R.J: Bwahahahahaha! Yay, I'm back with another chapter!
Bakura: Are we done playing pin the tail on the Yami now?
R.J: Yes, wasn't my party fun?! ^_^
Yugi: I thought so.
Ryou: It was cool.
Yami: My back hurts.
R.J: Fine, fine, we won't play pin the tail on the Yami next time.
Bakura: So where is your sick mind taking the story this time?
R.J: Oh, you'll see..................
Kaiba: R.J doesn't own YGO or anything related like the tcg and characters.
Bakura: In fact the only things she owns are her OCs! And her deck, which is pathetic by the way.
R.J: Hey! I'll pretend I didn't hear that. Anyway, thank you to all the reviewers, I appreciate all your reviews very much!
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Ayane reached the debate hall where people were already gathering. Many of the people were sophomores like herself, and freshmen. Ayane gave a nervous sigh. With all these people trying out, would she even have a chance at getting in? She was told that there would only be 11 people accepted, and only 1 varsity member was allowed per year level, except for seniors and juniors. (As in the varsity team composes of one freshman, one sophomore, 5 juniors and 3 seniors.)
As she stepped inside the cold room, she could feel eyes on her. What kind of auditions would be held for a debate team? They were divided into groups of four and were told that each group would go up to the front where they would have an impromptu interview. Much to Ayane's surprise, her group went first.
Slowly, each of them walked up front, the only place where there was light, very bright ones. The rest of the place was just dark; you could barely see who was even interviewing you.
"Good morning," A voice from in front of them said. "Thank you for having chosen this club. Let me explain how the auditions will commence. Each of you will be asked questions requesting for your opinion. Give your opinion and we will question it, you will then have to defend your opinion the best way possible. Stuttering and using slang will be a minus on your part and will not improve your chances of getting in. Understood? Good, alright, ahh, yes, you will go first..............Ms. Kinoshi?
"Yes?" Ayane replied.
"Full name please."
"Ayane Kinoshi."
"Section 2-a, UPL student and new to Domino High, am I correct?"
"Yes, you are."
"Hmm, your grades are impressive, but let's see if you can talk as well as you think."
Silence.
"Alright, let's start, first question. Why would you or would you not be angry if a rock dropped from no where and hit you on the head?"
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Somewhere in another room, Ryou was feeling the same kind of nervousness Ayane was. He was in his soul room, sitting with his legs pulled close to his chest, hoping Bakura would not mess this one up.
Bakura had a confident air on him. He wasn't going to mess this one up! He was Ryou's other, darker, taller, and in his opinion, better side. Quietly, while telling himself how great he was, he listened to the other people who were to suppose to go before him.
"Hahahaha! Don't even bother trying to beat me! I am the future of duel monsters itself! Rising star and future world champion! I'm a genius and none of you will ever beat me! Bwahahahaha! That world champion? He's nothing without his little tricks and-"
"Stop. Next person."
"Ehh! All you youngin's are just dreamin! Back in mah day, we didn't have no fancy duelin rings or duelin disks! We had to live on pure talent! We didn't have no con flabed tricks and such! It's experience that counts in the end! Wha, I remembuh when I was in a tournament in 1642! I had to-" "Stop. Next person."
"Dueling, dueling, dueling, that's all my students talk about these days! No one cares about classic literature anymore, or the fine points of Algebra, it's just who won this tournament, and who got that rare card. It's driving me insane! I'm a teacher, I'm supposed to teach math, science, but how can I when all my students talk about is cards! I mean-"
"Stop. Next Person."
"All of you just shut up! I am the world champion and you can't change that! Wait? Where the hell is my deck?! Ack, no no! Where is it! I can't be world champion without it! Ahh, my precious monsters, gone forever! But wait! I'm still the world champion, I still have power! Yes, I am still the greatest! I am-"
"Stop. Next person."
Ryou took a deep breath. It was Bakura's turn now. Ryou prayed that he still remembered what to do.
"Fools! All of you, pathetic mortals! Bow down to me, your superior! Bwahahahaha! Why you ask? For I am the greatest duelist ever to land on the face of this forsaken planet! My powers far surpass yours! Anyone of you dare face me? I shall kill you with my left hand and crush your remains with my right! For I am the greatest, most powerful and most feared of all time. Hahahahahaha-"
"Stop. Next person."
Bakura growled a bit. How dare someone interrupt him in the middle of his "great" speech? He could feel Ryou trying to calm him down. With an angry sigh, he switched back with his Hikari. Ryou shook a bit, but soon regained his composure. He watched his group mate who was playing the "fanatic" come up in front and act his own part out.
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Ayane took a deep breath.
"Well, first of all I would be angry, no doubt about that. A rock hit me on the head and like it or not, it probably did some damage. More than anger though, I would probably wonder how a rock would drop from seemingly no where and hit me on the head." She finished.
"But like it or not, no one threw it at you. What's the point of being angry?"
"Well, like it or not, it hit me on the head. I think that's what matters most. It doesn't matter if I know who threw it at me, I have the right to be angry. I'd probably throw it back to the sky if I didn't know that it would just fall back down." Ayane said, feeling more relaxed. Talking back to people, this was her kind of club.
"Hmm, very good. Next question, what is your opinion on Homosexuality?"
(A/N: I don't mean to or even want to offend anybody! If you are a bit touchy on the subject, just skip the part okay? Okay, don't go flaming me now ^_^)
"I don't think people should be prosecuted because of it. I admit, it might strike us as strange at first, but in truth we are sometimes just afraid because Homosexuality is different. Sometimes we forget that those people are still human beings. They still have rights and they are still the same as us."
"But most of the time, this is not accepted in our society."
"That is just proof that our Society isn't perfect. I mean, it's just plain wrong. Being Homosexual is part of those people's identity and in a free country; we have a right to be who we are." Ayane defended though she was shaking inside.
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Tristan's eyes followed the orange ball of rubber as it made its way nearer and nearer the basketball court. The ball seemed to fly as it slowly glided through the air, hitting the court board (oh you know, that thing behind the ring?) teetering on the metal ring, and finally falling in, swooshing past and into the net, then falling with a thud back to the ground.
All eyes turned to Tristan. If he could, he was sure he would have stared at himself too. He had made the shot! The coach shot him a big smile. Tristan shook himself from his astounded trance and beamed.
"Well, well, well, looks like Taylor here is Mr. Talent, or Mr. Lucky, in any case, good job Taylor! Get back in line." The coach said.
Tristan stepped back in his place where the boys around him patted him on the shoulder and either congratulated him or told him that he was really lucky. Tristan didn't say anything through all this. He was oblivious to the fact that other boys had started trying to take their free throws. All he could do was smile in a weird fashion.
"There might be something to this basketball stuff after all............."
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Ryou and the rest of his group finally faced the last part of the audition, individual and impromptu acting. He twiddled his fingers nervously. This was his most feared part of the audition. He quietly listened as a girl from his group was called out. He could hear a deep voice from the audience.
"Listen here. You are an average looking woman who is currently talking to another woman who claims your husband is getting friendly with her. She's the, you know, big breasted, perfect hair type who dresses really high and low, if you know what I mean, she claims your husband will be leaving you soon. You two are in a fancy restaurants, how can you tell her off without creating a commotion? Act the part out."
