Disclaimer: I do not own YuGiOh nor any of the characters there of. However, all OC's are of my own creation and any who try to steal them from me will suffer death by marshmallow bombardment.

Once Upon a Broken Memory

Chapter 15

Ari stirred in a sweet dream, a slight, dopey smile upon her lips. Seto watched in silent wonder, wanting so much to wake her with a kiss but knowing it would do more damage than it was worth.

I don't know how much longer I can restrain myself. It was all he could do not to take her into his arms last night, especially when the fire that had been absent from her ever since the accident blazed in her eyes. Her question had been absurd. Not trust him? Twice she had slept in his bed unmolested, and the second time she had come willingly on her own. She would not have come this third time if she were not certain she would be safe.

No, Ari knew she was safe with him otherwise she would not seek him out to protect her from her nightmares. And what was all that about the Blue Eyes? A nightmare inspired by the drawing she had seen, or was it really her memories taking shape the only way they knew how? She had been hurt by the Blue Eyes White Dragon, the hologram overpowered by the fiber-optic prototype. That Nozaki fellow had tried to put ideas into her head, but he knew she wasn't entirely convinced.

His eyes drifted from her serene face to the pendant resting just below the hollow of her throat. Such a child, wearing a necklace to bed as if it were charmed to protect her. She once told him she simply didn't have a place to put it and thus wore it to bed for safekeeping. So he bought her the ebony box, simple and lovely like her. Strange that she had resorted to her old habits now…or maybe not.

Pale eyes fluttered open and stared up at him, still softened by the memory of her dream.

She used to look at me like that. "Morning," he spoke softly.

She blinked for a moment and then glanced towards the darkened window. "It's still dark out," she said and looked back at him questioningly.

"Sunrise isn't for another twenty minutes," he explained. "I have to go into work. Have Mokuba bring you in later."

"Do you always go in this early?" she asked and he smirked faintly.

"Yes. Mokuba won't be up for hours still, so go back to sleep."

Fear and hesitation flickered across her face and he felt a gentle stab in his heart. She doesn't want me to go.

"Do you want me to leave the light on?" he asked gently and with slight amusement.

Ari scowled at him. "That isn't funny."

"I'm not trying to be," he smirked. "I have a pleasant surprise for you later today. Just think about that, okay?"

Ari nodded with resignation and he stood up from the edge of the bed. "Do try to sleep, Ari," he said before stepping through the door and closing it softly behind him.

In a way I'm glad he waited for me to wake. After last night I thought it would be awkward. But I still have a few more hours to face without him! Ari rolled over and stared at the empty space in the bed, his pillow rumpled only slightly as if he had never slept at all. She reached for it and hugged it close to her body, burying her face in his scent and assuring herself that she could survive a few hours of sleep without him as long as his memory remained. And besides, he did leave the light on for her.


"Duel Monsters?"

Mokuba grinned and laid two decks of cards on the floor before her. "It's the most popular game in the world, Ari. There's tournaments going on constantly and people come from all over the world to participate. Seto was world champion, you know."

"Was?" Ari asked curiously.

Mokuba frowned. "Well, Yugi Motou currently holds the title, but Seto is determined to win it back from him. I guess you can say he's kind of obsessed with defeating Yugi, but that's because he's the only person who has ever defeated him."

"I think I can understand that," Ari smiled. "I would feel the same way if I were him." She folded her legs under her and sat across from him on the floor of her office. "So tell me about this game. If Seto loves it then it must be interesting."

"Okay. You've got your monster cards, magic and trap cards, spell cards, and ritual cards. I'm starting you off with a simple deck so you won't have to worry about ritual cards right now."

Ari listened intently as he explained in detail what each card did. I can see why Seto loves the game. There's very little room for luck. It's basically based on strategy and skill.

"So did you get all of that?" Mokuba asked finally.

"I think so," she said as she reached for her deck.

"We'll play a match and you just ask if you get lost, okay?"

Ari grinned. "Sounds good." Glancing down at her cards, she selected one and set it in defense mode. I have the strangest feeling that we've done this before.

Mokuba was tenacious when he played but after the third match, Ari started to win.

"Wow, Ari," he murmured with wide eyes. "You're better than you used to be."

"So we have played this before," she murmured. "I thought it felt familiar."

Her opponent's silence made her glance up after a moment. "Is something wrong, Moki?"

"I'm just curious, Ari," he spoke thoughtfully. "Things seem familiar to you, but do you actually remember any of it?"

"Dr. Saruka said that I'll probably remember it all at once, like a giant wave that overtakes a boat, but there are some things like that program that I remember."

"Oh. Well I hope you remember something soon, Ari." He dropped his gaze to the fresh hand he had drawn.

Ari stared at his down turned face for a moment. "I remember you," she said softly and he glanced up surprised. "I remember you used to wake me up by jumping on my bed."

A rare smile spread across his face. "I did, until you fell out of bed. Then I promised I would never wake you up by jumping on your bed again. Of course you tortured that promise out of me."

