R.J: Me again, so thanks to all who reviewed, I really, really appreciate
it.
Kaiba: What's this chapter about?
R.J: Eh, you'll find out......
Kaiba: I'm afraid to ask. By the way, I think your last chapter was too long.
R.J: Really, well, I have to admit, I didn't think it was very good, but anyway.....
Bakura: Nothing's good if the Pharaoh is in it. *gets a glare from the author* Fine, I'll stop.
R.J: Okay then, enjoy the chapter.
************************************************************************
Monday morning and everyone was returning to school. The morning embraced each student with light as they stepped onto the grounds of Domino High. The campus slowly became filled with students of different ages.
"I didn't get any sleep last night." Joey whined as he dropped his bag onto the stone bench the gang was sitting on.
"Why? Did something happen Joey?" Yugi asked.
"No, just math homework...." Joey yawned.
"Geez Joey, I told you not to wait until the last minute." Tristan said.
"Well, at least I got mine done." Joey said giving Tristan a sleepy grin before taking off to dream world.
"Let me guess...... Tristan, you didn't do yours." Tea sighed.
"Well, uhm, I....no." Tristan said bowing his head down in shame.
Everyone heard Joey give a loud "Ha!" in his sleep. Everyone looked at Joey strangely before helping Tristan with his homework. After some time, the bell gave a loud and earsplitting ring and everyone went inside for the start of class.
In the homeroom class, the students started taking their seats. Ayane took her seat beside Kaiba. He looked at her and wordlessly handed the diskette she had given him two days ago. She took it.
"Wow, you're done already?" Ayane asked.
"I don't waste my time on friends, so I get my priorities done faster." He said in a cold tone.
"Okay..." Ayane trailed off, unsure of what to say.
Ms. Misaku came in and greeted her class. She then proceeded to announce the week's events and the different reminders for the week. After the announcements and answering some questions about them she was about to leave when she remembered something else.
"Oh yes, class, there will be a swimming trip first week of next month, it's not final yet, but since swimming is part of your gym curriculum, I think you can look forward to it. Now, if you will excuse me, I need to get to a meeting.....again." She said as she walked out of the room.
The class started talking as the door of their classroom closed. Ayane took out a notebook and began writing in it. Kaiba's eyes wondered to it. She saw this and immediately closed it.
"What's in there?"
"Things I write, nothing really." She said, still, she kept the notebook in her bag.
Kaiba looked at her for a minute, and then looked away. Girls and their little secrets, what nonsense. He focused on the front of the room where no teacher remained. He then noticed a familiar sound coming from behind him; it was the sound of cards being shuffled. He looked beside him to see Ayane going through and shuffling her deck. He looked at her cards.
"What is it?" She asked after some time.
"I'm surprised, you know how to duel?" He smirked, putting emphasis on the word know.
"No, actually, I just have a deck so I can put something in my pocket." She said sarcastically.
"Are you any good?" He asked, eyeing her.
"I guess you could say that." She replied, knowing full well that Kaiba was much better than her.
He thought for a while, and then smirked. He turned away, shaking his head. Ayane took this as a little challenge.
"I bet I could take you on." She said quietly, mischief in her tone.
Kaiba looked at her. "Don't be foolish." He stated.
"I've heard you were a good duelist but I've never actually seen it." She said, her eyes smiling. "Is it true? Because I usually don't believe things unless I see it." She turned to him. Of course, she really knew Kaiba was one of the best duelists in the world, but anyway......
"Fine, then I'll show it to you first hand. I'll duel with you and you'll see how wrong you are." Kaiba said, his tone cold. Inside he was grinning; he loved dealing with Ayane's personality.
Ayane looked at him, and then laughed.
"What's so funny?"
"Oh c'mon Kaiba, I can't believe you believed me. I know full well what a great duelist you are. Someone would have to have been living under a rock not to know that." She said, a smile on her face.
Kaiba looked at her. She had just been kidding after all. And he had bit the bait. He couldn't help himself, when there was someone questioning his dueling abilities.....
"Ring!" Went the bell. All the students started out of the classrooms.
Ayane was the last one out. Before she could get that far though, Kaiba called her attention. She walked over to where he was and smiled.
"Ayane.....Why did you do that?" He asked.
"You're so serious and calm all the time it was nice to see you loose your cool just a bit." She said, giving a small laugh.
"Well, I'll keep to what I said. I'll show you first hand how I duel." He said, his tone serious. Inside he thought rather playfully that he'd get his revenge on her.
"I'd like that." She said and began to walk away when she turned back to him.
"Wait? What's the catch?" She asked.
Kaiba raised is eyebrow. "Catch?"
"Yeah, you've got to want something right?"
Kaiba thought for a moment, right now there were a lot of things he wanted, he then reached inside his pocket.
"If I lose, you get my blue eyes white dragon." He said, showing her the rare card.
"And if I lose?" Ayane asked uncertainly since she knew very well that she didn't have any card as rare as the blue eyes in her deck.
"I get one of your cards." He stated plainly. Not really what he wanted, but hey, the girl had to have some cards that would be useful to him.
Ayane took out her deck and started to look through it. She frowned then gave it to Kaiba.
"I think you'll be at a disadvantage, I don't have any rare cards."
Kaiba looked through her deck and took out two cards. (He didn't look through it thoroughly, that would be unfair.) He handed the deck back to her and showed her the two cards he had picked out. It was the trap card "Solemn Wishes" and the monster card "Lord of D."
"If you loose, I'll take these two cards." He said.
"Why?" She asked.
"I think they'll be very useful." He said. He gave the cards back to her and walked off.
Ayane looked at the two cards in her hand. The trap card enables you to gain 500 life points every time you draw a card. She frowned, this was her favorite trap card. She looked at the other one, it had an effect. If the card was in face up attack position, trap cards and magic cards could not target dragon type monsters.
"Oh, so that's why he wants it." Ayane said to herself.
She wondered into the cafeteria where the rest of the gang was waiting for her. When she sat down, Tristan and Joey were in the middle of a duel. Tristan looked like he was loosing.
"Hey, what's the score?" Ayane asked Yugi as she sat down.
"Tristan has 500 life points left while Joey still has 2000." Yugi said.
"And I'm going to win! Flame swordsman, attack his monster." Joey declared.
"Yeah, Joey I caught you, activate trap card!" Tristan said, lifting a face down card, destroying Joey's monster. "I think the tides are turning." He said.
Joey smiled. "Don't get so cocky Tristan old buddy, I still have my red eyes in my deck." Tristan's face fell.
While all this, Yugi looked quite troubled. He looked as if he were trying to solve a very hard problem.
(What's wrong Yugi?)
(Tell me Yami, what happened?)
(Oh, that again, I took Tea to the movies and back home.)
(Why?!)
(You wouldn't want me to have left you lying under a tree unconscious now would you?)
(Yes, but, what did you tell her?)
(That you were sick.)
(Oh..)
(Don't worry Yugi, she said she had a good time.)
(Oh, Okay.)
Yugi closed their mindlink. No matter how Yami explained it, or no matter how many questions he answered, it still couldn't get any worse. What was Yugi going to do? He couldn't blame Yami, it wasn't his fault. Yugi sighed.
After a short while, Joey had finished Tristan off with an attack from is most prized Dragon. Joey started raving on about how great he was and Tristan looked sullen. Tea, Ryou and Ayane tried to cheer Tristan up, but he seemed to grow even sadder when he heard Joey say,
"I can't wait to tell Serenity about this!"
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Some minutes before the bell rang to signal the end of recess, the gang went off on their own different ways. Ryou and Ayane were heading off to the UPL rooms when Ayane spoke.
"I think I've gotten myself in a very deep hole, and I don't think I'll be able to get out of it." She laughed uncertainly.
"Why? What happened?"
"Uhm, well......I sort of, got myself into a duel."
"Well that shouldn't be any problem for you, you're a great duelist." Ryou assured.
Ayane smiled. Her eyes looked deep. Ryou eyed her from head to toe. To him, she looked as beautiful as always. He looked at her face, wondering what she was thinking.
"If I'm a great duelist, I'd hate to think what the person I'm dueling is." She said.
"Who exactly are you dueling?" Ryou asked.
"Uhm.....Kaiba."
"What?!" Ryou exclaimed a bit too loud that the students around him cast him strange looks.
It took a while before he could shove the glances off him. Soon the students began to go back to whatever they were doing before. Ryou took deep breaths before turning back to Ayane who looked at him strangely.
"Kaiba?" Ryou asked.
"Yup, told you it was a deep hole."
"Well, it was nice knowing you." He said with a grin on his face and playfully started to back away.
"Hey, come back here!" Ayane laughed and ran to Ryou.
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In the UPL rooms Ayane took her seat next to Kaiba. She had to admit, the thought of dueling with him scared her a bit, but more than that it intrigued her. Yeah, she liked the idea of seeing him duel "first hand", whatever that meant.
Kaiba noticed that Ayane hadn't talked to him all through out the period so far. This surprised him, but then he smirked to himself, knowing that she was probably thinking about earlier.
After a while, Mr. Tomoya stopped discussing history.
"Alright, since I know all of you are dried out from the tests yesterday, you can have the rest of the period off; you'll have to stay inside the classroom though, and keep your volume down." He said.
