A/N: When I started Only A Memory Away I took the title of a song from the american dub of Sailor Moon. It seemed to work for the tone of the story at the time but the more I write and develop the characters I find it doesn't anymore. So, I'm looking to rename it and I would like to have my readers opinions on it. Below you will find a few song titles that I think suits the tone and mood of the story. Please vote on the ones you like best at the poll located on my profile, or if you don't like any shoot me a PM with a suggestion, and after a couple of weeks I will announce the new title when Chapter 10 is published. All these songs are by Breaking Benjamin and the only claim I can make to them is that we are both from Northeast PA.
I Will Not Bow
What Lies Beneath
Breath
Evil Angel
To TsuKa: You know what they say, Denial isn't just a river in Egypt, lol. I'm glad you find the arguing with one's mind to be amusing, I do it myself sometimes and find it works when I'm trying to figure stuff out. Glad you enjoy reading this and thanks for the review. Keep reading!
Also to anyone else reading this please take the time to review and let me know what you like about the story.
Disclaimer: The Easter Bunny didn't leave me Seto Kaiba in my basket (again) this year so I still don't own him or any of the Yu-Gi-Oh! Bunch.
Chapter Seven
*Seto's POV*
Leaning against the dining room doorway I eavesdrop on Lily and Mokuba talking.
"So this place is in the country?"
"Uh huh."
"And Seto's really going with us?"
"Along with his ever present laptop, of course."
"We're going to spend a week in the country with my older brother?"
I hear Lily chuckle softly before answering, "It's not like we're going to the wilderness of the Amazon rainforest, kiddo. The cottage might be on the remote side but it's far from being unreachable. It's got three bedrooms, a private office that has enough state of the art equipment to run a small country and the most amazing up to date kitchen that you could imagine. In all honesty it's probably better, though smaller, set up than the mansion here is."
"You've been there before, Lily?"
"More like lived there for a couple of years. You'll love it Mokuba, the sun porch is perfectly set up for painting and the pool in the back is heated so even on the chilliest evenings you can have a nice swim."
"And you said there's horses and animals?"
"Yeppers."
"Do we have to take care of them?"
"Only if we choose to. A caretaker comes up from town once a day to deliver supplies and take care of the animals."
"Do you know how to ride a horse?"
"My...mother taught me when I was really little." I hear her answer after a moment.
"Do you think you can teach me how to ride?" Mokuba asks excitedly.
"As long as it's okay with your brother."
I head into the dining room and go to pour myself a cup of coffee. When I took a look at Lily I almost stopped breathing for a moment, she was wearing a cream colored sun dress that set off her faint tan to perfection. Her dark hair was pulled back on either side of her face with a pair of silver combs and her faint make-up gave her a fresh faced looked, She really is beautiful I thought to myself before sitting down and starting to look through some papers.
Took you long enough to realize it the ever present voice in my head pipes up
.
"Doesn't spending the week with Lily sound fun, Seto?"
"I'm not quite sure if that's the word I'd use, Mokuba." I say looking over at Lily for a moment only to see her grinning at me.
"It'll be fun, Kaiba....Just think of it, no press breathing down your neck, no boring dinner parties with someone's eligible daughter being thrown at you."
"Being hours away from my office and business contacts."
"It's called a telephone. Novel invention really, it's designed to help people stay in touch with each other when they aren't in the same vicinity."
"What if something happens at the office where I'm needed?"
"The home office at the cottage is more then well equipped enough to deal with any crises in any situation. Plus, you could always call for the Kaiba Corp helicopter to come and get you if needed. Next excuse?"
Grinning back at Lily I reply, "What if there is some sort of natural disaster that cuts us off from the outside word and we end up killing each other from being around each other constantly?"
"Then lets hope I can get a good lawyer to get me off the murder rap." she teases right back as she stands up.
"Going someplace special, Tao?" I ask noticing that the dress she was wearing barely came to the middle of her thighs and that the high heeled sandals she was wearing accented her long tan legs. I quickly force my attention back to my paperwork.
"Just running out to see Jase to get the key and to finish birthday shopping for a particular upcoming birthday boy that I know. I also have to grab a few things I need from the store for the trip." She responds ruffling Mokuba's hair as she passes his chair.
"Do you need the limo?"
"Nah, it's such a gorgeous day I'll walk."
"What time will you be back, Lily?" Mokuba perks up.
"I'll be back around 5:30, 6 o'clock at the latest. I'll also have my cell if you need to reach me, ok?"
"Okay." Mokuba answers as he watches her leave before turning to me, "Seto?"
"Yes, Mokuba?"
"Do you think it would be alright if I went shopping for something today."
"I'll have Roland take you since Miss. Tao is busy."
"I was kinda hoping that you'd take me, Seto."
"What are you shopping for?" I ask putting down my papers and giving my brother my full attention.
He turns bright red before answering,"I...well...I was thinking that for Lily's birthday...Well, maybe we could get her a charm bracelet...or something."
"Are you sure that jewelry is an appropriate gift for her, Mokuba?"
"You might think of Lily as just another Kaiba Corp employee but she's my friend, Seto."
