Disclaimer: I don't own YuGiOh.

Bend or Break

Chapter 14

Thank heaven for painkillers. Ari's eyes fluttered open to stare at the green silk canopy above her. Every muscle, every bone, every fiber of her being throbbed mercilessly. Not a car. No, I was definitely hit by a freight train. Yeah, a freight train loaded with Sherman tanks…and porcupines. Sure, that explains it just about right.

She tried to relax with a sigh, but it came out as a pitiful whimper. Suddenly a hand materialized before her eyes holding a glass of water.

"Here, Ari," Mokuba's anxious voice reached her. "Take your medicine and you'll feel better."

With great effort, she turned her head to look at him. "How long have you been here?"

The boy was perched on the edge of her bed and smiled shyly. "A few hours. Seto left for work, but I promised I would keep a close eye on you. How are you feeling?"

"Ask me an hour after I take this painkiller," she murmured, struggling to sit up enough to wash it down without dumping water all over herself.

Mokuba took the glass back from her and set it on the nightstand. "Are you hungry? I'll have Rory fixed you some breakfast!" He didn't even wait for a reply, already he bouncing off the bed and out of the room.

Ari winced disagreeably as the bed shifted. How did I get here? Oh.

There had been moments before in her life when she had been terrified. When mother died and she was taken to live with a cold, empty stranger…when Kaska died and left a billion dollar company to her…the moment she realized all of his hard work and good will were slipping through her fingers like burning sand…starving nearly to death to protect the only thing that mattered to her now that all else was gone…and of course, Seto Kaiba.

Fear for herself, fear of failure—those things swallowed her frequently throughout life, but there had been nothing like the fear she had felt that day. Not only could she not protect herself, she could not protect Mokuba. It didn't really matter what happened to little Ari Nieche, but Mokuba….

He must be furious with me. I almost cost him his little brother and nothing means more to Seto Kaiba than his little brother. She shivered as she remembered his fierce expression in the hospital. If ever she had seen a man ready to kill—.

Her memories after that weren't so clear as the painkiller took effect. She remembered leaving the hospital, a chill dispelled by a gentle touch, and being cradled in warmth that made her feel safe beyond words.

Outside of that, she didn't even want to remember.

"Here we go!" Mokuba cheerfully entered the room balancing a silver tray with amazing skill. It took some doing, but Ari managed to sit up on her own without screaming. Mokuba eagerly fluffed her pillows and set the tray before her.

Her sensitive stomach moaned at the sight of so much food.

"Did you eat, Moki?"

"Sure, a little while ago."

"Well, I hope you're still hungry because there is no way I can eat all of this alone."

He didn't need a second invitation, being a growing boy and all, and climbed up on the bed to share her breakfast.

"Rory's good, isn't she? She makes the best waffles," Mokuba chattered as he buttered the toast and handed Ari a slice.

"You're going to spoil me," she replied with good humor and he laughed.

"I hope to try!"

Ari stared at him for a moment, memorizing every perfect feature. What would I do if I lost you?

"You okay?" Mokuba asked suddenly when he caught her staring.

"I was just thinking how glad I am you're safe."

He frowned sullenly. "I'm going to make it up to you, Ari. I swear!"

"What are you talking about?"

"It was my fault this happened to you. I was the one they were after."

Ari reached out and tapped his chin. "We can't blame ourselves for things beyond our control. Besides, I should be thanking you."

"Huh?"

She smiled as cheerfully as possible. "You brought the cavalry."

Mokuba grinned ear to ear. "I sure did, didn't I. Don't you worry, Ari. Seto is going to find those guys and he'll make them pay. Nobody messes with the Kaiba family and gets away with it!"

I know, she thought somberly. Boy, do I know.

The mother of all bad days!

Kaiba dumped his briefcase onto the table just inside the door and shrugged out of his coat. Useless morons, every last one of them!

Meetings end to end the entire afternoon and all Seto Kaiba could think about was the young woman laying in one of the mansion's guest rooms. His secretary suffered the brunt of his frustrations with a thin smile born from experience, but not everyone at Kaiba Corp knew how to take his vile moods. Nine had been fired before the morning had even faded (a personal record), including the two security guards who failed to capture one of Mokuba's kidnappers.

"Seto!" Mokuba bounded down the spiral staircase, hesitating when he saw his brother's scowl. "Uh, bad day?"

"Among other things," Seto growled. "How's your patient?"

"Sleeping." Mokuba followed his brother into the next room where Seto secured himself a glass of brandy.

