"I think we should put the streamers there." Téa argued as she watched Joey hang the streamers from the ceiling.
"Wha––" Joey protested. "I think it looks best hanging over here, like this."
"No," Téa explained patiently. "That color of streamer totally clashes with the color of the room."
"This is called style, Téa." Joey sniffed, irritated. "Just leave it to Joey. This is suppose to clash, it's called the 70's style." Téa slapped her hand across her forehead as Joey continued to decorate.
"I'm going to tell Kaiba." She grumbled. "You'd better get ready to take all the decorations down."
"You're doing this all wrong!" Meanwhile, Ryou was waving his arms wildly around in the kitchen. "You were suppose to ice the cake with icing and bake the batter."
"So…uh…" Tristan stared at the mess in his hands. "What did I do wrong?"
"Tristan, you big bone head!" Ryou almost yelled, exasperated. Tristan took a step back from the outburst. His expression was confused and the towel around his waist slipped on one side. "You just baked the icing and now you're just about to smear batter all over it!"
"Oh."
"I'm going to tell Kaiba to order a cake…we won't have time to bake a new one." Ryou stomped up the stairs, leaving Tristan to his mess.
"Oh, please, Serenity!" Mai snapped from beneath the pile of presents. "I know when a ribbon is lopsided and now I'm fixing it!"
"No," Serenity shot back. "I know a real éclat when I see one! And that ribbon is suppose to be tilted!"
"Well, I think it looks better like this and I'm retying it!" Mai ripped the ribbon apart and Serenity gave a squeal.
"MAI!!!" She jerked the present away from the older blonde. She swirled around and headed up the stairs. "I'm going to ask Kaiba. He'll tell you what a real style is."
Back in the security of his office, Kaiba was attempting to give Mokuba some wild last minute reminders.
"When Daphne and Yami step into the Kaiba Mansion, the whole house would be dark. Your job is to jump out and turn on the lights and yell 'surprise!'. Get it?"
Mokuba nodded his head energetically, "I know, I know. When Yami and Daphne comes into the house, I'll turn off the light as soon as they step in. Then after they all scared, I turn on the light and yell 'surprise!'"
"No." Kaiba said exasperatedly, trying to draw a diagram to show what he means. "The room will be dark, you will turn on the lights when the tri-colored boy comes into the house."
"Won't Yugi already be in the house?" Mokuba looked confused.
"Yugi is already here, but Yami is not." Kaiba gritted his teeth, feeling a brilliant headache coming up.
"What is Yami doing out there? I thought Yugi was suppose to take Daphne from the house, why is Yami in the house then? And shouldn't––"
"Mokuba!" Kaiba finally jumped up, his brain as confused as ever. "Yugi would be coming into the house and Yami would just be at the corner, he would turn off the lights…not that's not how it goes. Yugi is suppose to be here and Yami is supposedly be gone…so why is Yami and Yugi and… ARGGGHH!!!!"
"Uh, big brother?" Mokuba looked at him weirdly. "Shouldn't the house already be dark when they step into the mansion? Then aren't I suppose to jump out and turn on the lights? You're making everything so complicated."
"That's what I said in the beginning!" Kaiba opened his drawer and took out a aspirin. He gulped it down with a glass of water. A knock came on the door. "Come in!" He barked.
"So, big brother, can you tell me again what I'm suppose to do?" Mokuba whined as the door flew open.
"Kaiba, don't you think it would be a totally mess if Joey––" Téa marched in and began.
"Kaiba, I think we need to order another cake because––" Ryou said at the same time.
"Kaiba!" Serenity pushed past the both of them and raised her voice. "Don't you think this is just totally wrong?!" She held up a present. "I mean, don't you think the ribbon should be like––"
"ENOUGH!" Kaiba roared. Everyone silenced. They watched with silent eyes as Kaiba calmly took out another aspirin and poured himself another cup of water. Then he sat down on his chair and covered his eyes with his hands.
"Now, one at a time." He said wearily. Everyone opened their mouth and began a demanding gibberish that it was all Kaiba could do not to jump out of the window and escape all of this mess.
"Never mind!" He said as he jumped to his feet and pushed everyone out of his way. "I'll take a look myself." Everyone followed. He moved swiftly, his trenchcoat billowing behind him.
