My Dear Cousin Seto, I thank you sincerely for your invitation. Without your generous offer, I have no other way to turn to. As for your question, after Mom and Dad died, I have lived alone in Cairo, studying deep into the subject of Egypt that fascinates me so very much. But now, the professor whom I have been working with has been in an accident at an ancient dig. The top of a temple had collapsed. Thank the Lord, he is alive, but after the incident, Dr. Viect has decided, along with the doctor's approval, that he is too old to go on working out in the heavy sun and dangerous equipments. So he dismissed us, even his most loyal companions. Next week, another group of archeologists are coming to continue to uncover more of the ancient ruin. I shall be arriving on the afternoon plane 174 tomorrow at Domino Airport. I'm can't wait to meet you and Mokuba, and through your letters, I feel like I already know the both of you. Your cousin, Daphne.
Kaiba reread the letter for the third time. He tucked the letter back into his trenchcoat pocket and checked his watch. Twenty after three. Maybe she missed the plane. Maybe she decided not to come. Kaiba felt an excitement he'd never felt before, almost like he was a little kid again. He never knew he had a relative on the other side of the world. That was until Daphne's first letter came two weeks ago, explaining her relationships with him and describing on how she needed help and a place to stay after being dismissed from the dig. He had taken the thought to his mind for a while, then decided it would be the right thing to do to let his cousin come to stay with him.
"Hey, Seto," the young CEO felt someone tug his indigo trenchcoat. He looked down beside him. His little brother, Mokuba, with his wild head of jet-black hair was staring up at him with a frown. "Did you see her yet? How come she's not here?"
"I don't know, Mokuba." Kaiba answered, frowning also. He had especially taken a day off at KaibaCorp to come see her up personally. He hoped that wasn't a mistake. He looked around the airport once again from his six-foot-two height but didn't see any girl that looked like the girl in the photo he held in his hands. He could not believe that the stunning young woman in the picture was really his cousin in the beginning. She couldn't be much older then fifteen, but her figure made her look more sophisticated. Her long ebony colored hair was pulled back by her sunglasses and her lips curled in a charming crescent-moon smile, revealing perfect white teeth set off by her deep, tanned impeccable complexion. In the picture, she had on crisply pressed khakis that flattered her tall, slender body. There was only one thing that bothered Kaiba, unintentionally, he hoped, but bothered him, nevertheless.
It was her eyes. She had the most beautiful pair of amethyst eyes, like none he'd ever seen, under the thick long lashes. It drew him in and he could all but detect something sorrowful and desirable underneath the mysterious dark depth, framed by her arched brows. It gave her a look of haunting beauty and also…intrigue. The most bothersome part about her eyes was the fact that they held something familiar, almost as if he had seen them before somewhere. But that was impossible, Kaiba waved it off. He'd never even known that she existed on this earth until two weeks ago.
"Pardon me?" A pleasantly accented, melodic voice said softly behind them. A fingertip tapped Kaiba's shoulders delicately. "Might you be the Kaiba brothers?" Kaiba turned.
"Daphne?" Kaiba's eyes widened slightly with surprise. His raised one of his eyebrows as he looked at her from top to bottom. The Daphne that was standing in front of him he wouldn't have recognized her even if his life were depended on it.
Instead of looking like the picture and wearing khakis, Daphne was wearing a breathtaking slivery-white silk tunic embroidered with gold and silver thread, which slightly dropped off her shoulders with a gauzy golden sash tied around her waist that trailed elegantly to the floor. The silvery-white robe that trimmed her feminine figure almost seems to glow and radiant with immortal divinity and godly beauty. Her flawless creamy skin was tanned under the heavy Egyptian sun. The hammered-gold Egyptian bracelets that clasped daintily around each slender wrist were harmonized with an ethereal golden necklace at the hollow of her throat. Classy silver wind-chime like earrings dangled delicately from her earlobes. Her shimmering long sable hair was glossy and lustrous. Her engaging foreign features and garnishes had already turned many heads and stopped many young men in their tracks.
"Yes," her lilting voice held a merry tone, as if she was amused. Her dazzling violet eyes were dancing with excitement. "That would be me. Daphne of Cairo." She moved forward with the grace of a queen and before Kaiba knew it, she embraced him and gave him a slight peck on his cheek. Kaiba flushed and was thankful that she didn't notice as she greeted Mokuba the same way.
"Welcome…to Domino City." Kaiba didn't know what to say and was embarrassed for the first time in his life. There she was, the only female member in the Kaiba family, standing in front of him, and he didn't know what to say. "The limo is waiting outside." He finally said, after shuffling his feet for several seconds of silence.
