Chapter Four: Imprinting
Seto Kaiba ignored the voice in his head. Again. He found it kicked in quite often in situations like this. Not that there were often situations like this. Only the time Mokuba 'adopted' the iguana at the zoo. Maybe, when he had forgotten to go home, and had worked 36 hours straight, sending Mokuba into a panic, and his secretary (as well as himself, he privately admitted) into an institution qualified too. The little voice chipped in again, commenting wryly that there seemed to be an awful lot more 'situations' that would qualify, which he was choosing not to remember. He shut it up with a mental slap, and went back to his notes.
Then he looked up, thoughtfully. Gardener- was she, or wasn't she coming to the pet shop and vets with them?
Pros: Her prescence would please Mokuba. Knows about animals. Could keep Mokuba busy while he checked out that new contract. Would deal with all the extraneous annoyances that came with the furball. Wasn't worried about dropping it on the ground (not that he was…he didn't do fluffy. Ever.)
Cons: Annoying cheerleader. Yugi would feel he had won something. Only person in the world who could look him coolly in the eye and make him feel naked. He'd owe her.
"Tea! Tea! Slow down, damnit!" Tristan ran after his friend towards their classroom. They bowed hurriedly to the teacher, who tutted at their almost- tardiness, and scurried to their seats at the back.
Five minutes into class, Tea's reverie was interrupted by a tiny paper aeroplane. Glancing up in surprise from her essay notes, she unfurled it quickly in her lap- it was from Tristan.
Kaiba is such a jerk. Are you sure you'll survive going to the vets with him and the cat?
Quickly she scribbled a note back, blushing slightly. A few seconds later, a tiny origami swan crash landed in her pencil case.
Tea, he'll want you to go with them, for sure. Don't worry, I'm sure you can take down Mr Uber-ego all by your lonesome. If he says anything- I mean anything- out of order, you call, ok? Joey and I know where he lives…
She stifled a smile, ripped a page off her notebook, and wrote back. It was a full ten minutes before a reply in the shape of a bear fell softly onto her paper.
Thanks, I've been practicing- I can do a few new ones too! This one's a bit tricky, but it turned out ok. And, for the record, that was not a threat. It was a promise! We also know where he keeps his spare trench coats…We've been saving that for a truly terrible retribution evil grin. So, what do you think he'll name it? Mokuba will get to choose, I suppose.
Tea thought about it. Kaiba. Owning a kitty cat. Weird, much? She grinned and wrote quickly back:
At least we can be sure it won't be called Princess.
The bell rang for the end of the day, and Tea sat with the kitten, gently running her spare comb through its fur. Yugi had managed to bathe it a little, and it was cleaning up nicely. She'd found some very mild soap and put a tiny drop in a bowl of warm water, and thanks to Yugi's detangling efforts and a bowl of extremely dirty water, the kitty was damp, but clean, and now it was drying out, seemed rather than black and white, to be ginger, with white stripes and big blue eyes, and- most amusing of all- longhaired. Mr Clinically-Clean CEO was gonna be covered in ginger cat hairs from now on.
The small cat had responded well to the TLC, and was purring loudly, no longer hungry and tired; it was becoming playful, chasing a woodlouse happily across the stage whenever she stopped brushing. Tea felt a strong connection with her (well, she thought it was a 'her'), and a desire to protect it; her maternal instincts coming into play once more. She had also found that it liked being talked to, and so had started telling it all about her life and friends.
They were interrupted from their play by a sneering voice.
"I see your social skills are improving, Gardener. Finally, you've found something to relate to."
"Hey, Kaiba. See you're as cutting as ever. Want to watch out for that, or you'll end up hurt. Shall we go?"
Tea replied coolly, looking him in the eye. I am not afraid of you. Seto returned the look: Good.
The kitten had scampered over to Seto, and sure enough, he felt a tug on his shoe laces. His Armani brogues were being chewed. Great.
Tea couldn't hide a small grin. Seto's look of surprise had quickly faded through resignation to tolerance, a flash of something almost affectionate, then, as he looked up at her again, blankness.
"What are you grinning at, Gardener?" He snarled aggressively.
"Oh, nothing. Just had no idea you were such a big old softie. Let's go then, she needs to be de-wormed asap."
To which, Seto Kaiba, could only stand speechlessly. He'd been accused of many things- corruption, cruelty, lack of feeling, selfishness…But this? She was mad. Obviously. He followed her out, after taking the cat off his shoes firmly, but gently. Oh damn. Maybe she was right after all.
The moment they stepped outside, the cold hit them. It had to be freezing or below. Tea, in her uniform, shivered and clutched the kitten inside her jacket like a small hot water bottle, but pretty soon the cold had permeated the thin material. The walk to the front entrance wasn't long, but the wind was harsh, and she could tell it was threatening to snow. Suddenly a warmth was dropped on her shoulders, and she oof-ed slightly in surprise, as the smell of expensive aftershave wafted around her.
Kaiba, ignoring his missing coat, strode on ahead to the limo which was pulled up as close to them as possible. She felt a rush of warmth- he was definitely starting to thaw. She looked up at the newly-formed icicles on the school gate. Unlike them, she thought wryly.
