Yu-Gi-Oh! Fan Fiction ❯ The Arrangement ❯ Chapter Fourteen ( Chapter 14 )

The Arrangement

Chapter Fourteen

Kaiba slowly walked into his home just as the sun was beginning to reach the horizon. It had been another long day at work, but things were finally returning to normal. Then again, there was extra stress and work due to the convention that would be held in but a week.

Hoping to clear his thoughts of work and take a few minutes to relax, he leisurely walked into his office and lay his briefcase down upon the desk. Knowing he wouldn't be bothered, he lay down upon the couch and closed his eyes, his breathing growing more relaxed as he drifted into a peaceful slumber.

A gentle knock upon his door brought him out of the sleep he had been in. Snapping his eyes towards the clock, he inwardly groaned. He'd been asleep for nearly two hours and there were still budgeting problems he had to deal with. And now, his suit was wrinkled from sleeping in it. Growling in frustration, he rose to a sitting position, the knock sounding upon his door once more before it slowly opened.

His eyes lazily moved towards the door and the person who had woken him. He sighed upon seeing his wife, thankful he wouldn't have to yell at the person who had interrupted him in his office - he'd done far too much of that that day. He must have fired at least ten people, a few of them being people who had been high ranking in their occupation at Kaiba Corp. His mood had been deplorable since the start of the week, and nearly everyone had avoided him at all costs.

"Roland told me you were home. I checked on you earlier and found you asleep and couldn't bear to wake you. But supper is ready…if you're hungry," Selina said softly, casting a gentle smile towards him.

"I'll be down in ten minutes," he said coolly, rising from the couch and heading for the door.

Selina nodded slightly, taking her exit and leaving the young and tired CEO alone. This was the first chance he'd had to speak with her in three days as he'd return when she was asleep and leave before she had woken. Although at times, he was almost certain she was awake, watching his tired frame slide into the covers, but unwilling to keep him awake any longer than necessary.

Shaking from his thoughts, he hurriedly changed into something more casual and comfortable and hung up his suit, placing a note on it that it would need to be pressed to remove the wrinkles. And in no more than ten minutes time, he was seated with his wife and brother, eating a well cooked supper. It was at this time that he thought he would mention the convention to Selina, if she hadn't heard of it already.

"Are you going with Seto to the Domino Dueling Convention?" Mokuba asked of Selina, beating Kaiba to the question.

Selina raised a brow in confusion, glancing across the table at her husband. "Domino Dueling Convention?" she asked curiously.

"Every year, a dueling convention is held somewhere around the world. This year, the committee chose Domino. And, as Kaiba Corp. is one of the main sponsors, I will be attending, as well as a few members of the board. I was going to request for you to attend with me. We will be introducing the new dueling projectors and their release date, as well as the product you inspired. I was hoping you would be there to explain the product, as well as to see me defeat Yugi," Kaiba explained calmly, adding an extra boost of arrogance to his last statement.

"I'll be honored to attend with you Seto," Selina answered him, a gentle smirk upon her lips. "But, if you're going to defeat Yugi, shouldn't you defeat me first?"

Mokuba's eyes widened at this comment before mumbling a quick "Excuse me" and leaving the table, knowing full well his elder brother was going to grow very angry in a matter of seconds.

The moment his brother left, Kaiba narrowed his eyes, glaring at his wife. Slowly, he stood from his chair, gripping the table and taking no notice of how white his knuckles were becoming.

"Seto, that wasn't an insult," Selina sighed, dropping her head in defeat as she awaited Kaiba's wrath.

"Then what was it?" he sneered angrily, his eyes cold and distant.

"It was a challenge, but…forget it." Selina slowly pushed her plate away and rose from the table, taking her leave. "You're making a habit of grabbing my arm in the same place. If you asked me to stay, I would," Selina whispered softly the moment she felt his hand upon her arm.

