Disclaimer: You know what? I just feel like saying I don't own Yu-Gi-Oh! That's all. Plain and simple…Simple and Clean…hehe.
Chapter 9: Sleeping Beauty
October
Tea walked down the stairs to have breakfast for the Kaibas. Yesterday (Sept. 30) had been the day of that kiss. She was still very confused about her feelings. She also wasn't feeling the greatest. But, this didn't stop her from her duties. She knew Kaiba would probably blow off her excuse that she was sick.
She walked into the kitchen. Mokuba and Noa were already seated at the counter, just waiting for her.
"Hey Tea!" Noa greeted.
"Morning," Tea replied, unenthusiastically back.
"Are you alright?" Mokuba inquired.
"Fine…just fine," Tea fibbed.
"Okay…" they both looked at each other. They already had their cereal bowls filled up and were just about to eat. (It was a Friday.)
Kaiba then walked in. Tea slapped down his usual cereal, plus a bowl, some milk and a spoon. She felt a flutter in her heart; thus, avoiding total eye contact with him. She didn't want to look at that "devil." They both sat down, and to Tea's misfortune, she was, as usual, on his right.
The three boys began eating while Tea just sat there, staring at the table.
"Gardner," Seto suddenly said. She jumped slightly.
"Yes?" she answered simply, still not looking at him. She didn't want to even speak to him. What was wrong with her? Was it because of yesterday?
"Could you please pass the milk?" he sighed. Tea looked around for it and saw it directly in front of her. She put it down next to his bowl. While removing her hand, Seto was reaching for it. His hand slightly brushed one of her fingers. She jerked it away quickly, feeling the shock sensation running up her arm.
"Why aren't you eating, Gardner?" Seto inquired.
"I'm not that hungry," she replied, still looking at her plate.
"Whatever."
"Are you feeling okay, Tea?" Mokuba asked again.
"I'm fine," Tea tensed up just a tad. Why was he asking her that?
"Well, okay, but just promise you'll eat lunch. We don't want you passing out or getting sick or anything," Noa replied.
She stood up and pushed her chair in, "Sure. You guys finish up. I'll be in my room." She walked away.
"She doesn't look so good," Noa said quietly to his brothers, "Someone so go check what's wrong with her."
"She can deal with it. She's a "big girl,"" Seto replied, uncaring. At least, for now….
Tea logged onto the Internet in her room, on her computer. Her AIM popped up. This time, she saw Serenity121W logged on. Interesting…wasn't she supposed to have school today? Maybe she had a day off…. Nevertheless, she was happy for it and opened up a box to talk to her.
TGHopingFaith: Hey Serenity!
Serenity121W: Hey Tea! Wuz up?
TGHopingFaith: n m…I think…how bout u?
Serenity121W: I'm good…well, except…Tea, I need your advice.
TGHopingFaith: Ok…Serenity, what happened?
Serenity121W: Oh Tea…some guy…tried kissing me! And…he's not stopping at anything to get that kiss! Oh Tea, I hate him; he's such an idiot! And, I'm so…scared…I don't know what he's going to pull next! What should I do?
TGHopingFaith: …Let him kiss you…kiss him back…it can't be that bad…who knows…maybe you'll even like it….
Serenity121W: Tea! That doesn't sound like u at all! What's wrong?
TGHopingFaith: NOTHING'S WRONG! WILL PEOPLE QUIT ASKING ME THAT!
Serenity121W: Tea, r sure u're ok?
TGHopingFaith: Yeah…I'm just not feeling the best today, that's all.
Serenity121W: OK…well, anyway…that guy…why would I do that? No offenses to your advice…but he's like…SETO KAIBA! Exactly! He's an arrogant, ego filled, jerk! Who in their right mind would kiss someone like…or even Seto Kaiba? Except those lovesick girls that are all around the world…but that's not the point!
TGHopingFaith: Kiss Kaiba…yeah…right…who would…?
Serenity121W: Tea…are u QUITE sure u're ok?
TGHopingFaith: Yes, Serenity, I'm fine!
Serenity121W: Well, ok, but it sounded like you were…I dunno…never mind…it's stupid.
TGHopingFaith: What?
Serenity121W: Nothing, really, I must've just been watching too many sappy movies lately. Usually, when people act like that, it'd mean they've done the accused argument. In this case, it'd say u'd have kissed Kaiba or something! How funny! Of course, it'd never happen, but it's funny to think about!
TGHopingFaith: …
Serenity121W: Tea…is something wrong…you're really acting like…no way!
TGHopingFaith: WHAT?
