A/N: I can't use AOL, so I can't send this to a beta. If there are mistakes—forgive me. Or let me know and I will fix them. The wonderful hurricane has battered me a bit, as far as communications are concerned. Though I think AOL has its own issues. Also, I can't gain access to things I saved onto my hard drive. Thankfully, I have someone who is going to look at that problem soon…when he's done chasing waves and surfing. Never count on a surfer—you'll lose him to the big ones all the time…
I own nothing of Yu-gi-oh…
Chapter 3
Different Eyes…
Leaning in slowly Mokuba smiled, "see, I'm not all that bad am I?" He wiped a stray splatter of sauce from Rebecca's chin and then leaned back.
"I asked you to leave and you stayed. When I insisted you go—you ordered pizza. You're very stubborn, and that makes you worse than bad…" She tried to hide her smile from him.
Rebecca wondered what they were thinking…sitting there on the floor of the gallery, amongst all the various works of art. She insisted they remain on the marble, as opposed to any surface they could stain. The lights were dimmed low as they drank their respective sodas and ate the pieces they selected.
"So, know any jokes?" Mokuba smiled at the object of his affection.
"Did you hear about the one with the insistent boy— and the girl who rejected him time and again?" Rebecca smirked as violet-gray eyes twinkled.
"Does it end with said girl finally giving in?" He piped up, as he tugged on a stray lock of her hair.
"Well, it's a two part joke." She explained softly. " See, the first part has said boy making an idiot of himself. The second part has him trading places with the chicken who crossed the road…and getting smashed by a semi…" Rebecca released an evil little giggle, then glanced at him through lowered lashes. He just sat there taking her in and shaking his head.
"You wouldn't miss me? Even a little?" He shifted, moving closer to her.
"Like a pebble in my shoe…" She explained as she examined her nails.
"You wouldn't miss my company or kisses?" He feigned hurt feelings, but smiled sweetly at her.
"Hmmm…I'm supposed to miss being harassed? And kissed involuntarily?" She countered, feeling a blush creep up her cheeks. He sat there, moving the hair away from her neck. She shivered softly.
"You wouldn't look for me if I disappeared?" He asked as he pressed a kiss to her cheek. For once she didn't haul off and slap him—a small amount of progress. He tilted her chin up and settled his lips on hers, his tongue softly trying to gain entrance. She sighed, allowing him…
The small grunt of male satisfaction brought her to her senses. Pulling back, she presented him with the tender slap he had expected earlier.
He smiled. She no longer wielded her hits with venom. Rebecca Hawkins was relenting. Soon, she would fall, Mokuba was sure of it.
Teá sat at the table as Mai and Rebecca argued. Yugi simply continued to dig through the cabinets looking for his favorite cookies. It was the same old problem, between Mai and Rebecca. It was being fought over for the millionth time. Teá just smiled sweetly and listened. Everyone knew Mokuba and Rebecca were perfect for one another—everyone, except Rebecca…and Seto Kaiba.
"If you two went on one simple date maybe it would settle things for good." Mai suggested as she clinked her spoon on the edge of her mug. "I mean, out of the two brothers he's way sweeter and kind of adorable. Why won't you just say yes?" Mai lifted the cup to her mouth and too a quick swallow.
"There is going to be a major party for Halloween at Kaiba's mansion. Why not use that as neutral ground?" Teá suggested. "Think about it. We'll all be around, so if you have an awful time you can escape with one of us. Not that I think you'll need to…"
"Why are you all plotting against me?" Rebecca whined as she lowered her head to the table, laying her face on her arms. Unfortunately, her mind kept betraying her and wandered back to last night and the pizza she had shared with him. Why was he still pursuing her? She had no idea. Then again, if he took another girl to the party—how would she feel then?
Yugi placed a comforting hand on her shoulder. "He really likes you Rebecca. I know he's a really great guy. How about you do this and then I'll make sure Mai and the girls never annoy you again." He gave the same shoulder a slight squeeze as she looked up at him.
"I don't even have a costume…" She sighed heavily as she moved a cheek to the cool tile table, and crossed her arms over the back of her head. "Besides, he hasn't asked me to go with him." Her voice was so small, that all three had to ask her to repeat what she had just groaned.