Kaiba pulled her slightly, causing her to face him. Immediately, his eyes softened at the hint of fear hidden deep within his wife's eyes. "And do you always walk away from challenges you make?" he asked quietly, cocking an eyebrow in question.

"Only if the challenged doesn't realize the meaning of a statement and grows angry," she replied, her eyes cast towards the floor.

Growling inwardly, he lifted her chin and looked into her eyes. "I didn't mean to lose my temper. But please understand-"

"I know…it's a touchy subject. But Seto, you don't have to prove anything to anyone. If you feel that way, then…" Selina trailed off at the slight hint of a smile upon Kaiba's face. "What?"

Kaiba shrugged, slipping his arm around her waist and exiting the dining room. "I'll be out late tomorrow. After the convention, I suppose I could take a couple days off to make up for my lack of time here. But, I think I'll have to take a rain check on your offer to duel at the moment. Perhaps after the convention; and after I've defeated Yugi." At the prospect of defeating a long-time rival, yet someone he held respect for, a small grin appeared on Kaiba's face.

"You should smile more often," Selina said, pulling away from Kaiba and smiling at him. "It makes you…more attractive." Smirking, and leaving a somewhat speechless Kaiba standing in the hallway, Selina turned from him and headed for their room, ready to accept the sleep the night would offer her.

Feeling emotionally and physically drained, she allowed Kaiba to pull her into his arms as sleep began to overtake her. "You think I'm attractive?" he questioned softly, receiving a faint answer which brought another smile to his face and gave him a little bit more patience for the next day.

~*~*~*~

Kaiba leaned against the wall, his foot tapping impatiently as he waited for his wife to finish "getting ready" as she had said, although he thought she looked fine before she disappeared twenty minutes earlier. "Women," he muttered under his breath as he glared at the clock. It was a good thing he had come home a few hours earlier than planned.

Sighing in irritation, he pulled out his deck, fingering through the different cards. It had been so long since he had dueled anyone, other than the computer, where he was working on a new program. The last time he had dueled Yugi was over a year ago when Mokuba had somehow talked him into taking a day off work and convinced him to go to the arcade. As luck would have it, not only was Yugi there, but so were all his friends. If he remembered correctly, he was almost certain he had seen Selina out of the corner of his eye. The events of that day were all fuzzy except for Yugi's surprise move which had cost him the duel. And so, once more, he retreated to his computer program, thinking up a new strategy for the next time he would face Yugi, and hopefully, defeat him for the first time since Duelist Kingdom, if he could really count that a victory.

His eyes focused on his newest card, the one Selina had given him. He was surprised that Yugi had been willing to relinquish that card when he could have sold it to a collector for a much greater price than what Kaiba was certain he had sold it to Selina for. Shaking his head to clear his thoughts, he focused on his strategy for defeating Yugi. If only he were able to foresee the events of the night.

"I'm sorry I took so long," Selina apologized after Kaiba had waited a good forty-five minutes.

Kaiba nodded, placing his deck back in his pocket and looking at his wife. He smirked when he didn't notice any major difference in her appearance other than the fact that she had changed clothes and pulled her hair back. He, for one, was very thankful the convention was not a formal event.

"Are we leaving?" Selina asked curiously, after standing in silence for a couple minutes while her husband was seemingly staring at her.

"Of course," Kaiba responded, taking her arm and leading her through the mansion to their awaiting limo. As they descended their final few stairs, Kaiba couldn't help but notice Selina's grip seem to tighten as her steps seemed to become slightly wobbly. "Are you alright?" he questioned when they reached the limo.

"I'm fine," she assured, casting him a bright smile before kissing his cheek and sliding into the limo.

~*~*~*~

Selina sighed, taking another sip of her water, her eyes never leaving Kaiba's face as he and Duke stood on the platform and discussed Kaiba Corp.'s latest products. The plan was for Selina to join them and talk about the miniature holographic dueling systems she had created, but after careful consideration at how Selina seemed to be slightly shaky, Kaiba had firmly told her Duke would explain it, leaving no room for arguing on her part. Then again, he had noticed a sigh of relief escape her when he had told her the change of plans.

