I've got inspired to write this story by the movie "Closer" and I actually see it as some kind of tribute. The storyline's different, though. This is no copy of any scene but one or two idea, rotted in the film. Other than that, it's coming from my mind and my mind only.

There are some more influences of mine, though:

"The Virgin Suicides": a book, which simply influenced my writing style a bit.

"Dear Joan" performed by Tabitha's Secret: the sadness and emotional background of this song influenced me quite a lot, as well as it inspired me. I wanted to recall the emotional sadness to go with the flow of expression of this story. The lyrics are stated on my livejournal.

Genre: Drama / Romance / Angst

Warning: Character death / physical abuse

Pairing: SetoxSerenity / MarikxSerenity

I don't own Yu-Gi-Oh! or the characters of the anime.

Thank you for reading.

Sangha.

P o s s e s s i o n

-

Chapter One

-

I never really knew why I've fallen for Seto Kaiba.

I know how it all happened but not the reason why I should ever fall in love with him. It happened though. Never after Battle City I even wasted a single thought to him until I was 18 and graduated High School.

Finally, turning 18, I moved out of my mother's apartment, in with my brother, that meant living in Domino. Changing schools during my senior's year was a difficult choice I've made. I had to leave all my friends behind just to live with Joey. But I had friends in Domino, too—Joey's friends. They just were not my age.

Graduation day should be celebrated and my classmates threw a very big—monstrous—party on the beach. Of course I accepted the invitation; you only graduate High School once, if you do that is. My schoolmates had rent a house, we danced, we chatted, and we drank. The couples even did what normal young people do and locked themselves in certain rooms. I didn't go for that option.

Slightly, to pretty much drunk I was chatting with some girls when some guys approached us, taking us with them outside. I remember someone talking about that we were going to a haunted mansion but I didn't realize that they meant the Kaiba residence until I was standing in front of the big metal gates. Memories from Battle City crossed my mind while I was watching one of my mates throwing his empty beer can at the huge mansion. Another one picked up a stone and I was laughing my ass off when it hit one of Kaiba's stone statues of the Blue-Eyes White Dragon.

I found it so much fun that I picked up a stone myself and threw it. The noise of scattered glass reached my ears and throughout I was trying to figure out what was actually going on, I found myself suddenly all alone in front of the gates which slowly opened. Much too drunk and pretty clumsy I was looking around in panic. Of course, my mates had fled but unfortunately, they left me. Suddenly I was grabbed by my wrist and in my high state of panic, alcohol and shock, found myself at last in front of Seto Kaiba.

He was sitting at his desk, hands folded and glaring at me from behind strands of his chestnut hair. I assumed that we were in his office and so far my mind was working, Kaiba hadn't changed since Battle City.

-

Flashback

-

"Sit." He ordered and Serenity obeyed, taking the seat in front of his desk.

"Do you have anything to say to you own defense?" While he was talking, he seemed to clean his desk off papers, stuffing them into the drawers underneath.

"I...I'm sorry." Serenity couldn't think of anything else. She was guilty. Trying to avoid his gaze she almost started to sob.

"Oh please, don't cry." Slightly disgusted he hissed, then regained back to cold as usual. He was well aware of her confession when she said she was sorry. "I expect you to pay for the damage, of course. The window, such as this you've broken, costs with the work putting it in, I guess, something around 3000$."

Suddenly her gaze bolted upwards, meeting his azure blue eyes. A terrified look was sent out to the coldness of Kaiba's eyes but to no response.

"Please, I don't have much money. We need it for the rent, food and the taxes to study...I want to go to University! I can't pay this. I can't pay..." From desperate her voice traveled down to a whispering level.

"Then I've to tell you to the police. Certainly you're insured." Her gaze told him everything. "Okay, so you're not insured. What do I do with you now?" He leant back in his chair and rubbed his temples.

Serenity, meanwhile, sent him her best puppy eye look.

"I'm sorry, Kaiba, I... I didn't mean to break anything. Please don't tell me to the police."

"And what else do you expect me to do?" He coldly asked, sending an icy glare.

"Can't you just pay it yourself? I know you have enough money and well... please don't tell me to the police."

"You're repeating yourself." Stating these words he narrowed his eyes as if thinking. "Your begging reminds me of something. Have we met before?"

Caught surprised, the young woman blinked. He didn't know who she was?

"Wheeler."

Okay, so he knew, now. So what?

"You're Joey Wheeler's sister. I haven't seen you since Battle City, instead of your stupid brother. I've seen him way too often and just when I thought I'm finally rid of that dog, you come along, destroy willingly my property and cannot pay for the damage. I honestly don't know if I'm able to ignore that."

Serenity swallowed. Tears stung behind her eyes. Kaiba was right. She shouldn't have thrown that bloody stone. She was guilty.

"You are going to work off your debts." Like a judge he exclaimed the news. "That or the police? Your choice. I hear."

