Disclaimer: I don't own YuGiOh.

A Knight with a Queen

Chapter 17

"Why is there no information on you preceding your employment at Nihm?"

I don't like where this is headed. Ari scowled at him. "There is," she said.

"Nothing my resources could find. Ari Nieche is a phantom."

She chuckled, genuinely amused. "Oh, is that it? You searched the wrong name."

Kaiba sat back in surprise. The wrong name?

Ari took his rook with her bishop. "Check. Have you ever cared for anyone other than Mokuba?"

"Of course."

Her eyes lit up. "Who?"

Seto smiled wryly. "That's two questions."

Ari scowled again. "Fine."

He took her bishop with his queen. "What's your legal name?"

"Ari Nieche." She stared hard at the board. I've checked him three times so far and he countered like it was nothing!

"We had an agreement, Ari," Seto growled.

She glanced up with a slight, teasing smile. "Ari Nieche has been my legal name for the last five years."

"That wasn't what I meant."

"You should have been more specific." She stared thoughtfully at the board. I have to win this. She took his knight with her queen. "Check. Who else?"

"Who else what?"

"Who else have you cared for other than Mokuba?"

"My birth parents." He smirked at her frown. "You should have been more specific."

Seto looked down at the board. Ari played aggressively but had a habit of opening herself up in her fierce determination to achieve her goal. He moved his queen. "Checkmate."

Ari stared at the board helplessly. I lost.

"Ari."

She looked up with wide eyes.

"Pay up. Why did Ashine leave you Nihm."

Ari closed her eyes for a moment. One secret at a time, my soul is bared to his teeth.

"Sentimental reasons," she said, opening her eyes to see his skeptical expression.

"You can't be serious."

"Why not?"

"Ashine was a heartless man who cared only for his business."

"You're no different but then, there is Mokuba."

"Mokuba is family."

Ari stared at him silently, unflinchingly.

Seto's eyes widened slightly as understanding dawned on him. "Your real name is Ashine."

"Until I was fourteen. It was changed to my mother's maiden name after she died and I came to Nihm, to Kaska. He didn't want people to know he was my father." She chuckled softly without humor. "To think I have cancer to thank for his only fatherly expression. Stupid fool."

She looked down at the board again. "How many moves ago could you have won?"

"At least six."

"I was never competition enough for him either."

"Don't underestimate yourself," Kaiba said gently and Ari glanced up, her eyes too moist with memory to notice the flicker of warmth in his eyes. "You have potential."

"You don't have to humor me, Kaiba," she said somberly as she unfolded her legs and pushed herself up. "I know my place."

Seto winced at the subtle blow. Her fierce determination had faded quickly and he had no doubt he had been the one to smother the fire.

Ari stood uncertainly, staring at the king size bed. I suppose I can trust him to be a gentleman….

"Go ahead. I'll take the couch," Kaiba spoke behind her and Ari shot him a slight grateful smile.

"Thank you," she said softly. She fell asleep listening to the rhythmic clicking of his laptop, preferring the monotonous sound over the memories demanding precedence in her sleep.

Mokuba? Seto sat up wearily and waited for his eyes to focus in the dark. Mokuba isn't here. Where am I? The hotel.

The sound reached him again, a soft stifled cry. Throwing off his blanket, he crossed the room to the bed and stared down at the woman whimpering in her sleep like a forlorn child.

"Ari," he shook her shoulder gently and fresh tears streamed in her tormented slumber.

Stop. Please stop. He crawled into the bed and pulled her into his arms, hugging her tightly against his chest.

"Shh, child," he whispered soothingly. "You're safe."

Her tears dampened his shirt, but her sobs gradually eased as she fell into a deeper slumber.

Seto buried his face in her sweet damp hair and sighed. "You're safe with me."

Ari struggled out of a confusing dream of fear and joy. One moment she was terrified, hunted, alone…and then suddenly warm and safe.

Is that a radio? No…a heartbeat. My pillow has a heartbeat.

Her eyes fluttered open to stare across the hotel room. Wrapped securely in Seto Kaiba's arms, she found her exceptionally cozy pillow was his chest, rising and falling with steady breath.

How did I get here? If I'm really careful…. She shifted slightly and his arms immediately tightened.

She sighed with soft resignation. It was disturbingly comfortable and warm in his embrace. Dangerous. The soothing rhythm of his breathing threatened to lull her back to sleep.

"Are you awake?"

She heard the words rumble deep in his chest before they were spoken.

"Yes," she said hesitantly.

"You were crying in your sleep," he said.

Ari closed her eyes. I cried a lot when mom died and I was sent to live with Kaska. He didn't know what to do, never tried to comfort me. Bad dreams, bad memories…I was alone even then.

"Mokuba cried in his sleep for two years after our father died," Seto murmured as he absently twirled a lock of golden brown hair around his finger. The sweet scent of vanilla taunted him. Her usual scent was lavender, but he thought this suited her better. Lavender. When did I first notice that?

"I'm sorry I woke you," she said softly.

Seto chuckled. "Don't apologize for your bad dreams, Ari."

She remained silent, suddenly afraid he might inquire about those dreams. It was bad enough he knew what made her tick. He's crazy if he thinks I'll tell him what makes me cry.

"You're awfully quiet, Ari."

"So?"

"I can stay like this all day and enjoy it, mind you. So unless you tell me…."

Ari frowned. "That's not fair."

"Life isn't fair, but you already know that don't you."

There's got to be another way to get him to let me go. Maybe….

"Are you ticklish?"

"No."

She swore.

Seto chuckled again. Yes, I could stay this way all day, holding her slight body against mine, keeping her safe from the monsters in her head. Such a shame she finds my touch so offensive.

Ari frowned. He's enjoying this way too much.

"Let me go first," she offered hopefully.

"I don't trust you."

"Likewise."

"What are you so afraid of, Ari? Maybe I'll see you as nothing more than an insecure child abandoned by the world, desperately in need of love and comfort? I saw that girl the day we first met. You're brave, but a terrible actress."

Pained tears stung her eyes as she stared at her fist curled on his chest. "You have everything," she whispered. "Please leave me this."

Her plea startled him and he tilted her chin up. "What did I do now?" he asked in surprise.

She stared at him speechlessly and his dark eyes suddenly flared.

"Never mind," he said gruffly, pushing her away.

Ari sat up on the bed in shock, unable to comprehend the swift change in mood and action. What…why…I don't understand! He had me at a complete disadvantage!

Against better judgment, she was about to ask him what happened when the phone rang. Having slipped back into his typical cold and distant self, Kaiba answered with a fierce growl that made even her wince. Ari tugged on the already secure belt on her robe in agitation. I really wish I had my clothes right now.

As if on cue, a knock on the door signaled room service.

Seto must have asked for a wakeup call, she realized as she answered the door and accepted her clean clothes and the cart of breakfast with ill-concealed glee.

"I have to go," Kaiba said suddenly as he hung up the phone and collected his briefcase.

"What do you mean 'go'?"

"Something came up with one of our suppliers," he growled unpleasantly.

"How long," she asked hesitantly.

"I don't know," he grumbled as he shrugged his coat on. "Don't go far," he ordered and was out the door.

Ari stood and stared after him. Breakfast alone. What a… relief?