Apparences belongs to Melzart, and Yu-Gi-Oh! is copyrighted to Kazuki Takahashi.

Chapter 20

Disorder

When Naomi set foot in the entrance hall, an even weightier atmosphere then normal seemed to hang over the mansion. Of course the conflict with Kaiba certainly counted for something. But what grabbed her attention in particular was when she passed by Mokuba, earlier so joyous, as he drifted through the hall with his tail between his legs. He was heading for the main staircase, certainly to go to his room on the third story.

He seemed troubled, darkened by an invisible storm cloud.

"Mokuba?"

But he continued on his way as if he had heard nothing, too profoundly anchored in his thoughts.

So, louder and more clearly, she repeated his name.

This time, he stopped just before the first stair, then barely turned to face her; she took notice of all of the suffering and disturbance which was perturbing his tortured spirit. He was shaken, very much so, his face like the snow outside.

What the…?

Seto didn't…

Oh, no. He didn't dare.

But Naomi believed it wiser to let him keep on walking, thinking that if he wished to talk, he'd know where to find her.

I'm so sorry, Moki. This is all my fault.

She felt saddened by the young man's attitude. Her eyes did not leave him the entire way up the stairs until he moved out of sight.

She sighed loudly as her face lit up determinedly, her steps now voluntarily taking her towards Kaiba's office.

Did she even have the right to come to the defense of his little brother.

This point – quite questionable – concerned her. After all, Kaiba was not a man whose actions come out of nowhere, pushed by instinct, but instead by a decision made in advance, reflected upon and well-calculated. The action was surely premeditated. But for what purpose? Why get angry at his brother?

So, what argument would she use once she walked through the door? Simply a pure affection for Mokuba, or more simply and in her opinion more fairly, the innate desire to protect him and to take that anger – Kaiba's – on her own shoulders. Besides, wasn't she responsible for the entire quarrel?

Grr… he had no right.

Again the scales were tipping to find balance, weighing the pros and cons of the odd situation.

To think that everything would have been so much simpler if she had just pushed that gate open.

Forced to admit, perhaps, that…

Again she stopped just before the door and waited a moment for knocking to announce her presence.

She sighed deeply.

. . . . . . . . .

That's her.

It was if he were expecting her.

Yes. Maybe not for the same reason. But it had been several minutes since he had first begun to suspect her arrival, even though he wasn't the type that normally dragged things out. Well he did on exceptional occasions. But this time, many explanations were needed on both sides. Again, he took on the air of being prideful, and when she opened the door he purposefully ignored her.

"I'm busy," he said, not even bothering to move his head from the screen.

The slap in the face had its desired impact when she appeared to stop in surprise. She seemed destabilized by the sudden "lack of civility".

What? Too busy?

He repeated himself.

"Not now, I'm too busy."

She stared at him.

What is that supposed to mean?

"I need to talk to you," she risked saying, finding the courage to know that she couldn't let him intimidate her.

I can understand that you don't want to talk to me… but come on.

Kaiba stopped tapping on his keyboard, and, looking at her angrily, he almost murmured:

"Go away. I need to be alone. I don't have time to talk."

What? Go away?

He was lying, surely. Flat-out lying. Perhaps like he had never done before in his entire life.

He had to assure himself of his loyalty. And the only way he had at his disposition, at the moment, was provoking her. So he would watch her reactions, watch what was occurring in her soul.

And what he read on her face could crack his icy mask; she was stupefied, and definitely injured, by the rejection. Kaiba saw the sadness in her eyes just before they redressed themselves in anger and determination.

But she wouldn't give him the advantage of scrutinizing her for long, as she turned on her heels to leave.

"Fine," she said.

He had goofed – she was sincere, like he had always really known.

And the cruelty which he had just demonstrated to her flew back in his face at full force when he saw her muttering very quietly, as if talking to herself.

At any rate, it wouldn't be too long before –

Idiot! Gah!

He had never before wanted to take back his words; hadn't he just opened the front door wide, him, the one who cloistered himself behind doors, every window, every fissure which traversed the walls of his domain?

Quickly, he stood up and fumbled after her, grasping her arm.

"No! Stay… Naomi."

What did I just do?

Kaiba suddenly wondered how he could have ended up this quickly away from his desk and at the door before she had even time to open it again.

