The original version of this story (French Apparences) belongs to Melzart, and the Yu-Gi-Oh! franchise belongs to Kazuki Takahashi.

Chapter 23

Countdown

"Alright."

But why had she given him her approbation to increase that sum of money which wasn't even hers?

She remembered very well having seen Kaiba give a strange smirk, as if he had known that she wouldn't resist. And worst of all, it seemed as if he was very content for having bent her to his will. He had his reasons, that was for sure. And though she was looking for which ones those were exactly, she wanted to just ignore it all.

Not everything is good to know.

But the fact was that, in some manner or another, she would have to make good use of it. Hadn't he told her that she was the owner of all of it?

It was the only reason why she had accepted his request.

Even if it all wasn't just to make him happy. Because she understood that Seto, a very powerful businessman, had allowed himself to get into her own personal things and that he had to, she didn't doubt for a second, knew about the state of her finances. This didn't leave her without worry – she was used to being relatively independent financially.

But he had been discreet on this point. He hadn't spoken of it any more than she had.

In the end he had been right, like always. KaibaCorp's new acquisition two days ago had allowed the price of shares to skyrocket, just as Seto had predicted, and she was now in command of over a hundred thousand dollars, immediately reinvested with Kaiba's recommendation. Her urge to use the money herself hadn't wasted time in ballooning appropriately.

Kaiba was a seasoned businessman. Brilliant, too. Nobody could refute his competency. It was liquid money that ran through his veins, pure and simple.

She certainly wasn't going to deny that fact.

"Naomi, can you push me?" Molina asked as she stood by the swing.

"Oh, of course, honey…here…"

And she began to softly push the child.

There had been a short amount of time where she hadn't the pleasure to spend several hours at the orphanage. There, outside and dressed for the weather, she was having fun busying herself with the swarm which had been playing on the playground for the past half-hour or so. And this time, depending on the caprices of the temperature, it could last a tad longer.

But there was a chance. At the same time it was a curse to see that some children, such as Molina in particular, had still not yet been adopted by loving parents. In her case, she remained selfishly happy to see the little girl every time, and feared the moment when she wouldn't see her anymore. She was truly a little piece of sun, a balm for her wounds.

On the flip side she had begun to train again, both alone and with Mokuba, whose professor she supposedly was, in the basement of the Kaiba mansion. Every afternoon, as soon as Mokuba returned from school, they hurried to practice before Seto could catch wind of it. They had earned the trust of a guard, who was to warn them in case of trouble. It was almost funny. Of course she had to be especially prudent as her sides still hurt her lightly. But even the bruises had left her body; proof of the speed of the healing process.

But at the heart of things, hiding it all was useless.

Would could possibly change if Kaiba were to learn that they were training in the martial arts behind his back? Hadn't he been the one to want to pay her to tutor him?

She knew that he'd learn of it sooner or later.

"Naomi…?" Jeremy asked, approaching her timidly.

She was pulled from her thoughts.

"You know Mr. Kaiba?"

Carefully, still pushing Molina, she turned her head to give her attention to the newcomer.

"Yes?"

"Er… do you think he'll show us his dragon again when he comes back?"

When he comes back? Are we supposed to come as a pair now?

"What makes you think he'd come back, Jeremy?"

"Well…er…. I thought…. because you…. well, you guys look like you like each other, and…"

Red in the face, he fell silent.

"Jeremy," she said pleasantly. "I don't know."

"Oh…" he sighed, filled with disappointment, a sudden sadness.

"You like him a lot, don't you?" she risked asking him.

The look in the child's eyes was now like a thousand fires.

"Oh, yeah!"

"May I ask why?"

She was smiling politely, now curious to understand the child's attraction – an attraction which wasn't unique to him alone – to Seto Kaiba.

He blushed again, seeming to have difficulty in correctly answering the question. A question Naomi even thought he might never have actually asked himself.

But she was patient. There was no use in trying to push him.

"Well…. I think he's a great guy. I'd love to be like him."

A great guy? Be like him?

