Originally posted: 5/27/04
Edited: 8/28/05

It's kind of sad… as I revamp the story, I'm deleting all my old ANs. On one level it's good, because most of them were really stupid and it's good to see them go. On the other hand, it's kinda sad and nostalgic, in a way, that some of my words will be lost forever. But go they must… I'm trying to start afresh.

My apologies to Sakura, or anyone who suggested 'Sakura'. I think the name is pretty, but 'Sakura Kaiba' is really too 'K' rich for my tastes. (No comment on "Mokuba...")

Thank you to all the wonderful people who reviewed chapter 04! Hugs and kisses to the lot of you!

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island of red flowers

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by sir mocha

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chapter 05: g r a t i t u d e

"Hey, Serenity," said Joey, peeking his head into Serenity's bedroom where she had been holed up for the past few hours. "Oh, I didn't wake you, did I? It's a bit early to be going to bed. But I guess you're dealing with the jet lag?"

She sat up and looked at him, her eyes red-rimmed as if she had been crying. She just shook her head no, he hadn't woken her.

"Oh no, you're not crying again, are you?" asked the ever-discreet Joey. "I thought that once we got back home, you'd stop feeling so bad. If you'd just tell me what's wrong…"

"I don't know why I'm so sad, I just am," said Serenity, feeling bad for lying to her trusting brother. But she didn't want him to learn what a horrible person she was.

"Eh, well, if you ever need me, you know I'm here for you," said Joey sincerely. And then in an instant, his mood changed to something akin to anger. "And I just listened to the phone messages, and there was one for you from Kaiba!" he said savagely. "Why would Moneybags call you! You better be staying away from him like I told you! You know how I feel about him!" He growled, sounding ironically enough like an angry dog.

Serenity rolled her eyes, amused by her brother's typical Joey behavior. "I have no idea why Kaiba called. I haven't spoken to him since Battle City."

"And you won't speak to him anymore! I'll call him back, and tell him to cut the crap and leave you the hell alone!" He was breathing heavily through his nose, indignant at the thought of Serenity talking to his worst enemy.

"No Joey, I don't want you to get into another one of your world famous arguments with Kaiba. I'll call him back, and hear what he wants, and then I'll never talk to him again."

Joey just hmphed and stalked off to his bedroom to sulk.

Serenity wandered into the living room, thinking somberly of the past grim week. But contrary to what she had told Joey, Serenity knew the exact reason she woke up every day sobbing.

While on vacation, the dreams had started coming. Dreams of a woman, struggling, alone and looking for someone, anyone, who would help her lessen the solitude and the pain. Serenity knew that she should be at that woman's side, reassuring her that everything would be fine. Serenity had promised the woman that she would. But when she should have been at the hospital, helping that poor woman, where was she? On vacation, wasting her time skiing and drinking hot chocolate, having a grand old time.

But at night, her dreams would reprimand her for being negligent of her duties. Every night, the dreams got worse, pounding into Serenity's subconscious images of loneliness, of desperation and hopelessness, and of pain and despair, until it got to be so bad that Serenity would wake up sobbing and screaming. Anzu, her roommate, had gotten quite concerned, despite Serenity's insistences that it was nothing, and told Joey, who cut short the trip with the hope that returning home would soothe Serenity. But it didn't, because even with the early return, Serenity knew that it was too late. And so the dreams persisted, unwilling to relent.

Serenity pushed the button on the answering machine, cycling through the messages until she heard, "I'm calling for a Miss Serenity Wheeler, on behalf of Mr. Seto Kaiba. Mr. Kaiba requests that you call him as soon as you get this message. It is an issue of rather pressing importance." It gave Kaiba's telephone number, and then ended.

What on earth would Kaiba call me for? I really haven't spoken to him since Battle City, and that was only once, she pondered. She glanced at the clock. 10:27 pm. Well, the message did say to call as soon as I got it. So I suppose now is as fine a time as any. If she woke Kaiba, she didn't care; from what Joey said, and from what she had witnessed at Battle City, he was neither the most polite nor the most pleasant fellow.

mehaven't she pondered. She glanced at the clock. . as soon as If she woke Kaiba, she didn't care; from what Joey said, and from what she had witnessed at Battle City, he was neither the most polite nor the most pleasant fellow.

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Kaiba, having just successfully learned how to change a diaper (a chore unbecoming of the CEO of a major technology company), was feeling a strange sense of accomplishment as he picked up the ringing phone. "Kaiba," he said in a tone much less surly than usual.

"Hi…Kaiba? This is Serenity Wheeler," said the voice at the other end. "Yeah, I just got the message you, or rather your assistant I suppose, left. Anyway, he said that you had something important to discuss?"

