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An Old-Fashioned Call

Seto Kaiba sat still and straight in the back seat of the limo, his hands folded on his briefcase. He stared straight ahead at the smoked window that separated the passengers from the driver. He felt like there was nothing, really, for him to think about. He felt the way he did when he threw the card to save Téa. He was a shark—focused on his goal, with no thoughts of how or what.

When the limo pulled up at Téa's apartment complex, he smoothly exited and strode up the walkway. He skimmed the directory for Gardner and keyed in the number.

The woman who answered had a merry and strong voice, with no shrill bite. "Hello, Gardners! Who's there?"

"My name is Kaiba," he responded. "I'm in your daughter's class." It occurred to him that he had ejaculated on this woman's daughter's belly. He had pushed his finger inside this woman's child. He felt a wrench in his gut that was disturbingly similar to what he felt on that hot day with Mrs. Prosser's hose.

Did she tell?

"Kaiba?" The woman asked. "As in Seto Kaiba?" The woman's voice pitched higher.

"Yes. My name is Seto Kaiba."

"Well…Mr. Kaiba…Of course, come in!"

With an atonal buzz the door unlocked. Kaiba opened the door and stepped in. A woman with large blue eyes, soft features, and thick, shiny brown hair pulled back into a ponytail stepped quickly down the stairs to greet him. She was wearing casual slacks and a pink blouse. She looked a little different up close than what he had thought when he saw her at the recital. She looked younger and more willowy.

"Please forgive my appearance, Mr. Kaiba. This is unexpected, and…"

"Please don't call me that," Kaiba thought he sounded snappish, and quickly added, "You don't need to call me mister."

The woman looked up at him quizzically. "What should I call you, then?"

For the first time in his life, Kaiba wished he were shorter. He felt conspicuous and exposed as this woman, a full foot shorter than he was, gazed up at him.

"You can call me Seto." Gone was the singularity of purpose he had felt earlier. He had not rehearsed any specific conversation, and had certainly not planned to have this woman call him Seto. Who was the last person, besides Mokuba, to call him Seto? The Prossers? His parents?

"Oh, okay, Seto." Téa's mother smiled, but he could tell that calling him "Seto" was just as weird for her as hearing it was for him. "Follow me."

He followed her back up the stairs to the apartment. It was roomy enough, and comfortable. The furnishings were attractive and well placed. A fluffy little white dog ran up and sniffed his shoes. It had a tail unlike anything Kaiba had seen before—a thick white plume that looked like a horse's. Its fox legs were long and slender.

"Ivan! Don't bother him!"

Kaiba looked down into the dog's shiny black eyes. "I didn't know Gardner had a dog."

"Oh yes, he's a terrier, but we think he also has a touch of Maltese. He's six years old, actually."

Kaiba felt a wave of unaccountable tenderness toward the dog. He reached down to pet it. Its fur was silky. She probably brushes him every day, he thought. The little animal stared at Kaiba with an impenetrable expression on its tiny, clever face. It stood, tail still, tolerating Kaiba's awkward petting. Kaiba couldn't bear touching it anymore and stood back up.

"So, were you working on a school project with Téa this year? Are you here to discuss the grade? She didn't mention…"

"No. Is your husband home too?"

Mrs. Gardner was silent long enough for him to look up at her. Her face was surprised, and even frightened. He thought fast.

"This is kind of important," he said. "I need to talk to both of you."

She licked her lips. "Let me call him." She vanished to the back of the apartment.

Although he strained his ears, Kaiba heard nothing. The terrible thought of Téa walking in now, when he wasn't ready, when it wasn't the right time, gave his gut another wrench.

"How silly of me!" Mrs. Gardner swept back into the kitchen. Now there was a touch of shrillness to her voice. "I forgot to offer you a drink! What would you like?"

Kaiba found himself on guard, a natural state he eased into. "Just water." He remembered to add "thank you," in time.

