Told you I'd update fast, didn't I?

Chapter 3

Kaiba frowned as he rode in his limousine to his workplace. The day could have gone better. If Yugi hadn't gotten to her first with the deck construction, he would have had an easier flirting job. Oh well. He was always up for a challenge anyway. Apparently, too, Anzu was willing to give a challenge. But he would win. He always does.

Now, he'd have to use his time in school wisely. He'd have to isolate her for a little while, or just talk during class. For once, he was glad of the desk next to him…

The next day, as the teacher droned on about English vocabulary – something Kaiba and Faye knew perfectly – Kaiba struck up a low conversation.

"So why are the tips of your hair silver?" he inquired politely. He was finding himself lucky that Faye was so willing to talk about herself.

"This past summer, one of my best friends wanted to dye her hair. She dyed it a lovely blue color, by the way. But I went with her and decided I wanted silver flames." She flicked a lock. "I think it looks cool. What do you think?"

"They certainly make you unique," he replied honestly. In truth, the flames didn't look too bad. A little random, sure, but not bad. "Do you miss your friends?"

"A lot…" She stared at her desk, but then brightened. "At least I'm making new ones, too." She glanced at him. "So what about you? You do anything the press hasn't gobbled up?"

Kaiba almost grinned. Almost. "I do play the viola and piano," he admitted. "Along with all the games, of course." If he wanted Faye to be interested in him, he was going to have to give up some information about himself. He'd be careful, but he couldn't be too distant, or she would drift away.

She beamed. "Awesome! I know how to play piano, too, though probably not as well as you. But…" She suddenly grew shy. "I've always wanted to learn how to play viola. Could you teach me some time?"

He smiled slightly. He was making good progress. "Of course," he said. He watched Anzu look back and glare at him, and he winked at her, taunting her. She rolled her eyes and faced front again. "So don't you mind that your friend Anzu-san hates me?"

Faye shook her head, and he smirked inwardly. Score one point for him. "No, I have close friends who don't really like each other that much…"

"Mercer-san!" the teacher snapped. Faye faced forward and the teacher coughed in annoyance. Arakaki-sensei was a stout woman with a sour temper, her thick black hair always in a bun. "Read this sentence," she said, already doing a victory dance in her head.

Faye stared at her pointedly, then read, "Stella left for the airport at half past twelve and was late for her flight."

Arakaki-sensei's face fell. She had obviously forgotten that Faye was actually originally English speaking. "Good job, Mercer-san…" she muttered. "Moving on…"

The days went on similar to this. Sometimes he asked more personal questions, and sometimes they just chatted. Kaiba talked to Faye mainly during English. She needed to focus in the other classes, and at lunch and study break, she was with Yugi-tachi. But it was enough. Judging by her efforts to look him in the eye, she was interested – had been interested since they first spoke. And the fact that she was being so open about herself meant that she was determined to at least make friends. Anzu, too, was giving him more glares than ever. He was winning.

But he couldn't let it go to his head and rush. She wasn't a model or anything, meaning publicity didn't matter as much. She wouldn't go with him to a formal CEO-hosted party simply for increasing fame and good-image. So he'd start slow. A date or two. He smirked. He was having fun with this. Girls were hopeless when it came to romance. Such suckers.

But a date was due, now. And to shove it in Anzu's face, at lunch Kaiba walked up to the group.

"Ah, hello, Kaiba-kun," Yugi greeted. Kaiba nodded at him and looked at Faye.

"Faye-chan," he said. "The movie Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince comes out on Sunday. Would you like to see it with me?"

All of the guys' faces were shockingly incredulous, their jaws dropping almost to the floor. Anzu appeared utterly furious, but couldn't say anything. It was Faye's choice. Faye herself turned beet red, and Kaiba could almost see her pulse speed up.

"U-uh, sure, yes," she said, stuttering a little. "What time…?"

"Midnight premier?" he suggested. She grinned widely and nodded. "Perfect. I'll pick you up Friday at 11:30, and I'll reserve us seats."* He then turned and returned to his seat, but he could still hear Faye gush to Anzu, "You have to help me pick out an outfit!"

Kaiba smirked. He'd go on a couple dates, give her her first kiss with him on the third or fourth one, and get her gifts periodically. She'd be putty in his hands.

He heard their conversation easily. Anzu said, "You be careful, Faye-chan. I don't trust that his intentions are pure." Yugi, Honda, and Jounouchi were talking amongst themselves, leaving the girls alone to talk one-on-one.

Faye replied, "I understand, Anzu-chan. I'll be careful, but I'll be the final judge, okay?"

Anzu sighed dejectedly. "As long as you realize that there's a chance he's up to no good. He might hurt you, Faye-chan. I don't want you to get hurt."

"I am aware of that, Anzu-chan. But…" She lowered her voice. "But I've never had a boyfriend before. And besides, there's a chance he's also genuinely interested."

"Your heart's in the right place, Faye-chan," Anzu said, placing a hand on her new friend's shoulder, "but if he hurts you, I'll beat him up."

Faye giggled. "Okay, Anzu-chan!"

*It seems weird that he'd reserve seats, doesn't it? Well, big parties have done it, and I figured he was powerful/rich enough that he could reserve two seats in good positions if he wanted to.

Yeah, they're seeing HP 6. Because I needed a movie I've seen and that has a lot of different elements. Don't worry, I won't spoil it.