Yu-Gi-Oh! Fan Fiction ❯ Time on a Chain ❯ Chapter 20

[ Y - Young Adult: Not suitable for readers under 16 ]

Time 22


Willow smiled grimly as they entered the penthouse. The guys all thought that it was over. But she knew better, a
bump on her elbow drew her attention to Joey.

"Get a minute for me later 'K? We need to talk."

Willow gave Joey an assessing look. He looked grim and disgusted.

"I don't think we do, but we can get away for a while later. Mokuba and Seto will be distracted by the deliveries
and we can hole up in the kitchen for a while. Cooking is a good excuse and I don't want to scare Seto more than
necessary."

"I don't want to scare Mokuba, but you know they are smarter than you give them credit for. I don't think either
of them thinks this is over with yet either."

"Shit."

"Yeah."

And the deliveries did start coming in but Seto hijacked both Willow and Joey, not letting either one of them out
of his sight long enough for them to have a decent conversation. Instead he choreographed a fashion show for all
of them making Joey try on all the new clothes that Mokuba had bought him then the same for Willow. Joey
finally demanded to know why he, Seto, nor Mokuba was required to do the same

"Because I'm not letting you two have a chance to put your heads together without Mo' and I there. We deserve to
know what you two are up to. I don't want to get caught with my pants down again. It upsets me. In a way you
two won't like if you don't watch out."

Joey snickered, "Yeah? What're ya gonna do about it money bags?"

"Hit it with my money bags. Don't be an ass. This is important. We all need to know what's going on so we don't
do something stupid because we're out of the loop."

Willow realized that Seto was right. They were in this together, she wasn't used to having anyone else to rely on,
so she needed to be extra careful not to leave them out.

"Ok, let's all go to the Wreck room and Joey and I'll put our heads together and try to explain what's going on
and make some more plans. We still have to decide what we're going to do about calling in those markers. I want
a place that's public without being completely indefeasible. Seto, that crack about money bags was inexcusable,
you shouldn't put up with stuff like that. And Joey, don't start a fight with Seto, I thought you were getting
along."


"That didn't mean anything . . . Seto, I'm sorry if I offended you, you know I didn't mean it that way."

"Joey, I couldn't care less. I really will hit them with my money bags, figuratively speaking. Those markers
weren't free you know."

Willow looked at Mokuba, who shook his head at her. She was never sure if Joey and Seto were about to get into
a fight or were just teasing. She didn't understand this need to insult each other, but as long as they didn't kill
each other, she'd let it go, but if Joey thought she was going to let him get physical with Seto he was way off the
mark.

After eating the delicious meal Joey fixed they gathered in the wreck room and Willow started her explanation.

"It's not over yet. I know we got rid of the small fry with this afternoon's little show. But the big guns are still out
there and some of them won't believe that the money isn't there. Stuff like this doesn't happen often enough for
them to . . . er . . . fall for it. Stupid as it seems."

"Seto, you need to call in those markers as soon as possible, so that it get's around that Weevil is out of money.
We need to be as public as possible without putting ourselves in real harms way. Maybe go cycling in the park or
something. I can be eyes behind and Joey can take the point. If we move fast enough they won't be able to get a
bead on anyone but we'll let them think we're getting careless and maybe they'll make a mistake."

Seto thought for a while and Willow watched, she liked to watch Seto.

Mokuba went to the bar and opened a bottle of Amaretto de Saronno, Seto came out of it long enough to eye
Mokuba sternly but Mokuba brought the glass to him.

"Thanks Mo' you want one?"

"No, Joey doesn't like the smell of liquor on my breath so I'll pass."

"Jo'?"

"Not a chance . . . don't care for any of that kind of thing. Strictly Shirley for me. Thanks though."

"Willow?"

"Yes, I believe I will, I don't drink much so. . . . "

"It's sweet, you'll like it I think."


Willow tasted the drink Seto gave her. It was nice, sweet; it smelled of almonds and herbs. She looked doubtfully
at the small glass; it wasn't like Seto to be selfish with something like this he would usualy give large portions of
anything special, he was generous in an odd off handed way.

"Do you like it?" at Willow's nod, he smiled. "It's called Amaretto de Saronno. I always liked it. Even if it is a bit
sweet. But it's for desert so I guess it's supposed to be. I find I don't care much for beer or wine. But I do like a
liqueur, indulgent I know, but there you are."

Willow just sipped at the tiny glass, watching Joey play Techen Warriors with Mokuba while Seto read a book on
the other side of the room from her. They needed to relax in the worst way. This day had been very full and Seto
had been adamant about her not breathing down the back of his neck as he called it. But how was she to protect
him if she was too far away. Although she could see his point, so when they were in the penthouse she tried to
give him as much room as possible. Even though she really wanted to sit in his lap and have him read to her. So
she'd just drink her liqueur and wish.