"My husband's on his way," Mrs. Gardner continued. A cabinet door slammed. "Any second now. Do you want ice, Mr Kai—Seto?"

"A few cubes. And thank you."

"Is my daughter on drugs?"

Kaiba jerked his head up, his mouth agape. Mrs. Gardner was staring at him, her dark blue eyes naked in their desperation.

"Is she? Have you seen her since she's been at the Dance Academy?"

"Briefly, but she's not…"

"What about an eating disorder?"

"I haven't seen her, Mrs. Gardner, but I'm sure she doesn't." He felt proud of that response. It was steady and sincere.

"Then….I'm sorry, but, why are you here?" Mrs. Gardner's voice was a conspiratorial whisper. "I mean, I know my daughter is involved with games, but not to the extent that you would notice…" She shook her head. "I didn't mean it like that. It's just that I'm not exactly sure what we can give you…"

The door opened and closed. A wiry man with slightly disheveled hair came in, nervously wiping his glasses on his collared shirt. His black eyelashes were long and downy. He put his glasses back on and held out his hand toward Kaiba.

"Mr. Kaiba, it's an honor…"

"Don't." Mr. Gardner stopped in his tracks, his blue eyes widening.

"What I mean to say, Mr. Gardner, is that you don't have to call me Mr. Kaiba. You may call me Seto." That sick feeling returned. This man's daughter had been pinned beneath him. He, Kaiba, had pawed the bare breasts of Mr. Gardner's little girl.

"Why don't we sit down?" Mrs. Gardner suggested.

The couch was clean and comfortable, with deep cushions. Ivan jumped up on the couch next to Kaiba and stared at him with the same unreadable expression.

Kaiba decided to jump in. He took a sip of his water and looked at the Gardners, making sure to make eye contact with each of them. It was a trick he learned in business.

"I found out," he began, "through Yugi Moto, that Téa had been accepted to the Dance Academy, but had not received a scholarship. I took it upon myself to pay for your daughter's tuition.

"It was you!" Mrs. Gardner leaned back in her chair while Mr. Gardner leaned forward. Their eyes were wide and bright, almost childlike, and reminded Kaiba so much of their daughter. "Téa was thrilled. You can't even imagine!"

"I must request that you not tell your daughter it was I who paid for it."

Kaiba wanted to ask how Téa had reacted to the news. Had she been speechless and still, her eyes shining and her smile wide? Did she dance about the apartment, laughing? He wanted the Gardners to tell him more, and he couldn't ask. He also didn't want Téa to find out from anyone but himself.

"Whatever you wish," said Mr. Gardner, though he sounded perplexed.

"Your generosity is wonderful," Mrs. Gardner continued. She seemed a little teary-eyed in gratitude. This was a good sign. "What inspired you to give her such a gift?"

"She's very talented. Everyone knows that. I have seen her dance, and I didn't want to see that wasted," Kaiba took another sip of water. He stood up. He felt more comfortable standing during meetings.

"You see, I would like to court and possibly marry your daughter."

There. It was out. Bringing up marriage surprised even him. Still, he wasn't going to take it back. This is what Kisara wanted for him.

The Gardners stared at him for a disturbingly long time, their faces frozen, hers shocked, and his confused. He spoke first, and softly.

"Aren't you both a little young?"

"Owning my own company has made me mature quickly, Mr. Gardner. I have also been solely responsible for my younger brother's care for the past five years."

"Well, that makes sense, but I'm not sure if Téa is mature enough to be out on her own," Mr. Gardner responded.

"Forgive me for saying so, but perhaps you shouldn't underestimate your daughter's maturity. She is the caretaker of her friends, and has managed herself quite well as a female minority in a male dominated arena. As for being on her own, you obviously trust her enough to send her alone to a dance academy a city away for an entire summer."

