Somethings Are Better Left Unsaid
Disclaimer: I don't own Yu-Gi-Oh! or any of the characters or products. I do not make money from these stories, I just write to entertain.
Summary: Serenity and Duke are a couple now but Serenity is unsure if she even loves him. Her insecurities are worsened when the last person she ever suspected confesses his love to her during the Autumn Festival. But was the confession truly heartfelt or just a result of too much sake?
Note: I have no clue in Hell where I got the idea for this fic, I don't even know if the inspiration will last long enough for me to complete it, but I pray it can develop into my first love fic with an actual plot.
Authoress Note:
I've always been a fan of the SetoXSerenity pairing. But I've heard a large number of people argue that Seto is far older than Serenity, and the girl is more along Mokuba's age(Personally I see Mokuba with the cute and wacky blonde, Rebecca). But no one seems to take into consideration the fact that this anime is originated in Japan, where it is quite common for older men to marry younger women, and it is not frowned upon. Plus, Duke and Tristan are only a year younger than Seto, yet they both want Serenity, only Joey seems to get annoyed by that, which is understanable seeing as he is Serenity's brother and guardian. Now, you're more than entitled to your opinion, I just felt like stating and defending mine. Heh heh, enjoy the story my beloved readers!(And just because I can, here are the other pairings I personally like: Yugi/YamiXTea, JoeyXMai, BakuraXMalik. No, I am not one of those Yaoi-haters, I'm actually a fan of it.)
"Speech"
{Thoughts}
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Chapter 1: Shooting Stars, Imposter Soldiers and Water Balloons
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The perfectly smooth silver orb of the full moon shed a soft pale light on Domino Park. The park acquired an eerie silence after the departure of playing children, protective mothers, thrillseeking skateboarders and roller-bladers. The red, orange and brown leaves of the trees covered the soft grass in inky black shadows. Two lone figures dared to tread the snaking white paths that wound their way through the very heart of the blackened Domino Park.
The couple was enjoying the romantic silence, watching the bright stars shine above. One star broke free of its stationary dance spot, racing across the sky with a cerulean snowy tail streaming elegantly behind it.
"Oh, Duke, look at the shooting star!" Serenity Wheeler whispered, bright eyes following the swift star as she gripped Duke's hand tighter.
Duke Devlin smiled one of his girl-winning smiles, keeping his emerald eyes focused soley on Serenity's smooth, serene face, "Make a wish."
Serenity closed her eyes, praying to the Heavens, {Please let me find my one and only someone.} She squeezed Duke's hand tighter in sudden fear and anxiety, {Even if it isn't Duke...}
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The icy blue eyes of Seto Kaiba also watched the shooting star as it completed its trek across the night sky, but he made no wish, not yet. He sat in a window seat, eyes focused on the outside world hazed over by the glass. A few feet away, tucked warmly in his bed, slept Mokuba Kaiba, Seto's cherished younger brother. The boy was finally sleeping soundly after hours of fever-induced nightmares.
Seto had found Mokuba sick in bed with a fever of one hundred and two. All day and night Seto had sat by his little brother's side. He constantly put fresh cool water on the small washcloth placed over Mokuba's forehead. Everytime Mokuba awoke, often calling out for his brother, Seto was there, comforting and quieting the frightened boy.
Seto shifted his cold gaze to Mokuba, his normally icy eyes softening into pools of deep blue. With uncharacteristic delicacy, Seto brushed locks of raven colored hair from Mokuba's sleeping face and replaced the drying cloth with a cooler one.
Mokuba's violet-gray eyes fluttered open. He blinked sleepily up at his brother, "Seto?"
Seto smiled down at the boy, "Go back to sleep, kid. You need your rest." He patted Mokuba gently on the head.
Mokuba smiled weakly, "Okay, big brother." He closed his eyes, almost immediately falling asleep, feeling completely secure under his brother's valiant vigil.
Seto relaxed into a large armchair, his eyes not at all sleepy as he remained awake to watch over his brother. His brother, he was the only person in the world that mattered to Seto, there was no cute female classmate Seto showed kindness to, there were no loyal friends Seto shared his secrets with, Mokuba was the one and only person that knew the true Seto Kaiba--a young teen with no real childhood, a boy incapable of showing love and affection to anyone, a man afraid of being hurt when he bares his inner most feelings. That was the real Seto Kaiba, a child trapped in a man's body, unable to care because no one had taken the time to show him how; he only knew hatred for the cold world outside, because that is all it showed him. He had never seen the softer, gentler side of life, where someone other than his young brother cared about him and was willing to teach him what living truly was. There had to be just one person out there willing to do just that, teach him.
And that night, as another shooting star galloped across the midnight sky and Mokuba lay sleeping quietly in his bed, Seto Kaiba wished for that one person.
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"Attention, class," the teacher said, waiting all too patiently for the class to quiet. "Mr. Wheeler, please stop giving Mr. Taylor the choker hold. I want him to be conscious for this announcement."
