Alex: Smurf Cat does not own Yu-Gi-Oh!


Serenity walked drearily through the woods behind the Kaiba Mansion. She didn't cry, nor think to herself. She only walked. She found peace here, for it was the only place where she could be truly alone. Seto's presence did not reach here. When she was here, she could pretend that she was elsewhere in some other wood in some other time. It was raining, but not as hard as it had been before; now there was only a light drizzle that dampened her clothes and calmed her spirit. She did not reflect upon the last few months of what she and Kaiba had had. She willed herself not to. It was the only way to keep the tears from coming. Instead, she walked.

Looking up at the tops of the trees, she remembered her friends. She wondered if they would even be there for her anymore. Rain dripped off of her chin as more fell onto her face to repeat the cycle over and over again. She sighed, releasing her pain. It was awkward for her to just sit there. She was hardly ever alone; but the calm of the moment comforted her and she liked this place.

Coming to a clearing, she sat down on a bare rock and began to think. Though she tried to evade her own thoughts of Seto, they came anyway. Looking up again at the falling rain, focusing on every rain drop as it plummeted to the soggy earth; she decided that she would return, this time to forgive. She could only hope that Seto would accept it if it was from her...


Seto pounded his fist on his office desk as he let his anger rage. Turning around, he flung some papers off his desk. "I'll make her clean those up when she gets back!" he yelled, not really meaning it.

He stopped only to try to make his rage die, but to no avail. "Where is she?"

He looked outside into the soft rain. He didn't want to go look for her, but it seemed as though he had no choice. He was furious for the way she had talked to him and even more furious about the way she had left without saying a word. Then again, he couldn't really blame her. He had been harsh as of late. Not all things were her fault, though he would like to blame many of his own faults on another.

Walking over to the door, he swung it open violently. Next he made his way very quickly down the spiral staircase leading to the front hall. At last he reached the front door and as soon as he was out, he went to the only place he knew to look beyond the mansion, for surely Serenity would have fled from its grounds. He went to the woods.

This was a place that he had hardly ever been. The idea of enjoying trees and the like was a new concept to him. It was strangely peaceful here. There were no phones, no businesses, and no people. He took note of every fallen leaf. It was late in the summer now. Autumn would be here soon.

As he walked down the beaten paths made by Serenity herself, he could see her in the distance. He could see her gaze; the look of tears unwilling to come on her face. His rage still burned deeply, but it was something about her trancelike gaze that averted his rage from her to himself. He had no idea what this feeling was; only that it was there. Mere seconds after it had set itself upon his mind, he shunned it away, hoping that it would never come back. And then, Serenity turned away. Seto released from her gaze, his rage once again boiled. Why had she turned away from him?

"Serenity!" Seto yelled harshly after her, running now to her side. Soft rain began to pour and mist down upon them.

Serenity stopped. She didn't know if it was for fright or for her own good. Her senses were going crazy. She could not think in this moment. Seto, catching up to her came to her side. Serenity dropped to her knees.

"Serenity!" he yelled yet again. Serenity did not answer, she only turned to face him.

After looking down on her for some time, Seto began to ask a question. "Why are you out here... why did you flee?"

Serenity looked down toward the wet earth. She sighed deeply. "I'm sorry." She only whispered the words, but Seto had heard them.

He looked down on her with almost pity in his eyes. The pity was filled with disgust and yet, sympathy also shone through them. It was funny how the two could go together so well when it came to Serenity. "Sorry for what?" Seto barked.

"For running away..." her voice trailed off. "I shouldn't have escalated the fight..."

Seto wanted to say, 'I'm sorry also, you have no need to be sorry for it was me who started the argument', but he didn't. His pride kept him from saying anything like that. Instead he grunted and in a low voice he spoke, "let's go home."


Once back at the mansion, chaos began its normal route throughout the day. Serenity went up to her room. Things were getting to be a bit much. She needed to be free, be able to get away for a while. She could always go to her mother's house. She wondered what her mother would say about her relationship with Kaiba. She had not spoken to her mother in what seemed like years, not since she had gone to live with Seto. Even then, her mother had not known about the relationship. Serenity had run away and Joey had refused to give her back.

As she walked over to her closet, she began to go through her stuff. She was only contemplating leaving. As she looked though it all, she could see the many dresses that Seto had given to her. The old garments brought back memories, too good to be rediscovered. Serenity looked down, nostalgia taking her over. She shut her eyes and as she did, tears flowed out. She buried her head in grief in one of the more expensive dresses. "Why can't it be the way it used to be?"

Little did she know that Seto had slipped himself into the room. He stood behind her now as began to feel the same nostalgia as serenity. He bowed his head, and then spoke. "If you want to leave..." there was a pause, "...then leave."

Serenity turned in shock. "w-what are you doing here?"

"It is my mansion, have you forgotten?" answered Seto. "If you need time alone, I will grant it to you. I will give you money, lots of it. You can go away for a while. When you return, you will not be so burdened."

"I was going to go to my mother's." answered Serenity quietly. "She is a poor woman and I also when I don't have you around, but we have little need of your money. Keep it."

Seto's anger grew. "Are you rejecting me?" he asked the question coldly.

"Seto," pleaded Serenity. "Must we always fight?"

Seto turned himself away, obviously ashamed. He sighed before looking back at Serenity. "I'm... sorry..."

The words were low, barely audible. Serenity made no comment about them. She only looked Seto in the eyes, those icy blue eyes, cold in all their aspects. She could see faint warmth radiating from them. This was rare. Seto never looked down on her with love. As Serenity looked up ay Seto, she only said one thing, "Thank you."

Her voice was equally low. She turned back to the closet and gathered clothes. "Do I have your permission to leave to go see my mother?"

Seto looked over at her, a longing passion about his eyes. He wanted her to stay. He did not give into his desires, however. "Fine. You may go, but only for a short time." His voice wavered slightly.

Serenity looked back at Seto. "Is it really fine, or do you want me to stay?"

Seto didn't answer; he only looked her in the eyes. Serenity gazed back, not quite sure how Seto felt.


YAY! Second chapter done!

Malik: we're getting good reviews to this...

Alex: yeah, and keep 'em coming! If you got any suggestions, just leave them in the reviews and be sure to make the reviews long. That's how Smurfy likes 'em!

Smurfy?!

Alex: MEEP! Just review, we don't care how long it is!

Malik: REVIEW!