Seto's POV
I felt unease settle down in my stomach. Today is The Day. The dreaded day we start practicing the play that we will be doing in two weeks in front of the whole school and our families. And I'm the male lead of this stupid story, "Caesar and Cleopatra". It's gonna be two weeks of torture. Great.
And Yuna doesn't even participate in this, because we chose the actors in the beginning of the school year, and the Moutos arrived just two months ago. No, Yuna is on the decorating team and will be doing some of the background sketches.
You should have seen the disappointed looks that Mr. Smith, Miss Samane and even Mr. Taro and the principle had when they heard that there is no role left for Yuna to play.
Instead of her, the lead actress is some fan of mine, who has the crazy impression that I like her. Pathetic, really. And she also wants to be a movie star and thinks that she is the queen of the school with the way she talks to everyone. But not everyone takes her crap.
As I said, Yuna was given a description of the sketch that she should make. Yes, everyone knows that she is a talented artists and so she was given to paint three sketches. Yugi was actually going to play some servant, but he didn't have any lines, so he stack with his sister while we practiced. About half an hour later, we were having a break when an older student came in. She always participated in school plays, and it is said that she is a born actress. She is going to play Cleopatra's caretaker and most loyal adviser but she will 'die' before the end. She was walking past Yugi, who was nodding of out of boredom, and all of the sudden just stopped where she was and stood there gawking at something. I got curious about this and went over to her, followed by some other students, to see what had her attention. The sight we saw could have been a dream for all I know!
Yuna has obviously just finished the painting and it was magnificent. The view is from atop the balcony from which Cleopatra shows Caesar all that Egypt has to offer. You can see the Lighthouse of Alrxandria and the Great Library. The open sea crashing in the biggest harbour of the ancient world leaving all of those who see the painting the impression that they are truly in Egypt. The sand dunes to the far left indicated that they are really in the magical city of Egypt that left even the Romans breathless. I understand now how Caesar must have felt when the most beautiful woman of his era showed him from where she comes from, from where the one he loves came from.
I suddenly realised something.
I like her!
I mean, everybody likes Yuna, even if a little bit, but not like this.
I LIKE her! My heart always beats faster and harder when she is around! I never hugged anyone other than Mokuba! I never worried about someone other than my little brother! I never thought about anyone even half as much as I think of her! I never talked to anyone else from this school and I NEVER accepted anything from them either! I like her! I like Yuna! I never helped someone if it didn't affect me or my brother! I never worried what others thought of me and I never wanted to prove myself to anyone before Yuna! I like her, I like Yuna!
I LIKE YUNA YAMI MOUTO!
I like her smile, her laugh, her pride, her wit, her bravery, her skills, her boldness, her politeness, her personality, her judge of character, her genuine concern and her truthfulness. I like her for who she is, but ... I'll probably never tell her.
I don't know how or when it happened, but if I have to guess, I'd say probably from the first time I saw her. Yes, I'm sure. I know that it botherd me when I thought that Gozaboro's bodyguards were going to hurt her, and I know that I missed her when she didn't come to school. Thinking about losing her also distressed me, both when it was her just leaving Domino primary school and even more when I realised that she could have died that day. When she gave me that first bento, my heart skipped a beat and I just wanted to hold her in my arms. When I did hug her, I never wanted to let go. The sight of her tears made me protective of her and got me to beat up some bullies, something I used to do only for Mokuba. Seeing her as close to those friends of hers, Mana and Mahad I think, made me feel like I should deserve the right to be her rival. When I first watched her gaming match, I only thought of how cool she is. Hearing her laugh for the first time was like magic. Playing against her, even in team games, was a great experience, even if I lost. Hearing her recite that first time, WAS the first time I paid real attention to someone in this school. And her first fight is the only fight I bothered to watch to the end. She was also the first person I wanted to help that's not my baby brother. My musings were, however, interrupted by a horrible noise.
"WHAT is the meaning of THIS! " shrieked the idiot who plays Cleopatra. She was pointing at the magnificent view of Alexandria and glaring at its creator. Yuna simply raised an eyebrow and said in a patient and slow manner, as if talking with a retard:" It's Alexandria from 2000 years ago, just as it should be. "
"It's NOT how it should be! The library SHOULD be on the left side, but IT'S NOT, it's on the RIGHT SIDE! " the moron screams. I resist the urge to cover my ears to save myself from going deaf because I see Yuna is putting up with it. I may like her, but that doesn't mean that our rivalry has to end.
