A/N: Apologies about the long wait. Life got in the way. Thank you to my first two reviewers! In this chapter, I have taken both of your suggestions into account - a longer chapter + more POVs other than Yugi. Enjoy!
Chapter 2
Usually, this was a cozy coffee shop. He would often visit this cafe with textbooks under his arm and would go about his time here undisturbed. It served strong European coffee, just what he needed for long days of studying and planning out his next Duel Monsters strategy. He loved the smell - fresh brewed coffee mixed with fresh-baked pastries - and he loved the sounds: Beethoven, Pachelbel, and Mozart played softly from the stereo, the classics mixed with the sounds of the crackling fireplace. The architecture of the large interior merged old European style design with modernity: a simple chandelier hung from it's high ceilings, with small LED ceiling lights lining part of the ceiling. Customers entered the cafe through large, white French-style doors. A large dark wood bookshelf filled with old, hardcover books lined the entire back wall, and a black ladder with wheels was perched on the bookshelf so that interested bookworms could reach their selections that were located on the uppermost shelves. At the base of the bookshelf was a fireplace. There were separate sections of the cafe with different types of seating - on one side, there were booths. In another section, there was a large wooden table with about 15 seats for those who wanted to study in groups. And there was Yugi's favorite part: the center of the cafe. In front of the fireplace, there were French chairs and love seats with dusty-blue cushions on top of an old red carpet over the hardwood floor. It looked like a cozy living room. The right side of the coffee shop was lined with ceiling-to-floor picture windows that gave the cafe a natural light during Domino's daylight hours.
"K-Kaiba?" Yugi managed to stammer out. Perhaps fate was merciful today - they were the only ones in the coffee shop with the exception of the two baristas who naturally took an interest in the five young adults. This was the first time he didn't feel so cozy. The warmth of the coffee shop seemed to dissipate with presence of the steely blue-eyed CEO.
Kaiba glanced over at the table of four - the four losers from high school, as he remembered them. Yugi was sitting with the rest of the dweeb patrol: there was not-interesting-enough-to-care about Tristan, the mutt, and the cheerleader. Yugi was dressed in navy blue pants and a white dress shirt under a navy blue vest. Kaiba was dressed in a tailored, midnight blue trench coat over black pants and a black shirt. The signature Kaiba Corporation logo shimmered on his jacket lapel, and just as he did back in high school, he completed his outfit of the day with a scowl on his face that managed to make Joey Wheeler sick to his stomach.
"Well, I see you dweebs haven't grown up," Kaiba smirked as he approached them. He hadn't seen them in nearly four years, and he wanted to keep it that way.
"And I can see some things never change," Yugi said with a smile. "It's good to see you," he continued, trying to be genuinely friendly.
Kaiba's smirk immediately turned into a frown. "Spare me the pleasantries, Yugi," Kaiba snapped back. "Unlike you and your little friends here, I have managed to do something far more worthwhile with my time," he started. "As you've all probably seen, the new virtual reality system of my latest Duel Monsters simulation game is engineered to nearly perfection." The frown turned into a smirk. "As it should be - I personally engineered it."
Yugi gave a smile as he watched Joey attempt to give Kaiba a piece of his own mind. Kaiba however just mocked Joey with an all-knowing, "I'm better than you" smirk. Maybe some things never changed, but they all certainly grew up. Even Kaiba did - his body slightly more muscular, and his eyes even colder. Four years had even sharpened the angles of his face.
"I don't have time for your childish games you barking Chihuahua!" Kaiba shot back after Joey had talked his mouth off to him.
"You're the one who started it, rich boy!" Tristan said, ready to defend Joey.
"Hnn" Kaiba smirked. He turned his gaze to Tea. "Gardner," he started. She gave a frown. "Why don't you keep this mutt on a leash," he said coldly.
In a flash, time stopped – but only for Yugi. The pupils in his violet eyes dilated. He could feel the blood in his veins grow cold, and he could hear his heartbeat in his ears. His hands, which circled his warm coffee cup, suddenly became numb. There it was again – that vision – that flash of light that he saw in his dreams. What the hell was going on? Thankfully, he snapped out of it.