She picked her head up, quite begrudgingly, and covered her face with her hands. "We had pizza together last night, but he never brought up the party. I think he's going with someone else…one hint—she's not me."
Yugi frowned a bit, that didn't seem quite right. All Mokuba did was talk about Rebecca. It would get so tedious at times that he often thought of avoiding the younger Kaiba. In the last conversation they had, Mokuba explained how he was bound and determined to 'land' Rebecca by Thanksgiving. Either that, or kidnap her to some tropical island if he couldn't.
"I'm sure it was an oversight on his part," Yugi smiled, comfortingly. Just in case, Yugi quickly changed the subject. If Mokuba had found another girl (an idea he doubted highly), Rebecca didn't have to be harped on.
"So, where is Serenity?" Yugi asked Mai.
"Well, I left the park when I lost complete sight of her. I tried calling her cell, but I didn't get an answer." Mai looked a little confused. "I don't think she would have abandoned me there. She was just trying to take a few pictures." Mai shrugged and rested the mug back on the table. "I figured I would come here because you guys live closest to the park. I hope she thinks of using this as a meeting place—like I did." Mai pulled her bag onto her lap and yanked out her cell phone. There were no messages, no missed calls and no signs of Serenity on the useless piece of technology.
"Did you call Joey and let him know you lost his baby sister in the park?" Rebecca scowled. Turn about was fair play. Mai and Teá had been annoying her for quite awhile about Mokuba. Now they should annoy Mai about Serenity and Joey. "Speaking of Joey, how is the list for the bachelor party coming along?" Rebecca knew it was a sticking point for Mai—what better way to divert attention?
Mai's eyes were as wide as saucers. All talk of the blasted party had been specifically banned. She hated the idea and the concept. Joey belonged to her, would be her husband in a matter of no time, and yet this thing chilled her to the bone. Shaking her head slowly, Mai sighed.
"I feel a little better about it today," she feigned hopefulness. "Last night Kaiba agreed to attend the party. Serenity had quite a bit of convincing to do, but she managed. I may not trust some of the guys who will be going, but I trust Kaiba. He would love to get Joey in trouble—if the opportunity arose." She looked at Yugi who was softly rubbing Teá's shoulders. "It's not that I don't completely trust you Yugi, but I just have this bad feeling."
Bright eyes, lit with a warm smile, turned to Mai. "Joey loves you, there is no other woman on earth who could turn his head away from you. Besides," Yugi shrugged, "we're all going out to eat and then to shoot some pool. No clubs or hiring of singing telegrams, if you know what I mean."
Mai tried to smile, but couldn't. She knew how those damn parties went and something was tugging on her insides about the whole ordeal. Yugi was planning innocent things, Joey would be thrilled with them and hopefully—Kaiba would make sure it played out as Yugi hoped. However, hadn't things always managed to find a way to go astray? Maybe the night would come and go without a hitch, but a small part of her doubted it.
Seto Kaiba was sitting at his desk pouring over some useless paperwork when his secretary came tearing into his office. The poor thing was frantic, even though he had a scowl on his face. She knew better than to storm in like this. He had asked her, specifically, to make sure he wasn't disturbed. Though his workload was rather light, he wanted it all done by afternoon. He had promised Serenity some undivided attention at the gallery.
A sly smile appeared quickly, but then disappeared. She had been much calmer when he dropped her off last night, late last night. Groaning, he realized she had gotten him to agree to attend the Mutt's bachelor party.
Hell, the slip of a girl could convince him to do just about anything. When had she twisted him around her little finger so tightly? Then again, she didn't realize it—yet. He still had some ground to stand on. Once she figured it out…he was doomed.
"Mr. Kaiba!" His secretary was fairly screeching in his face now. Leaning across his desk, her hands planted on the edge while she lurched forward and yelled. She couldn't believe she was behaving this way, but Serenity was her friend, one of her dearest friends ever. "Serenity is on line one! She's at the police station! She's been arrested!" Realizing she was screaming at him, she stood back up and slapped a hand over her mouth. Her job was probably lost at this point. No way would he allow her to get away with bellowing—at him.
Looking puzzled for a few heartbeats, he managed to let her words sink in. Serenity was on line one? She was arrested?
"Please pick it up, she's very upset Sir." Her voice had been reduced to a pained whisper.
