Disclaimer: I don't own Yu-Gi-Oh…
CHAPTER 19: The Duelist Glove
Serenity skipped to her house, floating among clouds of bliss and pink, fluffy, hearts swimming around her head. She hummed a little tune to herself, a big smile playing with her lips. Serenity was oblivious to the outside world. She pranced, she la-la'd, she skipped, she chuckled… she twirled around and around in sheer happiness. Her sisters were even more boggled when she appeared dancing through the doorstep.
"Mai… our sister has gone absolutely insane…"
"Luckily… she's not really our sister." Mai and Téa stopped halfway down the stairs in their nightgowns, watching Serenity ballroom dance on the foyer floor. They looked at each other, at Serenity, then back at each other.
I was kissed…I feel dizzy… I feel light-headed… I am at the top of the world right now…nothing can make me come down…I am happy… I feel like laughing…
"Serenity!"
In your face, Mai and Téa! I rock…I am at the top… I have won… I feel so awesome… I no longer have to apologize…
"Serenity!"
… I AM FREE! I love him… he loves… ME! What a wonderful s-o-o-o-o-o-ong! I feel like nothing can go wro-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-ong! At the top of my lu-u-u-ungs! I can shout…I LOVE YOU! I…really…
"Serenity!"
…DO! I LO-O-O-O-VE YOU!
"SERENITY!" Serenity was shaken out of her momentary delight.
"What?" Mai and Téa glared down at her, their expression magnified by their rumpled hair lack of make-up. Serenity stared back with a confused expression. They gaped at each other for a few seconds.
"Would you mind telling us who you love?" Téa asked.
"You…you…heard?"
"Just the I LO-O-O…"
"Téa, don't sing!"
"Fine, just the I love you part." Serenity grinned widely and continued her dancing. Mai and Téa shook their heads.
They continued with the rest of the morning as if Serenity wasn't there at all, even though that was extremely difficult when a certain someone couldn't stand still while she was carrying coffee… or cereal… or forks…
Why is it? I feel this way… for a re-eason… I want to die and live all over again! I make no sense… but who cares? Just keep… singing! I am happy… at the to-o-o-op of the world…Serenity stepped to the right, twirled, stepped to the left… twirled… and Mai and Téa ducked to get out of the swatting range of both her hair and the bowl of cereal.
"What do you think?" Mai asked Téa. "Should we snap her out of it… like last time, remember what happened?"
"She had a very serious look that time, like she had to be responsible for breaking someone's heart… as if! Anyway… now she looks as if she was just kissed!"
"Those are good analogies… but they never will happen. Serenity breaking someone's heart? Someone kissed her?"
"It's as possible as the prince falling in love with her…"
"…And wanting to marry her…"
"Yeah… that will never happen…"
………
"I want to marry her!" Seto exclaimed, falling on his bed angrily. "But no! All my parents can think about is the stupid, freakin' glove!" Mokuba cracked up."You want to marry a girl named Serenity? Have I met her?"
"No…"
"Didn't think so…"
"Anyway, my parents – in a few minutes – are going to lug me around the town to try that stupid glove on every pathetic girl's hand. That is such an idiotic idea."
"Seto, dear, hurry up!" Seto sighed and rolled over on his back, running hands over his eyes.
"I want to marry Serenity!"
………
La…la…la-la…la…la-a-a-a-a-a-a-a-a-a…lalalalala…lala! Serenity used her mop as if it was a dancing partner and twirled around the kitchen. Mai and Téa took a shower, dressed up all nicely, and sat on the couches to watch Serenity ballroom dance yet again. Mai looked at Téa; Téa looked at Mai. They shook their heads.
Serenity finally stopped dancing and hurried to the fridge, deciding to make lunch while singing "la-la-la" over and over with different rhythms. Téa and Mai gulped. It looked like they were going to have mush for a meal again.
"You know…" Téa said to Mai. "This happened only after we chased her out of the house. Maybe she met someone and they agreed to help her or something… or maybe she met a really cute guy… cause she's acting like when we came home after Seto first talked to us."
"I don't know what's up with our sweet Serenity, but it's not good."
