I always wondered what would happen if someone fell for the infamous Kaiba. Apparently many of my friends wondered the same thing. (Makes me wonder what sorts of friends I have. ☺) Anyhow, after much persuasion and cajoling, I've decided to undertake a fan fiction so magnificent, it will top the charts! awkward silence, in which a cricket chirps Who am I kidding? Now let's get back to the point. Fellow authors and Yu-Gi-Oh! Fans, I give to you deep breath …something. Background to be explained in another set of fics. YOUR FLAMES WILL TOAST MY MARSHMALLOWS!

The Yu-Gi-Oh pairings:

Yugi/Aya

Kaiba/Aya?

Bakura/Mai

Mokuba?

Joey/Tea

Tea/Tristan

Tristan/Tea

Mai/Bakura

Reshiek?

Aya/Yugi

Disclaimer: I do not own Yu-Gi-Oh! Or the brief mention of Coke, and the line from the Scorpion King. pounds head on desk (And I'm going to totally destroy the plot, so please, don't hurt me!) FYI: Romance on request. Rating also on request. grins evilly

BF: Boyfriend

GF:Girlfriend

TBE: To be explained

Quick rundown of the characters: Okay, there's only two originals. I've marked them with this.

Yugi / Yami Yugi-Pharaoh, Aya's steady BF.

Kaiba-Cold and aloof tourney judge

Bakura / Yami Bakura-Mai's bf, Aya and Yugi's advisor (TBE)

Mokuba-Cold and aloof tourney judge's younger brother.

Joey-Aya's wannabe BF

Tea-Tristan's GF

Tristan-Tea's BF

Mai-Bakura's GF

Reshiek-Pharaoh's former aide (TBE)

Aya-Queen, (TBE) Yugi's GF

Anyone else not mentioned in this list are minor characters.

On with the story!

Forbidden Love

Takaya Sohma

Romance/tragedy

Chapter One: Affection or a Façade?

Aya sighed, gazing up at the platform that rose out of the crowd. Beside her, she could tell that Yugi was doing the same. The platform was empty for the moment, and the assembled were talking quite loudly. "Aya?"

"Nygahh!" She shrieked, petrified as someone touched her arm. Spinning around so fast that she nearly wrenched her neck, she glanced about quickly, before her eyes fell on an embarrassed Joey. "W-what?"

He gave her a sheepish look. "Sorry. I didn't mean to scare you." He smiled down at her. "You seemed out of it, so I poked you."

Aya snorted at the classic Joeyness of this, before shaking her hair clear of her eyes and turning her gaze to the platform. It was now occupied by a tall, brown haired young man. As his eyes swept the crowd, she noted that he couldn't be but a few years older than her. Joey's gaze became stony, and when Yugi spoke on her other side, it was in a voice cold enough to freeze water. "Kaiba."

Aya glanced once more at the platform, blinking. It WAS Kaiba. Not that she really knew who this Kaiba was. They'd met briefly during a duel with Yugi, and he was threatening to throw himself off of a wall at the time. She froze as his eyes met hers, and nearly fainted when he smirked at her. Joey, meanwhile, had caught her glances at the other Duelist, and leaned over, waving a hand in front of her face. "Aya? Hey, girl? You awake?"

Aya was spared the embarrassment answering his question by Kaiba speaking. "Fellow Duelists. You have been gathered here by your skill. You will be competing for the top spot in this tournament…which is to duel one of the greatest duelists in the world. Today is a day of rest and relaxation." Here he paused, his expression indicating that he thought nothing good was to come out of this one day endeavor. "Tomorrow is when the challenge really begins. You were issued a necklace upon entering the gates of Kaiba Corps," He reached for the collar of his shirt, pulling forth a locket like contraption hanging from the end of a chain. "You are to place your rarest card within this container, and keep it with you at all times of the day you are in Kaiba Corps. This should serve as an accurate form of identification, since I have yet to find another that shares my own."

