a/n: Thanks for reviewing! They were great.

Disclaimer: This authoress doesn't own YGO....

Chapter Four: Starting a Fire....

-

-

-

Serenity was dreaming, that she was in a warm, comfortable bed, the sheets fresh smelling of Tide, cocooned like a butterfly ready to burst of a chrysalis. Nice and snug, I'm so wonderfully tired . . .

And then she opened her eyes.

"Kachew!" she sneezed, as sand went up her nose. Sniffing, she lifted her head and spotted a seagull, pecking along the wet, gleaming shore. Which seemed awfully close. . .

"Ahh!" she scrambled to her feet, just in time before the icy cold water rose on her . . . Why can't it be my brother waking me up to go to school instead of some nasty bird? There was a horrible taste in her mouth, she went off to rinse it out in the pool. Maybe it was contaminated water, but she didn't care about that right then. Wetting her face, she sighed miserably and looked about. Kaiba was nowhere to be seen.

Maybe we got off onto the wrong foot . . . er, wrong blanket . . . She fingered the blanket about her shoulders, absently thinking. Her first impression of the Kaiba guy was what she'd read in an magazine article, about his company's advancements in gaming technology. It had been very impressive and fascinating, since I want to learn how to play duel monsters like my brother.

She fingered the blanket about her shoulders, absently thinking. Her first impression of the Kaiba guy was what she'd read in an magazine article, about his company's advancements in gaming technology.

But at his surprise party when she'd met him in person, he seemed like a very stressed-out guy, one that grumpily suffered from a constant headache.

Then again, maybe he justdidn't like surprise birthday parties.

Still, she thought, getting to her feet again, shivering in the cold morning air, he had taken us all out on one of his boats, more like a yacht, and . . . Serenity surveyed the damage. Now, it's reduced to scraps.

Turning slightly to the right, she saw him, sitting in a short jacket that worn with constant washings, with pants that ended at mid-calf. He had been scouring the horizon for any sign of a rescue boat, and become irritable at each ticking minute, when none appeared. (He knew that mainland was that way.)

"He might as well be wearing a sign that says, 'Don't Bug Me, " Serenity whispered under her breath, going back into the woodsy part of the island. " 'You got it, pal….'.that what Joey always says….." She still had hope, seeing a few berry bushes in the woods full of raspberries, blueberries, and blackberries yesterday afternoon. I'll pick some berries for our breakfast…… She set about doing her work.

It was cloudy but calm, the light gray sky fading into sparkling, turquoise sea. Seto stared at the pale gray horizon, as if staring would make a rescue boat appear. I'm starting to think my boat is far beyond repair……it's motor is shot…… Oars could be used, but that was like going down a steep hill in a wagon with a cliff waiting at the end.

The sea was unpredictable.....

What am I going to do now? The truth was, he wasn't much of an outdoorsy man. He didn't know jack about surviving in the wild. He'd never been camping, not even once. Okay, there was that one time as a orphan child, but he had hated it. Survival instincts were being worn down by it's enemy, despair. Plus…… he had the Wheeler-girl to look after. More responsibility…..but he didn't mind that as much. She's suffered enough. Being related to THAT family. Poor thing.

The truth was, he wasn't much of an outdoorsy man. He didn't know jack about surviving in the wild. He'd never been camping, not even once. Okay, there was that one time as a orphan child, but he had hated it. Survival instincts were being worn down by it's enemy, despair. Plus…… he had the Wheeler-girl to look after. but he didn't mind that as much.

........Restless, he suddenly went to survey the wreckage again. There has to be a way to get back to mainland by myself….. The crumpled boat had big split on the left side, but it could still float….if it were made more lighter….

I could saw off the top and leave it here…that would make it light enough, he thought. But I don't have a saw…..or any other tools on me. All I have is a screwdriver that rusted in the rain….Taking it, he started to unscrew the metal bolts that held the heavy roof down. From the woods, Serenity heard the loud, creaky sound of bending metal, and figured he was working, so best not to bug him.

She'd found a little granite cave, more like a burrow, since it was so tiny. Still, it'd be good protection from the thunderstorms, which it looked like today, according to the grey sky.

It was a tight fit, but more than enough room for her to eat her berry breakfast. It is 'berry' good....she thought with a smile, popping some in her mouth, then nearly spitting it out. They were unripe and sour-tasting, but her stomach grumbled loudly every time she gagged, and she forced them down, to stay.I will survive this! I'll be home soon. Ah, home…. It danced in her head like visions of sugarplums. I'm SO going to kiss my bed the instant I arrive! The sand had been soft, but now there was a terrible crick in her neck from sleeping at an angle. She could tell by the way that Seto had moved, he was feeling it the same. Hm….maybe I can make a hammock out of this blanket….at least that'd be more comfortable….-er.

