NOTE: After it has been long awaited (Sorry! Not my fault!), here is the next installment! Hope you all like it….
Disclaimer: I don't own Yu-Gi-Oh!
Chapter 18: A Daring Game of Truth…And More
July 15
Noa jumped and landed in a heap of covers on the floor, having tumbled out of bed as a great crack of thunder rolled through the night. He sat up straight in bed and ran to the window, pulling the shade open. Torrents of rain pelted the ground and windows outside. He sighed. Great. A storm. He wasn't going to get back to sleep…that was for sure.
A roll of thunder seemed to agree with him.
He collapsed onto his bed and looked at the clock. It was a little past three in the morning.
"What's a guy have to do to get some sleep around here!" he moaned. He suddenly covered his mouth, afraid he had waken up Mokuba.
"Wait a second…" Noa started. He listened. Nothing. A flash of lightning lit the room, showing him the empty bed.
He frowned. Just where was Mokuba anyway? He hadn't been here when Noa had gone to sleep. The boy had supposed his brother would come later.
"Obviously not…" Noa told himself. He looked at the door, and smirked, "And I have a sneaky suspicion that I know where he is…."
Serenity hugged Mokuba's arm as out of the blue a roll of thunder sounded. She could feel her heart trying to free itself from her ribcage, due to the great fright it had enlisted upon her.
"Serenity?" Mokuba asked from behind her.
"Sorry…the thunder just scared me for a second there: it was unexpected."
"I know what you mean-" another crack of thunder sounded, and Serenity jumped in bed again. Mokuba smiled and pulled her closer to him. She seemed to relax instantly. "Just don't think about. Think about something else."
"Like what?" Serenity prodded on, "Give me a prompt." Lighting flashed through the covered window.
"Well…I don't know…us, I guess. Are you really, genuinely happy like this?"
"What do you mean by that?" Serenity turned her head to look back at Mokuba, "Are you trying to ask me if I think you're the right guy for me?"
Mokuba just nodded slightly.
A smile broke out on Serenity's face and she laughed quietly, "Would I be in the same bed as you –defying my brother's wishes about guys sleeping in the same room as I am, in general- if I didn't love you and think you were the right guy?"
"I suppose not," he smiled. "I'm glad you feel the same way I do," he hugged her closer.
Serenity barely noticed the next roll of thunder, as she was too wrapped up in Mokuba's arms and feelings to care.
Torrents of rain started coming down. More thunder and lightning cracked and wind blew ferociously across the beach.
Serenity sighed, "Let's talk some more…maybe we'll lull ourselves back to sleep."
"What do you want to talk about?"
"Well…let's stay on the 'us' topic. …What do you think is…in store for us, in the future?"
"Well," Mokuba started, "Not many couples our age last through to the age of getting…well…married…and those that do sometimes divorce…." He felt Serenity shift uncomfortably in his arms.
"That's what I'm afraid of. I've seen some girls go through five boyfriends a year. …I don't want that to happen with us."
"Then it won't," he whispered to her, "As long as we love each other like this…we'll stay together for eternity."
"I love how you string words together like that," Serenity looked up at him. "I've always liked a grand vocabulary in guys."
"Then you've hooked up with the right guy," Mokuba laughed softly.
Serenity kissed him softly then turned back to face the direction of the window, "So…do you think we can make it?"
"I think so. Do you?"
"…Yes. I know we can. Half a month of fretting will not easily be forgotten," she said, more to herself than to Mokuba.
Joey sat at the dining room table in the early morning, looking around at everyone else, who were also up. Most of them were red-eyed and tired looking.
"That storm is killer, man," Tristan yawned, "It kept me up half of the night!"
"Well, the day isn't looking too much better. Even if we did want a nap, this storm is supposed to worsen throughout the day," Ryou supplied, following Tristan's yawning suit.
Seto pecked at his French toast, "Great. I'll be cantankerous all day…."
"And that differs from every other day, how?" Tea asked, a small smile creeping up her lips.
Seto glared at her: a darker glare than usual. Perhaps cantankerous for Seto meant full out rage: not just normal irritableness.
"Uh…what's cantankerous mean?" Joey inquired.
"Cranky," Mai supplied, leaning her head on her folded arms on the table, and using them as a pillow for sleep.
"Oh. …Good one, Tea!" Joey laughed.
"You're a bit late," Tea yawned. She too, had lost sleep over the raging storms.
"So, Serenity," Tristan started, "Are you feeling better today?"
"Much better!" she perked up and gave Mokuba a quick side glance. "I'm starving! After going all day yesterday without any food…goodness, anyone have something left to eat?"
"Here: help yourself;" Yugi passed over his uneaten eggs, "I'm not so hungry myself." He yawned greatly and looked as if he was about to fall dead to the floor.
