Merry-Go-Round by Mooguri Klaine
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Chapter Six:
"And how will you be paying, sir?"
Seto flicked out his personalized platinum cash card. The only one in the planet. It was particularly designed by Seto Kaiba himself. Let's just say Seto was rolling in huge amounts of money, and such quantity would be too much for an ordinary bank to hold. He had his own bank made, so as to accommodate all those money. Plus, he didn't like the idea of somebody else looking out for his money and valuable assets. Seto Kaiba is not a person who easily trusts others, given his position as a sole proprietor of a huge corporation. He was once - even twice - conspired upon by his constituents because of it. Amazing how a little card could pack millions of currency. The wonders of modern technology. Seto smirked all-knowingly at the cashier, who quailed under the gaze of the young business tycoon.
"Certainly, sir," the attendant took the card, fingers trembling slightly. She would tell this to her co-workers as soon as her shift ends.
Both Hikari and Seto made a quick detour at the nearby Domino Shopping Center to replace the torn and dirty jumper. Seto wanted to have his personal designers make a custom wardrobe for Hikari, but they didn't have much choice at the moment. He could only frown at the clothes on sale. "This is where you buy clothes?" he wondered incredulously, his face scowling with distaste and disgust. Regardless, Seto ordered an attendant to take Hikari's measurements, and jotted down the figures on his custom-made digital organizer. Manipulating a few quick buttons, the organizer turned into a portable mini-computer, complete with satellite internet access, the fastest connection on the globe. He sent a quick email to all his fashion designers. Not a moment too soon, he pressed some more buttons and hatches, and the portable computer disappeared, replaced by a cellular phone. Wired to his very own telecommunications satellite, this wonderful phone can call and reach any part of the world and the signal is crystal clear; it's as if Seto is talking right beside you. Seto called out a name clearly to it; the phone is voice-activated as well, apart from its very secure line. Seto really knows how to pamper himself; he can be such a sucker for techno gadgets. Seconds later, he was conversing with another person, an Italian by the looks of it, for Seto was speaking in fluent Italian tongue. More calls, in various languages, followed suit. Hikari could only stare at Seto with awe and surprise.
"Vale, bien. Gracias. Me llama a.s.a.p. No me gusta esperar, ¿intiendes? Bien. Hasta Luego." (A/N: That's Spanish for: "Alright, good. Thank you. Call me a.s.a.p. I don't like to wait, understand? Good. Until then." Ehhehe, I'm neither Spanish nor Mexican; I just happen to take foreign language classes in our university. I'm not sure if this is correct, though. It's just elementary Spanish and I can't think of something macho to say in Spanish; my foreign language vocabulary can only go so far ^^;;) He terminated the link, punched some more keys, and settled the piece of technology inside the breast pocket of his trench coat. This whole procedure took less than five minutes. He turned around to face Hikari Yugi.
"What's that all about?" Hikari queried, his mouth still hanging wide open.
"Few days from now, you'll have a new wardrobe. So you'd better throw your old ones out." Seto replied. "I don't like the looks of this place..."
"What? You ordered a whole set of wardrobe for me?" Hikari gasped.
"Yes. The entire set," Seto replied. "It's not that you have a horrible fashion sense. On the contrary, actually. I just don't like clothes being bought out off... this place." He cleared his throat uncomfortably and looked at Hikari. The jumper attire practically discarded, Hikari was now sporting a loose black shirt and a black pair of pants. Simple yet elegant, Seto thought, no doubt checking out how it will look like on Yami.
"You need not do it, Kaiba," Hikari told the blue-eyed corporate. "You're not serious, are you?"
"Oh, but I am," Seto answered him as he signed some receipt on the cashier's desk. "And you need it too."
"But..." said Hikari hesitantly.
"I would appreciate it if you just accept it, so there's no point in trying to discourage me from doing it," said Seto as he finished the transaction, pocketing his card. "Besides, my designers are already working on it. I think -"
"Thank you, Kaiba," came Hikari's sudden reply, initially surprising Seto. Kaiba Corporation's CEO is unused to areas of gratitude and appreciation; he couldn't think of ways how to react. Seto managed to stare at Hikari, eyes impassive.
Hikari muttered his word of thanks. He could tell that Seto is a good person despite his arrogance and impatience at times; Yami was always telling to him that Seto is just reluctant to show his feelings, yet when he does, it was true. "And he's not touchy-feely," Hikari remembered Yami fondly saying to him. I guess Yami is the only person Kaiba reaches out to, all pretensions and apprehensions aside. Yet as he looked back at Seto with eyes of gratitude, Hikari could've sworn he saw Seto smiled a little. Maybe he's not hopeless after all...
