Chapter 5: CHILHOOD; FOR LOVE OF A MAIDEN

Authors note: Who is The mysterious girl? You'll find out and well like I said, you expected it. It was easy to get who she is. I hope I didn't destroy Kaiba too much, he's supposed to be different, and though he's nice that doesn't mean that he's like that while working or when he's upset. He's still an ass and well, you wont really get to see that side of him but you'll see his romantic side, his sexy side…and what about the visions? What about the circle old man Mouto was talking about? That will become clear here in this last chapter…Hope you like it.

Kaiba turned around slowly, he looked at the short girl's brown eyes and smiled deeply, she looked the way she always had.

"If it isn't Serenity Wheeler." He hugged her tightly. "How's New York been?"

She sighed.

"It was okay, food wise anyway."

"You sound like your brother."

She laughed.

"I hated it…I hated being away from my brother and my friends and…" She paused.

"And?" He asked.

She tensed beneath his touch.

"And you."

"Oh…" He smiled. "Really?"

They pulled apart, he noticed that her cheeks were bright red.

"Yes really. I missed you a lot. So what, who cares?"

He tilted his head and gave her a seductive wink.

"If you missed me that much you should have just said something on the phone. I'd have flown there and well made you not miss me so much with…"

She punched him on the arm.

"Don't be perverted!"

He laughed.

"I'm not being perverted, I'm being serious!" He laughed. "I would have flown down there, and surprised you with a smoothie, some popcorn and a video, plus my undivided attention for a week."

She lifted a brow.

"Right!" She took his arm. "Anyway, I was on my way to see Tea, Yugi and Bruno but I remembered that it's Friday and that means parent night…poor Yugi."

Kaiba nodded.

"If only he'd tell her parents about the merger."

"I know." She changed the subject. "So, I'm here for about a week, and I'll unfortunately be staying at Joey and Mai's."

"Stay with me then." He said. "You can be my girlfriend for the week!"

She shook her head.

"That sounds like something a kid in high school would say."

He smiled.

"Junior high school, but anyway, stay with me this week. I'd really enjoy the company and you wouldn't have to deal with arguing."

She seemed to think about it for a few second then agreed.

"Sure, since I already have my stuff at your place."

"You knew that I would ask?"

She smiled.

"Yup!"

He put an arm around her and lead her to his car.

"Under my roof."

"Not in your bed." She said knowing that he would say the usual "and in my bed."

He opened her door for her then rounded to his side where he climbed in and started the car as soon as they had their seatbelts on.

"You never know."

"Why do you need all of this luggage anyway?" Kaiba put the last suitcase in her room.

"Thank you Kaiba." She said hugging him. "I really appreciate you letting me stay here."

"No problem." He said as he tried to move out of the hug when Serenity held onto him tighter.

"You remind me of someone." She said letting him go. "Someone I knew when I was a little girl."

"Really?"

She blushed.

"He was my best friend when I was seven. I never knew his name but his nickname."

He looked confused.

"Nickname?"

She nodded.

"When I moved with my mother he snuck to my house and gave me a sunflower, he said that I didn't need to know his real name because I was leaving. I guess that you could have called him my first love, I had the biggest crush on him for such a long time and when I found out I was moving I was so crushed. You've always reminded me of him though, like your eyes and the way you are with me, like I'm important and nothing else matters, that's the way he was with me."

Kaiba stood up and thought for a long while before smiling at her.

"Damn I have work to do." He lied. "I'll see you in a bit alright Serenity?"

She smiled.

"Night."

He walked out the room and shut the door behind him. He whispered to himself.

"Ren?"

