Disclaimer: I don't own Yu-Gi-Oh…

Author's note: I wasn't intending to write another chapter until I finish the AP Exams in May, but for some reason, I just felt this urge to write one more chapter before I go into the study mode for preparation of those horrible exams… Oh well.

One more thing, I've kept you guessing about what was the secret Serenity tried to hide from Kaiba, right? Well, it's not her pregnancy, it's something else… So, the so called "Serenity's secret" will be revealed in this chapter! Isn't that exciting?

Thanks for the reviews! They brightened up my gloomy days from school! Okay, enjoy then…

The Pain of Letting Go

Chapter 5

The Reasons She Let Go

Suddenly, footsteps announced that Kaiba was walking towards Serenity. Serenity froze again, hazel eyes puzzled and a little frightened, knowing that Kaiba was walking closer and closer to her with his every step...

Serenity started moving backward, her head still hung low. She could hear the footsteps getting closer and closer… Fear started showing in her eyes. 'What does Seto want with me?' A sad smile played on her lips, 'revenge, of course… what else?' Serenity continued to slide backward on the bed, until her back reached the wall of the airplane.

Rage started accumulating in Kaiba's cold blue eyes. The fact that Serenity didn't even bother to raise her head and look at him, not even one glance, greatly angered him. 'Does she despise me that much that she didn't even bother to give me a quick glance?' Kaiba's eyebrows started twitching. His body trembled in anger. He suddenly took a few swift steps and stopped at the side of the bed, towering over Serenity's small form.

Serenity gasped. She clearly heard the sudden steps Kaiba took to get to her. Then, all was silence. She could guess that Kaiba was probably right next to the bed. Serenity sat on the bed quietly, unable to move, afraid that any movements on her part might anger the already fuming Seto Kaiba.

The silence in the room was starting to get rather uncomfortable for her, but not to Kaiba. He still enjoyed seeing others trembled in fear in front of him after all those years. He hasn't change much, or rather, he simply returned to the way he used to be before he met Serenity. If she didn't leave, he would never return to the cold, heartless, cruel CEO he used to be. It's all her fault!

"Did you enjoy hiding behind Pegasus's back all these years?" Kaiba asked mockingly, but there was a hint of jealousy in his voice if Serenity listened carefully. However, she was too absorbed in her own thoughts to notice that.

The sad smile was still on her lips as she continued thinking, 'revenge… hatred… those words are too strong… But why? Isn't he the one who said all that happened between us was just a game? Isn't that what he said to my brother? Then why would he hate me for leaving him? I have my reasons to leave… Sorry that my departure cause you pain, Seto…' Unfortunately, Serenity didn't notice Kaiba asked her a question.

Kaiba narrowed his eyes in fury. No one ignores the Seto Kaiba, no one! Not even her! He sat down on the bed, still keeping some distance from her. "I asked you a question, Wheeler." Kaiba said coldly, returning to call her 'Wheeler' instead of 'Serenity'.

Serenity's heart wrenched. 'So he didn't even want to say my name…' She felt like crying, her heart hurting. 'So be it… I'm in no position to feel hurt… I caused all the pain for all three of us…' (A/n 1) Serenity shook off all her thoughts. "I'm sorry… I wasn't paying attention… What did you asked me?" She tried to remain calm, but her voice was a bit low than usual, because she felt like crying.

"Did you enjoy hiding behind Pegasus's back all these years?" Kaiba repeated the question, annoyed. He stared at Serenity, wondering what types of reaction she would give him after she comprehends his question. Would it be guilt? Pain? Indifferent? Or something he would sure go insane, such as blush at the thought of Pegasus, or contend smiles because Pegasus protected her from him?

"… I'm sorry…" Serenity whispered, didn't intend for him to hear it, apologizing for the pain she caused him. She knew that Kaiba was trying to make her feel guilty, and to make her suffer. She knew him too well… So, she wasn't going to answer that question. Instead, she blurted out something else. "It's three years…" Tears started accumulating in her hazel eyes, but were shielded from Kaiba by her auburn locks. Three years was how long she had been away from Kaiba…

"Hmph. You even counted how many years you've been with that snake, huh?" Kaiba retorted. He was now even angrier that Serenity kept on lowering her head. He couldn't even see her beautiful hazel eyes that he missed so much. 'Missed? Hmph. I never miss her after she left.' Kaiba refused to admit mentally.