The class gave a soft cheer and started to do their own things. Many talked but as the teacher had told them too, kept their voices low. Some started to sleep.
############################################################################ #######
R.J: Little interruption from your favorite author girl!
Bakura: Keep on dreaming R.J.......
R.J: Right, well anyway, don't rag on me about any of the cards I mention in this chapter. I know Seto already has a Lord of D.(dragons.) but I'm trying to create a story here.
Bakura: Trying, being the key word.
R.J: Wait, how come I'm stuck here with you? Where are the others?
Bakura: Went out to get a drink.
R.J: Then why are you still here?
Bakura: Hey, someone's got to watch you kid.
R.J: Hey, I'm not a kid!
Bakura: Well you're a lot younger than I am.
R.J: Still, I'm not a kid!
Bakura: Hey, I was wondering, why'd you have a name like that? R.J. sounds like a guys' name.
R.J: Well that's my name, deal with it. -_-u. At least I'm not a thousand year old murderer who thinks a knife looks good buried in someone's chest.
Bakura: What? Say that again, I dare you.
R.J: Oh you heard me.
Bakura: Do you wanna go to the shadow realm? *Gives a glare*
R.J: You want to come with me? *Nice come back*
Bakura: Grrrr......
R.J: Aww c'mon Bakura, lighten up, since you're the only one here to talk to.
Bakura: Whatever kid.
R.J: If my boyfriend told me he'd kill me would I back off? *thinks to herself*
Bakura: This girl is insane.....
R.J: No, I'm serious; it's here on an internet anime quiz see? *points to her screen*
Bakura: Let's find out shall we? *runs off to get Seto*
R.J: I have a bad feeling.....
**************************************************************************** ********************
"Ayane?" Kaiba asked calling her attention.
"Huh? W-what? Oh, Kaiba, what is it." She asked, a bit shaken from her thoughts.
Kaiba smirked. "Nothing."
Some time after the last period before lunch, the bell rang. Students started filling out of the classrooms. Ayane had told Ryou to go ahead and she was still in the corridor by the time it was practically empty. Solitude made her think better. She was going through her deck, remembering how many people she had defeated using it. Just then she heard a door shut just across. Kaiba was just getting out.
"Dang, I wanted to be alone; I knew I should've just gone to the tree." She thought to herself. She cast him a quick glance before she rested her gaze back on her deck.
Kaiba saw this and grinned to himself. Let's see how nice it is if you loose your cool, he thought to himself.
"Trying to find a way to beat me?" He asked. Ayane looked at him, raised an eyebrow and turned back to her deck.
"Let me tell you, it can't be done." He smirked. At these words Ayane twitched a bit. His smirk grew.
"What are you thinking?" Ayane asked, raising her eyebrow and putting her deck down.
Kaiba walked over to where she was leaning on the wall and put his hand on the wall so she couldn't get away. Both looked at each other.
"Come on, out with it, what re you thinking?" Ayane asked again, this time a smile on her face.
"That maybe you're afraid of me." He grinned, his tone icy.
Ayane looked at him.
"Sorry to disappoint you Kaiba, but....I'm not afraid of you." She said, as if she were stating the obvious, not a trace of fear in her voice.
"Oh really? Don't bother trying to win." He said, straightening up. Before he walked out though Ayane called him.
"Hey, Kaiba?"
"What?"
"What do you really want?"
"What?"
"I mean, well.....since I don't really think any of my cards will be of that use to you....."
"Whatever, just make sure you put up a fight." He said, his tone cold.
Ayane just stared after him. Shaking her head. No, Kaiba would never know what an impact he had made on her life. He wouldn't be interested anyway. If she were to get anything from the duel, she'd wish that Kaiba would care, yeah, show that he cared for her, maybe just a little bit. It wasn't too much to ask for. She then shook her head vigorously.
"What Am I thinking?!" She exclaimed at herself.
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From where he was walking, Kaiba hadn't heard What Ayane had exclaimed to herself. He thought about when he was so close to her, when he had asked her if she was afraid, when she had said no almost too easily. He smiled. Then he thought about her last words, What do you really want? Right now, he didn't know what exactly she meant by that.....
**************************************************************************** *****************
"Hey did you guys hear?" Tea asked as she sat down on the gangs usual table.
"Here what?" Tristan asked.
"Tonight, it's going to be really starry, more than usual, my science teacher told the whole class."
"Wow, that'd be nice, maybe there'll be falling stars." Ayane said.
"They're stars, what could be so special, you see them every night." Joey said.
"Oh Joey, I wouldn't expect you to understand." Tea said.
**************************************************************************** ******************
Ryou and Ayane were walking up the stairs to their rooms. Both were talking about the upcoming starry night, the lessons they were learning and practically anything.
"Hey Ayane?"
"Yeah?"
"Since this'll be a really cool night and all....."
"Yeah, go on."
"I was thinking, you wanna go to the park, maybe look at the stars?"
(This is the best you can come up with Ryou?)
(What?)
(Stars? The park?)
(What about them?)
(You're pathetic, you know that?)
(Yes, yes I do Bakura.)
(Hikari, I could do better than you.)
(She might end up getting hurt.....or hospitalized.)
(Why?)
(Remember the last time......when I was with Joey and Yugi at the arcade?)
(I told you that was an accident.)
(Accident huh?)
(Yeah, those electric wires moved on their own.)
(Right....)
Ryou waited anxiously for the reply.
"Yeah, sure why not?"
"You will?"
"Yeah, I've never seen stars that bright before, the lights hwere I used to live were always so bright that they blocked out the stars." She frowned.
"Yes!" Ryou said to himself.
"Well, c'mon then, better get to class." She said as both walked to their classroom.
Ryou just nodded and followed. Both walked into the classroom and took their seats, Ayane at the front and Ryou at the back. Ayane rested her hands and head on the desk, not really paying attention to the world around her. Kaiba took his seat beside her. She was facing the other way soshe didn't notice.
"Tired are we?" He smirked.
"No, just bored." Was the reply.
Kaiba didn't have anything left to say. He just looked away, just as the teacher was entering the classroom. Surprisingly, it wasn't their normal interesting teacher; it was an older boring(er) substitute teacher, the students listened to him drone about how their regular teacher was sick and how he'd take over. He started discussing on a lesson they had learnt last week so nobody really paid attention.
Ayane was sitting straight now, and was probably the only one actually listening to the teacher. Kaiba looked at her strangely. It would be more interesting to watch a cactus than to listen to the old geezer's discussion. Finally, the teacher exited, having some business to attend to. The whole class gave a relieved sigh and started to talk.
"Kaiba? Do you believe in wishes?" Ayane asked, out of the blue.
"No. I don't." He said coldly.
"Well, that's a shame; didn't you make them on falling stars when you were a kid?" She asked.
Kaiba just frowned. "What are you getting at?" He asked, his tone annoyed and cold.
"Nothing, it's just that tonight there'll be a lot of stars." She said.
"So?"
"Haven't you made any wishes at all? In your whole life?"
"No."
"There might be falling stars you know."
"So?"
"I know wishing on them is probably weird, but it's fun to do." She said.
"What would I wish for?" He asked rather haughtily.
"I don't know, I was thinking more like maybe your brother would like doing it, he seems like an innocent little kid." She shrugged.
At the aspect of making his brother happy, Kaiba took a bit of interest.
"Mokuba?" "Yeah, he looks like someone who could enjoy looking at stars, no offence or anything but he's not anything like you." She said, a smile on her lips.
Kaiba frowned, looked to the front of the room and then smiled, a real smile. "No, I suppose he isn't."
Ayane looked at him. His eyes were softer. His smile was real. She felt her heart skip a beat. She then thought to herself. What was she thinking? No way could she be having these feelings. Not for Kaiba at least.
"Who knows, you could make a wish too." She said.
"I don't believe in these sorts of things."
"Oh, I guess you don't."
**************************************************************************** ********************
Later that night, the stars did show. First there were only few. Then more and more started to shine so brightly that the most lustrous diamonds would be put to shame. They were so beautiful.
"Oh they're so bright, and.....and amazing." Ayane gasped as she and Ryou were sitting down on the grass at the park.
"Yeah, they are." Ryou said, inside, he was happy, that he was here with her. Silently, he thought, "The stars look prettier when they're in her eyes."
After a while of silence and staring at the enchanting stars Ayane spoke.
"It makes you feel so small, doesn't it?" She said, lying down on the grass, resting her head on her hands.
Ryou looked up to the stars, then looked down on his friend, lying down on the ground, the stars reflecting on her eyes.
(Hehehe, watch yourself Ryou.)
(What?)
(Don't get any bad ideas in your head.)
(Bakura! I'm not that kind of person, eew!)
Ryou just smiled. "Yeah, it makes you think how there are so many of them, and you're just a little speck in the universe." He laughed.
"Yeah." Ayane agreed.
Just then, a falling/shooting star fell from the sky and passed their sight like a bullet being shot downwards. It was amazing.
"Oh look Ryou, a shooting star! Make a wish!" Ayane said, sitting up from her position and pointing.
Both closed their eyes and thought of their wishes. Yeah, both knew it was childish, maybe a bit insane if you would ask some people, but it was magical all the same. A bit before he was supposed too, Ryou opened his eyes to find Ayane still closing her eyes. A small smile placed on her quiet lips. Ryou smiled, he sure wished that his wish would come true.
