Hello everyone! It is I, Seren147, and here is an update for you all and sorry it's coming so late. Enjoy!
P.S. I don't own YGO so don't ask. Just like every chapter.
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16. Memories & Questions
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Her eyes fixed dejectedly on the floor, Serenity made her way slowly down Domino High School's hallway, towards the exit. School had just let out and it had been at least a week since her last run-in with Kaiba, and she still didn't know what to do about the situation.
'I'm not sure if I should cry...or be happy...or just...forget about him...I'm so confused, I wish this never would have happened to me...'
Suddenly she gasped as she felt something, or rather, someone, run into her.
"Hey! Watch where you're going!"
Serenity looked up and saw a girl she didn't know. "Sorry..." she muttered quickly, before going around the strange girl. She could hear the girl muttering profanities about her as she walked away.
And that's how it had been going for the past week. She was just feeling so...out of it lately. Trying to deal with Kaiba's rejection, trying to look happy and normal in front of Joey, trying to get away from Duke's advances...it was all beginning to be too much. She felt spread thin, and didn't even know what to do about it, let alone how to fix it.
She sighed again and continued walking towards the exit.
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'Serenity...'
Kaiba looked towards where the girl was walking, coming slowly toward him. 'Not that she knows that...'
Indeed, she didn't even notice that Kaiba had stopped a few feet up ahead in the hallway. She was so absorbed in her own tired thoughts that he completely escaped her view.
He watched as she walked numbly by him without looking up, studying her as she went by. 'Did I do the right thing...?' he thought, thinking back to their falling out the previous week. 'Maybe...maybe she wasn't so bad...'
Kaiba shook his head slightly, trying to shake out the thoughts. He didn't want to think that maybe he had made the wrong decision, that maybe he did want to be around her...at least a little bit anyway. He couldn't afford to make bad decisions.
'No...it was right...it had to have been right...'
Letting out a sigh of his own, he glanced at Serenity one more time and then turned and headed in the opposite direction, on his way to KaibaCorp.
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"Hey Hon, what's wrong with you?"
Serenity looked up after Mai had spoken. Mai had graciously offered to give Serenity a ride home in her new blue Mustang convertible so she wouldn't have to walk all the way home by herself. She also didn't mind giving Serenity a ride home since she was on her way to the Wheeler residence anyway...she had a date with Joey that afternoon.
Serenity sighed. "Oh nothing, Mai. I guess I'm just a little bit under the weather."
"Under the weather, huh? Then that must be one huge storm you're under. You haven't seemed like yourself lately."
Serenity smiled wistfully, tucking some of her hair behind her ear. She was glad that Mai had the top up on her convertible otherwise it would be blowing all over the place.
"Well Mai...do you ever have those times where you just don't feel like yourself? Where everything seems to be going wrong and you just don't know what to do about it?" She glanced up at Mai, wondering how the blond woman would answer.
"Do I know what that's like? Serenity, you're talking about the story of my life. I know I don't talk about my past all that much, but I didn't exactly grow up in a wonderful loving environment you know." She paused and glanced from the road over to the brown haired girl sitting in the passenger seat. "Although I would have killed to have had someone to love and protect me back then like Joey does with you now."
Serenity smiled. "Yeah, I know, Joey's great." She paused and sighed. "But I can't rely on him forever...he can't always be there for me because he's never going to know how to fix everything that I'm dealing with...Joey just isn't good with some things."
"Hmmmm, well I would say about the only thing Joey isn't good with with you so far is when it comes to you dating." Mai let out a quick laugh. "You know how jealous he gets of Duke and Tristan when they come around, and they're his friends!"
"Yeah, I know..." Serenity replied, "I didn't mean that..."
"So just what do you mean?" Mai questioned.
"Well..." Serenity hesitated. 'Do I really want to share these feelings?' she thought to herself, 'I mean...I trust Mai...but maybe I should just keep this to myself...'
Mai glanced over again at Serenity and saw the look of deep thought on her face. 'Poor thing...whatever she's going through, it must be big...'
"Come on Serenity..." Mai said softly, "I can see that this is important." Serenity looked up at Mai, surprised at the change of tone that Mai's voice took on.
"Mai?"
"Believe me, Serenity, it will feel better if you just get it off your chest. Let me help you. I may be your brother's girlfriend now, but that doesn't mean that I can't still be your friend. And..." Mai paused and winked at Serenity, "...that also doesn't mean that I have to tell him everything either."
Serenity smiled at Mai's words, the first real smile that she had given in a week. It felt so strange...to have her face move that way again...
"Mai..." Serenity began, looking down at her hands that rested in her lap, "Maybe you're right..."
"Mm-hmm." Came the reply.
"But," Serenity went on, seriously, "you have to promise not to tell anyone. Especially Joey. Something happened Mai...and he would absolutely freak if he found out..."
"Ok..." Mai said worriedly. 'Something happened?' she thought to herself, 'Something...bad?'
Seeing the look on Mai's face, Serenity quickly tried to assure her. "Nothing that bad Mai, just some...girl issues...I suppose." Serenity tried to give Mai a reassuring smile. "You'll see."
