Eekgomen, gomen! Late update! --
Btw, things are going faster now, and it's all serious, and the characters are more OOC than ever. But I hope to finish this fic before January next year. While that might seem like a long time, it isn't, coz due to my failing grades, I really dun have that much time. Gomen!
Also, added an OC here. Half the chapter is about her, and I take back what I said last chapter! The rounds won't be mentioned anymore, even though they'll still continue. Serenity doesn't go back to the palace until later on.
Therefore, appearances of Tea, Mokuba, Isis and Atem will be very limited. And if you're wondering, Honda/Tristan won't be here at all. You see, I'm no big fan of him, so…yeah…-sweatdrop-
Edit: I used "Malik", not "Marik"! Made a mistake...gomen!
H
Chapter Eight-The Ulterior Design
"Serenity!"
The auburn-haired teen arrived as the clock struck midnight, exhausted but not sleepy. Joey appeared behind the door, hugging his sister. Serenity was a little disappointed not to see the others, but even more so when in the morning, they showed little interest on her achievements.
"Congratulations, Seren. You're now a Thief. Part of our Family." Bakura had said with a kind brotherly smile, and Mai had patted her shoulder in welcome, and Duke…
Well, Duke didn't do nor say anything.
So Serenity continued staring at her plate. It was noon already, and everyone was almost done eating. The sparkling signet ring still lay on her finger.
Mai noted this with a sad smile. The kid truly didn't know anything about the scheme, did she? It was a shame, such a shame, she was sure the girl would find out by the end of the day. The blonde continued eating, her expression once again bland.
H
And so, as Mai had predicted, Serenity started suspecting things that afternoon. Joey sat across the bench in their wide garden, one leg propped on another and his arms slung over the back of the chair.
"So what now? We send her in?"
Bakura grinned beside him. "Done and done. She's already inside."
Serenity sat at the grass, humming as she continued her knitting. She had been into it for quite some time, on the road to Domino when she had nothing to do. She was currently making a red hat with darker red lacings for Joey. "Hmmm? Who's inside?" She mumbled.
Duke grinned. "Who else? Hilary, 'course. And that's all thanks to you, 'Ren."
His words caused Serenity to stop, put down her knitting, and look at him in bewilderment. "Who's Hilary?"
Mai closed her eyes. She didn't know it afterall. She wondered, for the umpteenth time why Bakura didn't mention it. And she could see Bakura did not mean for her to know at all, because he spoke,
"Hilary, Hilary, She's a rather close friend of mine."
Duke raised a brow at this, but did not say anything. Joey's reaction was more obvious. "You dunno Hilary?"
Serenity shrugged. "Erm—am I supposed to?"
Joey laughed. "Hilary, she's Bakura's si—"
"Shut, Joey." Bakura interrupted, jabbing him in the side. Then he added in a whisper, "She knows nothing."
Joey's eyes widened.
"Are you okay, Big brother? You look like you've been hit with a hammer. Who's this Hilary?" Serenity asked with a tilt of her head.
"She's no one." Bakura said, and changed the topic. "By the way, d'you know that the Ishtars are here? I met Malik just a while ago."
Serenity was a little confused, but she smiled all the same. "Yes, I met Isis in Prince Seto's palace!"
Bakura seemed gladdened by her reply. "So how's the dear girl nowadays?"
"Still the same. Loves horses, she really does. And still a big fan of mythology, especially ancient Egyptian, she's been telling me stories again, just yesterday morning!" Serenity remembered, when Isis got angry at her announcement that she was going to abandon this mission. But now it was all just a laugh, all over. She would never talk to Prince Seto nor Prince Mokuba…
Nor Tea, for that matter. She missed her friend, but…well, she's got a family right here, doesn't she? "How about Malik? I haven't seen him in a longer time!"
Bakura laughed. "That's because you didn't want to. You weren't too fond of him, even in the old days, and would do anything to avoid any confrontation!"
"Well, yeah." Serenity smiled sheepishly. "I don't know. We just don't go along well. There's this feeling I have every time I talk to him, that he's hiding something. He's too obsessed with his art, and I heard he's now interested in painting ancient Shadow Monsters. I wonder what those are."
"Malik has always been such a close-minded freak, so it's no loss." Joey said with a shrug, seeming to have recovered from earlier. Serenity laughed. Joey used to fight with Marik all the time, before he left. But now it seems Joey's negative emotions were directed at Prince Seto.
"Give up the attitude, Joey. We're visiting him later, remember?"
Joey was quiet for a moment, then gritted his teeth. "Argh—do I have to come?"
"Duh. He's selling a stolen artpiece, and this one is rather expensive." Mai replied with a roll of her eyes.
Serenity blinked. "Isn't that…illegal?"
Duke shrugged. "That's what we do. We're thieves. Wanted thieves. So be careful, eh?"
"Oh…right…"
Duke glanced away. He knew it from the start. She didn't want to…she wasn't this kind of person…He looked at Bakura for a moment. Why? Why does he keep pushing her? Duke knew Bakura also realized how reluctant Serenity was…Serenity was…
A pure soul surrounded by reckless ones…and he knew…she didn't want to conform, didn't believe in what they did…in what he used to believe.
Then his gaze settled at her again. It was all just wrong.