**************************************************************************** *****************
"Look how many stars there are big brother!" Mokuba exclaimed as he leaned against the railing of the balcony.
Kaiba walked outside and looked up. There were many stars outside. He went over to where Mokuba was standing. He looked at the sparkle of life in the little boys eyes. He then saw a shooting star, then remembered what Ayane had said.
"Look Mokuba, a shooting star, if you make a wish on it, the wish would come true." Kaiba said, pointing at it.
"Wow, really big brother?"
"If you believe hard enough." Kaiba smiled. He didn't believe it himself, but why ruin a child's happiness?
"Okay, but you have to make a wish too." Mokuba said.
"I don't know....." Kaiba replied.
"It's easy Seto, just close your eyes and think real hard." Mokuba said.
Kaiba followed along and closed his eyes. Together, he and his brother wished for what they wanted. Even though one didn't believe, he still wished, thinking, maybe there was something to this falling star nonsense. When they opened their eyes, Mokuba started singing a song. "We learned this in school." He told Kaiba.
"Catch a falling star and put it in your pocket, Never let it fade away. Catch a falling star and put it in your pocket, Save it for a rainy day. For love might come and tap you on the shoulder, One starless night, And just incase you think you wanna hold her, You'll have a pocket full of starlight...." ( I don't own d song.)
After he sang the song, he looked at Seto and grinned. Then skipped off, singing the song, off to his bedroom to stare at the stars from his own window. Kaiba, stared at the retreating figure of his brother. He then thought back on the song, and his own wish.
**************************************************************************** *****************
"What did you wish for Ayane?" Ryou asked, now lying beside her on the grass with his knee up.
"If I told anyone, it won't come true." She said, she was smiling, and her eyes were closed.
"Hmm, I guess."
Silence.
Silence.
Silence.
"I don't think you wished for something like all the treasures in the world or anything like that did you?"
A laugh.
"No, no, I think....if people wished like that, eventually they find out it was just a waste you know? In the end you just used all the treasure up, never really being able to enjoy it because there was too much of it, or something like that."
"Well what kinds of wishes are worth wile?"
"Simple things, a letter for you in the mail, drawing the right card out of your deck, catching some cute stranger's eye, a green light when you're in a rush, finding out some special little secret. You know, things you can really appreciate." She said.
Ryou thought about it. She was right. He though about his wish. His wish was that he could keep Ayane close to him forever. That he'd be the one to make her smile.
(What beautiful wishes Ryou.)
(Bakura, you're not supposed to peep.)
(I'm your Yami, I can see your mind.)
(Did you wish for anything Bakura?)
(Yeah, all the treasures in Egypt!)
Ryou just shook his head.
Together the two talked, while staring at the starts. They laughed and told each other things they could never tell anyone else. Many times, the moon seemed to smile at the two young teens.
When both were lying down and counting the stars, Ryou gave off a small laugh.
"Why are we trying to do this?"
"I don't know, it was your idea." Ayane smiled.
(Haha, trying to count stars Ryou?)
(What?)
(There are a billion of them)
(More than a billion.)
(Yeah...hmmm, there were never these many stars in Egypt, nor were they ever as bright.)
Ryou just smiled and shook his head. He turned to Ayane who was softly breathing beside him. She was sleeping. Ryou sat up and looked at her peaceful face. He ran his fingers through her hair, something he would never have the courage to do if she were awake.
(She's still awake.)
Ryou instantly drew his hand back and backed away fast.
(What?!)
(Just pulling your leg.)
Ryou rolled his eyes. He could hear his Yami laughing. Just then Ayane began to stir. She slowly sat up.
"Oh, sorry Ryou, I must've fallen asleep."
"Oh, hehe, no problem, you're getting sleepy huh?"
"Hmm, yeah, all these stars are so tempting. I just wanna stay here forever, fall asleep and wake up in the same place." She laughed, sitting up.
"I wish that could happen." Ryou mumbled to himself.
"Hmm? What was that Ryou?" Ayane asked.
"Oh, nothing really, hey it's getting late, why don't I walk you home?" He asked, standing up and offering her a hand.
"Just as long as it's no trouble with you." She said, taking his hand and standing up.
"No problem." he said.
As the two teens stood up and walked out of the park, one of them began to get really sleepy. Once and a while, she would fall asleep and snap back up awake again. Ryou smiled at this, she was so adorable, every time she'd cast him a sleepy smile.
**************************************************************************** **************
R.J: They're not back yet?
Bakura: Nope, couldn't find them.
R.J: That means I'm still stuck here with you.
Bakura: *In a false hurt tone* You say that like it's a bad thing. R.J: It is, I just finished watching the episode today, you actually pulled out Pagasus' eye, eew!
Bakura: That's how far you've gotten?
R.J: Hey, I have to put up with the network.
Bakura: Well, whatever, poor you. *laughs*
R.J: You are so gonna die in the next chapter.
Bakura: I'm already dead, I'm just a spirit remember?
R.J: Oh yeah........
**************************************************************************** **********************
When they got to Ayane's house, she gave Ryou a hug.
"Thanks a lot Ryou. You're the best." She said.
"So are you." He said, giving her a thumbs up.
She smiled before walking inside the (very) large house.
While Ryou was walking back to his own house he could hear Bakura laughing. He frowned.
(What is it Bakura?)
(A thumbs up? Is that the best you can do?)
(I'm new to this thing okay?)
(Well, you're doing pretty good.)
(You think so?)
(Yeah, now if you'll excuse me, I'm going to be dreaming about my wish to have all the treasures of Egypt now.)
(Yeah, you go do that.)
**************************************************************************** *******************
Tristan was looking out his window. Tea was right; there were many stars out tonight. They were all brighter than usual. But they couldn't compare to his dear Serenity, at least that's what he thought. He saw a shooting star and decided to wish. He wished Serenity was looking at the stars too. He wished Serenity was thinking about him. He wished a lot of things about Serenity, I'm sure you'll fall asleep if I continued mentioning them.
**************************************************************************** *********************
In his room, Mokuba had stopped singing; hoping Seto got the message of the song. He grinned to himself and rolled over on his bed to face his precious pet gold fish.
"Sammy, did you see the stars tonight? Weren't they bright? Me and big brother each made wishes on a falling star. Don't tell anyone but I sort of peeked while big brother was wishing. He was smiling. I know he doesn't believe in all this but I still wondered what he wished about." The young boy said, then rolled over to face the ceiling.
"You know what I wished for Sammy? No, I didn't wish for toys or cards. I wished for Seto and his friend to like each other and kiss each other and all that yuck stuff. *laughs* I know it's gross but anyway, I wish that Seto would like her and she'll be there to make him smile, and I wish..I wish." Mokuba gave a loud yawn.
"Goodnight Sammy." He said.
**************************************************************************** **************
Yugi stared at the number of stars in the sky that night. He felt small. Well, smaller than usual anyway. He found himself wishing he could be sharing this night with a certain someone. He looked up and sighed. Some moments ago, he had seen a shooting star, might as well wish on it.
"Yugi?"
"Yes Yami?" Yugi asked, recognizing the voice instantly.
"What are you doing?"
"Making a wish."
"Oh, can I make one too?" "Sure I guess."
Yugi and Yami both closed their eyes, thinking deeply about what they wanted. The stars sparkle around them
/Yami's thoughts./
/Maybe some chocolate pudding?/
/No, maybe, I know, Brownies!/
/I wish R.J. would not stick me in that room again, though some of the girls were good kissers/
/I wish for cake/
/I wish Yugi would tell me what was wrong./
\Yugi's thoughts\
\I wish Tea would notice me.\
\I wish Yami would stop eating the brownies; he gets them on my clothes.\
\I wish Tea would like me.\
**************************************************************************** *******************
Seto kept looking at the stars, long after his brother had stopped and gone to bed. His trench coat blowing lightly by his legs since it was windy. Wishes? Were they really magical? No. He smirked. He looked up; he had made a wish anyway. No, he wasn't going to tell anyone about it. His wish made him smile, it made him a bit lightheaded and out of character maybe, but oh well. It was what he really wanted.
**************************************************************************** **********************
Later that week, UPL students were all scampering to finish their science reports. No one had time to hang out with anyone after school. Almost all of them went to either libraries or houses once the school bell rang. It was a good thing all UPL students were half-day today. Ayane herself was rushing out the classroom to give Kaiba the diskette of their research.
"Here." She panted, having to run through stairs, floors and corridors just to be able to catch up with him.
Kaiba took the diskette and looked at her. She was leaning on one of the trees in the school grounds, catching her breath. Her hair veiled around her head like some curtain. She looked up and met him with a smile.
"Well, all the data's there." She said.
"We still have to edit it." He stated plainly.
"Oh, okay, you wanna do it in my house?" She asked, standing up straight.
"I can't leave Mokuba alone in the house, we're doing it in my house." He said rather coldly.
"Yes sir." Ayane said in a sarcastic voice. "I'll be over later." She said and turned away.
"Hey, wait."
"What?"
"The sooner this is over the better, just come now so we can get this over with." He said, his tone cold.
"I guess so." Ayane shrugged.
Ayane followed Kaiba to his waiting limousine where both got in. While on the way to Kaiba's mansion, Ayane just stared blankly out the window. Kaiba wondered what she was thinking.
"What are you thinking?" He asked.
