A/N: I don't own Yu-gi-oh, I do own my own original characters and story plot. For all of you who read chapter 20 immediately, I pulled it and then reposted it. I felt I originally made her an object in the enemies' eyes. She is an object, but they also want her mind. I added more insight, and stopped treating her like a sex object. They know she is appealing, but she has more than looks to offer. She posses a great threat to her brothers' power. So, if you want to give it a second look you might spot the differences. She's meant to be a dynamic character not a static one and I didn't do her justice. Let me know what you think. Thanks and please read and review!

Chapter 21

In two short breaths Ryan swept her up in his arms. He kissed her with all the love he had felt for her, she knew this was real for him, but not for her. She tried wrapping her arms around his shoulders, tried stroking her fingers through his hair, she even tried kissing him the way Kaiba kissed her, but she failed on every front. Finally, she pushed at Ryan's shoulders as he kissed her neck.

"I can't do this," she stammered trying not to lose control of her tears.

"What's wrong?" He pulled back and looked down at the girl whose words had been so willing.

"I thought I could, but I can't...I'm so sorry Ryan."

"What are you talking about?" He tried to pull her close, but was met with more resistance.

"I thought I could change how I felt by being with you. Part of me thought I could get revenge for what you did and what he did and that, maybe, I could change course, but I can't." She turned from him, she felt like screaming. Seto Kaiba what the hell have you done to me?!

"Has it actually happened Io? Have you finally let down the walls?" He sounded hollow.

"I don't know what I've done." Her words were wrought with tension. "I can't imagine caring about someone like Kaiba, but here I am, with the perfect opportunity to hurt him deeply and I just can't do it. I should after he...abandoned me and accused me of horrible things." She held back the scene in the limo where he had threatened rape, Ryan didn't need to hear that. "I guess part of me has grown attached to him."

Ryan plopped down on the couch. He knew his time with her was over. She had made her choice and despite his efforts, he had lost. He buried his face in his hands. Maybe he should have tried harder, pursued faster, or demanded more. He looked back up at the girl who haunted his sleeping and waking hours, even if she wouldn't admit it, her heart now belonged to Seto Kaiba. He knew he should tell her about the shares Kaiba had stolen out from under her.

Kaiba, he had discovered, had purchased shares in Mortimer's company. Shares that would have bought her freedom, but, he knew it would hurt her to know about Kaiba's treachery. Hadn't he hurt her enough when he revealed she was Cathway? He had hoped it would split them, it had, but at her expense. Now Kaiba had discarded her and she had lost her father, her kingdom and now her dreams of love. Kaiba was a cold arrogant man, but he was also her choice.

She turned back to Ryan. "What do I do now? How do I stop this?"

"Stop what Io?" He replied.

"Stop feeling things for him. I don't want him. I never did. How do I get him out of my head?" She sounded desperate. "Every time I close my eyes I can see him. Even when you kissed me part of me begged for it to be his lips and arms. I hate feeling..." She searched for the words.

"Vulnerable?" Ryan offered.

"Weak." She countered.

He smiled warmly and walked over to her.

"He doesn't deserve your heart Io." He pulled her into a hug, which she gladly accepted.

"I haven't given him my heart, only my thoughts. Don't confuse the two Ryan." She snuggled against his chest. "I don't think I can ever feel that way about anyone, I'm too damaged. I just miss him."

Ryan reluctantly pulled out of the hug. He tilted her chin up and smiled at her.

"Do you have to be home anytime soon?" He asked, hopeful to keep her for a bit longer.

"No, I'm covered for awhile, why?"

"I have some things to show you that I've been researching. I know you've been buying up shares like mad of a few certain companies, but I found something going on at Kaiba Corp. that might interest you."

They circled around to have a seat behind his desk. He logged on, then hacked his way in at KC using her routes.

"You're getting way to good at this Ryan, I think I should start watching my back." She laughed as he navigated the mainframe.

"Shares of his company are being bought, slowly so they won't gain suspicion. Hell, if I hadn't been silently hacking the system I wouldn't have noticed. I don't know much about the transactions. I only know they're going to one source, I'm not sure who though. Do you think it's a take over attempt?" Ryan eyed the screen before him.

"I know Kaiba has more interests in the company than would allow for a take over. I wonder why someone would attempt to topple him. This wouldn't be the way to do it." She pulled the laptop closer to her and began typing away furiously.

"It makes no sense. There isn't enough to buy to put a dent in his holdings. Whoever is doing this has ulterior motives, not an urge to oust him." She looked at Ryan.

"I didn't think it made sense either, but I figured I would show it to you anyway. Do you want me to try and find out who is doing the purchasing? It will take some time and a bit of effort, but I could figure it out."

She smiled at him, "You would help Kaiba after everything that's happened?"

"No," he answered, "I'll do it for you, I care about what happens to you. If someone is after him, at this point they're after you as well." He looked at her and smiled.

"Why don't you go pull on one of my shirts? You look like you're freezing in that slip you're wearing." He turned his attention back to the screen.

"It's not a slip, it's a dress." She answered indignantly. She stood and went towards the bedroom.

"Where did you get it 'Sluts are US'?!" He started laughing at the jest.

She shot him an angry look then closed the door.

She pulled on one of his button down shirts and then sat down on the bed. She pulled off her shoes and then rolled down the stockings. She wished he had a pair of sweats in her size. She laid down on the bed, thinking of how she had originally planned for this night to end and smiled at the way it had actually gone. She had her best friend back. She yawned, then stretched.

Ryan went to check on her a few minutes later only to discover Iolite snuggled up in a fetal position, in the dead center of his bed. He sighed and leaned against the doorframe, he had always wanted her in his bed. Funny how sometimes you have to be more specific when you make wishes.

