Hi guys! So sorry it took so long for me to update! Actually, My boyfriend joined the army, and I've been trying to spend as much time with him as possible before he goes to boot camp, which is coming up VERY soon (too soon T.T April 14th . . . a week from today . . .T.T T.T T.T) and he'll be gone for four and a half months . . . * Even more tears* It's good news for you guys though, cause I'll probably write more and more often. So read up, review and enjoy!
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Chapter 11
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Three pairs of dirty socks, four of dirty underwear, several shirts and pairs of jeans, a hat, two coats, and three half empty boxes of old pizza. Serenity was amazed at just how filthy Joey had left the apartment. The door and locks had been changed or fixed and Serenity was in the process of making the place livable.
"This is worse than I thought . . ." She muttered to herself. She had already filled three garbage bags in the bedroom alone.
A knock came from the front door, and Serenity welcomed the excuse for some fresh air. She looked out of the peep hole in the new door. She jumped back at the sight of a large brown eye peering back.
"Ren, let me in!" She could hear Joey through the door.
"Joey," She said opening the door. "The point of the peep hole is so that I can see who's outside."
"Yea, but I was trying to see you!" Joey said, laughing. His hands were full with Serenity's things from her father's apartment. He laid them down in the small area that Serenity had cleaned so far. She could see Mai coming in behind him.
"Joey, you expect her to clean all this up?" Mai said, stunned at the places filthiness. "No. I think she's been through enough tragedy." she said as she whipped out her cell phone and began dialing. "Hi, Joan? Wanna make a few more hours this week? I'll pay time and a half." Mai began. Serenity starred wide eyed at her.
"Mai, I can do it! You don't have to do any more!" She said, trying to stop her. In truth, Mai had been the one to volunteer to pay the difference of what Serenity could afford for rent. The part time job payed pretty well, but it wasn't enough for an apartment. Mai had originally wanted to pay all of the rent and utilities for Serenity, but Serenity insisted upon paying as much as she could afford.
"Of course I do, and consider it from Joey as well. Its . . . a housewarming gift!" She said happily.
There was another quick knock on the door. Serenity raised an eyebrow at who it was. She wasn't expecting anyone else, so she looked through the peep hole once again. She squeaked and jumper up, excited, and opened the door hugging the person on the other side.
"Heh, good to see you too, Serenity." The young, rich, and handsome stranger said.
"It's been forever! Where have you been, I haven't seen you in . . ." Serenity tried to remember.
"What are you doing here???" Joey said, glaring at the boy. Mai just raised an eyebrow to him.
"I'm visiting Serenity." He said, calmly.
"Joey, It's ok, he called before hand, I had forgotten he was coming today.
"You . . .forgot?" He asked, looking hurt. Serenity's expression changed from extremely happy to 'sorry'.
"I . . .I had so much going on, and . . . I just, I couldn't keep track of which day it was, but . . . I'm sorry Duke!" She gave him another hug.
"I'm just playing with you Serenity." He took a serious tone. "You've . . .been through a lot." He said, holding her shoulders and trying to read her face.
"I'm fine now. Thanks to everyone." Duke could detect a little sadness in the statement, and worried for the girl again.
"Hey, do you need some help?" He said, making a sour face at the condition of the apartment.
"No, actually, Mai just called someone to help." She said, looking at Mai both disapprovingly and appreciatively.
"Well, then lets catch up. Wanna go out for pizza? That is, if you don't have any plans already." Duke looked at Serenity hesitantly.
"Actually, I had this day planned for just cleaning, but it looks like I've got it free now." She said, smiling.
"Well, we cant accompany you." Mai jumped in, preempting Joey's 'I'm coming too' outburst.
"What, why not?" Joey looked at Mai sadly.
"Because . . .I do have plans for us." She said, in a matter-of-fact sort of tone.
"Then it's just you and me." Duke offered his arm.
"I guess so." Serenity said, taking Duke's outstretched arm. Joey growled, but Duke and Serenity were too far away to hear it.
"Remind me, Mokuba. Why do you like coming here so much?" Kaiba asked. He was in a bad mood, because Sony had sent another representative, who bothered him for almost two hours.
"Because, the bacon pizza actually has bacon on it!" He said, happily. Kaiba sighed. Three more groups of kids came in, enjoying their Saturday with their friends by loudly laughing and moving things, disturbing Kaiba. Mokuba would wave at people passing by every now and then and Kaiba would pretend like he wasn't there.
Suddenly the smile left Mokuba's face.
' . . . Is that Serenity . . .and Duke? No, no no! He'll ruin everything!' Mokuba thought, panicking slightly. 'I've gotta do something!' He hesitated for a second, thinking over his plan.
