Disclaimer: I do NOT own a single thing... Especially Yu-Gi-Oh!

He awoke at his usual time, seven o'clock on the dot. Never failing to roll out of bed and into the wash room. Mineko would hear his footsteps, but had no intention on removing herself from the warm sheets. But on occasion, like today, she sat up. Back against the frame of the bed, sheets still up to her chest.

Seto kept the bathroom door open, out of habit or sleepiness, she wouldn't ask. Mineko would watch as he washed his face, comb his hair and dress without a word. But you could wonder sometime. Her eyes didn't follow him, but just seemed to stare off.

On a few occasions, he would catch her gaze from the side; but, just as soon as it was captured, it was lost.

By the time eight o' clock rolled around he had finished his coffee and was readying himself to leave. Mineko watched him from the couch, now clothed in a robe. She usually moved from the bed to the couch a half an hour after Seto got up.

"Remember, we're leaving by six thirty." But for normal time, it would mean be ready by six twenty. Seto closed his suit case, lifting it off the table.

Mineko gave a nod of confirmation. "What are you planning to wear?"

She gave a look of thought, "Same dress as I wore before, I suppose. The black one. I only bought two dresses and the other one isn't very formal."

He paused by the couch, thinking of saying something. But in the end, he left without a word, like always.

Mineko returned from eating lunch down at the hotel's cafe, downstairs. She noted that the maid had already come and that everything was still there. But as she passed by the living room table, there was something that wasn't there before.

'A box?'

It was upon the glass table, with a silver ribbon wrapped around it. No card, just a box. Mineko set her new purse on the chair, observing the box further. After several seconds, her curiosity nagged at her to open the package. So, she did just that, pulling the silver ribbon it came undone easily.

Minkeo's gaze went wide. Inside contained a fabric, as soft as you would think a cloud would be. The color was the contrast of blue in a moon-lit night sky.

Cloud-soft and night-blue...

With care, she lifted the dress out of the box by the thin shoulder straps. A smile played on her lips.

There was no question about who it was from.

Without another thought she adorned the heavenly garment and applied the mask of makeup. Looking in the mirror, she no longer saw herself. The girl that learned the ways of the street and how to make cash out of nothing was no longer in the room. The girl that played men's games and acted like a child was not there. Trashy, malnourished, disgusting, vial girl was not present. In her place, a woman of experience stood. She seemed happy and looked well off; but only in appearance. For inside, past the dress and makeup, it was the same scared child that was found on the streets so many years ago.

The clock's chimes were heard, signaling six o'clock. Mineko pinned back the right side of her hair, bunching up the shallow waves of curls behind her ear with a clip that radiated elegance. The elegance that she could not provide, the clip made up for. By the time she finished, the door clicked open and Seto walked in with brisk strides.

She turned to face him from where she was in the restroom. He said not a word while removing his tie and shoes. Momentarily, Seto disappeared into the closet, only to reemerge in a crisp white shirt and black slacks. Wordlessly he wound his un knotted black necktie around the collar of his shirt before looking up, straight at her.

The bathroom's vanity lights shone upon her pale peach skin. Violet curls hung over her shoulder and back. The midnight hued gown hung off her small frame loosely; yet tightened around her petite waist before hanging off her hips and stopping just over her ankles. The satin material fit her nicely.

Seto paused to gaze at her, assessing her image. In his mind, he tried to find a word other than beautiful to describe her. It was a hard task, considering that his mind just stopped functioning logically.

Her shining lips were slightly parted as her purple orbs gazed at him with wonder. Her small hands, which had previously been resting on the counter slid off as she turned to face him squarely. She waited in her spot, hands folded in front of her patiently.

She wondered what he was thinking. Their gazes were locked on one another; yet the connection seemed off. To re establish it, the distance became smaller. Before they realized their own movement, and that they were only at arm's length now, Mineko's eyes retreated down, onto his figure.

