NOTE: Standings:
TEA:
Seto: 37
(Yugi: 10)
Noa: 2
SERENITY:
Mokuba: 26
Tristan: 1
I do believe that I am going to use this as the last chapter for voting. No more after this. The votes look pretty stable, if I do say so myself. So…if you're not looking for a SetoxTea or MokubaxSerenity, then VOTE, VOTE, VOTE, HARD!
PS: I think I might be upgrading this chapter (and there may be another chapter later, but this is only CHAPTERS, remember) to PG-13…just in case….
SO SORRY for the late update! I know my promise of "an update a month" but December was a REALLY BUSY MONTH! Let me recap: Exams…Christmas shopping…writing one heck of a Christmas one-shot (just felt I had to)…and vacation (where I was working on other stuff that HAD to come before fanfiction, capice?) Okies? I'm SO SORRY, as I've said, so please forgive, forget and read!
Disclaimer: I don't own Yu-Gi-Oh!
Chapter 14: Downtown
July 11
Duke woke up in a grumpy mood. He hadn't slept much last night, as he had been thinking so much on the arguments from last night. He was sure Serenity hated him now more than ever. He had absolutely no chance to hook up with her eventually. Duke groaned loudly. The best thing to do now was to apologize.
Slowly, he dragged himself out of bed and walked clumsily over to the door. He opened it and proceeded down towards Serenity's room. He knocked quietly. After all, she should be up by now. It was almost ten o' clock for crying out loud.
There was no answer. Duke frowned. He saw that he door was slightly ajar. He peered inside.
Serenity was gone.
Duke found this strange. Where would she be? He didn't hear any showers going from either end of the hall. Maybe she was down in the dining room…although he didn't hear any clanking of silverware and utensils. Might as well go check….
Duke walked downstairs and peered into the room. No Serenity….
He peeked out of the windows and doors to see if she was out on the beach. Each place was deserted. Everyone was still in bed….
Except….
Duke was walking back up the stairs, still pondering where the heck Serenity might be when he heard the front doors squeak open. He turned around and saw Tea peering into the rooms nearest her and creeping in.
"Well, good morning," Duke stated. Tea jumped severely. Her gaze traveled up the stairs.
"Goodness, Duke, do you have to scare me like that?"
"I was just saying good morning."
"Indeed you were," she stepped inside and closed the door.
"Morning beach walk again?" Duke inquired as she walked up the stairs.
"Something like that…" Tea replied.
"Do you have any idea where Serenity might be? I can't find her anywhere," Duke stated.
"No idea." This wasn't a complete lie. She knew they were in the nearest city, but she didn't know where there were in the city.
"Man…I'm starting to get worried about her…."
"Why are you looking for her anyway? I thought you were over her."
"I'm not over her. I just know that right now it's hopeless to try to hook up with her…since she did say that she only liked me as a friend."
"Ah," Tea replied.
They reached the second floor, and saw Noa peering out of his and Mokuba's room.
"Hey! You guys seen Mokuba anywhere?" Noa whispered.
"He's gone too?" Duke asked incredulously. Tea stayed quiet, though she knew she would have to break the ice once Joey and Seto awakened. They would demand to know where their siblings were.
"Who else is gone?"
"Serenity," Duke replied.
"Oooohhh…makes sense now," Noa looked away.
"Why?" Tea asked.
"No reason…it just does…" Noa lurked back into the room.
"That is one strange kid," Duke shook his head.
"He's not that strange," Tea scolded the dice master.
"Whatever. I'm off to the showers," he waved and headed back towards his room to collect his clothes.
"WHADDYA MEAN MA SISTA'S IN YOKOHAMA!" Joey screamed, completely ballistic at Tea after she had told him over a brunch.
"Serenity wanted some peace away from…well…you guys that were fighting with her yesterday…. Actually, the whole thing was Mokuba's idea. He wanted to take her to the city just so she could relax a bit-"
"YOU PUT TWO MID-AGED TEENS OUT IN THE MIDDLE OF YOKOHAMA! AND ONE OF THIS IS MY BROTHER!" it was Seto's turn to yell.
"I'm sure they are completely okay-"
Seto stood up from the table, "I swear, if my brother is hurt in ANY way, Gardner, I'll murder you!"
"Oh, that makes me fell good," Tea muttered.
Joey was still ranting on Serenity, "Tea! How could you put Serenity in this city alone?"
'"She's not alone! She has Mokuba with her-"
"Well, seeing dat Mok is related ta that doofus over der," he jerked a thumb back in Seto's direction (Seto, whom had just reddened intensely at the name), "she pretty much is alone!"
"Joey! Don't say stuff like that!" Tea retorted, "Mokuba's a good kid!"
It was Joey's turn to stand, "Yeah! Righ' up until he gets ta be alone wit' Serenity and pulls her into some drunken club and goes and-"
Seto grabbed Joey by the collar, "Don't you EVER speak about Mokuba that way!"
"Hey! I'm jus' speakin' the hard core truth 'ere!"
"Oh? And how would you know it's the truth? Have you pulled a stunt like that!"
"O' course not! Whaddya take me for, Kaiba!"