"That's not what I meant."
"It's not?" He asks taking a sip of juice.
"The only jewelry I've ever seen Miss. Tao wear is a silver chain. Perhaps a new book or something music related would be better for her. Or even perhaps something to encourage her artistic skills again."
"I know that Lily would love anything that I got her but I just keep remembering a comment she made a while ago when we were shopping on our second day in London."
"Which was?" I ask crossing my arms over my chest while I lean back in my chair.
"We were walking around looking in some shop windows when we came across an antique jewelry store where she saw this silver charm bracelet in the window. She got this really sad far off look in her eyes when she saw it and when I asked her about it all she said was that it reminded her of one she used to have."
"Did she say what happened to it?"
"She just said it got lost not long after her mother died when she and her siblings moved in with her Uncle."
Taking a deep breath not knowing why I was about to say what I did I respond, "Meet me at the office around 2 and we'll go check out a couple of stores, alright?"
My brother grins widely at me, "Thanks, Seto!"
*Later That Afternoon*
I waited impatiently for my brother to finish choosing Lily's birthday gift doing my best to ignore the stares of the sales girls. If I had to deal with one more giggling woman batting her eyelashes at me I swear I was going to leave.
Lily doesn't giggle or bat her eyelashes at you my ever persistent inner voice reminded me.
Thankfully she doesn't. That's why I don't mind attempting a conversation with her, it's nice having a female around who doesn't act like a vapid twit around me.
I can't see Lily ever acting like that around anyone.
Neither do I.
"Seto?" My brothers calls out.
Walking over to him, "Yes, Mokuba?"
"Are you going to get Lily anything for her birthday?"
"I hadn't given it much thought."
"Well, there's a few things here that I think Lily would like."
"How much longer do you think you'll be?" I ask ignoring my little brothers not so subtle hint about what I should do for Lily's birthday.
"Just another few minutes. I want the charm to be just perfect." He answered going back to studying the charms.
"Excuse me, Mr. Kaiba." A female voice interrupts my brother and myself.
I turn around to see Ariah Marcus removing her sunglasses, "Yes, Miss. Marcus?"
"I was walking by when I saw you and your brother in the shop and I was wondering if I may have a word with you?"
"I really don't have time for you right now, Marcus. I'm a very busy man."
"It's about Lily."
"Lily is a big girl who can make her own decisions about things."
"I know, it's just.....Can we please discuss this somewhere else?" She asks starting to nervously fiddle with her sunglasses.
"I believe that you said everything you had to say concerning Miss. Tao last night....Unless you wish to duel again?"
"When Lily stopped by the club she told me that she gave you all the information that you wanted from her."
"Not that it's any concern of yours but yes she did."
"Then you know about....her stay at a certain facility a few years ago?"
Turning back towards my brother who was holding a small silver charm up to the light, "Mokuba, the limo will take you back to the house when you're done. Miss. Marcus and I must speak together for a few minutes."
"Ok, Seto."
"Let's go." I say walking out of the shop door without looking to see if she followed.
"There's a café about a block away from here where we can talk privately, Mr. Kaiba."
Turning to face her I cross my arms over my chest, "Just say what you have to say, Marcus."
"I think what I have to say to you would best be better said somewhere somewhat private."
"We can go back to my office then."
"I think that the café would be a bit more civilized, don't you? A cup of tea and a scone would be very nice right now." She replied before taking off at a brisk pace leaving me no choice but to follow her if I wanted any answers at all.
A short while later I find myself seated at a table with a cup of tea in front of me.
"We're here now talk." I say waving away a waiter who was trying to refill my untouched cup.
"You really do get right to the point now don't you, Mr. Kaiba? But I do have a few questions I would like answered first."
"Like?"
"The deck that you were dueling with last night wasn't your normal deck was it?"
"No, it's one that I recently acquired through a private auction."
"Where was this auction held?"
"It was an on-line auction. Why does this interest you so much?"
"The deck you were using once belonged to a friend of my fiancee's." She answers picking up her cup and taking a sip.
"Siren."
"You know about Siren?" She asks putting down her cup with a surprised look on her face.
"She was a talented and resourceful duelist whom had a rare gift for the game of duel monsters. Plus, Tao and I have talked a little bit about Sirens connection to her family."
"I see."
"You seem surprised that she opened up to me about it."
"Lily has always been a very private person, she doesn't open up to people unless she feels that she can trust them. But she wouldn't have told you anything if you hadn't started investigating her."
Leaning back in my chair I steeple my fingers and bring them to my chin, "She started opening up to me on the plane here, before she found out about my investigation."
"I have one more question for you, Mr. Kaiba."
"And that would be?"
"What would it take to make you disappear from Lily's life forever?"
If I hadn't been as skilled as I was in hiding my emotions my jaw would have dropped, "What?"
"Name your price. What will it take for you to leave Lily alone?"
Standing up I look at her, "I'm richer than you could imagine Marcus and believe me when I tell you that you couldn't meet my price."
"I'm willing to do anything or pay any price to protect Lily. Name it."
"Tao simply has to ask me to step out of her life."
