Haven't been around for a while, but hey, what's life without problems? I'm pretty much a week behind schedule on this, so I'll see how much I can get done on Appearances in the coming week.

Kazuki Takahashi owns Yugioh; Melzart owns this story.

For those who are interested, it's right around now that Kaiba starts to become extremely creeper and, personally, OOC, but hey. More practice for me, and reading for you!

Appearances

by Melzart

. . .

Chapter 7

The Target

. . .

Several days off would end up being beneficial: time could heal the wound, and she could resume doing normal activities.

Kaiba hadn't forgotten her and left evident traces to remind her of his presence, such as a white rose on the threshold of the door or at reception, not counting the messages and phone calls when he tried to join her. But she didn't share his interest. Besides, she didn't even answer the telephone, convinced that he would be on the other line.

If her heart sometimes grew tender when she thought of the relationship between the two brothers, she came just as quickly to reason: Kaiba could be the most seductive of men, but she stayed determined to stay away from him, even if she surprised herself too often by dreaming of him, at night in the hollows of her bed, and the touch of his fingers on her body. But she would never admit that to him. So she firmly scolded herself for chasing the slightest little temptation; it took all of her gymnastic spirit to consistently and mentally convince herself to stay far away from him. He was abominable, egotistical… nothing good could come out of a relationship with him. In the end, it was something she had decided to keep after her hospital stay. Of course it didn't appear too efficient, even if she did try to convey the impression, to continue to veil her emotions.

. . .

Outside of Kaiba's recurring appearances, there was also something else that had irritated her since her release: a strange, uncomfortable feeling, about other people. A feeling of immediate danger which still hadn't gone away.

Each time that she stepped outside, her antennae instantly sprang to attention. It had become second nature to her, and had been that way for quite a while. But unlike normal, this disturbed her. She had even thought about calling him, just to shake it off. It was just only when she forgot that she didn't need him, in a moment's weakness, that she could correct it.

Kaiba had opted for the ultimate in secrecy: in Naomi's case, it was an asset, and he knew that perfectly well. Actually, if it were possible, and barring the fact he feared no one, he doubted his actions concerning the young woman, as if by misfortune she had just found out that he had been watching her much closer than she could have imagined.

Certain guards had become cooks, others servants, and one even a bellboy, to quench the suspicions she would have been sure to have. It was art. He had surpassed himself. He took from it the largest of satisfactions.

All of his senses, especially the most protective, stayed alert. Except this time, he had two people to watch over: Mokuba, being under the strictest surveillance; and Naomi.

And he hoped she wouldn't notice.

Despite the animating desire he had to rush into the room, shove her on the bed and ardently knock her brains out, he kept his cool as he approached her, believing that time would help make her come back to him. If he showed himself to be diligent in awaiting her approach, he didn't want to be brusque; he knew that would cause him to lose. If he hadn't already.

But she still didn't reply to a single one of his calls. It had become even irritating because he knew perfectly well that she was in her room; needing to know her slightest movement had become more frustrating than he could have ever imagined.

He had to, however, admit that his patience had won when he found the receiver in his hand again. Annoyed, and at the height of his exasperation, he finally opted for action. At least she would be obligated to see him.

. . .

She decided to give up working on the computer to take a bath and relax. Too many things were rushing through her head; nothing beneficial. At least, in her opinion. In the heat of the water which was foamy up to the brim of the tub, she closed her eyes, and let herself peacefully sink.

Kaiba knocked on the door, repeatedly, with no results.

After several minutes of waiting, having had enough, he turned towards Sam, his spy-boy, to open the door after being assured she was still inside.

Cautiously, he entered the suite, passing through the foyer. The computer was on, the bed was empty. No trace of Naomi.

There was nothing left but the bathroom, and the door was closed.

He hesitated a long moment before putting his fingers on the doorknob. The thought of finding himself the target of her fury had stopped his élan.

"Naomi?" he asked, several times.

Only silence answered.

Slowly, he opened the door. She lay in her bath, eyelids shut, completely immobile.

If she's sleeping but then she sees me… I'm dead. Come on! You're Kaiba! You can get away with anything.

Suddenly, the wind of worry rustled by him.

And what if she's…?

He immediately chased the thought from his mind.

Virtually on tiptoe, he carefully advanced up to the tub, holding back his breath.

Her body was completely covered by soap suds, depriving him of letting him see her in her totality. The thought made him grimace and redden rather stupidly.

