A/n: Y'know, I haven't seen a fanart with SxS that I like yet. I mean one that isn't too OOC, (yes art can be OOC) except maybe one… it's at ! CCLCZllNJ3f2oUnmlqfHnjaWo6! They aren't looking at each other but oh well.
(Grin) that place has good quotes from Mr. CEO too. Like: "You're all fired, and I suggest you all leave before I really lose my temper and take more than just your jobs!." (I don't remember that one) and: "You better make good on your promise to restore my brother. Because if you don't, I'll take great pleasure in separating your soul from your body in my own way!" and "Almost breaks my heart, if I had one"
Pure Kaiba-ness. :D Me LIKE!! It's hard to tell when he's not being sarcastic. (Swirl eyes) stubborn fool.
Disclaimer: I don't own Yugioh or the song "I Dare You to Move" by Switchfoot. (I love that song!)
A Night to Remember, Part V: Bad Communication
Tight security was watching the duel inside the Kaiba Corporation's silver and white dueling arena. Gazes were mostly fixed on Kaiba to the left, slightly bent over at the waist, a pretty tomboyish girl, and their master's opponent. Everyone knew already about Serenity, but not one wanted to inform Kaiba of the fact, or dared to. Ten foot tall, open-mouthed, burly men who were experienced in karate and judo, and not one wanted to speak up…
But a five foot six outspoken one of a kind Tea did. "While you're out buying diapers, Kaiba, don't forget milk formula…and baby clothes, pacifier, blankie, stuffed animals (cute ones), breast pump, diaper pail, baby monitor, earplugs, new diaper bag, he'll need that…"
While Yugi couldn't take his eyes off the scene of the image of him dying, or dead, as a ghost walking around a tombstone afraid, and Kaiba was trying to shake off the fact that Serenity might be pregnant. Both their hands gripped the edge of the podium to keep from falling and were leaning heavily for support. It's not true…she's lying…Kaiba shook his head, as if keep trying to shake of the notion of…of his girlfriend…being p…regnant….
If she were pregnant, she would have said something by now.
If she were, I would have already asked.
"Oh, and some parenting classes--"
Trying to control his temper, and failing. "I. Don't. Need. Parenting. Classes! Because she's not--!"
"Or a book. I hear Parenting for Dummies is good." Tea finished helpfully (but really, she knew all about his daddy-phobia and was enjoying giving him a taste of his own medicine). Yugi looks like a wax doll.
Twitch, twitch. A muscle jumped in Kaiba's jaw. Twitch, twitch. "THAT'S IT! I'VE HAD ENOUGH! SECURITY!" he roared, in a loud rasp, so loudly, that he made himself. "TAKE. HER. OUT. OF HERE…NOW!"
"Yes sir, Mr. Kaiba." Reluctantly, the guards stepped forward.
Gah! He's so mean. Tea hollered, while running from the guards. "Yugi! Come on… please wake up…"
Tea hollered, while running from the guards. "Yugi! Come on… wake up…"Kaiba shook himself out of his stupor and checked his watch. 30 seconds left to go. Even though that, technically, it wasn't part of the rules to be timed, but he was already late for the restaurant. And then….I'll straighten this whole thing out….with S…Serenity…. Brr. He took in a few deep, relaxing breaths. Just got to last till then.
Meanwhile, he was amused -- and distracted -- momentarily as the guards were chasing the girl all around to subdue her. Well. They're fired. At lease she shut up. He glanced at his watch again, impatiently. 15 seconds left to go.
Yugi was still frozen solid as a block of ice. Grampa…I'm dead…help me, I'm dead! I'm dead! His worst nightmare was coming true. I'm not alive…anymore.
My parents…my Grampa, me….our line ends here….No! No! shouted a voice. It doesn't have to! Be alive, Yugi! It doesn't have to be the end.
Dark….Magician Girl…?
No, no, it's your mom. (Well, it sounded like her.)
Mom…? No, it was impossible--his parents died in an Egyptian excavation when he was a baby--nearly killed him, too--grandfather found him in an orphanage--after many years-- Mom!…he felt like --breaking down on the spot. Help me!
One guard clamped down on Tea's arm.
"Let go of me," Tea shouted. "Hyah!" In a self-defense move she'd learned from being in New York for a short time, she used his own momentum to send him toppling. His buff friend grabbed her long hair painfully, pressing the muzzle of a .46 gun into her back, also painfully. "Ow…Ow…." She said, as she was forced to walk backward. "Yugi…help me!" she cried.