Selina smiled as Kaiba and Duke descended the platform, an hour of explanations and answered questions completed. Slowly, she reached for her glass, allowing another sip of cool water to run down her parched throat.

"Selina, are you feeling alright? You look a little pale," Duke commented as he took his seat between Serenity and Tea.

"I'm fine Duke, really," she assured, smiling at her cousin and then her husband.

"I hope you're ready to lose Yugi, because I will not be defeated tonight," Kaiba said coolly as his narrowed orbs glanced across the table at his opponent.

"We'll see," Yugi shrugged, his arm loosely wrapped around Tea's shoulders as he leaned back in his chair.

Kaiba nodded curtly, turning his attention towards his wife, whose hand seemed to continually reach for her water glass. "Selina," he began, drowning out the conversation at the table as well as the entire room. "Are you sure you're alright?"

"I'm just really thirty, that's all. Honestly, you're worrying over nothing," Selina grinned, her eyes dancing, seemingly brighter against her slightly pale skin.

"Me? Worry? Don't assume things," Kaiba smirked, sliding his arm around Selina's shoulders as the duels began. Four more duels, and he'd be dueling Yugi, defeating him with his new strategy.

~*~*~*~

"Alright Yugi, only one of us can walk away in defeat, and it won't be me," Kaiba smirked, strapping his duel disk into place as he handed Yugi the other one. "We'll be giving everyone a live demonstration of the better system and graphics the new dueling disks contain," he explained, stepping into place as Yugi inserted his deck.

"If I could tell the future, I'd say this will end in the same way as our past duels Kaiba. Me in victory and you in defeat," Yugi grinned, his eyes taking the appearance of his millennium puzzle counterpart once the glow died down. "I'm the King of Games Kaiba, I never lose a challenge," Yugi smirked, his voice slightly deeper as the spirit of the puzzle took charge.

"We'll see," Kaiba said coolly, initiating the beginning of the duel.

With its high-tech holographic visuals and amazing detail, the duel between the two rivals captured the attention of everyone in the room. It was just what Kaiba had been expecting - the perfect way to promote the new systems.

Ten minutes into the duel proved that it would be at least an hour before it was over as both Yugi and Kaiba had managed to continually protect their life points as well as prove to the other they weren't backing down.

"Well ladies, who wants to bet against Kaiba?" Duke asked, grinning at the three girls seated at the table with him. "Is Selina the only one not to? Now really, just because he's your husband doesn't mean you have to lie."

Selina rolled her eyes, resting her cheek upon her hand in the process. "I'm not lying Duke, I really think he has a chance. Then again, when it comes to Duel Monsters, he's as arrogant as they come. And the saying does go, 'Pride comes before the fall.' I just hope he wins. Mokuba told me the last time he lost, he retreated to his office for a few days, thinking over new strategies," Selina sighed, closing her eyes as her head began to slightly pound.

"Oh wow, Kaiba just took off 1,000 of Yugi's life points!" Serenity exclaimed, clutching Duke's arm. "This is exciting."

Duke nodded, his eyes focusing on his cousin as she slowly turned in her seat and slouched back, her eyes facing towards the duel. To say he was concerned would have been an understatement. Shaking it off as best he could, he tried to focus on the duel, surprised at how well his business partner seemed to be doing; considering he hadn't gotten any of his Blue Eyes on the field yet.

~*~*~*~

Kaiba smirked the moment he drew his next card. Fifty minutes into the duel, both tied at 1,000 life points, his Blue Eyes resting in the card graveyard, he drew the card he had been waiting for - Spirit of the Dragon. With his Heavy Storm, he could clear the field of Yugi's face down cards. Then, with his Dark Hole, he would clear the field of both his Gadget Soldier and Yugi's Summoned Skull. And finally, he would activate Spirit of the Dragon, summoning back his powerful Blue Eyes White Dragon and destroying the rest of Yugi's life points. His plan was perfectly fool-proof as he knew Yugi had laid a trap card that would activate upon him being attacked.