Finally Joey tossed his controller down and snarled, "Damnit Mokuba You're a freak. I never seen anyone play
like you can."

Seto looked up from his book to laugh at Joey. "You've been sharked. He wrote the damn thing. You better not
put money on any game with him."

Joey pounced on Mokuba. Willow stiffened instantly but then relaxed. They were always rough housing so she
had finally gotten used to it but sometimes, if she was tired or it was unexpected, she'd start to react before she
caught herself.

Mokuba just squeaked then laughed. "Noooo! Don't hurt me, Joey-chan. I'll be good. I won't make you pay up.
Seto, you're a real kill joy. I had Joey all set to finish that picture of you he started. "

"Well, it doesn't deserve to be finished; look who it's of." Seto didn't like to think of that picture, after all it was
his fault it wasn't finished. "Da.. That picture? Well ya got your wish. I finished it yesterday. I never don't finish
one if I can get out of it."

Willow tried to sort that sentence out and gave up. Mokuba, however, seemed to understand perfectly; he
demanded to have it as forfeit, complaining that he'd won fair and square.

Seto looked at his watch and declared it bed time, Joey yawned, "What time is it?"

"Nearly 1:30am. I can't believe I'm this tired. I used to stay up all night and never even notice it. Well, I'm for
bed and so are you two. If you want to go cycling tomorrow, we'll have to get up early."

The three boys headed for bed but Willow stayed behind. Even she needed some time to herself and she decided
that tonight was her time. She reached behind the bar and helped herself to the bottle of Amaretto. She translated
the name, but since she had to translate the Italian into English, then into Japanese. It came out as Koi-chan; little
love.

How could anything called Koi-chan and so sweet be bad for you? She was about to find out.

She didn't drink, avoiding alcohol as mostly tasting nasty; so she was very susceptible to the effects. In other
words she got shit faced. Of course it took the whole bottle.

Willow felt fine; more than fine. She felt good for the first time in her recollection. She could relax just for a
while. Maybe this was why the bosses had cautioned her against drinking. It let her ease up. She wasn't supposed
to do that.

Picking up the bottle she tipped it up and hoped for one more sip, but it was not to be. She felt like crying. Why
couldn't she cry? Oh, yeah, she was the body guard, the assassin; she was always cold, in control; the one who
took it so others were safe. But what about me she wondered; when do I get to be safe? Well, never, that's when;
she knew some day she'd be safe. When she was in her coffin, but did it bother her? Hell yes, but she never let it
show; she knew what happened to the weak ones.

Willow tossed the bottle aside; luckily the deep carpet kept it from breaking. "Damnit What's wrong with me?
Can't stand up."

Willows attempts to stand resulted in her falling on her face. {Coordinated, much! What the hell. I haven't fallen
around like this since I got cut up and lost a bunch of blood}

Willow started to cry. She cried like she did everything else, with a quiet intensity that led most others to
underestimate her. All she did was let the tears flow.

Seto woke up, {why am I awake it's . . . 2:30?! What's up?} He realized that he hadn't felt Willow come to bed.
He heard everything that went on; usualy it didn't wake him up, but when something was wrong, he woke up.
And not hearing her come to bed within fifteen or twenty minuets of the rest of them was off. She checked on
Joey and Mokuba; opening the door as if she couldn't sleep until she'd seen them. But it had been an hour and she
wasn't up yet.

Muttering under his breath Seto got up, put on a yakuta and started down the stairs.

"Who's there? Wheeler, that you?"

"Yeah, Willows not up yet. Thought I'd go find her. She's usualy up."

"I know. Where was she last?"

Joey frowned and then pointed to the door of the small sitting room they all called the Wreck room. "We were all
in there. You gave her some of that stuff you drink. Oh, Shit! You don't think?" Joey wasn't sure he wanted to see
the effects of too much liquor on a trained assassin; could be really not good.

Seto opened the door and sighed. Willow was sitting in the middle of the floor, in the same posture she usualy sat;
half cross legged, one knee up the other foot tucked against her, arm resting on her knee; but this time she had her
face buried in the crook of her elbow and was swaying slightly.

"Hey! Willow ya ok?" Joey was real cautious about approaching her without warning, she reacted like he did to
being startled, only she usualy had something sharp in her hand when she came up.

"Mmmmm? N't 'k Feel funny. Dizzy. Cn stand? Can't.stand . . . up." Willow blinked blearily at them. "Stand
shil." She put her head back down on her arm; they kept wavering in a very disturbing manner.

Seto just stared. He'd never seen anyone as controlled as she was fall apart so thoroughly. He could see she'd
been crying, her face was smeared with tears and her sleeve was soaked.

"Was' a madd . . . sick. Mm' dyin' . . . good thing" Willow could only think of one thing that could be wrong
with her. She'd gotten cut badly and hadn't noticed some how and was now bleeding out.