Ryou gulped a bit. If he were that girl his mind would go blank. He twiddled his fingers nervously wondering what horrid scene awaited him. As he pondered on the possibilities of his misfortune, he didn't hear his name being called out.
"Mr.Bakura!"
Ryou shook and turned vigorously. The girl had just finished and was now staring at him. Ryou realized that he must have been called out to a hundred times already. It was finally his turn. He slowly stepped onto center stage where a drama club member was waiting. Ryou looked, or at least tried to look into the audience, he could make out someone reading something from a roll of paper.
"Number 5, you are a rich, handsome, confident guy who wants to court this girl. The girl is the shy, conservative type....................and she just got kicked out from a convent. Her dad is a strict retired general. How will you approach her and get her to like you without being killed by her father?"
Ryou didn't move for a while. His gaze traveled around, hoping to find a big door somewhere that said exit. The go signal was given. He didn't know what to do, his mind blacked out on him.
This was hell.
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Ayane stepped out of the debate hall, glad she was in one piece. She sighed, that audition really took it out if her, whatever IT was. She walked through the halls of the school. Most of them were empty. She knew auditions were still going on. She took the list of clubs from her bag and looked it over.
"Drama club auditions are............... in the auditorium." She mumbled to herself.
Quietly, she walked through the halls and corridors, making her way to the auditorium. She wondered around for a while, then gave up because she was now, lost, again. She was just passing what was supposedly the Culinary Arts Center, when it's door opened and Joey stepped out.
"Joey?" She asked.
"Uh, w-what, A-ayane! What are you doing here?" He stuttered, surprised.
"I'm a bit lost, you?"
"Well, I sorta, I, uh, I.........." Joey trailed off.
"You sort of.........what? Ayane asked curiously.
Joey took out a deep breath. "I tried out for the Culinary Arts Club. Go ahead, laugh if you want, I know it's stupid." He said, expecting a barrage or at least a fit of giggles from Ayane, but none came.
"Oh, that's cool." Ayane smiled.
"You-you don't think it's funny?" Joey as ked uncertainly, straightening up.
"Not really, I think it's sort of cool." Ayane smiled as she nodded.
"If I told Tristan any of that, he would be dying of laughter right now." Joey said out loud.
"Come to think of it, what club did Tristan try out for?"
"Ahh beats me, he disappeared a long time ago." Joey replied.
"Oh, so which club you trying out for next?" Ayane asked.
"The computer club."
At this Ayane stifled a little laugh.
"What? What's so funny?"
"Nothing, it's just that, I didn't imagine you as the techy type, you know." "Hey, that club gets to play lots of video games ya know!" Joey said.
"Mmm, I guess so." Ayane nodded.
"Anyway, so where you off to?"
"The auditorium, you wouldn't happen to know where it is would you?"
"Oh yeah, sure! C'mon, I'll show you." Joey said as he and Ayane went down a nearby staircase.
The two entered a different building, through some corridors, past three stair cases and down a hall. Pretty soon, the large glass and wood frames of the Auditorium doors came into view. As Joey and Ayane approached it, people started to come out. Among those people were Ryou, innocent Ryou, who was looking paler than usual, and that's saying a lot.
"Ryou? Gosh, oh, what happened to you?" Ayane asked, concerned, running over to him.
"Bakura! What happened, you look like the life was taken out of you or something." Joey said.
"I think it was, Joey." Ryou mumbled quietly.
Ayane frowned and led her friend to some nearby chairs. Ryou sat down. He couldn't believe how auditions could take it out of you so fast. The last part was the worst. He was a stuttering wreck; he went as white as a ghost, the lights made him dizzy.
"Are you gonna be alright Bakura?" Joey asked.
"Uh..........yeah, I am uh- I mean will be............" Ryou trailed off.
"Well, I better go now, the computer room's still a bit of a walk from here." Joey said, waving as he ran off.
Ayane smiled and waved, then turned his attention back to Ryou.
"Ryou, are you alright?" Ayane asked.
Ryou locked eyes with her and he felt all his blood circulate normally again. He smiled.
"Yeah, the audition was just so, it takes a lot out of you know." Ryou smiled.
"Yeah, your making me feel like not auditioning anymore." Ayane laughed.
"No, no, I'm sure you'd do fine, I don't do to well with stages." Ryou sighed.
"Hmm, you'll get over it." Ayane smiled.
"You think so?"
"Yeah, so anyway which club do you want to try out for next?"
"I don't know, maybe I'll just sleep in the homeroom class until the day is over." He joked.
Ayane gave a smile.
"Why don't you go to the Math club?"
"Huh? What?"
"Might as well give it a shot..........." Ayane shrugged.
"I don't know, I guess so, but what's the point in trying out? It's an academic club so UPL students don't need to try out."
"Oh, I guess your right."
Silence.
Silence.
Silence.
"I know, why don't you tr out for the computer club?"
"Huh? Isn't that where Joey went?"
"Yeah, it'll be fun!" Ayane gushed.
"I don't know, I'm not that good with technology, it'll usually end up broken in my hands." Ryou laughed nervously, remembering that one time he had tried out a duel disk and it ended up looking like scrap metal.
"Come on, please?" Ayane asked.
"Okay, I guess so, only because you pushed." Ryou said with a small smile.
"Yay thanks Ryou, I'll make it up to you, I promise!"
The two sat up and started making their way to the computer rooms. While walking, Ryou was pondering on somethings. He kept picking at the lower buttons of his uniforms in an unconcious fit. A little before they reached the computer rooms, he finally spoke.
"Hey, Ayane?"
"Yes?"
"I think I know how you can make it up to me." He laughed.
She laughed quietly. "Okay, let's hear it."
"Why don't we go to the sports club down town this weekend and we can play tennis or badminton? I haven't done that in quite a while." Ryou smiled.
"Oh,uhm ahh, sure I-I guess." Ayane suddenly blushed and began to bump her two index fingers together.
Ryou raised his eyebrow nervously. "Ayane? Anything wrong?"
"What? Ahh, no, of course not." She smiled.
Ryou gave her a strange look. He shrugged the feeling off.
/Ryou's thoughts/ //Ayane's thoughts//
/I wonder what's wrong? Maybe she doesn't like me, no that's not it, but........./
//I don't know how to play tennis!//
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Tristan staggered onto the bench and plopped down on it with a big sigh of releif. He had no idea basketball tryouts were so tiring. His face, along with his clothes was drenched in sweat. He was so tired that he didn't notice the person that cast a long shadow over him.
"Hey, Taylor right?"
"Huh? Yeah, Tristan Taylor." Tristan said, looking up.
"Name's Rod. I play the point guard of the team." The boy replied, taking a seat next to him.
"Okay........."Tristan trailed off.
"I got to admit, Tristan "Mr.Talent" Taylor, you're pretty good, one of the few who actually have a chance at making the team."
"What? Wow, thanks."
"So tell me, why you here?"
"What do you mean?"
"Why'd you decide to try out for the team?"
"This isn't one of those trick interviews is it?" Tristan questioned, eyeing Rod.
"Nah, we don't do it here, maybe if you wanna go out and try for the science club, but here as long as you got what it takes, your in."
"Oh."
"So, tell me, why are you here?"
"Well, you see there's this girl and-"
"You wanna impress her, I get it, well, and every one of us has different reasons."
"Why are you here?"
