Chapter 41
A week had passed since Alex had seen that vision, and now it was Friday evening. Alex and Kaiba were having a quiet dinner in the hotel restaurant, and they were secluded enough so that no one would trespass upon their company. Earlier, the two of them, along with Mokuba and Roland, had finished packing up their things, as they planned to leave the country and return to Domino City the next day.
Alex sighed wistfully and commented, "It feels like time flew by. I can't believe we're leaving tomorrow."
Kaiba replied, "We've explored all the ruins and found out everything that we could."
Alex nodded and replied, "True. We've gotten enough clues about my bracelet, so I'll have to figure the rest out and put the pieces together."
She smiled softly and added, "This wouldn't have been possible without you, you know."
Kaiba smirked and replied, "I'm sure you would've figured it out without my help. It might have just taken a little longer."
Alex laughed softly and replied, "I agree."
She paused and then continued, "It would have been nice to stay here longer, but I guess we can't be away forever, and you have a company to run."
Kaiba replied, "I can run Kaiba Corp from anywhere. I can even relocate the main headquarters to here if I wanted to. But you're right. We have to go back."
Inwardly, Kaiba was troubled that they would have to deal with Max. Although Yugi contacted both Alex and Kaiba regularly, he didn't have much to report except to say that Max was unusually quiet. Kaiba turned to Alex and said,
"I don't want to bring this up, but we can't avoid the subject forever."
Alex looked curiously at Kaiba and asked, "What is it?"
Kaiba replied, "When we get back, we're going to have to deal with him. I'll be honest. I doubt I can be much more patient around him, especially after what happened to you before."
Alex furrowed her eyebrows and sighing, she replied, "I understand. I had hoped Max would get the hint and just leave us be. But he's more persistent than I anticipated. I am worried about what Yugi told us. It kind of feels like Max is planning something, and if it involves hurting you, I'm not going to have a choice but to stop him."
Kaiba replied, "I'll be on my guard, but perhaps we should reveal that you're ok and that you don't need rescuing."
Alex looked surprised by Kaiba's suggestion and replied, "But won't that cause problems? If Cas told him about my actual condition, that's fine. But I'm assuming she didn't since Max hasn't mentioned it, and I don't know where Max's loyalties are in regards to the agency. He might end up reporting to them that Cas broke rules by not going through with my punishment."
Kaiba replied, "That is a possibility, but if that were to happen, I would contact her beforehand. She might even anticipate it."
Alex looked deep in thought as she considered Kaiba's suggestion. Finally, she nodded and replied,
"Ok. We might have to resort to that, but I want to make sure that Cas is ok. She shouldn't be punished because she chose to save me."
Kaiba replied, "I agree. I don't like what that woman put you through, but from the time I talked to her, I could tell that she cares about you."
Alex smiled and replied, "Cas is a family friend. I've known her since I was little."
Kaiba nodded and replied, "It makes sense that she took you in."
He thought about something and then said, "I know you and her are part of that time agency, but how does that happen? How do you get recruited?"
Alex replied, "I don't know the exact specifics. Only the ones in charge are privy to that. But I do know the requirements to become a part of the agency. There are several rules, but two are the most important. One is that a person recruited has to be an adult, for obvious reasons."
Kaiba looked questioningly at Alex and replied, "But you're obviously not an adult."
Alex smiled and replied, "Obviously. My case was a special one, though."
She paused and then added, "Cas already knows how I got myself involved, despite my age, but you have the right to know, too."
She then told Kaiba about how one night, when a 13 year old Alex was supposed to be asleep, she overheard Cas and one of her bosses talking about how Andy and many others had been taken by the void and the circumstances that led up to it. After learning what she found out, Alex came out of hiding and insisted that she become a time agent and that she would do anything to get Andy back. Although Cas was heavily against the idea, her boss looked at Alex thoughtfully and agreed to Alex's request, provided that Alex pass all the tests and training. It goes without saying that Alex passed all the tests and training with flying colors, and thus, she was recruited as a time agent.
After Alex finished telling her backstory, Kaiba looked thoughtful and replied, "I see. It doesn't surprise me that you worked hard to become a part of that place. But I wonder why your guardian was so against it."