What's wrong with me? I wouldn't like being intruded upon like this…

Only he didn't need to see her body to remember every inch of it. It haunted him, day and night. Even though he tried, with all the methods he knew, to take her clothes off.

His memory of it was anchored sufficiently well enough inside his mind and his flesh, strengthening his flagrant desire. If she surprised him, then, at that instant, she would have no difficulty sensing his immense agitation.

With his hand, which had begun to tremble, he swept his fingers over her mouth without touching, and sighed with relief when he felt her breathe. She was sleeping.

And she was so beautiful.

Don't look at her… she's just, after all, a woman. And you… are a man… no, not like that… don't look at her, he tried to persuade himself as he stood up, incapable of detaching his eyes from her.

Okay. Good. Now, turn around and walk to the door, he now ordered himself. It's alright. You can do it. Don't turn around.

Completely tense, he managed to leave the room; to his relief and despite the fact he didn't quite understand what had gotten into him in the first place.

Wake her up. How? No, don't go back there. I know she's pretty. She's beautiful.

He decided upon startling her awake by slamming the bathroom door shut. Surely that would work. At least, he would no longer be suffering this endless torment, as long as he didn't find himself before her again.

With a jump, Naomi awoke instantaneously, her mind reintegrating with her body a bit slowly. An intense pain went through her thigh; she had stood so quickly that she had forgotten the wound.

"Oooow!" she screamed in pain.

Kaiba had heard her hurried movements and then her wail. Without thinking, he opened the door suddenly and found himself before her, just as dumbstruck as she probably was when she saw him.

"What the – ?" she shrieked again.

Kaiba lowered his eyes to the ground, completely aware of his blunder. But instead of excusing himself, his gaze wandered feebly up the length of her legs, then her stomach, then her chest; his eyes grew at each stage, until he was staring at her in the eye: she was naked. Entirely naked.

With a rough movement, she snatched up a nearby towel and gathered it around her, staring at him apoplectically.

"I…" Kaiba started, before understand that she was in such a state that any explanation was to be in vain.

Naomi's face had darkened so speedily that he didn't dare shout, either.

"Get out!" she shouted, over and over.

He sealed his lips against hers in a sort of forbidden kiss. Almost automatically and without the time to comprehend the situation, she found herself locked against him, taken more than aback.

Kaiba broke the embrace long enough to languorously shift his face further forward, smelling her neck as if it were a flower.

She isn't defending herself. Is she still… trembling?

A sweet conqueror's smile lit up Kaiba's face, who was ardently wishing he could find his own body naked against hers.

Naomi flinched back violently when she felt Kaiba's evident desire pressing against her stomach; Kaiba quickly detached himself in suit.

His clothes were wet now, but he hardly noticed.

"I know," he murmured into the crook of her ear. "I'm going."

Naomi stood in the middle of the room, utterly paralyzed.

What a monster. I bet he thinks he can get away with anything!

But wasn't his charm wrapped up in that plain little assurance?
Again, the odd and all-encompassing sensation of wanting to feel his hands on her body, his hot and humid mouth sweeping over her neck. And the intense heat, an eternal tickling in the pit of her stomach.

Dangerously seductive. Yes, it was becoming ever more dangerous to find herself in the same room as Kaiba.

No. That's not possible. It's surely the medication. It has to be… no, you're lying… you know it's… no, no. That's enough. Oh really? But you already let him-

Snapping out of her reverie, she let a sigh trail out. But no relief came to her; no peace.

Kaiba fought bravely with himself to not continue intruding and rip the towel off her flimsy little body.

It's only one small action. It's easy. She wants you, too. Maybe she's even waiting… no. I want her to come to me. That way she'll be all mine…

Betrayed by his desires, he saw his hands put themselves on her again, mouth unite with her skin.

Almost enraged, he let himself be carried by the memories.

She's driving you… completely… insane.

It took him a minute to succeed in moderating his thoughts and return to his normal state.

He finally decided to use a chair and wait there patiently, gaze fixed on the door, like a wolf eyeing its prey with a piercing glare.

She wants you and you know it

Naomi kept a disciplinary eye on him.

"You have no right to walk into people's homes lie this!" she reproached firmly.

He stood up to his full height, resolved to not hear a single critique concerning his behavior, even though he deserved it. Instead of glancing away sheepishly, he kept his icy stare on her.

"You were sleeping in the bathtub," he remembered.

"So?" she spat, offended. "That's off-topic!"