Her cry seemed to cut through; Yugi shook his head to shake off the memory of his grandfather dying in the hospital, and blinked for the first time in 2 minutes; and turned. "Uh? Hey! Hey! Let go of her, Kaiba!" he said, since Kaiba was controlling them.
Ten… I dare you to move…
"Oh so you're back for La La land," Kaiba said, "I will do as you ask, since I'm so generous…" He signaled to the guard to liberate. Tea immediately scratched him to ribbons.
Nine… I dare you to move…
Tea fell forward. "Are you okay, Tea?" Yugi rushed to her side…
Eight… I dare you to lift yourself, up off the floor….
"I'm okay…. Just go and play….beat him…" Tea said hoarsely, rubbing her sore arm.
Seven…I dare you to move…like today, never happened…
"What do you mean…I've already lost!" Yugi said…hopefully.
Six….Maybe redemption has stories to tell
"Do you really want to lose that badly?" Tea demanded, staring, her aqua eyes wide in disbelief.
Five…Maybe forgiveness is right where you fell
"Well…" Yugi said hesitatingly, while she said, "Think about it! Would your grandfather have taught you the game before he died for nothing?!" He flinched as she said more gently, "I guess…it's up to you though."
Four…. Where can you run?
Yugi went slowly back, thinking. He knew Kaiba wanted him to say, "I lost…" and feel like a weakling…that's why he was still sticking around. "…" He picked at a card, halfheartedly.
Three… To escape from yourself?
"Well Yugi? Do you say that I'm the best?"
Two…Where are you gonna go?
Yugi. I want you to beat this guy Grandpa. Beat his brains out, Yugi. Yami.
One…Where are you gonna go?
Yugi's fingers twitched. The card felt coolly smooth.
Zero… Salvation is here…
"Well, that's all she wrote. I won. Now if you two imbecile's excuse me, I'm late." Kaiba turned around, his gray trenchcoat swirling behind him like windmill's blades.
"H-hold it Kaiba," Yugi said, not looking at the CEO. His voice was shaking not from fear, but from silent, pure awe. "I have one card face down."
"Too late," Kaiba sneered, "Time's been way over by now. Your too late."
"It's not too late," Yugi declared, his voice getting stronger. It's never too late to start over and be redeemed. Far off, a smile started to break on tea's face. "I still have one card left."
"Are you deaf?" Kaiba hissed angrily. "You lost, Motou."
"Maybe time is over," Yugi said slowly. "But… I know you well, Kaiba. And I know you wouldn't back away if there was even a chance… that I won…especially from me."
"…"
"Care to see what's under my hand?" Kaiba was still silent and Yugi took that as a yes. "It's called, 'Replay of Soul.' Whenever my life points hit zero, well, you'll see. Care to continue playing?…"
Kaiba bristled at Yugi's light tone. "I have no need to. Your Deck Master is gone."
"Oh, that? Well, you're right. But Blocken…" Yugi held it up, "when it's destroyed, you see, a new monster is summoned. And guess what I have?" Silence. "That's right. I summon Renguard in defense!"
The typical villain…" That won't help matters much. You're dead already."
"I'm not…dead yet. Its still my turn, Kaiba," Yugi said, first, through gritted teeth, then smiled happily. "Now, I can play any magic and trap card from either of our hands--Okay?. Let's see…." Yugi took his sweet time deciding, much to his annoyance. A full fifteen minutes, in fact. "I play your Last Turn." He lifted his eyes to meet his longtime rival's:
"It call comes down to a game of chance. Pick your card, Kaiba."
Giving him a look of pure loathing, Kaiba drew. Seeing what it was, he started to smile and shake his head… oh, it's so appropriate. "Blue Eyes." And since he'd given one to both Mokuba and Serenity, it was really a game of "chance."
Yugi looked disappointed. "Oh. All I have is …Dark Paladin!" Too bad… if he'd drawn the Ultimate Dragon, he would've beat me for sure…
For a moment, he experienced a sense of misdirection, like a coming back to his old self--dark, depressed-- again, but this time more wiser. His arms were sinking straight into the podium with "I won" running through his head. I won. Yami, Grampa, Mom, Dad, I won! The thought sailed through his head faster than he had time to let his victory sink in. He looked up at the aerial Kaiba's face and unbelieving expression, and they were all he needed to confirm it. I won! …like Renguard rose up from the ashes…so did I! … The phoenix-like thought left him speechless, both outward and mental.
