Guardians

Note: Thank you to all my reviewers, and I hope you like this. Here comes chapter seven. Are you ready?

Disclaimer: Writergirl118 does not own Yu-gi-oh, it's characters, names, and places, or the songs mention in the following text. (Official, isn't it?)

Chapter Seven: Follow Your Heart, Seto Kaiba (or not)

Shell shocked, Seto Kaiba did not move. How could he? Her voice was amazing, but it wasn't really what amazed him. It was how she sung with such passion, how she just set out her emotions for all to see. How could any person do such a thing?

The announcer girl came on to the stage and took the votes. Vaguely paying attention, he clapped loudly along with everyone else to vote for Karmina, and then abruptly stopped himself.

"Seto, were you… clapping?"

"Of course not, Mokuba. Let's go."

"But big brother… they haven't announced the winner yet."

He sighed and settled back into his seat. He didn't want to listen to this, but he also didn't want to leave his little brother alone in a crowd of strangers. He didn't trust strangers (A/N: Or the weird lights in the sky when the great leviathan shows up!).

"And our winner is… Contestant number 18, Karmina!"

The crowd went wild with applause as Sarah handed the nervous girl a trophy and she took a stiff little bow.

"Um… th-thank you all v-very much… um… thanks."

Her normal voice, Seto Kaiba noted, was a lot less powerful than her singing voice.

"Mokuba, let's go now. You've seen the winner."

Although he wasn't about to say it out loud, Mokuba was pretty sure that his brother was pretty shook up by something, and he was also pretty sure that something had just won a singing contest.

Later that Friday night, Karmina sat alone on her bed thinking about the contest with a little smile. She still couldn't believe that she had won. But there was the shiny trophy, gleaming even in the dim light of her bedroom.

You did it, Karmi!

"I know… you won't let me live it down."

Why would you want to?

"I don't want fame and fortune, Wingweaver. I just want…"

You just want a few friends, a good home, a job, and someone who loves you.

"The last bit is never going to happen, Wingweaver. How many times must I tell you that I-"

She was cut off by the sound of squealing tires. Outside, disappearing around the bin, was an unmistakable limo.

"What on earth is Kaiba doing out at this hour?"

Probably buying a bottle of aspirin and a highly caffeinated drink in the nearest 7-11.

"How do you know this stuff?"

I have my ways.

"Are you… hiding something from me?"

I have my reasons.

"Oh my gosh, you are! He really is buying aspirin!"

And a caffeinated beverage.

"But how can you know that?"

Educated guess.

"You're lying. You know… what else do you know?"

Nothing. I told you, it was just a guess. I could be wrong.

Meanwhile, Kaiba had sent one of his workers into the nearest 7-11 to buy a bottle of aspirin and a highly caffeinated drink, and was waiting impatiently in the limo. His head was throbbing and he was about to fall asleep, but he had way to much work to do. He stared at the screen of his laptop with uncomprehending eyes. He just couldn't focus. Every time he tried, he just kept hearing her stupid voice singing those stupid songs.

"Hear me I'm crying out, I'm ready now… turn my world upside down… find me!"

"Wake me up inside…wake me up inside. Call my name and save me from the dark!"

"AH… will you shut up? I can't think straight."

I think your thoughts are clearer than they have been in a while.

"Oh… not that again. Maybe I should tell Roland to cancel the caffeine."

But then, Mr. Kaiba, you would fall asleep. And then you couldn't work.

He opted not to respond to the voice in his head, typing in a few statistics.

Why don't you try typing your thoughts instead? Maybe then you'd see what's there.

That was the first good suggestion he'd heard out of the voice in his head, but he knew he couldn't take it. If he did, the voice would have won. Then again, it was just his own insane mind, so really, he won either way. Why not put it all down?

End note: Sorry that it's so short, but I have a little bit of writer's block and, well, this is as good a stopping point as any. Seto Kaiba starts a diary… man I'm evil… Review and stay tuned!