A/N: Please keep R&R...

SetoLover: There will be no Yaoi's here, and as for evil, I don't think Seto really is. He's arrogant and egotistical, but not evil. Could a man who loves his brother enough to risk his own soul be evil?! I don't think I could write him that way. Can't tell you much past that or I'll ruin my story. I do love his aire of confidence and his wit, it adds to his charm. Don't ya think?

I don't own 'Turn of the Screw'. No, I don't own Yu-Gi-Oh or any of the characters associated with it, only my own...darn my bad luck...

Chapter 7

Everyone was having a great time. The Kaiba mansion afforded many luxuries and Mokuba made sure they all took advantage of them. He didn't have many opportunities to invite people over; Seto usually frowned on such nonsense. He was more than excited when they entered the dueling arena that they had on the estate grounds. Usually Seto used the place to practice, but often Mokuba went there to play around.

"I want to duel you Princess...er...Iolite," Mokuba challenged playfully.

"You have to go easy on me," she smiled at him, "I haven't played skilled duelists such as yourself before. The people I played against were purely amateurs."

They assumed their positions and started the game. Step by step she revealed new monsters and different trap and magic cards. Everyone was amazed. They had seen Mai's impressive deck, most of her cards being quite feminine, but Iolite's were amazing.

They dueled back and forth; she began to notice how frustrated he was getting. It never took her more than a few moves to annihilate a person, but Mokuba was different and his feelings meant a lot to her. She continuously held back her major monster cards and a few 'fail-proof' magic and trap cards in order to give him the advantage. She didn't go down easy that would be too obvious. She didn't want to destroy his ego and humiliate him. Eventually, she lost the duel.

Yugi pulled her aside.

"You let him win. Do you think it was a good idea?" he asked seriously.

"He's a child and I doubt seriously that his brother ever lets him off easy. Sure, I could have defeated him, but why? It wouldn't have made me feel good, and it would have made him feel awful. My Dad was always hard on me, but he also let me experience some victories. You know, if you taste victory you hunger for it more... Maybe I actually helped him."

Yugi searched her face, a hint of child-like innocence lurked there still, despite all the problems. He was amazed that she wasn't jaded and he was also impressed. "You shouldn't make a habit of letting people win. Maybe you need a victory to help yourself."

"I'm working on my victory Yugi, don't worry about me."

"We're all worried about you Iolite," he shook his head slowly, "it's only a matter of days and..." his voice trailed off, he didn't want to upset her. Her time was so fleeting.

"Things have to work out Yugi, and besides, for now I'm safe. No one guaranteed me tomorrow and today I'm trying to figure out a way around all of this mess. Letting Mokuba win made him happy, and that, in turn, made me happy. It's a 'now' thing. I have very little control over what will happen to me, at least I can do something for him."

Yugi glanced over her shoulder and saw Kaiba standing there. He wondered if he had heard Iolite's admission. He also wondered why the man was so interested in her. They seemed to argue every time they were near each other, so why did he keep coming around her? "What's on your mind Kaiba?" He asked, noting the way Iolite's features tensed.

"I would like a word with her Royal Highness," he spit out.

Yugi knew that Kaiba, for the most part, put on an act. He had a hard edge, but a harsh life would do that to a person. He had no problem leaving her in Kaiba's company, besides she could handle him. He smiled and walked away.

He came very close to her before he started speaking, she could feel butterflies take flight in her stomach. He did have a way of unnerving her and she desperately wanted it to stop.

"Why did you toss the duel? I know you could have buried him, so why did you let him win?" He seemed genuinely mad.

"He's a child Kaiba," she noted how his eyes softened, "why should I take a small victory away from him? It meant more to him than me."

"He must learn to fight, not be catered to. If you would have beat him next time he would have tried harder." He leaned back and folded his arms across his chest; "don't give him confidence when he lacks skill."

She eyed him viciously. She could hardly believe they were discussing Mokuba like he was a robot in training. He smirked at her with cold animosity and his cobalt eyes narrowed. "If you go soft on him he'll be as easy to beat as that dog..." he drawled the last word.

"If I let him win maybe he'll be able to beat Yugi someday, unlike you." She smiled smugly, knowing she hit a nerve.

What came next took her by complete surprise...he grabbed her upper arms, pulled her to him and ground his mouth on hers. Her eyes flew open and her breath caught, what the hell was he doing?! She had no time to react. Quickly his mouth softened against hers, he attempted to deepen the kiss. His tongue softly stroked hers, she whimpered. He groaned as he pulled her body against his, her curves fit the lines of his body perfectly, how could it feel so right with a woman who was so exasperating? Gently he started stroking the nape of her neck, feeling her warm hair cover his hands, that honey blonde hair, which had fascinated him from the moment he had lain eyes on her...Finally, her muscles relaxed a bit, she was bewildered by him. How could a cold man kiss with such fever? Her hands, which had been pushing against his chest, now gripped his shoulders. He tasted her mouth with such elegance she nearly purred. What was she doing? This had to stop. She managed to recover and pull away. He looked shocked.

She slapped his face firmly. Blushing deeply, she noted how she was panting.

"How dare you?!" She fumed at him, her fire returned with avengence.

He slowly turned to look at her, his eyes were smoldering. He couldn't believe that she hit him. He tasted blood in his mouth and realized that she had split his lip.

"Feisty huh Highness," he searched her face, but she wore a mask that hid everything she felt. He noticed that her mouth had softened against his prior to the slap and that she was responding. She tasted like peaches and if he wasn't bleeding he would have gone back for a second try.