Feeling satisfied at so quickly reaching the girl, Kaiba said pleasantly, "Yes, I have something important to talk to you about. Considering the circumstances, though, I'd rather not discuss this over the phone. I expect you at the Kaiba mansion in half an hour. My driver will be by to pick you up shortly." He hung up the phone, not being one to waste time or words on unnecessary pleasantries.

Serenity stared at the phone, more than a little angry. What right did he have to order her over to his house without telling her anything? If it had been any other guy, Serenity would have been somewhat wary of going to his house alone at night. But Kaiba lusted over Duel Monster cards, not people, so Serenity didn't worry about her personal safety. What did worry her was how she was going to get out of the house at 10:30 at night with Joey watching over her like a mother hen.

She stuck her head into Joey's room, preparing a lie she hoped would get her out of the house. But she smiled when she saw her brother sprawled out on his floor, snoring, a puddle of drool forming under his mouth. Excellent, she thought, he'll be out for a few hours, at the very least. He sleeps like the dead, and wakes just as easily. She went back to her room to straighten up, awaiting the arrival of Kaiba's chauffeur.

-V-

"Thank you, sir," said Serenity, bowing to the driver before hopping out of the car. The palatial mansion in front of her was a bit intimidating, but it didn't stop her from marching up the walkway to the towering front door. She rang the bell, and waited impatiently, looking forward to telling Kaiba off for his rude behavior on the phone.

The door was opened by an older man in butler livery. He looked at Serenity with pity and said, "You are Miss Wheeler? Yes, Mr. Kaiba is waiting for you in the nursery. I'll show you there." He headed up the grand staircase, and Serenity followed, thinking wildly about what the man had just said.

The nursery! But you only have a nursery if you have a baby, and I really don't see Kaiba as the caring, paternal type… so why on Earth does he have a baby? Could this have anything to do with the woman I broke my promise to? She was supposed to have a baby. Could she be connected to Kaiba in some way? But she said she was all alone…

really Earth

"Here we are, Miss," said the servant. "And good luck." He left quite abruptly and Serenity, after hesitating, opened the door. She was greeted with, "Didn't anyone ever tell you to knock on a door before barreling in?"

She spat back at Kaiba, "Didn't anyone ever tell you to say 'please' when commanding someone to come to your house at 11 o'clock at night?"

Kaiba rolled his eyes. "Look, let's just get this over with. I don't want you defiling my carpet any longer than you must." He smirked. That would teach her to lecture him.

Serenity gritted her teeth. "I know you didn't order me to come over so you could throw stupid insults at me. Now will you please just tell me why I'm here?"

"You are here because you have been chosen by a deranged Egyptian woman to be the godmother to her baby. When she had her baby she died, and now you are the legal mother of the baby, and I am the legal father." He watched for her reaction to the news, but was surprised to see that she was biting her lip, and tears were pooling in her eyes. He wondered, remotely, if he shouldn't have been quite so blunt.

Serenity was shocked. I am the mother to her baby? She bit her lip. But I broke my promise. I wasn't there to support the poor woman, and she died, and left her baby an orphan. Tears filled her eyes. If I had been there, I could have given her hope, or support, or something, and she might not have died. But I wasn't there, and she died, and left her baby to complete strangers.

Kaiba hated it when people cried, and Serenity was two seconds away from bawling. He procured some tissues from his pocket, and handed them to her, hoping she would take the hint and not get all emotional on him.

Serenity dried her eyes and softly blew her nose, then asked, "May I see the baby, Kaiba?"

Kaiba gestured over to the crib, where an elderly woman was holding a pink bundle. The woman handed Serenity the bundle, and Serenity proceeded to study the baby in her arms. "Well, Kaiba, she could almost be your biological child. She definitely has your eyes, only not so cruel."

"What?" asked Kaiba, ignoring the snide comment. He walked over to see the girl more closely. For the first time that night she had opened her eyes, and Kaiba saw striking sapphire blue staring up at him. Reluctantly, he felt his bond with this orphan grow stronger, and he longed to take the precious baby out of the Wheeler girl's arms and hold her. "It's just a coincidence," he said, though personally he wondered if maybe it was more than just that.

"Of course, Kaiba, of course," said Serenity skeptically, seeing through Kaiba's denial. "By the way, what is her name?"

"Well, I had intended to let you name her. Women love silly stuff like that." He paused, then added, "I don't care."

"I resent that sexist generalization, Kaiba, but at least now I know you won't screw it up. Let's see… how about Sakura?" she suggested.

"Are you kidding? Sakura Kaiba sounds awful. Too many 'K's."

"Who says she'll be a Kaiba? Maybe she'd rather be a Wheeler! 'Sakura Wheeler' sounds pretty good to me," replied Serenity huffily.

"Her father is a Kaiba. Therefore, she will be one as well."

