NOTE: The winner for Serenity was: MOKUBA! (44 - 3) and I'm going to end Tea's census now (because of a recent nervous breakdown I had with FOL…some of you might know. Just trying to be careful….) Tea's winner was: SETO! (52 – 12 - 2). Also, some of you though the party would be this chapter. Notice I said it would start IN THREE DAYS. And remember: a day is a chapter here! Read on!
PS: If any of you notice a connection between LIL and this story this chapter, just know that the idea came first for this story, okay?
Disclaimer: I don't own Yu-Gi-Oh!
Chapter 17: Sick Love and The Sunshine Treatment
July 14
Serenity tossed and turned in her bed. She looked at the clock beside her, which told her that it was a little past one in the morning. Why couldn't she get to sleep? She had slept for a few hours, and then woken up, and now it was impossible for sleep to come to her.
She had thrown off the covers, because her body was far too warm under them, but she still felt a bit hot. She rolled around to get on the cool side of the pillows, but for a couple hours, sleep would still not come.
And she was starting to feel quite warm now. She did not feel good at all.
Maybe it was something I ate, she sighed, sitting up on the edge of her bed. Her stomach felt awful at the turn, and she stayed put for a second to let it settle. I've gotta get a fan or something. Cool air… There was an air conditioner in her room, however, it had recently broken down, and was getting fixed today or tomorrow. Of all the times for it to break down….
Serenity opened her door and started walking down the stairs. There was a fan down there. High blast will do just nicely, she sided.
Mokuba was wide awake. He had fallen asleep so early yesterday, that he had woken up a few hours before usual. He decided to go get one of his books and read downstairs for a while. Maybe he would fall asleep again, or just stay there until the morning. He couldn't read in here, however, because Noa was still sleeping. The only light would be downstairs.
He grabbed his book and headed out the door, and down the stairs. He steered towards the chair that his brother always sat in to read, and turned on the light next to it. He turned around and sat down. He was just about to pick up his book when he noticed Serenity sitting on the opposite side of the room in front of a high-powered fan.
"Serenity?" Mokuba inquired, putting down the book and walking over to her, "Are you okay?"
"Hmm?" Serenity looked over at him, "Oh, hey Mokuba. What are you doing up so early?"
"I want to ask you the same question," he replied, kneeling down beside her.
"My air conditioner is broken, and I got really warm in my room, so I came down here to cool off."
"You sure that's all?" he asked. Instinctively, he put the back of his hand against Serenity's exposed forehead. Serenity jumped a bit at the coolness of his hand –it felt so good- and sighed when he took his hand away.
"Serenity…I think you're running a fever," he explained. "You really should get back up to bed.
"But the fan," she complained, "It feels so nice…."
"We'll bring up the fan too, then," he added, unplugging it and carrying it with him. He helped Serenity up the stairs as well, back to her room.
Serenity crawled back into her disheveled covers, and slumped onto them. Mokuba plugged up the fan and had it half hit her, and half hit the rest of the room. His brother had told him that it wasn't good for a fan to blow on you directly through the night.
He pulled up the desk chair in there and said, "I'll be right back." He dashed downstairs to turn off the light and grab his book. He ran back upstairs and into Serenity's room. "If you need anything," he sat down, "Just ask, okay?"
"Okay, Mokuba. Thank you," she sighed, and smiled slightly as she settled down to try to get to sleep once more.
Mokuba cracked open his book and took one last look at her. Poor girl…. I hope she'll be alright. I'll be here to take care of her though.
He felt oddly overprotective of her.
Noa woke up – in the bed for once. Something registered as "not-right" in his mind. Mokuba had usually pushed him out at least by mid-early-morning. He sat up and looked around. Where was Mokuba?
He got out of the bed and opened the door, walking out into the hallway. Nobody else seemed to be awake yet. He checked the clock before shutting the door. It was almost seven o' clock. Only Ryou and Tea might be up, unless they were sleeping in from yesterday. It had been a tiring one, but very fun. Noa smiled as he looked through the house for his brother. Yesterday had rocked. And the best part had definitely been Seto actually admitting he was having fun.
Another good part had been the whole "white-shirt" incident. Mokuba would have killed me for that comment, he thought as he poked his head into the bathrooms. He wasn't anywhere to be found.
Noa turned around with a skeptical expression on his face and saw his younger brother suddenly emerge from Serenity's room, yawning. Noa froze. What had he been doing in there?
Mokuba recognized his brother's presence, "Hey, Noa," he waved, "What's up?"
"I wanted to ask you the same thing," Noa walked forward. "What were you doing in there?"
"Serenity's sick," Mokuba replied, "She got a fever last night, so I was watching over her the rest of the night."
"How'd you know she got a fever?"
"I went down around three to go read a book, because I couldn't sleep, and she was down there sitting in front of a fan."
"Ah. And you're sure all you were doing was watching over her?" Noa cocked a smile.
"I was taking care of her too," Mokuba added.
"I'm sure you were, Noa laughed. Mokuba turned a frown on his brother.
"You're sick."
"No, no, Serenity is," Noa retorted. Mokuba rolled his eyes. Typical….
"I'm just going to the bathroom. Then I'm going right back to her," Mokuba said.
"Okedoke," Noa replied. "I just want to see how she's doing, so I'll wait," he walked over to Serenity's door. Mokuba came back moments later with the key to her door. He let the two of them in, and Noa went over to her bedside.
"Looks sick alright," he commented.
"No duh," Mokuba replied, not really paying attention to him.
"Definitely a fever," Noa smirked.
"Good going, Sherlock," Mokuba sighed.
"You're going to make out with her."
"I know that already," Mokuba replied, letting his head fall back. He suddenly shot up, "WHAT!"
Noa just laughed, "Gotcha there," he walked past his fuming brother, still snickering.
Once outside the door, he shook his head, "That's the way to go: tell them a few obvious things and then trick them into something embarrassing. I love it."
"That's a good idea," A voice said behind him.
"Yah!" Noa jumped around. "Oh! Ryou, it's you!"
"Hehe," he laughed, "Not exactly…. But yes," he replied. Noa raised an eyebrow, but shrugged. "So tell me, what gave you that great idea you just voiced?"
"Ah, that," Noa chuckled more, "I just pulled it on Mokuba."
"Really now? Do tell," Bakura leaned on the wall.
"Alright: Serenity's running a fever, okay?" he nodded. Bakura nodded as well. "So I said: "She looks sick alright." Mokuba was quick with a snappy comment, like, "No duh." So then I said, "Definitely a fever." He's like, "Good going Sherlock," he mocked his brother in a higher pitched voice, "So I said…here's were it gets good…I said…I said," he started laughing again, "Just a sec," he laughed some more. "I said, "You're going to make out with her."" Bakura's eyebrows shot up. "And then he said, "I know that already!" Noa fell to the floor laughing.
"Interesting," Bakura chuckled as well, "That makes for a good joke. I'll have to try it today…."
"It's great, I swear," Noa sat up, "I'd like to try that again too…."
"Tell you what," Bakura knelt down, "Get your…brother…you other one, to say….say something about…a girl – like what you just did – any girl, and I'll get that girl to say something about him."
"That. Would. ROCK!" Noa clapped slightly. "But which girl? I think Serenity is out…."
"That leaves Mai or Tea," Bakura scratched his chin.
"Mai or," Noa gulped slightly, "Tea?"
"Yes," Bakura looked down at Noa, sensing a perfect opportunity for a double-score. "They are the only two girls left here. And since Mai is dating Joey now…I think Tea is the perfect girl to pull it on."
"Tea?" Noa squeaked. He didn't like the idea of those two flirting, even if they didn't know they were flirting.
"Yes," Bakura smirked, nodding, "It's perfect. You get Kaiba to say something, and I'll get Tea to say something. And it would be better if…." Bakura's face suddenly lit up. "If we got it on tape…."
