Okay,okay...I'm very thankful for the new reviewer!:) Sapphire Addict.
Thank you so much for being super patient with me...If you think this is silent shipping..well it isn't. The story is just going terribly slow. REALLY slow.
But I'm almost there! Okay, I also have to apologize for not updating as soon as I should, it takes me a while to get ideas intact...
Disclaimer: I don't own Yugioh.
Nobody in this world has seen something stronger than unconditional love. Even if they found something that's stronger than unconditional love, it's filled with lies, deceit, selfishness, greed, and betrayal.
Love.
No, unconditional love is the only thing that makes this world bearable.
Amidst the lies, deceit, selfishness, greed, and betrayal.
It makes up for it.
It makes the most serious people foolish.
It makes the brightest person seemingly stupid.
It makes the most tattered rags turn into riches, or vise versa
Though sad to say, not everyone experiences this unconditional love. The only thing that makes this world bearable to live in.
Though a lot do not notice, there's a huge rift between unconditional love and love itself.
Some say that it takes destiny to experience this unbreakable bond of love.
Some say that it is a once in a lifetime chance.
Some say that it is impossible.
They say that the only thing constant in this world is change.
But is there anything in this world that cannot be changed.
Hopefully, there would be something or someone that would be able to foretell it.
XXX
Butter, cream, and syrup. The way Joey likes his pancakes. So, breakfast is ready. Joey's bag is ready, his lunch is ready, my bag is ready, my lunch is ready. Ah, the--
"Ren! Have you seen my bag?!"
Joey Wheeler came running down the stairs, after which immediately sat down and ate breakfast and made the food disappear like magic.
"Oh there it is! Thanks Ren!"
The younger sibling blinked her eyes a few times. Looked around to see if everything was left in order. Then she started to wonder.
What exactly did I do to help Joey find his bag?
"Come on Ren or we'll be late!"
"Coming Joey!"
Then she walked out the door. Just like every single day. First, they'd pass by Tristan's house, then they'd head to the main road where they would see Yugi, Tea and Bakura coming from the other direction. Then when they're a street away from the school, that's when Duke comes in. Then they go to class, and by lunch time Joey would be babbling about Kaiba and everything bad about him. Duke and Tristan would be doing some ridiculous contest. Tea would be talking to Yugi about pretty much anything, Bakura would be reading his new book, which he'd start talking about once he's done.
But it's been a little different recently.
Okay, make that a lot.
There was so Joey babbling about Kaiba, there were no foolish contests, Tea and Yugi have been awfully quiet lately, and Bakura couldn't seem to bring himself to read.
It has really been awfully tranquil.
XXX
"Seto-sama, how are you feeling?"
"Dizzy."
"Well, you have been sleeping too much. I guess that is a sign for you to get up."
"No thank you."
"Very well then, have it your way."
Why am I stuck here?! It's been five days since the operation, I should be fine by now! I have read every single book in this house, there's nothing to do...Great, I guess I'll have to watch some stupid movie. Again.
The grumpy teenager was well, grumpy and due to his grumpiness, he could not seem to do simple tasks correctly.
"Where's the stupid remote.", he mumbled.
Apparently, the intercom system of the mansion works a little too well because Seto-sama did not even touch the phone nor did he even look at it but for some odd reason, Nounou came inside the room, found the remote, and gave it to her employer.
"Anything else Seto-sama?"
"Food, please."
Nounou left the room to get food. Seto Kaiba got the remote control and switched on the television and scanned the channels until he saw something interesting.
"My heart... It feels like my chest can barely contain it. Like it doesn't belong to me any more. It belongs to you. And if you wanted it, I'd wish for nothing in exchange — no gifts, no goods, no demonstrations of devotion. Nothing but knowing you loved me, too. Just your heart, in exchange for mine.", said Yvaine.
Easier said than done.
"They ruled for 80 years. But no man can live forever, except he who possesses the heart of a star, and Yvaine had given hers to Tristan completely. When their children and grandchildren were grown, it was time to light the Babylon Candle... and they still live happily ever after."
"That's stupid.", said the bedridden boy.
Knock knock.
"Seto-sama, the doctor is here to check up on you."
"Let him in." Like I have a choice.
