Ok, the next chapter is up. I want to thank everyone who's been following this story so far. I've been enjoying writing it. ^^

I'd like an opinion on this since it'll affect how quickly I post future chapters. I've been trying to post one chapter a week. However, due to a couple of work projects, it's been getting more difficult to find time to write and I've been getting stressed with work and making sure that I keep up with this. Now, I could put this story on hiatus until either I finish one of my work projects or resume towards the end of March/early April. But I have been enjoying writing these chapters. (I even already have the next one planned.) So I'd like your opinion on this. If I decide to continue writing a chapter a week, I can but it might affect the quality of my writing. Otherwise, if you feel that it's better to put it on hold, I can do that. Anyway, please let me know what you all think. ^^

Chapter 28

A couple of weeks later on a Saturday night, after Alex's talk with Yugi, Alex was sitting in front of her laptop in her apartment. She had just finished sending her emails, and closing the laptop, she breathed a sigh of relief and said,

"Whew, that's all done. I've timed it so that Seto and Yugi will get my messages after I'm gone. I believe they can handle the rest."

She stood up and then added, "Ok, time to contact Cas and face the music."

Then she took her communication device and put on her coat before she left her apartment and climbed up the stairs towards the roof of the building. As it was late at night and everyone was either out having fun or asleep, Alex figured that no one would disturb her there. Also, she wanted to enjoy the fresh air and look at the night sky one more time.

Meanwhile, Kaiba was sitting in front of his laptop in his home office although he wasn't paying attention to the screen. Rather, he was gazing at what was in his hands. Earlier that day, he went on a secret trip to a jewelry store, requesting a special ring. He had opened the box and was now looking at the ring, feeling confident. He thought,

I know she'll say yes. She trusts me, so I'm going to ask her very soon. Everything will be perfect.

As Kaiba was lost in his thoughts, a sudden message notification appeared on his laptop screen. Wondering what it was, Kaiba clicked on it and immediately noticed that Alex had sent an email to him. However, he noticed the delivery date and that it was supposed to be delivered tomorrow morning, so why did he get it now? It was strange, but he opened the email and then clicked on the video attachment. Immediately, Alex's face appeared on the screen, and she began to speak.

"Hey. By the time you get this, you'll either already realize that I'm gone or you'll know after you watch this. Either way, it'll be too late to stop me. I have to tell you something, and I know it's cowardly of me to tell you like this rather than in person, but I know you would have only stopped me, otherwise."

Kaiba felt fear creep inside him as he watched the video message, and he observed that Alex looked nervous and even scared. She told him of how she had been sent from the future, with the mission of killing him because it was the only way to save Yugi and the other heroes as well as to bring back her brother Andy. Kaiba didn't know what to make of the message when Alex said,

"I guess you're wondering why I didn't go through with it. I think you know, but I'll say it. Maybe you'll have a bit of a victory in knowing that you won. But yes, I fell for you. I don't know how or when it happened, but as I got to know you, I saw that there was so much more. Perhaps I should have been more guarded, but I am only human in the end. I tried to deny my feelings for you, and that's probably why I tried to push myself to like Joey at first. As common as this sounds, the heart wants what the heart wants.

So yes, you got me to like you in the end. Congratulations."

Alex then took a deep breath before continuing.

"You know, part of me feels like I betrayed Andy by deciding to do this. According to Cas and her superiors, killing you would have brought Andy back, and you know how much he means to me. But I care a lot about you, and I don't want any harm to come to you. If I ever came across as a threat, you don't need to concern yourself about that anymore. Also, if you take a look at your birthday present, it's something I made from materials in my time. It looks like a trinket, but it's actually a detection device. After I'm gone, I believe others will go after you. I can't protect you myself, but that device will give off a warning if others from the time agency try to hurt you and it also gives a bit of protection. Also, if you have doubts that I'm from the future, all you have to do is examine that device and see that some of those materials don't actually exist here.

Sorry for going on and on like this. You're probably tired of hearing me talk. I'm just about done, anyway. I wanted to say that I like you a lot and I want to thank you for making me feel loved and giving me happiness. I don't think I deserved any of that, but thank you. I know you'll move on, but I hope that you and Yugi will be able to stop this disaster. I sent him a message, too. If there's anything I learned from all this, it's that I can rely on and trust others, so I'm putting my faith and trust in the two of you. I'm sorry I can't see this through to the end, and I'm sorry for ever entertaining the thought of hurting you. You really deserve so much better.

