NEXT: Sorry for the delay! First, I didn't feel exactly like writing it…then I didn't want to write IN GENERAL, but I had to meet my deadline, so here it is! Oh and then wouldn't let me update. Enjoy!
Chapter 19: Stolen Kiss; Shattered Heart
March (cont.)
The minute Seto and Anzu opened the door to the Kaiba Mansion; Mokuba was upon them with barrels and barrels of questions. Some of which included, "How was it? Did you have fun, Seto? Was dinner nice?" Occasional, "We didn't do anything bad," or "Nothing happened," comments were thrown in, to make sure Seto didn't start getting inquisitive about leaving the two at home.
But it was true. The only thing that had happened was that Mokuba had gotten on Noa's nerves and the boy had tramped up to his room.
Seto tried pushing his brother down, "It was great, Mokuba, now calm down! …Where's Noa?"
Mokuba paused, and carefully said, "In his room."
"Why isn't he down here? Is he asleep?" Seto inquired, suddenly curious.
"Dunno," Mokuba shrugged. "He just went up there a little while ago. I haven't seen him since."
Seto's brow furrowed. This didn't mean anything good. "Is he sick?"
"How should I know? He's become a hermit!" Mokuba protested.
"Let me check on him," Seto left their sides and proceeded upstairs. Mokuba though, knew full well what the problem was. He just wasn't about to break it to them.
Seto rapped on Noa's closed and locked bedroom door. "Noa?"
"WHAT? WHO IS IT?" Noa yelled back, nastily. Seto jumped. He hadn't heard his brother talk that way in years…not since the Virtual World incident.
"Noa? Open up immediately! It's Seto, for crying out loud!"
Noa seemed to hesitate for a moment, then: "Go AWAY!"
"What?" Seto looked at the door incredulously. "Noa, let me in! I think we need to talk-"
"There's nothing to talk of. Just GO AWAY."
"Are you feeling alright, kid? Are you sick?"
"Depends what "sick" you mean," Noa mumbled, referring to "lovesickness."
"What was that?" Seto asked, having heard the smallest of replies.
"I said nothing!" Noa lied.
"Get your butt to this door now, and open it!" Seto said, "I want to talk with you!"
"NO! And for the last time, NO!" a crash suddenly sounded. Seto froze. He saw a couple glass shards underneath the door. He had made his point….
"Seto?" Tea came running up the stairs, "I heard a crash!" she ran to him.
"Noa…he…I don't believe it," Seto bent down to inspect the glass, seeing what the boy could have possibly thrown. Tea crouched down and put her arms around his shoulders, "What happened?"
"He was…furious with me…for some reason," Seto fingered the remains of the vase, as he had realized it was.
"I wonder why?" Tea looked up at the door.
"I haven't heard that venom for a long time…" Seto said, his eyes darkening. He stood abruptly and walked stiffly down to his room. Tea sat there on the floor, watching him leave. She stood up and sighed. What had gone wrong.
She turned to go to her room, when she spotted a flicker of movement out of the corner of her eye. She paused. The movement had been by the stairs. She watched, yet nothing came up again. She walked over to her room; opened, and shut the door.
Mokuba leaned back against the wall. That had been close. Tea had nearly spotted him. He didn't want to exactly be found right now. If any of the emotions showing on his face were revealed, he would give away Noa's "secret." And that was something that Mokuba did not want to do. That was Noa's business.
Seto had marched right past him without a care in the world. And Mokuba knew the answer to that too. He had heard Noa's shouts. They reflected Gozaburo Kaiba's voiced roars oh so equivalently. It hurt Seto to hear that monster in this household again. Seto wanted nothing to do with him.
But why was Noa acting so much like his father over just a girl? Mokuba couldn't help but to wonder. It couldn't just be an inherited temper, could it? There was a strong possibility, but of all the times Mokuba had seen Noa angry, he sure hadn't acted like Gozaburo in any of those times.
He heard Tea's door shut. He waited a second, and then walked out from behind the wall.
He walked straight into Tea.
"Spit it out," Tea suddenly stated. "I know slyness when I see it."
Mokuba froze. He hadn't exactly expected this….
"I…I…know nothing. I just heard the shouts too-"
"And came a little too late," Tea finished. "Come on," she took the boy by the arm and led him to her room,. She shut the door behind them, and lay against it, locking the threshold. "You're not getting out until you tell me what is wrong with him."
"…Why does it really matter? It's nothing-er-I'm sure it's nothing serious," Mokuba replied, trying to fix his slip up.
"You're not getting away that easily," Tea responded.