"I tried out for the team in my freshman year, I didn't make it though, but I really wanted to get in, because my friends would call me a loser if I didn't, so I talked to the coach and I told him I'd train everyday, blah blah blah, he put me in the training pool and sometime after summer he decided to put me in the team, and now, here I am Junior year, holding the record for youngest MVP awardee."
"Wow, really? That's cool!"
"Yeah, and I'd bet you could take the title if you worked hard enough."
"You think so?"
"Yeah, it'll most likely impress whoever girl you have your eye on." Rod said, before leaving to talk to some other people.
Tristan grinned to himself.
"Youngest MVP huh? Serenity, I'll show you I'm as good as anyone else there, maybe even better." He muttered.
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Kaiba was walking through the halls, not really knowing where he wanted to go, and not really caring. He kept walking for a little while longer until he could hear footsteps behind him. He sharply turned his head and was horrified to see the familiar crowd of over-obsessive fan girls thundering towards him.
"There he is girls!"
"Shit!" Kaiba cursed, not bothering to hide his annoyed and aggravated tone.
He then proceeded to run as fast as his legs could carry him. His eyes darted from one room to another, hoping for some form of escape as he passed through corridors and corridors. His eyes finally found the one place they couldn't get him. He quickly did a right turn and ran into the boy's washroom. He heard the footsteps stop and voices began to murmur. Kaiba then slapped his forehead and locked the door, just as the doorknob began to jiggle.
"These girls don't know where to stop." Kaiba said in disbelief and disgust.
The door knob began to jiggle some more. Kaiba glared at it and started to walk to the farthest part of the bathroom from the door. He didn't care if anyone needed to use the particular bathroom he was in right now, he just hoped he didn't have to stay in it for that long.
Kaiba gave an exasperated sigh. You think a guy, who's been through a whole mess of evil step fathers; stolen souls and God cards would be able to handle this kind of thing. His eyes stared off into space as a flashback came to him. A horrible flash back.
*Flashback*
Kaiba cursed profusely under his breath as he ran at full speed from the crowd of girls chasing after him. This everyday routine was getting to tiring. He ran for a bit more until he was convinced he had forced himself to run a 400m dash. After which he decided to stop. His abrupt halt took the girls by surprise and they stopped about 4 feet from him.
"Look, you girls have been running after me for the past three weeks. Give it a rest and just stay away from me because I will never give a second thought to any one of you. So just take your obsessive little heads elsewhere like the city dump or something." Kaiba sneered coldly at all of them.
Everyone was silent for a minute then a girl suddenly began to squeal in delight, as if she had just won the lottery. Kaiba eyed her and raised an eyebrow.
"I-I actually got his actual voice recorded in my recorder!" The girl gushed, then proceeded to squeal while raising a silver tape recorder in the air.
All the girls crowded around her and began squealing out "OMG!"s and "What?! Really?!"s. Kaiba thought they had forgotten about him so he started to move away slowly.
"Wait girls the real things getting away!" One of the girls exclaimed.
All the girls turned to him and charged at him. He tried to run, but this time he did not escape.
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Kaiba shook the evil memory away and turned to the doorknob which was still jiggling.
********************************************************************
Ayane walked out of the computer room quietly, so she wouldn't disturb the people who were still trying out for the club. Joey had finished already because he started early, and Ryou was still inside. Ayane walked through the corridors; passing people along the way, all while she was remembering the last time she played tennis. She had given her brother a black eye.
Ayane grimaced, then noticed something peculiar. A group of girls, were crowding around a door down the hall. She looked closer then noticed that the door was apparently locked.
"Now that's strange." Ayane mumbled to herself.
She listened, hoping to find out why they wanted to get in so much. A few seconds of eavesdropping made it clear.
"Oh dear, hehe, looks like Kaiba got into a little sticky situation........." She trailed off.
She then thought about a way to help him. Then with the loudest, girliest voice she could muster............
"Oh my gosh, someone's giving out autographed posters of Seto Kaiba in the Chemistry Lab!"
In a flash, the crowd dispersed and stampeded their way to the other building, where the chemistry lab was located. Not even noticing Ayane, who was quietly laughing to herself.
********************************************************************
Kaiba listened. Someone was giving away autographed posters of him?! Wait, he didn't remember signing any autographs. They must have been fake. He looked at the door, someone could still be there. He watched, the door knob stayed still but a knock was heard. Kaiba stared quizzically at the door.
"Kaiba? Kaiba, it's me." He heard Ayane call from the other side.
He didn't answer, still contemplating the thought that some of the fangirls might still be out there.
"They're gone now, all of them, if that's what you're thinking." Ayane said, practically reading his mind.
Kaiba then walked to the bathroom door and unlocked it. He opened it, to reveal Ayane standing there, arms behind her back and smiling brightly up at him. She then saw the inside of the room, blushed and then turned around on an impulse, she hadn't realized the room was a boy's bathroom.
Kaiba raised his eyebrow, walked out of the room and shut the door. As soon as he did, Ayane turned back to him.
"Well?"
"Well what?" He said coldly as both proceeded to walk.
"Don't I get a thank you?" She asked.
"Thank you." He said with an emotionless tone.
Ayane stopped in her steps. She had more than half expected Kaiba to give a cold remark. Shaking her head from her daze, she ran to catch up with him.
"You locked yourself in the bathroom huh?" Ayane asked.
Kaiba glared at her. "Don't worry, your secret's safe with me."
Silence.
Silence.
Silence.
Silence.
"Hey, it'll be lunch soon you know, are you trying out for any other club?" Ayane asked.
"I don't know, maybe the Computer club." He said coldly.
"Oh." Ayane said, just as the ear-splitting noise of the bell rang, signaling lunch.
Ayane followed Kaiba, not really knowing where he was going. He ended up going to the tree.........again. He sat down there and stared off into space, Ayan just stood beside him.
"Don't you ever eat?" Ayane questioned.
"Of course I do." He said, a bit arrogantly.
"So where? I mean I never see you in the cafeteria."
"I don't like big crowds." He stated plainly and coldly.
"Oh." Ayane said, looking up at the sky then sitting down.
Silence.
Silence.
Silence.
"Kaiba?"
"What now?"
"Do you.........."
"Do I what?"
"Do you hate me?" Kaiba's eye grew, and he faced her. As always she was smiling. She had a strange small smile, and her eyes were deep. He looked hard at her.
"What?"
"Do you hate me? The way you always act, it, I guess, makes me wonder." She said in an unreadable tone.
Kaiba took his hand and held her chin. He made her face him. His eyes were serious, her eyes were soft. Their faces were about 5 inches away from each other.
"I could never hate you Ayane." He said.
Ayane's eyes were large. She didn't say anything for a moment, then.........
"Caterpillar."
"Huh? What?" Kaiba asked.
"Caterpillar." Ayane said again, as she raised her hand to Kaiba's head, where she used her index finger and her thumb to flick off a caterpillar that had landed on Kaiba's head.
Kaiba backed away instantly and started dusting off his head vigorously. He then stared at the caterpillar slowly crawling it's way away. He then breathed hard. He could hear someone laughing lightly.
"I'm sorry, I can't help myself." She said.
Kaiba just glared.
Silence.
"Kaiba?"
"What?"
"Did you mean what you said?"
Kaiba looked at her.