Blue eyes bore into blue. "Watch it, Kaiba" Tea growled. Her blue eyes emitted a spark - a fire - that clashed with the ice of his azures that seemingly could not be melted away. Throughout their adventures back in high school, their interaction was always sparse - and he wanted to keep it that way. Kaiba turned away quickly, hoping that he wouldn't set her off with those annoying friendship speeches she always gave back in Duelist Kingdom. He turned around so his back was to them.
"Take care, Yugi," Kaiba said, with no friendliness in his voice as he exited the coffee shop. "Domino City has been….quieter without you." And as quickly as he appeared, he was gone.
"Goodbye!" Tea waved as she slung her dance bag over her shoulder. She had spent the rest of the afternoon at Domino's ballet school, practicing her dancing in the large mirrored studio while helping younger pupils with their basics. Tea had finished her tour with the New York Ballet for this year, but being away from New York didn't mean she had a break from dancing. When she was home in Domino, she would practice at the city's ballet academy. The pink ribbons of her ballet shoes haphazardly hung out of her gym bag, as she attempted to stuff her belongings into it when she heard that a storm was about to abruptly hit Domino. With no umbrella and no car, she had to make sure to get back to her parent's house before it rained. As she exited the studio, however, the rain had already started coming down, and she found herself stranded at the studio.
"Just great," she sighed as she watched the rainfall. The bus stop was too far for her to walk without her clothes getting drenched, but perhaps she could ask one of her friends for a ride home? She looked at her cell phone, and frowned when she had no signal.
"Just my luck!" Tea said as she looked up at the sky.
Well, the only option now was to walk that half mile home. If she ran, she wouldn't be long. She'd be drenched, but hey, after maybe a 10 minute walk, she could take a nice hot shower and climb into bed. She gave a heavy sigh as she made her way in the heavy downpour. Just seconds into the walk, her clothes were nearly drenched, and her brown hair wilted and stuck to the back of her neck. She gave an exasperated sigh as a nearby car slightly splashed her - she could feel water in her brown boots, as her dancing leggings and leotard became soaked. Two minutes into that uncomfortable walk, however, a black sports car pulled up near her.
"Hey, Tea! Long time no see!" called a voice. Tea turned and gasped in surprise as she laid eyes on the driver.
"Mokuba?!" Tea asked excitedly.
"Get in the car! You're gonna get soaked!" Mokuba called. Tea was happy to oblige.
Once she got into his car, and he rolled up the windows, she leaned over and gave him a big hug. She hadn't seen him in four years, and how he had grown! His voice was deeper, and he was obviously taller. He was dressed in the blue Domino High School uniform, where she presumed he was a sophomore. His messy mop of black hair was shorter, but still went a little below his shoulders. He wasn't that same little boy he was four years ago, but his grey eyes still showed the mirth and warmth they always had since he was a little kid.
"Mokuba! It's so good to see you!" Tea said as she let him go. "I can't believe how much you've grown!" She said taking a look at him again.
Tea told him the directions to her house, as Mokuba was kind enough to drive her. "Yeah, how long as it been? Four years?" He said as he finished putting in the directions to her house onto his GPS. "How have you been?" He asked her as he began driving.
"I'm well! I just finished a tour with the New York Ballet, so now I'm home for a little bit!" She said excitedly. "Wow, I can't believe you're in high school now! I remember that uniform!" Tea said.
Mokuba beamed. "That's good to hear you're doing well!" He said excitedly.
They chatted like old times, as if four years hadn't gone by at all. Tea learned that Mokuba was doing well in all his classes, and he was interested in studying computer engineering at the University once he finished high school.
"I know I won't be as good at programming like Seto," Mokuba said, "but maybe I can give him a run for his money," he continued.
"I'm sure you will!" Tea said. However, she gave a frown when she saw the large traffic barrier blocking off the road to her house, preventing the car from going anywhere.
"What happened?!" Tea gasped.
"it looks like a tree is blocking the road," Mokuba said as he tried to look through the front window with the wipers on. "The lightning must have hit it," he commented. Mokuba noticed Tea freezing in her soaked clothes.
"My house isn't too far from here," Mokuba said, "And you're soaked. You can come over to the mansion and dry off at least," he offered.
"That would be nice!" Tea said. "Thank you Mokuba!" She was grateful. Mokuba turned the car around, and they headed back to the Kaiba Mansion.