Everyone just watched the brawl and let it settle itself. Duke and Tristan were miserable about Serenity's disappearance; Yugi, Mai and Ryou were sipping their milk and juice and Tea was watching the two go back and forth insulting one another all on her account.
Yugi leaned over towards Tea, "I hope Mokuba and Serenity are having a better time than those two are."
"Amen," Tea replied.
"Oh!" Serenity cried, looking up at a store, "They don't have these places in Domino! Come on Mokuba, let's go in!"
"But…it's a clothes store," Mokuba frowned.
"Hey, you dragged me into a video game store, didn't you?"
"Yeah…."
"So I get to drag you in here! Come on!" Mokuba sighed and let himself be pulled in.
Serenity pulled him all over the store, picking out different clothes to look at or try on (for her, of course).
Sometimes, she would walk out of the dressing room with some wear on, asking Mokuba's opinion. He wasn't much help…saying that everything looked grand on her.
And he believed it too.
"Come on, Mokuba, you keep saying that everything I try on looks good. I know you're probably bored, but can't you at least give me an honest opinion?
Mokuba turned towards her, "I am giving you and honest opinion! Lord, Serenity, you look spectacular in everything!" it slipped out.
Serenity blinked, "You…really think that?"
It was Mokuba's turn to blink, and then go red in the face, "Well…yeah, sure…yeah…."
Serenity smiled, "Wow! That's so sweet!" she skipped back into the fitting rooms to put her own clothes back on.
Mokuba let his hand run down his face in an exhausted manner, "I can't believe I just told her that! Sure, it's the truth and all, but…I'm not supposed to tell her anything like that until…I'm ready! Yeah…we'll go with that…."
More clothes shopping continued after this. The two were passing through the young men's section, on their way to the other side of the store, when Serenity stopped.
"Oh wow!" Serenity jumped over to a rack and started digging through it. Mokuba was surprised by the action.
"Uh, Serenity…. You are aware that we're in the men's section, right?"
"Of course! I just found the most awesome thing! Here!" she took out a thin button up shirt with flames rising from the bottom. She put it up against Mokuba's torso, "Wow! It really does look handsome on you!"
"Ha-Ha-Ha-Handsome?" Mokuba stuttered.
"Well, yeah!" Serenity laughed. Actually, it's more of a "hot" than a "handsome," but I'm not about to say that aloud! "Go try it on! I really want to see how it looks on you."
"But…uh…I don't exactly do clothes shopping…unless Seto drags me along to find something that fits…. I really think this is unnecessary-"
"Aw, please?" Serenity cocked her head and pouted. Mokuba grit his teeth. This must be how he acted around Seto all the time to get something he wanted. It really was powerful….
"Oh, alright. But this is it. We're in these clothes stores for you, not me."
"Whatever. Just go try it on, and I'll promise I won't pick out anything more for you."
"Kay…" he looked at the shirt –which he dubbed not bad- and strolled over to a fitting room. Serenity waited outside, and tipped back on her feet. She had been waiting for five minutes already.
"Gosh…who long does it take a guy to put on one lousy shirt?" Serenity asked herself.
"Well sorry. I was looking it over."
Serenity turned around at the sudden voice.
And she tried her best not to gape.
He really did have the Kaiba looks!
Holy…I dunno, guacamole? Whatever…he's just…hot!
Serenity blinked. "Wow! See what I meant? It looks really, really good on you! I bet it'll attract a ton of girls back home."
Mokuba looked away, "Then I guess I had better put it back."
"Oh come on! I was joking!" she laughed. "Well…sort of. Anyway, there's only one thing that could make it better."
"And that is?" Mokuba quirked an eyebrow.
"Wait here a sec. I'll be right back," she winked and dashed off.
While waiting, Mokuba looked down his front. Well…if she likes it so much…maybe I really should buy it. Maybe…it'll attract her.
Serenity returned a few minutes later and put something in his hand.
"A guy necklace?" Mokuba muttered to himself. I s'ppose…they're usually worn with shirts like these….
"So…are you going to get it?" Serenity pestered.
Mokuba shrugged, "Why not?" He left to go change back.
Afterwards, they shifted through other parts of the mall that connected to the store. Serenity wanted to explore other clothes or jewelry places. During one of these excursions, Mokuba bought her a necklace with a gold chain and a pink colored lily attached to it.
Serenity thanked him (with a hug that he blushed over) and put it on immediately.
They also sifted through more electronic stores (Mokuba's choice). Mokuba was sifting over cameras that he thought he might buy for the trip, while Serenity was over in the camcorder section.
Mokuba found her and walked over, with his picked out camera in his hand.
"Ready to go?"
"Just a sec…. Which of these small ones would you get?" she asked.
"You're going to buy a video camera?"
"Yeah."
"Umm…Serenity, I hate to burst your bubble, but these things can get pretty expensive…. And with all that money you spent on clothes already-"
"Oh, cool down." She whipped out a credit card, "My mommy loves me. …As long as I don't go over five-hundred dollars: Japanese Express is all mine!" Mokuba smirked. She had planned it all.
