Daphne peeked out of the silk drape of her window and smiled at the beautiful sunny day. It was perfect, the girls had picked a perfect day to have a pool party. She walked across her room. Her entire room was decorated in rich shades of purple accented with pure white. The down comforter on her four-poster bed was covered in white eyelet, and plum-colored pillows rested against the pearly white. Daphne clattered down the stairs and slipped on the newly wax floor. Luckily her cousin walked into the kitchen just in time to catch her.
"Geez, Daphne," he scolded as he set her on her feet. "What have I told you about wearing nylons in the house?"
"You said I don't need to." She replied, still wobbly on her feet. Kaiba nodded, prodding her to go on. "You said you don't care what my feet and ankles look like, but I don't like going barefoot, Seto!" She protested. Then, she smiled sweetly up at her cousin. He sipped his coffee to stop himself from smiling at his cousin.
"Mai and the girls are coming over, I most certainly hope you don't mind."
"Not really," Kaiba answered suspiciously. "What are you guys planning to do?"
"May we borrow your pool?"
All of Kaiba's good discipline wouldn't have stop himself from spraying the coffee out of his mouth. He sputtered, "You want to borrow what?!"
"Your pool." Daphne explained patiently as she attempted to wipe the coffee of her cousin with her lacy handkerchief. Kaiba batted her hands away and stared at her.
"My pool?" He echoed.
"Yes, the girls saw it when you guys celebrated my birthday last weekend. They declared it was simply too delightful to be kept alone."
Kaiba shuddered. Having a flock of gorgeous girls in his backyard wasn't was he had in mind for the day. And their 'indecent' clothing…he doesn't even want to think about that. But his cousin was looking at him expectantly, so he shrugged nonchalantly.
"Fine." He watched with an amazed expression as Daphne gave a squeal and gave him a perky hug. But he didn't get a chance to speak as Daphne sped back into her room.
"Got to get ready!" He shrugged and shut himself in his office. He was glad that Daphne was making friends and not just stuck with him, a busy CEO, and two 5,000-year-old spirits. He wasn't happy, however, when he opened the Kaiba Mansion door and saw Joseph Wheeler standing on the doorstep with his sister.
"What do you want, Wheeler?" He spat, scowling. Joey gave a thumbs up sign and gave Kaiba a casual easy-going smile.
"Thought I'd tag along with Serenity." He jerked his thumb to Serenity, who was heading for the backyard with her towel and beach bag filled with sunning necessities. He tried to follow, but Kaiba's tall frame blocked him.
"This is a all girls pool party, puppy." He pointed out. "I don't want you in the backyard, you hear?"
"Then what do ya want me ta do?" Joey scowled, now. His eyes finally leaving Daphne, who was heading down to join Serenity. Mai's car pulled up in the driveway and screeched to a stop in front of the boys. Téa and Mai stepped out.
"See ya boys." Mai said, without even greeting the host of the house. She and Téa breezed pass the boys.
"Well, I have a couple windows you can clean and the foyer needs to be polished." Kaiba turned back to Joey and smirked.
"I'm not heah to work fer ya!" Joey growled and doubled his fists. Kaiba's obnoxious attitude and arrogance was getting his nerves. A man could only stand so much before he blows. Before they could say anything else, another car pulled up. Kaiba groaned as Tristan, Yami, and Yugi pulled up. They stopped behind Mai.
"Thought I'd check on my daughter, Kaiba." Yami called as he got out of the car.
"You just checked on her yesterday!" Kaiba snapped. Yami shrugged and brushed pass Kaiba.
"One can never check enough when she's living with you."
"Wait!" Kaiba was having trouble holding all of them back. "The girls are having a pool party and I'm saying we're not going back there!"
"I say that's all the more reasons go to back there." Tristan pointed out. "If we're interested in the girls, we don't know who else would."
"Tristan as a point." Joey defended. "Besides, I want to make sure my sister is going to be okay in your pool. Who knows what kind of trap you set in there."
"I'm not sure I want to leave my Daphnia with a bunch of wild girls. You know how they get when they're all together. I'm going to keep an especially close eye on her." Yami's voice left no room for arguments.
With that, all the guys shoved their way through the French doors to the back yard.
Just minutes before, Daphne was protesting, "Mai! I can't wear that!"