"Joey, you can put the streamers there, but change a color. Tristan, call the most expensive cake shop you can find and order the most expensive cake. Mai, that ribbon was a little crooked on the present, but you tilted it too much. Mokuba, when you hear them coming, turn off the light and everyone will be quiet, when they step into the mansion, move your finger and flick the light switch on. Everyone happy? Good." Without waiting for another protest, he walked back up the stairs. "Now I'm going to my office and you don't need to bother following me because my door will be locked."
Everyone grumbled and went back to work. Kaiba locked his door and sighed, holding his head, groaning. Who'd have thought having a birthday party would turn out to be such a mess?
"Well, this is the last time." He growled. "Next time, I'm going to hire professionals."
Yami and Daphne strolled down the prettily pictured streets of Domino. Anyone who have seen them would have thought the dreamy and happy expression on their face was due to the fact that they are young lovers. Never would they have thought that one had the role of father and the other daughter.
"You always saved the best for me, Yami." Daphne slipped her hand into Yami's. "You've always saved all the imported delicacies for me and you never cared what they said."
"Well…" Yami's look was one of pure love. "How can I swallow the hollowness of the food when it means nothing to me compared to you?" Daphne snuggled up against Yami's chest.
"I remember you use to let me attend the parties with you, though all the damsels disapproved of a young lady in the presence of the roughish entertainment and men."
"If you were to become queen, how can you not experience the interactions between countries? I educated you like a prince would be educated as the future king…I even taught you the Shadow Game which was not allowed to be played amongst the princesses and damsels besides the king."
*Flashback*
"It is our most gracious honor, Your Excellency, to be presented in your presence." A representative from Ethiopia knelt on the ground, never once looking up in fear of a wrongdoing.
"Rise." Yami motioned them gracefully.
"I thank you, my lord." The man stood, his head still casted downward.
"This," Yami indicated behind him. "Is the Princess of Nile, Princess Delphinium." He gestured slightly with his chin and watching his little princess act properly. Her emotion was one of grace, but not emotional; one of authority and strength, but not demanding; one of kindness, but not to be trifled with. She lowered her eyes to show respect, but didn't curtsy. For if one was a princess of a high rank, she should never bow to a mere man.
"My pharaoh," the representative looked surprised. "Have you no sons? Who shall inherit your throne? If we are to discuss the peace treaty between my country and yours, should not your son be presented as well?"
"I have no sons." Yami said, coldly eyeing the man who had the courage to question a pharaoh. "And we may go on with our contract, for my Princess Delphinium shall inherit my throne. She shall rule as the Queen of Egypt."
The man's jaws dropped, for he had never heard such absurdity.
*End of Flashback*
"You never were embarrassed about me as your princess." Daphne said. "If anything, you were proudest man alive."
"Pride is a terrible sin." Yami pointed out, though he didn't deny the fact.
"That wasn't the only time either. Whenever we have a party and all the other female nobles were sent away, you let me stay. You held me in your lap and held your head up high. It was wonderful time…being with you." There was a slight catch in her voice. Yami turned and caught a tear.
"It was horrible for you, wasn't it?" He asked quietly, he pulled her closer. "Please, tell me. Don't shut me out."
"I was happy because it was your desire." She ignored his plead, pulling away from his warm embrace. She brushed the tear away with her feathery fingertip. She had made a promise to herself. Yami shall never know of her past after he was gone. It would hurt him worse than anything anyone can imagine. He would blame himself, his dreams would be crushed, and his spirit would be broken.
"I think it's time to go back, Seto might worry." She said. Yami wisely said nothing, but checked his watch. It was about time anyway. They slowly walked back to the mansion, Yami walking as slow as possible.
"And you're saying I don't have any taste?" Joey drawled back in the mansion, stepping back and admiring his work.
"Not bad." Kaiba looked it over, smirking. "For a Chihuahua."
"Ha!" Joey turned to Téa, then turned back to Kaiba. "She said all of my tastes are in my mouth."
"No." Téa contradicted. "I said if you had any taste, it would be in your mouth."
"Hey," Joey protested. "What is that suppose to mean?"
