Meril: * jumps up and down * I'm not by myself this time!!!
DT: * mutters * She roped us into it with the lasso she got from her dad. * jerks thumb towards tied up YB *
YB: * struggles * LET ME GO!!!!!!!
Meril: * grins weakly* Sorry YB. But I can't lose another editor.
YB: * gives Meril a death glare *
DT: * shrugs * Happy reading!
************* Chapter Four ************
Kaiba looked around and almost sighed with relief. It was Thursday and Maria was finally back in school. She was a little jumpy, but other wise was fine. He felt something hit the back of his head. Making sure the teacher was busy helping the rest of the class with a math problem, he reached behind and grabbed a note. Unfolding it, he saw it was from Ryou:
*Kaiba,
We figured out something last night. Maria will agree to a blind date occasionally, so that seems to be the best plan. Just be at the park by the old willow tree at 7. We'll get Maria there.
-Ryou*
Kaiba sighed before noticing Maria was reading a similar note. He watched as she frown before adding to it. She then flicked it back and it landed right on Kia's math paper. 'These four obviously had been passing notes for years.' He thought as Kia scrawled a response and flicked the note to where it hit Maria the same way Ryou's had hit him.
He quickly responded to Ryou's note:
*Ryou,
Okay. I don't even want to know how you'll get her there. How long have you been passing these notes anyway?
-Kaiba*
He carefully tossed the note over Ryou's shoulder, thanking the Gods that all five of them sat right next to each other. As he observed around him and saw the bell was about to ring, signaling homeroom. The bell rang the minute the thought hit him.
All five of them stayed put. Mr. Yukino, Kia's dad, was their homeroom/math teacher.
********** What takes place while Kaiba is reading his note ************
Maria sighed silently in exasperation as she reread Kia's note:
*Madame Mystery,
Remind me why we use code names again? Anyway, be at the park at 7 tonight. Someone will be waiting for you.
-Duchess of Mischief*
Maria added quickly in her small, loopy handwriting:
*Duchess of Mischief,
Do you want detention for a week? I really don't think that because he's your dad he will let us go. Anyway, is this another blind date?
-Madame Mystery*
It was barely five seconds till she got a response:
*Madame Mystery,
Yes.
-Duchess of Mischief*
With a sigh, Maria started getting her math things put away. The bell would soon ring, and she needed to try and squirm info out of Kia during homeroom.
********** After the Bell Rang **********
Kia was about to cave in to Maria. She kept getting closer and closer to the truth. Deciding to use an old trick, she changed the topic to Maria's mysterious Stranger in Her Paintings. Then the tables turned.
Meanwhile, Ryou and Yaten were trying to get Kaiba a code name.
"I still don't get the point of this!" Kaiba exclaimed in exasperation.
Ryou explained, "Kaiba, we don't want to get caught with the notes. Kia's dad is real strict about that. So we use different names on our notes so he doesn't know who we are."
"What are yours, then?" he asked curiously. Yaten said with pride that his was Baron of Trouble, Maria's Madame Mystery, Kia's Duchess of Mischief, and Ryou's Prince of Thieves. The latter earned an odd look from Kaiba. Ryou hastily explained it was Kia's idea.
All three couldn't decide what to call him. Yaten said hesitantly, "How about Lord of Shadows? Seems to fit you well. And it matches Maria's."
Kaiba slapped him lightly on the back of the head for the last comment. All three were soon laughing.
********** That night **********
Kaiba checked his watch again. 7:30. She wasn't coming. He was where they were suppose to meet, by Maria obviously wasn't coming-
"Kaiba!" a surprised voice said from behind him. He turned to see Maria standing there in shock. He too was flabbergasted for a moment. She was wearing a pair of brown flare pants and a green tank top. A brown leather jacket was the only thing on her shoulders. Her brown knee-high boots clicked as she approached him hesitantly.
"YOU are the blind date Kia set up?" she asked as she got closer. She stopped a foot away and put both hands in her pockets. Kaiba merely nodded. Sighing, she looked out onto the lake. "I'm still new to this. Mind if we just walk around a talk this time?"
Kaiba nodded with relief. "Fine with me. But first, let's get on first name terms."
Maria laughed softly, "Alright Kai- Seto." She soon started down the path, Seto right beside her.
"So, what do you do besides paint?" Kaiba asked, trying to break the ice. He was rewarded with a smile that made her face rival the moon.
"I try other kinds of materials, but I like oils better for some reason. I mostly read, if I'm not at Kia's painting or playing the guitar. You?"
He shrugged, "I'm either dueling, running Kaiba Corp., or taking care of Mokuba."