He lifted the phone off the receiver and could hear her breath on the other end.
"Serenity?" He asked, questioning, but with more concern than his secretary had heard before.
"Seto!" She cried into the phone. "Please hurry…they arrested me…Tristan chased me and then this guy grabbed me and…"
"Relax, I'm on my way." He hung up the phone, not needing her voice to get him anymore upset. As it was, he was ready to tear through the police station mangling any man who caused one of her tears to fall.
Kaiba frowned, as he grabbed his cell and began dialing.
"Have my limo meet me in front of the building," he snapped at the wide eyes of the girl who set this particular scene in motion.
He listened as the phone rang twice before it was answered.
"Just what the hell do you think you're doing?" Kaiba growled in a menacing tone to the man who had simply uttered 'Detective Nash'.
Their meeting yesterday annoyed him to no end. The incompetent detective had explained how Tristan Taylor had been freed. Even though Tristan's father had been sacrificed to the corrections system—it was still cold comfort. The apple never fell far from the tree.
"Explain why Serenity Wheeler was arrested…start talking…now…" This was insane, what the hell was she doing down there and where was her worthless bodyguard? He had made sure she was covered ever since he had heard about Tristan being let off the hook. If she was at the precinct something had gone terribly wrong.
"Serenity Wheeler?" The detective stammered the name out. He quickly searched his desk and then looked towards the large room outside his office, crowded with desks and people bustling about. "Who is this?"
A soft chuckle, "This is your worst nightmare if one hair is harmed on her head."
"S-S-Seto K-K-Kaiba?" The detective stood quickly and knocked over his coffee. He watched, helplessly, as the brown liquid sloshed all over important paperwork. Damn it. He vividly recalled the meeting with the man yesterday. He had tried to explain that it wasn't his choice—that the DA had cut a deal. He even went so far as to say the woman was insane, that Tristan should have been incarcerated, that the proof was all there. Unfortunately, Seto Kaiba had tuned him out after hearing Tristan had been set free. The language Kaiba had used after that point would have shocked most mothers…
"I would like to know where you came up with the audacity to arrest an innocent girl and let a kidnapper, as well as a murder accomplice, walk free." Kaiba strode through the lobby and out to his limo. Offering those who watched him, narrowed eyes and dangerous looks.
"Serenity Wheeler is here?" The detective could hardly wrap his mind around the words coming from Seto Kaiba.
"It's good to know the police are deaf and stupid as well as inept." He slammed the cell shut and entered his vehicle. The chauffer shut his door and slid behind the wheel. He started driving as soon as he was told they were heading to the eighth precinct.
There was no time to waste as Kaiba dialed the number of his personal attorney.
"It's time to earn your padded paycheck. Get your collective legal jargon down to the eighth precinct and start working on freeing my fiancé." He wondered, as they drove, if he should call the Mutt and company. Closing his eyes tightly, he decided against it. He would bring her to her brother once she was released. Having them all show up down there would be excessively chaotic. His absently rubbed his temples.
Serenity paced the holding cell, as she rubbed her hands with the paper napkin. She had been photographed, her things confiscated, and then there was the fingerprinting. Processing. It had been called processing—she had been thoroughly processed.
She let out a strangled giggle. Arrested. It hardly seemed reasonable or right. She felt for her necklace and then the ache, which ripped through her. The officer who took her camera, purse and cell had also stripped her of her prize possession. Damn the stupid necklace—her ring was gone.
Suddenly, she felt wrong and raw and lost. A sob escaped her, but she refused to let any tears fall. They would get no more than they had from her. Her fists continued to clench and unclench the paper towel as she paced the cell. Her eyes tried to keep from wandering over to the hookers and drunks who shared this small piece of hell with her. Tugging her skirt down, she walked to the bars and scanned the room. How the hell did this happen?
A door opened at the far end of the room. In walked a man, a person she didn't recognize. Slowly he walked, and then—when his eyes fell upon her—his pace picked up.
"Miss. Wheeler?" He asked in a gentle tone.
She nodded dumbly, and she wiped at her eyes with her palms. Thank God for small miracles, especially the one which meant there were no mirrors in jail. Heaven help her, she must look like something the cat dragged in—then discarded. She looked too awful to toy with.
