Well, here's chapter eleven. Doing them as I can at this point. Hopefully I'll find some way to do these faster, but this week was midterms for me. This story is Melzart's, and the anime belongs to Kazuki Takahashi.
Appearances
by Melzart
. . .
Chapter 11
A Little Warmth
Kaiba profited from Naomi's short nap to leave her for a few moments. He had gone back down to the kitchen where he regained possession of his laptop and got another coffee as a traveling companion. He still didn't want to distance himself from her for too long due to his worry, but this time, her hot-headedness had just been asking to go beyond what he was capable of dealing with. He was sure of it: if she were alone, she'd go through anything to stand up, including hurting herself again. So he would personally look after her until he was sure that such a thing would not happen, and thus he was, well despite his normal self, essentially playing the role of babysitter.
… … …
I know you won't like it too much but I have to. Then there's Mokuba. And you… I have to leave. Even if you don't want to.
It was becoming more and more humiliating to consistently find herself at the mercy of somebody else, and it was profoundly irritating. Of course she understood that her current state prevented her from running marathons or something. And even though she empathized with the worry he had over her, she wasn't obliged to actually feel it herself. Sooner or later, she'd have to take things back into her own hands and start over, this time with more autonomy.
With one hand, she pushed into the side of the bed, using the other one to raise her body into a sitting position. The clock read twelve-thirty in the afternoon.
Good. Made it. Now, let's see if I can get all the way up.
Unsure, she softly slid one foot out from beneath the covers, then the rest of that leg, followed by the other.
If he shows up, I can tell him I've got a little bit of an emergency.
"Going somewhere?"
The action which was once so habitual, so banal, had now demanded so much concentration she hadn't even noticed his presence.
Grr… doesn't he have anything better to do?
Kaiba had seen everything and, partly unlike himself, had kept his eyes on her severely, dissatisfied with her initiative. He put his computer and his coffee on the desk, then walked over and stood in front of her, arms crossed and staring at her strictly, demanding an explanation.
"I have to learn how to move about," she admitted frankly.
Just as intimidating, he didn't quite believe her.
"I can't take this anymore. I'm not an invalid, okay? And I have to get up," she said again, ready to spring upward.
Even the tone she had taken with him must have meant nothing, as he was visibly quite obstinate to make no compromises.
"I'll be careful, I promise."
He sighed, then crouched in front of her, preventing her from moving any further.
"Can I know what you're doing, exactly?"
Ugh, what an ass. He still doesn't want me to leave.
She hesitated for several seconds before she opened her mouth again.
"I have things to do."
Kaiba raised his eyebrows, and stayed dangerously silent.
"Fine. I admit that your bed is comfortable, warm, and soft, but…" she began.
Then she ran into another brick wall. Not even gentler words could come to her when she was face-to-face with this man.
I know it isn't easy. I hate it too. But I don't want to take risks, Naomi, he thought, perfectly conscious of the irritation that was beginning to envelop her.
She seemed out of argumentative ideas, sent over the edge by his insistent look.
"I really am going to end up tying you down, aren't I?" he breathed, sighing a bit as he did so.
That would please me well enough, I think.
Yet he didn't let himself revel in the feelings his last thought had just brought him.
She raised a look filled with injustice towards him.
"That's enough," she began again, her patience now down to its last few threads. "I know you don't like it. But I have to leave. If it weren't Christmas, I'd probably be happy to recuperate a little further. But… I have work. Like you do, with your company and your brother."
Kaiba stayed silent, pitiless. It was terrifying.
But right at the moment where she believed she was about to start screaming, he murmured gently:
"But what's so important? Who can't wait?"
Naomi gave out a large sigh of annoyance.
"Do I really have to tell you everything?"
"I'm afraid so. If not, I'm afraid I won't let you leave this bed."
She breathed curtly, visibly outraged that she had essentially been reduced to begging him.
"All this has to bring some sort of pleasure, right?"
How could you judge me so severely? You really think I'm insensible?
"No."
He spoke the word with such sincerity that she understood that she had hurt him, and calmed down a tiny amount.
"I didn't tell you everything," she admitted. "I regularly visit the orphanage. And every year on Christmas Eve I spend several hours there. I've done it ever since I first came to this country."
