A/N: I do not own Yu-gi-oh, never claimed to…alas I never will…

Chapter 5

"If you think for just one moment you can lock me away from the outside world you're insane!" She turned her back on him and continued to stomp up the stairs. "I have to go out today and I'm prepared to do it over your dead body so don't test me Kaiba!" He pursued her into the house.

"You will stay put if I have to tie you to a chair. This is your fault, not mine. If you had thought before you acted you would have seen how much danger you were setting yourself up for." He was squeezing her upper arm to the point of pain, but she would never give him the satisfaction of yelping.

"Get your hands off of me! You don't own me and you sure as hell don't tell me what to do!" She was seething at him, her eyes turning a deep shade of blue violet. He had annoyed her all morning long with ridiculous talks of her caving to his will, how she should tell him about her every move, about how she could make their lives more manageable. She couldn't recall any concessions on his part. He had to answer for nothing and she was to completely submit to his whims. Well, this was one computer that was about to show a blue screen of death.

"How am I suppose to keep you safe if you constantly place yourself in danger?" He spat back at her.

"You simply have to let me live my life. I was fine on my own until you came along. Suddenly you think I need to be in a glass cage, well, I'm having none of it. Buy yourself a pet Kaiba and put it on a leash." She slapped his hand off her arm and made her way up the stairs. He was following behind her. She wasn't leaving the house anytime soon and as soon as she understood that the better it would be for the both of them.

She felt him following behind her and was ready to turn around andyell morewhen she realized how the time was getting away from her. His lecture had eaten up so much precious time. What a dumb speech…marriage is like a computer…my ass!

She reached their bedroom door and tried to shut him out but he was fast on her heels.

"You know I'm not unreasonable." He started as she picked up the phone. She had to call Yugi and let him know she would be there in a few minutes. She rolled her eyes at his comment, funny how a bit of anger managed to cure her headache...that and the dozen tylenol she had digested.

"You're horribly unreasonable if you put me under house arrest and I'll hardly sit still for it." She returned his cold glare. It was funny how he no longer intimidated her.

"What would you have me do? You even manage to get in deep water when I have three guards babysitting you. How is that possible?" He approached her as she circled his desk. She wanted distance from him.

"Baby-sit? Is that what you consider what your guards do? You know I could easily elude them as well as you and Raine if I so choose. I lived with psychos who terrified me on a daily basis. I learned to duck and cover. If I could survive Simon and Aron I sure as hell can survive a hostile take over. Don't push me Kaiba." She wanted him to trust her instincts, but he never did. She wasn't a child and she could take care of herself.

He looked at her and saw the fury in her eyes, which was amazing. He knew she was still suffering from her self-induced hang over and now she was attacking at him with a vengeance. Didn't she know if anything happened to her he would go insane? That one day if she ceased being in his life he would feel the emptiness? He actually looked forward to coming home to see what mischief she had gotten in to. Mokuba adored her and she was really growing on him as well

. He also knew she loved him, even though she never admitted it. He had come to enjoy that delicious fact.

"Call Yugi and tell him he can come here and you can shop online or something." Kaiba suggested dryly.

"This isn't up for debate Kaiba…I'm going." She turned and picked up her purse.

"You're staying here and that's an order!" He told her in a commanding voice. She wouldn't win this time.

He turned and left the room on that note and locked the door behind him. Raine was standing outside the door and smiled at Kaiba, it was always amusing to see them fight. A loud crash rocked the door after they watched the doorknob's futile attempt to open the door.

"Book?" Raine asked as they both stared at the door.

"Yes," Kaiba agreed. Another large crash hit, this time they heard shattering.

"Vase," Kaiba shrugged, not looking at Raine.

"She has quite a temper," Raine commented.

"That she does." Kaiba walked down the hall, he had had the last word and that was a good thing.

When he reached the front foyer he walked outside to tell the limo driver that his wife was staying home.

