Love and Rivalry

Chapter 24

Aria ran through the hotel hallway with no idea of where she was running to. She didn't care, all that mattered at that moment was getting herself as far away from Kaiba as possible. Air, she needed air. Through blurry eyes, Aria barely made out the red haze of an exit sign. Taking the turn, she found herself busting through a door and into the warm night.

Aria inhaled deeply and then blew the air out slowly. The action helped with clearing her head a bit and at least the tears were starting to dry up. Looking up at the sky, Aria could just make out a few of the stars that weren't masked by the light of Domino City. Things looked so much more simpler up there. The summer had been so insane, Aria didn't know what normal looked like anymore. Could life be normal with Seto in it?

For one moment, back in the ballroom, Aria had wanted to kiss him so badly. Kiss him without any thoughts about blackmail or Kaiba Corp. Kiss him just as any girl would kiss a boy. But the second his lips touched hers, it all came rushing back. She knew there could never be a normal for them, not with everything that had gone on between them.

Leaning against the side of the building, Aria finally took stock of her surroundings. She didn't appear to be in the main parking lot of the hotel, but maybe in the employee parking lot? It wasn't nearly as well lit and there didn't seem to be any people milling about.

Aria leaned against the side of the building, enjoying its coolness against her skin. Her tears were dried up but she feared the destruction they left behind with her mascara. She knew she ought to head back to the dance soon or her friends would start to worry about where she had gone. Hopefully Kaiba got the message that there could be no second chances and had chosen to leave. Then maybe she could at least try and enjoy the rest of the evening.

Sighing despondently, Aria pushed herself off the wall, readying herself to head back inside. As she started to clean up what was left of her mascara, a rustle of movement sounded off in the darkness.

"Hello?" Aria called tentatively. She peered out into the night, trying to discern any moving shapes in the shadows. When nothing emerged and all sounded quiet, Aria moved to head back inside the door she came out of. The night suddenly didn't feel so warm anymore.

"Leaving so soon?"

Aria whipped back around. As her eyes darted around looking for the source, a lone figure stepped out into the light. Even before he had revealed himself, Aria knew who had spoken.

Riku Ito walked into the light, or staggered may have been a more apt description. Aria noticed that his suit which was usually pressed and immaculate now looked unwashed and rumpled. His hair clung to his forehead in wet clumps. Everything about his appearance felt wrong to Aria. Never before had she seen her stepfather in such a state. And it scared her.

Before Riku could get any closer, Aria immediately ran back to the door. But when she tried to yank it open, she was met with resistance. Locked! Aria whirled back around to see that Riku was getting much closer. Should she scream? Or should she try to run? Her eyes darted into the darkness, trying to gauge how far she'd have to run before she found someone.

"I wouldn't think about running yet if I were you, not if you want to see Kaiba again," Riku said menacingly.

His threat gave Aria pause. "What do you mean?" she asked. "What have you done with him?"

"Nothing as of yet." Riku took a few more steps closer. "What I want to know is where are the files you stole from me?"

"I don't know what you are talking about," Aria said, trying to buy herself some time. She was still trying to figure out if he was bluffing about Kaiba. Riku didn't look like he was in any frame of mind to be carrying out threats.