Disclaimer: I do not own Yu-Gi-Oh.
The Lie That I Lived
Mai Valentine- 26Seto Kaiba- 25
Joey Wheeler- 24
Yami Motuo- 24
Tea Motuo- 24
Serenity Wheeler- 22
Mokuba Kaiba- 20
Thank you to everyone who reviewed! I'm happy people enjoy my…angst story? Incorrect sentence? Don't know. I'd like to thank Freakster who supplied the part I needed about Joey's speech to Mai, thanks a lot!! Reviews are appreciated!!
Chapter 4It had been a week since Mai had taken refuge into the Kaiba Mansion; although the second morning she had awoken to a hangover and constant vomiting, she guessed it was the outcome of various glasses of alcohol.
But what had plagued her the most was that Kaiba, strangely yet honestly like a gentleman, told her of all the occurrences, the drinking, unclothing and the carrying, oddly enough she was not upset. Mai had not felt exposed or violated but a sense of relief had washed over her.
'Kaiba is the first person to be honest with me, he told me everything.' Mai measured the silky midnight blue cloth, this order was due in an hour and usually the overly chirpy woman was here earlier, she needed to work faster and more efficiently.
'I feel like a burden was released from my life…but still, I mustn't become to comfortable with this new found reliability. From what I know of Kaiba he might turn this dependability into some sort of thirst for power…after all everyone's used me in some type of way.'
Mai pulled a pin from her mouth and positioned into the soft material of the manikin; she yawn loudly and flicked her head sideways to remove fallen blonde hair. Exhaustion and fatigue taken over her body especially this week, every morning she had to drag herself out of bed, unusual to her regular mornings when she would be up by the crack of dawn. Oddly this wasn't the only change.
She would vomit every morning, it were as if she couldn't keep any food in her stomach anymore. Without food supplying her with her daily nutrition and energy she become light-headed and often would collapse. Mokuba insisted she go visit a doctor, even Kaiba had mumbled it a few times but she kept claiming that she was all right and it was probably a flu that people usually get.
Hungrily, she extended her hand forward and grabbed her peanut butter and banana sandwich and placed it in her mouth, she had been having strange cravings for different foods everyday. Habitually, she wouldn't even think of having so much peanut butter every day but it was the only way to suppress her needs
"Hey Mai!" The young, jovial woman exclaimed cheerfully from behind the counter.
Mai smiled weakly, sickened at how one person could be so happy. 'Obviously the money is doing something.' She thought as she looked out through the window at her blue Jaguar. Inside she could see Tea's husband Yami pushing the horn for her to hurry up.
Tea had come to New York to pursue her dreams as a professional dancer at the critically acclaimed New York Dance Academy. Yami had applied at New York University for the sake of his love for Tea, both married at a nearby chapel, it was a small ceremony with their closest friends invited, luckily Mai hadn't encountered them before that.
Now Tea was an award winning Broadway dancer she had the lead female role in the prize-winning musical. She still had her large, sweet cerulean eyes, her russet hair had grown a bit beneath her shoulders and an amiable smile was permanently plastered upon her face.
"Sorry don't mind him, he worries too much for me, I have a practice." She explained as she waved her hand to signal to him to stop. "Mai I think I found someone you might like," Tea said as Mai handed her a bag.
Every time Tea came to pick up her shipment of tailored clothes she pestered her constantly about how she couldn't be alone forever. Mai looked at her dully and shook her head. She walked towards Tea, and pushed the bag with her dress into her and pointed to the door.
"Remember Joey Wheeler?"
Mai suddenly stopped as her hand fell to her side.
'Joey Wheeler? How long had it been she had seem his face?' All her memories about Battle City and everything he had done for her came back.
Joey hastily entered the small room upon Kaiba Kraft 3, in which the lost soul Mai lay with his younger sister to looked after her.
"Serenity, is Mai okay now?" Joey burst out, hoping she had recovered her lost essence.
She's not up..." Serenity answered, staring at the young, blonde duellist.
"No way! What gives?" Joey angrily yelled.
I don't know." Serenity replied sadly.
