So, here you go, chapter eight of A Melody From Heaven (yes, sorry I changed the title, apostrophes don't seem to work in titles anymore...)
I have to say, hanging around with Yugi made me feel a lot better about what had happened between Seto and me. In fact, I was actually feeling a bit apologetic towards my harsh actions. I mean, yeah, he was the one being stupid and all, but I guess I was being a bit harsh on him…
Jounouchi and I had a strange conversation just before I left Yugi's house. He pulled me to one side and said, "Tsuki-chan… if you ever have any other problems with Kaiba, just talk to me, okay? I'll sort it out with him for you."
I raised my eyebrows, though a smile appeared on my face. "You would fight him for me? Aww… that's sweet of you." I gave him a friendly squeeze on the shoulder. "Listen, I have to go, alright? I'll see you tomorrow, early morning, right?"
Jounouchi nodded. "Like I said, I have better things to do then remain at home. I'd much rather be with you, even if it means doing homework." He grinned at me and left, waving a hand in farewell.
As I made my way back to Kaiba's house, watching the pavement and clutching my blazer, I reflected slightly on the anger that had flared between Kaiba and me a few hours ago.
Suddenly I remembered something he had said to me. 'I don't want you to get hurt.' Maybe Jounouchi was right. Maybe he really did care about me. It was a lot to hope for, but I doubt he would have said that if he didn't worry about me, at least just a little bit.
I finally arrived in front of the large gates of the mansion, and I looked up them hesitantly. They were so big and looming, belittling anyone who approached. Very fitting for the Kaiba residence. Now, should I ring the doorbell and risk him shoving me away without listening to me? Or could I sneak in and find him on my own.
I could just wait for Mokuba or one of the servants to recognize me and let me in, I thought miserably, leaning against the brick wall and sighing. I didn't want to be rejected. Not again. I didn't want to be alone.
I thought back on my miserable life. My parents, both dead. How no one had wanted to accept me. How Mokuba and his brother had been the first people ever aside from my direct relatives to show that they cared. A lump swelled in my throat, and I realized I couldn't stand to be mad at Kaiba any longer.
Thinking of my parents had reminded me of another figure in my life, someone who had only appeared to me briefly, but seemed to figure a lot in my twisted up story. "The angel," I whispered to myself, remembering the spirit who had been the spitting image of my father when he had been younger. The spirit who was the spitting image of Seto Kaiba, here on earth.
Kaiba was destined to be a part of my life. Something told me he was. Could it be mere coincidence that the angel, my father, and Kaiba all looked the same? I highly doubt it. I am a dreamer, after all. I find hope in things like that. Hope that he would be my angel and my father.
But dreams wouldn't open the gate for me; neither would they allow Kaiba to forgive me and take me back with open arms.
I felt tears of self-pity leak out of my eyes, and I dabbed angrily at them with my blazer, reminding myself that I had promised to stop thinking about myself all the time. That I would be the caring, humble, loving person that I had been when I had both my parents by my side.
Suddenly I heard the gate creak open, and I looked up instinctively to see what was going on. My heart skipped a beat when I saw Seto Kaiba, garbed in an old blue trenchcoat instead of his usual white one, looking at me quietly, one hand wrapped around an iron bar of the gate.
I quickly got off of the wall, hoping he didn't think I was insulting him by touching his house or something (I know, stupid idea, but still, you never know). I swallowed, hoping it would get rid of the lump in my throat.
Sadly enough, it didn't.
"Kaiba," I said softly, my voice cracking and not giving off its usual music-like quality, "I—what are you doing out here?"
"I should be asking you the same thing," he said quietly, smiling slightly. His voice didn't have the harsh quality it used to have when I would talk to him. It was almost… caring, in some way. He continued to talk. "I saw you on the surveillance camera." He pointed above my head.
I looked up, and saw a swiveling camera pointing straight down at me. Blushing furiously, I looked back at him, and saw his face had straightened out somewhat into a serious expression.
"Now that I've answered your question, maybe you can answer mine," he began, still talking in that quiet voice.
I quickly said, "I wanted to say sorry to you," before he could say anything else that might be harsh. "I sincerely apologize for the way I talked to you back at your office," I said shakily, swallowing again to push down the unease that was welling up inside me. To calm myself, I glanced down and found that talking to his shoes was an easier task. "I wasn't thinking about what I said. I can't force you to like someone I like. It was bad of me to—" but I suddenly felt a hand on my shoulder and I looked up, startled.
Kaiba squeezed my shoulder consolingly, and I shivered. It was the first time he had voluntarily touched me.
"That wasn't my question," he said gently. "Frankly, I don't care what you were doing loitering outside my house. I was glad I found you because I wanted to ask you if—if you'd accept my apology."
What?
I stood there, mouth slightly open in shock, and it was Kaiba's turn to look at the floor. "I've been thinking about what you said, and I realized you were right," he said in a rush, as if eager to get it over with. "I shouldn't judge people right away. Especially someone like you," here he looked up and smiled at me, "who has the patience to try and correct my mistakes. No one's ever done that for me before. I know that the way I treat people is wrong, but I want to protect my brother and my corporation. But, Tsuki, I sincerely appreciate the effort you put in for me."
And to my even greater surprise, he pulled me into a hug.