"No she isn't," Iolite's voice rang out. His eyes looked murderous.

"Where the hell did you come from?" He questioned her. He resisted the urge to shake her.

"I climbed down the trellis off our balcony." She informed him sweetly. He would have it removed immediately, then again, she would just find another way out.

"If you must go I'm going with you." He grabbed her wrist and pulled her over to the limo. She entered the vehicle followed quickly by him. She smiled out the window after she scooted across the seat. She had won…

Kaiba ignored Iolite and Yugi's dialogue as they drove to the store of her choice. It turned out that Yugi was buying an engagement ring for Teaand he wanted to proposeon Christmas Eve. Iolite melted at the thought.Kaiba watched her eyes light up as she told Yugi how terribly romantic he was and how thrilled Tea would be.

Kaiba knew he wasn't romantic, hadn't he forced her to agree to marry him? Had he even asked, wasn't it a demand? He looked at her and sighed. His princess had deserved better than that. When had he started referring to her as 'his'? That was different.

Yugi and Iolite sat down, together, in front of a huge display of engagement rings. Yugi's eyes were as wide as saucers, there were so many different styles and sizes and stones. He didn't know where to even begin.

"Which do you like?" He asked Iolite. She had a few favorites. Tea needed something feminine and simple. She wouldn't want a huge rock surrounded by more rocks. She would probably want something dainty and delicate. The saleswoman pulled out a random ring and placed it on the counter. Yugi pulled it out of the box and scrutinized it. He showed it to Iolite and she shrugged, it wasn't something she had in mind.

"Why don't you try it on dear," the lady suggested to her. Iolite frowned as she slipped the ring on her finger and looked down at it. She held her hand out to show Yugi how it looked.

"You're a very lucky girl." The saleswoman commented. "It's not often that the bride to be is allowed to choose her own ring. You two just look so darling together." She was gushing at the two of them as they stared up at her quite bewildered. She thought they were together?

"She's my wife," Seto growled at the incompetent creature behind the counter. She shrunk back at his cold glare.

"I'm s-s-sorry Sir. It's just that she isn't wearing a ring or anything." She shrugged and looked as if she would burst into tears.

"It's ok," Iolite smiled at her. "It was an honest mistake." She shrugged as she pulled the ring off of her finger. There was a hint of sadness in her eyes; she had been married for a while now and still there was no proof on her finger this marriage even existed. Tea would have a magnificent ring given with love and her own finger would sit bare. She found herself thinking how her marriage was different. It was convenience not love; though they were committed his heart wasn't in it. Her's was.

Kaiba began wandering around the store. There were dozens of displays and the store stretched on and on. Suddenly a blue stone caught his attention. The more he looked at it the more it reminded him of his wife. A saleswoman was sorting the case next to the one he was at, so he motioned for her to come over.

"What is this?" He asked entranced by the way the stone appeared deep blue but flickered with amethyst hues.

"It's an Iolite, would you like to see it?" He nodded his head, never taking his eye off the gem. So, he finally held in his hand his wife's namesake. It was amazing how the stone was so like the color of her eyes. She would hate something this large and gaudy, she never wore jewelry. How unlike royalty, but it was true. The stone, however, was amazing and he longed to see it against her skin.

"I want this," he told her.

"It's a pendant, would you like a chain for it?" She asked as she took the stone from his hand. "This would go perfectly on an omega choker chain, white gold I think would look better."

"Whatever," he replied with disinterest. He looked around, not wanting her to see the purchase. This was the perfect addition to his already planned gift.

Yugi finally decided on a simple princess cut diamond. It sat on a simple band flanked by sapphire begets. It was perfect and she couldn't help being thrilled and yet a bit jealous. Yugi thought the world of Tea, how she longed to be adored by Seto that way. She was suddenly aware of his absence. Where had he gone?

"Do you know her ring size?" The saleswoman asked.

