A/N: A massive thank you to the amazing people who have left reviews for Experiment 13!
You have no idea how much I appreciate them, and how much I appreciate all the people who have followed/favourited the story!
I must try to be more consistent from now on, it's getting a bit ridiculous really :D
Hope you all enjoy the next chapter!
Chapter 20: Present
The Blue Eyes White Dragon sculpture sat proudly on her desk, the white and blue tissue paper that surrounded it and protected it lay open like a blooming flower at it's feet. His majestic mouth was open wide and the attention to detail of the sculptor amazed Alyssa immensely.
She looked to the left of the statuette and sighed when she saw the small silver box that Roland had given to her. The box was an unexpected gift from Roland, and his justification for giving it to her elicited a smile of confusion from the girl.
*Three hours prior*
Roland hesitated outside her door, realising the unusual reason for his visit may be seen as inappropriate. He shook his head and knocked on the door, with three short raps. Alyssa opened the wooden obstruction and smiled at him, as though she saw no problem in him being outside her bedroom door.
"Roland, I haven't seen you for a while. Is there a problem?" She was all-too aware that Kaiba was at work and Mokuba was at school, so apart from Anna, there should be no-one else in the mansion until six that evening. Roland had left his position at Kaiba Corporation and retrieved that box from a shop window, after seeing it on his way to the office building that morning.
"No, there isn't a problem Miss Alyssa. I found this, and I thought you might find use in it." The box was placed into a small paper bag when Roland purchased it, which he then gave to Alyssa. She peered curiously into the bag and saw the box, much to her confusion. She smiled, regardless of her bemusement.
"Why thank you Roland. But what do you suppose I could use this for?" Her polite smile and pleasant way of replying to his strange visit was met with a small smile of Roland's.
"I couldn't help but think of that gift you bought for Mister Kaiba, and how nicely it would fit into that gift box..." With a twinkle of his eye, Roland had helped her to properly wrap her birthday gift for Kaiba and quite politely too. Alyssa gave him one of her most beautiful smiles and bowed.
"Thank you very much Roland!" He merely nodded and bowed slightly in response, before turning and leaving the mansion. Alyssa placed the box on her desk and busied herself with organising her possessions.
She carefully picked up the sculpture and wrapped the tissue paper around it's fragile body, being mindful not to tear the paper on it's sharp edges. Once it was completely covered, she placed the dragon into the silver box and replaced the lid. She took a deep breath before taking a thick blue ribbon and tying it carefully around the box, using it to keep the lid secure.
"It does look beautiful..." She admired her handiwork and giggled. The reaction on Kaiba's face would be indescribable when he opens this box in a few days' time, and Alyssa couldn't wait to see it.
"Seto... Can I go to a store please? I need to buy some stationary..." The whispered request was directed at the young CEO who was sitting at his desk in his home office, by the young girl who stood awkwardly in the doorway of mentioned office.
After talking to Anna for a while in the kitchen, Alyssa learned of the birthday card that usually accompanies a gift and wished to acquire one for Kaiba. The sound of typing in the room was silenced and cobalt blue eyes met her aqua eyes.
"Stationary? Such as..?" There was an abundance of stationary in his office and although he enjoyed the idea of bringing Alyssa somewhere other than the park or to Kaiba Corporation, he wasn't sure of exposing her to other people. He was aware of his selfish nature making an appearance; wanting to keep Alyssa to himself.
"Well, I suppose it's more art supplies than stationary... I would like to buy some coloured card and paint. I watched a programme on the television yesterday that showed one how to draw and paint." Kaiba raised an eyebrow with interest and reclined in his seat, analysing her timid stance in the doorway.
"You can come into my office you know, I don't bite." The girl smiled a broad smile and left her position at the doorframe, moving closer to the desk. She stood directly in front of the desk and waited for his reply. "We can leave in about ten minutes? I just need to send an email to Mike and I can leave the report until later." The smile on her face broadened and she bowed with gratitude.
"Thank you Seto! I'll be waiting in the front hall!" And with that said, she left the room in search of her coat. Kaiba finished his work and made his way to the front hall, where he saw Anna and Alyssa deep in a hushed conversation. Anna seemed delighted with whatever Alyssa had said and Alyssa blushed.
"Ready to leave?" Kaiba's smooth voice made Alyssa squeak with surprise and Anna looked in his direction, before giving Alyssa a small smile and returning to the kitchen.
Alyssa nodded at him and Kaiba opened the front door, allowing Alyssa to leave first and the following her out. She was prepared to wait for the limousine, but Kaiba started walking toward the gates of the mansion. She followed quickly in disbelief; she hadn't seen him walk anywhere before.
"Contrary to popular belief, I'm quite able to walk around if necessary. I'm not always tied to a vehicle." After catching her staring at him in shock, he felt the need to justify why he decided to walk with her to a stationary store.
They walked silently together for the fifteen minutes it took to reach the centre of the city. The bright lights of Domino dazzled Alyssa and she gazed around in wonder, paying scant attention to Kaiba who was watching her with interest. When they reached the stationary store, Kaiba had to reach out and earn her attention by touching her shoulder before she passed the shop completely.
"Oh, sorry..." She smiled an awkward smile at him and followed him inside, where a shrivelled old woman sat at a small counter top and smiled at the pair. Alyssa made a beeline for the arts section of the store, and Kaiba stayed near the door.
"Looking for something in particular sir?" The old voice that accompanied the face reminded Kaiba of someone, and he couldn't muster a cold response to her gentle offer of help.
"I'm not, the girl is. But she seems to know what she's doing..." Kaiba and the old woman watched as Alyssa approached the counter with a ream of different coloured card, six tubes of acrylic paint and five paint brushes.
"Hmm... Altogether, I'll ask for three thousand yen." Alyssa smiled and took the leftover money from her other shopping trip from her pocket, counting out the money needed to buy the materials. While she did this, the woman placed the items carefully into a brown paper bag and used clear sticky tape to close it.
"Here, three thousand yen." Kaiba opened the door for Alyssa when she had paid and nodded to the old woman in thanks, then followed Alyssa down the street toward the mansion.
There were a number of other stores along the way, including a bakery. Kaiba stopped suddenly and looked through the large glass window, silently choosing which treat he would eat. Alyssa noticed his absence and walked back to him.
"Something the matter?" The bag she held was taken from her grasp and Kaiba nodded toward the glass.
"Have you ever eaten any of these? My mother used to bake chocolate eclairs a lot when I was young." Alyssa glanced through the window and looked at the baked treats. Small droplets of rain began to fall from the darkening sky, giving both teenagers a shock.
"I haven't had any of those, no..." Her gaze focused on the bag in Kaiba's hand as the rain worsened, and she ran a hand through her soaked locks. "Should we keep walking? Or do you want to go inside and buy one?" Kaiba tore his gaze from the eclairs and looked at her.
There was a sadness in his eyes that she couldn't justify; it created the illusion that his usually dark blue eyes were lighter in colour. The rain drenched his clothes and hair, running off the end of his nose and dripping onto his collar.
"We should keep going..." Alyssa watched as he turned and walked away, the rain continuing to soak his clothes. She was forced to run in order to catch up to him, trotting alongside him in the growing darkness.