"Of course I did." He said.
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Ryou walked to the table where his friends were gathered. All but two.
"Hey where's Ayane?" Ryou asked as he sat down on an empty chair.
"I dunno, I thought she was with you Bakura." Joey replied while munching through a sub.
"Maybe she's still in an audition." Yugi said.
"Yeah, oh and come to think of it, I haven't seen Tristan either, what club did he try out for?" Tea asked.
"Dunno, he wouldn't tell me." Joey shrugged.
"Oh, so which clubs have you tried out for so far guys?" Yugi asked.
"Oh, well, the ballet club and the dance club for me." Tea said, while drinking out of a water bottle.
"I tried out for the drama club and the computer club." Ryou said in a quiet voice.
"Whoa! You did? Must've taken a lot of guts!" Joey exclaimed.
Ryou just smiled, nodded then replied. "I guess I had enough guts, I think." Inside his head, Ryou could hear Bakura laughing.
"How about you Joey?" Tea asked.
"Huh? Wha?"
"I mean, what club did you try out for so far?"
"Oh uhm........me? The computer club!" Joey stuttered.
"How about the one before that?" Ryou inquired.
"What? I mean, uhm...... I-I think, Yeah! Uhm, I forgot something, uh somewhere, I'm going!" He said as he stood up quickly and started to walk stiffly but quickly out of the canteen. Somehow, he just didn't feel comfortable to tell his friends he had tried out for the cooking club.
"Alright........That was weird, Yugi?" Tea asked, turning to Yugi.
"Me? I just tried out for the Historians Club and Video and Photography club." Yugi said, poking at his food. (Hey Ryou, I found out where your friend is!)
"Really Yugi? You tried out for the Historians Club?" Tea asked, completely ignoring the fact that Ryou was now talking to himself.
(Really? Where?)
"Yeah, it wasn't that hard." Yugi said, blushing a bit.
(Oooh, guess! C'mon, guess!)
"Sooo, what they have you do?" Tea asked Yugi.
(Uhm..... In an audition or try out?)
"Oh, first there was some sort of interview." Yugi said.
(Nooo......Guess again Ryou!)
"Oh, so then what?" Tea asked.
(Uhm, in the homeroom classroom?)
"Then, the tricky part came, we had to name a place, country, or nation, and we had to say everything we knew about it."
(Ryou, you're boring me, guess again?)
"Cool! So I bet you picked Egypt huh?"
(Uhm, somewhere in this room.)
"Yeah, how'd you know?"
(Do you THINK she's in this room? One more time.)
"Well, I figured since it would be easier........" Tea trailed off.
(Outside?)
A puzzled look came on Yugi's face. "Huh? Why?"
(Ding ding ding, we have a winner! Now guess WHO she's with!)
"Well, since you have Yami to help you............" Tea said.
(Some other guy?)
"So you think I'll only pass if I have Yami to help me?" Yugi asked hurt. "Well, that's not how it works, and- and I'll prove it." Yugi said, as he stood up and walked away.
(Yeah, that Kaiba guy...........)
Tea blinked, then turned to Ryou. "Bakura? Do you know if anything's bother- "
"I have to go somewhere!" Ryou exclaimed to no one as he jerked himself up and ran out the cafeteria.
"What?" Tea asked herself, wondering why everyone was so weird lately.
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Ayane and Kaiba sat there, under the tree, as if they were the only people in the world. As if everything else was invisible. Then Kaiba spoke.
"That guy, you're always with him."
"Huh? Who?"
"One of Yugi's friends."
"Oh, Ryou, yeah, I guess I am."
"Do you like him?" Kaiba asked, his tone cold.
"Oh........well, what do you mean?"
"Nevermind."
Silence.
Silence.
"Kaiba?"
"What?" He asked.
"Why are you so cold?"
"What?"
"Why are you so cold?"
"Because I'm not hot." He said smirking.
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R.J: Oh yes he is!
Bakura: Pft! I can beat him anyday!
Kaiba: Wanna bet?
R.J: Hey, it's valentines already, wow!
Yugi: Yeah, but by the time you upload this chapter..........
R.J: Details, details! Anyway, like I was saying, Seto is so too hot, plus he's cold too! Ahh, see that's why he is so uhm, what's the word?
Kaiba: Perfect?
R.J: Yeah! I love you so much! *Hugs him*
Bakura: I bet I have more fans than you!
Kaiba: Bring it on!
R.J: Well come to think of it, Bakura is kind of-
Yugi: No don't say it, it's still not valentines day!
Bakura: I have more fans!
Kaiba: In your demented psychotic dreams!
R.J: Uh, guys?
Bakura: I know, let's let the readers decide!
R.J: What? Aww, I don't want to have to put them through your arguments.........
Joey: A Valentine's poll, that would be interesting. A cold, arrogant CEO, or a psychotic thousand year old spirit, wow............
R.J: Well, to you readers, if you want to, go ahead and vote, who really has more fans Bakura or Kaiba? Oh, and if you like, you could also give any of the characters a valentine or what, anyway back to the story.........
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"Your fangirls seem to say different." Ayane teased.
"Ayane, don't mention those be crazed lunatics to me ever again." He glared.
A laugh.
"Yeah, sure."
Silence.
Silence.
Silence.
"You know what Kaiba?" She laughed.
"What?" He asked, annoyed.
"Before, I went to an all girl school, so I didn't get to know any boys at all."
"You must've been very happy." Kaiba said in an unreadable tone.
"I guess, I used to be so uncomfortable around guys." Ayane said, scratching her head and laughing.
"..................."
"But you know what?" She continued. "I don't feel that way anymore. Not with you, it actually feels nice to be with you." She smiled at him.
Kaiba didn't know what to say. Inside is head was spinning, so instead of making it worse wit words, he just put his arms around Ayane's waist and pulled her close. It was weird, but, whenever these moments came, he always for got who he was. He always forgot that he was one of the best duelists in the world, he always forgot that he was the CEO of a multinational corporation, he always forgot all his pride.
"The feeling's a bit mutual." He murmured to her, even if his tone was still a bit cold.
She laughed quietly. "How come I have a feeling when we get out of under this tree, nothing would have ever happened?"
"Because I'm a cold person remember?" Kaiba smirked.
"Hmm, yeah, "Ayane said. " This is a magic tree." She laughed like a little kid.
Kaiba smiled, a real smile, though she didn't see it. He wished this time would never end, he wished he didn't have to leave his Magic Tree.
Somewhere from a distance, a young boy with white hair watched, His heart, slowly breaking.
**************************************************************************** ***********************************
R.J: Hahaha, Magic Tree! Wow, that's cute!
Bakura: You are strange.
Kaiba: Look who's talking
R.J: Yeah, well, who cares! Anyway, as always, please leave a review! Happy valentines day everybody!!!!!!!!!!!!
Yugi: Don't forget the valentine's day poll thingy!
R.J: Yeah, but I'm not forcing you guys, only if you want to! Now if you excuse me, I have to spend my valentine's day with my blue-eyed wonder boy! ^__^
Yami: Three guesses who that is. *eyes Kaiba*
Joey: Remember to leave a review! Oh, and if by any chance this chapter comes out late becuz ff.net is going fuzzy again, gomenasai!
Bakura: Are we done playing pin the tail on the Yami now?
