He'd been in town only a short while. Something about helping to organize a Duel Monsters tournament in Cairo.

He'd changed since she'd last seen him. No longer a scowling young man, limbs naturally lanky but held and bent to his will with the tightest of control. A too-smart, too proud elegant peacock of a young boy who's dared to challenge her mindset. His triumph ever a blessing, no matter how rudely and cruelly it had been wrought.

The ever-present line between his brows had since smoothed over with an air of confidence. He was-dare she think it-softer, somehow. Grown-up. Lashings-out reduced to a minimum. Pleasant conversation managing to spill from his lips with only a modicum of effort. Faint parentheses on the corners of his mouth suggesting he now smiled more than he had in the past. Voice more even. Less inclined to rise in pitch when panicked or irritated.

Indeed, he'd matured enough to ask her to lunch before he departed for Japan once more. His voice steady, something like flash of anticipation in his eyes when he'd asked her-

And for her to say yes-

-it shouldn't have felt quite like this.

It was a welcome change to be sitting across from him, separated by propriety and a crisp white tablecloth.

It's only for that reason that it's nice to see him, Ishizu reminded herself fruitlessly as her teeth threatened to cut into her lower lip like the slick silverware slicing up the mixed grilled vegetables on her plate.

Certainly not because she was now able to have a conversation with him that involved merely an eyeroll rather than a snarl when their views diverged.

Certainly not because she'd somehow managed to make him laugh. Not entirely unkindly. Just enough like himself to set her at ease.

It was certainly not because this strange vision of Seto Kaiba on the other side of the table appealed to her beyond that. Beyond a certain... friendly acknowledgement that the boy had become a man.

Certainly nothing more than that-

"Had any visions lately...?"

Out of the corner of her eye, she saw Seto prop his elbows on the table, fixing her with a tiny smirk. The boy she remembered.

He was galling her.

Ishizu returned his faint smug smile, placing her elbows on the table and tucking her chin onto clasped hands.

"I don't think you actually want to go down this road with me, Seto Kaiba..."

Seto shrugged sharply, thin shoulders rising and dropping like the limbs of a marionette. "Fair enough."

Ishizu crossed her legs uncomfortably as Seto raised his hand to catch a nearby server's eye.

"The check, if you don't mind-"

"Would you like to see a dessert menu, sir?"

A twitch of a frown pulled at the corner of Seto's mouth. He checked his delicate wristwatch and dipped his head, more to himself than to the server.

"The check." His voice was suddenly stony. Firm. The voice of someone used to getting his way.

Silence poured into the space between them like a glass of water as the server collected their plates and departed, then brought back the bill. Seto signed his name with a dramatic flourish and checked his watch again, that old familiar line etching itself into his brow.

"Not to cut lunch short, Ishizu, but I do have to get back to Domino-I have a prototype for a new game I have to test out-" His voice was threaded through with an air of displeasure as he rose and smoothed out the front of his black suit.

She supposed he'd stopped wearing trenchcoats years ago.

Of course. Ishizu dutifully rose and extended her hand to him. "I think your tournament will be a success."

"For the sake of the commissioner's job, let's hope so." The words characteristically wry on his tongue as he took her hand in his and shook it briskly.

Ishizu could only hope he didn't notice the dampness of her palm.

Yet Seto didn't let go of her hand right away. Another smile curling on his lips as they made eye contact, Ishizu's cheeks warming at the directness of his gaze.

"It's been a pleasure," Seto continued, his voice suddenly quieter. More serious.

Almost...shy?

"May I?"

And before Ishizu could ask for clarification, he lifted her trembling hand to his mouth and brushed his lips against it.

Ishizu was nearly floored by the rush that tore through her at this strange touch.

Dropping her hand, he met her wide-eyed look, a wide grin of satisfaction spreading on his face as he bowed his head.

"I hope our paths cross again, Ishizu Ishtar."

As Seto turned and walked out of the restaurant, Ishizu licked her lips nervously, the hand he had kissed seemingly ablaze with sensation.

Knees weak, she dropped back into her seat, her breathing suddenly shallow, coming out as a pant.

The server paused by the table. "Everything all right, ma'am?"

Ishizu cleared her throat thickly. "Yes-thank you. Just-just give me a minute."

Despite the lightheaded feeling keeping her in her chair, she couldn't resist letting out a murmured giggle.