Disclaimer: If I owned YGO, you would see a scene with Tea kicking some
serious ass, and Yugi would wear glasses. ^^ There is just something SO
adorable about imagining Yugi-chan in glasses!
AND NOW, more Mai and Rei, wrecking havoc on the world . . . namely; Seto- chan!
Review Responses:
*R Amethyst - Yeah, everyone just likes to pick on poor Baku-chan, but we LUV him all the same, right? ^^ Hey, thanks for the encouragement! Soujiro is a lot like Ryou, and that's probably why there's so much angst involved with him. I haven't found any good Ryou-centered stories that don't involve some form of angst, or another. Maybe I should give him a shiny katana *drools* Not in this story, though*coughs*
*Yami Krissy - Aw . . . *pouts* You took him away from me! Oh well, I still have . . . *grins* Kuja from FFIX, Legato from Trigun, Aoshi from RK, Kenshin from RK (nrr), and YUE-CHAN FROM CCS!!! *glomps Yue* Yes, I am going through a mild obsession right now ^^;;; Oh yeah, and Hotohori-sama from Fushigi Yuugi.
Mai and Rei's adventures amused me greatly throughout this chapter. I have no idea why. *looking lost* Thanks for the luck for the tournament! I was pitching pretty well; one game was a two-hitter, and another was a four- hitter. Way cool!
*Summer Psycho - Better than published works *blushies* That has to be the nicest compliment I've ever heard! Oh my *huggles Psycho* Thank you just isn't enough. I'm glad you liked the Kaiba musician thing--he just TOTALLY looks like an anti-social drummer type, doesn't he?
Unfortunately (but not for long once you realize my plans *twiddles thumbs*), it's going to get a lot more cliché from here. However, my challenge is to make it almost so cliché, it's not ^^ Tell me if it's still working!
*Shenya - Teehee, gotta love the misunderstood ones, don't we? ^^ I'm really sorry, but--no Bakura in this chapter *runs and hides*
~*~*~*~*~*~*~
Mai's esoteric-shaped eyes narrowed immediately, fixated on the handsome drummer with a new-found purpose. Her companion watched her expectantly with a faint blush and hoping that she wasn't mistaken; that would be rather embarrassing, truth to be told. Bored, wandering shadow shapes danced faintly across Mai's lovely face and shielded her olive-toned complexion from the unsavory, yet mood appropriate, spotlights.
"No . . . wait! It IS him!" her laugh was strong and oddly frightening, Rei knew just how intimidating it was to be on the other end of the cackle "Shit, this is ironic . . . "
A few of the surrounding people looked quizzically at the girl's abrupt reaction, though they didn't guess the purpose of her helpless mirth. Rei did her best to ignore the stares as well as Mai was.
But she felt their eyes on them. It was rather disconcerting.
As Mai's voice died down to a mischievously sly level, her eyes betraying that she was pondering, or rather, 'scheming' to someone's misfortune, Rei began to realize the whole absurdity of the situation.
Here he was; Mr "I Don't Have Time For That", mingling among the fools. And ~enjoying~ it.
Ryou could honestly claim that he had never actually 'liked' Seto Kaiba, careless prick that he was. Mokuba often seemed a bit frightened by the white-haired boy, which he attempted rewardingly to ignore, however that alone was enough reason for him to stay as clear as possible from the Kaibas' presence. And though he would infinitely deny it, Rei knew that Seto Kaiba was as ignorant as his school-peers on nearly all matters besides his job--and chess of course.
The thought made her smile wryly.
Finishing of the last song with a cymbal-induced flourish, the drummer paused, wiping off glittering sweat from his brow. It was an oddly dignified scene, and flattered his image enough that a few catcalls raucously echoed in his obvious direction.
Kaiba nodded with his face still an unreadable mask, and with the grim efficiency of an experienced and successful businessman, he exited backstage as his band-mates followed sullenly.
"Oh, we just ~can't~ pass this opportunity up!" Mai noted with a great deal of evilness evident in her tone.
Rei's insides froze, somewhat unsurprised that Mai wouldn't be satisfied with the simple knowledge. She just wasn't subtle with knowledge worthy of revenge, and with that realization, Rei sighed, shaking her head so that her recently shorted pig-tails swayed in agitation to mirror her own.
"What are you going to do?"
The blonde didn't answer immediately, but began muttering under her breath things that Rei wasn't sure she wanted to hear, anyway.