"I meant…"

I meant that this isn't what I wanted, Naomi.

She was still quite angry; he felt it as she stood there. But she appeared to calm at the unexpected touch.

"What did you do to Mokuba?"

The tone she used demanded an immediate response. Why?

Mokuba?

He hadn't been expecting that. He would never would have reprimanded his brother just to find that he was still standing between him and Naomi.

However, it was for the better. If he were alone, Kaiba would have smiled with a plotted audacity and a smirk would have swept across his lips; it was just so ironic. The triangle didn't seem to want – or be able to – to form solidly, but it was obvious that the sides could no longer definitively separate.

But the smile did not come to him, quite simply because he was in no position to do so. It was too foolish.

He sighed loudly, as if exasperated.

"Naomi, don't get between my brother and me."

She did not seem at all satisfied for the thing that thought it was a response.

"What did you do to him, Seto?"

This time, he did not answer, letting her guess what he could no longer say.

"I know you're mad at me."

What? Me mad at you? But –

"But towards your brother? That's something I can't understand. He needs you, now more than ever. Don't you see that?"

She had almost spat the last remark, and she was now reddening in anger.

Kaiba kept calm, as if none of her words had any effect on him. But he could not keep to himself the confession that he had made.

"He's not the only one… who needs me," he said sharply with a tone only half-filled with confidence.

Naomi whipped around.

"What?"

What do you mean by that, Seto? Who –

"Besides, I'm glad that you're worried about him," he continued, "but your concerns are completely unjustified. I love my brother. I don't love him any less now."

Which temporarily lightened Naomi's spirits.

Of course he still loved him. But that had never really been part of the question.

"He made a mistake, that's all. And he has to face the consequences. It's a universal rule."

"Mistake?" she questioned, suddenly confused.

Like me, I guess?

Yes, you're right, I made a mistake. And I will be forever punished for it…

But this wasn't about her.

"And you didn't stop and think for even a second that you could have been wrong, did you?"

I'm not always right. Naomi…that's false.

Kaiba stared at her completely emotionlessly. However, he knew that he had pushed one of her most sensible buttons.

This wasn't what he had thought would happen.

"He's not like you, Seto."

And now she was daring to…

"And I think you went too hard on him."

Grr… Naomi, stop meddling in our affairs.

"I have nothing to say to you about my brother," he admitted, straightening to his full height.

Hurt by the comment, she lowered her voice.

"I see."

Kaiba could not keep his anger hidden for long.

"No! You don't see anything, Naomi!"

Nothing that I try to do for you… you see none of it!...

But did she have to understand his assertion?

I don't see anything? What should I be seeing?

Calm seemed to come back to Kaiba's person.

Quietly, he went to stand in front of her, raising his hands to her shoulders as if to take her into his arms.

"It's true that I was firm, a bit tough, on him."

And I didn't do it full-heartedly, I swear.

"…but I have to ask you, Naomi…"

His voice had softened again.

"…don't try to sort things out between us. Keep out of it, alright?"

"If I think it's my fault, then I don't think I can," she spat back, more determined than ever to drill her point into his brain. "It's because he told you about Marik, isn't it?"

Kaiba gave another long sigh and turned his head, annoyed that the conversation had come back to…this.

Yes, he was angry about that, and she had seen right through him. Again.

"Oh, so you're not mad at him, you're mad at me."

"I am not mad at you, Naomi."

Kaiba felt the ferocious hatred he held for Marik blossom once again in his stomach.

You're not? Do you have any idea what you look like? Lucky you're not actually angry, because things might actually be wrong then…

"Yes, you are. And let me make this clear – my past does not concern you. Not anymore than yours does me."

Mea culpa. I know you're right. At least partially.

Once again he swallowed his pride; despite himself, he complied:

"Exactly," he admitted.

Calm down, Naomi…

Naomi flinched at the confession too easily. She was expecting him to explode, to fight back. But instead he had given up without protest, and very modestly in the process.

"It's none of my business."

How bitterly he now swallowed his words. But what other weapons remained with which to fight, other than the gift of letting things slide?

But it makes me so mad to think that…

Grr….stop, Kaiba!

Softly he went to pull her into his arms and he saw with joy that she offered no resistance.

"I didn't want to…" he murmured as he held her against him.