Serenity121W: You didn't, did u? After all, working for him gives u the chance….
TGHopingFaith: What? NO! HECK NO!
TGHopingFaith has signed off at 10:12:23 am.
Tea sat back in her chair. Dang, Serenity was good. Tea had almost given that "secret" away. But really, she had to admit, if that kid was just like Seto…KAIBA…then he shouldn't be all that bad. After all, Kaiba's kiss wasn't bad. Crap…was she thinking like that now? What the heck was wrong with her? She was SO not falling for that creep. Nosiree, she wasn't falling for that jerk…or was she?
Seto sat back in his office chair and laughed. Yet again, somehow (you know technology these days…) he had found Tea and Serenity's chat. Somehow he had known she'd be "chatting" with her friends. What a laugh it was! How ironic that it just happened to hit Tea's supposed sore spot about yesterday.
There were three more funny things about it. Serenity had said that Tea would never kiss him. Ha! Right…. Second, that kiss wasn't bad. He had to admit, it had felt very good. Third, she had downright denied it. It didn't sound like her at all…more like him…. Tch, she had been working and hanging around him too much.
It was now about 12:00. Tea walked down the kitchen, as custom, ready for lunch. However, she really wasn't that hungry…again. What was up with her? Maybe she ought to force down some food. After all, she had promised Noa that she would eat….
But she just couldn't bring herself to eat. So instead, she went into the living room (not to be confused with the family room). She had only glanced in here a few times. She had never really been inside. It was a room used for entertainment and meetings really, for guests, that is.
It held a grand piano, some pictures and photos, a couple exquisite books, and other forms of art. Tea decided to look around.
What really caught her attention were the photographs around the room. Of course, there were the present day portraits. There was one portrait of each Kaiba, and then there was one that had been taken altogether. Tea noticed how solemn Seto looked in every one, next to his happy brothers. Did the guy only smile when he won something?
Well…no, not exactly. He did smile at other times…but that's later in the story. Right now though…he was frowning…in disgust. In his hand, while sitting in his office, he held a most despicable piece of mail. It was an invitation to one of his colleague's yearly parties.
Sure, Seto went every year, out of keeping up his dignity, and sure, he had been bored flat every year, but this year would kill him.
This year, the invitation said to bring an escort/accompaniment. Ever year, everyone invited to the party brought someone with them, except for him. Obviously, his colleague had noticed this, and was stressing that Seto bring one. Who was he to take hold of Seto's life? What if he didn't want to bring some woman with?
His door opened. There stood Noa and Mokuba.
Seto raised an eyebrow, "School's over already?"
"Yep!" they both replied. They sat down in the two chairs near his desk.
"So, what's that Seto?" Mokuba inquired.
"Stupid invitation to Stephen's party…again. And this time I have to bring an accompaniment," Seto put his head on the desk and his hands over it.
"Well, that can't be so bad," Noa replied, looking over at Mokuba, and smirking.
"Yeah…who knows, maybe you'll actually have fun for once!" Mokuba replied, "So, who were you thinking of bringing?"
"How should I know? This is my first time picking some female," he retorted, saying it as if it cursed his mouth. "Actually…that Ishizu woman might do….
Noa reddened in his cheeks, and Mokuba tried to keep from laughing. Still though, he wanted Seto to go with Tea….
"Isn't Ishizu in Egypt right now?" Mokuba inquired.
"I'll send a jet if I have to. After all, this party is in a month. She's got plenty of time. Hey, Noa, could you go to that cabinet over there and fish out the woman's number? I have to call her…." He faded off. Big mistake.
"Sure, Seto," Noa practically grinded his teeth, while giving a fake smile. He was SO not going with her. There were two reasons behind this. One: Ishizu was his. He'd do anything to get her. He may not know her that well, but he liked what he knew about her. Two: he was trying together Seto together with Tea.
Noa walked to the file cabinet and smirked. Ha. Big mistake asking him. He eventually found her number…ah, that beautiful number he had to call the previous night…. Anyway, yes, he found the number. But, instead of giving it to Seto, he folded it up and slipped it in his pocket.
"I'm sorry Seto, I can't seem to find it," Noa replied, still pretending to fish through the many files.
Seto got up and walked over to him, "Impossible." He lightly shoved Noa aside and began fishing through there. Out of Seto's eyeshot, Noa held up the piece of paper and waved it a tad to show Mokuba. His brother smiled. Noa was an awesome brother. What would he ever do without him?
"Hmm, seems you're right…well, it's probably on the Internet somewhere, or maybe the secretary has it," Seto went to sit back down. He pressed the intercom button. The two's faces drained. Shoot! Their plan as going down the drain….