Wake up Mai!" Joey bent forth over the duellist, wanting to catch another glimpse of those passionate, violet eyes.
Behind him, everyone else entered, miserably to find the golden-coloured woman still lying immobilized, her soul trapped in the darkness of the Shadow Realm.
"You're supposed to be all right. Hear me? Yugi beat Marik so your mind should have been released from the Shadow Realm. Come on, wake up! I know you can do it. Please Mai, I'd give anything in the world to have you back... Anything!!" Joey bent over, grabbing the light blue covers upon her bed.
Serenity sat behind her older brother, her head buried in her hands, crying.
It's not fair..." Joey muttered.
Mai looked at her shocked and surprised, Tea beamed brightly.
"Call if you want a chance," she said, grabbing the cobalt dress and walking out with a smirk of victory apparent upon her face.
Mai just stood, immobilized in place, staring blankly at her hands.
"Tea I don't know why you continue to beleaguer her about men, let her live her life how she wants," Yami said as he kept his eyes on the road.
He still was the serious, determined man he always was, which were the traits he needed to become a crucial businessman, Motou Inc. had gone off the charts success rates for a usual beginning company, it was a Duel Monsters corporation similar to Kaiba's that's why they had an alliance with Kaiba Corp.
Yami had finally obtained every Millennium Item throughout the years he had been sharing young Yugi's vessel, after an extended wait, they had taken the items to Egypt. Where Shadi performed the rituals, which finally acquired him his own body. Even now he had his indomitable, deep violet eyes, his well-built body and his familiar black, blonde and crimson spiked hairstyle.
"She stopped and she considered, I think she's coming around," Tea replied crossing her hands over her chest stubbornly.
"Some people like to be alone."
"Did you?" Tea asked as she looked into her husbands now distant, indigo eyes, he began to recall how dark the past had been before Tea lit up the future. He brought hand over to hers and grasped it gratefully.
"Find her someone."
Mai let the soft lilac material run over her frail, ashen hand, how she would love to own a dress with such exquisiteness, each stitch was hand done, taking a lengthy amount of time to perfect a dress with such high calibre.
The straps slid over the shoulders with sleekness, the body was fitted bringing out the best of curves in any female, it was a think velvety fabric with silver embroidery of veining streams with small buds of flowers, which in the middle of the bloom lay a petite crystal, each sew methodically done with time and struggle. The foundation blossomed into thick layers of silky textile, sheeting over one another like a flourishing of a full grown rose. It came complete with long sleeved lavender gloves, with the same glossy look and smoothness of the evening gown.
It was what you would call any woman's dream dress, just wearing it once to the utmost social event would cause plenty of happiness. Just like Cinderella in her fairy-tale where she came in as the star of the ball and met her Prince Charming.
"But life is not a fair-tale," Mai grunted, laying the dress she had worked so hard upon the table. "Not everything ends in happiness with a blissful future, some people are like me that never will find any glee with people, only in solitude." She knew that wishing for the impossible was pointless, she would never acquire enough money to buy this ball gown, let alone have enough brains to splurge money away on it.
Kaiba stared at Mai through the spotless, clear windows, he watched her stare at the dress with desire, he knew how much she wanted it now.
"I don't appreciate tardiness," Kaiba said from behind her, as he walked into the building.
Mai swiftly turned around squarely into his open arms, she flushed with embarrassment; Kaiba smiled as he caught a whiff of her sweet smelling hair.
"Sorry," she replied grabbing her purse and marching outside not giving the CEO another look.
"It's down there," Kaiba smirked, pointing down the street to a quaint coffee shop.
They walked down the sidewalk, such a small distance seeming like an eternity to the both of them. Anyone who ambled by swore that those two were a married couple that had just gotten into a trivial disagreement.
It was a very old-fashioned yet charming coffee house, where you would mostly see people of the artistic quality sitting and working on their creative pieces whether they were drawings, music or poetry.
"You come here?" Mai said with slight confusion.
"Yes," Kaiba grunted angrily at her bewilderment.
"But it's so…so…"
"Artsy?" Kaiba finished her sentence.
Mai nodded silently taking a sit across from Kaiba beside a window and young man came by, no older then twenty and took their orders.
