A/N- It has been brought to my attention on a couple occasions that the Blue Eyes represents Kisara or is Kisara or an impression of the sort. To prevent any confusion with my story, I want to make it clear that I use the Blue Eyes to simply represent strength and power in the eyes of my characters.
Disclaimer: YuGiOh is not mine.
Gathering Clouds
Chapter 16
Two days passed and the silence of each other's company was still uncomfortable. Or maybe it's just me, Ari thought. Kaiba was his usual indifferent all-business-no-play self. Not that he ever really deviated from that, but Ari was still left wondering exactly when the frigid ice converted to all-consuming fire. One chilled her and the other burned. It was hard to say which was preferred if one had a choice. There was far more passion in Kaiba's cold heart then she could withstand.
I don't have a choice. Even my traitorous heart has stripped me of that freedom. At least my warden is finally letting me out of the mansion. I swear I would go stir crazy if I had to be stuck wandering those endless halls one more day!
Click clickity click click. Her fingers danced on the keyboard like overeager dancers unleashed. Layer five was on the verge of completion and her brain was so eager to finish that it ignored the obstacle Lil had thrown her way.
Oh yeah…that problem.
Her fingers slowed at the thought until she found herself staring blankly at the script. I need to talk to Omaka. I have no doubt he was behind Mokuba's attempted kidnapping but with Kaiba keeping me under lock and key, I don't know how I can reach him. What if Kaiba finds out? What if he finds out I've been selling out?
A sharp rap on the door made her jump and she glanced towards the door with wide startled eyes.
"Busy?" Seto asked with a curious quirk of a brow.
"Why?" she returned blankly.
"Come with me," he returned and she found herself getting up without having given any thought.
Like a trained poodle, she thought wryly as she followed him down to the elevator. The uncomfortable silence ensued as they rode to the lower levels—the labs.
"This is where we test our prototype hardware," he explained, leading her down the hall to one of the control rooms. Ari stared through the windows at the large empty room below as Kaiba fiddled with the control panels. Out of the corner of her eye, she saw him pull his deck from inside his coat and load it into a tray.
"What's that?" she asked, pointing through the window at the far wall.
"The holo-projector," Kaiba replied. "Come."
The room below was larger than she had thought. The ceiling lifted above the windows of the control room and she felt dwarfed in the expanse.
"It occurred to me a little strange that you should be writing a holo-duel program when you have never seen one in action," he stared down at her.
"I've seen holograms before," she retorted. "I know all that I need to know to upgrade the program."
"Is that so?" he asked with a hint of challenge.
Ari's eyes narrowed suspiciously. "What are you up to?"
He grabbed her shoulder and turned her towards the mounted holo-projector. Ari stared dumbly even as his words echoed in her ears.
"Summon the Blue Eyes White Dragon!"
The air cracked and sizzled as bright light pulsed in front of her. A magnificent creature stepped forth out of the void with a challenging roar that rattled her bones. The very ground shook beneath its massive body as it spread its great wings and craned its immense head to peer at the two people below. It roared again and Ari quickly stepped back, her retreat stopping on contact with the solid body behind her.
Seto's arm reflexively stole around her waist when she collided with him.
"We've come a long way with holograms," he murmured with pride.
"It-it looks so r-real," she stammered, barely conscious of the protective warmth against her stomach.
"You've only seen half of it," he said, arm tightening. "Blue Eyes, attack with white lightening!"
The fierce dragon arched its great head in immediate obedience. Ari threw her arms up in defense as searing white energy engulfed her. She couldn't scream, she couldn't run, but even as the moment of terror reached its limit, she realized she was safe. A deep rumbling unrelated to any hologram seeped through her body to diffuse her shaken nerves.
"What would you do faced with the real thing?" Kaiba asked in mid-laugh.
Ari lowered her hands to see the magnificent dragon standing passively, regarding her with a peculiar stare she had seen before in human eyes. I have, she realized.
"It was just an energy wash," she said with understanding.
"Duel monsters is about fighting battles, defeating your enemies, and rising to ultimate power. If your program is successful it will become the ultimate test for the ultimate duelists." Kaiba suddenly released her and she turned to look up at him.
"Without the hardware, your dream is just a dream."
He regarded her with a knowing look. "Kaska Ashine was no fool. He would have developed the program with the hardware, inseparably. That means you know more about it then you've been telling me."
"The hardware was Kaska's brainchild, not mine."
"You've been with a fiber-optic company for five years. Don't tell me you know nothing," he growled.
He wants me to rebuild it, she realized. He knows I can and he'll have me do it one way or another.
"Okay," she crossed her arms even as her eyes flashed. "I will build it for you if you let me return home." If I pacify him it will buy me some time to figure out what to do with the prototype.