Later, the two sat outside an ice cream café. Serenity was scooping out of her Chocolate Chip Cookie Dough Blizzard, and Mokuba was munching on his hot fudge sundae.
"Man…this has been great," Serenity looked over at Mokuba, "Thanks for taking me through Yokohoma."
"Ah, you're welcome. Really, it was Tea who brought us here-"
"But it was your idea. You wanted to help me get over some anger and relax. And for that: I thank you," she smiled sweetly at him.
Mokuba didn't say anything. He just looked away sheepishly. Serenity smiled. After they're little snack, the two decided just to walk through Yokohoma Park for a while, and take a rest from shopping. After all, in Yokohoma, the park was one of the recommended places to visit.
"It's beautiful here," Serenity said in awe, towing her shopping bags around. Mokuba looked over at her, "Sure is."
Serenity then veered over and sat down on a bench, "I know. I'm pretty out of shape, but I hate carrying these bags all around. If only I were sixteen…I could have a car to put these in…."
"Don't rush your life away," Mokuba sat down next to her.
"Oh, I know. But don't you ever get the that urge to know what's in store for you in the future? What job you'll get?"
"Where you'll live?"
"What you'll look like?"
"…Who you'll marry?"
Serenity stopped and looked over at him. Mokuba was looking down at the ground. Maybe it was just the rays of the setting sun on his face, but she swore she saw a tinge of red. Ah, it didn't matter.
"You know…I often wonder that a lot," Serenity whispered.
"It's always something weird to think about," Mokuba looked up at her.
"Yeah," Serenity nudged her head a bit forward.
"Serenity…?" Mokuba inquired, moving his own head slightly towards hers.
"Yes?"
"I…I-" he stopped, just inches from her face. His eyebrows screwed up in confusion, as he peered across her shoulders, "I swear I've seen those guys before."
"Huh?" Serenity turned around to look where he was looking. "Yeah…say, weren't they at the café?"
"And the electronics shop?"
"And the mall?"
Mokuba narrowed his eyes, "I'm calling Tea. I think we had better leave."
"You don't think they're…stalking us, do you?"
"I don't know, but we had best get moving." Mokuba whipped out his cell phone and tried to remember Tea's number. "Serenity? What was Tea's number again?"
"Forget the cell phone for now," Serenity urged, standing him up, "They're starting to walk over! I think they think you're calling the police or something!"
"Why would they be after us?" Mokuba asked, starting to walk, faster than normal, back the way they came.
"Well...we're just a couple of teens walking around alone? What else might sickos like that want? They could do anything to us!"
"But I swear I've seen one of those men before…and not just today…" Mokuba whispered back.
"Forget it…they're gaining. Just…Just run!" she stated, taking off. Mokuba followed after her.
"Where are we supposed to go?" Mokuba asked.
"I don't know! Anywhere where we can lose them!" Serenity replied. "Call Tea while you run! I'll lead you around!"
"Okay!" Mokuba took out his phone again, "What's the number?"
"Um…it was…uh…" Serenity couldn't think right with the tension. The two men had started running after them now. "It was… six, O, seven…."
"Six, zero, seven," Mokuba repeated, putting in the numbers.
"Um…two, I think?"
"You think!"
"I can't remember! I'm too tensed!"
"Alright, two! What next?"
"Uh, wait, through here!" Serenity pulled him over into an alley.
"That wasn't the best idea!" Mokuba replied, "For all we know, this could lead to a dead end!"
"No…look! There are two doors there. If we go through one of them before they show up, we have a fifty-fifty chance of loosing them inside!"
"And what if the doors are locked?"
"Don't be so pessimistic!" Serenity yelled back.
"Just give me the number!"
"Alright, but go through this door…here!" Serenity wrenched open the unlocked door and shoved them both inside.
There was a lock on the other side of the door, and they bolted it.
"Umm…Mokuba? Where are we?" Serenity asked.
Mokuba looked up at a neon sign in the vast room, crowded with people, "Umm…Yoko's Night Club and Bar. …Serenity, what the heck is Tea's number?"
Tea lounged on the lobby couch, reading a book she had brought along. Mai was reclined horizontally in one of the armchairs, reading a magazine. Yugi, Joey, Duke, Tristan and Ryou were on the floor, playing and watching Duel Monsters. Noa was quietly watching the television and Seto trying to relax on another couch: by means of napping or just lying there.
A sudden ring filled the air around them. Tea, recognizing the ring, took out her phone. "Hello? Tea speaking."
…
"Mokuba?" Seto's eyes shot open.
…
"You're ready to come back? …Quickly? Alright…. Where are you?"
…
…
Tea's eyebrows knitted together, "What? What are you doing there?"
Seto shot up from the couch and Joey stood as well. What was happening to their little siblings?
…
"What? I'll be right there." Tea hung up.
"Gardner, what's going on?" Seto inquired immediately.
"They just want to be picked up, that's all."
"Dat wasn't what da look on ya face said…or da words you were talkin'," Joey replied.
"I swear: they really just want to be picked up and brought back!" Tea ran up the stairs to her room to fetch a jacket and some sunglasses. She also grabbed Yugi's keys, which she had kept for the day, and raced downstairs, and out the door.
