Chapter 12

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The night was cooler than the others trapped on the islands. Mokuba cuddled against his big brother all night and everyone else managed to get body heat partners. When Tristan tried to slip next to Serenity, Kaiba had to keep from shouting, but luckily enough Joey demanded that he leave his little sister alone. Serenity spent the night between Tea and Mai while Joey Yugi and Tristan uncomfortably warmed each other.

In the morning Kaiba woke early and decided to take Mokuba and get food while the others still slept. If was nice bonding time between them and Mokuba proved to be great at spotting fruits high in the trees. He used his tiny turtle pokemon to shoot them down and Kaiba caught them before they could break on the ground. When they returned the sun was just rising and everyone was still asleep. He and Mokuba ate some, leaving the majority of it for the others then took a trip down to the beach.

Kaiba released his dragon pokemon and was sure to make sure it was mostly on the sand, preventing it from drifting away or drowning. Mokuba decided to let out the fire bird from the pokeball. It screeched and flew high into the air, but didn't get far.

"Get back here bird brain!" Mokuba shouted. Kaiba smiled at his little brother's guts. The bird landed angrily in front of him and Kaiba readied himself to remove Mokuba from it's line of fire if he needed to. "Alright, I'm your master now, and you're going to listen to me. You're not going to be loud. You're not going to attack me. You're going to be nice and fight for me if I need you, and for doing this, I'll make sure you get fresh air and spreading wings time every day, got it?" The bird glared down at him, but didn't respond. "Fine, I guess I'll just keep you in this thing until you're nicer." He said raising the ball. The bird flapped it's wings uncomfortably and chittered quietly. "Ah, ok. Well, go ahead. Fly around. But be good and don't go too far, ok?" He said happily and the bird took off, circling the island.

It warmed Kaiba how effective his little brother was. Removing a potential threat and gaining an ally, even if it was an unwilling one, in a matter of moments. Kaiba moved to his weak dragon and laid his hand on the thing's head. It had fought so hard and was still a little out of it from the encounter. It needed at least another day before it could even think of ferrying the group.

"Hey, what's that one called?" Mokuba asked, moving to the water dragon.

"I don't know. I found it while stranded." Kaiba said, looking down at his little brother. Mokuba pulled a small red electronic book of some sort from his pocket.

"You mean you didn't get a pokedex?" He asked, flipping it open and pointing it at the dragon. Before Kaiba could respond the thing beeped and began speaking.

"Gyarados, this pokemon has a vicious temperament, so use extreme caution. Its fangs can crush stones and its scales are harder than steel." The small contraption recited out. Kaiba looked at the dragon again.

"Gyarados..." He said, still petting the dragon. It let out a strained noise and moved towards his touch.

After returning to the rest of camp, Mokuba moved around identifying the pokemon everyone had obtained. Kaiba had a Gyarados and Lapras in addition to his Spearow and Charmander. Serenity's little fox was revealed to be a Vulpix, and Yugi's pokemon were a Kadabra, Nidorino, and a Tangala. Mai's pokemon were a catlike Persian, and a moth like pokemon called Venomoth. Joey had his Scyther, the one that had assaulted them in the forest, splitting them, along with a Rhyhorn, and a Sandshrew. Tristan's new arrival was called Dugtrio, and Tea's pokemon were revealed as Horsea, Jigglypuff and Clefairy.

"And mine are Squirtle, and Moltres... it says Moltres is supposed to be a legendary pokemon or something like that." Mokuba said, reading the pokedex in front of him. Kaiba had to admit, he was a bit jealous, but it was outweighed by pride. He glanced around to see the envious looks his brother was getting. Tea was chatting with Mai, not impressed while Serenity was kneeling down next to her pokemon talking sweetly with them.