"Why are you doing this, Kaiba?" She asks taking another sip of her tea.
"Doing what?"
"Being so stubborn about Lily."
"Miss. Tao is a valuable Kaiba Corp. Employee. Nothing more, nothing less."
"An employee who currently can't even perform the job that she was hired for. In fact, she may never be able to perform the job that you hired her for, Mr. Kaiba. What will you do then?"
"Hopefully give me a good recommendation for my next job?" a soft voice answers before I had a chance to speak.
"Lily!" Ariah stands up as Lily comes up from behind me, "What are you doing here?"
"I finished my shopping and thought I'd grab a quick bite to eat before heading back to the house. I have to admit that I was surprised to see the two of you here."
"How long have you been here?" I ask as she settles herself into a seat at the table.
"Long enough." She answers looking from me to Ariah, "So what are the two of you doing here? You guys are the last two people in the world that I expected to see together after last night."
"I had a business proposition that I wanted to talk to Mr. Kaiba about." Ariah said as she stood up and tossed some money onto the table, "If you change your mind, Mr. Kaiba you can find me at the club."
"I hope you're not leaving on my account." Lily said smiling up at her friend.
Leaning down she gives Lily a hug, "You know where to find me if you need anything, right?"
"Right...And don't worry so much about me, Ari." she replied as she returned the hug.
Lily watches her leave before turning to me and watches me for a few seconds before speaking, "So if I want you out of my life all I have to do is ask, huh?"
"How much did you hear?"
"Just about everything. Like I said I had been standing there long enough, do you have to get back to the office right away or do you have time for lunch?"
I sit down and study her as she looks at the menu, "I would have thought that you'd have been more insulted by what just happened."
"Do you really think that was the first time that something like that has ever happened to me before? Anytime it looked like I was getting close to someone Jean-Paul whipped his checkbook out and they disappeared from my life forever. Luckily that stopped when I moved here to London."
"Was there ever anyone your Uncle couldn't buy off?" I ask after giving the waiter my order when he came by again. I watch Lily smile at the waiter as she gives him her order while handing him the menu, after he leaves she gives me her full attention.
"Just one."
"Who was that?"
"Duke and I think that's one of the reasons that we're as close as we are today."
"I have noticed that you and Devlin are especially close." I comment watching her closely as I try to quell a very unwelcome feeling of jealously.
"Yes, we are." She comments taking a sip of the iced tea that was placed in front of her.
"How close?"
"If that is your subtle way of asking if Duke and I were ever romantically involved the answer is no. He's even more full of himself than you are." She comments while grinning at me, "Even if I wanted to be in a relationship right now it wouldn't be with him, I don't think I could stand being with someone who thought he was gods gift to women all the time."
I thought about asking her why she didn't want to get involved in a relationship again but thought better of it, I didn't want her put on the defensive right now so I went with the other question I was curious about, "How did you and Devlin become friends?"
"He and I went to the same private school when we were kids and had a lot of the same classes together."
"And?" I prompt after she had been quiet for a few moments.
"You really don't give up do you?"
"Not when I want something."
"I'm sure you've noticed that Duke and I are as different as night and day....Well, it's always been like that, even as kids we were polar opposites. As a kid I was quiet and shy, happiest being left alone with a book while Duke was gregarious as well as a bit on the loud side and was happiest being the center of attention. We probably wouldn't have spoken to each other at all if it hadn't been for our dance teacher at the time."
"Why is that?"
"Why are you asking me these questions, Kaiba? We both know that you can't stand any of my friends and we both know that this is the last thing that you want to talk about so why don't you tell me exactly what's on your mind."
"You really are direct at times aren't you, Tao?"
"When I need to be. Now are you going to tell me what's really on your mind or not?" She asks leaning back in her chair.
"What's the real reason you don't want to be in a relationship right now?"
"What?"
"You heard me."
Leaning forward she places her arms on the table and looks at me closely for a moment before answering, "Why is this so important to you, Kaiba? And don't tell me that it's because you need to know because of Mokuba. This is a personal issue that has nothing at all to do with his safety."
"It's because I want to know for myself, Tao."
"We've been through this already."
"No we haven't....At least not through everything."
Leaning back in her chair she rubs her temple slightly, "And we won't, at least not right here and now."
"When?"
"You're like a lion on a fresh kill you know that, Kaiba? Sometime this week I will sit down with you and answer any question that you ask of me."
"Any question? Nothing is off limits?"
"Nothing."
*Mokuba's POV*
Coming out of the jewelry store with the present for Lily wrapped and secure in my pocket I head towards the limo. I loved Lily's idea of getting away for a week in the country for my birthday, it would be great being able to spend some quiet time with Seto without business or a duel always pulling him away. And hopefully this week would also give Lily and Seto a chance to get to know each other better, I was convinced that if the two of them got to know each other like I knew them they would realize how right for each other they were. If they got together Lily would realize that nothing would stand in Seto's way of helping her get her sister back and Seto would find out just how loving and loyal Lily could be. They each had so much love to give if only they could learn to trust in each other and take a chance with one another. I only wanted what was best for them but they were each just to damn stubborn for their own good! Getting into the limo I was starting to think about ways I could get the two of them together without it looking like I was trying to set them up when an idea comes to me. I pull out my phone and dial my brothers private cell number as I was waiting for him to answer I grin, this idea was perfect! I knew if I could get them hanging out together tonight this would progress the way I hoped it would.
