MAGIC!! I have come out of hiding at last! Welcome back, Fanfiction! This seems really random, but I feel like writing more, so I hope it's…interesting? That's mostly what all the reviews say. I hope this picks up well right where I left off. If I can get you to laugh out loud or squeal once, then I've done my job. Anything extra is just a bonus. STILL no closer to owning YGO.

Fire and Ice

By Sakura Takanouchi

Chapter Ten

The sunlight pouring in through an open window was the first thing to wake me up. I shifted comfortably in the bed, expecting to find a wall, but instead, a large and comfortably furnished room greeted me. For a moment confusion reined, but then the events of the past few days flooded back to me. I closed my eyes, burying my head in the soft down pillows. They had all deceived me…and to what purpose? It wasn't like I could've stayed there forever. I rolled over and promptly fell off of the bed.

After untangling myself from the honey-colored sheets, I gazed at my surroundings. Dark wood furniture complimented the buttery shades of the room, the paint almost like liquid sunshine on the walls. I noticed that I was still wearing the dress from last night, but my shoes were laid carefully on the floor beside a comfortable upholstered chair. A new blue patterned sundress was lying across it. The old dress replaced it on the chair. I never wanted to see it again.

Barefoot, and clad in the pretty new dress (who knew Seto had such taste?), I made my way down the hallway leading from my room. I found myself in a large atrium on the third floor. There were two levels below me and at least one other above. I walked slowly down the stairs to the ground floor, trying to imagine what it would be like to actually live here. Seto probably took everything for granted.

The second floor landing opened out onto a wide grand staircase leading into the foyer. Large windows shielded by tapestry drapes gave me a glimpse of a fountain garden. Staring down the curved banister gave me an idea. I heard voices drifting softly from another room. If I were going to, I would have to make this quick, and I'd only get one shot.

I mounted the banister quickly and let go, my feet swinging as I slid. I resisted the urge to shout for joy, but one of a different kind escaped my lips. "Look out!" I collided with a person, knocking both of us onto the floor.

Looking down, I saw the surprised, angry, and flushing face of none other than Seto Kaiba. I couldn't help it. I quickly scooted away from him, but after one more glance at his face I burst into laughter. Seto quickly stood up while I remained, laughing, on the floor. I suppressed more giggles when I saw his expression then, this time one of bewilderment.

"Here," he said, offering me his hand. I took it and gently rose (almost forgetting that I was in a dress). "What were you thinking?"

"I was thinking that I could trust you to catch me," I retorted. "I guess you don't have much practice at catching people sliding down stair rails." Seto's face remained calm, but I detected a slight twitch of his mouth.

"Shall we try it again then?" I asked slyly. Seto appeared taken aback for a moment. "You better catch me this time." I climbed the stairs again. In an instant I was sliding down the rail and flying into his waiting arms. He caught me effortlessly and used the momentum of my movement to swing me around in a circle. I laughed again. "Much better, don't you agree?""Better than you knocking into me, if that's what you're asking," he responded. A door swinging to our left finally broke the silence. Out came Seto's dark-haired younger brother, half-talking to Seto, half to himself.

"Big brother, your breakfast is getting cold!" he complained. "What's keeping…" he trailed off upon seeing me, still supported by Seto, both of our faces flushing. He quickly and none too gently put me down, eliciting a small squeak of protest and a slap on the shoulder from me. Mokuba smiled cutely, turning back around and skipping back into the room where he came out. "Come to breakfast," he sang.

My face was heating up rather quickly. He had caught us in what would have been a very compromising situation. Well, it was. The fact that Seto had nearly dropped me on the floor proved that he didn't want his brother to see…what? Certainly not that he had talent at catching people sliding down stair rails.

"Hungry?" Seto turned to me. For the first time all morning, I noticed the gnawing feeling in my stomach. "Yes, let's eat," I motioned for him to lead the way.

We passed through the swinging door into a full gourmet kitchen. Black and stainless steel appliances accented dark granite countertops. A red brick backsplash set the room off excellently. I noticed trays of food were set both on the kitchen island and on a wooden table with a great view of the same garden. Mokuba was sitting at the table, buttering a muffin.

"Coffee? Tea?" Seto asked. "Oh, tea would be fine," I responded, helping myself to fruit and pastry while Seto poured several cups of tea. The scent of the herbal tea floated around the room. I joined Mokuba at the table, where he eyed me shyly.

"How did you get here in the middle of the night?" he asked me. I shot a glance at his brother, who shrugged.

"Your brother rescued me," I answered, eliciting an 'ohhhh' from the boy, his eyes wide at the 'adaptation' of my tale. "I was being, um…detained, somewhere, and he offered to get me out of that situation." I accepted the teacup that Seto handed me. "And I haven't gotten the chance to thank you yet," I addressed him.

"You don't have to," he answered definitively. "What was I going to do, leave you there, with Duke? I'm not heartless." I could almost see his grimace. Fate worse than death indeed.

"Really now?" I sipped my tea, enjoying the breakfast immensely. It was cut short, however, with Seto's rise from the table.

