A/n: I think that I'll turn this into a 'he likes her, but she doesn't know' kind of fic. I haven't read an SxS fic that wasn't OOC (out of character) & when the girl gets chased by the guy yet. Any way thanks for the reviews, 21 the last chapter ! Whoo ! That's cool.
Day Eleven: It's Good To be Alive
Serenity woke up to the sensation of having something on her face. By now, she was used to leaving her dreams of home to wake up in the stark cold wilderness, so it could've been anything from a lizard, to a cobweb woven across her face. (She was a really still sleeper) It didn't feel like the blanket underneath her arm, but itchy and suffocating all the same. Opening her eyes, she realized it was her long knotted hair.
Grabbing the ends and flipping it over while sitting up, she thought that nothing could make her grumpier than being nearly suffocated by her own hair. I can just picture it….. 'Corpse found. It appears she had been suffocated by her own hair.' Not by wild animals or a lighting strike and the pneumonia'--- that I think I almost died last night of---
Serenity stopped the muttering in her head and…..blinked. Light?
Light pouring in made fluorescent by…the….clouds…..?
Outdoors! Oh my God! The sea scent from the ocean stirred her hair as she hurriedly got up, a little unsteadily on her bare feet, nearly slipping in the sand. Am I dreaming? The blanket pooled uselessly to the floor around her feet. But no---She really was truly, outside!
The palms waved in the wide sky blue sky, as if greeting her recovery. She felt a strong urge to climb the tallest, highest tree and shout out in pure joy. Then again, she would probably fall, and let's see that on the cover of the Weekly Times. 'Girl was so happy to be alive, she plummeted down After Climbing a Tree….after Being Suffocated By Her Own Hair.' Serenity giggled, nervously. What thoughts…..I'm crazy.
"What are you giggling about." A kindly voice came from behind her, making her whirl in surprise, taken aback.
"Who's t-there?!" Oh no......this IS a dream........
"What are mumbling to yourself about." Seto crossed his arms, looks just as tall and knightly as he always did, even in the last of the cheap clothes they had been sent. Serenity didn't have anything to wear……except the clothes she was wearing right now. "You have to wash your own," he said simply when she questioned about them.
"Oh, okay….." She gestured haphazardly behind her, wondering why a sudden taste of berries had risen. "W-what about….?"
"Easy," he grinned, even though it hadn't been easy. But of course, he wasn't about to say anything else. "There was a flare hidden deep in the pack you took. The signaling flare. The same one we were supposed to send up….! It works the same as dynamite," he finished, shrugging.
Like it was nothing. But she sputtered. "Nothing.....? Now, we have a chance!" At life, was what she meant.......which he knew, but he was thinking of something else. "That was really smart.…I had totally forgot."
Her hands dropped to her thighs with a slap, and he watched her laugh at her ineptitude without seeming too obvious about it about her joy. It was infectious, and he found himself fighting with a smile. It was great to finally be outside. And alive. And well. And to have the sun on your face and the cool wind breeze your back. Again. Even though where back to where we were, it is nice......to be alive.
He frowned suddenly at a realization that was the first time he'd thought that. "It's nice to be alive." Everyday, waking up in his own four-poster king-size bed, with all it's soft, silken sheets; which made someone numb feel like you were diving in a pool of satin water, he had never thought that. "It's great to be me!", yes....... "Now who can I torture/fire/a&b/all of the above today?", maybe......but never "It's nice to be alive......"
Makes me appreciate all the things I used to have.......material things.......who knew? Who knew that I could ever do so?
I think I found the one thing that boggles even my mind.....the big pulsating melon mind of mine......it's boggled. Totally.
Besides, what am I thinking these depressing thoughts about me never getting back home? Of course I will! They haven't killed me yet. And as to who 'they' were, it was to the vultures who were probably plundering his estate right now. He sighed and squatted, working out his stiff legs from being cramped in that little cave right now.
She came over and looked at him right in the face, squatting too. "What's wrong?!" She looked anxious, like as if he were about to say, now nuclear misslies are pointed towards our little island.....A light smudge of dirt reflected on one cheekbone, marring her perfect delicate rosy color of her skin......