Strange, the contrast between the worlds of childhood and adulthood. Everywhere except for within the confines of his amusement park, all that could be heard about Kaiba was negative. Here, though, he was a god.

"Yeah!" he said. "He's rich and powerful, and he has the best company in the world… just think, he makes children's games! Plus he's a champion and he's really smart."

I'll give you that, yes.

"Well, the real champion is Yugi Motou… but who cares, he's not like Mr. Kaiba! He's different."

"Different? How?"

"Well…" Jeremy began, who had been managing the conversation wonderfully up to that point. "I heard that he was at the orphanage too, once… that he doesn't have parents and I think…"

Naomi's heart stopped beating. Didn't she already know so much about this?

"…yeah, I think he went through a lot of pain and it wasn't easy for him to reach the top where he is today. I think it's awesome."

From the mouths of babes, as they say.

Those beings – so small – that are often believed to be so naïve are capable of shattering the thickest walls around any man. Which adults seem completely incapable of doing. The most admirable of all people was a young boy. Piercing the heart of Seto Kaiba without having even been close enough to him to register in his memory.

"So, yeah, I know, he looks tough… everyone says he's selfish and mean. But I know they're all lying. I just think they're jealous. They're the mean ones!"

Naomi couldn't help but plant a tiny kiss on Jeremy's forehead.

He was so right. He had no idea.

"I noticed that… well, you know Mr. Kaiba, right?"

"Er… you could say that, yes."

She shivered at the thought of his lips kissing her body.

"Can I ask you… to tell him something for me…?" he said.

Naomi wasn't certain that she'd be a good messenger.

"Like what?"

"Well, just tell him that… I like him a lot. And I really want to see him again one day."

How to not be moved by such a confession?

"Why not tell him yourself, Jeremy?"

The boy frowned.

"Write him something – a letter – and I'll give it to him. He'll get it, Jeremy, I promise. And I'm sure it'll make him really, really happy."

"But… don't go yet, okay? Will you wait until I write my letter?"

"Yes, I'll wait," she agreed with a nod.

Jeremy then ran inside, all smiles, determined to prove to Mr. Kaiba just how much he appreciated him.

Yes, I'm sure he'll be very touched.

"So, Naomi, you won't push me anymore?"

She turned towards Molina, who had gotten off of the swing.

"Of course I will. You still want to?"

"Mm-hm."

Then the little girl sat back down on the wood plank.

Naomi was helping her seat herself correctly when her attention was captured by something in the corner of her eye which wasn't there before, but which was coming to a very slow stop.

The black limousine.

Except that this time she panicked, surrounded as she was by so many children that she couldn't protect them all at once.

"Er… I think we should go inside," she said quietly, so as to not alarm Molina.

"Hunh? Why?"

"Er… I'm starting to feel really cold…"

"Oh!" she said, getting off of the swing once more to hold her hand.

"If you want to," she said sweetly.

"Okay, everyone!" she shouted so that they could all hear her. "Let's go inside!"

There were cries of protest which then died out as they quickly begin to follow Naomi towards the entrance.

"Go on, Molina, I'll be in in a few minutes, okay?" she said, pushing the child encouragingly.

Molina didn't complain although she wasn't happy to break away from her.

Then, gathering courage, she sighed heavily, pulling herself together almost with fury.

That fucking car had been following her for days – weeks, now, even. And worst of all, to the orphanage, where there were hundreds of defenseless children.

Her decision made, she turned around and began to walk up the narrow sidewalk which led to the edge of the property.

She was determined to know what the threat was that was hanging over her head. Determined to get it over with.

But the principal goal in her mind was first and foremost to get the enemy away from the orphanage.

What if it has to do with Kaiba?

Of course it has to do with Kaiba! Who else?

The question didn't even need to be asked.

Grr… I've had enough of this!

What do they always keep wanting from him?

She very well could rebel, rage over the series of events that had happened since he had entered her existence. But she would never succeed in convincing herself that Seto could be the devil that everyone cursed out, wanting to bitterly repent for his sins.

