Disclaimer: I don't own Yu-Gi-Oh! I never will so STOP ASKING!!!
CHAPTER 2: Our Little Servant
"Neither do I," Serenity admitted.
"Don't worry, Sis, I'll protect you. I'll always be there to take care of you. I promise!" Serenity grabbed Joey's arm. Somehow she felt safer that way.
After breakfast, Pegasus brought several papers for Gozaburo to sign. While that was going on, Seto kept Serenity and Joey busy by teaching them a simple magic trick. Serenity was having so much fun that she didn't even notice when Gozaburo put his hands on her shoulders.
"Ready to go to your new home??" he asked. Serenity froze, and the jumped away with a yelp. Gozaburo gave a small chuckle.
"She's very lively," Pegasus remarked. "I'm sure she'll like her new life." Gozaburo nodded and held his hand out to his two stepchildren.
"Let's go," he said. They reluctantly took his hand. After bidding farewell to the royal family, they started toward the carriage that was waiting for them. Serenity took one last look back at Seto. He waved to her with a sigh. It was times like this when Seto wished he were an adult. Maybe then he could make sure she was safe.
"Come back and visit!" he called.
"I will!" Serenity replied.
………
Serenity, Joey, and Gozaburo arrived at their house ten minutes later. The two children gaped. It was the biggest mansion they had seen. It had four floors and at least a hundred visible windows. Twin columns rose up on either side of the double oak doors. Gozaburo smirked when he saw his two stepchildren's faces. He led them inside.
"Téa! Mai! Come see your new brother and sister." His voice echoed throughout the house. Finally, they heard footsteps as two girls tore down the stairs in their effort to come down. They both looked as old as Joey. One had blonde wavy hair; the other had straight brown. They gave their father a look like they saw an alien.
"NEW SIBLINGS?" Mai screeched. "It's bad enough living with her!" She shot an accusing look at her sister.
"Come on, Mai. We all have to get along. Siblings are like best friends."
"Mai! Téa! Be more polite. Don't argue. I want both of you to welcome these two new children and introduce yourselves." His two daughters hesitated. "NOW!" Mai scowled and walked up to Serenity and Joey.
"Fine. My name's Mai. I'm eleven and the oldest." She gave a flick of her long blonde hair and walked right back where she came from.
"That was very welcoming," whispered Joey to his sister. The brown haired girl walked up next.
"I'm Téa. I'm ten! Don't mind my sister. She's very selfish and stuck up. Very independent. She'll do anything to get her way. And, she doesn't like boys. That's okay. Both of you can be my bestest friends. The more the merrier." She held out her hand.
"That's great, Téa," Serenity said. "I don't really have any friends. We used to live all alone on the street. I barely ever got to go out anywhere. Now I have one-,"
"Well," Gozaburo interrupted. "I'm glad the two of you made a great impression on your new brother and sister." He shot Mai a I'm-gonna-ground-you look. She just rolled her eyes and crossed her arms. "This is Joey and Serenity. He's ten and she's eight. I'm sure you'll be very nice to them."
"Of course!" Téa agreed. "Friends stick together and look after one another." Mai snorted. "I'll help you make friends with our neighbors. They're very friendly."
"And I'll help you make friends with my friend," Serenity said.
"Who's your friend? A street child?" Mai said sarcastically.
"No, he's the prince. His name is Seto." Téa's jaw dropped and Mai rushed over.
"You're friends with the prince?" Téa squealed. Mai smirked.
"When I'm older, I'd rather make out than make friends with him." Téa gave her sister a scowl.
"Not if I beat you first." Serenity was confused.
"Make out? What's that mean?" she asked. Téa and Mai burst into giggles.
"It's big girl stuff," Mai said. "You're not old enough." Serenity looked at her bigger brother. He shrugged, even though he knew what it meant.
"Well, now girls. Why don't the three of you run a long and play?" Gozaburo suggested. "I have to talk to Joey for a second." Téa nodded and grabbed Serenity's hand. She pulled her up the stairs. Mai followed with a scowl. Gozaburo turned back to Joey.
"Well, son, I must talk to you about some business matters." He led Joey into a private room. One servant was there, dusting the mantel. He bowed to Gozaburo as the two entered.
"Mason," Gozaburo barked. "I want you and Bill to ride out to my cousin's home and bring these children's belongings." The servant bowed again and rushed out of the room. Gozaburo sat down in one of the leather lounge chairs by the fire. He took out a cigar and lit it.
"Sit down, my boy," he instructed. Joey uneasily lowered himself into the chair opposite his stepfather.
"Um…nice…" he said. Gozaburo let out a hearty chuckle.
"Don't be so nervous, my boy. I want to discuss with you about education."
"Education?"
"Yes. You had to drive ten miles to go to that school when your parents were alive, yes?" Joey nodded. "Well, most of the time you didn't go because of the distance."
"Yeah, I haven't been to school for the past two months."
"We can't have that in the Kaiba household, Joey, my boy. You will eventually gain my entire Kaiba empire and the family business. You must be properly educated."
