Chapter 25

Just stay

Keket sat in Bakura's car tapping the glass window with her fingernails. She felt impatient and annoyed with both Tea and the boy who was driving her home.Marik.

Bakura came up with the brilliant idea of separating the two before something heavy went down. He had decided to pay for the damages and take Tea home.

He had also told Marik to drive Keket home but from the looks of it, he was going the wrong way.

Keket sat up in her seat seeing Marik taking a right turn instead of a left. She turned to him.

"You do know where you're going right? I mean, after all, it is your house."

Marik kept his violet eyes on the road blinking randomly when sunlight swam across his visage. He was quiet in a thinking sort of mindset.

"Great. This is just great." Keket leaned back in her seat and crossed her arms looking out the window. "What a wonderful date this turned out to be." She mumbled.

"That reminds me. How far did you guys go this time?Groping?Licking?Sexual intercourse on the beach?" He kept a stern face.

"What did you just say?" She raised her voice.

"I knew there was something going on between you two.Typical.You just can't stay away can you?"

"What are you talking about? All Bakura and I did was talk.Yes, I have to admit we did somewhat kiss but that's not the point!"

"Oh really! Then what is the point!"

Keket hesitated forgetting what the point actually was but then another argument came up.

"What about Tea? Explain that!"

Marik made a low grumbling sound in his throat.

"What were you doing in her car,Marik?I thought you hated her?"

Marik stopped at the traffic light and stared at the brake pedal searching for an answer.

"I made a mistake."

"Made a mistake! That's your excuse?You made a mistake!Marik,you could have pushed her away! Said no or something! Since when did Tea have control over you?...Oh wait, that's right. All women have control over you."

"That's not true! Only you have control over me! When I'm with Tea,I can actually think of retaliating! Her touch does feel good I have to admit but only yours can become an addiction! So don't even try to classify me as easy,Keket!"

He wiped around the corner nearly hitting the curb. He was so angry with what Keket said that he didn't even realize he just spilled his thoughts.

Keket looked at her fingers feeling flattered about going deeper into Marik's mind. She laughed faintly. Sarcasm present.

"I see." She bit her lip to prevent herself from arguing any further. "Anyway, you're still going the wrong way, Marik."

"Who ever said I was going to your house?"

Keket observed a strange sparkling glow in Marik's eyes. Something she hadn't seen in quite some time.

Airport

Ishizu crossed her arms and leaned against the wall of the Tokyo gift shop waiting for her fiancée to finish signing autographs and answering reporters questions.

Even though some of the fans were there to see only her, she felt out of place.

"Isis?"

She lifted her head seeing Seto Kaiba with a worried look on his face.

"Is something the matter, Isis?"

"N-no.Well, Seto,I've been thinking."

As they waved goodbye to their fans, the couple disappeared into a VIP limousine waiting for them outside.

"When are you ever not thinking?"

"I'm serious,Seto.Maybe-"

"Maybe what?"

"Maybe we should call this off. The marriage that is."

"What?Why?"

"We're moving to fast and I'm not sure if I can trust you. I mean, don't you think it's a little weird for me to forgive you so quickly after what you did? That's not right and you know it."

Seto took off his leather coat and placed it beside him. "I'm not losing you again,Isis." His voice sounded dark instead of romantic.

"You won't but I'm-I'm not marrying you Seto.I can't. Plus I haven't been able to speak with my brother or Keket it such a long time. I must know how they're doing."

"They'll be fine. Those two are probably bathing in each others presence right now." Seto turned to the woman and gripped her shoulders.

"Isis,my love, you need me and I need you.No one else deserves us.Why can you see that?"

His stern whispery voice startled her but she kept strong.

"Seto.You're rich and attractive and can easily find another woman to fit my place.My brother and Keket possibly need me right now and I'm not going to keep letting you bottle me up from them." Her serious voice and face matched Seto's perfectly.

The two stared at each other quietly half the way home before Seto spoke again.

"You can't.Not now."

"I can.I have that kind of right."

"I won't let you." He snapped.

"You hate it don't you?The fact that you can't control everything around you?"

"Shut up."

"That's why I left you.If something wasn't going your way,you would freak or try to deny it.How ridiculous."

Seto's hand quivered after it made contact with his fiancé's face. His anger quickly subsided realizing he had hit her too hard.

"Oh Isis..." He whispered.

Ishizu lifted her body and held her cheek biting back the pain.The car stopped in front of Seto's mansion and she quickly opened the door and rushed inside ignoring the butlers and maids greetings.

Seto stepped out of the vehicle and handed the butler his coat.

"I say,Mr.Kaiba,Miss Ishtar is quite the drama, today."

"...Shut up."

Keket played with her seat belt as the car came to a stop into front of Bakura's apartment.Her heart started to leap as thoughts of what Marik was going to do to her raced through her mind.

"Let's get inside." He mumbled.

Keket stepped out of the car and followed him inside.

"Marik?I-"

"Are you hungry?"

She blinked startled. "I,uh."

"Well?"

"I'm a little hungry but I'll be okay." Her stomach begged to differ.

Marik raised an eyebrow at the sound and stretched turning towards the kitchen. "Let's see what's in the fridge."

Keket watched him walk away.He was still keeping himself in shape.He was still muscular but lean as well.The trunks that Tea bought for him were either too loose or he liked wearing them low.

Her eyes traveled up his body and finally met his.He was watching her stare at him.He smirked.

"Like what you see,Keket?"

She held her breath and turned away from him.

He walked over to her and handed her a glass of cranberry apple juice. "Here.If you're not hungry perhaps you're thirsty."

"Thank you." She rubbed the rim of the glass with her finger. "Marik?Why did you bring me here?And why are you being so nice to me?"