"Kaiba."
"Seto, I was wondering what time you were getting home tonight?"
"Not until late. Why?"
"I was hoping that you and I could have dinner together tonight."
"I'm sorry, Mokuba but I can't get out of any of my meetings. Why don't you and Miss. Tao do something special tonight?"
"You sure you can't get away? It's been ages since the two of us were able to have dinner together."
"I really am sorry, Mokuba. You and Miss. Tao head out tonight, anywhere you want, and have a great time....Besides we're leaving tomorrow afternoon and will have plenty of time together then."
"It's just not the same, Seto. Hey, how about I have Lily drop me off at the office and we can order in something?"
"Sounds great." My brother answers absentmindedly, "I have to go now, Mokuba my next appointment is here."
"Okay, Seto." I say to myself as I flip my phone closed, "So much for my plan of getting Lily and Seto together for a romantic dinner tonight. Maybe I can still make this work.....If I could just get Lily to cooperate."
"Where to, Sir?" The limo driver's voice comes over the intercom.
"Back to the mansion, Carl I have some things I have to do before I meet up with my brother tonight."
*In The Mansion Living Room Later That Day*
"Please, Lily." I plead looking at her from the other end of the couch I was sitting on.
"I'll help you by making dinner for you and your brother if you want me too but that's as far as I'll go." She answers putting aside the book she was reading, "I think it's great that you want your brother to find someone but it's not going to be me, Mokuba."
"All I'm asking is that you try to get to know him better, that's it. It's not like I'm asking the two of you to get married tomorrow or anything." I comment trying to change her mind about tonight. I had tried to get Lily to agree to come with me to see Seto tonight without telling her why I wanted her there but she wouldn't budge until I told her everything.
Sighing softly she starts rubbing her temple, "Even if I did get to know your brother better that doesn't mean that he and I would start dating or that anything would come of it. In case you haven't noticed he and I have a hard time getting along with each other most days."
"It's just one dinner, Lily.....One lousy dinner at his office tonight, what harm could it do?"
"Mokuba, your brother and I are currently getting along and I really don't want to do anything to jeopardize it. I don't want to put myself in a situation with him where we could end up fighting with each other right before all of us leave for a week in the country together."
I cross my arms over my chest and think for a moment, I hadn't been counting on Lily being so stubborn about my plan. "How about all three of us have dinner together at his office like I want us to but the limo stays and if you start to feel any tension between you and Seto you have a way out if you want to leave before it gets too bad."
"You aren't going to take no for an answer are you, Mokuba?" She asks standing up and walking over to the window, "The most that there can ever be between your brother and myself is friendship and I'm not even sure if that is going to happen."
"I've learned a few things from watching Seto over the years, Lily and not taking no for an answer is one of them....I am a Kaiba after all."
"Sometime I'm not sure who's more stubborn about things, you or your brother."
Jumping up from the couch I head over to where she was standing and hug her, "It's just one night, Lily. Please give it a try? For me?"
"On one condition though."
"What?"
"You call him and see if it's alright with him while I go make dinner."
"Thanks, Lily." I smile widely at her as I pull my phone out of my pocket and pretend to dial it. Better to let her think that I was going to call Seto to let him know that she would be joining us tonight so she wouldn't change her mind about joining us.
*Lily's POV*
Stirring the sauce on the stove I can't help but sigh softly. Mokuba is such a great kid, it kills me that I can't give him what he wants.
And why not? That ever annoying inner voice perks up.
Tasting the sauce and finding it bland I start adding some spices, Seto and I can't be together in a permanent sense. If we have anything at all it can't be something lasting and long term.
Whether you will admit it to yourself or not you care for him.
As a possible friend, nothing more.
You find yourself drawn to him in a very physical manner. He makes you feel special and beautiful, he makes you laugh even though you fight it every step of the way.
He does not.
Can't you just let yourself be happy for once in your life? All you have to do is just admit to yourself that Seto Kaiba means something to you.
I've already seen too many people I care about hurt because they choose to be associated with either me or my family. I don't want to see two more names added on to the list.
Duke has been your friend for years and he hasn't been hurt.
Not yet and I have to admit being surprised by that. I would have thought that Jean-Paul would have done more to destroy that friendship.
You gave Dukes friendship a chance all those years ago so why don't you give Seto a chance?
First off, I don't want to see Mokuba get hurt if things don't work out with his brother and myself and secondly Kaiba has even said that he doesn't have the time or inclination to devote to a serious relationship. I saw my mother get into enough one sided relationships to know that I don't want one.
The only reason you mother was involved with all those one sided relationships was because she was still pining after the great love of her life.
My right hand inadvertently goes to the ring I wear on a silver chain around my neck, My father couldn't even stick around long enough to see his own child....He didn't deserve my mothers devotion.
