erAuthoress' Notes: To anyone who might be reading, I dearly need your help!
My question: Is Serenity left-handed or right-handed? And what's Atem's last name? Or is Atem the last name, then what's the first?
I hope you don't mind if I use the name Atem instead of Yami. I just prefer it so. I also changed some parts of my layout, that's because I got pissed off at the QuickEdit thing. And be warned, OOCness is charging in in this chappie.
Now that that's over, let's go on. Oh yeah, I don't own Yu-Gi-Oh, so don't sue.
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Princess Training Camp
By: Yume Silvershadow
Chapter 4-Surprise
Second Round, Part II
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February 15, 2 pm, Domino Palace, Serenity's room
Amongst her knew wardrobe lay a small black mask whose purpose was to cover only her eyes today, during the Valentine Celebration. It shone and was completely layered with small black onyx crystals. Serenity sighed as she touched it lightly.
It was sparkling, so beautiful—but will she bring it home with her once her mission is over?
But then, there'll probably be a one-million bounty on her head by then.
The thought stayed in her head as she closed the ancient cabinet and flopped down her bed, burying herself in the covers.
She wanted to see Joey…and Bakura and even Mai and Duke. Would they be alright and waiting for her?
No, she should concentrate on her mission. Her first mission. The best way to get the signet ring was probably to do so by stealth. Would she sneak into the Prince's room? But surely there were guards everywhere…
Then she wondered about Tea. Both of them went shopping then to breakfast and lunch together at a fancy French restaurant a while ago.
Now Tea stayed at the room next to hers. All the doors of the Princess Candidate's rooms connected only to one room: The Princess Lounge.
Would she still see Tea after the whole thing? Probably not. But she didn't want to let go of their friendship. She sighed. A thief…what would Tea say if she found out?
She closed her eyes. It didn't help. She just felt so tired. This whole thing was getting too complicated. Why couldn't she be a normal citizen instead?
Because you need money, a small voice replied inside her head. And Bakura gave you and Joey that. Gave you a life. He only asks for something else—this—in return.
A quiet knock jolted her out of her thoughts.
"Yes?"
"Miss Serenity Wheeler, your presence is requested at the ballroom, for the start of the Valentine Celebration." An unknown voice told her. She didn't reply back, but sighed again.
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"Serenity!" Tea greeted the thief as she came to stand beside her. "I thought you'd never come down!"
"Sorry. What's happening now anyways?" Serenity asked wearily.
Tea beamed. "They're giving us names."
A brow went up. "Giving us what?"
"Words in a white slip that we're supposed to attach on our sleeves. You missed the explanation a while ago because you were late!"
"…I'm really sorry, okay?" Serenity said, a little irate now. "What're the slips for?"
"For the Valentine Celebration, what else? They'll say who are partners would be."
"The Valen—oh. Yeah, that…"
"Are you alright, 'Ren? You don't sound like yourself." Tea asked worriedly.
Serenity gave her an annoyed look. Impatience was a shortcoming she often experienced. Weariness wasn't, but it was with her now too. "I'm alright!" She snapped.
Tea didn't press any further and wisely didn't speak anymore, turning to face up ahead instead. She was hurt, but didn't show it.
Serenity stared at her friend's back, feeling guilty all of a sudden. Tea didn't deserve that. What was with her today?
A formally dressed man approached the two not long after, opening a small plastic bag in front of him. Tea slipped her hand inside and got a piece of the many papers that piled up inside. Serenity followed and cautiously opened it.
RYOU BAKURA
She almost fainted.
She turned sharply to Tea, eyes wide with shock. "Bakura!"
"Who?" Tea asked.
"Bakura. It's…He's—" Serenity stopped short, realizing she couldn't very well tell Tea who he was. "…his name's on my slip." She ended lamely.
Tea shook her head. "I'm afraid I know no one by that name. How 'bout this? Do you know who this is?" She opened her slip and showed it to Serenity.
Serenity got over her first stage of shock enough to actually look. "I…I don't know anyone named Atem."