"So I can't do anything of the arts?" Kaiba challenged.
"Do you sing?"
He made a disgusted face.
"Draw?"
Kaiba shook his head.
"Play an instrument?"
"Something I have time to do," he said tediously.
"You write poetry!" Mai exclaimed, sniggering a bit.
Kaiba glared at her, not pleased at him being the butt of a joke.
"Wow, the great and attractive Seto Kaiba has a gentle side, well I would've—"
Mai stopped in mid-sentence, she stared puzzled at Kaiba's expression, he was…smiling? An actual smile.
"What-?"
"You said I was attractive," he smirked with arrogance.
"I was just saying what most of the woman population thinks," Mai explained swiftly.
"Does that include you?" Kaiba asked jeering her on.
"No!" Mai yelled.
Everyone in the shop turned their head to the young couple by the corner, staring at them oddly.
Mai turned three different shades a of red and sunk into her seat while Kaiba leaned back, his hand resting on the back of the chair holding his head up, with a taunting grin upon his face.
"Your coffee," the young man reported as he lay the steaming, hot cups down in front of the two.
"Thank you," Mai mumbled, straightening herself up. But the smirk upon his face continued to linger on. She moved her body so now her side was facing him, she silently sipped her coffee taking flitting occasional glances at the conceited jerk.
"A few days ago when you told me those events of your past—" Kaiba began hesitantly.
"Let me guess, if any reporters find out, it'll shame you. Don't worry I'll grab my stuff and leave tomorrow," Mai interrupted, not even offering him time to resume.
"No. I was going to say that people like you have character, I can't say I got it like you but…" Kaiba looked away, he didn't even know why he was revealing things to a stranger that he hadn't seen since his time in Domino, but something inside told him it was right, Mokuba frequently told him he needed to come to grips with happened.
Mai stared intently into Kaiba's navy blue eyes he appeared dazed out, he drifted off in mid-sentence in what seemed like he were going to tell her something important.
"Kaiba?" She waved her hand over his face.
"Hm…?" Kaiba looked over to her worried expression.
"Are you ok?" She asked looking into the burning, black liquid.
"I was saying that everything you told me made me think, about my life. You probably think—" Kaiba stopped.
Mai's white mug came crashing out of her hand and broke into a million tiny pieces, she grabbed strands of her blonde hair and tightly shut her eyes.
"Mai…" Kaiba caught her just as she fell off her seat.
"Mr. Kaiba, congratulations!" Dr. Eaneg offered his hand pleasantly.
Kaiba raised a brow and stared at the doctor in a strange way. "Excuse me?"
"You're going to be a father!"
"What!" Kaiba leaned against the wall, breathing heavily.
"Your wife is pregnant," the elderly doctor explained.
"She's not my wife!" Kaiba replied furiously.
"Oh, than your girlfriend. Far be it for me to judge your personal affairs."
'Oh great, the old man thinks I screw random girls off the street. This is not good for my image.'
The white lab-coated man brushed passed the stunned CEO, who was on the brink of a heart attack and walked in Mai's room.
"How are we feeling Miss. Valentine?" The doctor cheerfully asked.
"I feel a bit woozy," she replied, clutching her stomach softly.
"I'm surprised you came in now. But by the looks of your boyfriend, I'm guessing you didn't know."
'Boyfriend? Kaiba…ew. Know? About what?'
"About what?" Mai asked hesitantly.
"You haven't noticed anything off with your menstrual cycle?" The doctor asked oddly.
Mai paused and thought, sure her period was a few days late, but it happened occasionally, right?
"A slight growth in your breast area?"
Sure they seemed a bit bigger, but that happens occasionally, right?
"Frequent urination?"
So she ran to the bathroom a few times a day, when she was working she didn't have time, she needed to hold it in, it happened occasionally, right?
"Miss. Valentine, you're pregnant!"
"What!" Mai collapsed into the soft, white sheets. It was happening, again.
