A/N: I didn't insult the name Daisy last time, did I? Have you seen "The Dukes of Hazzard"? That's where I've stolen the name. :)
Disclaimer: I do not know any tiny bit about psychology! I've got regular German 10th grade graduation. I can only heal Kaiba in my imagination! If Dr. Kawai existed I'd have to see her, that's for sure!
Thank you, Tawnykit for beta-ing!
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To Make a Shrink Snap
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Chapter Three
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"A Very Bad Case"
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"Why won't you tell me anything about your therapy?" Mokuba Kaiba waved his arms dramatically into the air and followed his older brother into the office.
"Didn't I tell you already?" Kaiba ignored his nagging brother and switched on his laptop, balancing a cup of tea in the other. Dr. Yakisoba had strictly advised him not to drink too much coffee and after the third cup this morning even Kaiba had the feeling he could do with something else now.
"You just said it's "undisclosed". What's the supposed to mean? I'm your brother! And I demand you tell me about your therapy," Mokuba paused to put his hands on his hips and raised one pierced eyebrow suspiciously. "Has she given you pills?"
"No." Now Seto was glaring. He hated the simple fact that his own flesh and blood thought he was insane. "We were talking. That's it. Now get out of here. I've got work to do."
Mokuba groaned dreadfully and pulled at strands of his ebony hair. "You can't throw me out. I'm your brother."
"You're repeating yourself and besides, I didn't say I wanted to throw you out." Seto fixed his gaze upon the screen, not even looking at the younger sibling when he was calmly speaking. "But I hope you do realize that you've got a job, too, dear brother."
"Don't give me that attitude, Seto." Mokuba pouted and crossed his arms. "I know pretty well that I've got a job too."
"Then you've certainly not forgotten your appointment with Kenji Yakima." Seto suppressed the urge to smirk. He damn well knew his brother!
"Oh my hilarious toaster!" Mokuba covered his mouth with his hand in surprise. Suddenly his heart banged a lot louder and faster inside of his chest. "K…Kenji Yak…kima… w…where?"
"Your appointment was for 1:30 p.m. in KaibaLand for an interview and the tour for television. I thought you liked promotion activities. That's why you lead KaibaLand. But if you…"
"No, no, no! I…I haven't forgotten. Keh…" Mokuba tried to breathe steadily and not to think of Kenji Yakima—Japan's most popular, super-hot and very delicious top-model and entertainer. "I was just on my way."
With a grin and a blush across his handsome features Mokuba winked stupidly at Seto while he was walking backwards out of the office.
Seto let out the breath his was holding. If women didn't like his brother's antics he would certainly have fired him a long time ago: for nagging! Mentally shaking his head he concentrated on the screen and clicked for his internet connection and a search tool.
'Doctor Kawai' he typed in and waited for the upcoming links. A small but informative website was owned by Seto's favorite doctor and immediately he clicked upon the link for the page to show up.
There! There she was! His diamond! The picture was small, very small, but nice. She didn't wear her glasses. Or was she? Would it be better if Seto wore his glasses? Probably, as he could easily lick the dust off the screen.
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Shizuka shrieked, flinching when she heard her telephone ringing in the quietness of her office, in the process letting the book she held in her hands fall shut and the apple between her teeth fall out. She scampered to get her purse and the cell phone within that rang with the melody of "Baby Boy."
"Hey, what's up?" She answered the call with a smile.
"Eh Shizuka, it's me. I'm just back from your brother's place. When will you be home tonight? We might get…"
"Oh, err… it's going to be late I suppose," she said sighing.
There was silence at the other end of the line.
"Yeah, well, there's just this one last patient who's having an appointment for this evening. It shouldn't take me longer than one hour but… you know, he's a bad case," she explained keeping her voice instinctively quiet. You never knew.
"Hm."
Shizuka could practically feel his disappointment and annoyance.
"Who's it?"
"You know I can't tell you."
"Yeah, I know. Just call me when you're done and maybe… if it won't be too late, we could go and grab something to eat together?"
"Of course. I will."
"Promise me, Shizuka."
"Promise, Varon."
She ended the call with a sigh and put her cell phone on the desk once she had switched it off. Where had she been? What had she been doing when the stupid cell phone rang? Ah yes! She remembered! She was trying to eat an apple but she had let it fall. Bending down her hazel eyes scanned the carpet.
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Daisy had been busy typing a message for her boyfriend Billy in her cell phone—what wasn't an easy matter because her beautifully painted fingernails kept missing the evil keys—and so she didn't see the tall shadow of a business man passing by with a glare! But Seto was fine this way. There was no need for Daisy to know that he had brought a gift for Dr. Shizuka!
