Chapter 17
Changes
Two months have passed and the two teenagers haven't exactly gotten closer nor farther apart.
Marik had become the symbol of the school's badboy and Keket?The beautiful and shy girl who could be quite popular if she only would speak up.
Today was Friday and the two hadn't seen each other since the high school dance which might I add went not so well.Even though they shared the same house,Keket was always busy and Marik was never there.
But today would be different.After nagging Bakura for who knows how long,Kekethad to findout where Marik worked.
School was dismissed for the summer and the students seemed to spill out of the glass doors like water from a hose.
Bakura and Keket walked together down the street were Bakura lived.
"Tell me!"
"No!"
"Tell me!"
"Why!"
"Just tell me!"
"Maybe not." He smirked at her pouty expression.He had to admit she was cute but not to the point where he wanted to date her.
Keket ran ahead of him and blocked his path with her lean figure.
"You're not going anywhere until you tell me."
The white-haired boy rustled his hair and sighed. "Fine he works over there." He pointed behind her.
Keket turned around only to see neighborhoods and avenues.She squinted a little.Still nothing.
Bakura took the opportunity,with his hands in his pockets,to lift her skirt up with his foot and steal a curious but playful peek underneath.
Keket felt the sudden breeze and turned around gripping her skirt.
"Bakura!Stop fooling around and tell me where he works."
He walked past her. "Sorry Keket, no can do."
"And why not?"
"Because Marik doesn't want you near him...for now."
"Why not?"
"Don't worry about it.Just go home."
"But Bakura!...this is my only chance to talk to him." She looked at the sidewalk momentarily. "And that's why I must see him!"
"No."
Keket latched onto Bakura's leg. "What the hell! Let go!"
"Either you tell me or everyone on this street will know whether you like boxers or briefs!"
"Okay!Okay!At the local cafe' on Kradall Avenue."
"At what time?"
" From 4:00p.m. to 11:00p.m." Bakura looked at his watch. "He should be there right now,so I'm pretty sure you can't miss him."
"Right,thanks."
"You're welcome but why do you all of a sudden want to talk to him?"
Keket twirled her hair with her fingers and looked at the ground mumbling. "I just miss him is all."
"Uh huh? Right.Well good luck."
"Why do you say that?"
"No reason.See ya." He walked off waving over his shoulder.
Keket chased down a bus heading near Marik's workplace and climbed aboard.
She sat next to an old woman with a basket of white roses.The woman smiled warmly.
"Good afternoon my child."
"Oh,good afternoon ma'am."
"You seem excited."
"I am." Keket looked at the basket of roses.They reminded her for some reason of Marik.She frowned.
"Is something the matter,dear?"
"Huh?Oh...no.Nothing is wrong.I'm just thinking."
"About what?"
"Well...it's nothing.Just guy troubles."
"Guy troubles?Well here's some advice.If he loves you for who you are, he'll wait for you."
"But that's the thing.I haven't seen him in so long."
"Maybe he's saving to show you something." She winked.
"Show me something?Yeah I know what he'll show me.The lower section of his body if you know what I mean."
"And do you know what it looks like?"
Keket choked on her saliva. "WHO ARE YOU,LADY!" She didn't mean to shout but her embrassment had taken over.
The bus jerked to a stop causing Keket to hit her head on the seat.
"This is my stop.Goodbye lady."
"Goodbye dear.And remember,true love can wait." She chuckled with a smile.
Keket stepped off the bus and walked down the sidewalk.
"Nikki's Nails,Samurai Sushi,...Nakami Cafe' ,sweet!" She pushed open the glass doors.
Inside the cafe,everything was black and blue with Leather and velvetdecoreverywhere.There was a stage where a man played the saxophone and candlelights on every table.
Keket walked up to the bar and sat on a stool in front a waiter.
"Um,excuse me."
The waiter turned around drying a glass.
"How may I help you?"
"Yeah,does a guy named Marik Ishtar work here?"
"Marik Ishtar...hm." The waiter tapped his chin. "Yeah,yeah he works here.He's cleaning tables over there in the corner."
She looked in the direction the waiter was pointing in. "Thank you."
There he was, Marik Ishtar.His sandy colored hair was longer and hung in his face.He was a lot taller than she remembered and even more attractive than before.
She watched him run his fingers through hair and sigh.When he finished wiping off the table,he placed the damp towel in a basket and relit a candle.
"Hello Marik."
He stopped what he was doing and looked behind him.Those piercing violet eyes of his burned into hers.She had forgotten how beautiful they were.
