Author's Note: AAAAAnd we're back on track! Here's a nice lil' chapter with plenty of emotions and hopefully some twists and turns!

As always, read/review/follow/fave. And thank you for sticking around this long! :) Just a few more chapters now...

This is getting ridiculous-

Ishizu uncurled herself from her catlike sleeping position and sat up slowly, rolling her shoulders back, stretching her neck, feeling tendrils of hair cling to her shoulders.

His shoes, coat and tie gone. Of course.

As they had been each morning when she'd woken up. For the past several days now.

Each morning she had let him live.

Utterly ridiculous. This-

Waking up to an empty bed.

Waking up and knowing she hadn't managed to do it.

Waking up after nights of sound sleeping, her breaths rhythmic, falling in time, coalescing with his. Growing accustomed to the slight rumbling noises he made while he gradually succumbed to slumber, she only half-conscious of his eyes, trained on her bare back each night, before his eyelids fluttered shut. Knowing precisely what he was thinking as he gazed at her nakedly.

Nights of dreaming of him-of the man in the bed beside her, his ice-blue eyes closed, the hard line of his jaw softened, the pride in his brow rendered into innocence.

Those dreams.

Without fail, they had visited her in the multiples every night. Each more descriptive and yearning than the last.

Dreams where she could feel his mouth on her neck. Trailing down her belly. Tickling her, making her giggle despite herself. Kissing her. Between her thighs. The flickering, all-consuming heat rising in tremulous waves, threatening to burn her alive with their raw need.

His hands on her breasts. Waist. Hips. Rear. Fingers gently smoothing over every inch of her. Nails digging in possessively around each patch of flesh. As if he would never get enough of worshipping her body in this way.

His eyes half-lidded and focused. Warm in ways she only had glimpsed in errant moments. The blue both clear and dark, startling in their openness. Evident want. Desire. All those words that sent shivers licking electrically throughout her body. His every action performed seemingly in her thrall, yet still controlling her every reaction in the way that only lovers do. Anticipating. Listening. Understanding.

Then-

Completion. Blissful release. Long-awaited, tortured and necessary-

-all because of him.

What Seto Kaiba, the most ruthless and cruel man she'd ever had the displeasure of knowing, confidently and lusciously coaxed out of her body as she dreamt it all. As if he'd done this with her thousands of times, each with all the excitement, tenderness and utter joy of the first.

That bastard.

-agonizing nightmares, the lot of them-

Each leaving her shuddering, nearly crying out, forcing her to bite her pillow so as not to wake him-

Each leaving her more wanting than the last-

Each adding to her frustration when he refused to succumb to what he clearly wanted as well-instead of jumping her, already-making this easier for her to bear-

And knowing, each and every morning when she woke up to find the bed empty, her bedmate already awoken and departed, that something within her had shifted. Her resolve weakened and weakening further.

I will kill him.

I will…

Her mantra sounding ever more hollow in her ears.

The searing hatred she bore for him nebulously and dangerously shifting form. Morphing into something far more dangerous and disgusting. Harder to manage than the carefully stoked fires of rage. Difficult to control-

-impossible to deny.

She could only hope he was truly as dense in this arena as he seemed to be. That those intelligent eyes couldn't see the restless arousal as it coursed through her each time she looked at him-each time she caught him looking at her much the same way every time she stripped before him, the motions of her body fluid and graceful-almost like a dancer. Each time she continued her attempts to egg him on to the point where he couldn't resist-couldn't hold out the way he had somehow been managing to all this time.

It had to only be a matter of time, she thought, forehead crinkling as she came to a child's pose in the massive bed, releasing a drawn-out sigh as the muscles in her back tensed and relaxed.

Only a matter of time before he gives in-

Succumbed. To the irresistible qualities she possessed and wielded in full. The flash of her eyes, the curve of her lips, the line of her neck-

-innocence and unconscious seductiveness incarnate-

-not to mention the whole part where I'm sleeping beside him nearly naked-

-as well as eating breakfast with him wearing similarly little-

She endlessly, frustratedly waiting for him to give her what she now knew she wanted-irrefutably. To her core.

Him.

In that way.

For several days now.

Twisting temptingly within her. The idea. How easy it would be to just-

I must do something about this quickly and effectively-

-before he realizes-

-tries to use this against me-

-I can always kill him while he sleeps. Remember that-

She let out a frustrated groan, rolling onto her back and burying her face in her hands, as she heard that familiar knock. Those three sharp sounds again.

Rap-rap-rap-

This again. Of course.

"Coming…" Voice deceptively light. Harmless.

She licked her lips as she climbed out of the bed, walking with long strides to the dresser, where she ran her hands over the smooth wood thoughtfully, pulling each drawer open in rapid succession as she dug through the seemingly-endless piles of clothing Yugi-as per Seto's request, naturally-had provided for her.

She had, however, run out of button-downs.

She rummaged around in the bottom drawer until her palm brushed against something slick and silky. Withdrawing the garment-a cream-colored camisole edged with lace-she held it out before her, then slid it over her head and shoulders, smoothing it down her torso, nothing that the hem barely came to her navel, revealing a good couple inches of exposed skin between the camisole and the line of her panties around her hips.

Excellent.

A thrill suddenly tore through her as she pictured the way he would look when he saw her like this-her skin breaking out in ripples of merciless gooseflesh as her knees nearly buckled, forcing her to lean on the dresser for support. Her fingers clenching the soft dark wood. Nails digging in, nearly leaving curved impressions.

Rap-rap-rap-

Slightly more impatient. In a more rapid succession.

