Chapter 8

Giving up

10:39 A.M.

"Yes and Maria I want those settlements in by Monday."

Seto closed the door to his enormous office and leaned against it. He looked down at his feet thinking about what he had done. He sighed picturing the painful look on Ishizu's face. The phone rang but he was too depressed, too confused to pick it up. He listened to himself on the answer machine.

"I'm not here right now so leave a message after the beep."

"I know you're there KAIBA!" It was Richard, Ishizu's bodyguard. "I saw what you did! I swear, once I get done with you not even-"

Seto knocked the phone off his desk and plopped into his leather chair holding his head. He didn't mean that. Why did he have to go so far? Seto never felt such a mixture of lust and anger in all his life.

He entangled his fingers in front of his face. What was his next move? He knew Ishizu wouldn't tell the police...or would she? Begging was not an option. Apologizing would most liking make things worse.

"Damnit!" He said quietly to himself.

There was a knock at the door that startled him a little.

"Mr.Kaiba, someone is here to see you." It was Maria.

"Very well then." He was speaking more to himself than his secretary. He gathered up his nerve and opened the door.

"Right this way sir. She's waiting for you in the lobby."

"She?" Kaiba questioned. He never thought it would happen but Ishizu actually had the guts to come back to him.

He stepped into the lobby which was buzzing with workers carrying briefcases, folders and cellphones.And through the entire ruckus he spotted her sitting quietly in a lounge chair. He strolled up to her slowly, fixing his hair.

"Ishizu I-" He stopped himself when the black-haired girl turned out to be Keket.

"Keket, what are you doing here?"

The teenager's face was saddened and shadowy. She slid off the chair and handed Seto her armlet.

"Here. I don't have any use for it."

Seto hesitated. He was still in shock that this girl was actually in front of him.

"How did you get here?"

"I walked." Her voice was dull and had no life to it.

"From the hotel?"

She nodded tiredly. "Uh.Hm."

"But that's-" He calculated in his head. "That's like 27 miles from here!" His eyes widened.

"I asked for directions every now and then." She looked really drowsy.

"You look tired. Maybe you should sit down."

But before she could, Keket collapsed on the floor. Her frail body produced a loud smack as it made constant with the tile floor causing everyone to stop work they were doing and look.

Maria came up behind Seto as he picked up the unconscious girl.

""Oh my goodness, someone one call 911!"

Keket grabbed the collar of Seto's shirt. "I'm fine."

"You must be dehydrated. I'm taking you to my office." He turned to Maria. "Get me a bottle of water and meet me in my office."

"Yes sir."

Seto walked up the curving staircase passing astonished workers.

"You know Seto.You are not that creepy at all. I can't see why Ishizu would hate someone like you." She mumbled before passing out again.

Seto looked in the direction of his office.

"I can."

Marik waited outside the Hawthorn Suites Hotel mentally cursing to himself .He had lost her. His first thought was his sister killing him. What exactly was he going to say? He never wanted Keket to be mad at him.

He punched a mailbox next to him. Why did he have to be such a jerk?

"Well, well, well someone looks angry?"

Marik raised his head recognizing the voice behind him. He turned his head seeing a silvery-white haired leaning against the mailbox he punched.

"Bakura."

"Hey, calm down. Don't get too excited." He said sarcastically.

"What do you want?"

Bakura stretched and walked to the left side of Marik with his hands in his jeans pockets.

"Oh nothing. I'm just wondering why a guy like you is punching innocent mailboxes." He smirked.

"It's none of your business." Marik looked away.

"Can I guess what it is?"

"Why do you care?"

"I expected an answer not another question Marik.Now I'm going to ask you again; can I guess what is troubling you?"

Marik sat on the sidewalk with Bakura joining him shortly. "Go ahead. I don't care."

"Sibling rivalry?"

"No."

"You lost your millennium item?"

"No."

"You're poor?"

"No!"

"Okay, Okay.Let's see...you lost your...girlfriend?"

"No.Well, I wouldn't say girlfriend."

"Oh? Then what is she?"

"Some girl my sister told me to protect?"

Bakura raised an eyebrow. "What happen to her?"

"She ran away from me?"

"Don't tell me you called her something?"

"No. At least I don't think I did. All I know is that I angered her in some way.Plus, I have to find her before Kaiba gets to her first."

Bakura watched his friend's face lower in depression. He leaned back looking up at the giant plasma screen TV located on top of the Channel 17 News building.

"Hey Marik?"

"What?" Marik's face was buried in his hands.

"This chick you're after, does she have black hair and green eyes by any chance?"

"Yes. Why do you ask?"

"Because she's on TV and it looks like Seto Kaiba found her first."

Marik lifted his head. "What?"

Bakura pointed to the giant Tv.Marik followed the direction his friend's finger was pointing.

"That's her. That's Keket!" He noticed the girl's item was missing. "Oh no."

"Oh no? What do you mean Oh no?"

"She must have given Kaiba her item." He was talking more to himself. Sorting his thoughts.

"Her item? Wait, do you mean that girl has a millennium item?"

"Yes. It's a long story. I just hope Ishizu doesn't find out."

A limousine honked and pulled up along side the two boys. The window rolled down revealing Ishizu's enraged face.

"Sister-"

"You disobeyed me, Marik! I told you to take care of Keket and now she's with that-that monster!"

"Don't you raise your voice at me! I did what you told me to do.Keket just ran away from me!"

"Oh? So you're not disobedient. Just irresponsible!"

"Look I'm going to get her back."

"Hello, Ishizu." Bakura popped in.

"Hello Bakura.Well Marik If you're going to get her back I suggest you get Bakura to help you. That is, if it's not a burden to you, Bakura."

"Oh of coarse not. I'll be happy to look."

"Thank You. Yet for now I would like you two to come with me. I doubt Seto would use the Millennium Armlet now."

Marik and Bakura nodded and entered the limo which quickly sped away and back to the Ishtar house.

1:27 P.M.

Keket was awake now.She stood next to Seto whilethe news reporterstook pictures and asked him questions about the previous iccident.After about the 54th question,Seto Kaiba excused himself and grabbed Keket's hand leading her tohis black Porsche Carrera GT.

"Get in." He ordered.

The two strapped themselves in and drove away from the annoying press and paparazzi.The radio was had just finished playing a classic rock song and the DJ came on.

"Well Hellooo Tokyo!This is DJ Carmello Anthony and you listening to 103.5,isn't great to be alive?Speaking of life,who wouldn't like to have the life of the famous Seto Kaiba.News reporters are swarmming the Kaiba Corp. building.Why you ask?Because apparently,Seto Kaiba is the responsible for some chick's death." The DJ laughed. "Boy,I would hate to be in his shoes right now."

Click.

Seto turned off the radio and growled. "Stupid media."