Kaiba sat alone in his room working on his computer. He had gotten a few things accomplished during the time he had been away. He also noticed his wife had been quite busy as well, Cathway had been swallowing up interests in several companies. She had them rerouted so it appeared to be several entities, but if one knew how and where to look it was all traceable to Cathway. He smiled, she knew what she was doing. She was dangerous, holding a tiger by the tail usually was.

"So Highness, what are you doing? What do you hope to gain? What is your ultimate plan?"

He continued with checking her e-mail, noting that Ryan still wrote several times a day. It was maddening that he would spend so much time on another man's wife. Each letter apologized and tried to make amends. Kaiba was sick of it all. He wondered if Ryan was breaking through. Would sweet words make her fall into Ryan's arms?

I know you Highness. An apology won't be enough. He ousted you to your 'enemy' and I don't think you're that forgiving. I have a feeling you'll want to be vindicated. How will you go after him? How will you come after me? I know you have to be bloody furious by now, but I can't seem to put my mind at ease with your new title yet. If you are Cathway why didn't you destroy me yet, and given the chance would you still? Are you true to me? Can I ever turn my back to you? Or must I sleep with one eye open...

Ryan slept on the couch until he heard a loud banging on the door.

"Just a minute," he shouted, trying to gather his wits.

The pounding was relentless and without thinking he opened the door. He was thrown back as the person on the other side slammed his way in.

"What the hell have you done with her?!" A very irate Raine shouted at Ryan. Crossing the room, in pursuit of Iolite's former suitor.

"What do you mean?" Ryan asked, still trying to pull himself together, backing away at the anger in Raine's face.

Raine grabbed him by the neck and slammed him into a wall. "Give me one reason why I shouldn't snap your worthless neck!"

Ryan was clawing at the hands that were now cutting off his oxygen supply.

"She's married Ryan and for all intents and purposes she must stay married. Do you know what Kaiba will do when he finds out you had his wife come here in the middle of the night?!"

Noticing how Ryan was beginning to cease fighting Raine released him, Ryan crumpled to all fours on the ground and tried taking several breaths.

"Now," Rained growled, "where the hell is she?"

The bedroom door slowly opened, "What's going on out here?" A very sleepy Iolite groaned.

Raine almost had a heart attack as he took his charge in. Her eyes snapped open wide when she saw Raine standing there, staring at her.

"How?" She managed, before Raine lit into her.

"Tea came back to the house a few hours after she dropped you off here. She was hoping that you would be home by then. When you weren't she informed me of your tryst. She was worried, but I'm not--I'm livid." He looked her up and down, noting that she was wearing Ryan's shirt, the top few buttons were undone, she was exiting his bedroom and she looked like she had just been rolled in the hay. He looked at Ryan who was in a pair of pajama bottoms and a t-shirt. Had he just pulled it on when the knocking started?

Iolite slowly realized what Raine was forming in his mind.

"Wait," she began, "I can explain."

"Give me one reason why I shouldn't call Kaiba right now and get him over here."

"You know where he is?!" She raced over to the man, "how long have you known? I should be furious with you, why haven't you told me?"

She stopped when she saw how angry Raine still looked. He folded his arms across his chest and glared at her.

"You care about where he is even as you stand here in another man's clothes after sleeping in another's bed?!" Raine wanted to strangle her, she had screwed up so many times, but this was the biggest.

Slowly she tugged the shirt over her head.

"I put his shirt on because I was cold. Yes, I slept here, but I did that alone. He slept out here." She looked over at Ryan, then back at Raine. "I might have come here with the intentions of being unfaithful, but I lacked the resolve to go through with my plan."

Raine looked at the girl, she never lied to him and he hoped like hell that she wasn't starting now.

"I'm sorry if I worried you, but it was worth a few gray hairs of yours to put this to rest. Ryan is my friend, nothing more. Kaiba is my husband, even though he won't have me." She gazed at the floor, "I'm hanging by a thread Raine," she whispered, looking up at him, "will you be the scissors?"

A/N: I thought about making her sleep with Ryan, but I think that would be unforgivable. I hope you all agree that it couldn't happen that way. Kaiba's ego would only allow so much leverage and he has enough to chew on with her company. Thank you all for reviewing!

WhitejellO: I'm glad you liked the descriptions. I added a few fluffy chapters in there and failed to mention the danger that she is always in. I'm sorry I neglected the bad guys and concentrated on just romance. I'm a stickler for romance (major flaw). I wanted Mortimer to be horrible, thanks to you I know it worked. So, now I have a few things to sort out in this story...I like levels and turmoil. Thanks, as always, for your review. Oh, and now I'm getting e-mail alerts and all that stuff...I guess it corrected itself. It was driving me crazy for a bit there.

Frosty: I think I'm all better now on FanFic. FINALLY!!! I was pulling my hair out for a bit there. At one point I couldn't access document manager and then was told I had no stories posted. Today it is joyously corrected! Yipee! Now, onto the story...I'm glad I gave insight into her background. I want the readers to know something is going that the main characters don't know about. I won't give away too much, because it has to unfold naturally. I thank you for the quality remark, I strive for it. PS-when are the twins coming?!

Solo-girl: I hope you aren't annoyed that she was faithful. I toyed with her going the other way, but then realized how it would permanently destroy trust. Now she has to convince Raine, Tea and Mai that she did nothing...oh the webs we weave...lol I'm glad you don't like her brothers, they will quickly get worse (promise). Trading spaces wantabe? I love that! Too funny...lol

Tenshi: He saved his girlfriend once already...by marrying her...now he has to save his wife...or will he? How far will Kaiba carry a grudge?

Sarah: Sorry this took a bit longer than I had wanted. I hope you liked it, at least it answers a few questions. The next chapter will be a killer I promise! Thanks for reviewing!