"Your baby is about the size of a dime during your first month; he has eyes, mouth and a head and his legs and arms are growing. His heart has begun to beat and his lungs have begun to form. He'll be about half an inch long at the end of your first month." Dr. Eaneg explained, reading over his clipboard. "If you have any concerns or disturbances, please do not hesitate to call," he turned his back and walked out just as Kaiba entered.
"So…" Kaiba casually strolled in and stood next to Mai's bed. "You know."
"I…have…" Mai looked down to her stomach and wrapped her arms around it. "A baby?"
Kaiba nodded solemnly. Surprisingly, Mai burst into tears and buried herself into Kaiba's black shirt.
"You don't have to keep it Mai," Kaiba began, thinking that was the problem.
"No…I have to."
Mai staggered down the hall, grabbing onto the wall for support, every day it was the same problem, she threw up constantly and when she went out, she would find herself lying on the floor, people crowding her to check if she was all right. She didn't know what was happening.
Suddenly, her foot caught onto something stiff and rigid, she fell face flat upon the cold tile flooring. Mai pushed herself up and lept back onto her feet when she realized what it was; her despicable father lying unconsciously, drunk on the ground.
'Hopefully he's dead.' She thought angrily, brushing herself off.
"Hm…" Mai looked down at him and the car keys, lying upon the coffee table beside a pack of cigarettes. Maybe now she could see what was wrong with her.
She swiftly clasped the bronze item within her hand and walked out of her shattered home.
"Ms. Valentine, these test results read that you're expecting," the young, woman happily said. "Ms. Valentine?" She swayed her hand in front of her blank expression. "I'll leave you alone now," she said, receiving a signal and walked out.
She enclosed her pale arms around her abdomen where deep inside, a small being was slowly growing.
'Who's is it?' Mai thought bitterly. 'It could my own despicable father's or that nasty, dirty man that my own friend's lowered me to. Either way, my blood courses through its veins, it's life is in my hands...'
Four months later, Mai stood outside a clinic, nearby her home. She clutched her stomach, which had started to show a bit already, it appeared as if she gained weight so no one cared much for it, but she needed to do it now.
She took one step forth, then another, many others followed till the cool air of the air-conditioning bathed in her in contempt.
"Miss, can I help you?" A young teenager glanced over the counter and looked sweetly over to Mai.
"I…I have an…a-appointment," Mai choked out.
"Oh, yes right here at 4:30, you can go in, the doctor is expecting you."
Mai nodded gravely and strolled into the office.
"Hello Ms. Valentine," an elderly woman looked the violet-eyed woman in the eye.
"H-hello," Mai mumbled, looking around the small office.
"Ms," Dr. Higna put her hands over the young adult's shoulders. "There's nothing to be nervous about, many people can't handle the pressures of motherhood at a young age, abortion is perfectly normal."
"It's perfectly normal to kill the living child in my stomach?! I'm a murderer!" Mai yelled hysterically, she put her hand over the russet handle.
"If you think that, then listen. Who will help you to take care of this child? You wouldn't have came here if you had the help you needed," she reasoned, her hands crossed over her chest.
'She's right.' Mai obediently sat back down upon the seat.
'God as my witness.' She clutched the crucifix within her hand. 'On behalf of this child, I shall keep my next one, no matter what the circumstances maybe, I will not kill my next baby.'
A solitary tear escaped her violet eyes as she lay down and steadied herself for the pain ahead.
"There's no pain that can compare to when a mother loses her child," Mai finished, staring Kaiba straight in the cerulean eyes.
"Mai…" Kaiba ran his fingers through his cinnamon hair. 'Why me?' "I'll try to help any way I can. We can sell your apartment and you can live with us permanently."
Her mouth dropped wide open, she stared at Kaiba wide-eyed, he was actually trying to help. Who knew what kind of brainwashing Mokuba had to do, but she knew that destiny was at play here, maybe her life was taking a turn for the better.
"Kaiba…I-I …can't," Mai stuttered at first.
"A woman in your condition can't live alone," Kaiba explained. "Let me help you," he mumbled the last part quietly, but Mai still heard.
Mai smiled happily. "Thank you," she wrapped her arms around his neck gratefully. Kaiba was taken aback at first but he welcomed the embrace and returned it.
