Dark Blue (A Seto Kaiba Love Story)
Chapter 7: Seto, Let's Dance!
1As Renn napped peacefully in Kaiba's large, warm bed, Kaiba sat in his home office, once again at work. Many preparations needed to be taken care of, and with Renn's distractions out of the way, he could finally meet his deadlines. Though he was finding it difficult to keep his mind focused solely on work...
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There was a knock on the door and shortly after Roland entered the room.
"Sir, I apologize for the interruption, but I must talk to you about Kaiba Masque."
Kaiba looked up from his work. Kaiba Masque was in 4 days and he had invited all of the companies top employees, the Duel Disk developers and many oversees stockholders and Corporate founders. It was an honorary event to commemorate the release of his newest invention: The Duel Disk 300. The most advanced Holo-imagery software available on the market to date. Soon, any regular duelist would be able to own one.
"What is it Roland? I'm busy." Kaiba's focus went back to his laptop.
"I'm sorry Sir, but I've been meaning to talk to you about the Masque and who you might be bringing, Sir." Kaiba looked up again, his face slightly confused.
"What do you mean, who I might be bringing?"
"Sir, it has been suggested by upper management, that it might benefit your overall image to bring... A date with you."
"That's ridiculous Roland, I don't see how that could benefit my image."
"To show that you have the charm and capacity to care about others, Sir. The current market of the Duel Disk 300 is mostly families and teenagers. As your main advisor, I urge you to think about it, Sir."
"Whatever. You're dismissed Roland." Kaiba waved his hand in a dismissive gesture. Roland bowed low and promptly left the room.
'A date, huh?' Kaiba thought of the potential candidates and a sly smirk crossed his face. Maybe this wasn't such a bad idea, after all...
Kaiba picked up the phone.
"Roland, get Nanae on the line, there's been a change of plans."
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Kaiba peered into the room, looking over at the sleeping angel on his bed. Renn was clutching Riku to her chest, her pale hair fell over her shoulders in pastel strands; her fragile breaths were small and even.
He wanted to touch her.
He held out his hand placing it gently in her hair, he swept it off her face gracefully, gazing down at her with unwavering interest.
Renn's eyes opened slowly and she stirred, looking at Kaiba dreamily. She smiled. Kaiba blushed and quickly pulled away from her.
"I was dreaming about you, Onii-San." Renn whispered sleepily. Kaiba gulped.
"Y-you were?" His blush seemed to deepen.
"Yes, I dreamt that you came to save me." Kaiba looked at Renn in slight confusion.
"Save you from what?" Renn yawned, avoiding the question.
"Seto, is something wrong?"
"No, I didn't mean to wake you. But now that you're up, I need to ask you something."
Renn looked into his dark blue eyes. She smiled, making him lose his train of thought. He regained himself despite his nervousness.
Renn, I'm having a Masque in four days, it's an event to celebrate the release of my newest invention. I would be honored if you would accompany me..." Kaiba swallowed hard. "As my date."
Renn blushed at the last few words. She seemed uncertain and her slow response was starting to make him even more nervous.
"Seto... Um, what's a Masque?"
"Uh… It's like a ball, only people dress up in costume, or carry around masks to hide their faces."
"Oh, I see." Renn smiled again. "And you want me to go, as your date?"
Kaiba tried unsuccessfully to hide his embarrassment. "If you don't want to-" He was cut off.
"I'd love to go, but I don't have anything nice enough to wear." Kaiba sighed in relief at her response.
"Don't worry, my tailors will need to take your measurements, and then they'll be able to make you a dress to your liking." Renn jumped up and hugged him, he froze at the unexpected gesture.
Renn pulled away slightly, her arms still wrapped around him, their faces just inches apart. Kaiba's heart beat quickened, while thoughts of their first kiss started racing through his mind.
"Seto..." Renn looked him in the eyes, the warmth radiating from her milky skin was enough to make him pin her to the bed right now, but he somehow managed to contain himself.
