Magnetism
Chapter 5
:::-Battleground-:::
-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-
"...my chauffeur has a job, you know. Next time, mind your business," he snapped.
Serenity Wheeler, prior to bubbling with delight and excitement, averted to an innocent look. Geez, I was just helping Pops, she thought.
They were in Seto's limousine, traveling at 50 miles per hour. Meanwhile Seto unpleasantly thought, the old man has got to step harder in the wheel! This steel caged cell is a slow as Wheeler's brain!
"What's wrong with Pops? He said it was okay if I help him."
Irritated, he shouted, "Did you even listen a word I said, you idiot?!"
She crossed her arms. "Now I don't want to, Mr. Snobby-pants."
Again, for the um-tenth time, he massaged his aching temples as if this human being couldn't be any worse than torture! If I live through this, he said mentally, I'll have to get a vacation . . . anywhere . . . anywhere other than this hell hole.
"Listen Wheeler," balancing his voice very calmly. "I'm doing this for Mokuba. Not for your useless report or for whatever your intentions are. I don't care if you leave early in my house; as I say, 'the earlier, the better'. I don't care if you achieved what you want because I could not care less—"
"Wow," she said, fascinated. "Is that your idea of a welcoming?"
"Do not interrupt, Wheeler!"
She lifted her chin, entirely disgusted of his manner and behavior. At least Mokuba was nice enough to "welcome" her...and smile at the same time! Seto Kaiba's a real jerk if he thinks I'm an idiot! How rude of him! Hmph, why exactly was I "scared" to be a fake reporter; when all I can think about is how I want to kick his mean, overly-conceited face! And his eyes . . . oh, those cold, cold eyes! I'd paint them bright and happy blues, add some color in his pale cheeks, so he'll look like the most absolutely radiant gay guy around! This mental image made her inwardly laughed at the possible Kaiba wearing clothes similar to Mai's wardrobe!
". . . so you got it straight, Wheeler?" he finished.
She nodded obediently, scrunching up an innocent I-heard-whatever-you-said-Oh-Great-Kaiba look.
"Don't mock me," squinting angerly at her. "You can't get by me so easily, twerp."
With a smile, she giggled. "Alright, alright Mr. Snobby-pants—"
"—Kaiba!"
"Snobby-pants—"
"—Kaiba!!"
She tucked a finger to her ears, yelling, "I CAN'T HEAR YOU MR. SNOBBY PANTS!!!"
Damn her! He thought madly. She's acting like a 5-year old! Without warning, he pulled her arms away --forcing her to listen -- as he leaned outstandingly close.
Cold, transparent blue eyes flared wildly over her sweet, brown animated ones. Because Serenity Wheeler was not like any other girl, she held her guard and fired the same consistent, competition.
"Is this the part where I'm supposed to scream, Kaiba?"
He smirked. Interesting girl, she's smarter than I thought. "Will you just listen?"
Leaning closer to him, so close it was inches apart, she whispered. "Not unless you quit calling me names."
"Then what am I supposed to call you when I can't annoy you the same time?"
"Serenity," she replied cheerily.
"How about Wheeler?" he requested, slightly tugging her arms in a sadistically, thrilling fashion.
Pouting like a little girl, furrowing her eyebrows in a cute way, hoping to translate— 'Make peace not war' face.
"Kaiba, just call me 'Serenity' . . . pretty please?"
Stupid girl. Interesting girl. Girl who still keeps a teddy bear. Now she's acting all sweet like a cherry barngirl or--
"...with cherry on top?"
Exactly.
"Fine," he decided, releasing her arms and sitting far away as possible. ". . . Serenity."
"See? Was it that hard, Kaiba?"
He folded his arms and thought things through. What is she to tell me what to do? I'm much older (mentally, might I add) than her and I'll decide. Incompetent girl . . . how dare she mock me! Mokuba's the ONLY person to mock me! Anyone else who even tries can themselves out my office, or perhaps, in this situation – out of my house!
