A/N: I DO NOT OWN YU-GI-OH
Chapter 15
Kaiba led Serenity back inside the house. She tried to convince him to stay outside, but he had a nagging feeling that it wasn't the smart thing to do. She followed him into the kitchen where the cook offered to make them breakfast. Serenity smiled at the idea of breakfast, when was the last time they had eaten? Great, now even her most primal urge for food was being overpowered by her thoughts of this enigma. She watched as Kaiba poured himself a cup of coffee before he joined her at the table. She could barely keep her eyes off of him as he drank the black liquid. It just figured that he took his coffee black, just like his moods.
"Would you like some coffee Miss?" The cook asked her as he reached for a mug.
"No thanks. I find the stuff too bitter. I would love a glass of milk though please." She smiled at the older man and he nodded in acknowledgement.
"I bet you couldn't live without caffeine could you Kaiba?" She asked as he drained another long swallow from his mug.
"I never quite thought about it as part of my survival." He shrugged as he set the mug on the table and focused his attention on her.
"How many cups do you drink a day? Is this an addiction?" She smiled at him.
The breakfast plates were put before them and he began to concentrate on his food rather than on her. She felt a bit disappointed that she had lost his attention. The meal was delicious, she was a major fan of French toast and the bacon was a perfect accompaniment. He excused himself before she was finished, mumbling that he had to get on the computer to try to sort things out. She watched his back as he left and sighed softly. How would he have acted if they had complicated things last night?
She rose and pulled the trench coat up with her hands. She had to go and tell him that she needed clothes. Borrowing from his wardrobe was not working out. If she didn't hold up the bottom it caused her to trip and holding the coat up constantly made her feel ridiculous.
She wandered through the house, smiling at the way it was impeccably decorated. It was suppose to have a 'rustic' look she was sure, but instead the items that had been purchased to pull that off were quite expensive. How ironic. She finally came to the door of his office and knocked softly.
The door opened and there he was in the doorway.
"Um, I have a problem…" She muttered, shifting her weight from one foot to the other.
"You're wasting my time Wheeler, spit it out." He glared at her.
"It's the same problem I had yesterday Kaiba, unless you want me to raid your closet again…" She smirked at him.
"If you're implying that you need clothes I've already taken care of that. One of my men will take you into town to purchase some things for you to wear." He walked into the room and she followed him.
"That's fine Kaiba, but what am I suppose to go to town wearing?" She couldn't believe how dense he was. "I can't walk around in this trench coat, I'm tripping over my own feet in the stupid thing." She shrugged it off and threw it over one of the chairs.
He sat down behind his desk and looked the girl over. Standing there before him in just his shirt caused his mind to wander to how lovely she had looked in his bed. A blush tinged her cheeks as she watched his gaze wander over her scantily clad body. His shirt covered her, but not completely and she was feeling quite vulnerable.
"Ok, if you want me to go to town like this I'll comply." She turned on her heel and started for the door. He caught her from behind before her hand touched the knob. He held her, her back to his chest.
"You've lost you mind if you think I'll let you wander around like this." His warm breath caressed her ear and she shivered. "Your clothes were washed and dried by the housekeeper last night. I believe she put them in your room this morning."
She turned in his arms and looked up into his eyes. They were flashing an intense blue, but they no longer held that nasty hard edge to them.
"You aren't coming with me?" She asked, a bit nervous about being separated from him. She had come to rely on his presence, it was funny how at first he was the ultimate threat in her eyes and now he was what she desired most.
"I would be spotted and then all hell would break loose. I'm a bit easy to recognized."
She looked at him and smiled wickedly, "I told you that you were vain…"
His frown told her how pleased he was with the adjective she had chosen to describe his demeanor.
"Go get dressed." He ordered then turned and sat behind his desk, ignoring her completely. She stood there for a few seconds just staring at him. "Do you need assistance?" She turned a pretty shade a pink before she found the door.
She took a nice warm shower then quickly French braided her hair, there was no blow dryer, so she had to manage it somehow. Her clothes made her feel so much better. Parading around in Kaiba's shirt, though infuriating to him, was a bit revealing to her.
She made her way back to his office to let him know she was ready when she overheard voices.
"Mr. Kaiba, she will be noticed. Her face has been in the newspapers and on television. This is very risky." A male voice she recognized as Roland, the driver, said with apprehension.
"What would you have me do? She has no clothes and unless you want to go clothes shopping for her, which will look more suspicious, this is the only option."
"What if she cut her hair and dyed it before I take her to town?" Roland offered.
Serenity almost gasped out loud as she unconsciously placed her hand on her hair.
"No one touches her hair," Kaiba growled at the request. He thought her hair suited her too well, chopping it off and coloring it would be…wrong…on many levels. "Find her a jacket with a hood and have her hide it under that. Mokuba has baseball caps in his room-make her put one of those on too. She'll have to borrow a pair of his sneakers as well; her shoes were tossed out. Disguise her looks but don't alter them in any way." He sounded furious.
Serenity smiled, he liked her looks. She liked his immensely, but up until now she had no idea how he felt about hers.
