Author's Notes:

This chapter was started on the way to work. I was late leaving for work trying to wrap up Chapter 11, and the story was still screaming to get out. It was three hours before I got to set down the first hundred or so words while waiting for an algebra student to arrive. The end of the chapter involved me hunting down torrents of a wide variety of episodes, trying to get help with Duke (a character I've never really bothered to notice simply because I never liked him). It was quite the experience, but research material is your friend!

On the up side, this chapter was actually how this whole fan fiction got started. Sad that it took me twelve chapters to get here, but honestly, I couldn't see Kaiba and Serenity getting together easily. Can't see them staying together easily either, but seeing as both are the type to fight to make something they care about work... They say the heart has no reason. innocent grin

Honestly, Kaiba and Serenity are an interesting idea, on so many levels. The character analysis I performed as I was starting the story proved that. There is so much they can comiserate over, and from there build a shaky friendship that could possibly lead into some sort of entanglement. I don't know that it would last unless they both decided to fight to make it work, but it would actually be plausible...so long as Serenity didn't mind dating a guy she couldn't bring home to Joey.

Chapter 12

For the third time in as many days, Serenity Wheeler woke up in unfamiliar surroundings. She found herself comfortably reclined against something warm. Her memory failed her as she tried to remember where she fell asleep. Slowly, her eyes opened to slits, hoping a visual cue would jog her memory.

The room was filled with a warmer light than Kaiba's office, but was still dimly lit, leading her to believe she was somewhere in the mansion. Hoping for a more specific answer to her question, she tried to sit up. As she started to move, a hand firmly yet gently pulled her back against the warmth. A familiar, and even expected, voice spoke, "Go back to sleep."

It was spoken softly, almost as if to be subliminal. She wondered how often that voice had soothed Mokuba Kaiba back to sleep. As much as she hated to admit it, she wanted to follow the voice's advice and drift off to sleep again. Somewhere in the haze of awakening, it occurred to her that Kaiba had spoken quite quietly, and that he had kept her reclining by pulling, not pushing her. It was enough to jolt her awake. Somehow, she had fallen asleep beside Seto Kaiba. The thought made her nervous.

When her nerves quieted enough for her to start making sense of the scene around her, she realized that Kaiba was sitting behind her, his legs on each side of her. He was reading over a contract that he held just above her waist. Her head rested against his chest as she lay on her side against him. It was completely comforting, and almost amusing, but she was still terrified. As she started trying to look beyond his arms, she realized they were still on the couch in game room. Only then did she vaguely recall his invitation to join him on the couch, and his pulling her to lean against him. She hadn't been able to find the energy to stop him.

In the back of her mind, a little voice pointed out that waking up in the Kaiba mansion was starting to become routine.

Serenity tried to sit up again, and this time he let her, shifting the contract to one hand to allow her to move past him. He watched her quietly as she looked around the room. Finally, her eyes settled on him as she turned. "What time is it?"

Surprised by the question, he responded, "It's maybe two a.m."

"Why are you still up?" He waved the contract. "You need to sleep, Seto."

The corners of his lips turned up slightly in amusement. He realized that she was half-asleep and probably had no idea what she had just said. Deciding to file it away for later torments, he retorted, "So do you. That's why I told you to go back to sleep."

Serenity looked around the room again. "If it's all the same to you, I think I'll go upstairs."

He nodded and set the contract on the table at the end of the couch. "I'll walk you to your room."

"I can find it myself!" Even half-asleep, her fiery nature was formidable. It made her vulnerably adorable. Much like Mokuba, actually. He stood, and took her hand to pull her from the couch. She tried to pull away, but he tightened his grip slightly. Resigned, she allowed the teen to lead her through the mansion to the guest room.

Serenity was tucked into bed, and Kaiba returned to the game room to retrieve the contract. Truth be told, he hadn't read a word of it in the hour prior to the girl waking up. Comfortable, warm, enjoying the feeling of the redhead's small form curled up against him, he had actually dozed off. The only thing that might have made the evening more enjoyable was if she actually wanted to be around him, or if she trusted him. The first was simple to fix, but Seto Kaiba, usurper of his stepfather's corporation, understood exactly how tricky a creature trust was.

He wanted Serenity to trust him, though. He wanted another night like this one, her snuggled against him, sleeping peacefully, while he tried to finish his work. It had been peaceful, relaxing, soothing. He didn't get many moments like that. In fact, he wasn't sure when the last time was he'd had a moment like that. He returned the contract to his office, and then checked to make sure Mokuba was still sleeping. His nightly routine.

Safely in his room, he changed into his pajamas and laid down in his bed. Sleep was long in claiming him as he felt acutely aware of how much colder than the couch the bed was.

He knew as they got out of the limo at Domino High the next morning that he wouldn't be enjoying any more of her company for a bit. She walked away from him quickly, finding Tea just outside the school. He considered trying to pass her in the halls occassionally, but decided that he was starting to sound like a man with an addiction problem.

Seto Kaiba was not one for being lost so easily to addictions.

Deciding he didn't need Serenity any more than she needed him, Kaiba continued on through his day, a plan that worked well until he got to lunch. He took his normal seat away from most of the school. Generally, he was able to sit here alone and do paperwork, but today his work time was interrupted.

":Hey, Kaiba." Green-eyed gamer Duke Devlin seated himself across from the CEO. "How's it going?" A pair of guarded blue eyes glared at him over the top of the polished silver laptop. It wasn't enough to deter the arrogant game developer. "I hear you've bagged Wheeler's kid sister."

An eyebrow arched. Of all the things that had crossed his mind to do to Serenity Wheeler, "bagging" her hadn't made it on the list. "I think you're misinformed," the teen replied coolly.

"Really? Because Serenity is bragging about it to everybody." Kaiba suppressed the need to smash Duke. There was absolutely no way he would believe that she would ever tell such a lie. Duke watched Kaiba's inner turmoil with some degree of satisfaction. He had exactly what he wanted, or so he believed. Convinced that he'd just delivered the blow that would make KaibaCorp's president stay away from Serenity, he smiled and picked up his tray. "Well, see you around."

As Duke walked away, Kaiba growled quietly and drummed his fingers on the table beside his computer. His eyes scanned the lunch room for the spirited girl, quickly finding her sitting among the geek squad. Even across the room, he could see her eyes sparkle as she laughed at something.

He sighed deeply, There's just no way. Devlin's tried this tactic before. Serenity's too innocent, too sweet. Besides, she'd never brag about anything that could possibly drive her brother into a rage. She hates it when he makes a fuss over her. His eyes lingered over her a bit longer, looking for any sign that he had misjudged the younger Wheeler. Unable to find one, he slammed his laptop closed and stormed out of the lunch room. Anything is possible. After all, she is the mutt's sister.

For those of you who know how I write, the only reason I could hear Marc Thompson's voice as I was working is because I had the Dungeon Dice episodes on behind me. So...Duke isn't right. Sorry. :(

I'd also like to apologize for the delaed posting. FanFiction wasn't letting me post at all yesterday or this morning. It seems I'm also having trouble getting reviews. If you don't receive a response, that means I didn't receive your review. Thank you for your patience