"And why not?" Mai reasoned. "I bought it especially for you, knowing you won't have a decent swimsuit. And I was right." She added, satisfied.
"I wasn't going to swim," Daphne almost pleaded. "I was only going to watch you guys." Téa rolled her eyes.
"Oh please, Daphne, you're the hostess here, we're here to have fun together." She gave a gasp at a long table by the side of the pool piled high with food and drinks. Umbrellas and beach chairs lounged around the pavement for enjoyment.
"Yeah," Serenity added, pulling off her T-shirt, revealing a cute red suit underneath. The top was like a tank top and fitted her slim body. "Come on, Daph, from the expression Kaiba had on his face when he saw Joey, he had just gotten himself the job of promising to keep the boys from coming into the backyard. Humor yourself for a change."
"Not that being conservative is bad," Téa added. "It's just that I've never seen you really…loose yourself in a good time. You're always so proper and sweet. Don't you ever get the urge to just scream and throw a tantrum for self pity?"
"I do that all the time and Joey pampers me." Serenity said, smirk curling on her lips and wicked gleam in her eyes. "He doesn't know what else to do."
"Come on," Mai coaxed, steering Daphne to the direction of the changing rooms. "Just put it on. If you don't like it, then take it off." Daphne was forced into the room and reluctantly, she changed into the suit.
"I'm coming out." She finally said after disapproving the way the suit was exposing her body. She stepped out into the sunlight and was thankful for once that her cousin was so protective.
"You look absolutely darling!" Téa gasped. Her deep coral two piece looked stunning on the young dancer's toned body. Daphne flushed pink.
"Wow, Mai!" Serenity's jaws dropped. "You really know what looks good on her. The blonde woman gave her hair a flip.
"When have I ever mistaken my taste?" She smirked. Her suit was purple and more revealing than the other girls.
Daphne's suit was dark navy, in a modest two piece. Enough that it was luring, but not enough to be a bikini. Her deep tan from the Egyptian sun had faded off and the navy brought out the creaminess of her silky skin. She looked as uncomfortable as she felt but decided that she would wear it, just for Mai's sake. She looked so eager to get something for her that she would like. They rubbed on suntan lotion and slipped their sunglasses on. Her dark heavy hair was fastened back with a clip and she stretched her body on the lawn chair.
A crush from the patio made all the girls look up. A herd of guys were pushing through the French doors, chasing after them was a very angry-looking Kaiba.
"What in tarnation do all of you think you're doing!?" He spat, finally catching up to them. The guys had paused by the patio, their eyes on the stunning exquisite beauties before them on the lawn chairs. Daphne shrieked and made a grab for her towel, pulling it up to her chin. Serenity and Téa almost fell off their lawn chair in their haste to grab their towel, their screams echoing around Kaiba Mansion. Though they were best friends, the girls were not ready to make their presence so exposed in front of the boys. Their first reaction was to cover themselves.
The group brought a blush onto the three girls by they way they were watching them. Only Mai alone wasn't affected by the group of riotous guys.
"Haven't you guys ever seen a pool party?" She began snootily. "Now, shoo. This is a private party."
Kaiba groaned after seeing what his cousin was wearing. "For Pete's sake, what have you guys done to her?"
"It's call a swimsuit." Téa snapped, clutching her towels tighter.
"Joey, what are you doing?" Serenity gasped as she watched her brother made himself comfortable under one of the beach umbrella.
"Hey, Serenity," he said casually, waving a hand at his friends. "Did you see all the food Kaiba has on the table?"
"Yes! Now will you please go away?"
"Aw, Sis, what are you so worried about? There is only a pharaoh who is a father, Yugi who isn't interested in you girls, and me and Tristan. Oh yeah, and Kaiba."
"Personally, you and Tristan are the ones I'm worried about!" Téa pointed out.
"Seto, are you going to—" Daphne stopped as she watched her cousin drag a lawn chair next to the second umbrella. Obviously, he's staying for good. "Seto," she begged.
"I'm going to have to stay here, to keep an eye on the morons and perverts." He muttered under his breath as he set his laptop up. "What a waste of day."