Seto reached out to pick her up. "Here! You're drunk. How much did you drink? I'm going to take you to bed for
once. Do you think you're going to puke? I'd rather not have you do it on me, or the stairs for that matter."

Willow raised her head and gave Seto an indignant look. "M never sick. Not 'lowed. Ssasn don' git . . . " Willow
swayed dangerously then toppled over falling on her back with a grunt. "Bleedn' some . . . wha' ge' offa me!"

Joey found the bottle, it had been one of the big 1leter bottles and it had just been opened so she had drunk it all
except for the 20 or 30ml Seto had drunk.

"Seto, she's completely shit faced. She drank all this herself." Joey held up the empty bottle "Dead soldier here.
Well, fuck! I wonder how we're gonna get her to bed."

"I'm going to carry her. She'll just have to put up with being hauled around. It's not like I'm gonna rape her or
anything."

"Rape me! Who? What?" Willow pulled a rather long knife out of her yakuta somewhere. "Wouldn' try 'f I 'us
you!" she still didn't realize that she was flat on her back. She started to cry again. "Tired. Sooooo tired. Jus' sit
here n' die. Go sleep 'n never wake up. Nice! Peaceful."

Seto had sat back on his heels when Willow had fallen over. "Listen to me! I'm not going to do anything you
don't like. But I'm not going to let you pass out on the floor and stay there all night. Or what's left of it. You're
not cut. You're not bleeding. You're drunk! And if you're sick, it's because of that. Now stop acting like a fool
and let me pick you up."

Willow eyed Seto like she'd never seen him before. Joey took the opportunity to get her knife. He reached out and
plucked the blade from her slackened grip. He wasn't as fast as she was but he wasn't drunk and having trouble
concentrating. "Got it! Seto just jump her and we'll wrestle her down and get her to bed. She can't be too
combative as drunk as she is."

Seto had his doubts. "I don't know about that, Wheeler. I'd rather not push our luck that much. We better try to
convince her."

Willow realized that she had real problems. Joey had gotten her knife and he shouldn't have. "M drunk y' shay.
'M sham. A ... sham . . . ed a' my self. I'm not . . . ugh . . . not . . . "

Willow forgot what she was going to say. The alcohol was really beginning to affect her now and she felt the
room begin to spin. "Don' like it. Make it stop!"

"Sorry, Wills, ain't happenin'. Ya gotta ride it out. An' wait til mornin' that's when ya pay for the pleasure a'
pukin' your guts up." Joey, more used to the signs, jerked Willow up right and shoved the trash can under her
head. The results of her spasm emptied her stomach and made her head spin worse.

"Enough! Willow, you will not put up a fight. I'm going to carry you to our room and put you into our bed. I'm
not leaving you to sleep on a cold floor."

Willow snorted muzzily. "Leas' tisn't a snow drift. Slep' in one once. No fun. Cold; hate cold". Willow
scrunched her face up in a scowl. It would have looked more threatening if she'd still been up right, but she was
sprawled across Joey in and inelegant heap.

Joey staggered to his feet with Willow in his arms. He felt things that weren't what he thought should be there. He
handed her to Seto and started searching her.

"What the hell are you doing? You can't feel her up in front of me. Get off!"

"I'm not! She's lumpy where she shouldn't be and I don't want a knife in my gut because she decides t' get pissy.
Look here."

Joey patted Willow down and stuck his hand in the front of her yakuta, pulling out a set of throwing pins and a
wire. He pulled Willow out of Seto's arms and arranged her so she was hanging from Seto's neck with his arms
around her.

Seto found himself with his arms around Willow, hands under her buttocks supporting her in an upright position,
feet inches from the floor. Willow nuzzled into his neck mumbling.

What?"

Smell good?" Willow sighed and sniffed again.

"I bet. Expensive aftershave."

"I'm not wearing any." Seto wondered what Willow would do to him when she realized what he was doing. She'd
probably gut him.

"Nice." Willow was feeling drowsy and comfortable, she hadn't been held since she was about three. Crowded
foster homes made it hard to get hugs and the Shop tended to move her around a lot so the Social Services people
didn't figure out what was going on.

"Damn, she's got enough sharps on her to start a small war. You'd think she'd rattle when she walks." Joey
gathered up two knives, the pins and wire and squeezed Willows messy braid. "I think I got everything. I hope I
did. Don't want ya t' find somethin' sharp in ya. Damn, lock picks."

Joey retrieved said picks and ran his hands over Rowan again making sure he'd gotten everything.

"Wheeler, I need to get her to bed." Seto scooped Willow back into his arms. "She doesn't weigh anything. If she
weighs 120, I'll be surprised. And she's all muscle."

Willow cuddled into Seto's arms in a way Mokuba never had. She was small, she only seemed large because she
had a presence which couldn't be denied.

