We do not own "Yu-Gi-Oh!" nor any characters.
"Yugi-Oh A Time to Every Purpose"
Act I: Present Day
Chapter 8
"Now, ladies and gentlemen, may I have your attention?" The neatly dressed museum curator waves his arms around. His bellowing voice tried to give this auspicious occasion all the hoopla as he could. After all, the museum's new number one patron of the arts ought to get his money's worth ahem -all the credit a beautiful piece of artwork such as this deserved.
Yes, there was something prettily simplistic in this particular artwork's design. That is what he thought when Seto Kaiba himself personally presented this painting to him. But as the curator was happily unaware of then, he was not sure what a multibillion dollar businessman had to do with this common view of oceans in the distance, violet flowers growing in the sands of a beach, side by side in the sunset. One had risen to full blossom in the shape reminiscent of a heart, all quite artfully done. It was as if the delicate blossomed flower was leaning towards the tall, stronger one, as if coaxing it to unfold its petals and reveal what was inside its heart.
A touching sentiment-obviously the girl who painted it was in love. Though it was hardly worth the amount of monetary funds a certain wealthy young man forked over to them to have it displayed in the museum.
Unless of course, this little artist is love with YOU, Mr. Seto Kaiba. Then, of course, it would be worth every thousand, if you loved her in return...
And it was obvious from the look that Seto Kaiba was giving the girl, that he was.
Ahh, young love...
The curator sighs dreamily as he begins his lofty speech.
"Today we have a special treat for all of you sentimental patrons-the delicate lines filled with the beauty that flowers share with our world. The skillful strokes here are filled with light and aura of the sunset that always deserve a soulful glance behind this treasure is introduction enough for itself, for its beautiful design. Please stand in awe and feel the greater depth captured by the next great talent on the art scene, in her latest work, so suitably entitled 'Wild Heart.' Moving, isn't it?"
As the unveiling begins, the curator moves over to Serenity's painting, then stands aside. His eyes meet Kaiba's with a grateful bow as he motions at the trembling girl standing beside the businessman.
"So may I present the lovely work of art herself, Miss Serenity Wheeler-the most promising new talent in all of art. A few words, Miss, to your adoring crowd."
Serenity is shocked to have so much attention thrown her way. She blushes as her quiet, gentle spirit recoils from the dozens of pairs of eyes upon her. They were waiting expectantly for her to give a speech. Timidly, she takes a step forward, then back again, then forward again. She grasps her Seto's cool, calm hand with sweaty palms, pulling him back and forth along with her-for support it seemed.
"I just...want to say..." Serenity's scared-like-a-deer-in-the-headlights-eyes glance anxiously from one face to the next. She was frightened of strangers, cameras, and lights, but her fear ebbs for the moment when her eyes catch sight of all her dear, dear friends standing before her in the crowd. They were wishing her luck to go on. Tea, Yugi, Tristan, Duke, Rebecca, Ryou...Mai,...JOEY!
Serenity feels the urge to shriek in delight at her big brother's name, as behind everyone's heads a striking blonde woman in a purple mini skirt literally kicks in the art museum's door. She was dragging a darker blonde boy in with her, by his ear.
"Sorry we're late, Serenity! It may have taken a few extra flirtatious winks at the other waiters from yours truly, but Joey wouldn't miss this for the world. It's your moment, Serenity. Take it away, pretty girl!" Mai Valentine cares not for the gasps of sensitive souls at her her loud outcry of support over their stuffy heads as she winks at the girl in the spotlight.
"I'm wit ya, Sis!" Joey finally stands on his own, rubbing his red ear as he gives his parents (and their running camcorder) a crooked smile, and to Serenity, his trademark 'thumbs up.'
"Joey! Mai! Thank you!" Serenity's timid voice calls out now, too, strong and true. She felt the confidence now of having EVERYONE she loved there with her.
"I just want to say 'thank you' to everyone who has supported me. Especially my family and friends who are always there for me, and gave their all for me to get better. You see, I was a blind person who was given the chance to see the world again, in all its beauty. And when I opened my eyes, it was the same world that I remembered as a child. No, I'm wrong," Serenity turns from her confident speech to the man watching with pride beside her. "It's even more beautiful now!" Serenity cries out with such enthusiasm and sweet passion that even the hardened crowd can't help but say 'awwwww' at how daintily pretty the young lady/artist completes the tableau by throwing her trembling arms around her inspiration.
Seto Kaiba was her soulmate and gave her the strength to face everything and accomplish impossible dreams.
"Thank you, Seto. I know you did this all for me...I love you..." She whispers in his chest as grateful, happy tears fall and seem to seep through to his once cold heart.
Kaiba smiles, letting the embrace linger uncharacteristically. He felt her emotion for him. Her warmth was dizzying until a bolt of electricity suddenly sizzles through his mind, heart-every sense of awareness-before he could respond back to her.
