Disclaimer: I don't own YuGiOh.

Savior

Chapter 13

Seto Kaiba glanced at his watch in irritation. "Where is it," he demanded of the three security guards standing with him.

"They said they would be a little late due to traffic, Mr. Kaiba," Sojo reported. "I apologize for the delay, sir."

Kaiba gave him a searing look that said the apology meant nothing.

"Seto!" a familiar voice cut through the air and Kaiba turned to see Mokuba running flat out towards them. His cold eyes narrowed on the man in pursuit.

"Get him," Kaiba ordered angrily and two of his security guards immediately leaped into action. The unfortunate pursuer suddenly realized what he was running into and immediately turned and sprinted in the opposite direction.

"What happened," Kaiba demanded when Mokuba reached him.

"We have to hurry, Seto! They have Ari!" Mokuba grabbed his brother's hand.

"Sir!" Sojo stepped forward.

"You stay and wait for the shipment," Kaiba growled. "I'll take care of this."

It was hard to put a label on the feelings that seized him as he followed Mokuba to the alley. Cold hard rage was one of them when he saw the struggle the young woman was locked in. Whatever the attacker said to her hit a nerve and she struck viciously like a cornered cat, with a strength that surprised even him. In the blink of an eye, she was thrown forcefully against the wall and crumpled like paper.

"Leave her alone, you creep!" Mokuba shouted angrily and the man looked up startled.

"Hey, come back here!" Mokuba shrieked again as the coward turn and ran with maddening speed.

You better run, Kaiba thought darkly. If I ever catch you— his thoughts trailed off as he rushed into the alley.

Dropping to one knee he reached out and grabbed Ari's arms. Her painful cry seared through him.

"Ari!" he called into her disoriented world and she looked up, wide eyes unfocused. Recognition was absence, but something that could only be described as intense relief washed over her face before she collapsed against him.

"Is she going to be okay, Seto?" Mokuba asked anxiously, peering his shoulder.

"She's a strong woman," Seto reassured him as he gathered her limp body into his arms.

"I'll have Sojo call in the car," Mokuba said, already running ahead of his brother.

Kaiba's cradled the battered woman against him. How could I let this happen? She was protecting Mokuba and instead….

His thoughts scattered as a shaky hand gripped the edge of his coat. "Mo—," she struggled to whisper.

"Shh," Kaiba chastised. "He's fine."

"Moki," she muttered again and he realized she was too incoherent to understand his words. Her hand fastened securely on his coat much as a child would clutch their favored toy and she did not release him even when he climbed into the limo and ordered the driver to the hospital.

"She will be okay, won't she Seto?" Mokuba asked anxiously as he stared into her now passive face.

"Of course," Seto agreed.

Mokuba reached out and tentatively touched her forehead. "She saved my life, Seto, and she never thought twice about herself. This is my fault."

No, no it isn't.

"Don't be stupid," Seto snapped and Mokuba looked up startled, his big eyes brimming with angry tears.

"I'm sorry, Mokuba," he said immediately, gently. "I didn't mean to snap like that."

Mokuba nodded. "I understand, Seto." He looked down at Ari. "I know you blame yourself too."

There's no one to blame. "You're both stupid."

Both Kaibas glanced down at the unconscious woman.

"Did she just say something?" Mokuba asked in surprise as Ari still lay limp as a rag doll in his brother's arms.

"She must be coming around and I have a feeling she meant what she said, even if she doesn't know she said it," he spoke with wry humor.

"I hope so," Mokuba agreed. "I mean that she is coming around that is."

Kaiba chuckled softly knowing it was the only way to ease his little brother's tension. His own heart was taut with rage simmering on the boiling point. Whoever was behind this attack is going to pay! No one can hurt my little brother and get away with it. No one can hurt her….

Ari wasn't sure which was more disconcerting, waking up in breath-taking pain, or waking up in Seto Kaiba's arms. Her first notion, and it wasn't a very clear one, was that she couldn't let him hold her like that.

She put up a meek struggle, if it could even be called that, and was harshly scolded. In too much pain to argue, she accepted that perhaps she should gather her senses first. She felt like she had been hit by a car, but a second, clearer thought helped her understand that wasn't what really happened. At that disturbing moment, she realized she was clutching Kaiba's coat as if it meant her life.

From where her head rested against his shoulder, she had a perfect view of his stony expression. His blue eyes were flickering deadly fire, but the strong arms that cradled her were gentle and tender. Her muddled mind just couldn't make sense of it.

"She has a mild concussion, but no broken bones," a professionally indifferent voice broke through her ruminations.

Ari forced herself to look up at the doctor shining a small light into her eyes.

"You're a lucky woman," he said, "to come out without any severe injuries."

No severe injuries! I feel like I was torn apart from the inside out!

"You have a lot of internal bruising and your cheek is going to turn a few dark shades of the rainbow, but your pupils are responding well. I'll give you an anti-inflammatory to help with the pain and ease the swelling. Besides that, I suggest you go home, take a hot bath and go to bed."