"Let's see . . . " her blonde curled were thrown over her shoulder carelessly, as her curvy figure swiveled in her seat. Then she pointed at a door in the corner "There! I think we need to pay our friendly acquaintance a pleasant visit, don't you think?"
Rei looked at her as if she had grown an extra head.
"Wait," she rushed "don't answer that."
After the almost ceremonious milling of the crowd about them, and the mingling of conversation falling down to let the recorded music take over, the two girls got up casually, and fought through the masses. Customers seemed particularly inclined to stand where they were, and damned hard to move aside too, so it took them a few minutes just to get to the other side of the room. Rei gave one last glare at the arrogant and quite oblivious customers, but she knew that she shouldn't blame them as it was a Friday, and no one should deny them the right to enjoy themselves.
She turned to Mai with a twisting sense of foreboding. Her assured grin was of the contagious type, but after taking a quick glance of the door in their path, all she could manage was a shaky sort of smile.
The lights and laughs were much more animated than them, but they held the most sense of purposeful power in the room, even if most didn't bother to notice. Rei fingered the charmed choker around her neck, with a grimly hesitant look.
"You do realize that the door is clearly marked 'employees only', right?"
"Hey, what's the worst that can happen?!"
"Those have to be the most infamous 'last words' I can come up with."
And Mai just summed up her policy in one, simple word.
" . . . So?"
~*~*~*~
They entered the 'off limits' area without disturbance, and absolutely no one was even in the vicinity. There were no windows and few lights down these halls; the large gray bricks illuminated with unnatural yellow light.
Rei's attention was constantly alert for anyone who might see them. From what she figured from before, employees of the club dressed in an all black uniform, that although was not entirely ~abnormal~, would make an unsavory contrast to the two girls' outfits.
She had hoped they would be in, out, and on with life quickly, but Mai seemed so cautious on this aspect of their mission, even after fifteen minutes, they hadn't chose a door yet.
Every little sound seemed more startling by the second, and Rei, who was certain their luck wouldn't last for long, jump at unexpected echoes.
Mai was ignoring her and her quiet pleas for a more rapid decision, as she set her tongue between her teeth and examined each door closely. Rei saw her lean in to listen behind one, as her agitated friend immediately situated herself in a defensive position, not that it would help if someone actually came down the halls and noticed their intrusion. She shuddered to think of what ~that~ might mean.
Suddenly, the blonde snapped back up with a smile. Rei actually yelped in startled surprise, before clutching at her chest as if to slow the beats of her heart.
"Ready?" Mai mouthed, looking like a cat who caught the rat; very pleased with herself.
/I doubt I'll ever be ready./ oh yes, that nice vision of herself curled up with a book seemed quite favorable at that moment--
The blonde duelist didn't wait for a reply. Rei's entire body went rigid as the other girl knocked three times--three, squarely landing blows--that sounded ominously through the deserted hallway. Rei hugged her arms to below her chest, and gulped nervously.
"Candy Gram!" she crowed.
The white haired bishojo shook her head at Mai's unfailing outtake on humor, even if it was hard to guess otherwise.
"Do you think he's actually stupid enough to open the door?" she whispered as quietly as she could manage. Mai was looking satisfied again, and didn't look away from the door.
"Stupid, no. Ignorant enough not to know the difference, yes."
The door opened abruptly, without preamble.
Rei choked in surprise, which eventually led her into a mad coughing fit, hanging onto Mai's shoulder just to stay upright. Mai looked vaguely pouty and put-out that it shattered all chances of looking intimidating in the face of the teenage CEO. After a while of silence only tainted by Rei's coughs, Mai looked down at her without moving her head, and helped her face forward.
She stopped coughing.
~*~*~*~
He wandered again, but with more of a purpose than his previous attempt, keeping his startlingly dispassionate face hidden to the realities. His gaze was masked as well, but he seemed to know where he was going.
It appeared, as expected, but before it could be allowed to come up with some witty comment, he spoke first.
"I have come for answers."
"So you have." The voice was calm, understanding the importance of the situation "I trust you have accepted the truth of your mistake?"
"I make no mistakes."
"Really, now."
Both of them had placed their barriers up to the extreme, and betrayed nothing through their smooth tones and imagined gestures. Sensing the tension in one another, they both became immediately wary.
