And so went... my first cliff-hanger! Ooh, it feels so good to be evil! So just who was the person who showed up in Mai's life? (And if anyone wants to know, the tanned girls were ganguros. They're tan girls with dyed hair who usually wear body glitter, tons of makeup, trendy clothes and platforms. A-ha, and so goes my cliff-hanger within a cliff-hanger! ...Wait, does that even make sense?) The answer lies in this chapter, so without further delay, here it is!
Well, of course there is the--
Disclaimer- I don't own Yu-Gi-Oh!
"Around," he answered with a teasing grin.
With a charming smile from ear to ear, Mokuba could give the elder Kaiba a run for his money. (Again, what a laugh.) In all honesty, the kid hadn't changed at all, not in spirit. He was still spunky and good-natured, two traits Mai would've wished Kaiba had possessed if she still cared about him, which she didn't. His friendly gray-blue eyes twinkled with happiness in a strong tanned face. But many things had changed, namely his aura. Pairing the vibes he gave off with his new deeper voice, Mokuba was more manly now, which pulled even more girls' eyes to him. Also, he had gotten his hair cut in a style similar to his brother's. It looked good on him actually, along with the suit he was in. Mai was glad he looked nice, but she couldn't help thinking the kid should just be a kid. Stupid brother, she thought.
"Around?" With a smirk, Mai crossed her legs. "That's not a good response."
"You asked me, ah, what were your exact words...? 'Where the hell have you been?' And I answered your question."
"I know where you've been. Back from a business trip I see. How was that?"
"Well..." Suddenly, Mokuba became very shy, looking at the marble floor with a blushing face. He was no longer smiling; in fact he looked sad and grave all at once. Mai wondered what was wrong. "A problem--well, several problems cropped up, but I took care of things," he responded quietly.
Woah. I guess I should change the subject. With a pout, Mai cried, "You cut your hair." and pulled on his ear. "If I listen closely, I can hear the sobs of many fangirls."
Mokuba brightened up right away to Mai's relief. He tilted his head back and laughed. "Yup. It gets so bad when there's all this hair on your neck and it's summer though! Maybe you should cut your hair too, Kujaku-san."
"No way, kiddo. Ah, but don't call me Kujaku-san. Mai is fine."
"Kiddo?! I'm not a kid anymore!" he said in mock annoyance.
"You're fifteen, kiddo. That's hardly an adult."
He peered over her shoulder. "Whatcha eatin'?" he asked.
Mai looked down disdainfully at her barely-touched scone. "Crap. I want to eat something good but--" Then she stopped herself. No way would she involve her ex-boyfriend's brother in this. She wouldn't be the one who told him that she broke up with Kaiba, had stormed out of his penthouse and was now looking for a place to live. It would be too much. Mokuba had been thrilled when his stoic older brother had found someone to love other than himself, his job, Duel Monsters, and his younger brother. He had also supported their relationship when others had some choice words for the couple and he'd even defended them. To tell Mokuba that it was over just like that... Let his brother deal with it, she decided even though the decision made her feel just as crappy as her stupid cranberry scone. He'll probably blame it all on me. That's fine. I really don't care.
But it was more than that. Mai knew that she would have to stop talking to Mokuba soon. Kaiba would undoubtedly object to it and even if Mokuba did want to talk to her after he found out, she knew she'd feel guilty. This could be the last time she ever saw him. She felt a sad smile tug at her lips. He had immediately brought her spirits up, but now yanked them down, although that wasn't entirely his fault. Truth be told, Mai was fond of the precocious kid. He was very bright as well as sweet.
"Hey, why don't we go to a café or something? That scone doesn't look so good; it smells bad too." He scrunched up his nose even though he'd never even tasted it in a way that made her chuckle. "We'll get some breakfast. Oh, I know!" He perked up even more. "I'll call Seto so he can come join us! I'm sure you miss him a lot and I miss him too!"
"Wait!" Mai cried when he reached for his cell phone. Alarmed at her alarmed expression, Mai let her hand drop. "I mean your brother's probably busy with work and we shouldn't--I mean I shouldn't bother him..."