"One moment…" she managed. Blast-

I am the one in control-

-not he-

She straightened up and adjusted the camisole one more time before walking over to the door and pulling it open.

"Good morning, Seto…"

Christ. Seto gnawed on his lower lip, fingers gripping the tray so hard he nearly lost circulation as looked down at her, that pathetic excuse for a shirt advertising the precise shape of her breasts beneath the thin, shiny fabric.

Fabric practically begging to be touched.

For his fingers to slide underneath and stroke-

Ishizu biting back a ragged breath as she felt him react to her choice in attire. His eyes brightening and widening as untold ideas doubtlessly ran through his mind.

-ideas I dare not linger upon-

He cleared his throat, fully aware that it would do little, if any, good at this point. "Good morning, Miss Ishtar."

As he had suspected, his voice was verging on hoarse-as if he had been talking for hours prior.

"Breakfast?" She cocked her head and gazed up at him, her eyes wide and round. As if the conscious choice to dress this way was anything but. As if she did this sort of thing all the time. All part of the game.

"Indeed." Seto swallowed a yawn as he stood in the doorway, head quite suddenly light and throbbing, his eyesight slightly bleary, his every joint still stiff from the lack of sleep over the previous several nights.

How could I have slept, what with the way she-

-moaned.

In her sleep. Longingly. Loudly. Repeatedly. As if she were giving voice to the very temptations that scurried behind his eyelids when he did manage to sleep-

Her lips curved upwards sweetly as she looked him over, stepping aside to allow him to cross the threshold and closing the closing the door behind him quietly.

Seto took a deep, calming breath as he laid the tray on the coffee table and took his seat, watching Ishizu walk towards him, her tread almost imperceptibly shaky, hips swaying subtly, his eyes flickering from her thighs to her exposed stomach, traveling upwards and lingering along her curves.

She lowered herself into her seat as if she were wearing a fine ball gown: all poise and elegance-as if she weren't nearly bare before him. Crossed her legs at the ankles, her thighs falling apart; as Seto watched intently, as if the way her muscles moved was of the utmost interest to him, she leaned forward and poured herself a cup of coffee, her hair falling over her shoulders and framing her face.

Tongue loose and heavy. Scrambling for something to say-anything to distract himself from the liquid, whisper-soft need alighting on every cell of his body. "I wanted to bring you your breakfast before I left for the office, as usual." What a useless thing to say-I did the same exact thing yesterday-and the day before-

As if he'd been all that productive at the office the last few days-instead of the necessary facts and figures about somesuch trade deal or this particular missile patent on his fingertips, flowing from between his lips confidently and precisely, he'd-

-been occupied.

That's one way of putting it-

It had been so desperately awful the previous day-the sensations that he'd suddenly been prey to, the imagined feel of her tentative, smooth fingers-her lovely mouth-he'd considered taking a holiday-the first in his ten-plus years as KaibaCorp CEO. Considered snarling at everyone present at the contemporaneous meeting and rushing out in a furious huff. Briefly entertained firing everyone on the floor just to be able to feel some modicum of power over something-

"Yes-thank you very much, by the way." Ishizu leaned over once more and buttered a perfectly heavenly-smelling blueberry muffin, her movements careful and neat as she lifted the pastry to her lips.

As she bit in, she briefly considered the merits of accompanying the consumption of said rather delicious muffin with a bit of theater. Seto's eyes were glued to her-seemingly rendered immobile in his chair up to the point where he hadn't been able to look away from her long enough to pour himself his customary cup of coffee.

Let's make him squirm a bit before work, shall we?

She chewed on the sweet bite for a few moments, allowing her eyelids to flutter shut for a moment in evident pleasure.

Does she even know what she's doing-dammit-

Seto coughed quietly, his fingernails digging into the cushion of the chair as he crossed his legs stiffly.

Ishizu almost rolled her eyes at how damned easy he was as she swallowed.

Facile, Seto Kaiba. Absolutely facile. It's a wonder you haven't given in already…

She leaned forward once more, placing the muffin on its plate, before slowly straightening up in her seat, rounding, then arching her back, lifting her hands above her head as if to stretch-feeling Seto's fervent gaze centering around her lap-her waist-her hips-as the silky camisole rode up on her torso an inch or two. Letting out a slight groan in the process-emitting throatily from deep within her.

As she recovered and relaxed, she smiled innocently at him and bent down to retrieve the muffin, biting off another chunk as a thread of frustration tugged at her mind.

I will destroy him. And take KaibaCorp down in the process.

-I need to get access to his personal study-perhaps there will be something there that could prove useful to me-

-blasted cameras guarding the place day and night-how can I-

-perhaps-

"I was wondering, Seto-might I be able to call my brothers for just a few minutes before you leave?" Her voice demure. Quiet. Laced through with just enough worry for Seto to take notice.

-if this works-

Seto thought for a moment. I don't have that much time-but-

"Well, if you're quick about getting ready-and make it a short call-" The words had barely left his lips before Ishizu had swallowed a tiny, devious smile, risen to her feet, and walked over to her dresser to withdraw clean panties and a knee-length white dress; as he couldn't help but watch, helplessly-utterly transfixed-Ishizu turned her back to him and stripped, sliding her panties down her legs smoothly and quickly, before stepping into the dress and pulling it up her body, guiding her arms through the thin straps and securing the side zipper.

As she lifted the airy skirt of the dress to allow her to pull up the clean pair of panties, she looked towards him over her shoulder, eyelids lowered just a touch. A buried hint of teasing in her voice.

"… you were saying?"