After a lengthy and meticulous explanation from the Doctor, Mai and Kaiba walked out of the clinic contentedly and relieved to be out of the consultant's grasp.
It wasn't a long drive back to the Mansion, but in silence it seemed like ages, no one had said a word for a while. Kaiba kept hesitantly glimpsing over to Mai, who absorbedly watched the passing scenery.
"Mai…" Kaiba began calmly. "In the coffee house I tried to tell you something," his hands grasped the steering wheel firmly. "Some people think that no one can compare to the amount of torture they've been through throughout their entire life, although we don't know how much it hurts, we can still help."
Mai stared at Kaiba eccentrically, here was the most stubborn man in the world talking about helping others, what next? Would the Pope be outside her door to knight her?
"Mai," he extended his hand forth and placed it over hers. "I know what you're going through, it maybe hard to believe, but I actually understand."
"Seto!" Gozaburu's deep voice bellowed throughout the mansion. "Falling asleep in studies!" His hand came crashing down upon young Seto's cheek. Blood gushed inside the youthful boy's mouth, as he attempted to hold his tears back.
His hand travelled to the cane and gripped it strongly within his hand. Gozaburu lifted the auburn staff and with one swift motion it crunched against Seto's breaking bones. He securely clenched his arm and cried out his sheer pain, which only strengthened the old man's vigour. He laughed manically as his whip continued to collide into the soft, tender skin of the 10-year old.
The small, raven-haired 5-year old silently wept as she watched the brutal thrashing of his younger brother.
'C'mon Mokie, Seto's always doin' stuff for you, you have to prove yourself to him now. Save your brother.'
Blood surged out of the already many, cuts and slits on the boy's body, he lay helplessly, at the mercy of his stepfather's biding.
"Maybe that should teach you to keep up with your studies, I didn't adopt you to pamper you!" his voice roared, shaking various items in the room.
Wordlessly, a petite shadow grew larger form behind the elderly man, Seto watched wearily, his eyes swollen and turning violet as he watched his young brother creep up to their malicious stepfather. The young boy, achingly shook his head as Mokuba held a glass lamp over his head.
"Never touch my brother!" Mokuba shrieked as the lantern struck against the aged man's head.
He fell with a strident thud against the bitter hardwood floor, his face expressed unconsciousness as he lay immobilized.
"Seto!" Mokuba ran over to his brother and grabbed him tightly, the young boy winced in pain, but was still happy to have his brother by his side. "No one's gonna take us a part, I'm looking out for you to."
"I swore that night I would die, that my vile stepfather would kill me," Kaiba said, clutching Mai's hand as they walked up the stairs to her room. "But Mokuba seemed to revive a small light of hope I always had. I know you didn't have anyone," he paused as she lay upon the violet covers that had been set for her.
"But Mokuba hadn't given up on me, so I couldn't quit on myself; sometimes you can find strength inside yourself when really needed."
She rested upon the soft satin and stared at the distant Kaiba.
"Mai, don't give up on yourself," he bowed over and gently kissed her upon her forehead and left the room.
'Mom was right, I do have to get out of here, but I don't know why I waited till now.' Mai grabbed the little belongings she had and crammed them into a small suitcase; bit by bit each day she had gone to the bank and extracted a modest amount of money till she had enough to pay for a Visa in America.
She had to leave Domino as soon as possible, everything had been a painful reminder of what a wonderful life had become- a worthless piece of street trash. The one woman she had trusted more than life itself was a stranger, the love she thought she had fallen into a was a lie, everything was one immense lie wrapping itself around her till now she became the lie.
Mai checked over everything, she had her boarding pass and her passport and she had all the money she thought she would need to start her new life. She checked her watched, her flight was due in two hours and her taxi should be here any minute; luckily her father had gone to the local tavern to get an early start on drinking, he wasted away any money he had on booze, so when he found out that nothing was in his bank account she'd already by practically two thousand feet in the air.
'God please let me new life have some happiness, let me succeed for once in my pathetic excuse for an existence, please let me enjoy life.'
She determinedly clasped her necklace and entered the taxi, leaving her broken life…forever…