His lips quirked in amusement, much as a man would when his favorite dog begged a treat. "Why are you so eager to leave my hospitality?"
"I have to feed my cat."
"You don't have a cat."
"I could have a cat."
Seto chuckled deeply. "I suppose you could."
A stiff no-nonsense ring emitted from his coat and he reached for his phone.
"Kaiba," he growled, glancing away from her.
Ari turned back towards the Blue Eyes hologram, bearing the hint of threat and devastating power even in its passive state. With my program and Kaska's prototype cable, this creature will be almost as real as me. Is the world ready for something like that? The holograms of today are frightening enough. Kaiba is right. Faced with creatures this real would certainly put to test a duelist's true skill. It will break the bank, all for Kaiba Corp now. Nihm wasn't supposed to be my inheritance. This was. I understand now, Kaska, but I'm afraid it's too late.
"Ari," Seto's voice cut through her thoughts like a knife.
"Something came up?" she asked as she turned to follow him.
"Yes."
Having conquered her flight jitters, Ari felt like a little kid in Kaiba Corp's helicopter as it flew across the bay. She all but had her face pressed up against the window, watching the waves curl and froth.
There's a storm coming, she realized as she lifted her eyes from the frothing waters to the wall of gray clouds out to sea. And it doesn't look good.
Kaiba didn't tell her who they were in such a rush to meet with. He never did. Still, she got the distinct feeling he wasn't happy about it. Not that he ever seemed happy except when with Mokuba, but his displeasure was more than usual.
"Are you going to tell me who it is?" she asked when they were in the limo speeding further into the city.
"No," was the gruff reply and Ari gave up the notion of pressing the matter. She recognized this mood in a heartbeat. His dark expression foretold of an imminent battle and she wanted no part of it.
"Be back here in half an hour," Kaiba ordered as he got out of the limo at the restaurant.
"You don't want me with you?"
His expression softened very slightly. "Not this time. Half an hour." He closed the door and strode up the fancy steps to the glass doors.
How strange. Why would he bring me all the way over here if he didn't even want me to go to this meeting with him in the first place? Well, I can't exactly get into a whole lot of trouble in half an hour. He's worse than a mother hen, I swear.
"Where to, Miss?" the driver asked.
"Do you know where there are any art stores? You know, art supplies?"
"Sure thing, Miss," he replied and pulled away from the restaurant.
Ari shot a curious glance through the back window. This isn't like him.
Half an hour on the dot because she knew him to be obsessively punctual, Ari hurried up the restaurant steps even as the shadowy sky opened up. The storm had moved in quickly, bringing a terrific wind that tore at ones lungs and fairly shoved her through the door without need of any effort on her part.
Quickly smoothing out her windblown hair, she stepped through the next row of doors and smiled at the maitre d'.
"I'm to meet with Mr. Seto Kaiba," she explained. "I know he is already inside."
"Of course, Madam," the straight-faced man replied. "Follow me."
This place must charge by the spaghetti noodle, she thought as she followed the man through spacious booths and tables. No doubt it was high on the preference list for private meetings among corporate executives.
Ari looked to where she was being led and suddenly felt sick. "I see him, thank you," she said and the maitre d' turned in surprise.
"Of course, Madam," he bowed stiffly and left her.
"Sometimes she is more trouble than she is worth, Kaiba. No doubt you have discovered this," the self-assured voice curled the hair on the back of her neck.
Ari's eyes narrowed as fire broiled in her blood. No wonder you didn't want me with you!
"I agreed to give you half an hour, Omaka. Your time is up," Kaiba returned with a cutting edge.
"Fair enough," Joko Omaka relented. He scribbled something on a napkin and slid it towards Kaiba. "I think this figure is more than adequate, for Ari's… contract."
Don't you dare! Don't you dare pick that up! If you do—. Ari clenched her fists until her knuckles turned white.
Seto glanced at the folded napkin before him. He wasn't sure why he had agreed to this meeting, but as always anything involving Ari Nieche demanded his attention. It was little surprise, although quite intriguing, that Omaka was still pursuing her. I wonder just how much he thinks she is worth.
Reaching out, he flipped open the napkin.
Glass shattered and Seto whipped around in time to see Ari disappear behind a waiter exclaiming over his tipped tray.
Omaka chuckled. "A handful indeed."
Ari stopped short at the glass doors, rain pouring in heavy sheets deterring her exit. She trembled with anger and tears stung her eyes. He was going to sell me!