"Wheeler, come and help me with her. I don't want to be alone when I undress her. She can't sleep in this yakuta;
it's all sweaty and it smells."


"Ok, Seto. But I'm not too sure about us undressing her. I...it ain't right somehow. She's real private about that.
It's not like she's body shy. More like it's the only privacy she's been able t' have. I know! Sounds like shit, but
you know what I mean."

Seto nodded, "I know, but she stinks. She's sweated through the yakuta. And I don't think her aim was real good.
She can't sleep in this. Quit arguing with me. I'm tired and I want to get back to bed before noon."

Joey shrugged Ok whatever. Seto carried Willow up the stairs and into their bedroom. He put her down on the bed
and started to untie her obi. Willow rolled over grabbing at his wrist. "Hnnn. Na' don' do 'at." Willow shook her
head then started to heave again. Seto pulled her onto her stomach and stuck the trash can under her.

"Seto! What the hell? She sick again? Damn, she's gonna feel like hell tomorrow. I don't think I wanna be around
when she wakes up. If she feels bad enough, she's liable t' kill someone."

"Joey, never hurt you. Oh!" Willow rolled onto her back and put her hand over her mouth. "I ... uh..f'get"

Seto looked at Willow feeling helpless, he'd never taken care of a drunk before and was at a loss as to what to do.

Joey took over easily, he had Seto pick Willow back up and hold her under the arms with her back to him. He
loosened her yakuta and then slid her arms out of the armholes. He had Seto hand her off to him and told him how
to slide the clean yakuta under the soiled one. Then he handed her back to Seto and wrapped her clean yakuta
around her and tied it.

"See, a little cooperation and everything's fine. Put her to bed, come on. You'll fall in your tracks tomorrow. Oh,
and I don't think any of us will be up to cycling. Do you?"

"I'll go to bed in a minute. You can go on. I'm just going to do something with her hair. If I don't she's going to
wake up with a head full of tangles."

Seto suited actions to words and found a hairbrush. He arranged a compliant Willow on the edge of the bed with
her head turned away from him, hair hanging over the edge. He pulled out the messy braiding and started
brushing. He brushed until he hit a big snarl, when Willow whimpered softly, he whispered, "It's ok, baby. I'm
sorry I hurt you. Go back to sleep."

Joey slipped away; he couldn't believe Seto. {Man, he's got it bad. I wonder if he even realizes it?}

Seto finally got Willow's hair brushed and combed to his satisfaction, when he started braiding it Willow went
limp. She'd finally passed completely out, the comforting feel of someone brushing her hair so gently was so
soothing to her that she'd relaxed totally.

After braiding her hair he wrapped an elastic around the end and sat just stroking the thick braid for a moment. He
got up and headed for the bathroom, but was stopped by a small whimper; she was crying, sobbing softly. {I
wonder why she won't let herself feel. She can't be as messed up as I am.}

Seto finally got to bed at 2:45 a.m., he dreamed about a fall of crimson gold hair.

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Willow woke up with a headache she could only attribute to concussion. She also had a sick stomach and the taste
in her mouth could only be from eating garbage.

"Ugh! What the hell happened to me?" She rolled over, but decided to stay where she was, as the motion had
started her already thumping head spinning.

The soft voice from the door caused her to flinch, "How are you feeling this morning, or should I say afternoon.
It's almost eleven." Seto watched the expressions which flitted across her face. The predominant one was pain.

"When I get my hands . . . oooooo" Willow held her head. It hurt!

"I'll get you some aspirin and something for your stomach too." Seto went into the bathroom and found what he
wanted. Dropping the powder in the glass of water, he handed it to her with two white pills. "Here! Joey said this
would help. I wouldn't know. I've never been drunk. Thank God."

"I bet, Mr. Controlled. Never let up, do you?" Willow frowned, "Sorry, guess I'm not in the best of shape.
Damnit!"

Her curses were caused by Mokuba.

"Niisama, where are you? Is Willow up yet? Can we have brunch now? I'm . . . "

Mokuba stopped dead in the door of their bedroom. He knew he shouldn't be there, but Seto was, so he thought
Willow was 'decent', she wasn't. He saw her sitting up in bed with the covers clutched to her waist. Her yakuta
was disheveled; hanging off one shoulder and open enough that she showed a considerable expanse of white
breast.

"What happened? Seto, what did you do? She looks like shit!" Mokuba gulped as Willow flopped gracelessly
onto her stomach, clutching at her head.

"Damn, your voice could bend steel! Yell a little louder why don't cha?"

"Drink this, now. And close your yakuta." Seto had gotten an eye full and the faint blush on his cheeks told
Mokuba that he had. "Mokuba, would you tell Wheeler that Willow is still in the land of the living. And do it
quietly."