Strangely, as she approached the car, she felt as if its occupants were again about to flee, leaving her in the dark.

But against her expectations this time, all four doors opened when she stepped onto the sidewalk leading up to the parked vehicle.

First the driver, then two other men – which she guessed were bodyguards – clambered out of the car simultaneously.

Naomi took a step backwards, ready to defend herself, truly expecting to be attacked by the gorilla-like goons.

Then, from the fourth door emerged another man; he seemed distinguished, as his clothes seemed quite expensive. He was wearing an egg-white coat, and his hair, which fell just about to his shoulders, was very dark, practically jet-black. She could not immediately perceive his eyes, as they were hidden behind an enormous pair of sunglasses.

"I assure you, ma'am, we do not mean you any harm."

But Naomi did not lower her guard.

"Really now," she said in a tone so bitingly sarcastic it bordered on rivaling Kaiba's.

He took pleasure at the sight of her and gave a tiny mocking laugh.

"Moreover, let me add that we are perfectly aware of your physical debilitations… so don't worry. None of us would dare."

"Thanks," she said again. "But enough small talk. What the hell do you guys want? If it's for a hotel – "

This certainly wasn't the moment to be making jokes, but in her arrogance, she had allowed herself to do so.

Again, he roared with laughter.

"You really are too funny… Mrs. Déziel!"

Naomi hid her flinch excellently, not giving him the pleasure of seeing her utter shock. He seemed to know more than a smidge about her.

"Do we know each other?" she hissed, eyebrows arching.

She earned a smile filled with admiration a light, practically regretful sigh, which didn't make her feel any better. The despicable man's head was tilting, as if taking in her body from the bottom up, before seemingly focusing again on her face.

It was the repugnant impression of feeling her naked body being run over by hundreds of slugs.

"I think a brothel would suit you better."

"You certainly have a sense of humor, ma'am. But on to more serious matters," he said, his smile fading.

Her concentration at a peak, Naomi could easily see any movement within a range of at least one hundred and eighty degrees in front of her. So she would not miss a single movement made by any of the other three men, although they were keeping their distance and had still not even moved from their respective positions.

"Why the hell not."

. . . . . . . . .

"Marie? Is Naomi at home?"

Kaiba had punched the number into his cell phone as soon as he had felt the intense tingling in his stomach. Something was bothering him, and the mere image that came to mind – very striking and powerful – was one of Naomi.

If he had believed in such things, he would have thought that it had all the auspices of being a bad omen.

"Did she say where she went?"

"No, sir."

"Very well. Inform me as soon as she returns."

Naomi… where are you?

Think, Kaiba… in broad daylight… where could she have gone? Alone?

Kaiba let his gaze deviate to the bay window in his office, where the adorable crystal dragon was standing that she had given to him for Christmas.

Grrr… why do I feel so bad all of a sudden?

Calm down… she can defend herself, there's no risk… there's no –

The orphanage! he thought, suddenly slapping his forehead.

It was so obvious to him now.

He yanked up his phone again.

"Roland?"

. . . . . . . . .

"First, I must say that I am sorry for the terrible accident which befell you," her interlocutor began, pulling off his leather gloves.

Accident?

"I don't know what you're talking about," Naomi responded in a monotone.

"It was absolutely not expected."

Naomi raised her eyebrows again.

"But I am very happy to see how well you have been recovering…"

That dirty… he knows….

"At least, you seem to be alright now," he added. "You look radiant."

This time there was no longer a shadow of a doubt; he was talking about the aggression that she had undergone. Which made her become more alert than ever.

"What are you trying to get at?" she spat, on the verge of losing her patience. "Get to the point. That way you won't be wasting both of our time."

"Ah!" he exclaimed. "I can see who you've been spending time with. Kaiba is beginning to rub off on you… be very careful, my dear!"

Disgust swept across Naomi's face.

"I am not your 'dear'. Let's just get this over with!"

