Disclaimer- I don't own Yu-Gi-Oh.
Lust, Love and VengeanceSeto Kaiba- 25 Takara Kaiba- 24 Serena, Yugi etc- 24 Mokuba & Rebecca- 24
Loved everyone's reviews it sure does mean a lot! I never knew my new story 'The Lie That I Lived' would do so well, well if you already hadn't you can go check it out after your done reading this chapter!!!
Chapter 7: Refusal
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Serena drove leisurely to the mall, the streets of Domino were rather vacant for a Saturday afternoon. Serena yawned sleepily while she waited for the streetlights to turn green; Tea had called her fairly early for a Saturday morning to ask to join her, Serenity and Mai at the mall, obviously Serena had agreed but was a bad time since Serena did work exceedingly hard this week without sleep and she had been out later than usual last night.
She signalled a left turn and stared out her window, something strange caught her eye. Kaiba Land also was considerably empty for a weekend, she remembered how full it always used to be. Bustling with eager children and teenagers who wanted to be like Kaiba, Yugi or Joey; gossip buzzed around about how if you stayed long enough you might've been able to catch a glimpse of the legendary duellists. But of course they had resigned from duelling professionally because of families and business however they still found time to participate in the game as fun.
Serena parked into the virtually bare parking lot and slung her purse over her shoulder. A few wandering adolescents whistled and hollered at her developed body and appearance; she wore black tight-fitting denims with white shadings and a grey tank top that was scrunched up on both sides, which was underneath a small white shawl. Serena shot the group of boys a dirty look and walked off. 'Imbeciles.' She thought fumingly at the sick asses and how immoral they acted towards women. 'Women can't wear anything these days without being judged about our bodies.'
Serena stopped and waited at the centre of the mall where an enormous stone fountain stood under a large sunroof. It had three layers, each one becoming smaller as if reached the top and in the midpoint of the topmost level a vine shaped piece curved its way up and blossomed into a large lily where water shot out.
Serena stared into the crystal, clear water, the waves splashing alongside the stone; little sparkles in the water caught her eye. This fountain was a wishing fountain, tiny twinkles of silver and bronze filled the bottom and middle stratums; there was a myth that believed that if you had your back to the fountain and threw your coin over your left shoulder and it landed in the smallest top layer your most desired wish would come true. She turned around and held her silver coin tightly in her fist, under her breath she slowly murmured her most wanted appeal and then slowly raised her hand…
"Hey Serena!" Serenity's high-pitched squeal filled Serena's head as the coin mistakenly flew out of her hand. Serena quickly twisted around just in time to watch the silver glitter fall into the highest tier.
"It looks like you're going to get what you wished for," Tea said, referring to the fable.
"So hun, what ya wish for?" Mai asked shooting Serena a sly grin.
"It'll never come true if I tell," she responded smirking. Serena scrutinized these women who've been her friends since god knows how long, they've been through so much together and never have kept anything from one another, but today Serena carried a burden upon her shoulders, which made her doubt if she should tell her friends.
Tea smiled caringly, her 'friendship' attitude had died down a bit, cutting out the lecture and speeches, which did make some people very happy, preferably Mai. She wore a baby blue knee-high skirt and a white halter top, the brunette's hair was now was a bit beneath her shoulders and her cerulean eyes still full of optimism as ever.
Mai still hadn't lost her devious attitude and her cunning abilities towards life and love, she nonetheless is the independent, poised and beautiful woman they had met in Duellist Kingdom. She was attired in a lavender tank top with white low rider jeans and stilettos, her waist length, blonde hair was lush and luxurious as was the quality of trickiness in her violet eyes.
Serenity sweetly stood with the women, a bit out of place with her innocence still radiating from her. The 21-year old was still the naïve and pure child they had grown to love and adore since Battle City. She was dressed in a white knee-high, strapless summer dress with pink roses, her lengthy auburn hair was coupled together in a French pleat, her olive green eyes were still wholesome and content.
"Where are the kids?" Serena asked curiously.
"We left them with our husbands," Serenity replied doubtfully.
"Don't worry I threatened Joey before I left so Aaron will be all right," Mai said.
"I trust Yugi—"
"And we all know that," everyone finished in unison.
"So where are we off to?" Tea asked as they all started to walk off together.
"There's a fabulous sale down at Dynamite, we have to go," Mai said stressing the last few words. "We're all in need of a shopping spree, we deserve it after everything we go through with our husbands."
"But Serena's still in the life of a bachelorette," Serenity remarked.
"And let it stay that way, unless of course Bakura…" Mai hinted slyly.
Serena's face slightly fell as the smile vanished off her face; Bakura had called her in urgency to meet him at Domino Park to discuss something that they should've talked about long before.