Ishizu dialed the number to the Ishtar apartment and held the phone to her ear, scowling at Seto's back from where she could see him, perfectly suited and buttoned-up, in the sitting room's antechamber, one hand resting on the wooden table, the other holding his extension.

The asshole insists on listening again? Fine by me-

Marik, just freshly showered, towel around his waist, a granola bar in one hand, answered the phone on the first ring, cheeks flushing with relief as the mysterious blocked number-the almighty Seto Kaiba has to hide his own phone number, of course-appeared on the phone screen once again. "Ishizu--thank the gods-I'm so happy to hear from you again-" He adjusted his glasses and tore the wrapper off the granola bar with his teeth, taking a large bite of his makeshift breakfast, his eyes welling up with tears. If that bastard has even looked at her the wrong way, I swear on Ra's name-

Ishizu cut him off, weaving a strand of hushed concern into her voice, keeping an eye on Seto's form from where he stood, back still turned to her. "Marik-how's Odion? Is he… well?"

If this works-

-if I can pull this off-

Marik thought about their brother-Odion's painfully clear stress levels rising ever since Ishizu had been taken by that rich asshole-with his moneyed arrogance and unbearable cruelty-how Odion had raged upon missing Ishizu's phone call from several days earlier-worryingly uncharacteristic for the stoic man-

"No, Ishizu-no, he's not-and neither am I, for that matter-"

She interrupted him once more, her voice growing more urgent. A trace of grave fear. "I meant physically, Marik-wasn't he supposed to have some tests done this week?" In her lap, where she knew Seto couldn't possibly see, she crossed her fingers amidst the white folds of fabric, praying to every god she could think of in that moment that Marik wouldn't say anything to contradict the groundwork she was trying to lay-with Seto listening in on the extension, any misplaced word from Marik could ruin everything-

Seto gave a slight start at Ishizu's words. She didn't mention anything about any tests for her brother…

-then again, why would she have told me-?

Marik ran a hand through his sopping wet hair, cradling the phone between his ear and shoulder as he stumbled around his bedroom, trying to get ready for the day's work at the shop, as his brow furrowed with confusion. "Tests? Ishizu?" What can she possibly mean?

Ishizu gritted her teeth, keeping her voice merely worried, hiding all traces of annoyance as she continued. "Yes, Marik. Tests-didn't he tell you? He told me back when I was at school…"

I am sorry to cause you undue worry, brother…

-I hope you'll forgive me-

Marik swallowed hard, the granola bar suddenly tasting sour as his heart rate began to pick up, rattling in his chest unmercifully. Tests-a physical test-?

What could Odion be hiding from me? What would he have told Ishizu that he wouldn't have told me?

"I-Ishizu… what did he say to you? He never told me anything a-about a test…" Marik managed to choke out from around his mouthful of food, collapsing onto his futon, hands starting to shake as he gripped the towel around his waist with one hand, pushing his glasses up his nose with the other hand. What isn't Odion telling me?

Ishizu huffed out a silent breath, taking care to make sure none of her growing irritation was audible on either end of the phone call. "Well-Marik-it's not really for me to say-just please, tell him I will be calling him tomorrow morning at this same time, all right?" She adjusted her position on the couch, wrapping one hand around her middle almost pitifully as Seto, eyes narrowed with bewilderment, turned around to gaze at her from where he stood.

-hopefully by then I will have gotten the bastard to let me into his office-

Seto's eyes traveled along her form, he noting the wetness of her eyes and the blooming redness of her nose, as if she were struggling to hold back tears.

Something painful tugged at him as he heard Marik reply on the other end of the line, the younger man's voice thick and quavery.

"A-ah, of course, Sister-I'll make sure he's home when you call. A-all right?" Marik sniffled loudly, panic beginning to scream in his veins as he wiped furiously at his eyes. First Ishizu-now something with Odion, too? Gods-what rotten luck-just awful-

Ishizu closed her eyes, allowing her back and shoulder muscles to unclench. Thank the gods. He didn't press too much-didn't manage to ruin it-

"Thank you, Marik. I-I have to go now-Seto needs to go to work… I love you so much-and, of course, give my love to Odion as well-"

"O-of course, Ishizu-I love you so much-I hope you can come home soon-we miss you so much-" Marik's voice trembled as he furiously fought to keep ever more tears from running down his cheeks, landing like hot drops of acid on his chest, swiping his eyes with the pad of his thumb almost violently.

"I know, Brother… I wish I could come home as well." Ishizu hung up the call and, while Seto watched warily, jaw and chest tight with something resembling genuine concern, she dropped the phone onto the coffee table, briefly wiping imaginary tears from her eyes with the backs of her hands.

I do hope nothing is wrong with her brother-

Seto almost felt sick as he approached her, observing the way Ishizu's shoulders seemed to sag under the weight of misery. Gnawing on her lip. Desperately trying not to cry-

-she doesn't want to cry in front of me-

-she doesn't know I've already seen her-

As Seto swallowed hard, debating the merits of reaching out a hand to her shoulder in some likely misguided attempt to offer comfort, he was startled by a clear female voice calling to him. Voice crisp. Clear. Suffering no fools.

"Mr. Kaiba, sir? May I please speak with you for a moment?"

Téa Gardner, standing in the doorway of the sitting room, arms folded sternly across her chest. Eyes watching him carefully. Observing his body language towards Ishizu. The way his hand twitched at his side, as if he were considering touching her. With her clearly bereft for some reason or another, the skin around her eyes gone all puffy and pinkish.

Her features revealing the barest hint of-disappointment?

-could that be right-?

