Chapter 9
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"I don't know, Yami. How am I going to pay for it? Tickets aren't cheap you know." Yugi said, shuffling his deck.
'I . . . don't know Yugi. All I know is that with my own body . . . We wouldn't have to share. We would have our own individual need, Yugi. Our own schedules. I would never have to drag you to Egypt again . . . though I probably would invite you to come with me." Yami said.
" I like sharing a body with you . . . but you're right. You deserve your own body, and your own form." Yugi said sadly.
'Just know, That if it were anyone other than you, Yugi, I would never have made it anywhere near where I am today.' Yugi smiled.
"It's the same with me." Yugi said.
"How's Kaiba doing?" Serenity asked, making herself comfortable in the limo, which wasn't hard. Mokuba looked at her brightly.
"He's fine! He was at work an hour ago, but he's strong, and he'll heal up just fine."
"At work? But . . . last night . . ." Serenity was baffled. Kaiba was barely able to move the night before, and now he was at work?
"Yea, He's a tough guy. He's got some other things to do too, so . . ." Mokuba shrugged.
"I . . .I didn't know you were orphans." Serenity said, changing the subject and searching Mokuba's features for an emotional response. He seemed to stare off into the carpeting of the limo.
"Yeah . . .Meg took us in when . . ." Mokuba searched for words that didn't feel hurtful to him.
"You don't have to say it." Serenity said, not wanting to cause the cute little boy any more pain.
"Mom . . .and dad . . .I didn't know them. No . . . I don't remember them. I was only four when I was taken to the orphanage. Seto was ten or eleven . . .around my age. See . . . Seto told me that mom and dad . . . they left for their anniversary. To go out to eat, or something . . . But on their way back . . . they were in an accident. Mom didn't make it, and dad . . . Seto's with him now actually." Serenity wondered what he meant, and Mokuba could tell. "Dad's been in a coma for about six years now. They said he's brain dead, but Seto wont let them pull the plug."
"I'm so sorry." Serenity said, watching silver pools of tears line his eyes. He was wiping his eyes, trying to face away from her, when Serenity gave him a big hug. He paused for a second, then uttered an "I'm fine".
"Oh, come on, you already have an overly tough guy in the family, aren't you supposed to be the cute cuddly one??" Serenity teased, trying to make him smile.
"Are you saying I'm not cuddly??? I'll show you cuddly!" he said, laughing a bit. He lunged at her with the biggest hug his little body would allow.
"Hey . . . Mokuba . . .do you think you and your brother will be up for a party tomorrow?" Serenity asked, still laughing with Mokuba.
"A party . . .cool, I'll ask him . . .I know what to say to make him say yes!" Mokuba giggled evilly.
"Mokuba! Let him choose whether he wants to come." She said, smiling at the little boy's manipulative power over his brother.
"But . . . I want him to come." He said, starting with the puppy eyes.
"Then just say that." She said, trying to avoid looking at him. He sighed deeply, then turned to her again.
"Only you can make me turn off my puppy eye power." He said sadly. She smiled at the "poor" boy. He took out his cell phone and waited for his big brother to pick up/
A strong hand gripped tattered clothing, bringing the person wearing the clothes up from a sitting position.
"Well well well, nice to see you too old friend." The person smirked. "Do you have them?"
"Do I . . .Of course I do!" The hand dropped the cloth, leaving the wearer to fall back hard. "Would I not be the greatest thief alive if I did not?" Bakura held up the golden Ring and Ankh, smiling devilishly. "and the Pharaoh?" He asked. His company smiled.
"Though he is not here yet, I've set in motion a plan to get him here. We just need to wait for him to realize it." he said.
"So you are not positive that he will take the bait." Bakura said, making the question into a statement. His guest frowned.
"He will take the bait. He wont be able to resist it. Even now . . .my body's foolish sister is leading him here, unknowingly handing him over to us." Malik grinned widely.
"Are you sure she will not be able to see our plans?" Bakura asked. He knew the Millennium Necklace was able to grant short bursts of future-sight.
"Her Necklace's power has abandoned her until it's original owner is found and released." Malik said, blowing off the subject.
"And how is it you wield the Millennium Rod? Shouldn't it be waiting for it's owner?" Malik scowled.
"If you must know, I've already found and awakened Set. He's been trapped in it ever since." Bakura looked at the rod Malik was waving around. For a second, he could almost hear the scream of a man. Bakura smiled leaving Malik alone.
Soon the unnamed Pharaoh would be there with the final key to Bakura's very own body.
"Hi Joey." Serenity said, following Mai into the living room. She had just got back from work, and she looked like she had been rolling around in paint. "Getting ready for the party?" She asked, despite the looks he gave her.
"Yeah. Ren . . .you wanna go clean up?" he gave her a look that a father would give his dirty little child. One that said, 'this isn't a question, it's an order'.