"Busy?" Mokuba gave her a dubious look. "No way! He can make time for us, no matter how busy he is." She felt the hammer of defeat slam over her heart as he continued, "He always has time for his girlfriend and his brother! Especially you, Kujaku-san!" He grinned as he gushed, "I really can tell that you've changed him. He's so much more happier now and he smiles more. He even laughs! It's all because of you. Thank you so much." Earnestly, the kid took one of her trembling hands and peered into her eyes. "He loves you and you love him and... I love you too. Don't tell Seto because it's a bit embarrassing but, ah... I consider you two like... my parents. I know, Mom and Dad are my real parents and I love them very much even though I don't remember Mom well... But maybe that's why you're like... a mother to me. You're my mother and my sister. Kujaku-san?"
By this time, Mai couldn't hold herself in. She was crying for all of them: for Mokuba, for herself and for Kaiba, amazingly enough. That asshole is lucky to have such an amazing brother. And Mokuba was right: Kaiba used to be so frozen. Actually, when they first formally spoke to each other, they were the reflection of each other. Both of them were so independent, so cocky, calculating and cold. Kaiba had pissed Mai off at first until she knew what that callous, scathing act was concealing: a heart full of pain.
"You really... mean that?" Mai asked between sobs. She squeezed her eyes shut. Mokuba gave her a hug.
"Please don't cry, Kujaku-san. And yes, I meant every word."
"You're gonna make a girl very happy someday, y'know that?" Tightening her arms around his shoulders, she whispered, "You made me happy. Very happy. Thank you." I can't be in his life anymore. Not as his mother, not as his sister, and not even as his friend. Mokuba was friends with Yugi and the others at a time when Kaiba hated them, but this isn't the same. Because whenever I see him, I'll cry. So... it's better if we never see each other again. But dammit Kaiba, why did you have to push me away? You hurt all three of us because of that.
"C-Come on, Kujaku-san," he said, a tad embarrassed as she continued to weep. Whipping out a handkerchief, he continued, "You should only cry this much at your wedding." Which, of course, made Mai cry even harder. He looked around, a blush on his face, as the scene had caught the eye of everyone standing there. She didn't want to cause any more embarrassment to him, so she picked up her face, accepted his handkerchief and wiped away her tears.
"I'm sorry... I don't know what came over me, crying so damn much. You're too sweet, that's why. Be more of a bastard, then I won't cry as much." She was tempted to add, like your brother, but stopped herself just in time. After all, Mokuba was naive and he had deep respect for his older brother. Why shatter the illusion now?
Mokuba was about to say something, but he was busy scrutinizing a part of her face. Mai noticed this very quickly and was about to ask what was so interesting when he broke into a chuckle that matured into a laugh.
"Okay, what the hell's so funny?" she asked, half-joking, half-offended. "Is it my face? It's my face, isn't it. What, crying so much made my face red or something? Or was it how corny I was? It is that, isn't it?! Well, you're way cornier!"
"Mai-chan... Snot's coming out your nose!" Mokuba laughed.
Finally, Mai broke out into a smile and joined in the laughter. But, still self-conscious, she covered her nose with her hand, trying to discreetly look in her suitcase for some tissues.
"Use my handkerchief. It's new," he giggled, offering said object to her from his breastpocket.
"Thank you," she muttered, blowing her nose in the middle of the white fabric.
"What do you say we get out of here. And I'm hungry!" Holding out a hand expectantly, he smiled. "Let's go."
Offering him her free, more sanitary hand, Mai and Mokuba walked over to the café right behind them.
"What do you want to order, Kujaku-san?"
Mai looked up from her menu at the boy sitting across from her. Smiling but seeming to be a bit more cautious around her (and Mai could see why, what with the crying scene she'd pulled), Mokuba averted his eyes once hers met his own. "I think I'll have an omelette," he explained, "and some orange juice."
"Call me Mai-chan again," she complained teasingly. "I think it's cute."
"But you're older! I just can't call you Mai-chan, Kujaku-san!"
Mai leaned forward and rumpled his hair. His eyes were squeezed shut with the motion; he probably didn't like it that much. "Then call me Mai-chan just for today. And I'm paying, squirt."
"Hey, I'm not a squirt!" he proclaimed passionately with a red face.
With feigned surprise, she said, "Really? Then you're a kiddo? Yeah, now that I think about it, you really are a kiddo, huh."
"I'm neither, okay Kujaku?" Mai was just playing around and Mokuba was a polite kid, but even she could see through her mirth that she was really pissing him off.
"Hey, I'm sorry, ki-- I mean, Mokuba. I didn't mean anything by it, honest."