"Why don't you look at me? Feeling guilty about what you've done to me? How the whole world laughed and teased at me that my wife-to-be ran away with another man several days before our wedding?" Kaiba snapped. He curled his hands into fists, and his knuckles cracked and turned white because of the force he applied out of anger.

"… I'm… so… sorry…" Serenity whispered. Tears started rolling down her cheeks. She didn't anticipate to humiliate him when she left. She didn't know how the news had leaked that she might have left with another man. However, the news never mentioned who the man she left with was; perhaps the reporters didn't have the chance to find out. It only became a rumor that she left with another man.

"Look at me." It was a cold, cold order from Kaiba. His eyes were like the deep ocean near arctic, no temperature, absolutely freezing.

When Serenity didn't raise her eyes to look at him, Kaiba almost lost all his control. "Don't… make… me!" Kaiba said through gritted teeth. He was about to explode.

"… No… please don't…" Serenity pleaded. Kaiba would find out her secret if she looks up at him… The phone call she had received from the hospital started playing in her ears again…

---

(Flashback)

"…Hello?" Serenity asked timidly. She hoped this wasn't the call from the hospital…

"Yes. Miss Wheeler?"

"Yes?" Her heart skipped a beat. It wasn't her friends… it might be from the hospital after all…

"We're calling from the hospital. About the test you took with us… Well, we have the result."

"… Oh…" Serenity couldn't say anything else. She clutched onto the phone tightly, waiting for the result, good or bad…

"I'm sorry to inform you, but… your eyes are starting to deteriorate…"

"… …" Serenity opened her mouth, but nothing came. She wasn't able to say anything… Her heart skipped several beats, and started to sting. Tears swelled up in her eyes. Her biggest fear had come true…

"Sorry to inform you of the bad news. But the doctor said that if you do another operation, there will be ten percent chance of recovery."

"… I see…" That was all she could mumble. Only ten percent… Only ten percent chance she would be able to see Seto again…

"The doctor had already given you information on operation in United States before this test if you need to, right?"

"… Yes… He said that… operation might have a higher chance of success in U.S. if I really need to do it…" Serenity mumbled.

"That's right. I hope you'll be able to recover."

"Thanks…" Then, the phone was hung up. If she do the operation, only ten percent chance would she be able to see. But if she doesn't, she would lose her eyesight in months, again. Fate was cruel to her… She had been saved by her brother once, and preserved her eyesight once. She thought she could keep her eyesight forever after that operation Joey paid for her, using the money he won from Duelist Kingdom, but… she was about to lose her eyesight again…

(End of flashback)

---

Serenity shut her eyes tightly. She left Kaiba, because she didn't want to burden him with her blindness. He didn't have to take care of a blind girl. He was still so young, handsome, powerful… He deserved someone much better than her… and besides, he admitted to her brother that everything between them was just a game, a game to piss off Joey… So, he probably wouldn't mind that she left, he might even be happy that she left him alone. It was after she left that she realized she was pregnant.

Seeing that Serenity refused to obey his order, Kaiba was on the verge of exploding. He roughly reached for her chin and grabbed it. Serenity let out a small gasped at the unexpected movement. Kaiba tilted her chin upward so he could see her face and eyes. But what he saw angered him even more. She closed her eyes tightly, as if challenging him that she would never obey him!

"How dare you disobey me?" Kaiba whispered, his voice was surprisingly calm. But his eyes revealed how much he was fuming at the time. He applied more force to her chin, and felt a bit satisfied when she frowned.

"… Seto… you're hurting me…" She said, eyes still shut tightly. There was no way she would let him see her eyes. He could notice that she wasn't looking at him, that her eyes had no focus, and then he might get suspicious of her. She'd rather he never finds out, continues to hate her. It would be better that way than let him misses her. It would be easier for him to forget about her if he only hates her, not loves her.

"Then, just open your eyes. It's that simple. Or did you share the mutt's gene of stupidity that such an easy way of avoiding pain by opening your eyes too hard to understand?" He insulted not only Joey, but her as well.

"… Don't insult my brother." Serenity said firmly. Kaiba could insult her all he wants, but not her brother.