It won't be that way with Seto. You've seen the way he is with his brother and Duel Monsters. He's a caring passionate person who has just had some rough breaks in life, he hides behind that cold unfeeling exterior much like you hide behind your sarcasm and dark humor.
I can't risk him getting hurt because of something Jean-Paul might do to him.
Kaiba can handle himself and you know it. I think you're more afraid of yourself getting hurt so you're using your Uncle as an excuse.
That's not true....It's just that I can't let myself care for anyone like that.
That's a load of bull and you know it.
Well, I'm not the only who feels like that. Kaiba feels the same way I do.
Maybe if you were to let him know why you're so skittish about relationships he might feel differently.
No, I won't and subject closed.
*Mokuba's POV*
"Lily, come on!" I hurry her into the elevator where I hit the button that will take us to the floor that Seto's office was on.
"Your brother does know that I'm joining the two of you for dinner, right?" She asks adjusting the picnic basket on her arm.
"Well, he knows that you're going to be here with me." I comment as the doors close.
"Mokuba Kaiba, look me in the eye and tell me that you called your brother to tell him about your idea of all of us having dinner together. And that he's okay with me joining the two of you." She says as the elevator comes to a stop and the door opens.
"Lily, it's just dinner, okay?" I say stepping off the elevator and making my way to my brothers office.
Catching up to me Lily places her hand on my shoulder, "I'll stay on two conditions."
"What are they?" I ask looking up at her.
Placing the basket on the floor she kneels down and looks me in the eye, "First condition is that I'll only stay if it's alright with Kaiba."
"Sounds fair."
"And secondly....Stop trying to hook the two of us up."
I start to say something but she holds her hand up to keep me quiet,"Let me finish, Kiddo."
"Alright, Lily." I say smiling at her.
"Your brother is a great guy, he really is but I don't think that he and I are right for each other. Whether either of us will admit it or not we are too much alike for our own good, Mokuba."
"But that just means that you guys would understand each other better." I argue.
"It also means that he and I would make each other crazy but just because Kaiba and I aren't going to date doesn't mean that you and I can't be friends, Mr. Moukba." She says leaning over and giving me a hug.
I return her hug, "I know Lily it's just I think that he could make you happy and that you would make him just as happy as well. You guys just have to give each other a chance."
"Everything happens for a reason and if Kaiba and I were meant to be it would happen. Nothing you do or say is going to change that." She said standing up and grabbing the basket, "Now let's go get your brother some dinner."
I watch Lily walk away for a second before following her, I would figure out a way to get the two of them together I just had to be a bit more discreet about it now. I didn't want either Lily or Seto catching on to what I was doing again and do something that might mess up things for them.
*Seto's POV*
Taking a sip of the now ice cold coffee in front of me I wince at the bitterness of the brew, Ichiro Ulan may have been a lousy personal assistant but at least she had made a good cup of coffee I thought to myself right as my little brother burst through the door.
"Seto, Lily made this really amazing dinner for us! Wasn't that great of her?"
"Did I just imagine that whole talk we just had, Mokuba?" I hear Lily say as she walks into my office a few seconds after my brother.
"I was just saying how great it was of you to make dinner for Seto and me."
"What talk?" I ask watching Lily place a picnic basket on the coffee table in front of the couch.
"Just a little chat that Mokuba and I needed to have." She said starting to unpack the basket.
Looking at my little brother who was starting to help Lily unpack the food, "Do I want to know?"
"Probably not, Seto." My brother replied grinning over at me.
"Okay, you two are all set." Lily said after a moment, "Try not to be here too late, guys. We have an early day tomorrow.
"You're not staying?" I ask feeling oddly disappointed.
"I've got some last minute packing to do." She comments as she comes over to my desk.
I quickly close the file folder that I had been looking at before she had a chance to see it. "It's okay, Kaiba. I was beginning to wonder why you hadn't found a new one yet anyway."
"Excuse me?"
She leans forward slightly and lightly taps the folder that I had just closed, "A new artist."
"I take it that you saw it before I closed it?"
"It was my hand that was damaged, Kaiba not my eyes." She looks thoughtful for a moment before speaking again, "I know that this is probably overstepping every boundary that there is in the employer/employee relationship but if you need help finding a new artist I'm more than happy to offer my assistance to you."
"You're willing to help me find your replacement?" I ask surprised. I did have to admit that she kept me on my toes, I never was really sure as to how she was going to react to things.
"I know how much this new division means to you personally and what it means to Kaiba Corp. professionally.....And if I can't be a part of it as an artist I would at least like to help you find someone who will do justice to your idea."
I look down at the folder on the desk for a moment before looking back into her eyes, "Thanks, Tao. I just might take you up on that offer."
"Great, just let me know when and where."
"How about after dinner?" I ask glancing over at my brother who was trying to hide his grin while setting out food on the plates.
"I don't want to intrude on your time with Mokuba."
"You're not. Besides I have a feeling that he would be thrilled if you stayed for a while."