"Yug…what's wrong? Besides you lookin' so tired an' all," Joey asked.
"Well…not only did the storm keep me up last night, but I barely got any sleep in the first place because I had something on my mind."
"Like what?" Duke looked up.
"Oh n-nothing," Yugi suddenly sat up straight, "Just…stuff."
"Le'mme guess: Rebekah, huh?" Joey snickered.
"That's not funny!" Yugi retorted.
"Don't worry about it, Yug," Tristan held up a fork and started twirling it around as he talked, "He's just bothering you because he has a fancy to Rebekah."
"WHAT!" Joey stood up, glaring at Tristan, "WHAT ON EARTH GAVE YA THAT FREAKISH IDEA!"
Seto chuckled, "If you're looking for someone to date, Wheeler, Hawkin's is way out of your league. I'm sure she's looking for someone with more brains and dueling strength."
"KAIBA!" Joey roared, "I ALREADY AM DATING SOMEONE! JUST BECAUSE YOU CAN'T FIND A GIRL THAT LIKES YA, DOESN'T MEAN YOU CAN MAKE FUN O' ME!"
Seto's eyes widened when he heard the string of words come out of Joey's mouth. They suddenly narrowed again and he glared at 'the mutt,' "Don't you ever speak to me like that again."
Noa took this time to tug on his brother's –Seto's- shirt and whisper, "Well…he does have a point you know…."
"Who's side are you on anyway!" Seto retorted loudly. He stood up, throwing his utensils down, "I could find a girl if I wanted to! …In which case I DON'T!" he stomped off towards the threshold.
"I've got proof otherwise…" Ryou…or rather, Bakura, leaned back in his chair smiling smugly.
Seto barely heard him. But he did. And he froze. "What?"
"WHAT!" Duke, Tristan and Joey simultaneously jumped up, grabbing onto the table, "WHAT PROOF!"
"That's what I'd like to know," Seto growled.
Bakura calmly pushed out his seat, stood up, and walked to the opening to the dining room, "All in due time, my friends. All in due time…." He walked away from the breakfast table.
Mai blinked and whispered to Serenity, "I think he's doing more than what we originally planned!"
"Something tells me," Serenity started, "That we're a bad influence on him."
Someone knocked on Tea's door. She opened it and saw Ryou standing in front of her. "Oh, hey! What can I do for you?"
"Hey Tea," Ryou greeted, "I was wondering if I could borrow your laptop."
"Uh…" the color in Tea's face drained slightly, "It's not here…at the moment…. Someone else is using it."
"Oh. Alright then, could you get it to me at a convenient time?" Ryou asked.
"Sure!" Tea smiled, "I'll be sure to do that!"
"Thank you," Ryou smiled and walked away. Tea closed her door. Bakura glared at the door across Tea's. Dang you, Seto Kaiba.
But the thought of showing all of those juicy moments on tape made Bakura feel much better.
Most of the day passed without anything special. Seto worked tirelessly on Tea's laptop (I'm sure we all knew that); Mokuba and Noa plotted things to get their brother to have more fun (although much of Mokuba's thoughts were devoted to his new girlfriend); Joey was having an eating contest between him and Tristan, with Duke as the referee. Mai was slumping on the couch, watching television with Serenity. Yugi was still thinking up something to say to Rebekah. Tea was locked up in her room doing things she was not keen on others seeing; and Serenity was looking out the downstairs windows, watching the storm get worse and worse. She was witnessing waves crash on the beach; spray hurled all over by the wind, and the rain coming down in buckets. Thunder constantly cracked and lightning continuously flashed through the sky.
A soft whirring sound suddenly started. Serenity was the first to hear it, being so near the door.
"Mai? What's that sound?"
Mai muted the TV and listened, "Hmm…dunno. Sounds like a siren or something."
"Achtung! Achtung!" the German drink-mixer suddenly ran into the lobby, "ACHTUNG!"
"What does 'achtung' mean?" Mai looked at Serenity. She shrugged her shoulders. Duke came running out of the dining room.
"What? What's going on? Why does Mr. Kommen want our attention?"
"Oh, is that what it means?" Serenity looked back at Mai. It was her turn to shrug.
"Die siren! Der is a ty-voon coming! To die basement! Schnell, schnell! Mach schnell! To die basement!" Mr. Kommen pointed in the direction of a hallway off to the side that led to the laundry room. Going the opposite way, it led to a door – the basement door.
"Typhoon!" Mai jumped up.
"Wha' 'bou' a i-phoo'?" Joey blubbered as he and Tristan came running out of the dining room with their faces stuffed.
"There's a typhoon coming!" Serenity replied. "We're to get to the basement!" Joey and Tristan took no time in scampering to safety. Heck, they were on a beach. This was to the safest place to be!
"What about the people upstairs?" Mai asked Mr. Kommen.