"Nothing." She said, turning her gaze from the window to Kaiba.
Silence.
Silence.
"By the way, Mokuba enjoyed the star gazing, he says thanks." Kaiba said, looking away.
"Mmm, that's good." Ayane said, leaning back on her seat and closing her eyes.
Kaiba stared at her, a smile playing on his lips.
"Did you see the shooting star?" Se asked out of the blue.
"What?"
"The shooting star? Did you see it."
"Mokuba did."
"Did you make a wish?"
"I think it's childish to wish on stars."
He heard Ayane give a gentle laugh. "But did you?"
"I just played along with my brother's request."
"Yeah, I thought so." She smiled.
Silence.
Silence.
Ayane opened her eyes and shifted her position so she was facing him.
"What did you wish for then?"
"I didn't, I just played along." He lied, crossing his arms.
"Fine, let me rephrase, What do you really want?" She asked.
"Why should I tell you?"
"Because I asked nicely." She said in a sweet tone.
Kaiba gave of a little this-is-pathetic laugh and shook his head.
"Being nice won't always get you what you want." He said.
"Right, I guess you would know huh?"
Kaiba glared at her and she looked back innocently to him.
"Okay, what if I was bad, would you tell me?" She asked.
"Knowing you, I don't think that's possible." He smirked at her.
"Hey, I can be bad if I wanted too," She said as if it was a prized quality.
"Show me in a duel." He told her plainly.
"Oh, I almost forgot about that." She gave off a laugh.
They arrived at the mansion (estate/ really big house/ whatever.) and went in. Mokuba was happy to see Ayane again and immediately wanted to show her that he had mastered all the yoyo tricks she had taught her.
"You go ahead to the study Ayane, I need to talk to Mokuba." He told her. Ayane just nodded and went up the stairs.
"Aww, big brother wants her all to himself." Mokuba grinned.
"Mokuba, she is not my girlfriend."
"Right, she's just your classmate I know." He said with some sarcasm.
Kaiba smiled. "Well, just go and play with Sammy okay?"
"You like her, what you told me before, it's true right?"
"Mokuba.......fine, I like her maybe I can even consider her for a friend." He said quickly.
Mokuba frowned. Not the answer he was expecting.
"Okay Seto, but I want to show her all the tricks I learned." He said with a little less enthusiasm.
"Mokuba, we have to go and study, but we're going to take a break later, you can show her the tricks then." He said, he walked away but turned back, "Until then though, I have her all to myself." He grinned, to try and lift his little brother's spirits.
Mokuba's face lit up.
"Yeah, okay big brother!" He said, running to his own room.
*************************************************************************** *******************
Ayane sat in one of the two couches in the study. Her legs swinging a little bit as she stared at the door, waiting for Kaiba to arrive. When he did, he had a smile on his face, but then quickly took it off when he saw Ayane staring at him.
"Did you scold Mokuba?" She asked in a concerned and very worried tone.
"No, I don't scold my brother." He said, looking at her.
Ayane smiled. "That's good." Wow, this guy really did have a soft spot.
"Well let's get to work, I don't have much time to waste." He said in a cold tone before heading over to the computer.
Ayane followed and took a seat beside him. Kaiba opened the research and they started to compile it and edit it. Kaiba usually contradicted what she would say if they were going to delete or add something, she would just answer back, eventually arriving to a peaceful conclusion. Ayane though, never contradicted what he would say, she would just give an opinion or suggestion and leave it at that. Eventually after 2 hours of non stop working Kaiba decided to take a break. He stood up.
"Where are you going?"
"Let's take a break, I promised Mokuba I'd give him time to show you those tricks." He said.
"Yeah, okay." She nodded and smiled at him.
Mokuba was delighted when he saw the two teens walk out of the study. He ran up and took Ayane's hand and ran to a room filled with couches, beanbags, a few book shelves, some coffee tables and some other stuff, and one big window. Kaiba gave an amused smile and followed them.
After a few of the tricks Mokuba showed, he reminded his big brother of something.
"Hey Seto, why don't you two duel now?" He asked.
"Anytime is good." He smiled at the boy.
"Okay." Ayane agreed.
"I'm going to enjoy beating you." He told Ayane with a smirk.
"Don't get so cocky Kaiba." She laughed.
"You're still calling big brother that? Call him Seto cuz that's his name." Mokuba said.
Ayane looked at Kaiba. "I don't know, I like calling Kaiba-kun Kaiba-kun, because that's what the girls at school call him, isn't that right Kaiba- kun?" She said.
Kaiba raised his eyebrow. "Fine, just Seto, when we're not in school." He said.
After setting up game mats, (I have no Idea why they're not using the duel disk or anything of the like, maybe Mokuba broke all of them ^_^) the duel began. Ayane was good but Kaiba was even better, there were times when she had put him in tight spots but he always found a way out. Somewhere in between the duel, Mokuba looked at his watch and ran off, saying something about feeding Sammy. Eventually Kaiba destroyed her last monster and put her LP to zero.
Kaiba smirked. "I win." He said.
"Yeah, wow......you're good." She said. Right now, she was staring at her feilf.
"What did you expect?"
"A lot less, I guess." Ayane said as she gathered her cards and fixed her deck.
Kaiba smirked. No matter who it was, he always enjoyed winning.
"Well, I'm glad it's over now." She laughed.
"What?"
"Yeah, I admit, it was scary dueling with you."
Kaiba smiled to himself. After a while...
"What do you want?"
"What?" He asked, waking up from his daze.
"I forgot which cards you wanted." She said, handing him her deck.
He took two cards from her deck and returned it to her. He pocketed the cards and stood up.
"Well, let's go, we haven't finished the report yet." He said.
"Oh, yeah." She stood up and followed him back into the study.
They worked on the report together for quite a long while, then when it started to get a bit late (about 9:30 pm) and the two began to get tired, they decided to take shifts. Ayane would work until this page and Kiaba would work until the last page. (Oh, I forgot to mention in the last chapter, the teacher changed the number of pages now it had to be longer. 30-40 pages, I'm basing this on real life experience!) Ayane was the one doing the typing while Kaiba was sleeping on the couch. She smiled, he looked so handsome the way his face was so calm when he was sleeping. When it was Kaiba's turn, Ayane slept on the couch while Kaiba finished. He finished earlier than expected and walked over to Ayane to wake her up.
He saw how beautiful the moonlight shone on her face while sleeping. He ran his fingers through her hair and smiled. He held her shoulder and shook her lightly. She stirred.
"Oh, Kaiba, is it done?" She asked, sitting up.
"Yeah, and it's just Seto here, remember?" He said and gave her a small smile. He didn't feel like being an ice man to someone who just woke up in the night. Unless of course it was Wheeler or something but that's another story.
The report was printed and Seto walked her to the gate. She smiled, a beautiful dazzling but sleepy smile. He gave her his trademark smirk back, though now, no ice was behind it.
"Goodnight Kai-uhm, Seto." She smiled.
Before Seto could say anything, she gave him a light peck on the cheek before skipping off. Seto stood, stunned for a moment, then put his hands in his pocket. He looked at the stars, tonight they weren't as bright, his fingers found a card and he pulled it out, it was the trap card he had won, Solemn wishes.
"Wishes huh?" He smirked. He then remembered the little peck, but shook his head and turned back to the house.
Maybe his wish was coming true.
**************************************************************************** *****************
RJ: Yay! See? Finished.
Bakura: Those were the Pharaoh's wishes? *burst into laughter*
RJ: Right.......hey look Seto's back! *runs up and hugs him*
Kaiba: Hey, calm down RJ, I'm glad to see you too.
Bakura: Where's the Pharaoh? Can't wait to mock him.
Kaiba: He's still Christmas shopping, excited since he didn't know what Christmas was until now.
Bakura: Isn't that the holiday where people give gifts to everyone else out of their own free will?
Ryou: *coming in with lots of boxes* You got the idea of it Bakura.
Bakura: Weird. *Looks from Ryou to Kaiba* My, Kaiba been busy shopping? *There are only three boxes with him*
Kaiba: Haha, go die somewhere.
Yugi: Kay, we're back! *Yami and Yugi coming in with lots of gifts.*
Bakura: O.o
Yugi: Here guys! Here are your gifts! *Hands gifts to all of us,* don't open till Christmas.
Kaiba: Here you go R.J *hands gift*, since Mokuba's not here, I'm done.
Ryou: O.o *Gives his gifts.*
R.J: Thanks guys! Oh by the way, a reviewer I personally know, she's my friend and classmate, wanted to give you this Yami. *Hands a big box of chocolates, a bottle of hair gel and an expensive looking case for the puzzle*
Yami: Wow, tell her thanks!
R.J: Yeah, Oh by the way here are your gifts guys! *Hands everyone gifts*
Ryou: Um, RJ, you didn't give Bakura a brand new set of knives did you?
R.J: Something wrong?
Ryou. *_*
R.J: Oh well, merry Christmas everybody! I love you guys, please leave a review, this chappy is my present to you guys and you can give me a review! Also, if you'd like to give any of the guys' presents, just say so in the reviews!
Bakura: Oooh, knives!
Ryou: Bakura, not supposed to open it yet!
Yami: Kaiba, if that ones for Mokuba, whos is the other one? *points to the other box*
Kaiba: That's fish food for Sammy.