"It's where it is and where it rightfully SHOULD be, so I advise you to stop screaming like a harpy!" Yuna finally raised her voice and sent a dearh glare towards her.
"But that's not going to show my better side! " she vined, " And I don't like it. It's awful! I'm not working under these conditions!" She declared stubbornly, thinking that we are going to beg her. What an idiot!
Mr. Smith took the opportunity. "I say we put Yuna to play Cleopatra, any objections? "
No one had any.
Ms. Samane smiled and yelled "Yey!" and giggled in glee, knowing that she will get a chance to see her idol acting, Mr. Smith soon joining her with an excited smirk. I couldn't breath for a moment and then I was excitedly anticipating the start of practice, seeing as I will have the excuse for hugging the one I like and even holding her hand or kissing her on the forehead and cheek! And she'll be doing the same to me!
Just as the bimbo that has just lost the chance to act as Cleopatra, the theater, which we have in our school even if it is rather small, doors flew open with a bang and we all turned around to see the cause. The man in the doorway was the man my stepfather hired to get back at Yuna. He was dressed like Indiana Jouns and was a couple years younger than Gozaboro, who walked in after the freak with Mokuba behind him. Mokuba immediately ran to my side as the adults that came with him slowly walked towards us. When they stopped, Gozaboro just glanced at me and then turned all of his attention to Yuna, glaring when she bravely and boldly returns it.
He HAS to come and try to humiliate her just when I realised that I like her! The BASTERD!
steps closer to my stepfather and extends a hand to shake while saying:" Mr. Kaiba, what a pleasant surprise. Can I help you with something? "But Gozaboro ignored him. He just took a step forward, obviously trying to intimidate Yuna, who looked rather bored. When his plan didn't work, he growled. Yuna just raised her eyebrow and smirked, but didn't say anything. It just pissed him off!
Finally, he said:" You are being challenged to show to everyone present if you are as good as everyone thinks that you are when it comes to history and archeology. Tomorrow, we will return with one artifact and I suggest that you do the same. You are said to have had quite a few fabulous discoveries and so I presume you will bring one tomorrow. You will present it for all of those present. I warn you, the artifact that has the highest value will be victorious. He", Gozaboro pointed at the man at his side, "is your oopponent."
The addressed man stepped right in front of Yuna and, looking down at her, introduced himself:"My name is Richard Reeves, and I have been waiting for this opportunity to finally show the world who is the true archaeological wonder!"
Yuna just looked at him, then said:"I guess you already know, but for the sake of formalities, I am Yuna Yami Mouto. As for your challenge, I accept."
Both Gozaboro and Richard smirked in satisfaction and just turned around and left.
Yuna's POV
A challenge is a challenge and I won't let Gozaboro Kaiba win.
As soon as I got home, I went through the artifacts at my disposal. I could use the Millennium Puzzle, but grandpa is the one who found it. Seeing as the deadline is tomorrow, I need one of the artifacts that I haven't given to some museum to put it on display. This means that I have to choose from a lot smaller selection of 58 artifacts that are in my room or the 26 that are around the house, or the 62 in the basement. My dreams always helped me to find whatever artifacts that no one else could, and so most of those artifacts worth as much as some buildings do.
It gives me an advantage, and I already know everything about them.
Inthe end, I chose 'Tha Belt of Deltora' and the crystals that go with it. It's a silver belt with a beautiful design. The crystals were made for the Nameless Pharaoh, as a gift from the neighbouring countries. They are a lot older than the belt, but it's the belt that was made to hold them. The belt was made for Ankesenamon, Tutankamun's sister and wife. It's a wedding gift for his beloved wife and sister. The texts say that she only wore it once, and then it was thrown into the Nile. With it's age of both the belt being 3000 years old and the seven crystals(diamond, emerald, lapis lazul, topaz, opal, , ruby and amethyst) being 5000 years old it's one of the most valuable artifacts that I have.