"Will you teach me how to dance?" Renn looked away in embarrassment. Kaiba tried desperately to keep his mind focused on the conversation, ignoring the lusty thoughts within.
"Dancing isn't hard, I can show you." He stood up slowly, taking her right hand and leading her to the middle of the room.
"You'll need to hold my hand, like this." Kaiba gently clasped her right hand, raising it in the air to shoulder level.
"Your left arm needs to go here." he took her hand and placed it on his shoulder. It was a bit of a reach for her, since he was so much taller.
"Hmmm, looks like we'll have to get you some high heeled shoes." Kaiba smiled down at her.
"And you'll need to be a little closer, like this." He put his right hand behind her and placed it softly but firmly on the small of her back. He gently pulled her towards him until their bodies were touching. Renn blushed at the close contact. She felt his hips lightly pressing into hers.
Kaiba looked down at her and smiled playfully. "Dancing is just a series of repeated steps. Once you memorize those steps, it becomes easy. Watch my feet." He led her slowly to the left, taking careful, measured steps. She followed obediently, copying his movements. They moved around in a small circle, coming back to the starting position.
"You did well Renn, but you need practice. I bet I could teach you in 3 days, if you'd let me..." Kaiba looked down at her with his penetrating stare, patiently awaiting an answer.
"But, what if I can't learn by then?" Renn looked worried.
"Well, I guess that we won't be able to dance together at the Masque... It's too bad. I was looking forward to it." Kaiba turned away in mock disappointment. He watched Renn's worried expression deepen through the corner of his eye.
But don't worry, as an added incentive, I'll give you a special reward if you succeed, for all of your hard work." This made Renn smile.
"Really?" Her cheeks glowed happily.
"Really. But only if you can dedicate yourself to learning everything I teach you. It won't be easy." Renn beamed excitedly at the challenge.
"Seto, I promise to try my best!"
"Good, I expect nothing less from you. Now, to make this work, we'll need some music." Kaiba pulled his cell phone from inside his pocket. He flipped it open and held down a button. Renn heard a faint voice on the other end answer immediately.
"Seto?"
"Mokuba, I need a favor."
"Sure Seto! What's up?"
"Turn on music to room C17."
"You got it, Seto." Kaiba flipped the phone back down and placed it into his pocket. At the same time, classical piano music started drifting from the walls around them. Renn hadn't noticed earlier, but there were small, flat speakers built directly into each wall.
"Shall we start?" Kaiba extended a graceful hand to her. Renn placed her small hand inside his own, and Kaiba gently raised her arm back to shoulder level.
"I'm going to be teaching you an elegant styled dance named the Modern Waltz. It is an English version of a classic Viennese dance. It is also said to be an art form, as the dancers are to appear to be floating on the dance floor." Renn looked nervous at his formal definition, she wasn't that confident in her dancing abilities, given the fact that she was so clumsy.
"This dance has a three step count. I'll start." Kaiba placed his left foot forward and closed the small distance between them. He kept his petrifying beautiful stare locked on her at all times.
His right arm moved slowly behind her, and Renn felt the steady pressure of his hand on her lower back. She blushed as she looked up at him. The icy, blue fire in his eyes did not fade.
"Now, you'll step back on your right foot, and that is your 1 count." Renn's heart started beating faster at the sound of his deep voice. She obeyed, stepping back lightly with her right foot. As she did so Kaiba moved his right foot diagonally and to the side.
"Move your left foot the way I did my right, this is your second count." Renn listened breathlessly, her full weight seemed fully supported by him, and she seemed to glide in her movements.
Kaiba closed his left foot to his right foot, squaring off his feet.
"Close your right foot to your left, as I have done, this will be your last count." Renn brought in her feet, placing them in the same, set position as Kaiba's. She looked up at him, realizing that he had never taken his eyes off of her the entire time. Her blush deepened.
"Those are the basic steps for this technique. You did well, I'm impressed." Renn smiled with delight at his praise.
"Do I get a reward?" Renn looked up at him, her pleading eyes hopeful.