R.J: Yes, wasn't my party fun?! ^_^
Yugi: I thought so.
Ryou: It was cool.
Yami: My back hurts.
R.J: Fine, fine, we won't play pin the tail on the Yami next time.
Bakura: So where is your sick mind taking the story this time?
R.J: Oh, you'll see..................
Kaiba: R.J doesn't own YGO or anything related like the tcg and characters.
Bakura: In fact the only things she owns are her OCs! And her deck, which is pathetic by the way.
R.J: Hey! I'll pretend I didn't hear that. Anyway, thank you to all the reviewers, I appreciate all your reviews very much!
************************************************************************
Ayane reached the debate hall where people were already gathering. Many of the people were sophomores like herself, and freshmen. Ayane gave a nervous sigh. With all these people trying out, would she even have a chance at getting in? She was told that there would only be 11 people accepted, and only 1 varsity member was allowed per year level, except for seniors and juniors. (As in the varsity team composes of one freshman, one sophomore, 5 juniors and 3 seniors.)
As she stepped inside the cold room, she could feel eyes on her. What kind of auditions would be held for a debate team? They were divided into groups of four and were told that each group would go up to the front where they would have an impromptu interview. Much to Ayane's surprise, her group went first.
Slowly, each of them walked up front, the only place where there was light, very bright ones. The rest of the place was just dark; you could barely see who was even interviewing you.
"Good morning," A voice from in front of them said. "Thank you for having chosen this club. Let me explain how the auditions will commence. Each of you will be asked questions requesting for your opinion. Give your opinion and we will question it, you will then have to defend your opinion the best way possible. Stuttering and using slang will be a minus on your part and will not improve your chances of getting in. Understood? Good, alright, ahh, yes, you will go first..............Ms. Kinoshi?
"Yes?" Ayane replied.
"Full name please."
"Ayane Kinoshi."
"Section 2-a, UPL student and new to Domino High, am I correct?"
"Yes, you are."
"Hmm, your grades are impressive, but let's see if you can talk as well as you think."
Silence.
"Alright, let's start, first question. Why would you or would you not be angry if a rock dropped from no where and hit you on the head?"
**************************************************************************** ***************************
Somewhere in another room, Ryou was feeling the same kind of nervousness Ayane was. He was in his soul room, sitting with his legs pulled close to his chest, hoping Bakura would not mess this one up.
Bakura had a confident air on him. He wasn't going to mess this one up! He was Ryou's other, darker, taller, and in his opinion, better side. Quietly, while telling himself how great he was, he listened to the other people who were to suppose to go before him.
"Hahahaha! Don't even bother trying to beat me! I am the future of duel monsters itself! Rising star and future world champion! I'm a genius and none of you will ever beat me! Bwahahahaha! That world champion? He's nothing without his little tricks and-"
"Stop. Next person."
"Ehh! All you youngin's are just dreamin! Back in mah day, we didn't have no fancy duelin rings or duelin disks! We had to live on pure talent! We didn't have no con flabed tricks and such! It's experience that counts in the end! Wha, I remembuh when I was in a tournament in 1642! I had to-" "Stop. Next person."
"Dueling, dueling, dueling, that's all my students talk about these days! No one cares about classic literature anymore, or the fine points of Algebra, it's just who won this tournament, and who got that rare card. It's driving me insane! I'm a teacher, I'm supposed to teach math, science, but how can I when all my students talk about is cards! I mean-"
"Stop. Next Person."
"All of you just shut up! I am the world champion and you can't change that! Wait? Where the hell is my deck?! Ack, no no! Where is it! I can't be world champion without it! Ahh, my precious monsters, gone forever! But wait! I'm still the world champion, I still have power! Yes, I am still the greatest! I am-"
"Stop. Next person."
Ryou took a deep breath. It was Bakura's turn now. Ryou prayed that he still remembered what to do.
"Fools! All of you, pathetic mortals! Bow down to me, your superior! Bwahahahaha! Why you ask? For I am the greatest duelist ever to land on the face of this forsaken planet! My powers far surpass yours! Anyone of you dare face me? I shall kill you with my left hand and crush your remains with my right! For I am the greatest, most powerful and most feared of all time. Hahahahahaha-"
"Stop. Next person."
Bakura growled a bit. How dare someone interrupt him in the middle of his "great" speech? He could feel Ryou trying to calm him down. With an angry sigh, he switched back with his Hikari. Ryou shook a bit, but soon regained his composure. He watched his group mate who was playing the "fanatic" come up in front and act his own part out.
**************************************************************************** ****************************************
Ayane took a deep breath.
"Well, first of all I would be angry, no doubt about that. A rock hit me on the head and like it or not, it probably did some damage. More than anger though, I would probably wonder how a rock would drop from seemingly no where and hit me on the head." She finished.
"But like it or not, no one threw it at you. What's the point of being angry?"
"Well, like it or not, it hit me on the head. I think that's what matters most. It doesn't matter if I know who threw it at me, I have the right to be angry. I'd probably throw it back to the sky if I didn't know that it would just fall back down." Ayane said, feeling more relaxed. Talking back to people, this was her kind of club.
"Hmm, very good. Next question, what is your opinion on Homosexuality?"
(A/N: I don't mean to or even want to offend anybody! If you are a bit touchy on the subject, just skip the part okay? Okay, don't go flaming me now ^_^)
"I don't think people should be prosecuted because of it. I admit, it might strike us as strange at first, but in truth we are sometimes just afraid because Homosexuality is different. Sometimes we forget that those people are still human beings. They still have rights and they are still the same as us."
"But most of the time, this is not accepted in our society."
"That is just proof that our Society isn't perfect. I mean, it's just plain wrong. Being Homosexual is part of those people's identity and in a free country; we have a right to be who we are." Ayane defended though she was shaking inside.
**************************************************************************** ****************************************
Tristan's eyes followed the orange ball of rubber as it made its way nearer and nearer the basketball court. The ball seemed to fly as it slowly glided through the air, hitting the court board (oh you know, that thing behind the ring?) teetering on the metal ring, and finally falling in, swooshing past and into the net, then falling with a thud back to the ground.
All eyes turned to Tristan. If he could, he was sure he would have stared at himself too. He had made the shot! The coach shot him a big smile. Tristan shook himself from his astounded trance and beamed.
"Well, well, well, looks like Taylor here is Mr. Talent, or Mr. Lucky, in any case, good job Taylor! Get back in line." The coach said.
Tristan stepped back in his place where the boys around him patted him on the shoulder and either congratulated him or told him that he was really lucky. Tristan didn't say anything through all this. He was oblivious to the fact that other boys had started trying to take their free throws. All he could do was smile in a weird fashion.
"There might be something to this basketball stuff after all............."
**************************************************************************** ***********************************
Ryou and the rest of his group finally faced the last part of the audition, individual and impromptu acting. He twiddled his fingers nervously. This was his most feared part of the audition. He quietly listened as a girl from his group was called out. He could hear a deep voice from the audience.
"Listen here. You are an average looking woman who is currently talking to another woman who claims your husband is getting friendly with her. She's the, you know, big breasted, perfect hair type who dresses really high and low, if you know what I mean, she claims your husband will be leaving you soon. You two are in a fancy restaurants, how can you tell her off without creating a commotion? Act the part out."