Mokuba greeted them enthusiastically from inside the limo, and the heat inside the car was on full blast, making it a welcome change from the weather outside. Tea gave him the kitten, while asked him (not without a sideways glare at Gardener, daring her to comment on his parenting skills) how school had been today.
"Oh, it was great! Me and Aeran dueled at lunch, and it was a real tough duel! He was great, and he almost had me this one time with his Warrior of Light, but I had a couple of traps prepared, just in case he did what I thought he was gonna do – like you said, always stay two steps ahead!- and I got him, good! It was so fun!"
Tea grinned at his enthusiasm, and saw that while Seto was not exactly grinning, he was smiling slightly, not much more than a proud edge to his lips, but he was listening intently to his little brother, and Mokuba obviously was blossoming under the attention.
"That sounds good. Tea's going to come to the vets and help sort the cat out." Seto informed Mokuba, trying to ignore the kitten, who was, once again, chewing- this time, she was playing with the edge of his scarf (blue, 100% cashmere), and rolling herself around in it.
He told the chauffeur to take them to First Class Vets (known as FCV), a rather exclusive place, which he had called to make an appointment at over a break. Of course, for Seto Kaiba, the receptionist merely suggested that they could come whenever they liked, and she would clear them a slot. She had also informed him that she would have a load of high quality designer items couriered over from which he might like to make a selection for the new pet. He had made a mental note to tip her well- at this rate he might have time to finish the contract before tomorrow. He also made a mental note to get his coat back from Gardener before she left.
FCV's was clean, minimalist, and mostly an irritating shade of white and blue. Tea disliked it at first sight, shivering inside Kaiba's coat, but she noticed him nod approvingly. Well of course he'd like it- it was like being inside a glacier! But the receptionist was warm and helpful, and told them that a vet would be with them immediately. Sure enough, she had only glanced once at the uncomfortable looking chairs, when a quiet, calm voice greeted them from one of the doors just off the reception.
"Hello, I'm Doctor Green. You must be Mr Kaiba." He moved to shake hands firmly with Seto, who didn't bother introducing Tea, but motioned to Mokuba.
"My brother found this kitten on the road this morning; we've decided to keep it. I'll pay for anything; just sort it out as quickly as possible. Mokuba and (he looked sharply at her) the girl will accompany you, I'll wait here."
So that's why he'd brought his laptop. However, Mokuba handed the cat to his brother, and faced him down.
"Big brother! You have to come! Just stop thinking about the contract for a few minutes, while we take her to get her shots and stuff. Please? I promise I won't bug you tonight?"
Seto looked at him, fatigue hiding at the back of his eyes, where only Mokuba could seem to see it. He was often tired these days, but he hid his weakness well. He didn't want to disappoint Mokie, but if he didn't get some of it done now, he might not get the time he needed to study for tomorrow's algebra test…
To his surprise, Gardener stepped in. His brows furrowed in anger- no one got between the Kaiba brothers!- but then he heard what she was saying.
"Mokuba, I think your brother is quite tired, and he has a lot of work to do for school today. Maybe, if I go with you now, he could help you pick out a cat bed later instead?"
He was confused. Why was she helping him? And why had she called him a softie earlier? Didn't she remember who he was? The 'arrogant creep'? And, more importantly, when did she get so intelligent? Perhaps, there was more to the cheerleader than he had thought?..
"I'll come in for a few minutes."
He had surprised himself, and Mokuba and the girl. But perhaps it was more fun that way?
Ye gods. Had he really just thought that being with Gardener was fun? He must have been more tired than he had thought…..
Seto and Tea stood back, while Mokuba helped Dr Green check the kitten over. It kept trying to walk off the table towards Tea and Seto's wall (they leaned on opposite ends of the wall closest to the door, as far from each other as the could get), and meowed pathetically at them. After a couple of tries, the vet looked up at them with a raised eyebrow.
"Mr Kaiba, Miss…."
"Tea Gardener…"
"Miss Gardener…Have you heard of 'imprinting'?"
He saw their blank faces, and nodded.
"Right. Well, a very young animal, such as this kitten, when separated from it's mother at birth, often 'imprints' upon the next person, or people, it comes into contact with- in this case, as I understand it, you and Miss Gardener."
Seto was becoming impatient.
"Explain."
The vet looked uncomfortable. Mokuba looked from him, to Seto, to Tea, trying to fathom what was going on.
"It thinks you, Mr Kaiba, and Miss Gardener, are it's mother."
"What? It thinks Seto's it's Mom?"
"Yes, and Miss Gardener…It seems confused, and has adopted both as mothers. Mr Kaiba, because it felt safe with him, and that was the first time something had taken care of it, and Miss Gardener because she is female and has 'groomed' it."
Kaiba looked at Tea, his face unreadable. Tea was stunned- who would've guessed? Then he turned, and walked out of the room, shoulders tense. Tea looked at Mokuba, who was staring after his brother anxiously. Kaiba, a mommy. Someone upstairs was clearly having way, way too much fun.
Aeran- pronounced 'Airanne'
