On to the reviews!
Sharon: Thanks...andI hope you start to write your sorrowful stroies.
Svakee2000: Thanks for putting up with me and my late updates!
Amme Moto: Thanks. Our testing is over...finally.
Peach: I thought I wrote as of whyTea wants to kill Serenity. I did. Well basically because Serenity testified against Tea and sent her off to jail for years.
xoxoJelly-Redxoxo: LOL...that would be veeeeeeeery paranoid of him.
Seto: Yes it would.
Me: Get out! This is my time to speak. You speak enough in the story.
Seto: ...
Me: Thats more like it!
Kristina: Father, daughter moments will come. Serenity is letting Kaiba get to bond with their daughter. Before she didn't but now she is because she realized she was hurting her daughter instead of protecting her.Why else would she agree to let her take up the offer to stay at the Kaiba Mansion?
Everyone Else: Thank you veeeeeeeeeeery much. I really appreciate your reviews. I would thanked you personally but thats a whole lot of reviews to type up and thank. Basically I'm lazy but I really do appreciate them! Thank you!
Nine Years
Chapter Sixteen: When friends became enemies
"Rise and shine dearie…" the maid said as she yanked open the blinds, letting the glory of the morning sun shine on Kari's face. She grumbled and tossed over her sheets, her back to the sun. The maid shook her head at her indolence and came over to her bed. "Come on now..." she said as she shook her gently by the shoulders.
"Just a few more minutes…" Kari grumbled. She kept her eyes closed tightly and pulled the covers over her even more, making her own little cocoon.
The maid sighed, evidently giving up. "Very well than…though I'm positive that your father wouldn't appreciate that"
The buzz that Kaiba had an unexpected daughter flowed through the mansion easily, thanks to the nosy staff Kaiba had.
But we all knew that it had to be spread around in some time right?
Kaiba made sure that that information would never leave the mansion grounds. And the staff knew to not go against it. He wasn't ready to reveal to the public that he had a daughter…yet.
Kari grunted something in response and dozed of once again.
Serenity's room…
She fumed as she strained her neck to see the mirror, but all the necessities of a bathroom were blocking her way. She hated her temporary height…it was impossible for her to do anything. She sighed, frustrated as she spit her toothpaste out.
After she was done she wheeled herself out the door and towards the elevator. Her legs might have been useless but by the time her leg was better, she would have a whole lot of upper body strength. She arrived downstairs and hoped the others were out of bed already, except Kaiba. As she passed the living room, she saw two officers and Kaiba conversing quietly. They looked towards her way.
"Ms. Wheeler…yes?" one asked.
Serenity nodded in return and the women motioned her to come in. Holding a sigh back, she entered the room. She didn't want to be interrogated now, or ever. Kaiba stood up and left and Serenity was grateful for that.
"Good morning. My name is Jane Morimoto and this is my partner David Morris" she introduced, her voice firm and serious. There was no cheer in it. They exchanged their greetings.
"How is the leg?" Morris asked. His tone was gentle and sincere. Serenity already concluded that Morris was the good cop and Morimoto was the bad cop. She rolled her eyes mentally; she had been watching too many cop shows.
"It's good…so far…" she muttered. She hated small talk but talked nonetheless.
"Alright…you got hit by a car and the person just left you there…yes?" Morimoto asked.
"Yeah, I guess so. I was unconscious when the person hit me so I didn't see him or her leave"
"Can you…in your words explain what happened?" Morris asked.
"I was crossing the street, I dropped my purse, I picked it up and was starting to walk again when the person just hit me, and then on I blacked out" Serenity stated simply. There really was no other way to state it.
"Uh huh…and did you manage to see the person who hit you? Maybe the car color, model…anything would help" Morimoto pushed.
"Nope. I didn't really pay attention. But I think the car was tan"
"Yes…Mr. Kaiba stated so. He also told us that it was a Honda" Morimoto stated plainly.
"Did you manage to see that face?" Morris questioned further, almost as desperate to get an answer as Morimoto.
"No…" Serenity said trying to ponder back of what happened.
"We've looked into your records and we found that you turned in someone who premeditated a murder for one of your friends…Tea Gardner" Morimoto stated as she took out a folder with her contents. She threw the picture across the table for Serenity to look at. But she didn't have to because she knew the person very well. "Ring any bells?"