It was so crazy how he wanted her body every second of every minute.

Was he still backing down, lowering his guns?

Yes.

But nobody could see, nobody could know.

I love your smell, Naomi… he thought, taken by a sudden and irresistible wish to feel her against him. It even seemed to him that every day she was becoming more and more beautiful. Especially after this little senseless altercation.

After all, weren't his arms the place where she could lose herself, by his simple touch?

Seto… why do things always have to end this way? Wait… is he doing it on purpose? Does he know that I can guess everything when…

"Seto," she murmured without raising her head.

Kaiba did not respond, too busy enjoying her scent, eyes closed as if ready to faint.

Except that he had been caught in the act this time: Naomi quickly changed her mind.

What if he could guess everything, too, upon contact? Could it be that he was truly sincere, and he had never hoped to manipulate her or cause her any harm? Was it possible that she was not the only one who lost their minds once their bodies were entwined?

Kaiba always seemed strong. As he always had been. And like always even evil tongues seemed okay on this point. She had almost been led to believe that he was only out to control her and to do with her what he wished. And tossing in the waves of his immense ocean, trying to keep her head above the water, Kaiba was there, the one to lead her to safety?

But although a voice in her head had always whispered to her that she had been wrong, this was perhaps the precise moment when the idea definitively conquered her: Kaiba was not playing with either her or her feelings. Not anymore than he had been up to that point. He was not mocking them.

On the contrary.

As for if she could trace some sort of history with him now, she decided to find out for herself. The moment was right, she thought.

"Mokuba has many things to say to you… please, take some time to listen to him," she whispered between two tender kisses.

Kaiba stepped back slightly to look at her more clearly.

"You seem to care a lot about him."

"Yes," she said, prey to the feeling of being in his arms.

"In that case," he murmured as he approached her lips, irresistibly attracted, "I'll do my best…"

Your wish is my command.

Was she really in a position to ask and demand what she wanted of him?

Now?

It took every appearance of being so, due to the strong reaction that she had given him.

Kaiba no longer restrained himself from quenching his desire, even if he were to believe that she was seducing him. Which is what she was doing, really. But he wasn't really an exception, either. Besides, it was true that he couldn't resist a single one of her wishes. At least completely.

He swept her off of her feet and delicately placed her on the desk as he kissed her furiously, and he began to take her clothes off, one by one.

"Seto! Not here… someone could walk in…"

Leaning down close to her ear, his lips brushed over her cheek as he whispered:

"…I'll kill whoever walks through that door…"

It was corny. But it made her smile.

He was ignoring his fears, running all over her body with his tongue. In a voluntary gesture he swept his arm across his desk, pushing every object in its path, including his computer, which then tumbled several feet onto the floor.

I want… you, Naomi. It's all that matters.

And Naomi found herself on her back, thighs spread, receiving Kaiba's member as he moved in and out, slowly at first.

I have to fight back… he's doing whatever he likes with me… what has he done to me?

Why must everything end up with me in his arms? I feel so weak… totally powerless… I forget it all… I lose my mind every time… I hate it when he –

Naomi couldn't hold back an intense shiver. Which of course caught Kaiba's attention.

Tell me… that you belong to me, Naomi… to me alone… completely… Kaiba thought as his kisses grew more passionate, more hurried, following a slightly more accelerated rhythm, more urgent in the center of his chest.

"Yes…" she whispered, pulling him towards her as if responding to Kaiba's secret wants.

All of her flesh was consumed beneath his fingers as if he were branding her, so much so that she thought that the letters 'KC' which represented his company would be able to be seen all over her body.

Why did they keep on fighting? The useless battles which lost any of their meaning once they were both trapped in the inferno of their desires? Two opponents who surrendered and abandoned themselves before even engaging in combat?

"Ohhh…." she sighed, her face slightly distorted by a pained grin.

Kaiba was once more angered by the disagreeable memory.

"Wait…wait," he breathed as he raised her carefully and held her to him.

The thought of seeing her suffer was, each and every time, unthinkable.

At that moment it was far easier for him to move when he placed her on top of him, and she could also now take him at her leisure.

So be it.

Never having broken their embrace, he brought her to the sofa.

It was crazy how he loved those star-struck eyes, even when he was acting cold. She could melt him entirely.