"She's not keeping this from me," Seto growled and dug for his keys in his pocket, "I'm following her."
"Oh, give it a rest, Kaiba!" Mai replied, "Tea's got it all under control!"
"Why should I trust her?" Seto snapped back. "She already proved sneaky once today."
"Fo' once, I agree wit' Kaiba. I'm goin' afta' her," Joey nodded. Seto rolled his eyes. Joey suddenly swiped the keys out of Seto's hand. "Come on, Moneybags!"
"Give me back my keys, mutt!" Seto ran after Joey, as the boy raced outside towards Seto's car.
"She says she'll be right here," Mokuba said to Serenity after getting off the phone.
"But it takes at least forty-five minutes!"
"We'll hang low during that time then. Just…keep to your belongings, and don't talk to anyone. We'll just…grab a table in the corner and sit there until Tea comes along."
"Okay…" Serenity decided to trust Mokuba.
As they walked over to a secluded table, Serenity sighed, "A bar…great…that's the last place I want to be."
"Don't worry," Mokuba reassured her, "Nothing bad will happen. It's not like they're gonna force us to drink anything," he laughed slightly. Noticing that she wasn't laughing, he stopped.
They sat for a few minutes, just watching the flocks of other people. Music roared in the background. Tons of people moved about the floors wither dancing or walking to and from the tables and bars. Several people looked highly drunk, or just tipsy. Mokuba couldn't tell the difference that much, but Serenity could. She had lived with her father long enough (which was actually quite a short time) to know the difference.
After sitting at the table for about five more minutes, Serenity sat up. "Mokuba…that guy is coming over…." Mokuba sat up straighter himself, wondering what the guy wanted.
The boozed looking man slapped a hand down onto the table, "What age'll y'all be?"
Serenity started answering their true ages, when Mokuba intervened, "Thirteen. We're only thirteen: not old enough for any of this really: we're just waiting for someone," he threw out, just to be safe.
"Wha'? I swore y'all woudda' been fifteen er sumthin'. Ah well, fifteen, thirteen, was' da diff? What'll y'all be havin' ta drink?" he hiccupped.
Mokuba stared at the man, "Sir? That's like…underage drinking! We're not going to-"
"Yo, pay attention to da rules, boy!" he wobbly pointed a finger at the sign above the bar. Serenity and Mokuba turned to the sign:
You enter Yoko: you buy a drink.
"What kind of stupid rule is that?" Serenity accidentally blurted. The man seemed to go even redder in the face than he already was.
"Da'd be da Yoko's very own rule!" he grabbed the two by their collars, despite their struggling, and hoisted them over to the bar with ease, plopping them down on bar stools. The two looked around nervously, surrounded by other drinkers or partiers. It really wasn't their place….
"Wa' seems ta be the trouble, ol' Max?" the bartender, currently cleaning a class, leaned over and asked.
"Dese two ain't following da rule."
"Oh?" the bartender cocked an eyebrow, "Well, dat's gonna change…. What'll you be havin'? You've gotta order sumthin'," he added threateningly.
"Um…and if I said we have no money?" Serenity squeaked out.
"You'd be workin' in da back till six in da mornin' tamorra'," the tender sneered, "ta pay it all off." Liquor could get quite expensive, after all.
Serenity looked at Mokuba. Mokuba gave her an uneasy look back. Maybe if they stalled….
Mokuba glared at the man, "You know, I can have you sued here for issuing drinks to those underage! This is forcing people against their will! Know what? I will sue!"
The bartender and Max laughed, "Kid, you ain't big enough for dat!"
"Oh yeah? All I have to do is tell my big brother what you're doing, and he'll sue…no, he'll have this place closed down in no time!"
"Oh yeah?" the bartender, whose name they saw was Ralph, leaned down against the shelf, looking Mokuba square in the eye, "And who might your brother be?"
Mokuba narrowed his eyes, "Seto Kaiba."
The man's eyes widened, "Seto Kaiba?"
"Yeah."
"Oh no…" Ralph pulled back, looking horrified. Ralph looked over at Max, "You know Seto Kaiba, don't ya Max?"
Max shook his head, no. Mokuba furrowed his eyebrows in confusion. He looked back at Ralph, "Well, I can understand him not-"
"And ya know what? Neither do I!" he laughed, "Who the -" Serenity winced when she heard a bit of vulgar language issue out from the man's mouth, "Is this Seto Kaiba!" Ralph and Max laughed hysterically, while Mokuba gaped at the prospect of someone not hearing about his brother.
Suddenly, Ralph became serious once more.
"Order already!" the man brought down his fist with the glass in it on the bar. The glass in his hand cracked menacingly. He sighed and tossed it backwards into the nearest trash can.
"Alright…" Mokuba whispered quietly, crestfallen. He knew about some alcoholic drinks. He had been to some fancy dinners and parties with his brothers. What were always the lightest drinks possible?
"Um…you have any wine?" Mokuba asked slowly. He glanced over at Serenity, who gave a small nod.
"Only afta' six o'clock," he smirked, looking at the clock on the wall, "An' by da looks o' it, it's only five-thirty. Too bad, try again."