"I'm Detective Nash." He leaned over the police officer's desk next to the cell. "Get her out of there." It was a harsh order.
Her heart lifted a little as she heard the keys enter the lock with erratic clanking. It was almost dungeon-like to her ears, despite it being rather soft. The door was opened and she walked, in a dream-like state, out into the processing room.
"If you'll come with me please." Detective Nash tried to smile at the girl.
"Hold it Detective," the cop smirked. "She has been arrested. If you plan on taking her anywhere you have to follow protocol."
Nash sighed and pulled out his cuffs. "I'm sorry Miss. Wheeler."
Like a beaten and broken spirit, she lifted her wrists for the cuffs. There was no fight left in her. How many years would she go to jail for? How long would this part of the humiliation last? Gently, Nash placed his hand on her lower back and led her across the room, out of this part of the precinct and into the cozier Detective offices.
Her eyes were downcast as a knot formed, low and tight, in her stomach. Would her picture turn up on some awful Internet site? Seto would be furious with her. Hell, maybe the police should simply return the ring to him. A CEO would never want to marry a felon.
"Please have a seat," Nash smiled at her and guided her to a comfortable leather chair in an enclosed office. "Can I get you something to drink?"
She nodded, not even realizing until that moment that she was thirsty.
"I was running and scared," she mumbled as she stared down at the handcuffs on her wrists. Her nails were in tatters, most of them broken now and a bit bloody. She remembered the police officer scrapping under her nails, for evidence, and cringed.
"It's not an excuse, not a good one. But, they wouldn't listen to why. I went through so much. No one seemed to care." Tears began forming in her eyes now. Slowly, tentatively, she accepted the cup of water. Taking a few swallows, she placed the cup on the desk.
"I pulled you out of the cell because I doubt you belong there. I know your history. I worked on the Taylor investigation. Heck, I arrested Taylor Senior." He watched as she looked up at him for the first time. He could understand why Seto Kaiba was so incensed with her being here. She was like a fragile porcelain angel. Black mascara, and other assorted colors, ran down her cheeks. Her hair was obviously knotted, and her clothes looked a bit mangled. However, she still appeared the picture of innocence. His head tilted slightly as he continued to regard her.
He remembered how she had infiltrated the Taylor compound and saved Seto Kaiba. Not single-handedly, but she had been brave enough to risk her life for him.
"Do you remember me?" He asked, gently. "I was there at the Kaiba mansion. The day you helped free Mr. Kaiba. You told me what had happened. I took your statement and helped gather physical evidence from you." He watched her cheeks flame a soft red, as she remembered. The questions were personal and so upsetting.
"We all thought you were very brave Miss. Wheeler. You risked a lot and you did a great service to Mr. Kaiba." His voice was soft, gentle—just like that afternoon.
She nodded slowly, looking up at him. "I don't recall much about that day—it was really awful. I do remember you and the other officers were all very nice to me."
He could hear the catch in her voice, she was close to crying.
"I would have thought Mr. Kaiba would have put a guard on you after yesterday." Nash explained as he circled his desk and sat in the chair opposite her. "I mean, I don't think he would have thought this would have happened so quickly, but still it was inevitable."
Serenity's head began to swim. What the heck was this man talking about? Inevitable? Quickly? Yesterday? The words made no sense to her already overloaded mind. Where was Seto? How long had it been since she was allowed her phone call? At first she thought of calling Joey, but then quickly her mind raced to Seto. He would be the one who could free her, hopefully without pain.
"What are you talking about?" Her confused tone sounded strange to her.
The buzz of the intercom caused her to jump. He smiled at her.
"One second," he explained as he answered the page.
"Mr. Seto Kaiba is here and he is demanding to see your prisoner." The voice was cold and distant.
Serenity nearly cried out loud. She was a prisoner. The world had gone mad; she was hardly what one would think of as a convict.
"Send him in."
In no time the door opened and Serenity turned. There he was, black suit, deep blue shirt and perfectly matched, designer, tie. Springing from her seat she raced to him, stopping short as his eyes narrowed on the cuffs.
Serenity noticed the look, and stopped in her tracks. There was nothing she could do to hide the metal bands on her delicate wrists, no jacket to throw over them, no innocent way to blow off their existence. Tears, which she would not allow to fall before, rained down over the smeared make-up on her cheeks. She knew he would remember this moment forever, the girl he once wanted to marry in manacles like a criminal. Then again, she was a criminal—committing a crime made her a criminal.