"Well, we certainly have the utmost confidence in Téa, but it's not about just being financially stable, or being away from home for a few weeks at a time. You need to be emotionally mature, as well. At this age, neither of you can be certain about what you want just yet," Mrs. Gardner put in. "You are extremely impressive, and I don't doubt you take good care of your brother, but choosing a marriage partner might be a little too emotionally complex, even for a young man of your intelligence."

For a few moments Kaiba thought about what he had to say. "It might not be about marriage," he said. "We may decide not to. However, I am feeling rather strongly about taking your daughter for a wife." He realized he did. He could see himself so clearly with her, living in the mansion.

Mr. and Mrs. Gardner glanced at each other. Kaiba knew that they had shared the same thought. It was an almost miraculous thing to see. He had those moments with Mokuba, certainly, but seeing it between a man and a woman was fascinating.

"How well do you actually know our daughter, Mr. Kaiba?" Mr. Gardner asked, softly. He looked at Kaiba with gentle eyes.

Kaiba remembered his moments with Téa, how her body felt underneath his, her skin, her scent. He saw her looking at him with such sadness and pity in the closet, and out in the hallway after their encounter in the girl's restroom, even when he knew in those moments she hated him, as she should. He thought of how she stood in front of him to keep him from leaving the group in Noa's cyber world, her arms outstretched as if to embrace him, after all he had done. She had helped Mokuba escape Marik's clutches. Yes, Mokuba needed her. That was a thought to file away for future use.

"I know she is compassionate," he responded. "She is extremely warm, and very kindhearted."

"That is true." Mrs. Gardner said, leaning forward so she was in line with her husband, "but when you referred to my daughter earlier, you called her 'Gardner.' And you didn't even know she had a dog."

"Oh that," said Kaiba, thinking fast. "That's a terrible habit I picked up doing business. In business, first names are not used, I'm afraid. It's always a little impersonal."

"Our daughter won't want to see her marriage as a business. She's rather romantic."

"My relationship with your daughter will be based on an equal partnership, Mr. and Mrs. Gardner. In that sense it will be like a business. I respect her. I respect Téa," he said vehemently, as if saying it strongly enough will erase any thought that he had ever harmed their daughter out of their minds.

The Gardners were silent for a bit, gazing at him. It made him think of times he had seen other children cry, and the adult in charge wanted to help, but didn't know what to do. Mr. Gardner spoke first.

"Mr. Kaiba," he said, forsaking Kaiba's instructions. "Since you are a man of business, I will address you in a business-like way. Though what you did was very generous for our daughter, and we are grateful, I'm afraid we can't think of any other time when you were as kind. Now, I am in public relations, so I know about business, and I know that things must be done. It's survival of the fittest. However, the stories I've heard about you make me wonder about how you would treat our daughter, if you'll pardon my frankness. Please tell me where I'm wrong."

Kaiba realized his mouth was open. He shut it quickly. He thought of Kisara. Please, he thought. Please.

"A good businessman," he said, "knows to leave his business self in his office, where it belongs. My stepfather did not know this, so he was not a good businessman. It drove him mad at the end, as I'm sure you know." He felt a little triumphant. If they were going to point out elephants in the room, he would find bigger ones. "I am mature enough to acknowledge my own youth, Mr. Gardner. Any cutthroat business dealings I have done were committed under the mistaken notion that my stepfather was a good businessman, and a person to emulate. I no longer operate under such delusions."

Mr. Gardner did not look away. "Téa has told us that you are a bit of a bully."

Kaiba thought about what he said in the classroom that day, before he saw Téa with Wheeler in the hallway. He decided to lie. "Never to her. I let myself be my own age when playing games. It probably doesn't make sense to a girl, but that's how males my age are. We insult our opponents. I have received as well as given."

Mr. Gardner stood up and walked toward where Kaiba was standing. He stopped. They were almost nose- to -nose.