"A limo?" Daphne's eyes widened and she looked naively excited, which made Kaiba feel better, after seeing that his cousin was not as godly and immortal as she seemed. "We're going in a limo?" Kaiba looked at her as if she was crazy.
"What else?" He smirked. "That is, after we pick up the rest of your luggage." He picked up her small ochroid colored satchel and looked at her expectantly.
"Rest of my luggage?" His enchanting cousin stared back at him like as if he was mocking her. "This is all of my luggage. All of my belongings in the world are in there."
"Oh," Kaiba was taken back but he added quickly to cover up his mistake. "Well then, this is easy. Let's get to Kaiba Mansion. I'm sure you're exhausted from your trip."
The trio walked to the awaiting limo and the chauffeur opened the door for them. Just as he was stepping into the car, Kaiba heard Mokuba ask, to his dismay,
"Where are your normal clothes?"
"Mokuba!" He scolded as he settled down beside Daphne.
"It's quite alright, Seto," the fifteen-year-old lay a feminine hand on Kaiba's knee, then turned to Mokuba. "This is usually what I wear when I'm not at the ruins." She explained cheerfully to Mokuba, much like an older sister, giving him a smile that said she did not mind the ten-year-boy at all. Kaiba could see that his little brother had taken an instant liking to their cousin at once. "This makes me feel like I'm beautiful princess that once lived in one of those palaces that we discovered." Soon, the two chatted all the way to Kaiba Mansion like they knew each other their whole lives.
"And here we are." The chauffeur announced as they turned into the Kaiba Mansion driveway.
"Oh, Seto!" Daphne breathed as she leaned to look out the window to look at the white marble Neo Classical styled mansion. "This is absolutely gorgeous! You and Mokuba actually live here?"
"And you haven't even seen the insides yet. Seto had it cleaned and aired out just for you." Mokuba declared proudly. "He was really excited to have you come live with us. He'd love to show you around." Kaiba almost died with embarrassment. Noticing Kaiba's uncomfortable expression, Daphne gave him a playful wink and tousled Mokuba's hair affectionately, like an old sister would, and changed the subject techfully. "I'm sure Seto is happy that I'm here, but how about you showing me the rest of the mansion while your brother's busy, Mokuba?"
"Okay!" Mokuba crowed, flying out of the limo before the chauffeur could have a chance of opening the door for him. He impatiently dragged Daphne out with him.
"Mokuba!" Kaiba jumped out as well, before the poor chauffeur even had a chance. "What have I told you about jumping out of the limo when it didn't come fully to a stop?" He came around the car and fussed at Mokuba's hands around Daphne's wrist. "And for the love of God, give Daphne a chance to catch her breath before dragging her off to that dangerous playroom of yours. She's tired and exhausted from her plane trip. Give her some time to refresh herself. Have you forgotten all the manners I've taught you?"
"But I––" Seeing Mokuba so crushed, Daphne quickly put in.
"It's okay, Seto. I am perfectly fine, just give me a moment to––" At that moment, Kaiba's cell-phone rang.
"Hello!" He barked in his usual cold, emotionless voice that could wilt a bouquet of artificial flowers. "Seto Kaiba speaking." Within a moment, he was deep in an argument with his executives.
"Just give me a second, okay Mokuba?" The fifteen-year-old whispered in Mokuba's ear. "And then you and I shall do something fun." Mokuba's eyes lit up again, filled with excitement.
"Okay!" He agreed happily.
"Uh…one more thing," she leaned back down. "Might you point me the way to the loo?"
"The loo?" The youngest Kaiba looked confused. Daphne cocked her head and tried to think.
"I mean, the lady's room?" She said slowly. "Or the lavatory. I forgot what you American's call it here." Mokuba nodded.
"You mean the bathroom?" He pointed to a room down the hall. "Second door to the left."
"Much obliged." She thanked as she stroll down the hall of the luxurious mansion. There, she freshened up and finger-combed her hair. She looked at herself in the large mirror and sighed. Why does she have this unsettling feeling in her stomach? As if something was going to happen? And why could I tell Mokuba the truth about wearing these clothes? She wondered as she smoothed down the sparkling silk. Why couldn't I simply tell him that I felt attached to these chitons, like they were designated to be my regular clothes? She took a deep breath. Then ignore her unsettling stomach, she walked out of the bathroom and was immediately tackled relentlessly by an over-hyper Mokuba. Kaiba had to drag Mokuba off as he again scolded his younger brother, then apologized to Daphne, who he was surprised to see that she didn't break. Somehow, she seemed so delicate that Kaiba was almost scared to touch her, in fear of breaking her.
