* * *
Chapter 5...hopefully we'll get some real dueling...I keep trying to work it in, but...I keep putting in juicy secret tidbits instead. I may skip the duel and go straight to the aftermath...So we'll see.
* * *
"...And now I don't know what to do, about Yami, Yugi, or even about...anything. I used to think a schoolgirl crush was all I had on Yugi, but now I'm not sure if it's something more or if I'm getting confused with what I feel for Yami," finished Tea in an undertone. She watched Toria's reaction. Where people in white coats going to zoom down the street for her? Was Toria going to laugh? But to her surprise, Toria simply nodded matter-of-factly.
"Yes, I've studied Egyptian magic...not extensively, mind you, just the basics they include in Wiccan studies. His 'Yami' is almost like a ghost...he needs fulfillment before he can...move on."
"Move on?" asked Tea, her voice wobbling. "You mean, leave?"
"Of course, as he is bonded to the puzzle it could be an entirely different matter. And your Yami-Yugi conflict is...interesting." She quickly steered out of stormy waters. Apparently no one had ever thought that Yami might leave when his mission of saving the world was over. But if he didn't leave, what would he do? Become an ordinary guy? Rule Egypt as their lost Pharaoh? Or just stay locked in the puzzle for eternity? None of these ideas seemed plausible. She decided it was better to soothe Tea's love life instead. The poor girl was obviously mixed up.
Still, conceded a small voice in her mind, you're mixed up too. This Kaiba...do you really want to fight him?
Yes, she snarled at it. He insulted my father. He's got to pay.
Pay? whispered the voice. With what? A lovely framed picture for your desk to gaze at?
I barely know him, she snapped. You are totally out of line. She gritted her teeth, speaking to the lilting voice in her head. He's my enemy.
Fine, fine, whispered the voice in her ear. See if you still feel like that when you see his face again...It faded away with a cooing hiss: Whatever you say, dear...
Toria shook her head, her sheets of raven hair smoothly flowing past each other like water. She didn't like Kaiba at all. She hated him...for what he said about her father. Her father, the man who had saved her soul.
"What're'ya talkin' about back there?" called Joey, tossing his blonde moppy head back to the girls. Both Tea and Toria instantly blushed – fortunately, the darkness of the night sky hid their glowing faces from view. But as they continued down the road, the soft stillness of the night was lit with a bright golden glow from the huge mansion down the end which reared from the earth like a god.
There, spread across velvet sheets of lawn and smooth, geometric gardens, past a long, straight cobblestoned front walk, and bordered by stark, Spartan hedges, trimmed perfectly square, sprawled Kaiba's gigantic gray mansion, looking more like a temple than a house, complete with granite pillars and silent fountains.
Toria gave a silent gasp at the overwhelming, heavy size of the Kaiba Estate, awed as the group arrived at the iron gate. A security system glowed a soft, technology green light, words flashing quickly across the screen.
//Please enter numeral code//
Joey gave a groan and slammed his fist into the gatepost.
"Dat Kaiba never gave us da stupid code!" Tristan and Toria were examining the security system module, the buttons beeping a light musical tune. "Well, dat big old faker, he was never gonna duel ya, Tor. Dis is all a big joke to get us out here in da middle of da night."
Tea gave a giggle and pointed to where Toria and Tristan were proudly displaying the module. It now flashed:
//Thank you for entering your code. Press the # key.//
"Even if we didn't have a master hacker on board, Joey, Kaiba left us the code." Yugi pried a scrap of paper out from under the module. In Kaiba's stately, half-angry doctor's scrawl was the code, along with:
Meet my butler Roland in the front hall, he'll give you instructions from there.
Joey grumbled while Tristan jabbed the # key. The gates slid open like elevator doors, allowing them entrance to the huge mansion. They admired the walkway as they headed towards the door. Each had different impressions.
Tea's main thought was: 'Wow, I wonder how much he pays the gardeners?' Tristan wanted to know just how much fertilizer this guy had shipped in. Joey harrumphed at Kaiba's latest way to show off. Yugi was curious as to whether he had a garden dedicated to his Blues Eyes White Dragon. Toria didn't see any of it. Her eyes were trained on the Windsor door, where she knew her fate would really begin.
And it was Toria that led the way as she strode up to the door, as fearless as the day she was born, and hammered on Kaiba's door – every inch of her shouting, "I mean business, Kaiba."
* * *
A/N: AND THAT, LADIES AND GENTS, was chapter 5. Heehee, making you wait for the romance, aren't I? I'm just as eager as you, trust me – but it might be a bit. Maybe Chapter 8. But still, R&R...You might even get a little peek inside Kaiba's thoughts on this fierce girl.
