--Chapter 8--

Disclaimers: I don't own Yu-gi-Oh.

Kaiba Mansion, 10:00 A.M.

"Hello, Mokuba, I was wondering where you've been." Seto Kaiba was busy reading the newspaper as his younger brother walked in the room.

Mokuba sat down across the large mahogany table and ate his breakfast, still thinking about what Carlo told him.

"So I was thinking, Mokuba, that—"

"That you can go out with someone other than Ellie?" Mokuba completed for his brother, his temper rising.

Mokuba couldn't read the expression on his older brother's face, but he sure wasn't happy. "What do you mean, I'm not going out with Ellie? I asked her out for dinner a while ago!"

"Yeah right. I asked my friend. He saw you yesterday with a girl that doesn't have the description of Ellie." Mokuba paused for effect, determined to catch his brother in the act.

Finally Kaiba gave it up. "Fine, yes, I did go out with another girl. But it was just for one night. Just don't tell Ellie about this, please…"

"That's for me to decide."

"Come on, Mokuba. I'm going to marry Ellie, anyway. It doesn't matter that I went out with some other girl." Kaiba shrugged.

"Fine. But you have to be loyal to her. Okay?"

"Fine." Seto went back to his newspaper and Mokuba went back to eating breakfast.

"So… who's that girl anyway, Seto?"

"Oh. I just met her… I don't intend to get to know her more." Seto Kaiba declared, and he gulped down the last of his coffee. "I'm going to work. See you, Mokuba."

Kaiba Corporation, 11:15 A.M.

"Good morning, Mr. Kaiba. The business deals and agenda for today are all on your table, sir." His secretary greeted him.

"Very good. Send regards to Mr. Ikegami for me, Ms. Shimamura. Arigato." Seto Kaiba strode briskly to his office table and took a seat. For a while he sat drumming his fingers on the hard wood. Then he picked up the phone at the corner of the desk and dialed.

"Hello?"

Kaiba sighed with relief. "Thank goodness it's you who answered, Serenity. I was really worried about you—you didn't want my chauffeur to take you home."

"No, it's okay. I was able to walk home safely, Set—oh I mean, Seth."

"Okay. I'm glad about that. But…" he paused for a moment, and thought about what Mokuba discussed with him earlier this morning. He needed to get rid of Serenity quick before she caused any more trouble.

"Listen, can you meet me at this restaurant, later at 12:00 noon?"

"Um, sure, thanks, Seth. That's really good of you."

"No problem. I have to go now, bye." He hung up and resumed his work.

Fong Zhou Restaurant, Domino City, 12 noon.

"May I take your order?"

"Yeah. Um, teriyaki chicken for me, and a bit of plain gohan, and plain water. Thank you." Serenity dictated, putting down her menu as the waitress scribbled furiously on the order sheet.

"I'll take an order of tempura and fried rice. And some iced tea. That's all." Kaiba told the waitress, and she repeated everything the couple had ordered.

"So what did you want to talk to me about, Seto?" Serenity asked once they were alone.

"I'll tell you later. Now, I want to enjoy your company," he said firmly, and Serenity laughed.

After a bit of conversation that was interrupted by the arrival of the food, Kaiba got exactly where he was planning the conversation.

"Listen, Serenity." His voice changed sharply. "I don't like you. In that way. You know what I mean, don't you?"

Serenity was speechless for a while. "So… that means… that everything you've done for me was a fake?"

"Yes." He said forcefully. "I am engaged to Ellie Hiragamo; surely you know that?"

Her eyes sunk to the ground. "So it is true. I didn't believe the rumors in the first place…"

"Listen, I'm sorry, but when I saw you back at the party, I just got to know you. I didn't mean for it to go this far. But I just got a bit… carried away. I'm sorry." Kaiba almost bit back the apology back there, but what did he have to say, then? That he used her so that Mokuba wouldn't get hurt?

"It's okay. I-I understand." She said, her voice trembling slightly. Then she regained her composure once more and stood up. "I have to go. See you…" and without another word, she walked out of the restaurant.

Next day… Kaiba Mansion.

Seto Kaiba was once more buried in today's newspapers when his butler came to deliver his mail. "Letters for you, Mr. Kaiba."

He stretched, happy that he didn't have anything more to worry about. Serenity Wheeler was out of the way, and Mokuba was safe from all harm that she would have caused him. And he had successfully dumped her.

Taking the envelopes in his hands, he counted his letters for today. They all numbered to six. Five of them, he was sure, came from his business associates who couldn't get in touch with him through email. The sixth one was strange—he had never seen anything like it before.

So he set aside his business letters and focused on the small white envelope. Slowly he cut through the edge of the envelope and opened up the folded-up paper.

"Dear Seto,

By the time you read this, I would be on the plane on the way to France. I will just tell you all the things that I want to say to you before I go, so I am writing all of these on a piece of paper.

First of all… these past few days… even if it did mean anything to you, I was sure that I felt something. Something… that I've never felt in all my life. It was strange… yet I liked it.

And now you tell me that everything that went between us was nothing to you. I do understand, mainly about Ms. Ellie Hiragamo and all.

But I will only admit one thing—I was hurt when you said all of that to me. I don't want to shout or make a scene to embarrass you since you have a reputation to keep, and I respect that. Though I do hope that you will look forward to your life with Ms. Hiragamo, and that you will be happy.

Sincerely, Serenity Wheeler."

Kaiba smirked. His plan had worked. But did he really feel satisfied that he had done this to an innocent girl? It didn't seem right to him.

Yet he had achieved his goal—Operation TBAG had succeeded.

Serenity Wheeler looked into the glass of the airplane window—she had gotten a window seat. She watched as Domino City faded away as the airplane lifted away from Japan.

She would miss Domino; she had always loved being there with the people who mattered to her. She certainly was happy there—but if she stayed there, she knew she had to face Seto Kaiba.

She couldn't bear that, for she knew that she had deep feelings for the CEO. It hurt to think that he had feelings for someone completely different.

Somehow, those past few days that she had spent with him was like paradise. Especially when he kissed her, she had felt that he totally meant it.

But thankfully in Paris… she would be able to escape from him. She forgave him for hurting her, because she had stayed up the whole night reflecting on the best thing to do.

She found the courage to write Joey, Seto and Tea letters to tell them where she had gone.

A tear escaped from her eye, and she allowed it to reach her cheek until she wiped it away.

Although, unfortunately for Serenity—she was running away from a love she was afraid to face. And she certainly didn't know that it would hurt her deeply—even more than the hurt that she had received.

Now we will leave Serenity Wheeler to her thoughts as she moves back to Paris; for she still dwelt on her thoughts about the love that she thought was not returned.

A/N: So how was that? I really lacked adjectives and explanations in here. Anyways, I hope you all like it. Take care to all, and please leave a review—I accept flames.