Seto kept his voice down. Willow was obviously in pain and he didn't see any reason to make it worse. A hang
over was no fun or so he'd been told. He truly had never been drunk; he hated the feeling of being less than in
possession of all his faculties.

Joey stuck his head in the door, looked at Willow and then Seto. "She looks like shit. Hey Willow, take the pills,
drink the tummy medicine, then go take a warm shower. You'll feel a little less like death warmed over. We'll
feed you something easy on the stomach and you'll feel like a new man."

Willow glared at Joey and muttered, "O moae o kurasou. You freak! You're entirely too cheerful. And I am
Death, warmed over or otherwise."

Seto decided to nip this foolishness in the bud. "You're not Death. That's ridiculous. How can you be?"

Willow still off her guard with her hangover throbbing in her head and stomach, said a great deal more that she'd
ever intended.

"I am Death! What the hell else would you call someone who has been an assassin for most of their life." She bit
her lip, then snarled; "Out! Both of you, out. I'm headed for the bath and I don't think I need company."

She headed for the bathroom swearing under her breath. "Damnit! Stupid, why not just give him a resume with
pictures. Where's your brain? He knows way too much as it is. You'll just scare him off."

Willow got out of the shower and wrestled with her hair until she got it in some sort of order. Then she went
down to see if there was anything to eat that she could stomach.

Joey met her at the foot of the stairs with a glass of tomato juice and a piece of dry toast. The toast was ok, but the
smell of the juice made her stomach clench, so she just handed the glass back to Joey with thanks and a head
shake.

Whass'a matta. Stomach a little jumpy?" At Willows nod, Joey smirked. "I'll fix you some tea. That might set
better."

"Joey just leave it. I should have know better than to drink all that. Even if it did taste good. Seto didn't drink but
just a little and I should have followed his example. He'll probably be disgusted and never talk to me again."

Seto's voice from behind her made her flinch slightly

"Only if you don't learn your lesson. But you're a quick study, love. So hope springs eternal."

Willow just sighed and crept into Seto's arms.

"You're not mad at me?"

"Only because you did something foolish. How's your head?"

Willow winced, "Still there. I think. The medicine is helping, but I'm still not in favor of breakfast.

Joey stuck a cup under Willow's nose, laughing, "Coffee? Maybe eggs, bacon? . . ."

"Shut up asshole."

"Hah! Cranky are we?"

Willow groaned and buried her head in Seto's chest.

"Make him stop. Seto, baby, he's not nice to me.", Willow whined, making Seto laugh, which made her head
throb anew. "Ow . . I'm never drinking again I swear. Seto . . . "

Then Seto said the magic words 'we have to talk', Willow nearly threw up right there.

"Come sit with me here on the couch. Now . . . I have something to say and I want you to listen and not start
trying to come up with some . . . well, "

Willow hung her head, he was going to ask her to leave and she couldn't blame him. She was supposed to at least
have the self-control not to get drunk while they were still in danger.

"I'll get some clothes and be out as soon as I can."

Seto just stared at her. Where the hell had that come from?

"Un . . . Willow? Did I do something sometime in the last . . . say, twelve hours, that gave you the impression that
I had . . . Shit . . . Willow what the hell, and start talking fast. I'm not in the mood to play twenty questions just
now."

"Well, I got drunk on duty, and I just thought . . . Um . . . I." Willow rubbed her suddenly viciously throbbing
head "I just . . . I."

"I think you had better avoid alcohol all together. It makes you stupid. I don't kiss people then ask them to leave.
Get over yourself. You don't have to be perfect. And come to think of it, neither do I. We'll both be trying to
overcome the effects of training for, maybe, years. But you've shown me that I can make mistakes and not ruin
the world. Anyway, who's going to punish me properly if you leave. Damnit. Girl, you're driving me crazy."

Willow looked at Seto for a long second then just draped herself all over him and started to cry.

"You don't . . don't. . .wa. . want me to go a.a.away. I can stay?"

Seto nuzzled his nose into her hair, then surreptitiously took hold of the end of her braid.

"Just try. Go on, I dare you."

Willow fished out a tissue and after making good use of it leaned away from Seto to put it in the trash. The jerk
on her braid startled her and a quick yank made her flop back on Seto who smirked at her startled face.

"See? Not a chance. No way, no how, not . . . Ok? Or do I have to tattoo it on you somewhere."

Seto nipped her shoulder, murmuring, "Maybe the Kaiba logo right here?" he sucked gently on her earlobe. "Or
an earring, something with an outrageously large diamond . . . hmmm? Got the idea yet?"

Willow wriggled around until she could look at Seto, the look he gave her back thrilled her to her toes. He wanted
her. Not the Hitokiri, not the bodyguard. She could tell by the heavy lidded look in his eyes that he wanted the
girl, the silly one who got drunk on little love by accident, the one who didn't know Duel Monsters from
Pokemon, her. In all her frailties and foolishnesses, all her insecurities. The wonder lit her eyes with a completely
feral light.