Mokuba sighed, "If you want answers, go talk to Noa himself. I'm not the right person to ask…considering that it's you that really wants to know."
"What do I have to do with this?"
"…."
She had to force it out of him. Tea suddenly smirked, remembering a conversation held long ago. So long ago, that it had been typhoon season…. So long ago that it was around the time her feelings had started arising for Seto….
"Mokuba," she prodded her fingers together, "What if I told you that…I was inviting Serenity wheeler over here tomorrow for a brief time?"
Mokuba became confused, and his eyes showed it, "What? But she's in-"
"Domino. It's Spring Break over there, my friend. She had the whole week off. I'm sure I could…arrange something between you two if you just-"
"Serenity's HERE?" Mokuba went totally off the subject. Tea frowned, and then smiled again.
"Yes, indeed she is. You want me to set up a sort of…date for you with her? It can easily be arranged," Tea said, whipping out her cell phone, "VERY easily…."
"…Y-No. No, no and no. I don't know anything, so I don't know why you are trying to bribe me," Mokuba affirmed.
"Bribe you? Why would I ever do such a thing?" Tea gave the most innocent eyes she could muster.
Mokuba frowned, "Don't think I've forgotten that little game we all played months ago. That's where you've gotten the idea."
"Maybe…. But I always thought women could influence a girl," she sighed, "I guess I was wrong," she said, a little more seductively. She slipped lightly out of her jacket, revealing a sleeveless short dress, also giving off smooth, feminine arms.
She tossed the jacket aside, and walked away from the door, nearer to Mokuba, though not exactly towards him. He tried scooting to the door, but Tea caught his arm. She pulled him close.
"Come on Mokie…please tell me," she ran a finger down the side of his face.
Mokuba gulped. He didn't think it was possible for Tea to do this around anyone but Seto. Obviously, he was wrong. And it was working well. "I….I….I-"
"Take your time," she said, giving him a very light peck on the cheek; practically just a brush of her lips.
Mokuba turned a full shade of red. Being a young fifteen, he was very prone to these reactions.
"Mokie? Won't you please tell me?" Tea cooed in his ear, wrapping her arms around him.
"W-W-Won't S-Seto get….angry…about this?" Mokuba shook slightly.
"He doesn't have to know," Tea whispered. Of course, this wasn't cheating, exactly. It was more seductive persuasion….
I can't take this anymore… Mokuba battled with himself, How did I know I'd get stuck in this sort of situation one day? Lord…. How can I get out of this? Should I just tell her? That would be really awkward: "Tea: Noa loves you, even though you love Seto." Oh yeah: really smooth. What am I supposed to do now? For some reason, that sentence of hers was running through his head:
He doesn't have to know.
Mokuba knew that it really didn't mean anything: Tea was just trying to get the truth out of him. Nevertheless: she did say Seto wouldn't have to know. And…she was seductively being very overpowering over his emotions at the moment…. Having a crush on Serenity or not…Mokuba couldn't help what he did next.
Noa suddenly realized his growing hunger that had been gnawing at his stomach for the past half an hour. He had kept shut up in his room for a couple hours. He had gone without dinner.
He opened his door a smidge, checking to see if the coast was clear. He didn't exactly want to run into anyone at the moment.
He was just about to step out into the hallway when Mokuba suddenly bounded out from Tea's room, her door swinging backwards violently. Noa watched his brother run down to his own room and slam the door shut. The green-haired boy furrowed his eyebrows. What had happened there? He turned back to Tea's open door and saw her sitting awkwardly on the floor; here legs were bent back beside her. Her eyes were wide and she had a hand up near her mouth.
"What have I done…?" he heard Tea say quietly. She seemed really zoned out. Noa crept out of his room and walked over to hers. She didn't' seem to notice. The premature Kaiba knelt down on the floor next to her, and wrapped his arms around her shoulders as his heart began to thump.
"…Tea? Are you alright? What's the matter?"
Tea blinked. She didn't seem to realize that Noa was really there, next to her, "Went too far…didn't mean to make him…he really is a regular guy…hope Seto won't find out…but he'd understand…wouldn't he?" she rambled on, finally turning her gaze towards Noa.
He rubbed her arms to try to get her to "come back to life," "What happened?" She hesitated, wondering if she really should tell him. Noa lightly kissed the top of her head. She still wasn't brought back to her sense, in which Noa was slightly grateful. He didn't want her looking down upon him for doing that. "Please…tell me, Tea."
"…Mokuba…" she started. "He…He…it's my fault," she looked away. Noa brought her closer.
"No it's not. What did Mokie do? Please tell."
