The Way I Loved You

Summary: Serenity is dating Tristan, who is the perfect gentleman to her. But somehow, she can't get rid of the thought of her ex-boyfriend; a certain infuriating, yet incredibly appealing CEO. Silentshipping.

Disclaimer: I still don't own Yu-Gi-Oh!

Author's note: Ehm... wow. It's been a month. Here I am, telling you I'd have this up on New Year's Day, and I post it at the very end of January. I apologize for that. Things haven't been going great in life as of lately, and I suppose that's taken it's toll on me. However, I did manage to write this one eventually, and I hope you will enjoy it despite it being awfully late. I'll have some notes on this at the bottom, but for now, I won't keep any of you from reading. Enjoy!

Chapter 3: Welcome Back

"Serenity? Could you please come in here for a moment?"

I look up from the novel I'm reading to see Tristan standing in the doorway that separates our bedroom from the living room. He has a serious look on his face, one that is almost never present. Closing the book and placing it on the sheets besides me, I let myself slide out of the bed.

I follow him into the living room. He sits down on the couch, but I remain standing, wanting to go back to my book as soon as possible. "What is it, Tristan?"

He sighs. "Come here." It isn't a command, but a suggestion. He pats the empty space of couch next to him, and I walk to him and sit myself down on said spot.

He is twirling his thumbs on his lap, an action he only performs when he is very anxious. I being to grow concerned. "Tristan, what's wrong?"

He takes a deep breath, folds his hands together to stop his thumbs, and looks up at me. "Serenity, I don't think we should be together anymore."

I blink. Once. Twice. What?

"It isn't that I don't like you," he hastily continues upon seeing the look on my face. "In fact, I love you more than anything else in the world."

I patiently wait for the 'but'.

"But…," he starts, living up to my expectation. Just watch, now comes the part where he says it is him, not me, that we will always stay friends, blah, blah, blah, eventually resolving in the fact that he's leaving me for another woman.

"But I have realized that you don't love me the way I love you."

My eyes go wide.

He smiles sadly upon seeing my surprised facial expression. "It's okay, really. I know you care for me, and that you would never purposely hurt me. But you just don't love me. You're still in love with Kaiba."

In my utter astonishment, I manage to choke out a single question. "How do you know?"

"I saw the way you were looking at him that day in the park. And after that, you've become distant towards me. It wasn't that hard to figure out."

"I'm…," I begin, ready to apologize, but he shakes his head.

"It's not your fault. The heart rests where the harts rests. And I don't want to ruin our friendship by holding onto this relationship which I know isn't real." He smiles, though ever so slightly. "Maybe in the distant future, when and if you've gotten over him, we could try this again. But for now I think it is best if we end 'us' before we regret it."

At a loss for words, I bend forward and wrap my arms firmly around his neck, embracing him.

He hugs me back, tightly holding me against his chest. I know it is hard for him to let me go, but I am ever so grateful for it. He truly is the most wonderful man I have ever met.

After a while, we release each other. Silence falls. I decide the mood should be lightened. "I guess I should go pack, then," I say, my voice filled with fake sadness.

Tristan looks at me, wide-eyed. "No, no, I never said that! I'm not making you leave, you can stay as long as you want, I just…"

I laugh lightly, shutting him up. "I was just kidding," I say. "I know you would never kick me out, unlike someone else I know. I do, however, think I'm gonna go for a walk. You want to come with me?"

He shakes his head. "Nah, go ahead without me. I'll set things up for the party tonight."

Oh, right, the party. The two of us have spent Christmas at my brother's place, and so it is now our turn to open our home to gather our circle of friends for a special occasion. After all, it is New Year's Eve tonight.

It is my favorite holiday. New Year's Eve, I mean. The promise of a new year, a fresh start, has always been appealing to me. Plus, the fireworks simply look amazing.

I grab my thick, warm coat and put it on, along with my scarf, gloves, boots and earmuffs. "I'll be back soon."

"Be careful."

"I will. Oh, and Tristan?"

"Yes?"

"Thank you."

It is snowing when I step outside. Well, no big surprise there; it has snowed nearly every day since late November. I don't mind, though. I like the snow. It is beautiful, so pure and white, making it seem as if the entire city is covered in a cold, but soft blanket. And, of course, having a snowball fight is incredibly fun.