"Ok..." Mai replied. "We'll stop somewhere. I know a small café up ahead that we can get a table at and you can unload everything that's bothering you. It's not good to carry it all around you know."
"Yeah...I know..." Serenity answered.
"Well, I'm glad that you're going to tell someone anyway, and I promise that I won't betray your trust. Now..." Mai gestured to her handbag that lay by Serenity's feet. "Reach in there and hand me my cell phone. I gotta call Joey and tell him that we'll be a little late...girl stuff, you know."
Serenity reached into Mai's purse to find her phone and smiled. "Yeah, I know." She found what she was looking for and handed it to Mai. "And Mai?"
"Yeah?" Mai answered, taking the cell phone from Serenity.
"Thanks."
"No problem."
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Kaiba stood in the elevator, rubbing his temple as he waited for it to ascend to the top floor. He had massive amounts of paperwork waiting for him in his office, as well as a massive headache now to go along with it. His torso still hurt slightly, although he had been released from the hospital a week before. He gingerly brought his hand to where his wound was still healing, and grimaced slightly as the pain flared up. For some reason, seeing Serenity in the hall earlier that day had intensified it.
"Just what was wrong with her anyway?" Kaiba muttered to himself, shifting his eyes to look at the digital numbers change as the floors were counted off. He sighed again, a habit that he never had before but seemed to have picked up quite recently. Removing his hand from his stomach and letting it drop to his side, he leaned back against the elevator wall and closed his eyes. He felt more tired than normal lately, and he wasn't sure if it was a result from the operation he had a few weeks ago, or the bandaged wound he had now to show for it, or if it was just the endless thoughts he had of that girl running through his mind. She just wouldn't leave him alone, even when she did leave him alone. She always seemed to be in his thoughts lately, and she was affecting the way he did business, the way he lived his life. And that was unacceptable.
As the elevator's automated voice informed him that he had reached the top floor of KaibaCorp, Kaiba reopened his eyes and began to prepare himself for a long evening at work. Even though he had just gotten out of school for the day, he still had loads of things to do in front of him before the night was over. Life wasn't as simple as homework anymore. It never had been for him.
Walking toward his office door, he went over a mental checklist of what he had to do. 'Let's see...there are the investment papers to look over, the company's charts to approve, that meeting to set up..."
"Nii-sama! Surprise!"
Kaiba jerked out of his thoughts as he walked into his office, the place where he was supposed to spend the rest of his night...in quiet.
"Mokuba." Kaiba stated, annoyed at this unexpected interruption. "What are you doing here?" He frowned at his little brother as he set his briefcase on top of his desk. "Shouldn't you be at soccer practice by now or something?"
Mokuba smiled and shook his head. "Nope. It was cancelled today because the coach got sick. I was bored so I decided to come see you."
"Mokuba, you know that I don't like to be disturbed when I'm at my office. I have work to do. I can't entertain you." Kaiba sighed again as he sank into his chair and leaned back. He closed his eyes once more and brought his hand to his temple again. 'Man...it's really starting to throb now...' he thought.
"I know," Mokuba answered in a quiet voice. "I know all your rules Seto."
Surprised at his mood change, Kaiba opened his eyes and looked over at where Mokuba was sitting across from him.
"Yeah? Then why are you here if you know what I'm going to say already?"
"Well..." Mokuba began, "I actually came here for a reason other than being bored. I really wanted to talk to you about something."
"And what's that?" Kaiba asked.
"Well...you've seemed really down lately Seto. Not yourself. Is there something going on that I should know about?"
Kaiba smirked. "Nothing other then what is usually going on in my life. Running a company takes hard work Mokuba. And you know how hard I work at it."
"I know big brother, but is that really healthy? You just got released from the hospital not too long ago..."
"Yes, I'm all too aware of that Mokuba. But it doesn't change the fact that I still have a company to run, and it doesn't change the fact that I'm still going to do it."
"I know that, Seto. I wasn't born yesterday. I know that you won't quit, even if it kills you. That's just who you are."
"Good. I'm glad that you understand." Kaiba turned and sat up straight in his chair, opening his briefcase and beginning to take files out. "Now, if you don't mind, why don't you run along and play a videogame or do your homework or whatever it is you do after school...I need to go over these papers." He looked up at Mokuba expectantly, and was surprised to see him wincing. "Mokuba...what's wrong?"
Mokuba just looked down at the carpeting on the floor, not responding.
"Mokuba?" Kaiba tried again, perplexed at his behavior.
"What's wrong? What's wrong?" Mokuba suddenly exclaimed, standing up quickly from the seat in front of Kaiba's desk, "You're what's wrong! You're so busy here all the time; you don't even know what I do after school! You never come to my soccer games, you're never around the mansion anymore, and I bet you don't even know what my hobbies are! Do you even know what my favorite color is? I'm your brother Seto! Not some stupid obstacle or something to be 'scheduled in'!"
"I know that Mokuba," Kaiba growled, "but you also know that I'm not like other people. I'm not like your friends brothers; I can't afford to be like them! You know I have to work, that I have to run this company. Would you rather me let this corporation sink into the ground while I watch some stupid soccer game? I can't allow that!"
