Chapter 16

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'What am I doing?' Kaiba thought to himself. He had wandered from the limo, into the house, and up the stares, but didn't recall actually traveling the distance. It wasn't until he found himself sitting on the bed that the memories came flooding back to him. He grabbed his head. 'I just left her . . . in the snow. . . all alone. What the hell is wrong with me? She's not like that. She really does care. She. . . She's not Nicole.' Kaiba grabbed his keys and took off for the park.

He could have sworn he had just left the park. Just got home. Sat on the bed for a few seconds then got up again. So why was it dark? Kaiba walked the park. Skimmed the banks of the pond, and finally walked back to his car. She had already left. Kaiba decided, instead of tracking her down, to go home and give up. Why would she ever listen to him again? Why would she possibly forgive him? Kaiba could barely forgive himself.

Serenity tentatively walked down the hallway, making her way to her class. Every other day that week she would have been excited to start the day, but today she felt sick. She could feel the fluttering anxiety in her chest as she turned into her classroom and was forced to confront life. She glanced up only once while she made her way to her seat. Kaiba was solemnly typing on his laptop. He slowed as she approached and sat herself next to him, then continued at a pace much faster.

Serenity briefly wondered what he was thinking but was yanked out of the thought by a voice calling to her.

"Well, well, well. If it isn't my little Serenity." Serenity's blood turned to ice. Kaiba peered above the laptop screen as a young man with dirty blonde hair and a shifty smile grinned at Serenity. "Who would have thought I would run into you here? Oh, I was just thinking about you as well. Probably two weeks ago, when I saw your father on the news. Something about eight to ten years?" Serenity tried to stop herself from shaking, but failed. The boy smirked. He sat himself in the seat in front of Serenity, facing backwards, and clutched her hand. "You know what that means? We can finally be together. No one can come between us now." He raised his other hand and brushed a strand of hair away from her face. Serenity flinched violently and immediately averted her gaze. He gritted his teeth, but kept a fake smile plastered on his face. She scrunched her eyes closed as he began to squeeze her hand until the blood couldn't get through anymore.

Kaiba had had enough. He might have been awful to her the day before, but he'd be damned if this freak touched her- hurt her. He sighed, calming himself, and began to close the laptop lid.

"I'm sorry Serenity, I just had to finish that. I know you wanted to talk this mor-" Kaiba stopped himself, pretending he had just noticed the boy sitting across from her "I'm sorry, I didn't realize you were talking to someone else. That's ok." He said, standing. "I have to use the restroom before class anyways." Kaiba leaned in and brushed his lips against her cheek. "I'll get you at break though, I promise." He turned and headed towards the door.

It was either out of fear, or confusion that Serenity pulled free from the boys grasp, but she found herself following Kaiba into the hall.

"What was that?" She called to him. He stopped and turned back, as if he had only thought he heard her. He started back towards her, reaching out for her hand.

"Are you ok?" He tried, but could barely get it out before she whipped her hand away.

"You drive me insane." She said plainly. Kaiba's head lolled forward, in defeat. He truly felt terrible. "I start to think; maybe he does care about something. And then yesterday," Serenity almost laughed though looked as if she were going to cry, "I almost thought; maybe someone cared about me, like really cared. . . and then you looked at me." Kaiba could feel his heart break as tears began to line her eyes. "Then I knew it was true. Everything he ever told me, everything he ever called me." Serenity shook her head, trying to keep the tears in.

Kaiba gripped her arms, trying to get her to look at him, and quietly calling her name.

"No!" Her eyes finally locked with his "It's not fair. Why do they get to be beautiful and I'm just this . . .disgusting thing." She gestured to the girls in the classroom, then to herself. He shook her slightly, calling her name louder and startling her into facing him.

"You're not disgusting. Yesterday wasn't your fault, it had nothing to do with you." He assured her. She scoffed.

"Oh? It's not you, it's me?" She asked skeptically, reciting the cliche.

"No, it's not my fault either. Not entirely. Listen . . . I . . . I got scared ok?" Kaiba's voice dropped to a low whisper. Serenity couldn't think of anything to say. The Seto Kaiba? Scared? "When I saw you . . . when I really thought about you . . . I realized how I felt about you. And I kissed you. And then I remembered her." Serenity was confused. She waited for him to continue. "I was dating a girl. And it was serious. I may have even loved her. I was stupid. She siphoned money out of my bank accounts and drafted a prenuptial contract giving her ¾ of my shares of the company and my assets, should we ever marry and divorce. And I was such an idiot I almost signed it. She didn't even try to pretend she cared about me once I confronted her. She said she was tired of working me over and got enough, so she just left." Serenity searched for words and Kaiba waited for her to find them.

