It wouldn't be so frustrating being up this early in the morning if I was
able to see the sunrise at least, Serenity thought. She had only gotten a
few hours sleep anyway, considering her visits with Tristen in the morning,
her mother and Joey in the afternoon and then the nurses insisting on
changing her bandages a couple hours before.
Her vist with Tristen had been the most memorable of all. He was such a nice guy and it seemed like they had almsot everyhting in common. He had made her laugh and made her forget about her troubles for awhile. She had thought she would have felt awkward touching his face, but being close to him just felt natural.
Losing herself in thoughts of Tristen, she almost didn't hear the phone beside her ring.
"Hello?" she yawned into the reciever.
"Serenity. Good morning, sweetheart. This is Seto. I hope I haven't woken you up." he told her.
Serenity smiled. "Seto! Oh, how nice you are to call me! No, I was awake. The nurses woke me up a couple hours ago and I haven't been able to go back to sleep. What are you doing up so late?" she asked.
He chuckled nervously. "I haven't been able to sleep either. I've wanted to call you since the moment we saw each other last. Mokuba and I have been very concerned about you. Did your surgery go well?" he asked.
"Oh yes. The doctors say I should make a full recovery in just a few weeks. I've missed you, Seto. How come you haven't come by to see me? I would really like you to." she said.
"I wasn't sure it was my place to intrude. I know how hard it is for someone to recover when they are being barraged by visitors all the time. I would never want to interfere in your getting better, Serenity." he told her.
"You are so considerate, Seto, to think about things like that. I have had a lot of visitors. My mother and brother have been here every day and so has Joey's friends. I actually got to meet one of his closest friends, a boy named Tristen." she said.
"Tristen...yes, I've heard his name before. I was surprised when he didn't register for Battle City." Seto said.
"He told me he wasn't really into Duel Monsters, that he was more concerned about being there to support his friends and building a future for himself." she said.
"Well, he obviously sounds like he knows what he wants out of life, just as I do. I couldn't imagine anyone else running Kaiba Corp. but me, except eventually I hope to have someone to share the duties with besides my brother. I know I'm still young, but I already have my future mapped out also." Seto said.
"It must be hard running a big corporation all by yourself. It's good that you have Mokuba around to support you and of course, I'll be there for you too." she said.
Seto's eyes widened. "You will? You'll be there to be supportive of me?" he asked.
She smiled. "Of course I will! I really care about you, Seto. It may be too soon to know for sure what the future holds for us, but I would like to be a part of your life for as long as you will have me." she said.
Seto smiled. "It's like you've read my mind, Serenity. There's nothing I would want more...so you want me to come see you?" he asked.
"Definitely yes. I should be getting out of the hospital in a couple days. Maybe you and Mokuba can come pick me up then." she said.
"That would be great. We're both looking forward to seeing you again." he said.
'I can't wait to see you again either, Seto. I tell you, I'd rather be there with you right now then here watching these awful talk shows on television...this one is talking about men that go to stip clubs. Have you ever been to one of those places, Seto?" she asked.
Seto blushed in spite of himself, at a loss for words. "Oh no, never. I'm too young to get into any of those places." he said.
Serenity giggled as he heard Mokuba in the background. 'What are you blushing about, Seto? What did she ask you?" he asked him.
"Be quiet, little brother. I'm on the phone." he told him.
"I'm sorry, Seto. I didn't mean to embarrass you." she said.
"It's okay. It's just that I very rarely think about women in that respect. You're the only girl I have an interest in, so I don't think about anyone else." he said.
'Oh Seto...I don't know what to say. When you say such sweet things to me, it just makes me miss you more. I have to admit that I've been thinking about you since I've been here." she said.
Seto smiled. "Really? What kind of thoughts?" he asked.
"Thoughts like how I wished you were here with me so we could hold each other, and you could kiss me like you did the last time we saw each other." she said.
Seto grinned. "I think I know that song. Could you hum me a few more bars?" he teased.