"I can say whatever I want." Kaiba growled. He didn't loosen his grip on her chin.

"Why? Why do you want me to look at you?" Serenity managed to ask meekly. She would never give in to him, ever.

That question startled Kaiba. He stiffened a bit, and Serenity felt it. Deep down in his heart, he wanted to see her beautiful hazel eyes. He missed the way her lovely eyes used to watch him with such love and care. He wanted to see his own reflection in her eyes. But… he shouldn't be feeling this way. He shouldn't miss her. She wasn't the same innocent girl he remembered when he first met her. There was no longer his reflection in her hazel eyes the last time he saw her.

Kaiba suddenly loosened his grip on her chin, but refused to let go. He observed her, and smirked. 'So fragile… I could easily break you, my dear Serenity…' He thought. 'But what's the hurry when we could have some fun?' The smirk on his lips grew larger; anger dissipated slowly.

"Ha ha ha…" Kaiba chuckled with his raspy voice. Serenity was clearly confused by Kaiba's sudden laughter. Kaiba inched in slowly towards Serenity. There was no where for her to hide now since her back was already bordering the wall.

Serenity felt Kaiba's movement as the bed slumped as he moved closer and closer to her. She had no idea what Kaiba was planning to do next…

Kaiba was now in front of Serenity. His hot breaths were caressing Serenity's face. Serenity now knew that Kaiba was right in front of her. That knowledge sent shivers down her spine, and she began to tremble. Kaiba's smirk grew larger. His eyes lingered on Serenity's rosy lips eagerly. How long didn't he kiss her?

"Tell me, how does Pegasus treat you all these years?" Kaiba whispered next to Serenity's ear. The way he mentioned Pegasus's name revealed his disgust of Pegasus.

Kaiba's hot breaths were tickling Serenity's ear. She started blushing, and her breaths quickened. Her heart started jumping faster and faster. She hadn't been held by Kaiba for three whole years… That's a really long period of time… That's how long she missed him, everyday…

"… He treated me fine…" Serenity managed to answer. Her mind started to get cloudy, and thinking straight and clear became harder and harder…

Kaiba frowned at the answer. 'What exactly does fine means?' he thought. "Hmph." Kaiba grunted. He leaned in closer and closer to Serenity's lips, eager to savor her sweet lips. Just before his lips touch hers, he mumbled another question. "Did that snake ever do this?" With that, he pressed his lips on hers eagerly.

Kaiba put one hand on Serenity's waist and pulled her closer. He removed the other hand from her chin and moved the hand behind her neck. Kaiba was nipping at Serenity's bottom lips, hoping that she would let him enter. All his thoughts about revenge and hatred were all dumped into the deep ocean, forgotten at the moment.

Even though Serenity missed Kaiba so much, but… she couldn't respond to him, no matter how much she wanted to. If she kisses him back, he might know she still loves him. It took Serenity all her will to remain indifferent. She even closed her mouth tightly. She put her hands on his chest, trying to accumulate enough energy to push him away.

After a while, Kaiba realized that she's not responding to him. He felt her resistance and her effort of trying to push him away. Anger quickly returned to Kaiba, and he suddenly let go of her. Kaiba was still sitting on the bed, but Serenity felt that he seemed to be thousands of miles away from her. Serenity lowered her head, then she opened her eyes.

The room was now silent. She couldn't see Kaiba's expression, but could imagine his angry, but still handsome, face. She wanted to say something, but nothing came to her mind.

"So. Pegasus is the only one who can touch you now, I see." Kaiba finally found his voice. He glared at Serenity with his cerulean eyes. Anger, betrayal, pain, and hate were all written in his eyes, but sadly Serenity couldn't see it. Kaiba clenched his fists tightly out of anger.

Serenity's heart ached. The sadness and feeling of betrayal were evident in Kaiba's voice. 'No! It's not like that! Believe me, Seto! I love you!' Serenity yelled in her heart, but she couldn't tell him. Even though Pegasus loves her, and she tried to be with him, but she wasn't able to do so, because her heart was already occupied by one man—Seto Kaiba.