Ryou gulped a bit. If he were that girl his mind would go blank. He twiddled his fingers nervously wondering what horrid scene awaited him. As he pondered on the possibilities of his misfortune, he didn't hear his name being called out.
"Mr.Bakura!"
Ryou shook and turned vigorously. The girl had just finished and was now staring at him. Ryou realized that he must have been called out to a hundred times already. It was finally his turn. He slowly stepped onto center stage where a drama club member was waiting. Ryou looked, or at least tried to look into the audience, he could make out someone reading something from a roll of paper.
"Number 5, you are a rich, handsome, confident guy who wants to court this girl. The girl is the shy, conservative type....................and she just got kicked out from a convent. Her dad is a strict retired general. How will you approach her and get her to like you without being killed by her father?"
Ryou didn't move for a while. His gaze traveled around, hoping to find a big door somewhere that said exit. The go signal was given. He didn't know what to do, his mind blacked out on him.
This was hell.
**************************************************************************** **************************************
Ayane stepped out of the debate hall, glad she was in one piece. She sighed, that audition really took it out if her, whatever IT was. She walked through the halls of the school. Most of them were empty. She knew auditions were still going on. She took the list of clubs from her bag and looked it over.
"Drama club auditions are............... in the auditorium." She mumbled to herself.
Quietly, she walked through the halls and corridors, making her way to the auditorium. She wondered around for a while, then gave up because she was now, lost, again. She was just passing what was supposedly the Culinary Arts Center, when it's door opened and Joey stepped out.
"Joey?" She asked.
"Uh, w-what, A-ayane! What are you doing here?" He stuttered, surprised.
"I'm a bit lost, you?"
"Well, I sorta, I, uh, I.........." Joey trailed off.
"You sort of.........what? Ayane asked curiously.
Joey took out a deep breath. "I tried out for the Culinary Arts Club. Go ahead, laugh if you want, I know it's stupid." He said, expecting a barrage or at least a fit of giggles from Ayane, but none came.
"Oh, that's cool." Ayane smiled.
"You-you don't think it's funny?" Joey as ked uncertainly, straightening up.
"Not really, I think it's sort of cool." Ayane smiled as she nodded.
"If I told Tristan any of that, he would be dying of laughter right now." Joey said out loud.
"Come to think of it, what club did Tristan try out for?"
"Ahh beats me, he disappeared a long time ago." Joey replied.
"Oh, so which club you trying out for next?" Ayane asked.
"The computer club."
At this Ayane stifled a little laugh.
"What? What's so funny?"
"Nothing, it's just that, I didn't imagine you as the techy type, you know." "Hey, that club gets to play lots of video games ya know!" Joey said.
"Mmm, I guess so." Ayane nodded.
"Anyway, so where you off to?"
"The auditorium, you wouldn't happen to know where it is would you?"
"Oh yeah, sure! C'mon, I'll show you." Joey said as he and Ayane went down a nearby staircase.
The two entered a different building, through some corridors, past three stair cases and down a hall. Pretty soon, the large glass and wood frames of the Auditorium doors came into view. As Joey and Ayane approached it, people started to come out. Among those people were Ryou, innocent Ryou, who was looking paler than usual, and that's saying a lot.
"Ryou? Gosh, oh, what happened to you?" Ayane asked, concerned, running over to him.
"Bakura! What happened, you look like the life was taken out of you or something." Joey said.
"I think it was, Joey." Ryou mumbled quietly.
Ayane frowned and led her friend to some nearby chairs. Ryou sat down. He couldn't believe how auditions could take it out of you so fast. The last part was the worst. He was a stuttering wreck; he went as white as a ghost, the lights made him dizzy.
"Are you gonna be alright Bakura?" Joey asked.
"Uh..........yeah, I am uh- I mean will be............" Ryou trailed off.
"Well, I better go now, the computer room's still a bit of a walk from here." Joey said, waving as he ran off.
Ayane smiled and waved, then turned his attention back to Ryou.
"Ryou, are you alright?" Ayane asked.
Ryou locked eyes with her and he felt all his blood circulate normally again. He smiled.
"Yeah, the audition was just so, it takes a lot out of you know." Ryou smiled.
"Yeah, your making me feel like not auditioning anymore." Ayane laughed.
"No, no, I'm sure you'd do fine, I don't do to well with stages." Ryou sighed.
"Hmm, you'll get over it." Ayane smiled.
"You think so?"
"Yeah, so anyway which club do you want to try out for next?"
"I don't know, maybe I'll just sleep in the homeroom class until the day is over." He joked.
Ayane gave a smile.
"Why don't you go to the Math club?"
"Huh? What?"
"Might as well give it a shot..........." Ayane shrugged.
"I don't know, I guess so, but what's the point in trying out? It's an academic club so UPL students don't need to try out."
"Oh, I guess your right."
Silence.
Silence.
Silence.
"I know, why don't you tr out for the computer club?"
"Huh? Isn't that where Joey went?"
"Yeah, it'll be fun!" Ayane gushed.
"I don't know, I'm not that good with technology, it'll usually end up broken in my hands." Ryou laughed nervously, remembering that one time he had tried out a duel disk and it ended up looking like scrap metal.
"Come on, please?" Ayane asked.
"Okay, I guess so, only because you pushed." Ryou said with a small smile.
"Yay thanks Ryou, I'll make it up to you, I promise!"
The two sat up and started making their way to the computer rooms. While walking, Ryou was pondering on somethings. He kept picking at the lower buttons of his uniforms in an unconcious fit. A little before they reached the computer rooms, he finally spoke.
"Hey, Ayane?"
"Yes?"
"I think I know how you can make it up to me." He laughed.
She laughed quietly. "Okay, let's hear it."
"Why don't we go to the sports club down town this weekend and we can play tennis or badminton? I haven't done that in quite a while." Ryou smiled.
"Oh,uhm ahh, sure I-I guess." Ayane suddenly blushed and began to bump her two index fingers together.
Ryou raised his eyebrow nervously. "Ayane? Anything wrong?"
"What? Ahh, no, of course not." She smiled.
Ryou gave her a strange look. He shrugged the feeling off.
/Ryou's thoughts/ //Ayane's thoughts//
/I wonder what's wrong? Maybe she doesn't like me, no that's not it, but........./
//I don't know how to play tennis!//
**************************************************************************** ***********************************
Tristan staggered onto the bench and plopped down on it with a big sigh of releif. He had no idea basketball tryouts were so tiring. His face, along with his clothes was drenched in sweat. He was so tired that he didn't notice the person that cast a long shadow over him.
"Hey, Taylor right?"
"Huh? Yeah, Tristan Taylor." Tristan said, looking up.
"Name's Rod. I play the point guard of the team." The boy replied, taking a seat next to him.
"Okay........."Tristan trailed off.
"I got to admit, Tristan "Mr.Talent" Taylor, you're pretty good, one of the few who actually have a chance at making the team."
"What? Wow, thanks."
"So tell me, why you here?"
"What do you mean?"
"Why'd you decide to try out for the team?"
"This isn't one of those trick interviews is it?" Tristan questioned, eyeing Rod.
"Nah, we don't do it here, maybe if you wanna go out and try for the science club, but here as long as you got what it takes, your in."
"Oh."
"So, tell me, why are you here?"
"Well, you see there's this girl and-"
"You wanna impress her, I get it, well, and every one of us has different reasons."