"Work off..." The auburn haired girl stammered, not really having a choice. And if she really thought about it, Kaiba even was nice to offer her working off her debts.

-

End of flashback

-

That's how I became Kaiba's personal assistant. I never really knew what I had to do until I was standing in front of him one day later. I supposed I would have to be a maid, a cook, a secretary, hell even a caretaker but not his personal assistant. When I heard the title I smiled. Later I found out what I had to do. Bring food, bring coffee, sort out papers, file papers, take down the trash, make notes, lick at envelopes (!), and shut my mouth while he was typing furiously in his notebook.

I had to do that over the whole, and my last, summer holidays before University was waiting for me. The job surely wasn't pleasant but during that time I learnt to know Seto Kaiba. I didn't talk to him pretty much, having to shut up all the time but I suddenly saw his true self, occasionally. Just when Mokuba was having troubles or he had a private phone call. He really didn't seem that bad. At times he would suddenly groan and shut down his notebook, just to look at me. If I asked what it was, he shrugged and asked back what should be. Sometimes he would put on the radio, very low of course. I'd never have imagined that he would listen to soft pop music during work.

I didn't really notice how my opinion of him changed during the weeks until it finally dawned on me. I had fallen for him. I was searching for the reason but finally gave up. Of course, he was attractive, his looks not hurting the eye, and sure he had his good side, even if only a few, but I could never make out a point why to love him. He still was mean most of the time. He was cold and acted selfish whenever he had the chance to. In the end I reasoned my love for him because of the whole secret surrounding him. He was a big secret. Ever been, to me at least. Still during that time.

I don't know what made me be brave enough to tell him.

-

Flashback

-

Kaiba yawned and blinked several times. The screen seemed to sway. Darting his gaze from off his notebook he looked at his female assistant, sitting cross-legged on the carpet in front of a cupboard, surrounded by sheets of paper.

"Serenity, stuff the papers away and go home. It's late. But before you do, bring me another cup of coffee, yeah?" Then he reached for his tie and pulled it loosely. "That thing kills me one day."

The girl let out a short breath of laughter. "And here I was thinking you loved these things."

A mixture of surprise and amusement glinted in his blue eyes. "Necessary details. Why should I love them?"

"I was just guessing. You seem like been born with a tie around your neck, working 24/7. It's good to know that there are still things left you don't like about your work." She smiled, kind of cheeky this time.

"I'm human, after all." He smirked, sort of friendly. A proper smile wasn't in store with Seto Kaiba. "Now would you do what I've asked you to?"

A nod followed her actions before she went to bring some coffee. When she came back, she put down the cup of coffee in front of him and quickly tidied the ground from off her papers, closing the cupboard afterwards. She turned to see Kaiba in his chair staring ahead on his desk. He softly sighed seemingly deep in thoughts, caused by whatever troubled him, and she couldn't help her smile.

Serenity was hovering next to the chair and didn't know whether to sit down or not when his eyes send a questioning look.

"What is it?"

"Nothing really. I just thought that it may be nice talking." She nervously stated.

Kaiba shrugged. "Talk."

An awkward silence followed because Serenity had no idea what to talk about. The weather! It was already dark outside. With a deep breath she slowly went to the window. You could see half Domino from there. The lights from the haven, the many apartment buildings, in one of them she was living. And you could see the coast, of course, not far away. The moonlight was glistening in the ocean.

"I'm in love with you."

If she hadn't gazed out of the window she would have seen how Kaiba's eyes widened in surprise. But he remained cool, not changing his position in his chair, staring ahead.

"I doubt your sanity." He said low but steady.

"I know it sounds stupid and I don't even know a good reason why I should be in love with you. I don't expect anything, not to mention you replying to my feelings. I don't even know why I tell you this. I just have these feelings and don't know what to do with them. I was searching for the reason but haven't found any. All that I damn well know is that I've fallen in love with you." Mindlessly she kept talking but her gaze was drowning in the ocean. She didn't want to look at him, she knew, he would be sitting there in his chair, looking as if she was insane.

Maybe she was.

Slightly startled she suddenly realized the two arms snaking around her waist from behind and looked at the glass of the window that mirrored Kaiba's figure. It was no dream, he was there.

"You don't know what you're getting yourself into, not even I know. Involving with me could mean anything. Aren't you scared?" He asked low but she could sense the doubts he had in himself.

She shook her head. "I don't know if I should be scared." She covered his hands with her own. They seemed so small against his. She then closed her eyes for a moment, soothing in the warmth of his embrace.

Kaiba bent down and kissed the girl's neck, tightening his embrace for a short while before he finally let go of her. She turned around quickly, taking his hands into hers.

"Allow me to love you."

The tall brown haired gazed deep into her hazel eyes and nodded.

-

End of flashback

-

End of chapter one.