"No. I'm sorry, Mai-chan," he said with a smile, signifying that she was forgiven, as well as the discarded formality. "I shouldn't have yelled at you. You're the adult, not me."
"But you are, Mokuba, you know that?" Mai leaned forward earnestly. "You've gotten more mature and taller too. And good-looking and--"
"Okay, okay!" he laughed. "I get it. And you don't believe all that stuff, so you can stop now."
"I'm being serious," Mai insisted. At his dubious look, she said, "I am!"
"Well, have you decided yet? And I'm paying."
"Mokuba..."
"No, really, I don't mind. It's my treat. Now you can't say no, can you?"
"Whatever makes you happy, I guess," she replied doubtfully as she scanned the laminated menu. In truth, Mai wasn't all that hungry. Her stomach was hurting a little too. She simply discarded the matter as cramps and proceeded with her selection. After all, she wasn't about to insult her host. "I'll have a lemon poppy seed muffin and a coffee." It seemed fair. Although the café was ritzy and the food items were priced somewhat expensively, the muffins were the cheapest thing on the menu. As for the coffee, she would get a small. She didn't want to impose on her young companion.
Mokuba gaped at her incredulously. "That's it?" he demanded. "That's not enough. Order something else. You don't want any eggs?" At her shaking head: "Any toast?" Another wordless refusal. "What about some bacon? Chocolate-chip pancakes?!" When Mai shook her head again, he exclaimed, "Wow! Chocolate-chip pancakes are good, especially the ones here and you're just turning that down, huh."
"A woman's gotta keep her figure," Mai offered in the way of an excuse.
"If you insist. But I'm gonna order the pancakes and you have to take a bite," he offered in the way of a compromise.
"Deal," she accepted as the tall handsome waiter came over to their table and asked for their order. Mokuba ordered for both of them as Mai lost herself in her thoughts, namely her suitcase. She looked down at the bulky luggage by her shin. Thankfully Mokuba hadn't asked about it but she knew he had noticed--how could he not? If she wanted to keep up the charade that she and Kaiba were as happy as could be, she had to think up an excuse, and fast. But there was no danger of being found out. Lying was and had always been Mai's strong suit.
Especially when it came to lying to herself.
But those were little white lies, lies that didn't harm anyone...
"You doing good, Mai-chan?" Mokuba chirped, catching her off guard.
"Oh, yeah," she replied with a nod and a smile that was too wide. "I'm doing just fine."
...except herself.
"I see you have a bag with you." Mokuba peered down at it. "And you were saying something about leaving the country...?"
"Oh, no!" she exclaimed, waving her hands as if to blur the assumption. "Well, I thought about taking a little vacation, but I'd miss my Seto too much." She almost choked on the lie, but somehow injected a squeal of affection when her mouth tasted Seto's name. Just saying it made her want to hurl.
Mokuba titled his head to one side, peering at her in the dissecting way a psychiatrist might. Mai wanted to laugh at the comparison. Perhaps she did need a psychiatrist; she was having enough problems to enlist the help of one. But she wouldn't toss the role to Mokuba. There was no way in hell she would make him the bellboy for her emotional baggage.
"Are you sure? Because you look a little... upset... And kinda sick, now that I think about it."
Sick? Mai felt her forehead. Yeah, she was a little warm, but so what? "Sick? Upset?" Mai threw out a nervous, pretending-to-be-carefree laugh. "No way. I'm doing just fine."
"It's about Seto, isn't it." Without waiting for her response, he barreled on, "He did something stupid, didn't he?!" Mokuba looked down, pounding his fists on his legs. "No way. And I thought he was changing too. Well, I'll give him a piece of my mind--"
"Mokuba-kun!" No, this was not the way things were supposed to turn out. For Mokuba to chew out his brother on her behalf? No, she couldn't and wouldn't cause a rift between those two. She would never forgive herself if that happened. "Really, things are going fine. Yeah, things are a bit rocky, just a bit, but we'll work through it. It was all my fault; I can be such a bitch sometimes. Well, all the time. I was going to run off, but when I saw your face, I knew I couldn't go. I won't run away from my problems," she vowed fiercely. "Mai Kujaku doesn't quit, ever."