Our little island.......He fought the urge to wipe it off. It was just.......I like things to be neat and clean, he thought. Anyway, he was feeling a bit guilty about what.....had happened. Last night. Taking advantage of her.......no matter how one looked at it, it was true. He had. The first two times were to save her life, but the third......Rationalizations, all the rationalizations in the world couldn't--wouldn't--didn't help....
Guilt. Another feeling I abhor. Right after confusion, too.....! I'm on a roll. What else am I going to feel, next?!
......Love?! ...................I don't believe in love.......! It's like the tooth fairy.
He brushed the grit away, anyway. Because I want to! "I'm sorry......."
Well, apologizing is better ......if it takes this guilt away.
If only, though! Whoever said confession's good for the soul was off their rocker. Now he felt even worse. Because, she was looking at him in a way......that was hard to describe. (Great. Now I can't even describe, anymore..) It was so steady, that he could see his reflection, twin-ed, and it made something twist in his stomach.
Now what? Is this some kind of weird game show, called, 'Let's See What Else Seto Kaiba Can Feel?!'
.....more like, 'Let's See How Much More He Can Be Confused'......
Hoo, boy. I'm in love. Ugh. The one thing I haven't studied in textbooks.
"For what?" Serenity was saying, now for the fifth time, already, wondering profusely what had caused that sudden glum look he had on now. Before that, there was thoughtfulness. And, previously, a......kind of hope. But he looked......sad, as if .....disgusted with himself.
Did he DO something to me last night? I don't remember.....I am such a sound sleeper, like Joey....Heck, I didn't even heard as the entrance was being blasted open! Talk about being unaware....
"Well?!" she said a little impatiently. Her knees were starting to getting stiff and numb from crouching so long....! She teetered and caught herself
.....Oh, of course! She'll be totally disgusted....and be all mad.....Still, just saying the words made it stick uncomfortably. Best to throw in some kind of LEER, too....whilst I say it....
But this was silly. He wasn't the kind who leered at pretty girls, went around flipping skirts and the like, like the mutt and his crew of hound dogs. Still, he did the best he could, leaning toward her and all, trying to be lecherous....he even put up his hands in air as if making to grab her, even...... then remembered the last time he did that, he got kicked in the gonads. He quickly put his hands back down and told her what happened, everything.
Serenity went very still. She just looked totally shocked. Not thrilled. "You....did. What?"
She sounded totally disbelieving, like she didn't believe it. Not disgusted at all, but just.....shocked. Which she was. It was obvious she didn't have a manipulative bone in her body. She was wondering if this was another weird trait boys have, to confess to they had kissed you last night when they didn't. It was obvious she hadn't remembered a single thing about it last night.
It was plain as day in her blank expression. He felt the same thing, the same insult, he had felt when she had said she hadn't seen 'anything' when she had saw him unclothed. (If she had seen me naked, she damn well have better had sawn something! She darn well better have been impressed!) And now, she stood there, blinking in confusion, her small, perfectly pink mouth gaped slightly, looking at him as if he'd lost his marbles. Me?! Lost my marbles?!---eh bad pun---As if!
He got up quickly and headed north to the shore, throwing her a dark, withering look over his shoulder. His stride seemed to shake to whole island as he stalked off.....
Meanwhile.....
Serenity watched him go, her eyes wide and wondering. Um.....what just happened....? Clearly, he didn't seem to know that she couldn't read minds and therefore, that's why he didn't voice his feelings. Aloud. The blood went out from her legs, and she fell back on her rump in the sand with a thump. Certainly, a complex character....
The most I've ever met, anyway. What's he so mad about....?
Boys....She shook her head to dispel any further, lingering thoughts, got up, and dusted herself off. She was still wearing the torn windbreaker and a light tank underneath, with shorts that somehow seemed small. It was best not to try to figure them out. She went down to the old pond to wash her face. PMS, probably....most likely.....who knew guys got it too. Feeling a bit more refreshed, she listened for sounds of work. That's what he usually did when he headed for the beach, to work on the boat to get them back.....Her hands stilled on her cheek. Oh yeah, I forgot, that too......lightning crisped our ride home. That explained the silence, now; even the seabirds had stopped calling.