"I have to go back to that school?"
"Didn't you hear me? I said properly educated. No, you're going to Domino Academy." Joey's jaw dropped.
"Why, that's the best boys' school in the whole kingdom. Everyone like me wants to go there. The problem is, it's in other side of Domino."
"Yes, but it's a boarding school. You get to live there!"
"But my sis-,"
"Don't worry, my boy. She and her new sisters will be home schooled, taught by the best tutors my money can afford. I must tell you, that means the top notch." Joey leaned back in his seat.
"The new school year starts in a week, you know that right? The Academy year is different than that of normal schools. The term starts in October all the way to February. You get March off, and then April to August. Then September off."
"So, I get to start next week!"
"I knew you'd be excited, Joey. Now, let's start figuring out what you'll need…"
………
"And this is Fashion Molly," Mai said, holding out a doll with an exquisite ball gown and tumbles of golden locks.
"This is Friendship Tina," Téa said, holding out her doll. It was plain with normal clothes and a ponytail. "She likes to make friends." They both held out their dolls to Serenity.
"They're so pretty!" Serenity exclaimed. "I wish I had one!" Mai set a box in front of her. When Serenity opened the lid, it was filled with different dolls. At least a dozen lay in the box side by side in four layers.
"I thought so," she said. "You can borrow one to play with." Serenity's face lit up as she sifted through the dolls, trying to pick the best one.
"I choose…Princess Sara, isn't she pretty?" Serenity held up the doll. It had on a pretty pink gown with layers over layers of frills. Pink pearls were sewn in paisley pattern all over the bodice. The whole gown itself was made of silk. On the doll's head was a veil that could be pulled over the face. The doll even had black velvet gloves.
"I guess," Mai said. "But mine is much more fashionable. Why did you choose the princess anyway? Princesses are usually stuck-up."
"Not really. Queen Cecilia was probably a princess once, and she's very nice."
"So is her son," Téa remarked. "He's also cute, don't you think Serenity? I mean you have met him."
"Cute? I guess so. I didn't really notice. I was more interested in his magic tricks. Besides, he's really nice too." Mai and Téa looked at each other.
"Do you like him?"
"Of course. He's like my best friend."
"When you grow up, do you want to marry him?"
"That would be cool. We could be queen and king and be best friends and rule Domino together." Mai and Téa smiled.
"That would be nice."
"So let's play," Serenity said. Mai and Téa moved their dolls up to Serenity's.
"Let's pretend we're at a ball and we're dancing!!" Mai exclaimed. She twirled her doll around. Serenity and Téa joined her just when they heard a yell from downstairs.
"SERENITY!" The auburn haired girl whipped around.
"Joey!" she dropped her doll and raced downstairs. Mai set hers down and crossed her arms.
"Good riddance," she mumbled.
"Ah, come on, she's nice," Téa said.
"I don't like her. She'll ruin our chances to be with Seto."
"Why would she do that?"
"Listen up, Téa. Don't you get it? All the other children in our neighborhood only like us cause we're rich. They think I'm a stuck up brat and you a friendship freak. No one really wants to play with us. On the other hand, Serenity, in your book, is very nice. Even the prince likes her. What chance do we have?"
"You hate her cause of the prince."
"I know you like him too. Get with the program. Miss Serenity here is our exact opposite, which everyone likes."
"So what are we going to do?"
"We have to make it so that none of the other kids, including Prince Seto, sees her."
"How? Lock her in the attic?"
"No. If we just keep her busy, she won't have time to come outside."
………
"What is it, Joey?" Serenity asked as she came down the stairs. Joey seemed to be bouncing for joy.
"Serenity! Serenity! I'm going to Domino Academy!"
"The boys boarding school? Really? You've been wanting to go there!"
"Yeah! I get to live at that school! The rest of the boys are going to be my family!!!"
"Wow! That's so cool! But…what about me?"
"Don't worry Sis. You'll be home schooled with the best teachers."
"But Joey, you aren't going to leave me?"
"Don't worry, Serenity, we'll be together in our hearts…"
………
"Bye! Joey I'll miss you!" A week had passed by quickly. Gozaburo, Serenity, Téa, and Mai stood on the front steps of the mansion waving Joey goodbye. He sat down in the carriage and waved back.
"I'll miss all of you. Remember, Serenity, we're always be together in our hearts!"
"I'll remember!"
"And if you ever get lonely, visit Seto! He's like your big brother too!"
"I will!"
"Bye!" With a neigh, the horses raced off. Serenity sighed as she watched her brother leave. He's right. We'll always be together.
"Come on, it's time to begin your lessons." Gozaburo went inside the house. Serenity followed him. Téa started to climb the stairs but Mai held her back.
"Now that he's gone, we can put our plan into play." Téa narrowed her eyebrows.
"What plan?"
"Remember what I said?"
"No…"
"We're going to keep Serenity busy. Very busy! She's gonna be our little servant!"