"Well then…we'll order…since we must then. Alright?" he started hopping off the seat.
"Oh no," Ralph shook his head. Max picked Mokuba up roughly and put him back on the chair, "You two ain't goin' anywhere. For all we's know, you might be goin' off an' not comin' back. You gotta order now."
"Stupid baka," Mokuba cursed under his breath. Serenity raised an eyebrow at this new side of Mokuba.
But she liked it.
"Amen to that," she whispered back, "Stupid baka." Mokuba blinked. Sweet, little Serenity was actually saying something like that?
"Champaign?" Mokuba asked.
"Afta' six."
Mokuba looked around the room. There really didn't look like many light drinks out there…. Vodka, Bloody Marys, and all sorts of other moonshine was around. "I can't believe a place like this even exists," he muttered.
"Then why did ja come here in da first place?" Max asked. "da sign was right out on da front door."
"We were chased into the side," Serenity replied hotly.
"Chased?" Ralph leaned in, "Pity. Well, come on, order something."
"Beer," Mokuba suddenly hissed out, "Two small beers." It was all he could hope for that they wouldn't be reserved until after six….
Ralph narrowed his eyes, "Ya got lucky kid. I shouldn't even be givin' it ta ya, after da way you been actin' ta me. Your lucky da new boss is German and changed a bunch o' rules., like havin' beer after six too."
Mokuba looked at him strangely, "And he didn't change that stupid rule up there?" he pointed up at the sign.
Ralph paled slightly, "O-O' course not! He has no right ta change dat one! E back with ya orders in a sec. Have your fifteen bucks, altageta' ready when I'm back. And Max? Keep an eye on dem." He left to go get some beer.
Max did keep an eye on them: a close eye. They dared not try to escape.
"Don't drink it Serenity. Just try to refrain until Tea arrives. If worse comes to worse, drop it on the ground," Mokuba explained.
"Alright," she nodded. She saw a sort of foggy look in Mokuba's eyes. Poor kid. The fumes, smoke and pounding music were getting to him. Serenity was now immune to it, as she had gotten used to the smell of heavy alcohol in her own home. But Mokuba….
"Back," Ralph suddenly appeared, sliding two large mugs over to the two, "Drink up."
"These are your smalls?" Mokuba looked at the huge mug.
"Sure are. Now go on an' drink 'em."
"I'll wait a bit, thanks. I'm not really thirsty at the minute-"
"You'll drink it now," Ralph pushed it back towards her.
"No, thank you," Serenity narrowed her eyes.
"Listen here, girly!" Ralph suddenly grabbed Serenity's jaw. Mokuba was just about to hop over to help her, but Max held him back. Ralph stopped and smiled, looking into her narrowed eyes.
"You have had a drink before. What's so wrong about another?"
Tea glanced at the clock again.
"Shoot…I'm not going to be there for another fifteen minutes! I have to get there before…something bad happens. I just have this gut feeling…" she looked into the rear-view mirror. Far behind, she saw a familiar Lamborghini a little ways back. She swore she saw two familiar faces as well in the windshield. "I have a gut feeling those two are going to kill me when they find out what Yoko's reputation is."
"What?" Mokuba gasped out, "Serenity? Drinking? I have to disagree!" Mokuba gaped. He couldn't believe what this man was saying! Serenity…drinking?
Serenity locked her jaw.
"O' course," Ralph replied to Mokuba, "It's in her eyes. She's had some sort of alcohol before…. There's no fear in them if she absolutely has to drink it. In fact, I think I see a bit of desire for it-"
"Liar!" Serenity shoved him off her. "I don't want that crap!"
"But you have had one, or something like it before, haven't you?" Ralph cocked an eyebrow.
Serenity remained silent.
Ralph smirked, "I knew it."
"He's not…serious, is he, Serenity?" Mokuba looked at her sincerely.
Serenity bit her lip and turned away, "…He's telling the truth."
Joey looked past the rows of cars in front of him, "I see her ahead."
"Good spying, Sherlock. Doesn't take a genius to find her."
"Shut up already," Joey retorted. "I'm jus' concerned 'bout Serenity, dat's all."
"Good for you," Seto snapped. "I just want to know where the heck those tow are, and where Gardner is heading."
"Yoko's…yuck," Tea spat. "I vowed never again to step foot in that place under the last manager. But now with the new one – changing the rules about you come in, you buy a drink – then, I might just step inside, like now."
Of all the places they had to be…it had to be Yoko's.
Tea sighed. She had been there once, under the old manager. A couple years ago, her cousin (who was visiting) had dragged her along to it. Tea's parents were out for the night. It had been quite the drive, and that was where Tea had had her first poker-gambling and drinking experience.
And lately, she had become quite a professional at the poker and gambling. She hardly ever lost. And if she did lose, she hardly lost money. In fact, she was quite "famous" so to speak, in the Domino region night clubs.
The drinking…she usually just had a wine once a month. Sometimes, she would go with a Champaign. Then, this visiting relative "forced" her into a vodka. Tea shivered at the memory. It hadn't tasted good in her mouth, though on the way down….