Alex shrugged and replied, "She was probably being overprotective. As I said, she's a family friend, so she might have thought I was recklessly jumping into danger when I should be having a normal life."
She sighed and then added, "As if that was ever going to be possible without Andy."
Alex looked sad, and Kaiba reached out to touch and gently squeeze her hand. He looked into her eyes and said,
"I think normal is overrated, but you know I'm going to get your brother back, and you can have the life you want. The life you choose to have."
Alex smiled softly and squeezing Kaiba's hand back, she replied, "Thanks."
Kaiba then steered the conversation back and asked, "What's the other requirement?"
Alex replied, "The more important one is that anyone recruited cannot be someone crucial to that time period. For example, there's no way that Yugi would ever become an agent since that would disrupt the natural flow of events."
Kaiba nodded and replied, "That makes sense."
Alex smiled and replied, "So now you know that I'm not anyone important. Just a normal person without any family."
Kaiba frowned and replied, "That's not true."
Alex looked confused and replied, "What do you mean?"
Kaiba replied, "If you're talking in a technical sense, I suppose you're right. But I would hope that you would consider Mokuba and me as part of your family."
Alex smiled softly and replied, "I do think of Mokuba like a little brother. He reminds me of Andy in some ways. But does that mean you want me to think you as my brother, too?"
She looked a bit teasingly at Kaiba and groaning, Kaiba replied, "Of course not. Would a brother do this?"
He pulled Alex close to him and kissed her passionately on the lips, which she happily replied. Once they broke contact, Alex smiled and replied,
"I suppose not."
Kaiba smiled back and replied, "I'm glad that we're in agreement. Also, you're definitely not a normal person, but rather, an extraordinary one."
Alex blushed and replied, "What do you mean?"
Kaiba replied, "To do the things that you do, all that you've accomplished, and all that you're still doing. No normal person could do any of that. Besides, after what you told me about your vision, there's no way that you're ordinary."
Alex replied, "I'd say that you're just being nice, but I know that you never say things you don't mean. Since you bring it up, though, I'm still confused by that vision."
Kaiba replied, "What about it confuses you?"
Alex replied, "Mainly that part about me being able to stop that person she was dueling against."
Kaiba replied, "I understand your skepticism. But I'm surprised that she knows about you being a duelist."
Alex nodded and replied, "Yeah, but as I said, I'm not a very good one. Joey asked me way back, and I told him and the others that I can duel, but I'm pretty average at best."
Kaiba looked thoughtfully at Alex and replied, "I know you believe that, but I have a feeling that you might be better than average."
Alex replied, "I don't know about that."
She paused and then added, "I'm surprised you haven't challenged me to a duel or anything."
Kaiba laughed and replied, "It is tempting, but we should focus on other things first. But I won't forget to challenge you to a duel later."
It was Alex's turn to laugh, and she replied, "I'll keep that in mind."
The two of them finished up dinner, and after Kaiba took care of the bill, he held Alex's hand and said,
"It's our last night in Greece, so we should go out on a date."
Alex smiled softly and replied, "I would like that a lot. We've hardly had any fun since we've been here. But is it ok to leave Mokuba behind?"
Kaiba replied, "Roland is looking after him, and he'll let us know if anything happens."
Alex nodded and as she held onto Kaiba's hand, she followed him as they left the restaurant and went outside the hotel. A valet picked up the car that Kaiba had rented while they were in Greece. After Kaiba took the keys from the valet, he and Alex got in the car, and Kaiba drove off.
As Alex looked out the window, marveling at how beautiful and clear the night sky was, she asked,
"Where are we going?"
Kaiba replied, "You know I prefer to surprise you, but you'll like it, and we'll have the place to ourselves."
Alex smiled softly and without saying anything further, she turned her attention to the road ahead, curious about where they were heading. Kaiba continued to drive for a while, and the two of them chatted for a bit.
After some time passed, the couple arrived at the top of a hill that overlooked the Aegean Sea. Kaiba got out of the car and then helped Alex to get out. She looked around in wonder and commented,
"This is beautiful. How do you know of the best places for dates?"
