A/N- There seemed to be a little confusion from the last chapter and I wanted to clear it up just in case. Yes, the fiber-optic cable prototype is in the safety deposit box, still. Ari did not remove it, but has the key. Omaka thought and still thinks that Ari has the prototype. He never knew Lil had it. Kaska Ashine was the one who put it in the safety deposit box before he died (he knew he was dying I don't know if I ever mentioned that) and gave the key to Lil to return to Ari when the time was right (meaning after Nihm fell). Kaiba thought Ari had the prototype until she told him otherwise…before Lil gave it to her. I think that covers it all. Everyone clear on that? Good. On with the story.

Disclaimer: If I owned YuGiOh you would be watching this, not reading it.

Consequence

Chapter 12

Mokuba studied her with inquisitive eyes from his perch on the edge of her desk. Ari struggled to ignore the blue-violet gaze as she chipped away at a more complex layer of her programming, but Mokuba Kaiba was as hard to ignore as his brother, even if for different reasons.

"You've been acting really strange the last few days, Ari," Mokuba finally said. "You and Seto both."

Her fingers hovered hesitantly over the laptop. Seto too? I haven't noticed. We haven't even crossed paths since—. She started typing again. "I don't know what you're talking about."

"That's what Seto said," Mokuba replied and her fingers halted again. "Did something happen between you two?"

Ari looked up at him with a slight smile. "I assure you, Mokuba. I have no idea what could be troubling your brother."

Mokuba's expression was very doubtful. "Are you sure you two didn't have an argument or something?"

This is just like his inquisition after Honshu! She sighed. "Not that I'm aware of."

"You both just seem really preoccupied is all."

"We're busy people."

"Not like that, I mean, almost like daydreaming."

Ari raised a skeptical brow. "Daydreaming?"

Mokuba blushed. "Well, I don't know how to explain it. It just seems like you both have your heads in the clouds, and that it's not a pleasant place to be."

Now that I can explain. I still don't know what to do about the prototype, and I get the feeling Omaka isn't going to let me withdraw from our 'agreement' so easily, especially after what Matzu said and did. But what would have Kaiba acting the same way?

"I'm sorry, Mokuba. I've had a lot on my mind, but I honestly don't know what is bugging your brother."

The boy's shoulders slumped with reluctant acceptance. "I don't know why he won't tell me. The only time he clams up so tight is when it's about you. That's why I assumed— well, whatever."

"I'm sure I would remember if I crossed your brother," she said softly. About me? What could it possibly be? "Did you say he started acting like this about the same time I did?"

"Yeah, that's why I thought you two had a fight, since you were both acting strange."

He couldn't know, could he? Not about the prototype. Only Lil and I know about that. So what else…the park! Did he see me with Matzu at the park? If he did he would have confronted me, I'm certain of it especially after Honshu. She shivered at the memory.

"You okay?"

"Sure, yeah. I think I just need a break."

Mokuba leaped off her desk. "Cool! I'm thinking burgers and fries. Seto is meeting a shipment so…."

"Sounds good, Moki," she smiled softly. "Let's go."

Mokuba prattled on in his delightfully cheerful way to ease Ari's mood as they strolled along the sidewalk.

I envy Seto Kaiba. Take away his money and power, and he still has more than I ever will, in Mokuba.

"Doesn't it bother you when he goes on these business trips?" she asked after awhile.

"If he knows he's going to be gone longer than one night, he takes me with him," Mokuba replied. "We have great security at the mansion and all, but I just don't like being alone."

"I know how you feel," she agreed, her eyes drifting down the sidewalk ahead of them. The burger shop was just beyond the two men walking towards them. It was nothing out of the ordinary, but something wasn't right….

"Mokuba," she said softly, her hand settling on his shoulder.

"What's wrong?" he asked, looking up at her pale face.

Ari felt her stomach drop and instinctively pushed Mokuba behind her. "What do you want," she demanded as she eyed the two men advancing towards them.