Joey smiled apologetically, "Sorry, Ms. Mitsuhiko." He released Tristan, patting him playfully on the back. Both boys returned to their seats, awaiting Ms. Mitsuhiko's announcement.
Ms. Mitsuhiko smiled, "As you all know, autumn has begun. And to celebrate the new season, our school will be setting up booths at the Autumn Festival in Domino Park this year." She raised a hand to stop the eruption of cheers before they started, "I know this is the first year we will have a festival off school grounds, and therefore, chaperons will not be present. We are trusting you all to behave yourselves. Seeing as the city is hosting this event, there will be more than just students at the festival, so please, for the sake of everyone, do not start up any trouble." She fixed her keen brown eyes on Joey and Tristan, "That goes mainly for you two."
Joey laughed nervously, scratching his hair, "Aww, c'mon, Teach. We won't do anything." Several students snickered or giggled.
Ms. Mitsuhiko chuckled, "I know that, because Mr. Motou and Ms. Gardener will keep an eye on you," she looked atYugi and Tea, "won't they?"
Yugi nodded. "Of course."
The teacher smiled again, "Okay. You have the rest of this class session to decide on what our booth will be selling."
The class, as she suspected, burst into enthusiastic cheers, students rushing around to sit beside their friends. Naturally, Yugi, Tea, Joey and Tristan had formed their own little circle of desks and were already deep in coversation when Ms. Mitsuhiko interrupted with a quiet cough.
"Yugi, I don't suppose you know why Seto Kaiba has not been in class for the past two days?" she looked slightly worried, Seto never missed classes and he wasn't one of those trouble-makers who delighted in skipping class.
Yugi frowned in concentration, "No, I don't. I haven't seen him in a while." He shrugged apologetically, "Sorry, Ms. Mitsuhiko."
"It's all right," the teacher said, "Would you mind doing me a favor, though?"
"Not at all." Yugi replied with a grin. "What do you need me to do?"
Ms. Mitsuhiko smiled, gratitude shining in her eyes, "Could you take Seto's homework to his home? He's missed quite a bit of work, plus you can inform him about the Autumn Festival."
Yugi glanced at his friends for a second before looking back at the anxious teacher, "Sure, glad to help."
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"Aww man, Yug, why did we get stuck with deliverin' dis work to Kaiba?" Joey complained for the hundredth time that afternoon as he and Yugi, accompanied by Serenity, walked along the sidewalk in what they hoped was the right direction to Kaiba's home.
Yugi laughed at the blonde's dismay, answering with the same statement as the last ninety-nine times, "You didn't have to come along. It was your choice."
"But someone's gotta make sure Kaiba don't get outta line and starts insultin' ya." Joey retorted, grinning at the idea of being able to face off against Kaiba.
Yugi rolled his violet eyes, "Joey, it is his house, he has every right to get out of line. And I highly doubt he's going to insult me because I brought him his homework like Ms. Mitsuhiko asked." The spiky haired boy grinned victoriously when Joey made no reply.
Serenity, content just to listen to Yugi and her brother's conversation without giving input, occupied her time with trying to locate the general area of Kaiba's home on a small map of Domino City. Looking up, she spotted a street name she had just read on the map and that matched a name scribbled on the directions from Ms. Mitsuhiko. The neighbor they were in was rather ritsy, enormous houses sprawled on perfect lawns everywhere they looked.
"Hey, guys," Serenity interrupted Yugi and Joey's friendly argument, "I think it's down this street." She pointed in the direction the map and directions indicated they take.
Joey saluted Serenity smartly, "What eva ya say, Navigator!" He turned sharply on one heel, marching like a soldier, carrying an invisible rifle at his side.
Serenity brought a hand to her mouth in an attempt to stifle her giggles. Yugi didn't even try to muffle his laughter as Joey made perfect right angle turns, his trail an exact square.
Joey tried valiantly to keep a straight face as he continued his march, but the laughter proved too much for him, he brought a hand to his forehead in a crooked salute, "Sir, permission to stop marching."
Yugi, wiping a tear from his eye, cleared his throat and faced the blonde imposter soldier, "Permission granted, Private Wheeler."
"Sir, yes, sir, General Motor, err Motou!" Joey said, relaxing his posture so he was no longer ridgid as a board.
Yugi gave Joey a mock glare, "Hey, did you just make fun of my name?"
Joey looked to the Heavens in an attempt to appear innocent, "I wouldn't dream of it."
Serenity took the moment to peer down at the map and directions again, "All right, if you two are done, I've figured out where we have to go."
Joey slung an arm over his sister's shoulder, speaking in a low tone, "But, sis, we already figured out where we're goin'. We just need da directions."
Serenity ducked out from underneath Joey's arm, causing the blonde to lose his balance, "Well, in that case, I have figured out the directions." She smiled sweetly as Joey regained his composure. "It's this way!" She pointed down the street they stood on and resumed walking.
Yugi and Joey saluted Serenity's back, "Yes, sir, Navigator, sir!" Both boys suddenly realized Serenity wasn't bothering to wait for them. With a startled cry, they raced after the young girl, easily catching up to her steady pace.