He reached into his pocket and a small box slightly larger than a deck of cards was withdrawn. "In your suite there is a small card reader. You are to keep this with you as well. It is your only way to gain access to the rooms that are reserved for duelists." He slid the body of the necklace into the reader, and quite suddenly, a large Blue-Eyes Ultimate Dragon appeared on the platform. Several of the girls let out shrieks, Tea included. Kaiba merely smirked. "The readers are also located in many places, including the door to your suites and the sections of the land cut off for duels." Pressing a button on the reader, the necklace slid back out into his waiting hand, where it was stowed carefully back around his neck. "On a minor note, this is a tournament that uses life points in the literal sense."

A stricken silence fell on the crowd, and even the toughest of duelists looked unnerved. "You will feel the pain of a direct attack…but it won't kill you. The actual details of this tournament will be given tomorrow. Until then, practice, or relax. Both will benefit you."

Turning on his heel, Kaiba left the assembly, leaving the other duelists in an uncomfortable silence. Aya glanced up at Yugi, before scooting closer to him and grasping his arm. He glanced down, gently stroking her hair. "I'm sure nothing is going to happen." Aya gave him a scandalized look, and he hastily amended himself. "Nothing BAD."

Bakura turned to the rest of the group, and gave a wan smile. "To our suites, then?" Aya merely yawned, and Joey nodded.

Yugi glanced down at Aya. "I take it you want to practice?"

Aya nodded sheepishly. "If that's alright with you." Yugi didn't answer, for instead of looking at her, her was gazing at something behind her, jaw tight.

Aya fairly jumped as Kaiba's cold voice sounded behind her. "Hello, Yugi." He glanced down at Aya, and a flicker of amusement crept across his face. Before he could speak, a nasal voice sounded behind them.

"I'll take you up on that, Romans." Aya turned, frowning at Weevil. "Or are you too scared?"

That goaded her into consenting. "Fine. But in the real match format."

Kaiba cut in smoothly here. "You are permitted to use only your ultimate rare card, a trap card and two magic cards."

Weevil rounded on Kaiba at once. "Why, pray, is that?"

Kaiba gave Weevil a scathing glare. "Because the practice is merely for you to get used to feeling an attack. Physically. If you had read any of the rules, you would have known that. And unless you are TRYING to get kicked out, you will comply." Kaiba paused then added as an afterthought, "And we're not aiming to kill."

Weevil muttered mutinously for a few moments, before he reached into his jacket and withdrawing his deck. Joey leaned over to talk to Yugi. "I wouldn't be so sure about that."

Kaiba, meanwhile, removed his card from around his neck and slid it into the slot on a metal panel a short distance away. When both duelists had chosen their cards, Kaiba directed them to stand about 30 feet from each other, with Aya closer to him. Once in position, Kaiba punched a few buttons on the panel, hit a green button, and withdrew his card.

The ground trembled slightly, before opening completely to reveal a dueling platform rising from its depths. Wire fences rose, enclosing Kaiba, Weevil and Aya within. Yugi, Bakura, Joey and the others who decided to stay and watch crowded around the outside. Using the dueling disks, both duelists summoned their monsters simultaneously.

Kaiba gaped shamelessly as Obelisk the Tormentor appeared on the field, followed closely by the Insect Queen.

Aya spoke. "I'll go first." Completely at ease, she equipped Black Pendant and the field card, Luminous Spark. "Your move."

Weevil smiled evilly. "You should have gone second!" He flipped his first magic card, Change of Heart. As Aya watched with mounting horror, he equipped his Insect Queen with Blast Cannon Armor, and entered Battle Phase.

Kaiba stood suddenly as exactly what was happening penetrated his brain. Dashing over to the control panel, he hastily shoved his card into the slot, punching the Negate Attack button with enough force to send it straight through the metal to the ground.

