Disclaimer: I don't own Yu-Gi-Oh! or Cinderella, okay? Now shoo!
CHAPTER 4: First Meeting
The next day, Serenity was mopping the floor of the kitchen. Her sisters were entertaining themselves by playing cards. Not ordinary cards, but Duel Monsters. It was a very popular game ever since it had come out five years before.
"I attack your Shining Friendship with my Cyber Harpie!" Mai announced. "You lose!" Téa scowled.
"We've played ten games straight, and you beat me nine times!"
"You only won the first one because I forgot to summon a monster that turn."
"Argh!"
"This game is boring. I want to play someone that it takes actual skill to defeat."
"Try Prince Seto. He's rumored to be the best Duel Monsters player ever known. He knows all the strategies, every hidden power, all the possible moves, and he knows them well."
"What do you expect? His father invented Duel Monsters." Serenity shook her head and continued mopping. She knew one of the reasons they wanted to play that game was because they hoped to someday challenge Prince Seto. They didn't necessarily want to win; they just wanted to face him.
"I bet you wouldn't last a second in a duel with him, Téa."
"You wouldn't be any better. Let's say, I'll give you two seconds tops." Mai and Téa glared at each other. Serenity couldn't help but smile from her view in the kitchen. The game often put two best friends in a match together and while they're playing it, they'd be enemies. But somehow, they'd pull together when they were through. Serenity knew it would be a long time before she ever got caught up in that silly game.
"Anyway," Mai said. "It's better if we don't start another match or else I'll cream you like before."
"You did say we have to go to the market. I mean…there are no servants to get our food for us. Or to cook… so let's get going."
"Good idea. We better get all the food we need."
"Let's make a list."
"That takes too much time. Let's just get dressed and go." Téa and Mai gathered their cards from the table.
"Cinder-Serenity!" Mai came into the kitchen. Serenity rolled her eyes at the mention of that name. "We're going to the market. You best wear something suitable enough." Serenity gaped after. Usually whenever they had to go out, they always left Serenity inside. This was new…
In a few minutes, Serenity changed into a pale purple dress that was way too long. It dragged across the floor. The fact that it was wool wasn't helping; it was quite a bit heavy too. To cover up the low neckline, Serenity put on a thin sweater over it. She tied her hair up with a purple ribbon.
"Mai, Téa!" she called. As usual, they were taking an hour to get dressed. Serenity paced up and down the hallway. Téa was the first to come out in her navy blue dress, followed by Mai in purple velvet.
"Let's go!" They raced down the stairs, followed by Serenity who tried to keep from falling down the stairs while she rushed to keep up with them.
………
"How about that one?" Téa asked. They had been in the market for over an hour. Instead of buying groceries like they had initially set out to do, Serenity found herself holding packages of dresses and jewelry. It was hard to hold up her skirts, seven bags, and three boxes. She had fitted her arms through the handles of the bags, but their weight was starting to dig into her arm, even through the wool sleeves.
"I think it's a bit too fancy, don't you think?" Mai and Téa were looking at lace fans. "How about that one. I love the color." Mai pointed to a purple fan with blue stones arranged in a flower pattern. "I want that one." The storekeeper held out the fan to her. Mai gave him back three gold pieces.
"I think I'll take that one," Téa said, pointing to a blue one with white sequins. The storekeeper gave it to her, and got back three coins in exchange. After putting both in a box, they placed on top of the stack Serenity was trying hard not to tip over. The stack was now at level with the top of her head.
"Be sure not to lose those!" Mai warned. Serenity nodded in response, and the whole stack wobbled. She never new carrying four boxes could be so much trouble.
"Look!" Téa exclaimed, pointing to a candy store. "In the window, they have Peppermint-Sugarcane now!" Mai licked her lips.
"Cinder, dear, you can go around and do whatever you want. We might take a while." The two girls rushed to the candy shop, leaving Serenity with her precarious packages. She grimaced before turning around and walking off.
The market was a very big place, Serenity soon realized. It had so many twists and turns to it. Every single spot was taken by some shop or stall. Serenity saw so many people it made her head spin. She spent her time looking at goods through the windows, or gazing at the food stalls. That mixed with the cold in the air had started to make her very hungry. That reminded her that her sisters hadn't gotten any groceries.
I better go tell them! Serenity turned around to head back and came to face a fork. She didn't remember if she had come from the right or the left one. Think, Serenity, think! Guessing, she took the left one. She came across more branches of roads. Sometimes, she came to a place where roads stretched in the four main points of the compass. Serenity had to admit it…she was lost. She didn't find any of the shops or landmarks familiar.
I could always ask for directions. Serenity looked around for someone to ask. All the people brushed past her so fast she couldn't even see their faces properly.
"Hello! Excuse me! Excuse me! I need some directions!" No one stopped to answer her request. When she was about to give up, she spotted a man leaning against the corner of a wall. She rushed to him.
"Excuse me, sir, can you help me find my way back to the silver fountain?" The man looked at her with narrowed eyes. "Please?"
"Well, Missy, you want to find your way back?" The man gave Serenity a devilish grin. "I know a great shortcut." Serenity breathed a sigh of relief.
"Will you take me then?" The man never stopped grinning.
"Sure, Miss, this way." Serenity followed the man as he turned multiple corners and went down different roads. Serenity started to feel unsure whether the man was really helping her.
Finally, the two reached a narrow alleyway.
"Here? But it's so dark!"
"It's a short cut," the man said. Then, with an evil smirk, he pushed Serenity inside. She tripped on her skirt and fell into the alley, spilling all her packages.
"Hey-,"
"Boys, we've got company!" Serenity's eyes widened as two more men came out of the darkness in the alleyway. Serenity quickly got to her feet and looked around. The three men were approaching her from all around. She was trapped.