(One week later)

Serenity paced around her room, she couldn't sleep, she was filled with questions of what Kaiba had waiting for her. He had come into her room late the night before and said something about a present. She hadn't really been able to think of anything else. Her brother hadn't helped either, since he said that it might be the 'one knee' thing, he always teased her. He thought it was teasing anyway, he just really got her hopes up. Since the day she had met Seto Kaiba she had been enthralled by him. His cold nature, his laid back attitude, his intelligence and quiet strength. Her brother had hated him for so long, but Serenity had, without realizing, let her heart open to him. When Bakura had gotten hurt on the blimp, when everyone else's yelling had failed to get to him, she pleaded and for an instant, no one except her had noticed it of course, he looked at her and smiled as he called for the doctors on the blimp. After Mokuba's death he had gotten quite close to everyone, especially her, so the thought of him getting on one knee for her was thrilling, it had been a fantasy of hers since her crush on him began, and the feeling of familiarity was incredibly strong, as though they had known one another before.

Her daydreams were pushed aside as the screeching from the telephone broke into her reverie. She picked up the cordless phone and put it to her ear.

"Hello?"

'I thought you'd be up. So, what's up?'

Serenity smiled into the phone.

"Nothing Mai. Why are you up anyway? You're pregnant again right?" Serenity joked.

'Ha ha not funny! I'm not always pregnant Serenity."

"Not lately but c'mon five kids?"

Mai laughed on the phone.

'It's not all my fault, I just cant keep your brother off of me!' She lowered her voice. 'Anyway, how is it at the mansion with blue eye?'

"Blue eyes?"

Mai sighed.

'Kaiba, how is it in the mansion with him? I was talking to Tea and she said that you two have been inseparable, Joey's about to blow a gasket, I don't think that he likes you guys together all the time.'

Serenity scoffed.

"Joey doesn't like me to be around anyone of the opposite sex, that's just the way he's always been."

'Is there a reason for him to be worried? I mean the way you both look and act around each other, it's like an old married couple.'

"Nothing is going on." She said disappointed.

'Ah, I see what's going on!' Mai declared.

"Really?"

She felt Mai smile into the phone.

'I've gotta go, Michael's fussing upstairs.' She paused then added. 'Goodnight Mrs. Seto Kaiba.'

The lines disconnected.

"That kinda has a ring to it."

"What has a ring to it?" Kaiba asked from the doorway. She was surprised that she hadn't noticed him before. He was half hidden by shadows. He was wearing pale blue cotton bottoms with the matching t-shirt clinging to him. She had to admit, he looked beautiful with his hair in disarray with the light from the kindling rays made the natural highlights in his hair come to life beneath their touch.

"You're up!" She patted an empty spot beside her on the bed. "Sit down."

He walked forward, staggering a little as he took the welcomed spot beside her. He smelled like liquor, he always smelled like this at night. Serenity loved everything about him, about the change in him but not this. Not the fact that when the lights went out and he couldn't sleep that he became a drunk.

"I couldn't sleep…" He slurred.

"I know." She said softly. "You want to stay with me tonight?"

He opened one eye and peered at her with it.

"Sure, if it's what you want." He laughed. "I'm not as easy as you think!"

She rolled her eyes.

"Oh this coming from the guy who agreed to share my bed?"

They both laughed, then all of the sudden, he grew very solemn and serious in tone. Like the way he was before, when they had just met and though it shouldn't, that very fact…set her blood on fire.

"You want me don't you Serenity?" He asked, turning his full attention on her.

She was so small next to him, so tiny and to her, insignificant. Here she was, in a beautiful room, in a beautiful bed, with a beautiful, articulate man, she was frightened by him. She didn't know whether to throw herself at him and let it be done, or to ask him to leave. She could tell by looking at him that he wasn't too drunk, just buzzed so whatever he did and said now he meant, that no matter what, the next morning there would be no haze over what would, or might not occur in the room. She hated herself for being so afraid of what she wanted. She knew what happened between a man and a woman but she had never experienced it herself. She wanted to wait for the right moment, the right feeling, for the right man, no, not the right man, but for in fact, Seto Kaiba.

"Answer me!" He snapped at her.