"Mokuba, this place is unbelievable!" Tea said as she observed the foyer and living room of the mansion. She had never been in here before. Guests were greeted by an elaborate chandelier hanging from the high ceilings, and a stunning double staircase that led to the top floor. The walls were painted ivory, with what looked like expensive looking paintings on the walls. The floor of the living room was covered in a plush, navy blue carpet. A white grand piano was in the corner of the living area, which was decorated with ornate furnishings and expensive looking sofas.
"Thanks! Seto brought in some professional interior designers for this place," Mokuba said as he gave his school jacket to one of the maids.
Tea frowned. She forgot that this wasn't just Mokuba's place - it was Kaiba's place too.
"Want hot chocolate?!" He said excitedly as he went into the kitchen.
"Um, sure Mokuba," Tea said, hoping Kaiba wouldn't come home any time soon. She wasn't in the mood to speak to that jerk. To be honest, she was NEVER in the mood for him.
Mokuba came out with two cuts of hot chocolate, and a white towel for Tea to dry off in. Tea thanked him and took a seat next to the fireplace in the living room. God, this place was cozy and warm, even though Kaiba wasn't.
Tea listened as Mokuba talked her ear off with the video games he was playing, how much high school sucked, and what he planned to do over the summer. Tea gave a smile - why the heck couldn't Kaiba be as nice as his brother. The younger Kaiba was obviously the warmer of the two. She talked to him about New York, and how her dance practices were going. He seemed genuinely interested in her new adventures outside of Domino. Mokuba was so enthralled in her story, and he didn't seem to notice that Tea was uncomfortable with her anticipation that Kaiba would enter the house any second.
"I know what we can do, Tea!" Mokuba said gesturing her to follow. "I can show you the new prototype for this new virtual reality system my brother was designing!" He said excitedly. "Come on!" He said as he ran down a hallway in the mansion.
"Mokuba, wait up!" Tea said as she attempted to follow him throughout the long halls and corridors of the mansion. She didn't really care for Kaiba OR his latest gadgets, but at least this would prevent her from seeing him any time soon.
After what seemed to be a lifetime, Tea finally caught up with Mokuba at the elevator that brought them to a secret laboratory underground. Mokuba excitedly went up to this fingerprint and eye scanner that scanned his iris and his fingerprint. The light turned green.
"Welcome, Mokuba Kaiba," the AI said robotically.
The lights in a large dark room opened, and virtual, holographic computer screens with graphs and numbers Tea couldn't decipher appeared. Tea looked around, and noticed that in the floor above them was an observation room that had a window that looked down into the laboratory below.
"Better not touch anything in here," Tea said as she looked around the room filled with screens and futuristic gadgets.
After Mokuba entered some data into one of the holographic computer screens, it disappeared, and the floor opened. Out from the floor, rose this comfy looking, futuristic bed, which was slightly angled so the person's head could be propped up. She recalled that the chair looked far more advanced than those chairs they sat in when they entered Kaiba's Virtual World and defeated the Big Five. Mokuba climbed into the chair, and put on a headset. Another holographic computer screen appeared before him. He entered some data in it, and attached what appeared to be suction cups attached to wires, which was attached to another super computer, to his temples.
"This measures my brain waves," Mokuba explained. "This new technology is incredible - it transports you to this virtual world filled with Duel Monsters!"
"Oh, I don't plan to experience THIS again," Tea said, remembering how a glitch once trapped them in Noah's virtual reality world.
"Oh don't worry, Tea," Mokuba said, stepping out of the bed. "I assure you, Seto has fixed all the glitches," he said enthusiastically. She eyed him suspiciously.
"This system is far more advanced, and it allows more than one person to enter the same world!" Mokuba said. Seto and I have tried it many times!" He said enthusiastically. His eyes became hopeful. "Do you wanna try it?!" He asked enthusiastically.
"I don't know, Mokuba," Tea said unsurely. "Your brother probably wouldn't like that." She attempted to reason. No way in hell am I getting in that.
"Oh come on Tea!" Mokuba pleaded. "think of it as a two-player arcade game - except cooler!" Mokuba said.
"Well, I suppose it's alright, if you and your bother have tried it," Tea said as she got into the adjoining seat. I'm going to regret this. The two leather seats were attached to each other, so the players could sit side by side.
Mokuba squealed as she put the wires on her temples, and holographic computer screens appeared before them. "3, 2, 1!" He exclaimed. Then black.