And so the doctor went inside the room, brought out his equipment, took the blood pressure, and the temperature of the sick, grumpy, bedridden teenager. Not to mention the doctor mad him stick his tongue out.
"Kaiba-sama, based from the results, you are well enough to go to school once again, but if you feel sick please, refrain from doing stressful activities.
"Okay." I get out of purgatory just to dive back to hell.
So the doctor left. It took at least a minute or two for the information to sink in.
Wait, I'm getting out of here. I'm getting out of here! !!
The teen was so happy that he might not be able to contain himself if he didn't feel so lightheaded.
Imagine if he felt normal, he'd be prancing around and jumping for joy.
No, seriously.
Then he realized something.
"Wait, today is Friday. Crap. Two. More. Days. Of. Boredom."
XXX
So Monday came along, as manic as usual.
The blue eyed CEO was on his way to school, looking outside the window as usual.
What are my classes today? It's Math, Chemistry, Geography, English, then Drama...Great.
"Hey Seto."
"What Mokuba?"
"Take it easy okay."
The elder brother was aware of the concern of his younger brother. He couldn't help but smile.
"I will. Don't worry."
Then the chauffeur opened the door and the siblings said their goodbyes
"Oh Seto!"
"What?"
"Don't daydream too much."
Pfft. Like I even dream.
So he got down the limo and made his way to the classroom.
Excited for his first class. Math. A personal favorite indeed.
Chemistry. Great, we're going to build a fire. I've done that before. It's so easy.
Geography. "......"
English. Shakespeare is stupid. This is stupid.
XXX
There they were again in their usual area, the infamous cherry blossom tree.
"Hey Tristan, I can't take it anymore...Too many numbers!"
"It's okay Duke, it'll be fine. So how's Joey holding up?"
"Bad."
"Hey guys!"
They all looked down to see who was talking.
"Oh hey Yugi, so how are you feeling.", Tristan asked.
"Fine. Why?"
"Oh nothing."
Yugi and Tristan sat down and they were very worried about Joey.
"Hey guys."
"Oh Hi Tea!", Yugi said.
"Classes were hard today, weren't they?"
"Yeah, real tough."
"Look Tea, there's Bakura and Serenity. Hey guys!"
"Hi Tea."
"Hey Yugi."
"So Serenity, how's it going?", Tea asked.
"I'm fine..but I don't think I can speak for all of us though."
Yeah, Joey was in academical coma, Duke had a huge case of psychological conjunctivitis, and Tristan was as white as sugarcoated sheet of paper. Thankfully their souls were restored back to normal after a conversation about the newly released video game.
"Look! There's Kaiba.", Yugi said.
"Great, dat moneybags is here again."
"Hey Kaiba! Come and sit with us!"
He looked at them like as if they were some squiggling worms in vomit. Joey saw his expression and told Yugi, "See. I told you dat moneybags wouldn't sit here."
"I'm right beside you Wheeler."
"Ah! W-what?! How?!"
"I sat down, what's there to understand?"
I miss this feeling of making fun of someone. I've been stuck in that hell hole too long.
"If you're gonna act like an ass, it's too late Kaiba."
The boy looked at the pencil head with the best poker face he had.
"Tea and Yugi told us your entire charade. So don't act all high and mighty."
"Even a drug pusher would seem high and mighty as long as they're compared to you."
Burn Tristan. Burn.
Though unexpectedly, the insult seemed like a joke to the rest of the group.
They burst into laughter.
"Hahaha! Tha-tha-that was a g-g-ood one m-moneybags!"
"I-I-I never knew K-kaiba had the ability to say a joke!"
"Ka-ka-kaiba! J-j-joke!"
"......", Duke was laughing so hard, he couldn't utter a single word anymore.
So after that refreshing 'laugh', they were starved.
Was it really that funny?
Comical?
Waggish?
Mirthful?
Jesting?
Facetious?
Forcing themselves to laugh that hard? That's new.
Or so the CEO thought.
Besides, what was so funny about it? I was dead serious.
Then Wheeler started to talk and do the lunch time routine. For the boys.
"Okay guys! It's time."
"Yugi what did you bring?"
"Uhh, chicken sandwich."
"How about you Tris?"
"Onigiri and curry."
"And you Bakura?"