"Ari!" a commanding voice rang out and she shoved on the door, running out into the storm. The wind coiled around her eagerly, pulling her further into its embrace. She felt immersed in water as if the sea had surged forth to swallow her, but was acutely aware of the contrastingly warm tears that streaked down her face as abundantly as the icy rain.
"Ari, get in the car!" his voice cut through the wind clearly and she glanced at him, the limo now driving beside her as she walked.
"No!" she retorted and looked away.
"You'll catch your death in this rain," he warned.
"Afraid that might decrease my resell value?" she shot back. She was already soaked to the bone but even the chill of the downpour and the rigid breeze did not reach her through the heat of her anger. She kept walking.
Seto frowned severely. I am not in the mood for this. "Ari, please."
Her steps halted. Did he just say—? Did Seto Kaiba just say please?
It was enough of an epiphany to make her hear her own teeth chatter, the icy wind searing through her like a blade.
"Fine," she growled and got into the limo, curling up disagreeably in the corner.
A stern scold lingered on Kaiba's lips as his cell rang.
"Kaiba," he snapped and listened carefully. "Are you sure? Fine. We will depart in the morning."
Ari looked at him warily. "Tomorrow?"
"The helicopter can't take off in this storm. Driver, the Shanada."
"Yes, Sir."
"I'm afraid we only have one room available, Mr. Kaiba, a suite."
"Fine."
The clerk glanced at the sodden woman standing behind Kaiba. "Of course, Mr. Kaiba."
"Send up some hot chocolate for the lady," Kaiba ordered as he took the key card and turned away, dragging a belligerent Ari with him.
Numbed to the bone, her comprehension was slow in coming until she stood in the middle of the luxurious suite.
Kaiba dropped his briefcase on the couch and shook off his coat.
I-I can't stay here. There's only one bed! I can't sleep in the same room with this man, let alone—.
"You need to get out of those clothes," his sharp voice intercepted her thoughts. "There's a robe in the bathroom."
Ari stared at him incredulously. He can't be serious!
He met at her skittish expression with a wicked gleam seeping into his eyes. "You don't need help, do you?"
"You wouldn't dare!"
He took a step towards her and with lightening speed she vanished into the bathroom, slamming and locking the door.
Seto chuckled as he ran a hand through his damp hair. I've never seen her move so fast. As he promised, there was a white terry cloth robe hanging on the door. Reluctantly, Ari pulled off her sopping wet sweater. I might as well take a hot shower to break the chill.
Kaiba pulled his laptop out of his briefcase and set it on the breakfast table. Absently clicking away, he almost didn't hear the water running. Good girl. I would have recommended it, but she probably would have fainted. He grinned at the thought.
A knock on the door signaled room service just moments before Ari hesitantly stepped out of the bathroom. Kaiba barely glanced at her as he irritably tipped the server.
"Give him your clothes, Ari, to have them cleaned."
She complied and politely thanked the kid.
"Is this cocoa?" she asked.
"Yes," Seto said, returning to his laptop. "It'll warm you up." He watched her pour herself a mug. She looks like a fuzzy teddy bear in that robe, compared to the drowned rat she had been before.
"Feel better?" he asked.
"Yes," she admitted softly, unwilling to offer any expression of gratitude. Her anger had been suppressed, not forgotten.
Seto seemed enthralled with his work, which made her feel less self-conscious. She sipped the hot velvet chocolate and wandered aimlessly around the suite. It truly was exquisite. He always seems to know just what I need. That's…disturbing. It makes it hard to hate him.
A cozy corner sported a mahogany chest board and Ari picked up a jeweled pewter queen. A vague memory forced a shy smile to her face.
"You play?" Kaiba asked suddenly.
"Kaska taught me so he would have an opponent."
"Are you any good?"
She looked at him suspiciously. "Why?"
A mischievous grin lit his dark eyes. "How about a match."
Some diversion? "Okay." Ari sat down and tucked her legs under her.
"Let's make it interesting, shall we?"
"What do you mean?"
"A wager."
"Such as?"
"If I win, you tell me why Ashine left Nihm Fiber-optics to you."
"No dice," Ari said as she started to get up.
"If you win," he said and she hesitated.
"Yes?"
He smiled slightly, tauntingly. "You can walk away from Kaiba Corp for good."
He's toying with me. Still, I can't forgo the chance of winning my freedom. She sat down. "You're on."
"Lady's first."
Ari moved a pawn onto the field with firm determination.
"You may regret this," she warned with a resolute grin.
"Confident?" Seto arched a brow. "Then maybe we should make this a little more worth my while."
"How so?" she frowned.
"For every piece I capture, you have to answer a question about your past."
If I say no, he might not agree to give me my freedom if I win. "Same goes for you?"
Seto moved his pawn to block hers. "Sure."
"Fine."