*About Two Hours Later*
I sit at my desk watching Mokuba and Lily out of the corner of my eye fighting the urge to smile as I do so. My brother was busy tapping away on his laptop while she was looking through another artist's resume and art samples, she let out an irritated sigh as she tossed the folder onto the reject pile.
"What was wrong with that one?" I ask giving my full attention to Lily.
"The drawings are good but according to their references they have a hard time meeting deadlines. I really don't think that you want someone whom you always have to remind about deadlines, it'll make your job that much harder on you."
"Does anyone there meet your approval, Tao?" I ask amused.
"I've got it narrowed down to about 5 so far." She said picking up another folder from the pile in front of her.
"And how many candidates have you been through?"
"About 100.....Maybe 120."
"There's only 200 applicants, Tao." I cross my arms over my chest and lean back in my chair, "Well, omitting you that leaves 199 candidates."
"And you want the best out of them, I'm sure." She comments flipping through the drawings in the folder she was holding.
"I already have the best but she's being un cooperative at the moment."
Looking up at me with a surprised look on her face, "You think that I'm the best out of all of these artist's?"
"I wouldn't have hired you if I thought otherwise."
"You have some of the top names, " she motions towards the small stack of folders that she hadn't put in the reject pile, "in the art community here practically begging you to hire them. I'm far from the best or the most qualified person here."
My brother comments before I have a chance to, "I think you are, Lily."
"Well, thank you Mr. Moukba but there are quite a few people out there more talented then I am."
Trying to suppress a yawn Mokuba answers, "Stop being so modest, Lil. You're the best artist out of all those applicants."
"You're very sweet, Mokuba and I've never been accused of being modest about my talent before. I also think it's time to get you home to bed...It's late and you're starting to look pretty wiped out."
"I'll call the limo for the two of you." I say reaching for the phone.
"You're looking pretty tired yourself, Kaiba. Why don't you call it a night and we can all head back to the house?"
"I still have more work to do. I'll be here for at least a few more hours."
"You have an office at the house, right?"
"Yes, but I can work better here."
Lily shrugs her shoulders slightly as she gathers up the folders she had been looking at, "Maybe but if you work at home tonight you can at least get the artist for the card design division squared away."
"And how is that going to happen?"
"Because another couple of hours and I'll have this stack down to 10 files.....And if you let me know what else your looking for in an artist I can have it narrowed down to three choices in even less time."
"So, what you're telling me is that if I go home with you right now I can have my artist chosen in only a few hours? I've been working on it almost non-stop for days, what makes you think that you'll succeed so quickly?"
"Because, Mr. Kaiba we'll be doing it together. Your expertise is duel monsters and mine is art. If we join forces and work together on this nothing can stop us."
I can't help but chuckle a bit at her, "You sound quite confident about this, Miss. Tao."
"What can I say, Kaiba? The odds are with us after all."
"Oh?"
Her grey eyes twinkle with humor, "It's about damn time that the two of us find some common ground. You know something that we don't fight about all the time."
I look at my watch, "It's eleven o'clock now...Another two hours here should do it. Meet me in the den at the house at exactly one with your top choice of applicants."
"Don't be late, Kaiba." She says smiling at me.
"Same thing goes for you, Tao." I comment picking up the phone to call for the limo.
*Well After One In The Morning*
Looking at my watch as I close the door and arm the security system for the night I shake my head slightly. One thirty in the morning I thought to myself And I lectured Lily about being late. Making my way to the den I pause with my hand on the doorknob when I hear soft music coming from inside.
Jazz? I didn't know she liked jazz.
There's a lot that you don't know about her.
I know everything that I read in those disks. I know how hard things were for her growing up.
But do you know her favorite song? What her favorite food is? Where she learntedhow to cook? What her favorite time of day is?
No, I don't.
Is she ticklish? What makes her laugh?
"No, and I have no intention of finding out either!" I snap at my inner voice as I open the door and enter the den.
It takes a moment for my eyes to adjust to the dim lighting as I make my way over to my desk. Once there I turn towards the couch where I find Lily asleep with an open file folder on her stomach and a pen in one hand and a legal pad in the other. She looked so peaceful lying there with her dark hair spilling over a white pillow, the contrast between her hair and white pillow was breathtaking. Reaching over I gently take the pen from her hand and pick up the legal pad, when I pick it up I notice that it was filled with notes in her delicate handwriting. Taking a moment I begin to read over them:
Victor Llewellyn- Former Industrial Illusions artist, the cause of his dismissal is unknown. Might be risky because of his former connections but is worth the risk because of his talent.
Morgan Gates- Unknown but unique talent. Has amazing growth potential and could be Kaiba Corps chance at discovering something big.
Savannah "Savvy" O'Reily- She is a talented artist and is timely about deadlines. Despite personal feelings that I have for her I think she would be a valuable asset to Kaiba Corp.
I raise my eyebrow at the comment she had made about the last artist in her notes , Personal feelings aside? I thought to myself Sounds like an interesting bit of history. I hold the pad in one hand and reach down to shake her shoulder to wake her up, my fingers hadn't even touched her yet when a small whimper escapes her lips stopping me dead in my tracks. Kneeling down next to the couch I watch her for a second before speaking, "Tao?"