Silence shrouded the emergency room when the doctor left and Ari stared down at her tennis shoes dangling above the ground. Throughout most of the examination he had talked as if she were not there, which gave her time to reflect on what brought her here in the first place.

"We were only supposed to take the kid, but he didn't say I couldn't have some fun with you."

Something about those words tormented her, as if whoever sent those thugs had known Mokuba would be with her. Of course they would never try to kidnap Mokuba Kaiba if he was with his brother, and no doubt people have seen her with the boy. It was all logical, but there was still something off about it.

"Where's Mokuba," she asked softly without glancing up from scrutinizing her shoes.

"I made him wait outside," Kaiba replied, his usual frosty voice having returned in full force with an extra edge of arctic ice.

Ari winced slightly. He's angry with me because I almost cost him his brother, his most precious— no. Mokuba isn't a possession to Seto Kaiba, not like everything else. Not like me.

Seto watched her silently from where he leaned against the wall, arms crossed. It wasn't lost on him that she had regained full consciousness and was completely aware of her surroundings now, unlike her first waking moments when she actually thought she could struggle against him in her weakened state. Even in her irrational struggle, her hand remained fastened to his coat as if a part of her knew she was safe there.

She calmed greatly under the doctor's detailed scrutiny as unhindered awareness settled in. Whatever had been said, whatever had been done had shattered the composure she drew on in her moments of defense. All that remained, staring down at her shoes as if there was nothing else in the world to see, was a timid vulnerable child. The sight made his fury harder to contain.

Seeing her cringe at his words nearly made him snap.

"I'll send him in," he said suddenly and she looked up in time to see him disappear through the door.

A few minutes passed and Mokuba tentatively poked his head in.

"Ari!" his eyes brightened when he saw her sitting up and looking right back at him. She smiled with pained effort and his expression fell.

"Seto said you're going to be okay…."

"Come here, Mokuba," she spoke softly.

When he reached her, she pulled him into her arms, burying her face in his thick black hair. "I'm glad you're okay," she whispered.

He wrapped his short arms around her waist and she tried not to stiffen at the pain. "This is all my fault," he spoke tearfully.

"Shh, don't say that," she murmured, hugging him closer. "You're okay and that's all that matters."

Mokuba finally pulled back and looked up at her. "I'll make sure you'll be all right. You're going to stay with us for a little while."

"What?"

"Seto sent his secretary to your place to gather some of your stuff. He thinks those thugs might try something else and you'll be safer with us."

Under lock and key, she thought grimly. "I can't do that."

"You don't have a choice," Kaiba said flatly and she glanced up at him standing in the doorway, looking far too imposing for her to handle.

"Here you go, Ms Nieche," the doctor suddenly returned before anymore words could be exchanged. He handed her a small cup of water and opened the prescription bottle for her. "Take two of these twice a day for a week. Remember, a hot bath and lots of rest."

"Thank you." She downed the first dose and handed him the empty cup in exchange for the bottle.

"Let me help you, Ari," Mokuba eagerly offered as he put her hand on his shoulder. She smiled gratefully and leaned heavily on him to slide off the ER table. A slight grimace washed across her face, but thankfully Mokuba never saw it.

I suppose I can't argue the point, she thought as Mokuba led her through the hospital, refusing to let go of her hand for fear she may vanish into thin air. When they stepped outside it was a different story as the boy bounded down the steps to limo.

Ari stared at the steps with heartfelt resentment she could direct nowhere else, only half conscious of the chill that ripped through her. Has it gotten colder? That's a lot of steps.

A tremor seized her when strong fingers grazed her shoulders. Kaiba ignored her reaction as he draped his coat over her shivering frame. Without warning, he scooped her up and carried her effortlessly down the steps to where Mokuba held the limo door open for them.

Hey! This isn't right! He can't just—. I don't want—. Oh, forget it. Ari subsided to his sudden, inexplicable protective nature. Not that he would listen to my protests anyway, stealing me off to his manor so he can keep me under lock and key.

She tried to retain her indignation but found it had abandoned her. To be honest, there was nowhere else she would rather be after her horrifying experience than with the formidable Seto Kaiba, a fortress of strength when she had none.

As he held her close, she closed her eyes to the fatal truth. If I'm with him, no one else can hurt me.

He had been ready to fend off her protests, but she made none. That was disappointing. Ari Nieche's spark was gone, she was defeated for the moment, and it was discouraging to see. The ride back to the mansion was strangely quiet, each dwelling on their own thoughts. Ari had curled into him for warmth and seemed quite content where she was, or resigned to the inevitable, with her eyes closed and breathing slow and easy.

It's amazing what people can accept when the fight has been broken from them, Seto thought as he gazed down at her. By no means was she asleep. Each time he shifted, even slightly, her body tensed then gradually relaxed as if she were forcing herself to accept what she could not change.

Good girl, Kaiba thought. Good girl.