A few turns and minor detours later, the trio arrived at a large white concrete wall with a towering iron rod gate set into it.
Serenity peered up the small name plaque hanging on the wall, "It says 'Kaiba', so this must be the place." She pointed to the metal gate, "It's open. Let's go in." Without waiting for either of the boys, she pushed the heavy iron ajar, stopping to stare in awe at the palace sized mansion a ways down the driveway.
"Geez! I knew Kaiba was rich, but not THAT rich!" Joey exclaimed, eyes wide with shock. The mansion had to be ten times the size of any of the other homes surrounding it.
Yugi, having suspected Kaiba would live in a place that size, laughed, "Staring at it isn't going to make it come to us like a dog. We have to walk up there." He pointed down the long winding driveway that seemed to stretch for miles under their feet.
Joey scratched his hair in frustration, "Aww man, I don't wanna walk dat far!" He glanced around and began to take the most direct route to the mansion, right across Kaiba's perfectly mowed green lawn.
Serenity gasped at her brother's audacity, "Joey! You can't do that!"
Joey stopped, turning to face his two motionless friends, "Do ya want to follow dat snake of a driveway or take da easy way?" He searched the ground for a moment, "I don't see a sign dat says we can't walk on da grass."
Serenity glanced at her surroundings, makig sure no one was watching, before she hurried to catch up with Joey, "Okay, if we get in trouble for this, I'm blaming you, Joey."
The blonde shrugged, "Fine." He continued his trek across the large span of grass.
Yugi, wanting to remain the polite boy that we was, chose to take the pathway rather than the lawn. He was forced to jog at a hasty pace just to remain level with the calmly strolling Wheeler siblings.
By the time the trio reached the large, dark, double oak doors, Yugi was completely out of breath, almost doubled over with exhaustion.
"Now...I...know...why Kaiba...is so...in...shape!" Yugi gasped between breaths, wiping sweat from his brow. {How does Kaiba do this everyday!?}
Joey patted Yugi's back, "Shoulda tooken da easy road, Yug."
Yugi frowned slightly, "Just...knock..." He gestured weakly to the front doors.
Joey surveyed the door for a moment, eyes falling on the two silver Blue Eyes White Dragon door-knockers rearing their majestic heads from just above the center of the both doors. The blonde grasped one of the silver rings hanging beneath the metallic dragon, knocking three times.
"Come in! It's open!" A voice that could only be Mokuba's called from inside.
Another voice, most definitely belonging to Seto, could also be heard. "Mokuba, how do you know it's not a masked murderer?"
As Joey hesitantly opened the door, Mokuba giggled, "A masked murderer? Since when do they knock?"
The two brothers were in the entrance hall, Seto holding Mokuba upside down by his waist, the younger one trying to escape his brother's grasp. Both were laughing, completely drenched from head to toe, remnants of colorful water balloons on their clothes and in their hair.
Joey was staring open mouthed at Kaiba laughing and playing, dumbfounded at the fact that Kaiba COULD actually laugh, let alone play around. Serenity had a hand over her mouth, muffling her giggles.
Yugi--having gained his breath--tilted his head to one side, watching the pair, "Uhh, hey, Kaiba."
Seto looked up with mild surprise, setting Mokuba to his feet. He no longer was the carefree, cheerful teenage boy he had been but a moment ago, but the cold, heartless CEO. He narrowed his eyes, glaring at the three visitors. "What are you doing here?"
Yugi blinked, slightly startled at Seto's sudden mood change. "Well, Ms. Mitsuhiko asked us to bring by the homework you missed the last two days." He held up the paperclipped packet of work. "Why weren't you in school?"
Mokuba grinned up at his brother before looking back at Yugi with his bright violet-gray eyes, "Because I was sick, so Seto stayed with me 'til I got better. Right, big brother?" He peered up at Seto.
Mokuba's question brought Seto out of his thoughts, he had been focusing all his attention on Serenity, who had knelt beside Mokuba to take out the pieces of water balloon from his raven locks. Blinking to clear his thoughts, Seto looked at Mokuba, "Yea, right." He absently ruffled the boy's hair, withdrawing his hand quickly as his fingers brushed Serenity's soft, delicate ones.
Serenity pulled her hand away from Mokuba's head, trying to hide the blush that had appeared on her face by tilting her head down. Unbeknownst to her, Seto was doing the same.
Joey had seen the scene, but he immediately told himself it was nothing; absolutely nothing. Just a minor slip-up by Kaiba.
But Mokuba, he knew his brother all to well. Seto didn't blush around girls; he was always plagued by pretty girls determined to become his girlfriend to improve their social status and he just turned them down without a second glance. If Seto had become flustered by a simple brush of fingers with such a quiet girl, there was definitely a chance for more than a small friendship. The raven haired boy smirked, quickly dubbing himself Seto's new matchmaker.
