Perserverence, Chapter 5

Disclaimer: I don't own Yu-Gi-Oh or any of its characters, and I won't any time soon. (

Serenity stared at the white door in front of her, then glanced at her brother, who was staring wide-eyed at the door. "Wow, Kaiba sure doesn't hold back does he?"

Serenity shook her head. "Um,...Joey, can you please go back home?"

Joey grinned and shook his head back at her. Serenity sighed, then rang the doorbell. They dimly heard the monotonous ring inside and a few moments later, the door opened. A young girl with red hair looked out at them and smiled. "Hello, are you Serenity Wheeler?"

Serenity nodded, smiling back. "Yes, I am. And this is my brother, Joey Wheeler." Joey grinned at her. "Hey."

The girl smiled and moved out of the doorway, motioning for them to come in. "I am Suzui, Master Kaiba's cook and maid. Master Mokuba is in his room, playing video games. There are meals already in the refridgerator, just heat them in the microwave for about two minutes. Master Kaiba usually comes home around 9:30, and he expects his coffee to be ready by five minutes, so you need to start making it when it's near 9:30. He likes his coffee with a lot of cream and only a little bit of suger. " Serenity watched in confusion as Suzui put on her coat and shoes, and opened the door.

"Did you understand everything I said?

"Um...yes, but why are you telling me all of this? Where are you going?"

"I'm going to be on vacation for a while. That's why Master Kaiba was looking for a babysitter. I usually look after Master Mokuba. Master Kaiba will expect you to be making his coffee now that I'm not here too."

"Oh,...I knew that."

Suzui smiled. "Any more questions?"

Serenity shook her head.

"Okay,then, I'll be going now." She started to walk out the door, then stopped and turned around, smiling. "Oh, and Miss Serenity? Please don't be too hard on master Kaiba...He might seem a little cold hearted and cruel, but I think deep down he's a good person. Granted, that doesn't stop him from yelling at me at least five times a day...but he's been through alot."

Serenity nodded, and with a polite nod to Joey, Suzui left. Serenity locked the door, then turned to face Joey, who looked skeptical. "Tha lady must be a lil sick in da head. No way Kaiba's a lil cold hearted and cruel."

Serenity sighed. "Joey..."

Joey frowned, though his eyes twinkled. "Yea, sis?" Serenity shook her head and started up the stairs. At the top of the stairs was a long, grand-looking hallway. Doors lined the walls, and a red carpet lined the floor. A large painting hung on the middle left wall, depicting a garden. Serenity heard Joey give a short whistle behind her, before Mokuba shot out of one of the doors . "Serenity! You're here!Hi!" he suddenly frowned. "Oh,...hi Joey."

Joey grinned. "Aw, Mokuba. I'm hurt. Aren't ya happy ta see me?"

Mokuba smiled. "Of course I am! I just don't think my brother will be too happy though..."

Serenity looked pointedly at Joey. "Don't worry, Mokuba. Joey won't be coming tomorrow, only today."

Joey pretended to look sad, but he nodded. Mokuba grinned. "Sure! Joey, wanna play some video games with me? Seto got me a new game yesterday! It's great!"

Joey nodded. "Sure. I love video games."

The two headed into Mokuba's room, and Serenity followed. She watched the two play for a while, before getting bored and leaving, saying that she was going to get a snack. In the hallway again, she heard the grandfather's clock downstairs chime four times. Serenity sighed. "What am I gonna do for five and half more hours?" She headed down the stairs and into the kitchen and got a glass of water, before wandering back into the main hallway downstairs. She stared down the hallway for a moment, thinking. Last time I was here, Mokuba only showed me around upstairs. I didn't get to see this hall cuz Kaiba came back home...Well, if i'm gonna be working here, I have to know my way around right?

Serenity nodded to herself and set the glass of water on the desk by the stairs before starting down the hallway. This hallway was a little darker and gloomier then the upstairs one. The first door she came to was just a closet, and next came a bathroom that looked like it had never been used. The next door Serenity opened led into a dark room, with several beds. "Servents' quarters?" Serenity grinned. She couldn't blame Kaiba for being so egotistical when he was so rich at so young an age, and not to mention being so alluring and so hot...Serenity shook her head. Whoa!