He frowned and looked over her shoulder. "Nash get these damn things off her, before I slap a lawsuit on your ass."
Slowly the detective came around the desk and unhooked the restraints. "It is protocol, Mr. Kaiba. I couldn't get her out of the holding cell without cuffing her."
Kaiba heard 'cell' and almost flipped out. His anger was practically out of control at that point.
After the cuffs were removed he noticed the red marks on her pale skin. Fingers that caressed her face tilted her chin up.
"Are you okay?" He asked in a tone he normally reserved for private moments.
Serenity nodded, as a hiccup escaped her.
Kaiba pulled her close and hugged her. At first she didn't respond, but then he felt her hands slip up his sides and wrap around his waist, under his jacket. The tears now fell quickly as she sobbed into his chest. He used gentle words as he stroked her hair, attempting to comfort her.
He nearly laughed out loud when his mind realized that he was getting very good at comforting her.
"They took my ring," she sobbed as he held her.
"We'll get it back." He soothed.
"It's mine Seto, I nearly…" another sobbed ripped through her before she could finish her thought.
"Are you through?" Kaiba growled, returning his attention to Nash. "I think you've done enough harm. I love how criminals are permitted to run free and innocents are arrested."
A woman in a designer suit walked into the office. "I took care of everything Mr. Kaiba. She's free to go, though she will have to appear before a judge on the charges at a later date. I'm afraid the man she assaulted is pressing charges."
Kaiba's chuckle caused everyone, including Serenity, to look at him as if he were insane. "You assaulted someone?" Blue eyes regarded Serenity's shocked face.
Her eyes opened wide as she nodded. "He grabbed me while I was running. I was almost to Kaiba Corp. and he pulled me and held me." She tugged away from Kaiba and pulled up her sleeves—showing him the bruises, which were now darkening to a purple color. "I told him to let me go, but he kept squeezing my arms and then he shook me."
Dexterous fingers slid over the offending marks. "He did this to you first?" Kaiba's breath came in quick bursts now. He would simply kill the man, problem solved.
"I asked him to let go, I was panicking, he wouldn't—so I hit him. Then the officer grabbed me and I was arrested." Serenity explained, to a very interested CEO and high power attorney.
"It sounds to me as if my client was assaulted first. Did anyone document the bruising on her arms?" The attorney asked in a clipped tone.
Nash flipped through the folder on his desk. "No."
"Please let her assailant know that we will slap a civil suit on him for damages to her person, as well as criminal charges. I think he must have recognized my client, and is going to attempt to extort monies. Please let him know we will spend ten times as much as a settlement would be, in order to ensure he doesn't receive a dime." The attorney whipped out a card and handed it to Detective Nash.
"It will be my pleasure," Nash smiled at her. "Bottom dwellers were never my fondest joy. He seems like a real piece of work too." Nash watched as Kaiba stripped off his jacket and placed it over Serenity's shoulders. "I'm really sorry about everything Miss. Wheeler. This was never my intention, and had I known sooner…"
Serenity smiled at him. "It's okay, I don't consider you a bad guy—just someone doing his job. Now, if you don't mind, I really want to get out of here and cleaned up."
The attorney came forward and handed Serenity an envelope. "Your personal effects."
Serenity pulled away from Seto and emptied the contents onto the small table in the room. There was her necklace, and ring floating on it. Her heart leapt into her throat, it was as if she were seeing it for the first time. She pulled it over her head and slipped the ring under her shirt to rest against her skin. Her hand pressed against it, and she sighed feeling a sense of peace rush through her. Turning, she noticed Seto watching her.
Without another word he helped her gather her things and escorted her to the waiting limo, parked in the interior garage—far from the prying cameras.
"Do you think of our wedding at all?" Yugi asked Teá. "I mean, we've been engaged longer than Joey and Mai and yet…they're getting married and we still have no plans to."
Teá snuggled closer to him on the couch. Though it was true they had no plans set, her heart knew there was no other person in the world more perfect for her. She loved how he held her, comforted her and considered her an equal.
