Disclaimer:
From here on out, just use the one on the first chapter. I'm not wasting the real estate on something I feel is completely obvious in subsequent chapters.

Author's Notes:
So I was sitting there watching One Piece and working on Chapter 8. I knew the chapter needed some work and more words. It ended up being shorter than I like my chapters to be, though, because it quickly became obvious that I had started writing Chapter 9. No cool train rides this time, but I definitely wasn't myself while I was writing. A historically bad day combined with more EverClear than anyone my size should be able to drink and remain coherent. (Don't worry. I'm old enough to be drinking legally, and even know better than to drink alone after a day like this one.)

What amazes me is that after nearly two months of struggling with this story, it's suddenly become very easy to write, even if I still have no idea where it's going. I apologize now for whatever length it may reach. If only my current fiction piece would come out this easily. It would make my world so much simpler.

Chapter 9

When Kaiba got home from school, he threw his briefcase in his office and quickly scanned his email. Seeing nothing that urgently needed his attention, he changed his school uniform for a nice shirt and slacks and made his way to the guest room. To his surprise, Serenity wasn't asleep. In fact, she wasn't even in the room. Mildly concerned, he continued on to the game room where he knew his cherished younger brother was likely hanging out.

As expected, the younger Kaiba was playing a video game, his grumbling at his mistakes punctuated by a bright, girlish laugh. So, this is where she is. He thought briefly about chatising Mokuba for playing his game and Serenity for being out of bed, but instead he quietly seated himself in a chair behind them and watched for a bit. Mokuba was either not particualrly good at this particular game, or he was playing poorly because he was enjoying his companion's response. Serenity would offer advice, ask questions, hide her eyes, or laugh as Mokuba directed his character through a series of misforutnes.

He didn't know how long he sat there watching them before his mind started wandering through his day. Aside from having to actively keep his path from crossing Joey Wheeler's, the day had been fairly routine. News made it through the small high school quickly that the younger Wheeler was currently a guest in the Kaiba mansion, which left the upperclassman having to deal with questions and sad looks from the younger girls. For the most part, he ignored them. Game shop owner and fellow student Duke Devlin managed to get under his skin, making untoward comments about Serenity's stay. Kaiba had been fairly proud of himself for not losing his cool as he calmly pointed out that Devlin sounded jealous. The teen slunk away and left the brooding businessman alone the rest of the day.

Realizing just how annoying he had found the day, he pinched the bridge of his nose.

"Seto, what's wrong?" Mokuba had finally noticed his older brother's presence, just in time to hear an all-too-familiar sigh escape his brother's lips. Usually, it was a sound Mokuba only heard when his brother was dealing with one of Yugi Moto's friends. To hear it without anything else going on confused the boy.

Kaiba looked up and realized he now had the attention of the two people he was trying not to disturb. As his eyes scanned toward his brother to respond, he noticed Serenity looking at him, soft brown eyes radiating concern. The voice in his head that often controlled his vocal cords thought the girl pathetic for wasting her worry on someone who didn't need it. Another voice responded: Maybe that's not so bad, all things considered. His eyes rested on his brother's steel gray eyes, showing the same fear as Serenity Wheeler's.

"I'm fine, Mokuba. I just had a long day at school."

"Oh," the younger Kaiba responded. More often than not, he never bought his brother's simplest explanations, but he knew better than to push. When Kaiba offered no further explanation, the darker-haired boy decided to change the subject. "Look, Seto! Serenity is feeling better!"

The girl shrank as she realized she was being surveyed head to toe by the CEO. After an long moment, Kaiba spoke, "Indeed." That's it? she thought. She'd really hoped that he'd tired of her presence, the way he tired of everybody but his beloved younger brother, and that he'd send her home.

Luck wasn't on her side. The brunette sat there a moment longer, lost in thought. He took one more look over his brother and the auburn-haired girl before walking out of the game room.

"Where are you going?" Mokuba called after him.

"To get some work done."

Serenity watched him depart, her heart sinking. Yet another opportunity to go home passed.

Dinner would have been a quiet affair if Mokuba hadn't decided to create conversation. When the older teens failed to respond to him, he started carrying on a one-sided conversation. Serenity could see that it was wearing on Kaiba. "Mokuba, I can't see how you've managed to eat anything." Kaiba shot her a nearly grateful look, as close to one as he could muster, as the boy took the hint and played with the vegetables on his plate. Serenity found herself blushing at the interaction.

After dinner, KaibaCorp's president set Mokuba to do his homework and then buried himself in his office to get work done of his own. Serenity wasn't given a second thought as the brothers settled into their nightly routine. She tried to wander the mansion again. but discovered to her dismay that she tired quickly, still not feeling well. Wanting her brother and her own warm bed, she decided she had to figure out how to get home.

The straightforward response seemed the most simple. She had a servant show her to Kaiba's office, and then paced for a couple of minutes as she tried to gather her courage. Finally realizing she wasn't going to get anywhere if she continued to be afraid, she knocked lightly on the door. There was no response. She knocked again, a little harder. Again, no response. Taking a deep breath, she opened one of the doors as quietly as she could. The teen was sitting behind his desk, chin resting on his hands as he stared at the screen on his laptop. The light emanating from the computer only showed how exhausted Kaiba was.

For a moment, the scene before her made her forget why she had walked into the office initially. She wanted to walk to the desk, pull him away from his computer, and force him to get some sleep. As she closed the door behind her, the spell was broken, "What are you doing in here?" Serenity had to force herself not to jump at the unexpected sound of his voice.

She also realized she didn't want to just blurt out her reason for breaking into his office. "Oh...I was just wondering if you happened to know whether or not I have any homework tonight."

"You came up here because you're worried about homework?" She nodded. Kaiba let out a low chuckle. "You must think me as stupid as your mutt brother." The girl bristled at the comment. "You came up here to try to convince me that you're well enough to go home."

Serenity's eyes went wide. A moment later, she realized that he would understand her attempting to get home again. She just couldn't figure out why he wouldn't let her go. Slowly, she nodded.

He smiled at her discomfort. "You're probably going to be here for a few days," he waved a paper on his desk, "Apparently, you have a virus, and shouldn't be going anywhere for a bit."

"How...?" Her delicate features twisted into a lovely shade of confusion.

"I instructed the staff to have you checked out this morning. You must have been asleep when it happened." Serenity's skin crawled. Kaiba had ordered a stranger to handle her, to inspect her closely. She wanted to yell at the corporate executive, but she couldn't find the energy.

"I want to go home," was all she could manage.

"I'm better equipped to make sure you get well," he replied. Great, Seto. Make this girl sound like a business deal, he chastised himself. He looked at her, and noticed that she seemed unusually pale, even in the dim lighting of the office. "Look, do us both a favor and go get some sleep." The language had been casual, but it had been delivered as an order.

She wanted to argue, but found that his suggestion made more sense than not. Grudgingly, not really wanting to follow an order from the powerful Seto Kaiba, Serenity returned to the room she had been assigned. She was asleep before her head hit the pillow.