"Um…I think she's a small." Yugi replied honestly.

"That won't help size the ring, sorry." The woman smiled softly.

"Don't worry Yugi," Iolite offered, I'll take care of this. "Can I get the size to you in a few hours?"

"That would be fine." The woman smiled as she filled out the receipt.

Shortly after they dropped Yugi off Kaiba began to notice how quiet Iolite was. Had she even spoken with him since they left the house? No, he was fairly sure her attention had been on Yugi the whole afternoon. Was she still angry about the house arrest? He had let her out and would probably do so again, it was safer to know where she was than wonder. He reached out and lifted a lock of her hair, letting the silky strands sift between his fingers. He moved closer to her, she didn't move away so she wasn't too angry.

"You're too quiet," he noted as he twined his fingers in her hair. She didn't respond to his comment. He slipped a finger under her chin and turned her face to his. His lips softly brushed hers, and then he pulled away.

"Are you still angry about earlier?" He asked, not really caring because he had been right to keep her locked up and safe.

"Earlier?" She asked.

"I did let you out of the house." He thought it had been quite generous of him.

She shrugged. That's not what was bothering her, even though the fight this morning had been quite wicked.

"I let me out of the house this morning," she corrected.

He sighed and she shifted away from him. Glancing down at her bare left ring finger made her ache. It was too much to ask to have a ring from a man who didn't love her. An engagement ring showed love, like Yugi loved Tea, Seto didn't love her…

"Why did you marry me?" She asked suddenly.

He eyed her suspiciously, what brought this up. The ring shopping…damn Yugi couldn't do this on his own and now Iolite was going to be a pain in the ass about things.

"To save you."

"After you did you could have divorced me. Why didn't you?"

"I wanted you." It was a flat statement, no emotion behind it.

"What if I asked for a divorce now?" She asked, regretting each word as it tumbled out of her mouth.

"I would never allow it." He responded coldly.

"Why not?" She needed some assurance of something that she couldn't put her finger on.

"I told you that night when you burned the annulment papers that if you came to me there would be no turning back. I made you mine that night." He was now staring at her intently.

"Never question my feelings for you." He grabbed her shoulders and caught her lips with his. She struggled for a moment but then quickly melted against him. She allowed him to slant his mouth over hers and taste her completely. His arm slid around her back and pulled her against his chest. Her arms, in turn, circled around his shoulders. It wasn't exactly an answer with words, but his kisses destroyed every ounce of self-control she had. He could kiss the thoughts right out of her head. She finally managed to pull away, he growled at the seperation.

"I hope Mokuba is out," she purred against his lips.

"Reguardless Highness...you're mine now." He possessed her mouth again and again. They were so wrapped up in one another that by the time they arrived at the mansion he practically carried her up to their bedroom.

Raine looked on and smiled. They deserved to act like newlyweds, the hellish lives they both had led deserved a pot of gold. He snickered as Kaiba swept the Princess up into his arms at the top of the stairs. She was laughing, oblivious of anyone else's presence. Things were as they should be. He just hoped Kaiba's Christmas present wouldn't destroy the peace.

A/N: Will it really be a Merry Christmas in the Kaiba mansion? The next chapter will be the Christmas party...I'm a bit behind due to computer complications...

SirisAnkh: The two of them have problems dealing with their feelings, they're both too stubborn and have major egos. Her problem is that she loves him so much, but he's a glacier. His is that love isn't part of his vocabulary. Trust me, she isn't bored and eventually (quite soon actually) he will warm right up.

Kaiba-amon: hang-overs make the slightest noises sound like jet engines. So, no he wasn't yelling. I daze out like that, and people get so annoyed with me it's funny…

I heart Seto: Yeah, I went with her name. I think it works so I'm happy. Hmmm waking up next to him, what a treat. Hangover or not I would be like wow. I'm glad you liked his comparison of marriage to a computer (that was a hard thing to do) but he is a control freak and he can control a computer not his wife…hence the comparison.