"I think about being your wife almost every other minute of the day," she shrugged as her arm wrapped around his waist. Blue eyes gazed at the precious diamond ring on her left ring finger. A finger on a hand that was closest to her heart. That was why the engagement ring was worn on the left, not the right, hand. It was closer to her heart.
"Then set a date, maybe Christmas? Though I would prefer Halloween." Yugi snickered as he snuggled her tighter in his arms.
"You know I always harass Serenity about wearing Kaiba's ring. Now I'm thinking about it and it seems she's wearing it exactly where it belongs—above her heart." Teá rested her left hand on Yugi's chest and sighed.
"You're changing the subject." Yugi smiled as she found a way to wind herself around him even tighter. "I want you to be my wife."
She pulled back a bit and looked into eyes that bore a resemblance to a sky right after sunset. The purples wrapping around the pupils in amazing hues that always made her breath catch. They had been engaged a little over a year now. Heck, Serenity hadn't even been living there when Yugi proposed and now here Serenity was, living in Domino and engaged to Seto Kaiba. It seemed that sometimes it did snow in hell.
"I don't want to steal Mai and Joey's spotlight. How about we have a small ceremony right after they come back from their honeymoon?" She leaned forward and pressed her lips to his.
Fingertips traced down her jaw line and slid up into her hair, stroking her scalp softly.
Teá pulled back and sighed. "I don't need the pomp and circumstance. Just you Yugi. I'll have the girls in simple dresses, the guys in plain suits and we can have it at that country inn we fell in love with. They have that amazing fireplace. Maybe it'll even snow. It can be totally romantic and…" she stopped rambling when she noticed he was chuckling. A frown crept across her features. "You want to marry me and yet you're laughing at my plans?"
He shook his head slowly no. "You're adorable when you dream, especially when you dream of marrying me."
She looked at him quizzically. "It won't be a dream much longer. Soon I'll be Mrs. Motou." Their fingers twined together, "I guess you've decided to make an honest woman out of me…" Her azure eyes danced with mischief.
"I've wanted to make an honest woman out of you for quite awhile now, you never wanted to be one." Yugi's fingers stroked down along her neck, to her throat and then to her chin—tilting it up so he could brush his lips on hers.
She pulled back. Her eyes were heavily lidded. "I don't care to be an honest woman at the moment Yugi…"
A sneaky smile tweaked at the corners of his lips. "I can take care of that urge—if you'll allow the man you'll marry to do that…"
Teá giggled as she rose from the couch. Pulling his hand gently, she led him to their bedroom. A promise had been shared and soon their wedding day would come.
"Do you think it will be this amazing once we're married?" She asked Yugi as he began undressing her—kissing every inch of her bare skin as it presented itself to him.
"It will always be amazing, but once you're my wife it will be mind-blowing." His warm breath gliding over her skin caused her to shiver. "Maybe I should warm you…"
He moved her to the bed and held up the blanket so she could slide between the sheets. Gently he moved in beside her, "Call the Inn in the morning, before you find something to change your mind."
Teá smiled as he kept his promised and warmed her to her toes.
A/N: Please review and let me know if you're enjoying. I do so love hearing from you guys! Feedback is so much fun! And I thank you all for the wonderful reviews so far.
The responses will disappear from here once they post to my profile page...
Blue Heartz: So glad you enjoyed it! I love Mokuba and Rebecca also. They are such fun to write! Hope you enjoyed this as well…no Tristan mentions for your sake…
Tawnykit: Sorry, it was a bit more than tiny I guess. But, in my mind it didn't seem large. Hope you liked Mokuba and Rebecca again. I am beginning to really enjoy them.
Setine: I am so tempted to use the Kaiba shot. It would shock everyone I think… Glad you liked.
Love-in-the-dark407: I love evil cliffies! If you know me you must know that! It gets people annoyed, but it also keeps up interest and I love to hear guesses.
Lilxangelxsweetz: I don't like him either… Glad I make you wonder, suspense is something I try to stir up.
KishxIchigo and RxY and SxS Forever: I don't think you have to ever have to worry about a rape—not from this authoress anyways. I'm sure you didn't die…and isn't suspense great?
ChaoticPhoenix27: I agree, cliffies keep it interesting. Glad you liked the chapter—I wanted it to be a bit suspenseful.
