A/N: Hello all, I hope you all had a happy holiday of your choice (there are so many different ones now I won't bother to list). Also, I'd like to wish you all a Happy New Year in advance! Enjoy the chapter.
Angry People
Chapter 17
"A Detective Carter to see you, sir."
Kaiba had frozen at the mere mention of the word "Detective". Why is this guy here? His plan was fool-proof! There was no way in hell that they could trace this back to him...unless...Damn it! That bastard he hired talked! What was he going to do now? Confess? Not an option. Lie? He could, but he'd have to make sure his story is plausible. As these thoughts ran through the young man's mind, his frigid blue eyes fixed onto the man who had come in and offered his hand for a handshake.
"Detective Jonathan Carter. You're Seto Kaiba, I presume."
Kaiba took the man's hand and gave it a firm shake. "Yes..." He studied over the detective for a moment. He assumed he was somewhere in his late-thirties or early-forties due to the patches of gray in his otherwise jet-black hair; his eyes were a sort of hazel with green. His face was lean and and somewhat long. He didn't have the body of a world-class athlete, but looked like he could easily hold his own in a tough spot. "What is this about, Detective? I have many engagements to keep."
The man smiled a little as he pulled something out of his pocket. "It's nothing really. Just investigating some cases." The envelope that he had pulled out of his khaki pants was placed on Kaiba's desk. "I've been told that one of your employees was a witness to a murder that took place a little while back. You know, that big gang shooting."
Kaiba nodded his head. "Then why don't you go question my employee?"
The detective's smile seemed to evaporate. "He's not avaliable. I was wondering if you could tell me."
The detective's sudden change in demeanor was not lost on the young buisnessman. "I hire and fire dozens of people everyday, how should I know?"
"I think you know more than you let on, Mr. Kaiba."
"And I think you're wasting my time. Unless you have something important to ask me, I have engagements to keep."
The detective stared at Kaiba blankly for a moment, then suddenly smiled again. "Of course. I can't keep the wealthiest man in our great city from keeping his engagements! It would look terrible on my record...please open that envelope when you have some time, Mr. Kaiba." With that, the detective walked out of the room.
Kaiba, in an expression completely out of his normal character, breathed a heavy sign of relief. That was a bit too close, even for him. His eyes went down to the small envelope that the detective had placed on his desk. He ripped it open and saw a picture fall out, along with some other papers. The picture was of a little girl...
Marik and Ishizu sat next to each other on their couch, watching some movie about a waterboy playing football.
"Little brother..."
Marik didn't even take his eyes away from the screen. "Yeah?"
"Didn't you have a date with Tea today?"
Marik nodded his head. "Sort of...us and the rest of her friends were going out today to a new game shop."
"Sounds like fun...you should go and join them." Ishizu wrapped a blanket she had brought in around her a little tighter, as if she were trying to stay warm.
"It's okay...I'll stay here."
Ishizu nodded, her eyes looking at the television screen but not even paying attention. "Marik...I'm sellingeverything.Our home, the museum, everything."
For the first first time, brother and sister looked each other in the eyes. "I know."
Ishizu exhaled deeply. "How did you find out?"
"I read the papers while you were passed out." Marik grinned at her as he went on. "You're getting a pretty penny for it, I see."
Ishizu looked away. "Yes...but there is one thing I want to ask you. I tried to make this decision so that it works for both of us, but I don't think I can. Before I sign those papers, there is one thing I need to know. Do you want to leave?"
Marik cocked his head to the side. "I don't think so...I never really gave much thought to it. I mean, I do hate it here sometiems but I'm not sure where else we could go, or would want to go."
Ishizu looked over at her brother again and smiled. "Me neither." She snuggled underneath the warm blanket and closed her eyes. "We'll discuss this later...after your date."
Marik looked down at his watch and cursed. Tea was going to kill him for being nearly three hours late!
She was going to kill that boy for being three hours late, Tea thought in her mind. How dare he stand her up like this? She looked on at the demo of the new game system that Yugi had been raving about for months. The graphics of the system looked so realistic that she could barely tell whether or not it was an actual game. It showed some guy sitting down at a bus stop, reading a magazine. A dark, ominous figure walks by him and touches him on the shoulder. Somehow (Tea guessed magic) the boy began to see all of these images of fierce battles between highly skilled swordsman, mages, etc. In a flash, the dream ended, and the boy dropped his book and ran after the dark one. The image faded out and left only a few words on the screen:
Light or Dark?
Good or Evil?
Hope or Despair?