"Fine. As you wish…"

He left a slight pause. Then he began again:

"Your…friend… Mr. Kaiba… is in possession of something I wish to recover."

"Are you kidding me? Why not just ask him in that case?"

"Because I'm afraid it's something which directly concerns you."

"What?"

Naomi took another step backwards as shock took hold over her entire body.

"I still don't see what you mean."

He nodded, a hint of a smile curling his lips as he leaned against the car.

"I see… you are apparently not aware of all of your companion's actions."

"Of course not. And honestly, you're beginning to get on my nerves. Actually, I can't tell why I'm wasting my time talking to you."

She then whipped around and began to walk back towards the orphanage.

But she paused when she heard him call after her:

"Have you ever wondered what became of the men who kidnapped you?"

Naomi felt her body turn to ice.

No, nothing good could possibly come out of this situation. Her intuition hadn't failed her.

Slowly, she turned around to look at the man again, showing a slight, but undeniable, sense of interest.

"Especially the one that… brutalized you?"

There was no longer any doubt; he was perfectly aware of the entirety of this story. Which now made him the number one foe of the Kaiba household.

Because unless she was mistaken, this man was probably the instigator of those events.

"Meaning?"

"Again, I implore you to consider that Mr. Kaiba has hidden many things from you."

She couldn't find a response to that.

She wasn't about to not judge Kaiba, but it was at that moment the least of her worries, her principal fear standing in front of her.

"And… is there something I ought to know? Because you seem to be quite well-informed," she mocked, although no desire to laugh came to her.

"Oh, yes. I regret to inform you… that Seto Kaiba is most likely… a murderer."

Naomi forced herself to keep up her marble carapace despite the fact that all of the exact opposite sentiments were tugging at her soul. She was not going to show the slightest weakness to this guy.

"You aren't even surprised? I'm still of the opinion that you have no idea of the true identity of Seto Kaiba, even if you do share a bed."

"My sexual life is none of your concern," she snapped testily in response.

"No, of course not! You are correct. Only," he said, "I insist that you do not know him. You have absolutely no idea what he is capable of doing."

She gave an exasperated sigh.

"First you say he has something and now you're treating him like a murderer. Which one is the truth? And what the hell do you actually want?"

"Well… let's just say it is quickly becoming so, if it isn't already."

"My, what a very comprehensible sentence."

He stopped before the perspicacity of the young woman, who apparently wasn't seeing things eye to eye with him.

"Let me try again," he continued, still smiling. "We managed to trace the history of every man responsible in that event since that occurrence. Of them, one was gravely injured – graciously accorded to him by Mr. Kaiba – and another completely disappeared."

Seto? she thought, a doubt beginning to form.

But this wasn't the time. Even though a certain rage was burning in the middle of her stomach and was beginning to get to her head.

"It was the man who did the most harm to you. He was completely wiped off the face of the earth. Don't you wonder what happened to him? What Kaiba did to him, might I add?"

Naomi's eyes did not deviate. And God only knew how shaken she was by the revelation.

"As you can see, this does in fact directly concern you, my dear."

Grrr…

"And it is he who I desire to recover. Seto Kaiba only wished to deliver justice. I can understand his reasoning. But he had no right. You will consider it, won't you?"

She did not dare show the slightest hint of weakness. She still, however, was silent.

"You say nothing? I hope I haven't completely destroyed all of your wonderful preconceptions of your prince charming."

This time, she mocked him with her biggest smile.

"Oh, absolutely not," she said, proving to him that he had done nothing to unnerve her.

"I want that prisoner," he ordered, all seriousness.

"And I don't know where he is," she answered in the same tone.

"No, of course not. But he does."

"Is Seto Kaiba really so dangerous you can't just talk to him directly about this?"

He wasn't about to tell her that it wasn't yet time. But the moment would come where he would confront him, yes.

"And now?" she said. "Are you going to take me hostage to do an exchange or something?"

"Whatever do you mean by that? It never even crossed my mind."

Oh, yeah? Like I'm going to believe that. You already tried, dumbass.