Another whimper, this one slightly louder than the one before sounds from her.
"Wake up, Tao." I command lightly touching her shoulder.
"No...." She mumbles softly in her sleep, "not....closet."
I grab her shoulder and shake it slightly, "Tao....Lily, wake up."
Her whole body starts shaking as her hands come up and try to push me away, "Don't....no...."
Quickly sitting on the edge of the couch I reach down and gently pull her up into a sitting position, with my hands on her shoulders I gently shake her, "Wake up for me now, Lily. Please."
Her eyes pop open and she struggles against my grip on her shoulders for a moment before becoming very still.
"Lily?" I whisper softly looking into her eyes as recognition slowly dawns in them.
"I....must have....fallen asleep while waiting." She mumbles slightly quickly dropping her gaze from mine.
"Sounds like you were having a hell of a nightmare." I comment leaving my hands on her shoulders as she started to tremble slightly under my grip.
"More like....a bad memory coming back to haunt me." She replies trying to move out from under my grasp. "Can you please let go of me, Kaiba?"
I do as she asks and watch her stand, after a moment she heads over to the french doors behind my desk that lead outside to the back garden. She wraps her arms around herself and just stares outside for a few minutes, I was quite surprised when she started to softly speak. "My Uncle....is a cold, cruel heartless man to say the least. I'm sure you've guessed as much from looking through all those files that I left you yesterday."
"You don't have to talk about this right now if you don't want to." I say standing up and coming up to stand right behind her, "You can wait until we get to the cottage."
"Normally, I probably wouldn't be telling you this at all but....it helps to explain a bit more about who I am and why I try to hide my past from people. And why I tend to keep all but a select few at arms length."
*Lily's POV*
I resist the urge to lean back against Seto's chest when he says, "If you're sure about this."
I nod slowly before speaking, "When it comes to this I am. When my mother died we were living here in London, Mom had been trying to open a branch of Tao Technologies here but she was....killed when the private jet she was on crashed." I pause for a second before continuing, "She had gone to Los Angles to meet with the companies board of directors about some complications that had arisen with the opening of the London office."
"I take it that the problem was never resolved when your Uncle took over the reigns of the company?"
"No, Jean-Paul never agreed with my mothers decision to open offices outside of the states."
"That's very short sighted of him." Kaiba comments.
"Ever the business man, Kaiba." I chuckle before continuing, "Jean- Paul Tao has almost no business sense in all honesty. My grandfather realized this not long before he died and changed his will so that my mother would inherit."
"On the phone the other night Jean-Paul said something about your mother following a family tradition when she left the company to you instead of your brother?"
"My families company has been through many changes over the generations, its only been in the past 50 years or so that it has turned its eye to the fast growing field of technology. It actually started as a cosmetics company about a hundred years ago and back then not many men wanted to have anything to do with the cosmetics industry, it was thought of as an acceptable sideline for the women of the family so it wasn't though of as odd when the business was passed on from mother to oldest daughter. It was only when we started producing things other than cosmetics that it started being left to the oldest son."
"But your grandfather changed that when he saw that your Uncle was unsuitable to run a company."
"And when my mother decided to leave it to me in her will instead of Adam she started up the tradition yet again."
"If your Uncle was so unsuited to run a company why was he left in charge until you turned 21?"
"I have no clue, I really don't. Some of the parts of my mothers will make no sense at all to me."
"Like?" He asks watching my reflection in the glass.
"Alexis Tao, was a strong minded, stubborn woman who both loved and hated with equal intensity. And she hated her brother very much for some reason, in fact we didn't even know we had an Uncle until he came forward to claim us after out mothers death."
"Are you sure he's really our Uncle?"
"You really are suspicious, aren't you?" I comment dryly, "And yes, unfortunately he is. DNA tests were run at the board of directors insistence. It turned out that he and Alexis were twins and as I found out later hated his sister as much as she hated him."
"Was there a chance that her will was forged to include Jean-Paul?"
Shaking my head I sigh softly, "The lawyers said that she changed her will before she left LA."
"No one thought that it was odd that she changed her will all of a sudden to include someone that she hated? And not only that but trusted him with her children should something happen to her?"
"From what I was told growing up TT had always been thought of as a family first company so I'm sure that the board of directors were absolutely thrilled at the idea of brother and sister burying the hatchet after all those years." Turning around to face him I smile, "Thank you by the way."
A confused look enters his eyes, "For what?"
"For not pushing me to tell you what my nightmare was about." I reach out and tentatively touch his hand letting my fingers trail along his before pulling away and turning to face the window again, "The abuse....started our first night there. Evie was only a few months old at the time and neither Adam or myself wanted any us to be separated that first night so we fought it tooth and nail when the Nanny Jean-Paul hired tried to take her away. When Jean-Paul heard about it he was less then pleased....He demanded that we stop acting like spoiled rotten little brats and do what he said. Or we would be taught the consequences of our actions."
"You don't have to continue if you don't want to." Kaiba comments when I pause for a moment to take a breath.