"Yes" Serenity stated.
"She was a friend of yours…yes? A dear friend?" Morris asked gently.
Serenity nodded quietly.
Flashback…
"Hey Yug' is still up. I gotta talk to him about the project…" Joey said after seeing Yugi's game shop open. "Let's go."
Serenity yawned stretching a bit. "You go ahead, I wanna go home. I'm so tired…and full" she state patting her stomach for emphasis.
"Alright…I'll go walk with you and then I'll go"
Serenity shook her head, stopping him when he stepped forward. She hated being a burden to Joey after all he did. "Its okay…I'll go by myself"
"You're kidding. To think I'll let you walk alone…defenseless and vulnerable…"
"I'm not defenseless! I have pepper spray" she cut of sharply. She gave a small smile of reassurance.
"Don't fight me-"
"Don't fight me Joey. I could walk alone. I'm not a little kid anymore! Besides, our apartment isn't that far away, only about three or four blocks." With that she started walking off. Joey stood there, speechless. He sighed and shook his head, watching her go until she was completely out of sight.
Serenity looked around her surroundings. People still walked on by casually. Night had only begun so they were off scurrying back home. The next block she entered was bare but a man walking down the street, his head propped down and his hands stuffed in his pockets. A shiver run down her spine; she unconsciously dug her hand in her purse, leaving it there to hold the pepper spray. But the man walked on by, continuing his business.
She shook her head.
'I'm being so paranoid…like Joey'
She rolled her eyes and took her hand out. As she walked on by, the old run down building was looming over her by inches. She was greeted with it everyday, but at night, eerie vibes came out of there. She quickened her steps wanting to get away from there as soon as possible, but voices were heard.
Quiet, hushed, tones…familiar ones.
She swayed her head back and forth to catch glimpses of the people their, to see if she knew them.
She couldn't see anyone. But still…the voices were alerting her that she knew them. All she could make out of the conversation was that they were discussing a proposal of some sort.
She had a bad feeling about this.
She unconsciously started walking over to them, careful that she was quiet and stealthy. She stood behind a post, leaning against it. She made sure she was far away from them, but not too far away that she couldn't hear the conversation or see them. She got out her cell phone, having a feeling in her gut that this was bad. She decided to record the conversation and turn in them if this was anything bad; she wanted to be a good citizen. There was enough crime around her area and she really didn't want anymore.
When she saw who it was, confusion and curiosity stuck her.
'Tea?'
At once she wanted to stop recording and hear for herself. Tea was a good friend and person; she has no reason to create a crime. Although why here in the first place? She wanted to stop the recording but her fingers fell numb from doing so. It hung limply in her hand.
"Simple...you retrieve the millennium puzzle from little Yugi for me and I will give you the money you need for your trip to America and accessories come along with it" Pegasus said referring to the suitcase beside him.
"How did you know about-?"
"I heard from my faithful bunnies…"
Tea was silent from Serenity's view. Serenity was shocked that Tea even came here to talk about stealing something. Wasn't Yugi her friend?
'TEA tell him you won't do it! Tell him! It's not that hard. Say NO!' Serenity screamed silently. When Tea still hadn't responded, doubt filled her mind of if she would say no. Fear had struck Serenity's face.
'Tea…please say no…'
"Well..." he said eagerly.
"Why me?"
"Because you're the one who knows them very well and I know how much you want revenge on them. You may kill him if you want too."
"I want to kill him" she said quietly.
"I know" he said gaily.
Serenity gasped not really being able to hold it. She clapped a hand over her hand soon after, looking away from them, hoping they hadn't heard her. She cowered behind the post, hoping it would cover her.
'No Tea!'
She peered again at the two and her doubts were confirmed; she nodded.
"Excellent...you may start this week and you will get the money when you bring the puzzle to me. Give me a call..." he said handing me a small piece of paper which contained a phone number.
"No...Give me the money first. How am I to be sure that you don't fool me?"
"You will get the money...I never turn back on my word." Tea hesitated but then nodded. With that he left. Serenity dashed towards the exit too but almost gave herself away when Tea was less than three feet away from her. She squeaked almost but clapped her hand over her mouth once again.