When his head peered inside her office his eyes gleefully widened. One corner of his mouth turned upward as he smiled lopsidedly. Yes, that was his Doctor Super-Shrink! Immediately Seto entered the room completely and shut the door quietly, admiring the view. Whatever she was searching for there on the floor, he hoped she wouldn't find it! Bent, she looked almost cuter than usual.
"Uhu! Come here you…" Shizuka grabbed for the apple but couldn't reach it.
She had climbed underneath her desk just to see that the delicious fruit she was after had rolled too far out of her reach. Her hand tried to take a hold once again but just when her longest finger touched it, the apple rolled further away. Shizuka cursed.
"Bloody bastard! Now, come here or I'll smash you, little stinky!"
"Nu-nuh, is that how you talk to your dear patients?" Seto was getting bored as Dr. Kawai had climbed out of his eye-sight. Time to make his appearance present!
Shizuka hit her head on the wooden surface of her desk when suddenly a pair of black polished shoes appeared in front of her face. Foolishly, she gazed up from her awkward position. Kaiba bent down to lift up the apple and looked at the woman with an emotionless, blank stare.
"Everything okay down there?"
If he was capable of something, it was programming computers and to say sentences with a doubled meaning! One-hundred points went to Seto Kaiba for the question of the day!
Shizuka hit her head again and rubbed the sore place with her hand. "Yes, I…I'm fine. I was just…"
"Here, let me help you." Kaiba extended his right hand for her to take.
She was a bit surprised at the appearing hand out of the blue, but that was no wonder in her position of limited sight, after all. But she thankfully accepted.
"Thank you, Mr. Kaiba," she bowed, blushing slightly and focused her eyes on the delicious red fruit in his hand. Her apple! The same she had left her tooth marks in!
Silence.
Seto raised his brows and watched the woman's eyes wander from the apple to his eyes, gazing at him expectantly, then back at the apple and again to Seto who tried to look back at her innocently. He actually found this really cute, like a cat that he played with. He had considered buying a cat once but when he had been in the animal station to adopt one it had scratched him across the back of his hand!
Cats really were evil.
"Would…would you mind giving me the…"
Noooo! Kaiba realized what she was about to say and brought the apple to his mouth, biting down forcefully. He chewed the fruit and raised his brows as the gawking mouth of his doctor. He liked this. But he was not cruel, now was he? No.
No!
He snatched the package from off her desk he had laid down before he took Shizuka's hand.
"This is for you, Doctor. For your kind attention, you know?" He tried to bat an eyelid at her but failed and grimaced instead.
Dr. Kawai hadn't even noticed and regarded the package. She should not take gifts but hell, she was starving, and her patient eating her dinner and this was looking like candy! Grrr!
"Thanks!" Quickly she grasped the offered item and ripped off the wrapping! Indeed, sweets, oh happy day! Chocolate! From him!
Chocolate from…him?
One of her eyebrows rose then fell back into its old position. Who cared? As long as she had chocolate it would not matter from where it came!
"Hmm…white chocolate," Shizuka mumbled and bit down on one of the sweet buttons. "Would you like something to drink, Mr. Kaiba?"
"Thank you, yes," he replied, pleased.
Dr. Kawai ate his sweets—ergo she was interested. It had been Mr. McKinley, Seto's old English butler, who had told them once at Christmas how he and Mrs. McKinley had found each other. Mokuba had been all ears but Seto also had (fortunately) gathered some info while trying to work.
Mr. McKinley had bought the lady sweets; she had then shared with him quite romantically. The butler said when a woman accepted one's gifts, she was obviously interested in the man. Then her male admirer had to prove that he was worth her attention. He would bring flowers and show her that he was not afraid of any rivals.
Mokuba had been giggling at this point of the story.
Seto thought it was crap. He had no time for such things. But he could not see past this angel called Kawai now and therefore he was thankful that he had saved some parts of McKinley's story in the back of his mind.
"There you go," Dr. Kawai placed a cup of tea on the small table in front of the sofa. "Do you want to lie down again or do you prefer to sit this time?"
"Depends," he said shrugging and grabbed for the sweets in her hand.
"Hey! They're mine! You gave them to me and now you can't steal them back," the woman barked and her eyes narrowed for just a second, making Seto almost flinch.
She was the Devil! Even better! Seto's eyes narrowed as well as he stared back at Shizuka, imagining her without the chocolate and her top. The doctor swallowed under Kaiba's stare. It was creepy and icy. Her own gaze immediately softened and she shuddered, slightly scared, shoving the pack of sweets in front of his face.
"Hahaha, I was only joking. Here! Take some!" Dr. Kawai laughed anxiously.