Yami: O.o
Kaiba: What's this chapter about?
R.J: Eh, you'll find out......
Kaiba: I'm afraid to ask. By the way, I think your last chapter was too long.
R.J: Really, well, I have to admit, I didn't think it was very good, but anyway.....
Bakura: Nothing's good if the Pharaoh is in it. *gets a glare from the author* Fine, I'll stop.
R.J: Okay then, enjoy the chapter.
************************************************************************
Monday morning and everyone was returning to school. The morning embraced each student with light as they stepped onto the grounds of Domino High. The campus slowly became filled with students of different ages.
"I didn't get any sleep last night." Joey whined as he dropped his bag onto the stone bench the gang was sitting on.
"Why? Did something happen Joey?" Yugi asked.
"No, just math homework...." Joey yawned.
"Geez Joey, I told you not to wait until the last minute." Tristan said.
"Well, at least I got mine done." Joey said giving Tristan a sleepy grin before taking off to dream world.
"Let me guess...... Tristan, you didn't do yours." Tea sighed.
"Well, uhm, I....no." Tristan said bowing his head down in shame.
Everyone heard Joey give a loud "Ha!" in his sleep. Everyone looked at Joey strangely before helping Tristan with his homework. After some time, the bell gave a loud and earsplitting ring and everyone went inside for the start of class.
In the homeroom class, the students started taking their seats. Ayane took her seat beside Kaiba. He looked at her and wordlessly handed the diskette she had given him two days ago. She took it.
"Wow, you're done already?" Ayane asked.
"I don't waste my time on friends, so I get my priorities done faster." He said in a cold tone.
"Okay..." Ayane trailed off, unsure of what to say.
Ms. Misaku came in and greeted her class. She then proceeded to announce the week's events and the different reminders for the week. After the announcements and answering some questions about them she was about to leave when she remembered something else.
"Oh yes, class, there will be a swimming trip first week of next month, it's not final yet, but since swimming is part of your gym curriculum, I think you can look forward to it. Now, if you will excuse me, I need to get to a meeting.....again." She said as she walked out of the room.
The class started talking as the door of their classroom closed. Ayane took out a notebook and began writing in it. Kaiba's eyes wondered to it. She saw this and immediately closed it.
"What's in there?"
"Things I write, nothing really." She said, still, she kept the notebook in her bag.
Kaiba looked at her for a minute, and then looked away. Girls and their little secrets, what nonsense. He focused on the front of the room where no teacher remained. He then noticed a familiar sound coming from behind him; it was the sound of cards being shuffled. He looked beside him to see Ayane going through and shuffling her deck. He looked at her cards.
"What is it?" She asked after some time.
"I'm surprised, you know how to duel?" He smirked, putting emphasis on the word know.
"No, actually, I just have a deck so I can put something in my pocket." She said sarcastically.
"Are you any good?" He asked, eyeing her.
"I guess you could say that." She replied, knowing full well that Kaiba was much better than her.
He thought for a while, and then smirked. He turned away, shaking his head. Ayane took this as a little challenge.
"I bet I could take you on." She said quietly, mischief in her tone.
Kaiba looked at her. "Don't be foolish." He stated.
"I've heard you were a good duelist but I've never actually seen it." She said, her eyes smiling. "Is it true? Because I usually don't believe things unless I see it." She turned to him. Of course, she really knew Kaiba was one of the best duelists in the world, but anyway......
"Fine, then I'll show it to you first hand. I'll duel with you and you'll see how wrong you are." Kaiba said, his tone cold. Inside he was grinning; he loved dealing with Ayane's personality.
Ayane looked at him, and then laughed.
"What's so funny?"
"Oh c'mon Kaiba, I can't believe you believed me. I know full well what a great duelist you are. Someone would have to have been living under a rock not to know that." She said, a smile on her face.
Kaiba looked at her. She had just been kidding after all. And he had bit the bait. He couldn't help himself, when there was someone questioning his dueling abilities.....
"Ring!" Went the bell. All the students started out of the classrooms.
Ayane was the last one out. Before she could get that far though, Kaiba called her attention. She walked over to where he was and smiled.
"Ayane.....Why did you do that?" He asked.
"You're so serious and calm all the time it was nice to see you loose your cool just a bit." She said, giving a small laugh.
"Well, I'll keep to what I said. I'll show you first hand how I duel." He said, his tone serious. Inside he thought rather playfully that he'd get his revenge on her.
"I'd like that." She said and began to walk away when she turned back to him.
"Wait? What's the catch?" She asked.
Kaiba raised is eyebrow. "Catch?"
"Yeah, you've got to want something right?"
Kaiba thought for a moment, right now there were a lot of things he wanted, he then reached inside his pocket.
"If I lose, you get my blue eyes white dragon." He said, showing her the rare card.
"And if I lose?" Ayane asked uncertainly since she knew very well that she didn't have any card as rare as the blue eyes in her deck.
"I get one of your cards." He stated plainly. Not really what he wanted, but hey, the girl had to have some cards that would be useful to him.
Ayane took out her deck and started to look through it. She frowned then gave it to Kaiba.
"I think you'll be at a disadvantage, I don't have any rare cards."
Kaiba looked through her deck and took out two cards. (He didn't look through it thoroughly, that would be unfair.) He handed the deck back to her and showed her the two cards he had picked out. It was the trap card "Solemn Wishes" and the monster card "Lord of D."
"If you loose, I'll take these two cards." He said.
"Why?" She asked.
"I think they'll be very useful." He said. He gave the cards back to her and walked off.
Ayane looked at the two cards in her hand. The trap card enables you to gain 500 life points every time you draw a card. She frowned, this was her favorite trap card. She looked at the other one, it had an effect. If the card was in face up attack position, trap cards and magic cards could not target dragon type monsters.
"Oh, so that's why he wants it." Ayane said to herself.
She wondered into the cafeteria where the rest of the gang was waiting for her. When she sat down, Tristan and Joey were in the middle of a duel. Tristan looked like he was loosing.
"Hey, what's the score?" Ayane asked Yugi as she sat down.
"Tristan has 500 life points left while Joey still has 2000." Yugi said.
"And I'm going to win! Flame swordsman, attack his monster." Joey declared.
"Yeah, Joey I caught you, activate trap card!" Tristan said, lifting a face down card, destroying Joey's monster. "I think the tides are turning." He said.
Joey smiled. "Don't get so cocky Tristan old buddy, I still have my red eyes in my deck." Tristan's face fell.
While all this, Yugi looked quite troubled. He looked as if he were trying to solve a very hard problem.
(What's wrong Yugi?)
(Tell me Yami, what happened?)
(Oh, that again, I took Tea to the movies and back home.)
(Why?!)
(You wouldn't want me to have left you lying under a tree unconscious now would you?)
(Yes, but, what did you tell her?)
(That you were sick.)
(Oh..)
(Don't worry Yugi, she said she had a good time.)
(Oh, Okay.)
Yugi closed their mindlink. No matter how Yami explained it, or no matter how many questions he answered, it still couldn't get any worse. What was Yugi going to do? He couldn't blame Yami, it wasn't his fault. Yugi sighed.
After a short while, Joey had finished Tristan off with an attack from is most prized Dragon. Joey started raving on about how great he was and Tristan looked sullen. Tea, Ryou and Ayane tried to cheer Tristan up, but he seemed to grow even sadder when he heard Joey say,
"I can't wait to tell Serenity about this!"
**************************************************************************** *****************
Some minutes before the bell rang to signal the end of recess, the gang went off on their own different ways. Ryou and Ayane were heading off to the UPL rooms when Ayane spoke.
"I think I've gotten myself in a very deep hole, and I don't think I'll be able to get out of it." She laughed uncertainly.
"Why? What happened?"
"Uhm, well......I sort of, got myself into a duel."
"Well that shouldn't be any problem for you, you're a great duelist." Ryou assured.
Ayane smiled. Her eyes looked deep. Ryou eyed her from head to toe. To him, she looked as beautiful as always. He looked at her face, wondering what she was thinking.
"If I'm a great duelist, I'd hate to think what the person I'm dueling is." She said.
"Who exactly are you dueling?" Ryou asked.
"Uhm.....Kaiba."
"What?!" Ryou exclaimed a bit too loud that the students around him cast him strange looks.
It took a while before he could shove the glances off him. Soon the students began to go back to whatever they were doing before. Ryou took deep breaths before turning back to Ayane who looked at him strangely.
"Kaiba?" Ryou asked.
"Yup, told you it was a deep hole."
"Well, it was nice knowing you." He said with a grin on his face and playfully started to back away.
"Hey, come back here!" Ayane laughed and ran to Ryou.
**************************************************************************** ***************
In the UPL rooms Ayane took her seat next to Kaiba. She had to admit, the thought of dueling with him scared her a bit, but more than that it intrigued her. Yeah, she liked the idea of seeing him duel "first hand", whatever that meant.
Kaiba noticed that Ayane hadn't talked to him all through out the period so far. This surprised him, but then he smirked to himself, knowing that she was probably thinking about earlier.
After a while, Mr. Tomoya stopped discussing history.
"Alright, since I know all of you are dried out from the tests yesterday, you can have the rest of the period off; you'll have to stay inside the classroom though, and keep your volume down." He said.
The class gave a soft cheer and started to do their own things. Many talked but as the teacher had told them too, kept their voices low. Some started to sleep.
