Disclaimer: I don't own ah, ah, ahchoooo! ::sniff:: Yeah, exactly.

Protect Your Own

Chapter 21

It was difficult focusing on statistics when Mokuba was sitting in the corner staring sullenly at the floor. He hadn't said much when he came in, seeming more intent on company then conversation which suited Seto just fine when he was busy. The boy had dumped his coat and brown cap, which Seto recently found out Ari had bought him in Honshu, and slumped into the sofa without a word.

For a while, Seto had forgotten he was even there until a nagging voice made itself known in the back of his head and he took notice of his little brother's somber mood.

"Mokuba, is something bothering you?" he finally asked and Mokuba looked up surprised.

"Huh?"

Seto's eyes narrowed slightly. This wasn't like Mokuba.

"What's wrong?" he repeated.

"Oh," Mokuba glanced away. "I guess I just miss Ari. She's been so busy lately."

She's never been too busy for you before, Kaiba considered.

"And it seems like she's really worried about something. Did something happen on your last business trip?"

"Are you blaming me again? I'm not at fault for all of her mood swings, you know," Seto returned slightly irritated.

"Nothing like that, Seto." He stood and crossed over to lean on his brother's desk. "I think this is bigger, worse. She fidgets."

Seto arched a brow. "Fidgets?"

"Yeah, with that necklace she wears all the time. You know, I think it's a key. At least, it looked like a key. Every time I get close to her, she tucks it under her shirt."

"A key, you say." Interesting. "How long do you think she's had it?"

Mokuba shrugged. "I don't know. I remember seeing it before but I guess I just didn't give much thought to it until now."

The girl has been uncommonly busy lately. Sojo hasn't reported much about the errands she's been running all week; her apartment, the bank, the library, little things like that. She's been working longer hours than me even.

"I'll look into it," he promised his brother and Mokuba smiled.

"Don't make her mad, okay?"

Seto chuckled and turned back to his computer. "I'll try."

Ari sat back in her chair with a satisfied sigh. Everything that could be done had been done, but she couldn't shake the dread of anticipation. Level six was now complete. Only one level remained to be written for the holographic enhancement program, but she was certain Seto Kaiba could complete it on his own if necessary. She had removed all personalized safety locks on her computer and installed a new password. Her tracks were covered as much as was humanly possible, and her time was up. It had been exactly one week since she had talked to Matzu Omaka.

Turning her chair to face the window, she absently watched the sun begin its brilliant descent over Domino City, her fingers seeking the soothing touch of metal. My future is forfeit now, even as yours was. I understand, Kaska, why you hid the prototype. You knew what Omaka was willing to do to get it, so you protected your own the only way you knew how. Believe it or not, I actually learned something from you. She smiled at the thought. I learned something from my father. Who would have thought? So, is this what it felt like facing the end?

"Do you plan on staying here all night?"

"Not really," she replied as she spun her chair to face him standing in the doorway. "But it would make for a short commute."

Now that Mokuba had brought it to his attention, Kaiba wondered how he could have missed all the telltale signs. Even as she had been sitting there staring out the window, she had been toying with the chain around her neck. The moment he had spoken, she reflexively tucked it under her sweater. Her eyes were calm and thoughtful in sharp contrast to the agitation flickering through her expression and gestures. Something was bothering her on an intimate level.

A glimmer of fractured light caught his attention and a slight smile quirked his lips as he watched her rise and put on her coat. Only Ari Nieche could make wearing a thousand dollar diamond pendant with jeans and a sweater seem normal. It too was almost hidden by the high collar of her button up sweater, which seemed to invoke even greater amusement and pleasure within him. It wasn't for show and it wasn't something she had to do for him. She wore the pendant because she wanted to, because he gave it to her, and there was no other rational explanation.

"What?" she asked suddenly and he turned quickly to hide the spreading smile.

"Nothing," he threw over his shoulder.

Nothing my eye! That was as close to a stupid grin I have ever seen on that man's face. Was he laughing at me? No, it wasn't that kind of a grin. He was pleasantly pleased with something. Ari smiled to herself. It was nice to see.

They rode for some time in companionable silence before Ari realized they were not heading back to the mansion.

"Where are we going?" she ventured to ask the quiet man beside her.

"You'll see," he returned simply. Ari knew better than to press the issue. Few words had passed between them since their return, since the kiss. Kaiba had dived into his work headfirst and she likewise had been too preoccupied with her own looming problem to wonder what was going through his mind. Would he really, actually talk to her about it? What was there to talk about? She loved him and he….

The limo slowed to a stop and Kaiba got out, offering his hand to her in what she knew to be a gesture of command.

"The harbor?" she murmured when she stood beside him.

"We've both been cooped up in that building too long," he said, walking away from the limo. She stared after him for a moment. Something's up.

She hurried to catch up and fell in step beside him, finding it easy to match his leisurely stroll. The setting sun reflected powerfully off the water and Ari was comforted to see they weren't the only ones seeking the boardwalk at that tranquil hour. Still, only the waves and the occasional call of seabirds could be heard.

"Mokuba's been worried," Kaiba said suddenly and she looked up to see his gaze riveted on the sea.