She arched a brow. "Tortured you? You mean…like this!"

He squealed as she seized him and proceeded to tickle him mercilessly.

"Stop! Stop!" he cried and laughed frantically.

"You know the words!"

"Uncle! Uncle!"

"Works every time," Ari sighed as she stopped and Mokuba slumped against her gasping for breath.

"Sometimes I really worry about you two," a deep voice spoke and they glanced up.

"Hey, big brother," Mokuba wheezed. "We were just playing Duel Monsters."

Seto brows shot up as he took in the scene. Mokuba laid half on top of Ari, her arms wrapped around him and both laying in an untidy scattering of eighty some cards.

"Not a strategy I'm familiar with, I'm afraid," he murmured with a slight, forced smile. His eyes flickered with an expression Ari remembered from the night before and she hurriedly pushed herself and Mokuba up. Silently she helped him pick up the cards as he excitedly told Kaiba about her progress in the game.

"She's really getting good, Seto," Mokuba grinned as he stood. "How did your meetings go?"

"Well enough," he replied. "Mokuba, Washiro is going to take you home."

"What about Ari?"

"She'll be with me. We might not get home till late, so don't worry, okay?"

Mokuba smiled softly. "Sure thing, Seto. See ya later, Ari."

"Bye, Moki," she called after him, finding herself longing to go with him rather than stay with the brooding CEO.

"Let's go," Kaiba ordered as he tossed her coat to her.

"Where are we going," she asked timidly.

"You'll see."

"You always say that," she scowled. "Why don't you ever…" she faded off when she found him staring at her strangely, his eyes a little wider than usual.

"What?" she asked.

A slight smile quirked his lips. "I do always say that, don't I," he said.

Ari blinked in surprise, the full import of her words settling in her mind, understanding the smile it brought to his face. "Yes, you do," she finally said as she shrugged into her coat and flipped her long hair over the collar.

Seto chuckled softly and turned away from her. Well, how about that.

"So, are you going to tell me or not?" she asked as she followed him.

"Why should I spoil it," he said evasively as he held the elevator door open for her. The pathetic pout that settled over her features made him laugh and her eyes immediately brightened at his reaction. She decided Seto Kaiba wasn't as scary as everyone thought he was after all.

Sojo drove them, much to her added relief. She knew from experience that the bright-eyed bodyguard would never let any harm befall her. It wasn't a long drive, merely a few blocks from Kaiba Corp headquarters. Sojo stopped the car in front of a quaint apartment building and Kaiba got out, holding the door open for her to follow.

"What is this?" she asked as she stared up at the building.

"Home," Seto said as he offered her a key. "Second floor, 2C."

Ari just stared at the key. "You mean this is where I live?"

Seto rolled his eyes and gently pushed her towards the building. "This is what you wanted, isn't it? To know who you are."

"You just took me by surprise," she said as picked up her pace so he wouldn't have to push her again. He handed her the key when they reached the door and she eagerly unlocked the apartment.

Kaiba always felt the modest apartment was a perfect reflection of Ari Nieche. It was simply furnished, but still felt warm and cozy. He closed the door softly behind him, not wanting to disturb whatever thoughts might be running through her mind in that moment.

This is my home, she mused as she stood in the foyer. Two steps took her to the center of the hallway, the living room on her right and the kitchen on her left. She chose the living room first. A jade oriental rug covered the hardwood floor, a marble coffee table on top. The sofa and matching chair were cream suede and Ari wondered how she kept it looking so nice considering her frequent mishaps with ink pens.

A few framed ink drawings decorated the walls and a closer glance confirmed that they were done by her own hand as they were signed Ari. They were beautiful sceneries, but none of them invoked any feelings of familiarity within her like the one in Kaiba's office. Turning from them, she spotted a few frames sitting on the mantel and crossed the room to inspect them.

Seto watched her silently from the arched doorway. He hadn't spent much time in her apartment before, but he knew every corner of it by heart including the three photos she was now staring at. They were the only photographs she had displayed. One was a snapshot of her and Mokuba at the amusement park eating a cotton candy as big as Mokuba's head. She smiled as she stared at it.

The second was a picture she had snapped of himself when he wasn't looking. He didn't like having his picture taken, thus the reason for her not telling him she was taking it. It was an impressive photo, he had to admit. Maybe he was just an imposing figure no matter how you looked at him, but Ari had managed to capture on film the man she admired and loved. Will she ever look at me the same way again? Her fingers hovered over the third, hesitant to touch it. Maybe I should have hidden that one.

Is this real? Ari felt as though someone was trying to create an ideal life for her, but she wasn't quite certain it was real. She looked happy with Mokuba and that was something she could believe. The boy made her feel alive and she never wanted that feeling to go away. But why did she have a picture of Seto Kaiba, standing alone and lost in thought, looking as formidably strong as he did in life? He was an intimidating, handsome man and if there was a way to make that unshakable strength her own she would love to know.