For the moment, that seemed to work. But there was still a bit of doubt in his face. "I'm not stupid," he said softly. "Something's going on. What if I talk to him? I won't yell at him, I just want to--"
"Ah, Mokuba-kun, don't you know? You're not supposed to get involved in lovers' quarrels. This is a problem between adults. I'm sorry to say it, but you'll just make things worse." At his deflated expression, Mai wanted to kick herself. Plus, her tone had turned hard and cold and she hadn't wanted to be cruel to Mokuba at all. But if she continued to be compassionate and patient with him, he'd just run off and scream at Kaiba for nothing. In that respect, they were both so damn stubborn... Mai enjoyed a bit of perseverance, but this kind of thick-headedness was too much. "Just stay out of it. Can you do that for me, Mokuba?"
Mokuba sighed, at last defeated. "Okay," he relented. "You promise you'll go home?"
Mai laughed, making her amethyst eyes sparkle. She leaned forward and rumpled his hair again. Mokuba was such a child sometimes. "I promise. I'm not leaving Japan, I thought I told you that." She smiled teasingly. "Such an audacious boy. Just listen to me and you'll be fine."
"Okay," he repeated. "But only for now. I'm still gonna do something about it later."
Now she was the one who had to sigh in defeat. She had been joking before, but now that she thought about it, Mokuba really was audacious. He just couldn't listen to authority. Ah, well. That was what it meant to be a rebellious teen. Shoving down boundaries, resisting rules, pawing at the truth even if it hurt... Sure, Mokuba meant well, but Mai was trying to help him. She just wished he could see that.
"Open wide!"
Mai snapped out of it. Their order had arrived and now Mokuba leaned forward with a forkful of pancakes with a smile as dazzling as a sunny day. His eyes sparkled like jewels above his nose, but they weren't nearly as hard. Rather, Mai could've sworn she saw a trace of tears creating a soft film over his irises. But then she blinked and the tears were gone. Must've been her imagination.
"E--Excuse me?"
"You promised me you'd take a bite! C'mon, eat a little! They're really good and they're even topped with whipped cream!"
Mai looked around to see if anyone was watching them. There weren't many people in the café. Just a group of businessmen and a guy in a funny-looking newsboy hat and a tan trench coat reading the newspaper.
"Forget your figure and eat!" he persisted.
Self-consciously, Mai leaned a little in her chair and ate the forkful of pancakes. The chocolate chips were half-melted and the batter was fluffy. It really was good.
The world needed more rebellious people, more people that walked around with their heads held high, unique from the black and white dullness of society, chock-full of audacity. So even though Mokuba's persistence bothered her somewhat, in the back of her mind she appreciated it.
She couldn't help feeling jealous however.
Everyone was so bold, so colorful.
Everyone except her.
Mokuba had offered to escort her home, but she waved away the offer, saying she had to run a tiny errand and dashed off before he could protest. Mai felt bad about ditching him, but there was no choice. She had to make her move, and fast.
Mai had long decided that imposing on any of her friends was impossible. Plus, that would make her feel like shit, like she was dependent on other people's kindness and she couldn't face that. So instead, Mai checked into a modest hotel: not too shabby and not too extravagant. It suited her, especially since she was trying to be conservative with her money.
Next of course went looking for a job. Mai felt deep shame at not having kept herself busy during the long months when Kaiba just ignored her. But her new mentality allowed none of that-- crying about the past. Instead, Mai riffled through a free newspaper and tore out the wanted ads that interested her. She didn't have a pen on her and she wouldn't steal the hotel pens. That was just too pathetic.
Once she got a job, Mai would have to find a place to live. She looked into that as well. Mai decided an apartment would suit her--her bachelorette pad, she had thought wryly. Rent would be relatively inexpensive, well compared to Tokyo's housing anyway, and for one person, an apartment was more than enough space. She thought she might get lonely all by herself but she shoved the pessimistic thought down. She would get used to it, just like she had gotten used to the more crappy conditions in her life, for a time anyway. Mai was an adapter and change no longer bothered her.
By the time Mai had dashed about here and there, trying to fix her life, the sun was going down. She went to a cheap Korean restaurant and ordered kimchi: her favorite. After scarfing the spicy cabbage down, she marched wearily to her hotel room--hopefully her home for only a short while--and fell onto the futon, too exhausted to even take a shower or brush her teeth. And anyway, her head hurt like a bitch and her forehead was roasting. Mai knew it was nasty, but fatigue overcame personal hygiene and the weary woman fell asleep. The first day of her new life had ended. Lying there, trying to fight off the sleepiness but losing horribly, Mai wondered how much more of this could she possibly take.