"How touching! Such a tender scene always brings a tear to my ahem EYE..." A distinguished voice stands out amidst the crowd. The slight inflection of a chuckling laugh was forever evident in that very tone so familiar to Seto Kaiba. He recognized it without even turning to face the latest visitor to the exhibition. So familiar and so detested...
"Pegasus..." Kaiba growls low, for reasons even beyond his comprehension, he despised this particular man so much.
After all this jerk put Mokuba and I through? Even if they all blame it on that Egyptian hocus-pocus Millennium Item mind-possession stuff-and THAT I still don't buy into one hundred percent, okay...Maximillion Pegasus is still jerk supreme number one in my book. I can't stand it when he even just smiles like that. I know there's all sorts of mechanations behind that smirk.
"It's so nice to be remembered, Kaiba boy. It warms the cockles of one's soul." Pegasus brushes his silvery locks with one hand, while the other was over his heart dramatically, as he smarmily drips his sing-song voice directed at the storm-cloud mad young man before them.
"Yeah, I bet." Kaiba mutters, so no reporters could hear. He just managed to stop his ill-tempered mouth from giving Maximillion Pegasus his just desserts for showing up to wreck Kaiba's otherwise perfectly planned day.
Seto looks at the innocent girl blinking up at him from his side sweetly and he decides to let the egotistical scumbag off the hook for her sake-for the moment, anyway, as hungry news monger reporters flash the scene of the two multi-billion dollar gaming giants.
"I must say that you DO have excellent taste." Pegasus though, doesn't miss a beat. His eye that had been searing into Kaiba's skull it seemed, finally dragged itself away from the boy in question to his companion. And such a sight indeed!
Breathtaking, isn't she? Good taste in women, my boy...We share that as well, it appears...
Seto's growl begins to grow despite his efforts into a light roar at the older man's flirtatious attention to the trembling beauty at his side.
"This stunning painting, I mean." Pegasus motions to the art on the wall, with a smirk in Kaiba's direction. "It's more a portrait of yourself, is it not, my dear? And there's so much captured here! Love blossoming under DIRE circumstances, through impossible odds! It surpassing all obstacles as its radiant beauty breaks through the sands as one tender lover reaches out to the other's once closed bud of a heart-now slowly blossoming as well in response of his own soul through hers...Ahh, the romance, the sentiment! Brings a tear to my eye." Pegasus sniffles as he wipes the 'tear.' "You, my dear, truly are an artist in the most supreme sense, to be able to express so much emotion in a single portrait. Indeed, it is a rare gift. And I, an old and fading painter myself, must bow before you in awestruck admiration. Bravo, Miss Serenity Wheeler. Bravo, indeed, 'Wild Hearts.'"
Pegasus looks into Serenity's sparkling clear eyes. His mind congratulated her for accomplishing so much more than a heartfelt work of art. His eye traveled to see the way Kaiba was gazing at his sweetheart.
Even through the unveiled aggression still aimed at yours truly. A great accomplishment, my girl, that only angels dare tread upon but once in a lifetime...
Pegasus lifts his hands in applause after he bows before her, hand dramatically still on his chest. The kudos of a well-famed artist such as himself caused the rest of the high-brow crowd to join in his clapping.
Serenity gets her second standing ovation as a result and this time, even the critics were heartfelt in it. After all, if Maximillion Pegasus had such a high opinion of this simple, little painting-
Why shouldn't they?
"In fact, I am so inspired that I would be MOST honored if you were the first to view, and give your opinion, to my own small contribution to this exhibit. That is, if it wouldn't be too much to ask. I would value your opinion so." Pegasus lowers his eye in a gentlemanly, reverential bow before Serenity's blushing, surprised face.
"Me? Oh, dear! Oh! Of...of course, I'd love to! Mr...Sir!" Serenity doesn't even know how to address the imposing figure of a man she had never actually met before. She had only heard about his great artwork in her own artistic endeavors, for years now.
Seto seems to know him, too. So he shouldn't mind if I accept...
Pegasus! What are you up to? This is between you and me. Just leave her out of this.
"Oh, oodles of joy! Do follow me to my private exhibit hall, my dear Serenity. I am so grateful to have a TRUE professional's second opinion who understands what hearts and souls are, before I release my portrait to the public. Sorry! No highly respected busy-bodying reporters allowed in just yet!" Excitedly, Pegasus' warning, vascillating hand waves off the horde of reporters beginning to traipse after his arm around Serenity as they walk away.
"But YOU are coming, are you not, Kaiba boy?" Pegasus looks innocently. His one eyes blinks at Kaiba with the question. Kaiba growls deeply as his only response. He follows the artsy pair down the darkened hall...