"Sooner or later, you're going to have to talk to him, not me."

"Oh, I know. I was counting on it."

Counting on it… counting on it?

The threat still hung in the air; it was quite valid. His words were like bullets ramming into Naomi, bullets that raised loud alarm bells.

"But I believe you underestimate your power over Kaiba."

"MISTER KAIBA!" she almost roared, outraged that he dared not show him the respect he deserved.

They stared at each other for several seconds, although she still couldn't tell what the color of his eyes were.

"Whatever. All I want for now – "

For now, Naomi quickly noted.

" – is to have back the prisoner."

"And I still say that you have to talk to him first," she concluded, turning on her heels.

"I'm delighted to have met you, my dear."

All of the muscles in Naomi's body stiffened.

"I'm sorry I couldn't be of more assistance."

The four men watched her walk away without adding anything further.

. . . . . . . . .

A short time later, Naomi heard the car's engine roar to life, sign that they were departing. A brief sense of relief allowed her to catch her breath. Because she suddenly felt that she wasn't breathing.

What if it were true?

What if Seto were truly capable of such a thing? Capable of refuting the basic rights of humanity to impose his own rule of law?

He hadn't lied; they had never discussed it. She couldn't even reproach him. But if he was holding a man, as loathsome as he was, she was of the opinion that morally, it wasn't permissible.

Besides… why would he do so? Didn't he consider the possible consequences that doing so could entail?

But most all, had he done so?

. . . . . . . . .

"No, Mokuba!" she snapped hotly. "You're blocking backwards and you're attacking back with your other fist.. you have to make your opponent take a step back so you're not too close to their body and can't get in another hit! You'd be at their mercy!"

She had had an indisputable sense of patience. But the moment was not the right one. The courses of self-defense had doubled in ardor. She knew full well that Mokuba would be an attractive target for potential abductors, like he always had been. And this enraged her so much that she momentarily forgot she was addressing the young man about his incapacity to learn as quickly as she could.

But time was not on her side.

"Nao," he almost shouted, "I can't!"

"Yes, you can, Moki…"

"Can we stop for today? Seto will be home soon – "

"No! Keep going. Your brother has to learn about this someday. And you have to learn to defend yourself, Mokuba. It's important."

"Stop it! It's like you think my life depends on it!" he barked, already wiped out by more than an hour of intensive training, his forehead covered with sweat and his outfit beginning to cling disgustingly to his entire body.

Yes, it does!

But Naomi would never let those words leave her mouth.

She probably seemed like a tyrant given the fact she was forcing him to press onward. Even the light throbbing pain in her sides wasn't stopping her.

"Come on. Slap me!" she insisted again.

"No!"

"Mokuba! You will stay and you will continue or the lessons are over. Understood?"

But how could he possibly know that she was doing this because she knew that he was in danger? Because she was trying in every way possible to speed up the learning process, too harshly maybe, but it was her sole intention.

She was exhausted as well. But as if it were the last fight she would ever be in, she didn't give a single scrap of an advantage to her adversary. Not anymore than he already had.

Grrr… can it be?

Kaiba opened the door to the large room in which Naomi and Mokuba were training.

No… this can't be.

And yet an odd sense of pride flooded his heart. His brother excelled in martial arts? And he had never even said a word.

Yes, he was very happy.

There was just one little problem – it was Naomi who, unwisely, was teaching him.

What the hell could she be thinking?

He knew better than anyone her physical state of being, having the immensely pleasurable opportunity of demystifying every inch of her body every single day. So he had the evidence needed to hold a valid opinion.

And it made him quite angry to see her fighting without the slightest consideration of her wounds.

The two of them froze for a second when they saw him straddling the doorway, a frank look on his face.

Don't get involved with this, Seto.

But was it an order or a warning?

Would he even listen to it?

"Oh! Big brother!" Mokuba shouted, half-ashamed to be caught in the act and half happy that the last secret which had been separating them had finally been unveiled.

Seto smiled at his little brother. Of course he was happy with him.