"Sherry."
"Yes Mister Kaiba?" a girly voice rang out from the other end. She was a woman at twenty, who, as most young women, cooed at Kaiba's voice, touch and sight. She was still trying to get together with him….
"I need you to see if we have Miss Ishizu Ishtar's phone number listed."
Something along the lines of a snort was thought to be heard from the other side, "Yes sir." Mokuba got up.
"Seto, I'm going to use the bathroom," and he ran out the door. But Mokuba didn't go to the bathroom, as if you didn't know. No…he went to the secretary's desk.
"Sherry! I need a favor," Mokuba stood at the front of it.
She turned around from having just spoken on the intercom, "Hehe, hook me up with your brother, and I'll do anything for you!" she laughed. Mokuba looked at her strangely. "It was a joke." Not really. "What can I do for you?"
"Tell Seto that you don't have Ishizu's number. I don't want him to have it," Mokuba replied.
"That makes two of us," Sherry grumbled.
"Excuse me?" Mokuba looked at her.
"Yes, sir, of course. I'd be happy to." Really, she would.
"Thanks!" Mokuba ran off.
Just as Mokuba entered Seto's office, the intercom came on, "Mister Kaiba, no reference of Miss Ishizu Ishtar has been found. I'm sorry." The intercom clicked off. Downstairs, Sherry was giggling.
"WHAT? I know I gave that number to them!" Seto stood up outraged. "Why is it always me having problems with women? I bet everyone else invited to this stupid thing can get escorts or whatnot in two seconds!" he sat down roughly again and put his hands in his hair, ruffling it.
"Well…why not try someone else you know? Maybe someone staying closer than Egypt?" Mokuba sat down.
"Like who? All the girls I personally know are off somewhere…except…."
"Except?" both brothers pressed on.
"Gardner." Bingo. "I guess I'll ask her tonight…and get ready to find someone else in the morning. No doubt she'll downright refuse," Seto replied. Actually, now that he thought about it, asking Tea didn't sound like a bad idea. Wait a second. What was he thinking? Of course it was! Asking women to anything was horrible! He wondered what it felt like to be one of those poor souls asking a women to marry him. He practically shuddered at the thought…and yet….
"You never know," Noa replied.
"She could accept," Mokuba added on.
Tea went downstairs to make dinner: sushi, salad, biscuits, and turkey. Even though she prepared the food, she didn't feel like eating it. No…actually, it was making her feel even sicker for some reason.
When she was almost finished making it, she heard the front door open. They were home.
Tea left the table. She had told them she didn't feel much like eating dinner. She had made up the excuse that she had had a big lunch. So, she went up to her room and read a book. Because of this, Seto didn't get a chance to ask her to that party.
That next morning, Tea woke up to Seto shouting his lungs out, yet again. She had grown used to it by now. However, she didn't feel like getting out of bed, so she didn't. They had breakfast out this morning anyway.
Eventually, she heard the three leave. It was 9:00. She still didn't feel like eating breakfast. Why wasn't she eating? What was wrong with her? She didn't feel totally sick…she just was still a little confused and full of emotion at the moment. But that couldn't be the answer. Maybe it was just one of those awful feeling weeks.
She prepared lunch for the family, but didn't eat, saying that she had had a large breakfast. Sure…. About an hour after lunch, Noa and Mokuba approached her, with Noa holding a phone.
"Hey Tea, can we go to a friend's house and spend the night?" Mokuba asked.
"Why are you asking me?" Tea inquired, "Why aren't you asking your brother?"
"Ah, he won't care. As long as you tell him where we went, he'll be fine with it," Noa replied.
"Well…I'd say yes, of course, but I still want you to ask Se-Kaiba. It'd make me feel better," Tea replied, almost slipping on the name.
Of course, the two noticed this, "Okay." So, they ran upstairs to Kaiba's room.
The two left half an hour later. And just to Tea's luck, she was left alone in the house with…Kaiba. She retreated to her room until she had to go make dinner. Lucky for her, he didn't show up until it was time to eat.
Then, it was a small dinner, because it was just those two. Actually, the dinner was just spaghetti, ham and salad. Seto didn't care. He knew that with his brothers gone, there was a very small appetite left. He began eating, but Tea did not.
"You know what…I'm not that hungry. I'm just going to go back upstairs…." Tea started standing up. Suddenly, Seto yanked her back down.
"Gardner, you are going to eat something! I'm starting not to believe those stories you gave us to skip meals. When was the last time you ate? I want the truth now!" Seto demanded.
