Chapter 3: Tooth and Claw part one
The following day she watched Yugi and Jounouchi playing. A tall boy with a spike in his hair sat on a desk near them, along with several other students, Mazaki and Nosaka were the closest girls, watching them duel. Game play went back and forth between Yugi and Jounouchi. Yugi –in the lead.
"What are you two playing?" aske the kid with the spike. Seiko knew him as Hiroto Honda.
"Ha, Ha. Duel Monsters. You know…the card game." Jounouchi explained to Honda and the others standing there. The blonde boy grinned to Yugi who was sitting opposite him. Both had a deck of cards on the desktop –face down on their right side, then before them a spread of several different cards face up. Honda laughs and said, "You? Playing a trading card game?"
"Yeah, me," Jounouchi said and Honda chuckled.
"You don't think you're gonna win? Do you?"
Jounouchi smirked, "'Course I am, watch this." –he grinned stupidly and said, "Yug, I'll attack with my Zombie!"
"Jou –you don't even win at old maid," Honda laughed as Yugi set a card to defend. Jounouchi shot him an impudent look and Seiko had to laugh. Did this fool –with a starter deck –think he was going to win? He was going to make an ass of himself.
"Alright my turn. And I attack your zombie with the Blackland Fire Dragon. He's strong and fast too." Yugi said and Jounouchi's jaw dropped.
"Gack! No Way –I can't beat him with any cards in my hand!"
"Well then I attack your zombie and destroy it." Yugi said –but there was no look of competition in his eyes. "That just lowered your life points to 1500, Jounouchi."
"Heh, dammit! Okay then Yugi, get ready…for my super secret weapon!" Jounouchi said drawing a card and smiled. He whipped out the swordsman –but Yugi countered –and the Flames Swordsman was snuffed out. "Damn! He got me again! Crap! I'm out of life points."
"Yay, I won!" Yugi cried out and the other voices jokingly teased Jounouchi about the cards and Seiko moved over to the desk.
God –what a pathetic duel. Even the grade-schoolers at the Nationals are stronger then them. She walked between the boys that were standing closer to watch and sifted through the cards in Jou's hand that he had lain down and smirked. Idiot had a defense right here. A trap card. What a clown.
"Hey what are you sniggering about," Jounouchi asked her and Seiko smiled at him.
"Nothing, just glad to see that you two were having fun."
"Huh?" Jou eyed her suspiciously as Seiko turned her attention to Yugi and smiled softly at him.
"Hello Yugi. Just wanted to say it was fun watching the two of you play," she was leaning quite close to him now, staring into his eyes and he blushed. Seiko had purposely unzipped her jacket, loosened her bow so that it hung from her collar, and had unbuttoned her blouse just a bit to show off her neck. "I think you're very good with your hands."
CRASH!!! Seiko glanced up over at Anzu who looked more then a bit miffed and had dropped her bento box on the ground. Seiko smirked at her lightly then looked back at Yugi and asked, "By the way, isn't that you're backpack over there?"
Yugi nodded, "Yeah that's my bag but…um…"
Seiko laughed, "Oh don't worry. I'm not going to root through it. I just wanted to know if you brought that Blue Eyes card with you…"
Yugi smiled at her, "Wow –how did you know it was in there?"
Seiko laughed lightly, "I've got ESP."
Yugi chuckled, "I had to beg my Grandpa to bring it to school today. I just had to promise that I wouldn't play with it."
Seiko tilted her head and closed her eyes, "Yugi, could…could I see it. Just one more time? You see, I couldn't sleep at all last night. When I touched that card I –well it made me so excited…I couldn't dream of anything else."
She smiled at him kindly and thought, No need for him to know that the reason I stayed up all night was to plan this.
"Yugi," she put her hand on his, and grinned at him, "What your grandfather told me –that speech –it made me realize what the real meaning of the game is. That I should love my cards, regardless of just how strong they are. So can I, just this once?"
Yugi looked at her, and Seiko held her breath. Come on you fool take the bait!
Suddenly he beamed and said, "Okay Sure." –Then reached into his bag and drew out the card –"Here you go Kaiba."
Yugi put it into her hand and Seiko grinned at him brightly, "Thank you Yugi. It's so beautiful, and please… call me, Seiko."
Yugi blushed and she smiled at him the looked at the window, "Um, Yugi, could I look at it by the window. Better light."
He nodded and Seiko walked over to the window and slipped her hand into the pocket of her jacket, pulling out a copy of the card. She'd spent several hours copying it from the catalogue –an exact duplicate. She slipped the orginal into her pocket and held out the copy to Yugi.
"Yugi –That you. Just seeing it again. It makes me so happy. That you so much. Maybe –when you get some stronger cards we can duel. Okay?"
Yugi took the card from her, smiling, "Sure thing Seiko."
He paused as he looked at the card and she moved away from the table. Yes! I got it. My plan was a success, and that idiot doesn't realize a thing. Real meaning of the game –the only REAL meaning is winning. You fail you… She looked back, waving, and said, "Later –have fun playing you two."