"What do you want?" she demanded, backing up against the wall. The three men surrounded her.
"What else but all the money in your purse, Missy!"
"I don't have any!" The tallest man clicked his tongue.
"That's what all the others say, and so we search them."
"Search???" Serenity pulled her sweater tightly around her.
"That's what happened to the last one," the middle man cocked his head to the side and motioned to the far wall. Serenity saw a pile of clothes sprawled about. "I reckon she's farther along the alley, and the men are still searching her." The three men gave a very evil laugh. Serenity backed up against the wall as far as she could go.
"You despicable men!" The three of them approached her, grinning quite maliciously.
"It won't take too long," they said. Serenity looked around her. There was no way out. Two hands grabbed her wrists and pinned them against the wall. Another gripped her hair.
"We're going to have fun with you!" Serenity struggled to get out of their grasp. An idea popped into her head. In one motion, she ducked down and rolled.
"Get her!" The men took a moment to comprehend what happened. Serenity used that time to get a necklace from her sister's packages. By the time the men reached her again, she flung the necklace at the nearest man. He fell backwards with a moan. Serenity threw a box into the next man, who tumbled into the last one. Serenity ran out of the alley.
"I told you to get her!!!" The men chased after her. Serenity found it much easier to run without a thousand packages in her hands. She took many turns. She had no idea where she was going, but it was obvious the men did. Not many people were on the roads to come. Serenity knew there was no way out. Her skirts fell out of her grip and she stumbled to the floor. She stood and turned and saw the men gaining on her. She backed up nervously. She couldn't run forever.
"What are you men doing?" Serenity bumped into someone. He must've been tall because she only hit his chest…at least she thought. She was too scared to turn and look. The men who had been chasing her turned and ran back to where they came. Serenity sighed with relief.
"Who are you?" Serenity spun around and gasped. This was the man her sisters thought about day and night…the one man they thought they'd never meet. Prince Seto himself.
"I'm…I'm S-Serenity W-Wheel-Kaiba." Serenity backed up. "I'm lost." The prince smirked and took a step forward for every step Serenity took back.
"I can help you," he offered.
"Uh…so which way to I go?"
"Left."
"Left?"
"Right."
"Then right."
"No, left twice."
"So left both times?"
"Right."
"Answer my question."
"I did answer your question."
"Left or right?"
"Left."
"Left…"
"Right."
"Then right?"
"No, left."
"Then why'd you say right?" Serenity crossed her arms. Seto chuckled when he realized how confused he had made her. He found it quite amusing.
"Sorry, Ms. WheelKaiba, are you not comprehending my directions?"
"It's Kaiba! Not WheelKaiba!"
"You said it."
"I said Wheeler."
"Okay then, Wheeler, do you not understand my directions?"
"Apparently not. Why don't you just lead me there? And lastly, it's Kaiba."
"Wheeler sounds much better. Anyway, I cannot acquiesce to your implausible request because there are some girls out there that would mob me the instant I got into their presence, and so therefore I must decline and instead elucidate the directions to you in my most royal fashion. Got that?"
"At least half of it…if you hadn't spoken so fast."
"Good, Wheeler, anyways…"
"It's Kaiba…"
"That name sounds familiar…are you by any chance related to Gozaburo Kaiba, the leader of the Kaiba Corp. company?
"I am his step daughter. Now, will you please give me directions?"
"Left, left, right, left, right, right, left, straight, left, right."
"What?"
"Tsk, tsk, you should have gotten that Wheeler."
"Repeat please."
"Do I look like a machine?"
"Please?"
"Right, right, left, right, left, left, right, backwards, right, left."
"That sounds like the opposite of what you told me earlier."
"It is. Since you have figured that out, I suppose you don't need me to repeat the directions to you again."
"But I don't know where to start and which set to use."
"Then I suppose you are lost."
"Please! Just help me?"
"Left twice, right, left, right twice, left, straight, left, right."
"Will you please not talk so fast? I cannot understand a single thing you're saying."
"That's too bad for you, isn't it?" Seto smirked and walked off.
"I'm just asking…politely! Please, Seto. Just once, tell me slowly."
"Left twice…right…left…right twice…left…straight…left…right. Got that?"
"Yes." Serenity turned and ran back, muttering those words in her head. Seto watched her for a second.
"Oh, what do I have to lose?" Shrugging, he followed her down the alley. Serenity never noticed as she went down the streets the way he said. When she made the final right turn, she found herself in a dead end.
"But? I did everything right! That jerk!" Serenity fell to her knees and tears poured down her cheeks. "Now I'm more lost than ever!" She noticed footsteps coming toward her. For an instant she thought of the men earlier.
I don't care anymore. I just want to go home, and I can't even do that! The figure the footsteps belonged to crouched down next to her.
"Hey, I'll take you home." Serenity looked up and found herself looking at Seto. He stretched out his hand and she took it. "Where do you live?"
"Somewhere…just take me to the fountain and I'll be okay." Seto shrugged and pulled her up from the ground.
"Hurry!" he led her out of the street and into another. Before long, they had reached the silver fountain that marked the beginning of the market.
"Thanks…" Serenity let go of his hand and ran toward the candy store.
"I'm sorry!" he called after her. I said sorry? Great, she must have cast a spell on me. And a good one too… His thoughts were interrupted when he caught the attention of a couple of girls coming from a restaurant. They gaped when they saw him. Oh-Oh! I got to run!
Serenity made her way to the candy store. Her sisters came out to greet her.
"What happened to all our stuff?" they demanded.
"W-w-well you see…"
"No excuses! You lost it didn't you?"
"You are in so much trouble……………"