Chapter 5...hopefully we'll get some real dueling...I keep trying to work it in, but...I keep putting in juicy secret tidbits instead. I may skip the duel and go straight to the aftermath...So we'll see.
* * *
"...And now I don't know what to do, about Yami, Yugi, or even about...anything. I used to think a schoolgirl crush was all I had on Yugi, but now I'm not sure if it's something more or if I'm getting confused with what I feel for Yami," finished Tea in an undertone. She watched Toria's reaction. Where people in white coats going to zoom down the street for her? Was Toria going to laugh? But to her surprise, Toria simply nodded matter-of-factly.
"Yes, I've studied Egyptian magic...not extensively, mind you, just the basics they include in Wiccan studies. His 'Yami' is almost like a ghost...he needs fulfillment before he can...move on."
"Move on?" asked Tea, her voice wobbling. "You mean, leave?"
"Of course, as he is bonded to the puzzle it could be an entirely different matter. And your Yami-Yugi conflict is...interesting." She quickly steered out of stormy waters. Apparently no one had ever thought that Yami might leave when his mission of saving the world was over. But if he didn't leave, what would he do? Become an ordinary guy? Rule Egypt as their lost Pharaoh? Or just stay locked in the puzzle for eternity? None of these ideas seemed plausible. She decided it was better to soothe Tea's love life instead. The poor girl was obviously mixed up.
Still, conceded a small voice in her mind, you're mixed up too. This Kaiba...do you really want to fight him?
Yes, she snarled at it. He insulted my father. He's got to pay.
Pay? whispered the voice. With what? A lovely framed picture for your desk to gaze at?
I barely know him, she snapped. You are totally out of line. She gritted her teeth, speaking to the lilting voice in her head. He's my enemy.
Fine, fine, whispered the voice in her ear. See if you still feel like that when you see his face again...It faded away with a cooing hiss: Whatever you say, dear...
Toria shook her head, her sheets of raven hair smoothly flowing past each other like water. She didn't like Kaiba at all. She hated him...for what he said about her father. Her father, the man who had saved her soul.
"What're'ya talkin' about back there?" called Joey, tossing his blonde moppy head back to the girls. Both Tea and Toria instantly blushed – fortunately, the darkness of the night sky hid their glowing faces from view. But as they continued down the road, the soft stillness of the night was lit with a bright golden glow from the huge mansion down the end which reared from the earth like a god.
There, spread across velvet sheets of lawn and smooth, geometric gardens, past a long, straight cobblestoned front walk, and bordered by stark, Spartan hedges, trimmed perfectly square, sprawled Kaiba's gigantic gray mansion, looking more like a temple than a house, complete with granite pillars and silent fountains.
Toria gave a silent gasp at the overwhelming, heavy size of the Kaiba Estate, awed as the group arrived at the iron gate. A security system glowed a soft, technology green light, words flashing quickly across the screen.
//Please enter numeral code//
Joey gave a groan and slammed his fist into the gatepost.
"Dat Kaiba never gave us da stupid code!" Tristan and Toria were examining the security system module, the buttons beeping a light musical tune. "Well, dat big old faker, he was never gonna duel ya, Tor. Dis is all a big joke to get us out here in da middle of da night."
Tea gave a giggle and pointed to where Toria and Tristan were proudly displaying the module. It now flashed:
//Thank you for entering your code. Press the # key.//
"Even if we didn't have a master hacker on board, Joey, Kaiba left us the code." Yugi pried a scrap of paper out from under the module. In Kaiba's stately, half-angry doctor's scrawl was the code, along with:
Meet my butler Roland in the front hall, he'll give you instructions from there.
Joey grumbled while Tristan jabbed the # key. The gates slid open like elevator doors, allowing them entrance to the huge mansion. They admired the walkway as they headed towards the door. Each had different impressions.
Tea's main thought was: 'Wow, I wonder how much he pays the gardeners?' Tristan wanted to know just how much fertilizer this guy had shipped in. Joey harrumphed at Kaiba's latest way to show off. Yugi was curious as to whether he had a garden dedicated to his Blues Eyes White Dragon. Toria didn't see any of it. Her eyes were trained on the Windsor door, where she knew her fate would really begin.
And it was Toria that led the way as she strode up to the door, as fearless as the day she was born, and hammered on Kaiba's door – every inch of her shouting, "I mean business, Kaiba."
* * *
A/N: AND THAT, LADIES AND GENTS, was chapter 5. Heehee, making you wait for the romance, aren't I? I'm just as eager as you, trust me – but it might be a bit. Maybe Chapter 8. But still, R&R...You might even get a little peek inside Kaiba's thoughts on this fierce girl.