She noted his pressed, dark slacks and crisp white shirt. Her gaze, however, stopped short on his loose tie. Without either of them realizing it, the tips of Mineko's fingers brushed against the material, taking it into her light grasp. Both her hands worked to smooth out the fabric and wrap it around his collar with expertise. Before she had time to blink and come to her senses, between her fingers lay a complete tie. Smoothly knotted and tightened around Seto's throat.

In return, his fingertips found the path to her jaw line, barely gracing the surface of her powdered flesh. The connection was established once more.

It seemed so easy to just lean in and take a taste of Mineko's mouth. He wondered about her reaction, her thoughts. Yet, both seemed irreverent, as his desired overruled his thoughts.

The phone rang, breaking the thoughts of the pair. For a few seconds, neither of them moved, but stared to the mechanical annoyance on the night stand. Her hands still touched his pressed shirt and tidy necktie while his palm still hovered on her face, before eventually falling to his sides. Hesitantly he strode over to the phone, not because he was regretting the call, but of leaving her side.

Hastily, he removed the phone from it's cradle, bringing it to his ear, "What?"

"Mr. Kaiba, your car is ready."

Without another word, he returned the device to it's resting position and made a reach for his formal jacket. He slid his long arms into the sleeves before settling it over his shoulders. He threw a glance at the woman behind him. She still stood in the center of the room, looking fresh and radiant. This time, her hands found one another and started playing with one another's fingers to keep busy.

"Come," he broke her thoughts, "the car's ready."

She understood, turning off the restroom light and grabbing her blue shawl and heels. Soon after, she followed him out the door, closing the door behind her.

A line went out the door of a grand building, someone's house and kingdom. The guests were all dressed ornately in fine fabrics and jewels. Women put on their perfect masks beside their significant other, be it their husband or pimp, there was no difference. The men, or more, pigs, let their beautiful trophies hand off their wrists with the grace of a god. For money and power were at their disposal, as well as the will of people.

But, the line of creatures entering the grand building were not people at all, they were not the ones being by other creatures. They ruled others with the sin of greed and power. Humans were controlled by these monsters, and in turn, these monsters were controlled by their money and desires.

Quick, blinding flashed popped up randomly as the car pulled up along the crowd.

"Stay close and keep your eyes on me."

The person inside did not wait for the attendant to come to his assistance and opened the shining black door himself with the grace of a god. His tall frame emerged from the vehicle. The flashes' rate increased dramatically, yet he paid no mind. He spared not a glance at the cameras or microphones as his attention stayed inside the vehicle.

Seto held his hand out, and as commanded, she accepted it with a small smile. He eased her out of the car and kept his sharp blue gaze on her reaction. Her wide violet eyes stayed on him as he started his motion past the line of monsters and photographers towards the grand building's entrance.

With all the flashes and shouting, Mineko felt her heart threaten to fail, yet her feet kept moving to keep up with his large strides. His heart rate seemed unaffected by the press. He was the only thing keeping her on her feet. She kept her gaze on him, absorbing his calm visage and mirroring it as her own. She felt, it kept her sane. She felt it created the allusion that the shouting people were behind them as they continued to the front of the monster made line.

The greeted did not attempt to halt Seto Kaiba as he reached the entrance, nor did the greeter start to ask for the guest's name. Everyone knew him, everyone feared him.

Female's smile increased as he passed, giggles erupted from their vile throats. Men gazed wearily after him before clutching their wives or mistress's arm tighter as a reminder to whom they are really with.

Mineko looked at the gold covered realm before her. Bright, diamond chandeliers covered the high ceilings and gowned vixens with their partners scattered about the granite floor. It was a dream; yet, she knew it was really a nightmare in disguise.

"Think about every word that you say. They look for weakness, so keep up a mask," he warned. "Don't speak to anyone, and escape from any un necessary conversation. Try and stay close to me." For his sake, as well as hers.

She would be thrown into a world where it was live or die, to the monsters of another world, the world of business. Seto's world...