"But who has a video recorder here? Noa inquired. The Kaibas surely didn't….
Bakura jerked his thumb back and forth at the door, "A sick little girl in there does. And I'm sure she won't mind if we borrow it for a few minutes today. She won't miss it."
"W-Whatever you say," Noa forced a smile. This prank had just gone from all-time happy to all-time sappy.
Mokuba gritted his teeth as he damped the washcloth he had got Serenity earlier. How could he answer his brother like that? It was still on his nerves.
The only reason it was on his nerves was because he knew it was half true. He would make out with her…if he could. If he was allowed to. The truth was: he didn't want to do anything to Serenity unless she went right along with it. He was afraid to look impulsive.
But God knows how long I've dreamed of doing something like that, Mokuba thought as he put the washcloth back on her forehead. He looked down at her sleeping figure. Such a pretty face…tantalizing lips…he had to get away from those thoughts…those thin pajamas left only something to be imagined –Ho, bad territory, Mokuba…- the way the pajamas were slightly revealing her midriff…the way her body was spread out so…gracefully on the bed….
If only we were old enough to marry, Mokuba desperately thought. He turned away instantly, not wanting to get any more thoughts into his head….
He sat back down in the chair and was about to read again, when she caught his eye once more. She turned over in her sleep, revealing a curved back to him.
And to think…we slept in the same bed just two nights ago, Mokuba sighed. Great…being around her is poisoning my mind. I wonder if this is what goes through Noa's head whenever he thinks about Tea. Heck, at least I don't stutter around Serenity, like a babbling idiot.
"Mokuba?" Mokuba's head shot up from his thoughts. "Morning," Serenity was looking over her shoulder at him, and smiling. "Thanks for staying the night. And thanks for the cloth," she said, replacing the item that had fallen off her forehead.
"Hey," Mokuba stood up, "How are you feeling?"
"Cooler, but not much better," she sighed, "Is Joey up yet?"
"Not that I know of."
"Okay. In a way…that's good. He'll freak when he finds out. He'll go into-"
"Overprotective mode?" Mokuba supplied.
"Exactly. I guess Kaiba's the same way too, huh?"
"Yeah, he is," Mokuba smiled. "Hey, I'm going to go grab something to eat. Do you want me to bring something up for you?"
"I'm not hungry, but thanks," she smiled at him. "Go ahead: I'll be fine."
"Okay: I'll be back right afterwards," Mokuba walked to the door and put his hand on the handle. He stopped and suddenly started laughing.
"What's so funny?" Serenity sat up on her elbows.
"Oh, nothing," Mokuba sniggered.
"Please tell me," Serenity pleaded.
"I just thought…well…" Mokuba laughed again, "Imagine if they –your brother and mine- became…in-laws or something," he laughed again.
Serenity laughed quietly, "Yeah, but how would that happen?" She looked up at him.
Mokuba suddenly realized his mistake. "I'm going to go eat now, bye," he rushed out the door.
Serenity blinked. "It was just a joke…" she said to the air.
Mokuba relaxed against the door and smacked himself. "Stupid, stupid, stupid…."
"We know you are, but what am I?"
"I'm not in the mood, Noa," Mokuba sighed, without looking up at him. He took off for the stairs.
"Whatever," Noa shrugged.
Joey woke up and stretched as he walked down the hallway. He rubbed his face awake and suddenly collided with something.
"Oh geez," he stumbled back, "What the heck did I run int'a?"
"Get your interrogative pronouns right, Wheeler: a better one would be "whom.""
Joey ground his teeth, and muttered, "Wise guy, eh?"
"Why thank you," Seto replied sarcastically.
Joey clenched his fists, "It's too early in the morning, pretty-boy." Seto raised an eyebrow.
"Pretty-boy? That's a new one," Tea came walking out of the bathroom behind them. And then, as if talking to herself, she added, "not that I wouldn't agree: naturally, but-"
She stopped. Joey and Seto were staring at her as if she had just sprouted wings.
Tea blinked. And she blinked some more. "D-Did," she pointed at her mouth, "Did that just come out of my mouth?" Joey only nodded slightly. Seto stared at her still.
Tea's mouth opened and closed, but she finally went for the alternative: to run. She turned and collided with a door, trying to put her key into the socket and wrench it open. It wouldn't budge.
"Tea," Joey stated, "As a friend, with friendly advice, before I barge in and demand why you said that, I'll tell you that your room is next to Serenity's."
Tea stopped trying to pull to the door off its sockets. "…So it is. But if this is Serenity's room…then why is some other guy in it, laughing with her?"
"WHAT!" Joey forgot about everything at the moment. He pushed past Tea and started pounding on the door, "SERENITY WHEEL'A, YOU OPEN DA DOOR DIS MINUTE!"
He almost fell inside the room as it opened. "You rang?" Mokuba looked up at Joey with a monotonous expression, to match his voice.
"AHA!" Joey grabbed Mokuba by the back of his collar and hoisted him into the air, pointing into his chest, "WHAT DO YOU THINK YOU'RE DOING WITH MY SISTER!"
"WHEELER!" Seto grabbed his brother from Joey's clutches, almost having Mokuba chocked with the way Joey had held onto the collar. Seto set his brother down at his side. Mokuba rubbed his neck, tenderly.
"JOEY!" Serenity suddenly appeared, flushed, and her voice now sore from yelling, "HE WAS JUST VISITING AND HELPING ME, SO SHUT THE HECK UP!"
Joey blinked, "Visiting? Doing what?"
"What are you proposing that my brother is doing with your sister?" Seto stepped into the argument once more.
"Anyt'ing's possible, Kaiba," Joey narrowed his eyes. "If my sista's virg-"
"WHEELER!" Seto grabbed his collar now, "JUST WHAT ARE YOU SAYING! MY BROTHER WENT AND SC-"
"JOEY!" Serenity slapped him. "MOKUBA WAS JUST HELPING ME OUT! I'M ILL, ALRIGHT? HE'S BEEN HERE MOST OF THE NIGHT, HELPING ME!" She heaved after that outburst.
Joey tenderly rubbed where she had slapped him, "Dat hurt…. Wait a sec. you're sick?"
"Yes," Serenity panted, "I'm running a fever. Mokuba has been helping me, thank you very much. Nothing is going on between us, got it? Come on , Mokuba," she grabbed his hand and pulled him back inside. Before she closed the door, she added, "That is…if you want to stay here. I'm not forcing you to, right?"
Mokuba desperately wanted to say, Of course I want to stay here! You don't know just how much I want to stay with you! But, of course, that would cause utter chaos. So, he settled for the next best answer, "Of course." Short and sweet.
"Good," she smiled. She gave a list glare to Joey, and slammed the door in his face.
Joey and Seto both looked at the door, and Seto slowly let Joey back down to the ground.
"So…what were we doing before that happened?" Seto asked nobody in particular.
"Let's see," Joey resorted to his fingers, and counted them off one by one, "I was gonna pummel you for sayin' somethin', and den Tea showed up, and…. Wait…." Joey looked around. "TEA! TEA GARDNER, GET BACK OUT HERE!" he ran up to her door and pounded on it, trying to take it ff the hinges, as she had been trying to do to Serenity's door before, "TEA, I DEMAND TA KNOW WHY YA SAID KAIBA WAS HOT!"
"I NEVER SAID HE WAS HOT, YOU BAKA!" Tea's voice protruded from the inside.
"WELL IT WAS CLOSE ENOUGH CALLING HIM A PRETTY-BOY AN' ALL!"
"TEA IS NOT HERE AT THE MOMENT, PLEASE LEAVE AS MESSAGE AFTER YOU HEAR HER HEAD COLLIDE WITH THE WALL-" Joey heard a repeated thump from the wall next to him as Tea hit her head against it in a rapid attempt to free herself from "evil" thoughts.
"TEA!" Joey called out, "TEA? DID YOU PASS OUT FROM DAT? COME ON, TEA!"