She understood that he was probably worried, given his silence, and that's what had convinced him to barge in. Only normal people didn't act like that.

"I don't want you coming in here like this is your house. That isn't going to work," she told him again, taking care to remain as annoyed as possible.

But he neither moved nor showed the slightest reticence.

"I want you out of my life, Kaiba," she breathed, insistent.

Nothing was comparable to the torture she was inflicting.

"If you don't stop, I'll kiss you," he dared.

Naomi wrinkled her eyebrows, ticked off by the remark.

"Did you understand what I just said?" she asked.

He took a step towards her, defiant.

"Do you?" he continued.

Somewhat won over, she thought it better to back down. Nobody could play hardball with this guy. She knew that.

She let out another long sigh, shaking her head slightly from side to side.

"What do you want from me?" she gasped, vexed from the wild goose chase.

I want all of you, Naomi

She dearly regretted the question when she looked at him again. He hadn't said anything, but she had clearly heard.

His persistence was beginning to mystify her. She was growing more and more ill at ease.

"Why are you here?" she asked, she tried again.

Kaiba sensed her feelings of disarray, and decided to keep things simple.

"I came to see how you were doing, given you aren't given to picking up the phone."

She almost replied too snidely to the remark, but watered it down before speaking.

"As you can see, I'm completely fine."

But Kaiba was not to be demoralized by the fake comments.

"And if I were to invite you to eat with us – "

"I'm not hungry, I'll eat later."

It was becoming more and more difficult for her to keep control of herself. She hoped he would give up and would just go away. Only – and she knew this – that wasn't on his mind.

"You have to bored here all alone," he asked as he took another step towards her, inoffensively.

"I want you to get out now," she dared.

But Kaiba had played the 'inattentive' card, of his own free will, and was now directly in front of her, their bodies only inches apart.

"What did you say?" he asked, in a tone filled with innocence and plunging his gaze deep into her own eyes.

Annoying much?

It already had taken her so much courage to ask him to leave the first time that she asked herself how she could actually repeat herself. He took an evident pleasure in watching her wander haltingly through her own thoughts.

Kaiba definitely knew that if she had truly wanted to see him scurry out with his tail between his legs, she would have said what she had directly, without remorse, with no regrets. But she stayed there, her breathing increasingly labored, lowering her eyes and then raising them again.

But she still refused to admit her weakness.

"I want you to leave," she said, shielding her face.

A light rosy tint shaded her cheeks. She began to shake.

Am I troubling her this much? he asked himself, remembering what had just occurred involving the bathtub. We'll see.

Softly, he placed his hands on either arm, and his face bent down towards hers, placing her cheeks beneath his nose.

I like your scent, Naomi.

She stuck her nose up. And a strange shiver ran the length of her body. Stop playing with me.

Her lips did not move.

"You were saying?" he murmured into her ear. "Oh! You want me to leave, right?"

On the verge of fainting, or burying into his neck, she replied timidly:

"Yes…"

But he locked himself around her again. He could feel her. All of her.

Does she honestly think I don't know how she feels?

"Say it again," he breathed, tenderly.

She was going to faint; there was nothing she could do about it.

"I would like you to…"

Kaiba's lips, descending onto her neck, interrupted her.

"Really?" he said. "Say it!"

Please let go of me. Let go of me…

"Please leave," she succeeded in telling him.

There. She was begging, and it was too late to hold back her words.

Too late. You said it, he thought, contentedly surprised. Such a word didn't escape him. He defied her more firmly now, cupping her chin in his fingers.

"Look me in the eyes if you want me to leave. It should be easy if you hate me so much," he said, staring at her.

Naomi blushed furiously. She couldn't, anymore.

He could almost laugh at loud as he saw her face deny it. But he only smiled; maybe it would make things a tad easier on her.

"Alright," he sighed. "Just a kiss… and I'll go. I promise."

Naomi's body jerked slightly. It was true, she had bowed away at that precise instant. He was deliberately playing with her. And she didn't doubt the extent to which his happiness would rise if she were to faint idiotically into his arms.

"Really?" she said meekly.

Kaiba suddenly regretted having granted her the liberty, seeing as she was desperate to have it. But he only had one word, even if it was strained by the irresistible desire to make a tiny exception to the rule. Just this once.

If she had found herself in a man's body, she could have felt all the pleasure he was feeling in watching her squirm maladroitly in the trap he had concocted.

He wasn't going to take his clothes off, right?

"Yes," he breathed, waiting for her reaction.