I pull my coat a little tighter around me and then start walking. I don't really have a destination in mind, but I'm sure my feet will lead the way. They have a habit of finding a path for me when my brains are too occupied processing other necessities

And my brains sure have a lot to process now. Gosh, my love life is completely screwed up. No, scrap that, I am completely screwed up. I mean, honestly, what idiot would want to trade the most wonderful, charming, loving, sweet guy for a man who, though also charming, is a complete and utter asshole? Yeah, that's right. Me. Stupid, stupid me.

I shake my head, sighing heavily. Well, at least I am no longer bound to this relationship with Tristan. It really is better for the both of us. He can go and find a woman who will truly appreciate and love him for the wonderful man that he is, and I can try to get over that douche bag I once used to date.

The problem is, I have no idea how to do that. Get over someone, I mean. I've never had to get over anyone before. Well, I attempted to get over Joey and my father when we were separated some time back, but for one, I was never successful, and for two, my mother and father have now reconciled and I'm able to see Joey on a daily basis. Heck, I've never even had to get over a friend; every friend I've ever had, from elementary school until now, I've kept in touch with. So if I've never gotten over anything in my life, how am I supposed to get over the first man I ever loved?

Angry at myself, I kick against a small branch that is in my way. Damn it, why is all so hard? Why can't I just lift myself and step over this roadblock that is Seto Kaiba? Why am I still so naïve in so many ways?

Sighing, I set myself down on a park bench. Oh, hey, I'm in the park. Huh. Funny how my legs never fail to take me to the one spot that always seems to relax me. And I have it all to myself. Not that I'd expected anything else. After all, it is freezing cold outside, it is already dark, and it's New Year's Eve. Not a single soul would even want to wander around the park right now. Well, no one except me, that is.

I check my watch. Eight 'o clock in the evening. My friends won't be arriving until ten, so I guess I have some time to spare. I'm not in the mood to go back to Tristan now anyway. I don't deserve his warmth.

Thus I lean back and watch the snow fall.

I shove my hands deep in the pockets of my expensive black coat to prevent them from turning cold. It might've been wise to take a pair of gloves before I left my mansion, but there's not much I can do about it now, seeing as I'm already on the other side of town.

Yes, I'm one of those random strolls that seemingly clear my mind. Funny how those always have a better effect when the streets are virtually deserted, as they are now. Everyone is safe inside, shielded from the cold and the dark, waiting for both clock hands to simultaneously stand up straight.

I myself should soon head back home as well. My little brother will be over to count down the minutes with me. Personally, I think it's a useless activity, but I'll take any chance I have to see my brother. Ever since he moved out of the mansion, I feel as if I barely get to spend any time with him.

Luckily, my staff has already made sure everything is ready for the evening, so I won't have to rush home in order to arrange things.

I walk around one of the buildings at the northern rim of the city, starting my walk back to the mansion. I pass a number of homes, a few of which their inhabitants did not have the patience to wait with lighting their fireworks until midnight. It's quite beautiful, the fireworks. Though I do not see New Year's Eve nor New Year's Day as anything other than ordinary days, I do like the fireworks. It's rather ironic, really. I've always hated bright and obnoxious colors, but somehow I enjoy fireworks. I have since I was only a little boy.

The houses slowly begin to grow thinner, until they are ultimately all replaced by shops and businesses. Aside from one or two, all of them are empty and dark, their owners long gone to celebrate the New Year. The only light comes from the street lights posted at the sides of the streets, and the Domino Park a few feet ahead, which is brightly illuminated each and every night, no matter what circumstances. I assume the lighting is computer controlled.

It's not until long when I enter the park. It's the shortest route back home; walking around it would be a waste of time. I have more than enough time to get back home, and I would be able to afford a little detour, but I do not like to waste any time. After all, time is money.

I expected to be the alone in the small green area, just as I had been alone on the streets, but it turns out I'm not the only one choosing the cold solitude over the warmth of home and family. On a bench near the exit a petite figure is positioned, seemingly watching how the flakes of snow travel from the sky to the ground.