"Uh…I…" She looked away. "I just…well…" She stuttered, unable to form what she wanted into words. It was so pointless, she thought, to waste time with mere words than to just show him what she wanted in her actions. She wanted him to take her into his arms, kiss her, touch her, knowing that his hands would make her flesh burn like fire, she wanted him to break that small piece of doubt that she had, to break away that innocence that made her a girl and into a woman. But damn it, she just couldn't do or say it.

"When I was a little boy in the orphanage with Mokuba I befriended a little girl who was seven years old. I used to yell at her, tell her that I was a ten year old and couldn't hang out with a little kid, this only happened when I would sneak out of the orphanage and go to the old game shop a mile away. I fell for her hard, and declared myself her boyfriend though I never told her to her face." He just spouted out, forgetting that he had asked her if she wanted him. In that moment, Serenity saw him for what he was, a frightened lonely little boy. He continued. "She moved away, this girl, and the night before I gave her this." He handed her a sunflower that he had kept hidden behind his back. "Her nickname was Ren." He said.

"Seto…" She said, tears welling up in her brown eyes.

"I never forgot about you Ren, Serenity." He placed the flower into her hand then got up from the soft bed. He staggered a bit as he made his way to the opened door. He turned to her.

"I'm sorry that I didn't tell you my name before, but now, that the visions have started again, I will tell you everything and fix it. I promised to you all those years ago that we'd never part, I swear to you now, that I'll never leave you." He left down the hall.

To say the least she was shocked by all of this, but something crossed her mind, something that didn't make sense. What visions was he talking about? Did it have anything to do with his inability to sleep, for his research of death certificates in England from the 1800's? She didn't know what he had meant but she knew now that what ever he was hiding was driving him mad. She couldn't walk away from him now, the trip back to New York would have to wait. He was her top priority now.

"He doesn't sleep?" Tea asked over her salad.

"He sleeps but only for a few hours, then he's up and doing research again."

Mai laughed.

"You sound like a worried wife!" She said.

It was a sunny afternoon and this day Tea and Mai had made arrangements to spend time with Serenity, without their husbands or children.

"I am worried but I'm not his wife." She said a bit sad.

"Whoa wait a sec! That look in your eyes, the way your lip quivers whenever you're worried about him." Tea said. Mai crooned in as well.

"Oh my! I think that little miss Serenity Wheeler is in love!"

Serenity shook her head.

"What? N-no way, you've got it all wrong!" She took a long sip of her drink. "Really I'm just a concerned FRIEND."

"You don't have to be ashamed." Tea said giving a look to Mai. "It doesn't take a rocket scientist to see that you're in love, I just think that maybe you should just be honest with your feelings and just tell him."

Serenity blushed under their scrutinizing gaze.

"I cant just come out and say it."

Mai lifted a perfectly arched brow.

"Why not?"

"Seto and I-" She stopped as Tea and Mai looked at each other and smiled slightly devilishly. "What?"

Tea huffed.

"Seto? When did you start calling him that?"

She blushed more.

"I didn't realize that I called him by name…well…" She tried to gain composure. "Kaiba and I are close and I don't want to mess it up."

"You wont be messing it up but making it better! You love him, the idiot is obviously head over heels for you, so what the hell is the problem?"

Tea nodded.

"I agree with Mai. I mean I've seen you both together and he seems enthralled by you."

"I guess I should but it's so hard now."

"What's so hard?"

Mai and Tea looked at Serenity.

"I just don't know what he's thinking anymore, he's become so sad lately. It's just like when Mokuba died. He's died on the inside and I cant fill that void. Plus he's so serious all the time, I just want to put a smile on his face."

Mai laughed.

"I know what can put a smile on his face."

"Mai!" Tea laughed.

"All you need to do is wear some sexy lingerie, cook for him then do what ever to his body and let him do to your body what ever he desires. Tell him, and just like this 'I'm yours, do what you want with me, the skies the limit! Take me I want you now!' that would get a smile on his face."

Serenity rolled her eyes.