Without taking notice of the Change of Heart's sarcastic reply, Shadi spoke again, his blank blue eyes dulled and staring.
"The Eye, you say the Hikari of the Ring has the Eye."
"Indeed." She bowed her head curtly.
"Why is it that I have not taken notice of such as this?" he made no gestures with his hands; they remained concealed under his voluminous sleeves. "Why has the Eye not forsaken a soul who holds no right to it?"
"'Tis the will of the gods'" she quoted, rather amused.
Shadi's lips tightened.
"Of course, the Eye has never been too picky about it's users. Like the last such imposter, whose soul will forever be wandering and regretful of his mistakes.
"The Eye IS the 'woman's item', after all." Her grin grew ironic.
"The Hikari of the Ring is not a woman."
"Perhaps." She looked behind him, finding the landscape a great deal more interesting than his accusations and false reassurances which held no power in her domain. He just hadn't noticed his impudence yet; he truly was a fool. "But a child, yes." A girl-child, under her influence.
"I do not understand!"
"There is much you do not understand." She told him, coldly. "Leave this place, now. Do not return."
"Not before you tell me the ~true~ owner of the Millennium Eye."
She stared at him, anticipating his exit.
"I believe this matter is my business." He told her logically, but his superior tone never faded in the least.
"No," she began, in unsuppressed rage "he who neglects ~feeling~ does not deserve the rights to such 'business'."
And with that, she forcefully banished him from her realm, her Sanctuary, with so much power that Shadi did not regain consciousness in reality for three days after.
~*~*~*~
"So-o-o-o-o, um," Rei started, daring to break the uncomfortable silence as she tried to look animated and obvious while looking around. "nice place you've got here."
She winced, after realizing a moment too late how stupid that sounded.
Mai made a strangled noise in her throat, the only outside showing of embarrassment toward Rei's comment. Her eyes nearly looked pleading for her to stay quiet, and Rei immediately began to stare at the toes of her laced- up boots as her hands carefully folded onto the flowing, pleaded folds of her knee-high skirt.
"Who the hell are you?" Seto Kaiba demanded to Rei before turning to Mai "What do you want, Valentine?
She puffed herself up like a preening hen under his cold gaze, looking disgusted and disgruntled on his lack of manners. He was opposed to the girls in an old wooden chair; leaning over his black slacks and white work- shirt (with a studded belt that looked quite peculiar). His long legs were angled oddly, as if the chair was too short, and his arms rested comfortably balanced on his legs, whereas his face looked anything but comfortable.
He didn't look too pleased with their intrusion, but he could hardly let two girls who knew his 'secret' go without consulting him first.
Kaiba had foreseen something of the like happening, and had every intention to pay them as much as they needed to keep their mouths shut. He should have known it would be Valentine . . .
"We just wanted to congratulate you on your awesome performance." Mai smiled, truthfully (/for once!/ Rei thought wildly), then continued "Even if your band totally ~sucked~."
Yeah, she took her insults so skillfully, her tone was still that of her unexpected compliment.
"How much money do you want." He growled dangerously low, and narrowing his eyes to infamous slits. Kaiba looked at the other girl, scrutinizing her closely, though neither females noticed.
She looked so familiar somehow.
"Money?!" Mai laughed "What do you think we are?! A ~charity~ case?! I think I've established myself well enough to do without your bribing, Kaiba. Oh, and I was wondering," she changed the subject seamlessly "where did you find your band, are they your bodyguards or something?"
He said nothing.
Rei looked at him in disbelief.
"You mean I was right?" Mai asked, considerably amused by this new revelation "That's sad, Kaiba. Really sad."
He rolled his eyes as if he were trying to ignore the two of them to his greatest potential. He leaned back, now, in a supposedly uncaring posture.
"What do you want?"
He seemed to say it dramatically and tragically, like a spoiled child, sullen-faced after a temper tantrum.
"Oh, just to talk."
"Fine! You caught me! I don't admit to things such as this so easily, but you and your sidekick have won, and you can now go home, feeling satisfied with your amazing cleverness!"
"Whoever said this was about winning?" spoke Rei, quietly.
They looked at her, almost as if they had forgotten she was there. Mai quickly sputtered out a comment of assent.
"Look," he leaned forward again, looking even more dangerous than before "I've had enough of your smart-assed comments about my--the band that I'm in. Besides, I doubt you could be considered any better."