"Serena what's wrong? Something's been off about you," Tea commented.
"I think I'm going to break up with Bakura," Serena stated unsurely.
"Well if it's what you think is right…" Mai replied unknowing of what else to say.
"I think I don't love him and I've been leading him on."
"Well that's a good reason as long as you think it's right," Serenity answered.
"I'll have to break his heart."
"It's the only way to go only if you think its right," Tea responded.
This was really dancing on Serena's last nerve. 'If I thought it was right then I wouldn't feel so regretful about it. One heart, two people, two paths, one choice.'
"I think I love someone else…" she let it sink in slowly upon her friends.
Mai almost choked on her smoothie, Tea froze in mid step and Serenity nearly tripped over another lady's bags.
"WHAT?!?!" The yelled in unison a yell that rang out throughout the entire mall. "WHO?!?!"
"I don't know, I don't know anything about my life anymore, before I was so sure about what I wanted and how to get it. But ever since he came I don't know," she said sitting down on a bench and burying her head in her hands.
"Who?" Tea asked as she comfortingly put her hands over Serena's shoulders.
"I don't know, I've met too many new people," Serena replied. "There's Akeno and Kisho—"
'Oh I just did not let that slip…'
"Kaiba's uncle?" Mai inquired distastefully.
"Maybe you just fear commitment and you're trying to find an excuse not to marry Bakura," Serenity suggested logically.
"No, I know I don't love Bakura," Serena replied. "Let's just not talk about this," Serena said, getting up and walking away.
"Have you talked to Takara lately?" Mai asked.
"I called her yesterday but Roland said she went out," Tea answered.
"Don't Kaiba and Takara make such a sweet couple?" Serenity queried.
"It's not just how they look together but also how well they know each other," Serena thought aloud, she continued strolling while her friends stopped behind her.
"What do you mean Serena?" Tea asked.
"I'm not sure about Takara either, she seems too much on the sly," Serena said turning around to face her friends.
"Maybe you're jealous?" Mai indicated, voicing what everyone was thinking.
"Perhaps you're still not over him like you thought you were and you're to nice to admit it, maybe you're afraid of the fact that you might hurt Kaiba's relationship." Serenity suggested as they endlessly cruised the mall sipping their smoothies.
"But I am over him, it's just the fact that Kaiba really does know nothing about the woman he chose to spend the rest of his life with, I'm just looking out for his well-being." Serena said as she entered a quaint boutique.
"The wedding was so sudden, how long did they really know each other for?" Tea asked as she picked up a sunshine yellow summer dress.
Serena remembered how Takara and her had chatted the night before the wedding she had been so apprehensive.
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"I'm not sure if this is the right thing anymore, I mean it's so sudden," Takara said, she smoothed out the creases in her wedding gown.
"Trust me, Seto Kaiba just doesn't pick anyone to marry, you must be extremely special to him. But I was wondering Kaiba never told me about you, how long have you known each other?" Serena asked while she drowsily lay upon the bed they both sat on.
"Well…you see…um…we just met…"
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"8 days before he proposed to her," Serena completed her thought aloud. Tea, Mai and Serenity gasped at her wide-eyed in shock.
"8 days! Seto Kaiba is that impulsive?" Mai asked to particularly no one.
"Wow, I never knew he was so eager to get married," Tea thought.
"I think it's sweet, sort of like a 'love and first sight' scenario," Serenity said dreamy-eyed.
The three women rolled their eyes at the young offspring. "He seems so sure that Takara is the one, and we all know Kaiba's not the one to make a spontaneous decision." Tea understandably stated.
"He does really love her…" Mai said.
"But the real question is does she love him?" Serena asked looking up into nowhere, hoping the answer could be found out.
---
Bakura held Serena's hand tightly in his, it was unbelievably tense- this sign was the clinching happening that confirmed that Ryou Bakura was going to propose to yours truly Serena Ishtar.
His eyes wandered considerably, he did not want to gaze into those eyes- those eyes that made his breath tighten in his throat, his heart race and his voice not co-operate. She looked even more dazzling in her A-line midnight blue dress, her hair in a twist with a few tresses escaping form it, a matching blue choker that vined along her neck and identical earrings.
His hand went from hers to her waist pulling her in closer to his thin beige sweater, he felt a vague resistance but shook it off. Bakura's other hand travelled into the pocket of his black dress pants, his fingers caressed the smooth velvet of this small jewellery box- he had this ring with him for such an extended amount of time, he would always have it with him but never knew when to pop the question. Every time he saw her, he would be at a loss for words, her beauty would captivate him and he would always wish to be with her- he knew this feeling as love. He knew deep down within the core of his very existence that he loved Serena Ishtar.
