A/N: Don't own Yu-gi-oh, not even a single hair on Seto Kaiba's anime head...(tearful regret)

Chapter 9

Digging for Truths

"I can't believe you're really here." Iolite gushed to her father. They were all seated around the table in the dining room eating breakfast. Kaiba had his newspaper up while he drank his coffee and listened to the conversation. Detesting the man was going to make his stay very exasperating, for said senior Kaiba.

"It's been so long. You have to catch me up on everything that has been going on." Edward smiled lovingly. "It seems you've made quite a few changes since your absence in Valkaria. I didn't think it was possible for you to surprise me, but in many aspects of your new life you have."

Kaiba knew the comment was aimed at him, and quietly he fumed behind his paper. He wouldn't give this idiot the satisfaction of rousing him into a verbal argument.

"Well, I guess the biggest change is getting married." Iolite absently played with her food, not really eating it at all. "Then I took over Mortimer's company, with the help of my husband." She glanced at Seto's newspaper, seeing if he would react to her statement. After all, he stole the shares she had needed to raid Mortimer out from under her. Honestly, if he hadn't she wouldn't be married to him right now.

"Since when have you needed help to raid a corporation?" Edward asked.

"It was a major endeavor and Seto played a key part in the eventual downfall. You should have seen Mortimer and Aron's faces when Seto told them their empire was gone. It was classic." Iolite smiled as she remembered how Seto had protected her that fateful night. A lot of details were left out, but with reason. How wonderful would it be to explain to her father about the abandonment? The major fights? How they almost annulled the marriage?

"So Kaiba Corp. helped with the hostile take over?" Edward asked innocently. He knew what had happened, thanks to Ryan, but he wanted to hear it from her. He couldn't understand why she was covering up for Kaiba's power plays and manipulations.

"Actually," Kaiba lowered his paper. "I acquired shares she needed to commence the raid. The whole idea of her angering that troll Mortimer didn't sit correctly with me. He's dangerous. So, I bought out the shares, and then combined them with hers. Afterwards, I spoke with the board members and the take over was finalized. If you want to know the reality of it, your daughter was infuriated with me at the time, until I gave her the company." Up went the paper. Seto Kaiba was not one for sugarcoating.

Edward watched the expression on his daughter's face. This marriage was wrong. Could she see it? Did she realize it? It was a father's prerogative to set things right with his children, and that was what he was going to do. Aron and Simon were beyond reason, but his heart, his Iolite, could still be saved. He would be damned before he left her to this—cold hearted snake.

"Where did Seto find you Edward?" Raine asked. "I mean it was an amazing attempt on his part to bring you to see your daughter. He knew how much it would mean to her, and to you…" Anger flashed in the indigo eyes of the guard. He knew what the old ex-King was planning, and he would have none of it. Iolite and Seto Kaiba belonged together; Ryan and Iolite was not a good match.

"I wasn't hard to find. Anyone with any sense would have come across me." Edward waved his hand, as if it had taken no effort.

"Then I guess your sons are even more inept than I had originally thought. They had men scouring everywhere looking for you. So then, neither boy has any sense Sir?" It was sarcastic, but to Iolite it was a jest. If she could fathom the expressions on any of the men's faces she would have seen the raw hostility. Unfortunately, she loved every man in the room. She could never imagine anything bad from any of them, especially towards each other.

The day passed slowly as each traded barbs and scathing remarks. There were small slights when Iolite was present, but it was war behind her back. Finally, Edward decided to lie down due to his jet lag, Iolite agreed to some game Mokuba had suggested, and Kaiba and Raine were left to themselves.

"So will you confess or should I drag it out of you?" Kaiba asked the guard when they were alone.

"I hold nothing back when it comes to Edward. He's a lousy father, was an ineffective, blundering King, and a major manipulator. The worst is that he's a coward. He'd sell out his children before he would put himself in harm's way. I have no respect for him."

Kaiba stood there, listening to the man rant on. Raine had always been a man of few words, so this was an interesting turn of events. Narrowed blue eyes scrutinized the guard.

"Personally I have no interest in Edward, but as long as Iolite believes he's a good man I have to allow the relationship. Unless he comes to be a threat." Kaiba folded his arms across his chest and lowered his head a bit. He was staring at Raine through his bangs.

"You would think of denying her access to her father? A daughter needs her father." There was a soft desperation in his voice, something that Kaiba didn't miss.

"I want to know about Iolite's mother, Alexandra."

"What would you like to know? Personally I don't know too much."

"I don't like liars Raine, and that is a lie."

Raine sighed heavily and pulled out a chair in order to sit at the kitchen table. Kaiba poured himself a cup of coffee, he had his hunches, had from the beginning, and now he would learn everything.