"Oh Seto...promise me that you'll come to see me soon?" she laughed.
"I promise, sweetheart. You just say the word, and I'll be there before you can finish the sentence." he told her.
"That means so much to me, Seto. Thank you. I'll see you soon then. Goodnight." she said.
Seto sighed and smiled. "Goodnight, beautiful Serenity." he said.
It was finally the weekend, and Joey was grateful for that. His teachers hadn't assigned him any homework and his father was still sleeping off his drunken binge from the night before. Joey snickered, recalling how his father had passed out early and he had been able to sneak a few more goodies from his father's bedroom dresser.
It wasn't as much fun getting high on your own, but it was easy to cover up with the exotic incenses Yugi had gotten for him at the Egyptian exhibit. He knew now that his young friend had two personas within him, the boy that he and Tristen had picked on for years, and the older spirit of the puzzle that had been Pharoh once upon a time in Egypt.
It had been Yama that had given him the incense, yet he felt as though he had a very strong bond with both boys. It had been Yugi he had gone to talk about his sister's dating status.
"Ever since we've reunited, she's been seeing Seto Kaiba, whom you know I don't like very much, but he seems to make her happy. Now I find that she's been visiting with Tristen as well. She's only sixteen! I don't want all these guys messing with her mind, I mean, I am a guy...I know what guys want from a girl like her. She's never even been with a guy as far as I know." Joey sighed.
"It's good of you to be concerned, Joey, but she seems to have a pretty level head of her shoulders. Seto's not the nicest guy in the world, but I'm sure he needs someone to care about him. As for Tristen, we both know he has a very pure heart and his intentions, if he has any, would be respectful towards her." Yugi said.
"I wish I could be as wise as you, Yugi. I swear I don't know what I would do without your friendship." Joey said.
"I feel the same way. So, are you ready to duel or what?" Yugi asked.
Joey smiled. "I'm ready whenever you are." he told him.
It has been a great morning so far, Serenity thought. I've finally caught up on my rest and the nurses have let me open my room windows to let in some fresh morning air. She had had some help bathing herself and washing her hair, and now she felt refreshed in the new outfit her mother had brought her. It was a cute pink outfit, consisting of a white and pink top, pink shorts, pink socks and soft white sneakers.
I can't wait to get these bandages off and get out of this hospital, Serenity thought, it will be wonderful to be able to see again. Running a brush through her hair, she smiled as she heard a knock on her door. She opened it to greet her new friend Tristen.
"Tristen! Hi." she said.
"Hi Serenity. I was thinking since you trusted me to walk you down to the hospital lunchroom yesterday, that you might let me take you for a picnic lunch on the grounds." he said.
She smiled and clapped her hands. "That sounds wonderful! I'd love to." she said.
Tristen smiled, relieved that she had said yes. He had taken a chance coming to see her with a picnic basket full of food, hoping she wouldn;t turn him down. He hadn't been able to stop thinking about her the whole day after they had parted, and he had prepared the whole meal especially for the occassion. She had accepted, and now he was escorting her, arm in arm, downstairs to the gardens below, grinning like a madman.
"Are we going to that charming organic garden to the west of the children's clinic? I saw that when I arrived here." she told him.
"That's exactly what I had planned. It's such a nice day out and I thought you would like to get out and get some sun." he said.
"It's like we've known each other forever, Tristen, we always know somehow what the other will enjoy. Thank you. I can think of no one else I'd rather spend the day with." she said.
It's time I got some work done, Seto growled, frustratred at all the distractions in his way of being productive. He had spent all morning shouting at the top of his lungs at any employee that looked at him cross eyed, and had done the same to any that asked for a moment of his time to sign papers or to inform him of a meeting. He barely looked up as his brother barged into his office.
"What do you want?" he asked.
"Don't talk to me like that, big brother! I'm not one of your employees, I'm your only blood relation...so the rumors are true after all." he said.
Seto narrowed his eyes at him. "What rumors?" he asked.
