Disclaimer: I don't have it.
Don't Leave
Chapter 10
The first rays of sunlight woke him and he blinked in irritation at the disturbance. I really should move into a room on the other side of the house, he mused. Turning his head to stare into the light full force, he found his view blocked by a mass of golden brown curls.
There's an angel in my bed, he realized as he sat up and stared down at her serene expression. It only took him a moment to recall the late night encounter and he was surprise that she had remained. She must have fallen asleep soon after me, he decided as he reached out to finger her glorious hair. If I could wake to this sight every morning, I would never curse the morning sun again.
His gaze drifted to the necklace around her throat, the diamond sparkling cheerfully in the sunlight, and a smile tugged at his lips. It seems she hasn't forgotten her old habits.
She stirred slightly and he pulled his hand away, apprehensive at what her reaction would be when she woke to find him there. She didn't wake. Relief overcame him and he cautiously slid out of bed so as not to disturb her any further.
Let her come to her own conclusions, he decided as he dressed for work and left her to sleep bathed in morning glory. The image would sustain him through the day, perhaps even prepare him for the evening when she would remember how much she feared him.
Don't leave. She reached out for him but he continued to drift away. There was something familiar about the shadow that fell away from her. She should know him, his face, his voice, but these were all absent. There was just the consciousness of her heart that declared him the champion of her dreams. With him fled the barrier of strength that protected her from the darkness.
It surged forth and seized her in icy clutches and her blood stilled, restricting movement. The darkness grew hands and they searched her frozen body, leaving a lingering touch that made her stomach heave in fear and disgust. It was heavy and suffocating, and relentless. The hands—the hands were searching for that one thing that she could not risk losing.
Come back! Save me!
Ari!
Her eyes snapped open and she stared at the unfamiliar blue silk draped across the canopy above. With a shaky breath she forced air into her lungs and with relief discovered that her heart still beat. As calm settled over her, she took note of her surroundings and quickly sat up, scanning the room nervously to find that she was alone.
Clutching the silk sheets to her chest, the realization dawned on her that he had awakened before her. There was something seriously disturbing about finding herself in the man's bed. She felt sordid, as if she had been abandoned after a night of…
Ari blushed furiously at her thoughts, knowing full well nothing had happened. Kaiba had wanted nothing more than her company and had considerately left her undisturbed when he left her this morning. Somehow she knew it would have been extremely uncomfortable for the both of them if they had to face each other the morning after a shared night of loneliness. He must have known it too.
What will the staff think if they find me here? Her cheeks reddened even more at their possible misconception as she threw the blankets from her and quickly crossed the room. A covert peak out the door showed her an empty hall and she scurried to her room just two doors down. Slipping inside, she sighed with relief and closed it softly.
"Where have you been? I was worried!"
Ari froze like a child caught with her hand in the cookie jar. "Uh, I was, I got thirsty." She turned slowly to face El. "I went down for a glass of water." Last night.
El sighed with relief. "Well, you really had me worried when you didn't call for me last night."
"Call you?"
El gave her a reproving smile. "I knew you didn't take the sedatives I gave you at bedtime. So I was waiting for you to call for them in the middle of the night. You must have slept well."
Ari stared at her for a moment and then smiled shyly. "I did." I did. In his arms, the nightmares didn't find me. It wasn't until he left me…
"I think I'll get a shower, El. Mokuba is suppose to come back today."
"Very well. I'm glad to see you so well rested, Ari. You're almost glowing."
Ari blushed again as she stepped past the woman and headed into the large bathroom. Glowing? Surely not!
The mirror told her different. The fright was vacant from her pale eyes. They sparkled like her diamond, knowing the secret she shared with only one other person. For certain Kaiba would speak of the occurrence to no one and neither would she. Why did he seek comfort in her? Every time he looked at her, even when his eyes were cold and distant, she had a feeling that he saw something in her that no one else did. What was she to this man?
His eyes had been haunting, somber and grave. That night she understood the chill, the icy barrier he built around him. It was all to hide the pain. She wanted to soothe his despairing spirit. He knew so much about her that she did not and she felt in the darkest moment of the unforgiving night, he had shared with her secrets he would share with no one.
When I look into his eyes tonight, will I see a change?
Mokuba chattered endlessly about his day away and Ari listened and made comments when necessary. Kaiba read his paper and not once looked at her. She didn't blame him. The moment she stood in his presence again, the anxiety returned and her eyes looked everywhere except at him. She almost didn't notice when he left the table, as silent as he had come.
"I missed you," Ari said when they were alone and Mokuba paused long enough for her to say more than one word.
Mokuba grinned. "I hope you weren't bored. Seto was here, wasn't he?"
"Yes. You were sorely missed at dinner," she murmured and Mokuba's smile faded.
