Feb 15 2007: Author's Nonsense: This chapter was fun to work on and is actually the second draft of another idea I came up with when I was -way- too tired. This I thought turned out much better so lets hope you enjoy it.

End of Chapter 20:

Kagome stifled a laugh but couldn't help but chuckle some at the strange behavior from the normally straight-manned Kaiba brother. She was so used to him being rigid that she was a little perplexed by his soft underbelly. That was until whatever she'd said finally sunk in and he nearly shoved her out of bed as she jumped up to look at the clock…a moan following his reading of it's hands.

Chapter 21: Ancient Wildfire

After getting knocked out of bed by the sudden movements of the young CEO Kagome had been left to recover on her own as he rushed from the room. Her ire raised by the complete shattering of the sweet moment by his nerve to run back off to work without even asking her how she was.

So much for ever enjoying time together. She huffed mentally as she pulled herself out of the long shower she took to try to calm down. A colorful selection of insults being hurled Kaiba's way as she dried herself off with a towel. I need a necklace to make Kaiba 'sit'! Then he would definitely stop knocking me around in a hurry to get to work.

She finished drying off and started brushing her hair, picking out her own clothes from the ones her mom brought her, putting on a pair of black pants and a teal sweater before pulling her hair back into a simple pony tail. She nodded some at her simple look and headed out of the bathroom that was being provided to her and nearly running over the man she'd just been cursing a moment before.

An amused smirk was set on Kaiba's lips that told her he'd heard her little rant, the quip he offered a moment later was expected. "Good morning Kagome? I'd give you the breakfast I had brought up for you but I'm afraid in your anger you might dump it on me and I have an important meeting in about twenty minutes….I'm not sure I'd get the stains out before then."

She blushed in instant embarrassment of being overheard and managed to speak sheepishly. "I didn't know you were out here."

"I had put that much together." he replied. "An infinitely rude and patriarchal Nazi was it? I have to give you that you have a way with insults when you get really angry."

"Well you are a bit of a dictator." Kagome stuck her tongue out at him as he continued to tease her then weaved around him to move toward the tray of food. The divine smelling sustenance more than enough for her empty stomach to pull her away from the playful banter with the equally enticing Seto Kaiba - in the end a pursuit of nourishment won out.

She picked up and was biting into a strawberry when Kaiba just returned to the computer he'd set up in her room and started to type away again. She had to smile at him and then went to stuffing her face - Marik had actually only allowed her to eat precious little under his 'care'. She figured if he kept her body weak it made her easier for him to control once she'd been brought back to the mansion - a clever if vicious plan.

She finished rather quickly and carried the dish of fruit back with her over to where Kaiba had his eyes set on the monitor, clicking through some windows she didn't recognize or really understand. Instead she pulled on his chair lightly to get his attention, offering him a grape between two fingers at the small glare he gave in un-appreciation for the interruption.

"You should eat too you know….it's…" she commented, breaking off when he leaned forward to take the grape with his mouth as opposed to reaching up and grabbing it as she had initially expected. There was a blush fully in place by the time she mustered the resolve to finish her statement. "…healthy for you."

"I do eat Kagome." he answered, turning back to the computer. "You were in the shower for quite some time…though I guess you must have hit your head - or you just are so poor at perceiving your surroundings that you missed the extra emptied tray over there."

He gave a vague motion and went right back to typing, his voice didn't hold the full coldness it normally did - but there was a certain neutrality while he was working she wasn't sure she liked or not. She pouted at him for pushing her buttons so easily and then just ignoring her then sighed and headed toward the dishes to pick them up - putting them together and heading out of the room to take them back down to the kitchen.

"Hey Kagome…" Mokuba greeted a little nervously as she reached the kitchen where he was at the counter enjoying his after-school snack of sugar cookies and chocolate milk. "…are you feeling better?"

"Yeah." she sobered some at the boy's less than enthusiastic response to seeing her. "You know I wasn't really myself yesterday right? I wouldn't hurt you if I could help it Mokuba."

"I know Kagome." he nodded some, as if her saying that instantly had made everything better for the trusting youth. It made her smile when he just reverted to his usual cheerful self. "Your brother told me that your mom is going to be sending you a care package through him and then me. She says she'd come see you but after everything that's happened she doesn't want to risk getting you or Seto into more trouble. Also, Yugi and his friends should be here in a little while - they said there was some new boy looking for you at school today. No one recognized him and I guess he was acting really strange - I wasn't there though so you'll have to see - they said they'd bring him by but that they would be careful not to leave you alone with anyone like when Bakura came."

She blinked at him and waited for him to breath after the long series of statements, laughing a bit as she set the trays in a sink. "Thank you for all the messages Mokuba, you are working as hard as your brother."

