Duel II
The alarm clock rang so loud that he could bet everyone in the mansion had heard it.
'Better, so they can make me the breakfast' he thought.
The day before, he had set the alarm at full volume so he wouldn't fall asleep and be very late when he'd woke up. The airplane was leaving at nine-thirty to Romania, and it was five o'clock. H was still sleepy.
"I should had set it at six o'clock," he said as he got up from the bed and turned off the alarm clock. He went to the closet looking for clothes. When he had to choose what to wear over the t-shirt he had chosen he hesitated. The memory of what the girl from the store told him the day before came to his mind ...
Mokuba entered the Otogi store and saw that there were too many customers. Most of them were in video game machines. Others were looking at the store windows and two queued at the counter where they were attended by a young redheaded girl who Mokuba found very pretty. But he ignored such thoughts so as not to blush, he hadn't gone there to look at girls. He looked around the shop looking for where it was that he needed. But at first sight he did not find it. Maybe asking the girl at the counter where it was would be the right thing to do.
'Mmm ... looking for excuses to talk to that girl?' he heard his inner voice ask. He stopped the walk that started toward the desk and looked around again wanting to find Otogi somewhere. Maybe with him he would feel more comfortable.
'Wow, now you're interested in boys' he heard himself.
He hit his forehead with the palm of his open hand. He cursed from the bottom of his heart that his conscience was so sincere and liberal, like a little voice that laughed at each one of his acts.
"Can I help you with something?" asked the store employee. Mokuba turned slowly and seeing that he was the one he was addressing, he smiled and advanced towards the box.
"Yes, I'm looking for ..." but he could not finish because she interrupted him.
"You're a very handsome boy, though your hair would look better tied. And that bicolor vest doesn't suit you" she said, climbing onto the counter and crossing to Mokuba's side, who was completely flushed. Then she added, "Maybe we could be friends, don't you think? My name is Zybil."
"I am Mokuba," he said, and he was surprised that he had not stuttered, as he usually did when he spoke nervously.
"Nice to meet you, Mokuba ..." she said, closing her eyes and pressing his lips together. Then she opened them again to assure: "I know your name from somewhere; you know? But I don't remember…"
"I am Mokuba Kaiba," he replied with a proud expression, putting his hands in his pockets.
The girl's eyes widened, she could not believe it.
"A Kaiba here?" she said, taking her head with both hands. She looked around and then asked "Where's your brother?"
Mokuba frowned and pulled his hands out of his pocket to cross his arms. Was he jealous?
"He is not here." Mokuba closed his eyes and turned his face to one side. "He's not my nanny; I can go out without he having to go with me" he added.
"I know. LOL! You look really alluring when you get mad, although if you took my advices into account you'll be irresistible. "
Mokuba looked at the waistcoat hanging from a hanger and pulled it out from the closet. Then he searched between other clothes for several minutes until he finally found what he was looking for: a black leather jacket with gray lines on its arms and skull-shaped buttons.
"It's time for a change of look" he said, looking at himself in the mirror at the other end of his room. 'Clown' said an old familiar voice, but ignored it and entered the bathroom.
When he left the bedroom, forty minutes later, he went down to the dining room where his brother was already having breakfast. Besides, he was working. Seto was writing with one hand on his laptop and with the other he held the cup of coffee.
"Good morning," he said to Mokuba without looking at him as he passed in front of Seto to sit on the opposite seat.
"Good morning, Seto," said the boy in the most hoarse voice he could emit.
Kaiba closed his computer and looked at Mokuba for a few seconds. Then a laugh came from inside him and he could not stop for the next few moments while his brother was watching him with a very irritated expression. When his annoyance was maximum and intolerable Mokuba deigned to protest.
"What is...?" he interrupted when he noticed that he had spoken in his old habitual voice. Then he cleared his throat a little and said "What's the matter?" with his new register of punk rock singer.
"Stop acting like a clown," Seto said when he recovered from his (always sarcastic) attack of laughter, although that state didn't last long. He started to laugh again but in silence. Seeing that he could not help it, he leaned his face behind his elbows and folded hands.
Mokuba, very angry, got up from his seat and hit the table with both hands shouting:
"Enough!"
Seto calmed down and discovered his now more serene face. He looked at his brother again, staring, then asked:
"Why do you change your look, Mokuba? Who do you want to look like?"