Make your choice...and Follow the Road.
Comming June 2006
As the crowed cheered the end of the promo, Tea decided to browse around the rest of the store. She occasionally enjoyed playing games with the boys and even had a system of her own at home. While her friends' tastes leaned more towards the fighting and sports genres, hers was more towards role-playing and puzzle games. As she explored the small and very crowded store, she bumped into a tall, brooding figure.
"I'm sorry." Tea looked up at the person and realized that it was none other than her classmate Seto Kaiba. "Um, hello..."
She could feel his eyes fixed squarely on her, and didn't find the feeling pleasant.
"Watch where you're going, Gardener."
Tea's face contorted into a bit of a snarl. "I apologized. Accidents happen, even to those who think they're perfect."
Kaiba looked down at her, his emotions unchanged. "Whatever, now why don't you go find a stripper pole to dance on? Excuse me."
Tea resisted the urge to spit in his face or even curse at him, but managed to curl her small hands into fists and keep them glued to her sides as he walked away, gritting her teeth in the process.
It's a good thing that bastard's walking away! Stupid pervert!
"WOWWZAAAA!"
Tea rolled her eyes. From one pervert to another. She walked over to where a seemingly dumbstruck Joey was almost shaking in shock. At least this pervert never called her a stripper, she thought as she looked around. Then she saw it.
"Ryou?..."
There was Ryou Bakura, the quiet one of the group, in the corner of the store...making out with one of the prettiest girls she had ever seen, Mai Valentine included. Long golden brown hair, perfect legs, the face of an angel highlighted by beautiful green eyes...but wait a second! This was Ryou here! When they first met him, they thought he had a crush on Joey for goodness sake! He had shown absolutely zero interest in girls...
Ryou scratched his head nervously as his apparent girlfriend held him by the waist. "Ummm, hey guys! This is Mana..."
So..THAT'S why he's been skipping out on us so much lately! Tea thought with a smile on her face.
The girl giggled a little and waved before she adjusted her super-tight shirt on her body.
Yugi was dumbfounded. Tristan was stunned. Joey was drooling while trying to keep an eye out for his own girlfriend. Duke was mentally going through his best pick-up lines. As usual, Tea had to speak for everyone.
"Nice to meet you. I'm Tea."
She smiled and extended her hand.
As the event came to a close, Tea started to romp towards her house. She was a bit upset in the afternoon, but as she looked up at the sky and saw darkness closing in she became extremely pissed off. Why didn't he come? Why didn't he even bother to answer his phone? Who the hell did he think he was to stand her up like that? She marched up to her front door and found her younger brother standing in the doorway.
"Hey, sis."
"Get the hell outta my way!" She tried to push him out of the way, but her little brother wasn't exactly little. He stood nearly 6'4'' and although on the skinny side was very muscular.
"Calm down...what's got you all riled up?"
"Fucking Marik Ishtar, that's what!" Tea shrieked. Herangry expression got even angrier as her brother started to grin.
"Mom and Dad are home, so I'd tone down the volume and the language. I have two pieces of really good news!"
Tea folded her arms across her chest. "Go ahead..."
"Texas called today."
Tea raised an eybrow. "You know somebody named 'Texas'?"
"No, Einstien. For somebody in the top ten percent in your class you're as dense as a rock. The University of Texas called. They're interested in me."
"News flash: half the damn country has been calling here trying to recruit you, so that's nothing new. What's the other piece of good news?"
"Oh, that 'fucking Marik Ishtar' as you call him, he's sitting on our couch."
Tea nearly fainted.
The same boy who had the nerve to ditch her and not even call was sitting on her family's couch, a welcome guest. His face had a cocky grin on it that upset her yet really made him look so damn cute to her. She calmly walked into the living room, and he stood up.
"Do I really get you all riled up?" Marik grinned again.
SLAP!
Marik held his now-stinging cheek with his right hand. "Um...I'll take that as a yes."
Tea pulled him even closer. "You better."
Marik's cockiness was gone as he found himself being pulled into a deep, passionate kiss.
More A/N: I'd just like to let you all know that next chapter, which I plan on being twice as long as this one, will be the last. All (or almost all) of your questions will be answered. A couple of quick notes on the chapter, the game promo was inspired by a commercial I saw for the National Football League (No, I'm not an owner, so there's your disclaimer). Oh, and "Mana"...if I'm not mistaken, is the incarnation/inspiration for, or whatever, for the "Dark Magician Girl" card in the series and manga. Sorry for the wait, and leave a review on the way out, please?
BDB...out.