/Oh my, I never realized just how bad and pathetic he really sounds when defending something unexpected./ Rei felt almost sorry for him /He must rehearse his speeches or something . . . heh. But that was DEFFIDENTLY the ~wrong~ thing to say to Mai Valentine./
She stood up.
It was the angriest she had ever seen her, ~truly~ angry, rather than appearing simply taken aback in thwarted disappointment. No, Mai was mad.
A mad woman, who could have easily taken out Seto Kaiba at that moment, with more that just words.
"As a matter of fact, I'm ~much~ better at playing bass than your paid cronies, you jackass!" she shrieked.
"Hn." Kaiba smirked "If you're so good, let's hear you then."
"Fine! Next Saturday! We'll see who's smiling then!"
"Not that the bass really takes much talent at all--"
"Cut the crap." She huffed.
"Alright Valentine. Meet me at my home at 11 AM next Saturday."
"If I'm good enough for you, we'll start a band."
"Agreed."
Rei paused quizically for a second; that was a complete change of subject. Were they conscious of it?
"Though it's not as if we can field a band with only a bass and a set of drums . . . "
"Then Rei can sing!"
/ . . . Is that what I thought I heard./
"WHAT?!"
Said girl fell down, overbalanced with a dizzy, sinking feeling. Her anger flared up /Why are they talking about me like I'm not here?/ she thought miserably, knowing that she would not get out of this predicament.
The clash of egos. Rei gulped.
Her eyes were swirly as her body went as limp as a rag-doll's.
/--S-sing?--/
Meanwhile, the other two heartless souls were casually discussing her doom as if it were a perfectly normal idea.
/--I can't sing--/
"Fine."
"FINE!" Mai bellowed.
They stood silent for a moment as Rei was on the ground between them, looking drunk on the horrible, horrible ideas. Maybe it was just a bad dream . . . stuff like that happens in nightmares, right?
Seto Kaiba walked purposefully over to a metal, all-purpose table, and easily opened his silver briefcase.
/--can't sing--oh god--/
After calmly sorting through a few folder's worth of papers, the young businessman straightened back up as he took out a packet delicately stuck together with a paper-clip, and handed it to the now considerably calmer blonde. Her sunset-shade violet eyes danced over the paper, and she giggled.
"So ~that's~ what you keep in that briefcase," she smirked, wryly.
He gave no notice that he had even heard her comment.
"The parts are all there. Remember: 11 o'clock ~sharp~. I have no use for people who waste my time."
With that, he strolled out of the room, briefcase in hand, blue coat flowing mysteriously behind him.
Rei groaned, and fainted. Hard day.
"Hey Rei, ready to--Rei?"
~*~*~*~*~*~*~
"Desperate times call for desperate intervention, especially when Ryou was so close to losing all control. Unfortunately, it wasn't really 'help' that he was given . . . "
Whaddya think? New summary? I'm really bad at them, but the one I have up at the moment is probably the worst one possible.
Of course, that's up to you guys ^^ Tell me what I should do, please?
FF.net has been doing something funk-ay . . . that's why I waited so long to post up this chapter. Apparently, people around the site have been losing reviews, and I happen to be one of them ^^;;; I know, because I posted up a review on one of my stories to test out the theory, and I was never notified that it had gone through.
Still *sniffle* I was so sad when I figured only ONE person reviewed on my last chapter of "'Rainbows", and I've consistently been getting at least ten per chapter in the past. Same instance with my new HP/YGO crossover. Maybe no one reviewed . . . but if you did, you might want to check if they're there anymore. Thanks!
Yeah, I did get Rei's googly-eyed scene from Rurouni Kenshin ^^
FLCL IS SOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO COOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOL!!!!!!
^^
If you haven't seen Furi Kuri, you MUST. It is so weird, and The Pillows did the soundtrack *starry eyed*
*NOTICE*: I am in need of an OC! So I want YOU to help me out!
Just leave a profile in your review. I would prefer if your character is a normal person--yourself, perhaps? Not a Mary-Sue, though. Just tell me about yourself like you are in real life (and make up a new name ^^)
The 125th reviewer will be the person whose character I will add to my story. It won't be a specifically main character, mind you, but I just want to test out my writing skills on adding stuff about a person I don't know much about ^^ Of course, I doubt I will get to 125 reviews from this chapter . . .
