Chapter 19 N.P.O.V.
"Rethink what you are doing Kashadra. You only bring more suffering on both you and Kaiba." It seems Isis had had another vision.
"Neither you nor Shadi shall ever tell me what I should and shouldn't do. And your visions are not always right Isis. I am my own person. My destiny is mine to make. You fear the destruction of the world every time you turn around.
"I don't. I'm not afraid of it. I love Seto Kaiba. Nothing you can do can change that." Kashadra was calm and what she said was undeniably true. She did not fear, and she knew what she had to do if the need arose. "I have all the power and knowledge to take down your brother Isis. Marik is his name, right?"
"Indeed, Marik is his name. And you know the cost of ignoring the prophecy. But do you know the risk at which you put us all by standing beside him? Do you? I have warned you countless time before." Shadi held himself tall; Kashadra just rolled her eyes.
"Yes, I do understand the risk," her voice was as sarcastic as she dared to be around Shadi. He was not one who took jokes easy, "But this tournament is not the prophecy. All that this is an evil spirit that has made its home within your brother." Kashadra jabbed her finger towards Isis.
"Within my brother? So, he is not possessed by Anubis?"
"No. I know this because Anubis cannot be released unless the pharaoh does something incredibly stupid." She just smirked and walked off. She stopped around the corner because she heard Shadi say something she did not particularly like.
"That . . . impudent wench! She knows nothing of what she said she does. This matter is much more serious than she believes . . ."
"But, she is Kit's reincarnation. She has her powers. But the way she stands now I can tell that their spirits have merged. Couldn't you?" Kashadra didn't want to hear anymore. She walked completely away this time and found Mokuba immersed in a book on mummification.
"Like the way they take out the innards?" she was bending over his shoulder when she spoke. He jumped nearly three feet in the air.
"Don't scare me like that Sha!" she just smiled, "Yeah, I do. But how'd they know that would work?"
"It's called trial and error. At least that's what I think. I'm surprised that this place is empty. People normally like Egyptian exhibits."
"Yeah, this place is dead. I haven't met anyone. Let's go, this place is getting boring. We still have to face Seto. Remember, you took his Lexus? That's his favorite one." Kashadra just laughed.
"That's why I took it. C'mon. Let's get out of here." They walked to the front entrance and met Téa and Yugi on their way. "Hey, you two! It's been a while."
"Yeah, it has been Sha. So, still working with Kaiba?"
"Yep! We both, well me kinda-sorta, organized this tournament."
"Yes and your name would be?" Yugi spoke up, but it wasn't Yugi. At least not the one Kashadra knew.
"You're Yami, right? Pleasure to meet you. I'm Kashadra. Most call me Sha. Hope you don't mind short intros, but I've got to go."
"Yeah, she took Seto's Lexus."
"I feel sorry for you Sha. But, it's your fault."
"I'll take his wrath when I get back Téa. Good-bye both of ya." She and Mokuba ran about as fast as they could to the car. They got in and Kashadra took off. "Close."
"Wait a minute. Close? You mean Yugi and everybody doesn't know about you and Seto?"
"No they don't. And, you will not tell them. I told Seto I would not tell anybody until we were married. And neither shall you, understood?"
"Got'cha. I won't tell if Seto doesn't want it known yet." They drove around until it started getting dark. They were halfway across town when that happened. They drove back as fast as they could. It was about nine when they made it back. And when they drove into the front driveway, Mokuba made a comment. "This wasn't a very good idea," his voice was shaking. "Seto is really going to be mad."
"I'll get him to calm down. He shouldn't have worried about us too much." Mokuba did a double take.
"Worried about us? Yeah right. He'd have been more worried about his car. Especially with you driving."
"I know that Mokuba. I was being sarcastic." She pulled into the five-car garage. "And, now I'm in trouble."
"Huh? What do you mean by that?"
"That." She pointed at the approaching figure, concealed by the sun and shadows as he approached. "Your brother. My fiancé. Out to exact his revenge." Kaiba now stood by the car.
"Out! Both of you!" Kashadra and Mokuba scrambled to get out. "Mokuba, you're clear to go in. I wish to speak with Kashadra."
"Okay Seto." He took off and ran into the house, without a backwards glance at Kashadra. Kaiba just stood and stared at Kashadra.
"I'm sorry alright! Geesh, I didn't know you'd get your hair in a knot over this." Kaiba stepped closer to her. "What? Are you not satisfied with my apology? You are the hardest man to please."