"For someone who wants to know everything about me and my past you sure are giving me enough opportunities to back out of telling you." My eyes meet his in the reflection on the glass, "Change your mind?"
"No, I didn't change my mind. I just want you to be sure about this....And I also want to be sure that I have plenty of time to have all my questions answered."
"One thing that you and I do have in common, Kaiba is that neither of us does anything halfway. It's all or nothing with us, which depending on the situation is not always a good thing."
"But it's not necessarily a bad thing either, Tao." He responds sliding his arms around my waist and resting his chin on the top of my head, "There are going to be times with us when all or nothing is going to be a very, very good thing."
"Like when we finally make love?" I whisper entwining my fingers with his.
He was quiet for a few minutes before answering with a simple, "Yes."
"Seto?"
"Yes, Lily?"
"Remember how I said at lunch I would answer anything that you asked of me while we were gone?"
"Yes."
"We can start now if you want."
"Are you ticklish?"
"Very."
"What's your favorite time of day?"
"Around midnight."
"Do you have nightmares often?"
I pause for a moment before answering him, "Two or three times a night."
"Are they normally as bad as the one you had tonight?"
"Tonight was tame compared to what I normally have."
"What made tonight so different?"
"You were here to stop it before it got too bad."
"I'm glad to have been of service." He teases me lightly tightening his arm around me.
After a moment of silence I sigh softly and remove my hand from his, "I should be getting to bed. It's late and I promised Mokuba that special breakfast."
"You've been very good to my brother....Thank you."
"You don't have to thank me, I adore Mokuba. He's a wonderful little boy, you've done an amazing job with him." I grin at his refection as his arms tightened even more around my waist, "I can't leave if you don't let go of me you know."
"Stay with me tonight, Lily. Let me be there for you if you have another nightmare. I just want to hold you and find out what it's like to wake up with you in my arms."
"That kinda sounds like more than an employer/employee relationship, Kaiba." I comment managing to more about an inch or two away from him as begin to smirk, "I'm a valuable Kaiba Corp employee. Nothing more, nothing less....Remember?"
"You are a beautiful, kind, talented and loving woman, Lily. You deserve so much more than I can give you." He loosens his arms around me enough so that I can turn around and face him, "It's just that I don't have the time for ----."
I gently place a finger on his lips to quiet him, "Between Kaiba Corp, your brother and dueling there's not enough left over for a relationship. I know that and am completely okay with that, Seto. You also know how I feel about a serious relationship right now."
He gently kisses my fingers before bringing his one hand up to move them, "Even if you did want this to be serious it couldn't be."
"Out of simple curiosity Kaiba, why not?"
"Because, Tao I'm a horrible boyfriend. I just don't have the time to commit to a steady relationship right now, it just wouldn't be fair to whomever I was involved with."
"Wow, the great Seto Kaiba admitting that he's bad at something?" I lightly tease him before turning serious again, "And since neither of us wants anything serious or long term right now I have the perfect solution to whatever this....thing is between us."
Raising his eyebrow he asks, "Oh?"
Leaning up I brush my lips over his taking a moment to savor the feel of the kiss. His arms tighten around me again as he deepens the kiss, his mouth exploring mine slowly and methodically. It took all the willpower that I possessed to place my hands flat on his chest and gently push him away to break the kiss. Taking a deep breath I comment, "If we do to much more of this I won't be able to think straight."
"You started it." He teases leaning down and giving me a quick peck on the lips. "Now what is this solution that you've come up with?"
Slipping my arms around his waist I tilt my head to the side and look up at him, "That we let this attraction that we feel for each other take its course for the summer and when the time comes for us to go back to Domino City we pretend nothing happened."
"You want to....let things progress how they may during our time here in England and then just go back to an employer/employee relationship when we get back to Domino City?"
I nod slowly, "I would like to attempt a friendship when we go back for the sake of Mokuba, of course. I do have one condition if you agree to this though."
"And that would be?" He asks as his blue eyes begin to ice over slightly.
"That your brother never finds out about anything that happens with us."
A confused look enters his eyes replacing the chilly expression of a few seconds before, "My brother? What does Mokuba have to do with anything?"
Taking a deep breath, "I don't want to see him hurt. Even since he and I talked while I was in the hospital all he's wanted was for you and I to start going out together. No matter how many times I tell him it's not going to happen he just won't listen, he's as stubborn and tenacious as you are, Seto."
"You are telling me that you want to have nothing more than a fling with me this summer and you're more concerned with my brother being hurt by it than what I might think of you for suggesting it?" He looks at me closely for what seemed like an eternity, "You really do care about Mokuba, don't you?"
"Yes, I do. I love having him around."
He takes his hand and tenderly brushes some hair back from my face, "You've got yourself a deal but I have a condition of my own, Lily."
"And that would be?" I ask leaning my head on his chest.
"Stay with me tonight. I just want to sleep with you in my arms. Please?" He softly asks wrapping his arms tighter around me as he begins to stroke my hair.
Closing my eyes I savor the feeling of contentment that flows through me at the moment, "Yes, Seto....I'd love to wake up in your arms."