"Aww, so soon, Seto?" Mokuba whined. I twisted in my chair to look at Seto, who was collecting his briefcase from the counter.

"You're going to work?" I heard myself asking. "On a Saturday?" I returned the strange glance both Kaiba brothers gave me.

"Just for awhile," Seto responded, and in an instant he was gone, the kitchen door swinging from his exit. This seemed like a normal occurrence, so I didn't question the abrupt departure. I turned to Mokuba, whose face was half hidden by a banana nut muffin. I couldn't suppress a smile. "So… what's there to do around here?"

During our tour of the house, grounds, and a quick (okay, not so quick) stop in the gaming room, I got to know Mokuba very well. He was a bright kid, almost too witty for a middle-schooler. He laughed more easily than his brother, and seemed much more open. It was an enjoyable morning for both of us, getting to know each other better. Although there was an illusion of privacy throughout the morning, I couldn't help but feel like we were watched.

When we returned to the kitchen for lunch, a platter of sandwiches was set out for us. I eyed Mokuba quizzically. "Faeries came, eh?"

He laughed. "Seto asked the staff to be scarce while you were here. He thought it might be strange for you." He helped himself to a sandwich, munching enthusiastically. Now that I remember, I didn't see any servants the last, and first, time I visited. A vision of an army of Hannah McAbbots swarmed into view. I shuddered, silently thanking Seto.

We ate quickly, and then settled down in the media room to watch the newest Harry Potter movie. I was comfortable in a large leather recliner and smooth chenille blanket. About halfway into the movie, sleep overtook me, and I dozed off about halfway into the movie.

MOKUBA'S POV

Today has been great! I finally got a chance to talk to that girl who visited our home a few weeks ago. I really like her; she's pretty and she can make me laugh. I really wouldn't mind if she stayed here longer. Turning over to look at her, my smile fades quickly. She's turning in her sleep, and her brow is furrowed, looking like she has a migraine. Forgetting the movie, I jump up to her side. Her forehead feels hot to the touch, and beads of sweat form on her brow. Eeeww. What was I going to do? Now she's muttering incoherently in her sleep too. Great. I stop the movie and run to the nearest phone, with only one thought on my mind. Help!

Seto's on speed dial. I hear his tired voice on the other end of the line. "Mokuba? What is it?" I could almost feel his surprise; I rarely call him during the day, I know he's busy at work.

"Big brother, something's wrong. You need to get home quick!"

"Calm down, now just tell me-"

"It's Serenity, she's sick! Her forehead's all hot and she is mumbling things in her sleep. I think she's got a fever, or a virus, or something! I don't know what to do!"

"Just wake her up and try to figure out what she needs. I'll be home as soon as I can."

The line went dead. I spun around, leaving the phone dangling from its cord. I shook Serenity awake. "Please wake up."

"It's hot in here," was her reply. She weakly flung off the blanket that was insulating her. "I'm getting some water and painkillers. My head hurts like crazy."

"No you're not! I'll get them, they're in the top cupboard-"

"Which you can certainly reach." She swung her feet from the recliner and shakily rose to her feet. "Lead the…" Her vision faltered, her world spun and her body fell. 'Catch her…' My brain registered at the last second and, darting forward, caught her shoulders, staggered under the weight, and fell over, cushioning Serenity about as much as the carpeting. I crawled out from under her. She was out cold.

Hearing the front door open and close, I ran from the room and to the atrium, my socks skidding on the hardwood floor. "Seto! Help me!" He climbed the steps two at a time, rolling up the sleeves of his navy button-down. "Where is she?" I pointed.

We made our way to the media room where we eyed the unconscious girl. "You let her fall." Seto's voice a mixture of anger and restrain.

"Hey, she fell on me! And she's heavy," I replied defensively. I watched as he strode to her side and checked her pulse and felt her forehead. He gently lifted her up and cradled her in his arms, letting her head rest on his shoulder. Her cheeks were flushed and her breathing shallow. I followed as he carried her out of the room.

"She is not going in my room," I stated. Seto eyed me warily, then the stairs. He knows I don't like sickness. Besides, it's my room. He shifted his grip on Serenity and then sighed, walking around the atrium until he came to a set of double doors. I opened them and followed him inside.

He carried her across the room, setting her carefully on the bed, propping up pillows so she was reclined. Her auburn hair was strewn across the starched white pillows. I turned to leave, but noticed that Seto had yet to take his eyes off of her. I dragged the bench at the foot of the bed around to the side, ignoring Seto's glare and the protests that he was scratching the wood. "There, now you can sit and stare." Seto looked at me, the corners of his mouth twitching. "Just get the butler in here." I scampered off to fulfill his request.

SERENITY'S POV

Consciousness drifted back as I heard tree branches swaying in the breeze. Hmm. Probably an open window. I snuggled back into the down pillows, my fingers running along the inside of a soft yet sturdy comforter. I smiled. They used lavender fabric softener. Wait…what was I doing in bed, and why did my head hurt so much? I strained to open my eyes. It seemed bright in the room even though it was only lit by sunshine. Then I noticed a pair of intense blue eyes catching my gaze. Seto jumped up from his seat on a nearby bench to come to my side. "Serenity, are you alright? Do you need anything?" His voice was full of concern.