I would greatly appreciate your assistance on this matter!
*goes back to listening to Pillows*
Toodle-oo!
giggleplex
AND NOW, more Mai and Rei, wrecking havoc on the world . . . namely; Seto- chan!
Review Responses:
*R Amethyst - Yeah, everyone just likes to pick on poor Baku-chan, but we LUV him all the same, right? ^^ Hey, thanks for the encouragement! Soujiro is a lot like Ryou, and that's probably why there's so much angst involved with him. I haven't found any good Ryou-centered stories that don't involve some form of angst, or another. Maybe I should give him a shiny katana *drools* Not in this story, though*coughs*
*Yami Krissy - Aw . . . *pouts* You took him away from me! Oh well, I still have . . . *grins* Kuja from FFIX, Legato from Trigun, Aoshi from RK, Kenshin from RK (nrr), and YUE-CHAN FROM CCS!!! *glomps Yue* Yes, I am going through a mild obsession right now ^^;;; Oh yeah, and Hotohori-sama from Fushigi Yuugi.
Mai and Rei's adventures amused me greatly throughout this chapter. I have no idea why. *looking lost* Thanks for the luck for the tournament! I was pitching pretty well; one game was a two-hitter, and another was a four- hitter. Way cool!
*Summer Psycho - Better than published works *blushies* That has to be the nicest compliment I've ever heard! Oh my *huggles Psycho* Thank you just isn't enough. I'm glad you liked the Kaiba musician thing--he just TOTALLY looks like an anti-social drummer type, doesn't he?
Unfortunately (but not for long once you realize my plans *twiddles thumbs*), it's going to get a lot more cliché from here. However, my challenge is to make it almost so cliché, it's not ^^ Tell me if it's still working!
*Shenya - Teehee, gotta love the misunderstood ones, don't we? ^^ I'm really sorry, but--no Bakura in this chapter *runs and hides*
~*~*~*~*~*~*~
Mai's esoteric-shaped eyes narrowed immediately, fixated on the handsome drummer with a new-found purpose. Her companion watched her expectantly with a faint blush and hoping that she wasn't mistaken; that would be rather embarrassing, truth to be told. Bored, wandering shadow shapes danced faintly across Mai's lovely face and shielded her olive-toned complexion from the unsavory, yet mood appropriate, spotlights.
"No . . . wait! It IS him!" her laugh was strong and oddly frightening, Rei knew just how intimidating it was to be on the other end of the cackle "Shit, this is ironic . . . "
A few of the surrounding people looked quizzically at the girl's abrupt reaction, though they didn't guess the purpose of her helpless mirth. Rei did her best to ignore the stares as well as Mai was.
But she felt their eyes on them. It was rather disconcerting.
As Mai's voice died down to a mischievously sly level, her eyes betraying that she was pondering, or rather, 'scheming' to someone's misfortune, Rei began to realize the whole absurdity of the situation.
Here he was; Mr "I Don't Have Time For That", mingling among the fools. And ~enjoying~ it.
Ryou could honestly claim that he had never actually 'liked' Seto Kaiba, careless prick that he was. Mokuba often seemed a bit frightened by the white-haired boy, which he attempted rewardingly to ignore, however that alone was enough reason for him to stay as clear as possible from the Kaibas' presence. And though he would infinitely deny it, Rei knew that Seto Kaiba was as ignorant as his school-peers on nearly all matters besides his job--and chess of course.
The thought made her smile wryly.
Finishing of the last song with a cymbal-induced flourish, the drummer paused, wiping off glittering sweat from his brow. It was an oddly dignified scene, and flattered his image enough that a few catcalls raucously echoed in his obvious direction.
Kaiba nodded with his face still an unreadable mask, and with the grim efficiency of an experienced and successful businessman, he exited backstage as his band-mates followed sullenly.
"Oh, we just ~can't~ pass this opportunity up!" Mai noted with a great deal of evilness evident in her tone.
Rei's insides froze, somewhat unsurprised that Mai wouldn't be satisfied with the simple knowledge. She just wasn't subtle with knowledge worthy of revenge, and with that realization, Rei sighed, shaking her head so that her recently shorted pig-tails swayed in agitation to mirror her own.
"What are you going to do?"
The blonde didn't answer immediately, but began muttering under her breath things that Rei wasn't sure she wanted to hear, anyway.