Still shaking her head, Serenity countinued down the hallway, until she came to another door. She gasped when she opened it. Kaiba had his own library! Numerous shelves lined the walls, and in a corner was a couch that looked extremely comfortable, next to which was a lamp on a small table. She walked in, examining the various books on the shelves. He had books on practically everything! She glanced at her watch, and groaned inwardly at the time. She wouldn't have time to read and still explore the rest of the hallway, and get back to the kitchen to heat the dinner in time. Kaiba would probably jump at any chance to fire her, and not giving his little brother his dinner on time was as good as any reason.

Serenity walked out of the library, shutting the door carefully behind her. She then countinued to walk down the countinually darkening hallway. She walked for a few minutes and was about to turn back in dissapointment when a flash of silver caught her eye. Taking a few more steps foward, she saw a large door, with a kind of metal keypad thing on the right side. Serenity let her curiosity get the better of her, and tried to push the door open. Surprisingly, it opened. She grinned. It must be broken. It did look kind of old. She stepped through, closing the door behind her. She felt her way along the wall, until her hands touched something. A switch. She flicked it on eagerly, and light flooded the room. Serenity stared in shock at the sight that met her astonished eyes.

She was in a narrow passage way that connected with a small room. On the far left side of the room, a variety of gruesome-looking tools hung on the walls. In the middle of the room was a single wooden chair. Serenity stepped foward heistantly. It was like she'd just stepped into some kind of horror movie scene. Splotches or red stained the walls and floor, and Serenity tried to push the thought that it might be blood out of her mind. Moving closer to the hanging tools, Serenity felt her heart beat faster. Whips with stained red ends, knives, needles. There were also ordinary items such as thumbtacks, ans scissors, but when arranged on the wall like it was with the other items, they too seemed gruesome.

Serenity felt a shiver run up her spine. "Why would Kaiba have this room?"

Suddenly, there was a loud clap of thunder, and Serenity jumped. "It's raining?...Well, it was pretty dark and cloudy outside today..." Serenity shivered again, the pitter patter of the raindrops seemed to grow louder, and Serenity gave a small whimper, quickly heading towards the door. Before she got there however, there was a fizzling sound, and then the lights completly shut off, leaving Serenity in complete darkness. She let out an involuntary scream, and fell to the floor, scooting backwards until her back was against the wall.

"Joey..." she choked out, staring around the darkness. Images popped into her mind, and she wimpered again. Another clap of thunder sounded, and Serenity choked her scream back. She felt tears coming, but she quickly wiped them away. Crying wouldn't help anything. At that moment, she heard footsteps in the passageway to her right. She held a scream in, and held her breath, willing her eyes to see something in the dark. She heard the sound of some fumbling, and then, "Stupid flashlight, won't even work. Damn."..."Serenity, you in here?"

A beam of light suddenly exploded to her right and Serenity gave a strangled cry. She was staring straight at Kaiba. She felt tears tug at her eyes again, and this time she let them. She catapulted herself up and ran to Kaiba, practically knocking him down as she flung her arms around him. "Kaiba!"

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Kaiba's POV

I sighed and stared glumly at the windshield wipers as they went back and forth, back and forth. The rain had come suddenly, and I was trapped in the traffic, cause everyone was going too damn slow. I glanced at the clock. 4:45. I'd decided to come back home early today. I was uneasy with the mutt's sister alone at the mansion with Mokuba. The car in front finally moved, and I stepped down on the gas petal, my car moving sleekly through the rapidly pouring rain.

"Mokuba! I'm home!" I yelled up the stairs as I peeled my wet trench coat off. I threw it lazily down on the couch, and Mokuba appeared at the top of the stairs. "Seto! You came home early!"

I smiled one of my rare smiles. "Yeah...where's the mutt's sister?"

Mokuba changed his smile into a frown. "Oh,yeah, Serenity! Where'd she go..?"

I stared at him. "What do you mean, 'where'd she go'? Isn't she with yo - ?" I stopped in mid-word, and stared at the person that just then appeared next to my brother. "Mutt! What are you doing here?"

Joey glared at me. "Don' worry your rich ass about it. I'm jus gonna be here today. Makin' sure my lil sis is gonna be alright."

I glared right back at him. "And where is this sister of yours?"

Joey stared at me, then looked around. "Yo, Serenity!" Silence met our ears. I groaned. "Let's split up and look for her. Bet she's in some room stealing a painting or something."

"My sis wouldn't do tha'!"

"Oh, you're right. You're the one who would do that.Your sister is a bit more civilized."