Yugi, being the adorable naive boy that he is, was completely oblivious to the pair's awkward moment. He just continued talking as if nothing had happened, "So, Kaiba. That's why we're here. Ms. Mitushiko wanted me to give you all the work you missed," he held out the packet for Seto to take, "And to let you know that our school is setting up booths for the Autumn Festival."
Mokuba's eyes suddenly lit up, "The Autumn Festival? Awesome! We go every year, right, Seto?" He tugged Seto's sleeve, again bringing the teen out of his thoughts. "Does that mean I can get a new kimono?"
Seto gave Mokuba one of his rare smiles, "Yea, you can get a new one."
The young boy hopped up and down joyfully, "Hooray!"
Serenity smiled at the small boy, "What are you going to have on it? Mine always has lilies, my favorite flower."
Mokuba stopped bouncing to think over the question with an air of seriousness, "Hmm, I think I'm going to have dragons like Seto's always does."
Seto, flipping through the work packet with a bored look in his eyes, smirked at Mokuba's response. Without bothering to say anything more to his guests, Seto left the entrance hall, closing the door behind him as he entered his office.
Mokuba glanced at the door to Seto's office with a slightly annoyed frown, "I guess Seto's done talking. I'd like to talk more, but I should change out of these clothes before I get sick again." He grinned apologetically. "Next time, I won't challenge Seto to a water balloon war if I know people are coming over."
Joey, nodding in comprehension, ruffled the boy's damp locks, "All right. We should be goin' anyways. See ya, kid." He waved as he walked out the front door.
"Bye, Mokuba!" Yugi called as he followed his blonde friend.
"See you at the festival, Mokuba, hopefully sooner." Serenity said with a soft smile, waving as she closed the door behind her.
Mokuba grinned mischievously to himself, "If everything goes as I plan, sooner than later." He snickered, plans to get his brother with the kind and cute Serenity developing in his not-so-innocent mind.
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Seto, having locked himself in his office and after changing out of his soaked clothing, flipped through the packet. Although there was a great deal of pages, it would take very little time for him to complete it. Well, under normal circumstances, he would have been able to complete it quickly, if his thoughts weren't focused entirely on Serenity.
{Dammit, why now? The last thing I need is another girl fawning over me, it took me months to get those others to leave me alone!} He sighed, rubbing his temple with two fingers in an attempt to ease the inevitable headache. {Why the Hell did I get so damn flustered when I accidently touched her hand? I don't like her...do I? No! Girls are nothing but a waste of my time, all they want is my money and status! They're scavengers! They're vultures! And...even if I did, though I don't, I have no time for her. I'm making a mountain out of a mole hole...} He ground his teeth in frustration, his headache quickly developing into a migraine, {And why, of all people, did it have to be Wheeler's sister!?} Laying his head on his arms, Seto exhaled deeply, {Ah, Hell. This is just great...}
And thus, the work packet went unfinished, completely forgotten by the frustrated, baffled--and love-sick--CEO.
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Later that night, Serenity sat at the small white desk in her room, her journal open before. A pink pen held tightly in her hand, hovered just above the paper.
She sighed both in frustration and wistfully, {So, what do I write? 'Dear diary, today Seto Kaiba touched by hand and it made my heart skip a beat'? No! I can't put that. I have no feelings for him, the only reason my heart skipped was because it startled me. That's all.} Her mental tone wasn't nearly convincing enough, it probably couldn't have fooled the most ignorant person in the world. {But I love Duke, and he loves me. I can't be faithless. Though I'm not saying I am faithless, I don't like Kaiba. He's cruel, cold, uncaring and just a bully.} She closed her eyes, trying to erase all thoughts of the chocolate haired teen, {He can't be so bad, I did see him smile at Mokuba. No one who can smile like that is totally heartless.} She dropped the pen, covering her face with her hands in frustration, {This is so frustrating! Why am I even thinking about Kaiba? Duke is the only one I care about, it's not like Kaiba's even that close of a friend. Oh no! What if Duke finds out? He'll be so hurt, I can't do that to poor Duke. Do what, I have no feelings whatsoever for Kaiba.} The tiny, ever reasonable voice inside her head suddenly spoke up, {Then why do you keep thinking about him?}
Giving up after her pointless, unconvincing mental argument, Serenity closed her journal without entering anything for the day. She threw herself down on her pale pink bed, hugging a stuffed rabbit to her chest as she drifted off to sleep, mind still whirling with confused thoughts.
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KT: What did you think? I've never been great at angst or romance, this is my first. Please review and tell me what needs improvement. A note on Mokuba's "plans". I always thought of the kid as being sweet and innocent, but when it comes to girls and his brother, I just see him as trying to meddle with Seto's love life (seeing as Seto doesn't really have one despite his great looks.) So, Mokuba, can we say 'manipulative'?
Mokuba: Manipulative.
KT: Hooray! It's time to do some major meddling!
Mokuba: Yay! Seto isn't gonna know what hit him!
KT: Hehe, this is gonna be great, my black haired muse.
Mokuba: Yup. So please review, nice readers!