She walked among them, seemingly the same as the monsters surrounding her. Her hand clutched Seto's arm, he only form of safety. Men descended upon them, as a wolf would it's prey, shaking Seto's reluctant hand. His eyes turned hard upon glancing at the other business men. His tone turned sharp and gruff. She felt his hand loose the warmth that it used to hold. He no longer seemed the same.

Despite her fears, she kept her chin up. She placed a mask upon her face, offering light smiles at the joking men. Until familiar faces came up to them.

"Yatobi-Sama," Mineko greeted. Seto's eyes further collapsed into a glare in the direction of the family. Marena stared distantly at Kaiba before moving her light eyes to the woman at his arm. Mineko still offered her smile, yet the blond was having a struggle accepting it.

"Oh, so nice to see you two together," Mrs. Yatobi forced a large, bleach white smile. A plan was taking place, it succeeded in separating Mineko from the safety of Seto's arm. The two female's used the excuse of "getting to know the other girl's" to pull the unsuspecting girl away.

Mineko looked back at the tall brunet with pleading eyes as Yatobi dragged her through the elegantly distressful crowd to a group of older women. However, he started to gather more attention of other businessmen, as well as hopeful females.

Yatobi Marena, still had mixed feelings about the thought of Mineko. On one side, she thought that as a person, she was quite nice and understanding. Mineko had yet to really say anything that would make Marena hostile towards the female. Yet, Mineko had broken her heart, taking the man that she most desired away. The thought of them holding hands, kissing, set her jaw and groomed hands tight.

It wasn't like she was a wannabe Mrs. Kaiba, she actually had a chance... at one point. It was the climax of her life, that night. At a party four years ago she became another woman that shared his bed, for only a few hours. But, after that, not even a word would be directed at her. She still could not accept that it would only be a one-time thing. She still would not accept that he felt nothing that night. She would accept that he had slept with other women. She would even accept that he would still sleep with others. Yet, they way that he seemed to act with Mineko, and the way that Mineko looked at Seto with such admiration drove her crazy.

Could that girl be a reason for him to change? Marena was scared. Scared and jealous that Mineko could have such a dramatic change on people to be categorized as 'special'.

She saw herself as helping the poor girl, Mineko, showing her the real world. The world that Seto Kaiba is from. The world that Mineko would have to learn to accept without any support if she was to go any further with the all-known CEO.

The violet haired woman stared at the group of female wolves, scrutinizing her every breath. She told herself to keep breathing and kept her head high. They seemed ill amused and maintained their previous conversation, ignoring the fresh meat.

Mineko kept silent, listening to the excessive chatter of the women. Every action, every comment, she took in and noticed something quite surprising. Between the women that stood in front of her, were really no different that the girls that were confined to the alleyway.

Sure, the women here were well dressed and sheltered; but everything else about them is the same. Both ate scarcely, with the exception of availability. Both had to be weary of one another, fear of them taking what they had. Both wanted money, more. However, the huge detail that Mineko saw, was that both were at the service of men.

The wives and mistresses had to maintain their picture perfect beauty for the men, for fear of loosing their fine clothes, food and status. For the women that were like Mineko, beauty was their job and life if they were to survive.

Now Mineko asks, what is really different between the group of women in front of her, and the people she came from? Her eyes glanced down at her new shoes, before shooting back to the painted faces of the ladies. She still didn't fit in. In both groups, she did not belong.

"Seto," an older man pat the younger on the back, "that was quite a ravenous, young lady you held by arm." He laughed in a booming voice; yet Seto did not change his stone expression. "Where in Tokyo did you see her?"

"Oh, Yamamoto," another commented, "leave him be. He is quite young and popular with the ladies. You understand, like you use to be."

"Used to be? Have you not seen my date?"

"Are you referring to the teenager with the large forehead? I think I saw her in back with a server." Again, the men laughed half halfheartedly, with the exception of Seto. He looked out at the finely dressed crowd. Scanning, he could not find the woman in mind. How hard was it to locate a purple haired woman?

But a lone figure soon caught his attention, on the far end of the room, on the balcony, she stood isolated. He mannerly left the group of colleagues, taking a step towards the other end of the room; but some females had other plans now that he was away from the other men.