Yugi watched her go silently, and snapped back when Jounouchi said, "Hey Yugi. Rematch?"
"Huh? Yeah, okay!" He said and the two started to duel. Seiko though didn't notice Yugi watching her the rest of the day and he kept avoiding Anzu's question about what was bothering him. After school Seiko slid into her backpack, and her briefcase, then headed out of class chuckling to herself.
"Heh. There's no way I'm going to lose at the next tournament. Ha, I can't wait to show these fools why I'm going to be the world champ.
"Seiko!" the voice made her jump and she whirled aroudn to see Yugi standing behind her.
"Yugi, "she let out a breath. "Oh it's just you. Heh, you sprised me. I see you're calling me by my frist name, sounds nice when you say it."
She winked at him and laughed pushing her bangs, "Heh, are you on your way home? Don't tell me you want a ride."
Yugi looked down, sighed, then looked at Seiko with a sad look, "Seiko-please give me my card back."
Seiko's eyes went wide and her jaw dropped some, How...how did he ...he couldn't...
"What? Yugi, what are you...?" she asked and stared at him.
Yugi's sad look unnerved her some as he spoke, "I -I didn't say anything, because everyone was there Seiko, and I know you have a reputation as being a high rank student -and people admire you. So I didn't want to say you switched cards..."
"Wait! So -so you....you think that I stole your card," she looked as hurt as she could fake, but anger boiled in her. Seiko was pissed, he'd caught her and how dare he catch her and destroy her great plan. "I gave it back to you Yugi. How can you accuse me of this -after I thought we were friends, after I told you could call me by my first name..."
"Seiko," Yugi looked at her so sadly, as if it were hurting him to accuse her. "Even I can tell a copy from an original. I see cards every day at the game shop...Seiko, I know you like the card -but ...but please...please give it back. I won't tell. Just please."
Seiko felt her face flush, He wouldn't tell on her! He had no idea what that card meant to her, and he was treating her like some child. How dare he act this condescending to me!
"I don't know what you're talking about Yugi!" Seiko yelled and narrowed her look at him and they locked eyes and she felt her heart skip some.
"Seiko! You have to know! You were the only one that held it. You have to know ho much that card means to my Grandfather! Please! Can't you understand? If I can't keep my word and bring the card back I'll break his heart! I can't do that, I can't hurt him -he's my Grandpa."
Seiko sucked on her teeth, then lowered her face to his and touched his cheek making it turn a bit red, "Oh come on Yugi. Did you even stop to thin about my feelings? How I feel about being accused like this?" She locked eyes with him again, "I honestly didn't know about the card. There were a number of other people there -did you accuse them too?"
Yugi looked at her sadly.
"No?" She leaned in closer to the point where her lips were inches from his. "Well before you start complaining about your Grandfather's feelings. Why not try believing in your friend, or don't you thing you can trust me?"
He said nothing and Seiko stood up and turned to go, and paused when he called to her. "But Kaiba...." she closed her eyes. He was back to calling her by her last name. It meant he didn't believe her, and that meant her plan was falling apart. It didn't matter -she had the card, that's all she wanted. "Wouldn't you feel bad if your dad gave you something and you promised to give him it back, and you couldn't...wouldn't you?"
She hit him so fast that Yugi had no time to move as her case slammed into him and her blue eyes flashed darkly at him, "SHUT UP!!!"
He was on the ground rubbing his face, looking very hurt and sad. She leered at him turning to go, "It's rubbish...Loving the cards. I don't care about that. Tell that fool of an old man that it's not how you play the game -it's whether you win or loose! That's the real heart of the game. Later. Loser."
Seiko jumped into her limp and pulled out the Blue Eyes White Dragon. No one was going to tell her how to play. Ever. She'd never let anyone again tell her how to live. Mokuba's jaw dropped when he saw it at dinner that evening.
"Holy! How'd you get it? And from who?"
"An idiot in my class and it's none of your business how I got it." She sipped her tea and caught him trying to touch it. "Don't even think about it."
"Huh?" Mokuba glanced at her and she glared at him as his hand hovered over the card.
"I'll make it perfectly clear. You touched that card, I break your hand. It's mine, and I don't want you touching it." She stated calmly and took another sip. "Understand, little brother?"
Her look made him shiver and he pulled his hand away. Seiko grabbed it as she turned and headed out of the dinning room. "I'm going to shower and change. Keep out of my room Mokuba."
Showered and refreshed, Seiko sat in her room staring at the card. Her long hair was pulled into a ponytail, and she had slipped into and outfit quite befitting her. A pair of black pants that rode low on her hips made of a shiny type of stretch material and a long sleeved black collared shirt designed to look like a mans shirt with silver buttons, and made of sheer material that was darker on the top to the bust line. Below was a sheer material that hung open. The shirt had only four buttons buttoned so that the top hung open from the collar and down to her cleavage showing off just the right amount of skin. Then the four buttons and left open to show her midriff and navel. Over this she wore a long stylish coat of dark blue velvet that hung down to between her calf and ankles. Her black boots reflected the silver chain belt around her hip, and the sleeves and inside of the coat were lined with a black satin, which she pushed up to make cuffs.