The big machines slid down with a big hiss, and their was a commotion as Tea said questioningly, "Are you ok, Yugi?" He looked like he was having his panic attack mode again. Then he surprised her by grabbing her wrist suddenly.
"I was saved, Tea! I was saved!"
"Uh?"
"Come on," he said dragging, "let's go!"
"Go where?" Not that she was complaining. It beat being in there. Outside, it was freezing cold but Yugi was way too pumped up to notice or care.
"To the restaurant! C'mon!"
Now? "Now?! But--!" she said as now he dragged her. "We can't! I look…a mess…" she had changed out of her party dress to old sweatpants, a white shirt, and a warm-up jacket. "We can't go in looking like this."
"You look great," he assured and seconds later they were in front of the restaurant. He gulped. It did look pretty …pricey. And all he was dressed in was an old sleeveless T-shirt and black jeans…ripped up, no less.
But chin up, he led her inside as outside, two ghosts watched, looking like cold vapors like the kind from icy breath.
Meanwhile…
Well…I hope she has a better time of it than I did of convincing Kaiba, Mai thought, watching Serenity climb into the limo and peel from the pavement Then she remembered Joey was still waiting for her, and she went down to hallway….still deep in thought.
The twins left, and he said-- she didn't notice that he was right in front of her until he spoke -- "Look."
She followed his pointing into the living room, and there were very few things shocked Mai Valentine left in this world, but these were definitely one of the things. The living room, once neat and orderly, was absolutely trashed up. It looked like a hurricane had passed through. Garbage bags left unattended, strewn cans, furniture upturned, the works and a maid and a servant boy chasing each other giggling. "Oh, shh--…" Mai gasped, "What went on here?!"
"Guess people had too much a good time," Joey went over to a plant that had wilted over the pot. "Should we help clean up? Mm…Nah!" He answered his own question under his breath, stepping over the mess to find the doorway and heave the blocked pine door.
"Well…" She was undecided, looking about the place. He even has to help me through this mess! Kaiba wouldn't like coming home to a messy house and it looked like no one was of help. The maid was still squealing. "I don't like to clean…" she admitted.
"Yeah. Me neither. 'Sides, he probably has a whole clean up crew waitin' …in da wings…. Come on. Let's bust dis joint."
Mai hesitated, and then she went, nearly tripping over somebody's stained-with-pizza-sauce jeans. "Eep!" she suddenly screamed, with an agile leap out of the knee-deep trash. At his what's wrong, she said, "There's-- something moving inside one of those garbage bags!"
"Yer probably imaginin' things." He couldn't imagine anything being alive in those black shiny, bodybag-like bags, but he took a look anyway. Then again, this IS Kaiba were talkin' about! Erk. I wouldn't be surprised…I wouldn't be surprised….to find a corpse. Probably it's a dog that he'd sicced on me once. He mentioned this while rifling.
"Oh yeah," Mai said from outside the doorway. "That was funny!" He was about to shoot her a look when…
…He suddenly found himself face to face with an anaconda. It hissed at him, showing off a set of white fangs that looked a foot long each.
"What's wrong--" Mai was saying when she too was dragged back. "Huh?" "S-s-snake!" he said, and that was all she needed to hear! She hightailed it out of there with him at her heels.
Meanwhile…
Tea waited awkwardly at the lobby of the restaurant, trying to fix her hair since the guard had pulled it. She undid the messed up braid and finger-combed, while Yugi talked to the maitre'd. A snooty-looking waiter looked at them disdainfully as they were walked to their tables. "Jeez… how did you manage that?" she whispered at they sat down.
"Um, well, money talks, let's just say." Well worth $100.
"Where did you get that sort of money?" she asked, smoothing her warm up pants wrinkles as best she could before sitting.
"Grandpa…sort of left me it." Along with his archeological finds, it's net-worth: $10 million
Tea immediately started to feel awkward as a long silence fell; she felt silly, since I'd- we'd gone out a million times, maybe not as a couple, but still. Soon, though, they fell in an easy chatter, and she forgot all about that nonsense of knowing how to act on a date and just acted like they were just hanging out. Like in the good old days.
"So, you're rich, thanks to your grampa's will, eh?" she said teasingly, while taking a sip of her water.
"Not for long." He said with an enigmatic smile. Where had that come from? Why had he'd said that?
"What do you mean?"
"Well, I've been thinking…" he began, then hesitated. "To give some money to Joey as a wedding present. Though, he's so proud, about money--" she nodded, agreeing-- "I don't think he'll accept it. You saw how he turned down Kaiba's offer."