Tea frowned. "I hope he's friendly…"
The crowd was dissipating, and Serenity and Tea soon found themselves alone. "H-Hey, where's everyone gone?" She nudged her elbow at Tea.
"Hmm…Atem…huh—what?" Tea asked distractedly.
"Where'd everyone go!" Serenity asked, voice holding more urgency.
Tea produced a sound that was identical to a snort, but not quite. "Oh, having the names of their partners attached to their sleeves in the sewing room. Standard procedure so people would know how to find their partner. We should go too."
Serenity was running mad to the other room before Tea could blink.
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February 15, 2:30 pm, Domino Park Area
She tried the door again, but it wouldn't budge; it was locked. Serenity stared at it for a long time, panting.
She ran all the way to Bakura's house only to find that no one was there.
"Damn!" She swore. She had to find Bakura. Had to tell him it was near impossible to get the Signet ring. Maybe he'd give her another task. Likely not, but she wasn't being realistic now.
She entered Domino Park, though going nowhere in particular. She was scanning the crowds for every white head, every albino. But their faces were hard to see as masks covered each one of them, or her name attached to their sleeve.
She, too, was wearing her black mask, complete with apple-green gown, with Bakura's name in a white cloth attached to her sleeve.
As Tea had foreseen, the needlework rather ruined the flawless fabric, but she was too preoccupied to care.
Various booths were everywhere to her left and right and like Tea said, it was similar to a school fair. And it was really noisy, she was experiencing a headache as it is. She looked at every blonde, wondering if that's Mai or Joey, every raven-haired person, if it was Duke, too. It made her head spin like crazy.
So it was perfectly understandable when she bumped hard against what seemed a brick wall when her head was turned sidewards at a white head quite a distance away, wasn't it?
"Ouch!" She fell against her backside, glaring at the man she bumped into.
"What the hell!" The man swore, stepping backward to balance himself. "Watch where you're going!"
Serenity had no time for tall, rude people-bumping men just then. "Go away, why don't you? You're blocking my view!"
The man was quiet, and she couldn't see his eyes behind his white mask but oh, he must be angry because his jaw tightened.
"I don't need this!" He finally yelled, about to stomp off, but stopped and after a moment's hesitation, held his hand out instead. Serenity stared at it.
"Give me your hand, and I'll help you up." Said the man, gruffly.
Serenity reluctantly obeyed, and was pulled and rightened immediately. She sighed. "Hey, I'm sorry for my earlier reaction, mister. I was in a hurry and pretty irritated." She admitted.
If she expected an apology from him too, or at least an Its-okay, then she would be disappointed. But as it was, she was too distracted. It was one surprise to another.
Because the slender hand that held hers wore a very familiar ring. The ring looked even more majestic from an up-close view. It was beautifully crafted, golden, and there was the Kaiba-coat-of-arms(1) in the center in diamonds expertly cut, surrounded by blood-red rubies. It was priceless.
She looked up at the blue eyes that peeked out of the mask, glaring suspiciously at her. Her own green eyes widened, and the ring was forgotten.
It was…him!
She just stood there, not curtsying, not bowing, not anything.
"I-I'm Serenity Wheeler." She finally said, trying to gain her composure. She was calm enough to remember the ring again.
Damn, why didn't she just grab it and run! But the chance was passed, and she could do nothing, not in front of so many people.
"Care to guess who I am?" He said sarcastically.
"Of course. You are His Highness, Prince Seto of Domino Kingdom." She replied easily.
"Serenity…have we met before? Your name sounds familiar."
"Glad you remember me. I'm a Princess Candidate."
"A Prin—not you lot again!" He swung around, and she realized he was going to stomp off.
"Wait!" She cried.
"What!" He snapped icily. She racked her brain for a topic, anything to keep him there in case Bakura happened to come by, or Duke, Mai or Joey. Anyone she could ask for help. She then took the one he had just given.
"W-Why are against us—us lot—as you say?"