"Hmmm, well, I'm saving that for later, but I guess it wouldn't hurt to give you a hint." Kaiba leaned towards her, closing the distance between their heights. He lowered his lips to hers, his warm breath sending tingles through her cheeks. Renn closed her eyes, preparing herself for what was to come. The anticipation lingered in the music filled air between them. Kaiba smiled as he watched her, realizing that she did want him to kiss her. He pulled away from her lips, landing a delicate kiss on her forehead. Renn blushed, opening her eyes and gazing up at him longingly.
"Don't tempt me." Kaiba smiled at her playfully. "You don't want to ruin your surprise, do you?" Renn's lips took on a pouty frown, making Kaiba laugh softly to himself.
"I guess you do." Kaiba brought his hand to her face, gently lifting her chin to look up at him. He bowed down towards her slowly, interrupted by a knock at the door...
"You may enter." Kaiba let go of Renn, as a young women in her mid-twenties entered the room. She was clearly of Egyptian heritage. She had long, ebony hair that fell to her waist in thick strands intertwined with golden threads. Her eyes shone like emerald stars, making her flawless, honey copper skin seem to glow from within. She stepped into the room with such serene confidence, it could calm the most anxious of persons.
"Renn, this is Nanae. She is my seamstress and she will be making your dress for the Masque." Renn noticed that Nanae held a small black notebook and some measuring tape. She nodded and smiled at Nanae, and Nanae returned the smile beautifully.
"Renn, will you wait for me? I have some things I need to take care of." Renn nodded silently as Kaiba started walking towards the bedroom door. He turned before leaving.
"Nanae, remember my instructions." Nanae nodded to him, and Renn watched in dissapointment as Kaiba left the room.
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"So you're the lucky girl that gets to accompany Mr. Kaiba to the Masque." Nanae smiled warmly down at Renn. Renn noticed that she had a lingering, Egyptian accent.
"What was he talking about, just now when he left?" Renn asked curiously, Nanae laughed gently.
"He told me to make a dress that's as beautiful as you. But now that I've seen you, I am not sure that can be done." Renn blushed at her kind words.
"He thinks I'm beautiful?" She didn't mean to say it out loud, and her blush deepened as she realized her mistake.
"I think he is very taken with you. Of all the time that I've known Mr. Kaiba, he has never sounded so happy when talking of someone else."
"You've known Seto a long time?"
"Yes, I've known him since he was 15 years old, when I first started making clothes for him and his brother. You see, he wanted his clothes specially designed for his new company, and I have been working for him ever since." Renn smiled happily. It was nice to have another girl around that she could talk to about Kaiba.
"I'll just need to take some quick measurements and then we'll be done, Miss Renn." Renn watched as Nanae started stretching out the measuring tape.
"I'll just need you to extend your arms for me." Nanae lifted Renn's arms delicately into the air, as if she had done it a thousand times before. She extended the tape in quick, experienced movements at all different angles, stopping here and there to write in her notebook.
"Mr. Kaiba has also requested that I make this dress to your liking, Miss Renn. Do you have any special requests?" Renn smiled as she thought of Kaiba.
"Just one... Make it crimson."
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"Master, it has been confirmed. The girl is residing within the Kaiba residence." Odion knelt submissively at Marik's feet.
"Excellent Odion. Who knew that her attachment to that fool, Seto Kaiba would work in our favor? Hahaha."
"Sir, shall we proceed with the plan?"
"No, not yet, it's still too soon. We must wait until they are separated. But rest assured Odion, that time will come. Keep all eyes on the girl. I must be notified immediately if she leaves the grounds, and watch Seto Kaiba. I must know his whereabouts at all times."
"Yes Sir." Odion rose from his position on the floor and headed for the door.
"And Odion..." Odion turned to face Marik. "It is in your best interest that she does not escape, again." Odion nodded at Marik's words and left the room.
Marik stared out of the 6th floor, hotel window overlooking Kaiba mansion. The Millennium rod clasped firmly in his left hand, gleaming in the afternoon sun.
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See you in Chapter 8: The Masque