Kaiba hadn't yet torn away his impassible gaze, but inside, he was touched, and his heart was aching. He had turned his back on so many of his life's painful moments. But she – she took them straight on, put them in their place. For no apparent reason.
"I know… it sounds a bit bizarre. But it's a commitment I feel obligated to complete and I can't miss it. It's important. For me."
She had had some trouble ending her sentence without getting herself choked up.
However, between the two of them, she was not the most emotional. He was now staring at her without really looking at her, torn between painful memories and the desire to get in bed with her. But none of this appeared on his face.
"Fine," he whispered. "But that's tomorrow, so what's so special today?"
"It's for Mokuba, and… I was going to ask you- "
"That's easy, just tell me what you want and I'll – "
"No!" she spat brusquely. "I want to do things myself."
Kaiba stood violently.
"Out of the question," he coldly responded.
"But stop!" she hissed at him.
In her excitement, she had jerked so quickly that pain once again began to assail her.
More concerned than ever, he found himself squatting by her side once more.
"I will not have the risk of you aggravating any of your wounds."
She saw his worry clearly now.
"I'll be very careful."
"No."
"So… come with me, then."
"Naomi!" he admonished, only partly convinced. "What about all the riffraff that could -?"
"Come with me."
He was on the verge of flaring up again. All of this seemed too risqué for him. Even if he stayed as best as he could by her side, he could not, without great difficulty, push away a hurried crowd that could easily knock her over inadvertently. She was still too fragile.
Even whilst imagining the worst scenarios in his head, he couldn't avert the stormy expression which was mangling the features of his creature's beautiful face.
"You really want to?"
"Yes, I do," she answered.
He would have smiled at the reply if he hadn't been afraid that she could notice. She was ready to do almost anything, in detriment to her own health, just to prove her point. But he was the one that had to show her even more.
In a beat, he stood for the second time.
"Fine, okay. I have an idea," he said dryly. "This time, I'm forbidding you from criticizing me. Moreover, we're playing by my rules!"
She wasn't in the best position to negotiate.
"I will ask that stores remain open a little bit longer. That way, there will be no one but us when you got to the mall."
She went to protest, but stopped cold at Kaiba's glare.
"There is no way I am letting you on your feet. You will be seated while you shop. Either Roland or I will accompany you, for your security."
Wait… a… wheelchair? He wants to just laugh at me, doesn't he?
She kept her furious eyes trained on him.
"This isn't a suggestion. Take my offer or leave it," he insisted gravely.
"This is a nightmare," she hissed between her teeth.
"I'm not through," Kaiba continued. "On the subject of your visit to the orphanage, if you really wish to go there, I agree that you may go…"
He focused, trying not to let any emotion leak into his voice or wash over his face.
"…On the condition that I go with you."
She was fuming; horrified, even, that he had had the opportunity to waltz into the intimate parts of her life, despite the fact she knew he thought it was for her own good.
"You are under no such obligation," she said.
But Kaiba was unwavering.
"Fine," she sighed.
While he went off to organize everything, principally by phone, she stayed there for a moment, thinking.
I have to get dressed. Wait…
Then her pensiveness turned to shock – she had just realized everything that would have to happen before she could finally wind up at the orphanage.
Oh my god. I have to… How the hell will I do that? Oh no!
Bewildered by her own thoughts, she became greatly distressed: the most sensitive part of the operation had nothing to do with simply getting dressed and leaving.
She couldn't move, her embarrassment causing her eyes to fix themselves on the floor and off of Kaiba. She was reddening like a school-girl, silently panicking.
"What?" he asked, realizing that something was causing her to suddenly shy away.
"I… I haven't…" she stammered, not knowing quite how to phrase it.
I'm so scared. Really… the humiliation!...
"…I forgot something…" she admitted, suddenly becoming quite queasy.
Kaiba stepped closer to the bed again, his eyes boring into her.
"It's been a long time since I…" she said, reddening even further.
She stopped for a moment.
Kaiba leaned over her, trying to guess what she was trying to say.
"I don't even remember the last time I took…"
Curiously, she looked at him then.
"… a shower," she whispered.
Kaiba flinched, now shocked himself.
