body background"url of background image" bgcolor"color code" bgproperties"fixed"
Recap:
"I'm sorry Kaiba; to you I must look like a fool. But I really did need to hear that. Thank you!" Thankfulness shined through Max's eyes as she looked up at Kaiba. Turning away from Max he walked to the door and opened it, he sighed and set her duel deck on the desk.
"Max, I could never think you a fool." Kaiba said quietly from the doorway "Mokuba wants to see if you're alright for himself, he got scared when he saw you running away. Would you mind if I brought him by later?" Kaiba had his back to Max but she could hear the hesitation in his voice.
"I wouldn't mind, I would love to see Mokuba again." Kaiba nodded his head in acknowledgement and walked out Max's door closing it softly behind him. Max sighed and flopped back onto the bed. She wanted to cry again, but tears wouldn't come. She tried to think, but it was too painful. She should get up and shower, but she didn't have the energy. So instead she let herself drift off into a less than peaceful slumber...
"Talking" 'Thinking'
"I!" Punch. "Will!" Punch. "Not!" Punch. "Miss!" Punch. "Him!"
With every word Max's fist pummeled the punching bag harder and faster. It helped relieve the pain temporarily, but Max knew when the punching session was over that the pain would flare up again and she would be free to dwell on George's memory. A small part of her hoped that the Kaiba brothers would show up soon since they would take her attention off George, though she knew all distractions would be temporary it wasn't something she wanted to think about yet it was there to dwell on and the dull ache was not going to go away anytime soon. Over time it would diminish slightly like the death of her parents, but it would always hang over her like an ominous cloud. Max shook her head to bring herself out of her sudden brooding cursing inwardly that she had let herself slip again.
"M-miss Max!" Kuina said from the doorway. Max paused and frowned, Kuina sounded terrified and there was a slight tremor in her voice making it shake thought it was obvious that she was trying to keep it out. Max dropped her fists and slowly turned around to face Kuina, what she saw made her blood run cold with. Kuina was being held with a gun pointed at her head and an arm draped lazily around her waist to keep her from moving. The man who was holding her was six feet tall with dark brown hair, his black eyes held a malicious glint that spoke of no mercy; Max had a feeling that this was one of the men who had killed George.
"Good afternoon Miss Max!" said the man who held Kuina, his voice was oily and cold as he sarcastically said her title 'miss'. Max clenched her teeth and took a deep breath.
"Good afternoon!" Max said with a fake pleasantness and she looked the man defiantly in the eyes. "To what do I owe this visit?"
"Don't mock me!" The man spat as he turned to gun on Max, Max blinked calmly as Kuina gave a small whimper. "And I am here for you technology, I came last night but it seems that a bodyguard hid it from me." The man sneered; Max balled her hands into fists at her sides at the casual mention of George.
"Hn, then he did his job!" Max said not letting the man know than he had gotten under her skin. "Now pray tell, why should I give you my tech I worked hard on?" Max asked a mocking smile making its way across her lips.
"You should give it to me to spare your life!" The man said a corner of his mouth lifting in a triumphant grin.
"My life?" Max repeated tossing around the news. "That is not worth my tech! I'm very sorry, but why don't you wait until I market it?" Max asked cocking her head as the mans hand twitched with anger.
"Then maybe your tech is worth her life?" The man asked turning his gun to once again press against Kuina's temple. Max glared at the man and stepped forward. "Don't move! Where is the tech?"
"Which tech? I'm working on a few pieces right now." Max asked so casually one might thing it was a social gathering.
"The dragon!" Max blinked and cocked her head.
"Dragon, dragon?" Max taped her lips with her pointer finger with each word.
"The damned A.I. dragon! I know what the hell I'm talking about don't play dumb with me!" The mans voice rose as he cocked his gun anger burning in his cruel eyes. Max sighed and held up her hands.
"Alright I'm sorry! But you gotta give a girl points for trying right?" Max said trying a light smile, the man only continued to glare at her making a sound like a growl in his throat. Max moved over to the back of the couch. "It's over here. I'm just going to bend down slowly and pick it up." Max bent over keeping her light eyes glued to the mans dark ones. Without looking Max picked up a light briefcase in one hand and something a little heavier in her other hand. Straightening up slowly Max hid the other item behind the case pretending it was heavy as she walked slowly closer to the man.
"Hurry it up!" the man growled impatiently. Max seeing her only chance pretended to stumble with the weight of the case, recovering from her slight trip Max held a five pound weight in her hand before the man noticed Max threw the weight at him. Seeing something unexpectedly flying at him the man moved his gun quickly and let out one shot that echoed through the room piercing unprotected ears.
"Kuina run!" Max managed to shout the order through the confusion and was relieved to see that Kuina obeyed her.
Over With Kaiba ...
"Are you sure she was okay?" Mokuba asked a note of worry in his young voice. Kaiba sighed and rubbed his temples.
