LOVE AS THOU WILT

DISCLAIMER: I own nothing of YuGiOh

FRIDAY

"GO AWAY JOEY," yelled Serenity fighting back another wave of tears.

"Serenity you have to come to school. You've already missed three days," pleaded Joey through her door. Putting his ear up against her door straining to hear her answer, instead he heard crying. Deciding to give it up he looked down at his watch. He would have to leave if he was to make it to school on time. He hated leaving his sister in this state but he really had no choice, he couldn't afford to miss class with his lousy grades.

"See yah after school then sis," he said softly through her door before making his exit from their small apartment.

Serenity had barely registered her brother's departure. She lay face down in her pillow feeling as if the world was about to end. Every time she tried to rationalize her emotions she would just get depressed and end up crying. She tried everything to forget Kaiba's comments but they remained lodged in her mind.

"How can this happen? I don't want to like him. Why do I have to like him? Why did I kiss him back? How can I face him? He's probably waiting at school ready to laugh at how naïve I am for actually thinking he could like me. I mean he's Seto Kaiba! Argh! How do I get myself into these situations?" thought Serenity desperately.

Her fingers brushed against the almost completely faded marks on her neck and collar bone sending shivers through her body. His kiss had felt so good, better then she could have possibly imagined. It was hard to believe that someone could invoke the number of feelings that Serenity had felt as Seto had with his kiss. She couldn't get the memory of his kiss out of her mind. It had been the most wonderful kiss she had ever experienced. The kind she had only dreamed or read about. She remembered how soft his lips were and how passionate he was. It had surprised her and created so many new feelings in her. She had felt like her whole body was on fire with need. She had wanted him so desperately it was almost unbearable when it ended. She tried to shake the images of Seto from her mind, every time she thought of him she could feel her need rising.

"Love as thou wilt..." echoed through her mind. Shaking her head reminding herself that,

"Billionaires don't fall in love with nobody's like Serenity Wheeler."

"It's just a crush," she reminded herself over and over, those four words becoming her mantra.

"I will forget about him just as he has probably forgotten about me. It will be easy," she thought trying to reassure her-self.

In a daze she walked to the bathroom and had a much needed cold shower.

AT SCHOOL

"Where's Serenity," inquired Yugi noticing Joey walking to school alone.

"Ah she's still upset 'bout something. Must be that time of the month," he laughed receiving a smack from Tea.

"You boys just don't get it do you. Every time a girl gets a little emotional you say it must be that time of the month. All guys are pigs," she said sourly glaring at Yugi. Yugi swallowed nervously and questioned Tea, "

"Why is Serenity angry then?"

"Because she just got her heart broken," replied Tea with a matter-of-factly expression.

"Heart…Broken…Serenity," echoed Joey still trying to put the pieces together. Realizing her error Tea covered quickly with another excuse,

"Or it could be that she's worried doing poorly on a test."

Joey blinked once and grinned putting a hand behind his head.

"Yah that's probably it. Good think'in Tea."

Letting out a sigh of relief she noticed Yugi still staring at her. Looking away hurriedly a faint blush on her cheeks she walked in silence towards the school.

Kaiba stopped dead in his tracks.

"So Serenity isn't sick, she's avoiding me," he thought bitterly clenching his fists. He had overheard the entire conversation inadvertently as he walked towards the school from his car. Stalking back towards his car he was determined to see her and give her a piece of his mind.

20 Minutes later Serenity wandered out of the shower and into her kitchen. She hadn't bothered to dry her hair which hung limp and damp down her back. She looked at her reflection in the microwave, she thought she looked old and grey. Turning her attention to the fridge she rummaged through it looking for something other then week old pizza when she heard a knock. Closing the fridge door she walked to the door and looked through the peep hole. All she saw was a black shirt and a white trench coat.

"Seto?" she asked herself, confused by his appearance.

Opening the door slowly she stared blankly at her feet unable to meet his eyes. He ignored her and walked briskly into the apartment, he was determined to find out why he was being ignored. He hated being ignored.

Closing the door she turned to face the fuming Seto in front of her still unable to meet his eyes.

"Why are you here?" her voice barely above a whisper. Not bothering with an answer Kaiba launched into interrogation style questioning.

"What's your problem why are you avoiding me? I had to find out from your brother that you weren't sick, that you were here," he sneered invading her personal space.