Kaiba smirked and replied, "It comes naturally."
Alex couldn't help laughing, and then Kaiba added, "But in all seriousness, I think I've gotten a pretty good idea of what you like."
Alex replied, "You do have a pretty good read on me. But I hope you enjoy these places, too, and not just because of me."
Kaiba nodded and replied, "I do. When I wanted to get your attention, I thought you'd be the type to prefer luxurious things."
Alex gave a look and replied, "Do I look like the type?"
Kaiba laughed and replied, "Now that I think back on it, I jumped the gun to assume such things. But that's how most of the women I've 'dated' before were like."
Alex nodded although she didn't say anything, turning her attention to the ocean and the sky. It bothered her a bit that Kaiba mentioned about other women he dated although Alex was expecting that might have been the case.
It didn't escape Kaiba's notice that Alex suddenly went quiet and worried, he asked,
"What's wrong?"
Alex quickly gave a small smile and replied, "Nothing. It's all good."
Kaiba frowned and replied, "Don't lie to me. I know something's bothering you."
Alex avoided eye contact with Kaiba, and Kaiba thought about what he told Alex. Realizing what might have triggered her behavior, he asked,
"Is it because I talked about dating other women?"
Alex closed her eyes and quietly replied, "I'm not jealous, if that's where you're going with this. I'm not surprised that you've dated in the past."
She bit her lower lip, not wanting to say anything further. Kaiba replied,
"Alex, listen to me."
Alex looked at Kaiba to give him her full attention. Kaiba wrapped his arms around Alex's waist and hugging her, he said,
"I'm not going to hide that I've dated before you. But those were just dates set up by the publicity department at Kaiba Corp. Yes, I could have refused, but I had an image to maintain. I was never serious about those women, though, and they would only ever be one time dates, despite that some of them wanted a more long term commitment. You're the first and only woman I've ever been serious about, and you know why I love you."
Alex blushed deeply upon hearing Kaiba's confession, and Kaiba added, "I'm not going to be with other women. I'm only going to be with you. That's how serious I am about making us work."
Alex smiled softly and reaching up to gently touch Kaiba's cheek, she replied, "I still don't see what you find to love me, but I'm happy in knowing how much you care about me. I never thought I'd find myself loving you, you know. I want things to work out between us, despite the obstacles."
Kaiba replied, "We've overcome a lot, and we'll keep fighting whatever stands in our way."
Alex nodded happily and replied, "You're right. I think it's kind of crazy, though, how we ended up together. I mean, I'm from the future and all, and technically, we shouldn't have met."
Kaiba smirked and replied, "True, but in a way, it explains some things."
Alex looked confused, and Kaiba added, "I know you won't tell me. Probably because of those rules that agency set up, but I get the feeling that if you weren't here and we hadn't met the way we did, I wouldn't have been able to love like I love you."
Alex blushed deeply, and she had to take a few moments to calm her racing heart. Once she was calm enough to speak, Alex said,
"I will neither confirm nor deny it, but I am happy that we're together and we're here now. I hope I'm not being greedy when I say that I would like to be with you for the rest of my life."
Kaiba replied, "There's nothing wrong with being selfish, but that's exactly how I feel, too."
He leaned in to kiss Alex passionately on the lips, and Alex wrapped her arms around Kaiba's neck, holding onto him, as though she never wanted to let go. Of course, they eventually had to part for air, and once they did, Kaiba said,
"Now let's enjoy our last night here."
Alex nodded happily and replied, "Ok, but we probably shouldn't stay out too long since we have a flight to catch tomorrow."
Kaiba replied, "It's my private jet, so we leave when I say so."
Alex laughed and replied, "I forgot that you can do that, but ok."
The couple held onto each other, enjoying the view of the ocean and the clear night sky with the twinkling stars and the moon shining brightly. Alex gently placed her head on Kaiba's shoulder and she smiled happily, enjoying their date. She knew that there would be problems waiting for them when they got back to Domino, but she hoped that there would be more dates like this, where it would be just the two of them and they could focus on each other, forgetting about everything else.