AUTHOR'S NOTE:

OMG I've been overwhelmed with reviews… Ayame akakaru Kaiba finally returned (yay!) so I have a lot to say (and some clarifications to make?)

I will respond to those reviews en masse, which means they'll probably make very little sense, even to her.

-She's old enough. Let's leave it at that. Actually, I never came up with either age or name for her, and that's the way it's going to stay.
-Authoress smirks evilly Yes, but only I know what happens between Kaiba, Yami, and the main character.
-I didn't know that either, I just made it up. Actually, okay, I'll clarify what happened now. As Yami told her, the stones have memories, just like people. Assuming the power in the stones is great enough, the stones can also show her memories.
-Cliches are fun. I didn't particularly like that line, but I needed something in there to make the rhythm of the paragraph right. Plus I love Kaiba's eyes.
-I never doubted your vocabulary (hey, we all have to take the SAT, right? Provided you're in America)
-Don't you love how I play with you by manipulating time?
-I know that song! (Sings along)
I can see clearly now, the rain is gone,
I can see all obstacles in my way
Gone are the dark clouds that had me blind
It's gonna be a bright, bright
Sun-Shiny day
It's gonna be a bright, bright
Sun-Shiny day
I have no idea who sang that (Bob Marley…?)
-I make the main character think for the benefit of any confused readers. That's all.
-Mmm, the tablets are an interesting question that will be clarified in a much later chapter. However, I'll give you this much: the tablets are housed in "secret" basement rooms in the house, put there by her guardians. The guardians are there to help her figure out what's going on. That's about all for now…
-Well, assume for now that the mansion has no extra bedrooms or something, if that makes you feel more comfortable.
-Oro!? Well, then you won't like this chapter much… (pats Kaiba on the back—don't worry, some of my reviewers are a little crazy.)
-That's just the way Kaiba is, ne?
-??? Where was Mokuba being rude? I hope I didn't do that!
-LOL Well he IS a Kaiba, right? Kaibas are smart like that.
-Nice people make me happy. Therefore… I don't know.

The name of my RK fic is The Four Swords (shameless self-promotion!) and you can find it by going to my profile. (Everybody should go read!) There's no romance there yet; I just spent four chapters introducing the main characters.

Meant to write more but I spent all day Thursday waiting to see my band in the inauguration parade! Yay way to go my darling ALTO SAXES! (Yes, I know, we have a love-hate relationship) OOOO and Emlee on CSPAN!!! She was right on the end freezing her fingers off!!! Hahaha and GOV TEAM got to be on Channels 2, 7, 9, and 11!!! Though it's not like they actually asked us intelligent questions about the election or the inauguration or government… just about the damn band.

Dude, Gov team is SO going to Nationals this year…

Anyway, enough of the authoress' random ramblings. Now for very short chapter indeed…

Chapter 15: Sleeping

I dug through my bags for my nightdress and underwear, then showered and changed. All the Channeling that morning had worn me out.

Freshly showered and changed, I stood uncertainly at the edge of the large bed. I was uncomfortable about the thought of sleeping in the same bed with Kaiba, but the bed was surely large enough to provide some space. I could see no place else, in any case.

However, I found the little couch in my closet. Instead of pulling it out into the main room, I left the door to the closet open and covered myself with a coat. If Kaiba looked for me, he was sure to find me.

I didn't realize that the Kaiba that I could have slept with was, at that moment, having a pillow fight with his little brother, a genuine smile gracing his handsome face and the iciness gone from his beautiful eyes.

I fell asleep quickly, only to be awakened what felt like a few moments later. I lay very still, to give the impression that I was still asleep.

Kaiba was kneeling beside me, one hand gently resting over mine and the other stroking my hair. I was surprised at the intimacy and emotion he was demonstrating. I had never thought he would be like this.

With a soft sigh he stood, and remained beside the couch for a few moments. I imagined he was deliberating what to do with me now. After a minute's consideration, he leaned over and slid an arm under my knees. He used the other hand to lift my head and slipped it underneath. He lifted me from the couch, and, thus cradling me, carried me back to the bed.

He shifted my body in his arms so that he could draw the comforter and sheets aside. Gently, he lay me down and covered me snugly. I heard him walk to the other side of the room, the side with the closets. He must have been changing.

I felt him slide into the bed from the other side. Rather than stay on that side, though, he slid all the way over until he lay very close, only a hand's length away. Timidly, he reached out and touched my shoulder. When I didn't respond, he pulled himself closer, until he was lying comfortably against me.

What surprised me most was that I said nothing. Though I was conscious the whole time, and consciously objecting to his touch and presence, I didn't do anything to stop him.