Smirking calmly, yet grinning like a fool in his mind, he cast a glance towards his wife to make sure she would see him defeat Yugi. His eyes met her briefly before he turned back towards Yugi. "This is the end Yugi," he said coolly, preparing to set his plan into action.

Quickly turning to glance at his wife one more time, his face fell. Selina! Worry swiftly began to place Kaiba within its vice-grip as he watched his wife fall from her chair, unconscious; Duke catching her before she hit the ground. "This duel ends now," Kaiba said, instantly shutting down the dueling system, the safety of his wife the only thing on his mind.

Jumping from the platform where they had been dueling, Kaiba rushed to his wife's side, taking hold of her and glancing at Duke, his eyes betraying his heart as they showed in full color the extent of his worry.

Duke smiled inwardly at this emotion emitting from the stone cold businessman before explaining to Kaiba what had happened. "I'm sure she'll be fine, but she's unusually warm. She just fainted, that's all. Take her home Kaiba. I'll finish up our business here."

Kaiba nodded slightly, lifting his wife's frail form into his arms and following Ichigo from the room, spectators standing by in confusion, watching the young CEO closely and seeing no resemblance to the man who ran Kaiba Corporations. The man who ran Kaiba Corp. never showed fear, or any emotions and was cold and cruel. This man was displaying every sign of worry and fear than anyone could possibly imagine as he held the young girl close to him, silently chastising himself for not taking better care of her.

Kaiba was thankful the moment the limousine's door shut and he was alone with his wife, away from the stares of the gathering crowds and reporters.

"Shall we go to the hospital Master Kaiba?" Ichigo questioned, starting the limo and driving away from the convention.

"When we get to the mansion, call Dr. Keito and inform him of Selina's condition. I think it's more important to get her home at the moment than to discover the reason why she fainted," Kaiba said coolly, his eyes never leaving his wife's pale face.

~*~*~*~

"She'll be fine Mr. Kaiba, she's just come down with an odd case of the flu - nothing to extensively worry about. Just see to it that she rests and drinks plenty of water. She should heal quickly as long as she does not overexert herself. If her condition does worsen, please give me a call," Dr. Keito explained, shaking hands with the young CEO before turning and following Roland down the hallway, quickly disappearing from Kaiba's line of vision.

Breathing in deeply, Kaiba took a moment to compose himself. If he had taken time to consider the depth of his actions a couple hours earlier, he may have chosen to finish the duel and defeat Yugi, and yet, even thinking that at the present moment, something deep within him was finding no condemnation at his choice of ending the duel. He did take a vow to protect her; not only in his contract, but he had given her cousin his word and was not his word worth more than any contract he could draw up?

And yet, his mind continued to return to the duel - the outcome - had he finished. His plan was flawless, but apparently, Fate had a different opinion. No matter how many times he were to weigh the options he had had that evening, none of them stood up to fear within him when he saw his wife collapse to the floor. It was a fear he hadn't felt since Mokuba had been kidnapped back during his Battle City; but even then, he never showed his fear. He was supposed to be made of steel, where no one and nothing could break him. But at the end of the day, he was only human - he did have a heart.

"Seto?" he heard his name being called. Now was not the time to be cold and distant, even if it was easier for him to be so. No, his wife needed the man she had come to know over the Christmas holidays. He could at least grant her the rest of the evening. But he could not promise her tomorrow.

Inwardly groaning at the thought of tomorrow and his picture in all the tabloids and news stations, he placed his hand on the door knob. Tomorrow, he would have to deal with questions from reporters, questioning stares from his employees. He had faltered - showing his sign of weakness to the world - his wife. She was the only one who could bring out the true him - regardless of who was watching. Sure, Mokuba brought out the good within him, but he still remained cool and collected. The complete opposite of what he had acted that evening. He knew he had made a costly mistake, showing his fear to the world when his wife had fainted. He could only hope that it would not come back to haunt him.