More suggested names, and more heated rebuttals from Kaiba left Serenity nearly at her wits' end. "I though you didn't care!" she nearly shouted.

"Your suggestions are inane. I had assumed you had better taste."

"Well then, what do you recommend!"

"I would like to name her Rei. It sounds good and is not overly flamboyant," said Kaiba.

"Well, maybe I think Rei is a boring and dull name!" replied Serenity, who actually liked the name Rei but didn't want Kaiba to know it.

"Well, your suggestions are unacceptable, so I must insist that she be named Rei," said Kaiba.

"Hmph," pouted Serenity, reluctantly pleased with the decision. Rei, I failed your mother. But I swear that I will not fail you. I'll protect you, from Kaiba and from the world. I owe that much to you. Serenity resolved to make up for her wrongdoing by being the best mother she possibly could be. But at the age of 17, and still in school, and living with Joey in his modest apartment, Serenity wondered how well she would do. "Kaiba, I don't know if I can take care of Rei. I'm still in school, and I have a part-time job. And I don't think Joey would be too pleased."

"I do more work in one day than you do all week. I am the CEO of Kaiba Corp, to refresh your memory. I have zero time for childcare. And I really don't care what your mutt of a brother thinks."

Serenity was incensed by the cruel remark. "Well, Mr. C-E-O, I cannot take Rei to school with me, and I cannot take her to my job! They don't like babies in fancy restaurants, you know."

"You expect me to take her to work with me? Do you have any idea what that would do to my reputation with my business partners? They will not take me seriously if I'm sitting there, burping a child while attempting to give a revenues report!"

Miro decided that this would be a good time to step in. "Mr. Kaiba, depending on how generous you are with my pay this month, I could probably find time in my busy schedule to care for Rei during the day. You will care for her at nights, seeing as how she already has a room and furniture here at the mansion, and you, Miss Serenity, may watch her during weekends. That is the solution. If you two would like to make alternative arrangements, you may do so like mature, responsible adults. I will put up with no more of this childish bickering!" Having said her piece, she stepped back, happy to see the two looking properly chastised.

Serenity was the first to speak. "Well, that arrangement suits me, providing that I can convince Joey. Now, if you'll excuse me, it is getting quite late, and I think it would be best if I got home before my brother wakes and finds me missing." She kissed Rei on the forehead, then, with obvious reluctance, handed her over to Kaiba. "Call me later so we can discuss the details."

"Fine. Umake, show Miss Wheeler to the limo," directed Kaiba. After they left, Kaiba looked at Rei, who was lying in his arms, looking up at him innocently and sucking her thumb.

He gently pulled the thumb out of her mouth. "A Kaiba does not suck her thumb," he reprimanded. She looked at him sadly, through the eyes he was so used to seeing in the mirror every morning, though as Serenity had remarked, Rei's were infinitely more compassionate. But there was more than just compassion - there was wisdom and understanding, remarkable for one her age. There was just no getting past that fact, and it was affecting Kaiba more than he would like to admit. "I'm sorry you're sad, but you're a Kaiba, and cannot persist with a silly habit like sucking your thumb. It's undignified."

He frowned after realizing that these words would have been very likely to come out of the cruel and unfeeling mouth of Gozaburo Kaiba. His mind reeled, and he thought, No. I REFUSE to become like Gozaburo! I may not be the nicest person but I am NOT the monster he was! And I refuse to become that way!

He looked down at the sad girl in his arms, and said, "I'm sorry. I would like for you to stop sucking your thumb, but if you continue, I promise I won't beat you like Gozaburo would have."

She smiled at him, then yawned loudly. Amazed at the time, Kaiba decided that it was Rei's bedtime. As he was putting her in her crib, he noticed a dark tuft of hair slip out from underneath her hat. Out of curiosity (Should babies have hair at only a week old? he pondered), he gently pulled off her hat revealing a large amount of raven-black hair. It's just like Mokuba's, he thought, reeling. This girl has my eyes and Mokuba's hair. This can not be a mere coincidence. He was surprised, and a little scared, of the fact that the baby looked so like a Kaiba. It's almost as if it were meant to be, he thought, dumbfounded. Then, What am I saying! That is completely ridiculous! This is not a fairy tale, with magic and nonsense like that.

The phone rang, jerking him out of his reverie. He checked his watch. It was nearly midnight, so who the hell would be calling so late?

"Kaiba," he said as his salutation.

The other person didn't even bother with a greeting, but even so, Kaiba could tell that it was Dr. Takenouchi. She said, "Kaiba, we need you down here at the hospital." She paused awkwardly, then added, "It's time for you to say goodbye."

Kaiba stared at the phone, horrified, then threw it as hard as he could at the wall where it broke into a hundred pieces. But Kaiba was already out the door, racing to the hospital and to his dying brother.

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