I'll make one for him too….maybe that'll cheer him up.....Looking about, she saw two tall trees within a short distance of each other. Hm, that's one….. she managed to successfully tie each end of the blanket, cinching it tight. The woolly texture held fast, she cautiously gave the hammock a try.

It worked! And much more comfortable, too.

Now to make one for him….or maybe I oughta let him make his own?

Probably yeah….her stomachrumbled like a sliding door being rolled open. Time to pick berries for food again….. Yum, yum.She gave her fingers a study, they'd been poked with so thorns, she was starting to see through them! Sigh.....

her stomachrumbled like a sliding door being rolled open. Yum, yum.She gave her fingers a study, they'd been poked with so thorns, she was starting to see through them!

It was around mid afternoon, the sun disappeared behind the clouds. Studying the sky with sky-blue eyes, Seto saw flashes of lightning, as they traveled from black clouds to dark grey clouds. He'd been working since early morning, hadn't eaten a bite. The air was still, though, and the sea calm.Wait for the wind…..

A sail! I could use the wind to get back home….. but there's no light cloth materiel to make one with….Musing and distracted, he didn't see the small boat that appeared on the distance…..

"There seems to be a wreckage there, captain!" said one man in a lifejacket, squinting through a telescope since the cloud made it quite dark. "But I don't….see any signs of life….."

The wind howled suddenly, the little boat was tossed and turned, viciously, between choppy, high waves. The captain quickly made a mark on the seachart. " It's too far to dock; turn back;!" he ordered, as the crew struggled to keep the boat from capsizing over, over the shouts. "Aye aye, captain!" said the crewmen. "We'll send a supply package at these coordinates just in case," confirmed the captain as the boat disappeared.

But not before Seto saw it. "HEY! Where're you going?!" he hollered over the wind. "Come back!" But his voice was swallowed up. "Come back!"

Meanwhile...

Serenity quickly gathered up dry kindling to the cave, before it got wet and therefore made unusable. She wondered where Seto was, and why he was screeching. I hope he makes it back here before the rains…oh yeah, he doesn't know where it is! She stuffed the wood to the very furthest corner of the cave, and was turning when something hit her on the head. Something heavy.….ouch.

She dropped to the mossy ground like a beanbag.

"Are you all right!" Seto yelled to be heard over the now howling wind.They were in the cave she found; the supply package had dropped on her head; he figured that out since it had been laying nearby.

"Peachy…..What ,,,, you yelling about….?" Serenity rubbed her head, and felt the crusty feel of a thick bandage. " Ow…."

Seto saw the stored, dry kindling at the back of the cave, and sighed in utter relief. She must've done it......maybe she's half as stupid like her brother , that's very good. He sat down and tore off the brown paper covering the package. There was instant food, clothing, fresh soap, among other things. "Well, at least it's something….." he grumbled, jaw twitching in disappointment. Now another night here......

" …..DId that hit…..me….?" Serenity was still having double vision, "Boy, it was heavy …….,"

He shot her a peculiar look, then inched away, though it was pretty cramped space, (he only succeeded in brushing her leg) and frowned, holding a red signaling flare, now the same color as her face. "Yes........but the note said to shoot up this flare if we were…..who we are and….. since we didn't, ….." There's no way they'll be back….He didn't even want to say it. Best not to frighten her…….

He didn't even want to say it.

" We'll be stuck here forever!" Serenity started to giggle, and weep at the same time. A loud hiccup escaped her and she covered her mouth, wide eyed, seeing she was weirding him out. Awkwardly, self-consciously, she folded herself up in a ball in the dusty floor, and turned her back turned towards him and took a nap, nursing her throbbing head. She must hit her head pretty darn hard…..greaat. Either that or she's a natural loony bin.... Finally, he shook his head and started reading the directions of the instant food package, since there was no time to hunt. 'Just add water'…..The rain clak clattered down. Well, there's plenty of that! He set out a small tin bowl out to catch the rain.

Instantly, the downpour stopped immediately. Aargh!" he shouted at the clouds, holding up white knuckled fists, cursing loudly.

It was still dark outside, and Serenity wondered what was he cursing about this time. He was really going at it. "What's wrong, now?" She was still nursing her poor head. He looked really frustrated.

Just then, the rain started again, but not as heavily. With a relieved sigh, he buried some kindling, and took the rest in a small pile to light, he struck a match to the note, then quickly set it on the kindling. It caught, to his surprise (since there was no fluid this time), and he blew at it, fanning the flames with the brown paper wrappings, which he'd save for next time.