Seto blinked, wondering what he'd said to bring that especially fierce look into her eyes.

"Seto, I really hope that look means what I think it does, because I'm gettin' ready to go completely Shinigami on
some people. No one threatens my boyfriend and gets away with it."

Seto froze for a second, then started to laugh, he laughed so hard that Joey and Mokuba came in from the kitchen
to see what was so funny. They came in to see Willow swat Seto in the chest and then snuggle back into his arms.

Seto calmed himself down and hugged Willow close, explaining that she was an orriginal and saying, "I just never
expected to have a girlfrind who's declaration of undying love included death threats to all my enimies. I like it."
Turning to Willow he muttered. "I really really mean it. You can't leave me, you'll take my heart with you and I
need it."

Joey pulled Mokuba close and whispered in his ear. "I think they have finally given up. Just get use to the idea of
Seto and Willow disappearing at fairly regular intervals for a while."

Mokuba nuzzled into Joey's arms and smiled up at him, murmuring, "Oooh yeah, and that gives us opportunities
too. I could ravish your shrinking body."

"Mo', you are way too young to be talking like that."

"Who me? I'm old."

A derisive snort answered that foolishness and all four teens began a necking spree that lasted until Willow's
stomach interrupted them by growling loudly. She immediately mock swooned across the coffee table, moaning,
"Feed me, feed me, I'm just starving away to nothing, here."

Joey pried himself away from Mokuba and informed them that he and Mo' had both had breakfast, but if Willow
and Seto were up to it, he'd make an omelet or something ending. "But it's nearly noon and we need to eat
something a little more substantial than eggs."

It was decided that they would all get dressed and go out to a restaurant for a big lunch, if Willow could stand the
idea. She stated unequivocally that she was all in favor of shabu-shabu for lunch. So they decided to go to one of
the high profile places that Seto usually avoided like poison. It would give them more exposure, and that was a
good thing in that it would draw their attackers out into the open, but a bad thing because, as Willow put it, they
weren't in control of the theater of action.

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Willow looked around the restaurant and relaxed, it wasn't one of those open type places. It was old-fashioned
and had little rooms arranged down a long hall way, each room was open in the front with a table in the middle
and gomden to sit on. The shabu-shabu pot in the middle of the table already had coals in it and all that was
needed was to order the side dishes of vegetable and pickles.

Joey was laughing at Mokuba, who was whining that he wasn't eating spinach, no matter how fresh it was. And
Willow was watching Seto as he started cooking; his long, elegant hands drifting over the dishes, picking out the
various vegetables and dipping them into the pot to cook. The whole scene was as domestic as you could get and
they were all enjoying it so much that it was a shock to hear Tristan Taylor 's voice.

"Well, hello. I haven't seen you in a long time. Joey, how are you . . . oh. Hello Kaiba, Mokuba, . . .un."

Joey jumped and Mokuba yelped. Willow reached for the knife tucked into her sleeve. The only thing that kept
her from drawing it was Seto's hand on hers.

"Kaiba, never knew you had it in you. Who's the beautiful red head?"

Willow bristled and snarled, "I have a name, it's Willow, you . . . mffffff . . . " Seto clapped a hand over her
mouth to keep her from saying something she'd regret

"He's a friend of Joey's . . . don't make a fuss. He's just obnoxious on general principles." Seto challenged Taylor
to say anything else to Willow. Eying him over the top of Willow's head, "Don't cut out his heart."

"Yeah, like she could. Um . . . do I know you from somewhere . . .Willow is it."

"Yes and no. We didn't meet. You yelled at Yugi for giving Seto and me some money a while ago." Willow
smirked at Tristan and rubbed her head against Seto, putting her in about the same position as the last time Tristan
had seen them.

"Oh. My. God. I heard you were hiding out from someone but I never expected you to go so far. What the hell
was going on?"

Seto got stuffy with Tristan, "None of your business, Taylor, just . . . if Yugi has been getting any threats, take
them seriously. They blew up my house to get to me and there was a mole. Oh! By the way. Have you ever heard
of an assassin called Shinigami?

"Yeah. If that one is on your tail, you're dead."

Willow smirked at Tristan. "Pleased t' meetcha'. Glad my reputation precedes me." She snickered at Tristan's
suddenly stunned expression. This was one thing that she had always enjoyed in an odd way. That sudden frozen
expression when someone realized who she was. And this time it was really worth money, Taylor was
reconsidering something besides his opinion of her.

"You mean to tell me that those stupid letters are for real. I've been turning them over to the police ,but never
took them seriously. Who're they from and should I be doing more than I am?"

Willow looked at Seto and he nodded. So she told Tristan everything she could, while he sat at their table, ate
their food and listened with both ears wide open, when Willow told him who was responsible and why, he
snarled, "I'll kill that little . . ."