"Fish and chips."
Then Joey looked at the loud and extravagant lunch box of Duke.
"So Duke, what did you bring?"
"Lobster.", he replied with his voice full of pride.
Then they all looked at Seto Kaiba, even Tea and Serenity looked at what Seto Kaiba brought for lunch. Only then did they realize that he was looking through his bag as if he were looking for something important.
Suddenly, out of nowhere a woman came out.
"Seto-sama! You forgot to bring your lunch to school!"
Dead silence.
All because Seto Kaiba forgot to bring his own lunch to school.
They were surprised that he had just made an all too human mistake.
"So Kaiba, what's in your obento?", Joey asked.
"Wagyu beef, Ootoro, rice and strawberries.", he replied.
Why would I gloat about normal food? I'm not Devlin.
Well, these kinds of food are normal for Kaiba.
But there are people who'd live their entire lives not even tasting a crumb of these luxurious delicacies. Then Tristan and Duke started whispering to each other, giggling like gossiping women.
"Kaiba-hime-sama!", they both said. Mimicking servants of princesses and queens.
"Would you like a cup of tea my lady?", Joey asked.
"Finally, you know your place in society."
Well at least, Tristan and Joey had their fun. Even if it was short lived.
Out of nowhere, the gang started to hover around Kaiba. With an evil expression on all their faces, all except Serenity.
"You should be nice to us, or else.", Tea said threateningly.
He raised his eyebrow and looked at her with an expression that was meant to mock others.
"Or else what?" I'm up for a challenge.
That response gave the signal, Tea brought out a picture of a young boy wearing a very winsome washing machine costume, with a malignant grin on his face. Oh no, not malignant. More like an expression so
dainty
sweet
precious
darling
It was enticing.
"How did you get this?"
Yugi and Joey went beside Kaiba and they looked at him straight in the eye, "It's better if you'll see it yourself. But before anything, that discovery was by accident. A down to earth accident. How about we bring you there after school?"
The blue eyed boy nodded in agreement.
Right at that moment, the bell rang. On the nick of time.
"So what's your next class Kaiba? Because ever since we were allowed to chose our non-academic subjects, we decided to take this class together, and we picked Drama Class this semester.", asked Yugi.
"I have Drama class as well."
Upon hearing the information, Joey reacted. "Moneybags is with us?!". The poor blond willowed in his sorrows.
It wasn't just Joey Wheeler who learned things he wish he hadn't, but Seto Kaiba regretted looking behind him. He resented every moment he witnessed.
The ladies man Duke Devlin practically wrapped Serenity Wheeler with his arm, "Okay Serenity. Friday night. You and me."
With agreement very much evident in her face she still decided to say the obvious, "Duke, I'd love to." Then she gave him a smile and held his hand.
Even if it hurt, he continued to walk, he bared the pain he felt. Even if I stopped and pitied myself, the world wouldn't stop and pity me as well. It would just continue to turn, it would never stop and so should I.
"Kaiba are you okay?"
The teen was roused with the sudden question. He looked at the person he wanted to see the least but at the same time, she was the person he'd look forward to see. Every single day.
Was it that noticeable?
Nevertheless, he looked at her with an expression that clearly indicated that he was fine. Though, his eyes seemed to say otherwise.
"That's good."
The moment she said that, the pain he felt temporarily disappeared. It was like as if in that moment, nothing else mattered. It was like as if she had an aura so good that it would make any kind of pain stop for a short period of time. Well at least before he was faced with reality once again.
"Kaiba! Quick! You'll be late if you don't bring your ass here any second!"
I never would have thought that Gardener used such foul language.
So in effect, he walked a little faster to get to class just right on time.
He felt fine. He could imagine Mokuba saying "SETO! YOU'RE FINALLY FRIENDS WITH YUGI! I KNEW YOU'D BE GOOD FRIENDS!" or Nounou going, "Ah Seto-sama, you should bring them here and have a small get together! I would happily prepare some food. Do inform me if your friends are allergic to some kind of food or beverage."
Well, he felt fine before class started.
Stupid class. It was the only one left.
The teacher of this drama class, who was pretty much dramatic herself entered the room.
Madam Roux, that's what she calls herself. It's her alias, her stage name.