"Am I dying?"

"What?!" Although I had meant it as a joke, I could already see the wheels turning in his brain. 'Duke Devlin must have poisoned her!'

"Well, it's just that I've never seen you this concerned over anything before and--"

Seto's face became stony. "I just don't want you getting worse, and then leaving me struck with lawsuit after lawsuit-" He paused, to look at me incredulously. "What did you do to yourself to get in this condition?"

"Well, for starters, I got soaked coming home from school, nearly got hit by a car, then had to deal with…those people for days, and I guess it's finally catching up to me." I glared at Seto, as if it was his fault all of this had happened. I rubbed my temples, catching sight of a tray on the bedside table. "Is that…Advil? Goody," I said, swallowing the medicine with some water. I sighed, leaning back into the pillows. Suddenly, I looked around, taking new notice of my surroundings. "Where am I?"

"Where do you think?" was the curt reply.

My already flushed cheeks burned a little more when I realized that not only was I in Seto Kaiba's bedroom, I was lying in his bed. Now that I was observing my surroundings, I did notice that the whole scheme of the room was very…masculine. Heavy cherry furniture, crisp white sheets, midnight blue wall color. Everything was classic yet minimal. Linen sheers fluttered in the breeze from the open window. I twisted my head back and forth, almost regretting it when my vision started to swim again. The room also contained a seating area, with a plasma TV mounted on where the mantle of a fireplace would be. This was the neatest room I've ever been in. Did he even sleep in here? Of course it was opulent, but it was understatedly so. Surprisingly enough, there was no artwork on the walls. Nothing could satiate my curiosity. "Why couldn't I go back to the other room?"

"You fainted, I had to carry you, and no way was I going to risk my own health in getting you up several flights of stairs. Hence, here you are." An awkward silence ensued, in which he wondered aloud, "you prefer the other room?"

"No, um…it's just that sun colors are supposed to be good for the sick, so…umm…" my voice trailed away, searching for a new topic. We were saved when the butler came in with a tray of food on a rolling cart. I was famished. Seto made sure I was comfortable, and then left to eat dinner with Mokuba. I ate my meat and potatoes in silence, hoping that the food would give me energy to fend off whatever was making me sick. After eating, I left the tray on the bed (I was too weak to move it) and before I knew it, I was asleep. I didn't wake up until it was dark outside and I felt a rustling of the comforter. I looked up at Seto, taking the tray off of the bed.

"I was trying not to wake you up," he grumbled, putting the tray on the rolling cart.

"Hey, Seto?" He responded with a "Hmmm?"

"If I'm here, where are you going to sleep..?" I'm glad it was dark in the room so it hid my blushing cheeks. 'Stupid question! What did you think; he was going to sleep in the same bed? Or watch over you while you slept? Get real…he's probably more tired than I am.'

"There are plenty of bedrooms here," he said. When I attempted to sit up in the bed, Seto's hands found a place on my shoulders, pushing me back into the pillows. "You are not moving until you feel better," he insisted. I glanced up; he was so close to me. His eyes looked almost black in the dark, only a speck of color was visible in them. I could swear I saw my own reflection in his eyes. "Now go to sleep," he ordered. I obediently closed my eyes. As soon as I had, I felt a soft kiss planted on my forehead, the hands on my shoulders giving me a quick squeeze, and then his touch was gone- and so was he. I settled back into the covers with a smile.

I awoke again to the sun pouring in through the windows. The first thing I saw was a huge glass vase filled with sunflowers.

A/N

I'm making a comeback! But honestly, when I reread this story, along with my other works, it seemed really…juvenile? I don't know, but the style is off somehow. I want these newer installments to flow but also show improvement. Hopefully these new chapters come across better. More sophisticated language, more maturity and depth to the characters. Whatever.

Notes on ages: I'm making Mokuba 12 in this story. There's a 6 year gap between him and senior Seto, making the elder 18, so it works out. That's why he seemed so jumpy and unsure when Serenity got sick. He's a kid, so he'll act like one. By the way, Serenity getting a fever like this is realistic. I took a nap (already sick) under a heavy blanket, and gave myself a fever of 103 before! It's no fun, but it can happen.

Heads up: During my extended (ha!) hiatus, I started writing…yet another…SxS story. Completely AU, it's a crazy fantasy tale, where Serenity's a bad secret agent. I'll post the first third over spring break, so hold out on me!

Reviews not only appreciated, but NECESSARY! This story has hits in the four-digit area (one motivation to finish this story), yet people won't tell me what they think of my effort. Don't make me go into hiding again… I've started on a reading rampage, and wow, are there some jewels in the SxS department! I hope I inspire some people to pick up the pen (figuratively speaking, of course), and see it through to the end! Now where was I…gah, I need to read a Jane Austen novel…basically every romantic thing ever created has been ripped off of a Jane Austen novel…

Can't wait 'till next time! Sakura Takanouchi