Disclaimer: I don't own Yu-Gi-Oh! or any of the characters or products. I do not make money from these stories, I just write to entertain.
Summary: Serenity and Duke are a couple now but Serenity is unsure if she even loves him. Her insecurities are worsened when the last person she ever suspected confesses his love to her during the Autumn Festival. But was the confession truly heartfelt or just a result of too much sake?
Note: I have no clue in Hell where I got the idea for this fic, I don't even know if the inspiration will last long enough for me to complete it, but I pray it can develop into my first love fic with an actual plot.
Authoress Note:
I've always been a fan of the SetoXSerenity pairing. But I've heard a large number of people argue that Seto is far older than Serenity, and the girl is more along Mokuba's age(Personally I see Mokuba with the cute and wacky blonde, Rebecca). But no one seems to take into consideration the fact that this anime is originated in Japan, where it is quite common for older men to marry younger women, and it is not frowned upon. Plus, Duke and Tristan are only a year younger than Seto, yet they both want Serenity, only Joey seems to get annoyed by that, which is understanable seeing as he is Serenity's brother and guardian. Now, you're more than entitled to your opinion, I just felt like stating and defending mine. Heh heh, enjoy the story my beloved readers!(And just because I can, here are the other pairings I personally like: Yugi/YamiXTea, JoeyXMai, BakuraXMalik. No, I am not one of those Yaoi-haters, I'm actually a fan of it.)
"Speech"
{Thoughts}
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Chapter 1: Shooting Stars, Imposter Soldiers and Water Balloons
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The perfectly smooth silver orb of the full moon shed a soft pale light on Domino Park. The park acquired an eerie silence after the departure of playing children, protective mothers, thrillseeking skateboarders and roller-bladers. The red, orange and brown leaves of the trees covered the soft grass in inky black shadows. Two lone figures dared to tread the snaking white paths that wound their way through the very heart of the blackened Domino Park.
The couple was enjoying the romantic silence, watching the bright stars shine above. One star broke free of its stationary dance spot, racing across the sky with a cerulean snowy tail streaming elegantly behind it.
"Oh, Duke, look at the shooting star!" Serenity Wheeler whispered, bright eyes following the swift star as she gripped Duke's hand tighter.
Duke Devlin smiled one of his girl-winning smiles, keeping his emerald eyes focused soley on Serenity's smooth, serene face, "Make a wish."
Serenity closed her eyes, praying to the Heavens, {Please let me find my one and only someone.} She squeezed Duke's hand tighter in sudden fear and anxiety, {Even if it isn't Duke...}
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The icy blue eyes of Seto Kaiba also watched the shooting star as it completed its trek across the night sky, but he made no wish, not yet. He sat in a window seat, eyes focused on the outside world hazed over by the glass. A few feet away, tucked warmly in his bed, slept Mokuba Kaiba, Seto's cherished younger brother. The boy was finally sleeping soundly after hours of fever-induced nightmares.
Seto had found Mokuba sick in bed with a fever of one hundred and two. All day and night Seto had sat by his little brother's side. He constantly put fresh cool water on the small washcloth placed over Mokuba's forehead. Everytime Mokuba awoke, often calling out for his brother, Seto was there, comforting and quieting the frightened boy.
Seto shifted his cold gaze to Mokuba, his normally icy eyes softening into pools of deep blue. With uncharacteristic delicacy, Seto brushed locks of raven colored hair from Mokuba's sleeping face and replaced the drying cloth with a cooler one.
Mokuba's violet-gray eyes fluttered open. He blinked sleepily up at his brother, "Seto?"
Seto smiled down at the boy, "Go back to sleep, kid. You need your rest." He patted Mokuba gently on the head.
Mokuba smiled weakly, "Okay, big brother." He closed his eyes, almost immediately falling asleep, feeling completely secure under his brother's valiant vigil.
Seto relaxed into a large armchair, his eyes not at all sleepy as he remained awake to watch over his brother. His brother, he was the only person in the world that mattered to Seto, there was no cute female classmate Seto showed kindness to, there were no loyal friends Seto shared his secrets with, Mokuba was the one and only person that knew the true Seto Kaiba--a young teen with no real childhood, a boy incapable of showing love and affection to anyone, a man afraid of being hurt when he bares his inner most feelings. That was the real Seto Kaiba, a child trapped in a man's body, unable to care because no one had taken the time to show him how; he only knew hatred for the cold world outside, because that is all it showed him. He had never seen the softer, gentler side of life, where someone other than his young brother cared about him and was willing to teach him what living truly was. There had to be just one person out there willing to do just that, teach him.
And that night, as another shooting star galloped across the midnight sky and Mokuba lay sleeping quietly in his bed, Seto Kaiba wished for that one person.
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"Attention, class," the teacher said, waiting all too patiently for the class to quiet. "Mr. Wheeler, please stop giving Mr. Taylor the choker hold. I want him to be conscious for this announcement."
