All I've ever wanted... [A Seto Kaiba One-Shot]

It's strange how one person can change absolutely everything.
"And you are?"
"Monica Parkes. I'm here for the job of baby-sitter."
"Early aren't you?" An ice-filled accent snapped.
"Yes, well coming earlier was much more convenient for me."
"Well then it's lucky for you that my meeting was cancelled this morning, but I would advise you to abide by the chosen time." That same arctic tone emitted. The brown-eyed girl nodded, her black hair bouncing slightly against her covered shoulders.
"Yes, I shall remember that."
"Good. Why do you want this job?"
Although slightly hesitant the female replied with confidence. "I love children, they are just so innocent and fun to be around but the main reason is my mother. She has recently re-covered from an illness and I wish to be able to help pay for the medical costs."
"What makes you so suitable for this job then?"
"During the time my mother's health was at its worst I took complete care of my little sister, so I believe that I have enough experience with children."
"Hm," His voice sounded a clear sign that all things were being considered. "You seem suitable enough, the job is yours."
Funny, all I've ever wanted was to meet a person like her, and all she's ever wanted was to meet one like me...
"I said don't let Mokuba stay up late!"
"Oh shush Seto, he wanted to so I let him, there's no harm in that." That playfully-soft voice slipped out.
"That's Mr Kaiba to you Monica, and I'm your boss so do as you're told." A quiet sigh drifted into the atmosphere, that porcelain face holding tightly onto a saddened look.
"Whatever you say Se--Mr Kaiba..." The other...the man also let slide from within a soft sigh, that look had always been a loathed one.
"Monica you may call me Seto, but do not say that in front of any of my employees or in public for that matter." Caressing her expression was now a triumphant smile.
"Looks like I won again Seto!"
"Whatever, just get on with your work." Softly, as the girl turned, the man smiled at her. "Oh and Monica," His cold tone continued.
"Yes Seto?" The fragile female responded, turning back to meet her bosses sharp gaze.
"How is paying for your mothers medical costs going?" Her petit body froze, soft brown eyes landing upon the carpet she worked on cleaning.
"Well...Seto there's something I needed to tell you about that...You see I haven't been entirely truthful..."
"Monica what the hell are you talking about?"
"Well...my pay wasn't going on helping my mother...It was for me Seto, for my illness."

Trust - sometimes it is not an easy thing to come by. Some people trust much too easily but others, just like me and her, cannot just simply trust anyone with anything. When it comes to people just like us we must find a special closeness with someone before being able to admit those dark or painful secrets, and telling those covert thoughts can often be a terribly difficult thing to do.

"What...?" Growled a frost-filled, but worried voice. "What illness Monica?!"
"Since I was born I have had a heart condition and doctors said I will live only until I'm about twenty. Though there's an operation I can have now, to try and fix what's wrong, but it costs a lot of money. I was hoping that if I kept saving my pay I would be able to afford the operation by next year."
"Why the hell didn't you say?!"
"I was afraid...afraid you wouldn't let me keep the job...but I suppose I've lost it now anyway." That tender, sorrowful tone spoke out.
"You fool, why would I sack you for something like that?! You should have asked me!"
"I...I thought Seto Kaiba didn't give people charity." The female mumbled, salty liquid threatening to fall from her gentle brown eyes.
"I don't...you are not a charity case." He uttered, allowing the shadow of a smile caress his face. "I'll pay for your operation." His voice continued, lifting his hands and brushing away with his thumbs a few renegade tears from her drained features. "Don't worry,"