"It means––"
"Somebody?? Help?" Ryou's gasping voice came from outside of the living room. They turned just in time to see Ryou stagger past them with a tremendous cake box in hand.
"Oh, dear Ra!" Kaiba hurried over. "Is that the cake?!"
"Yes!" Ryou gasped, tripping over his own feet, the cake flying out of his hands.
"Not on the carpet!" Kaiba gave a wail and lunged. He managed to catch it just in time. "How big is this thing!?" He gasped as he carried the cake to the kitchen, where Tristan came whistling out and heard the last question.
"You told me to order the biggest and most expensive cake and that's what I did." He looked proud of himself.
"But this…this is huge even for the all of us!" Téa's eyes were as big as the cake.
"Well, we're just gonna ta have ta convince all ya goils ta eat more." Joey shrugged. "And leave Joey to polish off whatever is leftover."
"Shhh…" The youngest Kaiba all of a suddenly appeared beside his big brother in the kitchen, his black eyes wide. "I think they're coming!" At this moment, Mai and Serenity rushed in.
"Yugi," Serenity gasped, catching her breath. "Yugi said that they're coming! But none of us are done yet!" Yugi was one on watch. The short tri-colored hair boy speed into the room,
"They're here!"
Daphne walked into the house, it was pitch dark. Yami tagged behind her. "Um, Yami?" She asked nervously, looking around at the darkened room. "Why is it so dark? And where is everybody? Hello?" She called out. The room seemed very dark all of a sudden. "Yami?" She looked around nervously, but her guardian wasn't behind her. A hiss was heard.
"Yami?!" Something rustled behind her. She whirled around and saw a large shadow move in her way and was just about to scream when a large hand suppressed her scream.
"Mermph…" She tried to pry the large hand from her lips. Her footsteps barely touched the ground as she felt herself dragged upstairs. "Mmmph…" Her eyes darted from side to side. Where are her cousins? Where is Yami?
The sound of the door closing was heard and the hand covering her lips was removed. She pressed herself against the flat surface of the wall. Her heart thudded. Who was this intruder and why was he in Kaiba's home office? Nobody knows the security number besides her cousin. This intruder must be very technical and experienced with digital technologies.
"Geez, Daphne, no need to look so stressed or tormented." A deep crisp voice said in the dark. The lights flickered on and Daphne found herself face to face with her elder cousin.
"Seto!" She was feeling combination of shock, anger, relief, and fright.
"What?" Her cousin looked innocent. "I…um…just wanted to tell you how my business is doing." He walked behind his desk suavely, though he seemed distracted. "Um…my business is doing good. The corporation hadn't had much downfall yet and the stock market is––"
"Seto!" Daphne exclaimed, her large beautiful eyes narrowing with suspicious. "What have you done with Yami!?"
"What?" Kaiba was shocked. "What have I done with Yami?" He echoed. What was his cousin talking about? After all those morons declared that they aren't finished with the setting up, he was forced to act insanely. Dragging his cousin upstairs wasn't what he wanted at all, but what does that have to do with Yami, who had taken over his job as management downstairs?
"And why did you drag me up here like this?"
"To tell you about my business?" He replied lamely. For once, Seto Kaiba's genius brain wasn't giving him a smooth answer.
"I know you, Seto." Daphne came closer and Kaiba swallowed nervously. "You wouldn't turn off all the lights in Kaiba Mansion and drag me upstairs like I was a sack of puppies and expect me to think you're here to tell me about KaibaCorp. What did you do to Yami, Seto?"
"What makes you think I did something to him?" Kaiba argued.
"Because I know you, Seto. You never liked Yami." She walked closer to the already nerve-wrecking teen.
"Please, Daphne." Kaiba begged. "I didn't do anything to Yami."
"Well, you know what, cousin?" She turned around and head for the door. "I'm going downstairs and taking a look myself." He placed her hand and the doorknob, turned, and pulled. Nothing happened.
"It's locked." Kaiba shrugged. "Now, will you sit down and listen to me and my business?" He was taken back when an enraged Daphne turned around and faced him.
"Seto Kaiba." She said slowly…menacingly. Kaiba's eyes widened. Daphne had never acted this way before. If anything, Kaiba didn't know the girl was capable of such actions. He felt a hint of jealousy as well as surprise as he watched his cousin move closer. Would his cousin ever get so mad if she was worried about him? He wondered as he unconsciously moved backwards.