"Many of our employess have been talking about how hateful you've seemed to them today, like you've gone back to your old habits of being the boss everyone fears." Mokuba said.
"Good. I want them to fear me. This is a goddamn company I'm running, not a children's petting zoo!" Seto shouted.
"Seto, what you're doing is not right. I agree that Kaiba Corp. needs to be run in the strictest sense, but not like a dictatorship...what is eating you? Is it about Serenity?" Mokuba asked.
"Really Mokuba, must you always stick your nose into all of my business? Will you please give me some time to myself to think?" Seto asked.
Mokuba frowned and sighed. "Okay, big brother." he said.
Finally alone in his office with nothing but silence as his companion, Seto growled to himself, more frustrated than ever. He glanced at what had been on his laptop screen all day, the status of amateur duelist Tristen Taylor, the young man tha thad been visiting Serenity at the hospital. He couldn't understand why it bothered him so much that another was visiting her while she was hospitalized. He knew that this Tristen, this regular kid, was no match for the affections of the one he had feelings for, yet somehow he still felt threatened by him. It was probably because Serenity had sounded so happy when she had spoken of him and Seto had wanted to be that person with her instead.
I have never had to compete for a woman's affections before, Seto thought, never even had the urge to do so, yet just thinking of Tristen spending time with his Serenity aggravated him to no end...
Being alone with Serenity was everything Tristen had thought it would be. He barely noticed the beauty of the scenery around them as he watched the lady beside him, smiling happily as he described everything around them for her. She seemed to be really enjoying herself around him, laughing and sharing stories with him about the learning center and outings she had taken with Joey years before.
They had been walking for some time and he was getting hungry for their picnic. Picking a very pleasant area under some rose bushes, he spread out the blanket he had brought on the ground. Serenity smiled and sat quietly as he laid out their drinks and sandwiches, helping her to find her place setting.
They ate their meal in relative silence, until Tristen noticed a small animal lingering nearby.
"Serenity. there's a squirrel near us eyeing our food." he said.
"There is? Oh, I wish I could see him." she said.
"I think that if you break off a piece of your sandwich into your hand, it might try to take it from you." Tristen said.
Serenity smiled. "You really think so?" she asked.
Pulling off a corner of her sandwich, she timidly placed it at the end of her hand to offer it to the hungry creature. Tristen grinned as the squirrel approached Serenity tentively and snatched the treat away. She could not hold back her giggles as she realized what had happened.
"Oh wow, that was amazing! I have never done anything even remotely like that before." she giggled.
"I hope I can always give you surprises like that for as long as we know each other, Serenity." Tristen told her.
Serenity blushed. "Oh Tristen..." she whispered.
Taking a moment to reach behind him to pick a rose from one of the bushes, he turned back to face her. He moved closer to her and reached out with the rose itself to trace the outline of her face softly with it's petals. She gasped softly. not sure how to respond.
"Serenity, you are so beautiful...has anyone ever told you that before?" Tristen whispered.
Serenity smiled as she leaned into the flower's carress.
"Tristen..." she whispered.
She gasped again as he felt him linger just above her lips. She choked on a breath when istead of the rose brushing against her, it was the feeling of Tristen's lips lightly brushing against hers. their lips barely touched, it was like a whisper that she longed to hear more of...gasping himself from the sensation of the kiss as they parted, he kissed her again, unable to resist her...
She had never been kissed like this before, it was like everything she had imagined a kiss to be, soft, warm and very romantic. Parting from him, she was able to regain her senses and she realized what had just happened.
"Oh Tristen. I am so sorry." she told him.
He smiled at her. "Sorry for what, Serenity?" he asked.
"I don't exactly what time it is, but I need to get back to my room right away. I should've been down here so long. I'm sure my nurses are worried sick." she said.
"It's my fault. I was enjoying your company too much today. Thank you for having lunch with me, Serenity." he told her.