############################################################################ #######
R.J: Little interruption from your favorite author girl!
Bakura: Keep on dreaming R.J.......
R.J: Right, well anyway, don't rag on me about any of the cards I mention in this chapter. I know Seto already has a Lord of D.(dragons.) but I'm trying to create a story here.
Bakura: Trying, being the key word.
R.J: Wait, how come I'm stuck here with you? Where are the others?
Bakura: Went out to get a drink.
R.J: Then why are you still here?
Bakura: Hey, someone's got to watch you kid.
R.J: Hey, I'm not a kid!
Bakura: Well you're a lot younger than I am.
R.J: Still, I'm not a kid!
Bakura: Hey, I was wondering, why'd you have a name like that? R.J. sounds like a guys' name.
R.J: Well that's my name, deal with it. -_-u. At least I'm not a thousand year old murderer who thinks a knife looks good buried in someone's chest.
Bakura: What? Say that again, I dare you.
R.J: Oh you heard me.
Bakura: Do you wanna go to the shadow realm? *Gives a glare*
R.J: You want to come with me? *Nice come back*
Bakura: Grrrr......
R.J: Aww c'mon Bakura, lighten up, since you're the only one here to talk to.
Bakura: Whatever kid.
R.J: If my boyfriend told me he'd kill me would I back off? *thinks to herself*
Bakura: This girl is insane.....
R.J: No, I'm serious; it's here on an internet anime quiz see? *points to her screen*
Bakura: Let's find out shall we? *runs off to get Seto*
R.J: I have a bad feeling.....
**************************************************************************** ********************
"Ayane?" Kaiba asked calling her attention.
"Huh? W-what? Oh, Kaiba, what is it." She asked, a bit shaken from her thoughts.
Kaiba smirked. "Nothing."
Some time after the last period before lunch, the bell rang. Students started filling out of the classrooms. Ayane had told Ryou to go ahead and she was still in the corridor by the time it was practically empty. Solitude made her think better. She was going through her deck, remembering how many people she had defeated using it. Just then she heard a door shut just across. Kaiba was just getting out.
"Dang, I wanted to be alone; I knew I should've just gone to the tree." She thought to herself. She cast him a quick glance before she rested her gaze back on her deck.
Kaiba saw this and grinned to himself. Let's see how nice it is if you loose your cool, he thought to himself.
"Trying to find a way to beat me?" He asked. Ayane looked at him, raised an eyebrow and turned back to her deck.
"Let me tell you, it can't be done." He smirked. At these words Ayane twitched a bit. His smirk grew.
"What are you thinking?" Ayane asked, raising her eyebrow and putting her deck down.
Kaiba walked over to where she was leaning on the wall and put his hand on the wall so she couldn't get away. Both looked at each other.
"Come on, out with it, what re you thinking?" Ayane asked again, this time a smile on her face.
"That maybe you're afraid of me." He grinned, his tone icy.
Ayane looked at him.
"Sorry to disappoint you Kaiba, but....I'm not afraid of you." She said, as if she were stating the obvious, not a trace of fear in her voice.
"Oh really? Don't bother trying to win." He said, straightening up. Before he walked out though Ayane called him.
"Hey, Kaiba?"
"What?"
"What do you really want?"
"What?"
"I mean, well.....since I don't really think any of my cards will be of that use to you....."
"Whatever, just make sure you put up a fight." He said, his tone cold.
Ayane just stared after him. Shaking her head. No, Kaiba would never know what an impact he had made on her life. He wouldn't be interested anyway. If she were to get anything from the duel, she'd wish that Kaiba would care, yeah, show that he cared for her, maybe just a little bit. It wasn't too much to ask for. She then shook her head vigorously.
"What Am I thinking?!" She exclaimed at herself.
**************************************************************************** *******************
From where he was walking, Kaiba hadn't heard What Ayane had exclaimed to herself. He thought about when he was so close to her, when he had asked her if she was afraid, when she had said no almost too easily. He smiled. Then he thought about her last words, What do you really want? Right now, he didn't know what exactly she meant by that.....
**************************************************************************** *****************
"Hey did you guys hear?" Tea asked as she sat down on the gangs usual table.
"Here what?" Tristan asked.
"Tonight, it's going to be really starry, more than usual, my science teacher told the whole class."
"Wow, that'd be nice, maybe there'll be falling stars." Ayane said.
"They're stars, what could be so special, you see them every night." Joey said.
"Oh Joey, I wouldn't expect you to understand." Tea said.
**************************************************************************** ******************
Ryou and Ayane were walking up the stairs to their rooms. Both were talking about the upcoming starry night, the lessons they were learning and practically anything.
"Hey Ayane?"
"Yeah?"
"Since this'll be a really cool night and all....."
"Yeah, go on."
"I was thinking, you wanna go to the park, maybe look at the stars?"
(This is the best you can come up with Ryou?)
(What?)
(Stars? The park?)
(What about them?)
(You're pathetic, you know that?)
(Yes, yes I do Bakura.)
(Hikari, I could do better than you.)
(She might end up getting hurt.....or hospitalized.)
(Why?)
(Remember the last time......when I was with Joey and Yugi at the arcade?)
(I told you that was an accident.)
(Accident huh?)
(Yeah, those electric wires moved on their own.)
(Right....)
Ryou waited anxiously for the reply.
"Yeah, sure why not?"
"You will?"
"Yeah, I've never seen stars that bright before, the lights hwere I used to live were always so bright that they blocked out the stars." She frowned.
"Yes!" Ryou said to himself.
"Well, c'mon then, better get to class." She said as both walked to their classroom.
Ryou just nodded and followed. Both walked into the classroom and took their seats, Ayane at the front and Ryou at the back. Ayane rested her hands and head on the desk, not really paying attention to the world around her. Kaiba took his seat beside her. She was facing the other way soshe didn't notice.
"Tired are we?" He smirked.
"No, just bored." Was the reply.
Kaiba didn't have anything left to say. He just looked away, just as the teacher was entering the classroom. Surprisingly, it wasn't their normal interesting teacher; it was an older boring(er) substitute teacher, the students listened to him drone about how their regular teacher was sick and how he'd take over. He started discussing on a lesson they had learnt last week so nobody really paid attention.
Ayane was sitting straight now, and was probably the only one actually listening to the teacher. Kaiba looked at her strangely. It would be more interesting to watch a cactus than to listen to the old geezer's discussion. Finally, the teacher exited, having some business to attend to. The whole class gave a relieved sigh and started to talk.
"Kaiba? Do you believe in wishes?" Ayane asked, out of the blue.
"No. I don't." He said coldly.
"Well, that's a shame; didn't you make them on falling stars when you were a kid?" She asked.
Kaiba just frowned. "What are you getting at?" He asked, his tone annoyed and cold.
"Nothing, it's just that tonight there'll be a lot of stars." She said.
"So?"
"Haven't you made any wishes at all? In your whole life?"
"No."
"There might be falling stars you know."
"So?"
"I know wishing on them is probably weird, but it's fun to do." She said.
"What would I wish for?" He asked rather haughtily.
"I don't know, I was thinking more like maybe your brother would like doing it, he seems like an innocent little kid." She shrugged.
At the aspect of making his brother happy, Kaiba took a bit of interest.
"Mokuba?" "Yeah, he looks like someone who could enjoy looking at stars, no offence or anything but he's not anything like you." She said, a smile on her lips.
Kaiba frowned, looked to the front of the room and then smiled, a real smile. "No, I suppose he isn't."
Ayane looked at him. His eyes were softer. His smile was real. She felt her heart skip a beat. She then thought to herself. What was she thinking? No way could she be having these feelings. Not for Kaiba at least.
"Who knows, you could make a wish too." She said.
"I don't believe in these sorts of things."
"Oh, I guess you don't."
**************************************************************************** ********************
Later that night, the stars did show. First there were only few. Then more and more started to shine so brightly that the most lustrous diamonds would be put to shame. They were so beautiful.
"Oh they're so bright, and.....and amazing." Ayane gasped as she and Ryou were sitting down on the grass at the park.
"Yeah, they are." Ryou said, inside, he was happy, that he was here with her. Silently, he thought, "The stars look prettier when they're in her eyes."
After a while of silence and staring at the enchanting stars Ayane spoke.
"It makes you feel so small, doesn't it?" She said, lying down on the grass, resting her head on her hands.
Ryou looked up to the stars, then looked down on his friend, lying down on the ground, the stars reflecting on her eyes.
(Hehehe, watch yourself Ryou.)
(What?)
(Don't get any bad ideas in your head.)
(Bakura! I'm not that kind of person, eew!)
Ryou just smiled. "Yeah, it makes you think how there are so many of them, and you're just a little speck in the universe." He laughed.
"Yeah." Ayane agreed.
Just then, a falling/shooting star fell from the sky and passed their sight like a bullet being shot downwards. It was amazing.
"Oh look Ryou, a shooting star! Make a wish!" Ayane said, sitting up from her position and pointing.
Both closed their eyes and thought of their wishes. Yeah, both knew it was childish, maybe a bit insane if you would ask some people, but it was magical all the same. A bit before he was supposed too, Ryou opened his eyes to find Ayane still closing her eyes. A small smile placed on her quiet lips. Ryou smiled, he sure wished that his wish would come true.