Willow interrupted him, "No you won't. If he really needs killing, I'll do it. I won't get caught, but I think Seto
will take care of him a lot more painfully. He won't be up to doing anything when we get done with him and he'll
still be alive to suffer." Her cold eyed look made Tristan shudder.

She finished with the command to watch out for Yugi and keep him off the streets and out of too public places
until they could figure out some way to get to Underwood in public and call in the markers. When she finished
Tristan sat looking first at Seto, then Joey and Mokuba.

Finally he just shrugged and said that he would do as Willow said, then he motioned to Joey, "Come with
pardner. I need to talk to you for a sec."

Joey just shook his head. "If you can't say it in front of Seto and Mo' forget it." Willow punched him in the arm.
"What! I know you don't give a rat's ass about anything he'll say."

Tristan sighed, Joey in this mood was impossible to deal with, so he just spit it out and got it over with.

"If you're doing what I think you are, you better settle up with Kaiba before he cuts off something you're attached
to. If you know what I mean."

"Yeah, I do and he already knows, don't like it much but he isn't going to interfere unless Mo' hurts me. Then
he'll lecture us both to death."

"Well, just . . . what? If Mo' hurts you?"

"I'm uke. Not Mo'"

"Well hell." Tristan just got up and walked away.

Seto got a funny look on his face and turned to Joey, he put his hand on his arm just as Mokuba put his arm
around Joey's shoulders. Willow just slid around behind him and tugged gently on a lock of his hair.

"You ok. Joey, that was mean of him."

Joey, who had wondered at their actions, just smiled and wrapped his arms around Mokuba.

"Naw, we were done talking, so he left. We've always been that way. We don't say good-by, never did. It's ok,
but thanks."

All three teens looked relieved and Joey reached out and snagged the last rice ball. stuffing it into his mouth over
their laughing protests. The rest of the afternoon was spent wandering around the district trying to attract more of
the people who'd taken the contract. No luck, but they went home tired and ready for bed.

Joey and Mokuba disappeared into their room and Seto dragged Willow into theirs over her laughing protests. Not
that she really meant any of them. She was finally getting the idea that Seto didn't much care what anyone but
Mokuba thought.

XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX


Willow lay in bed with Seto, she had pillowed her head on his shoulder and was idely counting the tiles in the
ceiling. They'd made love as best they could when she had definite ideas of where Seto could touch her. She
knew he'd seen her scars but she still couldn't stop trying to cover them or at least keep him from touching them.

"Willow, did I hurt you? Did I do something you don't like?"

"No. Why? . . . oh, I . . . uh . . . I just don't want you to . . . um" Willow stammered to a stop nuzzling her nose
into the curve of Seto's neck.

"What? Don't want me to see you? I've seen you."

Seto rolled over onto Willow and gently pinned her down. He started at her toes and worked his way up her body
with a thoroughness that left her breathless and slightly dizzy. She squirmed under Seto's hands and lips, he
seemed determined to touch and kiss every inch of her body. Even, or especially, her scars

"Don't."

"Why not."

"They're ugly."

"No, the way you got them is, and the pain they caused you. But no part of you can possibly be ugly to me. Love
is blind."

"Hun!"

"True thing."

Willow submitted to his ministrations and they finally fell asleep sweaty and sated.

XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXx

"We need to find a way to corner Under . . . "

"Do not say it."


"Wood." Joey smirked at Seto, who glared back, while Mokuba and Willow smothered laughter in their tea cups.

"I don't know how, though." Joey tugged at a lock of Mokuba's hair and he swatted Joey's hand away with an air
of distain which was spoiled by his affectionate pat.

Willow chewed on the end of her braid and scowled at the cards Joey was sorting. Something was dancing around
in the back of her head but she couldn't get it to come to the forefront. She reached over to take a card and look at
it. There was a drawing on it of some kind of monster, a black dragon with red eyes and a vicious set of teeth.

"That's my Red Eye's Black Dragon. And here's Time Wizard. And that one is Flame Swordsman. I've got some
really good cards." Joey turned to Seto. "Thanks for getting my deck. I don't care about much else except my art.
And you got that too."

Seto shrugged. "Your clothes didn't amount to much, but the cards and the art, they are important. I'm glad I
could get them for you." Seto suddenly gave Joey a stern look. "Did you finish the work for your last class? I
know you were interrupted by our little foray into homelessness but you've had time to work on it at least. Please
tell me you made arrangements to finish. I feel like a fool, I should have checked sooner." Seto turned to Willow
"We need to talk about this."

"Sure, I'll have words for you tonight." She worried at the thought that wouldn't come until she felt a headache
coming on. While she worried, she continued to watch Joey sort cards and argue with Seto about the merits of
various cards.