"She slept most of the day too, but I made sure she ate just like you told me to."

"Hmm," Kaiba grumbled as he sunk in a sofa chair and savored the warm brandy. That's better. Within a few moments, he could feel his persistent headache begin to ease.

"I didn't think she had it in her," Mokuba said suddenly and Seto glanced up.

"What do you mean?"

Mokuba flopped onto an opposite sofa. "That guy hit her pretty hard across the face, knocked her to her knees, but when he was trying to shove me in the car she broke a bottle over his head so hard I thought she split his skull. She never thought twice about doing it." He faded off sullenly and pulled his knees up to his chin. "I hope we find that creep."

"We will," Seto reassured him. He understood Mokuba's amazement. It had been pretty startling to see her lash out at her attacker despite her defenseless position. Little Ari capable of such violence? Surprising indeed, even if her stubborn disposition wasn't enough to protect her from what followed.

His mind had plagued him with the vivid memory throughout the day, her slight body thrown viciously against the wall—.

The glass shattered suddenly in his hand and he stared at the shards in surprise.

"Whoa Seto, are you okay? I'll get Cora to clean that up. Don't move!"

His little brother scampered out of the room in search of the maid as Seto sat and stared at the broken glass. She placed herself between Mokuba and danger without a second thought, in a way I'm certain no one has ever done for her. She protected him, knowing no one was protecting her. I feel like I…I failed her. It's my responsibility to protect what is mine!

Pulling shards from his hand, he grimly wrapped a handkerchief around the injury. Mokuba said she is sleeping….

She was, like a weary child safe in the knowledge that the monsters under the bed could not reach her. Moonlight lit her face to reveal peaceful, drug induced slumber and for the first time that day Seto felt relieved. But the illusion of perfection was dispelled as his gaze alighted on the ugly bruise covering the left side of her delicate face. Pain seared him and he instinctively reached for her, but caught himself before the action could be completed.

Ari's long hair billowed about her on the pillow and he remembered how soft it had been tangled in his fingers, fear in her eyes….

He winced at the memory. I may have been a little jealous, he decided. She was too willing to give that man what he wanted and she fights me like she fought those kidnappers. Am I the same as them in her eyes?

His eyes glittered passionately in the darkness. It doesn't matter. She's mine and I will protect what is mine. I will not fail her again! His fingers curled into angry fists as decision swept over and through him. Firm in determination, he turned from her bedside.

The door clicked shut softly behind him and silence enshrouded the room. A mere minute passed and a soft sigh of relief broke the stillness.

Ari hissed when her fingernails scraped over a particularly sensitive bruise. At this rate, it's going to take me all day just to wash my hair!

She took comfort in the fact that Mokuba was a very patient date. Since she slept most of the day and the day before, she had promised to read a book to him later. Seto wouldn't be back until very late, which left a disgruntled Mokuba vying for attention.

Dreadful fear overwhelmed her when she considered the yet to be interrogation she knew awaited her. Either by kindness or by the demands of work, he had left her to the ministrations of the younger Kaiba. Definitely because of work, she decided. Kindness isn't in him. Even as she thought it she felt shamed, remembering how tenderly he had held her as if she were made of the most expensive, most fragile china.

Leaning her head back against the edge of the tub, she willed her body to relax in the warmth. I guess there are some benefits to being imprisoned here. I probably wouldn't have been able to get out of bed for days at home. Mokuba can be very motivational when he's jumping on you.

Soaking soothed her aching muscles and she finally found the strength to drag herself out of the cooling water. I need to write Kaiba's secretary a thank you note, she thought as she dressed in her violet silk pajamas. She took comfort in having some of her own things with her, kind of like how one feels when stuck in the hospital…yet another memory she didn't care to dwell on.

Running a comb through her hair leisurely, she subsided into staring at the stranger before her. The bruise on her cheek had turned greenish yellow. It wasn't becoming, but she knew it would fade in time and makeup could hide much of it till then. The haunting look in her pale eyes was more disturbing than the injury.

I've seen that look before in the eyes of the defeated. Have I crossed that line? Chin up, girl! This is no time and no place to be weak!

Fire flickered in her reflection and she smiled. That's better! She slipped the silver chain bearing the deposit key over her head and tucked it under her top. There was something strangely comforting in the way the metal settled against her chest. It filled her with a sense of power, fleeting, but enough.

"Wow!" Mokuba remarked with wide eyes when she stepped out of the bathroom. "You really clean up!"

"Hey!" she returned with feigned offense.