Tea meekly mumbled, "Two nights ago."
"What? Two nights ago? You've gone two days without a single thing of food?" Seto looked at her in astonishment. Was this some crazy diet or something?
"Yes…I just don't feel like eating…I don't know why…" and especially now, she was feeling fluttery and sort of sick in her chest. Seto was still holding onto her arm.
"Gardner, you're going to eat something, if I have to personally shove it down your throat!" Seto replied, sort of starting to care. It wasn't good that she wasn't eating….
Tea stood up, even with Seto holding onto her, "Look S-Kaiba! I just don't feel hungry! Just leave me alone!" She tore his hand off her arm and started going to the entrance when she stopped. Her vision was going to blurry. She started to sway back and forth. Two days without anything to eat….
Seto immediately stood up, "Gardner! Gardner!" Tea fell backwards. She felt someone catch her. The last thing she saw were two blue, widened and worried looking eyes. She also heard, "Gardner! Gardner…Tea!"
Seto sat in a chair next to Tea's bed. She still hadn't woken up from fainting. He really was starting to get worried. Actually…he was starting to care. Seto looked at the sleeping form, tucked into her bed. She actually was pretty while sleeping…well, not sleeping exactly, but close enough.
He sat back and looked around the room. He hadn't exactly seen what she had done to it once moving in. It looked pretty much the same, except her things cluttered some areas.
He saw a pen on the floor. Being the neat freak he was, Seto bent down to pick it up. In doing so, he knocked into the nightstand. A small book fell open from somewhere on it.
He was about to pick it up, close it and place it in the drawer on her nightstand, when he swore he noticed his name on the page. Seto knew he shouldn't, as it was probably a journal or something, but…. He picked it up slightly, and started reading…with utmost curiosity.
I don't understand myself anymore. I swear, I thought I hated the crap off Kaiba, but it seems like I don't anymore for some reason… Am I starting to fall for him? That can't be…even though that stupid sheet has been checked off quite a bunch…. Well, it'd explain all these weird feelings lately: fluttery, embarrassed, shy, scared, not hungry. But I still don't understand how I could fall for Seto…wow, it really does feel good to use that name instead of "Kaiba." Great…now I'm pretty sure I am falling for him. But, I have to admit: the kiss wasn't bad. I actually enjoyed it, I think. Why I slapped him for it, I don't know. But now…I wonder why he's doing all that…. That kiss…what he did a month ago at the top of the staircase…it's still freaking me out. I don't enjoy feeling that way…scared, insecure…. I wish he'd stop it. What does he want out of me anyway? Information? Something else? Well, all I know is that I'm not giving into these feelings…yet. Maybe they'll go away. After all, those feelings for Yugi did go away eventually….
Seto smirked. So, she really does like me, he thought. In fact, I'm pretty sure she's in love with me. A folded piece of paper fell out of the back of the journal. He picked up the paper and was about to reinsert it back there, when he saw something written about it.
I have no idea whatsoever why I got this retarded paper. I was just looking up stuff on the net, and this caught my eye. I told myself it was stupid and retarded, but something pulled me to look at it anyway. Then something told me to print it! What was I thinking? However…it can't hurt to use it…what's it going to matter? The paper's stupid…it doesn't mean anything…I can just use it as a stupid sheet of paper and just…look at the milestones in this…feeling…if you call it that.
Seto looked up quickly as he heard Tea roll over in bed. He breathed a small sigh of relief. She was still knocked out.
Still, Seto couldn't help himself. Curiosity killed the cat, but he was one for danger. He unfolded the paper and looked at the list. He saw the checkmarks (which had grown since she had gotten it) and he saw the tallies at the bottom. Then, he saw the "Kisses" part of the tallying section. That one mark…and it said they needed five….
Who cares, he thought. I just might….
He looked up at Tea again. She had a small smile on her face…like she was having a happy dream or something….
And so she was. Tea was having a good dream…well…it was interesting at least. Okay…never mind…it was just plan boring. Tea was standing alone in a dark room. Someone tapped her shoulder. She turned around. It was a shadow with such familiar ice blue eyes…. It was that same shadow she had seen in her dreams the night before Kaiba brought her here to work.
Then shadow, though, then began to solidify…into none other than Seto Kaiba. The dream Kaiba took Tea's arm and pulled her close. Then, he put his arms around her waist and lowered his head. Tea rose up to meet his. They met. Okay, NOW the dream was good!
She really did feel happy kissing that shadow Kaiba…and somehow, it felt strangely real….