"Herr Lou and Fräuline Jessie are knocking on all doors," Mr. Kommen. Indeed, Mai, Serenity and Duke saw the cook and waitress up on the second floor going down knocking on ever door.
"'Lo? Someone in there? Come on out!" Jessie knocked on Tea's door.
"Yes?" Tea opened the door.
"Come on, hun, there be a typhoon warnin' goin' on! We're ta get ta the basement pronto!"
"Oh!" Tea nodded, and grabbed a book quickly before running past Jessie.
Lou rapped on Ryou's door. Ryou opened it, "Yes?"
"Get to the basement: there's a typhoon warning," Lou stated.
"Oh gracious! Yes, sir; right away; thank you," Ryou nodded and slurred all of this very quickly before departing.
Lou then came to Yugi's door. He had heard the siren and the explanation to Ryou. "Typhoon? Really? Okay," Yugi said before Lou could say anything.
Jessie knocked on Seto's door.
"Who is it?" came a dark voice from within.
"Hun? There'd be a typhoon in the works here! Ya've gotta get on down ter the basement, ya hear?"
"I'll be right there," Seto replied. She heard him shuffle around and then he opened the door.
She walked after him, down to the basement. By the time Seto got there, everyone else was there.
"I'll just go join the other workers in the other room," Jessie left them, "Let the guests be to themselves: that's our policy!" she ran off to a door and slipped through it to join the rest of the staff.
Joey had turned on the television down there and had it switched to the weather channel. Indeed, the entire area around them –and more- was marked in red for a typhoon warning.
"Dey say dis ting is supposed ta last a couple hours, at least. At least five o' dem have been spotted already. Pretty crappy night. Heck, it may last all night dey say," Joey explained what was rolling across the television.
Tea sighed and sat in a chair that was down there. She cracked open her book and began to read. They were going to be here for a while.
Seto had brought a book as well, and opened that to read, seating himself in a chair opposite her.
"Great…no food…no books…no nothing," Mokuba collapsed spread eagle on the floor and sighed. And no privacy either. If there was some like…private corner or something where Serenity and I could go at least…. But NO!
Mai sat down on the floor and put her hand on her chin. She was trying to think up something fun to do to pass the time.
Truth of dare was always an option, but it was a bit overrated, and they were limited on dare resources down here.
Seven Minutes in Heaven was a big no. There were no closets here, as far as she knew, except for the bathroom, and besides: it was only apparent that she and Joey were the only couple here. (AN: I learned that this is a game where a couple is shoved into a closet for seven minutes and they are to like…make-out and stuff and she "how far they get." …I learned it from a book. NOT a real-life experience.)
And then she had it!
She clapped her hands together, "Guys! I have a way to pass the time!" This was quite a fun game. Sometimes humiliating, like Truth or Dare, but also very fun…when it wasn't necessarily your turn.
"What then?" Duke sat down. The others that weren't already sitting also took a seat on the floor around Mai. Mokuba sat up, Tea looked up from her book, and Seto kept on reading.
"Has anyone heard of the game 'End of the World'?" Mai inquired.
"Er…" Joey looked a bit confused, "No."
Serenity was thinking, "I swear I've heard of it somewhere…I just don't remember where. And it sounds familiar. Something like…it being the end of the world…and you were there with…somebody, I don't know," Serenity threw out her hands in frustration.
"Actually Serenity," Mai pointed a finger at her, "You've practically got it down! The point of the game is this –it's kind of, sort of like Truth or Dare-: the question thrown at you is, "If it was the end of the world and you were the only person left, with one other person of the opposite gender, and it was up to you two to restore life on Earth, who would that person be?" And you're given two choices. And from those two choices, you have to pick!"
"Oh, I've heard of this!" Tristan exclaimed, "Yeah! I briefly played this once! Except, it wasn't called, "End of the World." It was just a truth statement in Truth or Dare."
"See? It's practically the same thing!" Mai replied. "And usually you can use both fictional characters and real people…but I think, to make this game interesting, we should only use real living, breathing people," she smirked.
"Sounds good to me," Joey snickered. How could he have anything to lose? If he were in the situation, he would hands down choose Mai! Presuming she was a choice. Heck, that would be really insulting if it wasn't. Besides: it was fun to watch others squirm in embarrassment over these types of questions.
There were murmurs of agreement throughout the circle.
Only Seto and Tea were out of the picture.
"Tea, are you playing?" Duke asked.
"No. I always end up doing something stupid in these types of games."
"Everyone does, Tea!" Yugi supported. He really wanted her to play. Not only so that she could share in the embarrassment, but a game was never fun without her.
Tea looked over her book at the expectant group. Was it so harmless? It was just a name she had to give. Besides…it wasn't like this was ever going to happen. And…oh, she was just going to quit making excuses!
"Fine!" Tea huffed and slid down to join the group.