"…He…He…Mokuba…kissed me."
Mokuba had slammed his door with great ferocity. He covered his face with his hands. How could he do such a thing? He had more control than that! How could he go and just….kiss her like that? She was Seto's girlfriend! Oh…if Seto ever got wind of this…what would he say?
Unfortunately, Mokuba was about to find out.Seto had heard the door next to his slam. He looked up from his desk. Tonight was very astray. First, Serenity had showed up. That had been most intriguing and unexpected. What was even weirder were the looks she had kept throwing his way. Seto had felt that there was something different about her. She seemed a bit forlorn when she and tea had come back from talking. What had they talked about?
And then Noa. What was up with him? Mokuba wouldn't reveal an ounce of what had happened. And then Noa had shot off at him like that. He had sounded…just like his father.
Seto scowled. He had never wanted to see any trace of his stepfather directly in this household ever again. Sure, Noa was there, and half of him was Gozaburo, but that could not be helped.
And now who was slamming doors? Mokuba? He sighed. He ought to go check what was up with this brother now.
Seto stood up and walked out of his room and to Mokuba's now locked door. Seto rapped on it. "Mokuba? Answer me."
"Seto?"
"What's up kiddo? What was with the door slam?"
"…Nothing."
"Are you sure?"
"Yeah."
"Positive? You don't usually-"
"I SAID I'M FINE!" Mokuba practically shouted back. Seto stepped away from the door. His eyes were wide. What the…. Now Mokuba had turned on him? What the heck was going on?
Hopefully his girlfriend hadn't turned on him too…. Seto decided to go and check on her as well; anxiously awaiting to see what was in store for him there.
Seto saw that her door was open. Voices were coming from inside. Seto walked a few more steps and stopped near the doorframe to listen. He was just in time to hear:
"…He kissed me." It was Tea's voice. Seto jumped slightly. Who had kissed her?
There was silence in the room. Suddenly, Tea's voice went up again, "I knew I was going too far…."
Too far…with what? Seto became worried. What was going on? Was Tea…seeing someone else?
"Don't worry, Tea," Seto looked shocked when he heard Noa's voice in there, "Everything will be alright. It doesn't matter…. I'll make sure it doesn't happen again. Trust me," Noa finished. Seto barely leaned in the doorway, just to get a glimpse at what was going on. What he saw practically shattered his heart.
Noa had his arms wrapped around Tea. She had a glazed look in her eyes, and was lying against his chest. Seto saw his brother place a lightly kiss on her temple, before rubbing her shoulder affectionately.
Seto spun back around onto the wall. He didn't believe it. Tea wouldn't do this to him…. What an intricate web she had woven…. Noa was there, acting in Seto's place: the loving boyfriend. And then there was someone else: someone how had dared to lay his lips on hers. But did that really matter? She seemed to be cheating on him anyway…. But why Noa?
Seto shook his head. It couldn't be true. It just couldn't. His shut his eyes. The one thing he had taken the time to let come into his life, and then care for and love, and now: she had been ripped away. There seemed to be a gaping hole in his heart where her presence had just been. And it was a large section of his heart.
But the feeling was very quick in coming and leaving. This hole was suddenly filled again. Seto Kaiba looked up and opened his eyes. A cold glint had come into his eyes: a reinstated fire. His irises lost all warmth as it fled from the overpowering chill that was retaking its place in his hard, icy eyes.
Seto Kaiba, multibillionaire and CEO/President of Kaiba Corporation took one last glance through the door. Disgust overpowered him.
Seeing Noa reminded him of Gozaburo. The man had been right after all: there was no place for emotions in the world. Especially emotions for women. They were all cheaters. No one stayed together theses days. Seto had heard of thousand of break-ups and divorces. What had really made him think that he could love someone like Tea Gardner?
Immediately, his hatred for her and her loony friends began to fill up its old place in Seto's mind and heart. The real Seto Kaiba was back.
And he was here to stay.
Whoa. O.O Did ANY of you see that coming? I seemed to have it going so nicely…and then…COMPLICATION! MUWHAHAHA! I GOT Y'ALL GOOD! Yeah, I decided it might make the story more interesting and of course…a little LONGER. So, you guys got lucky. This story is officially a little longer than intended. Because now I have to find a way out of this mess. Sorry for the shortness, but know what? It was an update and a complication has come in…MUWHAHA! PLEASE REVIEW! (Course…I felt the ending was a little pressed…but it had to be done. Tell me what you guys think. I think I've permanently scared you guys…and Serenity hasn't even come back into the picture yet!)