"Let's see . . . " her blonde curled were thrown over her shoulder carelessly, as her curvy figure swiveled in her seat. Then she pointed at a door in the corner "There! I think we need to pay our friendly acquaintance a pleasant visit, don't you think?"
Rei looked at her as if she had grown an extra head.
"Wait," she rushed "don't answer that."
After the almost ceremonious milling of the crowd about them, and the mingling of conversation falling down to let the recorded music take over, the two girls got up casually, and fought through the masses. Customers seemed particularly inclined to stand where they were, and damned hard to move aside too, so it took them a few minutes just to get to the other side of the room. Rei gave one last glare at the arrogant and quite oblivious customers, but she knew that she shouldn't blame them as it was a Friday, and no one should deny them the right to enjoy themselves.
She turned to Mai with a twisting sense of foreboding. Her assured grin was of the contagious type, but after taking a quick glance of the door in their path, all she could manage was a shaky sort of smile.
The lights and laughs were much more animated than them, but they held the most sense of purposeful power in the room, even if most didn't bother to notice. Rei fingered the charmed choker around her neck, with a grimly hesitant look.
"You do realize that the door is clearly marked 'employees only', right?"
"Hey, what's the worst that can happen?!"
"Those have to be the most infamous 'last words' I can come up with."
And Mai just summed up her policy in one, simple word.
" . . . So?"
~*~*~*~
They entered the 'off limits' area without disturbance, and absolutely no one was even in the vicinity. There were no windows and few lights down these halls; the large gray bricks illuminated with unnatural yellow light.
Rei's attention was constantly alert for anyone who might see them. From what she figured from before, employees of the club dressed in an all black uniform, that although was not entirely ~abnormal~, would make an unsavory contrast to the two girls' outfits.
She had hoped they would be in, out, and on with life quickly, but Mai seemed so cautious on this aspect of their mission, even after fifteen minutes, they hadn't chose a door yet.
Every little sound seemed more startling by the second, and Rei, who was certain their luck wouldn't last for long, jump at unexpected echoes.
Mai was ignoring her and her quiet pleas for a more rapid decision, as she set her tongue between her teeth and examined each door closely. Rei saw her lean in to listen behind one, as her agitated friend immediately situated herself in a defensive position, not that it would help if someone actually came down the halls and noticed their intrusion. She shuddered to think of what ~that~ might mean.
Suddenly, the blonde snapped back up with a smile. Rei actually yelped in startled surprise, before clutching at her chest as if to slow the beats of her heart.
"Ready?" Mai mouthed, looking like a cat who caught the rat; very pleased with herself.
/I doubt I'll ever be ready./ oh yes, that nice vision of herself curled up with a book seemed quite favorable at that moment--
The blonde duelist didn't wait for a reply. Rei's entire body went rigid as the other girl knocked three times--three, squarely landing blows--that sounded ominously through the deserted hallway. Rei hugged her arms to below her chest, and gulped nervously.
"Candy Gram!" she crowed.
The white haired bishojo shook her head at Mai's unfailing outtake on humor, even if it was hard to guess otherwise.
"Do you think he's actually stupid enough to open the door?" she whispered as quietly as she could manage. Mai was looking satisfied again, and didn't look away from the door.
"Stupid, no. Ignorant enough not to know the difference, yes."
The door opened abruptly, without preamble.
Rei choked in surprise, which eventually led her into a mad coughing fit, hanging onto Mai's shoulder just to stay upright. Mai looked vaguely pouty and put-out that it shattered all chances of looking intimidating in the face of the teenage CEO. After a while of silence only tainted by Rei's coughs, Mai looked down at her without moving her head, and helped her face forward.
She stopped coughing.
~*~*~*~
He wandered again, but with more of a purpose than his previous attempt, keeping his startlingly dispassionate face hidden to the realities. His gaze was masked as well, but he seemed to know where he was going.
It appeared, as expected, but before it could be allowed to come up with some witty comment, he spoke first.
"I have come for answers."
"So you have." The voice was calm, understanding the importance of the situation "I trust you have accepted the truth of your mistake?"
"I make no mistakes."
"Really, now."
Both of them had placed their barriers up to the extreme, and betrayed nothing through their smooth tones and imagined gestures. Sensing the tension in one another, they both became immediately wary.
Without taking notice of the Change of Heart's sarcastic reply, Shadi spoke again, his blank blue eyes dulled and staring.