Some members clapped.
"What about you, Seto?" Mokuba asked.
"You must be joking," Seto said from behind his book, "What a nonsensical 'game' –if that's what you call it- this is. The End of the World? With two people left? As if that would ever happen."
"It's just a game, Kaiba," Duke sneered, "It's not meant to be real! Have you ever noticed that games aren't always real? Like Duel Monsters! A game you love…that isn't…always real…but most of the time, it is…but that's not the point!" Duke rubbed his head, "The point is, it's just a game! Lighten up and have some fun!"
"I say again: NO."
And that settled it.
Or did it?
"Fine then," Mai sighed, "Everyone get into a circle and sit opposite someone. We have an even number of people. Everyone will be paired up. Who ever is opposite you, you get to pull the question on them."
And the opposites were:
Mai and Tea; Tristan and Joey; Duke and Serenity; Noa and Yugi; and Mokuba and Ryou. Play would go as follows: Mai, Tristan, Duke, Noa, Mokuba, Tea, Joey, Serenity, Yugi and lastly: Ryou.
"Who wants to start?" Duke asked.
"I'll go!" Joey stated immediately.
"Oh no…" Tristan sighed. Then again, why was he worrying. What was the worst Joey could come up with?
Joey smirked, "Well…I think I have the perfect question fer you, Tris. If it were the end of da world, and you had ta…well…you know…do that with a girl…who would it be? Miho or…God forbid…" he gulped as if it pained him to imagine this, "my sista', Serenity?"
Tea and Yugi burst out laughing when Tristan went cherry red. It was common knowledge to most that Tristan adored Serenity now.
But had he forgotten Miho? His first crush? One that had not been too long ago?
"M-Miho? …Serenity?" Tristan stuttered.
"Speaking of which," Mai reminded, "We are going to her party tomorrow night, right? Presuming the weather clears up."
"Sure thing, but listen ta this," Joey snickered, "Come on Tristan: answer the question!"
"Uh…" Tristan reddened even more. The truth was…as much as he liked Serenity, he still kind of…liked Miho too! It was the whole fact that she had rejected him that he had gone off in search of another girl. But to choose between either one? WHO!
Tristan looked around, as if looking for support.
His eyes suddenly landed on Mokuba.
Mokuba was giving him a truly genuine, one-hundred percent Kaiba-glare. And he kept glancing to the right for some reason….
Tristan looked to the right and saw that Serenity was sitting a few seats away.
Something clicked in his head. Mokuba was glaring at him because…he liked Serenity too? Was the boy actually threatening him?
"Uh…" Tristan felt as if the minutes were passing by quickly. Everyone looked at him as if they wanted him to hurry up. "MIHO!" he finally shouted.
"YES!" Joey punched the air, "MY SISTA' IS FREE!"
Mokuba snorted, Yeah, right.
Joey was too preoccupied to remember the occurrences of yesterday.
It was Serenity's turn to ask Duke.
Afterwards, Yugi asked Noa, then Ryou asked Mokuba.
"So Mokuba…would it be say…Rebekah Hawkins? Or Serenity Wheeler?"
Mokuba had to stop himself from blurting out Serenity's name too quickly. He had to make this one look sort of tough…. But that in itself was difficult. He knew the answer already! After a few more seconds, he replied, rather nonchalantly, "Serenity, I guess."
Joey turned his own glare on Mokuba. NOW he remembered yesterday. Tristan nodded as his suspicions were confirmed. Seto looked slightly over the top of his book. He too, remembered the goings on of yesterday.
Tea and Mai looked at each other, stifling snickers. What they had seen through the window yesterday was MORE than enough to confirm that!
Then…it was Mai's turn to ask Tea. She knew what she wanted to ask. It was the thing about timing…. Now didn't seem like the right time. It was too early in the game. Perhaps next time around…. So, this time, she would just have to simply ask, "Uh…Marik or Yugi?"
Tea's eyebrows rose, "Uh…Marik's nice and everything, but…er…Yugi…I guess," she reddened slightly. Talking about something like this in front of the innocent looking boy was embarrassing enough.
Yugi felt a rise in his chest. She had picked him! Over Marik…so that wasn't much of a feat. But it was something.
Scratch that, Mai thought out, I'll ask what I wanted to ask in TWO more turns.
Then, Tristan got to ask Joey.
"So…" Tristan thought. He had to find a girl that Joey totally despised. TOTALLY. Or else, this would never be funny. He wasn't so fond of Rebekah, but that wasn't a good enough choice. He was okay with Ishizu. Everybody liked Miho. Mai and Tea were out of the question. Then again, Rebekah could be a good choice to try out on him. She was younger after all…. And he still did feel something bad toward her.