"The first time I saw Alexandra I thought I had died and gone straight to heaven. Only angels should be so blessed to look the way she did. Unfortunately, her mouth didn't match her looks. Hearing her curse like sailor and tell filthy jokes went against all the purity I had placed in her. She also had the heart of a tomboy, riding and standing on her horse bareback, climbing trees… I don't think she ever played with a doll. Her parents were driven to drink from her actions, and all her modern ideas. She was born a woman with the mentality of a man.

I was just a boy and she was just a girl, and together we raised hell. My Dad was the head of security, the top guard to Alexandra's parents – the King and Queen. So, I spent a lot of time there. Years passed and our friendship revolved into more. Unfortunately, back then, I was a guard, following in my Dad's footsteps. She was a Princess, betrothed to another. It was never meant to be.

Alexandra didn't love Edward, she barely knew him. The only thing they had in common was the blue blood that coursed through their veins." Raine rubbed his temples, just thinking about Alex hurt, all the 'could have beens' and 'should have beens' were too much.

"Why didn't you run away? You could have taken her far from the kingdom and…" Kaiba tried to imagine what he would have done if it had been him and Iolite.

"And they would have chased us to the ends of the earth. You see, Edward took one look at her and any hope for our escape was dashed." Raine looked out the window, deeply lost in his own thoughts.

"Why did you stay on?" Kaiba asked, a bit confused.

"If I had to lose her, I didn't want it to be completely. If I were a guard I could at least stay around her, make sure that bastard treated her rightnot that he ever did. It wasn't her fault she was so spirited, that was just her nature. The problems they had were because he never had passion for life, but she did. It was an ill match. She was trapped in a glass cage and he was the inflexible jailer."

"Did he know that you loved his wife?"

"No, if he had we would have lost our stolen moments. Even just a few brief encounters with her were enough to satisfy me." Raine stood up and walked towards the door. "Please don't shatter her world Seto Kaiba. She believes her parent's marriage was a fairy tale. She doesn't know the dark side, and I would appreciate you keeping her uninformed."

When the door closed Kaiba let out the breath he had been holding. Could this monarchy get anymore sordid? He was more than a little relieved he had rescued her from that corrupt life. He would do whatever was necessary to protect her from the destruction of a cursed kingdom. Did any happiness come from it at all?

The door opened and in walked Iolite. She noticed Seto sitting at the table, but he didn't acknowledge her, so she walked over.

"Is something wrong?" She asked as she sat next to him.

"Just thinking," He answered absently. This is what not working did to him; his mind had found another outlet for productivity.

"Anything interesting? Are you plotting world domination, annihilation or seduction?" She smirked, because she knew he wasn't paying attention to her.

If Raine stayed and they were in love…

"I hear Kaiba Corp. is thinking of taking over the world at some point and, seeing as between the two of us, and some attorneys, we could evade the monopoly law…"

Aron and Simon were both mentally unbalanced, but Iolite was more than sane, she was brilliant and sweet.

"How are the games going with Mokuba?" Kaiba asked, seeming to ignore her previous statements.

"Well, we're almost tied, but for me that's a good thing seeing as he said he can kick your ass in chess any day of the week." Mokuba had said no such thing, but she was attempting to get a rise out of her concentrating husband.

How could three children, raised in the same house be different to these extremes? How could two be cold and one warm? How could two have a complete disregard for life while one treasured each second? Two looked out for their own interests while one tried to right the wrongs and protect, with her own life, those she loved. How could one love and two hate?

"I wanted to thank you for an amazing Christmas, Seto." She fingered her necklace, the tips of her fingers lingering on the stone.

"Who chose Raine to be your guard?" Kaiba asked her as he finally directed his attention to her.

"That's a strange question, why ask it?" He noticed how her eyebrow quirked.

"Who?" He practically demanded.

"I'm not sure. I was a child. I think my Aunt, but I don't remember. I know Raine's father protected my mother, maybe it was decided to keep with tradition."

Interesting… an Aunt stepping in, a father handing over a child's welfare to his son for protection. Did Raine's father know of the relationship? If he did why would he place his son into temptation? It would have made more sense to send Raine away.

"Your father's sister?"

"Why the third degree? Is something wrong?" She looked at him skeptically.

"I was just curious as to why your father and Raine have a volatile relationship." He shrugged, and then turned to look at her. Her eyes were that soft shade of blue he loved. There were no hints of the fiery amethyst that signaled she was angry or challenging him.

She shrugged. "They have a strange relationship, but my father knows he is the best of the best as far as protection is concerned. He wouldn't have trusted my care to him if he weren't. It was my mother's sister that suggested Raine, I believe. Though I was once told it was Ryan."

