Author's Info: New chapter!! So I looked back and I realized the last one was painfully short by comparison. Sorry about that! This one is a lot longer. Life was a bit much at the time, but now I'm getting back into my writing schedule, and life is letting me be productive. Also, for those of you who have things you want to see in my stories, I now have a forum for it, or you can message me. Consider it part of my way of thanking the readers. Speaking of that, I want to especially thank Shiningheart of ThunderClan, Ramen Fairy xoxo, Azura Soul Reaver, DaAmazingMeepers, yamiyugi4eva, Jade the Grey, TsuKaza, and SweetSnow01. More comments after, as usual!
The "what"s: Listening to Yu-Gi-Oh music from my computer, as well as the random music my friends are playing (Backstreet Boys, Weird Al, etc.). Thinking about how productive I've been these past two days and hoping things continue along this track. If so, my life will be going far more smoothly.
Disclaimer: I don't own Yu-Gi-Oh. I just own the twins and Shinji, as well as the plot. Hope you enjoy it!!!
Chapter Twenty-Eight
Kaiba scowled. Who was he to say she was anything like him? The very notion of it was revolting and completely preposterous. She had nothing in common with him. He noticed Yumi was giving her father a look that expressed similar thoughts.
Shinji smirked and said, "Here is my first proof: you both deny having anything in common. You are both willing to ignore your shared passion for technology and your exceptional gaming skills. You clearly do not back down from challenges and you are both willing to go any length to protect the things you consider important. Also, if I'm even the tiniest bit right in my prior assumptions, then I'm completely confident in this: you both have led difficult lives, and you may actually have found a kindred spirit who can help you remember the world doesn't have to be something you refuse to be involved with."
"Father, you're starting to sound like Tsuki," Yumi said, scowling heavily. "Now enough of this nonsense or I promise you there will be nothing left of the dessert for you. You may be my father, but that does not give you the right to speak in such a pretentious manner to me. I am quite happily paying my own share of the load, thank you."
Shinji sighed and said, "Now who is being the pretentious one, my dear? I know you are certainly shouldering your own burdens, but you are still young. You have time before you need involve yourself in such wearing things. You should be enjoying your life, not bringing on an early old age."
Kaiba remembered Yumi's joke earlier that day about giving himself grey hairs. Apparently Yumi couldn't even take her own advice. Still, he wondered why Yumi felt the need to an eye on her father and sister, and why she was so unwilling to say anything about what her own motivations were. He also wondered what her strange, cryptic messages that only Tsuki seemed to understand meant. He got the feeling there were times where even Tsuki didn't really understand, and it puzzled him.
Yumi smiled and walked over to her father before kissing his cheek and saying, "If someone didn't step up in this family, you wouldn't come home and see us except once in a very rare while. You would be sitting there all alone in your office staring at all these ciphers and wallowing in grief. Besides that, someone had to make sure Tsuki dragged herself back home instead of getting involved with all those rather unsavory guys. She's too innocent to understand not everyone wants her for her personality, bright as it is. As for me, I have to work hard if I'm ever going to make something of myself I can't allow myself to go back to what I was, not now, not ever." She smiled at him reassuringly and went to get the dessert from the oven.
***
Tsuki stared at Kaiba as he went into the kitchen. She never would have expected him to volunteer to help her sister do anything, unless there was something in it for him, of course. She looked over at Yugi in confusion and then turned to her father for an explanation.
"I had a feeling he would be the one to offer," he said with a smile. "There's a lot of things between them that it seems are causing rather pointless tension, no doubt due to that duel of theirs. Tell me, what was Yumi to win if she defeated him in the duel?"
"Dad, why do you want to know? It's not like it really matters," Tsuki said, looking at him nervously. She knew he had probably figured it out, even though Yumi had probably said Kaiba won. "It's not like there's anything between the two of them anyway. You know how Yumi is."
"And that's exactly why I know there's a possibility of something going on. I'm sure you immediately recognized the similarities between them and, knowing you as I do, are hoping they eventually realize it too. Although, knowing you, you would much rather have it improve her love life. I, on the other hand, would be quite happy with the knowledge she has finally met someone who stands a chance at cracking that shell around her. This is going to be a difficult game for both of them, but I'm sure it will only help them in the end. Now, what did she win when she defeated Kaiba?"