Slowly, he entered the dimly lit room and walked towards the figure lying beneath the plush navy covers. He said not a word, nor made any motion to, the moment he reached the bed and noticed the paleness of her cheeks.

"Who won the duel?" she asked softly, unaware of any events that occurred from the moment her eyes had closed until she had awoken not but fifteen minutes ago.

Kaiba frowned slightly, but shrugged it away. "It was a draw," he said coolly, seating himself beside her upon the bed.

Selina nodded slightly, her hands fidgeting with the covers as she lightly chewed her bottom lip. "I'm sor-"

"Don't," Kaiba said, silencing her.

"But…I made you leave the convention early…"

Kaiba just shook his head before leaning closer to her, the slightest hint at a smile tugging upon the corners of his lips. "You're more important than any duel or convention," he whispered, gently kissing her forehead before settling beside her upon the bed - his mind immediately wandering.

He could not silence what his heart was telling him, nor could he put a cork on his emotions. Ever since his stepfather - or rather, adoptive father - had forced him to study at all hours of the day, had kept him from children his own age, as well as his own brother, he had learned to keep all emotions inside. It was something he was good at, something he had acquired over time. He had promised himself to always be strong, to never allow anyone to see who he truly was. Not just for Mokuba…but for fear of being hurt once more.

It was something he could not risk - opening his heart to have it torn to pieces. He had seen more of the world than he had ever hoped, and it was all he could do to protect his brother from that. But he had never counted on a young woman to slowly tear away at the wall he had built to protect himself. Slowly, she was removing the mask he wore for the world. She understood he was a business man - that he could not show much emotion, if any, at his company. But did that mean he could not show emotion within the walls of his own home?

As his mind was contemplating these thoughts, clouds of sleep began to slowly roll in and cover the clear skies of his alert mind. Quickly, his thoughts became muddled, sleep overtaking his frame. But one thought, clear as a rainbow after the storm and bright as the sunlight reflecting from the puddles, shone through his cloudy and muddled thoughts. Did he really care what everyone would think of him if emotions began to shine through? But more importantly, was his image as important as the woman he held within his arms?

~*~*~*~

"I told you I'd beat you!" Mokuba's laughter sounded throughout the less crowded area of the arcade as he did a small victory dance, his eyes alit with joy.

"I let you win that one," Selina muttered, although a small smile tugged at her lips. "Let's have a re-match."

"Alright!" Mokuba exclaimed, turning his attention back to the game consol. "But I told you that Forbidden Dragon was my best game, so I don't think you'll beat me."

"We'll see Squirt, we'll see." Selina turned her attention towards the game as it began. But, her mind was elsewhere.

It was a cool Friday afternoon in the city of Domino, but sunny nonetheless. Somehow, Kaiba had managed to control most of the output of stories from the convention which was but eight days ago - yet he would not say how. Selina had recovered from her flu for the most part, although she was still somewhat weak, but refused to show it. And, when Mokuba had begged her to go to the arcade on his day off from classes, she willingly agreed.

She shook her head, recalling when she had discovered that Kaiba had Roland positioned right outside the bedroom door, prohibiting her from going anywhere. In Selina's mind, he was being a bit over-protective, but according to Kaiba, you could never be too careful. A small grin replaced the seemingly concentrative look as she quickly glanced at the clock. Kaiba would be joining them in fifteen minutes.

Out of the corner of her eye, she thought she noticed a familiar face entering the arcade, but her attention was drawn back to the game when Mokuba's cheering filled the air once more. When she turned her head back, the face was gone.

"You didn't even put up a fight," Mokuba frowned, quirking his eyebrow as he tilted his head. "Are you sure you're feeling better? 'Cause we can go-"

"I'm fine Squirt. How about a skee-ball challenge?" Selina quickly interrupted, grabbing the young boy's hand and dragging him to another part of the arcade, Roland not too far behind.