I walked away from him before he could reply. The whole mansion was silent except for the occasional clap of thunder and the consistant sound of raindrops. I walked to the kitchen,meaning to check it, and noticed a glass of water on the desk. I stared at it, then looked up the corridor. Mumbling under my breath, I walked down the hallway, opening and closing doors. When she wasn't in the library either, I looked to the last door in the hallway. "She wouldn't..."

I walked over to it quickly and pulled on it. It opened, revealing the darkness inside. Uttering a curse word under my breath, I grabbed a flashlight from the small cabinet on the far side of the wall, and proceded into the room. Feeling my way along the wall with my left hand, I fumbled with the flashlight, trying to turn it on.

"Stupid flashlight,won't even work. Damn." I sighed, and glanced around, not really seeing anything. "Serenity, you in here?"

I tried the button one more time, and this time, the flashlight actually turned on. The beam of light it cast landed right on the form of Serenity. I stared at her in shock as she stared up at me and let out a strangled cry. The last thing I saw before she practically tackled me was her tear-stained face, eyes filled with relief."Kaiba!"

I let out a small 'oomph' as she came into contact with me, and accidently dropped the flashlight.

"Shit." I rolled my eyes and looked down at Serenity's head. "Let go of me."

She shook her head and buried her face in the front of my shirt. I groaned, and tried to pry her off. She wouldn't let go though, and I finally gave up. I walked over to where the flashlight had dropped, with some difficulty, and picked it up. "Come on, then."

Serenity nodded, and I started for the entrance. There was a sudden loud clap of thunder, and Serenity screamed, tightning her hold around me. I could feel her trembling against me, and I rolled my eyes again. "Your're cutting off my air supply."

She ignored me, and I countinued toward the door. We finally walked out of the room, and I shut the door firmly behind me. Just then, Joey ran over, and grabbed Serenity away from me. I gave a sigh of relief, straightening my shirt.

"Kaiba! What'd you do ta my lil sis!" Joey asked, glaring menacingly at me. "She's crying!"

I scoffed. "She was nearly killing me, and you ask what I did to her?"

Joey looked down at Serenity. "Sis?"

Serenity shook her head, and looked up at him. She wiped her tears, and smiled at him. "I'm okay, Joey. Seto didn't do anything to me."

Joey and I stared at her in shock. "SETO!"

"I thought I told you only my brother calls me Seto." I said, glaring at her, before brushing past her. "Don't do it again."

Serenity mumbled an apology, and walked glumly behind me, Joey at her side.

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Serenity's POV

"Serenity! Where were you?" Mokuba jumped up from his seat on the couch we appeared from the hallway.

I smiled at him. "I was exploring your house, and uh...I kinda got lost."

Kaiba suddenly stepped in front of me, staring down at me with distaste. "You can go home now, since I'm back. I don't have anything for you to do right now. Come back tomorrow."

I nodded meekly, and he turned on his heels and went upstairs. I stared up after him, and Joey shook me. "Sis? You alright?"

I nodded again, and turned to Mokuba. "Okay, well then see you tomorrow, Mokuba."

"Sure! Lemme get Seto's driver to drive you guys home. It's still raining outside.

I nodded and grabbed my coat. A few moments later, me and Joey were in a black limosuine, on our way back home. I stared out the window, watching the houses speed past. When I was in that room, sitting on the floor against the wall in pitch black darkness, I'd been so scared. I mean, who wouldn't be if you had just finished watching "The Grudge" the night before.

But as soon as I'd seen Kaiba, I was so...relieved. Then after I was hugging him, I felt so safe and warm. I wasn't scared of the dark and the room anymore. I was just scared that Kaiba would leave me all alone. It was the weirdest feeling... I blushed suddenly, remembering it, and quickly glanced at Joey to make sure that he wasn't looking at me. He wasn't. I sighed, and looked out the window again. And what was up with me calling him Seto all of a sudden? Like I actually liked him...I shook my head furiously. Who would like such a egotistical, hard-headed, cold guy? I sighed again, shifting my position.

"Hey sis."

I turned around to look at Joey. "Yeah?"

"Stop sighing like you're some love-sick girl."

I blushed, and turned away. "Yeah..."

A/N - Hey! Sorry this one took so long! Been busy with homework. But to make up for it, I made this one longer...at least I think I did... Well, as always, R&R!