………
Seto scowled and crossed his arms, grimacing every time the carriage hit a bump on the road. After a quick lunch – which he had to decide again because his parents did not understand the word compromise – Cecilia and Pegasus had quickly ushered him into the carriage to go gallivanting around Domino. Not just any old trip, but one in which Seto was most likely going to come out married in. After all, the Glove could fit the hand of any random girl. If a short, fat, ugly witch happened to have long fingers and a skinny hand… he was toast!
I am doomed! There's probably going to be a million people whose hand fits the damn glove. And Serenity…I don't know about her hands…never looked at them. I've held them, but can't remember. After all, I was too busy kissing her…
Now there's something I never thought I'd say. But then again, I never thought that anyone would beat me at Duel Monsters, and I never thought my mom would be this insistent on my marriage. She finds one gray hair in her head and the next second, I have to marry or the whole kingdom will fall apart…OW! Seto nearly crashed into the seat in front of him as the carriage came to a sudden halt. Three girls stood gushing in front of the house.
Pegasus had announced about the Duelist's glove, and every girl was so excited about having another chance of winning Seto. Too bad he wasn't. Of course, the Royals were smart enough not to reveal a single detail of the glove in case anyone had ideas to magically get another hand in the one hour they had to prepare. But, they had all showered, dressed, make-uped, and anything-else-uped that they needed to. Seto felt sick.
The first house belonged to a rich man with an only daughter, Polly. However, once the announcement had gotten out, Polly's two younger cousins had come to visit because "they missed their cousin sister" from the other side of the town. How they got to the house in an hour, no one knew.
"Hello, girls!" Cecilia greeted happily, holding out a hand as Pegasus helped her down. Mokuba jumped down excitedly, and the three girls cooed.
"Aw, how cute!" Polly exclaimed, clasping her hands together; her blonde locks made her look extremely like Goldilocks. Mokuba grinned at the praise. Seto got down next and was receive with exaggerated gasps from all the girls. Eyes widened. Broad grins. Oh please. Well, at least Polly was cute if nothing else. Though… she was a good foot shorter than him if not by more.
"Well, have we walked into heaven, cause these three girls are too pretty to be anything but angels!" Pegasus remarked. The girls tittered. Seto sighed. Wait till you see Serenity!
"I believe you are Polly…" Seto said, walking up right to the blonde one. She immediately quit laughing, flashing a broad smile.
"Yes… your Highness." She blushed a bit. Seto forced himself to smile. Cecilia walked over and presented the Glove.
"Are you going to try it on?" she asked. Polly nodded eagerly, blonde strands flying everywhere. She took the glove in her hand, looking at it as if she had had it every moment of her life. She slipped it on. At first glance, it seemed to fit her perfectly. However, Pegasus did the inspection. He pulled at the sides of her palm. It was tight. He tested the free space above each finger, and that was where she lost. A good inch was leftover in each finger. Seto breathed a sigh of relief.
"How old are your cousins?" Cecilia asked.
"Thirteen."
"Eighteen."
"Eighteen." Cecilia, Pegasus, and Seto raised their eyebrows. Polly was glaring at them, being the only one saying thirteen. The other two tried to pretend to be much older, glancing worriedly between each other, Polly, and the Royal family.
"Well, good day then!" Seto bowed slightly and nearly ran back to the carriage. Mokuba followed quickly. Pegasus and Cecilia said a more formal good bye and headed to the carriage, driving away.
………
Seto plopped into the carriage for the hundredth time at least; his smile to the girls had now become near impossible. The sun had set a short while ago, a narrow strip of brightness barely peaking from behind the houses. After searching two neighborhoods, they had found no trace of "Shizuka". No one sounded like her, no one acted like her, and no one's hand fit the glove. It was always too tight, too loose, too big, too small, too close to fitting but not quite… either way, Seto, Cecilia, Pegasus, and Mokuba were really tired.
"I could use a bowl of spaghetti about now," Mokuba complained. Cecilia tried to suck in her bad temper and smile it through. After all, this was her idea. Her good mood had lasted only through a few girls, when she realized how difficult this task really was. But she had to tough it out.