Putting the washcloth back, she looked around for the soap in her pack. There was no time to be shy this time, she dearly wished to feel clean again. Anything to be clean, again.... The washcloth had felt cool and soothing against her cheek, reminding her of the raging fever she'd had.......Did....he help me through it....? Well, it was obvious that he did, since it was gone now.....She patted her wrist to her forehead, and finally located the bar. It felt wet; he'd probably took a bath earlier, too. Smarrt....I have to thank him for helping me when I was sick, too.....what's he so mad about...? I don't understand....
Clean once again, she washed her clothes and set them to dry as she wrapped a blanket so not to catch another chill. She stared up at the hanging laundry. Her underwear had been destroyed a long time ago, it wasn't really that bad, it just felt a little weird. Not to have any underwear on, that is. Breezy. Drafty.
When they were dry, she was aware her stomach was nearly digesting itself with hunger. By now, hunger was now recognized as a kind of numb pain, which meant it was there, but it wasn't paid much attention to. Reminiscent, it was, of the days and weeks she'd had to go without food a long time ago, when she was seven, because of family bills. So it wasn't anything new, not really. Still, she decided to find something to eat and soon.
Dressed again, she shivered as a breeze ruffled the tall palms, and rubbed her arms as she made her way towards the berry bushes. The sky was cloudy, but not cool. So maybe no rain today. Maybe. Hunger gnawing she bent by the thick plants, swatting away giant mosquitoes that seemed to have migrated over here tonight. Mosquitoes.....breathe in carbon dioxide....that how they tell where humans are. They weren't as abundant near the shore, so Serenity held her breath and picked the ripest fruit, a very uncomfortable situation to be in.
The berries tasted sweet, ripened by the sun, and she was thinking of how they might be poisonous, but was so hungry, she didn't care. Her hands went back and forth in blurry motion, stuffing herself as much as she could. I'd better not eat too much, less I get sick; now matter how hungry I am. Her fingers closed on one particularly plum juicy berry, but when she put in her mouth, bitterness filled her tongue. Ewww.....!!!! She spat it out as much as she could, then went to the pond to rinse.....
Thoughtfully holding up some water, her eyes fixed on a particularly tall palm, she rolled her tongue to get all the nasty taste out, and took a swig. And then she remembered. Spitting, choking, she managed to catch her breath again, sitting down again with a thump on the weak grass that dared to grow in the abundant sand....
H-he....really did do it! He really did......kiss me! I remember.....! She exhaled sharply, looking over her shoulder. Well! I-I.....never! The nerve, taking advantage of her when she was pratically dying, in his arms, dellusioned by a fever, and t-then......bleeding to death by my cut! Here, she touched the back of her neck, finding the bandage. Fresh? Oh.....right. Still, it was NO excuse. I wouldn't have done that to him! After all he did to me......
And plus, now sulking on the beach like a little bad kid....True, he did apologize, but WHAT'S HE SO MAD ABOUT?! Serenity shot to her feet, a furious and determined expression curving her naturally sweet one. I'M THE ONE WHO SHOULD BE MAD. HOW DARE HE TAKE AWAY MY RIGHT. I should--I should---go and kick him--again, yes, again---! Say, 'You idiot, what's the big deal?!?!?!?!?!?!'
Her anger faded away rapidly as she kicked the ground, her bare feet digging in the sand, and noticed a flower with large petals at her feet. She bent and picked it up, with a big sigh, holding the velvety deep red folds. It curled around her finger as his hands had curled around her face, her eyes opening just a smidgen, seeing through her lashes his head bend towards her, and feeling......-----
Serenity held the flower between her thumb and forefinger, staring at it as she walked towards the shore. Then, she clasped it behind her back nervously as she stepped towards the trees.
This side of the beach was pretty white and sandy. Turquoise waves rolled and crashed loudly against each other, white puffy clouds sailed lazily by, as if they hadn't a care in the world. What was worse, Seto had forgotten which way pointed towards home. The kiss must have erased his memory, as well. Soft footsteps sounded behind him where he was sitting, arms wrapped loosely around raised knees.
It was pretty late. "What.."
His belligerent tone stung, but she just flinched briefly and said simply: "I remembered."
"Oh, really." The ground was stared at studiously, by the both of them. A drift made her long russet hair dance as she sat down, right next to him. The silence bothered him immensely, calling attention to other proof he had changed. "......"