"Alright," Tristan couldn't help the smile that passed over his face as he sat up and put out his hands, "Here we go. Rebekah Hawkins…" he paused, looking over Joey's features. A slight look of disgust came over the boys' face.
Neva' in a million yea's… Joey thought out. "Neva'," he said aloud, though a bit quietly. However, it wasn't so quiet that everybody had indeed heard it.
Tristan was trying to hide his laughter, "R-Rebekah o-or…" he sniggered, "S-SERENITY!" he suddenly burst out laughing.
An uproar of laughter echoed throughout the basement. Joey was beet red –both from embarrassment and anger.
Serenity was looking back and forth between the two boys muttering things like, "Eww…gross! Incest…disgusting. Yet still very funny…" she broke off into laughter.
"W-What?" Joey stuttered.
"You heard me," Tristan wiped away a tear, "Rebekah or Serenity?"
"BUT THAT'S INCEST!" Joey stood up.
"Then go with Rebekah," Tea snorted.
"But she's so…young…and…annoyin'!" Joey protested. He sat back down and rubbed his head, "But whateve'. I guess it'd hafta…be…Rebekah…no matter how wrong dat seems."
More laughter followed.
Then it was Duke's turn to ask Serenity. "Umm…" he looked around at the guys. He desperately wanted to include himself in the statement, but he already knew how she felt about him:
Zilch. Nada. Nothing. At least: in the romance category. But had she changed at all? Probably not.
Then he started to put two and two together. He remembered Joey telling him about something going on with her and Mokuba yesterday. But in the beginning of the vacation, she had seemed to like Noa….
Who was it? And Mokuba had said that he would rather be with her. Could it possibly be?
"Noa or Mokuba?" he blurted.
Serenity blinked. She hadn't really expected that question. Nevertheless, after a moment of pretend thinking, as Mokuba had done, she proclaimed, "Mokuba, I suppose."
Joey huffed, "Didn't hafta tell me dat one," he muttered.
Mai wanted to clobber him.
Tea did as well.
Seto peered over his book again. This did NOT look good.
It was Noa's turn to ask Yugi, "Umm…Tea…or-" Duke stopped him, leaned over and whispered something in his ear. Noa's face lit up. "Tea or Rebekah?"
"WHAT!" Yugi jumped. WHY THEM!
"Told yeah that would get him!" Duke snickered, "Well, at least the Rebekah part I know. I honestly have no idea why he's fretting over Tea."
Yugi glared lightly at Duke. I can't believe him….
Yugi, it wasn't Duke's fault that Noa originally chose Tea.
Yes, but…now! Days of thinking over this, and I have to choose now!
Can you not…extend the truth?
I don't know…. This game is about honesty. It seems everyone else is being embarrassed and honest. It wouldn't be right if I wasn't.
But do you know whom to choose?
Not a clue.
Hurry, Yugi. They're all looking anxious.
But…I'M NOT READY!
Yugi? What does your heart tell you? You know how Rebekah feels. Do you honestly know what Tea feels? For all you know, she may like someone else. Then, not only will you break Rebekah's heart, but you'll think you broke your own. And then, you won't even have Rebekah to run to.
Geez. For someone who says he doesn't remember his love life, you sure know a lot about it.
Common knowledge, young one.
Sure. Well...after days of thinking…it's come down to this:
"Rebekah," Yugi breathed out.
There was a synchronized gasp throughout the circle. Many of the circle's occupants were flabbergasted.
"Really!" Tristan leaned forward, "REBEKAH!"
"Since when!" Joey looked at Yugi square in the eye, "It's always been Tea for ya!"
"JOEY!" Yugi yelled, blushing.
Tea blinked, "W-What?"
"Well, there, Yug, I got it over wit' for ya. It didn't look like you were gonna tell her soon anytime anyway. And now this Rebekah thing? What? Since she started sendin' ya letters?"
"Joey…" Yugi growled, "Can we talk about this later?"
"Wait," Tea spoke up, "What's all this about, anyway? What's wrong, Yugi?"
"Look: bottom line is," Tristan turned to her, "Yug's had this huge crush on you since like…forever. Now, it seems its not so…unless he's lying."
"C-Crush?" Tea hiccupped. She reddened.
Yugi looked over at her, somewhat worriedly. He was wondering if he had said the right thing….
Mai seemed to read his mind. Or rather, his expression. She crawled over to him, and whispered in his ear, "Look, Yugi, you did right. Tea's having her own love problems, and…well…no offense or anything…but they really you. Don't take that as an insult though-"
"I get it Mai," Yugi smiled, "I'm fine. I swear. I've been thinking over this for days. It's alright. I know where I'm going. I'm glad Tea's got someone else on her mind. Really: I truly am."
Mai smiled back at him. Good old Yugi. You could always count on him for the right thing to say.
Then Mokuba asked Ryou; Tea then inquired of Mai, and they were back at the beginning.