"Don't bother," he responded quickly. "There's a risk of you falling and- "
"I know," she interrupted him, "You're right, but…"
He was convinced – the worst had not yet come.
"You can't refuse me this. This is a question of hygiene… and it's been a long time since…"
He was paralysed, understanding she was completely right. But he still didn't quite grasp how she could manage to do it… without help.
A violent blush erupted on Kaiba's cheeks.
Oh no. You aren't going to ask me to –
"And because I can't do it alone," she began, "I don't know anyone else I could ask for help… but you."
She said it… oh, no… Naomi, you have no idea what you're asking of me!
He didn't know how to respond to her request, even though it was quite legitimate.
It was true that in a more normal time… he wouldn't have anything against it. It would have given him indescribable pleasure. But now, where things had become so complicated between them and it was no longer a simple question of getting horny, he was quite unsure of himself.
Because above all, he was a man. Filled with desire.
Such a violent desire.
You don't know what you're asking.
"I know it can't be too easy or pleasant for you," she dared to continue on. "But I can't think of anybody else."
Oh, but it's not touching you that I can't stand, Naomi.
"Besides, it's not like you haven't seen me before… so…" her voice trailed off.
That's exactly what the problem is!
She was just as sickened as he was. For the completely opposite reason.
"Please," she breathed, against her will.
Come on, Kaiba. You can't stay quiet. Besides, you've seen her before.
Oh yes.
"Very well. Don't move," he finally succeeded in articulating.
Placing all of his courage in front of him, or at least while any still lasted, he first assured that they would not be disturbed, and then helped her to the bathroom, where he closed the door firmly behind them.
I can do it. I just have to not look. That's it. I just…
Naomi stood still for a couple of seconds, completely straight and in the middle of the room, feeling completely absurd.
This is so weird… it's like I'm at the doctor's office.
But the doctor had nothing to do with Kaiba. Nothing and all.
And what if he…?
She didn't want to think any further. Everything was already so nauseating.
Then again, why was it strictly necessary for her to need anybody else?
She still didn't dare to move, timid, cheeks pink with fury and shame.
Kaiba, more than feeling equally awkward, easily supposed the trouble she was brewing in, stemming off of her undesired dependence.
But he didn't dare approach her to help her remove her clothes, never mind simply watching her do it herself.
With some difficulty, she managed to slip her pajama bottoms to about where her thighs began, without needing to bend over.
He finally had to intervene despite himself, seeing the difficulty of the task.
"Wait," he whispered as he placed his fingers on the fabric and pulled it downward.
He crouched down to help her to remove the pants completely. When he went to look up at her, he instead found himself staring at her nude legs. Which stopped his élan on the spot.
More embarrassed than before, Naomi then did the same for her underwear, her eyes averting his throughout the process.
I can't… the smell… Kaiba told himself when he saw the undergarment on the floor.
He breathed in a large volume of air and closed his eyes.
Don't think about it.
He finally stood, and he had trouble looking at her in full.
But the scene he had before his eyes gave him more countenance. She was frozen, like a deer in headlights, staring at him in outrage, prey to the worst humiliation in her entire life.
Gently, he put his hands on her arms.
It's alright. It's just me, Naomi. Just me and you.
"You can still change your mind, you know," he reminded her tenderly.
I would understand.
Seto Kaiba capable of understanding? Of forgetting?
Definitely.
His hot breath blew through Naomi's hair, and she felt nothing but sweetness.
As if she were suddenly reassured, she grabbed the hem of her shirt, ready to take it off.
Of course he's already seen you. Oh, you have a few bruises and scars, but on the whole, he knows you. Well, if he remembers.
Kaiba probably would have sold an arm and a leg to gain the power to not want to stare at her, because he knew if he did so she would feel even more embarrassed than she was already. Without a hitch, though, he managed to help her into the shower.
"Don't move, okay? Not even an inch," he ordered her before he started to strip down as well.
What have I gotten myself into? Grr… I'm strong. I'm Kaiba. I can do it. Ugh… what's gotten into me? I feel like a stalker.