**************************************************************************** *****************
"Look how many stars there are big brother!" Mokuba exclaimed as he leaned against the railing of the balcony.
Kaiba walked outside and looked up. There were many stars outside. He went over to where Mokuba was standing. He looked at the sparkle of life in the little boys eyes. He then saw a shooting star, then remembered what Ayane had said.
"Look Mokuba, a shooting star, if you make a wish on it, the wish would come true." Kaiba said, pointing at it.
"Wow, really big brother?"
"If you believe hard enough." Kaiba smiled. He didn't believe it himself, but why ruin a child's happiness?
"Okay, but you have to make a wish too." Mokuba said.
"I don't know....." Kaiba replied.
"It's easy Seto, just close your eyes and think real hard." Mokuba said.
Kaiba followed along and closed his eyes. Together, he and his brother wished for what they wanted. Even though one didn't believe, he still wished, thinking, maybe there was something to this falling star nonsense. When they opened their eyes, Mokuba started singing a song. "We learned this in school." He told Kaiba.
"Catch a falling star and put it in your pocket, Never let it fade away. Catch a falling star and put it in your pocket, Save it for a rainy day. For love might come and tap you on the shoulder, One starless night, And just incase you think you wanna hold her, You'll have a pocket full of starlight...." ( I don't own d song.)
After he sang the song, he looked at Seto and grinned. Then skipped off, singing the song, off to his bedroom to stare at the stars from his own window. Kaiba, stared at the retreating figure of his brother. He then thought back on the song, and his own wish.
**************************************************************************** *****************
"What did you wish for Ayane?" Ryou asked, now lying beside her on the grass with his knee up.
"If I told anyone, it won't come true." She said, she was smiling, and her eyes were closed.
"Hmm, I guess."
Silence.
Silence.
Silence.
"I don't think you wished for something like all the treasures in the world or anything like that did you?"
A laugh.
"No, no, I think....if people wished like that, eventually they find out it was just a waste you know? In the end you just used all the treasure up, never really being able to enjoy it because there was too much of it, or something like that."
"Well what kinds of wishes are worth wile?"
"Simple things, a letter for you in the mail, drawing the right card out of your deck, catching some cute stranger's eye, a green light when you're in a rush, finding out some special little secret. You know, things you can really appreciate." She said.
Ryou thought about it. She was right. He though about his wish. His wish was that he could keep Ayane close to him forever. That he'd be the one to make her smile.
(What beautiful wishes Ryou.)
(Bakura, you're not supposed to peep.)
(I'm your Yami, I can see your mind.)
(Did you wish for anything Bakura?)
(Yeah, all the treasures in Egypt!)
Ryou just shook his head.
Together the two talked, while staring at the starts. They laughed and told each other things they could never tell anyone else. Many times, the moon seemed to smile at the two young teens.
When both were lying down and counting the stars, Ryou gave off a small laugh.
"Why are we trying to do this?"
"I don't know, it was your idea." Ayane smiled.
(Haha, trying to count stars Ryou?)
(What?)
(There are a billion of them)
(More than a billion.)
(Yeah...hmmm, there were never these many stars in Egypt, nor were they ever as bright.)
Ryou just smiled and shook his head. He turned to Ayane who was softly breathing beside him. She was sleeping. Ryou sat up and looked at her peaceful face. He ran his fingers through her hair, something he would never have the courage to do if she were awake.
(She's still awake.)
Ryou instantly drew his hand back and backed away fast.
(What?!)
(Just pulling your leg.)
Ryou rolled his eyes. He could hear his Yami laughing. Just then Ayane began to stir. She slowly sat up.
"Oh, sorry Ryou, I must've fallen asleep."
"Oh, hehe, no problem, you're getting sleepy huh?"
"Hmm, yeah, all these stars are so tempting. I just wanna stay here forever, fall asleep and wake up in the same place." She laughed, sitting up.
"I wish that could happen." Ryou mumbled to himself.
"Hmm? What was that Ryou?" Ayane asked.
"Oh, nothing really, hey it's getting late, why don't I walk you home?" He asked, standing up and offering her a hand.
"Just as long as it's no trouble with you." She said, taking his hand and standing up.
"No problem." he said.
As the two teens stood up and walked out of the park, one of them began to get really sleepy. Once and a while, she would fall asleep and snap back up awake again. Ryou smiled at this, she was so adorable, every time she'd cast him a sleepy smile.
**************************************************************************** **************
R.J: They're not back yet?
Bakura: Nope, couldn't find them.
R.J: That means I'm still stuck here with you.
Bakura: *In a false hurt tone* You say that like it's a bad thing. R.J: It is, I just finished watching the episode today, you actually pulled out Pagasus' eye, eew!
Bakura: That's how far you've gotten?
R.J: Hey, I have to put up with the network.
Bakura: Well, whatever, poor you. *laughs*
R.J: You are so gonna die in the next chapter.
Bakura: I'm already dead, I'm just a spirit remember?
R.J: Oh yeah........
**************************************************************************** **********************
When they got to Ayane's house, she gave Ryou a hug.
"Thanks a lot Ryou. You're the best." She said.
"So are you." He said, giving her a thumbs up.
She smiled before walking inside the (very) large house.
While Ryou was walking back to his own house he could hear Bakura laughing. He frowned.
(What is it Bakura?)
(A thumbs up? Is that the best you can do?)
(I'm new to this thing okay?)
(Well, you're doing pretty good.)
(You think so?)
(Yeah, now if you'll excuse me, I'm going to be dreaming about my wish to have all the treasures of Egypt now.)
(Yeah, you go do that.)
**************************************************************************** *******************
Tristan was looking out his window. Tea was right; there were many stars out tonight. They were all brighter than usual. But they couldn't compare to his dear Serenity, at least that's what he thought. He saw a shooting star and decided to wish. He wished Serenity was looking at the stars too. He wished Serenity was thinking about him. He wished a lot of things about Serenity, I'm sure you'll fall asleep if I continued mentioning them.
**************************************************************************** *********************
In his room, Mokuba had stopped singing; hoping Seto got the message of the song. He grinned to himself and rolled over on his bed to face his precious pet gold fish.
"Sammy, did you see the stars tonight? Weren't they bright? Me and big brother each made wishes on a falling star. Don't tell anyone but I sort of peeked while big brother was wishing. He was smiling. I know he doesn't believe in all this but I still wondered what he wished about." The young boy said, then rolled over to face the ceiling.
"You know what I wished for Sammy? No, I didn't wish for toys or cards. I wished for Seto and his friend to like each other and kiss each other and all that yuck stuff. *laughs* I know it's gross but anyway, I wish that Seto would like her and she'll be there to make him smile, and I wish..I wish." Mokuba gave a loud yawn.
"Goodnight Sammy." He said.
**************************************************************************** **************
Yugi stared at the number of stars in the sky that night. He felt small. Well, smaller than usual anyway. He found himself wishing he could be sharing this night with a certain someone. He looked up and sighed. Some moments ago, he had seen a shooting star, might as well wish on it.
"Yugi?"
"Yes Yami?" Yugi asked, recognizing the voice instantly.
"What are you doing?"
"Making a wish."
"Oh, can I make one too?" "Sure I guess."
Yugi and Yami both closed their eyes, thinking deeply about what they wanted. The stars sparkle around them
/Yami's thoughts./
/Maybe some chocolate pudding?/
/No, maybe, I know, Brownies!/
/I wish R.J. would not stick me in that room again, though some of the girls were good kissers/
/I wish for cake/
/I wish Yugi would tell me what was wrong./
\Yugi's thoughts\
\I wish Tea would notice me.\
\I wish Yami would stop eating the brownies; he gets them on my clothes.\
\I wish Tea would like me.\
**************************************************************************** *******************
Seto kept looking at the stars, long after his brother had stopped and gone to bed. His trench coat blowing lightly by his legs since it was windy. Wishes? Were they really magical? No. He smirked. He looked up; he had made a wish anyway. No, he wasn't going to tell anyone about it. His wish made him smile, it made him a bit lightheaded and out of character maybe, but oh well. It was what he really wanted.
**************************************************************************** **********************
Later that week, UPL students were all scampering to finish their science reports. No one had time to hang out with anyone after school. Almost all of them went to either libraries or houses once the school bell rang. It was a good thing all UPL students were half-day today. Ayane herself was rushing out the classroom to give Kaiba the diskette of their research.
"Here." She panted, having to run through stairs, floors and corridors just to be able to catch up with him.
Kaiba took the diskette and looked at her. She was leaning on one of the trees in the school grounds, catching her breath. Her hair veiled around her head like some curtain. She looked up and met him with a smile.
"Well, all the data's there." She said.
"We still have to edit it." He stated plainly.
"Oh, okay, you wanna do it in my house?" She asked, standing up straight.
"I can't leave Mokuba alone in the house, we're doing it in my house." He said rather coldly.
"Yes sir." Ayane said in a sarcastic voice. "I'll be over later." She said and turned away.
"Hey, wait."
"What?"
"The sooner this is over the better, just come now so we can get this over with." He said, his tone cold.
"I guess so." Ayane shrugged.
Ayane followed Kaiba to his waiting limousine where both got in. While on the way to Kaiba's mansion, Ayane just stared blankly out the window. Kaiba wondered what she was thinking.
"What are you thinking?" He asked.