The second time Mai got to inquire of Tea, she asked Tea who she would rather be with: "Yugi? Or that guy in America?"
Tea was taken aback. She had forgotten that Mai knew about young Takanaka. Well, she had to answer truthfully. And the rest of the gang looked confused as to what Mai meant by, 'that guy in America.' If she used his name, they were bound to ask even more questions. So, she stuck with saying, "My American friend," with a glance at Yugi. He didn't seem in the least bit disturbed.
After Serenity had had her turn, she stated that she needed to excuse herself for a quick bathroom break. With a knowing glance in Mokuba's direction, she stood up. Mokuba understood.
"Umm, Serenity, do you know where it is? I can show you," Mokuba jumped up.
"How would you know? You haven't been," Tristan looked back and forth at the two.
"I've…been down here before," Mokuba retorted, "Where do you think Noa and I come up with our pranks for Seto? Surely not our room: he could overhear us!" Mokuba lied.
Serenity had to stop from smiling. How resourceful he was! Sure, resourcefulness meant bending the truth…but they had to in the presence of, not only the other people, but especially their brothers.
"Come on," Mokuba led Serenity towards the bathroom, with, luckily, was around a bend in the walls that jutted out, making the room the staff was in. They disappeared behind the corner.
The group returned to the game. Not many people gave a second thought to Serenity and Mokuba.
Tristan, Joey and Seto thought otherwise. It was purely gut instinct. …And the fact of what happened yesterday.
And boy, were they ever right.
"Do you how hard the temptation was for me not to just march over and kiss you during those tense moments?" Serenity whispered as she ran a hand through his hair. They were outside the bathroom door, with Mokuba holding onto Serenity tenderly. Heck, they hadn't been together like this for hours.
Oh, the pain. (…Sarcasm, people.)
"Well, we can fix that for a little bit," Mokuba smirked, looking down at her.
"I could use a little fine tuning myself," Serenity replied, pressing their lips together. Oh, how she never wanted to let go! They hadn't actually been in this kind of position since yesterday when she was ill. Now, she was recovered, and ready to go.
Mokuba pushed her closer to him, massaging the sides of her midriff. It was these types of moments that made him feel very refreshed and content inside.
He was faintly reminded of Seto's tension. Heck, if having a girlfriend could pull this on the younger Kaiba, it would do wonders for Seto. The poor teen needed a girl desperately.
Tristan scowled. They were waiting for Mokuba to get back, because it was Ryou's turn to ask him. But he wasn't back yet. Not from "showing Serenity where the bathroom was."
"Why don't you just go, Mai. He'll get back when he gets back," Ryou supplied.
"Alright," Mai smirked. Now was her time. Time to put plan A…after she had previously put plans A1 and A2 into action…into full gear.
Tristan got up, "I'm just going to see where Mokuba is at. Go on." He turned around and took a couple steps.
Mai sat on her knees, not being able to contain the excitement. She had to know. She just had to.
"Okay, Tea," she smiled mischievously. Tea gulped. The look never meant anything good. Boy, she wished she were some place far away right now. She just knew she was in for the embarrassment of her life.
"So…would it be your American boy-" Mai started, savoring the moment of tension. In all honesty, she had forgotten the 'American boy's' name, and just used that title. But that was beside the point. The point was on the name she recited next.
"Or Seto Kaiba?"
Serenity carefully tore her lips away from Mokuba's. She could hear everything that was being said by the group. Tristan was coming to get them.
"Mokuba…we have to stop now," she said, in a sad voice.
"Just one more," he pleaded.
"What if we're caught?" she looked up at him. "Tristan is coming!" Mai just asked Tea if she would rather have her American boy-
"I guess you're right…" Mokuba sighed, just about to let her go.
"Or Seto Kaiba?"
The two froze.
"WHAT!" Mokuba hissed, "What the heck does she think she's asking? She must be dense! For two reasons: first, my brother is right there, and will murder her for suggesting such a thing. Secondly, I don't know what Tea's feelings are, but by recent display of acts and emotions, I think she totally hates Seto," Mokuba commented.
Serenity was listening. Tristan's footsteps had stopped. He seemed to be listening too.
"Two things, Mokie," Serenity turned his head to face him, "First: we've got time, Tristan has stopped coming. Second, I have a pretty firm guess that Tea does not hate Kaiba."
"What!" Mokuba managed to get out, before Serenity had enraptured him in kissing again.
Tristan froze in his tracks. He had to hear this one. But it was a no-brainer, wasn't it? Tea would surely pick her American guy, right? What was Mai thinking? Why would she honestly think-
And then it hit him. What if Mai knew something that he…or many of the other guys didn't? He spun around just as there was a collective, and rather small, gasp from the group. Well, most of the group.