It was true that until then no emotion had been able to completely overpower Kaiba's straightforward line of vision. It was not normal for him to be the prey – so easily – to this type of desire, reason always having dictated both his mind and his body. And now by merely looking at her, he lost equilibrium and found himself at her mercy. He certainly tried, by any means available, to return behind the curtain of his cold logic and unreadable mask. But it was all just a question of appearances: inside, he was outside; fragile, like a dry twig exposed to an open flame, and on the verge of the worst blaze.
She herself tried desperately to not look at him as well. But she shivered slightly given the cold. Shaking himself out of his torpor, Kaiba hurried when he saw her shake, not realizing he was beginning to put his clothes back on.
Then it was astonishment.
He had of course seen her before and had imprinted every millimeter of her body into his memory, but what he saw perturbed him, if not anything more.
She was nude, and beautiful. Despite the bruises. Despite everything.
And so vulnerable.
"Do you want to…?" she started to say, not looking at him.
"Yeah. Wait," he said, snapping out of his reverie.
He joined her in the shower, where he turned on the faucets and allowed the water to reach a temperature that was pleasantly warm.
Still lightly tense, Naomi suddenly laughed nervously, which she attempted to hide under a tease.
"Do you always shower with…?"
She pointed to the undergarment that he hadn't taken the time to remove before he had rushed to her when he saw her tremble due to the cold.
How often would he blush today?
If you were me, you'd probably be laughing less, he thought as he rid of it, knowing that she'd probably react.
Her entire response consisted of turning her back to him.
He didn't stop his eyes from taking her body in.
She was about to take the soap when his hand shot in front of hers, which had caused him to lightly incline towards her, his head right above her shoulder.
"May I?"
She retracted her hand quickly, not wishing to compete with him.
Tenderly, he wrapped one hand around Naomi to prevent her from falling in case she slipped, and with the other, brought the soap to Naomi's wet skin.
"You don't have to," she said.
"I know," he breathed, focused on washing her back and shoulders.
Instinctively he leaned in towards her again; the soap – more accurately, his hand – sliding over her thighs, then reaching around to her stomach in an unending caress.
Both of them closed their eyes, feeling equally the will to feel the other come closer.
I missed you, Naomi.
But Kaiba took great care to not let himself touch her body outside of what he was required to do, knowing that it was now impossible to hide the flagrant desire that victimized him.
Dangerous… this might have been a bad idea.
Only, against all hope, she let herself fall upon Kaiba's body, who welcomed it tenderly, holding her against him, his soapy fingers slowly climbing her chest.
He held his breath, not wanting to be the one to shatter the moment.
She blushed, then, as she turned around. Her eyes lowered, thus having all the leisure to notice the thing that rubbed hard against her lower back.
This time, he didn't redden with her.
Since when was it shameful to prove that you want someone?
"It's not as if… you've never seen it before," he murmured, trying desperately to not spiritedly start it with her.
"True," she breathed in a sort of pleased half-laugh.
Unable to control himself any longer, Kaiba brought her firmly against him, placed his hand on her cheek and raised her head, where he united his lips with hers in a fiery kiss.
I was scared for you, Naomi.
Overtaken by dizziness, Naomi proved herself incapable of holding back a long shiver, almost silent, but sufficiently perceptible to Kaiba's hearing.
I like to hear you… Naomi. And to feel you against me.
"Stop," she murmured, without really wanting to.
I know I shouldn't be in the same state you are… but I can't stop.
"No," he responded weakly, his mouth occupied with Naomi's neck, and she melted at his touch.
An expected form of help suddenly materialized when Mokuba, from the other side of the door, was worrying about their absence.
"Naomi? Are you there? Seto?" he shouted.
The two froze, as if they had just been caught robbing a bank. But between them, Kaiba was the angriest at the intrusion. He breathed in sharply, and his head bowed in discouragement.
"Everything's fine, Mokuba," he answered. "I'm helping Naomi… take a shower."
"Oh," Mokuba exclaimed, suddenly quite ashamed of having disturbed them.
Woah… that's really… intimate…
"We're done, though, Mok- " Naomi began.
"No," Kaiba said, taken aback but intoxicated by her scent.
"Seto," she scolded quietly, unsure.
"Seto?" he asked her gently, flattered upon hearing his first name come from her lips.
But she corrected herself automatically.
"Kaiba."
But she was interrupted by a long kiss on the side of her neck.
"Seto," he insisted, making it clear that he would accept no other name. For you, it's Seto.