"Do you think you're too good for me? Was our friendship a joke? Where you trying to humiliate me?"

Her tongue felt thick in her mouth. She wanted to tell him that she had feelings for him. That she wanted to be with him. She wanted to tell him so badly, but the words were caught in her throat and she dared not speak them. She couldn't forget that they were from two very different worlds.

Serenity remained silent, staring up at him, her expression blank. He waited for her answer. When she remained silent he let out a disgusted sound and backed away.

"He deserves something, a reason," she thought looking into his cold blue eyes.

"I-I just don't think were right together. I'm beneath you," she stated breaking eye contact and whispering the last three words.

"Beneath me? What?" he asked his brows knitting in confusion.

"You-you said to those girls that you were upper class and that lower class girls were beneath you, and not worth your time. I'm sorry I was such a burden. I promise I will leave you alone from now on," said Serenity looking up at him once again tears sliding down her pale cheeks.

"I didn't mean-"he started before she interrupted him.

"You don't have to apologize. Your right. And you have the responsibility of maintaining your image."

"Love as thou wilt," surfaced in his mind. Her words. He hadn't understood what it meant until now. Now he understood. He looked at her. He was at a crossroads. He would make his choice. The words formed on his lips,

"Love as thou wilt."

She opened her mouth and then closed it without uttering a single word. She just stared at him bearing an expression of shock. It had taken her several moments to regain her composure and question him.

"Where did you hear that?"

"You," was all he said.

"Me? But when? How?" she asked trying to no avail to remember ever telling him those words and what they meant.

"The night of the storm. You talk in your sleep. It was the last thing you said. I didn't understand what it meant until now though," he answered his face betraying nothing of what he felt.

"Oh," was the only word she could say. She hadn't anticipated this. Of all the scenario's that she had gone over in her head this one had never even occurred to her. Her only response to this situation now was silence.

Her tears fell unabated to the floor. She had made up her mind, she would make her choice.

"You know it was my mother who told me those words when I was very young. It had been when my mother and father were still married. I was crying. I was so scared. I had seen my parents fight. I watched as my mother come home from work and look at my dad, telling him that he should get a job. I remember that he had been sleeping on the couch with a bottle in his hand. He threw the bottle to the ground…it broke…and they started to argue. I wished Joey was there so he could protect me, but he was a school. There was no where to go our house was so small. So I watched. After a while he walked away, to go to the bar probably. When he left. My mom, she cried. She cried for a long time. I watched. I walked over to her and gave her a hug and I remember asking her why someone she loved made her cry. And she told me the reason. She said Love as thou wilt. She said that you can't choose who you fall in love with. You only get one chance at true happiness, so you can't let it pass you by. I will never forget those words. " She paused for a few moments before continuing.

"I don't think what we have is love right yet. Not now. It's too soon. But if you are willing I think that we could work. I like being with you. I don't know why. You are my complete opposite. I would like to give it a shot you and me," stated Serenity trying to sound confident. She had just taken a leap into the unknown, into the abyss hoping he would catch her.

His hands clenched into fists at his sides until his knuckles turned white and his nails bit into his flesh. He had come to a crossroads the moment he acknowledged Serenity and let himself feel for her. Now in this moment he had to make a choice.

She had caught him off guard. When he had overheard Joey, he knew how he felt, he knew what he was going to do, and most of all, he knew what he was going to say. But this, this was something new and untried. Seto looked at Serenity. She stood before him with nothing to hide, and he, he had everything to hide. She was beauty and light and purity. He never wanted to hurt her. Somewhere deep inside he knew, if she saw the real him. It would hurt her. It would hurt her more in the long run then if he broke it off now. Taking a step back he looked into her eyes. She was everything Gonzoboro warned him to stay away from.

"Women make you weak," he had said.

"I am not weak," his mind yelled, taking a step back.

Serenity watched the emotions play in his eyes. She knew his heart was in turmoil. And then nothing. His eyes betrayed nothing but coldness.

Closing his eyes he turned.

"Last chance," his mind whispered. Opening the door he walked out of her life and away from love.

Thanks to everyone who reviewed and read my story. Sorry it took so long. I don't think this will be the ending…Im not really sure if I want to leave it like this…what do you think?

P.s. To all those who read my other story a lesson in love…I will attempt to get another chapter out soon…I'm having some troubles for I am experiencing writers block on that particular chapter.

PIXIE