Sometimes, when for the sake of others, it's best to hide some things. In this case it was best to hide the worry contained for her, if not concealed it was clear that my worry would have made things worse for her. It's surprising though how some people can hide the most horrible, hurtful things and still continue on, pretending that everything was and is fine. Of course it was something I would do too.
"Where is she?!"
"Mr Kaiba? She's on Ward 1...shall I take you there?"
"No, I'm quite capable of getting myself there!" The man snapped, almost defensively. It had been a very long time since a person, other than his brother, had caused him so much worry, though it confused him why she could make him fret this much.
"I'm sorry sir but you cannot go in there." A small, almost sickly looking doctor protested to the young mans shouts of "let me get in there".
"I don't care whether I'm allowed in or not, whatever the case I am going in there to see her! Now if you'd please move out of my way!"
"But--" That same doctor protested, watching as the young brunette disappeared through the doors.
"Seto...! Seto what the earth are you doing here?" A gentle but hoarse voice enquired, shocked to find her boss -- her friend, visiting her.
"Finding out if you're okay: obviously!" He snapped, settling down on a small, wooden seat next to her bedside.
"I'm fine Seto..."
"Monica if you were fine you wouldn't be in this hell hole!"
"Seto," She began, sitting up and placing a hand softly upon his arm. "Just calm down,"
"I'm calm, just tell me what happened!"
"For goodness sake's Seto, stop getting so angry all the time." She muttered, gazing kindly at him. The brunette's gaze unintentionally softened and the female smiled. "That's better. What happened, huh? Well I passed-out, it happens now and again when my heart is weakened, but I'm fine, honestly." She assured, putting on the bravest of faces, just for him.
"You just wait," He started, staring directly at her and placing his hand upon her own. "Very soon, after you've hand that operation you will never need to worry about these things again." This optimistic comment had the female giggling slightly, not at the comment itself but at the male's seriousness.
"Seto you look so cute when you're serious like that!" She, almost, squealed, in a wild attempt to lighten the mood.
"Be quiet Monica," He growled, averting his icy gaze and flushed face from her.
She laughed once more. "Don't get all defensive now Seto. Anyway, even after the operation Seto there's a chance that my condition may return, I'll always have to be careful."
"Hn, I suppose," His cold voice grumbled, still his gaze was away from her.
Lightly she sighed, carefully reaching over and tugging on the brunette's trench-coat collar, immediately making him look at her. "Seto," She giggled, lightly tapping his nose with her index finger. "You look a little red." The female finished, a sly grin upon her face.
"Monica lie down, you need to rest." He grumbled, turning from her once more.
"Ah, you're no fun Seto!" She whined, flopping childish back onto the pillows. The young man watched her antics from the corner of his eye, that outline of a smile upon his expression again.