Not wanting to dwell, Tea went on, "Well, I'm glad…" He looked up quickly. "Glad that you beat that irresponsible Kaiba. And that he believes us, of course." Before I went. Before the whole world goes into the sun. Before Jesus walks the earth again, I'm glad he found out.
"I believe he'll be responsible when the time calls for it. If …he hasn't, um, already found out…" Maybe Tea was content to pretend this was ordinary happening or more accurately--event, but he was very nervous and trying not to sweat.
"What do you mean-- Yugi? You think he already knows? Well, he is smart enough to find out for himself from sources," Tea mused. Tea opened her mouth disbelieving, then something caught her eye. "Hey isn't that…? What's she doing here?"
Together they got up (the snooty waiter would probably take forever to take their orders, anyway) and wandered over chatting people and light classical musical violins. Serenity, Yugi thought, feeling a wave of guilt.
The petite auburn-haired girl was sitting all alone, her legs and arms crossed as tightly and her mouth was set. Her eyes were flashing brown thunder and her foot kept tapping impatiently. She didn't look happy; in fact, barely seemed to notice until they were right in front of her. Her mind was busily thinking, What will he say when I tell him? Will he be thrilled because it's our baby? Most likely… What if he's not? If he isn't, then I have to decide whether to keep the baby…or not.
"Serenity?" Tea said ultra-softly and ultra-gently, like if she were afraid the petite girl would jump and attack. Serenity's frown disappeared automatically as she started into Tea's blue eyes. But they were not the blue eyes she had wanted to see. She pasted a pretty smile on, automatically.
"Oh…hi, guys," Serenity straightening, trying to look casual. "Um…what're you two doing here?" Tea didn't blink and Yugi stood passively next to her. Serenity brushed off a nonexistent piece of lint off her gossamer dress, looking very pretty, despite with her bulging stomach. Now, Tea felt unpretty, plain in her sweats. "So, going on your first date huh? Cool." she tried to change the subject. But it didn't work. She could feel their eyes full of pity. It made her feel like a little tiny mouse facing two hungry lions.
I feel so nervous! She fretted, looking over at the other couples. "So…yeah…"
"We just saw him…" Yugi said in kind voice. "So, he should be here soon."
"Oh, really?" Serenity tried to act nonchalant. "Oh--yeah, he did mention he'd would being seeing you."
"So, tonight you're going to tell him?" put in Tea. "Good luck!"
Now Yugi felt really guilty. He hadn't-he hadn't known that Kaiba was going to meet her later to tell him. "Come on, Tea," he urged her away, "We'd better go and leave her alone to think and um, prepare. Look, our waiter's here…"
"'Bye, guys." Serenity watched as the two made their way back.She saw Tea still watching from across the candlelit room. I'm glad they're finally dating…it's about time.
Before she could pick up her cellular phone and dial, it rang. "Hello! Seto?"
"No, hun," a throaty feminine voice said, "It's me. So…he still isn't there yet, eh?" Serenity slumped, tapped her fingers on the clip of her purse, and answered with a no. "I'm sure he'll be there soon," Mai said, "and I just want to wish you good luck…you'll need it."
That was such an enigmatic thing to say, sounded familiar too. "What-what do you mean? Clarify please."
"Oh nothing, it just that I've already tried."
"WHAT?" Serenity didn't feel reassured. "What do you mean…?" I wanted to be the first! Then she remembered Tea saying "Good luck!" I thought Tea was being sarcastic as usual. After this, I'm buying duct tape to tape people's mouths shut!
"Just what I said, hon."
"What did he say when you told him?"
"He just said," Mai deepened her voice, "Stop telling lies and leave me alone. The usual."
"Lies?"
"Yeah. He didn't believe us."
" 'Us?' "
"Well, Joey tried to too."
"Joey?" Oh, man…
"But he didn't believe him either. I tell you, you've got a task ahead of you to do to convince him!"
"…" Serenity was speechless. She could kind of understand why Seto didn't believe Mai, but her own brother? Why would he think he'd lie? "Oh my God…Mai…Tea told him, too! I think."
"Ha, ha, ha! That should've been interesting!" Mai laughed, knowing how bluntly direct Tea could be. "If Tea already told him, then he must know."
"No…no…" Serenity said distractedly, "She wished me luck, so…he didn't." That doesn't help, though.
"I tell you, that is one stubborn ox." There was a muffled talking. "Oh, and Serenity, we saw a snake? in your-I mean, the mansion."
