Chapter 6

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"Hey, where are ya goin? We're supposed to be staying with Yugi's grandpa." Tristan said as Joey headed for a side door.

"Yeah, I aint going nowhere, I just need some air... It smells so... sterile in here." He said pushing the heavy door open.

"I didn't realize you know the word sterile." Tristan laughed. Joey turned around to glare at him but stopped.

"Hey... What the hell do ya think you're doing?" He shouted and ran off. Tristan, not willing to let any opportunity pass by, charged out as well. Once outside it was clear what Joey was upset over. Sakura was pressed against the cold concrete wall of the hospital, trying to scream through the man's hand covering her mouth. Joey threw himself at the man, yanking him off of her and they all fell to the ground. He took a swing at the old drunk and his fist connected with the man's jaw.

It didn't take much for the man to push Joey off, as he was a deal stronger than even the boy, but when Tristan joined the fray the man decided retreat was the only option.

"Yeah, keep runnin!" Tristan shouted as Joey turned to Sakura. He gave her a hand up and she blushed as he helped her steady herself.

"You ok?" He asked, and she could feel herself start to tear up. She had been so mean to this boy and here he was protecting her and making sure she was well. Her fingers curled into the green fabric of his jacket and she nodded, unable to find her voice. "Good." He smiled and glanced over at his friend. Tristan started back towards the door they had come from and Joey began to move with him.

"W-wait..." Sakura found herself saying. Joey paused. He had slipped out of her grip, but only made it a few feet. "Can... Can you walk me home?" She didn't like feeling weak and vulnerable, but she wasn't above asking for help if it meant she'd be safe.

"Sure." He said, then turned to Tristan. "Hey, stay with Yug's gramps. I'll head over to the game shop soon." Tristan nodded and Joey looked back at Sakura. The walk to her home was long, but she felt secure with Joey there. They made small talk while walking, and though he wasn't exactly smart in her book, he made for great conversation. He was kind and caring, which made up for her having to define some of the words she used, or trying to find different ones that he understood. He was actually quite sweet.

"Thank you so much... and... I'm sorry for yelling at you and being mean." She couldn't quite look him in the eye as she said it, but she felt the need for it to be out in the open.

"Hey, no problem, I know I'm real annoying and stuff sometimes. Just... tell me to knock it off. Kay?" He said, smiling and running his fingers through his hair. She couldn't help but feel comfortable with him. He was so... personable... once you got to know him. She leaned forward and placed a quick kiss on his cheek.

"Will do." She watched the blush run across his cheeks and smiled as she backed into her home. He was kinda cute, after all.

Monday's first block went smoothly. Sakura was proud to admit that she had finished fourteen characters, a landscape and a key figure. She was a little nervous because she hadn't done a key figure yet, and had no previous attempts to base what he would want off of, but she was proud nonetheless. She just felt so... inspired all of the sudden.

Unfortunately when she got to study hall, Kaiba wasn't in. She poked her head into the room he used to study when he was frustrated or unable to focus in other settings, but he wasn't there either. Sighing, she returned to the study hall.

"I still cant believe Kaiba's such a jackass." Joey said as she entered the room. She glanced at him curiously, but his focus wasn't on her. She knew he didn't get along with Kaiba, but she couldn't help to wonder what was wrong this time.

"It's one thing to challenge someone to a duel for a card, it's a different one to rip it up in front of them and be just... cruel." The girl, Tea said. Sakura paused. Had Kaiba actually done that? She figured he was more restrained... mature than that.

"He really did that?" She couldn't help but ask. Joey turned to face her, along with the others, and tossed her a quick bashful smile, but remembered the conversation.

"Yeah, Yugi's grandpa had a really rare card that he really loved, and Kaiba took it and ripped it up in front of him." He informed her. She was truly shocked. One of the things she admired about him the most was his maturity and responsibility. Apparently that went straight out the window when it came to that stupid card game. She had to visit him after school anyways. She would find out the truth there.