"She won a job at Kaiba Corp.," Tsuki said reluctantly. She felt bad for telling her father; she knew Yumi hadn't wanted him to know about the outcome of the duel, or what was riding on it, but she couldn't bring herself to say nothing to their father, especially after everything they'd been through because of secrecy and deception. The last thing he needed was to feel as though he'd lost Yumi again. It had been frightening enough for both of them the first time, and the last thing they needed was to feel as though it was happening again.
"I thought as much," he said, looking back to the kitchen. "He's reluctant to admit it, but he's impressed by her. Yumi would likewise deny it, but she has always found Kaiba to be an interesting figure. That is most likely why she waited until now to introduce herself to him for real." He paused for a moment in contemplation before laughing. "I'm rambling. Forgive me; I had completely forgotten you wanted to ask me something about Egypt."
"Perhaps that can wait until after?" Tsuki said. She had the feeling her sister was uncomfortable being alone in the kitchen with Kaiba. Besides, she wanted to talk to Yugi a bit more before his attention was captured by the story of the Millennium Items.
"Alright," her father said coyly, taking the hint and making his daughter scowl. "I suppose I should go and see how those two are coming along, Knowing your sister, she's probably trying to kick Kaiba out of the kitchen." He turned to Yugi and smiled. "Forgive my rudeness. I just want to make sure my kitchen does not get destroyed by my rather headstrong daughter." With that, he went into the kitchen.
"What were you going on about with Yumi? Is everything okay?" Yugi asked, concerned there was something wrong with his friend.
"Well, there have been a lot of things that have happened over the past few years, and it's really shaken all of us up. Dad became obsessed with work and rarely ever came home. It took everything for Yumi to convince him to come home more often. I was out a lot, and it was only when Yumi dragged me home that I made any efforts to talk to her. The truth was that I felt like I was losing everyone. Yumi kept our family from falling apart entirely. I'm not sure how she managed it, considering how much of a wreck she was, but she did. She was a complete mess; the entire thing affected her more than everyone else after a while. She got better, but sometimes I still wonder if she ever really got over all of it. She never talks about it; in fact, she rarely ever talks about the things that bother her anymore. She changed a lot."
Tsuki fought back the tears that threatened to spill at the memory of how her sister had been. The truth was that she knew her sister still carried the scars of those events, and she still suffered greatly at their hands. Those events were what spawned her greatest fear, and it was something she always fought to forget. No one wanted to remember those events anymore. She wished she had never brought it up.
"What exactly happened?" Yugi asked. He felt guilty about causing her pain, but he wanted to understand what had happened. He felt that if he did he might be able to help them move on from what is clearly choking them from the inside. "I'm sorry if I'm making this more difficult," he began, but she cut him off.
"I understand why you want to know, and I appreciate what you want to do for us, Yugi, but I'm not ready to talk to you about that yet. That's something that concerns my sister more than it concerns anyone else. I know you're worried about us, and that's very sweet of you, but not now. In time, when I've known you longer, I may have the strength to tell you." She smiled sadly and looked away.
"I'm sorry," Yugi said, taking her hand reassuringly. "I didn't mean to upset you. I promise I'll wait until you're ready to tell me. Hey, tomorrow we're going to go to the arcade. Do you want to go with us?"
"Sure," Tsuki said, relieved by the change of subject and heartened by the chance of spending more time with him. She was surprised by how quickly the thought had cheered her. Somehow she was developing a closeness to him she had never experienced with other people. She wondered if there was a reason for the pull she felt, and she wondered if Yumi knew the real reason why. Her sister always remained wary of others, yet she had accepted Yugi without question. Yumi had to know something about Yugi she didn't, and she was going to find out just what that was.
***
"So my brain-dead sister kept you standing there the whole time? You know, the least she could've done was taken you somewhere to sit," Yumi said, looking at them as she came out of the kitchen. She smirked at her sister's indignant look and said, "I wanted to let the two of you know the dessert was finished. Don't worry; you can have two pieces for my insolence, Tsuki. Now, are you going to come or not? I could admittedly use other company. Between Father and Kaiba, I may very well go mad." She made sure they were following her before she reentered the kitchen. Her father and Kaiba were already seated, so she took her place silently. She had already put the pieces of desserts on the plates.