Bakura turned to Serena, her sumptuous grey eyes gave him enough reassurance. Slowly he bent down before Serena and removed the ring from his pocket. Serena gasped and took one step back, the moon shone upon the white gold, aquamarine diamond engagement ring causing it to look even more luminous.
"Serena Ishtar could you please give me the honour of offering your hand to me in holy matrimony?" Bakura proposed with a hint of hope in his eyes.
'I could say yes, I could make Bakura happy and I could slowly forget what I want and give Bakura what he wants. I'm being much to selfish, he is a man willing to die for me and I think about someone else who I can never be with. I could learn to cope with an unsteady marriage but then we can become a blissful family.'
'Yeah, a family based upon lie and deceit.' A small voice at the back of her head chastised.
Bakura stared blankly into Serena's eyes; there was passion, emotion…love, but nothing for him. 'The love in her eyes is for another.'
Serena broke out of her fantasy and stared into Bakura's chocolate eyes; he knew something, but she didn't know what. An awkward silence passed between them as Serena quickly turned away from his disconsolate eyes.
"Please Serena," Bakura started, a solitary tear descended from his eye. "I've been so stupid to think someone like you could ever love someone like me." Bitterness filled his voice.
'Why do I treat him like this? Why do I inflict pain that I have experienced? A broken-heart. Why do I lie to Bakura for? Why aren't I satisfied with what I have? Why?'
"Please don't hate yourself, I've been selfish for leading you on like this, I could never open my eyes to see what a wonderful person I had in my life, I've been so stupid and selfish."
Water filled Serena's eyes as she turned around to leave. Bakura rapidly grabbed her arm and swift in one motion turned her around to meet his lips one last time. Passion burned upon his lips, as he led her into a sultry kiss that made Serena weak in the knees and washed away all her problems.
"Did that trigger anything in your heart?" Bakura asked hopefully.
"I'm sorry," Serena said as she pecked him lightly on the cheek. "Goodbye Bakura."
"Serena wait," Bakura called out, Serena stopped and waited. Bakura slowly came up to her and held her hand. "Please keep this," he said implying about the piece of jewellery.
"But Bakura I would feel terrible," she said as he slipped it on to her delicate finger. Too many emotions swirled inside Serena's heart, love, regret, pain…anger? "Why do you continue to hassle be with these love issues? Why do you follow someone like me around, knowing that I don't love you and you'll just end up hurting yourself? Why? Why? Why…?" Serena fell into Bakura's arms and began to cry, her tears brought a sense of comfort, with her tears slowly flowed away the suffering of pain that had clouded her mind for the past weeks.
Clear crystalline tears flowed from her eyes; she causing herself so much grief, she was causing him so much heartache. Choked sobs escaped her lips as Bakura slowly stroked her hair while he hushed her.
"Don't worry Serena, I'll always be here for you," Bakura whispered.
"Bakura, I'm bad, I'm a very bad person. Leave before I do anything, leave before you hate me. I don't need you hating me, I'll kill myself if you hate me, I already hate myself." Serena started to weep heavily; tears continued to leak from her eyes, she couldn't contain herself anymore. What she was doing was wrong and she knew it herself.
"You're a wonderful person and that's why I love you, you make everyone feel so wanted, so needed, so special. I love you and nothing can ever change that," Bakura tightly embraced her. "This ring, it symbolizes how much I care for you, remember where ever you are, what ever you face I'm with you. Serena Ishtar I will always love you."
Those were enough, Serena ran deep into the park to be alone she couldn't take it, she knew Bakura was covering up just to make her feel better, but nothing could make her feel jovial She was a woman who caused agony of unbelief, and it would only continue.
Bakura watched her until her outline had gone from his sight however her scent was fresh in the night air, her tears were moist upon his sweater, her taste was marked on his lips and the blood, fresh from when the dagger had ripped through his heart.
Serena hugged herself tightly, although the night breeze was refreshing it just caused Serena undying frostiness. She was alone again, her heart still had an ignited flame of passion burning for someone, but it would continue to go unnoticed.
Her hand gradually moved towards her purse, she felt around for a bit and extracted her cell phone. She paused for a moment, considering if it would be right to call, but her senses didn't agree, slowly she dialled his number.
'Ring''Maybe I should hang up.'
'Ring'
'He won't pick up.'
'Ring'
'He doesn't love…'
"Hello," Akeno's voice filled her head as Serena attempted to find her voice.
"Remember how I told you I had a boyfriend?" Serena asked hesitantly.
"Yes…"
"Well it's all changed…"