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Inner Scars, Deep Emotion

Chapter 14: New Look, Life Anew

Gazing around him, the man could only take note of three constant factors around him. The amount of perfume in the air, the giggling of the number of business girls who were staring at him with some frivolous fascination, and of course, the crazy assistant who ranted in Cantonese dialect to Melisanne behind the screens while popping up every few seconds to give him a good view of her teeth in a rather creepy grin.

Needless to say, he kept having to remind himself exactly why he was in such a wretched place; it wasn't for his own benefit, that was for certain!

Checking his watch for about the tenth time in the last few minutes, Kaiba gazed back the hazy shapes that showed through the thin cloth screens. It had been about an hour since the Chinese girl had gone into the large bath to wash up, the perfumes and oils lingering in the hot steamy air. Still, it was a miracle that the woman even stayed in the tub for so long. It had taken at least twenty minutes of fussing and persuasion to get her to go in the bath at all, and even afterwards she was very reluctant.

More screeching and complaints in a language he didn't understand reached the businessman's ears, causing him to sigh irritably. This was only the first stage of the treatment day, and if they couldn't get her to continue with the rest of the sessions of the makeover, it would be a waste of time and money. Growling, the CEO stood up and marched across the room, standing in front of the separating apparatus. Despite the foreign protests from the other woman, one glare was all the man needed to get the woman to leave, as he slid the screen door open.

Sadly, it was as the usually well orientated male looked down at the form hidden in the mists around the large oriental tub, that he recalled when bathing, you don't wear clothes. Of course, he instantly dropped any angry gaze to the floor, which also aided to cover up any tints of pink arising on his face.

"Well...what the hell is taking you so long? You're look like a prune if you stay in there much longer." he complained, listening intently at the small splashing noises made as water skimmed over the rim of the large pool, only to trickle back into the depths.

The noises in question were made by the female form moving around the water, trying desperately to sink herself further down into the warm sweet liquid. In all honesty, it wasn't the presence of Seto that was making her feel so shy and exposed. She admitted to herself that her nudity was an embarrassing issue, but not in the same way other women would see it. Most would not like the idea of any man looking at their more feminine body parts, and in a traditional culture such as hers, that idea of purity of image until marriage was ten times more important. However, it was other things, more unsightly and horrific parts of herself, that the girl feared exposing. Rubbing her rough skin unconsciously, Melisanne shuddered at the thought of what Seto would think if he ever saw the extent of damage to her body.

"I'll be out soon..." she mumbled.

"I think soon was around twenty minutes ago if not longer." came the sharp reply, making the girl flinch slightly, and he water ripple. "It took us forever just get you to go in, now you don't want to come out?"

Sinking down further, fear shrouded over the young woman, crystal eyes almost glittering, ready to shed tears. True was, the reason she didn't want to in was the same reason for not wanting to come out; being seen and exposed by anyone, especially the only person besides her father that had shown her any sort of sympathy or care, though it was well masked.

"I just, I mean...I can't." she muttered more to herself than to the CEO. She was so caught up in trying to formulate a reasonable excuse, that it wasn't until the soft splashes of footsteps were right beside her, did she realise something was amiss.

Imagine her surprise to find that Seto Kaiba now kneeling front of her, on the edge of the large pool, almost looking like he was about to climb into the bath himself.

Spluttering in shock, the girl stumbled backwards in the water, still trying to hide herself amongst the water and steam. Of course, the businessman was not about to give her a chance to escape.

"I think you realise your situation now, but just in case you don't let me make myself clear." he stated, unmoving in his determination, icy eyes firm and fixated. "Either you come out, or I come in after you, your choice."

Trembling in fear, the hazy form barely stirred. Poor Melisanne was still unsure of what she should do, but she knew she couldn't do anything under that penetrating gaze. Of course he couldn't see much through the mist, but still, it wasn't a thought she was comfortable with.

"Could you at least..."she stuttered fearfully. Unfortunately, the sharp male wasn't going to give her any opportunity to sneak her way out of the situation.

Without hesitation, Kaiba swung his legs over the side of the bath, and slid in with a soft splash, fully clothed.

"Seto, please, get out before you get in trouble!" Melisanne protested hastily, waving her arms in distress, completely forgetting her state of undress for a moment, distracted by the form making its way towards her, her thoughts drowned out by angry protests from the hostess by the screen doors.

Without warning, he was in front of her soaking wet, clothes dripping, and hair moist from the hot air around them. The closeness made the woman blush, and again recall she wasn't exactly clothed. Trying desperately to hide anything she wanted unseen, she was surprised when a pair of arms wrapped around her torso, pulling her into a damp yet strong chest. Hands were placed on her back, making her tense at the touch. Any sort of physical contact was something that made her cringe still. In the last fifteen years of her life, those instances of touch had only brought pain, and the two things were connected so intricately in her existence, she didn't know how to react when she didn't feel any sort of impact. All she could do was shudder, still expecting the ache to come, and fell blood trickle down her body.

It was only recently, when he touched her, did she begin to realise there would be any pain.

Still he held on, grip tight, yet comforting in a strange way, certainly a feeling she had not felt from anyone since...her father.

"It's okay, I'm not looking. I won't look." he whispered suddenly. However, despite previous worries, she found herself immediately relaxing. It was hard, and very confusing as to why her moods could change so drastically in his presence, but apparently, the same thing happened to him as well when he was around her. She could already feel some tense muscles in his body loosen and ease.