I pass the bench. Trying to muster as much politeness as I can, I grumble my best regards. "Happy New Year."

The woman replies, her voice ever so sweet. "Happy New Year."

Stop. Step back. Turn. Rewind.

"Serenity."

She looks up, and reveals the face of woman who hasn't been able to leave my mind for months.

"What?," she retorts, her voice colder than the snow beneath my feet.

I take a careful step towards her. "How are you?"

She looks at me as if she can't believe I just asked her that. I can't blame her, really. It is very unlike me. But I want to know how her life has been without me, and now that I have the opportunity to do so, I'd be a fool to let it slip.

"Fine," she answers after a short moment of eying me suspiciously. "You?"

I nod. "I've been better, but I can't complain."

"The company still running?"

"Yes."

"Good."

We fall silent. I contemplate on leaving it this way, but my curiosity is too strong to ignore. I take the final step toward her bench and sit myself down beside her. She doesn't say anything, as if I would simply vanish if she didn't acknowledge my presence. I can see she wants me to get lost, but that's she too polite to say so. I should leave, having no right to invade her personal space like this, but I have to how she is first. I need to know if she's happy.

I ask the one forbidden question. "How're you and Taylor doing?"

She still won't look at me. "We broke up."

I fight the urge to smile. "I see."

Silence.

"Why did you break up with me?"

Now she looks at me, her eyes filled with curiosity and a small trace of the hurt I had seen two years ago. It seems I'm not the only one looking for answers tonight.

"I suppose I owe you that," I sigh.

And so I explain. I explain everything, from my meeting with my boards of directors to the moment of the breakup itself.

When I finish, she is looking at me with the same disgust Fong displayed when he learned of my plans. "You agreed to end our relationship… for the media? For your image?" Her voice betrays her disbelief.

"Yes," I confirm. "I thought it was a good proposal. My ratings would improve, my sales would go up, and I figured I could easily find another woman to love."

She diverts her eyes, unable to look at me any longer. I can't say I blame her.

"Have you?," she asks, her voice quivering.

"Have I, what?"

"Found another woman to love."

There she has me. "No. No, I haven't."

"Was it worth it?" I can tell she's the slightest bit hopeful. It almost makes me smile.

"I thought it was. Sales increased 5 percent the first week, and promised to go up to ten during the rest of the month…"

My voice dies down when I see her face.

"But no, it wasn't worth it."

She looks up at me, her expression skeptical. She doesn't believe me.

I already dread what I'm about to say. But I know I have to, if only to make her feel the slightest bit better. "I am serious. Yes, my sales did increase, and I was initially happy, but sometime later I realized…" Go on, say it, be sincere. "I realized I… missed you."

Her facial expression changes from skeptical to quizzical. I can almost see the wheels in her head turning. She's trying to figure out the meaning behind my words. She tries to comprehend if I'm sincere or not. And all I can do is hope.

A pathetic emotion it is, hope. I've never been one to cling to it. But now, as I watch her think, I can't help but hope. Hope that she'll believe me. Hope that she'll understand. Hope that she'll forgive me. Hope that she'll love me.

Even if I don't deserve any of the things I'm hoping for.

She chuckles. "I can't believe they call you a genius."

I raise an eyebrow. Is she insulting me?

She's laughing now, her entire body shaking. I remain stiffly on my spot, unsure of how to react. I feel like yelling at her, but I'm sure that won't improve the situation much.

Eventually her laughter ceases. "Really?," she asks rhetorically, a little out of breath from her laughing fit. "You can run a multimillion-dollar company, you're able to calculate the largest numbers without using a calculator, you can create the most complicated strategies… but you can't foresee that when you discard something you love, you'll miss it?"

"Obviously," I say, my voice as stiff as my posture.

She senses my annoyance, and her wide grin becomes a genuine smile. "You really are something else, Seto Kaiba."

My stomach twists at her words, but mostly at her smile. That beautiful smile, one I haven't seen in two years, still has that mind-blowing effect on me it had before. I can't believe I once thought I could live without it.

"For what it's worth," she says softly, "I missed you too."

The words take forever to reach my ears. When they do, I can only think of one response.