Joey continued to bombard Tea's door until someone taped his shoulder. He turned around to see Seto holding out the spare key from downstairs.
Joey took it, "Where'd ya get this?"
"Front desk," Seto replied, "Now are you going to open the door or what?"
"Sure, yeah," Joey nodded, putting the card into the slot. He stopped. "Wait…. Why do you want ta get inside?"
Seto glared at him, "I'm just as curious as you are, mutt. The comment was directed towards me after all."
"Got a point der," Joey nodded, turning the handle. He and Seto walked into the room.
Tea was at the window, looking out to the grounds below.
"It's not that far a jump," she was saying to herself.
"You're not serious, Gardner," Seto commented.
"Ah!" Tea jumped, "How did you two get in here!"
"Dat's for us ta know, and you ta tell us WHY DA HECK YA CALLED HIM A PRETTY-BOY!" Joey rushed at Tea just to grab her gently. She jumped and flew under the bed, cowering.
"How can she fit under there?" Seto looked at the bed in amazement.
"She's so gosh-darn thin, for cryin' out loud!" Joey retorted, kneeling on the ground, and looking under the bed. Seto got on the other side, and just sat on top of the bed however. He wasn't going to resort to kneeling for her.
"Tea, just tell me why ya said dat," Joey pleaded.
"Not while he's here!"
"Kai-" Joey started, but was silenced by Seto, who was shaking his head and mouthing, I'm not here!
"Kaiba ain't here, Tea," Joey retorted. "He left."
"…Are you sure?"
"Why, is it so bad to tell?"
"…I don't know."
"Just tell me, okay?" Joey looked back up at Seto, who was trying to look as uninterested as possible.
"I don't know why I said it, okay! There was something wrong with my head when I said that!"
"You mean aft'a, Tea. You banged your head aft'a you said dat. Dat ain't a good excuse, Tea."
"Well…put yourself in my place, Joey! What would you say about him?"
Joey thought it over for a second, and smirked, knowing that he couldn't be pummeled for saying anything as long as "Seto wasn't here." "I'd say dat he was a sick jerk who needs a life and will be a lonely pig the rest of his life." Seto's face reddened rapidly as Joey stuck out his tongue at him.
"Joey…he's here isn't he?"
"What makes ya say dat? It's how I really feel about him, Tea! Would I eve'a say dat to his face?"
"I guess not…. But Joey…you're right…but…you're thinking like a guy. Think like a girl, okay?"
"Why would I want ta do dat?"
"JUST DO IT!"
"Alright, alright. T'ink like a girl about Kaiba…. Uh, Tea…what am I supposed to be thinking?"
There was an audible sigh from under the bed, "Joey…think about his looks. That is why were' having this discussion, isn't it?"
"His looks?" Joey looked like he had a pile of rotten cheese under his nose. He stole a glance at Seto –who noticed- and shivered. Seto scowled. "Well…I'd say he…uh…Tea, I really can't think like a girl-"
"Goodness, Joey, he's attractive, okay! Every girl knows it for a fact! It's undeniable! He's got good looks! Even Mai and Serenity think so! God, he's got GREAT looks! No offense, Joey, you look fine, but you're my friends, I can't just go saying that all the time now, can I?"
Joey just blinked, "Ya…ya really think he's…attractive?" he wrinkled his nose in disgust. "And Ren thinks dis too?"
"Most girls do, Joey. Okay? You see why now? I have a tendency to babble, and the thought came through my mouth instead of my head, where it was supposed to go."
"Uh huh," Joey nodded, looking around the room and at Seto, wanting to see how the guy was taking this. Seto was staring at his lap, seemingly uninterested.
Joey knew better. Then, he spotted something. It was a piece of paper, shoved under a few books. He took out the paper in curiosity, seeing that Tea had drawn something on it. When his eyes fell on the picture, he whistled. "So uh…Tea, just because he's quote, "attractive" is dat why you have a picture of him?"
"JOEY!" Tea's hand flew out from under the bed and grabbed the paper before he could grasp what was going on, "THAT'S PART OF MY ANGER MANAGEMENT! YOU KNOW MY THEORY!"
"Don't' ya usually crumple those up, though? How long ago did ya draw dat t'ing? Why are ya keepin' it-"
"OUT!" Tea demanded, "GET OUT OF MY ROOM!"
"Tea, I-"
"GET OUT, OR I'LL SCREAM THAT YOU'RE MOLESTING ME!"
"Tea, no one's gonna believe dat-"
"YOU'RE A GUY, JOEY: GUYS DO THAT TO GIRLS…sometimes…."
"Resorts to extreme measures, doesn't she?" Seto asked. The room suddenly became deathly quiet. Seto could have slapped himself.
"Joey…" Tea stated tensely under the bed, "Was that Kaiba I heard…in my room?"
"No," Joey replied in a squeak, "I mean: no," he said in his rather normal voice.
Tea suddenly crawled out quickly from under the bed on the side Seto was seated on and stomped over with clenched fists to the others side, where Joey sat on the floor.
"Oh, crap," Joey replied.
"That's right," Tea nodded. She reared back and punched him in the nose.
"Ow!" Joey fell backwards, holding his nose, which he was sure was going to bleed any second.
"And you," Tea turned on Seto, and stalked over to him, "Don't think I haven't got one left for you-" she thrust her fist towards his face, but Seto blocked it, by putting his hand around her fist.
"Lesson one: never tell what attack you're going to use," Seto stated. He suddenly pulled her in closely, "Lesson two: don't attack me."
Joey continued to moan and groan on the floor.
"Let go," Tea demanded in a hoarse whisper and struggled to get her hand free – but to no avail. She tried to pry his hand off with her other one, but it ended up getting trapped in his other hand. He had her vulnerable, with both arms pinned at her sides.
"No," he replied, as softly as she had said it.
"Let go, or there'll be pain and agony where the "sun don't shine,"" Tea narrowed her eyes even more.
Seto tried to hold in his laughter, "I'd like to see you try."
"No, no you wouldn't," Joey suddenly said from the floor on the other side of the bed, "Believe me: when she says that, she means it."
"Yes," Tea smiled sourly, "Joey would know: because Joey's been on that other side of the line before."
"Oh, boy have I," he replied. "An' Tristan too. Bakura got a knee once…as Bakura…and I don't think Yug's gotten it yet, but I doubt he ever will…. Duke's come close, but not close enough-"
"Joey!" Tea replied through gritted teeth.
"Sorry," he answered. "I'm just sayin'…it hurts. I hate the Sunshine Treatment…."
Tea sighed, "So, are you going to let me go, or not?"
"Hmm…no," he replied.
"I'll slap you again," Tea narrowed her eyes.
"With what? Your hand are a bit tied up at the moment," Seto answered.
"She slapped ya, Kaiba?" Joey asked from the floor, "When did dat happen?"
Tea suddenly got an idea. She smiled seductively, "When he did this," she said, suddenly pressing their lips together…albeit, softly.
"What'd he do!" Joey replied, not being able to see what was going on.
Seto was shocked, yet again. And just as Tea had planned, the minute his grip loosened, she had jumped up, out of his control, and kicked him hard in the shin before going to her door and pointed out of it, "THE BOTH OF YOU GET OUT!"
Seto winced as he rubbed where she had kicked him. Tea smiled smugly, "That was just a warning. Next time…"
"You're gettin' da Sunshine Treatment, man," Joey suddenly sat up, rushing to get out the door, "And I know when I'm not wanted."
"Then why didn't you leave before I punched you?" Tea retorted.
"I didn't have a bloody nose," he replied, rushing to the bathroom. Seto walked stiffly out, and Tea slammed the door shut behind him.
Joey came out of the bathroom about ten minutes later, with his nose wrapped up in everything from band-aids to bandages. It seemed he couldn't choose which worked better to sport his bruised nose.