Slap. Kaiba slapped Serenity's face hard, and she fell on the bed with widened eyes. "Bitch." Kaiba said, and he stood up from the bed. Serenity raised her hand to cover her left face, where Kaiba had slapped her. Tears streamed down her pale cheeks. 'Did Seto… did Seto just… slapped me?' Serenity thought in disbelief. From her memory, Seto Kaiba never hits her, never.

Kaiba turned around and started walking away from Serenity. He desperately needed some time alone. He couldn't stand staying in the room with her. Before Kaiba reached the door, Serenity stopped him.

"Seto…" Serenity whispered softly.

"Mr. Kaiba. Only Mokuba can call me Seto, from now on." Kaiba said coldly. Serenity had lost her rights to call him 'Seto' after what she did to him. She had betrayed him, and a traitor doesn't have the rights to call him by his first name.

"… Yes, Mr. Kaiba…" Serenity said. She tried really hard to make her voice sound normal. "Where… where is my daughter?" She had to ask, she had to know where little Sapphirina was.

"Hmph. That little brat is somewhere safe." Kaiba replied through clenched teeth. 'Is everything she cared about has something to do with Pegasus?' He thought angrily. He would enjoy suffocating that little daughter of Serenity and Pegasus's, or so he thought. (A/n 2)

"Please, Se- Mr. Kaiba, please let me see my daughter. She's just a little girl, please…" Serenity pleaded.

"Let you see the little brat? Why should I?" Kaiba said heartlessly. He didn't turn around to look at Serenity, but he could imagine she must be worried sick.

"Please…" Serenity continued to plead. Kaiba didn't response. He just stood there for several minutes. The silence returned to the room again. Serenity clutched onto the bed sheet, waiting for an answer.

"How old is she?" Kaiba asked softly. He almost wanted to kill himself after he realized what he asked her. Why did he even care how old that little girl was?

"… She's two years old." Serenity said. She was confused why Kaiba suddenly asked how old Sapphirina was.

"And her name?" He asked again, unable to stop himself from wondering more and more about that little girl, perhaps she looked just like a little copy of Serenity.

"… Sapph- …" Serenity almost blurted out the name, but stopped herself from doing so. She was afraid that the name could give Kaiba some clue about who the father really is. "Sapphie…" She said, hoping that the word 'Sapphie' wouldn't remind Kaiba of the word 'Sapphire'.

"Roland will bring her over later." Kaiba said. He started walking over the door again, a bit angry at himself that he gave in so easily. He should have been more cruel and refuse to let Serenity see her daughter. But he couldn't, she sounded like she was crying when she pleaded him… He still couldn't harden his heart completely from her…

Kaiba walked out the door, and shut the door. There was no need to lock the door, since they were still on the plane in the sky, and since he had guards guarding the door. There was no where she could escape to. He walked over the other door, where the little girl was being kept inside, and ordered Roland to bring the girl to Serenity later. Then, he retired back into his own room on the plane, with lots of thoughts in his minds. He seriously needed to think about what he wanted to do with Serenity and her daughter…

After Kaiba left the room, Serenity whispered "Thank you…" to him. She was grateful that Kaiba agreed to let her see Sapphirina. The only joyous thing she had now was Sapphirina…

Serenity felt tired after the encounter with Kaiba. She raised her hands and caressed her left face, still hurting because of the slap Kaiba gave her. She also wiped the tears on her face with her hands.

"Seto…" She whispered his names. She understood that from now on, Kaiba wouldn't allow her to call him 'Seto' anymore. She could only whisper his name in her heart from now on. Serenity fumbled around and found the pillow on the bed. She lied down on the pillow and slowly drifted into sleep… Dreams, her only way of embracing the past, her happy memories, and her happiness… … …

A/n 1: The "three of us" that Serenity mentioned are Kaiba, Pegasus, and herself.

A/n 2: Kaiba still think that Sapphirina is Serenity and Pegasus's daughter. He would find out in the future whether he was right or wrong, hee hee. Can't wait to see Kaiba's face when he finds out the truth (grin evilly)

Author's note:

I hope you enjoy this chapter. So, I hope I cleared up some mysteries in this chapter. Poor Serenity lost her eyesight again… That's why she left Kaiba…

I won't be updating any of my stories until I finish taking those AP exams, which is the second week of May. I really must focus on studying now… I feel so guilty writing this chapter instead of studying like I planned to…

Okay, please review! Reviews make me happy!