"Sorry, I don't know what's gotten into him today." He gave his pretty cousin a rueful smile. "It must be meeting you for the first time."
"Big brother said we could go out to get ice cream if you'd like." Mokuba wiggled with excitement in Kaiba's grasp.
"Ice cream?" Daphne exclaimed, her face lighting up. She loved ice cream and it was a rare delicacy in Egypt.
"Of course, if you're too tired, we could always have them deliver it." Kaiba quickly added. Daphne giggled at the sight of Kaiba with his arms wrapped around Mokuba to keep him from bouncing up and down.
"I absolutely adore ice cream! Do they actually have them here in Domino City? It's a rare delicacy back in Cairo. Why don't you come with us, Seto?"
"I can't make it today, regretfully, but I'll come with you next time. Emergency at the corporation. Those fools were worried that I would be off my corporate station. But enough about KaibaCorp." He looked at Mokuba. "Do you guys want to take the limo?"
"We can walk. The weather is beautiful." Daphne held out her hand for Mokuba. Kaiba was quite reluctant to release him. "But there is just one problem, I don't quite know where the parlor is."
"I know! I know!" Mokuba's voice turned into a whine. "Can we walk, big brother, I know the way. PleasePleasePleasePlease?" Kaiba stared at Mokuba for a long time and Daphne could just see the wheels turning in her cousin's head.
"Fine." He turned to walk down to his home-office. "You have my permission. Mokuba, get some money, you know where. And…" he turned back, and said seriously, with more of his dark midnight blue eyes than his words. "Behave, Mokuba."
"I will!" Mokuba shouted as he dragged Daphne out the Kaiba Mansion door. "Bye, big brother!"
"See you later, Seto!" Daphne barely had time to call back as Mokuba hauled her down the sunny street of Domino City.
"Mokuba, are you positively sure you know where you're going?" Daphne asked once they had slowed down and was enjoying the view of the blue sky and colorful streets.
"Of course I do!" Mokuba replied indignantly. "It's that building down by the corner." Daphne shrugged teasingly.
"Just making sure." They walked into the cool ice cream parlor. Heads turned to the deity-like young woman standing in front of the store, who was staring in awe at the air-conditioned room with gleaming white tiled floor. "Wow," she whispered to herself. "From where I was from, there was barely any normal food."
"So…what flavor do you want?" Mokuba asked as he bounced up to the counter. "I'll have a double chocolate-fudge cone, please." He said to the man in charge of the counter. The young man gave the cheerful boy a grin.
"Sure, and what about you, Miss?" He turned to Daphne, only to stare at her in awe. Daphne didn't notice as she stared at all the names of the flavors lined up in front of her eyes.
"What flavors do they have?" She whispered to Mokuba helplessly. The poor girl had never even heard of anything besides vanilla and chocolate ice cream. Mokuba laughed with delight at his cousin's naiveté.
"Come on, Daph, this is Domino City. They have every flavor there was ever made!" Daphne's eyes widened.
"Really!" She gasped. Then she cocked her head as she lay a finger on her chin, "Now, how am I suppose to pick a flavor?"
"Try white-chocolate-marble-fudge-swirls." A Brooklyn twang suggested from behind the pair. "Always been a favorite of mine." Daphne turned to see a grinning sandy haired boy behind her.
"Joey!" Mokuba shouted, running smack into the lanky teen with a chocolate cone in his hands. Daphne rescued the chocolate cone and Joey's white shirt before neither had time to contact each other yet.
"Hiya, Kid." Joey tousled the boy's black hair. "How ya doing?" He looked up again and stuck a hand out, which Daphne took graciously.
"Name's Joey. Joey Wheeler." He drawled. "And these are my best friends. Téa, Ryou, and Tristan. Sorry Yugi couldn't join us today. He had to help out at his grandfather's game shop." It was then did Daphne realized the teens standing in the back the Joey.
"Top of the morning to you all." She greeted.
"Mokuba, does yer brother know yer out here with a girl way older than ya?" Joey turned to Mokuba, his eyes both serious and smiling. "Isn't she at least double yer age?"
"Not really, she's only fifteen. Oh, yes." Mokuba suddenly remembered his manners. "Daphne, this is Joey, Tristan, Ryou, and Téa. They are my really good friends. And guys, this is Daphne. She's my cousin and she just arrived from Cairo this afternoon."
Daphne had always heard the phrase 'you could cut the tension with a knife,' but never knew what it meant until now. The group, the whole room it seemed, grew so silent that a pin could be heard if it had dropped onto the floor. Daphne looked around the group of teens and noticed every pair of eyes were fixed on her, studying her. This alarmed Daphne.