"Nothing." She said, turning her gaze from the window to Kaiba.
Silence.
Silence.
"By the way, Mokuba enjoyed the star gazing, he says thanks." Kaiba said, looking away.
"Mmm, that's good." Ayane said, leaning back on her seat and closing her eyes.
Kaiba stared at her, a smile playing on his lips.
"Did you see the shooting star?" Se asked out of the blue.
"What?"
"The shooting star? Did you see it."
"Mokuba did."
"Did you make a wish?"
"I think it's childish to wish on stars."
He heard Ayane give a gentle laugh. "But did you?"
"I just played along with my brother's request."
"Yeah, I thought so." She smiled.
Silence.
Silence.
Ayane opened her eyes and shifted her position so she was facing him.
"What did you wish for then?"
"I didn't, I just played along." He lied, crossing his arms.
"Fine, let me rephrase, What do you really want?" She asked.
"Why should I tell you?"
"Because I asked nicely." She said in a sweet tone.
Kaiba gave of a little this-is-pathetic laugh and shook his head.
"Being nice won't always get you what you want." He said.
"Right, I guess you would know huh?"
Kaiba glared at her and she looked back innocently to him.
"Okay, what if I was bad, would you tell me?" She asked.
"Knowing you, I don't think that's possible." He smirked at her.
"Hey, I can be bad if I wanted too," She said as if it was a prized quality.
"Show me in a duel." He told her plainly.
"Oh, I almost forgot about that." She gave off a laugh.
They arrived at the mansion (estate/ really big house/ whatever.) and went in. Mokuba was happy to see Ayane again and immediately wanted to show her that he had mastered all the yoyo tricks she had taught her.
"You go ahead to the study Ayane, I need to talk to Mokuba." He told her. Ayane just nodded and went up the stairs.
"Aww, big brother wants her all to himself." Mokuba grinned.
"Mokuba, she is not my girlfriend."
"Right, she's just your classmate I know." He said with some sarcasm.
Kaiba smiled. "Well, just go and play with Sammy okay?"
"You like her, what you told me before, it's true right?"
"Mokuba.......fine, I like her maybe I can even consider her for a friend." He said quickly.
Mokuba frowned. Not the answer he was expecting.
"Okay Seto, but I want to show her all the tricks I learned." He said with a little less enthusiasm.
"Mokuba, we have to go and study, but we're going to take a break later, you can show her the tricks then." He said, he walked away but turned back, "Until then though, I have her all to myself." He grinned, to try and lift his little brother's spirits.
Mokuba's face lit up.
"Yeah, okay big brother!" He said, running to his own room.
*************************************************************************** *******************
Ayane sat in one of the two couches in the study. Her legs swinging a little bit as she stared at the door, waiting for Kaiba to arrive. When he did, he had a smile on his face, but then quickly took it off when he saw Ayane staring at him.
"Did you scold Mokuba?" She asked in a concerned and very worried tone.
"No, I don't scold my brother." He said, looking at her.
Ayane smiled. "That's good." Wow, this guy really did have a soft spot.
"Well let's get to work, I don't have much time to waste." He said in a cold tone before heading over to the computer.
Ayane followed and took a seat beside him. Kaiba opened the research and they started to compile it and edit it. Kaiba usually contradicted what she would say if they were going to delete or add something, she would just answer back, eventually arriving to a peaceful conclusion. Ayane though, never contradicted what he would say, she would just give an opinion or suggestion and leave it at that. Eventually after 2 hours of non stop working Kaiba decided to take a break. He stood up.
"Where are you going?"
"Let's take a break, I promised Mokuba I'd give him time to show you those tricks." He said.
"Yeah, okay." She nodded and smiled at him.
Mokuba was delighted when he saw the two teens walk out of the study. He ran up and took Ayane's hand and ran to a room filled with couches, beanbags, a few book shelves, some coffee tables and some other stuff, and one big window. Kaiba gave an amused smile and followed them.
After a few of the tricks Mokuba showed, he reminded his big brother of something.
"Hey Seto, why don't you two duel now?" He asked.
"Anytime is good." He smiled at the boy.
"Okay." Ayane agreed.
"I'm going to enjoy beating you." He told Ayane with a smirk.
"Don't get so cocky Kaiba." She laughed.
"You're still calling big brother that? Call him Seto cuz that's his name." Mokuba said.
Ayane looked at Kaiba. "I don't know, I like calling Kaiba-kun Kaiba-kun, because that's what the girls at school call him, isn't that right Kaiba- kun?" She said.
Kaiba raised his eyebrow. "Fine, just Seto, when we're not in school." He said.
After setting up game mats, (I have no Idea why they're not using the duel disk or anything of the like, maybe Mokuba broke all of them ^_^) the duel began. Ayane was good but Kaiba was even better, there were times when she had put him in tight spots but he always found a way out. Somewhere in between the duel, Mokuba looked at his watch and ran off, saying something about feeding Sammy. Eventually Kaiba destroyed her last monster and put her LP to zero.
Kaiba smirked. "I win." He said.
"Yeah, wow......you're good." She said. Right now, she was staring at her feilf.
"What did you expect?"
"A lot less, I guess." Ayane said as she gathered her cards and fixed her deck.
Kaiba smirked. No matter who it was, he always enjoyed winning.
"Well, I'm glad it's over now." She laughed.
"What?"
"Yeah, I admit, it was scary dueling with you."
Kaiba smiled to himself. After a while...
"What do you want?"
"What?" He asked, waking up from his daze.
"I forgot which cards you wanted." She said, handing him her deck.
He took two cards from her deck and returned it to her. He pocketed the cards and stood up.
"Well, let's go, we haven't finished the report yet." He said.
"Oh, yeah." She stood up and followed him back into the study.
They worked on the report together for quite a long while, then when it started to get a bit late (about 9:30 pm) and the two began to get tired, they decided to take shifts. Ayane would work until this page and Kiaba would work until the last page. (Oh, I forgot to mention in the last chapter, the teacher changed the number of pages now it had to be longer. 30-40 pages, I'm basing this on real life experience!) Ayane was the one doing the typing while Kaiba was sleeping on the couch. She smiled, he looked so handsome the way his face was so calm when he was sleeping. When it was Kaiba's turn, Ayane slept on the couch while Kaiba finished. He finished earlier than expected and walked over to Ayane to wake her up.
He saw how beautiful the moonlight shone on her face while sleeping. He ran his fingers through her hair and smiled. He held her shoulder and shook her lightly. She stirred.
"Oh, Kaiba, is it done?" She asked, sitting up.
"Yeah, and it's just Seto here, remember?" He said and gave her a small smile. He didn't feel like being an ice man to someone who just woke up in the night. Unless of course it was Wheeler or something but that's another story.
The report was printed and Seto walked her to the gate. She smiled, a beautiful dazzling but sleepy smile. He gave her his trademark smirk back, though now, no ice was behind it.
"Goodnight Kai-uhm, Seto." She smiled.
Before Seto could say anything, she gave him a light peck on the cheek before skipping off. Seto stood, stunned for a moment, then put his hands in his pocket. He looked at the stars, tonight they weren't as bright, his fingers found a card and he pulled it out, it was the trap card he had won, Solemn wishes.
"Wishes huh?" He smirked. He then remembered the little peck, but shook his head and turned back to the house.
Maybe his wish was coming true.
**************************************************************************** *****************
RJ: Yay! See? Finished.
Bakura: Those were the Pharaoh's wishes? *burst into laughter*
RJ: Right.......hey look Seto's back! *runs up and hugs him*
Kaiba: Hey, calm down RJ, I'm glad to see you too.
Bakura: Where's the Pharaoh? Can't wait to mock him.
Kaiba: He's still Christmas shopping, excited since he didn't know what Christmas was until now.
Bakura: Isn't that the holiday where people give gifts to everyone else out of their own free will?
Ryou: *coming in with lots of boxes* You got the idea of it Bakura.
Bakura: Weird. *Looks from Ryou to Kaiba* My, Kaiba been busy shopping? *There are only three boxes with him*
Kaiba: Haha, go die somewhere.
Yugi: Kay, we're back! *Yami and Yugi coming in with lots of gifts.*
Bakura: O.o
Yugi: Here guys! Here are your gifts! *Hands gifts to all of us,* don't open till Christmas.
Kaiba: Here you go R.J *hands gift*, since Mokuba's not here, I'm done.
Ryou: O.o *Gives his gifts.*
R.J: Thanks guys! Oh by the way, a reviewer I personally know, she's my friend and classmate, wanted to give you this Yami. *Hands a big box of chocolates, a bottle of hair gel and an expensive looking case for the puzzle*
Yami: Wow, tell her thanks!
R.J: Yeah, Oh by the way here are your gifts guys! *Hands everyone gifts*
Ryou: Um, RJ, you didn't give Bakura a brand new set of knives did you?
R.J: Something wrong?
Ryou. *_*
R.J: Oh well, merry Christmas everybody! I love you guys, please leave a review, this chappy is my present to you guys and you can give me a review! Also, if you'd like to give any of the guys' presents, just say so in the reviews!
Bakura: Oooh, knives!
Ryou: Bakura, not supposed to open it yet!
Yami: Kaiba, if that ones for Mokuba, whos is the other one? *points to the other box*
Kaiba: That's fish food for Sammy.
Yami: O.o