"You're on!"

~*~*~*~

Two curious eyes watched the two from a small booth within the arcade. They were dark and clouded, intent upon watching the elder girl as she pulled a young boy with her. Slowly, they narrowed, a plan formulating in the man's mind.

His short brunette hair was wind tossed, some strands partially covering his dark sea green eyes. As he watched Selina, his plan running across his mind, he did not take into consideration the other man who was keeping a close watch on her.

I wasn't expecting to see you again, but I'm glad I did. I'll make my move in a couple minutes. Smirking as he thought his plan was flawless, he took a swig of his beer, failing to notice the prominent CEO entering the arcade.

~*~*~*~

"Enjoying yourself?" a cool voice asked, sending shivers up Selina's spine. She quickly shook off the feeling and smiled.

"As a matter of fact, I am. Unfortunately, today is not my day," she sighed, indicating her score, which was trailing Mokuba's significantly.

Kaiba merely smirked, taking the last ball from Selina's hand and releasing it quickly, sending it straight into the 100 point hole. "I have some business to discuss with the manager, I'll be about five minutes."

Selina nodded, watching her husband walk towards a back room and disappear behind the door into what she assumed to be the manager's office. Ichigo had followed Kaiba into the room and Roland had left to get Mokuba a drink. She shrugged slightly, turning her attention back towards the game.

A chill began to run up her spine once more, only this time, she knew it wasn't out of surprise…but rather fear. Slowly, she turned her head, her eyes coming into contact with deep sea green eyes, outlined in an unnatural red. A gasp escaped her throat as her eyes widened and the ball she held within her hand fell to the floor.

"Selina?" Mokuba asked, finding the dropped ball sitting on the floor, yet the girl in question missing. Shrugging, he turned back towards the game, not hearing the muffled gasps and cries.

~*~*~*~

"There now, thought you'd never see me again?" the man sneered, holding the young girl up against a wall near the back exit of the arcade. A single dim light hung a few feet from them, but it was enough to see the red in the man's eyes was cause of alcohol induction.

"W-what do you want?" Selina whispered, emotions and memories filling her being.

"I decided the money your husband gave me wasn't enough. I want control of the Kaiba estate, and you're going to give it to me…worthless piece of trash," he growled, his grip tightening around her shoulders.

No…he…Seto said he was…gone…even after his "apology" in his letter…why… Selina's eyes closed softly as the memories of her childhood and teenage years came back in full force. The beatings, the words, the times she was trying so hard to forget. Her father was a cruel and desperate man, but she had never deemed him this desperate. He had always been careful that the law would never have reason to believe him to do the things he had done, and yet, he had abducted her in the daylight.

"Say something daughter," he sneered, grabbing her jaw before sending his hand flying across her face. "I will have control over the Kaiba fortune and you will be my access to it. I control you."

"You'll never control me," Selina whispered, willing herself to fight back. She opened her mouth to scream for help, but her air supply was cut off by a sharp punch to her stomach.

"I know how loud you can be wench. I won't allow you to ruin this - I will control you."

Seto…

~*~*~*~

"Big Brother!" Mokuba exclaimed, running to the elder Kaiba and hugging him tightly. He stepped back in confusion when he noticed the other presence was missing. "Where's Selina?"

"She was with you," Kaiba commented, glancing towards the place he had left his wife but two minutes earlier. It hadn't taken much time to inform the manager of the new game he would be sending over the next day.

"I thought she went with you…"

"Roland."

"Master Mokuba had asked me to get him a drink. I have just returned," Roland stated, worry lining his eyes as he realized he had possibly failed his job at protecting the young wife of his employer.

"Perhaps she is using the ladies room Master Kaiba," Ichigo offered, his dark eyes scanning the arcade.

"She wouldn't have gone off and left me," Mokuba observed, his violet eyes filled with worry.

Kaiba's eyes narrowed as he listened to the different sounds around him. He raised his brow at the beer mug sitting where Selina had been a few minutes earlier. "I want you two to search this arcade. When you find her, call for me. But, on no grounds do I want you to hurt the man who has taken her. I want him to myself."