The day seemed to drag on as she waited for the final bell. She barely heard a word her teacher had been saying, but the Numbers and Statistics class was one of the easiest she had, and she already knew the information the teacher was explaining. At last, the bell rang, and she could leave.

Kaiba Corp stood tall and intimidating as ever, reigning down over the rest of the city. She moved to the lobby and the receptionist greeted her.

"Can I help you?"

"Yes, I'm here to see Mr. Kaiba." The woman looked over Sakura with a raised eyebrow. She obviously wasn't used to getting such a formal response from such a young girl.

"Do you have an appointment?" She asked, following protocol.

"No, I'm just dropping off some documents for one of his projects."

"I'll deliver them." She said, holding out her hand.

"I'm afraid I have to do it in person. He specifically said they were strictly confidential." Sakura tried. She also presented an identification document Kaiba had given her in case she needed to see him at his place of business. The woman sighed and pressed a button on the machine in front of here.

"There's a young girl to see Mr. Kaiba. Says she has some documents for him."

"I don't have time to be bothered." Kaiba's voice came angrily through the machine. The woman jumped, startled that he was the one to answer her himself.

"Tell him it's Sakura Miko." She said, hoping it would change his mind. The woman's finger trembled above the button and Sakura could tell she had very little direct contact with him.

"S-Sir, she said she's Sakura Miko..." there was a pause, making the woman instantly regret adding to her message.

"... Send her up." His voice held a tinge of frustration and he sighed heavily. Sakura started up the elevator, switching to the other when the time came. She wasn't used to being in buildings large enough to warrant two separate elevators to get to the top, but she wasn't about to make a fuss. At least she didn't have to take the stairs.

"Come in." His gruff voice called as she knocked on the door.

"It's Monday, so I brought the pictures." She explained as he waved her near. She looked at him closer and he seemed as if he hadn't slept in days. "What... happened to you?" He looked up at her tiredly and dismissed her question, turning down to go through her portfolio. "Did you really take that man's card and rip it up?" His icy blue gaze shot to her.

"That's not of your concern." He challenged her to keep his gaze, and unlike so many before her, she did.

"What is wrong with you? Over a stupid game?" She huffed. His fingers curled around the piece he held and his jaw tensed. It was more than a game to him. "You know, I first heard it and I thought, 'Never. Not Kaiba. He's too mature for that kind of thing.' But here you are. You couldn't leave a poor old man alone. You had to go and act a fool." He slammed his fists into the desk before him. Who did she think she was? Who did she think she was talking to? Especially now. He didn't even know who he was anymore. He did hurt someone... but if the old man would have just sold him the card, it wouldn't have had to come to that... and then... Yugi... How could he have lost?

He had been the number one in everything he did. He couldn't fail in the one thing he loved doing. It was a fluke. It had to be a fluke. But it still happened. Yugi still beat him. Heart of the cards... It kept playing over and over in his head. No, that was bull. He lost... He lost because he doubted himself. He would never doubt himself again. He knew he was right. He was always right. So it was no different now.

"Who the hell do you think you are talking to?" He demanded, now assured that no matter what she had to say, he had done nothing wrong. "You realize, I've fired people for less?" But he forgot, Sakura was just as stubborn as he.

"You spoiled little brat. Look at yourself. Some CEO. You get so riled up over some card game that you cant face the truth. You're such a narcissist. Or is it deeper than that? Maybe you just have such a cripplingly low self esteem that you have to be right at all times just to feel like you're worth everyone's breath, or that you really deserve everything. But that shit doesn't work on me. Yes, you work hard, and you're damned smart, but you don't deserve the world because of it.

"You cant just crush people because it suits you. Destroying things people care about... people's jobs and careers. You know what, I'm not going to give you the satisfaction." She marched up, ripping the papers from him and stuffing them harshly back into the portfolio. "I quit. I'm not working for a punk like you." She moved to the door, glancing back at the speechless boy. "If you ever grow up and learn to take the truth, call me. Maybe we can work something out then."