"Yes Mr. Kaiba sir." The door opened and Roland stepped out. Serenity peeked into the room and noticed Kaiba's back was to the door, he was staring out the large window that overlooked the lake.
"Can I come in?" She asked quietly. He didn't answer her; he seemed to be very interested with the lake. Softly she approached and stood beside him looking out the window. There was a boat circling the water slowly, she looked up at him and arched her eyebrow. She turned to look back at the boat. "Is this a bad thing?" She asked.
She smiled as she watched the boat go and pick up its water skier. She had missed the fall.
"Do you ever ride your boat on the lake? It seems like a lot of people here do, it's nice that the water has finally calmed down. Do you think it will storm again?" She was rambling, but she hated silence on his part.
"That's the only vulnerable part of this place. No one can get up the drive, but they can come up by ways of the damn lake." His eyes were surveying the great expanse of water. There were quite a few boats out there, some tied to moorings and some were being driven around on the water. A few jet skiers whizzed by, everyone was enjoying this break in the weather. He smirked, the rainy season delivered some of the worst weather, but when the sun was shining it was so warm and beautiful people couldn't help but take advantage. True, you didn't want to be caught on the road from Domino to here during a rainstorm, but once you were here even the rain didn't deter the vacationers.
She frowned at his comments. Leave it to Seto Kaiba to not see the fun in something that was so beautiful and could be quite entertaining.
"Maybe we could go out later and you can take me for a ride on the lake?" She asked.
"This isn't a vacation Wheeler," he growled at her. Something was wrong and he could feel it.
"I didn't think it was," she looked at the floor, feeling quite mortified that he was being so cold to her after last night. Thank heaven nothing major happened or it would have been worse.
"Roland is bringing you some things to put on. Keep your hair covered and try to look inconspicuous." He sighed heavily as he turned to look at her. There is an envelop on the table with adequate funds for you to get some things to wear. Be quick about it and don't meander, I want you back here as quickly as possible."
She saluted him; bringing her heels together, "yes sir." She sneered at him. He could go to hell now for all she cared. Let him stare out the stupid window and be paranoid.
She went into three stores, careful to keep the baseball cap on and the hood up. She felt ridiculous especially since it was quite hot outside. She looked suspicious in her own mind. Roland wouldn't even let her think of taking the jacket off. She bought a pair of sneakers, some socks, 3 pairs of jeans, several tops, undergarments, and, despite her best judgment 2 nightgowns. She should have bought the pajamas, but the nightgowns in the lingerie store were so dainty and pretty she couldn't help herself. She also bought something for Kaiba. He didn't deserve it, but she had to thank him somehow and it was appropriate. She also bought a swimsuit. She figured he'd get mad, but to hell with him.
She ducked out of the last store with her package and crossed the street. A car honked impatiently at her. She was startled and dropped her bag. As she stood her hood fell back and exposed, for a brief instant her fiery mane of hair before she could tug it back up.
"Max, did you just see what I did?" The short man smirked at the driver of the car.
"No, what?" He asked in a snarl. Trawling the lake this morning turned up nothing except for a very sick passenger. There had been plenty of fancy, upscale houses, but which Kaiba was holed up in was a mystery.
"That girl looks very strange in a hood and hat, especially in this heat. I also noticed when her hood dropped that her hair is red. Serenity Wheeler has red hair…and now she's getting in the back of that car…that Mercedes…is that a coincidence?" He nearly clapped his hands in glee. They finally found the bitch, and he was fairly sure that Kaiba was waiting for her somewhere.
"Do you want to run them off the road?" He asked Max.
"Hell no, they'll lead us straight to our target. Killing her is necessary to protect your sorry ass. Killing him protects the boss and that is way more important."
They followed at a safe distance, allowing cars to get between and pass. All they really needed was the general area and then they would plan their attack.
"It's about time," Kaiba lashed out at her as she entered his office.
"I was only gone 2 hours Kaiba, not very long when you consider the half hour drive to town. For a girl I think I did amazingly well." She pulled off her hooded sweatshirt, slightly pulling up her top, which exposed her skin to his hungry eyes. He resisted the urge to go over and devour her.
"Girls are ridiculous with their shopping habits." He muttered, trying to turn his attention to anything but the disheveled beauty before him.
"You wouldn't know anything about shopping now would you? I mean with all your designer labels and custom outfits?" She folded her arms across her chest. "By the way I will repay what I spent today, that is if I have a job when we get back to Domino."
"Forget it, the amount you spent is inconsequential to me." He moved around his desk. "One of my men brought your things from the car when you were on your spending excursion." He motioned distractedly towards the chair.
"My camera!" She smiled and went to it. It felt so good to hold it in her hands once again. It almost felt like a part of her was missing without it. Kaiba watched the way her hands stroked the apparatus and he felt a pang of jealousy.
Roland walked in the room with her bags. "Where should I put these Miss?"
"My room," Kaiba answered from behind the laptop.
A/N: Ok…setting everything up in this chapter. Question...should I do one more romantic chapter or should I go right into the action? Let me hear from you all…I could go either way. You guys were truly amazing with the reviewing for the last chapter! If I get that many reviews that fast again I'll have to update VERY quickly…hint…hint…lol. Thank you all so very much!