Komo Pineconeseed: I realize how big it is now…when you plot you never realize how big it is. Thanks, I try to do well in college—even when it annoys me to tears…
SetoxSerenity4ever: Glad you think everything is back. I wanted to jump right in there and get things started. We need Tristan in the story—he makes things interesting…
Gekkou Hana: So glad you loved that scene. How can an angst queen turn mushy? That's really amusing. Hopefully you liked this chapter as a resolution to the cliffie. I did try to make it fun…
XxRoseGoddessxx: Life being insane is so annoying—isn't it? Did you add me? That's so sweet! Go right ahead, I'm glad you did.
SenayDalig: I try to make things as intriguing as possible. He had to encourage her in a Kaiba way. If he flattered and fawned it would have been too annoyingly fake. Joey and Kaiba will probably always have a rivalry going. It makes things fun. Mai and Joey have a few hurdles, but nothing too major. Just some jitters…
Mokuba is a Kaiba—so he will be very persistent.
As for the press, they are very good at printing things that aren't true. It would sell more papers if they lied and said it was Seto and Serenity's wedding.
I think chapter 3 answered your next questions… and I hope you enjoyed it as well.
Serenity Kou: Tristan will give an interesting twist, he has to be in this story. It would be so boring without him lurking. Glad you liked the chapter. Ihope this chapter turned out to your liking. And I do adore writing a mature Mokuba…
Silver Fantasy: Mai hates the idea of the party, she just can't forbid it—or else there would be even more problems. She will have a bachlorette party as well. Glad you liked the chapter! Your review did give me an ego boost—seriously! My life is always insane…especially with the wonderful hurricane we had. I swear it's always something. We aren't allowed, I suppose, that's why I post them on my profile page.
Rajalily: Glad you like Mokuba and Rebecca moments. I love writing them!
Streamstrider: You are too kind. I just try really hard, sometimes I succeed at putting out something good. Sometimes… Wow, so I have you looking at this genre as well? I'm glad I got you interested. My twisted version of suspense/romance/mystery…
Sharanika: Tristan will cause problems…it's what will make things interesting… Yes, the press did falsely report on her getting married. I love writing Mokuba x Rebecca stuff—I try to keep it real. The ideas flow at times…my own imagination. Other times I have to really dig, which is annoying….sigh…
Dreamcloud516: Yes, but I resolved the evil cliffie quickly… Wouldn't it have been worse if I kept you guessing? Then you could have thrown things at me… I think chapter 3 will make you happy with Seto—I hope…
Telecoi: Socrates is a lot more difficult to understand…at least to me. I tried to do it very soon, I hope you settle for very a lot of pages. Hurricane came and prep before and all kept me busy. I appreciate all your compliments! You made me feel way wonderful and I thank you for it…wholeheartedly!
Sarah: You found out this chapter…glad you liked it.
Darkhope: Thank you so much! I hope I can keep you interested even when you are no longer interested…does that even make sense? I hope so… Glad you enjoy it!
Kawaii Cherry: Glad you found it interesting. I love suspense, I hope I can keep you on your toes. Thank you…
DMG-0787: You know me and my cliffies! I tried not to make it be too long. But the chapter itself was very long, I think it's the longest chapter I've ever written!
I am soooo trying to build a convincing Mokuba. I figured him to have a very sarcastic way about him, but with no coldness that Seto wields. I hope I make him convincing. Yes, Tristan is an awesome character to hate. I couldn't have part 2 without him! I will try to keep up the good work…seriously try…
YukiVampyra: You know who had her now…or do you? Lol… Thanks for reviewing!
Unknown but friendly: I don't want to die…so I wrote lots of pages…
Better than ever? Hmmm thank you very much for that, I needed a pick-me-up…nothing but annoyances lately…I appreciate the compliment!
Invisible Johnny: Yeah, college is a bit tough, but you'll get the hang of it. Just complain a lot and whine like I do…
The action in this is going to be a lot quicker and a bit more intense. I have everything set up from the last chapter, so everyone is establish so I can get right into the story. I think chapter 3 should help you out quite a bit…answer a lot of your questions.
Mystic Dragon1691: I don't want you going insane! Can't have that… I had to write a sequel I love the story too much to let it go, and there is more to write…more trouble to be found…I assure you!