"What are you doing here?"
"I came to see you."
"Why?"
"I...I miss you."
Marik laughed sarcasticially. "Right.Very funny." He walked past her and behind the bar counter.
"I'm serious Marik.I haven't seen you anywhere.Not at home,not at school.Do you know how many people are talking about you?Are you even going to graduate?"
Marik stopped what he was doing. "Did you come all this way to nag me with ridiculous questions?"
"Marik,everyone misses you.Yugi misses you,Tea misses you,Tristan and Joey miss you."
"And I should care,why? I don't even like those people."
"Bakura and I miss you."
"Oooh.And that makes it better." Marik walked away and into the men's restroom with Keket in hot pursuit.
"Please,just listen to what I have to say."
"This is the men's room and unless you want to watch me piss I suggest you leave."
Keket stood in front the almost occupied urnial. "Then I'll watch you.I'll follow you everywhere you go until you tell me why you're never around anymore."
"Fine!You want to know why?Because I don't see why I should.There's nothing back there that's worth staying for."
"What about me?"
Marik chuckled. "You?The girl who complained everytime I tried to get close to you?"
"Yes." She mumbled.
Marik rolled his eyes and stepped out of the restroom with Keket.He'll just have to hold it.
"Marik?"
"What?"
"Do you even live with me anymore?"
"No."
"Then where do you live?"
"In an apartment."
"With who?"
"No one."
"What's the point of having an apartment when you already have a home!"
"I'm starting over again,Keket!"
"Starting over?But why?"
"Must you ask so many questions?" Marik pinned her against the counter and held her wrists in a gentle fashion.
"Marik."
He pressed his forehead again hers.
"I'll be fine.Just give me some space okay?"
Ishizu submerged herself in the hottub completly erasing the past few years.She sighed seeing pictures of her and Seto Kaiba on the bathroom counter.
"I wonder why Marikand Keket haven't found me yet?" She asked herself.
A glass of champagne caught her attention.A servant bowed to her.
"From Master Kaiba."
"Oh."
"He wishes to see you."
"Right now?"
"Yes ma'am."
"Tell him to wait."
"As you wish." The servant left the room to deliever the message.
Ishizu stared at the pink liquid.
"What am I doing?Why am I giving in so easily?Did Seto drug me?No!That's absolutly ridiculous!He would never do such a thing.Or would he?"
She looked back at the picture and lifted it up observing it.
"Hm..."
"Miss Ishtar has requested that you wait,Master Kaiba."
"Very well then.Lead her to the foyer when she is finished with her bath."
"Yes sir." The servant bowed and left the room.
Seto leaned back in his chair nipping one of his car keys.
Lust was starting to wash away and love was settling in.Finally!But where did that all come from in the first place?Ishizu was the most treasured thing in his life.He even told her that back when they were together.But now,he was sure she thought of their relationship differently.
The sound of a fake cough caused him to look up.It was her.
"Good afternoon,Seto." She was dressed in a long silky amberdress.He had picked it out for her.
"Good afternoon." He rose from leaning against the wall. "You look amazing."
Ishizu half laughed. "Of course you would say that." She turned her head.
"Please come with me." He offered her his arm.
"Where are we going?" She looked at him suspicously.
Seto whispered in her ear. "It's a secret.Just trust me."
"Trust you?You want me to trust you?"
"I know I have done things the displease you but-"
"Displease me?Seto you raped me.Do you know what that means?"
"Indeed I do and that's why I want to make it up to you."
She sighed. "Want to make it up to me..."
Seto grabbed her hand. "If you have enough guts to kiss me after what I did to you,then I believe you can trust me,Isis."
She blinked.
"Good.Now come." He led her outside and helped her into his brand new ivory Ford Mustang 2005 Convertible.The only American car truely loved.
They left the Kaiba mansion and drove down the neighborhood streets before hitting the main road.
"I heard about you on the radio a while back." Ishizu replied suddenly.
"Oh really?"
"Did you get that all cleared up?"
"Yes.Yes I did.But let's not worry about what's in the past.Let's talk about something more interesting.Like-" He smirked as his brown hair blew over his face.
"Like what Seto?"
He didn't answer just smiled.
"Seto,you're the most perverted man I ever met." She crossed her arms.
"Perverted...and handsome." He winked.
Ishizu couldn't keep a straight face for some reason.So shechuckled and soon enough the two were laughing all the way to the restuarant where they first met.But of course,Ishizu didn't know this.