"Why are you here?"
"I tried out for the team in my freshman year, I didn't make it though, but I really wanted to get in, because my friends would call me a loser if I didn't, so I talked to the coach and I told him I'd train everyday, blah blah blah, he put me in the training pool and sometime after summer he decided to put me in the team, and now, here I am Junior year, holding the record for youngest MVP awardee."
"Wow, really? That's cool!"
"Yeah, and I'd bet you could take the title if you worked hard enough."
"You think so?"
"Yeah, it'll most likely impress whoever girl you have your eye on." Rod said, before leaving to talk to some other people.
Tristan grinned to himself.
"Youngest MVP huh? Serenity, I'll show you I'm as good as anyone else there, maybe even better." He muttered.
**************************************************************************** *********************************
Kaiba was walking through the halls, not really knowing where he wanted to go, and not really caring. He kept walking for a little while longer until he could hear footsteps behind him. He sharply turned his head and was horrified to see the familiar crowd of over-obsessive fan girls thundering towards him.
"There he is girls!"
"Shit!" Kaiba cursed, not bothering to hide his annoyed and aggravated tone.
He then proceeded to run as fast as his legs could carry him. His eyes darted from one room to another, hoping for some form of escape as he passed through corridors and corridors. His eyes finally found the one place they couldn't get him. He quickly did a right turn and ran into the boy's washroom. He heard the footsteps stop and voices began to murmur. Kaiba then slapped his forehead and locked the door, just as the doorknob began to jiggle.
"These girls don't know where to stop." Kaiba said in disbelief and disgust.
The door knob began to jiggle some more. Kaiba glared at it and started to walk to the farthest part of the bathroom from the door. He didn't care if anyone needed to use the particular bathroom he was in right now, he just hoped he didn't have to stay in it for that long.
Kaiba gave an exasperated sigh. You think a guy, who's been through a whole mess of evil step fathers; stolen souls and God cards would be able to handle this kind of thing. His eyes stared off into space as a flashback came to him. A horrible flash back.
*Flashback*
Kaiba cursed profusely under his breath as he ran at full speed from the crowd of girls chasing after him. This everyday routine was getting to tiring. He ran for a bit more until he was convinced he had forced himself to run a 400m dash. After which he decided to stop. His abrupt halt took the girls by surprise and they stopped about 4 feet from him.
"Look, you girls have been running after me for the past three weeks. Give it a rest and just stay away from me because I will never give a second thought to any one of you. So just take your obsessive little heads elsewhere like the city dump or something." Kaiba sneered coldly at all of them.
Everyone was silent for a minute then a girl suddenly began to squeal in delight, as if she had just won the lottery. Kaiba eyed her and raised an eyebrow.
"I-I actually got his actual voice recorded in my recorder!" The girl gushed, then proceeded to squeal while raising a silver tape recorder in the air.
All the girls crowded around her and began squealing out "OMG!"s and "What?! Really?!"s. Kaiba thought they had forgotten about him so he started to move away slowly.
"Wait girls the real things getting away!" One of the girls exclaimed.
All the girls turned to him and charged at him. He tried to run, but this time he did not escape.
**************************************************************************** **************************************
Kaiba shook the evil memory away and turned to the doorknob which was still jiggling.
********************************************************************
Ayane walked out of the computer room quietly, so she wouldn't disturb the people who were still trying out for the club. Joey had finished already because he started early, and Ryou was still inside. Ayane walked through the corridors; passing people along the way, all while she was remembering the last time she played tennis. She had given her brother a black eye.
Ayane grimaced, then noticed something peculiar. A group of girls, were crowding around a door down the hall. She looked closer then noticed that the door was apparently locked.
"Now that's strange." Ayane mumbled to herself.
She listened, hoping to find out why they wanted to get in so much. A few seconds of eavesdropping made it clear.
"Oh dear, hehe, looks like Kaiba got into a little sticky situation........." She trailed off.
She then thought about a way to help him. Then with the loudest, girliest voice she could muster............
"Oh my gosh, someone's giving out autographed posters of Seto Kaiba in the Chemistry Lab!"
In a flash, the crowd dispersed and stampeded their way to the other building, where the chemistry lab was located. Not even noticing Ayane, who was quietly laughing to herself.
********************************************************************
Kaiba listened. Someone was giving away autographed posters of him?! Wait, he didn't remember signing any autographs. They must have been fake. He looked at the door, someone could still be there. He watched, the door knob stayed still but a knock was heard. Kaiba stared quizzically at the door.
"Kaiba? Kaiba, it's me." He heard Ayane call from the other side.
He didn't answer, still contemplating the thought that some of the fangirls might still be out there.
"They're gone now, all of them, if that's what you're thinking." Ayane said, practically reading his mind.
Kaiba then walked to the bathroom door and unlocked it. He opened it, to reveal Ayane standing there, arms behind her back and smiling brightly up at him. She then saw the inside of the room, blushed and then turned around on an impulse, she hadn't realized the room was a boy's bathroom.
Kaiba raised his eyebrow, walked out of the room and shut the door. As soon as he did, Ayane turned back to him.
"Well?"
"Well what?" He said coldly as both proceeded to walk.
"Don't I get a thank you?" She asked.
"Thank you." He said with an emotionless tone.
Ayane stopped in her steps. She had more than half expected Kaiba to give a cold remark. Shaking her head from her daze, she ran to catch up with him.
"You locked yourself in the bathroom huh?" Ayane asked.
Kaiba glared at her. "Don't worry, your secret's safe with me."
Silence.
Silence.
Silence.
Silence.
"Hey, it'll be lunch soon you know, are you trying out for any other club?" Ayane asked.
"I don't know, maybe the Computer club." He said coldly.
"Oh." Ayane said, just as the ear-splitting noise of the bell rang, signaling lunch.
Ayane followed Kaiba, not really knowing where he was going. He ended up going to the tree.........again. He sat down there and stared off into space, Ayan just stood beside him.
"Don't you ever eat?" Ayane questioned.
"Of course I do." He said, a bit arrogantly.
"So where? I mean I never see you in the cafeteria."
"I don't like big crowds." He stated plainly and coldly.
"Oh." Ayane said, looking up at the sky then sitting down.
Silence.
Silence.
Silence.
"Kaiba?"
"What now?"
"Do you.........."
"Do I what?"
"Do you hate me?" Kaiba's eye grew, and he faced her. As always she was smiling. She had a strange small smile, and her eyes were deep. He looked hard at her.
"What?"
"Do you hate me? The way you always act, it, I guess, makes me wonder." She said in an unreadable tone.
Kaiba took his hand and held her chin. He made her face him. His eyes were serious, her eyes were soft. Their faces were about 5 inches away from each other.
"I could never hate you Ayane." He said.
Ayane's eyes were large. She didn't say anything for a moment, then.........
"Caterpillar."
"Huh? What?" Kaiba asked.
"Caterpillar." Ayane said again, as she raised her hand to Kaiba's head, where she used her index finger and her thumb to flick off a caterpillar that had landed on Kaiba's head.
Kaiba backed away instantly and started dusting off his head vigorously. He then stared at the caterpillar slowly crawling it's way away. He then breathed hard. He could hear someone laughing lightly.
"I'm sorry, I can't help myself." She said.
Kaiba just glared.
Silence.