She offered him her lips.

"But it's just so that you go," she sighed with a glimmer in her eyes, as if she had sacrificed herself for a good cause.

"Of course," he said, victim to his own uncertainty.

A new shiver snaked up Naomi as he held her more tightly against him and their lips touched in a torrid passion.

Kaiba's hands were insistent all the way down her back.

Drag her to the bed… she's dying to… you know it.

No… I have to stop… I have… I can't stop him… he is… he's-?

She was cut off in her thoughts when she felt herself lifted off the ground and placed lightly on the bed.

Kaiba's desire was becoming more fervent with each touch his hands made on her body.

Don't deny me, Naomi. Not now. Not ever.

Their breathing was divided by avid kisses between their mouths.

But she struggled righteously against his advances, to Kaiba's disappointment as he felt her resist.

No. Not this. No.

"Stop," she managed to babble as he devoured her neck in burning kisses.

I'm a goner if he keeps going…

"No," he said simply, entirely devoted to the cause of eternalizing their pleasure.

Again, Naomi felt her strength leave her.

Why are you doing this to me, Seto?

"You promised me."
Kaiba froze at the words. Yes, he had sworn to it. But…

I lied…

Why did I promise anything to her knowing that I couldn't keep it?
 The trap had turned against him.

But, a good sport, he resigned without protest, the 'faithful man' that he was. Except he was shaking furiously in his skin for all of the profound desire he felt for her.

He stopped all movement, horribly ashamed but kept prisoner by his word; he was still wondering how he could have stopped.

"Fine," he hissed into her ear. "But it'll only wait until next time…"

And you know it.

Naomi lay there, silent, shaking and giving a long yet inaudible sigh of relief when Kaiba decided to separate from her.

It was so unfair.

Give me back my word. Hold me back.

He hadn't lost his capacity to keep a proud, haughty expression on the outside; but inside – there – he had fallen on his knees, begging. To hell with pride. It was only an obstacle to happiness.

She remained breathless, incapable of moving from the bed.

I have to leave. I have to. I can't hold out for long. This game is too dangerous. Kaiba… I can't.

In a single bound, and once again forgetting the pain that her injury caused, she dashed to the door; and he, terrified, seemed completely taken aback by the sudden change.

"Sorry," she tried breathing.

Never had he seen her so… hopeless. And seeing her this way calmed his spirit; because he knew.

Tell me to stay… it's so simple.

He waited, focused on the movement of her lips as she breathed nervously, as if she were about to crack open.

"… but…. I…"

I can't. Forgive me.

Suddenly, she seemed to regain control of her emotions. Her mouth opened… and then closed. And what came afterwards was absolutely nothing like what he had been hoping to hear so fervently.

"Say hi to Mokuba for me."

And she bowed her head, and didn't raise it again.

. . .

Disappointment didn't leave Kaiba's face as he walked through the hotel's corridors. He would have shattered everything in his path if he hadn't had such a grand ability to master himself.

Why do you hound me? Fight me? I'm here now. It'll be alright. Naomi, open your eyes. You can't run away from me forever.

. . .

She was laying on the ground, prey to a river of tears which refused obstinately to flood past her eyes.

Leave. Leave. As soon as I'm better. Yes. I have to leave. Fast.

. . .

Exceptionally for any given morning, Kaiba was taking longer than he usually required at home before leaving for the office.

Mokuba had been pleasantly surprised to find him at the table when he had come downstairs, but was nonplussed at his foul mood, which hadn't seemed to have changed since the previous night.

I'm sure it's about Naomi, he thought.

Kaiba was poking at his keyboard, worried. He seemed so annoyed that if the keys on his computer were edible, he could have engulfed all of them in several seconds.

. . .

Naomi verified one last time that she had everything she needed for her trip.

Luckily, her wound was rapidly healing. She still felt a bit of a stretching sensation when she walked – which caused her to limp slightly – but it was nothing which resembled a major handicap.

She swallowed a small lunch, took a shower, and re-clothed herself in black pants and a sweater of the same color, perfectly accentuating her body. Then, pulling her hair back and slipping it through a scrunchie, took a last look around the room: a travel bag and two suitcases that she was going to ship, via the hotel's reception, once she had chosen a new place to move.

She was ready.

Then, she left.

. . .

Brr….

Mokuba shivered, as he normally did these days after the attack, as two limousines, one behind the other, filled with bodyguards, stopped in front of his school.

Good job being subtle. Not.