"You and I need to talk."

"About what?"

"Don't give me that.You know what.Our relationship."

"Well...what's there to talk about?You wanted it to end right?"

Marik grabbed a dining chair and sat on it backwards.With the way he was holding his glass,it looked like he was posing for a teenage magazine.

He sighed. "Actually, I want you back." He stared at his glass.

"Oh really know?And why should I believe you?How can I be sure that you're not playing with me?"

"Would you like me to prove myself?"

Keket blushed and choked on her juice. "N-no! We been down that road before and I'm not going back!"

"You make it sound like something's wrong with me,Keket." He began to stand up.

"There is! You're rude, ignorant, rough, perverted-" She continued her list not noticing that Marik was approaching.

He pulled her into a hug resting his forehead against hers. He put a finger to her lips after she recited the 34Th word describing him.

"Shut up Keket." He purred.

"Marik-"

"Just shut up." He whispered brushing his fingertips over her lips.He wanted to taste them again and he was so close.

He looked down feeling her soft hands slide up his abdomen. He moaned agreeably. His softened eyes widen as pressure was applied to his chest. That's when he realized that Keket was pushing him away.

"Don't do this Marik." She walked away and sat on the couch. "I just want to go home. Today has been far too much for me and now I just really would like to go home."

She set her glass on the table and covered her face with her hands.Marik set his glass next to hers and sat beside the dark-haired girl.

"Marik?" Her voice was muffled.

"Yes?"

"Why were you in Tea's car?"

"I-"

"How could you let her take advantage of you like that? How could you replace me with a witch like her! You don't even like Tea!" She was looking at him now.

"You weren't replaced,Keket! After you, I don't think any girl could ever take your place.That's why I wanted to talk to you about us getting back together."

"Getting back together?...After all the things you said? The things you called me? Why would I want to go back to someone as hurtful and selfish as you?" She voice cracked.

"I'm not selfish,damnit! Don't you ever call me that." He tore his gaze from hers and stared at the floor. "My needs have just gotten out of hand I guess."

Keket raised an eyebrow. "Perhaps."

"But that's why I need you to fix them for me. But first you have to dump Bakura."

"For the last time,we weren't dating.We just went out...as friends.Besides Marik,a relationship is too risky.How can I make sure what happened before won't happen again?"

"Prepare for the future. Prevent it from happening." Marik's violet eyes held a sort of longing that was hard to ignore.

"Marik,I'm not sure."

"How can you not be sure! It's an easy answer situation! What's wrong with you?"

"Maybe I don't want to come back to you. This isn't all about what you want Marik." She scooted away from him crossing her legs and arms.

Marik bit his lip fighting to respond his own feelings but stopped himself and instead...

"Keket?I don't like this."

"What?"

"Separation. This constant period of denial. I want it to end...And I want it to end tonight."

He was getting tired of denying how he felt. Jealous and lonely.He knew only Keket could heal his pain but it would take him forever to get her back.

Keket stood up and walked to the front door.

"Where are you going?"

"If you won't take me home,I'll walk."

"That brings back memories." He mumbled to himself. "Keket,I'll take you home just-" He stood up and strolled over to her with an unsure look on his face.

"Just stay for a while longer.We won't talk about our relationship or anything you find uncomfortable.Just stay...please." It hurt to ask nicely.

Keket let go of the door knob and paused before disagreeing to stay.

"No. I want to leave." She placed her hand back on the door knob.

Marik grabbed her wrist gently. "Wait...I have a question."

"Yeah?"

"When Bakura kissed you...did it feel any better than mine?"

"Do you want my honest opinion?"

"Yes."

"It felt nice but yours...yours is like kissing an angel."

Marik lifted his head in shock. "What?"

"You heard me. But there is a downside, that angel turned out to be a fallen one."

"I don't understand."

"It's mythology." She opened the door. "Goodbye Marik."

"W-wait!" He place a hand on her waist. "How about I take you home?You can explain this fallen angel stuff to me."

Keket couldn't help but smile at his sensitivity.

Marik noticed the smile and changed back to his bad boy attitude. "I mean,if that crap is worth listening too."

"Sure."

"Ishizu,open the door." Seto leaned against his bedroom door knocking lightly.

He listened to her faint sighs of previous crying.The kind of sound that pulled at his heart.

"Ishizu,please open the door.Let me talk to you."

He stepped back when the door opened and revealed one of his maids.

"How is she?" He asked.

The elder maid looked at him disappointed and walked off.

Seto watched her descend down the spiral staircase before walking into the bedroom.

"Isis?" The name slid off his tongue perfectly.

The Egyptian woman laid on her stomach.Her long black hair fanned around her.Her had changed into a beige silk night gown that Seto had bought for her two days ago.

As he approached her bedside,he struggled pushing aside how tempting she looked before him.

Her large eyes were fixed on a glass vase on the end table behind Seto.

"Seto Kaiba.My lover,my foe,my angel,my stacker and now soon to be my husband." Strands of her hair stuck to her lips as she spoke mindlessly.

Her eyes narrowed."But I have the power to stop such an engagement."

Seto grabbed her hand. "Darling,forgive me.I-"

" You don't deserve me.You shout,you strike and yet I keep on coming back." Her eyes started to tear. "I hate you,Seto Kaiba."

Kaiba knelt beside her. "You don't mean that."

"Yes I do."

"No you don't.You don't mean that at all." He leaned over and kiss her cheek.

Seeing that she didn't respond,he delicately rolled her over slowly and kissed her lips, gently pulling away the stray hairs that were present.

She kept her eyes close and just let him kiss her responding whenever it felt right.

After kicking off his shoes,Seto crawled onto the bed,on top of Ishizu and made a promise never to disrespect her again.