"You lot," He spat. "Are nothing but trouble!"
"Trouble? Trouble!" She spat back, temper quickly rising up to her indignation. YOU don't know how much trouble you're causing me!
"And a helluva headache!"
"What's your problem!" She yelled, regretting she ever talked to him.
His eyes narrowed. "You're the one who asked."
"Well, I didn't know you despised us so much. You don't even know us."
"You don't have to know people to despise people." He countered.
"Oh…yes…you…DO! Why'd you hate us anyway?"
He crossed his arms, gazing at her with a look of superiority. "Why should I tell you?"
"So I can understand you better, damn you! Now, explain why!"
"Don't tell me what to do, then. I'm the Crowned Prince!"
"And you think I care?"
"No, why should you?" He asked sarcastically. "You only ruined my whole future, only damned me to live married to some disgusting girl all my life!"
"So that's it? You…you don't want to be married?" She questioned her anger washing away to give space to incredulity.
"Of course not!" He snapped.
"Then why bother with the princess training camp?"
"You think it was my idea?"
"Who else's?"
"My father's, that's who."
"Your father…as in King Gozaburo? But…that doesn't make sense. Why would he set up the camp when he knows you don't want to be married?"
Prince Seto gave her a look of disgust. "Are you dense? He set it up because he knows I don't want to be married."
Serenity let that insult about density slip. "He…he did? I heard he was harsh, but this is unbelievable!"
"It is, isn't it?" He said, his tone less cold now, and more conversational. "He thinks I need a woman to balance my life and ensure that the kingdom is not just wealthy but happy as well. It's really stupid."
Serenity blinked, suddenly thinking that maybe that was what he needed. But she didn't voice her opinion, knowing he would be angry if she did. "Oh."
He saw through her anyway. "You think otherwise?" He asked in a tone that just dared her to say no.
She flushed at that. Was she so easy to read? "Well, I don't know you well enough to be the judge of what you need in your life, so don't glare at me like that." She said diplomatically.
He sighed. "Remind me why I'm talking to a commoner." He muttered and shook his head.
"What?"
"I said, go away."
"You didn't say that." Serenity said angrily. "And I'm not a commoner!"
He smirked, and Serenity would've been fooled over his calm demeanor except his eyes were flashing darkly. But his voice held humor. "Then who are you?"
Serenity huffed and shoved him away. "A person who's not going to talk to you again!"
Prince Seto caught himself before he fell, watching the auburn-haired beauty walk away, then jerked at her wrist, effectively spinning her around. "Don't you dare turn your back at me." He said quietly.
"I would damn well do whatever I please!" Serenity struggled, but he wouldn't let her arm go. She thought about the jewel dagger strapped against her thigh, and slowly reached for it. "Release me!"
Her hand secured around the hilt. "Not until—"
"Let go. You heard the lady." A voice called from behind them. Instantly, Seto grimaced; Serenity's face broke into a wide smile, and relaxed her hand away from the weapon. That voice!
"Oh, Bakura! It's me, Serenity!" She yelled in joy. "Thank God you found me!"
Bakura returned her smile, then glanced at Seto. "I know. Couldn't mistake you for anybody else, and your voices can be heard ten miles away. Let her go."
Bakura wore a snowy white shirt with blue stripes, a pair of slacks and a magnificent black coat, plus a glimmering red mask. She wouldn't have recognized him, but that was her name on his sleeve, alright.
Seto's grip tightened painfully, and Serenity bit her lip to keep from flinching. "You told me to go away. So stop doing this."
"And don't you have a partner you're looking for?" Bakura added.
Serenity nodded. "He's right." Her gaze trailed upwards from his hand on her wrist, towards his sleeve, and sure enough, there was a name attached there: MOKUBA KAIBA
She wondered if that was chosen by random, or if the Crowned prince intentionally picked his little brother. She doubted the former. Sure, just because he was royalty, he apparently didn't have to follow the randomness rule. Like, who would want to be his partner anyway?