"You want to go to the beach?" She asked her injured Pidgy. She was wanting to wash it off a bit and help it have a bit of relaxation time where it was not as noisy. Tristan and Joey were getting into an argument over who's pokemon were stronger, and Yugi was chatting with Mokuba to the side. Tea and Mai were still speaking privately, leaving his as the only one who could escort her. He sighed frustratedly. He wanted to distance himself, but couldn't bring himself just to ignore her and possibly let her get injured.

Serenity rose, carrying the bird while the small fire creatures followed. She didn't seem to think the buddy rule applied to her, so he decided to follow in silence, hoping nothing happened to her and that he would just be an invisible shadow. It took only fifteen minutes before they got to the sandy waterfront and she stopped.

"Kaiba." She called, before turning to look at him. He didn't think she knew he was following her, but he was apparently wrong. She offered him a half smile before continuing. "I knew if I left by myself you'd make sure I was safe." He stared at her coolly. So she knew he would follow. She wanted him there. "I need to talk to you. What's wrong?" He sighed lightly. He knew he was being obviously meaner to her, and how could she not have noticed?

"Nothing. We're simply back to normal. Now if that's all you wanted-"

"No, it's something else. You've been cold like before but when I'm in trouble, or even if there's a possibility of it, you come straight for me and protect me, even if it means damaging yourself. Come here." She outstretched an arm towards him, but he hesitated. She smiled at him as if he were a disobedient child and moved to him, taking his arm and leading him out into the open. Sliding up the sleeve of his black turtleneck, she uncovered his injured arm. It was completely scabbed and healed up quite well. After the check up on his forearm was done, she glanced across his shoulder blade where the legendary bird's fires scorched him. The fabric of the cloth was singed and had some holes where the fire burnt through.

"Ugh!" he jerked as her fingers grazed the shoulder and she looked at him sadly.

"Come on, let me see it." She wanted him to lift his shirt, but he tried his best to toss up a glare at her. For some reason, the facial expression he was most used to just didn't want to grace his face. He didn't like glaring at her. He didn't like being cold and mean to her either. "You saved me by getting this, the least I can do is help you out. Please?" Did she have to ask him like that? He didn't like feeling powerless, but she did it to him. He sat on the beach, removing the black shirt and letting her see him. Kneeling behind him, she removed the scraps she had washed and re-washed to utilize them. "Hold on right here, I know I saw some aloe over by the larger trees. I'll be right back." And with that she jogged into the forest, leaving him alone on the beach, pondering her and her seemingly endless kindness.

"Where the heck could she have gone?" Joey asked, glancing around the campsite.

"I think she said something about the beach." Tea said, only half paying attention. Mai swept over the group, noting Kaiba's absence as well, making her freeze when Joey started in that direction. Tristan and Yugi rose to help look but Mai jumped up, panicking a little.

"Hey, I'll check the beach. Why don't the rest of you snoop around the mountain and forest, ok?" She tried, but Joey glanced at her questioningly.

"Did you forget too? We have a buddy system. You don't leave without a buddy, So, I go with you." He had something playful in his voice and she rolled her eyes. She tried to talk him out of it, but at least he demanded they go together alone. That way Tristan and the others wouldn't see. As they started towards finding her, Mai heard Mokuba ask about his brother, paused, and sighed, relieved that Joey hadn't heard the question. This was going to be difficult.

"Stop flinching so badly, I'm going to slip." Serenity chided as Kaiba pulled away suddenly. She had found the aloe leaves and ripped them down the middle, taking the oozing insides and rubbing them on the burn. The pressure of her hands made it sting and hurt, but after the goop was on, it felt much better. Almost soothing. While she was gathering the plants, he had steeled himself against her once more, but with her in his face, he couldn't find the same strength. She leaned over him and he caught the slight sweet scent of her. It made his head fog over and clouded his thoughts. He wanted to reach out and pull her closer.