"Hey…… Weirdo Sister Girl. Hand me that bowl…" he said. Taking it, he set the wire metal setup that had come in the supply package so it was hovering over the flames. Immediately, the water started to bubble.

" but….m-my name's not…..W-weird Sister Girl.' " Serenity muttered, half to herself, taking a sitting up position as close to the fire as possible, to keep warm. How can someone look so grumpy by starting starting a fire? The rain had slowed to a trickle outside, but she was still in a sleeveless shirt and Capri pants of flimsy material she wore to the party. She was shaking, wishing for a blanket and now she had a headache.

"Oh, I'm sorry. 'Mutt's sister girl,' then," he said, voice dripping with sarcasm. She narrowed her eyes slightly, but he didn't care and openly ignored her, stirring the stew.

"It's not a mutt's sister either!…..and don't roll your eyes at me-- !--it's 'Serenity,' " she added grouchily, " Can you say, 'Suh-ren-nuh-tee?' "

Her sarcasm took him aback, but he didn't show it. "Whatever," he said with a false courteous smile, handing her a plate. She took it eagerly and started wolfing it down, for once not caring how she looked; she was darned hungry! Besides, only he was here…..

Feeling better after the meal, she sat back again with a sigh. Ramen noodles always hit the spot! Ahhh..... Her stomack grumbling happy little grumbles, now, she sort of felt a little guilty for being sarcastic earlier, but she got hit on the head and then nearly died of starvation! And cold! She had the right to be grumpy!

Still, speaking of cold, she thought. "Hey, um….." She hesitated, not sure what to call him; 'Kaiba' sounded too …..melancholy, and she didn't think he'd like being called by his first name, "….you….." He shot her a look, and she paused, stuttering, "t-thanks for the blanket last night. And the dinner now…."

"And the one before that….."

"Yes and the one before that….though that poor little rabbit such didn't like it," she murmured, looking away. She was a vegeterian. At least, had been.....

"And for saving your life," he ticked off a finger, "when I drew you out of the water…"

"You did? I thought I just washed up on shore," she said with a start, wide eyed.

"Think I lie?" he said, putting away his plate, teeth baring.

"No." She said, honest, and there was a short pause. "By the way, how….did you make it here? I mean, to this island......."

"Hmph……. When the tornado hit, I was thrown into the water and had to swim for the nearest land." The same length as those cowardly rescue from early this morning! He thought with contempt. "Then I caught up with the boat, and brought it over with me."

She looked skeptical, "I believe you!" she said, thinking she'd offended him. What a weirdo!

"Good for you. Stay put this time " He got up anyway, to take a look outside and work some more on the boat. It must've took a beating after that storm. She watched him leave, then took up the package again. Maybe there's some aspirin in here……boy, do I need some. There wasn't, but there was a cheap looking radio with a single earpiece. Maybe we can get weather information, she thought, fixing the headphone on her ear. But for now….

Setting up a new hammock and setting the wet one to dry, she climbed in and stared at the full moon rising in the sky, beneath the palms. It looked like a giant orb in a velvet blue night sky, very bright. A cool breeze caressed her sticky, sweaty skin, like a wave of loneliness, and she flicked her radio on to soothe her pounding headache.

I wish I were a seagull, So I could fly back home...…..

She watched them fly into the night, crowing in pure delight of being airborne, towards the pearly moon.

Everytime I fly, I fall, without my wings…… I feel so small, guess I need you….She didn't have time to finish the song, she drifted off into darkness, head dropping to the side again. Joey…..

Meanwhile, back at Domino City...

"Whatta ya mean you're calling OFF da SEARCH? DO YOU KNOW WHAT MY MA IS GOING TO DO TO ME?!?!?!" Joey Wheeler shook the captain, half his size, hard.

The disgruntled captain said sorry again, and shooting him a dirty look, left, fixing his uniform. He didn't tell him that supplies were sent.

"Calm down," Yugi comforted his worried best friend. "Joey, you heard what he said, and you'll better get some rest. You look like you're going to fall over…." The others agreed. They've barely made it back, and hadn't seen a doctor yet.

"Naw, I'm going to go and search for her," Joey disagreed, pacing around like a panther who hasn't been fed. "I gotta go. Whose coming with me?" Everyone shifted around uneasily. They'd been searching all day also; only Kaiba and Serenity were reported missing. Fortunately no one was severely hurt. "Fine, whateva, but I'm goin'." With that, Joey headed for Domino Pier......


A/n: well, Review and tell me.