'Thank god for this fog…' She thought when she saw Tea starting to walk the opposite way.
When she got home she breathed hard, thinking of the event that just happened. She flipped her phone open listening to the conversation once again…making sure that it wasn't just her imagination. But no…here it was.
Joey soon arrived and noticed the pale, worried face. He questioned her and she began her story.
"I can't believe dis…Tea? No it can't be" Joey said disbelieving her..
"That's how I felt too but after hearing this again…" she said holding up her phone in emphasis. "…it's true." She said softly.
"But she's friendship girl!" Joey protested.
"Not anymore…"
He sighed and looked at Serenity who was sitting down in an armchair, thinking.
"Well…what are we going to do?" Serenity asked.
"We…" he sighed pausing. "We…have to turn her in…"
"But…she's our friend"
"Was…" Joey corrected. He was frustrated, confused, and angry.
Serenity nodded in comply.
Flashback End…"She was a good friend…" Serenity corrected after remembering that night. "What's that got to do with anything? That was a long time ago"
"We suspect that it was her, especially from the fact that she just got out of prison the same day you had your accident" Morris stated.
Serenity was quiet as she absorbed the information. Morris had a good point. At first Tea had might've not looked like an assassin but after that night with Pegasus, Tea might've been anything. Tea showed her true colors that night.
Kitchen...
"Ren'?" Joey called out from the stairway. He quickly ran down the stairs of the kitchen, making Kaiba agitated. Each 'thump' he made with his oversized feet would make the vein on Kaiba's forehead jump. He closed his eyes and continued eating his breakfast. Mokuba was seated next to him.
"Morning Joey…" Mokuba greeted as he popped a spoonful of cereal in his mouth.
"Morning…Where's Serenity?" Joey questioned. "…and what's for breakfast?" he asked looking around the enormous kitchen.
"Anything you want. Our cooks are in a convention so you'll have to make your own breakfast. They'll be back tomorrow"
"Dang…where's the bowls?" he asked after searching all the cupboards.
"On the counter idiot" Kaiba grunted but Joey heard him clearly. Joey growled and decided to say something but went against it. He cocked his head towards the counter and took out the ceramic bowl.
He headed towards the table, milk, bowl, and spoon in hand. There he snatched the cereal that Kaiba was about to pour. Joey grinned as he poured it. Kaiba showed no emotion of anger; that would only provoke him but inside he was fuming with anger.
"Too bad…there ain't no more" he said. Now Kaiba was mad.
He narrowed his eyes and snatched the last muffin that Joey was about to get his hands on. He buttered it and took a bite out of it pompously. Joey did the same with his cereal. Each were having there own private glaring contest as well as I-have-this-and-you-don't. Mokuba shook his head.
"Bye..."
"Bye" Kaiba and Joey said in unison roughly. Soon after, everyone woke up and was seated across the large breakfast table. All were quiet, eating silently. Eleven people in his mansion. Half of them he didn't even know. It was…surreal. Only people he wanted were Kari…and Serenity. But no…family and co-workers had to butt in. Kaiba shook his head and said his goodbye to Kari.
"Good riddance…" Joey muttered. A sharp nudge was followed from Mai.
He headed towards the living of where he left his briefcase earlier of when those two annoying officers came in. The officers were gone and Serenity was still there, thinking deeply. She didn't seem to notice him as he passed by her.
"Hello…anyone there?" he said as he bent down to her level and waved his hand frantically. He knocked her forehead lightly.
She narrowed her eyes. "What!" she snapped. He was too close to her.
Too close.
She stared at his lips and blushed unconsciously. Kaiba saw the red hew and drew closer, teasing her, a teasing smirk acquiring him. However, heshowed no signs on his faceof kissing her.Her glare returned and she shoved his face back with one hand. He closed his eyes and chuckled against the soft hand.He kissed it. She pulled back, glaring furiously…as well as blushing furiously.
He stood to his full height and stared down at her. She looked away from him trying to hide her blush, crossing her arms. She fought with herself, angry as to why she was blushing.
He drew his platinum briefcase. "Bye" he said casually as if nothing happened.
A/n: I know, I know…not much of a Seto and Serenity moment but they'll be in parts in the upcoming chapters. Please review!