"You know we have to get out."
"There's no rush.. we have all the time we need," he mumbled.
Kaiba didn't release his grip, alarmingly languorous.
I didn't promise you anything this time, Naomi. Anything, he thought, relieved that he couldn't be one-upped later after he failed to hold up his end of some bargain.
"Stop," she breathed again, and broke away from him gently, as if she wished to mask the pleasant shiver that was running up her back and down again.
"Tell me you're not dying to… as much as I am…" he whispered between two kisses.
Dare, Naomi, if you can.
But he received no response.
She had lost her way, drunk under the influence of his touch . She avoided his gaze, powerless to resist him.
An unexplainable joy seized Kaiba, whose body was now sweating, and which was running his fingers over Naomi without needing him to command them to do so.
She was about to crack, abandon hope, when Mokuba's voice broke through again.
"Seto!" he shouted.
Kaiba closed his eyes, furious at the second interruption.
Mokuba, I am going to personally –
"Sorry, Seto, but the guards downstairs are looking for you," his little brother hurried to explain.
Kaiba tensed, more menacing than ever, while Naomi breathed out, a relieved smile on her lips.
"Fuck them," he murmured on the subject of his guards, who, in his opinion, could wait for hours.
But Naomi had had enough time to cool off.
Putting her hands on his torso, she still hesitated to push him away completely.
"The gifts," she reminded him. "It's probably important."
Despite himself, the violent Kaiba was no longer able to offer further resistance.
"Fine," he responded loudly to his brother, avoiding showing Naomi his wearied expression.
He finally stepped out of the shower, dried his hips with a towel and took another one expectantly as he waited for Naomi to offer her delicate body.
Barely out of the basin, he snuggled up to her again, emitting a long, regretful sigh which mingled with the throes of a crushing defeat.
You really don't know what you're asking of me.
She closed her eyes, moved by the same manifest desire as he was.
He turned around, but Naomi's hand caught him.
"Mokuba!" she cried. "Tell them to be patient for a little bit!"
Incapable of looking away now, Naomi let the towel that was wrapped around her fall.
You see, I'm naked, Seto.
Tenderly, she wrapped her arms around him.
And I'm entirely yours. Just yours.
Did he hear her secret confession?
A sweet smile came to him as he took her again in his arms, joining their lips in a passionate embrace.
… I know, Naomi…
Their bodies danced for several moments to music that nobody else could hear. But as he dragged her along the path back to the bedroom, he took meticulous care that they would not be disturbed by any further intrusion by firmly locking the door to his room.
They stayed a long time standing near the bed, kissing and touching each other, devouring with their lips.
Softly, he chose to sit down first on the edge, hoping to avoid forcing Naomi to exert any effort which would leave her susceptible to the slightest pain.
With an infinite tenderness, his lips flew over her chest and stomach, kissing her body gently as if he hoped he could thereby remove all of her wounds, wipe away the bruising.
She couldn't help but run her fingers through his hair, give a long sigh of pleasure as Kaiba's fingers began to lose themselves between her thighs.
Taking a thousand precautions, he brought her to him, unable to turn his eyes from her face as she let him penetrate her. She accepted this time out of the good grace of feeling detailed, scrutinized, conscious that he had placed so much care, so much sincerity, into each of his actions and that he expected much from her because he had dared to reveal unto her whom he truly was.
Many men would never have considered whether she was hurt or no and would have taken her without consideration; but Kaiba, the most pitiless, most cruel of men, showed the greatest sensibility.
Also, she revealed to him, while trying to restrain herself simultaneously to some extent, the immense pleasure she felt immediately upon contact.
Her skin burned beneath his fingers, the soft and interminable tickling growing ever larger as if by need, the need to feel him ever deeper inside.
She mitigated the sound that escaped from her lips when she joined them with his. But Kaiba was not fooled by the deception; his fingers could easily see extent of her delirium as it crashed cyclically over her body.
And she trembled. Now and forever, unable to hide anything.
Even her breath was filled with so many emotions.
Kaiba, completely inebriated, barely suppressed his own tender groan of pleasure as he adjusted his rhythm to match her own.
Without thinking she moved too suddenly, which gave rise to a terrible tearing through her side, causing her to become stunned for a few moments.