The Insect Queen charged, and Kaiba crossed his fingers, praying for it to work. Aya's loud scream of terror was cut off as the Insect Queen slammed into her, throwing her into the fence. Kaiba quickly ran over to Aya's side of the field, crouching next to the field. He winced as Obelisk's attack whizzed past him on its way to inflict injury. Aya let a scream of pain escape her lips as the energy struck her full force. Kaiba quickly ran up to her as she slumped over, unmoving. Weevil looked momentarily triumphant as the field sank slowly back into the ground. Kaiba bent over Aya, brushing her hair from her face, and practically caressing her skin. She stirred at his touch, and struggled to sit up. Falling back with a gasp, she winced, glancing down at a gash between her ribs. "Hang on for just a second longer, Aya." Kaiba got up and strode over to Weevil. Standing over him, Kaiba glowered down at the younger boy. "Suspended." Reaching down, he grasped the card around Weevil's neck, and yanked it loose.

Aya lay on the dirt, breathing ragged with fatigue and pain. She fairly jerked away as Kaiba knelt beside her, sliding his hands under her body. "This…wasn't supposed…to happen. Was it?"

Kaiba sighed. "No. It wasn't. I can't use this field. Something was faulty." He gave the control panel a frustrated glare, lifting the injured girl in his arms. Gently, he shifted her position in his arms so that her head rested on his shoulder. Throwing a glance at Joey, who was glowering, he turned and swept towards a small building, just to the left of the main one.

Yugi exchanged a meaningful glance with Joey, who was now grinding his teeth. "That lousy, good for nothing…" He sighed, pausing in mid-rant as Tea walked over, putting a hand on his shoulder.

"We can go check up on her. She didn't look too bad."

Mai snorted. "Yeah, she was only knocked out and bleeding." She turned on her heel and marched after Kaiba's retreating back.

Yugi glanced after her, questioningly. "What's wrong with…"

Bakura cut in. "Her? She has a soft spot for Kaiba and for Aya. She's always been a bit overprotective of Aya, but she's probably concerned if she's with Kaiba…alone."

Tea's head shot up. "She doesn't…"

Bakura nodded, smirking. "Both of them do. You of all people should know that, Tea."

Tristan spoke softly, having remained silent during the entire conversation. "Did you see the two of them during Kaiba's speech?"

All shook their heads, and Tristan sighed. "Just as well." He began to walk towards the building. "I'm going to go see her. You coming?"

All nodded.

Mai, having finally caught up with Kaiba, was walking next to him, chatting amiably. Kaiba, who appeared to be somewhat preoccupied, was responding merely with grunts and the occasional noncommittal jerk of his head. Both reached the entrance to the building, and Kaiba sighed, glaring daggers at the entrance scanner. He glanced down at Aya, who was also gazing at the door. "Aya?"

She glanced up at him, blinking owlishly. "Hm?"

"Get my card."

She nodded…then shook her head as if to clear it. "Wait, what?"

"Get my card from my neck. You can reach it, and I would except there's the major risk of dropping you."

Aya nodded and reached for the pendant swinging loosely from his neck, wincing the entire time. "Um…how am I supposed to get this off?"

Kaiba sighed in exasperation. "By the clip." Aya did so, and Kaiba stepped forward. "Slide the card into the reader, and make sure your head is not in front of my face."

Aya complied, somewhat puzzled. Mai appeared confused, but immediately understood as a panel in the wall opened. Both watched as a blue laser emerged, scanning his eye. "A retinal scanner! That's…cool." Aya finished off this sentence with a sharp gasp of pain, just as the scanner spoke in a robotic voice.

"Seto Kaiba. Access Granted. Welcome to Kaiba Corps." The door slid open with a rush of steam, and Kaiba entered, followed closely by Mai. Both girls gazed in awe at the interior of the building, which was plated in a metal.

"This is one of the test rooms." Kaiba spoke with a hint of pride in his voice. "It's where we figure out the balances for life points, and how strong the blasts will be." Making his way to a door at the end of the room, he fairly kicked it open, nearly running into a short, black haired boy. "Mokuba? What are you-?"