"I think we should call it a day," Pegasus advised, looking at Cecilia for permission. "We can finish then rest tomorrow. I think we've had our fill of failures." Mokuba nodded eagerly. Seto merely shrugged and leaned back. It didn't matter to him. Either way, he wouldn't be able to marry Serenity. She was definitely not Shizuka.
Right?
I don't know. Sometimes, I swear Shizuka sounded just like Serenity, that soft, high voice. And even through that thick accent of hers…I swear she was the same girl.
I must be kidding myself…Serenity as Shizuka? That's impossible. Serenity has no Dueling talent from what she told me. Shizuka was serious. She really beat me…sort of…I guess it was merely luck that she won. But still, she got through six rounds to face me. And…I didn't see her eat a thing.
They looked the same though. The same height, give or take an inch. Same voice, minus the accent. I noticed auburn hair under the veil when it started disappearing, or maybe my mind was imagining Serenity. Funny, what happened to her that day?
Anyway, she hung out with Mai and Téa Kaiba. That is weird…a blonde boy was with her a lot, he looked rather familiar. And it was kind of a coincidence that Serenity knew a lot about Shizuka though she didn't come to the ball…Seto decided to stop bothering his brain and leave the matter for later. He looked out the window. Completely dark. Street lamps turned on soon, blanketing the street in yellow tinged light. Seto smiled when he remembered he was in the park yesterday at this time.
Seto glanced out the other window. A few people were still outside, hanging around the houses and just talking. They all stopped to stare at the royal carriage as it passed them bye. Seto barely glanced at the girls among the group. He recognized one, however, a girl named Lumina. He knew her to a pretty good Duelist. She had a good record in tournaments.
Seto turned to the other side and noticed the Kaiba mansion. Téa and Mai were lazily sitting on the grass in the front, while Serenity was watering the plants – dancing, he noticed.
You know…this is bothering me too much. I must know the truth straight out…
"Driver, halt the horses!" Cecilia and Pegasus barely had time to glance at him before they were jarred alert by the sudden stop.
"Can we make one more stop, at the Kaiba residence?" He pointed to make sure he was not mistaken. He noticed that Téa and Mai had noticed them. Cecilia and Pegasus looked at him curiously then nodded. He leaped out of the carriage, followed by the rest of his family.
………
I'm at the to-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-p of the wo-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-rld! Nothing can bring me do-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-own! I o-o-o-o-o-own my destiny! I am freeeeeeeeeee! My heart is bee-e-e-e-e-e-e-eating fast! I feel so confused… but my heart knows…I am in lo-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-ove! Serenity hummed the rest of the song, not even caring if she poured water on her light blue dress by accident. She was still happy.
"OH MY GOSH!"
"LOOK!" Serenity was interrupted, turning to see what her sisters were so excited about. There in front of the house was a golden carriage pulled by four white stallions, tossing their manes in annoyance of stopping. The front door opened and out leaped Seto; cool as he could be with his piercing gaze and bright white tunic. He turned to Serenity and winked. She dropped her watering can. Then, she blushed. The rest of his family got out too, seeming to be tired as if they had been touring the city. Seto, however, seemed refreshed.
"Good evening, ladies," he said calmly. Mai's jaw dropped, and she looked at Téa sporting the same expression. Obviously, Yami had been forgotten.
"Hello, good evening, your Highness." Mai stood up, slowly smoothing her peach colored day gown and flipped her blonde curls. Seto was reminded of Polly, and he shivered. But, Mai's purple eyes and heavy make-up put her in a class by herself.
"Good evening, your Highness." Téa got up as well, smoothing her own yellow skirts. She couldn't flip her own hair because it was tied back in a ponytail with a yellow silk ribbon.
"Good evening…your Highness." Serenity came over too, trying to conceal the wet splotches on her dress by gathering them as she walked. At least she could flip her hair over her shoulders. The three of them stood in a line as if they were in the army.
"You have heard…about the announcement?" Cecilia inquired. Mai and Téa looked at each other. Serenity raised her eyebrows. "That… we were going to try the Duelists glove on every maiden's hand and whoever fits shall marry Seto." Cecilia produced the glove and Serenity suppressed a gasp. Mai and Téa pointed to it with surprise.