Joey smiled apologetically, "Sorry, Ms. Mitsuhiko." He released Tristan, patting him playfully on the back. Both boys returned to their seats, awaiting Ms. Mitsuhiko's announcement.
Ms. Mitsuhiko smiled, "As you all know, autumn has begun. And to celebrate the new season, our school will be setting up booths at the Autumn Festival in Domino Park this year." She raised a hand to stop the eruption of cheers before they started, "I know this is the first year we will have a festival off school grounds, and therefore, chaperons will not be present. We are trusting you all to behave yourselves. Seeing as the city is hosting this event, there will be more than just students at the festival, so please, for the sake of everyone, do not start up any trouble." She fixed her keen brown eyes on Joey and Tristan, "That goes mainly for you two."
Joey laughed nervously, scratching his hair, "Aww, c'mon, Teach. We won't do anything." Several students snickered or giggled.
Ms. Mitsuhiko chuckled, "I know that, because Mr. Motou and Ms. Gardener will keep an eye on you," she looked atYugi and Tea, "won't they?"
Yugi nodded. "Of course."
The teacher smiled again, "Okay. You have the rest of this class session to decide on what our booth will be selling."
The class, as she suspected, burst into enthusiastic cheers, students rushing around to sit beside their friends. Naturally, Yugi, Tea, Joey and Tristan had formed their own little circle of desks and were already deep in coversation when Ms. Mitsuhiko interrupted with a quiet cough.
"Yugi, I don't suppose you know why Seto Kaiba has not been in class for the past two days?" she looked slightly worried, Seto never missed classes and he wasn't one of those trouble-makers who delighted in skipping class.
Yugi frowned in concentration, "No, I don't. I haven't seen him in a while." He shrugged apologetically, "Sorry, Ms. Mitsuhiko."
"It's all right," the teacher said, "Would you mind doing me a favor, though?"
"Not at all." Yugi replied with a grin. "What do you need me to do?"
Ms. Mitsuhiko smiled, gratitude shining in her eyes, "Could you take Seto's homework to his home? He's missed quite a bit of work, plus you can inform him about the Autumn Festival."
Yugi glanced at his friends for a second before looking back at the anxious teacher, "Sure, glad to help."
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"Aww man, Yug, why did we get stuck with deliverin' dis work to Kaiba?" Joey complained for the hundredth time that afternoon as he and Yugi, accompanied by Serenity, walked along the sidewalk in what they hoped was the right direction to Kaiba's home.
Yugi laughed at the blonde's dismay, answering with the same statement as the last ninety-nine times, "You didn't have to come along. It was your choice."
"But someone's gotta make sure Kaiba don't get outta line and starts insultin' ya." Joey retorted, grinning at the idea of being able to face off against Kaiba.
Yugi rolled his violet eyes, "Joey, it is his house, he has every right to get out of line. And I highly doubt he's going to insult me because I brought him his homework like Ms. Mitsuhiko asked." The spiky haired boy grinned victoriously when Joey made no reply.
Serenity, content just to listen to Yugi and her brother's conversation without giving input, occupied her time with trying to locate the general area of Kaiba's home on a small map of Domino City. Looking up, she spotted a street name she had just read on the map and that matched a name scribbled on the directions from Ms. Mitsuhiko. The neighbor they were in was rather ritsy, enormous houses sprawled on perfect lawns everywhere they looked.
"Hey, guys," Serenity interrupted Yugi and Joey's friendly argument, "I think it's down this street." She pointed in the direction the map and directions indicated they take.
Joey saluted Serenity smartly, "What eva ya say, Navigator!" He turned sharply on one heel, marching like a soldier, carrying an invisible rifle at his side.
Serenity brought a hand to her mouth in an attempt to stifle her giggles. Yugi didn't even try to muffle his laughter as Joey made perfect right angle turns, his trail an exact square.
Joey tried valiantly to keep a straight face as he continued his march, but the laughter proved too much for him, he brought a hand to his forehead in a crooked salute, "Sir, permission to stop marching."
Yugi, wiping a tear from his eye, cleared his throat and faced the blonde imposter soldier, "Permission granted, Private Wheeler."
"Sir, yes, sir, General Motor, err Motou!" Joey said, relaxing his posture so he was no longer ridgid as a board.
Yugi gave Joey a mock glare, "Hey, did you just make fun of my name?"
Joey looked to the Heavens in an attempt to appear innocent, "I wouldn't dream of it."
Serenity took the moment to peer down at the map and directions again, "All right, if you two are done, I've figured out where we have to go."
Joey slung an arm over his sister's shoulder, speaking in a low tone, "But, sis, we already figured out where we're goin'. We just need da directions."
Serenity ducked out from underneath Joey's arm, causing the blonde to lose his balance, "Well, in that case, I have figured out the directions." She smiled sweetly as Joey regained his composure. "It's this way!" She pointed down the street they stood on and resumed walking.
Yugi and Joey saluted Serenity's back, "Yes, sir, Navigator, sir!" Both boys suddenly realized Serenity wasn't bothering to wait for them. With a startled cry, they raced after the young girl, easily catching up to her steady pace.