"Oh, Mr. Seto," a short girl took hold of his arm, pulling him down to her level, and ultimately halting his stride. His expression automatically sharpened.

This was the reason that he brought her. To keep the other women away!

"Mr. Seto," the midget repeated, she was even shorter than Mineko, "I believe you know my father. I would just love to-"

"Stop suffocating him, Shira, he wouldn't want to talk to you," another girl cried, gripping Seto's other arm. Both females failed to notice his icy glare until he ripped his arms away from them. Kaiba told himself to breath in order to lower his blood pressure, as these women were not regular, middle class girls.

The females that had had the nerve to touch him were young, eighteen maybe. Certainly naïve to the bone. He stared them venomously down, daring anyone to further advance before turning and continue walking.

Parties, he hated them! This was the worst time of his life. Worse than the night before project deadlines when he'd stay up for nearly weeks straight beforehand. Worse than his high school years. This month required him to be sociable, have restraint, and deal with the stress of it all.

After a certain amount of time listening to the painted ladies talk, she'd had enough and decided that she needed some un-perfumed air. She now leaned against the balcony rail, relaxing herself.

A smile soon formed upon her lips as she enjoyed the pull of the breeze on her hair. It reminded her of gentle caress on her exposed skin. It was the first calm that she felt all night at the party, before an intruder came.

"Hello there," a man said joining her in the open air. Mineko turned in his direction, evidently surprised. He had jet black hair that fell over his eyes in a messy yet swave style. A silver cartilage piercing shone under the natural light of the stars and his expression was calm and confident.

"You seemed like you could use some company. May I have the honor?" His tone seemed to expect a positive answer. So he was quite surprised when she politely refused. He stared at her with a calculating gaze before speaking once more, "How about a drink?"

Her violet eyes moved towards him once more. Did he not understand? The dark haired man seemed to be playing ignorant, and believed that she was playing hard headed.

"I'm sorry, but I'm not feeling very well. Please leave," her gaze hardened as she removed her eyes from his figure. Only when she heard his fading footsteps did she feel at peace once more.

'Why had you bring me here, Seto?'

Yet she somehow understood why. It was possible that he wanted her to understand his world and see him in both lights. But, didn't he know that it didn't matter to her?

'Seto... You can be a drug dealer or a murderer and I'd still stay with you without a judgmental thought...'

Her eyes reflected the crescent in the sky, a moon that was not quite whole. She recalled his image, the different one of his cold stare and demeaning words. To her, it was a side that she had not been very acquainted with. The Seto that she felt and understood was lonely with kind actions. She imagined that people usually had it the other way around. But who really had it backwards or forwards? Did it really matter?

"Mineko"

She turned away from the balcony view to the speaker. Her hair still held the ending curls over her shoulder. The dark dress offered a slight shimmer in the night, outlining her form. It was enough to make Seto pause for a second, just to gaze before speaking once more.

"Are you trying to hide?" A smirk started to play on his lips as he joined her side. She shook her head, allowing her tumbling curls to sway to and fro. "Everything just became too..." She searched for the best word to say, but he seemed to understand and said nothing when the thought never finished.

His eyes settled on her hand that rested on the stone balcony railing. His larger hand lay beside hers, only an inch away. Mineko seemed to not notice the distance as she gazed upon the man-made forest bellow. If he were to describe both of their hands, it would be cold and lonely. The only comfort being from the contact of their palms to the cold stone.

Suddenly, he noticed her palm move atop of his, grasping it with a weak effort. Her slender fingers fitting between his thumb and index finger safely. Slowly, his eyes traveled from her hand, up her arm, to her serine face. She still looked out at the night, but the pull of his gaze was too much and her lips formed into a smile with her eyes turning to his.

The frustration that he felt only moments before was gone, and he could think once more. This was why he needed her here. To calm him. She was a drug, his drug.

The pair returned to their room quietly. Mineko busied herself with removing the mask of makeup; though it was little, it still felt heavy. Slowly, she became herself again. She released her hair from it's bonds, setting the clip aside and exited the bathroom.