"Serenity," he began, more serious in tone.
"Yes?" A few seconds ago, she was staring out the window, amused to sights she'd never seen before outside of Domino City. Turned her attention to her right, her heart skipped to find him much closer, his fresh, coffee breath caressing her unusually stiff face. He looked terribly mad as if she had done something wrong. Those icy eyes she had coward some days ago, minutes ago had her over-conquer them; now, not like ever before, she felt so strong to the gaze, she trembled in fear at the devil.
What is wrong with him? What did I do? Why . . . why is he so mad?
"Wheeler," he uttered, ignoring the previous agreement of name-calling. "Before you step foot in my house, I'll warn you: if you ever dare hurt Mokuba, I will greatly hunt you down. Despite the lovely invitation, be aware; I don't easily trust people. I hardly invite guests at all, anyway. So, Serenity, if I were you, I'd be very careful not to do something stupid."
"I'm not like that, Kaiba. How can you judge me when you don't know me, yet?"
"Precisely why I warn you beforehand," he pointed; his head on top of hers.
She turned her head to the side, wishing he'd stop interrogating her. It's sweet that Kaiba cares a lot for his little brother but warning me for something I will never do? How could he? Mokuba asks me to stay because he trusts me. When someone entrust me to help them, I will do the same – whether the situation be good or bad. He cares well enough for his big brother, and in exchange, I will learn to do so. Kaiba, who says he does not easily trust people, should at least, learn to trust me, too.
Looking down, very solemnly, with the biggest care in her heart she whispered, "Kaiba, I don't intend to hurt anyone. If there's anyone who'll get hurt in the end, it might be me . . . not Mokuba. So don't waste your time in a scandal like that! It's way beyond the Wheelers!"
Angry, now- is she? He said thoughtfully. She says it's not in her lineage, but how can I believe her when she has not proved it yet? She can talk her way all she wants, woo my chauffeur, and develop a liking to Mokuba; however, I'm much different than them . . . much, much more. . .
"We're here, Senor Kaiba!" announced Pops, the chauffeur. He had just unrolled the window, surprised to find a very hurt Serenity and an evilly possessed Kaiba-- both bodies too close to be sure.
"Senor?" he asked curiously. What has he done again? Poor hija, she's been attacked by el chupacabra.
"What?!?" he demanded.
"Is everything alright?" Actually, what he meant to say was: 'is she alright?'
The question got Serenity back to her senses, "Oh Pop's!"
"Are you alright, hija?"
"Y-yes," she looked up when shivers returned. Kaiba has not moved yet, and he appeared very dominant in this battlefield. Quickly, glancing at the window, she saw that they were in front of the mansion.
Quick, Serenity, get away from this . . . this monster! Just before Kaiba were to yell at his 'nameless' chauffeur, the small, petite girl sped out the door.
-xxxx-x-xxxx-
Mokuba sat in the front porch, agitated by nervousness, and who could've thought that anxiety made him wait for an hour! Regardless of the maids' motherly advice, he insisted that he WILL wait for the 'Guest of Honor'-- Serenity. Today is the day. She will work her plan. She'll pretend to act as a reporter and try to fix Seto.
I hope everything will go well. It's all up to her to change Big brother. I know I can do this stuff by myself but . . . well, I can't. Seto doesn't listen to me anymore. Maybe someone like Serenity can . . . you know, can help him better than I've done. She's really a great and nice friend, and not just that, she's really smart too! I can bet she's smart enough to know what's best for Seto. I mean, duh, that's why I cried, pulled, and kicked my way into inviting her!
"Mokuba!" someone called.
The shaggy haired boy looked up from his reverie. "Serenity? Hey!"
As she stomped (no joke) to him -- nearly breathless from running and stomping the way there -- Mokuba noticed something different. Last time he had seen her, she became known as the three H's: 'happy, honest, and hopeful'. However, at this moment, two days after they encountered, her countenance seemed very disturbed. She looked rather pale, flushed, and exhausted simultaneously; and Mokuba was not dumb enough to realize this was not because of running.