And as Yugi, Tristan, and Joey got comfortable under the first umbrella, Yami and Kaiba settled under the second umbrella. Mokuba, then, came skidding out of Kaiba Mansion, upon hearing the girls' screams. He looked around, confused, at all the older teens hanging out around the pool. Nothing seemed wrong to him, but just as he was about to walk back into the house, Joey called him over. Kaiba watched suspiciously as Mokuba and the four teens whispered something. Yugi kept shaking his head, while both Joey and Tristan had huge grins plastered on their face. They glanced back at Kaiba meaningfully and he glared back at them.
Serenity and Téa had calmed down by that time and had shed their towels, now bathing peacefully in the sun with Mai. But Daphne looked at her younger cousin with her towel still clutched at her throat. He was chatting excitedly to her friends. Then they all left for the house…together. Kaiba almost got up and followed them, but Yami was pulling him into a conversation about if he think they should hire a private flute teacher for Daphne or not. Kaiba decided not to worry about the morons and got into a heated debate with Yami. After all, how much damage could they do?
He should have worried.
For fifteen minuets later, Tristan, Joey, Mokuba, and even Yugi had on his swimming trunks and were heading out for the water. Joey and Tristan were laughing but Yugi was beet red. The owner of the trunks jumped up, furious and embarrassed at the same time, and began yelling obscenities at them. Yelling at everyone besides Mokuba, of course. Yami was grinning behind Kaiba's waving arms as the guys dove right into the pool, splashing the Téa, Serenity, and Mai with water.
They surfaced, laughing. Kaiba was just about to yell at them to get out of the pool when a refined European voice greeted them from the back.
"Hi, what are you guys doing?" Ryou was polite, as usual and ignored the threats that the girls were throwing to the guys in the pool. Kaiba didn't get a chance to answer as Bakura suddenly let out a howl of laughter.
"Kaiba," he gasped for air. "Is that your blue-eyes-white-dragon swimming trunks Tristan's wearing?" Kaiba turned twenty shades of red.
"What are you two doing here?" He finally roared. "I don't remembering giving the whole world invitations to use my pool!"
"Thought we'd drop by." Bakura chuckled. "And see how your fathering skills are going." Mokuba hopped out of the pool and took Ryou's hands. They ran into the house before Kaiba could chase after them.
Ryou also returned with one of Kaiba's trunks on.
"What is this, Mokuba?!" Kaiba's midnight blue eyes shot dagger at his little brother. "I don't own a swimsuit rental shop, you know." But his brother wasn't listening to him. "Why is nobody listening to me today?" Kaiba growled in frustration.
"Daphne," Mokuba ran up to the older girl. "Why aren't you swimming? If you're not swimming, do you want to—" He leaned over and whispered something. A smile lit up on Daphne's face and they left for the house. Kaiba was almost too scared to think what Mokuba's up to next. He better not have her emerged with a pair of his swim trunks too.
"Hey, Kaiba, Yami," A voice turned his attention away. "I want to talk to you." Kaiba raised an eyebrow at the dripping wet Tristan. Bakura, who was sharing their umbrella, muttered something unintelligible under his breath and sipped his drink.
"What is it, Tristan?" Yami asked, in his calm voice. Tristan turned to Yami, then to Kaiba, then to Yami again. He apparently couldn't decide whose wrath was worse to face.
"It's the formal dance that's coming up," he began. Kaiba began to shake his head and he could see a scowl forming on Yami's face. Bakura looked up. This was just getting interesting.
"Yes, what about it?" The pharaoh said tightly.
"Well, I want to take Daphne." Tristan said in a hurry.
Kaiba looked at Yami, Yami looked right back. They both shook their head. Bakura put his drink down. Tristan looked crushed.
"Hold it," Bakura countered. "Don't you think the princess should have a say in her own date?"
"Yes," Yami admitted grudgingly.
"No," Kaiba differed at the same time. Bakura raised an eyebrow.
"What we mean is," Yami started. "Yes to have her own say—"
"—And no because we won't grant her say with Tristan." Kaiba put in.
"Geez, you two are a complicated pair." Bakura remarked, smirking and taking a drink of the punch.
"Bakura, watch out!" And within the next second, Bakura's clean, white shirt was stained with the deep pink color of the punch. He sputtered and coughed as something exploded on his head. A spray of pink juice sprayed over his silver hair. He jumped up, fists clutched at his side.
"Alright, who did that?!" He thundered, looking about wildly before his dripping head snapped over at the sound of giggling. Daphne was standing in her bathing suit at the far end of the lawn with Mokuba. The two was doubling over helplessly with laughter.