Tea shook her head. Never again. Vodka would kill her one day. A little wine or Champaign once in a while wasn't so bad though.
I just hope those two are all right…and the stupid bartender Ralph…God hopes he doesn't work there anymore, won't be up to his old tricks….
Mokuba stopped, "I-It's true!"
"I told ja!" Ralph laughed.
"But…why?" Mokuba demanded an answer.
Serenity frowned heavily, "It wasn't my fault. I had no choice. Stupid father…. Once, when our filter for the well water we get, broke down, we couldn't drink any water in the house. Joey and I practically live off that stuff. We hardly ever get milk, except at school, but still….
"Well, once that broke, there was nothing else to drink in the house but dad's stupid alcohol. He lives off the stuff. Joey and I tried our best to refrain from drinking it…but at the rate dad was going at not getting the tap fixed, well, we had no choice. It was either that, or die thirsty. So…for almost a month, we ha beer once a night. That was the lightest stuff dad had. I hated every minute of it, and God bless me if I don't die early from a damaged liver."
Mokuba put a hand on hers, "Serenity, I-"
"Forget it," Serenity waved her hand, "Just forget it." But stupid Ralph is right…that beer does look slightly appetizing, I hate to admit it….
"Why couldn't you go to your mother's house?"
Serenity frowned, "I would have loved to. Joey would have loved to. We even had discussed it. But dad was in a sever hangover or something that night, and he forbade it. He thought that if we stayed there long enough, we would go live there. and technically, Joey "belongs" with him, so he said he would do something nasty if Joey left. And Joey and I don't want to be separated again. Joey even told me to go back to mom's, but I wouldn't leave him. So I stayed."
"Alrigh', alrigh', 'nough with da tear-jerkin' stories. Start drinkin', or da booza's here start hurtin', if ya get my drift," Ralph eyes the two.
Serenity stared at her mug, and slowly started reaching for it. If she had to….
"No, Serenity. Stop," Mokuba grabbed her wrist. Serenity turned to look at him.
"Mokuba, we have no choice-"
He stared at her hard and mouthed out, 'You wait: I'll drink first. Serenity started to shake her head 'no,' but Mokuba stopped her with an intense stare. He let go of her wrist and took the large mug by the handle. Mokuba picked it up and swirled it around slightly. The muddy drink looked and smelled foul. He was ready to plug his nose and drink it, but decided not to act like a kid. Best to take it like a man….
He put the mug to his lips and felt the alcoholic drink slid down his throat. His eyes bulged and he slammed down the mug in pure disgust. The sensation of the drink still scalded his tongue.
"Gross!" Mokuba seethed out.
"Drown it, kid. It'll make the pain go away, if you hate it so much. But I promise ya: you'll love it after the first half."
"Crap no!" Mokuba spat.
"Max…let the kid drown it. Chug it, kid," Ralph smirked. Suddenly, Mokuba felt his hand being squeezed down roughly on the handle and brought back up to his open mouth. The drink poured in, and he couched through it, spurting out some at times because of the reaction.
Serenity freaked, "Stop it! You're going to kill him!" she jumped off for him, but Ralph grabbed her across the bar and geld her back.
"Let him take it like a man sweetie. He'll realize soon enough that these drinks are good for him-"
"SHUT UP!" Serenity screamed. "I'VE SEEN ENOUGH O KNOW THAT THEY'RE NOT GOOD FOR YOU!" tears suddenly spilled down her cheeks.
A door suddenly slammed open. The whole club suddenly went quiet. Max had Mokuba drop the mug back onto the bar. Mokuba hugged hiss chest in a coughing fit. His esophagus was on fire from the chugging.
Serenity was suddenly let go, and she jumped off to help Mokuba. Only one pair of footsteps resounded through the entire, hushed club. The DJ had seen who was there. He knew when to shut the music off.
The stranger shoved a man in the open path back into the crowd, most violently. As the intruder walked up to the bar, Ralph kept his small fear hidden.
"W-Well, if it isn't Miss Mazaki…come back after two years-"
"Quit the theatrics," she retorted. "What the crap do you think your doing, forcing these two into drinking!" She noticed the thing of missing beer, and Mokuba's coughing form. "You made him chug it! You imbecile! I swore the new manager disowned that rule!"
Serenity's head shot up. Ralph had –no surprise- lied to them! About something this sensitive!
Mokuba swore he heard what was just said. However, his head was swimming at the moment. Mazaki…why did that sound familiar?
"Miss, you must understand, they were causing trouble-"
""What were they doing? Just sitting in a corner!" Mazaki leaned far in over the bar. Her eyes, hidden beneath sunglasses, were staring straight into Ralph's own clouded ones.
"I-I…we weren't gonna make him get drunk!"
"Right! You want to know what it feels like to get drunk? Here!" the lady grabbed Serenity's untouched beer and smashed it over Ralph's head.
Seto saw Tea drive the car into a club parking lot, "why the heck is she going in there?"
"Dunno," Joey narrowed his eyes. They drove in slowly, getting a farther spot from her. The two noticed Tea putting her hair up into an easy bun and slipping some shades on. She walked inside the club.