"The Eye, you say the Hikari of the Ring has the Eye."
"Indeed." She bowed her head curtly.
"Why is it that I have not taken notice of such as this?" he made no gestures with his hands; they remained concealed under his voluminous sleeves. "Why has the Eye not forsaken a soul who holds no right to it?"
"'Tis the will of the gods'" she quoted, rather amused.
Shadi's lips tightened.
"Of course, the Eye has never been too picky about it's users. Like the last such imposter, whose soul will forever be wandering and regretful of his mistakes.
"The Eye IS the 'woman's item', after all." Her grin grew ironic.
"The Hikari of the Ring is not a woman."
"Perhaps." She looked behind him, finding the landscape a great deal more interesting than his accusations and false reassurances which held no power in her domain. He just hadn't noticed his impudence yet; he truly was a fool. "But a child, yes." A girl-child, under her influence.
"I do not understand!"
"There is much you do not understand." She told him, coldly. "Leave this place, now. Do not return."
"Not before you tell me the ~true~ owner of the Millennium Eye."
She stared at him, anticipating his exit.
"I believe this matter is my business." He told her logically, but his superior tone never faded in the least.
"No," she began, in unsuppressed rage "he who neglects ~feeling~ does not deserve the rights to such 'business'."
And with that, she forcefully banished him from her realm, her Sanctuary, with so much power that Shadi did not regain consciousness in reality for three days after.
~*~*~*~
"So-o-o-o-o, um," Rei started, daring to break the uncomfortable silence as she tried to look animated and obvious while looking around. "nice place you've got here."
She winced, after realizing a moment too late how stupid that sounded.
Mai made a strangled noise in her throat, the only outside showing of embarrassment toward Rei's comment. Her eyes nearly looked pleading for her to stay quiet, and Rei immediately began to stare at the toes of her laced- up boots as her hands carefully folded onto the flowing, pleaded folds of her knee-high skirt.
"Who the hell are you?" Seto Kaiba demanded to Rei before turning to Mai "What do you want, Valentine?
She puffed herself up like a preening hen under his cold gaze, looking disgusted and disgruntled on his lack of manners. He was opposed to the girls in an old wooden chair; leaning over his black slacks and white work- shirt (with a studded belt that looked quite peculiar). His long legs were angled oddly, as if the chair was too short, and his arms rested comfortably balanced on his legs, whereas his face looked anything but comfortable.
He didn't look too pleased with their intrusion, but he could hardly let two girls who knew his 'secret' go without consulting him first.
Kaiba had foreseen something of the like happening, and had every intention to pay them as much as they needed to keep their mouths shut. He should have known it would be Valentine . . .
"We just wanted to congratulate you on your awesome performance." Mai smiled, truthfully (/for once!/ Rei thought wildly), then continued "Even if your band totally ~sucked~."
Yeah, she took her insults so skillfully, her tone was still that of her unexpected compliment.
"How much money do you want." He growled dangerously low, and narrowing his eyes to infamous slits. Kaiba looked at the other girl, scrutinizing her closely, though neither females noticed.
She looked so familiar somehow.
"Money?!" Mai laughed "What do you think we are?! A ~charity~ case?! I think I've established myself well enough to do without your bribing, Kaiba. Oh, and I was wondering," she changed the subject seamlessly "where did you find your band, are they your bodyguards or something?"
He said nothing.
Rei looked at him in disbelief.
"You mean I was right?" Mai asked, considerably amused by this new revelation "That's sad, Kaiba. Really sad."
He rolled his eyes as if he were trying to ignore the two of them to his greatest potential. He leaned back, now, in a supposedly uncaring posture.
"What do you want?"
He seemed to say it dramatically and tragically, like a spoiled child, sullen-faced after a temper tantrum.
"Oh, just to talk."
"Fine! You caught me! I don't admit to things such as this so easily, but you and your sidekick have won, and you can now go home, feeling satisfied with your amazing cleverness!"
"Whoever said this was about winning?" spoke Rei, quietly.
They looked at her, almost as if they had forgotten she was there. Mai quickly sputtered out a comment of assent.
"Look," he leaned forward again, looking even more dangerous than before "I've had enough of your smart-assed comments about my--the band that I'm in. Besides, I doubt you could be considered any better."