Leave it to his brother to make him go through something like this. Even if he knew the reasons for doing so thoroughly… nevertheless, it was a living nightmare.

He hadn't stepped foot out of the car when a pretty young girl, which he had met recently, came running towards him. She seemed to really like him, given the joyful expression she had donned once he had first appeared.

She hadn't yet approached him when one of his guards, lifting his arm to stop her from passing, caused her to fall.

"Hey!" Mokuba shouted, irritated.

He ran towards Samantha to help her get up, staring poisonously at the guard that had caused the incident.

"My apologies, sir," he said, bowing.

"Ugh," Mokuba responded.

I hate how Seto hires these types of people.

. . .

Naomi quickly found herself on the ground floor.

Again? What's - ?

Seated comfortably and reading a newspaper, a man, who she could have swore was also seated there the night before, seemed to be guarding the entrance.

And then there was the odd feeling that she was being watched.

She decided to change direction, if only to calm herself, and judged it more prudent to use the escalator that led underground. Walking unsurely, she moved down the stairs; she looked for an exit and also assured herself that she was no longer being watched.

At the end of the corridor, she saw a door that must have led around the outside of the hotel. When she reached it, a man's voice, quite grave, commanded her to stop.

Calmly, she turned around to look at him, staying on her guard.

"Please excuse me, miss, but you don't have the right to use this passage, or to be in this area."

He didn't show any signs of being aggressive.

"Oh!" she exclaimed innocently. "I didn't know."

"It's nothing," he assured her amicably. "I would suggest going back upstairs and using an exit that's more… conventional."

"Yes, of course," she acquiesced, all smiles.

No more doubts. He had to have followed her. If not, how could he have been in such a place as this, and yet… he knew exactly where she was, no questions asked?

Kaiba? He dared –

"I'll follow you," she told him.

She only had time to watch the poor man get knocked to the ground.

"What the – "

Out of nowhere, two armed men were targeting her.

"We're going to have to have a change of plan."

Not Seto? Hm. That man only annoys me, anyway.

"Oh, another thing," the thug aid, grinning sardonically. "Don't try anything funny this time, okay?"

She recognized one of the aggressors as being involved with the time she was with Mokuba; the same one exactly that had shot her.

He gave her the signal to follow his colleague through the exit.

"This way."

The last thing she remembered was feeling a sharp pain somewhere near the nape of her neck; then, complete black.

. . .

Kaiba was absorbed in the process of working through his documents, each one as boring as the next, when Roland, his most trusted aide, entered his office without bothering to knock on the door.

"I absolutely do not appreciate the intrusion, you know," Kaiba said, with a tone edged with malice.

Roland bowed quite low to excuse himself.

"But," he said, "I have very bad news, sir."

Kaiba stopped his scribbling, and turned to listen.

"…The madam…" Roland said.

Of course he was speaking about Naomi. But Kaiba's face remained impassive.

"… has disappeared," Roland finished.

"Disappeared?"

Kaiba kept control of his emotions, not bothering to elevate his tone.

"Yes," said the man. "Apparently, she tried to leave the hotel in secret, sir. And one of guards followed her."

Grr… Naomi

"Except," Roland continued, "the guard was found unconscious."

Kaiba suddenly felt like laughing.

"Look, it must have been her who - "

"No, sir," Roland interrupted.

"Someone fired at him from behind, sir. He claims to have seen to armed men taking her away."

"What?" shouted Kaiba, on the cusp of spilling into outrage. "Remind me why I pay you people!"

But it wasn't the time for acerbic reproaches.

"Look for her. Fast. Keep me posted often," he ordered.

"Yes, sir."

Roland left as fast as he had entered, leaving behind a fuming Kaiba.

He stared at the door as if he could scare it shut.

Naomi! Why did you leave? It wouldn't have happened if you hadn't tried to –

His fist connected violently with his desk.

It's my fault! If you hadn't been there to keep Mokuba safe, they never would have known you existed! It's my fault!

Seething in anger, he was having trouble keeping it down now.

Stay calm. They'll find her soon. Yes. I'll find you again, Naomi… I promise.

Again, without knocking, Roland rushed into the room.

"That was fast."

Kaiba was now quite satisfied.

"Where is she?"

"Well, sir, it's not about the missus," Roland admitted.

"What?"

Kaiba was reeling, heart clamped as if he was expecting the world to end. Without knowing.

"Master Mokuba was also taken, sir."

BUM BUM BUM! I see a pattern starting here.