She thanked him as well as he loaded up their things and escorted her back upstairs. As he said goodbye to her for the day, she couldn't help but think of the kiss they had shared. Despite feeling bad about letting it happen in the first place, it seemed as though kissing Tristen was the most natural feeling in the world...
Her vist with Tristen had been the most memorable of all. He was such a nice guy and it seemed like they had almsot everyhting in common. He had made her laugh and made her forget about her troubles for awhile. She had thought she would have felt awkward touching his face, but being close to him just felt natural.
Losing herself in thoughts of Tristen, she almost didn't hear the phone beside her ring.
"Hello?" she yawned into the reciever.
"Serenity. Good morning, sweetheart. This is Seto. I hope I haven't woken you up." he told her.
Serenity smiled. "Seto! Oh, how nice you are to call me! No, I was awake. The nurses woke me up a couple hours ago and I haven't been able to go back to sleep. What are you doing up so late?" she asked.
He chuckled nervously. "I haven't been able to sleep either. I've wanted to call you since the moment we saw each other last. Mokuba and I have been very concerned about you. Did your surgery go well?" he asked.
"Oh yes. The doctors say I should make a full recovery in just a few weeks. I've missed you, Seto. How come you haven't come by to see me? I would really like you to." she said.
"I wasn't sure it was my place to intrude. I know how hard it is for someone to recover when they are being barraged by visitors all the time. I would never want to interfere in your getting better, Serenity." he told her.
"You are so considerate, Seto, to think about things like that. I have had a lot of visitors. My mother and brother have been here every day and so has Joey's friends. I actually got to meet one of his closest friends, a boy named Tristen." she said.
"Tristen...yes, I've heard his name before. I was surprised when he didn't register for Battle City." Seto said.
"He told me he wasn't really into Duel Monsters, that he was more concerned about being there to support his friends and building a future for himself." she said.
"Well, he obviously sounds like he knows what he wants out of life, just as I do. I couldn't imagine anyone else running Kaiba Corp. but me, except eventually I hope to have someone to share the duties with besides my brother. I know I'm still young, but I already have my future mapped out also." Seto said.
"It must be hard running a big corporation all by yourself. It's good that you have Mokuba around to support you and of course, I'll be there for you too." she said.
Seto's eyes widened. "You will? You'll be there to be supportive of me?" he asked.
She smiled. "Of course I will! I really care about you, Seto. It may be too soon to know for sure what the future holds for us, but I would like to be a part of your life for as long as you will have me." she said.
Seto smiled. "It's like you've read my mind, Serenity. There's nothing I would want more...so you want me to come see you?" he asked.
"Definitely yes. I should be getting out of the hospital in a couple days. Maybe you and Mokuba can come pick me up then." she said.
"That would be great. We're both looking forward to seeing you again." he said.
'I can't wait to see you again either, Seto. I tell you, I'd rather be there with you right now then here watching these awful talk shows on television...this one is talking about men that go to stip clubs. Have you ever been to one of those places, Seto?" she asked.
Seto blushed in spite of himself, at a loss for words. "Oh no, never. I'm too young to get into any of those places." he said.
Serenity giggled as he heard Mokuba in the background. 'What are you blushing about, Seto? What did she ask you?" he asked him.
"Be quiet, little brother. I'm on the phone." he told him.
"I'm sorry, Seto. I didn't mean to embarrass you." she said.
"It's okay. It's just that I very rarely think about women in that respect. You're the only girl I have an interest in, so I don't think about anyone else." he said.
'Oh Seto...I don't know what to say. When you say such sweet things to me, it just makes me miss you more. I have to admit that I've been thinking about you since I've been here." she said.
Seto smiled. "Really? What kind of thoughts?" he asked.
"Thoughts like how I wished you were here with me so we could hold each other, and you could kiss me like you did the last time we saw each other." she said.
Seto grinned. "I think I know that song. Could you hum me a few more bars?" he teased.
"Oh Seto...promise me that you'll come to see me soon?" she laughed.
"I promise, sweetheart. You just say the word, and I'll be there before you can finish the sentence." he told her.