"Why…that's my glove!" they cried at the same time. Serenity didn't know what to say. It was her glove…
"Both of yours?" Cecilia asked. Téa and Mai nodded. Cecilia looked back at Pegasus with a they are soooo faking it expression. Pegasus nodded in agreement.
"Well, no one's going to know unless we try it on them," Seto offered. Mai and Téa nodded enthusiastically, and Serenity felt drawn back to the two stones that were in her dresser drawer that very moment. She smiled slightly at Seto, and he smiled back, though not so noticeably.
"Well?" Seto got the glove and gave it to Téa to try it on first. She slipped it on. Before anyone could quite get a look to see if it fit, she started waving it around dramatically, clasping Seto's hand happily – though he tried his best to snake his hands away – and babbled almost incoherently. Luckily, a few words came out clear…
"IT FITS!" Serenity's jaw dropped in shock.
………
Lumina Illumi scrunched her eyes, watching as the royal carriage passed by where her friends were hanging out until it was time for bed.
"Lumina? LUMINA!" Flarina Pyrotech's down-to-earth call nearly made Lumina scream.
"What?"
"Isn't that Seto's carriage?" Lumina nodded. Curiosity gripped her. Her classmate Polly had been mad that whole evening when Lumina had passed her by on the street, grumbling about the prince and a glove. To Lumina it made no sense since the royal announcement hadn't been heard in this part of the town nor had the royal family started their search here yet. The Kaiba residence was a special case.
Anyways, Lumina found the whole ordeal very interesting. Flarina shrugged and continued talking to the others. Lumina was a bit more interested in the appearance of the royal family in her neighborhood. She hurried to where she saw the carriage turn.
It's going to the Kaiba mansion! Lumina quickened her pace. She had to see what was going on.
………
"Rock…paper…scissors!" Yami and Yugi thrust out fists. "Tie again?"
"What do you expect?" Yugi asked. "I mean, we're brothers! We think alike so many times it's hard to play games like this."
"You're right," Yami agreed. "After all, it's like Duel Monsters. Sometimes your monsters and you are connected in a special way so that your monster will always know whatever intentions you have." Yugi sweat dropped. Great, more Duel Monster comparisons.
Yugi and Yami were taking a stroll around Domino. After all, Yami needed to return to Domino Academy the next day. He was lucky he wasn't Joey or Ian. They had been in big trouble once they got back. But since the final exams were the only things left, their punishment was a mere one day extra stay in the Academy. That still meant they were coming home the day after tomorrow. If Yami had gone back today, he wouldn't have to go tomorrow. However, he volunteered to switch the two days so he could give Joey company.
"Is that…Lumina?" Yugi queried. Yami's heart leaped at the name, but quickly settled down. He liked Téa, she was his girlfriend.
"So?" Yami asked rather harshly, trying to pay more attention to the houses in the neighborhood rather than at the girl walking straight up the street.
"What is she doing here?" Yugi pressed on. "Her house is on the other end of the street." Yugi squinted to make sure it was Lumina. It was hard to see with the bright yellow lights streaming from the lamps. Yami snorted. He didn't care about Lumina.
While Yugi still tried to puzzle out why Lumina was there, Yami turned his attention to the opposite side of the street. A few houses down was a golden carriage – inevitably the royal family's – standing in front of a mansion. The Kaiba mansion, Yami soon realized, the place where Joey lived. Lumina was walking right to it. Yami was walking right to it. Yami cursed when he realized that he would have to pass Lumina unless he was going to turn around. Curiosity made him press on forward. As he would say, it was like deciding whether to attack an opponent's face down monster. You never know what might happen, and a trap – Lumina – might be lurking.
Lumina noticed him immediately, turning to face him with her dark eyes. Yami forced himself to smile. Okay, maybe their break-up had been a little…sudden… but there was no reason for any animosity between them. Lumina quickly turned back to the Kaiba mansion.
"Hello?" Yami said. He walked over to Lumina, keeping a good foot away from her. He remembered how it used to be barely an inch, but distance was good now. "Long time, no see…"
"It's been two days," Lumina answered flatly, staring straight ahead.
"Are…are…are you mad at me?" Yami inquired. Lumina finally turned to look at him. He was taken back with surprise when she glared at him. She turned back to whatever she had been looking at.