"Mokuba, what are you doing?" Kaiba asked, as Mokuba got up from the table.
"Be right back, I think I see someone I know!" Mokuba headed towards the pizza line and quickly found Serenity and Duke.
"Serenity!" he gave her a big bear hug.
"Oh, Mokuba. I didn't see you. How are you?" She said, hugging him back. Duke glared silently at Mokuba, but no one noticed.
"I'm great! I'm eating out with Seto . . . Do you guys have a table yet?" He asked, looking around.
"No, we were going to order first." Serenity said before Duke could respond.
"Mokuba?" Kaiba called. He walked around the service tables and found his little brother, and Serenity and Duke.
"Hi Kaiba." Serenity automatically looked down.
"Serenity and Duke are here!" Mokuba said, stating the obvious. "They don't have a table yet, can they sit with us?" Kaiba looked from Duke to Serenity, then to Mokuba again.
"Fine . . ." He said, as the line moved up and it was Serenity's turn to order. "Add it to my tab." He said to the girl behind the counter.
"Oh, you don't have to do that!" Serenity protested.
"It's not like he's short on cash." Duke said, smirking.
"Still scrounging around Devlin?" Kaiba glared at him. " But he is right. Order whatever you want. I can afford it. Just don't try to buy the whole store." Serenity caught a bit of a sparkle in his eye.
'Was . . . was that a joke?' they all thought at the same time. Serenity and Mokuba smiled. Duke scoffed.
Kaiba watched as Mokuba neared the booth. It was a half circle shaped booth, which meant Mokuba had more options with seating arrangements.
"Move in!" He said, leaping at the seat, forcing Kaiba to move, lest he get jumped on.
"Thanks for letting us sit with you." Serenity said. "Our pizza should be up soon."
"Ladies first!" Mokuba jumped in as Duke attempted to seat himself.
"It's ok." Serenity attempted but Duke jumped right back up.
"No, no. It's only right." He said, ushering her into the booth. She was now seated between Kaiba and Duke. Just as Mokuba planned.
'Now to get rid of Duke . . .' He thought.
"You said he would come."
"He will."
"It's been nearly three weeks, how much longer?"
"Just wait. Do you think I like waiting so long? That I've been stalling the Pharaoh just to watch you squirm? I admit that the sight of you so unhappy is quite an appealing aspect of the Pharaoh's lateness, but it is not my intention, so shut up and wait like the rest of us have to." The two had been bickering and complaining for the whole of the two weeks.
"This is why I work alone." Malik slid further into his seat, pinching the bridge of his nose.
"And this is why I kill my partners." Bakura said, glaring at him. Malik looked over his hand, returning the unpleasant stare.
'Hurry Pharaoh, I am almost out of patience.' Malik wished.
"AGH!" Duke jumped up from the wet booth. Serenity moved quickly away from the spill, causing her to bump into Kaiba, who didn't react quite fast enough.
"Sorry!" Mokuba said, pretending to try to clean up the spill. 'Bulls-eye!' His mind screamed. The soda he had spilled had landed between Serenity and Duke, causing them to jump away from each other, and causing Serenity to jump towards Kaiba.
Duke growled, trying to dry himself off.
"I'm sorry . . ." Mokuba said, giving a cute sad face. Duke didn't really care. Too many people were laughing at him, making jokes and pointing.
"Duke, here," Serenity handed him a napkin. "I'll help you clean this off." She got up with him, trying to avoid the puddle on the booth.
"Mokuba, what are you doing?" Kaiba turned to his little brother.
"What?" Mokuba tried desperately to remain innocent-looking.
"Don't you give me that. I know you." Kaiba glared at him. Mokuba's mind raced for excuses.
"Well . . .it worked didn't it?" 'I'm the genius in the family, I must be!' Mokuba smiled.
"What are you talking about?" Kaiba raised an eyebrow.
"Well, Duke obviously likes Serenity." He said, watching his brother stiffen. "But Serenity just thinks of Duke as a friend. I think they look cute together." Mokuba watched Kaiba sink into himself in thought. He knew that Kaiba knew Duke was a playboy. He chose girls he didn't think he could get, used them for a few weeks, then left them.
"Mokuba, you shouldn't interfere with other peoples relationships." Kaiba sounded strange, like his words were programmed responses.
'Excellent.' Mokuba thought. Now Kaiba has some sort of idea in his head. Mokuba shifted and saw out of the corner of his eye that Duke and Serenity were returning, duke had his arm around her. Mokuba tried desperately to keep the smile on his face. He looked back and his big brother, whom was not even attempting to look happy. Mokuba could tell that he was in a foul mood.