"Kashadra. You honestly don't know how much you had me worried do you?"
"What? Worried over a shopping trip? That's stupid."
"I'm not joking Sha. This is serious. You or Mokuba could have been hurt. There are certain duelists who would love to hurt me by taking that which I love. If you or Mokuba had been kidnapped, I don't know what I would have done.
"Don't leave the mansion again. Not without a proper escort, or me." He looked down at her; his eyes held everything his voice refused to reveal. "I don't want to lose you over something so ridiculous. So, during this tournament, you are to be at my side, or here at the mansion. It's a risk I don't care to take."
"Okay…if it worries you so much, I won't go again. But, in two weeks, I have to. I have to pick up something. Promise I can have that one day. It'll take no more than an hour."
"Just that one time Sha. Now, let's go in." they walked in together, reconciled. Mokuba was waiting for them in the entrance hall.
"What's going on? What did you two talk about?"
"Nothing Mokuba. Everything's fine. But, the only bad thing is, we aren't allowed to leave the mansion without an escort."
"Aw, that sucks. But…hey, Seto! Where are you going?" Kaiba had started to walk outside.
"I've got the announcement for the tournament, remember?"
"And you're taking the Lexus?"
"Of course I am. What else would I take?"
"Wait just a minute before you go." Mokuba darted outside and disappeared. Kashadra and Kaiba stood where they were. Right beside each other.
"What was that about?"
"He forgot something he bought earlier."
"That kid would forget his head if it weren't attached." He wrapped his arm around her shoulders. "You don't blame me for being cautious do you?"
"No, if I can spend even more time with you, I'm happy." She leaned against his chest.
"I hate these kinds of announcements."
"Yeah, but you're so cute when you're annoyed. That's why I like to get under your skin so often."
"Yeah, and you look good to me in anything you wear. Do you remember that nightdress you wore when you came downstairs a few weeks ago? I like that one best." Kashadra flushed at the memory.
'Yeah I know that one. The black, near see-through one.' Kaiba pulled her closer.
"Wear it sometime soon…"
"Seto! You can leave now." Mokuba burst through thee hallway door. "Are you two smooching again?"
"No, we weren't. Now, I do have to leave." He let go of Sha and kissed her on the cheek. "I'll be back in about two hours." He left without another word. Kashadra said goodnight to Mokuba and took her time going up the stairs.
"Half a week before the winter
The chill bites before it comes
And I'm a child of the pleasure
That he brings before he runs
He sits behind a desk of mahogany
He whispers dreams into my ear
Though I've given him his empire
He delivers me my fear
The unicorns are riding high
Powerful in coats . . .I can't remember the rest of the song"
She slapped her hand to her forehead. "A slight brain lapse." She entered her room and fell back on her bed. 'I hate that I'm hiding do much from Seto. But, he can't find out, not just yet. This tournament doesn't' bother me that much anymore. Anubis' prophecy does.' A knock came at the door. Mokuba came in.
"Hey, Sha, are you out again?"
"No Mokuba. I'm awake. I'm just thinking."
"Okay, but can I ask you something?"
"You just did."
"Sha, I was wondering…" Kashadra sat up. He had her complete attention now. Mokuba, much like his brother, never stopped in the middle of something.
"What is it?" she was wary; not sure if he was possessed or not. "Mokuba, what's wrong?" the kid was not acting normal; he had his hands shove into his pockets instead of out. She approached carefully. She was two feet way from him when he looked up at her with a big grin on his face. She backed up.
"You didn't tell me it was your birthday in a week. Why didn't you tell me?" he pounced and she went down.
"I didn't tell you because this might've happened." Mokuba commenced to tickle her.
"You are ticklish." Kashadra was gasping and laughing so hard her side felt as if it would split. "Say uncle Sha."
"Okay…un…cle." They both sat up. Kashadra still was struggling to catch her breath. "You hit…where…people are…weak don't…you?"
"Yep!"
"Let me guess, your brother taught you that?"
"Yup!"
"Whatever. Go play whatever game you do, and tell your brother whatever you will when he gets home, I don't care."
"Fine. As you wish, Mrs. Kaiba." Mokuba took off out the door before she could lay hands into him.
"Ugh. This next week is going to be torture.
Kashadra did not know how she made it through the next week. Avoiding Kaiba and Mokuba was a feat she did not believe herself capable of doing. But, the fact that both of them were at KaibaCorp the majority of the week made the task much easier.
song belongs to Vanessa Carlton, Harmonium (CD), Half a Week Before hte Winter (song)