"Okay might not be the right word, but Max has more strength than she realizes she will be fine she just has to come to that conclusion herself. I would not be surprised if she has already figured that out." Kaiba sighed lightly concerned for Max although he'd be damned before he would admit to the fact.
"Yeah, your right!" Mokuba said small relief flooding his voice. "But I'm still worried about her!" Kaiba nodded acknowledging his brothers words while thinking about the source of his brothers worry. The talk he had with her just a few hours ago, he didn't know for sure but Max seemed to have an emotional strength. She would pull herself through this and he would be there for her if she needed it. Kaiba blinked. Did he just think that? Where did it come from? And why? Kaiba was interrupted by the limo coming to a stop.
"We are here Mr. Kaiba." The motanous voice said wafting back from the front seat. Mokuba squirmed in his seat waiting with good manners for the driver to open the door, Kaiba sat still across from his younger brother exercising a bit more patience. At last the driver came over to open the door and Mokuba all but jumped out in his hurry to see Max, Kaiba followed silently behind at a sensible pace.
"Come on big brother!" Mokuba said waiting for Kaiba to catch up to him perched on the first step. Mokuba smiled up at Kaiba when he stopped in front of him. Both brothers looked up as a ringing bang shot through the silence. Kaiba pushed Mokuba behind him and scanned the yard. Deducing that the sound came from the house Kaiba turned on the driver and pulled Mokuba along behind him.
"Take Mokuba home now!" Kaiba commanded, the driver took one look at the seriousness in Kaiba's eyes and nodded once taking Mokuba's hand.
"Brother no! I want to see what's wrong." Mokuba argued pulling against the driver's hand. Kaiba silenced his brother with a glare and pointed at the limo.
"Now!" Kaiba said without raising his voice Mokuba gritted his teeth, but obeyed and allowed himself to be led to the limo. Kaiba watched as the limo drove quickly away before he advanced quickly up the steps and opened the door to Max's house stepping silently inside. Kaiba scanned the room and paused when he saw Kuina running down the hall terror written clearly across her face.
"M-mister Kaiba! M-Max she s-still in there!" Kuina said chest heaving as she breathed deeply in and out. Kaiba frowned and looked her over.
"Explain! Quickly!" Kaiba ordered tersely. Kuina nodded.
"T-the man who killed G-George came back and Max is f-fighting him." Kuina said as calmly as she could manage. Kaiba nodded once and took a step forward.
"Leave now and go to the police!" Kaiba said and walked down the way Kuina had come running from.
Back with Max ...
Max felt a small relief flood through her veins when she saw Kuina run through the door away from the mad gunman. The gunman was currently swearing profusely at himself for falling for her trick and letting the hostage go. Max's relief was short lived as she realized she was now stuck alone in a room with a pissed gunman who did not care if he had to kill for what he wanted.
"You stupid little whore!" The man hissed pausing his stream of curses long enough to insult the one who had made look foolish. "Get the hell out here where I can see you!" Max sighed knowing she had to leave her temporary safe spot behind an arm chair. Gritting her teeth Max once again summoned her courage.
"Are you going to kill me if I do?" Max asked her voice calm.
"Not yet, but then again I'm not going to make a promise." Max swallowed and stood up slowly waiting to feel a bullet pierce through her skull, when nothing came Max turned around to face the mans anger head on.
"I'm sorry about that okay! I just didn't want to have to worry about the maid." Max said as if she didn't care, the man narrowed his eyes but said nothing. "Can I at least have your name?" Max asked curiously trying to change tracks and keep her life for a while longer.
"Slade!" The man said no emotion tinting his cold voice; Max suppressed a shiver and forced a smile.
"Really?" Max asked taking a step forward and getting ready to kick the gun out of his hand.
"No! But did you think I'd give you my real name?"
"No!" Max said with a smirk. "But if you going to make up a name it could be cooler than Slade!" Max couldn't help the taunt that escaped from he lips and almost immediately regretted saying it when she saw the anger in his cold eyes growing. Max saw his hand tightening on the trigger and mentally cursed herself for her loose tongue, her body tensed in anticipation to the bullet that would tear its way through her body at any moment. But fortunately for Max her death was not to be then because just as he aimed the gun at her heart the door that had closed itself behind Kuina was kicked open scattering small bits of wood in all directions. Slade turned his gun to the door while keeping half an eye on Max herself. Max's eyes widened there in the settling dust was the last person she had expected to see. Seto Kaiba. And he looked pissed.
"You!" Slade hissed as he once again attempted to pull the trigger, Max lifted her fist and pulled it back to aim at the mans head. But before either Max could punch Slade or Slade could try and shoot Kaiba another voice rang through the room.
"Stop!" Both Max and Slade paused to check out the newcomer. Max's hope of the police was shattered when she saw another gun leveled at her head. The person behind the gun was just short of six feet with long blonde hair that fell lazily over his shoulders and framed soft green eyes. They didn't look like they belonged to a killer. "Slade, I can't trust you to kill one girl and steal a small piece of technology!" The man shook his head slowly with a dramatic sigh. Slade kept his gun and eyes fixed to Kaiba but turned his attention to the newcomer.