Seiko tapped her foot, even though she had the card she could still see Yugi's pitiful face crying out to her. She scowled, what did she care how bad he felt. It wasn't her problem anymore. But she knew he wouldn't just let it sit. He wasn't going to go away and let her be. She was thinking about ways to deal with him when a knock came upon her door.
"Enter."
Her butler came in and she glanced up, annoyed, "What?"
"Madme, a gentleman caller was just here to see you," he said and she looked up confused.
Gentleman caller? I don't have any…must have been a fool from the office or school.
"So, send him away." She stood up and walked to her window to look out at the moon. For a moment she shuddered, as if something dark and cold swept over her spine.
"Oh he didn't want to speak with madam," the butler said "He held out and envelope, "He just told me to give you this."
Seiko took it then waved the butler out of the room. She stared at the envelope that was addressed to her and hesitantly opened it. Tossing the envelope on the table, Seiko opened the short note inside.
Kaiba –Meet me at the school at midnight. Bring your deck and be ready to duel. –Yugi
She smirked, "So he wants to fight me for it huh? Well his funeral them. Happy enough to grind you to the ground, Yugi."
She crumpled the paper and threw it in the trash.
At 11:55 she was at the gates of the school and was surprised to find them open. Seiko laughed, Resourceful one –I am impressed.
She pushed open the gate and walked into the court yard, and looked around. The silence was deafening and she stood up as tall as she could and glanced at her watch. Where was that idiot? She was barely in the doors when a voice from the roof called down to her.
"Kaiba!" Seiko looked up and squinted to see a figure perched on the roof. She scowled, Yugi. What kind of game does he think he's playing? And why does he sound so damn cocky!
"You're early. I thought girls like you liked to be fashionably late." She could picture the sure smug sideways grin on his face.
She snorted and crossed her arms, looking up, "Only a twit would think I'd be late to a duel. But ever if I was, just would have given me more time to contemplate your demise. So are you going to come down? "
He called back, "No, I find it nice up here –so you'll have to come up to me."
She grimaced and shouted, "You're the one who challenged me!"
"And you accepted. Unless you just want to stand there like a statue. I'm sure that the birds will consider you a wonderful place to roost," He retorted, "So are you coming up or not?"
Seiko huffed and kicked open the doors, then climbed to the roof and yanked open the exit door. She stopped when she saw Yugi standing on the ledge. He stepped down and she cocked one of her brows. What's he trying to prove in that get up? She wondered. Seiko had not changed from earlier so the wind caught her coat turning it into a cape behind her. She smirked at Yugi, "Don't you think that's a little bit gothic for you, Yugi? Isn't Halloween in October, it's only April if you haven't noticed."
He was dressed in his uniform except that he no longer wore the normal casual blue pants and his white shirt was missing. Rather he had on dark blue leather like pants with the strange black tank top that he wore under his uniform. Along the sleeves were two large Ankhs, and black boots. His bangs became like lighting between the five spikes, flowing up to the tips. He seemed more imposing, though he grew not an inch, and his violet eyes looked into hers with a dangerous glint. Yugi smirked, "I would say something about how you're dressed Kaiba, but it seems that I've caught you half dressed."
She scowled at him, "So this is your challenge? Trading insults on the roof? I thought you said we were going to duel, little boy…"
He let out a little chuckle, then headed for the door. "Oh we are…just not here."
She clenched her jaw, "So then why have me come all the way up here!"
He smirked opening the door, "Because you amuse me. And I was bored. So you provided me with the perfect entertainment –Seiko."
Her heart paused; the way he was saying her name sent chills down her spine, hot and freezing cold all at once. How is he doing this? Making me feel so damn childish!
She wanted to launch her case at his head, then take his damn deck and get the hell out of there. But no one challenged her and left without a duel. She intended to crush him and then shove that damn smirk down his throat. He led her to an empty classroom and she saw he'd already set up a desk for their duel. She laughed and said, "Well, well, Yugi. I'm surprised that you would challenge me to duel Monsters…" she leaned closer to his ear, the tip of her lips on his skin and he closed his eyes furrowing his brow some as she whispered. "What are you thinking, Yugi? Do you really think you're going to win –or was this just an excuse to get me alone in a deserted and dark classroom?"
Yugi smirked and looked back at her as he walked away casually, "Don't flatter yourself Kaiba."
He sat down and she follow suit, pulling her deck from her coat and slapped it on the table. "So, exactly what are you planning?"
"You'll see soon enough Seiko," Yugi said coolly. "This duel's rules will be a bit different then how you've dueled before."
She grinned at him, the same way she had earlier in the day and lowered her eyes, "Sound like fun…Yugi."
No matter what rules you play by Yugi –I won't lose. She thought and crossed her arms, smirking, If I get into a spot I have the Blue Eyes –I can tell him I bought it off some other fool.
"So what's the rules, Yugi?"
"Our life points start out at 2000, when you reach 0 you lose. Count your deck at forty cards," Yugi said and smirked, "Let's duel!"
Seiko grinned as she drew her cards, You're dead Yugi!