" . . .Kaiba. I don't want your money." Kaiba opened his mouth to say something, but she cut him off. "I don't want your corporation." She laughed sourly, "and honestly, your fame is kind of annoying." He gave a quiet laugh and shook his head a bit. His grip on her arms turned soft, and he caressed her skin lightly.

"Serenity . . . you were never disgusting." He cupped her chin, assuring her eyes met his. "You could never be disgusting." His hand brought her face up to his and he kissed her deeply. Her fingers curled around the lapel of his duster.

Something tapped loudly on the lockers that Serenity was pushed up against. The two broke apart and looked up at Mr. Hunt, who glanced at them with amusement before heading into the classroom. Serenity blushed and smiled.

They could hear Mr. Hunt questioning, then kicking out the boy who troubled Serenity. He stepped out as Kaiba and Serenity approached the door. The boy stopped in the hall, watching as Kaiba offered Serenity the lead. Serenity kept her eyes on the ground as she passed him and made her way to her seat. Kaiba, closed the door most of the way behind Serenity, then grabbed the kid by the arm and threw him against a locker.

"Touch her, and I'll make sure you disappear forever." He said calmly. He clapped the boy on the shoulder and headed into the classroom, closing the door behind him.

There was just so much to do. Mai had already booked the venue, ordered the flowers, designed the cake, and obtained the most perfect dress. But there was still the marriage license, the brides maids dresses, the tuxedos, the pastor- Mai sighed heavily and rubbed the temples of her head. Just then a shrill beeping sound emerged from her phone. She jumped, then angrily grabbed the phone. The number read restricted, and she debated just ignoring it.

"... Hello?" Mai sounded exhausted, but soon her whole demeanor changed. She snapped straight up, shock apparent in her eyes.

"I see you're going through with it." A male voice sounded from the other side of the phone. "That was stupid Mai. You know you can't live without your money. You're not that kind of girl. I should know." She had had enough.

"You really do think I'm stupid don't you?" The man on the other side chuckled but didn't speak. A smile found it's way to her lips. " Oh, Dad, you are a piece of work. You didn't really think you could get away with blackmailing me did you? After all the shady business you did in front of me? You can cut me off, that's fine. I already have enough to last me and Joey the rest of our lives." She almost laughed as she could feel his smile disappearing over the phone. "You see, Dad, When you first threatened to cut me off, I went ahead and emptied every bank account with my name on it." She paused, letting him soak in what she said.

"That's right. All the bribe money you took from your 'investors', and all the blackmail money you collected from those poor small business chains? The money you hid from the government by putting it under my name? Don't worry, I wont rat you out, but you'll never see it again. Or me for that matter. Enjoy your life, Dad. Think of this as a new start." Mai clicked off the phone. Her heart was racing. Adrenaline was pumping. How many nights had she wanted to say those very words. . . to break him down like he used to do to her. She only wished that Joey had been there to see it.

"Joey?" Yugi sat with his legs dangling over the concrete wall separating the parking lot from the schools outdoor eating area. Joey dusted off a place next to him and jumped up to seat himself.

"What's up Yug?" Yugi looked a little confused.

"Have you noticed anything weird with Tea?" He asked, looking up at the blonde. Joey gave him a questioning look. "Well, she told me she bought in to the trip to Egypt, to support me." Yugi started, looking at the ground and trying to find the words too describe what was wrong.

" That sounds like Tea." Joey cut him off.

"Well, ever since she told me, she's been acting, I don't know, down?" Yugi looked back up to his friend.

"Well what did ya say to her when she told ya?"

"Um . . . I said I was grateful to have a friend like her... And then she just smiled at me and since then she's been really… quiet." Yugi looked a bit sad.

"Yug, you eva stop to think maybe she liked you?" Yugi's expression turned to disbelief.

"I . . . kind of always thought she had a thing for Yami." As Yugi said it, he could feel Yami raise an eyebrow. Joey made the feeling complete by raising one himself.

"Wha?"

"Yeah, she always blushes a lot when he's out and she kinda stumbles over her words. I... I just hope I didn't hurt her feelings." Yugi said, gaze returning to the ground.

"Well. Why don't ya try asking her out? There's a Christmas dance coming up between the Egypt trip and the France trip." Joey pointed out. Yugi looked up first excited, then confused.

"The France trip?"

"Yeah. Geez Yug, you been keeping a close eye on her to see she's acting weird, but not close enough to know she's been in the drama club for ever. I don't think she'd skip out on going to France either." Joey laughed. Yugi frowned. He had to ask her then, he didn't think he could wait.

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So, I lied again. But this time it was a good lie! I updated faster than I thought I would instead of slower! It's a good thing!

R+R+E ~ 3 love