Seto's POV
It's time for the challenge that my stepfather and that lunatic issued to begin. The idiot is holding a big square box on his back, looking arrogantly at Yuna who stood across from him, a small square ancient looking chest in her hands. I first thought that she would use the Millennium Puzzle, but then remembered that she said that her grandfather is the one who found it. I wonder what it is that she brought.
A little to the side stood Gozaboro, a famous historian right across from him. He will judge the presentation of the artifacts and declare the winner. Everyone that's been here yesterday and a lot more are here, waiting impatiently for it all to start.
Richard Reeves went first. He took of his box and opened it. Inside was a beautiful medieval sword. He said that it belongs to king Arthur and that it's about 500 years old. Most of the people present went "Ooohh. Aaaahh".
Yuna looked at the sword for a while and then lifted her head to look Richard right in the eyes, enraged disgust in the ruby depths. "It's a fake! The real sword was on the bottom of the lake where he was buried. They have built a special underwater cell for it, so no one could take it. But there was a possibility that they would never put it there, so Merlin, loyal only to Arthur, took the sword and hid it, according to what is written that he said, 'where no one but the purest of all would find it' and he kept repeating it even while they were torturing him. And I'll have you know that the location you have "found" it in is on the different side of England then where the real sword was buried. "
"Oh,and how would you know? " he asked angrily, as if she doesn't have the right to say what she just did.
"Because the Excaibur is, first of all, from the 5th to 6th century and is already found! "Yuna exclaimed.
"WHAT!? REALLY!?" We all, except Yugi, yelled.
"Who found it? And when?" I was the first one to recover from the shock and ask. Yugi was the one to answer:" Well, Yuna did, of course, three years ago when we were invited to join the search for it. The ones searching for it were looking in the same place Mr. Reeves said that he found it, but it was not there. Yuna moved the excavation team to the right spot and told them where to dig and to be careful. Less than half an hour later, the Excalibur was digged out and everyone insisted that Yuna is the one that should be the on the tv talk shows for the discovery. The sword is now in London, I think. " he finished with a shrug and a smile.
Before Yuna even did her presentation, it was obvious who the winner is, seeing that the professor just nodded in agreement with Yugi.
Yuna then opened her chest and presented to us a beautifully designed belt with crystals after inserting them and explained what it all was. While she talked, not even a fly was heard. She held everyone's attention. When she finished, the professor declared that she won and everyone clapped their hands. With every day, more people respected Yuna.
As Yuna packed up the belt, Mokuba ran up to her to get a better look at it. She allowed him and even answered his questions when two gunshots were heard in the room. While everyone was gossiping about what just happened, Richard Reeves took out a gun and fired two times. I saw that the bullets were going in Yuna and Mokuba's direction and ran towards them to save them. I thought that I'll lose my little brother because I was too far away to save him, when Yuna stepped in front of him and quickly took off her Puzzle. She swung it a bit and diverted the first bullet. The second one she somehow caught in the center of the engraved eye symbol and then shot it back and into Richard's leg. He fell to the floor with a yell and was soon souronded by Roland, Fugata and some of my stepfather's bodyguards, THEIR guns pointed at him.
I ran to my brother, who threw himself into my arms and cried as our stepfather called the police. Yugi did the same with his own older sibling, hugging Yuna as if she might disappear should he let go. The police soon arrived and a few days later, Richard Reeves was declared guilty and sentenced for life.
Our play turned out fantastic. I played Caesar and Yuna was my Cleopatra. But I'll never be able to look at her the same way. I have a crush on her. She's my first crush and I realised how much she means to me. I could have lost both of my most precious treasures today, and I'll never let it get close like that every again. I will protect my ultimate treasure!
I aced the business challenge Gozaboro gave me and I was even able to easily convince the Big 5 to help me take over Kaiba Corp. I'm not foolish to think that they are loyal to me like Roland, Fugata and Hobson. I'm just using them for my own interests.
I also finally found the third Blue-Eyes White Dragon. I have three out of four, but I'll soon find the fourth as well.
I'm talking about Duel Monsters. I'm the World Champion and am famous for being the only person who has not one, but THREE of the most powerful dragons in the game. No one has ever defeated me. I decided to make the game more interesting and started designing a special holographic simulator that will make the monsters on the cards "come to life". I'm going to be signing a contact with Pegasus J. Crowerd of Industrial Illusions, the creator of the game.
I never thought that my invention would cause so many disasters.