Seto snapped out of his thoughts and gazed at the chocolate. She shared. Another point he could take as completed on his checklist to make the doctor desire him. There wasn't even need for affection, just that she wanted him the same as he wanted her: on the sofa with him on top. Was that really too much to ask?
Gratefully he took the offered chocolate. "How's your boyfriend? Still together with him?"
"What?" Shizuka really tried hard not to let the molten chocolate drip out of her mouth as she gaped at the young man opposite her. She slurped in whatever might have dripped out before she answered, "Well, yes, he's fine. W…Why do you ask?"
"Interest," Seto replied curtly and finally sat down on the sofa. "Will you sit next to me today?"
What kind of question was that? Did he really want her to sit next to him? What did it matter? They could talk one way or the other! But, if Mr. Kaiba felt more comfortable with her that way, so be it. A psychological therapist's patient could not be healed without a comfortable atmosphere. Hence Shizuka had to gain his trust.
She shrugged, sitting down next to Kaiba, and crossed her legs. "Are you comfortable?"
Seto's blue eyes wandered from her legs up to her big eyes, not missing anything on their way. He leant back and rested his arm on the headboard. "Yes, very. Where do we continue?"
"I'd like you to tell me your fears. What are you scared of? And remember, Mr. Kaiba, this will stay between you and me." She smiled encouragingly.
"Scared of?" Kaiba scoffed. "Who should I be scared of?"
"Not who but what. You might be scared of losing something… or someone. You might also be scared of being lonely for example. That's what I'm talking about, Mr. Kaiba."
"Oh… okay." He wasn't quite sure if she really wanted to know that he was scared she would reject him if he made a move right now. Hell, no, he wasn't scared about that. Correction! He damn well knew she would love it. But women needed time, damn it.
"Are you scared of losing something?" Shizuka tried but Kaiba shook his head. "Nothing? You said you had nightmares about losing your company."
"Pah! That's the problem, Dr. Kawai. As long as I'm in charge and everything is under my control, I'm not scared of losing Kaiba Corporation," he explained coolly.
"But that affords your intensive time, right? How long do you work a day? What do you estimate?" She grabbed for her notepad and a pen.
He shrugged. "Seventeen hours I suppose… less the time to eat and see doctors. You know, I don't have just a job. I've got a company to lead. I own an amusement park, a game park, an academy for duelists and a game factory. I don't come at seven in the morning and go at four in the afternoon. That's impossible. If I have a meeting with a business partner for example, I try to arrange a dinner. That way I do work and eat at the same time. That is just my life."
Shizuka listened to Kaiba intently, almost fascinated by him. Her elbow rested on the knee of her leg that swung forth and back as she supported her chin on her palm. Actually, Mr. Kaiba reminded her of the guy from "Pretty Woman". He worked 24/7, was rich and extremely handsome!
"That'd mean if something goes wrong in your usual schedule you may indeed be alarmed, scared." She carefully tried to approach him. "For example, you just decide to have dinner somewhere; all private with a friend or someone else, you wouldn't feel comfortable anymore? You'd be nervous? Scared maybe?"
Seto thought about this for awhile before answering. "Kind of, yes. Besides, that won't ever happen. I do not have so called "friends" to go out and eat dinner with. My time doesn't allow luxury like this. The only exception is my brother's birthday and Christmas."
"I understand," Shizuka paused thinking.
"Don't you just pity me?" A smirk rose upon Seto's lips with his new idea how to approach the doctor and gain her interest in him.
"No, no. It's not my place to pity you," she said with a frown. In a very strange way he seemed to want her pitying him. How odd. "But I admit it sounds kind of sad to me if you don't have any friends at all."
Even Edward Lewis a.k.a. Richard Gere had had a friend in "Petty Woman"! Even if it was just a slimy lawyer… Well, maybe Mr. Kaiba could not stand slimy lawyers. Who knew?
"Yes, yes it is. It's so sad," he agreed and drew his arm closer to Dr. Kawai. He scowled and tried to look sad, cursing mentally that he had never attended acting courses during high school.
How did one look sad? He tried another expression—how did Mokuba use to pout when he was younger?
"Don't worry," Shizuka gulped and hesitantly laid a hand on his knee, patting gently.
She had dealt with people crying during their meetings often but something about Seto Kaiba seemed wrong if he cried. He wouldn't, would he? His eyes didn't look as if he was about to cry but his voice… His voice was thick and the usual raspy sound slightly choking. Oh dear…
"I'm sure we'll find a solution, Mr. Kaiba."
"That's exactly what I was thinking. You're a true genius, Dr. Kawai," he stated, nodding as he tried to compliment her. "But, maybe you would do me a favor in the meantime?"
"A favor? What kind of favor?"