She knew she didn't want to be. With his impatience and lack of anger management, who cared about wealth?
Prince Seto shifted his murderous glare to Serenity, but abruptly let her go. Serenity took a step back, then ran to the comfort of Bakura's arms. Bakura patted her small head.
"Serenity, what happened?" He asked after some time.
Serenity held back a sob, and said with as much indifference as she could muster. "Nothing, really. I just learned that the Prince is such a jerk." She reluctantly pulled away and smiled brightly at Bakura. "Is he gone?"
"Yeah," The Thief Master glanced at the space where the Prince stood a moment ago. "He's gone, alright."
"That reminds me, Bakura…" She sighed. "I don't think I can go through with this anymore."
He looked at her gravely. "Here, let's sit." And he led her to the nearest bench, shadowed by the branches of a tree.
Serenity sat beside him. "Please, master. Can't you give me another task instead?"
"You know I can't." He replied softly.
"But I really have doubts about this. You saw the way he handled me a while ago. I felt…scared. He's stronger than I expected and…oh, I don't know!"
"You can. And besides, I'm not asking you kill him. Just the ring, Seren'."
Serenity couldn't meet his eyes. "I…why do you want it anyway?" She turned sharply at him.
Bakura smiled faintly. "You might as well know, it was Joey's idea."
"Big brother!"
"Yeah, he kinda took it hard when we were found out three months ago, because he was supposed to stay watch during the night."
"What happened?"
"Someone betrayed to the palace about our location, and they tracked us down. That day, Joey went to a bar and got himself drunk. Fortunately, Mai was still awake at that time, and we escaped away. We almost got caught, and for a month, Mai wouldn't even speak with Joey, and he tortured himself with guilt. You see, this is his way of payback. His way of letting the palace know he's not gonna surrender without a fight. And the ring may just prove that he underestimates us."
Serenity's brows furrowed. "You mean…he's using me?"
Bakura stared at her in horror. "Of course not! He loves you, he wouldn't purposely harm you for the world. He just maybe figured…two birds with one stone, you see?"
She didn't, but nodded for his sake. "I see." She said blankly.
Bakura offered her a sad smile. "Then let's go enjoy what's left of the day, shall we?"
Serenity stood up with the help of Bakura, mentally sighing for the umpteenth time. She was just tired. Then, she saw a glimpse of flashing midnight-blue at the corner of her eyes. Tea?
Laughter danced in her eyes, and the last traces of sorrow left. She tugged lightly at Bakura's sleeve, then pointed at the direction of her friend. "Let's go there!"
This should be interesting, Serenity thought, amused.
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Authoress' Notes: Heehee. There's still a part III of this, and I'm almost finished with it so expect a quick update, and I made this chapter especially long! I feel so kind today...Oh, I know this story has an awful lotta clichés on it, so instead of Seto being Seren's partner, I changed it to Bakura.
Notes: (1) Kaiba's Coat-of-arms. Think about the logo of Kaiba Corp.
Fweee! Reviewer Responses and thank-you's!
KrystalSakura: Haha, at least there's an increase in reviewers...thanks for being a supporter of this fic. That means a lot to me XD
XXR.I.PXX: Well, here's the next one, and I hope you won't be disappointed.
Flowersperson: I love cookies XD Unfortunately, Kaiba isn't subjected to randomness, so guess who he choses? (...wait, why am I asking? I already wrote here somewhere who the mystery guy is...)
kaibas1girl: Hmm...this update was quicker than the others, I'm happy to say.
silvermoon81: Glad I have your interest.
snowmouse: Heh, I also had fun writing chap 3's end, so I'm genuinly relieved someone other than me found it funny.
ANAYASCREATER: My update has arrived.
Sakurelle: Whahaha, Seto's filthy rich! And it must've been Mokie's idea. XD
Losaye Maiden: Here's the update then...
Another round of thanks for those who reviewed. And I'll dedicate the next chappie to the first one who reviewes this chapter, like I've done in my other story...so go on... leave a review.
See ya!