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"Yugi-Oh A Time to Every Purpose"
Act I: Present Day
Chapter 7
The scene at the Art Exhibit was nothing less than chaotic, mainly due to the fact that several dozen children from an elementary school were there making the usual ruckus that young children do when they're set loose on an unknowing public.
Add them to the already growing crowd of onlookers who came to see a certain flowery portrait, simply because they were both instructed and paid to do so.
Then, of course, there were the art critics, people who made a living criticizing things others worked so intensely upon, just to have these types thumb their nose up or down at them.
And, at an art exhibit such as this, concerning rising new talents, the critics had a field day. They stuck their sophisticated noses up in the air at the unknowns and turned their thumbs down as well.
Ah, well, another day in the life on the art scene.
"Hello? Pardon me! Make way! The children can't see the paintings and can't see the portraits if you're big, fat tush is in the way, Mister! Show a little consideration! Sheesh!"
One such blonde haired, freckled girl states her case to a particular man who was studying a painting quite critically. His brow furrows at the annoying girl's ill-mannered attitude as he turns his body to loom over her slight one.
"Children from the school, yes, ahem." The man clears his throat, his nose firmly up in the air by now. "Well, my dear, students such as yourselves take second place to a famous art critic such as myself. You and your troupe of kiddies will just have to go and look at other things. Make yourselves nuisances to someone else. Where IS your teacher? I am a very busy man." The art critic turns back to the painting with a huff.
"Hey, pal! You've got no more right to examine this painting than we have! Every one of these children have paid for tickets to appreciate seeing this art and not your bulging behind, got it!"
"Insolent child! Where is that teacher! I'll be sure to get you a reprimand, if not worse." The critic's red face almost explodes in anger at the pipsqueak insulting him from her lowly place down there.
Looking around for the teacher in charge, the critic fails to notice the girl he's been sparring with dig into her purse and pull something out.
"Here's my ID, if you don't recognize MY famous face! I'M the instructor here, escorting these children to what is supposed to be a civilized gathering. Ms. Rebecca Hawkins, PhD, BA - I've got more degrees than yhe numbers on your weight scale at home can handle! So move your big, fat butt already!"
Rebecca turns on her irrepressible charm. She knew what she wanted and verbally knew how to get it. The critic was in shock at this annoying little fly's impressive credentials, and without a single other word leaves.
Rebecca- ahem, Ms. Hawkins- places both hands on her hips, to the roaring cheers and claps from her adoring class of students. None were too much smaller than her petite genius height.
"Way to go, Rebecca! That'll teach these over-inflated egos what art's really about!" A familiar voice comes from behind. Rebecca's heart catches in her throat when she recognizes who it belonged to and what other voice almost certainly was to accompany it.
"Tea! Yugi! What brings you two here today?" Rebecca tries to make small talk, as her beet red face from pure, unadulterated anger seconds ago, turns even beet redder at the pair of haunting purple eyes staring back into hers.
Crushes are soooo hard to get over! Get a grip, Rebecca!
"Well, Joey's sister, Serenity, is a fine artist. One of her works is going to be featured here today." Yugi Motou's deepening voice was a change since last Rebecca had seen her secret heartthrob. His taller, more matured body was towering over her now as she looks up at him in awe.
He looks more like that...Pharaoh...every time I see him...
Tea can't help but notice Rebecca noticing Yugi. The little twinge of jealousy that used to flare up whenever adoring little Rebecca was around now felt something more like a warm feeling of pride.
Tea and Yugi's relationship had matured, just as they did. Tea was pleased to know that she needn't be envious of any girl stealing away her faithful Yugi's attentions ever again.
Of course, steering him away from Rebecca couldn't be all that bad an idea either, for Rebecca was growing up, too, if not in stature, beauty.
"It's Serenity's first exhibit and we rallied all the gang to come along and cheer her on. Joey's at work now, but he swore he'd come later. Oh, Yugi! I think Serenity's party is over there in THAT directon. Bye now, Rebecca." Tea calls over her shoulder as Yugi smiles at her arm tucked firmly within his as she drags him along. Yugi merely shrugs his apologies to Rebecca as they leave.
"Where is she, man? Even a Wheeler wouldn't be as dumb enough to be late to their own unveiling!" Tristan Taylor's continually frustrated voice states emphatically. The bunch of roses in his hand were starting to prick thorns in his clenched palms.
"She wouldn't miss this for the world, Tristan. I'm sure that Kaiba picked her up-"
That name was all Yugi had to say to unrequited lover Tristan. The dark haired young man's face darkens at the mere mention of the name as Yugi and Tea walk up to him.
"What's Rich Boy got that I don't, anyway? Look at me! I'm the coolest guy!" Tristan cries out his anguish to two of his best friends. Yugi felt pity for his heartwrenched, after years of pining, friend, just to have Serenity scooped away from him to someone he could never possibly compete with.
Tea, on the other hand, rolls her eyes.
Get a life, Tristan!
"Well, let's see," Tea mischievously answers Tristan's non-question. She puts her chin up in the air as her fingers start ticking off. "First and foremost, he's got the kind of money-that you don't. Two, he's got the kind of sexy, long legged looks-that you don't. Three, he's got the kind of cars and lifestyles-that you don't. Four, he's got the kind of gorgeous fashion sense and style-that you don't. And five, he's got the kind of stunning eyes and husky voice a girl could really-" Tea puts on a dreamy expression.
"Enough already about Kaiba! Sheesh! I'm every bit as good as he is! Even if I don't have the money, the looks, the cars or the good clothes! Hey! I have that kind of eyes, too, Tea! See! I'll save Serenity from that jerk!" Tristan's eyes bulge out as he walks away backwards, smacking his angry, frustrated rose bouquet against the side with every word spat back at his ridiculer, losing petals along the way.