"About what?"

"You."

Ari laughed softly. "He worries too much."

His steps halted and she found herself pinned by those piercing eyes. "He's right this time."

Ari self-consciously rubbed her shoulders. "I've been pushing myself too hard, that's all."

"To finish the program?"

"Yes."

"Why?"

Ari snorted softly. "You can't be serious. You've tried every trick in the book and some of your own to get me to write that program for you and now you're worried because I actually want to do it?"

"Your reasons concern me."

"Why?"

"Because I don't know them."

"You don't need to."

Seto reached for her and she did not flinch away. He simply titled her chin up and studied her pale blue eyes intensely. Defiance, anger, hate, all things he had been used to seeing within her, were lacking. A strange calm possessed the young woman that could arise only from knowledge and resignation to the inevitable. He had never seen her like this before. It was disturbing.

His fingers trailed up her jaw line and down the length of her throat to finger the silver chain. Her hand immediately seized his and fire flashed in her eyes.

"Another secret you're keeping from me?"

The usual intimidating note was absent from his voice and Ari found herself relenting, letting her hand fall limp to her side. Seto pulled on the chain until the small key rested in his palm.

A safety deposit key?

"It's not mine," Ari spoke softly. "Not anymore."

"What is it?"

"If it were mine, I would have to tell you," she admitted. "But it isn't mine to tell anymore."

Kaiba fingered the key thoughtfully. Why do I get the feeling I'll find out sooner than later? He let the key slip through his fingers and she stared at him with ill-concealed confusion.

"You could have made me tell you," she said after a moment.

"I could," he agreed and turned away to lean against the railing overlooking the harbor. But I won't do that to you.

Ari stared uncertainly at his back. I want to tell him everything, but—.

"Do you trust me?" she asked suddenly and he glanced over his shoulder at her.

"That's a bold question."

"Do you?"

"I trust you to be you."

"I would never do anything to hurt Mokuba. Do you believe me?"

She had unconsciously started fingering the key again and Seto frowned. "Is Mokuba in danger?"

"No, it's just, ah—," she gasped when he grabbed her shoulders.

"What is this really about, Ari?" he demanded, suppressing the urge to shake it out of her.

"Just tell me you believe me," she pleaded.

"Of course I believe you, but is there—."

"Remember you said that."

"What?" his eyes widened in surprise.

"Remember you said you believe me. I'm counting on it."

"Did you get yourself into some kind of trouble?" he demanded.

Ari smiled slightly. "So Mokuba isn't the only one worried."

Seto dropped his hands and shoved them into his pockets. "You are infuriating, you know that?"

"It's not like you to avoid the issue."

"You're right," he glared at her. "That's your annoying habit."

"It has been entertaining, you have to admit that," she said.

"Has been? You've been talking in the past tense a lot. Is that something else I should be concerned about?"

"There's no use worrying over things beyond your control. I learned that from Kaska."

"From his death," Seto spoke softly.

Ari nodded. "All that power and it meant nothing, except…." she faded off in thought as her stare drifted out to sea.

"Except?"

"He was so afraid he wouldn't have enough time to do what needed to be done. But when he died," she looked down at her hand remembering the fading strength in her father's touch. "He told me in the end all we can do is pave the path for those we leave behind. In the end, they are all that matter." She closed her hand on empty air. "I understand now. He always was my father, even when I no longer bore his name."

A gentle hand on her shoulder pulled her out of the memory to stare into a deeper blue then the harbor possessed.

"You're not alone anymore, Ari," his words were as gentle as the evening breeze and almost unreal coming from him, her owner and master, the man she loved.

Ari's eyes softened noticeably. "There are things beyond your control, Seto. You can't protect me from everything."

His hand tightened on her shoulder as if she were about to vanish before his very eyes. "You're my responsibility, Ari. I accepted that the day you signed the contract."

The contract. Yes, the contract that sealed my fate and forever bound me to this man in mind, body, and now my heart. How I hated him then, and now I would die for him and he would never know why.

"A responsibility," she murmured. "I understand." The submissive calm settled over her once again and Seto realized she had shut the door on him. There was nothing more Ari Nieche was going to reveal. Her entreaty that he remember her love for his younger brother and a sudden fatalistic attitude was all she would share with him and he wished for so much more.

Without another word, he gently took her arm and guided her back up the boardwalk towards the parked limo. She slipped into her disturbing silence and Seto felt his heart burn.

"Ari," he said suddenly and stopped to stare down at her. "There is one thing I would never forgive you for."

Her heart froze for an agonizing moment. "Being?"

"If you ever," he hesitated and then forced the words out. "If you ever give up, I wouldn't know you anymore."

Ari stared at him for a long moment. In just a few days, you will banish me from your memories. I can't let myself believe what you ask of me, and yet—.

"Then I won't."

A/N- Okay, the "You are forgiving" part. When Ari said "I will forgive you if you forgive me", she meant "I will forgive you for letting me be humiliated and demeaned by being sold in an auction if you forgive me for biting you when you kissed me." So after he kissed her (the second time), she didn't do anything to stop him (in fact it was all she could do not to kiss him back) and he realized that she really was forgiving.