"I liked you Yami, you know? I really liked you." Lumina put emphasis on the last syllable of liked, making sure he heard the last letter clearly. Yami shuffled his feet, sliding hands in his pocket. He turned to check on Yugi, who was – for some reason – walking back from where he came. Yami turned back.
"I mean," Lumina continued as if Yami had never turned away. "I did. I always use to brag to my friends that I had a boyfriend, and they'd always be jealous and I enjoyed that. But you took it away just because some girl showed up and poisoned your mind. And she isn't even loyal."
"Téa is kind and will always stick by me, unlike you-,"
"Then why is she flirting with the prince right now?" Lumina pointed ahead. Yami looked ahead confused. He saw Téa, holding onto Seto's hands as if she was a leech. She wouldn't let go. She was smiling, a few inches from his face, all happy. A heavy stone dropped into Yami's stomach.
"See…I tried to explain that night but you wouldn't listen. Téa poisoned your mind. I was talking about you to that mysterious veiled girl, but she twisted it. Yami… I only loved you, and I still would…" Lumina turned to Yami, eyes desperate. Yami couldn't speak.
"Will…will you take me back?" he finally asked. Lumina sniffed and crossed her arms.
"Don't know. It's pretty hard to…"
"Lumina, think of it this way. Life is like Duel Monsters…"
"STOP! No metaphors, no similes, no analogies whatsoever. Especially not to Duel Monsters."
"Fine. But, my point is… please, give me a second chance?" Yami looked at Lumina with a puppy dog face until she ended up cracking. Yami patiently waited for Lumina to collect herself from the laughing fit.
"Okay…you win!" Yami shouted with glee and picked Lumina up, twirling her around several times. Lumina resumed laughing.
"OH YES! I love you, I love you, I love you! Oh Lumina, will you marry me?" Lumina chuckled and hugged him, still laughing hysterically. After a few seconds, she pulled away. Yami wasn't laughing. She looked at him with raised eyebrows.
"Um…"
"I'm serious, Lu." Lumina's jaw dropped, but she recovered and smiled.
"Very funny."
"No, I'm serious."
"Uh-uh…"
"I swear…I seriously want you to marry me." Lumina gave him a quizzical expression.
"I know you're kidding."
"Lumina. I swear on Duel Monsters, I seriously want to marry you." Lumina gasped.
"You swore on Duel Monsters. You are serious!"
"Exactly."
"Well then… of course! No duh!" Yami smiled and took Lumina by the waist and spun her around again, while Lumina resumed her laughter.
………
Seto finally managed to clasp Téa's wrist, after having to endure a few minutes of hand flashing. He noticed the glove was way too loose. Téa had been keeping her hands in movement in order to avoid the truth. Seto pulled off the glove with ease, Téa grinning sheepishly.
"My turn," Mai announced. She quickly took the glove and prepared to pull it on, but it was a lot harder than it seemed. Her palm barely fit into the glove, and her fingers were too long. Mai grimaced. Cecilia clicked her tongue and shook her head. Mai took off the glove with a glare. Cecilia took back the glove, made sure all four stones were in place, and offered it to Serenity.
"Are you going to try it on?" she asked. Serenity opened her mouth, but Téa and Mai cracked up with laughter.
"Her?" Téa finally sputtered as Serenity went red in the face. "She's…She's like a servant!" Téa closed her eyes to catch a breath. "Obviously she didn't go to the ball! That is insane! That is ridiculous! That is just…so…funny…"
"I know," Mai agreed. "We locked her up in our mansion. There was no way she could have been there." Mai and Téa laughed, and Cecilia shot her family an okay-this-is-weird glance. Mai and Téa kept laughing until they heard Serenity join them in laughter. They stopped immediately.
This is it! I have had it! Mai and Téa are being totally rude, and I like Seto anyway? Why shouldn't I reveal everything…
"What's…what's wrong?" Téa asked nervously, eyeing Mai. Serenity let out a suppressed chuckle.
"Shows what you know," she said, taking the glove from Cecilia and putting it on. Lo and behold, it fit her right hand ever so perfectly! Everyone gasped.