Idiot!
He instantly congealed, furious with himself for not having foreseen the action and holding her more closely to him. His eyes held worry and anger.
He's not thinking about himself.
She softened upon seeing his reaction, unable to avoid his expression of gratitude and genuine affection, and soon she reunited their lips as if she were attempting to eat a ripe and delicious fruit.
I know nothing can happen to me when you're here, Seto.
She clung to him firmly, and did not prevent her sweet thrill from being heard as she rubbed her skin against his chest.
I love feeling you in me… it's… so… intense.
She rolled over.
Yet still her protector, he held her even more tightly, wanting to assure that nothing more happened to her.
He wasn't expecting her shivering to drive him mad, to make him feel the delight so well anchored beneath his skin again. He needed nothing but the heat and sweetness of her body against his. It was already more than sufficient to maintain his violent desire for her. A desire entirely shared and barely depleted.
Nothing could have told them how long the encounter lasted, but their two bodies remained locked together, one against the other, until both burst into orgasm.
But even in his seemingly infinite pleasure, Kaiba did not forget to hold her against him in such a manner as to not cause her any new pains. Both were trembling, struggling to regain their breath. But neither attempted to hide anything from the other.
She huddled more affectionately against him.
It was true, he was in the palm of her hands.
It was also true Kaiba had no intention of changing that.
Despite relishing in the thrill of the moment of perfect harmony between them, it was he that broke the silence.
"Did I hurt you?" he asked, trying desperately to still sound as if he had the upper hand.
Tell me, Naomi..
The one who could not supposedly be touched, even as an object of so much tenderness?
You're so worried about me…
"Oh, no," she murmured, raising her eyes. "Not compared to all the fun I had."
Kaiba's eyes softened again, and he kissed her lips.
And you'll have so much more…
That, too, I promise you.
Quite delicately, he took her once more under the crook of his arms.
If you wish the world, Naomi, ask and you shall receive…
… … …
"I'm really sorry, Seto," Mokuba excused himself as he opened the door, "I'm sorry I – "
But he cut himself off immediately when he saw them both peaceful, a rosy tint to them as if the pair had just run a marathon and that, exhausted by the effort, they were now catching their breath. They were obviously not paying any sort of attention to his lousy excuses.
Even though he believed Seto would appear grouchy, he didn't. On the contrary, he was calm, relaxed, like he just had a full night's sleep. And he was in a good mood. It had been a long time since he had seen his brother seem so well.
Better. He seemed happy.
Mokuba's grinned slightly though he knew absolutely nothing about their excitement. He had become curious of several rhythmic beating noises… but it wasn't happening anymore anyway.
… … …
"Satisfied?" asked Kaiba, quite content that his men had performed so well.
Naomi had inspected all of the gifts, making sure nothing was missing and that everything was running smoothly.
"Thank you very much, Se – I mean, Mr. Kaiba," she announced.
He was a tad annoyed that she hadn't used his first name. It was such divine music to hear.
"Everything's ready," she said. "I must thank them."
"Later," he snapped in exasperation of her scruples. "It's time for you to go."
And if we went back up to my room? There's always time for-
But he silenced the thought and lightly berated himself.
Before she even had the time to turn around, Kaiba had given her coat to her, his eyes tearing down the length of her body as if they were still in bed.
The somewhat unhealthy thought still made him smile happily.
I still have to talk to Mokuba. He can't barge in anymore like that.
He carefully led her by the arm to the waiting limousine, not permitting any of his men from intervening. He kept exclusive control of her, of her sole and unique attention.
"Drive carefully," he ordered the chauffeur.
… … …
Slowly, she began to slide out of the backseat door, still helped, somewhat awkwardly, by Kaiba, whose difficulty came in trying not to consider all the what-ifs.
Seeing the wheelchair Roland placed in front of her, she couldn't help but mark her repugnance with a sour grimace.
"Is this really necessary?"
But she was well obligated to sit in it, mostly by Kaiba's polarizing stare, and it was he who pushed her into the mall.
"This is where I leave you, Mr. Kaiba," she said.
Grrr… Seto! Not 'Mr. Kaiba'!
But he restrained himself from making the commentary out loud, given the number of his guards that encircled them.