Seto raised an eyebrow questioningly as he left Ishizu's side, she staring at her folded hands, sitting completely still as Seto approached his household chief of staff.

"Miss Gardner? Is everything all right? Something with one of the servants, perhaps?" He shoved his hands into his pockets as he came to face her in the doorway, their eyes nearly level.

Téa's eyes grew cold as she reached out abruptly and grabbed his jacket collar, pulling him around the corner, her voice coming out in low stops and starts. "Mr. Kaiba-please forgive me if it is out of line for me to say such things-but I've been hearing some awfully troubling rumors from the cleaning girls-rumors surrounding your behavior towards Miss Ishtar-you-leaving her room at odd hours, not returning to your own quarters at night-"

I wouldn't have believed it myself-not of Mr. Kaiba-but the way he looked at her just now-

Ishizu looked up from her lap, ears prickling as she heard her own name. What-

She silently rose from the couch, keeping her breathing perfectly level and inaudible, as she crept along the carpeted floor to stand just across the threshold of the sitting room, where she could hear Téa delivering what sounded like a rather stern-exasperated, even-lecture to her employer.

She flattened her ear against the wall, willing the wild beating of her heart to calm down. Téa-could you really be-

Seto inhaled sharply, fighting the urge to roll his eyes at the woman before him. Nothing ever stays damned private in this house, all right-

Téa's voice now rose considerably in volume and intensity, her cheeks coloring a slight pink. "And to think, Mr. Kaiba-when Miss Ishtar asked me about you-I defended you-your character-and here you are, taking advantage of the poor girl-using her for god knows what-" She crossed her arms once more, shoulders knotting almost painfully as she dug her nails into her palms.

Ishizu almost smiled at the tongue-lashing Seto Kaiba seemed to be receiving, most unceremoniously, from the woman who was arguably his most invaluable employee.

I see-Téa wasn't lying after all-

"If he were to so much as touch you he'd have a riot on his hands…"

Yugi's words from earlier in the week came floating back to her, when he'd taken her face in his hands almost protectively:

"I trust my employer, Ishizu. And I know the kind of man he is. But-if you feel-if he does anything to hurt you, anything at all…"

The promise he'd implicitly made.

So begins the riot, it seems-

Seto's eyes widened, a slight panic the likes of which Téa had never heard from her employer creeping into his strangled voice. "No-Miss Gardner-please understand-it's nothing like that-"

How to make it not sound like a lie-ridiculous as the truth is-

"You do realize that Mr. Wheeler and Mr. Taylor do tell me when they see certain things on the camera you so kindly had installed in her bedroom-things like her stripping her damned clothes for you-you sleeping in her bed-the sounds they hear coming through the speaker, Mr. Kaiba-" Téa stopped for a moment, her breaths coming in rough and uneven, her usually-perfect composure nearly completely shattered to glassy shards with rage.

"And-and if you think I'm upset with you, Mr. Kaiba-I pray you, don't even bother trying to get anything out of Yugi-"

She'd told the tailor what she'd overheard. What the two confused security guards had told her. About Ishizu. About Seto. About the strangeness of what seemed to be transpiring. The unfathomably dirty, prurient nature of it all-

The look in Yugi's eyes had been positively vicious.

To think I defended Mr. Kaiba-

"Ah-that-" Seto's stomach churned most unpleasantly as he scratched the back of his neck, eyes wandering around the corridor-anywhere but the shining, impossibly angry eyes of his household chief of staff-

"Miss Gardner-have I ever lied to you?" He began shakily, struggling to get the words out cogently and coherently, as Téa regarded him with a mixture of disapproval and skepticism.

"No, Mr. Kaiba-you have not-"

"Then even though it seems nearly impossible to believe-I have a hard time understanding it all myself-believe me when I tell you this-there is nothing of that nature going on between us. Every move she's made that may seem a certain way has been entirely her idea, I promise you. I've only been sleeping in her bed-well-"

Téa moved her hands to her hips, her keen eyes scanning his face carefully and suspiciously. "Because why, Mr. Kaiba?"

Seto chewed on his lower lip, almost feeling ashamed as he spoke quietly, as if the words were struggling to leave his mouth, to be acknowledged and given voice. Saying the them making them-their intentions-the emotions behind them-terrifyingly true.

"Because-well-because she asked me to."

Ishizu's chest felt incredibly heavy and sinking at his words. Like a hand had peeled apart her ribcage and grasped hold of the fast-beating winged thing inside. Dragging it downwards.

What does he mean by that-

Téa's mouth became a hard, thin line. Her eyes stony and bright as she leaned towards him, her voice almost a hiss. He cannot possibly mean-

"Mr. Kaiba-you cannot allow yourself to-" She stopped, words beginning to stumble over one another most shamefully. Looking at him with a modicum of pity, her gaze sweeping over from from his slightly ruffled hair, his narrowed eyes glittering with self-loathing-the way he kept swallowing in rapid succession, as if hoping to suppress something-the pinkness leaking into his cheeks and need-his tense posture-his defeated-sounding voice ringing hollow in her ears.

Mr. Kaiba-what have you gotten yourself into-?

She almost felt sorry for her employer-as powerful as he was-as hardhearted as he could be at times-

"I have to get to the office, Miss Gardner. Is there anything else?" His voice suddenly brusque. Businesslike. Controlled. His eyes palest blue. Revealing nothing. Certainly not the mess of complicated emotions threatening to eviscerate him from within.

Téa replied, her voice hesitant. Still layered with half-abandoned fury. "Mr. Kaiba, there is nothing else to discuss. But I promise you, sir-you will have trouble on your hands if she is hurt. Do you understand?"