"Joey, what happened to you?" Mai suddenly asked, seeing him. They were on the landing in front of the stairs. "Were you and Tristan fighting again? Goodness, Joey, you know how I feel about that-"
"Not Tristan," Joey replied, still holding his head up, "Tea."
"T-Tea?" Mai gagged. "What did you do?"
"I lied to her."
"About what?"
"About Kaiba bein' in her room."
"What difference does that make?" Mai replied.
"She…spilled some beans…if ya catch my drift."
Mai's eyes suddenly sparkled, "What beans, Joey!" she grabbed his collar pulling him closer.
"No, NO!" Joey shook his head, trying to pull away, "NO! I'm not ta repeat it! Or else…" he gulped, "It's da Sunshine Treatment fo' me…."
"THE SUNSHINE TREATMENT!" Tristan suddenly appeared from his room, and froze, "WHO'S GIVING THAT OUT? IS TEA IN A CRAPPY MOOD AGAIN? MAI, IS IT YOU!"
"Nobody is handing out Sunshine Treatment, Tris," Mai replied, scowling slightly, "But if you don't shut up…."
Tristan stood at attention with his mouth zipped.
"Oh no, is it being handed out again?" Ryou came up the stairs uneasily, looking in all directions. "It wasn't even meant for me personally, and I still felt the effects…."
"Jus' stay away from Tea…or the subject of Kaiba," Joey replied, "An' you're safe."
Really, now? Ryou froze. Bakura…no! Not again! Too late boy…I already made plans concerning him…. BAKURA!
"I am locking myself in my room for the rest of the day," Ryou suddenly walked over to his door.
"You can't lock yourself in," Tristan replied, "But you can lock us out.
"That doesn't help!" Ryou replied.
"Hey guys, what's up?" Noa asked, coming up the stairs with Mokuba.
"They're fretting about the Sunshine Treatment," Mai sighed.
"What's that?" Noa asked, as Mokuba went on into Serenity's room.
"Would you like a demonstration?" Tea asked, coming up behind him, with an evil smile on her face.
"I don't-" Noa started, looking at her face.
"You are not demonstrating that maneuver on my little brother," Seto suddenly burst forth from his room.
"He wanted to know what it was," Tea cocked her head, scowling, "And frankly, I don't feel like explaining it again."
Seto walked over to her, "Well, you're not doing anything to my bro-" Seto ceased suddenly as Tea kneed him harshly below the belt, kicked his other shin very hard and brought her foot down on its heel -and she had prepared earlier by wearing high-heels- on his foot.
Seto stood there, with pain written all across his face.
Tea turned around happily to Noa, "There's the Sunshine Treatment, Noa. And I feel greatly refreshed and happy now. I think I'll go take a walk," she skipped down the stairs, disposing of the uncomfortable high-heels and out onto the beach.
Noa stared after her, and looked back up at his brother, who was still –surprisingly- frozen on the spot.
Ow, Noa mouthed out.
Mai laughed, "Man, I've got to go congratulate Tea on that one! That was priceless!" Mai ran after the girl.
Tristan walked over to Seto and put a hand on his shoulder, "For once, man, I feel really sorry for you. You'll be sore for a couple of days…."
Bakura stood in the shadows of the hallway, looking over his tape. "I love you Serenity Wheeler," he smirked, running through the film on the video camera. First, Bakura had stolen the camera a couple of days ago to catch his own pranks on film: the ones with Tristan, Duke and Joey. Then, there had been that prank Ryou had been involved in – the one where Tea had to flirt with Seto a couple of days ago. Afterwards, Bakura had actually asked Serenity to borrow the camera and he surprisingly caught a whole bunch of the conversation in Tea's room.
"That will teach her to leave her door open," he snickered, running through the part where Tea had socked Joey in the nose, and then went and kissed Seto briefly.
And now he had this: Seto Kaiba receiving the Sunshine Treatment.
"I'm going to have to put this all together into a movie," he smiled, "And two more good pranks will hopefully be on the way. Not to mention Ryou here getting the Treatment, I'm sure."
Mokuba walked into Serenity's room and sat in the chair again. She was reading the book he had left.
"Oh, hey," she looked up, "You've got a really good book here. Sorry if I get germs on it…" she put it aside.
"No problem: take it. You're probably dead bored."
"Not really: not when you're here," she smiled.
"Serenity, can I ask you a question?"
"Sure!"
"Do you know…that the Sunshine Treatment is?" In an unexpected response, Serenity burst into a fit of giggles.
"Oh my gosh! Where you threatened with that?"
"No, but I heard the other guys complaining about it, and Joey was trying to avoid it…."
"Oh man, well it's…" Serenity laughed again, "You see…" she laughed again, "Oh, I can't say it! Come on…let's see if there's a chance that it pops up outside. Come on," she grabbed hand and got out of bed. She may have been sick, but that didn't mean she was going to miss out on seeing it delivered if it was to be.
"Shh," she sad, opening the door a crack, and the two peered outside.
"You are not demonstrating that maneuver on my little brother," Seto suddenly burst forth from his room.
"He wanted to know what it was," Tea cocked her head, scowling, "And frankly, I don't feel like explaining it again."
Seto walked over to her, with his back turned to the two young ones peering out, "Well, you're not doing anything to my bro-"
Mokuba's mouth dropped open. Serenity was fidgeting next to him, trying not to laugh. She was mouthing, Oh my gosh, oh my gosh, OH MY GOSH!
Tea turned around happily to Noa, "There's the Sunshine Treatment, Noa. And I feel greatly refreshed and happy now. I think I'll go take a walk," she skipped down the stairs.
Mai laughed, "Man, I've got to go congratulate Tea on that one! That was priceless!" Mai ran after the girl.
Tristan walked over to Seto and put a hand on his shoulder, "For once, man, I feel really sorry for you. You'll be sore for a couple of days…."
Serenity pulled an astonished Mokuba back into the room and closed the door. She suddenly burst out laughing, "OH MY GOSH! SHE DID THAT TO KAIBA! I DON'T BELIEVE IT!" she laughed again.
Mokuba was still staring at the door, "Ow…."
Serenity just laughed even harder. "I-I'm sorry, M-Mokuba…b-but it's j-just so f-funny!" she rolled over onto the floor.
Mokuba shook his head, still repeating, "Ow, ow, ow…. Serenity? Do you ever do that?"
"Not yet," she replied, "only Mai and Ta have ever doe that to the guys. Me, I prefer slapping. But I swear: if Joey crosses the line one more time, I'll-"
"You'd do that to your own brother?" Mokuba gaped, "That's harsh…."
"Which is harsher? Doing that, or him saying that we're…doing…stuff," she blushed even more. "Don't worry: you're safe. …From me, at least." She felt her flushed face, "Gosh, I'm sure I rose up about two degrees from laughing so hard."
"Oh, Serenity, you should get back to bed," Mokuba grabbed her arm and helped her up to her bed. Serenity got into bed and lay in the covers (she had gotten the chills earlier), and rested her head against the stacked pillows.
She sighed, glad to be lying down again.
"Mokuba, can I ask you something?"
"Sure," he replied, sitting on the chair next to her bed.
"Why are you doing this?"
"Doing what?"
"Taking care of me."
"Oh…well," Mokuba looked away, "You see, I…I felt slightly…indebted, yes, because you came to visit me when I was "boozed out" so to speak. And…you stayed the whole night-" Serenity blushed here, "And so…I felt that I ought to help you since you're sick." He failed to mention the fact that he had very strong feelings for her and that sleeping in the same bed with him had helped him more than she knew.
"Is that all? A "debt" to repay?"
"No, no, it's…I just felt…that you needed help, because you were sick. It's…second nature to help, isn't it?"
"Yeah, I suppose," she smiled slightly at him, and looked down at the sheets, with a slightly disappointed look crossing over her face. "I think I'm going to take another nap now." She turned over and closed her eyes.
Mokuba sat back and picked up his book again. He had nothing better to do.