"If you want to take a shower, the bathroom is down the hall." Mai said, smiling at her.
"Thanks Mai . . .and . . .thanks for letting us use your place for the party." She said, before taking off down the hall to clean up.
"She's so cute . . . So . . Joey, I'm surprised that you actually let her invite Kaiba. Isn't this party a bit personal?" Mai asked, still confused about why he let her.
"I . . .Sure, I don't like him. That'll never change, but . . . He treats her right. They're sort of friends, but . . . .I dont know . . .it's weird. I feel like I kinda owe him . . ." Joey said.
"So you invite him to a party?" Mai raised an eyebrow.
"No . . .Serenity does. . . . Besides," Joey ginned widely. "He'll probably skip" Mai began to let out a heavy sigh when the doorbell rang.
"I'll get it" she said, still shaking her head from Joey's childish attitude.
"Hi Mai, Just dropping off these for the party tomorrow. I heard it was going to rain, so I brought over a few more umbrellas as well, just in case." Yugi piped, arms full. Mai led him in where he greeted Joey and laid the three umbrellas and a few bundles of something wrapped in cellophane down on the table. "These are from Tristan and me." Yugi said, holding up the cellophane bundles. Joey nodded, taking them and putting them with his and Tea's.
"Thanks Yugi . . .I'm probably gonna be needin an umbrella." Joey laughed. He still hadn't been to his apartment since the break in.
"Heh, glad to help! . . . well, I guess I'll be off. Got some extra work to do at grandpa's shop."
" . . . Seto?" Mokuba called, cautiously. He played with the carpet, using his feet.
"I already gave you your allowance." Kaiba said, typing on his laptop.
"No, that's not it . . ." Mokuba smiled somewhat, but returned to looking at and playing with his feet.
" . . .What did you break?" Kaiba said, finally trying to make eye contact.
"Nothing Seto!" Mokuba said, actually looking up. "I've been really good, right?" he asked.
"Yes . . . I suppose you have been good lately. Why?" Kaiba narrowed his eyes.
" Well . . . Serenity invited me . . . us to a party tomorrow . . .and-"
"You can go." Seto said, resuming typing.
"But she invited US." Mokuba said. Seto stopped typing, but didn't look up from the screen.
" . . . What time?" He finally asked.
"So you're going?" Mokuba jumped up, trying to see over Seto's laptop.
"What time?" Kaiba asked again.
"Noon." Mokuba said, half excited, half scared.
" . . .Fine." Mokuba jumped on his big brother, hugging him. He didn't notice Kaiba flinch, but Kaiba wasn't about to lose out on a hug from his baby brother.
Kaiba decided to drive himself this time. He was still a bit curious as to why Mokuba was bringing umbrellas, but he did watch the weather and figured that they would probably be going outside. Why? He did not know. At least the neighborhood where Mai lived was a lot safer than Joey and Serenity's homes.
"There Seto!" Mokuba shouted. There was a few cars parked outside Mai's house already, even though Kaiba was a bit early. He pulled in the driveway and parked. Mokuba shuffled in the back with the umbrellas. They had finally gotten to the door when the first splatter of rain pelted Mokuba on the nose.
"Hello?" Mai said, opening the door, but not really looking at who was outside.
"Hi!" Mokuba said, excited. Mai faced them both, then placed a smile on her face.
"Welcome. We're just waiting on Tea. Come on in, make yourselves comfortable." Mai said, opening the door wider and letting them in. Yugi and Joey were sitting on a couch, playing a video game, while Tristan and Serenity sat on the couch, chatting. Mai took up her place next to Serenity once she had shown them in. For some reason, the sight of Serenity and Tristan sitting so closely made Kaiba's stomach turn.
First thing Mokuba did was jump between Joey and Yugi, asking to join in. They quickly tossed him a controller and he began hollering and whoop-ing along with them. Kaiba stood, not knowing what to do, or where to go. It seemed rather awkward to him to try to fit in with them, seeing as the only real parties he's gone to were the business parties thrown at work. Quite a difference, he observed.
"Hey, Tristan, we need a fourth!" Joey called, seeming disgruntled. He tossed a controller to him before he could refuse.
"Hey, Kaiba!" Serenity called, patting the couch beside her. Kaiba didn't feel like standing the whole party, so he went over and sat.
"So, what is this party actually for?" He asked, quietly. Mai looked from him to Serenity, then back.
"Well, we decided to throw a small party with friends on this day, every year from now on. We only started it last year . . .but theres a bit more reasoning to that. Later we're going . . .out and if you don't want to come, then that's fine, it is rainy." She said, trying to explain, but somehow it seemed difficult for her.
"Where are you going?" Kaiba asked.