Still, he couldn't think of anything to say. So it went on and on, until finally she broke it: "I, uh, don't know....what to say......"
Which didn't help beat the silence much. "Great." He let go of his legs and stretched back, leaning against a bowing short palm. "That'll do."
One small hand touched his arm, revealing the deep red bud open like a star in her other palm. "Bear with me. Please. This is the first time something--anything like this has happened to me."
That came as a surprise to him. He'd seen boys hounding her all the time in Domino. "Never mind it, Serenity. It was....for purely practical reasons." There was a silence and he hoped she wouldn't burst into tears, but he believed in handling things the way one pulls off a bandage off a wound---quick and fast. And this was no exception. "It.....it didn't mean anything. So don't worry."
"Oh. Oh, I know," she said quickly. She didn't want to hurt his feelings, so she said, "I mean.....i-it was very nice, and all, what I remember, anyway, but I know......" She hesitated here. "..... you wouldn't be interested......"
He watched the auburn strands that danced around her small, heartshaped face, turning to her then, and smiling slightly. She didn't have to say more. "I see."
"I mean, you're rich, 'n all, and famous, 'n most likely have women dropping at your feet," she said, speaking very fast and stuttering at each word, because she was nervous. Her hand kept gesturing at her lap as she spoke, the flower waving at him. "But I like you, and I'd be honored if you would think of me as a friend....."
The words died on her lips as he took up the flower from her fingertips and studied it slowly. "But I don't think someone like 'me' would like to be friends with someone like 'you.' Right?" A kind of a teasing grin creased his cheek. "From we're from."
"But we're not home," she pointed out quickly, wanting to make amends. Her earnest face turned into a expression of surprise as he reached up and tucked the flower behind her ear. The two dark reds complimented each other exactly. All was still. Not even the wind dared to breathe.
"That's true." He watched her brown eyes glow, relieved, huge on her creamy complexion. Blue eyes met brown. Light met Dark. And she turned slightly pink as lowered her gaze to where his hand was, resting at his midsection. "I really like you too, Serenity."
She realized with surprise her heart was pounding and fluttering as though she'd just run a race. Plus, her voice came out as shaky with her heart dancing in her throat like that and her palms slipped together, sweaty. He's just being nice, just saying that, what's the matter with you?! she thought. No time to get all excited, silly!
And then, while Seto watched her get all flustered and Serenity stared at the curling flower, turning the exact deep reddish hue as it, they had a mutual thought: It's good to be alive. That, and 'I'd like a good juicy hamburger right now......'.
Meanwhile.....
"I'm sorry, sir, but there is no sign of them. You'll have to face it. It been ten days....!"
A big clap on the shoulder of sympathy on a sobbing hysterically Joey as all the sailors in the Coast Guard departed, fatigued and weak from battling heavy wind storms at sea. Mokuba Kaiba, more calm, sat by the dock, dangling his little feet over, staring at the water, utterly silent. Then again, he hadn't spoken in a week. But Joey pretty much articulated what they both wanted to say.
"NO! nononono! Keep--keep--keep searchin'!!!!! At least.......at least until the end of one more day....."
The sailors, sighed, shot one another with Might As Well Humor Him looks, and agreed.
By the end of the day, the press declared Seto Kaiba and Serenity Wheeler as, officially, dead. (Some just couldn't believe it, since he was so famous.)
Cause of death: L.A.S.....
.....lost at sea.
To Be Continued......
A/n: Sorry to end it on such a morbid note, but working the irony.....them thinking it's good to be alive, while others thinks they're dead......heh.
Black-Lightniing Haha, yeah that would've been funny if she'd woken up. And yeah, Joey would have no problem finding her screams. Yup.
Walis yeah, Kaiba's a weirdo. And don't imagine him with stubble, or you'll go nuts ! lol.
Black Mistress They kissed ! That's what ! LOL.
LazerWulf Joey won't be happy, that's for sure. Ah.
LordoftheBloodyHand Yeah, he is mean, but I like how Serenity's sweetness always wins him over and tried to show that in my fics.
Thanks, y'all, to the rest too for reviewing. Until next time.....AllDay signing off. R&R