A few minutes later, Serenity sat up, and looked at him, "Mokuba?"
"Yes?" he dropped his book, and sat on the edge of her bed, "Can I get you something."
"Mokuba, I was just thinking…."
"Yes?" he asked softly, leaning in slightly closer….
"I was thinking…" Serenity stuttered again, leaning forward as well, "that…" her eyes closed halfway, "that possibly…we…we…."
"Yes?" Mokuba asked again, closing in….
"Hey, Ren? I just came to check up on ya-" Joey opened the door with his key and stepped in, looking at her, "ya-AH! I KNEW IT!" He rushed over and grabbed Mokuba by the shoulders, "OUT!" he shouted, shoving him out the door, "I KNEW THERE WAS SOMETHING MORE GOIN' ON HERE!"
"WHEELER, WHAT ARE YOU DOING TO MOKUBA!" Seto, again, seemed to be in the wrong place at the wrong time: coming out of his room stiffly.
"YOUR BROTHER WAS JUST ABOUT TA-"
"TEA! MAI! WHOEVER! SOMEBODY! PLEASE!" Serenity called form her bed. Tea and Mai, hearing their names called, rushed up the stairs to Serenity's door.
"WHAT!" they asked frantically. Serenity, holding her head, slowly got out of bed, and held out her hand to them.
"Can I borrow your heels?" Mai and Tea exchanged glances, and smirked.
"Certainly," they both replied, "One or two?"
"One each please," Serenity replied.
"Right on, girl," Mai whispered as she and Tea each took off a heel for her, and handed it over.
"Thank you," Serenity replied, slipping them on. She turned to her brother, who had a look of pure terror etched all over his face. "Now, if I could have some privacy with my brother for a moment…."
"Serenity…what are ya doin'?" Joey backed up, "You're not gonna-"
"Joey…we need to have a little talk," Serenity grabbed her brother and shoved him inside, closing the door gently.
The next thing the four heard, were howls of pain from Joey. Seto and Mokuba winced. Tea and Mai just closed their eyes – both from the thought of the pain he must be experiencing and just imagining what it must look like….
"Ren!" he gasped out, "W-Why?"
"QUIT THROWING MOKUBA OUT FOR STUFF HE ISN'T DOING!"
"But he was about ta-"
"He wasn't "about ta do" ANYTHING!" Serenity shouted. "NOW GO OUTSIDE AND APOLOGIZE!"
"Ren…Ren, I seriously can't move," Joey stated from inside.
Mai and Tea looked at each other, both threatening to burst out laughing.
The door opened a minute later, with Serenity helping her brother out the door. She handed the shoes back to Mai and Tea, "Thank you for your services."
"No, thank you," they both replied.
"M-Mok-kuba…sorry…I s'ppose," Joey said through struggled air.
"You have my utmost forgiveness," Mokuba shook his head.
Bakura walked past them from the bathroom. He muttered to himself, "Thank you, Serenity. I truly am loving this day…. I just hope I got the angle right when I slipped this into her room before she closed the door. I would have hated to miss something," he looked down at the camera in his hand. He stopped rewinding it and pushed play. Joey and Serenity appeared on screen. He winced as he saw what was happening.
"And for this section, I'll rate it R, for graphic violence," he said.
"Whatcha got there, Ryou?" Duke asked, coming up along beside him.
"Oh, nothing. You'll see soon enough," he smirked and hurried forward.
"Alright…" Duke shrugged.
"Come on, Mokuba…again," Serenity pulled him into her room.
"B-But-" Joey was about to protest. His answer was a slammed door.
"Wheeler…what were you saying that my brother was about to do?" Seto asked slowly.
"Kiss 'er," Joey replied.
Some sort of emotion flickered across Seto's face. He immediately started banging on the door and trying to wrench it off its hinges, "MOKUBA KAIBA, OPEN THIS DOOR IMMEDIATELY!"
"Neither Mokuba nor Serenity is here at the moment: please leave a message after the laughter," Mokuba recited. There was an uproar of laughing from inside the room.
"MOKUBA!"
"Dude!" Joey said, "I've got the key! …The key…" he searched his pockets. "WHERE'S THE KEY!"
"You mean this key?" Serenity's voice answered from the other side of the door.
"SERENITY! OPEN THIS DOOR RIGHT NOW!" Joey joined Seto in trying to break down the door.
"They're actually working together on something," Tea commented.
"Amazing," Mai agreed. "But they're going to get a fine if they break down that door."
"Kaiba can handle it," Tea waved her hand. The two walked away.
"So…what was it that got you so upset at Joey earlier? He said it had something to do with Kaiba…."
"What else did he say?" Tea hissed.
"That he wasn't going to say anything more lest he get the Sunshine Treatment."
"Good," Tea sighed, "he's scared. I'm glad."
"So…what went on?"
"Well-"
"Tea? Could I talk to you outside for a moment?" Ryou suddenly came from outside.
"Oh, yeah, sure," Tea nodded. "I'll tell you later, Mai," she replied, and walked out with Ryou.
The two walked outside. Ryou looked around at the scenery as they walked up the deck. The sky was beginning to darken quickly.
"Hmm…looks like a storm's coming," Ryou commented as they reached the deck and leaned on the railing.
"Yeah, I suppose you're right," Tea said, looking up.
"Bad storm: definitely," Ryou stated.
"Uh…huh," Tea nodded slowly. What was he getting at?
"Do you think we're in for some major weather?"
"I guess, yeah," she replied, looking out over the sea, which was beginning to get rough.
"Wind's picking up."
"Yes…." Tea was starting to zone out. What had Ryou brought her here for. Was this what he wanted to talk about? The weather?
"Sea's getting rough."
"Quite."
"…You like Seto Kaiba, don't you?" Bakura smirked.
"Sure thing," Tea sighed. Bakura waited. And waited. A couple minutes passed by….
"Wait a second," Tea sat up, "What was that last thing you said?"
"Man, you're slow," Bakura chuckled.
"You said I liked Kaiba, didn't you? I knew something didn't sound right!"
"I never said anything of the sort: you said it."
"I never…I mean…I DON'T LIKE KAIBA! GOSH! RYOU, HOW COULD YOU!"
"Wrong person, Tea," Bakura looked out over the sea.
Slap!
Bakura's eyes widened.
"At least this time, it won't hurt Ryou as much," Tea huffed, "DON'T DO THAT AGAIN! WHEN YOU DO THAT I START FEELING-" she stopped and looked away.
"Feeling what, exactly?" Bakura asked, rubbing his cheek.
"None of your business."
"Guilty? Because its true?"
"NO!"
"Are you sure?"
"Yes."
"Positive?"
"Yes."
"You like Kaiba?"
"Y – oh, now, don't start that again!" Tea turned on her heel and stomped off. "GOSH! Stupid Bakura and his pranks…I wish I could just…" she started to strangle the air.
"That was so worth it," Bakura laughed. "And its not just a prank: its help. She needs to quite denying certain facts."
"So…do you think she really does like my brother?" Noa came around, handing him the camera.
"Possibly," Bakura answered. "Now, I'd go find your brother. It's his turn."
"Alright," Noa gave a haphazard smile. Did Tea really like Seto?
Yugi hadn't been seen all day. He had kept himself cooped up in his room. Early in the morning, Jacques had come to him with yet another letter from Rebekah. He had read it over, and now he was pacing the room, thinking up a good answer for her, and pondering over his own feelings.
She cares a lot for you, Yami said from inside his mind.
I know…that's what gets to me. She's expecting some sort of…feeling in return, but I don't think I can give that to her! I like Tea…right?
Do you?
Wouldn't you know? You pretty much are me, aren't you?
Yes, but…
No buts. Just tell me! Do I like Tea as much as I thought…or not?
Well, think about it this way. Do you think she loves you in return? She may be your best friend, and maybe that's stopping her from feeling more for you.