Ok, I guess it's time for me to end this. I'll probably already be with Andy by the time you get this. I've kept him waiting long enough. Goodbye sounds too sad, so I'll just say, 'See you later.'"

The video message ended, and Kaiba felt his whole body shaking. He was quickly trying to process what happened and realized that his initial instincts about Alex had been right. However, she changed her mind, so that ended up changing both their fates. For a moment, he thought it was too late to stop Alex, but then he took another look at the delivery date and time of that message and realized that he wasn't supposed to get that message now, so there was a chance she was still here.

Immediately knowing what to do, Kaiba stood up, quickly placing the ring and its box in his pocket, and hurried out of the mansion towards the garage to get his car. As he got in his car and drove off towards Alex's apartment building, he thought,

Stupid girl. I better make it before she's gone forever.

Alex stood on the roof of her apartment building, unaware that Kaiba had gotten her message already. She held her communication device and was talking to Cas. Cas' projection looked sadly at Alex and asked,

"Alex, are you sure about this?"

Alex nodded and replied, "I'm sure. I'm not going to hurt him, even if that means I end up being executed."

Cas replied, "I see. Just so you know, I've never approved of my superiors' methods for terminating agents. But I can change this so that all your memories are taken away instead."

Immediately, Alex shook her head and replied, "No, I don't want that. I want to hold onto my memories. I don't want to forget about my time here, being friends with Yugi and everyone."

She almost blurted out that she also didn't want to forget about all the wonderful times she spent with Kaiba and how her heart had grown to care about him. So Alex added,

"Of course, I don't want to forget Andy. So I'm ok with being executed. At least, Andy won't be alone anymore."

Cas sighed and replied, "This all feels wrong, but I'll take you back here and maybe I can figure something out."

Alex replied, "Please don't do anything that's going to get you in trouble, Cas. I'm taking full responsibility, and you should just do your job."

Cas shook her head and replied, "You can be really stubborn at times, Alex. But ok. If you're ready, I'll teleport you here."

Alex looked up at the night sky and was about to reply when she suddenly felt her waist being grabbed from behind. Alarmed, she turned her head to see who had grabbed her and was surprised and speechless. She gazed at Kaiba's face, observing his anger and perhaps fear, too.

Kaiba looked on furiously at Alex and said, "Idiot! What were you thinking?"

Alex was confused and replied, "What?"

Kaiba replied, "Your video message. I know everything, and I overheard the two of you just now."

Cas' projection was still active, so she could only look surprised by this turn of events. However, she didn't say anything, deciding to let things play out.

Alex took a few moments to process Kaiba's words and then replied, "I don't understand. You shouldn't have gotten it yet."

Kaiba replied, "I know, but you must have messed up. It's a good thing that I was able to stop you."

Alex replied, "But I know I didn't mess it up. I timed everything perfectly."

She looked at Cas and asked, "Did you have anything to do with this?"

Cas looked confused and replied, "Of course not. You know that's not within my abilities."

Kaiba looked at Cas and asked, "You're Alex's guardian, aren't you?"

Cas replied, "Yes, and her boss, too."

Kaiba replied, "I need to talk to you alone."

Cas nodded and replied, "Ok." She looked at Alex and said, "Alex, give him your communication device."

Alex nodded and without saying anything, she handed the small device over to Kaiba. Kaiba then pulled Alex away towards the middle of the roof and pointing to a wall, he said,

"Stay there. I'll be watching you."

He looked a bit threatening, so Alex only nodded, knowing that it was all over. She put her back on the wall and sat down, looking back at him.

Satisfied, Kaiba took a few steps back, enough so that he could talk to Cas without Alex overhearing them. However, he still kept his eyes on Alex in case she decided to make any sudden moves. He then looked at Cas' projection and said,

"I don't doubt what Alex said, especially after seeing all this. But I have to tell you something. You're a shit guardian to let Alex take the fall."

Cas sighed and replied, "I know. But I never wanted her to be a time agent. This is something she insisted because she was convinced it would help her get Andy back."

Kaiba replied, "I know how much she loves her brother." He paused and then said, "Can we protect her?"

Cas replied, "It would be difficult, but I have an idea."

She smiled knowingly at Kaiba and then continued, "I can see that you care about her. I can make it so that Alex seemingly failed her mission and her punishment was carried out. My superiors might eventually catch on to the bluff, but I'll cross that bridge if I have to. But this will only work if Alex can stay where she is."

She glanced at Alex, who looked forlorn and hopeless. Then she turned her attention back to Kaiba and added,

"I want you to watch over her, protect her. She's very important although she doesn't realize it."