Her eyes halted on the third picture and she sucked in her breath. Now this cannot be real! How- how is this possible? I would know, wouldn't I? I would feel it!

She turned to meet his gaze, her eyes wide and uncertain and his vacant of emotion. Could this be the secret behind the pain? The longing I see in his gaze, the intimacy I feel in his touch, are they the missing pieces to the puzzle?

"What am I to you?" she asked.

"Does it matter?"

"It did to her," she said, glancing over her shoulder at the woman in the photo. She was happy, she was in love…she was kissing Seto Kaiba.

"Dr. Saruka thinks it would be unwise to tell you too much."

"I know for a fact you don't always agree with Dr. Saruka," she said.

"This time I do."

She sighed and leaned her elbows on the mantel, dropping her head into her hands as she stared down at the picture. "I don't know what to do with this."

How was she to know what was real and what wasn't? Why should she trust anything that she saw? Would one picture make her remember that she loved him, that she belonged to him? It was too much to hope for and he wouldn't dare. But neither could he believe that she didn't feel something when she looked at him.

Maybe that was the key. If he couldn't make her remember, then maybe he could just make her feel.

Ari glanced up when she heard him take a step. Resolute intention wafted across his expression and she instinctively took a step back. He didn't stop his advance until the wall stopped her retreat.

"W-what are you doing," she asked, her eyes widening as he reached out and braced his hand against the wall beside her. Between him and the corner, there wasn't much room to move.

"Jogging your memory," he murmured as he leaned towards her. Her heart thundered rapidly and her breath quickened as his lips brushed hers. The slight contact was more than he could withstand and he firmly captured her lips with the longing that burned within. She hadn't expected his kiss to be so tender, nor for it to inspire forlorn yearning to swallow her.

Forgetting herself for a moment, her lips followed him when he pulled away. Seto kept his smile to himself. Ari had felt and whether she remembered him or not, her heart did.

"Why did you do that," she gasped.

Seto smirked. "Did you mind?"

I don't understand how you can kindle such feelings inside me when I can't even remember you. "I'm confused."

He breathed in her sweet vanilla scent and wondered how he had managed to keep his distance for so long. Cool honey couldn't have tasted any better and oh how long he had waited!

"Maybe I can clarify the matter for you," he whispered hoarsely. Her lips parted in to reply and he instantly silenced her.

She was losing herself quickly to the feelings that surged forth. Desire was spreading like wildfire and for a man she barely knew! He sensed the change within her and deepened the kiss and she sighed softly. Warmth swept through her as his hands slipped around her slender waist and pulled her against him. In that moment she became aware of the fierce hunger in his searching lips and firm grasp.

Panic gripped her and she pushed against him, but he paid no attention to her struggle. No, please no! Tears began to stream down her face as she struggled in terror. There was little she could do against his strength and she whimpered fearfully.

The soft cry startled him and he suddenly released her. Immediately she turned her face away, tears glistening down her cheeks. Seto stared at those tears in horrified realization.

He swore sharply and he slammed his fist into the wall. Ari flinched, a startled cry tearing from her throat.

"I'm sorry," he growled as he pushed away from her and began to pace like a caged panther. With one hand clenched in his thick brown hair and eyes wild, he was a riveting sight to behold.

"I don't know what to do anymore, Ari," he said finally.

She curled her hands into her chest as if she could fold in on herself and sunk to her knees against the wall. Her reaction made him panic.

"No. No! Don't do this." She cringed when he approached and kneeled beside her. He reached out to wipe the tears from her face and she closed her eyes and trembled.

Seto immediately dropped his hand. "I hate this. I hate not being able to touch you, to hold you."

Her pale eyes fluttered open and she dared to look up at him. His beautiful eyes were pained with a look she had seen before, felt the first time he held her on a restless night they once shared. The picture was not a lie. The feelings were not a lie. Seto Kaiba and Ari Nieche had been in love… once upon a broken memory.

Now she understood the pain he tried so hard to hide. He had lost something important after all. Her.

"If I could remember," she whispered and he raised his hand.

"No, I didn't mean it like that. This is why I didn't want to tell you," he sighed and ran a hand through his hair. Ari watched the motion with the faint knowledge that it was more a nervous tick than a meaningless gesture. All these little things she knew: that he never told her where he was taking her, he fired people when he was angry, brandy soothed him after a stressful day, he hated parties, and he always got what he wanted. Did such knowledge based on gut instinct amount to the semblance of memories?

"What happens now?" she asked.

He rested his arm on his knee and stared at her. The tears had dried and her eyes shined with the brilliance they had left. She was too beautiful for words and his heart ached.

"You have a session with Dr. Saruka tomorrow," he said. "Ask her."

I'm asking you, she wanted to say but was afraid. She was afraid he might push her away and rebuild his walls higher and thicker than before.

"I've hurt you again," she said softly. "I'm sorry."

"Don't," he said sharply and then his eyes gentled. "It's not your fault, Ari."

She dropped her gaze. "I want to go home."

Seto smiled sadly. "Okay, Ari. We'll go home."