.

"What do you mean?"

"Quality," he said simply, opening the limo door for her. "I have some other business to attend to. The driver will take you back to the hotel, or wherever you wish."

Is he being…sympathetic? I get the feeling he wasn't really talking about Nihm just now, but why?

"Okay."

Seto watched the limo drive off. What was it Sain said that changed her? She had been indifferent at first, and then suddenly disturbed, even pained. It shined only in her eyes, but she couldn't hide it from him. Her expressions were easy to read now and soon everything about her would be exposed. It was a moment he impatiently anticipated.

Ari wandered aimlessly along the boulevard, seeing and not seeing the articles displayed in the windows. A part of her was still furious with Kaiba not telling her they were meeting with Sain Fiber-optics, but it was hard to remain angry when he demonstrated a little kindness. It was almost as if he had figured out just how to disarm her. If he had, she was in a whole lot of trouble.

She bought herself a bagel and coffee with the credit card Kaiba had given her for such things, laughing to herself about how ironic it was to charge $4.15 on a card backed by billions. Sitting in the afternoon sun leisurely watching passersby eased her tension considerably. I guess he can be nice when he gets his way. I like it… when he's nice.

"Ari? Ari, is that really you?"

"Matzu?" she stood up surprised. "What are you doing here?"

He laughed softly and she felt the last threads of melancholy dissipate.

"I'm visiting my sister. Why are you here? I thought Seto Kaiba kept you on a tight leash."

She winced at the depiction. "I'm here with him, well, I came with him. He had some other business to attend to so…."

"So you're taking in the sights?"

Ari smiled. "Exactly."

"Would you care for some company? I know this area well and can give you quite a tour."

"That would be great!"

The sun was fading into flaming brilliance when Matzu walked Ari back to the hotel. Her laughter was sweet and unhindered, carrying all the way up to the open balcony door where sharp blue eyes watched with growing fire.

"I had fun, Matzu. Thank you," she spoke.

"It was my pleasure, Ari. It's a shame so many people want to keep you locked away. You deserve more than that," he replied earnestly.

She shifted uncomfortably. "Well, thank you again," she said and turned from him.

"Ari," he captured her hand and drew her back. "I mean it."

"Please—."

"Hey." He gently tilted her chin up and smiled into her wary eyes. "You deserve better."

It was her first kiss, gentle and kind. How could she know then it would induce a rage she was ill-equipped to defend against?

He despised the brilliance in her eyes, because someone else put it there.

"What did you do this afternoon," he asked, watching from the doorway adjoining their rooms.

"I took in some of the sights," she said, setting a small gray bag on her bed. "And I got Mokuba something."

Ari failed to notice his livid expression as she unbuttoned her white lace sweater jacket and laid it on the bed next to the bag. Mokuba is going to love this little hat. He will look so cute in it.

A startled cry tore from her throat as strong hands spun her around.

"Is that what you call it?" he demanded harshly.

"What are you talking about?" she gasped. His usually cool eyes flamed and burned through her. "Let me go!"

She desperately tried to wrench herself from his unbreakable grasp, crying out when his steel fingers dug firmly into her arms.

The savage light in his eyes flickered. "Who is he," he demanded.

"Just a friend!"

"Why should I believe you?"

"He's just a friend, I swear!" she cried. "Please!"

Seto glared into her wide eyes, the brilliance of carefree joy replaced with sheer terror. I put that there, that fear, and behind it….

"You're lying," he growled softly and her breath quickened a shade, confirming his suspicion.

"No," she whispered, shaking her head. "No."

Kaiba twisted her arm behind her back and she gasped in anticipation of the piercing pain that did not come. His touch was burning and immovable, but careful.

He doesn't mean to hurt me, she realized. Then why…why… Ari became acutely aware of her compromising position, so close to him she could feel the simmering heat of his body.

Her eyes tell so much, he thought absently as she stared at him pleadingly. It would take little effort to break her slender body to pieces. He pulled her closer and those tell-tale eyes flared with deeper panic.

"I will ask you one more time," he spoke deliberately through clenched teeth.

"I met him in Domino and we are just friends," she whispered.

Kaiba's eyes narrowed dangerously. "You didn't look like just friends a few minutes ago."

He saw that? Is he—?

"You're jealous?" she asked without thinking.

Seto laughed in her face. "You poor gullible child! Do you really believe he's being honest with you? That any of them are honest with you? They only want what belongs to me!"

He wound his fingers in her thick hair and jerked her head back, locking his stare with hers. "Did he promise you freedom?"

She placed her free hand against his chest in an effort to push him away before his fury consumed her. "I don't belong to you!" she insisted.

He chuckled cruelly and pushed her away from him. She stumbled, sitting down hard on the bed as it caught her behind the knees.

"If you actually believe that, I dare you to try and leave. I promise you will never see the light of day again," he snapped.

Ari stared in stricken horror as he turned from her and slammed the partition door. Unrestrained tears sprung to her eyes and blurred her vision. Burying her face in a pillow, she sobbed helplessly knowing he meant every word, every threat. She would never be free of Seto Kaiba.