Rather bold of her to make such a pronouncement-

-but she wouldn't make it if she wasn't positive it was true-

Ishizu gnawed on her lower lip almost to the point of pain, the world spinning before her without pause. Unceasingly.

As Téa fixed him with one last warning glance, turning on her low-heeled shoe and walking away, Ishizu peeled herself off the wall and hastily scrambled back to the couch just as Seto ducked back through the doorway to the sitting room.

"Miss Ishtar-I have to leave for the office now. Mokuba will likely be up in an hour or so. I suggest you challenge him to a duel or two-he'll be glad to see you've picked it up so quickly…" He smoothed the front of his suit jacket and bowed his head to her courteously as he turned and exited the room, his shiny shoes clacking on the hardwood floor of the corridor.

As she heard his footsteps grow fainter and fainter, Ishizu released a deep, heavy breath she hadn't realized she'd been holding in. Draining her of energy with the exhalation. Pained. Something thick and sluggish in her chest, her limbs suddenly full of exploding, shooting pins and needles as she lifted her legs onto the couch, sliding into a reclining position and coming to stare at the high, wood-beamed ceiling.

What in blazes-

Why does it matter at all what he said?

The clock ticking on the wall disturbed the perfect, airy silence of the sitting room. Lifting her head to gaze at the round shape, she almost groaned as her temples began to throb from the exertion. The endless trailing of dangerous thoughts round and round.

Only eight in the morning and already I have a headache…

"Mokuba, could you please pass me that apple?"

Tucking a lock of hair behind her ear, Ishizu reached out and caught the round, shiny fruit the younger man tossed her from the intricately woven basket adroitly. Took a bite almost savagely, prompting Mokuba to laugh as the juice ran down her chin.

The dappled light of the sunlight streaming in through knotted branches and pointed leaves casting patchy shadows on their skins. On the striped blanket beneath them. The remains of a golden-brown baguette smeared with goat's cheese between them. The air warm and fresh, kissing her arms and neck and face, interspersed with a slight breeze now and then.

Beside the blanket, two yellow ducklings paddled around on the surface of the pond. The greenness of the weeds by the crystal-clear water. The pinkish-white lilies floating like boats, leaving ripples and trails as they drifted.

The rear façade of Kaiba Manor seeming so far away across that endless lawn. Miles away from her. Eons ago. Unable to touch her where she sat in the shade of the tree beside the dark-haired young man. The young man who was watching her finish her apple, she nearly sucking on the core to wring out every last drop of sweet juice, his eyes growing rounder, his forehead more wrinkled and furrowed with worry by the minute.

He'd been awfully silent when she'd found him around midday as she wandered the halls of the house, trying and failing not to get lost, even with one hand always on a wall as an anchoring method. His behavior odd. Surprising. That usual broad grin of his tinged with seriousness. His embrace of her strangely tentative, as if she were made of glass and he was afraid of cracking her through.

His hesitation-his uncharacteristically awkward behavior-as she'd suggested a lunchtime picnic by the duck pond and the grove of trees…

"Ishizu? Can I ask you something?" Mokuba's freckles standing out against his strangely pale face, all traces of his habitual blushing cheeks gone as he twisted a cloth napkin between his fingers.

Ishizu wiped her mouth, tossing the apple core before her onto a patch of exposed dirt. "Of course, Mokuba." I do hope he's all right-

-despite herself, caring about the well-being of the younger Kaiba had somehow become something she did.

Mokuba scooted closer to her, his gray eyes dark and earnest. "Um… is my brother-I mean, you know-the halls and rooms in this house-they echo. People saying things to each other when they think I can't hear-"

This again-

Ishizu nearly rolled her eyes, stopping herself at the startlingly alarmed look on Mokuba's face.

If he's heard what Téa heard-

-no wonder he would be concerned-

She recalled the look Solomon had given her when he'd handed her the lunch basket. The way the old man's grizzled features had seemed to be under a dark, humid cloud. He muttering something to himself that she couldn't quite make out. Sensing his pity for her-his disgust for the rumors-in every motion he'd made.

Ishizu cleared her throat; tried a different tack than the one Seto had attempted to use to reason with Téa. "Mokuba-you know your brother better than anyone, don't you?"

Mokuba blinked a few times, eyes dropping to the mangled piece of cloth in his hands. "I mean… yeah-but still-I wouldn't have thought him to be the kind of person to-"

To bring you here against your will-

Ishizu almost felt touched at the young man's reaction, something like warmth blooming in her chest as she reached out a hand to pat him on the shoulder. His concern and care for her well-being evident as he looked back up at her, his face crushed under the weight of perplexity. Seeking to understand.

Unlike some people I could name-

Though she wouldn't be lying if she were to admit that that wasn't precisely true, either-

She wetted her lips before she replied. Her voice perfectly even. "Mokuba-I promise, nothing is happening between your brother and me. We're merely-"

Merely what?

He merely sees me practically naked on a daily basis?

I merely tease him into oblivion each chance I get?

He merely-

She bit her lip quickly.

-has some sort of effect on me that I daren't explore?

I merely-

-aim to end him?

"We're merely getting to know one another better. After all, he did ask me to think of myself as a guest-and while that is certainly not going to be possible for me, given the circumstances, it cannot hurt to attempt to get to know him-right?"

Does that even sound convincing?

She doubted it.