"Okay class, settle down, settle down."
She looked around and examined the classroom. Noticing the slight disturbance in her classroom.
"Mr. Wheeler, seeing that you are filled with much energy that you couldn't even bring yourself to sit down, you will go first for this weeks activities."
"But-"
She looked at him.
Blackly.
Piercingly.
Fiercely.
It sucked all the merriment Joey Wheeler had at the moment.
She then simpered and said, "I will have the class pair up, randomly. Whoever your partner is today, will be your partner for the rest of the semester. This pairing cannot and will not be changed. Is that understood?"
She heard a couple of 'okays' and 'uhhs'. "Very well, let us continue." Madam Roux got her plastic containers with popsicle sticks in it. "Half the class will pick their Popsicle stick and on that pop sickle stick, the name of your partner is written. Once you get your pop sickle stick, you must say the name of your partner around and write it on a piece of paper which will be passed immediately after you see the name of your partner." She walked towards the back part of the room. "First off Joey Wheeler."
The poor student did as instructed and said the name of his partner. "Kotoko Fujiyama"
"Yugi Moto, please pick a Popsicle stick."
He nodded and then he smiled, "Tea Gardener"
"Ryo Bakura."
"Uhh...Malik Ishtar?". Boy was he confused.
"Ah, yes. He's a new student. He'll be coming to school tomorrow or so."
She went to another student, and another student.
"Duke Devlin. Get your popsicle stick, now."
He looked at the little stick with much horror. "WHAT?! Surely this is a mistake?! My partner can't be Tristan!"
Tristan heard the news. "Yeah! I'm sure there's a mistake! We're both guys!"
"Seeing that the both of you have a few disagreements, you will go second in the activities for this week, right after Mr. Wheeler.", replied Madam Roux to the two horrified boys.
"Ms. Serenity, please get a Popsicle stick."
She smiled then picked one. There was only one left. She got one then she said the name of her partner. "Seto Kaiba."
Suddenly, the bell rang. Earlier than the usual.
"Seeing as we're pressed for time, we shall continue tomorrow. Now go, eschew!"
The students happily embarked, vacated, departed, and evanesced the premises of the lair of Madam Roux.
Yes, they all left the mise-en-scene.
XXX
So they brought Kaiba to the place where they found the picture, as promised. It was the place he was longing to see but never had the courage to visit.
They all looked at Kaiba, who went inside the abandoned house. So they followed him inside, even under the blanked of dust and covered furniture, you could see that the house looks beautiful. It wasn't really a hard house to spot, it was the only Victorian house in the area. Even if it hasn't been maintained properly over the years, it still looked beautiful. The young CEO was...He was...He was in a state that words could not express.
"H-how did you-?"
"My cousin threw a ball and it went inside the house. So I went in to get it. But I always thought that the people who lived here might have migrated to another country or something but when I went inside the living room, I saw a photograph of you, of Mokuba.", Tristan said.
Like as if he didn't hear a thing, he went inside the kitchen and took a look around.
XXXFlashbackXXX
"Seto! Let's bake a cookie for dad!"
"Okay! I'm sure dad would like it."
"Seto, Mokuba. What are you up to?"
"We're making cookies for dad! Can you help us Sayuri nee-chan?", Seto asked.
She took a deep breath. "I have no choice, your dad would kill me if you cause some kind of trouble."
"Yaay! You're the best babysitter ever, you know that?", said Mokuba.
She started to prepare the ingredient and other things that they would be using to be able to bake the cookies.
"If you're comparing me to your other babysitter, that old woman, of course I'm a lot better than her! She's cranky. Oh Seto, can you pass me the flour?"
The young boy got the flour from the other side of the table and passed it to his babysitter. "Here."
"Okay, do guys want to give the cookie some kind of shape or will we keep it round?"
"We've been waiting all day for you to say that Sayuri nee-chan!", Mokuba said.
So after the a few more steps, the two brothers were able to give the cookies some kind of free form shape. Afterwards, the cookie tray was placed in the oven.
"Now what?", Seto asked.
"Now we wait."
To pass time, they decided to clean the kitchen up then they played a board game.
"Haha! I'm winning! In your face Sayuri nee-chan!", said Seto.