" . . .To visit my mother." She said. He wasn't sure of her emotion when she said it but he knew one thing, her mother had died.
"I suppose Mokuba and I can come." He said, dismissively. He could see her happiness bubble up. She reminded him of Mokuba when he had asked him if they could come to the party in the first place. Tea showed up shortly after, and joined Mai for a little girl talk.
"What what WHAT!?!" Joey cried, watching his character fly across the screen and fall to it's death.
"YES!" Mokuba said at the same time Joey was shouting. Mokuba jumped up and danced around Joey, who fell backwards, "dying" from failure. Tristan and Yugi burst out in laugher as Mai rolled her eyes sarcastically, trying not to laugh with them.
"Joey, isn't it time to make the money?" Yugi piped up.
"Yea . . .I think I'm done dying for today." Joey said still laying "dead" on the floor. Serenity stood up, getting the roll of paper Joey had bought for the party.
"Make money?" Mokuba asked, looking as confused as Seto felt.
"Yea, actually, we're making Hell Bank notes." Yugi informed him, carrying an armful of the cellophane bundles over to the table in the next room.
"What?" Mokuba looked up at Kaiba for clarification.
"Hell Bank notes. They're fake money that family members buy when someone close to them dies. It's said that when you burn the money over their grave, it sends the amount on the note to the Hell bank, so your deceased family members can have money in the afterlife." he explained.
" . . .In Hell? But isn't Hell where we go when we're bad?" Mokuba just got more confused.
"That's what is taught today. Actually, the term was coined by the Chinese when missionaries tried to Christianize China. The Chinese didn't get it, but they heard the missionaries saying that they were all going to hell, so they figured that Hell was the term they used for the afterlife." Kaiba picked up a bundle of cellophane, confirming that it contained Hell Bank notes.
"Wow," Mokuba said, looking over Kaiba's shoulder. "That's a lot of money." He said, commenting on the $100,000,000 notes in the bundle Kaiba was holding. "This is for your mom, isn't it Serenity?" Mokuba asked, not sure if he was saying something hurtful. Serenity just smiled and nodded.
"We're going to make some personalized notes." She said. "We do have a few rules though. It has to be colorful, and you cam make as many notes as you want, but their sum has to come out to one billion. Last year Joey and Tristan tried to out do each other, and ended up using up everyone else's paper." Serenity said. Joey and Tristan hung their heads low, embarrassed.
"At least I won." Tristan said, causing Joey to growl.
"That's enough!" Serenity tried to stop the fight before it began. Everyone took their seats, taking some paper and some writing instruments, and began on their notes. It took a while for them to finish, but everyone had a few notes they were happy about. Everyone gathered their things and got dressed for going outside. Yugi passed out his spare umbrellas, but they were still down one.
"Here Tristan, I like walking in the rain." Serenity said, handing her umbrella to him. Tristan smiled but didn't take it.
"Hey, instead of one of us getting soaked, why don't we share?" Kaiba's stomach lurched again. He felt a bit worse as Tristan put his arm around her, pretending to put up the umbrella.
"Seto, are you alright?" Mokuba whispered, looking between Serenity and Kaiba.
"I'm fine." Seto said in a weaker voice than he thought would come out. Mokuba looked between Kaiba and Serenity a few more times before stopping dead.
'Seto . . . you LIKE HER!' Mokuba thought happily to himself. 'But wait . . .Tristan . . .'
"Awww, I wanted to share with her." Mokuba said quickly, feigning ignorance of what he just figured out. He pulled his cutest face, and hugged Serenity.
"Oh, Moki." She hugged him back.
'Moki . . . that's my nickname for him . . .' Kaiba thought. If it were anyone else he'd want to stop them from calling him that, but when Serenity said it . . . it didn't bother him.
Serenity looked up at Tristan, who seemed a bit downhearted, but moved aside to let Mokuba in.
'Excellent . . .' Mokuba thought in his most evil mind voice he could think up, which kind of sounded like Kaiba's now that he thought of it.
The cemetery was wet and quiet, like in any horror show, but most of the group was chuckling to each other, telling stories and jokes. Serenity and Joey cleaned their mothers grave of deal leaves and sticks, and finished by lighting candles and placing them in front of the gravestone. Everyone took turns placing their hell Bank notes, store bought and hand made, in the incense tray in front of the stone, then Serenity and Joey each lit a match. They smiled, wished their mother well, and lit the "money".
Everyone watched the fire consume the money, taking it to the afterlife so that their mother could be well taken care of. Once it was all done, Serenity and Joey cleaned up, and led the group back to Mai's house, joking and telling stories along the way.
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A story would be a lot easier to write if my backspace button was FUNCTIONING!!!!! GRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRR!!!!!!
. . . But enough about that . . .^.^''' Read, review and enjoy!