Before she could protest or question his words or actions, he gentle fingertips running along her back, softly gliding over torn parts of skin, patches of burnt and battered flesh silenced any sort of response. No one was supposed to see those horrid scars, let alone touch them, unless it was to inflict or damage. But wasn't he disgusted, or even slightly unnerved at touching something so horrid?

"Why..."

"You're not ready, you don't need to do anything till you're ready." he replied. "This isn't your fault."

With that sentence breaking apart a lie that had been plaguing an innocent mind for almost an entire lifetime, everything else faded away in the steam, as she melted into that embrace.

Feet scurried quickly, mostly out of fear for what would come if she was late. She knew she had left it too long. But time didn't seem an issue when sitting there, the incense burning and hopeful prayers giving her a rare time of peace. He was still providing that for her even after being dead for so long.

Sadly, another thing that hadn't changed was the closeness they shared, and that was still getting her into trouble.

Finally skidding to a halt at the front gate, she gasped for breath before running down the path, up the front steps and into the back kitchen. If they found out she had even left...

"San Mei!"the woman's scream echoed throughout the house, a flourished form now clear in the doorway of the room. The poor girl, barely knowing of anything in the world, was still well prepared when a hand swung in her direction, the impact knocking her to the floor. Normally Niang was a lot more careful not to hit anywhere that was easily seen. It just showed how angry she was.

Trying to hold back tears or whimpers, the child picked herself up from the floor, eyes looking up at the cold glaring eyes of her mother. Her eyes were the shade of newly shed blood, blazing and murderous.

"How dare you run off, and on such an important day! Dox Qing isn't even here yet and you bring such disgrace to this family, you see now why I don't want him to even know I bared such an ungrateful brat!" she hissed venomously.

Melisanne shivered slightly, her gaze averting for a moment when a snort was heard from outside the room. The girl didn't even have to guess who was taking such joy in her misfortune. In the hall she could see Wang, combing her hair, the light catching the fiery streaks in the ebony locks, cold orbs for once gleeful, but the expense of her little sister.

Her brother was also making a rare appearance, straightening his jacket carefully, hair combed perfectly, as sharp green eyes looked stern and unfeeling. He caught her look for a moment, only to turn away quickly. Still, the girl had never expected anything anyway. Her older brother had so much responsibility and expectations, being the first born son. He couldn't afford to help her; he chose to remain indifferent to his youngest sister.

It was the doorbell rang that everyone in the house jumped, turning towards the entrance to the home. The two older siblings suddenly stood much like soldiers, straight and unmoving. The mother was also somewhat flustered, checking her own appearance before turning around and walking into the hall, slamming the door shut and leaving the little girl in the dark. No words or warnings, she was too busy to concern herself with a worthless infant.

The unwanted daughter didn't know if she would ever be introduced or kept hidden, like a dreaded family secret, but either way it would the same fate for her; invisibility.

Quietly crawling up the small steps leading to the above world, she managed to push the door open a crack, and squint to see what was happening. A well dressed man now in the hall, smiling politely and looking at the children before him. What took the child by surprise however, was the clingy and overly affectionate behaviour of her Niang. She was holding the males arm, swooning like a love struck teenager. When she did finally regain composure, she uttered the sentence that would lead to another damnation.

"Children, this is Mr Qing, whom I have told you all about. He will be your new father."

Now wrapped in a comfortable long robe, Melisanne swung her legs as she sat up in the chair, in front of the long mirror, table before her with many instruments. She was unsure if she was going to like this.

"So, how much do you want off?" Kaiba questioned, twisting a lock of long black hair absentmindedly as he spoke. "She'll get rid of all the dead ends, but you don't want it too short right?"

Fiddling with the long dark mane herself, the girl was at quite a loss. The woman holding up the sharp looking pair of scissors were taking her mind off any consideration or decisions she needed to make. Thankfully, the CEO saw the nervousness in her expression, and sighed.

"She's just going to cut and shape it, and for the last time, you're not going to feel anything!" he insisted, still baffled at how silly she was acting. Then again, a haircut was a new experience for her, as where a lot of things, so he shouldn't have been surprised.

"Are you sure?" she asked hesitantly, still looking worried as the pair of hair straightened hissed, heat crackling between the plates.

"Yes, trust me. She's just going to cut and style your hair, and then the other woman will do you nails and face..." the male explained, raising an eyebrow suddenly when the girl nearly jumped out of her skin at the last comment. "What?"

"They'll do what to my face?" she asked, looking quite scared.

"For heaven's sake, it's just makeup, they'll just put a little bit of makeup." The other exasperated. Thinking she now understood, he was glad to see the girl nod.

"Oh, you mean like what Wang wears..."

"NO!" Kaiba suddenly shouted, catching the attention of everyone in the salon. Cringing slightly, he tried to calm himself, while trying to get the nightmare image of Melisanne decked out in white powder and red lip paint out of his mind. "Not...like your sister."

As the work finally began, Seto was about to leave the women to their work, while he would pick out some clothing for Melisanne, but not before a final exchange occurred between them.

"Why do you not want me to look like my sister?"

"Because I want to leave here with you resembling a woman, and not the bride of Frankenstein."