"You are such a pervert and Kaiba's not like that at all."

"Then tell us how he really is?" Tea leaned in.

"Fine then I'll tell you!" She cleared her throat. "He's smart, his favorite pass time is to read, he's kind, he's fun when he wants to be and really funny, he always makes me laugh." She smiled and her words were tinted with longing. "He likes to make me laugh, he likes to work but not too much, he always makes time for people he cares about." She sighed. "He's completely wonderful."

Tea and Mai grew starry eyed.

"I'll admit that he's caught my eye." 'But I've always loved him…since the day we met all those years ago.' She thought.

I raced to the house, to Serena, I felt her calling out to me, in panic, in pain. The grass was tall and wet from the rain that was falling upon me but I didn't care, I just needed to get to her in time. My servant, Marcus, had been to my uncles house. I saw, in the distance, the tall lone house where Rachel was married three years before and where Audrey had died from some disease months before. Uncle had been driven mad and had attacked Morgan, my mother's niece, the illegitimate child of my uncle, and had impregnated her. The last time I had been in that house was to take Morgan away from him but to my dismay she died in child birth. I took the child and called her my own, my daughter who was with my brother in England for the summer. I wasn't thinking of Eleanor right now, I was thinking of Jonas's new wife, my beloved Serena.

I had been away in England with my brother when they were married, and upon my return I was devastated. I had not seen her for two years but this day I felt her calling out to me and Marcus had seen Jonas hurting her for unfaithfulness. I didn't care that she was another man's wife, I would take her and leave the manor, and the village if I had to. My brother would welcome me into his house, I was sure of that, and if not then I would go to my grandfathers home in Scotland to live with her.

I neared the house and circled it to the back door, passing the lone poplar tree. There was a dim light on in the house, it gave me hope that she was alright. I carefully made my way to the back door, opened a jar, I heard nothing. I opened the door after a long moment, then stepped inside. I tried not to make a sound. I heard a faint gasp from the front room. I was sure that it was her but when I neared it I saw that I was only Connie, my uncles sister. She was crying, for what I didn't know nor care to find out. As I neared her to ask of Serena's whereabouts I felt a sharp pain in my side. It felt as though something had sliced through me and when Connie saw, when her gaze went pass me I heard Jonas laugh.

" You've come for my wife haven't you?" He dug his dagger deeper into my side, I cried out.

"What have you done to her?" I managed to say.

"I've done nothing." He laughed evilly. "It is most unfortunate, my wife, your whore has gone to the manor to be with you."

He pulled the dagger from my side, pushed me forward. I fell to the ground and just looked at him for a moment.

"My wife's sister, I cant believe that you are Victoria's son." He lifted the dagger. "You will never set eyes on my wife, never again!" He brought the dagger down upon my chest. I felt it slice threw my clothing, through my skin, I felt blood pouring from this wound, then I heard him laugh.

"Damn…you…t-to hell…Jonas." I somehow managed to say. "It doesn't matter w-w-what you do now…we will be together!" I laughed.

"Do you want to see your sacred love?" He bent over, slung me over his shoulder then made his way out the front of the house. It seemed like an eternity went by until I felt myself be placed on a cold surface. I was in the manor.

"You'll die before she makes it here. Foolish girl, took the road." He turned to his sister. "Connie, how does it feel to watch the man you love slowly die?"

She looked at me with blank eyes. He turned back to me.

"Why Jonas?" I asked.

"You defiled my wife, I know it was you. She hasn't been able to satisfy my needs for thoughts of you!" He said the lifted the dagger again. "You will die!" He said. I shut my eyes ready to feel the impact of the blade. When nothing happened I opened my eyes to see Jonas, his arm lowered, he groaned, his eyes rolled to the back of his head then he fell. He was dead, with a knife in his back. I looked at Connie, whom had given the fatal wound. For a long moment I felt myself get numb, and cold.

"Seth!"

When I opened my eyes Serena was over me, holding me close to her arms. I smiled happily.