"Does he really have those kinds of eyes and that kind of voice, Tea?" Yugi's up to now silent voice asks, something dark in it.
"Tristan! No way! He and Kaiba are as different as night and da-Oh! You mean what I said about Kaiba! Hey, Yugi? Are you, by any chance, jealous?" Tea cuts short her teasing rant when she notices the furrowed brow look her Yugi was giving her words.
"Jealous? Me? Of Kaiba? Of course not, Tea. Why would I be envious of that guy? Just because you seem to describe his good features in such emphatic detail. What reason would that be for me to be...jealous?" Yugi uncharacteristically stutters and stammers over his deep throated words.
"You ARE jealous! This is so great!" Tea giggles and coos as she slips her arm back into his. It was so much fun to be a teenager in love, although Yugi gives her gleeful attitude a cocked eyebrow and an equally crooked frown.
"Those are Serenity's sentiments, you big lug! Okay, I revised a few lines here and there. Rich for sweet, stunning for beautiful, car for kindness-girl talk and all!" Tea explains guiltily to her boyfriend.
"And what about the sexy, long legs, Tea? Did Serenity come up with that all by herself?" Yugi asks with an accusing raised brow.
"Ummmm...Yeah, I think she did." With a half lipped smile, Tea shrugs honestly as far as she could remember that particular sleep-over conversation. After all, Serenity was sweet and innocent but she was not as dumb as people thought.
"All right." Yugi was chuckling by now. Tea had masterfully quelled his jealousy as the couple continued to stroll, arm in arm again, towards where the largest roped in exhibit was waiting to be unveiled to the world.
"Pardon me, Ma'am, I'm terribly sorry to intrude on your most informative lecture, but I thought I caught a glimpse of some of my friends conversing with you. I've been going balmy in search of anyone I know here, to explain all of this beautiful art. I believe I'm a bit of an imbecile when it comes to the nomenclature of the fine art impressionists without the benefit of their instruction." His sweet English accent accompanied by his sweet face, was enough to get Rebecca's attention off the next painting she was about to lecture the finer points to her students upon. She adjusts her glasses to focus on the young man speaking to her in dulcet, accented tones more clearly.
His hair was an off silver lavender, spikes descending just belong shoulder length. His eyes were the most adorably warm shade of chocolate brown, making him positively delicious for any girl with a sweet tooth.
And Rebecca was one such girl, who secretly craved any chocolate delight, almost to the point of frenzy.
"Oh..." Rebecca states, trying to catch the breath in her throat that rarely left it speechless. Turning away from his chocolatey stare, she addresses her students in an attempt to escape the moment. "Children, the next art piece we are studying is right across there. I trust you all, but do be careful not to touch the handmade illustrated pottery as you write up your short reports." Rebecca instructs those in her charge as the dozen children walk over to where a pretty vase was placed on a column for exhibition.
"Now, you were saying?" Rebecca turns back to the lavender haired gentleman who patiently was awaiting her response. She removes her glasses, doing so almost unconsciously.
"Oh, I say..." He pauses in his words, big chocolate eyes melting at her. "Do forgive me, once again, Madam. I haven't even paid you the proper courtesy of introducing myself. How very rude of me. My name is Ryou-Ryou Bakura. And you are?" He asks, extending his hand out to her politely.
"Oh, it's Rebecca...Rebecca Hawkins..." She stutters out, sticking out her hand rather clumsily to shake his gracefully proffered one. Ryou brushes his lips gently across the back of her palm, in true gentlemanly style.
Wow...
Rebecca mouths in awe of this sweetly, well-mannered young man who was paying attention to her. She giggles girlishly, so unlike her usual tough, little firebrand demeanor.
"And...I'm pleased to meet you too, Ryou. Do call me 'Rebecca'." She adds in a fluster.
"Ah, Rebecca, such a lovely name." Bakura compliments. He brown eyes were so charming that Rebecca was blushing furiously by now.
"Now...you said you saw me speaking to your friends...Oh! You must mean Yugi and Tea, right?" Rebecca says helpfully, one eye on her children and the other scanning the room for the couple.
"Yes, Miss Hawkins...Tea and Yugi." Bakura's eyes seem to dance at her.
Feeling a sudden change in demeanor at the mention of that pair, Rebecca decides right then and there to take matters into her own most capable hands.
"Look, I don't know where those two disappeared to, but if you're willing to stick around with me and my class, I'll explain these art works for you. That is, I mean, if you want to...that is..." Rebecca remembers herself, uncharacteristically shy.
"Oh, yes! Good show. If I'm not being too much of a burden..." Ryou trails off politely.
"No, of course not! You're British, right?" He nods. "My students will love talking to you! We've just been studying English history's role on art, so I'm sure they'd love to speak with you. I think English voices like yours are so classy!" Rebecca slaps her hand over her over-running mouth. Ryou chuckles at her complimentary slip-up.
"That's pleasant to hear." Ryou almost blushes himself at the compliment.
"Then I will put myself in your capable hands, Madame Teacher." He says to her blinking eyes as he follows her back to the students in his cute blue and white striped shirt.
Wow! Is this cutie psychic or what? Not to mention sweet and kind and gentlemanly! Now, all I've got to do is keep that Tea's nasty claws off him! He even treats me like an adult...'Madame Teacher'...'Miss Hawkins'...hee hee... sigh ...
Mitts off, Tea! This one's MINE!
Rebecca's mind was elsewhere as she and her students continue on this study. Ryou was a new friend they all took to, right off.
"Right then! Greetings, children! Shall we endeavor to learn something of the world of art today from Teacher?"
Good Bakura seemed at home with the children already.