Kaiba replied, "You didn't need to tell me that, and I'll guard her myself."

Cas nodded and replied, "Ok. I'll take care of the details. We should tell Alex of this plan."

Kaiba nodded and he approached Alex, carrying the communication device with him. Once they were within speaking distance, Cas looked at Alex and said,

"Alex, you're going to stay here. You're not allowed to return."

Alex looked surprised and replied, "But-"

Cas interrupted, "I know what you want, but sometimes, you have to let others help you. Just trust us. I'd rather have you alive than become another victim of my superiors. I'll look into what you told me and learn what I can. I suspect there's something going on, and I believe you suspect it, too. In order to protect you, I'll have to stop contacting you, but you won't be alone."

She glanced at Kaiba, who simply nodded. She then continued,

"Kaiba will hold onto your communication device, but I'll only make contact if it's absolutely necessary. It will be dangerous now to make frequent communications."

Alex nodded and quietly replied, "I understand."

Cas nodded and replied, "Good. Then I'll get off for now, and don't do anything stupid."

Cas' projection then disappeared, and it was just Alex and Kaiba now. Kaiba then said,

"Come with me."

However, Alex stayed where she was, feeling no motivation whatsoever to do anything. She had a plan set, but then it all went to hell, and now she didn't know what to do. Kaiba frowned and asked,

"Did you hear me?"

Alex finally looked up at Kaiba and replied, "Why did you do that?"

Kaiba looked annoyed and replied, "Why are you asking a stupid question? I wasn't going to let you die to protect me."

Alex replied, "It wasn't just about you."

Kaiba replied, "What do you mean?"

Alex looked angry and replied, "I wanted to be with Andy. I would have done anything to bring him back. He was stolen and he's lost in that void. Did he deserve that? Why him? Why couldn't it have been me?"

She looked down at the ground, her tears threatening to spill. She quietly continued,

"It should have been me. I would gladly take his place. But he's all alone and he has to be wondering where I am and why I'm not with him. I'm a terrible sister. I should be with him. But then you had to interfere and refuse to let me go to him."

She looked up at Kaiba and angrily added, "You're a selfish bastard."

Alex's tears finally spilled down her cheeks, and she felt hopeless and despair consuming her. Kaiba looked directly into her eyes and replied,

"You're right. I am selfish for refusing to let you go. But you're stupid if you thought that sacrificing yourself was the only way to be with him."

Alex looked confused, and Kaiba added, "I paid attention to your video message, and I believe you. You provided the evidence, so I have no doubt. I'll help you get your brother back, and then…"

As Kaiba trailed off, Alex wondered what he was going to say, so she asked, "Then what?"

Kaiba coughed a bit and added, "You can stay here with me. And your brother can stay here, too. I'll fix this."

Alex replied, "Why?"

Kaiba replied, "I don't know if my future actions cause this disaster you speak of, but I do know this. I believe in you, and I care about you. I'd even go so far as to say that I love you."

Alex blushed and replied, "What? But-"

Kaiba placed two fingers on Alex's lips as a way to tell her to stop talking. He then said, "I know you doubt my sincerity, and maybe you doubt whether I'm even capable of love. But I am a man, and I have grown fond of you. I won't let you go, and I'll do everything in my power to prove my feelings for you. You don't have to say it back although I know that you like me."

Alex remembered what she said in her video message to Kaiba and couldn't help blushing again. Kaiba smirked a bit, but then his usual expression returned and he said,

"Give me a chance to help. And know that you don't have to go through this alone. You should have gone to me, but I know how stubborn you can be."

Kaiba stopped speaking and Alex couldn't help sobbing and saying,

"I'm sorry. I'm so sorry."

She continued to cry, and Kaiba wrapped his arms around her, letting her cry into his chest. He just held her, letting her spill out all her emotions. They stayed like that for a few minutes, until there were no more tears for Alex to spill.

She then looked up at Kaiba and said, "I'm sorry for everything. I'm causing you trouble, but I don't want you to think that I'm helpless."

Kaiba replied, "I know you're not helpless, but you shouldn't assume that you have to do things alone. Because you're not alone, and you have me. My reasons may be selfish, but I want to help you, so let me."

Alex gazed into Kaiba's eyes, and she could feel the truth, sincerity, and warmth behind his words. She nodded and replied,

"Ok. I'll trust you."

Kaiba smiled and said, "Good."

He leaned in to kiss Alex, and Alex wrapped her arms around Kaiba's neck and kissed him back. She poured all of her love and passion into it, wanting to convey how much she cared about him and how she would let herself trust him wholeheartedly.