"No one," he said in his usual voice, taking one of the toasts on the table and sitting down again. "It's just that I look more attractive this way."
'More ridiculous' Seto thought. He looked out the window to relax and a doubt arose in his mind. Realizing it, he looked at Mokuba maliciously and asked:
"Why do you want to look more attractive?"
"Because this way the girl I like will notice me. Isn't it obvious?"
"Oh..." said Seto putting aside his laptop and taking a toast too. "And how do you know she'll notice you with that look? Maybe she liked it before..."
"No" Mokuba replied. "She told me herself."
Seto sighed. Perhaps what his brother needed was advice. And although he had one, he was aware that Mokuba wouldn't take it well. So he decided to first say what he thought about it, doing something like an introduction. His reaction would determine the action to take.
"That girl is playing with you. If she really liked you, she wouldn't pretend that you look different."
Mokuba stared at him and analyzed his words at the same time. Seto was probably right. Very likely. He barely knew Zybil, it was too early to kiss the ground she was walking on. And she didn't know him either. Yes, Seto was telling the truth, but Mokuba was very afraid to admit it, and he preferred to refute such conclusion.
"What do you know about attraction? Hm? How dare you to say what the girls pretend when I never met you a single girlfriend? Why don't you use your damned advices with your life and leave me alone?1" And then he turned and began his departure.
"I'll be here when you want to apologize," Seto said, and returned to drink his coffee.
"Hurry up, Shizuka. Remember that we have to be at the airport two hours before the airplane takes off to check the our luggage" said Jonouchi knocking on the door of his sister's room that remained closed. He had come back every ten minutes for the last hour and the girl wasn't listening.
He looked through the lock and began to get angry. He pushed the door, entered the room with the face of a murderer and snatched the phone from her hand. She looked at him confused.
"Enough Honda! I've told you a thousand times that you stop calling, hassling and harassing my little sister," and he hung up the phone. That was the last straw: according to his code of friendship the sisters of friends did have mustaches. Didn't Honda understand? He didn't know it? Or didn't Honda consider him a friend? He looked at Shizuka and said. "We have to go to the airport two hours earlier. Don't you remember?"
"I know, Jonouchi. But losing five minutes in a simple conversation with your best friend won't make us miss the flight. Calm down" she said quietly as she took her bag and headed for the door.
"I've been calling you for an hour, sweetheart. Not five minutes."
"Well ..." Shizuka was already outside the room down the stairs and Jonouchi tried to reach her. "From five minutes to sixty there's not a big difference." His brother hit his head with the palm of his hand cursing his parents for giving him a sister instead of a younger brother who did not bring him a giant phone bill at the end of the month. "When I talk to Honda I have so much fun that time flies by."
Jonouchi, who was walking down the stairs, suddenly stopped when he heard her.
"You were on the phone with Honda for all that time?" He asked incredulously.
"That's right, Jonouchi."
"And did you call him or did he call you?" Knowing something like that was fundamental.
"He called me," Shizuka replied, entering the kitchen after leaving the suitcase on a couch in the living room next to her brother's.
Jonouchi sighed in relief; Honda would have to pay for a sixty-minute phone call. Hopefully his pizza delivery salary will reach for that. He looked at the phone and saw that he still had his sister's cell phone in his hand. That had given him an idea ...
After a while her sister came out of the kitchen with a plate containing two cups of hot chocolate and croissants. She placed it on the coffee table and sat down on the couch.
"Have you talked to Yugi?" she asked her brother who was slowly approaching ready to pounce on the breakfast.
"Yeah, I called him yesterday."
"Is he going to participate in the tournament?"
"Where did you see that Yugi don't participate in a championship, Shizuka?" He asked with his mouth full. "Of course he will"
"Well, I'm very happy to hear that. Yesterday I called Anzu and she didn't answer my calls."
Shizuka wiped away the crumbs that had fallen on her sky jacket from her brother's mouth.
"She could have gone out, don't you think?"
Shizuka nodded even though she doubted that was why Anzu didn't reply. Most likely she was angry.
"I still do not understand why she did that to Zybil" Jonouchi added.
His sister watched him, he was no longer eating. He was thinking, he was trying to find an explanation for the inexplicable.
They did not speak again until they had finished breakfast.