"This is what we get, you know, from leading this kind of life."
"I know, Duke, I know,…I should've known better than ask… But since when was Malik into this—" Serenity paused. "This business?"
Joey stood up, catching all their attention. "Since God knows when. That man is the worst of the worst. He's rich, yet look how his sister lives. If we're going to visit him, then let's get it over with."
Rich. Malik was rich?
Mai stood up too. "Nice idea. Actually a nice idea, coming from you." She said in exaggerated tones.
"Hmph."
H
When the door opened, Serenity was surprised.
"What happened to you!" Serenity screamed before she could help herself.
The Malik she knew before was…well, gone. Gone with the wind. Here was the blonde, still in his dark tan, but dressed so casually, with a white undershirt, tight leather pants, and a leather jacket. He had a spiked choker around his neck, and rings and bracelets of gold hanging around his hands. She could see he also had his ears pierced and now wore earrings of gold. His bangs were long and hid the sides of his face. He looked like…
A drug dealer.
What about the plain white outfit he wore? And his flawless, ornament-less skin?
But…she wondered, since when could they afford such things…?
Since when did Malik turn to be a art dealer involved in stealing? Since when did he own a big townhouse and not just an apartment? Since when did he stop living with his sister? What happened? Who is this Malik?
"Serenity! Bakura, Joey!" Malik greeted with a smile(that seemed to be more twisted than usual).
They entered his townhouse, and Joey immediately got down to business. "Where's the painting?"
"Where's my money?"
Joey gritted his teeth, but Mai nodded silently and pulled an envelope from the slip of her blouse. "Ready."
"Behind you, it's leaning in the wall. A priced original painting of Van Gogh." Malik said as he snatched the envelope.
"Better be authentic." Duke replied, and went to get it.
"Then our job is done. We'll leave now, if you don't mind." Joey didn't wait for his reply but stood up and went for the door. Mai shrugged and followed the blond-haired teen outside. Bakura nodded a goodbye and soon followed.
"It was nice meeting you again, Malik. Thanks for your time." Serenity said.
Malik smiled, and for one moment, he reverted back to the Marik she knew, her childhood friend. Then that moment passed and she was hurrying towards the door with Duke and the painting behind her.
Serenity sighed. Everything was changing. So fast.
H
The young girl rushed inside, her long, white hair trailing behind her. Her golden eyes flicked left and right, and then she crept further down the corridor.
She wore her normal dark outfit, shirt and pants, a small knife hanging from her belt.
So, Bakura was right. It seems that more guards were now on duty, and every corner was present with at least one. No other people besides maids were found along the hallways, and in her whole two-hours exploring the palace, she never once spotted the Prince Seto, nor Mokuba, or King Gozaburo. They had probably shuffled rooms.
The palace was on high alert from last weeks reported disappearance of Prince Seto's prized signet ring, handed from generations and generations of first-born sons. On top of this was the coincidental disappearance of a princess candidate, Serenity Wheeler.
She heard Gozaburo went to a fit when he heard the ring was missing, but more so that a princess candidate would dare steal the ancient family possession. He had all the other candidates checked, and no one seems to know where Serenity went.
She left all her stuff, and the only one last to see her was Prince Mokuba.
Due to these events, King Gozaburo had decided to speed up the Princess Training Camp, and now there were only 10 participants left.
Meanwhile, Serenity was wanted and a bounty was placed on her head. Dead or Alive.
Poor girl. She thought. Bakura is certainly ruthless in giving the sacrificial position to the thief Joey's little sister. But she didn't care really.
She dashed across another hall, to which far end she finally saw Prince Seto's room. Ten guards on one door? Too obvious.
Hilary smirked. Not that bad a challenge though.
It was finally time for some fun.
H
Well, that's it. It's supposed to be much longer, but I keep thinking I write chapters that are too long, too boring and too uneventful that they'd just bore you to death. So, a short and meaningful chapter for once. Ermm…actually, it's not that meaningful…but anyway!
So how'd you like Hilary?
And oh, that part about Marik…err…I dunno why I put it. It has absolutely no connection to the story…I'll find a place for him…somewhere…gawd, I'm straying further and further from my original plot x.X
Reviewers! –glomps-
Aliccia: Yeah, school's a total bummer! It's my first year at high school, so…blech. Teachers are dumping homework in a staggering pile. –eyebrow twitches- Oh, thank you! I was worried that my chapters are becoming worse and worse…take this one, for example. How was it? Coz I have the feeling it's the worst of them all…
xXR.I.PXx: Haha, I'm glad you liked it.
Flowersperson: Portsmouth? Where's that…? Anyway, hope you had fun there! Even with all the rain…Eheh, dunno why I inserted Mokuba. It seems inserting random stuff is my current thing o.O I put Marik here for you! –grins- but I'm afraid he only plays a small part…no, of course not! I'm actually a fan of Tea/Atem…even if I dun like Tea that much…ah well.
Rajalily: Thanks for understanding! Hope you won't give up on my little fic
ANAYAS-CREATER: It's all right if you review late, coz I update late too! Eheh. Now for the bigger scheme behind the ring thing XD
Ann: -sweatdrop- I'm happy it met your approval…hope this one does too!-grin-
And there we go! Now be good and tell me what you think on this one. 'Til next time!