"Why?"
But he knew that she would probably end up buying something for him.
He thus appeared very reticent despite all of the confidence he placed in Roland. He leaned in towards Naomi.
"I don't want anything."
Nothing you can buy, Naomi. I just want you.
"Even so," she exclaimed in a manner that told him she was expecting that he would try to tag along, "this is still where we're on our way."
He felt like grumbling a response but just decided to be defeated.
"She will not leave this wheelchair. Under any circumstances!" he ordered Roland, who bowed respectfully in response.
"No, sir. Don't worry, sir."
Then he walked off with her and two other guards.
… … …
"A watch? Nah, he's gotta have a dozen of them. Oh! A tie… he doesn't seem like a tie type of guy. Clothes? No…"
Naomi couldn't help thinking out loud sometimes.
"Well, I guess he already has everything he needs. But what should I get him?"
He's so annoying like that!
"Something wrong, ma'am?" Roland asked her, causing her to remember his existence.
But what doesn't he already have?
"Stop for just a minute, please," she nearly shouted.
Kaiba! That guy drives me up the effing wall!
She was suddenly overtaken with vertigo at the random thought of feeling his body against hers again.
Completely.
"Can I help you, ma'am?" Roland asked again as he leaned towards her, having some difficulty in restraining himself from laughing.
"No thanks," she sighed, disappointed. "Oh, yeah, wait, Roland!"
She forgot her franticness and became calm quite automatically once more, filled with a practically legendary grace.
"I would like to thank you, Roland."
He froze in place, obviously shocked at the remark.
"Yes," she said again, "I have to thank you, you and the others…. for what you're doing for me."
The men, Roland included, almost blushed at the mere thought that they had been recognized. Roland then crouched in front of her.
"You mustn't – "
But Naomi spoke over top of him.
"Yes, I know. You're going to tell me you're just doing your job. But I still want to thank you for proving to me your kindness and your patience. You weren't obligated."
"It is an ultimate honor, and brings me great happiness, to serve you, ma'am."
He was about to add that he was bitterly regretful to have not been more useful in arriving sooner to secure her safety after her savage attack, but he stopped himself, not wishing to revive painful memories.
"And don't worry, ma'am. The doors won't close until you've finished your shopping."
"Thank you so much."
"Shall we go on?"
Roland pushed the wheelchair past the store windows to leave Naomi the time to inspect the merchandise.
Suddenly, she seemed to be fascinated by a statue made out of transparent glass.
"Wait!" she snapped brusquely.
When they got nearer, she could make out the magnificent craftsmanship. It was a dragon around two feet long, finely carved. She could have sworn it was made of crystal.
"Do you think he'd – ?"
"Definitely, ma'am," Roland interrupted. "That's a great choice."
"What?"
Naomi was stupefied, not quite understanding what he meant.
"Of course you knew that that dragon happens to be Mr. Kaiba's fetish."
"Dragon…?" she stammered, certain she had definitely missed something very important somewhere.
"Yes, ma'am. The Blue Eyes White Dragon. Mr. Kaiba is a champion duelist."
Oh my god…
An unforgettable memory blazed its way to the forefront of her mind. She hadn't paid it any heed until that moment: that of the young orphan, Jeremy, she had been talking to one day and, even though he hadn't had one, had sworn to her with pride that he would love to possess such a dragon in his Duel Monsters deck. One day, maybe.
And also… his racecar was an effigy of a white dragon.
"He was speaking about Kaiba's dragon," she murmured quietly, stunned by the sudden revelation.
How could I have….? I have to seem so stupid right now…
"Ma'am?" Roland asked, sincerely worried, and realizing that she had been indeed totally ignorant.
But now everything was lucid in Naomi's spirit.
Lots of children played that game. But seeing as she wasn't too interested in it herself, she hadn't ever noticed… until then.
"Yeah… err… could you take it, Roland, please?"
… … …
With Roland's help, she bought Mokuba's presents and even had a quite amiable thought for Marie, whose kindness hadn't escaped her.
"Finished, ma'am?" Roland questioned, who had grown to quite like his 'passenger.'
"Err… no. Take me to that men's store over there."
