Chapter 14
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Domino was abuzz with the sound of roaring engines, laughter, car horns and any other sound a city could make. Which, really was a great deal of noise. It was the first sunny day in what seemed like forever. The streets were still damp from the night before but the sky was blue and clear.
"Mr. Kaiba, looks like the vandals take Sundays off. They didn't touch the building today." Daniel placed a steaming cup of coffee on the mahogany desk, removing the empty cold one. Kaiba Took the cup and breathed it in deeply, then let out a deep sigh.
"It looks like your call to the authorities got media attention." Kaiba said quietly.
"Oh yeah?" Daniel piped up. "Well . . . it was about you. It's bound to happen." Daniel glanced down at Kaiba who had reached out for something.
Within seconds Kaiba had pointed the remote and turned on his television. It didn't matter what channel he tuned to, they all seemed to be reporting the same story.
"The alleged vandals of Kaiba Corporation have seemingly been forcefully rounded up, restrained, and delivered to the Domino Police Department some time last night. And get this, not just the vandals from the call yesterday, but someone was able to round up all 24 members of the gang that they had been a part of. When officers asked who had done this, none of them could remember seeing or hearing their attacker. We interviewed Officer Kitsu-" Daniel barked out a laugh.
"Wow, looks like you don't need the police if you've got millions of fans." Daniel sighed.
"I dont think I've ever been this grateful for crazed fans..." Kaiba said flatly, sipping the coffee. Though his tone was flat, Daniel could tell a weight had been lifted off his bosses shoulders. He had seemed overall cheerful all morning, which was still weird, but Daniel decided it was a good weird.
As the phone rang, Daniel decided to step out and finish up his work for the day.
'Hey, Can I go to Egypt too?' Mokuba's voice rang out. Kaiba felt himself raise an eyebrow.
"What?" The question was completely unexpected.
'Egypt! The trip you're funding! I wanna go too!' Mokuba's energy made Kaiba want to cry. He had been so drained all week, and had finally found some small reserve of strength, and it all just seemed dwarfed by Mokuba's infinite source.
"Mokuba, it's a high school field trip. I'll take you for vacation some time in the summer." Suddenly Kaiba felt tired again.
'But you're going . . . and then you're going to France just after that!' Mokuba started his pout routine.
"Mokuba, what were the grades on your last report card?" Kaiba had the bridge of his nose pinched between his index finger and thumb.
'I gotta go, someone's uh . . . on the other line, BYE!' Kaiba heard the phone click dead and smirked to himself.
Before classes was always an interesting time. Students were all in the halls, and there was a quiet hum of chatter going around, but if anyone really paid attention, they would see it was all a desperate attempt for the students to try to wake up for the day to come.
Serenity had gone straight to class today. Her excitement and worry about the big trip only a week away and all the complications she was faced with had kept her up all weekend, yet she seemed to still be restless. Class wasn't due to start for another ten to fifteen minutes, so the room was almost completely empty. She almost didn't notice Kaiba enter until he had passed by her desk and plopped himself down next to her.
"Morning" She said in a happier tone than she felt. He glanced up and gave a bright nod and . . .smile? Yes, it was faint, but there.
"How was your weekend?" He asked. Serenity was a little thrown. Sure she had made small talk with Kaiba quite often, but she was always the one to begin the conversation, and he was acting so . . . chipper. Serenity felt herself smile back at him.
"Well, it started out pretty well. I've been excited about going to Egypt since Yugi told me about it, and I had a nice time with Tristan on Saturday, even though the night was cut short." Kaiba's faint smile faded a bit. He felt that all familiar pang in his stomach. "We were supposed to go to the movies, but the food we got earlier didn't sit right with Tristan." Kaiba almost snickered, the pang disappearing.
"But . . ." The glimmer in Serenity's eyes dimmed.
Kaiba's ever classic raised eyebrow urged her to continue.
"I only realized over the weekend, I need a signed permission slip to go on the trip, but . . . I'm only temporarily able to live with Joey while my guardianship requirements get ironed out."
'Ah, so that's it. Psh.' Kaiba thought to himself, smile slowly returning to his lips, only looking a bit more mischievous.
"What do I do?" Serenity finally built up to ask. Kaiba just looked at her.
"You wait." Serenity's mouth fell agape. Of all the things he could have said, that was not one she expected. He was just surprising her all over the place today. "It sucks, I know, but the process is worth it." He shrugged.
"What's with you today?" Serenity blurted out. She watched a look of unease fold over his face and stumbled to find better words. "I . . uh, you just seem so. . . personable. It's just . . . different."
Kaiba could feel the mischief bubbling up again.
"Oh," he said, making a slightly remorseful face, "Is that bad?" He tried not to smile as Serenity's color drained from her face.
"N-no, I- . . it's nice, it's just . . .I didn't mean-" He couldn't keep it in any longer, the evil smirk played across his lips, betraying him to Serenity. She gasped, looking shocked and hurt.
"You! You're . . .making fun of me . . ." Serenity was too stunned to form any more words as Kaiba chuckled to himself quietly. She didn't know where this new, more open Kaiba came from, but she decided she liked it. She had always enjoyed talking to Kaiba in the past, but in the past it's been more like asking advice and him giving it to her. But this was different. This felt so natural and comfortable. Like he had gotten to know her already and she was finally really getting to know him. That lifted her spirits and made her giggle along with him.