"There were problems boss! Mostly from this little bitch here!" Slade jerked his head towards Max as she curled her lip at him. Max looked from Kaiba who was still pissed as could be and staring down Slade and back to the blonde man. The blonde man blinked and smiled at Max.
"Really?" He sauntered slowly over to Max gun still pointed at her chest. "You caused my best man all this trouble?" Max met the mans sea green eyes and nodded once.
"You bet 'cha ass I did!" Max said not bothering to keep the disgust out of her voice. "I just regret we were interrupted before I had a chance ta beat the shit outta him!" Max tired of keeping her pleasant manners fell back into the habit of using her rough New York accent and attitude she had before her adoptive parents had drilled it into her. The blonde man smiled again at Max, she could hardly believe that this man was the boss his eyes were kind and his smile made them seem even more kind.
"Ah, a feisty one!" He said letting his smile turn into a smirk as he looked Max over. "So the infamous Max Harper is nothing but dressed up dock side trash?" The man asked with a sneer. Max curled her lip and lifted her chin proudly.
"That I am! Though trash is a little harsh comin' from one who should try lookin' in a mirror." Max said eyes flashing with suppressed rage. The man moved closer to Max and raised his hand whipping it through the air towards Max's face. Max stood still waiting for the sharp sting of the slap for her insolence. Nothing came, but Max could feel the warmth of his hand hovering an inch away from her face where it had stopped, obvious now it was only a test to see her reaction and she passed, though whether it was a good thing or not Max wasn't sure if she wanted to find out.
"Very cute!" The man said running his pointer finger from Max's temple to her jaw and stopping to cup her chin. Max forced herself to stay still at the unwanted touch though she couldn't suppress a shudder going through her body at the thought of what might happen.
"Leave her alone!" Kaiba ordered his voice so cold Max almost shivered again.
"Oh," The man looked from Max's eyes to Kaiba still holding her chin. "Why does she mean something to you?" The man asked a taunt to his voice.
"That is none of your business! Now get your hands off her!" Kaiba ordered again eyes narrowing in a deadly glare. The man leaned his body closer to Max lifting her face up so it was mere inches away from his.
"And if I don't?" Max could feel his warm breath washing over her face, thought his words were almost as cold as Kaiba's. "Will you kill me?" There was a detectable humor in his voice as his body pressed even closer to Max's body that was stiff as a board.
"That would be too easy! I'll make sure that you go to prison for the rest of your life and there it will be a torment worse than hell I can assure you." The way Kaiba said it made it seem believable. "Every day will be worse than the last and in the end you will be begging for hell to take you into its fiery grasp." Max's eyes widened at the sincerity in Kaiba's voice, she believed every word that Kaiba said, with all his connections he could make exactly that happen. The blonde man gave a small laugh and turned his gaze back to Max.
"So little one lets leave it up to you." He said softly though loud enough for the room to hear. "Who would you choose me," The blonde man let go of Max's chin and grabbed her shoulder turning her to face Kaiba and the first man, Slade. Max could feel the barrel of the gun pressed into her back so she knew there was nothing she could try without getting one or both of them killed, so instead she looked at Kaiba and did exactly what the man wanted her to do. Max blinked in surprise at the sight, Kaiba was almost shaking he was so angry, one couldn't tell he was full of rage his face was so well masked that is until they looked at his eyes. They were so cold it was almost like stepping into an Arctic freeze with no protection. "Or him?" The man finished his question as Max and Kaiba met eyes, Kaiba's eyes softened for a second when they met hers then hardened again when he purposely looked away.
"You or Kaiba?" Max repeated. "That's a no brainier! I'd choose him over you any day!" Kaiba's eyes widened in surprise as he looked at Max again and saw that she wasn't lying to get a rise out of him.
"A woman shouldn't be allowed to choose for herself!" The man said unmistakable anger in his voice. Kaiba now looked smugly at the man holding Max.
"Now! Let her go!" Kaiba commanded the cold glare back in his eyes. The man gave a dramatic sigh and let go of Max's shoulder, Kaiba followed his hand as it slowly slid down Max's chest and stomach to rest at the bottom of her stomach and around her hip possessively.
"I don't think so! I want to keep her; she'll make a great pet!" Kaiba's glare intensified ten fold. "Slade take him alive I want to show them what happens when I'm refused!" Slade grinned and quickly exchanged a few bullets. Max struggled against the blonde man trying to get to Slade before he did anything to Kaiba. In her panic Max forgot that the other man had a gun as well, and only remembered this as it came crashing down on the back of her neck making blackness take over her vision she felt her legs crumple beneath her.
"B-bastard!" Max managed to mumble before unconsciousness took her away from the sound of the mans laughter echoing around the room.