"There, just about done." She said, pulling back and looking it over. She had cleaned it out with some fresh water from a small pool from the forest, then spread on enough aloe to cover the wound, but not enough to make him uncomfortable. Now that she was taking a good look at him she realized how muscular his back was. Her eyes wandered and strained to see his sides and even his chest, curious if he was the same everywhere, but the way he was sitting made it impossible to see. He slung his around around his bent knees, leaning into his long legs and using them to support him. He didn't seem to be getting up anytime soon so she sat next to him and stared out into the waters, copying him.

"What are you thinking about?" He caught himself before replying 'you' and she looked at him expectantly.

"How we're going to get home." He recovered. She nodded, gaze returning to the crashing waves of the shoreline. His traveled to her. So small and sweet, sitting next to him. He could probably crush her with one hand, yet she had this sort of power. She was just so kind... so thoughtful... so close.

He leaned in, no longer thinking, and brought a hand out to pull her eyes back to him. Her eyes were filled with curiosity and a little panic. He had been painfully quiet the entire time, and before that brutally cruel. His touch was soft and she did relax a little, but as he pulled her closer she tensed again. He brought his lips down on hers, moving his hand to the small of her neck. She remained frozen in place for a few moments, but eventually melted into him, kissing him in return.

Her response triggered his next movement. He smoothly transitioned to his knees, pushing her back against the sand beneath her. Before long he was over her, kissing her as he held his place above her. Her fingers slowly ran over his chest, answering the question her mind asked earlier. He was well muscled but not too defined. Lean and strong. They broke for a moment and she could swear his eyes pierced right through her. She could see everything in them and was sure he could see all of her.

"Sere-" He started, but something charged through him, ripping him off of her and sending him tumbling away. His reflexes were too slow and he was easily caught in a guard as Joey sat atop him and slammed a fist down into his jaw.

"You son of a bitch!" Joey yelled as Mai tried desperately to pry him off. He never struck the CEO again, but not for lack of trying. Serenity threw herself across Kaiba's torso, creating a barrier between the boys.

"Joey stop! Please!" She begged, helping Kaiba drag himself out from under the boy. He glared across at Joey once he was back on his feet, but Serenity's hand guided him to her as she inspected where Joey had punched him. He winced as her fingers grazed over the tender skin.

"Ren, What the hell? How could you do this?" Joey cried, now focusing on her.

"Joey-" Serenity started, but Mai interrupted her..

"Serenity, get Kaiba out of here, I cant hold him. He needs to calm down and He's not going to do it with you two around." Mai pleaded. Serenity hesitated for a moment, then pulled Kaiba with her towards the camp. They were quiet the entire way back, and when they finally appeared at camp, they sat quietly until Joey and Mai returned. Mai wore a worried expression, but Joey refused to even look towards the same direction as Serenity and Kaiba. He walked past them to the mountain side of camp, the farthest from them. They could all tell it was going to be a long night.

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A few days had passed until the pokemon were back to full health. Mokuba decided to bond with his Squirtle as Kaiba and Serenity rode the Lapras. Mai and Tea surfed along on Mai's Starmie while Joey, Yugi, and Tristan all rode Kaiba's Gyarados. They traveled for a day, then were forced to take a break on a small sandbar while the pokemon rested.

Joey still hadn't talked to Serenity at all, and she was really worrying. Kaiba had tried to calm her, but he knew nothing would. It was the exact thing he knew would happen when Joey did find out. Kaiba knew what he had to do.

The next day they traveled again, finally reaching some main land by the end of the day. A road lead from north, around a bend and off to the west. When they returned the pokemon to the pokeballs Serenity moved towards Joey, determined to break his silence but something stopped her. Kaiba's hand was gentle but firm on her arm as he passed her, approaching her brother and leaving her wondering what he was doing. He moved next to Joey, but the boy refused to even look at him.

"Kaiba if you don't get the hell away from me now, I'm gonna rip your head off." Joey warned.

"Do what you need to." Kaiba responded making everyone, including Joey stare at him in amazement. "But we need to talk." Joey and Kaiba locked eyes for a moment, and finally Joey started off into the distance.

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