Emotions - they're weird things. One moment a person could be full of anger and the next, just because they've spoken to one they care about, they could be full of happiness. It's strange but she has that effect on me. No matter how angry, or how full of hate I may be that girl always finds a way to turn it around, to send all worries away and change the negative emotions to extremely pleasant ones. Sometimes it really makes me wonder how she does it.
"Merry Christmas Mokuba!" She cried sweetly, wrapping her arms gently around the boy's waist.
"Merry Christmas to you too Monica!" They parted, both flashing their pearly teeth in pure joy.
"Seto you haven't said merry Christmas to Monica yet!" The boy whined, pulling his stubborn elder over to the female.
"Merry Christmas Seto," She smiled tenderly and he too allowed a tiny smile escape.
"Yeah, merry Christmas," He gazed up, staring wide-eyed at the small cutting of a white berried plant hung carefully from the ceiling. Her gaze followed his and both soon stared at the plant.
"Is that...?"
"...Mistletoe..." She voiced quietly. "Seto...?" Her voice continued delicately. He looked quizzically at her and she smiled softly once more. The female stood slowly upon her tip-toes and leaned her warm body against his, brushing her tender lips against his own for a brief moment. She stepped back, admiring the stunned and blank expression upon the man's face. Giggling at him she began to speak, "Well don't look so surprised." She smiled, her cheeks a cute shade of pink. Still he stood, stunned and unmoving. The eighteen year old female shook her head in amusement, continuing to laugh inwardly at the CEO. "Mokuba I think we've actually lost him this time."
Most of the time, I've found, that things don't always turn out very well. In fact most of the time things seem to go wrong, but sometimes, just sometimes, things turn out how they were supposed to and that really can make a large difference for those deserving people like her.
"How was it?" His frosty voice echoed, bringing the frail girl from her deep slumber.
"H-How...was what?" She muttered, gently rubbing the sleep from her chocolate-brown eyes. "S-Seto...?" Her hoarse voice escaped, eyes widening with the sudden realisation.
"Yes, Seto, now the operation, how did it go?" He grumbled, getting irritated with her state of sleepiness, little did she know that the young man had not slept at all because of thoughts of the operation.
"It went..." She looked down, staring at the spot where the operation had taken place. "...well...I think." The female completed, bringing her attention to the brunette once again. "You look and sound really tired Seto." She stated, allowing all her concern to shine through in her expression.
"I'm fine and I don't know what made you think otherwise." She pulled herself into a sitting position even she was aware that it would cause her pain, and stared in complete seriousness at the male.
"It's obvious that you're exhausted Seto..." She spoke, her voice a thoughtful one.
"I'm fine!" He snapped, his tone growing louder with each passing moment.
"Liar," She growled. "Hmm, Seto come here a minute." She added. A small smile crossed her expression as the brunette obeyed her words. Once close enough to the bed she rested on she reached upwards and pulled the brunette to her, hugging him tightly. "Thank you Seto, for everything." She whispered gratefully. This was the first time she had really had a chance to thank him, for helping her and for being the one friend she needed most.
"I've told you I don't need thanks, I only did this so I won't loose a great babysitter." The young man replied, pulling from the girl. Her cheerful expression dropped and the brunette continued, a teasing and joking smirk curled upon his expression. "But you're welcome," He finished.
The girl glared at him, pulling him down to her once again. "Seto that's mean!" He chuckled and the girl pulled him forward a bit more. "You need sleep, you look exhausted." She stated, pure worry lining her tone. "Get up here and get some rest, and don't even think about arguing." Seto chuckled once again and lifted himself onto the single hospital bed, stretching out so that he took up almost all of the room. "Ow Seto, can I have at least a little more room?" The black haired girl begged, sighing lightly.
"Of course," He replied. Instantly after those words left his throat he gently pulled the girl on top of him, so that she sat between his legs and her back and head rested against his chest.
"T-Thanks," She uttered, her cheeks gaining colour. The embarrassment of the position she was in soon passed and she found herself snuggling comfortably into his chest. His steady heart beat, her lullaby, quickly sent her off into a deep, soothing slumber, and it was her warmth and comfort that brought the brunette to his own peaceful sleep.
Billions of people reside upon this planet though a vast majority, if asked truthfully, would say that they have never had the privilege of finding that "true friend". Yet, there are many definitions of a "true friend". Some would say, a person whom you have grown up with, and is very kind, is a true friend. But I believe that one whom you can trust, with all your being, one that knows all yet does not judge, one that loves and is loved by you, is really a true friend, and that is what she is to me.
"Hey...Seto...?"
"What is it?" He questioned, not even bothering to raise his head from laptop he worked on. Silently she sighed and gently pushed closed the black workstation. He turned his head to her. "What the--"
"Seto I have a question..." She paused; gazing uncertainly into his deep-blue eyes, as if pondering whether this would be the right move. "Hypothetically speaking...what would you do if someone - no, I...told you that...I l-loved you?"
"M-Monica a-are you saying...?" He stuttered, gawking in disbelief.
"No, no I didn't mean...! H-Hypothetical remember?!" Her voice broke away from her throat, frantic though soft, as she shook her head and waved her hands in front of her.
"I see." He mumbled, his eyes no-where else but her. "Hm," His voice continued. "Well I would probably say that I loved you too." The young man whispered, flipping open the processor once again, snaking a hand around the girl's small frame and pulling her body close to his. He gave the female a side-ways glance, allowing a genuine smile to caress his lips. "Hypothetically speaking that is."

In the end it looks like we both got what we wanted...