He grinned. "Seriously, you look better. More alive."

"So now you're saying I looked like a corpse before?"

His eyes widened. "Hey, no I didn't mean—."

Ari laughed at his serious expression. "I'm kidding, Moki!" Her laughter subsided with a sudden gasp and he ran up to her.

"You okay?"

"I just overdid it," she breathed and smiled reassuringly. "I guess laughing is out of the question for a while."

"That's a shame. I like your laugh."

"Charmer," she murmured as she limped past him and cautiously crawled into bed. He clambered up on the other side and propped a pillow against the headboard beside her.

"So what book did you decide on?" she asked as he settled himself.

"This one," he handed it to her with a grin.

Ari looked at the title with an arched brow. "Say, this is from the Chronicles of Narnia, isn't it?"

"I have the whole series but this is my favorite," he smiled. "Seto reads to me sometimes if he gets home before I go to bed."

Ari chuckled softly at the thought of Seto Kaiba reading anything remotely touching the fantasy genre. Well, he does play duel monsters.

"Okay," she said, opening the book. Mokuba snuggled into her excitedly. "Chapter one."

Her fingers absently played with the sleeping boy's mass of black hair, her eyes riveted on the book in her hand.

She looks happy, he thought as he watched her from the shadow of the doorway. It was a rare moment to see, a slight wistful smile entertaining her lips. I wonder if she smiles at what she reads or…. Somehow he knew it had more to do with the child curled up against her. He was halfway into the room when she looked up startled, her smile vanishing like a ghost that had never been.

He held a warning finger to his lips and she glanced down at Mokuba. His head was pillowed on her stomach, his arms wrapped around her waist. He murmured softly in a pleasant dream and the wistful smile swept across Ari's lips again.

"We were reading," she whispered, looking up at Kaiba.

"He's supposed to go to bed at ten," he said, sitting on the side of the bed.

Mokuba's weight made it impossible to move away from him. "What time is it?" she asked.

"A little after midnight." He snatched the book from her hand and glanced at the title. "His favorite," he said with a chuckle. "He's read it at least fifteen times."

"I think it's interesting," she said, holding her hand out to receive it back.

Surprisingly, he surrendered it to her. "Didn't you read books as a child?"

"Not for leisure. My tutor said it was a waste of gray matter." She flipped back through the book to find her page and turn down the corner. "I was supposed to follow in my father's footsteps."

"I'm guessing you didn't."

Ari glanced up, realizing she had never seen him so relaxed before. "No," she answered honestly.

Seto stared at her with narrowing eyes and she suddenly wished she could vanish into the headboard.

"That looks pretty bad," he said as he suddenly reached for her.

It was an unconscious reflex, but there was no mistaking the fear that flashed through her eyes as she flinched away from him. His hand recoiled instantly at her reaction.

No, I won't let her be like this!

Ari's eyes were squeezed shut as she prepared herself for pain. Warm fingers tenderly cradled her chin and drew her attention back to him. It was tormenting, to stare into those distrustful eyes. I will make them pay dearly for this, he swore silently. His fingers lingered for a moment, then withdrew.

"Does it still hurt?"

"Yes," she answered softly.

"I brought you something," he said and her expression suddenly turned curious.

"What?"

He handed her the sketchbook set she had not noticed he held.

"What's this for?"

"I want you to draw me a sketch of the man who attacked you."

Ari felt her stomach churn. "I can't do that."

"I've seen your drawings, Ari," he reminded her. "You've got the talent."

She blushed as she remembered the caricatures of devil Kaiba. "I'll agree the likeness was uncanny, but those were just doodles. I don't think I can—."

"You can and you will," he said, the hardened edge of command back in his voice. "Tomorrow. You need to sleep."

"Mmm… Seto?" Mokuba murmured, opening one sleepy eye.

"Hey, little brother," Seto smiled warmly. "I think you should let Ari get some sleep, don't you?"

Mokuba rubbed at his eyes. "But I'm comfortable…."

Seto chuckled as he reached for him. Mokuba reluctantly relinquished his warm pillow and wrapped his arms around his brother's neck.

"G-night, Ari," Mokuba murmured over Seto's shoulder.

"Goodnight," she returned softly before Kaiba closed the door and she was alone. Within seconds she was missing the warmth of Mokuba's presence. As tired as she felt, she wasn't sure she could sleep now.

In his subtle irrefutable way, Kaiba had reminded her of her place. Bend to his will, or break. She sunk into the pillows and wondered how much she would bend before she broke.