Kaiba regretted his choice to attend school the second Sakura stepped in to the study hall. What's worse is he could have left and gone to his private room, but chose not to. What was wrong with him? No, He swore he wouldn't doubt himself. He's there, in class with the rest of them because he is strong. Because he knows he can deal with her and her foolish words. No matter how much they sank into his mind.

She didn't look at him throughout the class. He caught himself glancing at her more than he'd like to admit, but her eyes never graced him. Maybe he had been a bit selfish... Maybe he hadn't treated her with the respect that she, unlike the rest of them, actually deserved. She hadn't lied to him. She had never been fake with him... Why would she start now? Perhaps he had gone too far.

He felt so lost... like, everything was falling apart. Everything he knew and believed in felt... tainted. He wanted to say something. To do something, but the shame... he couldn't. He wouldn't suffer that kind of blow. All he had left was pride... but still...

"Hey, Joey?" He heard Sakura call as the bell rang. He couldn't keep himself from looking up. Joey separated from the rest of the group as the went to their next class then turned and flashed a smile at her that made Kaiba want to kick something. He was always happy. What did he do to deserve that? "I wanna thank you for this weekend." She said, almost bashfully. Kaiba looked her over, utterly confused. What happened that weekend?

"Nah, don't mention it. But seriously, if anyone gives you any more trouble..."

"I'll know who to call." She finished for him and he gave her another smile. Trouble? Did something happen to her? "But I still want to pay you back. Why don't you let me take you to dinner?" Kaiba's jaw dropped. She couldn't possibly be asking out that... that... dog, could she? He was so beneath her. "Do you like Chinese?" She looked up at him and he nodded excitedly

"You sure?" He asked and she flashed him a smile of her own.

"Of course, you are, after all, my hero." She said in a cheesy fashion. Kaiba almost wanted to puke, and then she did something that made him definitely want to puke. She leaned over and kissed him on the cheek. It was ridiculous. She should have higher standards then that mutt. What was she doing to herself? "So, are you free tonight?" She asked hopefully.

"Yeah sure thing." He extended an arm and she took it as they walked out of the room. Kaiba knew for a fact that there was definitely something wrong in this life. He just had to settle his stomach before taking making any more moves.

"Hey, That was great." Joey said, completely full. "Um, I wanted to talk to you." He said, getting serious, which struck Sakura as odd. "Yugi... Yugi's grandpa's in trouble." Sakura looked up at him worriedly.

"Did Kaiba do something else?" She asked, not sure if she wanted the truth.

"No, not this time. No it's Pegasus."

"Pegasus?"

"The creator of Duel monsters." He said. Of course it was. Was everyone obsessed with this game? "Ever since Yugi beat Kaiba, it looks like his name got tagged as one of the biggest duelists. I guess Pegasus saw it and decided he wanted Yugi in his upcoming tournament."

"What does this have to do with Yugi's grandfather?"

"Well, as an incentive... and you're gonna think I'm crazy... But he took his soul." Sakura raised an eyebrow.

"His soul?"

"Yeah, I don't really know too much about it either, all we know is Yugi's gramps is in a coma and we think Pegasus did it." Sakura covered her mouth with her hand. Even if the soul stealing wasn't true, the coma was bad enough.

"What are you going to do about it?" She asked warily.

"We're gonna go join the tournament. We're gonna find Pegasus and make him fix it." He said with strength in his voice.

"When?"

"Spring break. A few days from now. I wanted to let you know, because I'm not gonna be in touch for a while." He said, taking her hands in his.

"I understand. Do what you need to do." She said warmly. He smiled down at her and she gave him a short hug. "Just be careful."

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So, actually getting the plot involved now, huh? And not going in the direction you thought it would, is it? Just keep reading, it explains itself in time, I promise!

Read, Review, Enjoy~LOVE