The mother's sister, Iolite's Aunt, what did she know?

"Do your brother's have special guards? Did they when they were children?"

"Raine was posted as special protection for me because of the way my brothers terrorized me. They were so much older than me, so my birth gave them the perfect sadistic toy to play with. It amused them to torture me." She shivered at the memories.

Kaiba noticed her reaction and took her hand. He pulled her from her chair and settled her on his lap. He'd kill them both if they ever hurt her again. She rested her head on his shoulder and sighed, breathing in his scent caused her to smile. Softly he trailed his hand up and down her back. He had learned how to comfort her.

Now I understand why Raine carries around the picture of Alexandra. I also know why this ring was never given to Edward. Alexandra never loved him. She loved Raine. I'm missing pieces of this mystery.

"You were just a child when your mother died. Do you remember much about her?" Kaiba asked gently.

"Just images and feelings. I remember her holding me, and reading to me, but not much else. I wish I could remember more…"

"How did she die?" He had read the papers and the obituary, but wanted to hear it from her.

"She lost control of her car, it careened off a steep cliff. She died on impact."

Raine walked passed the room where Edward was sleeping. The desire to go in and choke the man to death was almost overwhelming. The door was open.

"You never lurked well, if you have a problem Raine, come in and confront me." Edward called out lazily.

Raine entered the room and shut the door behind him.

"You will tell me your intentions old man. If you do anything to hurt this relationship or Iolite there will be hell to pay." He grabbed Edward by the collar of the shirt and jerked him to his feet. " And you can call me Satan you pompous, arrogant piece of crap! I won't let you break her the way you broke…"

"My wife?" Edward's eyes narrowed. He knew of the whispers around the palace, the rumors. He also knew his wife was loyal to him; her morals were of the highest caliber. "Why do you care so much? Are you trying to make up for the happiness Alexandra never received? Because I can assure you my wife was always thrilled with me Raine, despite what you thought."

"You use to be royalty, but not any longer Edward. I could snap your worthless neck now. I owe you no loyalty." Raine growled menacingly through clenched teeth.

Edward attempted to break free from the hold, but Raine held him fast. "You services are no longer required for my daughter's safety."

"You can't fire him," Kaiba warned from the doorway, "He's my employeenot yours."

Raine broke his grip and turned towards Seto Kaiba. "I could hear the two of you from down the hall. Would you like Iolite to know how much animosity there is between the two of you?" He was worse than angry, he was furious. "I suggest you settle this and then bury it before she finds out."

"What are the three of you scheming?" A confused Iolite entered the room. She glided over to Seto and slipped her arm through his, smiling at his frown.

"The three of us were discussing a surprise for you, my heart." Edward drawled.

Kaiba and Raine looked at Edward with hatred. Iolite failed to notice the emotions, she smirked.

"What surprise?" She looked from her father, to Raine and then her eyes settled on Seto. She squeezed his arm playfully.

"I think it's time for you to introduce the 'new prince' to his people." Edward started. "It would be only right for him to visit Valkaria and meet his constituents. Have you ever visited the country you now have a vested interest in?"

"I won't be going, and neither will Iolite. I don't relish the idea of leading my wife into a viper pit." Seto's hand folded over Iolite's on his arm. He could just imagine what Aron would do to her, if she went to where he ruled. "It isn't an option."

"Why not 'Prince' Seto Kaiba?" Edward loved the way he could jerk Kaiba's chain in front of his daughter. "She's safe as a kitten with you at her side. Aron can do nothing to her now." And if I can get her back on the soil of home, Ryan can get her back.

"Oh Seto," Iolite's eyes lit up. "I would love to introduce you to everyone! You will love Valkaria. I hated leaving it and I miss it so much! Please? We can stay at the cottage my mother left me. We wouldn't have to step foot in the palace or it's grounds. No one will hurt me there; the people love me. They would be far more loyal to me than my brothers."

Now he knew he was going soft, because he felt himself agree. Maybe it was her excitement, maybe it was the questions he needed answered, and maybe it was because he wanted her to be happy.

It would take a few days to plan. He wanted an army guarding her and Mokuba. It was an insane idea, but he wanted her to be able to confront her past, deal with it, and then create their future. He had a feeling he would need to tie up ends in Valkaria before they could, honestly, start their future as husband and wife.

A/N: Next chapter will be in Valkaria! Yeah! Finally getting into the intrigue! I will have more than a few surprises in store. I'm so looking forward to the next chapter (I'm all ready ½ into it) and it will be up in about 10 days. This would have been up sooner, but my reader/edit person was busy. I don't release w/o her looking things over…so, blame her…lol! Thank you to all my reviewers…and for all of you who read and don't review…I hope you're enjoying it as well…