You have a point, Yugi sat down on his bed, But we just don't know….
Then find out.
How? If I really don't feel that way for her – which I originally thought I did – I could be making a fool of myself if I ask her, and she says she does. Then what do I do? Gosh! Yugi collapsed onto his bed, Love is so confusing!
That it is.
Do you remember anything about it from Egypt? Did you like anybody?
I don't remember, I'm sorry.
Do you remember anyone like Tea? You said once that Joey reminded you of somebody. And we all know Kaiba was there…and Bakura.
Well…I might remember something….
Yes…?
There was a girl…. She hung out with me and Jono – that was Joey, I believe- a lot. Now that I think about, she did look a lot like Tea…. There were some differences, but yes, she might have been the same person.
What was her name?
Let me think for a second…. …Teana? Yes, that was it.
Sounds like it was Tea. What happened to her? …Love wise?
I don't know, Yugi. The war interfered with what I knew about her and the rest of the people. Although there did seem to be a scandal at one time….
Scandal? What kind of scandal?
A love-like one I think…. But I doubt it. I can't remember much. After all, the scandal concerned Kaiba's past counterpart: where would the love be?
Why did you think of that scandal just now?
I'm not sure. Somehow, my mind connected scandal and Teana together… Maybe she was the one who told me about it…
Yugi sighed. At least he had gotten some information out of him. But it wasn't much. He looked at Rebekah's letter once more.
Dear Yugi,
I was so happy to receive your last letter. They make my day! You must tell me of all the fun you're having at the beach. Your Grandpa would like to know too. You've told me some things, but not everything I'm sure. Why don't you start from Day one on some other sheet of paper? Just list the highlights. We would all love to know what you're doing. I would especially.
Yugi, we've known each other for quite awhile, and I've taken a great liking to you. You're sweet; kind' generous; friendly, and the list could go on and on. And one of your best qualities: You're a fantastic duelist! I can't hold it in any longer, Yugi. I'm just going to come out and say it: I REALLY like you. I think you can catch my drift when I say, I REALLY have taken a grand liking to you.
Please reply to this letter. Please tell me…how you feel.
Love, Rebekah.
Yugi sighed again. He didn't want to break Rebekah's heart, but he didn't want to tear his to pieces in frustration either! This reply is going to take much longer than the other ones: that's for sure.
The boys had stopped pounding on the door finally; Serenity was taking a nap, and Mokuba was reading.
And Serenity had once again entered that dream. The dream with everyone in it. But this time, she paid no attention to anybody else. She was in a race against the clock. She had to find Mokuba. She just knew that if she didn't hurry, she would wake up before she could hear the rest of what she had to say to Mokuba. And would Mokuba say anything back? The dream never ended, although she had had it almost every night this month.
"Mokuba!" She called out, "Where are you?"
"Serenity?" Mokuba materialized in front of her. She tried slowing down, but ended up tripping and falling into his arms, as usual.
"Mokuba, I-" she lost her voice, as usual.
"Yes?" he answered again.
"I…I…" Serenity's heart began to beat faster. Time was running out: she knew it was. "I lo-" she couldn't say what she wanted to say!
Mokuba looked back down at her warmly, "Go ahead: you can say it," he knelt closer to her.
"I…I…I," she looked back up into his blue-grey eyes. "I love you!" She gasped and covered her mouth.
So that's what she had been meaning to say for half a month.
Mokuba smiled at her, bent down more, and laid his lips on hers.
Too bad it was only a dream.
But the kiss felt so real to Serenity. Then again, this dream had always made everything feel real. But this…this felt the most real of all.
Mokuba looked over at Serenity's sleeping body. He decided now was a good time to go and get a snack. He set his book down, got up and went towards the doorway. He opened it, but stopped.
Serenity was fighting on her bed. Mokuba left the door open and rushed over to her bedside.
"Serenity?" he felt her forehead. It felt warmer. He pulse had quickened as well. "Serenity?" he was about to wake her up, when her arms suddenly snaked up to his shoulders, holding him in that bent position. "Are you still asleep?" he asked, but silenced himself when she pulled him forward and kissed him.
Mokuba's eyes went wide. She's got good aim when asleep.
Nevertheless –despite the germs he was most probably receiving- this was the one thing in life he had been waiting for.
So, what else could he do, but to kiss her back?
"HOLY CRAP, I KNEW IT!"
Mokuba shot up, and Serenity awoke suddenly, feeling her mouth. What had she done. She sat up and looked at the door.
"I KNEW IT! I KNEW IT, I KNEW IT, I KNEW IT!" Joey stomped into the room, "THIS TIME YOU'VE GONE TOO FAR, BUB!" Joey grabbed Mokuba's arm and dragged him along, "FO' ONCE, I'D BE GLAD TA GO TO YOUR BROTH'A FOR HELP!"
"Joey, wait!" Serenity tried climbing out of bed, but fell out instead, due tot hew tangling of the covers, "Joey! It was me! It wasn't him! Joey!"
"KAIBA!"Joey called out to the entire household.
"What now!" Seto came out of the dining room downstairs.
"Dis time, your broth'a's done it! This time he was kissin' my sist'a!"
Mokuba was dying to ask, What's so bad about kissing someone? You do it all the time! Then again, he pictured the responses he would get from each brother:
What's wrong? Seto would roar, You kissed a Wheeler! A WHEELER, MOKUBA! THINK ABOUT IT! I don't want you catching the Mutt Disease!
My sist'a's too young to be makin' out! Joey would yell, An' you've gone and upset her…her…not virginity…but...ah, what the heck: message is, you messed with her too early in life!
Mokuba sighed. Nope: not the best way to go.
Imagination number one was already going into effect.
"You-" Seto gaped up at his brother from the bottom of the stairs, like a fish out of water, "You? Her? What is WRONG with you! You're far too young!"
"Amen to dat, Kaiba! Too young!"
"Too reckless!"
"Yeah!"
"Imagine where you could have gone from there!"
"Especially from der!"
"She's a WHEELER!"
"Yeah! She's a Wh- wait a sec…that's not what I'm aimin' ta say…."
"Guys, will you keep it down!" Yugi suddenly emerged from his room, "This is like…the fifteen-thousandth time today that you've wrecked my concentration! I'm in a crisis here!"
"Sorry, Yug," Joey apologized, "What kind of crisis?"
"Never mind! Just keep it down!" Yugi walked back into his room and slammed the door shut.
Seto had come up the stairs in that time, and took Mokuba away from Joey's grasp. "I need to talk to you." He dragged him into Seto's own room.
"And I need ta talk wit' you!" Joey came back into Serenity's room. Serenity was lying on the bed, trying to feign sleep. "Oh, no ya don't," Joey went over to her bed, "Ya ain't foolin' me! I know you're awake!" he shook her. She still stayed "asleep." He smiled as he got an idea.
He began to tickle her. She started shaking. More…more….
"Joey!" she laughed, trying to push his fingers away, "Stop already! Okay, okay!"
"Now, we need ta have a little talk," Joey sat down in Mokuba's chair.
"Joey, wait: before you go on…let me just say it wasn't him who started it. I did."
"W-Wha'?" Joey sat back, astounded.
"I was sort of…asleep…and dreaming…and I don't know…I guess he was at the wrong place at the wrong time and I sort of…grabbed him and kissed him."
"Still doesn't explain why he didn't shove you off," Joey crossed his arms and looked away.
"Maybe he was being polite, and not wanting to wake me up?" Serenity looked over at her brother.
"Alrigh', alrigh', you've made your point. I'm just goin' ta say dis-"
""You're too young to be going out with boys and especially making out with them. Kissing leads to things you shouldn't do until you're married, along with drinking booze, and don't do anything with a guy until you're eighteen or older." Yes, Joey, I know the speech: by heart, mind you. But kissing doesn't always lead to that sort of stuff! You and Mai kiss all the time!"