Tea just looked freaked out, and panicky. Tristan noticed that Mai was having the time of her life, and waiting anxiously, while Ryou looked as if the idea was nothing new.
He remembered that Mai, Serenity and Ryou had all been hanging out together for a couple days not too long ago. Could it be?
This had even caught Seto's attention. He lowered the book slightly and looked at the group. Mai was as gleeful as could be. Tea looked…nervous. Why the heck would she be nervous?
"Mai?" Tea hissed, "What the heck are you thinking?"
"Nothing whatsoever, dear," Mai smiled back innocently, "Just answer the question."
"But," Tea started to protest. It didn't work. Why wasn't she just speaking from her heart? Takanaka: it was so simple! Then again, was that what her heart really wanted. After all, he had only been her friend, with only a hint of what could follow in later years, had he not been taken away. And there was like…a million-to-one chances of finding him now. Should she save her love for someone she couldn't find?
But Seto Kaiba! Sure, she had kissed him a couple times…weirdly enough, but…but…WHY COULDN'T SHE COME UP WITH A REBUT FOR THAT! Sure, he could be complimentary…hot…cute…amusing…and – oh great! Now she was listing his good points!
But…this was just a game? Right? WHY WAS SHE STRESSING! It was like this was actually what was in her heart! Not just a game….
Her face paled. What if it wasn't just a game?
"Uh…" she reddened, making her white complexion look like a china-doll, "Well…."
Joey stared at her, "Tea? …You're not actually thinking about this…are you?"
"Um…."
"Oh my God, she is!" Duke cried out. "If the Apocalypse hasn't come-"
Seto stared at her. What is going on in that mind of hers? He caught her glance and she quickly turned away.
Tea sighed. She knew what she had to do. Really. IT had been years sine she had seen her 'man'. What were the chances that he hadn't changed from what she had liked in the first place?
Putting up her knees, she buried her head into them, and mumbled out something incoherent. Something like, "I-ah."
"What?" Mai cupped her ear mockingly, "What was that? Speak louder!"
Tea tensed up and gritted her teeth, hissing quietly at Mai, "Kaiba, alright?"
Whoa.
That was all anyone could think.
And all Tea wanted to do was get the crap out of there. But there was a typhoon warning. And Serenity was still in the bathroom.
Something snapped. Or was she?
Tea stood up quickly, and jogged past a stunned Tristan, and towards the bathroom area.
"Holy…crap," Joey sighed. He looked over and was surprised to see Seto…astounded.
This gave Joey an idea, "So, Kaiba? What about you? Say…Tea? Or…er…uh…Mai?" He had picked a girl at the last minute. Not Serenity: definitely not! And Ishizu was a given 'no.' Seto didn't know Miho well. The only girl left was his Mai. But…he had other reasons for choosing her.
"Excuse me?" Seto snapped, disbelievingly. "I thought I made it clear before that I was not participating in this childish sport."
"Just answer da question, jerk!" Joey shouted, "It's just a game, fer cryin' out loud!"
"But Joey…why did you pick Mai?" Duke leaned in and whispered.
"That's what I'd like to know," Seto retorted, having overheard.
"Well, fer your info'mation," Joey crossed his arms, "I thought it'd be more of a challenge for ya ta pick between her an' Tea. After all, Mai's a great duelist, something even you have to admit; she's got looks; she's already my girlfriend –thought you might want to tick me off with that one- and she's got lots o' money. That's all what you like, pretty boy, ain't it?" Joey inquired.
Seto practically snorted…seeing as Seto Kaiba did not snort. In public, anyway….
"Besides," Joey added, "You despise Ishizu; don't deem Rebekah worthy of…well, anything, although she has helped up out quite a bit…and that's pretty much all the girls you know personally."
"Whatever," Seto answered, "I'm still not replying to the question."
"Alright then," Mai smirked, "We'll just tell Tea, when she gets back, what you said."
"What did he say?" Noa perked up, "You're going to-"
"We'll say that he said that he chose Tea," Mai smiled triumphantly.
"Which I can flat out deny, as I said no such thing," Seto retorted.
"Then ya choose Mai?" Joey inquired, testily.
"I never said that either."
"Are you sure you never told us that you'd choose Tea?" Mai pressed on.
"Positive."
"That you choose Tea?"
"No."
"Then Mai!"
"Definitely not."
"Well," Duke jutted in, "he answered more negatively towards Mai, so I think it's safe to assume he picked Tea."
"I haven't picked anyone yet, Devlin, you geek!" Seto fumed.
"Yet!" everyone immediately sat up straighter. Even Tristan came back to the group to her out this feud.
What have I gotten myself into, Seto sulked.
Tea ran into the hallway. Serenity and Mokuba parted instantly, but Tea didn't seem to notice. She just pushed through them and ran into the bathroom, locking the door.
Mokuba looked at the shut threshold, "Did she just say…what I think she said?"