It was quite a nice hug. Gentle and friendly, yet filled with emotion. I knew everything he was trying to say to me by that contact. After the initial shock was over, I put my arms around his shoulders and hugged him back.
He pulled away soon after that, unaccustomed to the gesture. In fact, he was blushing slightly, embarrassed by the way he was acting. "So you forgive me?" he asked hopefully, looking almost like a child again. I never knew he could look so innocent.
I couldn't help breaking into a relieved smile, tears threatening to spill out of my eyes again. "You're too cute to stay mad at for long," I managed to choke out, before the water began to trickle from my eyes.
Kaiba broke into an equally happy and genuine smile, though it was punctured by the concern that crossed his face at the sight of my tears. "Why are you crying?" he asked me worriedly, fishing a handkerchief from his pocket and holding it out to me.
I took it and wiped my eyes. "Sorry," I mumbled, embarrassed with myself. "I just thought—just thought that—for a minute there, I thought I would lose the only people alive that I cared about."
Kaiba looked somewhat more relaxed. "I would never do that," he told me, drawing me into a comforting hug, much like an older brother consoling his little brother over the loss of a toy. I found myself convinced for a few seconds that this wasn't Kaiba at all. "I—care about you too. I feel like you're part of the family now."
I sniffed, resting my head on his shoulder and liking the heat that emanated between the two of us, very unlike the angry sparks that had flickered from each of us before, back at his office.
"Let's go inside?" Kaiba offered after a while, pulling away and offering me his hand. I took it, smiling, dry tear trails the only traces of my crying. He squeezed it comfortingly, and we went inside. As I glanced back at the gates behind us, I realized that they weren't as foreboding as I had thought they were. Before, I had felt they were trying to keep me out. Now, I realized they were going to keep me secure and safe, tucked away with my new family.
The next few weeks were the happiest days of my life. Every weekday I would go to school early, meet up with Jounouchi, and help him with his homework. We honestly had a good time, laughing and teaching each other new tricks we had learned to make our academic lives easier.
I worked as a personal secretary for Seto, continuing my job even after I had repaid him for my tuition. He told me one afternoon on the way home from work that he honestly couldn't think of anyone else that would fit perfectly in the only secretary's uniform he would spend for. I laughed at that and whacked him playfully on the head.
Every Saturday, I would go for a part-time job at the Kame Game Shop. The truth was, it was more a game than work. I helped organize shelves and assist customers, and got paid in Duel Monster booster packs. I constructed myself a new deck from them, and dueled with Yugi, and sometimes with Jounouchi, who often dropped by. I wasn't a great duelist, but there was something comforting about being able to relax with them.
For the first time in my life, I felt truly happy. I liked my school. I liked the teachers. I liked the subjects (yes, even Math. Isn't that obvious by now?). Sure, I stank at physical ed. (I never really had been good at it) but Jounouchi helped me, and even Seto gave in to helping me shoot hoops during the weeks we were learning basketball. I felt grateful to these people that they helped me put my miserable past life behind me.
Some things just can't be bought with money (though Seto can buy quite a lot with all his earnings from his gaming equipment), and friends are one of them.
"Good morning, Tsuki-chan!" Jounouchi Katsuya greeted me one morning, as I came in for our tutoring session. As usual, we were the only ones in the classroom, but I didn't mind.
"Good morning yourself, Katsuya-kun," I chuckled, closing the door behind me. I saw him sitting at the old, yellowing piano at the back of the room. "What are you doing over there?" I asked him, setting down my books on my table beside his and walking over to him.
"Nothing," he shrugged, poking each key with one index finger as I came up to stand beside him. "I've always wanted to play the piano."
As I stared down at the black and white keys, it seemed as if a million memories rushed at me, as if they had been waiting for the exact moment to force themselves to the front of my mind. Notes and clefs and ledger lines. Small, chubby, child-like fingers flying over an out-of-tune piano. A teenager, sitting on a piano bench on stage, playing an upbeat classical piece on a crisp polished new grand piano, playing for an entire hall of people…
"I know how to play the piano," I said quietly, not realizing I had said that aloud.
Katsuya's face brightened. "You do? Really?" he asked eagerly, standing up and scooting away from the piano. "Do you still remember any pieces? Could you play something for me? I always liked the way it sounds. I just never heard anyone play it properly before."
I still stared at the keys in some sort of trance. "I'm not sure…" I said quietly, running my fingers over the keys as I sat down, and leaving my sentence unfinished. Suddenly I felt right. I felt as if I belonged here in front of the piano.
Hesitantly, I laid my fingers on the piano and played a scale. It was still in tune, at least. I tested the black keys with my left hand, then positioned myself and began to play a slow, haunting melody. I surprised myself, realizing that I had not forgotten it at all. I put my heart out to the music, and lost myself in it, not looking away from the keys until I hit the last note, which rang through the silent air like a bell. Only then did I slip out of my trance.
Jounouchi was clapping loudly, beaming at me. Then I realized there was another pair of hands that had joined in the applause. Looking around at the door, I blushed upon seeing the glowing, proud face of Seto Kaiba as he clapped for me.
Well, there we go. I'm sorry if it's too short for your liking. Please review. Even just say, 'Hi! I liked your story!" It really helps me to know how many people want to see new chapters, because I feel more motivated that way to update. Thank you very much!