Mokuba entered the Otogi Game Store with a satisfied smile. He had come here walking, and on the way he noticed that many girls were watching him and smiling. And some, when they saw him, secreted with their friends and laughed nervously. He was becoming a conqueror, and all thanks to that spectacular young woman who was Zybil.
He walked towards the desk but the redheaded was not there. He looked around for her. He could not contain his anxiety. As he looked at the video game area, he came across the faces of several guys, perhaps his own age, who were watching him smiling wide. 'Yes, it has a lot of effect' he heard in his mind. He frowned angrily at himself, but the boys thought it was for them and they concentrated on the game again.
"How can I help you?" He heard that angelical voice behind him. He turned around smiling and he crossed with the face of the shop employee who smiled as well.
But soon that smile slipped from her handsome face. Her eyes widened in surprise. She looked at Mokuba from top to bottom and then she fixed her sights on the shiny countertop -obviously cleaned daily by her-. Maybe she had not seen well. She rubbed her eyes with both hands and looked back at the boy. He stepped out from behind the counter and stood beside her. Mokuba stood expectantly at her possible reaction, he knew she was impressed, he could sense it in the air, in her face, in that special glow that her eyes had not had in their previous encounter.
Zybil looked into his eyes and her lips curved into a lovely smile. Those of Mokuba reacted equally. Little by little the girl's teeth began to peek ...
'She's already yours' Mokuba though.
But…
"Hahahahahaha!" she could not contain. "I can not believe you took into account what I told you, Mokuba ..." she sneered and laughed.
The smile on his face was erased. His eyebrows curved, causing his frown to gather. What the hell was she saying...?
"I don't understand ..."
"Otogi!" she shouted excitedly. Her friend had to see that. "Otogi! Come here! It looks like you have an admirer!" the last word she said it with an intonation that to Mokuba was unbearable. The anger was growing inside him ... How could that girl tease him like that after what he had done to please her?
"-You're a…"
"What's up Zybil?" said Otogi, approaching. When he saw that the girl did not stop laughing he began to look for the reason of such a state. He crossed with the vision of a ridiculous Mokuba who looked angry and he could not help but laughing out loud. "What are you doing dressed as a clown, Mokuba?"
Otogi's laughter enraged him so much that he recurred to his intelligence that he had ignored.
"You heard her. I disguised myself of you. Am I not alike? A clown. Sure, the copy will never have the same quality as the original." 'Well' said his inner voice. 'Reply to that buffoon of sh...'
Otogi stopped laughing and approached Mokuba leaving his face in front of the boy. With an angry menacing tone he said:
"No I will allow stupid children like you in my store so..."
"Many customers enter the store because they feel identified with the owners. Now if "fools"do come here ..." answered Mokuba without being intimidated. Who was more stupid: Otogi or Zybil?
Otogi grabbed the neck of his shirt with the worst of the faces. Mistake... Mokuba's fist hit his face with great force, with all the strength that Mokuba had stored because the truth was that he had never hit anyone ... until now. Otogi staggered and released him to take his jaw. That had hurt.
Mokuba stepped back and told him:
"I'm going to get rid of this ridiculous outfit myself, I do not deserve it." he glared to the redheaded girl and added: "You'll regret it a lot, Zybil. You will see."
The girl opened her eyes wide and she made a loud laugh. Mokuba nodded and left the store as he let untied his hair and tossed the jacket on the road. The one who laughed last would laugh better.
Honda was already at the airport with Yugi and Anzu. Although the chestnut haired girl had flatly refused to accompany them, Yugi kept pressing until she changed her mind. And the truth is that it didn't take him long to achieve it. The fact that Yugi wanted his company was enough to set aside all what had happened. Honda had been overjoyed to see her, surely Yugi had made her see her mistake. That was good, if Zybil arrived and Anzu tried to fix things the trip would be more enjoyable.
"Are you angry Anzu or have you digested what happened the day before yesterday?"
"It's all right, Honda. Anyone can make a mistake. The important thing is that we are friends and have the ability to forgive our mistakes" she smiled.
"I'm so glad you think like this, Anzu, and that you're willing to sort things out. You will see that when you apologize to Zybil things will be as before."
What? Had Anzu heard right? She apologizing to Zybil?
"I don't have to apologize to anyone," Anzu said, staring at him with sparking eyes.
Honda frowned at that. 'The best thing would have been that she did not want to travel ... Who knows what the hell she can do to Zybil now?'