"Promise me… Seto…"

"What?"

Grr… she knows full well that I can't refuse her. Especially not right now!

Had he finally gotten to her? Did she understand?

Definitely.

Between two feverish kisses, she murmured into his ear:

"…promise me that you'll find time for…"

Mokuba.

Grrr…she…

"…I promise…"

Kaiba hastened his rhythm, lifting Naomi's back with one hand and fondling her with the other. And he earned, to his immense pleasure, an end to her complaint as she placed her lips against his.

One day… you will not hold back, he swore as he let their tongues cross.

Nothing could bring him more happiness then to hear her moan in pleasure, beg him to continue or to stop. And that day would come. The day would come, also, probably, when his grip on her would be completely irreversible.

Yes, that day would also come.

But for the time being, he had nothing to worry about. As long as things stayed simple...

. . . . . . . . .

A violent storm was raging in Athens; the lightning crashed down in threatening zigzags and did not appear to want to soften or move onwards.

Naomi had pulled the curtains, mortally terrified. She never was able to deal with the groans of rage in the sky. For as long as she could remember, she had always been horrified of thunder.

In these times, her plan was always the same, a ritual: lights shut off, candles only for lighting, and even the windows were shut to not support the idea of the wind stirring up a current. Just in case.

Yes. As a little girl, she hadn't dared to move from beneath her covers as she counted the seconds between each blast of thunder. It was stupid. She had failed to be hurt so often that she smugly doubted that a lightning bolt would end up finishing her. But she wouldn't take chances.

Knocking sounds against the door didn't convince her to be any braver. So after she heard the voice, she called for it to enter instead of answering personally.

The door opened to reveal Marik who, in the demi-obscurity, was forced to squint.

Oh…. this might not be the best time.

"Naomi?"

She didn't respond right away.

Marik quickly took note of her fear.

In a flash he found himself on his knees beside her bed, dying with worry.

"Naomi… what's…"

A wretched roar rattled the inn, causing Naomi to jump; her nervousness had given her a practically convulsive fit of shivering.

"Oh… so it's that."

Marik placed his hand affectionately upon her own.

"Don't stay up here alone, Naomi. Come join us downstairs."

"No."

It was so childish. And yet it was so touching. She looked petrified. And Marik didn't know if he should smile at the infantile fear, or if he should, instead, worry even more.

One thing was for certain: she needed somebody.

"So may I stay?"

"No… I'm fine."

Softly, he turned his head towards her.

"Either you join us downstairs… or I'm staying here with you."

She didn't have to think about it – Marik seemed determined to hold her to his ultimatum. She would have even thanked him generously if she hadn't known for a little while the feelings that were causing him to act so chivalrous.

Whether she was alone or not was not going to end up making any difference in her behavior. She was going to flinch at every thunderclap, bury herself ever deeper under her covers.

"May I?"

Marik had opened his arms, signifying to her that he was ready to welcome her and to hold her, to comfort her, serve as a guardian.

"I'll be fine, Marik."

It wasn't that she had no desire to – no human desire to be in someone's arms. And perhaps one day the need would reemerge. But in her mind, it was purely and simply abuse of the situation, because nothing would be able to make her stay.

Marik saw her hesitation, but he refused to lower his arms.

Please, Naomi. It's so little…

Besides… don't you need to know that someone is there for you?

I'm here, Naomi. Don't push me away…

An even more powerful snarl of thunder than the previous blows threw her into his arms; and he was happy to reinforce the embrace with an immense pleasure and a smile he had difficulty hiding.

"It's okay, Naomi. I'm here. Okay?"

For several days the evil being seemed to have gone back from whence he came. Which is why Marik was now allowing himself to approach Naomi again. He had blamed a temporary illness for his long absence and delegated Odion to look after her in the meantime. But now that the danger seemed to have passed, he dared to go after her once more. Wasn't she, in fact, one of his greatest sources of happiness? He would have to see.

It was crazy how she smelled like flowers. So sweet, so beautiful, so vulnerable.

Marik doubled the ardor of his grip, keeping her quite close to him.

The storm was tumbling on and rain drenched the windows, lighting up the room with a flash every so often.

I have…to get away… he'll think…

Yeah, why not? Just once… once… just to feel a body against me…

It was true that the will was quite persuasive in that moment when she was trembling so violently. Just to have someone close by… someone quite pleasant at that… someone that could listen to her, protect her… just once… just once.