"Come on, Moki," Naomi said, turning to ignore Kaiba's presence. "Keep going."

"By the look on your face, it looks like you've had enough for today," Kaiba said as he approached them.

He had noticed their exhaustion and the redness which blotched their faces.

Again, Naomi acted as if he didn't exist. Only Mokuba hesitated at the judicious counsel of his brother – who he hoped would change Naomi's mind – and her direct order as she stood in attack position.

"Moki!" she snapped again.

"I… I can't, Nao…" he babbled. "I'm tired, I don't want to slap you."

"Why?"

"Because you're a girl and I don't want to," he admitted ashamedly.

"Bullcrap!" she yelled. "Do you think a girl would have any second thoughts about knocking you out if she needed to?"

"Naomi, calm down," Kaiba said as he stood near them, analyzing the anger in her voice as well as something else in her tone he couldn't quite put his finger on.

But Mokuba was so affected by the dilemma that he was practically shaking.

She exhaled, very irritated.

"Fine. So."

She turned towards Kaiba, and continued:

"I'm sure that if you can't, your brother can. Isn't that right, Kaiba?"

Kaiba? WHAT?

He almost recoiled in horror.

She was so aggressive all of a sudden. She was even deliberately provoking him.

What did she want to prove? And to whom?

"Here. I'll show you the movement," she began again, preparedly exhaling between her teeth as if she were asking for him to beat the crap out of her.

But Kaiba, who had had other ideas since before he even walked into the room – others besides slapping Naomi so she'd stop overworking herself – decided on another plan of action.

He already bitterly regretted it. And he already hated himself from the action that he was about to do. But he had to do it. Even if it were risky. Everything was risky when it came to Naomi.

She still hadn't finished him showing him the technique when he jumped at her, seizing her violently in his arms and squeezing her so tightly it would surely cause her newfound pain in her sides.

"No! Seto! Let her go!" Mokuba cried furiously as he saw Naomi wince at the pain that the vice-like grip was causing her.

She had gasped out all of her breath, and was now fighting to breathe.

But it was Kaiba who was suffering most. The two of them just didn't know it.

It's for your own good, angel, even if it's painful… I know… I'm sorry.

He then released his grasp, allowing her to breathe more adequately. But he still held her in his arms, giving her an implacable look which betrayed all of the worry in the world that was lodged inside of him.

She was having trouble breathing.

But she still managed to stop Mokuba, who had shoved himself between them now. She knew that he was angry at his brother.

"No, I'm okay, Moki," she whispered with some difficulty before placing her hands on Kaiba's chest and shoving him backwards, meeting his gaze with eyes aflame.

"Seto! Why'd you hurt her? Why?" Mokuba was screaming, who couldn't comprehend his brother's actions in the slightest.

I'm sorry. I'm so sorry, Naomi.

Kaiba didn't take his eyes off of her blemished face.

"I'm fine, Moki. In fact… your brother just saved my life."

"What?"

"In a real fight, an opponent wouldn't have been as lenient and would have taken advantage of my weakness."

She, too, had not stopped staring at Kaiba, who she was sure was feeling great distress somewhere inside of him.

"… right, Seto?"

Without even saying a word, Kaiba seemed completely impassible, as if he had done his duty sans remorse.

However, once he was outside of their line of sight, he fell against a wall, shocked by what he had done.

Worse, the pain was so bad in his chest that he was shaking.

But it was for her own good.

Or maybe his own.

It was true, he had reacted badly. Instead of being encouraging, instead of being proud of him – which he was – he had preferred to demolish his confidence with the secondary motive of holding her even longer in his arms. Show her that she was secure under his protection alone.

And it was this ungrateful gesture which was making him so mortally suffer now.

He had hurt her.

It was ultimately unpardonable.

He heard hurried footsteps behind him.

Mokuba.

"What's wrong with you? Why'd you do that?"

Kaiba turned his back to him, unable to find the words to excuse his behavior.

"Hey, I'm talking to you!" he yelled imperiously.