"Mokuba is you brother?" He nodded in response. She returned it before looking at the ground in front of her, biting her lip.
She made up her mind and asked carefully, "What about your parents?"
Seto then told her everything about his past. From his parents' death and the orphanage, to how he almost lost Mokuba to Pegasus. She was quiet through it all. This confused him, because most girls were either pitying him or giggling all the time.
When he was finished, Maria smiled softly, "Think of it this way. At least you remember your parents and what's left of your family loves you."
Seto then asked about her family. She hesitated before starting in a whisper, "Well, I live with my dad. My mom left a long time ago with my twin brother. I can't remember either of them very well. I remember my mom's red hair and her green eyes because I have them too. But my brother Tom is the one I remember the best. I remember his brown eyes being there every time I had a bad dream and his voice making me stop crying as Papa yelled and Mama screamed."
"Do you miss him?"
She nodded as a tear slid down her cheek, "Very much. He was my only real family. Papa says it's all my fault they left. That I drove them away because I'm the devil's child."
Seto gave her a startled look. Pearly tears ran down her face as she remembered all of the things her father had said to her. He gently put his arms around her shoulders causing both of them to stop walking. He mentally asked himself, 'Could her father be beating her?'
Maria didn't notice what he had done with his arms. She turned to run, figuring he would do the same thing Papa did. She was shocked to have a warm, soft yet at the same time hard wall blocking her get away. She looked up and was startled to see Seto looking at her intently. She barely had enough time to breathe before their lips connected.
Seto was mentally berating himself, 'What do you think you're doing?!? This is Maria! A girl you hardly even know!' He growled mentally at the annoying voice, 'Shut UP!' before applying a little more pressure.
They eventually parted for air. Both were blushing and Maria had her head down. Seto gently pulled it up and looked her straight in the eye. If he didn't know better, he would have thought her eyes were real emeralds.
"I have to go home before Papa finds out I sneaked out." She whispered as she got out of his embrace. Suddenly it was a whole lot colder. She stopped when she felt a hand on her shoulder.
"Maria, will you see me again?" He asked as he placed both hands on either shoulder. Her head barely reached his chin. She nodded beneath him, obviously feeling even more shy then he was. "How about Friday at the movies?" Again she nodded. "Alright. I'll pick you up at 8." At that, he let her go. She set out running, but before she was out of site, she looked back and smiled at him.
DT: * mutters * She roped us into it with the lasso she got from her dad. * jerks thumb towards tied up YB *
YB: * struggles * LET ME GO!!!!!!!
Meril: * grins weakly* Sorry YB. But I can't lose another editor.
YB: * gives Meril a death glare *
DT: * shrugs * Happy reading!
************* Chapter Four ************
Kaiba looked around and almost sighed with relief. It was Thursday and Maria was finally back in school. She was a little jumpy, but other wise was fine. He felt something hit the back of his head. Making sure the teacher was busy helping the rest of the class with a math problem, he reached behind and grabbed a note. Unfolding it, he saw it was from Ryou:
*Kaiba,
We figured out something last night. Maria will agree to a blind date occasionally, so that seems to be the best plan. Just be at the park by the old willow tree at 7. We'll get Maria there.
-Ryou*
Kaiba sighed before noticing Maria was reading a similar note. He watched as she frown before adding to it. She then flicked it back and it landed right on Kia's math paper. 'These four obviously had been passing notes for years.' He thought as Kia scrawled a response and flicked the note to where it hit Maria the same way Ryou's had hit him.
He quickly responded to Ryou's note:
*Ryou,
Okay. I don't even want to know how you'll get her there. How long have you been passing these notes anyway?
-Kaiba*
He carefully tossed the note over Ryou's shoulder, thanking the Gods that all five of them sat right next to each other. As he observed around him and saw the bell was about to ring, signaling homeroom. The bell rang the minute the thought hit him.
All five of them stayed put. Mr. Yukino, Kia's dad, was their homeroom/math teacher.
********** What takes place while Kaiba is reading his note ************
Maria sighed silently in exasperation as she reread Kia's note:
*Madame Mystery,
Remind me why we use code names again? Anyway, be at the park at 7 tonight. Someone will be waiting for you.
-Duchess of Mischief*
Maria added quickly in her small, loopy handwriting:
*Duchess of Mischief,
Do you want detention for a week? I really don't think that because he's your dad he will let us go. Anyway, is this another blind date?
-Madame Mystery*
It was barely five seconds till she got a response:
*Madame Mystery,
Yes.
-Duchess of Mischief*
With a sigh, Maria started getting her math things put away. The bell would soon ring, and she needed to try and squirm info out of Kia during homeroom.