"Oh, that must've been Harold," Serenity said, mind whirling. "Yeah. Okay, okay, look, I have to go, talk to you later, ok, 'bye!" Serenity set down the phone with a bump, thinking. If the media already got wind that she was pregnant, then of course Seto would already know… She nibbled her thumbnail. What am I supposed to do, show him the test results? It looks like the only way he'll believe me. No, no she would just have to trust Mai when the blonde said that he hadn't believed it.Oh my god. I'm so nervous that my stomach's dancing with butterflies. That, and plus the way the baby was turning over and over…It felt and sounded like the baby was having a dance party in there! Speaking of parties, I hope the clean-up crew got my instructions…I left them where they could be seen. I think.
She tapped her foot. As she sank down even deeper, so that only her eyes showed above the tabletop, she even didn't notice her phone ringing Que Sera, Sera on it's ringtone. Gently, she picked it up again. "No, he's not here yet, Mai--"
"Serenity?" a sharp crackle of static.
"Seto!" she exclaimed, sitting up straight in her chair, so loudly that a lot of heads from other tables turned. "Where are you!?"
"I'm sorry Serenity. I can't make it tonight."
"What?! But why?"
A deep sigh. "I'm overseas."
"What? Overseas? You're already late!…" Unaware of all the eyes on her, Serenity's grip got tighter. "Oh NO. You are NOT doing this. I told you that we had to talk tonight." She emphasized the word "Tonight."
"I'm sorry; I have to reschedule. You know, that I wouldn't do this, if it weren't an emergency."
She picked up steam, "Seto, you have to get on a plane, or a rocket, whatever it takes, and get right back here!" Everyone was staring in the restaurant now; some old ladies were cheering. "NOW!"
Tea turned to Yugi, "Wow! Who knew Serenity had a spine? It's all good, though." Woo! She silently cheered her on.
Yugi nodded thoughtfully, in wholehearted agreement and picked up his fork, plucking some food from the open-mouthed waiter.
"Serenity--" Kaiba couldn't hear her voice very well, or see her face, but he could tell from her angry shrieks she was upset. But he had a bad day, what with losing to Yugi, tired, and now being called on emergency to survey some hacking last minute, and now being yelled at. He couldn't understand why she didn't understand. "I have to reschedule! Have to."
But she had had a bad day too. Not only had she been kicked out of school, but he was the one who had set the date up, only to call last minute, and say he wasn't coming? She had rushed over here and he was supposed to too. No way He had another think coming. When will I have the nerve to do this again? A quarter to never. She spoke very clearly, "You're coming back, and that's final. You promised. I know you can get here in about fifteen minutes, even though--"
"Yes, I could…" he said through gritted teeth. "I can't."
"Seto…" And ignoring his icy tone, she had to stay calm. "I told you…to be here…remember? Because, we had to discuss something important?" She closed her eyes and held her breath from a wave of nausea.
"Well?"
"I can't tell you over the phone -- " Another loud crackle.
"Yes, you can. Tell me right now!"
"I have to tell you face-to-face!"
"That's just not possible. I can't abandon my work here. It doesn't matter if you're over there and I'm over here--"
"Yes, it does!" Her voice spiked up, taking a desperate tone. Right then, she would've given anything just to have him there.
"--You know you can tell me anything."
"I…" she stopped then.
"Well?!"
"I'm…" Going to throw up right now…
"--Would you just tell it to me already! --"
"I--" I'm feeling dizzy…
"--You know how I hate it when you keep secrets."
Urp. She clapped a hand over her mouth but he was too annoyed to notice besides.
"So…what is so goddamn important?"
"I'm pregnant!" she threw, slamming the phone down and running for the bathroom, before throwing up.
Strangely…the only thing she could think of was:
Definitely not the way I wanted to tell him.
Across the ocean…
"Mr. Kaiba? Sir? Sir?"
"…"
"What wrong---looks like he's gone into shock--"
"He's turned all white all over---"
"Stiff like a statue--"
He's always like that…
"So, say something! Or we'll call an ambulance!"
A/n: Whatsay, I think he got it at last? Methinks yes. And it only took him um, let's see… Ren figured out on chap. 10, so…10 chappies! And who says he doesn't listen? Lol. BTW, he didn't faint or nothin'; just turned into a white statue. Y'know when anime characters are petrified, they turn all white even their clothes? And Joey's reaction was to turn into a statue too, except he was a grey, granite statue…how ironic.
Anyhow…next: the confrontation of SxS! And Y/T's date! Thanks for being so patient; I tend to drag things out, I know…I know, evil cliffie… (Revels in evilness)