"Have we offended you by something we said?" She asked, puzzled and concerned. These were the first people she met at Domino City and she hoped she hadn't offended any of them already.
"What?" Joey looked startled as he ripped his gaze off her. "No, of course not." The attractive brunette that was standing behind Joey stepped forward, holding her hand out.
"Hi! My name is Téa Gardner, glad to meet you! Welcome to Domino City!" Daphne matched her dazzling smile with one of her own. Téa laughed and motioned to the guys around her. "Don't mind those goofballs, we were just surprised to hear that the Kaiba brothers had a cousin from Egypt. We never knew that."
"I know," Daphne assured them. "It was a sudden change of plans for me, too. I never knew Mokuba and Seto even existed before last month. It's a long story."
"We've got time." Ryou's refined accent smiled at Daphne. He had never seen such an ethereal beauty before. "Why don't we get our ice cream and get to know each other? You seem like an interesting person to get to know."
"Miss?" The cashier finally snapped out of his trance. "Are you going to order?"
"Oh, yes. Pardon for the delay." The Egyptian girl apologized. "I'll have the white-chocolate-marble-fudge-swirls, please." She laid her money on the counter.
"Make that two." Joey put in, pushing his own money across the tabletop. He handed back Daphne her money. "Here, my treat. Can't have our new buddy here pay for her own ice cream cone on her first day in Domino now, can we?"
"Thanks, Joseph, but I couldn't possibly––" Tristan came up behind her.
"Of course you can," he draped an arm casually around her shoulders. "My partner in crime there, he can pay for all of us."
"Hey, I might pay for the ladies and Ryou, but certainly not ya, Tristan." Joey scowled playfully. "Ya use yer own money." Through their rough exteriors, Daphne could see that those two 'goofballs' held their friendship high, though unwilling to show it.
After they've all ordered, they walked over to a table outside of the parlor with a perfect view of the City Park across the street and talked. They chatted about everything and soon, like with Mokuba, the group felt like they've known Daphne forever. She was an easy girl to get along with, filled with amazing bound of knowledge and endless encouraging heart-warming smiles. Then they grew silent for a few minutes, enjoying their treat, before Daphne began her story.
"You see, my parents died when I was young. But luckily, my degree with my tutor had always been high, and when my parents passed away, he took me in to train me for his assistance in his work. This was all to my advantage, for I have been fascinated with the very subject of Egypt and gladly, I stayed with him until last month. Poor Dr. Viect, he got caught in an accident and later declared he was too old for such exciting job. He dismissed his whole crew, me as well. I had no where to go and no one to turn to and was going through some of my parents' stuff while packing up when I found a letter from my late uncle to my father. That's when I realized that I still had hope and hoped the Seto and Mokuba would take me in, at least for now."
"She's not telling the whole truth," a dark voice said inside of Ryou's Millennium Ring, so dark and sullen that the Albino teen shuddered.
"So I suspect yer quite an expert on Egypt now, eh?" Joey bit into his cone, which unfortunately broke into pieces and melted ice cream ran down his arms. There was an exclamation around the table as ice creamed dripped everywhere and everyone was trying to help clean up.
"I suppose I do know quite a bit about Egypt," Daphne added thoughtfully after they settled back down. "But no good now." She shrugged. "Seto already assured me that he's going to sent me to a school here. I don't quite remember the high school's name."
"Is it Domino High?" Tristan implied.
"That's the name!" Daphne snapped her fingers. While still dressed in her goddess-like ways, she's beginning to act more like a teenager that she hadn't been for so long. "I'm excited! I've never been to a school and I won't know anybody."
"You'll know us." Ryou winked. "That happens to be the school all of us goes to, even Kaiba."
"Really!" She exclaimed. "Well, then, my cousin failed to mention that he goes to school. From the way he handles things, I thought he doesn't." Innocent was lined on Daphne's strikingly honest face.
"Of course he does." Joey smirked. "Kaiba just acts big, but he still goes to school."
"Speaking of Seto, might any of you have the time?" The girl looked worried. "I think we should get going Mokuba, Seto might be worried about us. Are you finished?"
"Yes." Mokuba, who had been silent through the whole conversation, had finished his ice cream as well as hers. He licked his lips, a milk moustache on his upper lip. Daphne smiled fondly at him.
"Here, don't move," she chided gently. "Let me wipe that off for you." Everyone was touched by the warm little scene and was glad, because as far as they know, Mokuba never had any motherly attention like this. And Daphne had been an orphan most of her life, she probably never had the time to express her fondness for anyone either.
"Thanks, Daph." From Mokuba's eyes and attitude, they saw that he had created a special spot for Daphne in his heart as well.