A few turns and minor detours later, the trio arrived at a large white concrete wall with a towering iron rod gate set into it.
Serenity peered up the small name plaque hanging on the wall, "It says 'Kaiba', so this must be the place." She pointed to the metal gate, "It's open. Let's go in." Without waiting for either of the boys, she pushed the heavy iron ajar, stopping to stare in awe at the palace sized mansion a ways down the driveway.
"Geez! I knew Kaiba was rich, but not THAT rich!" Joey exclaimed, eyes wide with shock. The mansion had to be ten times the size of any of the other homes surrounding it.
Yugi, having suspected Kaiba would live in a place that size, laughed, "Staring at it isn't going to make it come to us like a dog. We have to walk up there." He pointed down the long winding driveway that seemed to stretch for miles under their feet.
Joey scratched his hair in frustration, "Aww man, I don't wanna walk dat far!" He glanced around and began to take the most direct route to the mansion, right across Kaiba's perfectly mowed green lawn.
Serenity gasped at her brother's audacity, "Joey! You can't do that!"
Joey stopped, turning to face his two motionless friends, "Do ya want to follow dat snake of a driveway or take da easy way?" He searched the ground for a moment, "I don't see a sign dat says we can't walk on da grass."
Serenity glanced at her surroundings, makig sure no one was watching, before she hurried to catch up with Joey, "Okay, if we get in trouble for this, I'm blaming you, Joey."
The blonde shrugged, "Fine." He continued his trek across the large span of grass.
Yugi, wanting to remain the polite boy that we was, chose to take the pathway rather than the lawn. He was forced to jog at a hasty pace just to remain level with the calmly strolling Wheeler siblings.
By the time the trio reached the large, dark, double oak doors, Yugi was completely out of breath, almost doubled over with exhaustion.
"Now...I...know...why Kaiba...is so...in...shape!" Yugi gasped between breaths, wiping sweat from his brow. {How does Kaiba do this everyday!?}
Joey patted Yugi's back, "Shoulda tooken da easy road, Yug."
Yugi frowned slightly, "Just...knock..." He gestured weakly to the front doors.
Joey surveyed the door for a moment, eyes falling on the two silver Blue Eyes White Dragon door-knockers rearing their majestic heads from just above the center of the both doors. The blonde grasped one of the silver rings hanging beneath the metallic dragon, knocking three times.
"Come in! It's open!" A voice that could only be Mokuba's called from inside.
Another voice, most definitely belonging to Seto, could also be heard. "Mokuba, how do you know it's not a masked murderer?"
As Joey hesitantly opened the door, Mokuba giggled, "A masked murderer? Since when do they knock?"
The two brothers were in the entrance hall, Seto holding Mokuba upside down by his waist, the younger one trying to escape his brother's grasp. Both were laughing, completely drenched from head to toe, remnants of colorful water balloons on their clothes and in their hair.
Joey was staring open mouthed at Kaiba laughing and playing, dumbfounded at the fact that Kaiba COULD actually laugh, let alone play around. Serenity had a hand over her mouth, muffling her giggles.
Yugi--having gained his breath--tilted his head to one side, watching the pair, "Uhh, hey, Kaiba."
Seto looked up with mild surprise, setting Mokuba to his feet. He no longer was the carefree, cheerful teenage boy he had been but a moment ago, but the cold, heartless CEO. He narrowed his eyes, glaring at the three visitors. "What are you doing here?"
Yugi blinked, slightly startled at Seto's sudden mood change. "Well, Ms. Mitsuhiko asked us to bring by the homework you missed the last two days." He held up the paperclipped packet of work. "Why weren't you in school?"
Mokuba grinned up at his brother before looking back at Yugi with his bright violet-gray eyes, "Because I was sick, so Seto stayed with me 'til I got better. Right, big brother?" He peered up at Seto.
Mokuba's question brought Seto out of his thoughts, he had been focusing all his attention on Serenity, who had knelt beside Mokuba to take out the pieces of water balloon from his raven locks. Blinking to clear his thoughts, Seto looked at Mokuba, "Yea, right." He absently ruffled the boy's hair, withdrawing his hand quickly as his fingers brushed Serenity's soft, delicate ones.
Serenity pulled her hand away from Mokuba's head, trying to hide the blush that had appeared on her face by tilting her head down. Unbeknownst to her, Seto was doing the same.
Joey had seen the scene, but he immediately told himself it was nothing; absolutely nothing. Just a minor slip-up by Kaiba.
But Mokuba, he knew his brother all to well. Seto didn't blush around girls; he was always plagued by pretty girls determined to become his girlfriend to improve their social status and he just turned them down without a second glance. If Seto had become flustered by a simple brush of fingers with such a quiet girl, there was definitely a chance for more than a small friendship. The raven haired boy smirked, quickly dubbing himself Seto's new matchmaker.