She was still trembling and Marik hated feeling so powerless to calm her torments. If only it were in his power to make her forget it all.

Long ago that power had been his. He had manipulated hundreds of people for his own gain. But that wasn't him. And none of them had been Naomi.

Affectionately his lips passed through Naomi's hair as he tightened the embrace upon her frail body.

Her smell filled his nostrils and drifted to his brain, leaving him dangerously intoxicated with lust.

"Take her."

Marik flinched, his world suddenly crumbling as he heard the hoarse and unpleasant voice.

"She's at your fingertips, you idiot. She's waiting for you."

"Naomi," he breathed as he felt the courage leave his chest.

Even his skin had paled, a striking contrast to his normal skin tone.

If you love me, Naomi… maybe he'll go away forever…

I need you… help me.

Tenderly, he lifted her chin with his fingers.

No. He wouldn't. I… I…

This time Marik did not hold back as he pressed his lips to hers with a pronounced voracity.

"Yes…we'll taunt her… make her shriek in pleasure…"

No!

Marik was suddenly struck by the need to run out the door.

But Naomi was still afraid. And she had no courage right now.

He was caught between two flames – one to not hurt her due to the monster inside of him, the other to save her from danger by suddenly getting up and leaving, abandoning her in fact. He wasn't a coward.

What is he…?

Naomi was aghast as he saw her plunge back into her mouth, opening it forcefully with his tongue as it searched for her own. And his hands, more solid than hers, were soaring across her body with an abnormal amount of violence.

She almost began to suffocate as Marik's hand suddenly plunged into her underwear, his fingers seeking her privates. Naomi began to shiver even more violently.

Marik? What is he…? He wouldn't…

"Hahaha! Look how she likes it! Go on, push inside, she's dying to be tamed…"

"Marik!" she yelled, as much as fear as from anger.

He was ready to abuse her without any remorse. However, it wasn't him.

No! I won't hurt her! Marik thought, fighting to pull his hand back. But his alter ego made him shove her to the ground and to snake between her legs.

"Marik!" she screamed again. "NO!"

He was gasping, his eyes were repulsive. He was fighting a war inside. An enemy, worse than any other, the one he had the most trouble in battling, the one pushed by nothing but a bloody need for violence.

I'm sorry… I don't want to, Naomi… not like this… I… he's making me…

But how could he explain to her the existence of his internal demon? A demon which, additionally, took over his entire body and then vanished again as it saw fit?

Marik had no more control of himself as he ripped her underwear off of her now, whose remains he then tossed somewhere onto the floor behind him.

She was having a panic attack, more terrified than ever, struggling furiously under Marik's body, which was so heavy…

No. Not this. Not this. I beg you…

"Marik! Marik!" she was screaming on the verge of tears.

She hadn't the strength to fight against his force. Because without knowing it, she understood that she no longer was actually dealing with Marik.

Despite it all, she tried to call out to him, praying as hard as she could that he would resurface, against all odds.

"You have no right to! Let me go!" she was yelling.

A very raspy voice came from Marik's throat, whose bloodshot eyes were staring at her in glee.

"Oh, but I have every right. That dumbass doesn't know how to use a woman. But you… we're going to have fun, my dear…"

It was disgusting – such words said with so little regard.

"No!"

Grr… Naomi…I'm sorry… Marik was secretly fighting.

With one hand he kept her pinned to the ground he made her kiss the front of his pants, already threatening her with his hardened member, when he felt himself be thrown backwards.

Marik was fighting back. He never would have permitted such an atrocity. Not to his Naomi.

She was gasping to catch her breath, watching what might have been Marik convulse.

And the storm was raging outside.

She quickly covered herself up back in a sheet, backing up against the wall just behind the bed.

He shot back up, pants still lowered, and he had begun a strange dance which consisted of him shaking his head from side to side as he held it.

"Asshole! Fuck off!"

Go on. Take her. She's all yours. You know you want to. Everything's ready. Show her what you're made of.

"No! Go away!" he roared in outrage.

Naomi's eyes never left him as she sat there shaking like a leaf, body drenched in sweat from the fight she had put up against him.