"What…is…going…on?" Then she stopped and planted her hands on her hip. "I demand an explanation. If you hadn't done anything with Yami, then why is the door locked?"
"Um…because I don't want to be interrupted?" Kaiba tried.
"Not good enough." She shrugged. "Alright, if you want to play this game. Throw another one at me."
"Um…because…" Kaiba racked his brain for an excuse his cousin would believe in. "Because I was assigned to do this?" He blurted out. Fine, so he had to spill a little of the truth, but maybe by the time Daphne guessed this whole thing, Yami would be ready with the rest of the gang.
"And why?" She tapped her foot on the ground.
"Because it's what I'm suppose to do."
"And why are you suppose to do it?"
"Because they told me to."
"Who is they? And why did they tell you?"
"They are people and they told me to because they're not finished."
"Okay, I'm more confused then ever. What are the people's names and what are they not finished with?"
"Um…" Oh, why doesn't that Yami knock on the door!? Kaiba scowled at nothing in particular. If you want something done, you just got to do it by yourself. Those dolts can't even take care of something as simple as setting up.
"I'm waiting…" Daphne's singsong voice broke through his thoughts.
"Uh…"
"Daphnia?" Yami's baritone voice boomed from the other side of the door as the doorknob rattled. Head-aching knocks could be heard. "What are you two doing in there?! Kaiba! If I find you doing something you would regret, I'm going to––"
Kaiba jerked the door open and stared down at Yami, scowling.
"What took you so long!?" He snapped. Daphne peered from behind Kaiba's tall frame.
"We had a delay." Yami said so smoothly that Kaiba could only envy. Yami swiftly took Daphne's elbow and led her down the stairs. Kaiba was shaking with anger when he followed them. This was suppose to be his party not Yami's. How dare that pharaoh just come and take all of his credits and glory? Well, he'd show him. He smiled to himself. No way can Yami's present out top his own. Nobody can top it.
Downstairs, Kaiba could hear Daphne's delighted exclamation. He stopped whistling and hurried downstairs. No way was he missing all his cousin's excitements.
"Seto, you shouldn't have!" Daphne jumped on him the moment his foot was set into the living room. She pranced on him the moment he stepped into the room. She gave him a peck on his cheek and he turned red from embarrassment.
"Yeah, yeah." He hastily brushed himself off, though his was flushed with the pleasure of her attention.
Everyone was enjoying Daphne's engaging delight at everything. Her delights were expected, but there was one guest that was not.
As the doorbell ran unexpectedly, Yugi went and opened the door.
"Bakura!" They heard him exclaimed. "What are you doing here?" Everyone sobered immediately. Whenever the spirit appears, the scene couldn't possibly turn better.
"They're in here." They heard Yugi's voice closer as he led Bakura into the den.
"Yami!" Ryou hurried over to his yami's side. "Is every alright?" Bakura gave Ryou a frosty smile.
"Of course everything's alright," he drawled. "I just don't want to miss the party, that's all."
"Who said you were ever invited––" Kaiba started darkly, before Daphne hushed her cousin and hurried over to Bakura. Everyone gaped in wonder as the Egyptian girl gave Bakura's tall frame a warm hug and led him over to the group. Yami glowered at him and Kaiba growled.
"I see everyone is here." Bakura smirked. He turned to Daphne, "Here. Just a little something I picked up."
"Oh, thank you, Bakura." Daphne's face lit up.
"Do you think this is a good idea?" Mai whispered to Serenity, who shooked her head.
"Bakura, that's very kind of you." Yami said. He has that smooth, deep, rich voice that's persuasive to the point of being deadly. The voice that thousands have feared.
"I didn't do it to be kind." Bakura arched an eyebrow and smirked.
Daphne ignored them just long enough to pull back the tissue. She extracted a long chain with a silver emblem hanging from it.
"A delphinium," Téa said, reaching over to finger the dainty necklace. "It's beautiful, Daphne. Put it on."
Bakura fastened the clasp around her slender neck and adjusted the graceful stalk of larkspur so that the finely detailed lines were showing. Looking down, Daphne rubbed her thumb over the silver daffodil.