Seto was out of the car in a flash, power-walking over to the door. Joey was right on his heel.
"What da heck is Tea doin' here? An'…why do I get da feeling dat Mokuba an' Ren are here too?" Joey looked around. Seto's eyes widened, and he walked faster.
The two opened the door at the same time and took a sharp intake of breath when they saw what happened.
Joey blinked as the crowd gasped, "Uhh…Kaiba," he said, in the most hushed voice he could muster, "Did Tea just…smack some guy ove' da head…with a glass mug fulla beer?"
Seto couldn't answer him. He was completely speechless.
The crowd gasped as beer and glass came flying out from the bar. Ralph looked very dazed for a moment, and then fell to the ground, unconscious.
Serenity had tried blocking Mokuba from the flying glass shards, but instead, found that Mazaki had shoved them away from the mess.
The lady turned around, leaned against the bar, took off her glasses, and held the bridge of her nose. Her hair, once done up in a neater bun, was now haphazardly falling against her face. After a couple of minutes, the girl looked up.
"Let's go you two. I've had enough of this place to last me a lifetime."
"It really…is you, Tea?"
"Yeah," she sighed, "Now go get your stuff before your brothers arrive-" she stopped when she saw two beings out in the corner of her eye, advancing from the open doorway. "Oh, not now," she cursed to herself. "Run and get your stuff," she pushed them along. Mokuba wobbled around following Serenity, back over to their far table.
"What did you do!" Seto stood directly in front of her, menacingly. Joey leaned over the bar and peered down at the tender. He whistled.
"You gave 'imn da ol' one-two! I am teachin' ya somethin'!"
"Where's my brother?" Seto demanded.
"Right h-here S-Seto," Mokuba tried to steady himself, and not hiccup, for both his and Tea's sake. He didn't want Seto to know that he had just drowned –accidentally, of course: entirely forced- a whole mug of beer.
"Mokuba!" Seto knelt down, checked him over, "Are you alright?"
"O-Of course!" Mokuba smiled. He accidentally hiccupped. Seto frowned.
He jumped up to face Tea, "What happened to him!"
"Believe me Kaiba, I have no idea!" Tea answered, truthfully, for the most part.
"Uh…guys and gals, can we maybe take this outside?" Joey inquired, looking at the staring crowd. Seto sneered, then, grabbed Mokuba by the arm and dragged him out. Joey took Serenity and left as well. Tea stayed for a moment, and then began walking. As she passed a couple of teens, she heard one snicker and say, "Ha! Even Anzu Mazaki can't stand up to Seto Kaiba! And here I thought we all had someone to fear!"
Tea went out of her way and grabbed the guy by the collar. The hypocrite started cowering immediately.
"Wanna say that comment to my face again?" she threatened. The man shook his head. Tea stared at him, "Wait a sec…I know you. You're from Tokyo, aren't you? Tokyo Club, right?"
He didn't answer.
"Answer me!" He nodded his head harshly. Tea glared at him.
"You still owe me fifty bucks for whipping your butt at poker that night.
"W-Whaddya mean I owe ya? I dun remember-" he stopped when Tea glared at him, "Oh yeah! Fifty bucks! Got it righ' here…just fer you…" he sweated and pulled out a fifty, placing it in Tea's hand. She nodded, thanked him briefly and walked out of the club.
Once out, Tea approached the group standing near Seto's car.
"Dese two say dey were bin' chased an' had no choice but ta swerve in der," Joey explained to Tea.
"I just want to know who those flippen freaks were," Seto growled, looking around the street, "I'll teach them to mess with my brother!"
Serenity peered around Joey and frowned, "Joey…those are the two! There they are!" she pointed down the street.
"Wha'? No kiddin'?" Joey spun around. Seto though, was already on his way to teach them a lesson. "Hey Kaiba, wait up!" Tea held Joey back though.
"Look Joe, I know they tried to hurt Serenity too, but let Kaiba handle this one. I think he should…take out his anger on them before he takes it all out on me, okay?"
Joey seemed unconvinced, but shrugged it off. The four of them (Mokuba watching blurrily though) saw Seto knock the two unconscious, punching them in the gut a couple times, or even their heads. Joey blinked. Kaiba would make a great street fighter!
Tea was astounded. She had heard of Seto's great skills, but she had never really seen them in action. They were so…manly.
Serenity smiled. So that's where Mokuba got his gut from…. Mokuba smiled happily when he saw his brother beating the crap out of the two. You show them, Seto!
Seto retuned a moment later, cracking his knuckles and wiping his bans out of his eyes.
"So?" Joey asked, "Wha' was der deal?"
Seto frowned, "It turns out some former colleagues of mine noticed Mokuba and recognized him immediately. As pay-back, they wanted to hurt him…and Serenity just for fun, I suppose," he glanced at the Wheelers wearily.
"Why I outta-!" Joey snarled and held up a fist in the fallen men's direction.
"So…should we be heading back now?" Tea interjected. Serenity and Mokuba nodded affirmatively. Alright…Joey and Serenity, you want a ride?" she asked. Serenity nodded and Joey shrugged. Seto turned off, dragging Mokuba back to his own car.