"That's because we're older and more mature, and know when to do da right t'ings and when not to do da wrong t'ings," Joey responded. Serenity snorted. "Wha'?"
"Just you calling yourself mature," she snorted again.
"Okay, I didn't come here to get insulted," Joey stood up and began to leave. He stopped and turned around, "Just behave yourself, okay?"
"Joey! Geez!" Serenity crossed her arms and lay back against the bed. Joey left.
Across the hall, Mokuba was getting a similar speech.
"Mokuba, what is wrong with you? Haven't I told you you're too young for this sort of stuff?" Seto held his brother by his shoulders.
Mokuba rolled his eyes, "Seto, half the people I know got their first kiss at twelve years old. I'm not too young. Just because you haven't kiss- er – really gotten together with a girl yet, doesn't mean I can't." He had been about to say 'kissed' but found that void after the fact that he had seen Seto and Tea yesterday.
Seto narrowed his eyes, "Why did you change that word halfway through."
"What word?" Mokuba asked innocently.
"You know well what word."
"Fine, I'll tell you. You have kissed a girl already."
A flash of panic ran through Seto, "Says who?"
"Don't play stupid, Seto, I say you and Tea yesterday."
Seto winced. So someone had seen them…. "It was purely accidental-"
"Sure…" Mokuba replied.
"But that's completely off subject," he started again. Mokuba rolled his eyes, as Seto had failed to mention that he had been the one to get them off topic. "The point is: you're too young, and I don't want you getting yourself into trouble. And especially with a Wheeler, Mokuba! I mean: a Wheeler! Have you seen their father? He's a complete alcoholic!"
"I know that," Mokuba looked away, remembering what Serenity had told him at the bar.
"Then why did you-"
"First of all, Seto –not to get her in trouble or anything- she started it. Second of all: I'll use the excuse you gave: it was purely accidental. Thirdly: in case you want to know, I actually like the Wheelers. And I don't just like Serenity, Seto…I LOVE her, okay? So NOW you know something about me! Maybe if you would pull yourself away form work, like Noa and I ask you all the time –that's pretty much why we wanted to go on vacation with you- you would already know this!" Mokuba had stepped away from his brother, breathing heavily.
Seto stood straight, slowly…very, very slowly, "You…you-"
"YES, SETO, I LOVE HER! GET IT!" Mokuba sighed angrily and stomped towards the door. He put his hand on the handle and stopped, "And maybe if you talk to Noa now, you'll find out some interesting stuff about him. And I would suggest telling him about the "Survival of the Fittest:" really, only the part concerning the fact that everyone competes for mates," Mokuba scowled and stepped out, shutting the door hard.
Seto just stood there, frozen, yet again. His brother had just…burned him badly. Mokuba had just gone and cut him so deeply it wasn't even funny.
Mokuba had also left him very confused. What had he been talking about when he spoke of Noa?
Serenity lay against the backboard of the bed. She suddenly heard some shouting coming from across the hall.
"So NOW you know something about me! Maybe if you would pull yourself away form work, like Noa and I ask you all the time –that's pretty much why we wanted to go on vacation with you- you would already know this!"
Serenity gasped: that was Mokuba's voice. What was he shouting at his brother for? What didn't Seto know? There was a pause for s minute, before Serenity heard a shout that changed her life:
"YES, SETO, I LOVE HER! GET IT!"
Serenity's eyes went wide. There could be no mistaking whom he was talking about. "Oh. My. God." She felt her heartbeat. It was beating rapidly.
And at that moment, Serenity just wanted to jump out of bed, and waltz around her room, crying out, HE LOVES ME!
She heard a click on he door. It had to be Mokuba: he was the one with the spare key.
Not wishing to look like she had eavesdropped, she grabbed the book and opened it, hiding her face, not really paying attention to the words.
It was a good thing she had the fever to cover up for the blushing.
"Hey there," Mokuba sighed as he walked into the room, "What's up."
"N-Nothing," she replied, "Just…reading," she said.
"You get the speech too?"
"Y-Yeah."
Mokuba sighed and took the seat. He looked up and started talking, "Look, Serenity-" he ceased speaking. Her eyes had been peering over the top of the book, but had dashed to the pages again. He narrowed his eyes, "Serenity? Why are you reading the book upside down?"
Serenity looked at the pages suddenly. "Oh!" she righted it, "I uh…wanted to see if I could…read upside down. Just a trick…."
"And starting from the end?" Mokuba looked at the page she was on.
"I, er…I-"
"Did you hear…what I said? …To Seto?"
Serenity lay the book aside, and nodded.
A red flush crept onto his cheeks, "Well…er…I, um…."
"Mokuba?"
"Yeah?" he looked up at her uneasily.
She smiled at him, "If I wasn't concerned about giving you my fever, I would kiss the life out of you right now."
Mokuba blinked, but a devilish smile crept onto his face, nonetheless, "That didn't stop us before."
"I was unconscious, though," Serenity looked away, feeling a blush come on as well."
"Frankly, I could care less whether I got sick, if-" That was all Serenity had needed to hear. She jumped out of bed, and wrapped her arms around him, kissing him.
To steady her from suddenly jumping, Mokuba impulsively held onto her waist – a good place to accidentally hold onto.
Serenity lowered herself into his lap, and continued to caress his jaw and kiss him.
The two couldn't have been happier.
Teen rebellion and a killer kiss: what could be better?
"Aww, isn't that just the sweetest thing you've ever seen?" Tea asked Mai.
"Totally," Mai replied. "This was a great idea, Tea. You're quite sneaky."
"Thank you," Tea smiled. The two peered back into the window to Serenity's room. They were watching the kissing-fest going on inside.
"Of course…standing on this ledge really isn't the most comfortable," Mai sighed, shifting her feet ever so slightly, "And the brick is really hot."
"Yeah, but you didn't want your heels interfering, did you?" Tea asked, "After all: this is the second story."
"Yeah," Mai replied. "Besides: it was worth it to see those two."
"Yep. I can't believe Kaiba and Joey are being so sore about it," Tea sighed.
"You know them: way too overprotective."
"So, Tea…how are we going to get down?"
"Well, we used to tree to climb up, didn't we? We'll just grab it again, and climb down."
Mai looked behind them, "Yes, but last time, we had to lower ourselves and grab the ivy to get on. How do we get up?"
"That…is a good question," Tea nodded. "…Plan B?"
"What's Plan B?"
"Scream for help?"
"Those two will catch us! I don't think they'll appreciate us looking in on them!"
"True. Got any other ideas?"
"How about you jump?"
"YAH!" the two girls shouted…quietly, and almost fell off the ledge. They looked behind them. "DUKE!" they both retorted…quietly.
"Why are we whispering?" Duke asked.
Mai jerked her finger back towards the window. "Oh," Duke nodded. "Need some help, ladies?"
They both nodded.
"Well…the wrong guy came to get you. I frankly am not…strong enough to catch a falling girl. Gosh…that would break my back…."
"Are you calling us fat, Duke Devlin?" Mai hissed.
"Maybe…" Duke smirked up at them.
"GET YOUR BUTT UP HERE!" Tea looked like she was about to spray him down with fire.
He knew he was going to pay for that one later. "Why don't I just go get someone stronger to help you two down? I won't ask what you were doing up there, and you won't pummel me, deal?"
"Fine! Just…get Joey or something!" Mai replied, "He caught me once! Though I almost killed him," Mai considered.
"I'll see who I can find," Duke waved, "Later, girls. Hold on tight. It may take me awhile to find someone…."
"DUKE DEVLIN!" the two girls hissed back, as he walked away, laughing.
"I swear…when I get down there…" Tea gritted her teeth.
"We can't hurt him. Remember? We promised. He won't ask us what we were doing…which is a good thing if Joey's coming to get us. Imagine how he would react?"
"A tornado would bust through the entire house, from his over-inflated head popping," Tea replied. Mai laughed.
"True."