A very bright flash of lightning lit up the room, allowing her to clearly see Marik in the mirror, for a short instant. But she would never forget what she saw then.

His hair was standing completely on end like needles, his eyes evil, face warped and deformed by hatred. Another Marik which she had never seen before. An alter ego.

That vicious assault could not have come from the Marik she knew.

Then the two of them, both him and that being, turned to the mirror and began to converse in lieu of the convulsions.

"Take her! It's for her own good!"

"No! Not like that! Go away!"

"You think she needs you, don't you? You stupid mortal!"

"Grr… I don't know. But she sure as hell doesn't need YOU!"

Seizing what he could easily find with his hands, Marik suddenly threw a chair into the mirror, too horrified with himself to dare glance behind him.

"Go away!" he cried as he watched the pieces scatter and fall onto the floor.

Then suddenly everything was calm.

Marik was having difficulty breathing, gasping as if he had been deprived of air for hours.

Naomi!

He had forgotten during that fight which seemed to last an eternity. Then she was his first thought; so fast that he knew that he had won.

He hurried to put his pants back on and cover himself. She certainly didn't need to be seeing anything there.

Nausea. The shame and terror were knotted so tightly in his stomach he thought he could vomit. But he had to hold back long enough to check up on how Naomi was faring.

Pitifully.

Even in the complete darkness, he felt her shock, her destruction by the inhumane aggression.

"Argh…"

She had stayed the entire time in the corner of the room, shielded by a sheet, like a wounded dog.

Hadn't he worsened her pain enough, him, the one who promised himself that he could end it?

Fuck pride.

She was shaking more profoundly than ever before when he shoved aside the bed to fall onto his knees by her side. When he looked up at her she had tears in her eyes.

"I'm sorry… I'm so sorry… I didn't want to..." he kept repeating, his voice choked with the sound of whimpering.

She shook her head hard, pushing away his hand.

How could he explain this? Was there a reasonable method to make her understand that he was never the one who had just made her undergo so much pain?

"Get out. Please," she whispered, on the verge of bursting out crying.

Yet her voice was filled with sadness, with disappointment. Not anger.

"I…I'm so sorry, Naomi…"

My sweet…

Marik abandoned the idea of staying any longer.

There was nothing he could say that would be sufficient to pardon himself.

The shame and remorse would cling to him until the end of his days, with him every cruel minute.

And to think he had believed the burden to be behind him – how cynically ironic, now.

He sighed loudly, hesitating as he stood.

Even at his full height, her eyes remained nailed to the floor.

"That wasn't me," he murmured, so quietly he doubted whether she could hear him.

Then he left, his heart pulverized into a thousand tiny pieces.

"I'm sorry."

. . . . . . . . .

She had to do something.

She scrambled up and without even taking the time to shower threw clothes back onto herself and then hurried to pack what was strictly necessary for travel. Again, she hadn't been able to defend herself and had missed, again, to leave someone with her complete trust.

Of course she understood that Marik wasn't the one controlling himself. But it was also for certain that she couldn't stand up to his alter ego.

No. Maybe another life, maybe the one before this one, wouldn't be any better.

Fuck the storm outside. Whether she was struck by lightning or not was her destiny.

. . . . . . . . .

Naomi nuzzled affectionately against Kaiba's calm body. She was still shaking when she attempted to sit up.

What the…

Kaiba's arms softly held her back.

What's wrong? What are you hiding?

Oddly, the sky had turned gray, threatening to storm at any moment.

"What?" she asked quietly, not wanting to startle him.

She seemed suddenly distressed by the temperature, due to a distant echo which sounded like a low growl in the air, maybe miles away. But it did not slip past Naomi's fine sense of hearing unnoticed, and she immediately stiffened.

Kaiba raised an eyebrow, seeing that something was bothering her. He felt like investigating further.

What had he done or said to provoke such behavior?

Be strong! Come on… you can defend yourself now, it's not like before… nothing like when –

Oh, how worried she was.

Was Kaiba suddenly going to transform into a monster as well? It was an idiotic question. Because she already knew the answer.

It was idiotic like the memory which suddenly came back to her then. Was it maybe because she had spoken about it earlier, maybe quite simply the fact that that disturbing recollection came back to her with every storm now? She couldn't quite say for certain. But she tried terribly hard to keep it from Kaiba.