"That's enough, Mokuba! Speak to me with more respect."

Mokuba was hurt by his actions, too. He never would have thought his brother capable of such a maneuver.

"Congratulations," he spat, his eyes sparkling with the irony in his tone of voice. "Was this part of your plan to keep her here?"

Kaiba sighed heavily.

No. No… never… no…

Of course, he deserved all of his brother's reprobation. But not his hatred.

"Let me tell you something, Seto. If it was, you really need to rethink your strategy!"

Then, without adding another word, he whipped around to rejoin Naomi downstairs.

"It's fine, really," Naomi told him when she met him halfway up the stairs.

"Are you sure? Really sure? You're not trying to just reassure me, are you?"

He was truly shaken by what had happened.

"Yes. I'm quite sure. He didn't hurt me that badly. Besides, in his own way, he had a reason to do it. It made me realize that I have to train even more. That's all."

Deep down, her first reflex had been to roughly shove him aside, not physically hurt him in retaliation. Hadn't she spent so many hours over the years fighting just to avoid such a confrontation? It would be easy to defend herself. She knew that well. Yet she couldn't force herself, persuaded that he hadn't done it happily. Above all, because she knew now that he was purely and totally incapable of causing her the slightest bit of harm.

But she had let him hurt her. And she did nothing to stop it.

Mokuba stood there for several seconds with his mouth wide open, not knowing what to say or do in response.

"Oh, and by the way… I'm sorry, Moki. I didn't mean to push you so hard."

Then she softly kissed him on the cheek.

"But I only want what's best for you. Just like your brother. Never forget that."

She's already forgiven him?

I'd have trouble doing it that fast…

. . . . . . . . .

Idiot!

Kaiba was again walled up in the darkness of his office. He wished more than anything else in that moment to not have any company.

He felt annihilated by his own cowardice. And by the gash he had voluntarily made in his own heart.

He had ignored his affection for the two people he cherished most in the world by maladroitly walking away as he had.

Yes, he deserved all of the anger that had been alight in his brother's eyes. And yes, he had felt all of the suffering in Naomi's body as if it had been his own.

How could they possibly talk to one another now?

Despite everything, one question was storming about in his head.

What the hell have I done?

Knocking on the door forced him to collapse into his chair.

He didn't have the time to tell the person enter before the light caught the thin shadow of Naomi walking into the room.

He shot up, ready to welcome her into his arms or to throw himself to her knees to beg for her forgiveness. He wasn't sure quite what he should do.

She was looking at him with sad eyes, certainly, but so deeply so that he almost felt it impossible for him to stand them staring at him.

He wasn't so brave after all.

It was, however, her reaction which stunned him the most as she softly walked over to him to fall into his arms.

I don't deserve this, Naomi…

"I feel lost, Seto…"

And I feel so tired…

Tenderly, he held her close, sighing softly as if the sky were just as blue as was before he had committed the horrible deed.

"I didn't want to…"

"I know," she responded, pressing her body even more intensely against his own.

She seemed to feel all of Kaiba's pain during the embrace.

How could such a sweet man also be so cruel?

"Seto… we have to talk."

He placed a kiss in her hair.

"Yes."

Then she separated herself from him.

"Sit down, please."

"I can easily stand."

"No, sit down. You're not going to like what I'm about to tell you."

No… she's not going to tell me that she's…. leaving?

That would explain the sweetness of her actions, her sudden uncertainty.

It took her several seconds to open her mouth, as if she were looking for the appropriate words to start the conversation.

But as per her demand, he sat down, listening to her attentively.

"What happened to the men who kidnapped Mokuba and me?"

Kaiba had difficulty hiding his surprise.

"They're where they belong – they're in prison."

"All of them?"

"What?"

Kaiba sunk further into the chair, as if he suddenly found himself glued down.

What are you trying to say, Naomi?

"Are you sure that they are ALL in prison?"

Kaiba preferred to avoid responding directly.

"Why ask? None of them can hurt you anymore."