"I still haven't forgiven you and Yami for this sick plan you've managed to prepare," Seto quipped, voice laced with annoyance.
Hikari Yugi sighed. 'Guess not... Yet he let out an easy laugh. "In case you're wondering, Kaiba, I won't let Yami out just yet." He snickered. Somehow, he had a feeling that Seto would do anything just to let Yami out.
This time, it was Seto's turn to sigh. Maybe Hikari can read minds, he thought. Seto was actually thinking of bargaining with Hikari about Yami, but the light was a step ahead of him. A landmark moment for the smart and cunning executive. He is a creator of schemes, an excellent mastermind, and good in predicting outcomes and mapping out alternatives should the plan take an unexpected turn. No wonder he was such a wise businessman. Yet right now, Seto Kaiba is not himself. He was beside himself with rage and annoyance.
"Fine, fine," grumbled Seto as they stepped out of the store
"Let's go back to the carnival, Kaiba!" Hikari hopped eagerly; he was still looking forward to a day of fun at an amusement park.
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The limousine once again passed in front of Domino Theme Park. The passengers disembarked; Hikari as happy as ever and Seto as glum, pissed off, and reluctant as usual. It is amusement park regulations for customers to have their hands stamped with the theme park's seal should they wish to return. Yet the two left the theme park in a hurry, both forgetting to have their wrists stamped. Upon their return, the ticket attendant that Seto shouted was still on duty. This employee shuddered involuntarily as Seto and Hikari drew near. He let the two in, even though there wasn't any stamp on their wrists. Apparently, one cannot forget Seto Kaiba so easily.
It was some time around the afternoon, yet the carnival is still teeming with activity. Hikari made a bit of a run and jog at the same time, eyeing each ride that passed their way. After walking past half a dozen rides and several blocks, Hikari stopped in his tracks.
The roller coaster entrance loomed in front of them, loops snaking around dangerously, the tracks winding up and down, left and right. The coaster's cars gleamed red, sparkling like a long mechanical snake basking in the afternoon light. Hikari Yugi sighed happily.
"Roller coaster!" Hikari cried. "Kaiba, let's give it a try!"
Seto hesitated, and managed to silence an involuntary shudder. He gulped quietly. Roller coasters. For someone like Seto Kaiba, it should be a piece of cake. But for Seto Kaiba himself, it would have been the stuff of nightmares. If there ever were a ride that could take the pomposity out of his guts, it would have to be this. Ever since he was a kid, he had harbored an unconscious fear toward the train-like contraption. God, this is awful, Seto thought, apprehensively looking at the mechanical ride. Somebody up there must really hate me.
Hikari proceeded to walk towards the ride entrance but stopped almost immediately. "Oh, but look at the line," he said, his voice unmistakably showing disappointment, his cheery persona dropping a little. There was a long queue snaking towards the ride, stretching at a length of an eternity and an inch. "It would take us forever just to get a go at it..." (A/N: Okay, the phrase 'eternity and an inch' sounded too much exaggerated, but I can't think of any phrase that would perfectly describe a really long line. But hey, you do get the point of it, right? So let's get it on! Oh yeah, don't forget to review ^_^)
Seto, on the other hand, cannot help but heave a sigh of relief. Even for someone as patient as Hikari, the line could really take forever to wait upon. Let's just get out of here, Seto pleaded in his thoughts, hoping that Hikari could get the message behind the long line. Yet as he looked at Hikari Yugi, he could see sadness in his scarlet eyes. Seto felt a twinge of guilt. What the hell, he grumbled. Stupid nasty conscience, it's mankind's ultimate weakness, I swear...
Hikari stared longingly at the roller coaster and heard the gleeful voices drifting in the air as the ride swooped by curves and loops. "Well, I guess there can be a next time," he started. "Kaiba, let's just look for other rides or someth -"
Before Hikari could finish, he felt his arm being tugged by Seto. "Kaiba, what...?" he asked, as Seto dragged him away from the end of the line. Seto started walking towards the front of the ride entrance.
"You want to ride on this, right?" Seto asked him.
"Well, of course I want to, but..."
"That's all I need to know," Seto said at once, not even allowing Hikari to finish his sentence.
"But there's a long line, Kaiba," said Hikari. "We can just ride on it sometime."
Seto didn't reply, but continued to approach the front without as much as a blink at the other people in the line.
"Hey, can't you see there's a line for this?" someone shouted as Seto and Hikari went past them. A bad idea, as it turned out, for Seto stopped abruptly and went back to the man.