"As you pointed out so cleverly earlier on it kind of scares me horribly whenever I go out without any viable background of my company. I'd be just… too nervous, you know?" He leant forward to gaze into her eyes directly, his nose nearly touching hers. "But you could help me overcome this problem. Would you do that? Would you…please…help me?"
The woman swallowed the lump in her throat. Was it her imaginary or was that man scary the way he begged for help? And he overdid suddenly a whole bunch of a lot! Something stank and it wasn't him because he did smell quite nice. Expensive to be more precise. But that was not the point! What was the point again?"
"Well…"
"Well?" His stare never left her eyes.
"Well…" She drew in a deep breath and pushed it out between her teeth.
"Please?"
Begging really hurt him, physically he supposed. His jaw felt tight and cramped. His head started to throb. His nose began to itch and his fists to clench. But Dr. Shizuka didn't need to know any of this. He'd be ruined otherwise!
"Of course, I…I'll help you," she stammered very unsure and laughed nervously. "That's what I'm here for, am I not? What's this favor about?"
"I'm so glad. You are my last hope, Doctor." And with that Seto drew his arm around her shoulders and smiled lopsided with a pleased expression.
Shizuka didn't move. Her body was like frozen on the spot but inwardly she ran, her blood boiled, every nerve itched and her mind was racing. Physical contact was not required. Nor was it necessary. Keep cool, she scolded herself and fastened her gaze on Kaiba.
"What is this favor about, Mr. Kaiba?" Her voice firm and steady, she asked almost with new found pride and honor.
Drawing his arm from off her he smiled satisfied and tried to look as innocent as he could possibly act. "Eat dinner with me. Not tonight of course, it's too late already but, let's say… tomorrow? Tomorrow sounds good. Tomorrow we're going to have dinner together. I so thank you, Dr. Kawai. You have no clue how much you're helping me!"
She stared in trance at Kaiba for a minute before she regained her composure. Her eye-lids fluttered in confusion until she mentally screamed 'stop'. "But…"
"But tomorrow is Saturday," she stated the obvious, looking rather helpless.
"I know." Kaiba kept his cool stance but was alarmed. He hadn't expected her to complain. "But you do understand that it's the only possible day, don't you? Any other day won't allow me to be separate from my company. Even on Sundays I'm too busy preparing Monday's schedule. We must go out on Saturday!"
"But this Saturday I was having a date with my boyfriend," helplessly Shizuka tried to change the CEO's mind.
"Nonsense. You can see your boyfriend every day. Go out with him on Sunday. Whatever, you ought to help me." He raised his brows expectantly and demanding. "You said you'll help me."
Did she? Gah! Yes, she did. She said it. Damn.
"Oh…kay, Mr. Kaiba. Tomorrow I will have dinner with you. If you feel better that way." She sighed and let her shoulders hang.
"Don't worry, I will." Kaiba stood up and nodded, gazing down at the sitting woman. Their session wasn't over yet but he supposed if he saw her back again tomorrow it would be a better chance to romance her anyway.
"It'll be an exception… Mr. Kaiba? Where are you going?" Dr. Kawai sprung up from the sofa and followed the man walking to the door.
"Home. We've talked enough today. I'll see you tomorrow at seven? Yes, seven is a good time to eat. Where do you want to go? Sardi's?"
"I…well…" Shizuka's mind pondered wildly. Wasn't 'Sardi's' that famous, expensive American restaurant?
"I'll make a reservation," he decided for her and grabbed her hand to shake. "I'll pick you up at home."
"No! No, pick me up here. I'll be here anyway." She winked at him and hoped it wasn't too obvious that she was lying.
He couldn't to pick her up at home for two reasons: a) there was no need for Mr. Kaiba to know where she was living (that is if he didn't already know) and b) there was no need for Varon to know she was having dinner with Seto Kaiba. Safety first. If Kaiba picked her up, Varon would know that he was one of her patients. And she had to tell Varon that it was one of her patients she was meeting—otherwise he would freak out.
"Fine," Seto agreed and quickly bent down to peck his doctor's cheek.
With a grin larger than South Africa he left Shizuka's office. Passing by Daisy she nearly jumped, afraid of a physical attack as he waved goodbye with a smile on his face.
Meanwhile, the doctor snapped out of her momentary daze when the door slammed shut. Immediately she hiccupped. Only one question was left in her in psychology trained brain:
What was that?
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End of chapter three.
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A/N: Varon /shrug/ I think there are already enough stories around in which Shizuka's dating Honda or Otogi. I doubt Jou would mind because he's really forgiving, even if people put him into dog suits and take over his soul or whatever. The only one he dislikes is Kaiba (because he can't beat him)! That's the psychology of a man's ego.
Please review! I'll only keep writing if you like it (and I already did the research for Sardi's dinner menu).