"What did Seto do?" he asked, familiar to the quote 'actions explain better than words'. Without notice, he embraced the feeble girl, hoping to renew her spirits.
"Nothing Mokuba," she replied, somewhat shaken as she ruffled his hair.
The 10 year old boy tightened his grip around her waist. "Don't lie. I know Seto did something. Seto always does something."
"It's nothing to worry about, sweetie," she reassured. "Se— um, Kaiba, sort of relayed a bit of rules to me."
Grunting, he replied, "Don't tell me. He said the one-on-one: 'Don't mess with Mokuba or I'll hunt you down' threat?"
How clever! Feeling much happier, she hugged the boy tightly.
"Serenity," he said, smiling. "You read, right?"
"Of course," she replied. "Why do you think I was in your library?"
"Well, have you ever heard of 'sticks and stones may break your bones, but words won't ever hurt you'? If you have, then lemme tell you— Big brother's mean words aren't mean every time! All he does is yappity-yap," here he puppets his fingers into talking mouths, "and everyone listens it. My brother can hurt people with mean talk but to me, he's the nicest brother in the whole, wide world!"
The last statement practically made her squeal. The way little Mokuba expresses his love for his brother, makes me feel the same way about Joey.
"Serenity Wheeler, if you're done listening to my biography, I suggest you move on in," said another voice, right behind her, pinning her cheerful heart no more. Only one person was capable to do that power; and that person, no doubt, can be . . . .
"Seto Kaiba . . ." she spat most angrily.
He smirked, curving that insane, devilish smile fan girls oh-so adore. "Ah, aren't we in a need of anger management?"
"Back att'cha Mr. Snobby-pants," she cried back.
"What the hell did I tell you about names, Wheeler?"
"What the hell did I tell you about names, Kaiba?" Serenity shot back, in no right mind wanting to lose again.
Calmly, trying to ignore the 'fresh' girl, he explained. "You ran out of my limo and left your Pop's with a broken back."
"What? Oh, no!" Frantic as a cat, she darted back into the limousine. Tears almost escaped from her lids. How stupid, Serenity! You hurt Pop's and didn't help him! Stupid, stupid, stupid!!! Sooner than she would fall to her knees in agony, she found the old man – clearly strong as rock, carrying her luggage.
"Pops! You . . . you're fine?"
He grinned, and observed the girl's frightened expression. "Si?"
"Kaiba told me you broke your back because I didn't help you," she said, whining at her potential fault.
Laughing, he pats the girl's head, just like what a father does to his child. "Mi hija, do not listen to every word that comes out of the boy! He thrives on games- especially tricking young chiquitas like you."
x-xxx-xx-xxx-x
Is this . . . is this their house? It's huge! No, it's bigger than huge – it's humongous! You can even fit an elephant in here; then again, you can fit a whole jungle! I don't know which to start. The living room is as big as my house, and by that I mean the whole house!
"What's wrong Serenity? You came here before," reminded Mokuba.
"I know but I didn't notice much last time."
"How can you not notice? Were you blind all the time?" asked Kaiba. He passed by the two, carrying another dose of coffee, eager to return to office work.
"I was once, Seto Kaiba," replied a sad voice.
He turned, his tracks stopped from the vast, bloody red staircase. 'I was once'? What's that supposed to mean? Dumb girl . . . I was joking.
Serenity nervously rubbed her arm for warmth and support. It never occurred to her that even in Battle City, the CEO had not noticed her in her bandages.
"I was almost blind. My eyes were weak for a very long time, and I could have been blind forever."
Mokuba tugged her sleeve and asked, "But Joey helped pay the money, right? Because of him you can see."
She nodded. And when she returned her gaze to the older Kaiba, he was gone.
x-xxxx-x-xxxx-x
"'Three floors?'" she reiterated.
The little boy, Mokuba, gave a thumbs up. "Seto wanted more floors but he didn't have time. The first floor has a bunch of things for guests. The second and third floor has Seto's rooms, my rooms, the servants' rooms, and some guest rooms—"
"Servants' room – they live here?"