"That means so much to me, Seto. Thank you. I'll see you soon then. Goodnight." she said.
Seto sighed and smiled. "Goodnight, beautiful Serenity." he said.
It was finally the weekend, and Joey was grateful for that. His teachers hadn't assigned him any homework and his father was still sleeping off his drunken binge from the night before. Joey snickered, recalling how his father had passed out early and he had been able to sneak a few more goodies from his father's bedroom dresser.
It wasn't as much fun getting high on your own, but it was easy to cover up with the exotic incenses Yugi had gotten for him at the Egyptian exhibit. He knew now that his young friend had two personas within him, the boy that he and Tristen had picked on for years, and the older spirit of the puzzle that had been Pharoh once upon a time in Egypt.
It had been Yama that had given him the incense, yet he felt as though he had a very strong bond with both boys. It had been Yugi he had gone to talk about his sister's dating status.
"Ever since we've reunited, she's been seeing Seto Kaiba, whom you know I don't like very much, but he seems to make her happy. Now I find that she's been visiting with Tristen as well. She's only sixteen! I don't want all these guys messing with her mind, I mean, I am a guy...I know what guys want from a girl like her. She's never even been with a guy as far as I know." Joey sighed.
"It's good of you to be concerned, Joey, but she seems to have a pretty level head of her shoulders. Seto's not the nicest guy in the world, but I'm sure he needs someone to care about him. As for Tristen, we both know he has a very pure heart and his intentions, if he has any, would be respectful towards her." Yugi said.
"I wish I could be as wise as you, Yugi. I swear I don't know what I would do without your friendship." Joey said.
"I feel the same way. So, are you ready to duel or what?" Yugi asked.
Joey smiled. "I'm ready whenever you are." he told him.
It has been a great morning so far, Serenity thought. I've finally caught up on my rest and the nurses have let me open my room windows to let in some fresh morning air. She had had some help bathing herself and washing her hair, and now she felt refreshed in the new outfit her mother had brought her. It was a cute pink outfit, consisting of a white and pink top, pink shorts, pink socks and soft white sneakers.
I can't wait to get these bandages off and get out of this hospital, Serenity thought, it will be wonderful to be able to see again. Running a brush through her hair, she smiled as she heard a knock on her door. She opened it to greet her new friend Tristen.
"Tristen! Hi." she said.
"Hi Serenity. I was thinking since you trusted me to walk you down to the hospital lunchroom yesterday, that you might let me take you for a picnic lunch on the grounds." he said.
She smiled and clapped her hands. "That sounds wonderful! I'd love to." she said.
Tristen smiled, relieved that she had said yes. He had taken a chance coming to see her with a picnic basket full of food, hoping she wouldn;t turn him down. He hadn't been able to stop thinking about her the whole day after they had parted, and he had prepared the whole meal especially for the occassion. She had accepted, and now he was escorting her, arm in arm, downstairs to the gardens below, grinning like a madman.
"Are we going to that charming organic garden to the west of the children's clinic? I saw that when I arrived here." she told him.
"That's exactly what I had planned. It's such a nice day out and I thought you would like to get out and get some sun." he said.
"It's like we've known each other forever, Tristen, we always know somehow what the other will enjoy. Thank you. I can think of no one else I'd rather spend the day with." she said.
It's time I got some work done, Seto growled, frustratred at all the distractions in his way of being productive. He had spent all morning shouting at the top of his lungs at any employee that looked at him cross eyed, and had done the same to any that asked for a moment of his time to sign papers or to inform him of a meeting. He barely looked up as his brother barged into his office.
"What do you want?" he asked.
"Don't talk to me like that, big brother! I'm not one of your employees, I'm your only blood relation...so the rumors are true after all." he said.
Seto narrowed his eyes at him. "What rumors?" he asked.
"Many of our employess have been talking about how hateful you've seemed to them today, like you've gone back to your old habits of being the boss everyone fears." Mokuba said.