"Your brother is oddly competitive, isn't he Mokuba?"
"Seto is always like this, Sayuri nee-chan."
"Definitely a truth no one can deny.", said the babysitter.
DING!
"Okay guys, I heard the oven. Seto, get a plate and a glass and Mokuba, please get the milk inside the refrigerator. I'll go and get the cookies out of the oven."
Once they were done preparing, the two brothers realized that their dad should be home by then.
"Dad's not here yet. He's supposed to be here already."
"It's okay Mokuba. Maybe there's just a traffic jam somewhere."
So they waited a little more. Until they realized that it was really late.
"Where's dad?"
"I'm sure he's just finishing a few things in the office, Seto. He'll be home soon."
They heard a car park in front of the house.
"Dad's here! Dad's here!", Mokuba exclaimed.
Then someone knocked at the door. Sayuri came to the door expecting the father of these to boys to be the one by the door step. "Good evening Mr. Wata-" But it wasn't Mr. Watanabe. "W-where's Mr. Watanabe?"
Seto and Mokuba saw who was at the door.
"Seto, why is the police here?"
Sayuri looked at the two brothers and went towards them and said, "The two of you, can you go to the library?"
When she saw that they were nowhere in sight she left the officer in and they started to talk.
But just because these two boys were in the library, doesn't mean they can't listen to the conversation.
"Seto, what are they saying?"
"Shh...I'm trying to listen."
So the two boys were eavesdropping in the 'adult' conversation.
"So Mr. Watanabe is-"
"I'm afraid so. It was, a very bad accident."
"But what will happen to Seto and Mokuba? Where will they go? What will they do?"
"Madam, I'm sorry but I think I would have to speak to their mother about this issue."
"She has passed away as well."
The officer was worried. These two boys were pretty much alone. There was silence in the room.
When Seto saw the sudden silence, he entered the room. "He's dead isn't he? Just like mom."
The officer cannot lie to him. So he nodded.
Seto Watanabe was on the verge of breaking down into tears. Both of his parents gone.
Then Mokuba entered the room as well.
"Is dad at the hospital, Seto?"
"No Mokuba. He's with mom already. Dad is with mom."
When Mokuba heard this he ran into the arms of his babysitter and started crying.
It was a very sad day for them, for the both of them.
XXXend of flashbackXXX
Seto Kaiba went further inside the kitchen and he looked at the contents of the table.
"The cookie cutter is still on the table, she's so irresponsible.", he said to himself.
Everybody saw the expression in his face, they decided not to say a thing. Yugi was going to tell Kaiba that they'd go outside and wait for him there but before he was able to say anything, before they were even able to leave, Seto Kaiba asked Yugi a question.
"Yugi, if you had the chance to change one thing in your life, would you do it? Or what if you did change it, would it make your life better? Or break your heart? Or break someone else's heart? Or would you do something entirely different? Or just one moment that you've always wanted back?"
Only then did they realize that Kaiba and Mokuba have been through a lot of pain, pain they cannot imagine.
Only then did they understand on why Seto Kaiba acted like a jerk.
Only then did they regret saying all those things about him.
Yugi looked at Kaiba and said, "We have no idea how hard it is to go through all of that-"
"But we're here for you moneybags."
"Yeah! That's what friends are for!"
So Seto Kaiba, a man who was known for being cruel, cold and ruthless. Everybody knew that he stood alone. Most of the people think that he isn't human, but just like a normal person he eats, he sleeps, he feels, he makes mistakes.
He would do things that people expect from him.
Even if all these years there was this hole in his heart, he still continued to breathe, not live just breathe. But since recently, that hole in his heart, it was starting to fill up. It was starting to get filled with emotions that he's been longing to feel. A thing he hasn't felt in a long time.
Sincere friendship.
For once in his life, Seto Kaiba did something that the society was not expecting.
Okay...Another chapter done...another one in the making.
So did you like it? Because if you don't you're gonna have to tell me..tell me what's wrong and I'll see if I can fix it. If you like it...Review. A single review could push me to write a chapter within an hour...I just read the review of Sapphire Addict on the date of April 11,2009 and look where it got me.
So..tell me your comments and suggestions...If you want me to speed up the story tell me...So I'll speed up. I'm not psychic, you know.