Chapter 3 – Normal Point Of View
Four weeks later
Yugi Mutou and Joey wheeler walked up the ramp to the ship that was the only passage to Duelist Kingdom. They each had one star. Téa and Tristan were not with them, or so they thought. The other two had snuck aboard with the crates.
"BOO!" Kashadra jumped out at them.
"AHHHHH!" Yugi and Joey both screamed. Kashadra just laughed her head off.
"You two weren't scared of that were you?"
"No…but…that…was good Michiko."
"Ya shouldn't go 'round scaring people like tha'."
"Sorry you two. I just thought it would be funny to scare the great Yugi Mutou." She looked at the line left to get on the boat. "Geesh, you couldn't be any further in the back of the line could you?"
"Wha' d'ya mean by tha'? Tha' place in line were ya?"
"First." She grinned like a Cheshire Cat.
"Well, how'd ya do tha'?"
"Easy, I got here really early. Well, we really should be going inside the ship. It's getting late, and it's almost completely dark." She began walking inside the ship. Joey and Yugi decided not to take her advice yet. They stayed at the railing of the ship.
"I can't believe they would be frightened of something like that." Kashadra plopped down, rather ungracefully, on the bed in her room. It was fully furnished. "My father really went out of his way this time." She laid back and closed her eyes.
'Good-bye Sha'
"Aghh!" she sat up, eyes open wide. "Why can't I get that conversation out of my head? It's ridiculous. I can't stand this. It's driving me crazy. Why do I keep thinking of Kaiba?" she stood and walked out of the room, careful to make sure she locked the door. 'I really don't know. I just…I just do. If only she were here. She could tell me. However, on another note, I wonder what all the other duelists are doing. Probably trading, like novices.' She stepped into the main cabin where all the other duelists were. Women and national champion duelists got better rooms. All other were stuck here. But, as soon as she walked into the room, all the talking and trading stopped.
"It that…?" "It is!" "Michiko Mezoona."
"Great. Just what I don't need."
"Hey, Michiko! Over this way! Long time no see!" she turned around to see who was addressing her. A blonde-haired woman walked up to Kashadra.
"Mai?" Kashadra threw her an incredulous look. "I had no idea you would be here." They embraced and walked out to the deck of the ship so their conversation wouldn't be overheard.
"What really brings you to this tournament Michiko? Or should I say Kashadra Crawford? Surely, you're not coming because your father said so. I suppose he didn't even want you in the tournament, huh?" Kashadra just leaned against the railing.
"Yeah, you're right. My father didn't want me in this tournament. I actually came because I've been planning with a strong enemy of his to take him down. I highly doubt our plan will fail. If he takes my advice, there's no way possible he could lose. Pegasus Crawford is going down." She let a small smirk show, "And so is Industrial Illusions if I have to take over. That's why I told the rest of his family they could have it. I'm dropping Crawford from my name when all of this is over." Mai nodded her head in agreement.
"Yeah, Pegasus should go down. He's way too cocky. But, who's this enemy of his you've been scheming with?"
"Seto Kaiba. He agreed to help me take down my father when he realized that his company and brother were on the line. Oh, one more thing, if you meet him, he doesn't know my lat name. So don't tell him."
"You have my word on it Sha."
"Yeah, that's good. But Mai, I'm so confused." Sha laid her head on the railing.
"About what?"
"About Seto Kaiba.
"Yes, Seto Kaiba can confuse any level headed woman."
"Yeah, don't I know that! I thought I knew what I was getting myself into, but it seems I had absolutely no idea. One minute, he's listening whole-heartedly, and the next…he goes off into another aspect, not even touched in the previous sentence. Then he acts as if I'm the one who's crazy; it's driving me crazy! But…"
"You said but, c'mon, give up the details." Mai suddenly seemed super attentive.
"Well, I really don't know, Mai. I mean, when I talk to him there's safe ground. We seem to share so many different ideas. But if I say something wrong, he gets so angry. So, I feel like crap for upsetting him. Then, he calms down and it's as if nothing happened. I just feel like I can almost be myself around him that's all. Like I said. He confuses me."
"Sounds like someone's starting to fall in love, to me."
"F-fall in love? You have to be kidding me!"
"I'm not Sha. You are starting to fall for Kaiba. To act and to felt that way is a sure sign you are either crushing on him or you're falling in love. I'll know for sure if you're in love though."
"How do you plan on doing that Mai?"
"Easy. You just have to answer a few questions. Just yes or no, if I say otherwise."
"Okay. Sounds foolproof."
"Do you get butterflies when you're around him or when you talk to him?"
"Sometimes. When I'm around him yeah. But when I just talk to him…no."
"Do you have trouble speaking, acting, or are you more self conscious around him. Simple yes or no."
"No."
"Would you be the first, besides family, to rush to his beside, should he be hurt, ill, or dying?"
"Yes, I have no doubt about that."
"Do you seem to always think of him, for no reason at all?"
"Yes. Phrases he's said, or just his face, they just pop in my head."
"Answer truthfully on this. Yes or no. if he should ever ask you to marry him, what would you say?"
"I-I honestly don't know. Part of me says to say yes because it would all be okay, but another pat says it would never work."
"Which side is louder?"
"The side that says yes, my heart. I would accept his proposal. Oh my god, I am starting fall in love with him." Kashadra buried her face in her hands. Her shoulders were shuddering. "I I can't fall in love with him, Mai. B-both of us would get hurt when the truth came out. I-I couldn't live with myself if he found out I'd lied to him. I couldn't take it Mai. I just can't take it. Why me?"
"Stop crying Sha. It won't do your predicament any good. Everything will work out fine if Kaiba doesn't find out, or if he does and he feels the same."
"I know Mai, but I can't help it. I haven't cried since my real parents died. He just tears me up inside. I feel like I'm the most important thing in the world, and yet he looks right through me."
"Calm down." Mai placed a hand on Kashadra's back. She stopped crying enough to listen properly. "Now, you're going to get have tears streaks straining your cheeks if you don't stop." Kashadra smiled weakly and they both walked back inside. Kashadra lookedcalm enough and acted normal, though Mai could tell that she had a great deal on her mind. And just about the same time, Weevil Underwood threw Yugi Mutou's Exodia cards into the ocean.