Something had definitely grabbed her attention. It was an ebony-black necktie with small, pretty white dragon motifs sprinkled across it. It was quite charming.
"Roland, how many guards are there?"
"What?"
She repeated her question.
"There's five of us at the Kaiba mansion and two others who work – "
He certainly wasn't about to tell her their job involved tyrannizing Mokuba's school bully, so he deliberately lied.
" – at KaibaCorp but who are equally as important to Mr. Kaiba's security."
"Okay. Ma'am?" she asked of the saleswoman who had been shadowing the abnormal, heavily damaged client around the store. "I want seven of these, individually boxed."
"Oh?" Roland exclaimed. "You don't need to!"
But his protests were in vain.
"Listen, Roland," she said politely, "I'm sorry that I didn't already know you better so that I could offer to buy you something that you probably would have liked more. Really, I'm sorry about that. But I insist that I get you something."
"You are doing us a great honor, ma'am," he said as he bowed again.
When she went to pull out her credit card, it was Roland once more who tried to prevent her from using it.
"Mr. Kaiba also gave me orders that instructed me to – "
Naomi shook her head violently.
"Oh, no. Don't you dare."
"But Mr. – "
"I don't need Kaiba's permission to pay for what I buy."
So Roland had to restrain himself. She seemed to him to be just as stubborn as Kaiba, and thus he wouldn't run the risk of displeasing her. Moreover, she was demonstrating total independence, which must have been more than necessary in the state where she found herself a the moment.
Wisely, he minded his own business and decided to leave her to quarrel about it with Kaiba.
The saleswoman had just finished packing up her things when Kaiba appeared at the front of the store.
"Everything went well?" he asked immediately as he went to take Roland's place behind Naomi.
"Yes, sir," Roland responded. "She was really very… charming."
Kaiba easily recognized the admiring tone that came through in Roland's voice, and gave him a look of suspicion.
But Roland looked away, preferring to glance down as his cheeks reddened briefly.
… … …
Kaiba was very surprised at her combativeness; she was nowhere close to seeming fatigued. They were about halfway through dinner when she fell solidly asleep on her plate without warning.
Amiably, and yet somewhat regrettably, he carried her up to the bed, despite knowing full well that tomorrow would bring her a vexing series of trials.
He took the opportunity to double-check everything, one last time.
"Everything's ready, sir," Roland reassured him.
"Good."
Several hours later, having already told Mokuba about the news, he clambered up back to his room, where his eyes fell on the woman sleeping soundly inside.
The idea to wake her and continue with their revelry hadn't escaped him, but he decided not to pursue it.
He worked for several more hours, then lay down noiselessly and without causing her to stir. He contemplated her for several minutes, then fell asleep himself.
… … …
He's so handsome…and…he's right there.
Tell me… are you hiding something from me, Seto?
Like… if I woke up, would you be completely different?
She stopped her fingers from straightening some hair that had fallen over Kaiba's eyes as he slept.
Everyone says you're hard, cruel, menacing… but… that's not what you show me. Are they wrong? Or is it just me that makes you act like…?
"What are you doing?"
Naomi flinched, caught in the act, as Kaiba's eyes opened and stared directly at her, like he had been watching her previously while his eyelids had been shut.
"Were you watching me?"
She sputtered, struggling to form words.
"N-no, of course n-not, I-I w-was just falling back to s-sleep…"
Kaiba seemed quite amused.
"You lie very badly, Naomi."
It's a skill I don't want you to learn.
She began to quiver again as he let his fingers glide from her shoulder to her neck, reawakening the intermittent desire she held for him again.
After a long while they found themselves stuck together again, furiously starving for the other, their desire having eclipsed their thoughts of anything else. Naomi was the only one of the pair who showed any signs of reticence through the pleasure that otherwise consumed her.
"Don't be scared," he murmured in her ear before chewing softly on the skin of her neck.
Not now, not ever.
She was somewhat surprised about the comment, which had come between two feverish kisses. But she knew: he couldn't be any more sincere. She felt it was from the heart.
It's crazy… how could he know?
A tender smile still played upon her lips, well hidden in shadow from Kaiba's view.
Ah, fuck it.
Yeah, a bit more lovey-dovey, if that term is strictly appropriate, here. Meh well, what's a French romance story to have? ;)