Seto (the real one) scooted closer to her bed. Did he dare? Did he care? He didn't know if he cared or not…but the temptation was too great. He leaned down and kissed her.
And for some strange reason, it truly felt like she was kissing him back…but he ignored that feeling. It couldn't happen…she was asleep, or so he hoped.
He finally pulled back…half regretfully. Yes, her eyes were still closed. He put the journal back in the drawer and closed it, after quickly placing his mark: a tally under "Kisses Shared." After all, he had kissed her…and now, he was really considering that feeling of her kissing him back….
Then, he turned back to face her. He leaned on her bed. Seto reached over, half hesitant, and began fingering a lock of her hair. My, was it smooth and sleek…. Of course, by now, it was nearing 9:00. He was growing tired…but he wasn't about to leave her alone here. What if she woke up and wondered what had happened? Why did he even care? Great…now he was getting those two sided thoughts back…kind of like she was.
But eventually, he fell asleep there, his head resting on the side of her bed, near her hand.
Tea stirred and opened her eyes. She was in bed…how did she get there? She sat up abruptly, now realizing her hunger as her stomach rumbled. Then she saw a sight that almost scared the daylights out of her. Seto was laying (at least, his head was) on her bed.
So…he had brought her up here…and he had sat there. She looked at the clock. It read 12:47 am. She looked back at Seto and smiled. She reached over and began brushing his bangs. They flowed gracefully back down when they left her fingers.
He stirred a bit, and she withdrew her hand quickly. But he still seemed asleep. So, she went back to brushing his bangs.
Seto half woke up. He didn't open his eye; he was still too tired. But, he felt a relaxing swishing sensation on his hair…his bangs to be more precise. It was quite relaxing and peaceful. Sure, he may have given a single thought to what was happening, but at the moment, he didn't care. He just went back to sleep.
Tea wasn't going to deny it any longer: she was in love. She was sure of it now. How cared if she hadn't completed that stupid sheet: like she said, it meant nothing. Besides, she had filled out most of it….
But now, she was hungry. Very hungry. After having not eaten for two days, yeah, she expected to feel like that.
But she still wondered one thing: why had her hunger come back all of the sudden? And those two-sided thoughts had stopped too…. Of course…it had been denial. Now, she wasn't completely afraid of Seto any longer, or her feelings toward him.
First though, she wanted to do one thing. Sure, it was simple, but still. She bent to down and swiftly kissed the top of his head. Then, she withdrew her hand from Seto's bangs and hopped out of bed, but careful enough not to disturb Seto. Afterwards, she walked downstairs to the kitchen. Man, was she starved!
Seto woke up suddenly. He looked around, still a tad confused from having just slept. He turned to look at the clock. Twelve fifty-five am. He looked back at the bed and jumped up about two feet. Where was she? He ran out of the room.
What if something else had happened to her? Technically, most of the blame would be put on him since, except for the servants, he was the only one in the house. And…the servants were asleep.
Near the banister of the stairs, he swore he saw a light coming from the kitchen. Seto raced down there. He walked into the kitchen, upon seeing Tea; with a bag of Tostitos chips in hand, and watching a baseball game on their small kitchen TV…wait…baseball at midnight?
"Gardner?" Seto said softly. Tea jumped a tad, not expecting the voice. She turned around.
"Geez…oh, you're up. What'd you want?"
"What are you doing?"
"What does it look like? I'm eating something! Midnight snack, you know…kinda hungry," she turned back around, "I didn't know you got American channels." Seto sat down next to her.
"Neither did I. Is this one of them?"
"Yeah…I've never heard of the teams…well, maybe I have…but vaguely. I think they're American teams at least…Cubs against the Braves," Tea remarked. Then she held up the chips, "Want some?"
Seto looked a little hesitant. He had never had a "midnight snack" before. Aw, what the heck, he hadn't had dinner either.
"Sure, why not?" Seto reached in and took some out. So, they ended up watching the game and eating Tostitos. And, as usual, they fell asleep…due to fatigue. Of course, they never saw how the game ended, seeing as how they fell asleep in the 8th inning…and the TV ran on quietly. I'll just say that the Cubs won…7-1 and we'll leave it at that.
Well, did you peoples like it? Was it okay? I just had to put this chapter in…for information and other reasons. Sorry if you thought it was boring…but it gets better…I think…I promise. Review please! Oh, and about the baseball. I just put that in so they could do something…you know? Yeah…no offense to all you Braves fans, but I'm a Cubs fan and I'm not really fond of the Braves. Funny how I'm in Chicago as I type this…I see a trend….