"Good. I want them to fear me. This is a goddamn company I'm running, not a children's petting zoo!" Seto shouted.
"Seto, what you're doing is not right. I agree that Kaiba Corp. needs to be run in the strictest sense, but not like a dictatorship...what is eating you? Is it about Serenity?" Mokuba asked.
"Really Mokuba, must you always stick your nose into all of my business? Will you please give me some time to myself to think?" Seto asked.
Mokuba frowned and sighed. "Okay, big brother." he said.
Finally alone in his office with nothing but silence as his companion, Seto growled to himself, more frustrated than ever. He glanced at what had been on his laptop screen all day, the status of amateur duelist Tristen Taylor, the young man tha thad been visiting Serenity at the hospital. He couldn't understand why it bothered him so much that another was visiting her while she was hospitalized. He knew that this Tristen, this regular kid, was no match for the affections of the one he had feelings for, yet somehow he still felt threatened by him. It was probably because Serenity had sounded so happy when she had spoken of him and Seto had wanted to be that person with her instead.
I have never had to compete for a woman's affections before, Seto thought, never even had the urge to do so, yet just thinking of Tristen spending time with his Serenity aggravated him to no end...
Being alone with Serenity was everything Tristen had thought it would be. He barely noticed the beauty of the scenery around them as he watched the lady beside him, smiling happily as he described everything around them for her. She seemed to be really enjoying herself around him, laughing and sharing stories with him about the learning center and outings she had taken with Joey years before.
They had been walking for some time and he was getting hungry for their picnic. Picking a very pleasant area under some rose bushes, he spread out the blanket he had brought on the ground. Serenity smiled and sat quietly as he laid out their drinks and sandwiches, helping her to find her place setting.
They ate their meal in relative silence, until Tristen noticed a small animal lingering nearby.
"Serenity. there's a squirrel near us eyeing our food." he said.
"There is? Oh, I wish I could see him." she said.
"I think that if you break off a piece of your sandwich into your hand, it might try to take it from you." Tristen said.
Serenity smiled. "You really think so?" she asked.
Pulling off a corner of her sandwich, she timidly placed it at the end of her hand to offer it to the hungry creature. Tristen grinned as the squirrel approached Serenity tentively and snatched the treat away. She could not hold back her giggles as she realized what had happened.
"Oh wow, that was amazing! I have never done anything even remotely like that before." she giggled.
"I hope I can always give you surprises like that for as long as we know each other, Serenity." Tristen told her.
Serenity blushed. "Oh Tristen..." she whispered.
Taking a moment to reach behind him to pick a rose from one of the bushes, he turned back to face her. He moved closer to her and reached out with the rose itself to trace the outline of her face softly with it's petals. She gasped softly. not sure how to respond.
"Serenity, you are so beautiful...has anyone ever told you that before?" Tristen whispered.
Serenity smiled as she leaned into the flower's carress.
"Tristen..." she whispered.
She gasped again as he felt him linger just above her lips. She choked on a breath when istead of the rose brushing against her, it was the feeling of Tristen's lips lightly brushing against hers. their lips barely touched, it was like a whisper that she longed to hear more of...gasping himself from the sensation of the kiss as they parted, he kissed her again, unable to resist her...
She had never been kissed like this before, it was like everything she had imagined a kiss to be, soft, warm and very romantic. Parting from him, she was able to regain her senses and she realized what had just happened.
"Oh Tristen. I am so sorry." she told him.
He smiled at her. "Sorry for what, Serenity?" he asked.
"I don't exactly what time it is, but I need to get back to my room right away. I should've been down here so long. I'm sure my nurses are worried sick." she said.
"It's my fault. I was enjoying your company too much today. Thank you for having lunch with me, Serenity." he told her.
She thanked him as well as he loaded up their things and escorted her back upstairs. As he said goodbye to her for the day, she couldn't help but think of the kiss they had shared. Despite feeling bad about letting it happen in the first place, it seemed as though kissing Tristen was the most natural feeling in the world...