I received the Yu-gi-oh DVD for Christmas (frommy boyfriend of all people). I guess you can tell I'm obsessed because my boyfriend knows about Seto Kaiba so don't feel bad...

Glad you're enjoying the story. Next chapter at least one gift will be revealed if not more. Thanks for reviewing!

Josephine Jeckyl: So, you're in love with a taxi cab driver (jk)... Hang overs are most amusing. He was a bit insensitive but she did try to get him drunk without him realizing it so he was slightly justified. I would have updated sooner, but the 'puter died...had to replace my hard drive due to corruption. It was a major pain in the neck to say the least. Merry Christmas to me...not! Glad you love this very much 'cause I love writing it so very much too! Thanks!

SSP: I'm so glad that you like this better. I'm glad I heard from you. I'm seriously trying to get her character very rounded and I do like this better than the first myself. Thank you so much for reviewing...your opinion means a whole lot 'cause of all your help with my first attempt!

CRAZYABOUTANIME: He is wicked, but I love him wicked... It would be heaven. Hope you enjoyed the update, the next will be out sooner I swear! Thanks!

Ayala: nope...never piss off a hung over woman. Hope you enjoyed their 'tiff'. Glad you like the story...thanks for reviewing.

Dragon Master's Mistress: Hope you enjoyed the chapter...thanks for reviewing. Her temper really came out in this chapter...

WhitejellO: That's so funny about you with your Dad. I find myself doing that quite often when people are talking about boring things. I think half of Christmas day I spent in 'Daze off land'. Sometimes it happens in school which is dangerous. I would so doze off on a lecture, then again if Kaiba was doing it I would be so intent on staring at him that I wouldn't hear only see. Does that make sense! Glad you liked it and yes the computer thing was something I had floating around in my head for a bit...just had to work it in there somewhere. So do you have snow yet? It's 65 and sunny here which is really wierd for the Christmas holiday...wierd...Thanks as always for reviewing!

mariks1andonly: Yep...I just keep writing more and more stories. I think that's why my computer blew the heck up. It was tired of all the attention. I swear I'm addicted to it. I will shoot you off an e-mail soon, just busy trying to get out from under it all. I have lots of make up chapters to write and mail to answer. I was computerless for about a week and it killed my 'on-top-of-itness..." Thanks for reviewing...and stop spinning...lol

Frosty: Still no snow? I know my friends in NY are cleaning up the 6 inches they got last night into this morning. It's 65 and sunny here which is wierd for the Christmas break. I'll never completely fit into this weather pattern of no extreme winter like I'm used to.

My Christmas was great, except I swear every srticle of clothing I received (and I got a whole lot) was some shade of pink. I hardly ever wear pink. I don't know why this happened. I need to do lots of exchanging. How damn annoying. I think they want me to be a girlie girl after all these years. I did get a wet suit for surfing which was a way cool gift. My Dad said he'd get me a surf board for my B-day which is in January. We're going to Ron-Jon's which is way famous...

How did you enjoy your holidays? Get everything you needed and wanted? So you like the water too! I swear it's a passion.

As far as the story goes I'm glad you enjoyed his analogy of computers and all...I can't see him being a mush so he had to structure it into his terms. Tears from laughter...that's awesome. I know...manner and manor, but sometimes I type so damn fast Ijust can't spot it. I'll correct it when I get a chance. Thanks for Magnolia...I have missed that story...Thansk for reviewing!

sarah: Thanks for reviewing and yes Kaiba is a bit tyranical at times isn't he!

Serophia: Thanks so much! I'm glad you like Iolite, I've tried to make her a bit intricate and yet playful. She has to be his opposite and yet have some of his traits so he can relate. I'm glad you liked Uninvited too. That was my first fanfic and so I'm partial, though I think this story will be my favorite when all is said and done. Thanks for reviewing and I hope you review again!