"I'm sorry, Ari." Suddenly his eyes narrowed suspiciously. "He wasn't mean to you, was he?"
"No."
"Good. Sometimes he can be rough around the edges, but you already know…" he faded off when he realized what he was saying.
Seeing his discomfort, Ari offered a small smile. "We talked."
Immediately the blue-violet eyes brightened, hopeful. "What did you talk about?"
Not much. "Kaiba Corp," she said.
"Did he say anything about taking you to work?"
Ari shook her head. "It was a short conversation," she admitted. Thankfully, Mokuba didn't pry. Neither was it whispered about by anyone of who had spent the night in the master's bedroom, much to Ari's relief.
When night once again faced her, she did not hesitate to take the sedatives El Jiura offered. The previous night had been a one time thing and she knew she couldn't face a repeat. Not when neither person could meet the other's eyes the morning after. Besides, it was pure chance that she slept so peacefully without the drugs, wasn't it?
A startled shriek tore from her throat and she stumbled back in defense, slamming into the wall. She was half turned to bolt down the hallway when she realized that instead of coming after her, the man had taken several steps back. Ever the powerful force within her, curiosity lifted her gaze.
"Forgive me, Ms Ari," Sojo pleaded, his hands raised in defense. It was a strange gesture for a man as tall and built as him.
She eyed him warily. I thought the security guards weren't permitted in the house. But this one is more than that. Kaiba said he was my bodyguard.
"Mr. Kaiba sent for me," he explained when she said nothing. "I was on my way up to his office."
Taking another step back, she nodded and he slowly put his hands down. He regarded her thoughtfully for a moment in silence.
"Ms Ari, I know there is little you remember, but please keep in mind that I am always at your service. If you should ever find yourself in trouble, you only have to call my name. It is my duty, after all."
Bodyguard. Again, Ari merely nodded and it seemed to be enough because he then continued on his way, careful to keep substantial distance between them as he passed her.
It was frustrating, eyes once trustful to look upon you in fear and trepidation. If it bothered him, no doubt it was tearing his boss apart. After all, he was only her bodyguard. Seto Kaiba was her love.
Shaking the sentiment from his mind, Sojo narrowed his eyes and knocked on the door. A gruff word from the other side bid him enter, and he stepped into the home office to face Seto Kaiba.
"Sojo," Kaiba glanced up, "close the door."
He did and then waited in stone silence for the younger man to speak again.
"I have to go out of town for a few days," Kaiba finally spoke again as he stood from his desk and began transferring papers to his briefcase. "I want you to keep a close eye on Ari. It will be good for her to become accustomed to your presence, but I suggest you keep your distance. I grant you full access to the mansion, but Sojo," he turned a hardened glare on the man. "Her room is off limits. No man is to set foot in there."
"Understood, sir," Sojo replied evenly.
"If there is an emergency, I am to be informed immediately."
"Of course, sir."
Kaiba nodded and turned back to his work. "That is all."
The bodyguard left in the same silence he had arrived in and Kaiba was left to contemplate how he was going to break the news to Mokuba and Ari. Perhaps it wouldn't be so bad. Mokuba hated his trips away because it left him to his lonesome company, but now he had Ari and he was terribly protective of her since the accident.
Surprisingly, Mokuba wasn't the one who was upset.
"A couple days?" Mokuba repeated. "Trouble?"
"There was a fire in one of the labs. A great deal of research was lost, pretest hardware damaged."
"Gee, why didn't you tell me? When did this happen?"
"I only found out yesterday, Mokuba," Kaiba told him.
"How long will you be gone?" Ari asked softly.
When he did not reply immediately, she glanced up, anxiety clearly visible in her pale eyes.
"Three days, if nothing goes wrong," he assured her quietly, his piercing blue eyes searching her face.
For a moment, the anxiety increased and he felt his heart quicken. Is it possible she doesn't want me to go? Is she starting to accept more than just my presence? Could that night have affected her as much as it affected me?
She returned her gaze back to her plate, which by some miracle was half cleared. After a moments pause, she picked up her fork and poked at her fish.
"I hope nothing goes wrong," she whispered so softly he wouldn't have heard her had he not been looking right at her and saw her lips move.
Seto glanced over at Mokuba who was grinning like an idiot. His exuberance shattered with a sudden sneeze that he managed to stifle in time with his napkin.
"You're not getting sick, are you?" Kaiba asked with a raised brow.
"Nah," Mokuba replied as he sniffled.
Ari smirked, but kept her attention on her plate. Three days. It's going to be fine. Why should it bother me? It's not like we talk beyond the dinner table. She had herself convinced all would be well when she went to bed that night but when she woke the next morning, she felt it in her gut. The ambience of strength and power had fled with the man who inspired it.