"Oh, I can see that perfectly well, you dumb ass," Seto quipped dangerously, his face inches away from the man, eyes flashing with suppressed might. No one has ever questioned Seto Kaiba in any way imaginable before. Ever.
"And what do you think you're doing?" the obnoxious man asked in what seemed to be an arrogant voice, but merely turned out to be a frightened squeak. He could easily feel a sense of foreboding in this taller man. Plus, no one would ever make a mistake of not knowing and recognizing Seto Kaiba especially at that small a distance.
"What I'm doing, you pathetic excuse of a person," Seto started, his blood nearing boiling point. Apparently, he's got enough anger to last him more than a lifetime, and he doesn't need filling it up another notch. "Is none of your damn business. Get it?"
The man nodded in silent agreement; he had a feeling that his voice and his courage have abandoned him completely. Other people in line could only gape silently and fearfully. They know better than to rise up at the man's defense and defy Seto; clearly, no one wanted to die an early and violent death.
"Good. Now stay out of my way if you know what's good for you," Seto spoke in a low, threatening voice. This message was obviously heard by everyone -impossible it might have been - as people began to edge away from the maddened corporate, and in the process, clearing an easy path towards the front of the line. It was much like Moses and the ever-famous parting of the Red Sea.
Seto smirked. He grabbed Hikari's arm once more and casually walked along the cleared path. Hikari only allowed himself to be hauled by Seto, the former glancing apologetically at the crowd around him, his face sheepishly smiling in a mixture of embarrassment and...well, embarrassment. Yet Seto does not seemed to be bothered; on the contrary, he felt proud and pompous as ever.
But this pomposity was only short-lived; the moment he and Hikari had finally reached the threshold of the ride, Seto's bloating ego flattened in an instant. His insides squirmed uncomfortably, as if he had eaten something alive in one go. The fear inside him was gnawing his gut; his so-called phobia had finally kicked in. Roller coasters were never his favorite; that's why he refused to go on it altogether. Yet here he was, smacked right at the entrance of the horrible ride.
Damn conscience, Seto blamed the all-too-familiar feeling that urged him to let Hikari have his way all the way in the first place. Had it not for this conscience, he would've just left Yugi in the town square earlier that day, and the events that transpired after won't be happening at all. Seto's calculating and "rational" part of his whole being dictated what Seto should do at most times, and in this case, leave the kid alone and simply walk away. But no, the blasted conscience intervened, as always, claiming that Hikari deserved a chance that should never be wasted. All this internal battle went on for countless of times in the young corporate's mind that day, and so far, the score goes to the goody-goody conscience. God, I must be getting soft, Seto shuddered at the thought.
It was a good thing that the ride attendant did not argue with Seto anymore. The Parting of the Red Sea episode was already enough to shut his rather-wide trap, to say the least. Besides, Seto was starting to get really pissed off and nervous at the same time. And that combination never made anyone happy with his or her life. So the carnival employee admitted them aboard at once.
"This is great," Hikari cried happily as he clambered aboard one of the coaster's cars. It seems like he had gotten over the embarrassing albeit amazing display of power by Kaiba. Unlike Seto, Hikari and Yami had a particular interest for adrenaline-pumping rides such as this, as most teenagers would have. Apart from that, their happiness was also due to the fact that they'd managed to worm their way to the front without anyone complaining, and it was all thanks to Seto.
Give him a kiss later, will you? Hikari made this request to his other self. Kaiba's got a lot of patience in him, and it will be a pity if you don't reward him for it.
Don't worry, I will, was Yami's reply.
Though Hikari highly doubted this; somehow, he had an inkling that Yami will not only give Seto a kiss or two for that. He chose not to voice it out instead.
In each car are four seats with two chairs together side by side. Both Seto and Hikari were seated at the front of the ride, much to Hikari's delight and Seto's horror and dismay.
Perhaps it was quite interesting to note that Seto remained calm and composed despite his internal state, which at the moment, felt like howling like a raving lunatic. Of course, Seto thought better of it; he's a pro at concealment of feelings, having spent his entire life hiding unwanted emotions. He even managed to fold his arms proudly despite the safety belts and harnesses glued on him, practically choking him. Yet upon closer inspection, he was some shades lighter than his usual color, his marine eyes almost fearful, his hands clammy with sweat. Hikari noticed all of this and told Yami of it.
Do you know that Kaiba seems to hate this ride? Hikari asked. I mean, the look on his face and all...
Uh, I don't know, Hikari, Yami Yugi answered. I've never been to the carnival with Seto before, and he didn't tell me.