I lean in. She follows. The park benches are small, and so the distance between us is closed in a heartbeat. For the first time in two years, our lips meet.

There it was again. The tango. With other women, we could at best perform a lousy waltz, but with her, our tongues danced the most exquisite tango. There really is no other way to describe it. And for now, I don't even want to describe it. For now, I only want to enjoy it.

Our lips break apart when a piece of firework loudly explodes in the air above us. We watch as it sparkles in the most beautiful colors before they disappear into the black sky. All the while my arm remains firmly wrapped around her waist, and she rests her head on my shoulder. More fireworks explode in the air, and we watch, silently.

The fireworks stop, the people who fired them wanting to save the remainder of their supplies for the big moment. We keep staring at the sky a little longer.

"I should go," she eventually whispers, though she makes no move to break away from me.

In response, I pull her a little closer against me. "Not yet."

"Seto," she breathes, her voice giving an almost angelic sound to my name. "I have to. My friends will worry if I don't come home tonight."

"Then call them," I say simply. "I have a phone in here… somewhere."

She laughs, bitterly. "Yeah, and I should tell them what? 'Oh, hey everyone. Sorry, I can't make it to the party tonight, I prefer spending the night with my ex-boyfriend, who, by the way, isn't my ex anymore as of now, and you can all -'"

I cut her rambling off by pressing my lips to hers once more. When we part for air, I let my hold of her slip so she'll be able to leave whenever she pleases.

"Fine. Go," I grumble. "Though I'm still convinced you'd have a lot more fun with me and Mokuba than with your friends."

"And ruin sibling bonding time?," she asks, pretending to be shocked. "I wouldn't dare! Besides, you and Mokuba could also come to our party, you know."

Now it's my turn to laugh. "And be ripped to pieces by your brother, Taylor and Devlin? No thank you."

She giggles, seeing my point. "Then how about I go to my friends and you go to your brother for tonight, and we'll meet for coffee tomorrow morning?"

"I suppose I can live with that," I said, smirking. "For now."

"For now," she agrees, smiling. "Same place as before?"

Ah, the tiny, often deserted coffee shop at the far edge of town. We spent quite some time there when we were first dating. It would only be appropriate to start our second time of dating at the same spot. "Same place as before," I confirm.

That being settled, we stand, ready to go to our separate parties. One would expect it to be an awkward moment, having to say goodbye to your previous ex right after reconciling.

It isn't. We end the evening with a third soul-heating kiss. Our lips eventually part, but my arms remain firmly enclosed around her small waist, and her warm hand still rests on cold cheek.

"I'm glad we met again tonight," she says, her voice barely above a whisper.

"So am I." For some reason, I'm whispering as well.

We release each other. She takes a single step backwards to create a little space between us. "I guess I'll see you tomorrow, then," she states with a nervous smile.

I only nod. Ironically, saying goodbye to her now feels even worse than breaking up with her.

"Goodbye, Seto," she says, smiling as she does so. She comes to me one more time, and gives me a light kiss on the cheek. In response, I muster a small smile.

"Goodbye, Serenity."

She is the first to turn around and walk away. I soon follow her example, slowly making my way back to the place I call home. A place, I hope, I can soon see as home again. When she'll be there again.

People are firing their fireworks once more. These are particularly beautiful, burning in the brightest blue and the fiercest red imaginable. Unknowingly, I smile.

Fireworks are amazing.

And that would be it. Admitted, even though I wrote this while in a relatively bad mood, I don't think it came out too bad. I think I did a better job on Kaiba's p.o.v. this chapter than I did the previous one. My goal in this story was to alter the personalities of Kaiba and Serenity a little bit, making Kaiba a bit more open and nicer (due to adulthood and Serenity's good influence) and giving Serenity a backbone and a littlw wit (due to growing up and getting a taste of the bad side of life). I'm hoping I pulled that off without dragging them completely out of character. Due to their changes, I had originally planned to have a 'bad' ending for this, by only giving them closure and having them move on, but damn it, my poor depressed heart was begging for some fluff. Alas, I am still unable to wirte a bad ending. I really should work on that. Anyway, it's done now. If you have the time, please give me your thoughts on my little experimental story by leaving a review. Thanks for reading, and until next time!