"Speaking of tornadoes…that storm looks pretty bad," Tea commented, looking out over the sea.
"Yeah…. Why did we come outside again? We could have just eavesdropped, or asked Ryou for Serenity's camera."
"Why does he have Serenity's camera? …Wait…Serenity has a camera?"
"Long story," Mai replied, forgetting that Tea didn't know. "Besides, I don't know why he has it."
They stood up there for about five minutes, before Duke came around the corner.
"Hey, girls! I found help! I got Joey…but he complained about having two girls fall on him in succession, so I found someone else too."
Tea had a sinking feeling she knew who he was talking about, "Who?"
Her answer came around the corner right after Joey.
Seto Kaiba.
"Why him?" she said softly to Mai, "Of all the guys here-"
"You heard: Joey doesn't want two girls on him; Duke says he's a wimp: Yugi, no offense, is far to short, I doubt Bakura could handle it, and because Duke and Tristan are so alike, I'm sure Tristan backed out as well. Noa is far too small as well, and Mokuba is busy at the moment. Plus: he's too small too. But why all the fuss?"
"You're going to have Joey catch you, right?"
"Yeah."
"My point exactly. You're not the one falling into Seto Kaiba's arms. Especially when there's a ninety-nine point nine percent that he'll drop me two seconds after I land."
"Point taken," Mai nodded.
"So, what are you two doin' up der?" Joey called up.
"None of your business," Mai called back down, "Just get ready to catch me!"
"Oh boy…" Joey sighed, and held out his arms, bracing himself for the fall.
"Wish me luck," Mai nodded off to Tea. She jumped off the ledge backwards.
With a thud, she landed in Joey's arms, but Joey fell into the splits immediately afterwards and collapsed to the ground, moaning, "Ow, ow, ow…not the splits!" One should not forget that he had already been hit today….
"Disgrace," Seto shook his head, "Wheeler, watch how you're supposed to catch a girl. Are you coming, Gardner?" Seto called up, "I'm not going to stand here all day!"
"God save me," Tea sighed, knocking her head slightly against the wall. "Just don't drop me!" she replied. Then, she let go, and fell backwards.
To her surprise, a few seconds, later, she landed in his arms, without him staggering in the least.
She felt herself warming up in his lift, and started playing with her hair to make the anxiety go away.
"So you don't fall down, big deal!" Joey replied, getting up with Mai's help, "At least I caught Mai…."
"And risked injuring her," Seto replied.
"Uh, excuse me," Tea tugged on his sleeve. "You can let me down now…carefully."
Seto looked down at her, and righted her, putting her back on her feet. Tea began to love the feeling of relief, but still rather missed the position….
"Mind telling us what you were doing up there?" Seto inquired.
"Yes, we would mind," Mai stood straight and grabbed Tea's arm, "We're leaving. Thank you for catching us, boys." She stalked away, proudly, with Tea being dragged along.
Joey looked up at the window, "Hey…ain't dat Serenity's room?"
"I think so," Duke nodded, "What do you reckon they were looking at?"
"Something tells me I'm better off not knowing," Seto turned away and walked.
"He's got a point," Duke replied, following him.
"I still can't believe he agreed to come help us," Joey said once he had caught up with Duke, "I thought he'd think it funny to see at least one of them stranded up there. Or me in double the pain."
"Maybe he's changed. Remember yesterday?"
"True."
It had started raining soon after Tea and Mai had gotten back inside. Serenity and Mokuba were still in her room. Seto had taken Mokuba's advice and found Noa, pulling him to his room to speak with him.
Noa, however, found this an equal opportunity to speak with Seto. He motioned for Bakura to follow discreetly.
They walked into the room –Bakura slipped the camera inside and Noa righted it to the right angle with his foot. He would bring up his part of the conversation first, so that anything that was to be kept to the brothers could be said later, and therefore erased.
"So, Seto," Noa said, taking a seat on the bed. He decided to go with the Bakura-routine. The windows were open. "Nasty weather we're going to get, huh?"
"It would seem so," Seto looked out the window. "Noa-"
"Very rainy. Do you think it will rain tomorrow?"
"Yes, but-"
"Do you think there will be a typhoon?"
"Possibly-"
"It's getting very dark outside."
"Yes, Noa," Seto sighed, leaning back. He was giving up until he got a space.
Noa noticed this. "So…the sea is really rough, isn't it?"
"Yes," Seto sighed.
"…Do you like-"
"Don't try it, Noa, I know what you're up to. I'm not falling for it."
"Oh…. You're…not falling for it?"
"Yes, I'm not falling for it."
"So my efforts are useless?"
"Indeed."
"Do you think Tea's hot?"
"Yes, Noa-" he turned around, "That wasn't funny. You know I didn't mean that."
"But you said you weren't going to fall for it."
"Yes, but-"
"But you said that you think Tea's hot."
"Yes, I said that, but-"
"There's not denying it-"
"Noa!" Seto stopped him, "enough mind games already! I came here to talk to you."
"About what?"
"…I…just want to get to know you better."
"Have you been talking to Mokuba?"
"…Yes."
"And…what did he tell you?"
"A couple of things…. He said that if I didn't pay so much attention to work, and some more to you two –I try hard, you know that-" Noa nodded in agreement, "that I would already have known that…he likes Serenity Wheeler."
"So he finally told?"
"Yes."
"Did he…say anything about me?"
"Yes, but…I didn't quite understand what he meant by it."
"What did he say?"
"That I should tell you about the "Survival for the Fittest:" especially the part concerning that everybody and everything competes for mates. I swear, I don't understand what he meant by that," Seto shook his head.
"Oh…did he now?" Noa narrowed his eyes, "And…did he say anything pertaining to anyone else here at this house? Maybe a…girl? Besides Serenity?"
Seto would rather not tell what Mokuba had said about seeing Tea and him. He didn't want to keep it a secret from Noa, but…it would embarrass the heck out of himself.
"Well…he did say-"
"Hey you two: time for dinner," Ryou's voice came from the other end of the door, as he knocked.
"Be right there," Seto replied, getting up, "We can talk about this later. I'm hungry."
"You're always hungry," Noa rolled his eyes, "Corn chips this and doughnuts that."
"Hey," Seto pointed at his brother, "That dream only occurred once. And…I haven't talk in my sleep since then."
"Wanna place a bet on that? "Noa smirked.
"What are you talking about?" Seto stopped.
Noa puffed out his chest slightly, and cleared his throat, as if he had been waiting to recite this. He lowered his voice slightly when he spoke, "Yugi: I will defeat you in this duel: muwhaha! And then we'll see who the new King of Games is!" Noa fell into a fit of laughter immediately after that.
"W-When did that happen?" Seto protested.
"Only about fifteen times," Noa recounted. Seto knew it was true. He remembered the dreams.
Noa opened the door, and turned around, "Oh, and one time, you said Tea Gardner was hot."
"You made that up!" Seto replied, "I would never have said anything like that!"
"I've got tapes, Seto," Noa laughed, running down the hall.
"Get, back here, you! I never said anything like that!" Seto ran out of his room.
"Said what?" Seto stopped. He looked around and saw Mokuba coming out of Serenity's room. His hair looked a little messier for some reason….
"Noa says I still talk in my sleep."
"I'll get the tapes after dinner," Mokuba smiled, walking down the stairs.
"Mokuba! Come on! One time-"
"You said Tea was hot," Mokuba replied quietly and ran the rest of the way down the stairs.
Seto stopped and gripped the handle tightly – so tightly that his knuckles became chalk-white.
"Touché," Tea said, walking down the stairs to his left. Seto's head whipped around and watched her descend the stairs. She looked back at him with lidded eyes, and a raised eyebrow.
There! A nice LONG chapter for you! Had nothing better to do…. Sorry it's late though: stupid PLEASE REVIEW! Hope you're still enjoying it! Hope you all enjoyed the romance, and I hope it was at least a little funny!