Barely lost in her thoughts before he brought her ever so delicately back towards him, having ceased for a moment to attempt to meet his eyes to read what he wanted to know.

Something was scaring her. And that's all that Kaiba understood, which was more than necessary for him to keep his grip on her. For her to understand that he was there for her.

A horrid thunderclap, followed by a long lightning bolt, cut through the entire mansion.

Which caused both of them to jump.

It seemed that Kaiba was about to stand, as if to assure himself that it was just thunder and not some recidivist readying to raid the mansion. But he stopped as soon as he felt Naomi's body shiver even more; she wasn't scared. She was completely terrified. Like he had never seen her before. But he simultaneously doubted that that could be one of her few weaknesses. He knew of only one other. And that one was worse. The one against which he could do nothing. But to see her so vulnerable filled him with the urgent need to look after her. For the better.

Holding her even more firmly between his arms, he had to stop himself from smiling.

"You want me to turn the lights on in the foyer?"

But Naomi seemed more attuned to the thunder that was still miles away.

This is so stupid. He has to want to laugh at me, I'm sure of it. Just relax, Naomi. Relax…

Only she stayed nailed in place, a plan which wasn't too disagreeable.

But Kaiba had, over her and over this moment, an advantage.

"Naomi," he breathed as he tightened his grasp again.

This time he no longer wished to laugh, understanding that behind that fear other dark memories – or something worse - was hidden.

In his protective grip, there where nothing could touch her, she was persuaded at present that she had found, to her astonishment, a bit of calm and appeasement.

Seto was not going to transform into something else.

Seto was not going to creep out from under the bed, a hideous and malicious creature.

Seto wasn't even going to mock her. Nor take advantage of the situation, as comical, irrational and senseless as it must seem, not even with his icy blue eyes.

No. Seto was there. Her safe haven, her compass. The welcoming territory she so desperately wanted but had never found before. She had to do nothing but let herself go; everything was suddenly so easy. Life beside Seto Kaiba, whom she had treated like a monster, was becoming sweeter and more beautiful than anything. It was so obvious.

The happiness hurt her so much that the desire to burst into tears wracked her. But would he have seen beyond all the lamentations and litanies? Doubtlessly what was torturing her so much was that the brief period of happiness had deeply wounded her. Because she had not known it before, and she had no right to it now.

It was agony to feel any joy by his side.

But why hadn't she known that years earlier? Why?

The answer was again too simple: he never would have loved her. He barely would have noticed her if he had seen her so weak, so detestable. So deplorable, so pitiable.

This bitter thought made her head rise, and she suddenly breathed in.

Hadn't she said that one day that the lightning could strike her, should that be her destiny?

"I'm going to go see Mokuba… see if he's alright," she whispered uncertainly.

Kaiba heard the choked-down sob in her voice.

"Naomi… I'm sure he's fine," he said, although he himself wanted to check up on him.

Better than you are.

So he tried to hold her against him. But she kept fighting to become free.

He was worried. She felt that.

Let go of me, Seto, please…

"I'm going anyway," she insisted courageously, despite the lightning which could be seen illuminating the house.

Again he held her back, convinced that he had to let her one of her old demons, despite the will that he had to fight them himself with his bare hands if need be.

"There's just a price to pay if you leave this room," he pleased himself in teasing her, hoping above all to alleviate the unbearable tension which was buzzing inside of Naomi's body.

She sighed gently, recognizing that he was trying to understand what she was feeling. Without knowing anything. So she bent to his "demand" with more pleasure than she anticipated when she avidly kiss his lips. She even added more to embrace around his neck, which told Kaiba that she appreciated his concern. He had to admit it.

Naomi…

. . . . . . . . .

God, she loathed this house. Even more so at the end of the afternoon during a thunderstorm.

It was dark everywhere and she felt like walking on tiptoe in the black and across the powerful bursts of lighting which continued unceasingly as she made her way through the third floor corridor.

She wasn't quick about it, and on the contrary, walked very slowly, barely daring to touch the walls.

But it seemed to her that with every step, a door would open and a hobgoblin would rush out to jump on top of her.

But she regained her courage when she thought of Mokuba alone in his room, probably also in darkness. Sad, disappointed, let down. But most of all alone.

At last the door to his room was before her.

"Come in," he said with little enthusiasm when he heard her knock.