Yugi, being the adorable naive boy that he is, was completely oblivious to the pair's awkward moment. He just continued talking as if nothing had happened, "So, Kaiba. That's why we're here. Ms. Mitushiko wanted me to give you all the work you missed," he held out the packet for Seto to take, "And to let you know that our school is setting up booths for the Autumn Festival."
Mokuba's eyes suddenly lit up, "The Autumn Festival? Awesome! We go every year, right, Seto?" He tugged Seto's sleeve, again bringing the teen out of his thoughts. "Does that mean I can get a new kimono?"
Seto gave Mokuba one of his rare smiles, "Yea, you can get a new one."
The young boy hopped up and down joyfully, "Hooray!"
Serenity smiled at the small boy, "What are you going to have on it? Mine always has lilies, my favorite flower."
Mokuba stopped bouncing to think over the question with an air of seriousness, "Hmm, I think I'm going to have dragons like Seto's always does."
Seto, flipping through the work packet with a bored look in his eyes, smirked at Mokuba's response. Without bothering to say anything more to his guests, Seto left the entrance hall, closing the door behind him as he entered his office.
Mokuba glanced at the door to Seto's office with a slightly annoyed frown, "I guess Seto's done talking. I'd like to talk more, but I should change out of these clothes before I get sick again." He grinned apologetically. "Next time, I won't challenge Seto to a water balloon war if I know people are coming over."
Joey, nodding in comprehension, ruffled the boy's damp locks, "All right. We should be goin' anyways. See ya, kid." He waved as he walked out the front door.
"Bye, Mokuba!" Yugi called as he followed his blonde friend.
"See you at the festival, Mokuba, hopefully sooner." Serenity said with a soft smile, waving as she closed the door behind her.
Mokuba grinned mischievously to himself, "If everything goes as I plan, sooner than later." He snickered, plans to get his brother with the kind and cute Serenity developing in his not-so-innocent mind.
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Seto, having locked himself in his office and after changing out of his soaked clothing, flipped through the packet. Although there was a great deal of pages, it would take very little time for him to complete it. Well, under normal circumstances, he would have been able to complete it quickly, if his thoughts weren't focused entirely on Serenity.
{Dammit, why now? The last thing I need is another girl fawning over me, it took me months to get those others to leave me alone!} He sighed, rubbing his temple with two fingers in an attempt to ease the inevitable headache. {Why the Hell did I get so damn flustered when I accidently touched her hand? I don't like her...do I? No! Girls are nothing but a waste of my time, all they want is my money and status! They're scavengers! They're vultures! And...even if I did, though I don't, I have no time for her. I'm making a mountain out of a mole hole...} He ground his teeth in frustration, his headache quickly developing into a migraine, {And why, of all people, did it have to be Wheeler's sister!?} Laying his head on his arms, Seto exhaled deeply, {Ah, Hell. This is just great...}
And thus, the work packet went unfinished, completely forgotten by the frustrated, baffled--and love-sick--CEO.
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Later that night, Serenity sat at the small white desk in her room, her journal open before. A pink pen held tightly in her hand, hovered just above the paper.
She sighed both in frustration and wistfully, {So, what do I write? 'Dear diary, today Seto Kaiba touched by hand and it made my heart skip a beat'? No! I can't put that. I have no feelings for him, the only reason my heart skipped was because it startled me. That's all.} Her mental tone wasn't nearly convincing enough, it probably couldn't have fooled the most ignorant person in the world. {But I love Duke, and he loves me. I can't be faithless. Though I'm not saying I am faithless, I don't like Kaiba. He's cruel, cold, uncaring and just a bully.} She closed her eyes, trying to erase all thoughts of the chocolate haired teen, {He can't be so bad, I did see him smile at Mokuba. No one who can smile like that is totally heartless.} She dropped the pen, covering her face with her hands in frustration, {This is so frustrating! Why am I even thinking about Kaiba? Duke is the only one I care about, it's not like Kaiba's even that close of a friend. Oh no! What if Duke finds out? He'll be so hurt, I can't do that to poor Duke. Do what, I have no feelings whatsoever for Kaiba.} The tiny, ever reasonable voice inside her head suddenly spoke up, {Then why do you keep thinking about him?}
Giving up after her pointless, unconvincing mental argument, Serenity closed her journal without entering anything for the day. She threw herself down on her pale pink bed, hugging a stuffed rabbit to her chest as she drifted off to sleep, mind still whirling with confused thoughts.
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KT: What did you think? I've never been great at angst or romance, this is my first. Please review and tell me what needs improvement. A note on Mokuba's "plans". I always thought of the kid as being sweet and innocent, but when it comes to girls and his brother, I just see him as trying to meddle with Seto's love life (seeing as Seto doesn't really have one despite his great looks.) So, Mokuba, can we say 'manipulative'?
Mokuba: Manipulative.
KT: Hooray! It's time to do some major meddling!
Mokuba: Yay! Seto isn't gonna know what hit him!
KT: Hehe, this is gonna be great, my black haired muse.
Mokuba: Yup. So please review, nice readers!