Just as the two were settling down, more students began to fill the room, looking confused and curious. Serenity and Kaiba fell silent, glanced at each other and quietly chuckled one last time before class started.
Serenity rushed into the school, possibly the only completely awake person in the building. She hurried down the halls and made her way to her first class. She wasn't late. No one was expecting her, but when she burst into the room, a set of blue eyes were already focused on her. The two other kids in class also glanced up at her, but Kaiba's gaze was already set. And that just confirmed it.
"You . . . you did something." She said accusingly. Her over the shoulder bag was open and looked like her things were crammed into it last minute. Her hair looked like she had groomed it, then run her hands through it last minute, and she had a few papers clutched in her hand. She stalked over to him and stood over his desk.
Kaiba allowed her to tower over him, slouching in his desk seat nonchalantly. He had and eyebrow cocked, and his hand resting just over his mouth, covering the smirk he couldn't force himself to drop. Lights danced in his eyes as he felt more alive than he could remember.
There was something that felt gratifying about doing things for this girl. Kaiba at heart was all for charitable donations and spending time with organizations that did things for others, but seeing the final reactions of people receiving help and assistance that they so needed was. . . invigorating. For once he felt like he was living life, instead of just existing.
"I dont know what you're talking about." He intended to sound a little confused and surprised, but Serenity saw through it in a second.
"These take weeks to get through and it's only been eight days! And hush you know everything. You did something and you made me think I'd just have to deal with painstakingly waiting on the edge of my seat for something I thought would never come!" Serenity was beside herself. Happiness, excitement, adrenaline all happening at the same time. She wasn't angry, or frustrated, just shocked. She let out a deep sigh, calming herself and sat on the window ledge next to his desk.
"You . . . you really are full of surprises. I just . . .What do you want?" Kaiba's eyes widened, his smirk faded, and the lights in his eyes dimmed. Jolts of confusion shot through his mind as words failed him. He just looked up at her questioningly. "Kaiba, you've been rescuing me, and doing favors for me, and giving me advice, and . . .everything! You've got so much to think about and worry about and do, yet you're still always there for me. There must be something I could do for you in retu-"
"Quit it. You know very well, I only do what I want to." He retorted, seriously.
"But-" Serenity started again.
"What don't I have? What cant I get myself?" The questions were simple. He wanted to help her. He wanted to make her happy, and do her favors. The thought warmed her.
"You . . . This isn't fair." She pouted cutely. Kaiba could tell she was relaxing and showing a bit of humor, but still, he waited for her to elaborate. "You get to do all this stuff for me and I just have to sit here and accept it? I cant do anything at all for you?" Kaiba thought for a second.
" . . .Challenge me."
"What?"
"I've been bored lately. Challenge me." He shrugged.
"Challenge you to what? I'm no good at dueling." He scoffed, making her wrinkle her nose. They'd gotten quite close since the beginning of the week, even though it had only been less than three days. Every morning before class and during the fifteen minute break during that class they would chat and joke as if they were old friends. They enjoyed each others company, but the icing on the cake was the disturbed and even jealous looks they got from the rest of the class.
"Listen, I just want a challenge. Pick a game, or sport or something. You can even make your own. Make it difficult." Serenity thought for a second. This could be fun.
"Hmmmm . . . oh . . .You're good at figuring things out." She observed. Kaiba nodded, expecting a riddle, or puzzle. "Ok. I have a secret. Figure it out." Kaiba raised an eyebrow as Serenity smiled sweetly. This was an intriguing challenge.
" . . .what is the secret about?" He asked tentatively. She wagged a finger in his face.
"Uh uh, that's against the rules." His brow furrowed. She popped down from the window sill. "Ok, rule one, you're not allowed to ask what the secret is, or what it's about. Rule two, you cant ask anyone else what it is, they don't know anyways. Rule three, you have to get it yourself, if you have any help in any way from someone else, you lose." Kaiba's eyes narrowed at her. She was good.
"Doesn't that seem a bit unfair?" He asked, watching a grin form on her face.
"Oh, I'm sorry, I thought you wanted a challenge." Serenity tried her hand at a trademark 'Kaiba shrug' and pulled it off pretty well. He almost laughed.
"Challenge accepted. One more thing." His features turned smug. "What do I get if I win?" Serenity could feel heat rise to her face, but she was in no way going to act like he effected her. She raised her eyebrows, feigning shock at his playful attitude. She decided to play along. Serenity let a lock of hair escape from behind her ear as she leaned in closer to Kaiba. After reaching her destination of only six inches away from his ear she finally stopped.
Kaiba could feel his heart racing. His whole body felt warm, and his stomach was doing a weird sort of dance. He could feel his grip on the desk tensing up. He put everything he could into controlling his breathing before she could notice, but he wondered why she hadn't stopped sooner to ask why his heart was beating so loudly...or was it just him who noticed?
"What you win," She whispered next to his ear, "is a challenge." She giggled and pulled back, walking around the rest of the desks in his row and sat in her own. Kaiba sighed, relieved, but he couldn't beat the feeling that some part of him yearned to race like that one more time. Maybe more than once.
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So, almost exclusive chapter dedicated to Kaiba and Serenity here. What did you guys think? Kaiba's getting comfy and happy and personable . . . it's almost too good to be true right? I mean, all good things must come to an end right? o.o **covers mouth** I . . .I mean . . . They're happy . . . yay!