That made the youth smile at her and then nod toward the cookies. "You want some."

"No thanks…" she shook her head. "I prefer M&M chip cookies myself."

"Okay, hey warn Seto he needs to go to his office soon or he might be late when you head back up could you?" Mokuba asked warmly, waving to Kagome as she headed out. "Thanks."

He is more like his brother than people give him credit for. Kagome mused as he asked her to do something then just expected her to do it. Well - he's at least a lot more adorable than his older brother so I don't mind as much.

She twirled once in the middle of the hall - glad that everything was working out again - she wasn't so concerned that there were people after her (she'd gotten more than used to the feeling in the feudal era). No, things were coming together and despite all the dangers and trials she wasn't depressed about things she couldn't control anymore - her life might be chaotic but at least it was hers again. She bumped into Kaiba as he opened the door to head to the meeting she was about to remind him of.

"I do need to invest in those grace classes for you Higurashi." he deliberated aloud. "I'm staring to think you like crashing into me like this…but I guess we can't debate those points until later. I'll see you in a while…don't trip too much before I get back. I can't just rush out of the meeting to catch you."

"Oh…fooey." she grumbled lamely, moving around the amused CEO before he headed toward his meeting. There was something about ruffling her feathers that made her completely worth the trouble of saving her. He dropped the smile within a few feet of moving away from the door though…sweeping past the group of Yugi worshippers with the leader without so much of a comment toward them.

Though Kagome gave them a warmer welcome and wave she wasn't really surprised by Kaiba's actions…glad to see friends that didn't include the cold CEO. Walking the four (Yugi, Anzu, Joey & Tristan) back into her room and then settling herself on her bed.

"Wow…you heal pretty fast Kagome." Joey observed. "You were only shot about a week ago…how on earth are you well enough to lean on the arm?"

"I've always recovered from stuff like that pretty fast." Kagome quickly lied. "Probably why I seem to get sick so often with everything else. Did you guys bring our homework?"
"Yeah." Yugi handed her the two folders he'd been given at Seto's request. "Why is it Kaiba didn't make it to school today? He never misses attendance - it's not so strange for you with what's been happening but is he okay?"

"Yeah…we had some difficulties and such with the people that keep coming after him and I." Kagome considered how to put it. "But it doesn't matter really now…we worked it out but we were up until very late into the evening and I bet he actually didn't get to bed until after I did. He never gets sleep though so I guess sleeping in was a first in a lifetime for him."

That made the rest of the group chuckle a little. "Yeah…I can't even imagine Kaiba sleeping in." Anzu had a thoughtful expression. "Just what happened to cause him to do that though?"

"Some guy named Marik tried to get to him…it's complicated." Kagome knew she couldn't go into details without making them all think she was crazy - also reminding her that she needed to ask Kaiba how he knew about things like mind-control spells.

"Marik?" Tristan asked with a hateful recognition in his eyes. "That guy is real bad news Kagome…what did he do to you?"

"You've met him?" Kagome asked - her curiosity peaked by the gasps that had followed the name she'd used.

"Yeah we know him." Joey said darkly. "He used me and Anzu to get to Yugi and nearly killed both of us and Yugi…he's a monster in a human body that guy. He's a real piece of work."

"You…know what he can do then?" Kagome blinked a little more - was everyone aware of the supernatural all of a sudden?

"Yes, we know." Yami answered, the slightly deeper voice of Yugi and another flux in his aura making her more aware that there was another person with some strange item that seemed Egyptian that could change around the feeling of his power. "Marik can possess the people around him and use them as puppets to do anything he wants. He has a few other possibilities of things he could have done but I'd bet that he used you against Kaiba somehow and involved Mokuba. The chain of events is fairly common for the people that target him."

"So it's happened before…with this Marik guy?" Kagome asked, trying to get what information she could while it was available. "Why is he targeting Kaiba? He kept saying he wanted rare cards and some god card thing. It's just a game…why are all these people taking it so seriously?"

"There's more to it." Yami responded with a sigh. "The game is more real than anyone realizes it - it's been played through most of time and recently things that were sealed away have been being woken up. It's complicated but dangerous and Kaiba is in the middle of it but without a lot of true memories as to who he once was. Everyone that holds one of these items - the millennium items - this one is the puzzle and it's mine. I am not actually Yugi - I am a spirit of a pharaoh in Egypt from about five thousand years ago…you can call me Yami. We exchange use of his body through our item. Bakura as well as Marik are capable of this but Kaiba never received an item so he doesn't have that particularity."