"Just hand over the kid, lady, and you won't get hurt," the taller of the two said confidently. His slightly scarred face and crooked nose seemed to trigger warning within her long before he even spoke.

She edged away from them, pushing Mokuba who struggled to peak around her. "Just leave us alone, okay? We don't want any trouble."

Crooked nose grinned. "Too late."

Ari didn't know who struck her or how she missed seeing the action. Her head rang in three pitches to compound the intense fiery pain that blossomed across her cheek and enveloped her left eye just moments before she struck the ground.

"Let me go! Let me go!" She heard Mokuba shriek and she bit down hard on her lip to force clarity. Her left eye refused to focus as her hand reached out across the cold concrete until it wrapped around something solid.

Mokuba kicked viciously but couldn't free himself from Crooked Nose's grip. "Let me go, you creep! My brother is going to tear you to pieces!"

Crooked Nose merely laughed as he opened the car door and tried to shove the kid in. Mokuba braced his feet against the doorframe, refusing to go easily.

"Iggo, get the car started," Crooked Nose ordered as he fought with the kid.

Mokuba opened his mouth to cut loose another ear-blasting scream when glass suddenly shattered over the man's head with a sickening, forceful crash. He dropped to his knees under the impact and Mokuba felt himself torn from the man's grip.

"Come on!" Ari shouted as she grabbed his hand and started running.

Mokuba looked up at her with wide startled eyes. "How—?"

Ari tossed the broken spout of the bottle away from her and glanced over her shoulder. Mokuba followed her gaze and saw the two men were in hot pursuit.

Ari swore softly. "I can't believe they would try this so close to Kaiba Corp!"

That's it, Mokuba thought. "This way," he said, pulling her into an alley. "It's a short cut!"

Ari released his hand as he started to run faster. Her breath was already coming far too quick and her legs felt like jello. Through the incessant ringing in her head she heard pounding feet and felt a sudden weight crash into her. She let out a small cry when she hit the ground, her arms scrapping in an effort to protect her face.

"Get the kid!" someone shouted over her head.

"Ari!"

She looked up and focused on his terror stricken face. "Run!" she screamed. "Run, Mokuba!"

A figure blurred past her and the boy immediately turned and sprinted out of the alley.

"He won't get far," the man sitting on her back chuckled. "As for you," he wrenched her arm cruelly and pulled her to her feet.

"Let me go!" she screamed, her cry suddenly cut off as he grabbed her throat and slammed her against the wall.

"We were only supposed to take the kid," Crooked Nose growled and Ari focused on his dark hair slick with blood and speckled with glass. "But he didn't say I couldn't have some fun with you."

She struggled to pry his fingers from her throat and he merely laughed. "This willbe fun," he said, pulling her towards him. "Maybe I'll knock some sense into you first," he decided as he suddenly slammed her against the wall again.

Her head knocked hard against the concrete building, scattering her senses for a moment.

"Tell me, did it work?" Crooked Nose asked with a grin.

Ari gasped for breath, unable to utter any other sound.

He pulled her towards him until she could taste his acid breath. "You didn't really think you could protect that kid, did you," he whispered. "Even as we speak, Iggo is giving that brat a good beating over the head. Say, maybe I should make you watch that, eh?"

Ari's pale eyes flashed feral and she struck with a vicious cry. Her nails dug deep and left four wicked gashes along the length of his cheek. He stumbled back in surprised pain before throwing her from him with violent force. Ari thought she would shatter as the wall embraced her and crumbled to her knees after impact.

"Leave her alone, you creep!" a furious voice rang out. "Hey, come back here!"

She couldn't distinguish between the sounds echoing through her head. Footsteps... How many? Who?

Someone grabbed her arms and she gasped as a more piercing pain ripped through her.

"Ari!"

She looked up towards the voice only to see the brightness of blue through her pain swirled vision. Blue. Such… a nice…color, she thought as she fell into it.

Special thanks to all who are following my story and haven't reviewed for whatever reason. I hope you all are enjoying it.