Yeah, good point, Yami, snickered Hikari. The only thing you guys have ever seen is hotels and some...er...private places.
Hikari Yugi laughed to himself as he felt Yami fighting a deep blush, but failed miserably.
I know, Yami, you don't have to thank me for bringing you guys over at the carnival, Hikari had spoken even before Yami could come up with a reply. You need a change of scenery, get it? I mean, it's not always making out and sex every time you see each other...
Hey! Yami gasped in surprise at Hikari's thoughts. After all, Yami had never heard his other self speaking in a most outspoken way ever before. That was below the belt, Hikari, Yami protested. Our lives do not utterly revolve around - Yami searched for a milder word than sex - erotic exploits and hedonism. Yet, Yami could not help but realize that his Hikari actually made sense
Hikari giggled some more. Yeah, you two just got a healthy sex life, that's all...
Hikari!
Okay, okay! Simmer down, Yami...
Just then, as if on cue, the motionless mechanical snake burst into life, at first making slow and hesitant steps, until finally finding its momentum, and began picking up speed. A couple of people along Hikari and Seto's set were already howling with glee. Hikari smiled and decided to join along the shouting. "Woohoo!"
Seto, on the other hand, dreaded the worst. He felt the ride bumping against the trail, the cars snaking its way along the predetermined path. He then felt the car climbing a steep incline and heard Hikari shouting happily beside him. Then the roller coaster stopped.
Brace yourself, Seto gulped.
Then suddenly, the long mechanical snake gave an almighty lurch, plunging all passengers in a deep air dive. The sensation tickled Hikari's stomach as he let out a laugh. "YEAH!" he shouted, his arms off the safety bar and up in the air.
Meanwhile, Seto could only close his eyes, and feel the air rushing to his beautiful face. However, he made a little peek to see Hikari and saw that for some odd reason, he looked like he was having the time of his life. Seto could not believe this. In a foolish attempt to look emotionless - and if possible - happy, Seto decided to open his eyes and be done with it. He turned his eyes away from Hikari just in time to see the tracks winding dangerously in front of him, finally forming into a loop.
Seto placed a pale hand over his azure eyes.
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Though the ride only lasted for a minute or so, Seto felt like he was trapped for what seemed like an eternity.
As they mounted off the ride, Hikari's legs appeared to be a bit on the wobbly side, yet to the tri-colored haired teenager, it did not matter. His smile seemed to have gotten wider; it was stretching from ear to ear.
"That was great, wasn't it?" Hikari asked his companion.
If Seto was a few shades off his normal color before coming in the ride, what little color in his face had finally drained and left him after. He was already pale, his face sweaty and sallow.
"Uhm, Kaiba, are you okay?" Hikari asked him in a concerned voice.
Seto simply moaned in reply. He staggered a few paces, his hands attempting to grab hold onto something that could steady him.
Hikari rushed to Seto's side. "Kaiba, I guess we should go to the infirmary or something. You look sick..."
A few more drunken steps and Seto finally stopped at a nearby bush. His knees buckled together and finally gave way as he fell on all fours.
If there was one thing he hated about roller coasters, it would have to be the rather...appetizing effects after the ride.
There was silence for a brief moment, followed by a horrible sound.
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Author's Note: Another cliffhanger! *evil laugh* Okay, so I got to admit, Seto turned out to be some sort of punching bag, as all misfortunes seem to fall on him. Poor guy -_-;; I don't know if I wrote the right thing about Seto being intensely squeamish when it comes to roller coasters...he's got to have a weakness somehow ^_^ But tell me how you exactly feel about it! Thanks for the reviews you've given me! They certainly made my day! And I'll thank you in advance if you're planning to write me a review! Don't forget to leave your email address so I can get to give you one of my scanned artworks! Consider it my thank-you gift for letting me know what you think about this fic. ^^ By the time you read this, I'm already finished with the entire Merry-Go-Round story; I'm just posting the chapters bit by bit so I can get to see your reviews, in case you might want to add something, so I can still edit and revise my works ^^
And another thing: I'm already starting on another story -Yami/Seto again, by the way- and it's going to be a bit on the serious side. And get this: THEY HAVE A SON! Yay! Now, it's a huge mystery on how they get to have one...all would come in due time! So I'll get my fingers crossed so I can deliver the new fic as soon as possible. ^o^ v
My email address is available for private things you feel like saying, lest the Review portion may be too public for you: mooguri_klaine@yahoo.com... Okay, enough for now. ^^ Review, review! Okay, I'll stop this time. ^_~