She found Seto on the veranda, sipping a glass of wine on the edge of a chair. On the neighboring chair, she seated herself, only glancing at the liquid for a moment.

"You drink alcohol," she found herself saying. Why did she just realize this now?

Seto took a few seconds to stare at the liquid gold in the crystal glass. He rolled it around. "I usually don't."

Mineko eyed the glass with a weary gaze, but with the last sip of the liquid gold gone, she had nothing to glare at except for the empty container. Never, she always thought, has alcohol led to anything good. But she left the thought behind. Maybe it would change.

The glass was placed on the table that separated them. Seto noticed her silence; yet could not decide if he enjoyed it or not.

"You find it strange?"

Her eyes met his with a tilt of the head. Seto saw her breathing, the lights of the night sparkle in her eyes, the waiting lips.

"I'm fine with... different people," Mineko explained softly. Seto's eyes seemed to ask a silent question that he refused to vocalize. 'Such as...?'

I small, sad smile seemed to make it's presence known on her lips, a surprising feature when remembering her past. "Strange," she started, looking out at the lights of Tokyo, "how some men love. Certain men could only ever love one woman, or more so, would only love one woman such as their first love or their mother." She allowed a sigh to escape her lips as she sank deeper in the patio chair. "They'd always... call me Kyomi, Sakura, Izuki, etc., doll me up and play..."

Even if he didn't show it, Seto felt uncomfortable listening to her speak about other 'client's' preferences. Yet, he felt compelled to listen and understand what she went through. He found himself wanting to understand. Maybe then, her mysterious shield would disappear for him.

The very same shield that she constructed while at the party was the one that he deceivingly tried to destroy. A façade. An act. Suppressing who she truly was behind her dark eyes and pale skin to try and save herself from shattering.

Mineko, however, had no regrets about disclosing her information. Seto is the only client... person that seemed to want to get to know her. He didn't try to mold her into who he wanted, but explored who she is.

"So," she turned to him once more, "I don't find anyone really 'strange,' especially not you..."

Yet, everyone was different...

She smiled to herself, and faced the view of the city, but concentrated on the man next to her. He seemed calm.

"Well, I guess I'm going to take a shower now," she stood up with caution, not wanting to disturb the calm blanket that seemed to cover the patio.

"Mineko..."

She turned to face him with a tilt of her head stopping not three steps away. "Come here," he beckoned in a soft tone. Mineko complied without a word, sitting on the edge of his cushioned chair.

"Seto...?"

She felt his hand on her cheek, with his spidery long fingers. A smile cracked on her lips.

He studied her face. Had she ever worn make up around him before? She didn't quite look like the woman he recalled from the past few days. She radiated kindness; yet it wasn't quite the same.

"Don't put too much make-up on."

Seto saw the confusion in her eyes, but she didn't ask why. She responded with a nod before standing. He thought she would return inside to shower, yet Mineko contemplated something.

Seto rested his head on his palm and closed his eyes; if she wanted to continue to talk, he would listen. But it was a complete surprise when he felt something press on his forehead. He smelled her and felt the warmth of her hand against his shoulders.

It didn't last long enough before she retreated. When Seto opened his eyes, there was no one in sight, but he could hear her retreating footsteps.

His fingers brushed against his forehead. An odd sensation was left that caused his chest to lighten. He smirked and dropped he hand while opening his eyes.

Mineko blushed to herself while walking to the bathroom. Her fingers rested on her lips with a smile.

"He didn't push away..."

It has been so long since I've updated this. I am sorry for the delay. Special and sincere thank you to bjjoke, aurdox, and michiei. I appreciate your reviews very much!

I've had this typed for quite a while, but the ending never seemed right to me, even now, it seems slightly off; but I really wanted it to be updated and my cousin kept telling me that I'm being too anal... So, I hope it was enjoyable for you. The next chapter really pushed the bond between Seto and Mineko, so please keep reading!

I would love to hear from more people!

-Sin