YUGIOH

MP: Aftermath

Chapter 29.

Kaiba had walked back to the main section of his house, and into the kitchen to get something to drink. There was all sorts of pop, milk, water, juice, and other various drinks of sorts to choose from, but then he looked across the room at the minibar he normally used only for business celebrations. Kaiba didn't drink, he didn't believe in it. Drinking only clouded ones senses, making them vulnerable towards anyone a person faced. And except for Mokuba, anyone else would normally be seen as an adversary in his eyes. But in the comforts of his own home, with no one around to really bother him anyway, except for Mokuba....

Kaiba closed the fridge, saying, "Why not?" He really felt after everything happened, that he could use a little brain-numbing for a change, and try to forget about everything today....deal with it tomorrow.

He left the kitchen, entering the living room to the mini bar, and poured himself a shot of something. He didn't read the label....he didn't really care. No matter what it was, he knew it would taste horrible to him. He brought the concoction to his lips and drank down 1/2 of it....

"I didn't know you drank...."

....and instantly spit it up from the voice behind him. Kaiba whirled around to see Jasmine casually sitting on the couch with her feet up on the coffee table. "I don't. What the hell are you still doing here??"

"Sitting on your couch, obviously." She smiled over to him. He didn't look amused. 'What else is new?' She thought. "I wondered where you took off to. It felt like forever before you made it back here. You know, for someone who don't drink, that suspiciously looks like a drink to me."

Kaiba put the glass down on the mini bar, no longer having any interest in drinking it. "And for someone who was supposed to be gone after I ordered her to leave, it's strange that you're still here."

"Is that an order, master?" She smiled.

"I'm not in the mood for your games, Mutt. Woman or male, you're still a Mutt." He stated.

"Does that mean I should put my collar back on?" She asked.

He turned away, trying to force pent-up feelings down away from him. He was really hoping he wouldn't have to go through this battle with Joey again, whatever form he was in. And he knew he wasn't ready for it, either. If she advanced on him, would he be able to resist this time? He wasn't sure, and that uncertainty worried him.

Kaiba didn't immediately say anything back, so Jasmine continued, saying, "Mokuba once said to me that anyone besides your brother that you start to care for, you normally push away. Is that right?"

"That's interesting." Kaiba stated. "I'm afraid I can't agree with Mokuba. After all, besides my brother, there 'is' no one else that I care about...." He stated, turning to face the woman sitting on the couch.

"So....you hated me so much, you asked me out, huh? That what you're saying?" She asked.

Kaiba's face once again became the mask, stating in a very business-tone, "It's all about image, Watana. Because of you, I lost my last image consultant....I was in need for a new one."

"You are so full of yourself, you know that??" She stood up. "For your precious image, you used Mai and bought her all the things a greedy person would want. But that's not what you did with me. And our times in your office and bedroom I have a feeling was not something you shared with Mai....now was it??"

Kaiba glanced away from her, unable to answer. She was right, and he knew it....and he was having trouble trying to find a way out of this.

"You know, I made a lot of sacrifices to try and get it into your thick head how stupid you've been acting between us. Do you have any idea how uncomfortable it is to wear a woman's high heels, bra, and panties....besides how embarrassing it is??" She asked.

Kaiba didn't answer that one either, because he did know from his own transformation, and the very thought of it made him feel extremely uncomfortable.

Jasmine caught his discomfort, and smiled, "Yeah, you probably do, don't you? So, then you probably know how tough it is, having someone who didn't lose their memories to do that. But I did it anyway, for you....cuz I care about you. And you can't use that bullshit line anymore, saying, 'I don't know nothing cuz I haven't been through the torture and horror you have', cuz now I have. I have been through it in fact longer than you have. You dealt with it for four days, I dealt with it for almost 3 weeks....I was prepared to go through it until school, if I had to. And your right, you do get weird emotional girlie hormones from it, that really freaks you out at times. But you know what, that hasn't changed how I feel about you. And no matter what I'm changed into, it's not going to make me feel any different....only you can do that."

Kaiba stayed silent during the whole speech. He finally turned and moved closer to the couch, where Jasmine was at. Crossing his arms, he asked, "Do you want something to drink?" Deciding to play the polite host for the moment.

"Sure, gimmee what you're having." She said, nodding towards the mini bar.

"I'm not drinking." Kaiba said.

"Come on, you know you want one. I think after all that happened, we can both use a hard one." Jasmine stated. Then realizing how that sounded, she chuckled, saying, "I mean a strong one...."

Kaiba raised an eyebrow to this, but turned to the mini bar. He poured the same concoction in another glass, then after a moment's pause, refilled his own. 'What the hell.' He thought. 'It's not like she could do anything worst to me, anyway....'

He brought Jasmine her drink, and sat down next to her with his own. "Bottom's up." She said, clinking glasses together, and they both drank 1/2 of it. Kaiba simply sat, trying to relax, as he felt the stuff burn down his throat. "You okay?" Jasmine asked.

Kaiba silently nodded, yet still said nothing. He was thinking about everything that was said to him, and knew it was pretty much all true. And he knew he was trying to push Jasmine away, not because of what happened, not because of what sex she was supposed to be, and not because of the machine, but it was because of fear of getting close. Mokuba was right what he said to Joey, he did push people away. And he knew if he did that now, the only excuse he would have was fear to hide behind. He did not face danger by running away. Like a fighter, he believed in moving forward and taking risks. It was time to finally stop pushing her away, and accept the agreement he originally gave to Joey that he wouldn't do that again.

"I'm sorry." He finally said. "Maybe you're right...." He downed his glass, letting the buzz filter in.

"Did I hear that right? Man, where's a tape recorder when I need it. Kaiba apologizes...." Jasmine giggles, downing the rest of her own glass.

Kaiba glared at her, and moved, pushing her down into the couch. He then hesitated, looking down at her, and she could see his need for her in Kaiba's eyes, as he suddenly moved down with her, pressing his lips against hers.