"It's beautiful, isn't it?" Mai leaned closer and admired the gift.
"Oh, Bakura," Daphne breathed. "It's the prettiest present I've ever gotten!" To everyone's horror and Bakura's embarrassment, Daphne threw her arms around his neck and gave him a peck. "Thank you."
"Yeah, well…" He said gruffly. He looked over at the steaming Yami and Kaiba with a cocky expression on his face. Then, he pulled her closer and gave her a peck back. Joey, Tristan, Ryou, and Yugi had their hands full trying to keep the pharaoh and the CEO from tearing Bakura from limb to limb.
Bakura started the beginning of a present competition. The girls bought jewelry and perfume. Tristan and Joey together got her a pure gold charm bracelet. Ryou shyly handed over a pair of especially ordered French crystal earrings in the form of tiny larkspurs. Yugi presented a thick, ancient looking book written in Latin which Daphne ecstatically accepted.
Yami's present had everyone's jaws dropping to the ground.
Daphne lifted the lid of a flat box to find the most magnificent piece of jewelry she's ever seen. It was gold, with every type of gem embedded in them, made in the style of ancient Egyptians. It was so grand that if she worn it with a low cut dress, it would cover her shoulders, her neck, and any exposed flesh with their intricate, lacy strands of gold, gems, and crystal.
"Yami, this is beautiful!" Daphne exclaimed. Yami looked over at Bakura with an expression that simply states I-am-better-than-you-and-she-loves-me-better.
"She's going to fall over from the weight." The albino muttered under his breath.
"It must have costed you a fortune, Yami!" Daphne gasped as she lifted the extraordinary piece of jewelry. "Where in heaven have you gotten the money for it?!"
"Got it in an antique shop." He said proudly, until Yugi nudged him in his side. "You weren't suppose to tell her that." He said as quietly as possible. Everyone was awed at the adornment, all except Kaiba. He had a saucy expression on his fine features, so cocky that Bakura and Yami noticed at the same time and asked in unison, "Where's your present, Kaiba?"
The tall CEO stood up dramatically and said, "Saving the best for the last."
"Well, where is it?" Mai said impatiently. "There are no more packages left and we're dying to see what you have that could top Yami's present."
"Nothing Kaiba gives could top mine." Yami scowled, but Kaiba pointed out, "That's what Bakura thought before you topped him. Now, you shall see who's the real master."
"Well? Where is it?" Joey drawled impatiently. Kaiba gave a half smile.
"Follow me." He turned and walked out with Daphne by his side and two very furious spirits following after them. They made so many turns in the mansion that Tristan soon complained that he was dizzy and lost. Everyone else agreed.
"Come on, Kaiba," Bakura growled. "What we wanted to see was what you've got to offer, not a tour of your mansion."
"Patience, Bakura, patience." Kaiba said smoothly, before finally stopping in front of a large double door.
"Is this it?" Yami spat. "The double door." Kaiba scowled.
"It lays behind the double doors, you moron." He pushed the door open melodramatically. Thousands of books feasted before their eyes.
"A library." Ryou mused. "Are you giving her a book, Kaiba?" Kaiba smiled arrogantly.
"Not just a book, Ryou, but this entire library." He looked terribly pleased with himself.
If they had thought that Yami's present was out of the world, giving Daphne her own library was outside the universe.
"Beaten." Yami muttered under his breath. "You wait and see Kaiba, I'll win next time." While Bakura grumbled, "Stupid mortal."
"Thanks, Kaiba." They heard Daphne said earnestly. "Thanks, Yami, thanks Bakura. I really like all of your present."
"Which one's your favorite?" Yugi piped up. All the guys held their breath as Daphne looked at everything thoughtfully. All but Yugi and the girls looked anxious and competitive. Finally, with their eyes glued and their breath held, Daphne turned to the ten year old Kaiba, who was holding the snow-white teddy bear that he's gotten her, looking extremely cute and naïve among the group of teens.
"I think I like what Mokuba's gotten me the best." She said earnestly. All the guys elbowed each other to remind themselves not to groan out loud. Yami, Bakura, and Kaiba glared at each other. Neither of them had won, but the message in their eyes were clear.
Next time, I will be the one.