"I must say I'm not sure whether you're asking me for permission to marry my daughter, or simply informing me that you are. Asking for a daughter's hand is uncommon today, and if that's your intention, I must say I am rather touched. However, if you are simply telling me that you are going to marry my daughter, I have to say something. My daughter is a very young girl, from a middle class family. She is innocent and naïve, and those are things I can guess you are not."

"Rob," Mrs. Gardner said from the couch.

"I have a duty to protect my daughter, Mr. Kaiba. I don't know you except from newspaper articles and TV segments. So you can understand that I am reluctant to let my daughter marry into a life that is, you must admit, abnormal for a teenager to live. I don't want her to be tabloid fodder, and I don't want her to be your arm candy. "

Kaiba was stunned.

"I am not a pimp, Mr. Kaiba. I'm not going to hand my daughter off to you with no questions just because you are wealthy."

Kaiba bit his tongue. He felt his face heat up. This man was keeping him from his salvation, but at the same time, he felt a great respect for him. He had thought that he, at a point, respected Gozaburu. Now he realized he never really had. It was for this man, this middle-class P.R. guy living in an apartment complex, that Seto Kaiba felt his first feelings of genuine respect and honor.

Both Gardners were staring at him.

"Do you honestly think I want arm candy?" He finally replied. "I am in a position to help your daughter make her dreams come true. Do you see?" He raised his hands out, spreading them. "Have you ever heard of me behaving badly toward women? Of course you haven't." A gush of bile shot up his throat, but he swallowed it back down. "That is because I never have, Mr. Gardner. I've never even had a girlfriend." He took a sip of his water. "Do you really want to know why I feel so strongly toward your daughter, Mr. and Mrs. Gardner? Why I want her to be happy? Because she helped save my little brother's life."

That shut them up and got them thinking. Mr. Gardner actually took a step back in surprise.

"My little brother, because he is my little brother, is in frequent danger of being kidnapped for ransom. One day, when my guards were lax, Mokuba was approached by a would-be kidnapper. Just as he was about to be overpowered, Téa stepped in and stopped it."

Mrs. Gardner's eyes were starry. "Téa rescued your brother?"

"Jesus," Mr. Gardner whispered, rubbing his face. "This just keeps getting more and more surreal."

"She did, Mrs. Gardner. And I want to repay her. Both my brother and I feel an intense loyalty toward her. I certainly know how surreal this is, Mr. and Mrs. Gardner. I certainly never thought I'd be in this position, talking to you. But it is real. Téa really rescued my brother, and we both want to do what we can for her."

"Oh my God," Mrs. Gardner folded her hands under her chin. "She could have been killed."

"I am well aware of that, Mrs. Gardner. Not even paying for ballet school can repay the debt I have to your daughter."

"What if she doesn't want to marry you?" Mr. Gardner said. "You can't make her want to marry you if she doesn't want to, or doesn't feel she's ready. You'd both be miserable."

This was the possibility that terrified Kaiba most. He could stand the rejection of her parents. He could stand the rejection of her friends. He was dreading the day when she might reject him.

"I'll give her time," he said. It pained him to say it. "We'll get to know each other better." He paused and breathed. If this was to be his penance, so be it. "Then she can make a decision."

Mr. Gardner sat back down. Mrs. Gardner looked from one to the other. "That's the right thing to do," she said. "She's very busy with the academy now, but when she comes back in August, you may come take her out, on group dates, to public places, that sort of thing."

Kaiba groaned inwardly. Hearing "group dates" reminded him of the next step he had to take.

"Perhaps you may have even moved on," said Mr. Gardner. There was no sarcasm; he was stating a fact. "It'll be a month. It's not uncommon for things to change in that short time."

Kaiba picked up his briefcase. "I thank you for speaking with me," he said. "But don't count on me losing interest."

It wasn't until he was back in the limo that his knees started to wobble and his hands started to tremble, and he noticed how hard his heart was beating, and all he could do was stare at his hands in wonder.