Mokuba raised an eyebrow briefly. "Ishizu… the things I've heard-you know, you don't have to-to do anything-he will let you go. You don't have to-"

Ishizu's lips twisted wryly as she caught Mokuba's meaning, delivered as it was in an almost shy, oblique way. I guess Tristan and Joey are less subtle than Seto would like them to be-

"I'm not doing anything I don't want to do. Your brother has, aside from the whole not-letting-me-leave-thing, been nothing short of a perfect gentleman towards me. You can believe me, right?" She cocked her head towards him as tendrils of hair slipped over one shoulder, coming to frame her face.

Mokuba nodded shakily. "I-I know, Ishizu…"

She squeezed his shoulder affectionately, weaving a layer of humor into her voice as the words tasted bitter on her tongue. "Besides, he's not awful company-now, don't go telling him I said that, you hear me? He even took me to his favorite restaurant-"

Mokuba's eyes brightened for a moment. "That ramen joint he loves? He did?"

He's only ever taken me there-once or twice-

Could it be that my big brother-

-could it be-

Daring not to think of this sort of thing further, he turned to one side and rummaged around in the basket until he found two perfectly round small chocolate cakes, wrapped in plastic wrap. "Dessert?"

Before she could stop herself, her lips curved upwards into a genuine smile as he passed her the chocolate morsel. I suppose my sweet tooth and tastes are now common knowledge around this house… "Don't mind if I do, Mokuba."

As she bit into the heavenly confection, the rich flourless chocolate making her almost swoon, Mokuba mumbled cautiously around his mouthful of cake:

"Ishizu-you know that if anything happens-you can always come to me, okay?"

Besides-if what the staff said is true-it seems like they wouldn't let it go, either…

Ishizu ruffled his hair and nodded. "Thank you, Mokuba."

Another one on my side-

-once again, Mokuba Kaiba-

-I am sorry for your sake-for what I am going to do.

She finished her cake silently, obstinately trying to ignore the uneasy, wobbling feeling overtaking her as she looked out over the wide verdant lawn once more.

The firelight in the pit illuminating them from below. Beings of half-shadow, half-flame, etched dramatically against the deep black of the night sky.

Their dinner had been quiet. Noticeably so. Both of them chewing on more than exquisitely prepared salmon sashimi as they didn't meet the other's gaze. Seto looking at her, then dropping his eyes back down to his food. Ishizu fumbling with her chopsticks as she felt him look, then being met with the top of his head as he tilted it downwards, then back upwards as he poured the remains of the savory miso soup down his throat.

No alcohol at their sides this evening. Seto wanting to keep his wits about him. Wanting to make sure she kept hers as well…

If she tries to kiss me again-

He didn't dare to entertain the thought further. Couldn't bear to think of where it might lead-to wandering hands and fingers. Lips. Hers. Enveloped with his-her head thrown back, eyes half-open, pleasure by his hands running through her every vein, imbuing every cell with endless cycles of need-for him-

That was as far as he allowed himself to think. On most occasions. He then trying to hide the throaty groan he'd felt burbling from deep within as her bare foot had accidentally tangled with his.

I have to do something-

-lay the groundwork for tomorrow, that is-

Ishizu had crossed her legs, attempting to hide the discomfort-that's the word-trailing through her, beginning where her thighs met. Squeezing her inner thighs together. Almost gasping aloud when his knee had accidently knocked against hers, her chopsticks nearly clattering to her plate with shock at the electricity of that simple errant gesture.

Seto now sitting stiffly on one of the low couches, legs crossed, desperately trying not to reveal the uncontrollable fluttering of his heart within his chest-the way his blood boiled under his skin when he so much as looked at her. Never understanding why. Never questioning. Never enough. To see her-to drink her in with his eyes-only egged on his thirst.

Ishizu sitting beside him on the other end of the couch, legs tucked underneath her skirt, hands occupied with the tiny teacup of coffee, her skin rippling with goosebumps. Because of the chill. The fire. No other reason-

She felt him drop his eyes to her neck. Her collarbone. Trailing up the side of her face, each bat of his eyelashes like a kiss he so very much wanted to bestow.

"Ishizu-" His voice almost inaudibly quiet. Felt more than heard. Trailing down her neck and forming a heated coil below her belly.

Low. Husky. Like in her dreams. The endless times she'd heard him groan her voice this way-if only while she slept-

Had he even said anything at all…?

Blast-

Something within her tensed endlessly and snapped, her common sense fraying into ribbons as she licked her lips, placing the coffee cup on the table, the porcelain clattering against the smoky glass as she slowly moved closer to him on the couch.

His eyes widening momentarily as he met her thick-lashed, heavy-lidded gaze. The slightly open mouth, lips trembling, the warmth emitting from her body-

The almost shy curve of her lips. "Seto… if I were to tell you that you had a leaf on your jacket-would you believe me?" Her voice a moist whisper ghosting across his skin, laced through with a trace of coyness. Humor. Her hand nonetheless reaching outwards to grasp at the fine material of his suit jacket. Nails running along the lapels almost idly.

Seto chewed on the inside of his cheek before he cracked a sardonic grin despite himself. "Now, Miss Ishtar-I'm rather more clever than that, wouldn't you say?"

He didn't dare to look down. Just in case-

"Perhaps, Seto Kaiba. Perhaps."

Ishizu pressed her lips together. Giving herself one last chance. To run away. To drop it. The matter. Entirely. Surrender the game for the night. Lick her wounds.

To ignore the quivering of her inner thighs at the darkness of his eyes-as he devoured her. The sparks racing under her skin. Need pouring into her every fiber, alerting her to its all-consuming presence. Nothing to do-

"Seto."