Mokuba gritted his teeth and looked away. He had gotten upset at his brother in the past for never being there, for changing on him the way he did, for not being like he was in the past...but he had never gotten this upset before. But this time it was different. This time...he had seen a side of his brother that he had never experienced before, even when they were little. And it was all because of that girl.
"Seto..." Mokuba started, looking back at his older brother and trying to control himself, "I still didn't tell you why I came here today. This...this is part of it...but...I have something else to say as well."
"Then say it." Came the tight reply from his brother.
Mokuba took in a shaky breath and then continued. "Seto...I've been watching you for the past week. Ever since Serenity stopped coming around. And you haven't been yourself Seto. Well...I don't mean your usual self, self, but what I mean is that for a little while I thought you were happy. At least, happier then before." He paused and looked up at how his big brother was taking it. He doubted it was well.
Kaiba simply gazed at his younger brother. "Go on."
"Well..." Mokuba paused and bit his lip. He wasn't sure how Seto would take what he was about to tell him. "I saw you...down at the beach..."
Kaiba's eyes widened slightly as he remembered the last time he had been to Domino Pier...he never went down there usually, but he had been there about a week ago...with her...
Mokuba gathered his courage and looked up at his brother. "I saw you there while I was in practice with my soccer team. I saw you there with Serenity! And you-you k-"
"Since when does the beach teach you how to play soccer Mokuba?" Came the quick interruption, before Mokuba could say what Kaiba knew he was going to say. Kaiba frowned, dismayed with this new development. He hadn't planned on being seen by anyone; he just wanted this whole thing behind him so he could move on.
Mokuba stopped and shrugged. "Running in the sand is a good way to strengthen you leg muscles Seto. But that doesn't matter. What I was trying to say is that I saw you-"
"Mokuba, I think you should leave now." Kaiba swiftly got out of his chair and walked around to where Mokuba was sitting. Folding his arms across his chest, he frowned down at the younger Kaiba.
Mokuba looked up at him. "But Seto—" he began, "Why won't you-"
"No more, Mokuba. I don't have time to listen to all this nonsense. I have a ton of work to do right now and none of it is getting done by me sitting here and listening to you."
After his harsh reply, he turned around and moved to the door, opening it so his little brother could exit. "I'll try not to be too late tonight; maybe we can go out to dinner or something. I can't promise it though."
Bribing usually worked when he wanted to get Mokuba out of his hair, so he was hoping that it would work this time as well.
Mokuba frowned again as he watched his brother stand there, holding the door open expectantly. 'I guess I was right to expect this...' he thought.
Getting up slowly from his chair, Mokuba moved over to where he could stand in front of Seto.
"Seto...please...I know something is bothering you." Kaiba rolled his eyes and let out a sigh of frustration but Mokuba continued anyway. "I know it's about Serenity. She hasn't been around and...well, I miss her. And I know you do too."
Kaiba opened his mouth to refute that but then changed his mind and closed it again. He figured Mokuba would leave faster if he just heard him out.
"You were really happy when she was around, even though you didn't show it." Mokuba smiled. "I could tell though, even if she couldn't. I know she's something special to you Seto..."
Mokuba looked carefully at his brother's face, hoping to find an indication of some kind of feeling or something...but there was none. He remained looking stoic, staring down at his younger brother.
"Well anyway," Mokuba said in a rush, "I saw you kiss her so you had to have liked her somehow. You're probably just freaked out about it right now 'cause this kind of stuff has never happened to you before. I think that's it anyway. You should go and get her back."
Kaiba's face visibly tightened as Mokuba finished those words. "Mokuba. Out. Now."
Mokuba quickly nodded at Kaiba's words. He knew how far to push his brother...and he had a feeling that he had pushed a little too hard today. "Right. Well, see you at home then Nii-sama!" Mokuba looked back at Kaiba as he walked out the door and smiled cheerfully. 'I hope my little speech works...' he thought to himself, 'Otherwise...this is going to be bad...'
After Mokuba left, Kaiba swiftly shut the door and shook his head. His head hurt even more now, and he wasn't quite sure what to think about Mokuba's words. Walking back to his desk, he opened the top left-hand drawer and pulled out a bottle of aspirin.
'So he saw us...' Kaiba thought to himself, shaking out two of the pills and then swallowing them without water. He sighed and then snapped the cap back on the bottle and replaced it in the drawer. Sitting back down again at his desk, he let his eyes wander over the different objects there.
'Is Mokuba right...? Maybe...maybe I kind of did like her hanging around...she was clumsy and careless, but amusing to watch. And then I did...kiss...her...what does that mean?' Kaiba leaned back in his chair again, the back of his head resting on the top. He stared up at the expensive white ceiling above him. 'It's true...I kind of miss her...so...what should I do about it?'
He sighed again lightly to himself and began to think.
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Alright! That is the end of chapter sixteen! Not bad, right? So please review and let me know what you think of it! Well, that's enough out of me for this chapter. Please read it, enjoy it, and review it! Thanks!
~Seren147