********** After the Bell Rang **********
Kia was about to cave in to Maria. She kept getting closer and closer to the truth. Deciding to use an old trick, she changed the topic to Maria's mysterious Stranger in Her Paintings. Then the tables turned.
Meanwhile, Ryou and Yaten were trying to get Kaiba a code name.
"I still don't get the point of this!" Kaiba exclaimed in exasperation.
Ryou explained, "Kaiba, we don't want to get caught with the notes. Kia's dad is real strict about that. So we use different names on our notes so he doesn't know who we are."
"What are yours, then?" he asked curiously. Yaten said with pride that his was Baron of Trouble, Maria's Madame Mystery, Kia's Duchess of Mischief, and Ryou's Prince of Thieves. The latter earned an odd look from Kaiba. Ryou hastily explained it was Kia's idea.
All three couldn't decide what to call him. Yaten said hesitantly, "How about Lord of Shadows? Seems to fit you well. And it matches Maria's."
Kaiba slapped him lightly on the back of the head for the last comment. All three were soon laughing.
********** That night **********
Kaiba checked his watch again. 7:30. She wasn't coming. He was where they were suppose to meet, by Maria obviously wasn't coming-
"Kaiba!" a surprised voice said from behind him. He turned to see Maria standing there in shock. He too was flabbergasted for a moment. She was wearing a pair of brown flare pants and a green tank top. A brown leather jacket was the only thing on her shoulders. Her brown knee-high boots clicked as she approached him hesitantly.
"YOU are the blind date Kia set up?" she asked as she got closer. She stopped a foot away and put both hands in her pockets. Kaiba merely nodded. Sighing, she looked out onto the lake. "I'm still new to this. Mind if we just walk around a talk this time?"
Kaiba nodded with relief. "Fine with me. But first, let's get on first name terms."
Maria laughed softly, "Alright Kai- Seto." She soon started down the path, Seto right beside her.
"So, what do you do besides paint?" Kaiba asked, trying to break the ice. He was rewarded with a smile that made her face rival the moon.
"I try other kinds of materials, but I like oils better for some reason. I mostly read, if I'm not at Kia's painting or playing the guitar. You?"
He shrugged, "I'm either dueling, running Kaiba Corp., or taking care of Mokuba."
"Mokuba is you brother?" He nodded in response. She returned it before looking at the ground in front of her, biting her lip.
She made up her mind and asked carefully, "What about your parents?"
Seto then told her everything about his past. From his parents' death and the orphanage, to how he almost lost Mokuba to Pegasus. She was quiet through it all. This confused him, because most girls were either pitying him or giggling all the time.
When he was finished, Maria smiled softly, "Think of it this way. At least you remember your parents and what's left of your family loves you."
Seto then asked about her family. She hesitated before starting in a whisper, "Well, I live with my dad. My mom left a long time ago with my twin brother. I can't remember either of them very well. I remember my mom's red hair and her green eyes because I have them too. But my brother Tom is the one I remember the best. I remember his brown eyes being there every time I had a bad dream and his voice making me stop crying as Papa yelled and Mama screamed."
"Do you miss him?"
She nodded as a tear slid down her cheek, "Very much. He was my only real family. Papa says it's all my fault they left. That I drove them away because I'm the devil's child."
Seto gave her a startled look. Pearly tears ran down her face as she remembered all of the things her father had said to her. He gently put his arms around her shoulders causing both of them to stop walking. He mentally asked himself, 'Could her father be beating her?'
Maria didn't notice what he had done with his arms. She turned to run, figuring he would do the same thing Papa did. She was shocked to have a warm, soft yet at the same time hard wall blocking her get away. She looked up and was startled to see Seto looking at her intently. She barely had enough time to breathe before their lips connected.
Seto was mentally berating himself, 'What do you think you're doing?!? This is Maria! A girl you hardly even know!' He growled mentally at the annoying voice, 'Shut UP!' before applying a little more pressure.
They eventually parted for air. Both were blushing and Maria had her head down. Seto gently pulled it up and looked her straight in the eye. If he didn't know better, he would have thought her eyes were real emeralds.
"I have to go home before Papa finds out I sneaked out." She whispered as she got out of his embrace. Suddenly it was a whole lot colder. She stopped when she felt a hand on her shoulder.
"Maria, will you see me again?" He asked as he placed both hands on either shoulder. Her head barely reached his chin. She nodded beneath him, obviously feeling even more shy then he was. "How about Friday at the movies?" Again she nodded. "Alright. I'll pick you up at 8." At that, he let her go. She set out running, but before she was out of site, she looked back and smiled at him.