"Not all of them," he said sharply. "Just the ones who are nurses, in case if any of us get sick."
"Wow," she breathed out. "Then that big door? What's it for?"
Seto's (occupied) bedroom and Mokuba's room was separated by a massive and mahogany, exquisitely designed door. The design is quite different, and more – how should I say it – brighter.
"It's the library," he answered, a small smile lifting. While Serenity observed the door, he prayed that she did not see his expression. No, not expression, but a memory. A very distant memory, one he prays to come back.
"Why is it locked?" she questioned, apparently tugging at the knob.
The boy sighed, a little exhausted of the tour.
Unsure, he replied, "Ask Seto."
x-x-x-x-x
This house is so beautiful, the auburn-haired girl thought as she sat in the stairs. I only got to tour the second floor! Imagine how big the second floor is; Mokuba and I only managed to show me one out of three floors! It got him so exhausted. Well that's good for him to sleep early. His humbleness should be rewarded anyway. I wonder why Kaiba's locked the library? What's so bad about books and shelves? Instead of locking up relevant information, why not open it? Does he hate libraries so much he locks his own? But then again,why have it in his mansion in the first place? Serenity rubbed her chin, not even close to understand.
"Ms. Wheeler, have you asked Master to the keys to your bedroom yet?" asked a maid.
"Oh! I almost forgot! I went first with the tour without packing my stuff first!"
"Well then," the other signaled, "go to his room and ask for it."
Faster than her legs can carry, she ran up those awfully long stairs and stopped immediately once in front of the door. She panted, nearly loosing the life out of her. Normally on school days, she was accustomed to physical education and sports but because of her very busy schedule, she quit her teams and became as rusty as the gold championship trophy in her room (figuratively speaking of course).
"Kaiba?" she knocked lightly.
No answer.
"Kaiba? Are you there?" she knocked a little louder.
Again, there was no answer.
"Seto Kaiba? Oh, great Mr. Kaiba?" she teased, giggling at the remarkable joke. "I bow down before you, so please, oh-grateful master...open up."
If she had heard right, a slight rustle was heard but again, the door remained as so.
"Fine, Mr. Snobby—"
"—Wheeler." The door swung open just before she would add more effect to 'snobby' in 'pants'.
Seto Kaiba was impressively dressed in his elegant, dark blue, , pajamas. Or is there another name to pajamas for the rich? Well, whatever it is, that color, that deep dark blue color matches and exaggerated his...eyes. As cold his eyes are on me right now—which isn't as bad as before—I'm kind of relieved to see him in something so jaw-dropping. Jaw-dropping isn't supposed to mean that he's oh-so-drop-dead-gorgreous because really -- do I look like one of his fans?
"What do you want Serenity?" You can tell adjusting to the newly respected name was difficult.
"My bedroom key please," she held out her hand expectedly.
Slowly his eyebrows lifted in bored interest. Great, I was hoping for something else. His prediction of her early leave was sadly mistaken.
"Wait here," he ordered.
Wow. Is this his office? Here were dark blue walls, mahogany desks, leather chairs, and the X1000 laptop that's not even out yet? Se—Kaiba has got some good style here. Wait. Am I calling him Seto? Eww . . .
-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-
Senor: Mister
hija: daughter/child
el chupacabra: a monster that eats goats or lambs (supposed to be a bed-time story or myth for Mexicans). ((((That's right-right? ::scratches head::))))
Si: Yes (?)
chiquita: (little) girl
- I appreciate all the thoughtful reviews. Someone even mentioned that I have to be careful of the language and behavior I use for the characters. I thank that person (my mind is blank and it's nearly midnight to personally write to ALL of you) b/c I added a warning in my summary. I suggest everyone to refer to that warning. Thank a million for the wonderful, sweet, caring, and devoted replies! I hope you enjoy this and REVIEW! :)
InnoscenTorn