She lifted her other hand to his lapel, grabbing hold of the fabric, providing herself a handhold as she rose from her seated position beside him on the couch. Seto uncrossing his legs almost reflexively, his breath hitching as she moved to stand before him, then spreading those glorious thighs apart under her skirts, coming to straddle him. Their hips pressing against one another. Gently.

Then-

"Seto-"

Her voice lighter and heavier all at once. Like he'd dreamt her saying his name-so many times-dammit-as she rocked her hips against his. Making him clutch at the plush couch cushions as if they would save him. Her. Them. From this.

She looking down at him. Their faces only inches apart. His eyes searching hers furiously, feverishly, finding something familiar and strange reflected in there. Something bright and shiveringly wanting.

Is she-

She smiled softly, eyes fluttering closed for one beautiful moment, tugging at his lapels to pull him closer so that their foreheads touched. His hair brushing against her skin.

"I-Ishizu-" Gods, she needed him saying her name like that-it jolted throughout her, sending tender shoots of electricity licking everywhere. Inside.

"What are you doing?" His voice ragged like fingernails. Her scent inflaming him further.

I should stop her-

-this-

Ishizu let out a delicate half-giggle, the gentle breeze dancing across his skin. She lowered her lips to his ear, her own audacity making her tremble inwardly.

"Waiting for you to kiss me, Seto…"

She nearly gasped as she felt his arms suddenly encircle her waist, pulling her chest up against his, then let out a thick sigh almost unconsciously as his hands traveled upwards to tangle in her hair as his lips brushed hers gently. Barely.

His voice somehow sardonic amidst his heavy, uneven breathing. "Like that?"

Ishizu bit her lip in frustration, furiously tugging on his lapels as she pressed her lips to his. Immediately feeling him take her lower lip in his mouth. His tongue swiping just barely inside her parted lips, making her release another sigh, then a tiny laugh of surprise as she felt him smile against her mouth before pulling her in ever closer, lifting his hips slightly to grind against hers. Making her almost moan, her mouth a perfect o as he lowered his hands to hold her rear against him. Hard. The delicious pressure. Friction. Their mutual need delightfully evident as Seto, mind entirely reeling from the now-ness of this-this, my god-ran one of his hands up her torso, his thumb making a lazy circle on her breast through the thin fabric of her dress, making her nearly sag against him.

"Nn.." He pulled away for a brief moment, another small smile pulling at his lips, before diving back to press his lips along the shell of her ear, along the curve of her jawline and neck, the way her hands moved to his shoulders to steady herself only spurring him further onward, the roaring in his veins as she gripped him tightly, her thigh muscles tensing around his legs, his one hand holding her hips steady against him so that she could feel the increasing urgency of his need, the other dipping slightly below the neckline of her dress, meeting taut and warm flesh puckering beneath his tentative fingertips. A catch in her breath. Then another-

Everything within him screaming. Weeping with joy. Shaking with anticipation as he found a spot on her neck that made her moan the way she'd been doing each night as he'd lain awake beside her. Sucked on it hard. Hard enough to leave a mark. To bruise. The softness of her skin, tensing and relaxing and tensing once more as he stopped.

"P-please-touch me-"

His thirsty, obedient hands on her like starry, bright kisses. The gentle dragging of the pads of his fingers round and round stirring up fresh, caressing waves within her. Not stopping. Heeding her needy, half-wept request to the letter. Nails trailing over soft, tender flesh. The pad of his thumb precisely where she needed it. Not stopping. Never stopping. Everything a direct line to between her thighs. Down her spine. Curling and uncurling beneath. Within.

His lips moving along her skin-each suckle promising that she would not go unfulfilled-be left wanting-if only she would let go-give in to what they both wanted with every fiber, needed-

Then-

Her eyes opened.

Not now-

Something like an ice-cold trickling of water down the length of her spine-

-I cannot do this now-

-or else I have nothing for tomorrow morning-

-nothing to conquer him with-

It was impossibly difficult to concentrate with him simmering like that beneath her hips…

-anyway-now that he's had a taste-

She shuddered almost violently as she forced her hands to let go of his shoulders, relishing one last time the insistent, almost tender kiss he planted on her now-bare shoulder as her hands found his.

Disentangled them from her body. Quickly and smoothly.

Seto's eyes, dazed but regaining reason, moving quickly back to the couch cushions as she rather ungracefully moved herself from his lap back to the couch.

Her hands coming to test in her amidst the pleats of her skirt. Shoulders hunched demurely, modestly, as she fixed the strap of her dress. Allowing her hands to shake slightly as she looked down at her bare feet. Not daring to look at his face-his eyes-not to mention his thoroughly tempting lap-

"I-Ishi-Miss Ishtar-are you-" His voice rough, edged with concern. Fright. At himself. Her.

Was that too much-

-overstepping my bounds that way-

-I'm a disgusting creature-

He studied her face carefully, taking in her swollen lips and flushed cheeks-the dark, roiling bruise he'd managed, in his idiocy, to leave on her neck-each shift in her normally composed features registering as a reverberating pang.

"I-I-Seto-it's perfectly all right-"

Reassure him. No need to frighten him away completely-

She bit her lip for emphasis as she flicked her eyes up to his face. Reached out a hand to his shoulder as she gave him a dewy, seemingly genuine smile. Lighting up her features in the near-pitch-black darkness like she'd swallowed a sun.

The kind of smile that made him stop in his tracks.

"It was completely inappropriate for me to-" he began stiffly, willing himself to get a damned hold over the needlessly obvious quaver in his voice, as she laid a hand on his knee, aiming to soothe, the heat from her palm almost burning his flesh through his pant leg.