"Doing here?" Mokuba finished. "There was word that one of the fields malfunctioned. I was going to see if you were alright."

Kaiba nodded. "Negate Attack didn't work. Go see if something got disconnected. And check all of them." Mokuba nodded, and dashed off. Kaiba turned to Mai. "I cannot allow you past this area unless you give me your deck." He cut in as Mai opened her mouth to speak, looking affronted. "It's security measures. I too must give up my deck."

He proceeded the door, and, as Mai gave the guard her cards, had Aya do the same. "And get mine as well. Jacket pocket, inside." Kaiba's deck was withdrawn much to Mai's displeasure, and Aya's embarrassment. The guard looked the three of them over, before nodding them ahead. Kaiba immediately headed to an elevator, and the three of them began their ascent. Mai glanced nervously at Kaiba, who appeared not to notice the admiring glances from both the girls. As the elevator slid to a halt and the doors opened,

Kaiba stepped into a hallway.

A gilded door stood at the end of the hallway, and Kaiba proceeded directly for them. At his request, Mai opened the doors, and Kaiba entered the room.

It was spacious, and amply furnished. A desk stood in the corner, with a couch and a small table standing on the opposite wall of the room. A door to the left of the couch stood slightly ajar, revealing what looked to be a bathroom. Kaiba deposited Aya on the couch, before turning and entering the bathroom. Aya spoke hesitantly. "Is this a guest room?" She winced from both pain and embarrassment.

Kaiba spoke from the bathroom, from which the sound of running water and a slight floral scent issued. "No."

Aya nearly fell from the couch in shock, and was saved only because Mai was sitting on the edge of it. "Then…" She stopped, flushing a deep crimson.

Kaiba emerged, carrying a bowl of some type of liquid and a cloth. "This is my room." Catching Mai's disbelieving stare, he amended himself. "Suite." He was wearing all black, having discarded his jacket, and Mai stood as Kaiba took her place on the couch beside Aya. "Your top." This comment was directed at Aya, who promptly flushed a deep red.

"My…what?"

Kaiba sighed, and turned to Mai. "Please, leave us."

Mai opened her mouth to protest. "You can't…"

"Throw you out of my own living area?" Kaiba arched an eyebrow. "If that is what you think, then you are sadly mistaken." He pointed at the door. "Leave, or I shall have to force you." Mai gave him a stubborn glare, then turned on her heel and stalked out of the room. Kaiba turned back to Aya. "Your top. Unless you want to walk around with every possibility of dropping dead at a spontaneous moment, I suggest you comply."

Aya hesitated, before unclasping the collar of her shirt and opening it. Kaiba, who showed no sign of wanting to see anything more than he had to, reached over for the bowl of liquid. "Wha-?"

"It's rose water. Lay down, please." Aya complied, wincing as the liquid came in contact with the open skin. As Kaiba moved the fabric of her shirt away from the injury, his fingers came in contact with her skin, and she involuntarily flinched, jerking away from him. He gave her a concerned look, which, judging by his demeanor, was rare.

"It stung." Aya mumbled, trying and failing to excuse her actions.

Kaiba let out an dramatic sigh, and set the bowl back on the table. "It Probably stung the whole time." He got up and went back into the bathroom. Emerging moments later with a roll of bandages, he sank down onto the couch beside her. "Sit up." Watching her carefully as she struggled into a sitting position, he placed the roll of bandages on the couch.

Without waiting for Aya's consent, he placed a hand on the small of her back, supporting her while feeling her ribs. He clucked disapprovingly, before having her sit against the back of the couch. "Two broken ribs, and one cracked rib." He got up once more and began to pace. "You, my friend, are not leaving this room until you heal. Unless I'm with you." He added this last bit as an afterthought.

All these words went right over Aya's head, except for 'I'm with you' "WHAT?"

"And don't overexert yourself."

Aya gave him an indignant look, making to stand up. "But the tournament!"

