"Arielle, Arielle," Kaiba choked as he grasped hold of an end of his navy
necktie. Mokuba had wanted him to wear his Blue-Eyes-White-Dragon necktie,
but Téa wouldn't let him. It's not that he does whatever Téa says, it's
just.well, he's never been to church before and therefore, it might be a
good idea to listen to her for a change.
"You're going to have to let go of my tie." Kaiba said dryly. "Come on, let
go of my tie. You're choking me." He complained as he pried Arielle's
fingers off his necktie one by one from where she was leading him with it.
"Sorry." She said, looking up as Kaiba straighten from his position and
adjusted his tie. When he finished, the girl slipped her hand into his as
they continued walking, following Téa and Mokuba.
To Kaiba, this was embarrassing. Definitely embarrassing. He looked like he
belong in church with his navy suit that fitted him nicely and brought out
the depth of his eyes, but it seems though everywhere he goes, people would
stare at him and whisper. Though his opinions quickly changed as Téa led
them into the chapel.
"It's a beautiful day!" Téa exclaimed again as they walked through the
door.
"In case you haven't noticed," Kaiba remarked wryly. "The beautiful day
you've been ranting about is raining."
"Liquid sunshine." She replied with a smile. "It's all in your perspective,
you know."
Ushers greeted them with warmth as they walked pass. People shook his hands
and patted the kids on the head. All of these were done in a sense of love
and sincerity.
"Come on," Téa urged. "This way." Apparently, she knew what she was doing
as Kaiba found himself uncomfortably facing Yugi, Yami, and their friends,
who were all idiots like him in his opinion, was all wearing suits.
"Morning, Téa." Yami's deep voice was smooth and rich as syrup. "Did you
make it through the snow alright? Any problem?"
"No problems, thanks to Kaiba's limo." Kaiba shifted uncomfortably while
Mokuba fall behind Téa and seems to be searching for comfort beside his big
brother. He gave his little brother's hand an assuring squeeze as Mokuba
also slipped his hand into Kaiba's unoccupied hand.
"Hey, Kaiba," Yami nodded over to the tall, stern-looking CEO. "Surprised
to see you here."
"Yeah, well," Kaiba turned his cold eyes over to Yami. "Téa was going to
take the kids, so I thought I'd better tag along. You know, don't want any
accidents happening unintentionally." He added sarcastically. He also
nodded to Joey, Tristan, and Ryou. Bakura all of a sudden appeared beside
his aibou.
"Morning, Arielle." He said softly, eyeing the young girl. He had a smirk
on his face that made him look evil and Kaiba could feel Arielle shrank
back further behind him.
"Seat, Kaiba?" Joey drawled out his Brooklyn accent. "It's going to start
soon, ya now."
"Hey, Sunshine," Bakura said under his breath smoothly, making sure nobody
heard him. "How about sitting next to me?"
Arielle looked up at him with frightened eyes, then she looked up at Kaiba,
who was hustling them down the pews. But under Bakura's deadly look, daring
her to object him, she seated herself beside the Albino haired teen. Bakura
settled down his seat comfortably, smirking to himself, while she squirmed.
As if sensing her discomfort, Kaiba eyed Bakura, then scowled. He stood up
from his seat and picked Arielle up, seating himself beside Bakura, giving
him a warning death glare as he placed Arielle beside Mokuba. Bakura gave a
growl deep from his throat.
"What was that?" Kaiba's voice was just as low and dangerous. Both teens
didn't want to cause a riot in church, so they spoke through gritted teeth.
Bakura smirked sarcastically.
"Nothing, Kaiba." He replied, emphasizing on Kaiba's name. "I have nothing
to say to you."
"Good. I'm glad." Kaiba turned back, focusing on the pastor. He scowled as
he crossed his arm. "Don't ever let me catch you making unnecessary remarks
around the kids ever again, you hear me?"
"Don't be mistaken, mortal," Bakura turned around to face Kaiba and smiled
maliciously. "I'm not one of those little worker that was hired by you,
there is no reason of why I should listen to you."
"Actually, there is." Kaiba smirked this time. The cold voice that he had
perfected years ago was cold enough to make an artificial flower wilt.
"Because if you don't leave Mokuba or Arielle alone, I will devote my life
on making yours miserable. And trust me, don't test me out, because I will
do it."
Before Bakura could answer, Teá leaned over and hushed everybody up.
"You guys," she whispered. "It's starting."
As soon as the pastor started talking, Kaiba silently slipped a pair of
mini headset over his head and took his laptop out. His fingers flying on
the keyboard, Kaiba fired silent commands at his computer, making progress
on his VirtualPod. He paused at the sharp sting on his right leg. He looked
over and saw both Mokuba and Arielle glaring at him. He raised one eyebrow.
"Kaiba!" A sharp whisper turned Kaiba's head to the other side of him. On
that side, seven pairs of indignant eyes faced him.
"Pay attention!" Téa glared at him. "I didn't bring you here just so you
can be buried in your work."
Kaiba closed his laptop reluctantly and looked up at the pastor. He sneaked
a peek over at Mokuba and Arielle, and was surprised on how they focused on
the elderly gentleman.
"You see," the pastor was saying. "Love is a combination trust, loyalty,
and faith. The belief in love itself. Love is not limited by time or space
or age. It is the highest expression of human emotion. When it's given
purely, without expectation or return, and accepted freely, without
parameters and conditions, it is a gift unto itself."
Kaiba did a double take and focused all of his attention on the minister.
Not that I'm interested, of course, he assured himself.
"For one, a journey into love, for another, a sharing of noble, sacrificial
love.for all, the discovery that true love transcends the self and makes a
person the better for having touched it." The elderly man continued on the
platform. "Each person must learn that nothing can break love's bond, not
even the face of death, and that this is one treasure that makes life
beautiful."
Kaiba scoffed. Life, beautiful? He thought bitterly. Better get your facts
straight before you do anymore preaching, old man.
"He who wants to experience love with amazing, life-changing depth, must
have the responsibility of recognizing and opening himself, allowing the
love to enter. The very first step is to admit the love and allow the love
to do its job."
For what? So that the person could let you down? So that person could hurt
you? No one could hurt you if you didn't let them get close to you. Kaiba
narrowed his cold blue eyes.
"But there is one thing that all you lovers out there shouldn't forget,"
The pastor was saying. "Time. Time doesn't stop love, but it does limit the
power if you didn't recognize love in time to respond to it. Not only
yourself would be hurt, but the other person also. Remember, you don't know
what's in store for tomorrow. There could be the possibility of never
knowing the was love between both of you, and worse, if you don't show it,
the love.the power itself, would be wasted and vanish."
From that point on, Kaiba shut himself off from the voice of the pastor. It
didn't help, he thought to himself with bitterness and the smallest amount
of disappointment. Nothing ever helps. Nothing will ever help me find the
true Seto Kaiba. I can't and have no one to trust.
I only have myself.