Idiot! You're the one that hurt her! Grr…

"Seto!" she said gravely. "Are you sure that they are all in prison?"

She was insisting so seriously that he began to wonder.

"Did you talk to someone?"

"Oh, so you admit it! Tell me the truth…Seto."

"I'm not admitting anything. They're no longer a threat to anyone, and that's all that matters."

She sighed loudly, shaking her head from side to side. Seto furrowed his eyebrows.

Why this question? Why now?

"Naomi, what happened?"

"I met a guy who believes you are keeping a man prisoner. The man that wounded me."

Kaiba almost stopped breathing.

"What? You what? Who? Who did you speak to?"

"Is it true, Seto?"

If there were going to keep playing cat and mouse, they would be doing so for hours to come.

"What if it was?" he asked, partially admitting his guilt to the crime.

"It can't be true! Seto, how could you?"

Anger flushed his face.

"What about him? How could he have done what he did? He didn't have a shred of compassion, a shred of morality, and his bloody hands were wrapped around you…"

He had to stop himself from speaking, too choked up at the horrid memory.

"I could barely recognize you, Naomi, when he… so how could I have possibly pitied the bastard? Tell me!"

So he did it… for me?

Everything became so clear, and she barely had to say another word. Kaiba had just evolved beyond what her imagination could have envisioned.

"Who talked to you, Naomi? Tell me now!"

Shocked, she looked to breathe in before she continued.

"We're still in danger, Seto. Especially you and Mokuba. I think it was the man in charge of the entire group. And worse – he's still free, Seto."

Kaiba was enraged now.

How could he have been so easily duped? How could he have lacked this much vigilance?

"Tell me… I need to know everything."

So she told him about all of the mysterious times that the car had followed her, from the beginning until that afternoon at the orphanage. And, naturally, she always made an abstraction of her thoughts and feelings. The moment was too much of an immediate danger.

"He wants that prisoner, Seto."

He whipped around, shaking in his ire.

"No. Absolutely not!"

Hadn't he made a promise?

"In fact, I honestly think it's just a cover-up. I'm not sure that he's all that he wants. You have to think first and foremost about protecting Mokuba. This is really important, Seto."

"Who do you think I am? You think I would let my brother come and go as he pleases with that kind of threat over our heads?"

"That's not what I said."

"No, you're right. I'll take care of it."

"You still haven't told me what you did to that prisoner."

"I have no intention of ever telling you, Naomi."

Her head rose. Too many things were happening at once. But one thing was for certain: everything was going from bad to worse.

. . . . . . . . .

"Good evening!"

The clock on the wall read five forty-five in the afternoon.

"Good evening, ma'am. I hope it's not too late… I thought that you might close earlier."

"We do. But for you," said the director with a smile, "I can make a tiny exception. You have a little time to – "

"Thank you," said the man, a stranger that she had never before seen in her life. "Let me just get straight to the point. I really want to adopt a child."

"Oh! Really?" she asked, balking. "That's very kind of you."

"Isn't it?" he asked, flashing her a charming smile. "I love children. But I haven't been able to have one yet… my wife is sterile…"

"Oh, what a shame. I'm truly sorry."

"Really, ma'am, it's not your fault," he said in a tone dripping with sweetness. "Anyway… I'm very interested in getting a girl. Actually… I saw one this afternoon. She was playing outside with a woman, probably one of your employees, I don't know. Do you think I could meet her for a moment?"

. . . . . . . . .

Naomi had left a while ago, but Kaiba was as bitter as ever.

But there was something else now that was getting his attention. Laying on the corner of his desk was a white envelope titled with only his name, written awkwardly in a child's scrawl.

Kaiba took the envelope and opened it. It was a drawing of a superb white dragon, his symbol, accompanied by a letter. It was signed by a ten-year old boy named Jeremy Armbrust.

I admit, I made a slight change here. In the original story, Jeremy's last name is "Amburst". I changed it because when I looked online to see if it was a real last name I couldn't find anything, and the closest option was a name which happens to be German for 'crossbow', which is cool.