Once on the road, Serenity brought up a few questions that were nagging her mind, "Tea? Why did they call you Mazaki?"
"Huh? Oh," Tea looked straight ahead at the road. Joey was curious about this too. "Well…a couple years back…my cousin took me to that place…against my will of course! She had originally just told me that we would go shopping down here, but afterwards told me we were visiting that wretched place. I couldn't drive home without her and my parent's were gone for the night.
"My cousin said, before we went in, that we needed to make up fake identities, just so some boozers in there couldn't find us again. So, she made up a name and I took…well, made up Anzu Mazaki."
"And he remembered you, why?" Serenity asked.
This time, Tea smiled smugly, "Because I whipped that whole club's butt at poker that one night. And ever since, hardly anyone has been able to beat me."
"So, ya can play poker, but not Duel Monsters?" Joey snickered. Tea slapped him.
"Joey, that's not funny!"
Joey rubbed his head, "Well…I though it was."
"Just a sec…" Serenity spoke, "How do you know hardly anyone has beat you since? Who have you played against?"
"Nobody…just some family members and such…" Tea replied quickly, glancing down and stuffing the fifty dollar bill further into her skirt pocket.
"Hey, Ren?" Joey started, "Wha' happened in der?"
Serenity looked away, forlorn and started her tale, "Well…after we were chased in, Mokuba called Tea. Afterwards, we went and sat down at a secluded table. About ten minutes or so later, a guy named Max found us and asked what we wanted to drink. We said we weren't having anything, but he persisted and finally pulled us up to the bar. Ralph, the bartender, pointed out "The Rule," which I just heard no longer exists," she spat, "and told us we had to order something. Mokuba and I tried stalling, but it didn't really work. We tried the light drinks, like wine and Champaign-"
"Somethin' I'm sure little Kaiba-boy has had," Joey whispered. Serenity glared at him, then continued.
"But they said they only sold those after six o' clock. So…we got beer: the next lowest thing, I think, and something not sold after six. We asked for smalls…but he gave us these huge mugs. And then he started teasing us…and he found out that I had had some drink before-" Tea looked over at Joey as she said this, and Joey nodded sadly. Tea turned back to the road. "And then…Mokuba, after a minute, volunteered to…to drink it first just incase you came soon, Tea. I guess…he didn't want me drinking anymore…" Serenity felt the tears coming on. Mokuba intentions had been so selfless and sweet! She would never forget that….
"So they made him chug it," Tea finished, "Or so it looked like when I barged in," she added. The rest of the ride was kept in silence. Once they pulled up to the beach, they saw that Seto and Mokuba were already at the door, walking inside. The other three walked out and followed them.
No one said anything as they entered. However, Tea noticed Seto pushing his brother upstairs. She followed, but went to her room instead.
Tea came back out a moment later and walked down to the last room. She was just about to knock, when the door opened, and Seto stopped.
"What do-"
"Look…I'm really sorry about what happened to Mokuba, Kaiba. Just…make sure he has some of this to take when he wakes up. I swear…it's going to be bad the way he chugged it like that-" she held out the Advil ® pills she had, but Seto cut her off.
"What would you know about alcohol!" he retorted, heatedly.
Tea narrowed her eyes, "Look, I'm just trying to help out, because I know what he's going through, alright!"
Seto ceased, "What do you mean, you know-"
"I was forced into vodka a couple years ago. I had a terrible headache in the morning. Just…make sure he takes some of this," she took Seto's hand and slammed the bottle into it. She began walking away.
Seto stopped her by taking hold of her arm, "Wait just a second…. You were forced into vodka? You of all people?"
"Yeah. Ironic, isn't it?" Tea sneered. "Just let go-"
"You do know…that this isn't your fault…right?" Seto stated. Tea halted. What did he just say?
"Although you did drop them off alone…without telling anyone, this whole business wasn't your fault anyway. I hope your not beating yourself up for it," he replied, "Because knowing you, you are."
Tea had her back turned on him, "I'm not…b-beating myself up for it. I k-know it wasn't my fault."
Seto bent down and whispered in her ear, "You're lying."
Tea bit her lip and looked away. Why did he have to be so close to her? She didn't feel…right in a sense.
"Please…don't get so close," she shrugged out of his grip and took a couple steps forward, "It…makes me feel…uncomfortable." Tea walked off, down the stairs.
Seto raised an eyebrow. This was new….
Well, there was your chapter. If you thought it was over-reactive, because of the whole drinking thing, well…I don't really care. If you were that age, and it was against your morals to drink like that, what would you do? Overall, I liked this chapter, had fun writing it and thought it was pretty darn good. So, I hope you liked it and PLEASE REVIEW! (PS: I don't really know much about liquor, so if I got some ideas wrong in here…I really don't care or want to know what was wrong. I don't make it my business to know about alcohol, okies? Thanks!)
PS: I know you guys have been nagging me about getting more SetoxTea in here (frankly, I always think I put too much emphasis on them…but heck, you're the reviewers) but I do promise you come the next chapter…or the next or the next (one of those three…) there will be a major SetoxTea scene! I promise! And more will come during the middle/end of this monthly story, eh? Okies!