"Hey," she said upon entering.

Mokuba was seated on his bed, his toes touching the floor, head bowed down low as he looked at old photographs.

Photographs of him and his brother.

"Oh, hey, Nao."

"Can I join you?"

He sighed.

His mood hadn't changed. He was so sad.

"If you want," he claimed nonchalantly.

She went to sit by his side.

"So… is something wrong? You wanna talk about it?"

"Psht. Not really. Not like it'd do any good."

"Wanna know something? I don't like seeing you like this. Not at all."

He flinched slightly.

"But it's not your fault, Nao. Just a little brotherly quarrel, that's all. Don't worry, I'll get over it."

An enormous noise, so loud it was almost like a bulldozer smashing into the wall.

Naomi jumped and, without realizing what she was doing, almost wrapped herself around Mokuba.

"Hey, what's the matter with you?" he said before realizing the acidity of the tone he was using. He began to understand Naomi's phobia.

"Oh…sorry…I didn't know," he continued immediately to excuse himself after being so prompt in wanting to push her away.

But she had already distanced herself, causing a new silence between them, an irritated one.

"Er… guess we should be glad my brother's not here and he doesn't know, 'cuz otherwise…"

Mokuba smiled amusedly, his lips twitching as if readying to laugh.

"Otherwise what?"

She certainly didn't need to ask because Kaiba already knew, for at least several good minutes anyway. But Mokuba's reaction interested her.

At least it changed her ideas a bit.

Seto barely prevented himself from laughing; surreptitiously he had followed Naomi in the dark, just in case. And that had brought him to Mokuba's room. Except he remained incognito in the hall.

"Well…let's just say.. just so you know… my brother isn't afraid of anything… so he had to know that you were scared of storms. I'd better not think about what he might do… you know, laugh. Really loud!"

Kaiba stood frozen. Could it be that even Mokuba didn't know him any better than that? In reality, he wasn't entirely wrong. With anyone else he would have laughed out his lungs, certainly. But concerning Naomi… so many things no longer fell into place.

"You think?" she asked, herself amused.

"Oh, yeah, I'm sure of it," he kept saying. "But, say… how did it get to be such a problem?"

She wasn't sure if she should respond to his curiosity.

"Honestly… I don't know. For as long as I can remember, I've always hated storms."

Then she suddenly stopped.

"What? That's it? Come on, you can tell me, I promise I won't tell Seto."

She gave a nervous laugh.

"No, really, I don't know why."

"Is it a bad memory or something?"

"Maybe..."

Marik… he certainly didn't help.

"…that might be right."

But it wouldn't bring her any justice anyway because she had hated them well before she ever met him.

No, the source of the fear went further back than Marik, and, oddly enough, into quasi-analogical circumstances.

"So… how was your day?" she asked, eager to change the topic of conversation.

Mokuba's face lit back up again.

He was hopping on the bed, wondering whether or not he should tell her now.

But he couldn't take it anymore. He grabbed her hands and looked her straight in the eye.

"Can I tell you a secret?"

"Of course," she replied on the spot, chasing away all of her bad thoughts.

He waited for a moment, again saddened by the fact that the person he was about to confide to was not his brother. But because she didn't seem to be too bothered, Naomi was his next true friend.

Solemnly, he cleared his voice after another thunderclap, this one farther away, not as easily heard.

"Nao…today…"

He breathed in deeply, as if looking for courage.

"…I had my first kiss!"

In the hallway, Kaiba had stiffened once more.

What?

Oh, Mokuba, you should have told me…

But it was me who didn't listen to him! GAH!

Ashamed.

Yes, Seto Kaiba was very ashamed, caught completely off guard.

It seemed to him that things were becoming more and more difficult for him to manage. Not only with Naomi, but he was beginning to neglect his brother more and more to the point that he was no longer available for him.

That was over. He wouldn't miss another moment, especially not one as important as this one in the life of a young man.

His little brother was in love and he had known nothing about it.

He had failed completely.

Beaten, his head slackened.

He would have to fight in the future. And he was going to fight hard.

If he had to redouble his efforts, he would redouble them.

But he was not going to fail anymore.

He just needed a little more time.

Wow, this was a long chapter... I'm surprised I could do it all in one day! (Or that I had enough free time...)