Tsuki took one look at the desserts and smiled. It had been some time since she'd made apple strudel. She wasn't sure what had compelled her sister to make it, but she wasn't complaining. Yumi was a perfectionist, so he had worked hard on her cooking and baking skills. She was the best cook in the house, but Tsuki wasn't jealous. She had skills of her own. Still, even she had to admit she liked this dessert best when Yumi made it.
"Now this is more like it," Shinji said, looking at the strudel happily. He looked at the two boys and smiled. "You're in for a treat. I really hope you enjoy it. Maybe next time Yumi and Tsuki will even make dinner for us." He was amused by their identical looks of embarrassment and became even more amused when he noticed the way the guys each looked to a specific daughter for her reaction. Much as they may deny it, he had hopes for his two daughters and their growth and development in parts of themselves they had long since allowed to fall away.
That was a large reason why he had moved here, to Domino. He knew this place was the center of Duel Monsters in Japan, and that some of the best duelists in the world lived here. He knew this would allow Yumi to enjoy her activities outside Egypt, and there was the extra incentive of Kaiba Corp. He also knew the people here were far friendlier overall, and that Tsuki would be able to find people who would give her the support she needed. He had a hunch they would both meet people who would help them become more like their true selves, instead of the people they pretended to be.
"We'll see how things progress, Father. Now, feel free to eat. I promise it's not poisoned; I actually had help this time," she said playfully. She saw Tsuki smile and heard her father beginning to laugh. She took a bite and found her gaze captured by Kaiba. She flushed, but didn't look away. If anything, she was determined to hold his gaze. She saw a smirk tug at his lips and felt one tug at her own in response.
Kaiba was amused by her unwillingness to look away from him. It was an unspoken contest and they knew it. He had no intention of backing down, so he kept his gaze on her as he took a bite of the strudel. His eyes widened in surprise; he hadn't expected her baking to be as good as her family claimed, yet this was as good as the personal chefs he had at the mansion. Unfortunately, his unwillingness to look away meant that she saw his shock. Her smirk grew and he scowled.
"This is delicious, Yumi!" Yugi said, impressed with how good it was. He noticed she unwillingly broke eye contact with Kaiba and smiled to him. He had to admit he was surprised by the sheer amount of will and force between the two of them. He could tell Yumi was just as curious about how this battle of minds would end. Yumi was sly and intelligent while Kaiba was calculating and cunning. It was anyone's guess as to who would win.
"I'm glad you like it so much," Yumi said, smiling gently. "It definitely makes all the work worthwhile. Maybe I should start making it more often. Then again," she said thoughtfully, "I guess it all depends on how much time I have on my hands. Today was fast compared to my usual pace."
"Perhaps you should consider asking for help more often," Shinji teased. "Maybe you can even get Kaiba to help you again."
"Father, please don't talk nonsense. Kaiba is a busy man, and I'm sure that I can quite ably continue to make this on my own. You needn't worry about it. Besides, I'll begin working in two days, and I'm sure that between classes and the office Kaiba won't want to spend even more time with me." She smiled amicably for her father's sake, but she could tell Kaiba had gotten her hidden meaning. Kaiba's smirk proved he was quite up for whatever challenged she posed. She was ready to put up the worst resistance he had ever seen, and that wasn't going to end until he admitted defeat.
Responses to my commentators:
Shiningheart of ThunderClan: I'm sorry that last chapter was so short. I didn't even think about it at the time. As for the speech, they're supposed to be somewhat similar. It's supposed to show that Yumi is rather blind when it comes to her own actions. She and Kaiba parallel, but she's completely oblivious, even if everyone else can see it.
Azura Soul Reaver: Glad you liked it! Hope you liked this one too!
Ramen Fairy xoxo: It probably is also a hurt/comfort, but as the story develops, you'll understand why I classified it as humor instead. There are moments of seriousness, but I want this to be lighthearted primarily.
DaAmazingMeepers: So now you know! Hope you liked the chapter!
yamiyuga4eva: The dessert is revealed! Hope you liked the new events!!
Jade the Grey: Thanks for understanding the reason of Shinji's speech!! As for the strudel, you were right!! Sorry to say you weren't the first to guess, though. As for circuit action, I'm actually thinking about that. It's going to be a little while longer, though.
TsuKaza: Congrats again on being the first to guess right!! Glad you understand how that shows the dynamics of the characters, and I hope you are looking forward to seeing how that transfers to the office!