"Kaiba?"
"What?"
"Did you mean what you said?"
Kaiba looked at her.
"Of course I did." He said.
**************************************************************************** *********************************
Ryou walked to the table where his friends were gathered. All but two.
"Hey where's Ayane?" Ryou asked as he sat down on an empty chair.
"I dunno, I thought she was with you Bakura." Joey replied while munching through a sub.
"Maybe she's still in an audition." Yugi said.
"Yeah, oh and come to think of it, I haven't seen Tristan either, what club did he try out for?" Tea asked.
"Dunno, he wouldn't tell me." Joey shrugged.
"Oh, so which clubs have you tried out for so far guys?" Yugi asked.
"Oh, well, the ballet club and the dance club for me." Tea said, while drinking out of a water bottle.
"I tried out for the drama club and the computer club." Ryou said in a quiet voice.
"Whoa! You did? Must've taken a lot of guts!" Joey exclaimed.
Ryou just smiled, nodded then replied. "I guess I had enough guts, I think." Inside his head, Ryou could hear Bakura laughing.
"How about you Joey?" Tea asked.
"Huh? Wha?"
"I mean, what club did you try out for so far?"
"Oh uhm........me? The computer club!" Joey stuttered.
"How about the one before that?" Ryou inquired.
"What? I mean, uhm...... I-I think, Yeah! Uhm, I forgot something, uh somewhere, I'm going!" He said as he stood up quickly and started to walk stiffly but quickly out of the canteen. Somehow, he just didn't feel comfortable to tell his friends he had tried out for the cooking club.
"Alright........That was weird, Yugi?" Tea asked, turning to Yugi.
"Me? I just tried out for the Historians Club and Video and Photography club." Yugi said, poking at his food. (Hey Ryou, I found out where your friend is!)
"Really Yugi? You tried out for the Historians Club?" Tea asked, completely ignoring the fact that Ryou was now talking to himself.
(Really? Where?)
"Yeah, it wasn't that hard." Yugi said, blushing a bit.
(Oooh, guess! C'mon, guess!)
"Sooo, what they have you do?" Tea asked Yugi.
(Uhm..... In an audition or try out?)
"Oh, first there was some sort of interview." Yugi said.
(Nooo......Guess again Ryou!)
"Oh, so then what?" Tea asked.
(Uhm, in the homeroom classroom?)
"Then, the tricky part came, we had to name a place, country, or nation, and we had to say everything we knew about it."
(Ryou, you're boring me, guess again?)
"Cool! So I bet you picked Egypt huh?"
(Uhm, somewhere in this room.)
"Yeah, how'd you know?"
(Do you THINK she's in this room? One more time.)
"Well, I figured since it would be easier........" Tea trailed off.
(Outside?)
A puzzled look came on Yugi's face. "Huh? Why?"
(Ding ding ding, we have a winner! Now guess WHO she's with!)
"Well, since you have Yami to help you............" Tea said.
(Some other guy?)
"So you think I'll only pass if I have Yami to help me?" Yugi asked hurt. "Well, that's not how it works, and- and I'll prove it." Yugi said, as he stood up and walked away.
(Yeah, that Kaiba guy...........)
Tea blinked, then turned to Ryou. "Bakura? Do you know if anything's bother- "
"I have to go somewhere!" Ryou exclaimed to no one as he jerked himself up and ran out the cafeteria.
"What?" Tea asked herself, wondering why everyone was so weird lately.
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Ayane and Kaiba sat there, under the tree, as if they were the only people in the world. As if everything else was invisible. Then Kaiba spoke.
"That guy, you're always with him."
"Huh? Who?"
"One of Yugi's friends."
"Oh, Ryou, yeah, I guess I am."
"Do you like him?" Kaiba asked, his tone cold.
"Oh........well, what do you mean?"
"Nevermind."
Silence.
Silence.
"Kaiba?"
"What?" He asked.
"Why are you so cold?"
"What?"
"Why are you so cold?"
"Because I'm not hot." He said smirking.
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R.J: Oh yes he is!
Bakura: Pft! I can beat him anyday!
Kaiba: Wanna bet?
R.J: Hey, it's valentines already, wow!
Yugi: Yeah, but by the time you upload this chapter..........
R.J: Details, details! Anyway, like I was saying, Seto is so too hot, plus he's cold too! Ahh, see that's why he is so uhm, what's the word?
Kaiba: Perfect?
R.J: Yeah! I love you so much! *Hugs him*
Bakura: I bet I have more fans than you!
Kaiba: Bring it on!
R.J: Well come to think of it, Bakura is kind of-
Yugi: No don't say it, it's still not valentines day!
Bakura: I have more fans!
Kaiba: In your demented psychotic dreams!
R.J: Uh, guys?
Bakura: I know, let's let the readers decide!
R.J: What? Aww, I don't want to have to put them through your arguments.........
Joey: A Valentine's poll, that would be interesting. A cold, arrogant CEO, or a psychotic thousand year old spirit, wow............
R.J: Well, to you readers, if you want to, go ahead and vote, who really has more fans Bakura or Kaiba? Oh, and if you like, you could also give any of the characters a valentine or what, anyway back to the story.........
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"Your fangirls seem to say different." Ayane teased.
"Ayane, don't mention those be crazed lunatics to me ever again." He glared.
A laugh.
"Yeah, sure."
Silence.
Silence.
Silence.
"You know what Kaiba?" She laughed.
"What?" He asked, annoyed.
"Before, I went to an all girl school, so I didn't get to know any boys at all."
"You must've been very happy." Kaiba said in an unreadable tone.
"I guess, I used to be so uncomfortable around guys." Ayane said, scratching her head and laughing.
"..................."
"But you know what?" She continued. "I don't feel that way anymore. Not with you, it actually feels nice to be with you." She smiled at him.
Kaiba didn't know what to say. Inside is head was spinning, so instead of making it worse wit words, he just put his arms around Ayane's waist and pulled her close. It was weird, but, whenever these moments came, he always for got who he was. He always forgot that he was one of the best duelists in the world, he always forgot that he was the CEO of a multinational corporation, he always forgot all his pride.
"The feeling's a bit mutual." He murmured to her, even if his tone was still a bit cold.
She laughed quietly. "How come I have a feeling when we get out of under this tree, nothing would have ever happened?"
"Because I'm a cold person remember?" Kaiba smirked.
"Hmm, yeah, "Ayane said. " This is a magic tree." She laughed like a little kid.
Kaiba smiled, a real smile, though she didn't see it. He wished this time would never end, he wished he didn't have to leave his Magic Tree.
Somewhere from a distance, a young boy with white hair watched, His heart, slowly breaking.
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R.J: Hahaha, Magic Tree! Wow, that's cute!
Bakura: You are strange.
Kaiba: Look who's talking
R.J: Yeah, well, who cares! Anyway, as always, please leave a review! Happy valentines day everybody!!!!!!!!!!!!
Yugi: Don't forget the valentine's day poll thingy!
R.J: Yeah, but I'm not forcing you guys, only if you want to! Now if you excuse me, I have to spend my valentine's day with my blue-eyed wonder boy! ^__^
Yami: Three guesses who that is. *eyes Kaiba*
Joey: Remember to leave a review! Oh, and if by any chance this chapter comes out late becuz ff.net is going fuzzy again, gomenasai!