"Art. I . . . think I have an idea. Seto, don't people sponsor promising artists . . . have shows and such. I'm not real
sure about this, I only saw something once . . . er . . . while I was working a job. Wet . . . never mind, you don't
need details."

Seto leaned back and crossed his arms over his chest, thinking about what Willow had said. "Humm, maybe, . .
for exposure in a controlled environment, but you won't get Weevil to an art show. I can't think of anything that
would spur him to accept an invitation."

Joey was sitting on the floor by the coffee table, cards in his hand and more on the table but the look on his face
was priceless. Half stunned, half delighted, and all frozen.

"Uuuunn. Seto? Who are you planning to sponsor?"

"Now, who do I know who's a promising young artist. I can't think of. . . .Help! Willow, save me."

Mokuba had jumped on Seto, tickling him and Joey, recovering from his startlement, had joined in. Willow
couldn't help but laugh as the two boys had Seto squirming and pleading breathlessly for rescue. Finally she
flipped Mokuba off by grabbing his ankle and puling him over backwards and then got to Joey by pulling on his
belt until Seto had enough leverage to roll him over and sit on his belly hard enough to make him oof.

Numbnuts! Who the hell else would I sponsor? All you need to do is sort through your sketch books for anything
you feel you want to share. And I'll help you. You don't know how good your stuff really is. And any canvases
you have. We need to get them to the framer then . . . no, never mind, I know who I want to run the whole show. I
own an art gallery, which is a money pit, but the thing is new and still finding its niche. The man who runs it will
know exactly what to do and who to invite, that's why I hired him. He's good and the gallery is taking off nicely."

Willow smiled at Joey's stunned expression. Every time Seto mentioned the gallery he turned whiter. She wasn't
sure what a gallery showing was but he seemed to like the idea, so she was all for it. She'd provide the security
and make sure nothing bad happened to spoil it for Joey, or Mokuba, who seemed even more delighted than Joey.

"Wheeler, hey . . . Wheeler. You ok" Seto waved his hand in front of Joey. "You look poleaxed. This is not a
philanthropic show. I expect you to sell, and the gallery gets forty percent. I want to establish you as a working
artist, not a dilettante. You're too good for people not to take you seriously."

"You really mean it, don't you." Seto nodded at Joey, who disappeared into his own head, then started gathering
his cards. "I'll get started on things as soon as I put up my . . . umm . . . Seto, don't laugh, I think I just came up
with an idea, maybe."

Willow poked him in the shoulder. "Don't sit on it Joey. It won't hatch like an egg. Cough it up."

"Huh? Oh, . . . gimme a sec to sort it out." Joey shuffled his cards and tapped the deck on the table, then started.
"Seto this is how you all got into this mess in the first place. But, . . . why not have a card party. You know, ask
all the good duelists to a party. You've got a whole set of new cards coming out soon. So have a party to show off
the art work. Big posters of the new cards standing around and a duel challenge . . . round robin duels using only
the new cards. Something like that. Weevil wouldn't miss something like that for anything. What do you think?"

"I think that you've come up with two winners in one day. That's the best idea I've heard in a long time. Willow .
. . damnit she doesn't have a deck."

"What difference does that make?" Willow looked from Seto to Joey, puzzled.

"No one, and I do mean no one, is allowed into something like that unless they're a duelist. You'll have to get a
rep and quickly. I'll take you to a hall, it shouldn't take you long to accumulate points. You need enough to at
least look like you're really interested."

"Who says I'm not. If you like it I want to at least know enough about it to talk intelligently with you. I've
actually decided what kind of deck I think I want."

"You are interested, really?"

"Oh yes. If I'm going to give up being an assassin, I need some other outlet for my aggression. Cards seem fairly
safe. So I want a kill-crush-destroy deck based on dragons and 'damsels'."

"Damsels?"

"Any card that has a female theme."

"Ok. Let's get started. I'll go down to the vault and make you up a deck. How many cards do you think you can .
. . never mind. I'll get you every card that qualifies and we'll work from there."

Joey interjected, "She should have at least a hundred cards to choose from. There's that many cards available that
meet her criteria, but don't let her have more than sixty. That gives her forty cards in her deck and twenty in her
side deck."

Seto nodded absently. He didn't have more than thirty cards in his deck and ten in his side deck. Joey and
Mokuba had a few more, but not that many.

Willow watched with amusement as Seto set about making her a dueling deck and sat down to read the rule book
with every intention of memorizing most of it.

XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX

Damn I can't believe that it's been so long since I posted. I'm truly sorry. But I've finished Ranma and I'm going
to finish this before I start the sequel. There will probably be between six and ten more chapters.

Next chapter will be about dueling. I do duel myself so Willow will use my deck and if you're not interested in
Duel Monsters you might be bored for part of the chapter. But hang in there I'm not writing anything else until I
finish this fic.