Rosa Rubicundior, Lilio Candidior
By SMYGO4EVA
Through all the duelists in the Battle City Tournament, Kaiba had never thought that one named Mai Valentine would be as good as him. She was just like him in skill, determination, and in heartless ambition. It was strange though; that he could compare himself to her, that he thought someone would be superior to him, perhaps. He knew that his only rival would be Yugi Moto, and defeating him was his ultimate reason for living in the cruel world of dueling.
Rosa rubicundior, lilio candidior, omnibus formosior, semper in te glorior.
On the other hand, he was up to the challenge of seeing one like him in the throes of blaze and glory of winning. He won duels and she won duels, conquering opponents just when they're near the precipice of defeat, and it was just as thrilling to wield the force of God when they fought one duelist after another.
Redder than the rose, whiter than the lilies, fairer than everything, I will always glory in thee.
Looks and charm were also definitive to their realms. Mai was blonde, beautiful, and gregarious while he himself was tall, dark and handsome. I suppose they wouldn't see each other as irresistible to the tongue, since they have other matters to worry about. Patience was key, but neither of them had that. Kaiba and Mai knew that they wanted to win more than anything, to prove that they weren't weak or corrupt, but they both knew that they saw themselves in the other.
Nor Kaiba or Mai knew that all their fighting, all their cold satres, and all the merciless bullets they send were just illusions. Something already begun between them, as they saw that nothing was impossible for anyone, in win or defeat, that they were alike in all directions. Both their souls were scarred, both their ambitions were flawed in one way or another, and they have seen the face of defeat firsthand.
Rosa rubicundior, lilio candidior, omnibus formosior, semper in te glorior.
Rage was what they played in their hearts; since they have had loved ones destroyed or vanished in their own eyes, while the love was replaced by pure hatred for what they couldn't see or predict. They thought everything and everyone they loved was dead to them, when they played both the hero/heroine and the victim, but they saw that victory wasn't far from reach.
Redder than the rose, whiter than the lilies, fairer than everything, I will always glory in thee.
Seto Kaiba and Mai Valentine were ruthless when it came to dueling, but in real life, they were innocent and powerful as they could be. As they say, redder than the rose, whiter than the lilies, fairer than everything, I will always glory in thee.