"Seto." Her chest felt impossibly tight, her stomach churning recklessly as she lifted her eyes to meet his once more. Half-engaged emotions swirling around within her, threatening to tear her apart from the inside.

Anguish in his voice, clear and crystalline, as he responded. "Miss Ishtar-I apologize for my transgression-given our relative situations, it's-"

Wrong. Utterly wrong of me to consider-

-she's merely confused. Afraid. Reacting, perhaps, in the way she thinks will protect her further-

Ishizu bit back an exasperated sigh as she leaned in towards him, her lips a hair's breadth from his once more. Her hand sliding up his thigh, her grip almost painfully tight-as if she couldn't stop herself. From touching him. Wanting to breathe every inch of him into her senses. Her being. Suffused. Infused. Knowing him.

She hated him for that.

For everything.

Fury at him-at her situation-stewing just barely beneath the placid surface. Mingled with thoughts half-formed. Stillborn. Images twisting throughout her mind-her in his arms, she clinging to him like an anchor in a stormy sea. Clothing shucked. Rags beneath their bodies. Her beneath him. His voice hoarse as he cried out her name. Like the most needed of sounds flooding through her.

I will kill you, Seto Kaiba.

I will…

Still, though, she kept her voice soft. Innocent despite kiss-swollen lips and half-lidded eyes. Fluttering lashes. Her dress strap threatening to slip down her shoulder once more as she brushed her lips against his, feeling him inhale brokenly, watched his eyes shut tightly as his shoulders tensed, anxiety seeping into his bones.

"Thank you, Seto Kaiba."

I don't understand-

I don't understand a blasted thing-

-why do I feel this way-

She swallowed hard as things clawed up her chest and throat. Feeling like sharp daggers pulling and stretching the skin.

Her hands sliding to cover his. Feeling him shiver beneath her benign touch. She came to a standing position before him, hands taking hold of his and pulling lightly. Signaling for him to rise, which he did.

What is she doing-

"Let's go to bed-please, Seto?" Her voice cracking throughout. Especially on his name. Like her mouth was too full of bile to accommodate another syllable.

"Why do you want me to stay with you every night, Miss Ishtar?"

What can you possibly stand to gain from it?

His words characteristically curt. Cold. Demanding. Suffering no fools.

Well, I can't exactly give him the truth-

Ishizu lowered her gaze to her bare feet, dropping his hands as she clasped her hands behind her like a recalcitrant child. Eyes seeming to fill with bitter remorse. Wet. Glassy as she looked up at him, a conjured tear collecting in one eye.

"I-I don't know, Seto." She gave him a crooked smile, startling him in that moment with her beauty. "Why do you always say yes?"

Now.

I could do it right now-

Ishizu sat up in the bed slowly. Quietly. Making sure none of her joints popped as she regarded him. Flat on his back, chest rising and falling rhythmically. A faint husky sound-almost like snoring-escaping him with every few breaths. His hands folded across his stomach. His shirt still tucked into his pants, secured with his belt.

His bangs falling into his eyes. Nary a flutter of his eyelids. From the patches of forehead she could see between locks of dark hair, his brow was smooth. Unfurrowed. Peaceful.

He looked almost gentle lying here beside her like this. Unimpeachable.

Not like the bastard he was. What he had done-subjected her to-

-threatening my family like that-

She waited for the familiar spark of rage to ignite within her. Beginning in the core of her belly and extending forever outwards until she thought she would be burned alive with hatred.

Instead she felt only the slight chill of the vast bedroom rippling across her skin. Her steady, dull heartbeat ringing in her ears.

She pressed her mouth into a hard line until it nearly hurt. Reached to her side and picked up the cushiony white pillow. Squeezing it in her hands as she quietly moved over him. Climbed around him out of the bed. Blocking his face from the camera angle.

Any moment now-

Now.

She wouldn't move.

Couldn't.

Frozen stiff. Her face into a grimace. Her hands into iron around the pillow. Her elbows unyielding. Refusing to extend. To cover his face with the plush fabric.

Something snapped within her once again. Fraying into minutely thin tangled strands of thread. Understanding. Comprehension gone. Disappearing. Her mind reaching out desperately, scrambling to find something of sense of grab onto.

A silent cry passing through her lips. She bent over, pressing the pillow to her chest as her entire body reeled. Threatening to cave in on itself. Crumble utterly, bit by bit, until there was nothing of her left. A mere pile of dust and a memory.

Why can't I-

Her eyes darted to his sleeping face. So damned innocent. Restful.

Then-

His lips parting. Her name like a salve on his tongue. In her ears. Unbearably soft.

"Ishizu--"

Sending fresh rivulets of shivers coursing throughout her. She snapping her thighs together as heat began to coil and build. Wild and kite-like on a fierce breeze. A thousand dazzling points of light all inside her.

Just from that utterance…

She straightened up listlessly and let the pillow slide out of her fingers, not watching as it landed on the carpet with a faint plop. Her palms were sweating; she wiped them on her bare sides uselessly as she lowered herself onto the bed. Crawled around his feet back to her empty half. The dent from her body still written into the sheets as she curled up into her customary sleeping position.

Her mind giving itself over to endless questioning. Tearing itself apart, searching every errant corner for some reason. Logic. Anything-

Why-

-I could have-

-I could-

-but I didn't-

She yawned faintly as she pulled the coverlet over her shoulders, feeling a sudden rush of warmth flood her body.

Her eyelids drooped as exhaustion warned her of its presence. Slumber on its way to overtaking her.

Tomorrow, then.

I'll kill him tomorrow-