Kagome listened with a little skepticism but she could hardly say it wasn't possible - with everything she'd felt and seen the explanation made more sense than if they just said it was some sort of coincidence. So where did she lie in all of this…it gave her a queasy feeling with the way that her deck had shown pieces of her time in the feudal era as well as the shards of the jewel. Did she have control of the spirit of the jewel in the strange complicated game that was more than a game?

"She's taking it pretty well." Anzu observed.

"Experience." Yami guessed. "I think she's known about something more than the mundane before this."

"Yes." She agreed. "But I can't talk to you about it."

"That's not fair." Joey chimed in. "Yami told you…you should do the same."

"I have to tell Kaiba first." she shrugged some. "I can't tell anyone else until then…it's only fair sense he's been taking care of me. Neither of us has brought up anything supernatural and I think we should talk before I go telling other people my past."

"Bah." Joey started but Anzu kicked him and Yugi interrupted…back to himself.

"I understand that Joey…calm down." he asked with a small smile. "Just try to stay safe Kagome…you should really learn to defend yourself and play a little better if you want to keep hanging around Kaiba people will probably continue to come after you."

"Thanks." she smiled a little bit at the shorter boy. "I'll manage somehow…but it's good to know that not everyone with one of those items is some lunatic."

"Well…we should go." Anzu said for the group. "We all have some other things we had to do tonight but we wanted to drop off that homework for you two as a group. Check up on how you are and all…will you be returning to school soon?"

"I should be able to come back tomorrow…" Kagome nodded with her statement. "Thanks for coming by…I'm sure Kaiba appreciates it too but he's a little bit of a harsher guy on the surface."

"A little?" Tristan got a kick for the comment and Joey winced at a threatened punch when he laughed.

"Have a good night Kagome." Yugi offered and after a wave headed off with his friends, leaving the young priestess to wonder just how she would show Kaiba what she was capable of - being that she wasn't ever certain of what she could do herself it left her with quite the dilemma.

End Chapter

Whew okay - a little shorter than my last chapters and I'm sorry…but I wanted to keep the piece where she explains her past to Kaiba to a single chapter and so I decided to go ahead and stop it so I can have her explain it next time and see just how much of a freak he thinks she is for her 'priestess time travel powers' - I hope to throw that phrase in at some point giggle Hope you keep on reading!

-Aura

To my reviewers:

Oribe Junpei - Aw…you are such an awesome reviewer! You give me paragraphs to read! It's very nifty. As far as that little clue you'll just have to wait and see who it ends up being. tsk You should know I'm not just gonna tell you - cause that would make it easy. Nothing better than anticipation! Giggle again.

Yes, poor Kaiba - though I thought the way he was woken up was pretty funny even though he's my favorite character I like being evil cackle. I decided to try shifting the story to the Inuyasha section for a while - guess I'll see if it helps it get anymore notice or not that way. Crosses fingers Hope you keep reading!

Kurama'sFoxyMiko - I thought it was cute in it's own way…and while yes that would be really funny I'm not quite ready for that much of a commentary yet - though it'll be fun when the love triangle stuff starts - I have at least one really awkward scene in mind already. hint, giggle

Kage Otome - Yes, I thought he would be so I went with it. Yes if Marik attacks them again they will be a little more prepared - Kagome will be much more prepared now that she's escaped the magic of the rod once it'll be a lot harder for him to control her again I'd say. Happy Valentine's Day!

Chibes - I know how internet problems are so no worries there. I'm glad you like my fiction and some romantic conflict is good but too much starts to make the whole thing unrealistic so that's why I haven't settled on it too overly much - though there will be some more coming up in the near future. hint giggle Keep on reading and I'll keep on writing.

-insert evil laugh here- - I love your name! Thanks for the review.

Lady Akina - Thank you…all the feedback is great to have.

Cowgirlkitten2000 - I do what I can to update as fast as possible but thanks for the extra review ;)

S.T. Nickolian - Okay - noted on the gender thing - I suppose I shouldn't assume. Yes I wouldn't mind a picture of the two all cuddled up either…but I can't draw to save my life.

Chaotic Rei - I thought it was cute as well and he was suppose to be surprised instead of Kagome cause he was afraid he was late for a meeting…maybe I typed it out wrong. My bad.

Laragurl12 - I felt warm and fuzzy just writing it so I'm glad everyone enjoyed the fluff for that scene. It's okay - usually once I've said something once or twice I'll start to get a bit miffed so sorry if I snapped some. Hope you keep reading anyway - forgive my slight temper.

Tashio - Hmm, I guess I shouldn't be so predictable…but maybe I'll be able to fix that in the future.

Lyn Dulce - Heh, yeah I have considered that a couple times. Lol - well I guess that's good on the update thing I think.

Yue Hime - Many thanks - it's always good to hear such compliments though I think I still have far to go.