This in an Alternate Universe Fiction where all the characters have grown up and gone their separate ways. The Kaiba brothers had attended a private school where Aislynn had been in Seto's class. Yugi and Tea are married and have children, while Joey and Mai have run off together after seeing Serenity and Tristan elope. In fact, even Mokuba has settled down, leaving Seto the lone bachelor of the group.
Impossible Dreams
Disclaimer: Yu-Gi-Oh is the intellectual property of Kazuki Takahashi, and is being used in this fan fiction for fan purposes only. All situations, opinions and characters not belonging to Kazuki Takahashi are the intellectual property of me. People, situations, and characters in this story are entirely fictional, any resemblance to actual people or events is unintentional. For those interested, Aislynn Goldleaf is based on a favorite D&D/Shadowrun character of mine, and I really like the name.
Ai ran anxiously around her small shop that was frantically preparing for Kaiba Seto's 30th birthday party. His handsome younger brother Mokuba had been calling nearly every hour to check on the preparations for the C.E.O's celebration. Her female co-workers had taken to mock-fainting every time the phone rang. Almost a twin to his older brother, though darker in coloring, Mokuba now preferred his long black hair pulled back into a neat queue since he'd become an official V.P. in KaibaCorp.
"Ladies please! Focus!" Ai pleaded as the phone rang yet again. "Gold Leaf Parties, Ai speaking. How may I help you?"
"How are things going?" Ai recognized the voice immediately and couldn't help smiling. Still so eager to please his older brother.
"We are on schedule for tomorrow Kaiba-san" In fact, they were a little ahead of schedule, but that would make things easier for the party tomorrow.
"Good. Has the Caterer given you any trouble?"
"No Sir, everything is just as you requested." Ai could hear his quiet sigh of relief through the phone. "Are there any last-minute instructions for tomorrow?"
"Yes, you can inform Kaiba-san of this 'retirement ceremony'." Before Ai could protest the unusual request, Mokuba had rattled off Seto's private cell-phone number barely giving her enough time to grab a pencil to write it down. She sighed mentally, knowing that Mokuba was allowing her to take the fall for the celebration.
"When will be the best time to reach him?"
"This evening around 5." Ai opened her mouth to ask another question when she heard a click and then the dial tone sounded loudly in her ear.
"Thank you for your business, Kaiba-san." She mumbled as she replaced the receiver. The store was quiet as her co-workers had clustered nearby to hear the conversation. "Ladies! Focus! We have a big day tomorrow!"
Turning to Keith who remained nearby (and didn't mind being grouped with the ladies) Ai went over the delivery details with him, then coordinated the delivery times with the caterer. It would not be good to have the caterer arrive too early, before they had finished decorating the room. Kaiba Mokuba had rented the biggest room in one of the KaibaLand hotels, and it was going to be a challenge to decorate it appropriately for Kaiba Seto's celebration. The other challenge would be in getting the older Kaiba-san to attend.
Ai's mind drifted as she tied another bunch of colorful fall leaves for the centerpieces. She, as well as all Japan, knew that Seto was still the "most eligible bachelor" after all this time. The papers had been full of "prospective brides" over the years, but lately, had been very quiet. While she gathered another bunch of leaves to tie, her mind lingered on a memory from High School where they had been classmates…
Everyone knew that Kaiba Seto didn't like a big fuss over anything. When their exchange teacher (who was also their new homeroom teacher) had begun the new year with a big birthday cake for all the kids whose birthdays were missed due to the holiday break, and continued through the year with a cupcake (complete with candle) and a small present on their desk for each student's birthday, it was only a matter of time before it was Seto's turn.
Ai remembered how shy she had been back then, and how puzzled that the sensei had picked her to supply the birthday flower arrangements for the (un)lucky student. Now, in hindsight, her father's floral shop had most likely been a factor in the teacher's decision.
That day in October had dawned bright and clear, with just a hint of frost in the crisp morning air. The teacher had requested an arrangement for Kaiba Seto just the day before and her father had left the design up to her! Ai shivered as she plucked bright autumn foliage from the trees in her backyard. She wanted this one to be very special. She'd had a crush on the handsome Seto for nearly a year, but had been unable to even pull together the courage to say Hello to him! She had asked, and now knew, this was Seto's 18th birthday, and that he would be leaving their class at the end of the year to begin running KaibaCorp full-time. She found a russet mum from a container in the shop, some green ferns in another and arranged them all in a blue vase the color of his eyes. When she had finished, she cleaned up and hurried to the school, hoping to be the first there.
This time the vases were white, with bright yellow and orange mums, and because of a recent storm, the leaves were artificial. The centerpieces for the dining tables were all going to be identical, but she had yet to finally decide on a design for the head table. Perhaps she could re-create that arrangement from so long ago...
Ai flew into the classroom breathless and stood gasping just inside the door. She couldn't help staring – he was already there!