"Sorry, Bakura," Daphne apologized between giggles. "That was suppose to be aimed toward Yami." She pointed. Yami jumped up and to everyone's amusement, moved slightly behind the owner of KaibaCorp.
"No, Daphne, I beg to be let off." The pharaoh called out.
"Too bad," she giggled again, juggling a water balloon in her hand. That's when the whole gang noticed the wheelbarrow filled high with water balloons between her and Mokuba.
"It's every man for himself!" Mokuba yelled, flinging a balloon. He stopped and thought for a while, then smiled wickedly, "And every lady for herself!"
Kaiba was laughing at how the girls were scrambling out of the pool, screaming, when a balloon exploded at the side of his head. He froze with shock, which was soon replaced with rage.
"Mokuba!" He hollered, jumping to his feet, dripping wet. "I'm going to get you for that!!"
"Water balloon war!!" Joey bellowed as he reached the barrow first and grabbed a balloon. "Tristan, heads up!" Tristan ducked and the balloon flew into Mai, whose eyes were burning with fury.
"Joseph Wheeler, you are going to regret that!" The guys laughed, then each grab several balloons and ran off. She grabbed a balloon and hurled with all her might. She gasped when her balloon came into contact with Serenity, who suddenly appeared out of nowhere.
"Oops." The blonde laughed and took her stash of ammunition and charged off. The redhead grabbed a balloon and felt someone tap on her shoulders. Without thinking, she turned and rammed the balloon into the face of the person behind her. That person happened to be Ryou.
"Gee, I'm sorry if I had offended you in any way," Ryou apologized politely, pushing his wet bangs away from his eyes. "I simply wanted to ask you to pass me a few balloons."
By now, the lawn had erupted into a war zone, even Kaiba was hurling water-filled rubber mercilessly at his companions.
" 'ey Kaiba, heads up!" Kaiba turned just in time for a water bomb to explode in his face.
"Wheeler!" Joey's snicker echoed across the yard. Kaiba took off after him. Joey laughed and dashed off, almost crashing into Yugi, who was running away from an enraged Bakura. Serenity and Téa were off near the pool, trying to get Tristan back for smashing balloons in their hair.
"Hey, Kaiba," Joey called back as they kept running. Kaiba was intercepted with Ryou and Yami as he chased after the Brooklyn-born boy.
"What?"
"If someone asked nicely, would you let that person take Daphne to the dance?"
"Depends on who the person is." Kaiba smirked and continued the pursue. He had a feeling where this conversation is going. Oh yes, this is going to be sweeter than balloons as revenge.
"If it should be me?"
"Then it'll depend on how you ask."
"Will you let me take Daphne to the dance?"
"Nope, too bad. Someone was ahead of you." Joey stopped all of a sudden and Kaiba almost rammed into him.
"Who?" The sandy blonde demanded, the balloon war temporary forgotten. Kaiba walked up slow.
"Your best buddy."
"Tristan?!" Joey gawked.
"Yes." Kaiba got close enough so that he fired three balloons together and made its target. He speed away, calling back, "Got you!" Too bad, as he turned back in front of him, he found that he was heading straight for the edge of his pool. By the time his brain comprehended in what was going to happen if he doesn't put on the brakes, he was too late to stop his upcoming dip in the aquamarine cool water.
"Arghhhh!!!"
Meanwhile, Ryou and Yami were having their own conversation.
"Hey Yami, you know, I would really like it if Daphne goes to the formal with me. " Ryou scrambled away after tricking Yami to run across a balloon-scattered part of the patio. Yami yelped as balloons popped under his foot.
"Is this the way you're proposing?!" Yami yelled back with scorn. "To enrage the girl's father, then ask for his permission?"
"Why, I didn't know you would take it so serious. You're loosing your touch, Pharaoh." A deeper British voice took over.
"Bakura?! It was YOU!" Yami growled. Both albinos watched with amusement as Yami tried to get pass the balloons, which were spread thickly around his footings. Water spurted and balloons pop with his every little movement. Perspiration formed on Yami's brows as he concentrated on maneuvering his way through this trap.
"Why, of course it's me." Bakura replied slyly, watching with glee. "You couldn't possibly have trusted my light with something as serious as this."
"I should have known!"