"Serena…" I whispered. "Why?"

She smiled sadly.

"My father arranged it to be so, I didn't want to marry him." He took my hand and placed the back of my hand to her soft cheek. "He may have had my body, but my soul was yours. My love, I thought of you everyday." She let hot tears fall from her eyes.

"Do not cry…You are not to grieve." I said. I looked into her eyes. "You wont be rid of my so easily my love, for I am sure that we shall meet again."

"You mean to haunt me?" She asked me trying not to cry. I caught a tear with my finger then put my hand on her neck to draw her lips to mine. I kissed her with such longing, it was perfect, even if it was tinged with salt from her tears and the taste of blood. I tired to hang on, but I knew, as well as she that it was a mortal wound.

"Do not leave me, please, Seth." She said sadly. "You must know my love, you must meet Margaret." She said.

"Margaret?" I asked. "Who is Margaret?"

She laughed softly, her hand was over my wound, covered in my blood, pressing down on it as to try to stop the bleeding. "She is our daughter."

A daughter? I thought. My daughter.

"I'm afraid that I cannot see her." My vision became hazed. "I love you, Serena."

"Please, don't leave me."

"It is but only the beginning for our love."

She cried.

"Seth!"

I shut my eyes.

"Another time, I swear it." She held me tighter against her warm breast as I let grim death claim me.

Seto opened his eyes, he touched his tear streaked face. He sat up in his bed. When the visions returned to him, he had become attached to all the people in them. He had hoped that Serena and Seth would be together in the end but as life is, nothing is ever so easy, nothing is ever so fair.

He felt in his soul that this life was meant to be with her, but who was she? Where was she now?

"You know what has happened of Seth and Serena then?" Marie, his maid, patted him on the back. When the visions begun she seemed to know, and she had become his confidant.

"He died."

She lowered her head.

"Why is this happening to me? Why do I have to relive this?" He asked her.

"To finally be with the one you love." Marie said as she walked to the window. "When I began to work for your step father, after you and Master Mokuba were adopted, I had these visions of your past life. You chose this you know." She said. "To be reborn into this time."

"Reborn?" He asked.

"You chose to be reborn even though you knew that you would not be able to find her." She looked at him. "Since you would not recognize her."

He looked at his hands.

"I saw, in my visions, you tell her that for her sake you have lived."

"But why?"

She turned away from him.

"All in good time Master Kaiba, everything shall become clear to you in time. Right now you must be with her. Love her, because for two lifetimes your longing was for her alone." Marie said as she walked out of the room. She had waited for so long, she knew that he would find his soul mate, he had to.

Serenity stood in front of Kaiba's door, shaking. She had, had a nightmare about him. About him dying in her arms. She woke in tears and without thinking walked out of her room and was in front of his door. She knew that he would be awake, but she was afraid to sound silly in front of him. She knocked on the door softly.

"Come in." He said. She eased the door opened. He was lying in his bed, the white sheets were covering his waist, but his naked chest was revealed. He looked at her with interest. "What's wrong Serenity?"

She shut the door and walked to the end of his bed.

"I know that this will sound silly but I had a bad dream and couldn't fall back asleep."

He patted the spot next to him.

She timidly made her way to the other side and sat beside him.

"You were stabbed in my dream." She said. "It was you but not you. You had another name, so did I."

He sat up and faced her.

"What were the names?" He asked.

She smiled.

"Well your name was Seth and mines was-" She saw his mouth hang open in shock. "What is it?"

He took her hands in his.

"That name…was it Serena?"

She look surprised.

"How did you know?"

He looked at her, cupped her face in his hands.

"Because I've dreamt about it to, Ren." He said as he lowered his head and gently kissed her, like Seth did all those years ago.

"So you know I love you right? Tell me how you feel." She asked.

"Since the day life was breathed into me I have lived for your sake alone." He said as he eased her onto the bed. This time she wasn't afraid to show him what she wanted, love claimed her.