Now Anzu's mood had changed. She could not believe it, Honda did not believe her. He preferred to trust a stranger instead of trusting her who had known him from years.
"Look Honda," she said, very angry, but as serious as she could. "Everything that girl said the other day is a lie."
"Forget it, Anzu ..."
"Not. Damn, why don't you use your head? What reasons could I have for breaking that stupid doll?"
Honda thought about it and looked at her in confusion. He had not thought that way...
"For jealousy," Otogi said, approaching behind them with Zybil. "Because you wanted to prejudice her in her job. Because you can't tolerate that Zybil is our friend and we spend more time with her than with you. But in case you don't remember, we invited you to all the places we went out and you never attended because you were very busy having fun with your new friends from the Academy."
"I wasn't talking to you, Otogi," answered the chestnut haired girl. "And I'm not interested in what you say because I "I don't want you argue because of me" Zybil said, distressed. "I already forgot everything that happened, Anzu. I already forgave you for everything you did to me. Now let's try to enjoy the time we are together and maybe we'll become friends" she smiled.
Anzu was about to throw smoke by her ears. She had never gone so far as to hate anyone ... until now.
"Well, I didn't forgive you for all the lies you said ... And if you continue with this, it will be worse for you," Anzu said. That was the last straw.
"Stop menacing her, Anzu..." Otogi said irritated "There's the evidence, Yugi .Your friend just pulled out her mask.
Yugi looked at him with a clear expression of disappointment, but not for what Otogi thought.
"There are lots of masks here" Yugi said quietly. "But they haven't fallen yet. Anzu, let's get something to drink until it's time to fly."
Otogi looked at him impressed. Didn't Yugi still see the truth? Anzu had him blindfolded.
Both boys went to the airport coffee canteen without waiting for the brothers because they would have to tolerate more of the same.
Seto was sitting in the seat of the BEWD plane with the laptop in front his eyes. The plane had not yet taken off because Mokuba didn't arrive. He had spent the whole morning outside the house. Kaiba knew that he had been walking, because Isono thus communicated. The boy had refused to use the limo.
Kaiba felt a little remorse for letting his brother out in that outfit ... What if he didn't want to travel now?
"I'd kill him"
He called one of his employees and ordered him to call the house to see if Mokuba was there. If his brother did not travel, he neither. After all, he had agreed to this trip only for Mokuba, since he was very enthusiastic.
"Oh, no?" he heard the other man say.
'No what?'
He took the phone out of his hand and spoke.
"Is Mokuba there?"
"Eh ... Mr. Ka ... Kaiba" Seto rolled his eyes. He was beginning to realize that scaring his employees really wasted him a lot of time. "Your brother arrived here twenty minutes ago, but he left the mansion with his suitcase in his hand ..."
Kaiba hung up. There was no need to know anything else, Mokuba was coming. He returned the phone to the other boy and returned to his work until his brother appeared.
Mokuba stepped into the airplane and remembered what had happened earlier: his discussion with Seto. His brother had told him the truth. Why haven't he heard it? It was clear: by Zybil.
"That bitch ..."
He walked up the airplane corridor to sit next to his brother. He swore he wouldn't ignore his advice again, but now he had stand Seto as soon as he glanced at him and realized that he was right just by seeing that he had changed his clothes. And the worst of all is that his brother would boast that he was right with his irritating silence that shouted: 'I told you.'
He reached his side and sat on the seat without saying a word. Kaiba just looked away from the computer to observe him for a few moments almost imperceptible, but Mokuba knew he had. He went back to his business without saying anything.
The minor sighed. It was very irritating. He knew Kaiba was waiting for an explanation, but he was never going to tell him. And he was not going to humiliate himself. No sir, not this time...
"You were right."
Kaiba closed his laptop and crossed his arms over it. He looked at Mokuba, waiting for him to explain everything.
"She was making fun of me ... She's a reverend bitch."
Kaiba nodded and opened his laptop again. His brother looked at him out of the corner of his eye. Was that all? What a big brother ...
"She seems to have taught you a lesson," Seto said calmly. Mokuba looked at him very, very angry. It would have been better if he had remained silent. "Now she needs to learn hers..."
Kaiba began to think about what they could do to that girl, no one could make fun of his brother freely...
"And I'll give her it myself" said Mokuba.
Zybil was going to pay him ... sooner or later. Better early.