Heeding his words, Roland and Ichigo began their investigation around the arcade, searching for the missing woman. It was a slight thumping sound that caught Kaiba's attention as the two bodyguards began to search the arcade. As he turned his head and walked towards the sound, his eyes narrowed significantly.

There before him sat Selina, cowering in fear at the elder man who was towering above her - the man he had made certain left the country and would never harm her again. Without a moments notice, he grabbed the man and pulled him away from his wife before yelling to Mokuba to find Ichigo and Roland.

Without any thought, he sent his fist into direct contact with the man's face, anger brimming his eyes. Not allowing the man to make any moves of his own, he threw him to the ground, Ichigo grabbing him and holding him against the wall as Kaiba tended to his wife.

Her eyes were closed tight, tears brimming over the surface as she slid further into the corner at Kaiba's touch.

"Hey, it's me," he whispered gently, sighing mentally when she opened her eyes and flung her arms around him. He lightly kissed her head before wrenching from her grasp and turning to her father. "Roland, take Mokuba and Selina to the limo, now," he commanded, his fists clenching tightly.

Roland nodded and swiftly picked up the young girl, carrying her away from the scene that was about to ensue.

Kaiba's eyes burned with angry fire and hatred as he stared down the elder man. "I thought I told you to never come back," he sneered with a voice that could challenge even the mightiest of storms.

Darrin glared at the young CEO before taking a few steps towards him. "You may control my daughter, but you do not control me."

"Control her?" Kaiba threw his head back, a deep laugh escaping his throat. "I do not in any way control her. She is a free spirit, one that I will never allow you to contain!"

Darrin grunted angrily, eyeing the younger man dangerously. "Nevertheless, Seto Kaiba, I will control her. There is nothing you can do to stop me. I controlled her as a child and young teen, and I will continue to control her," he spat, a smirk forming on his face.

Kaiba's anger roared in full fury as he grabbed the man and threw him to the ground. "No one interferes with my family, do you hear me! You hurt my wife and therefore, you have to deal with me! I will see to it that you never return to Japan again!" Kaiba snarled as he kicked Darrin hard, causing the elder man to cough violently.

"Master Kaiba, I think it's best you tend to Miss Selina," Ichigo's calm voice interrupted. "I shall take care of Mr. Mazika."

Kaiba growled, leaning over so his eyes were even with Darrin's. "If you ever come near my wife again, I will finish what I have started."

"And what's that?"

"I'll kill you." Kaiba stood to his full height as he turned to meet Ichigo's eyes. "Ichigo, take him down to the station. Tell Kenjin that he attacked my wife. He'll know what to do."

"Yes Master Kaiba," Ichigo responded, taking hold of Darrin in a death grip. "Come with me Mr. Mazika."

~*~*~*~

"Seto…" Selina's soft voice called out, her eyes tightly closed against the afternoon sun shining in through the windows.

Kaiba smirked as a gentle hand reached out for him. He grasped it lightly, causing Selina's eyes to open and meet his.

"I…" Selina faltered, feeling defeated at having a loss for what to say to him.

Kaiba just shook his head, lightly kissing her before releasing her hand. "I have some things I need to work on, I'll be right here if you need me."

Selina smiled softly, snuggling against him as he turned his head back towards his laptop. "Thank you," she whispered, a single tear sliding down her face and onto his arm.

Kaiba glanced down at her, a soft smile replacing his trademark smirk. Nothing will keep me from you. No one will take you from me. He has been condemned my dear Selina and his death is inevitable. I know it will be hard for you to understand this because of how forgiving you are…but no amount of forgiveness can redeem him from the sins he has committed against you. He deserves all amount of punishment he is being given. Nothing can save him from his fate. I swore I would protect you from him, and I hold to that oath. I swear to you Selina, for as long as I breathe, I will protect you; even to death.