/Oh my, I never realized just how bad and pathetic he really sounds when defending something unexpected./ Rei felt almost sorry for him /He must rehearse his speeches or something . . . heh. But that was DEFFIDENTLY the ~wrong~ thing to say to Mai Valentine./
She stood up.
It was the angriest she had ever seen her, ~truly~ angry, rather than appearing simply taken aback in thwarted disappointment. No, Mai was mad.
A mad woman, who could have easily taken out Seto Kaiba at that moment, with more that just words.
"As a matter of fact, I'm ~much~ better at playing bass than your paid cronies, you jackass!" she shrieked.
"Hn." Kaiba smirked "If you're so good, let's hear you then."
"Fine! Next Saturday! We'll see who's smiling then!"
"Not that the bass really takes much talent at all--"
"Cut the crap." She huffed.
"Alright Valentine. Meet me at my home at 11 AM next Saturday."
"If I'm good enough for you, we'll start a band."
"Agreed."
Rei paused quizically for a second; that was a complete change of subject. Were they conscious of it?
"Though it's not as if we can field a band with only a bass and a set of drums . . . "
"Then Rei can sing!"
/ . . . Is that what I thought I heard./
"WHAT?!"
Said girl fell down, overbalanced with a dizzy, sinking feeling. Her anger flared up /Why are they talking about me like I'm not here?/ she thought miserably, knowing that she would not get out of this predicament.
The clash of egos. Rei gulped.
Her eyes were swirly as her body went as limp as a rag-doll's.
/--S-sing?--/
Meanwhile, the other two heartless souls were casually discussing her doom as if it were a perfectly normal idea.
/--I can't sing--/
"Fine."
"FINE!" Mai bellowed.
They stood silent for a moment as Rei was on the ground between them, looking drunk on the horrible, horrible ideas. Maybe it was just a bad dream . . . stuff like that happens in nightmares, right?
Seto Kaiba walked purposefully over to a metal, all-purpose table, and easily opened his silver briefcase.
/--can't sing--oh god--/
After calmly sorting through a few folder's worth of papers, the young businessman straightened back up as he took out a packet delicately stuck together with a paper-clip, and handed it to the now considerably calmer blonde. Her sunset-shade violet eyes danced over the paper, and she giggled.
"So ~that's~ what you keep in that briefcase," she smirked, wryly.
He gave no notice that he had even heard her comment.
"The parts are all there. Remember: 11 o'clock ~sharp~. I have no use for people who waste my time."
With that, he strolled out of the room, briefcase in hand, blue coat flowing mysteriously behind him.
Rei groaned, and fainted. Hard day.
"Hey Rei, ready to--Rei?"
~*~*~*~*~*~*~
"Desperate times call for desperate intervention, especially when Ryou was so close to losing all control. Unfortunately, it wasn't really 'help' that he was given . . . "
Whaddya think? New summary? I'm really bad at them, but the one I have up at the moment is probably the worst one possible.
Of course, that's up to you guys ^^ Tell me what I should do, please?
FF.net has been doing something funk-ay . . . that's why I waited so long to post up this chapter. Apparently, people around the site have been losing reviews, and I happen to be one of them ^^;;; I know, because I posted up a review on one of my stories to test out the theory, and I was never notified that it had gone through.
Still *sniffle* I was so sad when I figured only ONE person reviewed on my last chapter of "'Rainbows", and I've consistently been getting at least ten per chapter in the past. Same instance with my new HP/YGO crossover. Maybe no one reviewed . . . but if you did, you might want to check if they're there anymore. Thanks!
Yeah, I did get Rei's googly-eyed scene from Rurouni Kenshin ^^
FLCL IS SOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO COOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOL!!!!!!
^^
If you haven't seen Furi Kuri, you MUST. It is so weird, and The Pillows did the soundtrack *starry eyed*
*NOTICE*: I am in need of an OC! So I want YOU to help me out!
Just leave a profile in your review. I would prefer if your character is a normal person--yourself, perhaps? Not a Mary-Sue, though. Just tell me about yourself like you are in real life (and make up a new name ^^)
The 125th reviewer will be the person whose character I will add to my story. It won't be a specifically main character, mind you, but I just want to test out my writing skills on adding stuff about a person I don't know much about ^^ Of course, I doubt I will get to 125 reviews from this chapter . . .
I would greatly appreciate your assistance on this matter!
*goes back to listening to Pillows*
Toodle-oo!
giggleplex