(A/n: Thanx for all the reivews people! I so appreciate you! Now please read and review once more...please!)

Nine Years

Chapter Ten: Denial?

Flight 207…Domino Japan…

"Please remain in your seats and fasten your seatbelts. We will be arriving in Domino Japan in a few minutes. Thank you."

"Yes! Hang on Serenity…we're coming" Joey said. He actually felt a little hope of her survival. He wasn't as agitated as he was when he first got on the plane. He was a little calmer and was more optimistic.

"Feeling better hun'?" Mai asked.

"Huh…uh….yeh…" Joey said, giving her a small smile. He looked over at his son and saw him curled up into a ball; his head resting on Mai's lap and his legs curled up. Domino City was coming into a night view as the plane descended further below. Houses, lawns, and companies once stood out as ants but then came into better view, the lights guiding him. He then saw one company that made him growl. It was night, but he could see its bold blue letters stand out from all the other companies. Its letters was conspicuous of Domino, engraving the words 'KC'. He turned his head away not wanting to look at the repulsive company anymore.

Domino Hospital…

Surprise

Surprises always took a blow to Kaiba's life, every since he was very young.

His mother dyingfrom childbirthandhis fatherdeath froma car accidentwas a surprise. (1)

Being unaccepted by any of his relatives leading to being dumped in an orphanage was a surprise.

Losing to a duelist going by the name of Yugi Moto was a surprise.

Pegasus taking away Mokuba's soul and his soul by losing a duel was a surprise.

Finding out that the big five had made a few changes to his virtual game was a surprise.

Finding out that there were cards more powerful than the Exodia cards was a surprise.

Noah Kaiba turning his brother against him was a surprise.

Finding out that he can read ancient hieroglyphics was a surprise. Losing to Yugi Moto…again… but in his own tournament was a surprise. And it goes on………........................

And then there were surprises that included him, but the public was instead surprised than him.

Of all the surprises he had in the past, this one top them all of…

He was a father.

But would Seto Kaiba accept it........

'She is just a child. What could she know? She's probably just making it up. But why would she make it up? Why? Could it be? No… Serenity would have told me? Right? She would need help taking care of it…her! She would need money! Funds! She would come to…then again she does have the mutt and the poodle. And she does sort of look like me…blue eyes, brown hair…'

As Kaiba searched for more answers in his head, Kari began to grow curious with his fumbling and muttering.

Both were at the hospitals' cafeteria and were having ice cream, courtesy of Kaiba's money and persuasion from Kari. It was peculiar eating ice cream at night, but Kari craved for some and he couldn't escape her pleads. Kari ate her chocolate fudge ice cream with delight, as if she hadn't had sugar in months. Kaiba's was just sitting there, barely eaten. After all, how could you eat after you found out that you had a daughter? With one scoop, Kari finished hers, and she looked at Kaiba's yearningly.

"Are you gonna finish that?" she asked, tapping him for his attention. He glared at her when she broke his train of thought. She flinched at the sight and withdrew her hand.

'No wonder mom didn't want him to know…'

As if reading her mind, he softened his eyes into comforting one's and slid the ice cream cup over to her side and she smiled in return. He had to admit, she was cute. He continued looking at her as if he were looking into her soul.

'She has Serenity's complexion, her personality, smile…'

"What's your name?" he asked, his usual cold stare gone from his face, as if it never existed.

"Kari…"

"It's…unique. How's your…life?"

"Okay…Yours?"

"Um…I don't know…" he answered truthfully.

How was his life? It was hectic, lonely, and responsibility took place for countless things. Finding out that he had a child was another important thing to his list. But he also had doubts that she wasn't his daughter. What a confusing time this was for him.

"Where is a cab when you need one?" Joey muttered. They had arrived now and were inside the airport's luggage claim. It was a nighttime now; quiet wrapped up Domino like a blanket.

"It is night. Cabs don't run around at night, neither does buses nor subways."

Joey kicked a nearby trashcan in frustration, releasing his anger on it while nearby people looked at him at wonder.

"Joey! We'll find a way…okay…" Mai said, putting a reassuring hand on his shoulder, giving it a squeeze. Joey nodded as he looked at his son who was sleeping on an airport chair. He sat down, knowing that Mai was right.

"Uh…I couldn't help myself from hearing your…troubles"

Domino Hospital…

"Hmm…?" Shaila stirred awake after the pain in her neck was slowly growing. She rubbed her eyes a little bit before adjusting to them. She expected a weight to be in her lap but there wasn't any; it was light. She jumped up then, coming to her senses. "Kari!" she yelled into the hallways of the empty hospital. Fear dawned upon her.

'Where the hell did she go!?'

It was dim; the lights were barely on. She searched the empty hallways, straining her ears to find some kind of noise. She looked at her watch…where could she have gone at this hour? She retreated to waiting room's chairs, and dug her head into the palm of her hands. When she looked up again, she saw that Kaiba wasn't there. She gasped.

'What if he took her?'

She quickly jumped up once more. She started going towards the reception desk. When she arrived there, she saw no one. In a panicky manner, she started pacing back and forth, having no idea whatsoever of where to look. Suddenly, she saw Serenity's door open a crack. She looked at the door curiously. She went over to her door and opened it a bit more, peering her head inside to see if she was there.

She wasn't.

Only Serenity's lifeless body was there. Tubes were in her nose, casts were wrapped around her leg and arm, and an I.V. cord stuck in her arm. She looked at her with compassion. What a dreadful time this was, especially for Kari. She sighed and withdrew her head. She then closed the door with a small click. She then remembered about Kari. She leaned against Serenity's door and dug her face once again into the palm of her hands. What was she going to do?

"Shaila…?"

Shaila immediately opened her eyes at the sound of the curious, chirped voice.

"Kari…!" She quickly picked her up and embraced her with a hug, closing her eyes also. When she put her down, she looked at her furiously.

"How dare you run off like that?! I got worried!"

"I was with someone…" Kari said innocently.

"What! You went off with a stranger!?" Shaila practically shouted, but since it was a hospital, she regained control.

Kari shook her head. "No…with dad…" she said, pointing over to Kaiba who sat back down at the same exact spot that he was sitting on earlier. Shaila looked at her with silence.

'Serenity's not going to like this'

(1) Heard that the mother died from child birth and the father died from a car accident...i dun know if its true but I added it into the story anyway.

(A/n: It's short. I know but oh well. Anyway…please review! )