"We got it all off." She said, sitting down and moving in to make room for Duke. "Oh . . ." She looked down at herself.
"What's the matter?" Duke asked.
"I think I left my phone and keys . . ." She said. Duke moved aside, letting her out to get them.
"Isn't this one cute?" Duke said, watching her leave.
"This one?" Kaiba raised an eyebrow again.
"Yea, you know how it is." He said, nudging Kaiba.
"Mokuba, why don't you get yourself another drink." He watched Mokuba take some money and head off. He thought of Serenity. She deserved much more than Duke. Much more than even Tristan. He tightened even more. Suddenly, he didn't want pizza, or any food. His stomach was flipping and flopping. He felt sick all of the sudden. Before he knew it a growl escaped him. His attention turned to Duke.
"If you even try to treat her like another one of your groupies Duke-"
"What? You'll do what? There's nothing you can do. She likes me, and that's always been the girlie's weakness. The bigger the wallet, the more the girls like you. And if you think I'm not going to take advantage of a good situation, that's your problem." Kaiba's fists tightened more.
"You're not taking advantage of a good situation. Your taking advantage of women. People. Good people who may even care about. For what reason, I cant tell." This time Duke glared.
"Kaiba, she's mine. For now at least. If you want her later, you're welcome to my leftovers." Kaiba stood abruptly, moving the table a bit. He left the booth, and a smirking Duke and headed farther into the 'restaurant'.
Serenity had her head down, looking at her phone as Kaiba walked quickly by, grabbing her arm and pulling her in a different direction.
"K-Kaiba?" She stuttered, trying to figure out what he was doing. He pulled her into a hallway that probably led to the kitchen or another back-room.
"Don't make this mistake." He said, staring down at her.
"What mistake?" She looked back up at him, questions bubbling in her eyes.
"Duke. You cant really be interested in him."
"What? I . . .I mean . . .why not?" Serenity began to get a bit defensive. He couldn't dictate who she could see and who she couldn't.
"He wants to use you."
" . . .what?" Disbelief sank in as she looked across the restaurant at Duke. He was glancing around casually.
"He uses his fame to get girls. He sleeps with them, then dumps them when the next pretty girl catches his eye." He said coolly
"No, not Duke . . .he wouldn't." She looked back up at Kaiba. "Why . . . why do you care? Why are you telling me this?" She didn't really expect him to answer. Kaiba could tell this by the way she tried to pass him and re-join Duke. Kaiba's arms shot out, each hand planting into the wall beside her, trapping her. He was leaning over her and staring down.
"Because . . . you don't deserve that. No one does. Emotions . . . Feelings aren't something to be played with for one's own amusement." He said, successfully re-capturing her attention.
"Is . . . Is he really like that?" Serenity was beginning to calm down. Kaiba has never lied to her. He's never tried to hurt her. He's actually only ever protected her.
"He told me himself. Actually . . .I think he was bragging." Kaiba could see hurt in her eyes. "You . . .really did like him." He could feel his stomach knotting. 'Why does it feel like this?' He thought to himself. He wasn't used to feeling anxious, or nervous. 'This isn't like me!' He thought, trying to get a grip. 'but . . .' His stomach looped again.
"I . . .no, I guess I didn't." In that one statement, all of Kaiba's anxiousness and nervousness disappeared. "I liked who he was pretending to be. But . . .I guess that person just doesn't exist." She gave Kaiba a smile. "I probably would have made a big mistake if it wasn't for you." She thought for a second. "You've become kind of like my Guardian Angel." Another weird feeling filled his stomach.
"I'm no angel." He removed his arms and began walking Serenity back to the table.
"Hmmm," She folded her arms, lifting one had to her chin in a classic 'thinking' pose. "Guardian Dragon then?" She asked, playing on his favorite mythical creature. He stared at her for a second, then smiled.
"I guess I could see that." He said. They returned to the booth, Duke and Mokuba waiting. Kaiba's smile disappeared when he saw Duke, but he didn't say a word.
'Seto . . .smiling? . . .and coming back from being alone with Serenity? YES!' Mokuba almost shouted out loud. As Serenity sat down, Duke put his arm around her, smirking at Kaiba, who glared in return. Serenity looked as if she was a bit uncomfortable, but didn't move to push him away.
"Duke . . . I wanted to ta-" Serenity was mid sentence when her cellphone rang. She picked it up, still looking at Duke.
"Hey Mai- . . . Slow down, I- What?" Serenity stood suddenly, hanging up the phone. "Joey's in the hospital."
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R, R, & E!