"Don't ever touch me again," she hissed and took a step back. Despite her protest she noted, that unlike many of her brothers' friends, Kaiba's kiss didn't disgust her. She tasted coffee on his breath, which wasn't unpleasant and after the initial violence his softness intrigued her. Did she want him to try again?

What am I going insane? I'll never let him again, besides after that hit he'll never try...am I disappointed? The stress must be getting to me...

Kaiba wiped his lower lip and looked at the flecks of blood on his fingers.

She felt a pang of regret, he wasn't trying to rape her, and she knew that. Unfortunately, she was quite skittish thanks to the tormenting she took from her brothers. How many times had wages been made against her virtue? How many men had tried to take that precious gift from her? She fought like a demon to keep her dignity, and she had succeeded. Kaiba was the first man to take an interest in her for her, not because he was dared to or because he had a wager going. That scared her more than anything. The only man she had allowed to kiss her was Ryan; she now understood what Raine meant by "boiling blood" because Seto's kiss was in a league of its own.

He could see she was lost in thought, she was playing with her hair and the look on her face was total confusion...it was priceless.

"Have you ever been kissed before?" he asked quietly.

"Of course," she was still in a world of her own.

"By who?" He was almost sure it would be Ryan, but he needed to know.

"The man who wrote the letter you read," she looked up at him. His eyes were still soft, but as always, unreadable.

He wanted to ask more, but he heard voices and turned to see who was coming. He was shocked he hadn't noticed that they had been all alone, until now.

"There you are!" Mokuba yelled as he came running over "I was worried I thought you got lost."

"She's fine Mokuba," Kaiba turned to him.

"Dinner is ready big brother, are you going to join us?" Mokuba's voice was so hopeful that it caused Iolite to smile. He really did worship Kaiba.

"No, I have work to do," he turned and started walking away from the two of them. Iolite decided to intervene, she just wasn't sure if it was for Mokuba or her.

"Kaiba," she called out to his retreating back.

He paused, "What?" he answered without turning around. He didn't sound annoyed for once.

"Could you please join us for dinner?" She hardly recognized her own voice it sounded so insignificant.

He turned and looked her over, "If I finish what I'm working on I'll join you."

It was as close to a yes as she'd get and she knew it.

"Come on," Mokuba grabbed her hand and led her away.

Kaiba watched the two and frowned, he had needed a few more minutes with her shield down. He had to solve her, if that was possible. He ran his tongue over his wounded lip, a small price to pay for something so disarming and sweet. He'd simply kiss all of her secrets to the surface.

"I wouldn't count on Kaiba joining us for dinner," the boy admonished quietly, "he hardly ever eats with me. Every once in awhile I'll take dinner to his office, but even then he's usually too busy to stop work just to eat. He's very dedicated."

"Obsessive is more like it," she said quietly, he didn't seem to hear. "Does he ever do anything just to enjoy it? Something that isn't work related?"

"He duels," Mokuba answered matter-of-factly.

She knew he was a top duelist; maybe, just maybe she could bring him down a few pegs. The Kaiba brother she needed to defeat wasn't the little one it was the big one. A simple plan was hatching in her mind and a smile crept across her lips. Mokuba just pointed out the chink in Kaiba's armour and she was going to use that to her advantage.

Part 2

Dinner was amazing, between all the food and Joey trying to cram everything down his throat at the same time she was constantly amused. Conversations drifted in and out and she began to learn more about these remarkable people. She missed her Dad and her friends, but it just didn't seem so bad here anymore.

Once dessert was finished they all moved into the screening room to watch a movie. Mai snuggled up against Joey, then chastised him for burping against her ear. Yugi sat with Tea, the two quietly held hands. Mokuba was snuggled on a recliner by himself, she knew it wouldn't be long before he fell asleep.

She looked at her watch and saw that it was 8:00. She wondered when they would leave. Raine wasn't in the room, so she decided to go find him. No one noticed her leave the room.

She walked down one of the hallways, thinking it might lead back to the dining room, but she was wrong. Now she found herself near the garage, she decided she would go through it to get around to the back of the house and then double back to the patio. The garage was dark, but she managed to find her way out the back door. Once outside she took in a deep breath, the night was cool and the air was so fresh, she could smell the rain coming and smiled. She had to climb a small gate to get into the yard. Hopefully there were no attack dogs on duty.

She slowly made her way down the garden steps to the pool. There were low lights on, but nothing to help her see. She stopped at the pool, looking at the spot where she and Kaiba had argued earlier, then she thought about his office, where they argued, oh, and when they first met they argued, last time she saw him-they argued. Was this a pattern? She smiled, he was exasperating. She looked up at the back of the mansion and saw a dim light on in one of the rooms. It was on the second floor, and she could almost guarantee that that was his office. He was still working. She hadn't seen him since their kiss; she traced a finger over her mouth. Had it affected him? She made her way back up to the mansion and entered through the French doors. She was still looking for Raine, but had no idea where to find him. She scanned the books lining one of the walls...she wasn't one to watch TV; she picked up 'Turn of the Screw' and plopped down on the couch to read it.

Kaiba had watched her walk around by the pool, did she look up at his office? Was it his imagination? She aroused him. He purposely stayed away from dinner to avoid seeing her again. He now looked at his computer screen. His transaction was complete...8 percent of Mortimer. His purchase was complete. Now he had leverage.