Truthful illusions

Disclaimer: I don't own yugioh

Not bothering to cast a single glance at the people that gawked at him- well, maybe at the orchestra that stopped playing without being asked to, but promptly resumed whatever it was performing, Kaiba went straight to where his faithful employee Roland was standing.

He was seemingly giving Roland some important instructions for the poor man was sweating way too much and kept changing handkerchiefs every two seconds.

Shortly afterwards, he approached the little squad.

"Yugi." Yugi has always been the only member of the gang worth acknowledging in Kaiba eyes.

"Good evening, Kaiba. Guess it's an important night, eh?" Yugi greeted him politely.

At that very moment, Joey mind was visited by a strange idea; he elbowed Tristan in the ribs and coughed to attract the CEO attention.

"Already dumped! But where is your bride to be? Ah, yes. She is on first space ship that will take her to Pluto" Then he burst laughing at his ingenious joke.

Instead of the scorching glare he had expected, Kaiba shook his head as a condescending smirk started to form across his lips.

"You will never learn, puppy." Then facing Mai, he added:

"Didn't I mention in your invitation card that dogs are not allowed to attend the party?"

The blonde woman was ready to give Kaiba a piece of her mind when Serenity spoke:

"Stop acting like that!"

"If you have any problem with that, you may leave." Soon afterwards, he turned heels and left the ball room.

'This guy is not normal' Serenity was telling herself again and again. One week earlier, he had personally invited her and now he was suggesting that she should leave!

So be it, she will gather the remains of her dignity and call it a night. When descending the stairs outside the main building, she made a sudden halt.

That's it! She was sick, sick of him. Why did she have to fall for…for …that thing! She was never good at insults. What did she find attractive about him anyway? Then again, she wasn't immune to what she called the 'Kaiba-charm'' virus. She had always believed that in order to resist him, a girl must be born with an 'anti-Kaiba-charm' gene or at least being vaccinated against this wide-spread disease that was infecting millions of victims every year. The first scientist that will invent such a miracle will certainly deserve the noble prize!

Deciding that she wasn't going to take anymore of this, she made a 180° turn and started to climb the stairs for the second time this evening. She came face to face with Roland who by 'coincidence' was at the entrance.

"I want to see you're your boss"

"This way, Miss wheeler."

Tea could have sworn that she saw Serenity re-entering the mansion. Joey that was busy hoovering the buffet- it was the best plan he could come out with to avenge his sister-told her that she was just having visions. Then he grinned maliciously and chirped "Hormones!"

While Duke and Tristan exchanged meaningful glances, Yugi could be easily mistaken for the slice of tomato he was nibbling on.

Tea for her part couldn't believe the idiocy of the blond or his lack of indecency. So what if she was expecting her fourth child!

Not wanting to take risks and listen to her foolish companions, Tea still felt the need to check on her friend. Just in case. She made her way to where she believed she saw her, but was stopped dead in her tracks by two of Kaiba's guards.

"You're not allowed in this premises." One of them offered mechanically.

Well, if she wasn't allowed to wander here, so would Serenity. Maybe it was just hormones!

"It's not poisoned, Wheeler" Kaiba said not changing his posture; He was leaning against the wall watching intently the younger Wheeler sibling eying suspiciously the little box.

Frowning, she opened the velvet box cautiously. She wasn't an idiot; she had an idea of what might be inside.

And she guessed right, a beautiful white golden ring adorned with a strikingly blue sapphire. She shut the box in a somehow harsh way and put it on a nearby table.

Trying her best to remain calm, she asked "What was that?"

"So?" Kaiba inquired.

The guy definitely didn't talk much but her crazy functioning brain was filling the gaps. So, he wanted to play this cruel game just because she was Joey's sister!

"What?" She could just play along.

Kaiba smirked and folded his arms, holding his head up proudly; he inquired: "What do you think?"

"About?"

He frowned slightly then scoffed: "The ring."

"And why should I tell you about my opinion?"

"Because I do care about your opinion, I always did."

"Excuse me? I'm a little lost here."

"I'm sure you will take it, you are so predictable after all!"

It took her a couple of minutes to collect the pieces together. That evening at the restaurant; his associates didn't show up, and 'the guests are supposed to wear white' thing.

'Predictable?' He ..He…what was he? He was just an illusion. She will not do such thing! No matter how her heart longed for him, her brain objected.

She couldn't trust him. It's was at that moment that she realized how little she knew of him. If she listens to her heart and jump into his arms- and how she wished that-, he will take her for granted. A few years from now when they will have a trivial couple fight, he will gladly remind her that she was the one who pursued him.

The happy images of her brother and her friends started floating in her mind. Joey doesn't deserve that; and her friends, they were nothing but kind to her. All what was left to do now was to show him to which extent she can be predictable. She wasn't 14 anymore!

"You know darn well that my brother, my brother and my friends are here. You invited them and asked me to come as well."

Her teeth were clenched and her hazel eyes were blazing with pure fury.

"Enough with your stupid games!" she seethed when he opened his mouth to say something.

The tears she fought so hard to contain started to run freely down her cheeks.

"I loved you, I still love you, and beware I'm not ashamed to say it for the mere reason that nobody can decide for whom he will harbour such pure feelings; but can you just listen to yourself for a split of a second?"

She paused to breathe then carried on in a rather sad tone:

"You don't care a bit about my feelings and you never did. You are too involved in yourself to do so. And you expect me to enter the ball room, arm in arm, and give my poor brother a heart attack. Well I'm not that cheap!"

After blurting out everything that was inside her tormented heart, Serenity started to come gradually to her senses. Maybe, just maybe she went too far. Oh yes, by the look on his face; she has definitely overreacted. It was never, never safe to make Seto kaiba angry. Now that she was witnessing in live the effects of her little outburst, Serenity wished she could just teleport herself out of his sight.

For a moment a blank look crossed his face, then he narrowed his eyes in deadly way. He was seemingly looking at her but in fact his eyes were distant.

"Kaiba, are you alright?" she ventured.

"Leave!"

Serenity was too taken back by the ferocity in his voice to make a single move.

"I said out!" he barked.

Slowly, she headed towards the door murmuring a soft "I'm sorry."

Hello there, yeah it's me now. This story just doesn't want to end, what was supposed to be a one-shot started to grow on its own! And quite frankly, I don't know how many chapters will be needed to bring it to term. I'll be gone for a while, so I don't know if I will be able to update from my new location. I will gladly do it if I can, otherwise, I'll just do it when I come back. I have no idea when. I'm not satisfied with this chapter but I decided to post it before my departure.

Take care and don't forget to give me your opinions.