"Mokuba, now's not the time," Serenity whispered, pulling him away, "Let's get back to the group."
"Alright…" Mokuba sighed. But he swooped down for one last, short kiss, before they had to return to the public.
When they did walk out – Mokuba before Serenity, just to make it look real, they quietly sat back down, listening to the ongoing fight.
"Will you choose someone already?" Tristan sighed, lying back, "You're taking all day!"
"Just forget it, guys," Ryou put his chin in his hand, and propped his arm up on his knee, "We all know he'd just choose Tea, so let's get on with it."
"How do you know that?" Duke asked the white-haired boy.
"As I said before, I have evidence," Ryou replied.
Seto's grip on the book tightened, and he involuntarily held it up a little more to shield his face.
Noa noticed this, "Is this true, Seto?"
"Of course not."
Joey leaned back, "Aha! You're totally goin' red!"
"I am not!" Seto thrust the book down and glared at him. Truly, his face was red, but that could have been from sheer anger.
"This is going to be a long afternoon," Serenity mentioned to Mokuba, after looking at the TV screen. The forecast predicted these typhoons to stay up until midway through the early morning, at least.
Everyone had gone to bed after a few hours of being cooped up even more. The game had ended after the feud, as the whole argument had made them sick of it anyway, though it had been fun while it lasted. And because warnings were still on that night, a staff member brought out many extra blankets from a compartment in the basement, and let the members use them for sleeping. The staff slept in the staff room, with more blankets and chairs.
The gang had spread out their blankets and pillows some distances from each other. The floor of the basement was large, so they all had plenty of room. The TV was muted for the night, but kept on, just so that those awake could check on the radar without waking anyone.
Everyone was asleep early. Sitting around for an afternoon can make anyone bored. And bored generally coincides with being tired.
Unfortunately, for some people, sleep comes and goes just as quickly.
Tea awoke a couple hours after falling asleep. Joey –who was sleeping in the spot below her- had been shifting in the night, and ended up half off his blankets. And he tended to be quite animated while dreaming. It was through this that his leg kicked out and hit Tea's feet rather hard.
Tea awoke with a start and felt a slight numbness in her feet. She looked down and noticed immediately what had caused her rude awakening.
She looked at the television for the time. It was nearing midnight. And right now, their area seemed to be in a typhoon hiatus. There was a small clear ring around their area, while storms raged around it.
She smiled. She had time for a quick peek outside. One little walk, and right back inside to get to sleep. It was getting a bit stuffy in here after all.
Tea sat up and removed her blankets quietly. She stood up and began tiptoeing around people to the stairwell.
She just touched the first step when Joey gave a tremendous snore. Tea winced and looked back to see if anyone had waken up.
No, it seemed not. Most of her friends were very sound sleepers. And Yugi had, right before bed, dashed upstairs to quickly retrieve his earplugs, knowing what Joey's snores could do.
She sighed a quiet sigh or relief, and tread softly up the stairs, to the door up top. She opened it quietly, hoping against hope that it didn't creak –in which it was silent- and she slipped out.
Below, Seto had watched her from his spot. He had seen everything. He hadn't exactly ever fallen asleep.
"Now I wonder where she could be heading…."
Tea stole outside, after having grabbed a flashlight from her room, and flicked it on. Sure, the full moon gave quite a bit of light, but not enough for her. Normally, the outside lights would have been switched on, but due to the storm, no one had put them in gear.
She scanned the area. The sand was wet, and it was drizzling slightly outside. A small breeze blew in the air, rustling the palm trees – some of whose fronds; and for others, branches; had fallen to the sand.
The sea had calmed down some. Tea sidestepped around some fallen debris from trees, while her feet slipped over the soft and spongy sand. It actually felt kind of relaxing.
She ran to the edge of the top of the beach, right before it tumbled down to meet the shoreline and the water. The waves crept up the small hill, and Tea stood looking over the sea. A sweet breeze ran through her hair, carrying with it the essence of the sea.
She closed her eyes and took a deep breath. What a delightful scent! And with that mixture of the smell of rain – it made it perfect!
She dug her feet a little deeper into the sand, just to feel it between her toes. She had come out here every night – midnight on the beach was just so peaceful and beautiful.
Unfortunately, all good things must come to an end. She sighed resignedly as her thoughts traced back to the time. She had told herself she would only be out here for a moment.
Tea took a step backward, and hit something. She jumped around just as a hand landed on her shoulder, and gasped.
MIDNIGHT
Ha! My first real cliffie! I LOVE doing that! Hehe! But I know how you readers feel. And see? MIDNIGHT! I was ALLOWED to do a cliffie for once, because of my strict one-chapter-per-day thing! AND! There will be another one of these coming up soon! VERY soon! PLEASE REVIEW! Thanks! (Glad to be back!)