Kaiba sat back down beside her, placing his hands on her shoulders and pushing her back onto the couch. "I'm afraid that falls under the category of overexertion." He paused. "On that matter, I may have to cancel it. If the fields don't work properly…"

He let go of her, and actually flopped down on the couch next to her. His arm touched her hand, and she flinched again, pulling her hand away. "What'll happen to the duelists, then?"

He sat up abruptly, and grabbed the bandages. As he wrapped them around the gash and the injured ribs, he spoke. "They'll have to go home for a while…I suppose." As he finished, he pulled her shirt back around her body, and re-clasped the collar. She shivered as his fingertips lightly brushed her neck, and pulled away again. Kaiba sighed as she stood and got up. Watching her leaning against the wall to stare out the window, he spoke, softly. "What's the matter, Aya?" She didn't answer, but instead let out a very loud sniff. "Aya? Are you scared about the tournament?"

She turned to face him as he got up and walked over to her. "Nothing. I'm not sacred of that." She looked up at him as Kaiba advanced, forcing her to back into a wall.

He leaned over, placing his hands on either side of her head. "Then what are you scared of?"

She looked down, then back up at his face. She stared at him for a moment, blue eyes meeting brown. "I guess…I'm afraid…of…" She paused and averted her gaze.

Kaiba bit back a retort and slid a finger under her chin, raising it so that she was looking at him again. "Of?"

"Of the duels. And their outcomes." She paused and took a shaky breath. What…what if I…or what if my friends…" She paused again to take another breath. "Don't make it out of Kaiba Corps."

Kaiba sighed, sitting back on the couch. "No one is going to die…if that's what's concerning you."

Aya's head shot up, and she glared at him. "How can you be so nonchalant about this? The duelists could…I mean, look at me! This…the tournament…I…"

Kaiba had about two seconds to think about what was going to happen, before Aya dissolved into tears, and began to cry. Hesitating, he stood, walking back over to her. Placing his hands on her shoulders, he pulled her into a light embrace, gently stroking her hair as she sobbed into his chest.

Meanwhile, outside, Joey was busy trying to persuade the guards to let the rest of the group in when Kaiba, Mai, and Aya appeared, with Kaiba carrying Aya. Joey practically ran over, bobbing around an increasingly irate Kaiba. "Is she alright? What happened? Why is she with you?"

"Joey, shut UP!" Aya yelled from her vantage point in Kaiba's arms. Kaiba set her back on her feet, then turned to Mokuba.

Joey leapt forward, crushing Aya in a hug, which wasn't good at all for her considering past events. She let out a weak gasp, before Joey finally released her, whereupon she stumbled backwards, ramming into Kaiba's turned back. Kaiba, who had been conversing with Mokuba, turned and neatly caught her before she could hit the unyielding concrete. With Aya gasping and practically glued to his arm, he quickly finished his conversation with Mokuba, while Yugi and Bakura restrained Joey with extreme difficulty. Once Mokuba had vacated the area, Kaiba leaned down, lifting Aya into his arms. She winced, and concern flitted across Kaiba's face so fast it could have been imagined. He turned, and swept back into the building. Joey and the others quickly followed him.

"I'm alright, honestly!" Aya winced, her expression at severe contradiction to her words.

Kaiba glared at her, and pushed her gently back onto the bed. "No, you are not. And you are staying in the guestroom until you heal. I made a mistake in allowing you to see your hyper boyfriend."

"He's not my boyfriend. He's just a friend."

"Could have fooled me. Fawning idiot."

"Excuse me?" Both glanced towards the door. Joey stood in the entrance of the room, cool anger written on every line of his face.

Kaiba's expression matched Joey's, and he spoke with definite anger. "You heard me, Wheeler."

Aya watched with increasing apprehension as the two glowered at each other, before the pain in her ribs drove all rational thought from her head. "Hey…could we put this on hold until further notice?"

Kaiba turned as Aya let out a weak cry of pain, before passing out on the bed.


I'm SO SORRY! Everyone is so out of character!