"Ah," the white-haired spirit wagged his finger. "But, you didn't, did you? Noooo…"
Yami looked across the lawn. Yugi had now teamed up with Tristan against Daphne. Téa and Mai were engaged in a heated water balloon duel. Serenity had a… very wet Kaiba's undivided attention. He smirked. So that CEO's enjoying himself, huh? Well, he's isn't going to live down on it. But wait…someone's missing. Yami counted in his head. His daughter, three other girls, a CEO, his own hikari, Joey and Tristan, and the two albinos standing in front of him…so who was missing… He snapped his finger. Mokuba. Where is the youngest twerp? He has disappeared.
"Gotcha!!!!" A squeal rang out behind him. Before Yami could turn around, he saw the largest shadow of a balloon above his head. A gush of water showered down upon him, causing his bangs to flop around uselessly. He swirled around and made a grab for the kid, but the raven-haired boy scurried away.
"Daph, I got him. I got him!" Mokuba shouted across the yard and he escaped from the King of Games, who was yelling madly after him. Daphne opened her arms and Mokuba flew into it.
"We got him good, didn't we, Mokuba?" The smile lit up on her face as she looked down at the boy in her arms. Yami slowed his chase and was soon joined by Bakura and Kaiba.
"The Chihuahua made an offer for your daughter, Yami." The tall, extremely wet CEO grumbled as he fell into footsteps with the two spirits.
"Really?" Bakura looked interested, but Yami scowled.
"His light also asked to be the escort." He jerked his head to Bakura's direction. The three 'older' teens retired back to their lawn chairs, where Kaiba distributed the towels. Yami and Bakura started blotted the water off their hair, while Kaiba started on his laptop, then moved to his trenchcoat. He was working on his chocolate colored bangs when he noticed Yami's smile, growing wider by the minute. He couldn't stand it anymore when Yami's grin pushed up the crinkles in the corners of his eyes.
"What's so funny?" Kaiba asked, annoyed.
"It's not." Yami's eyes softened. "It's just that I guess I didn't see it coming. Little Daphnia's all grown up with a line of eligible bachelors at her front door."
"Ha! You may feel comfortable, but it's my door they're going to knocking on." Kaiba muttered. "I swear, if anymore of them comes, I'm going to have to beat them off with a stick and by that time, you and Bakura will have to help me."
"How are you so sure that I'm not one of the eligible bachelors?" Bakura smirked.
"Because if you are, then we wouldn't be having this conversation right now. And you'd be my first victim." Kaiba stated and turned to Bakura, his eyes hard. Bakura raised his arms up in mock surrender.
"Not me." He gave a cocky smile. "My feelings for Daphne are different."
"Your feelings?!" Yami looked up.
"For Daphne?" Kaiba echoed at the same time. Bakura looked across the lawn at the pretty girl, then turned back. The expression on his face told them that he enjoyed their undivided attention. He took his time pulling their suspense longer as he took a sip of his leftover punch.
"I must ask you this, Bakura," Yami said tensely. "I must ask you what your intentions are toward my daughter."
"It's really none of your concern, pharaoh." Bakura's voice was presumptuous, yet held a warning tone that Yami didn't miss.
"I really hate to agree with Yami on this," Kaiba also began with authority. "But I must also ask you for your intentions."
"I owe you two nothing," Bakura shrugged. "But if you mortals do insist, my intentions are the same as yours. I only want the best for her. And her happiness." For a second, tenderness flickered across his eyes. But it was gone within a second and his cockiness replaced it. Yami and Kaiba looked at him as if he had just spoke German.
"Is this the Bakura we knew?" Yami whispered to Kaiba. Kaiba shook his head as he whispered back.
"Bakura? Wants the best for Daphne? No intentions? Never heard such thing."
Bakura, unfortunately, with his Millennium Ring, could hear every word. He scowled.
"Hey, I wouldn't be so arrogant if I were you. I was closer to her than any of you, even you, Yami. At times ago, I was actually her—" He stopped. Kaiba and Yami stared at him, waiting for him to finish. "Never mind." Bakura mumbled, sitting back down. His other two companions shrugged and sat down. The King of Games, The King of Technology, and The King of Thieves watched their pearl laugh and enjoy the afternoon with her friends. So they might not agree on some things, but it was a silent understatement that they all want the best for Daphne.