December 14 2006: Author Notes: Okay, I did want to get at least one chapter up today and so I'll keep these really short to get right to work.

Chapter 6: Troublesome Compositions

Once the rain passed the two had split for the night and gathered the next day for another successful gathering that ended a little earlier than the day before so all the people starting school the next day could have time to prepare without pushing themselves. Kagome had spent more time on festival work the second day and Kaiba was busily defeating his opponents so neither of the two had much a chance to talk. Even once the day was over each had personal things they needed to accomplish and so they'd parted without talking again.

Kaiba's demeanor hadn't changed so she wondered if he hadn't just indulged her to keep her from pestering him, guess she'd have to go to school and find out where she stood this morning. Rushing from the house to get to the train on time. She was almost late to her first day and she should have seen it coming, somehow predicted that she was fated to crash into the famous CEO of Kaibacorp on a regular basis. She was tearing around the corner to where her classroom should have been and didn't realize the door would be so close. This time she'd been moving fast enough to nearly knock him over, he managed to catch himself and hold her up but it was barely, and again the papers in either of their hands went flying.

"I see nothing's changed with you over two days." he observed as he pulled her back up to a standing position with him before bending again to gather his papers. "Perhaps it would be an investment for me if I sent you to some sort of lessons to learn grace of any kind."

"Sorry…" she was blushing as she bent to help gather the papers up. "I was trying to get into class so I wouldn't be late and didn't realize…sorry."

Kaiba took his papers and shook his head at her before moving into the classroom. Ignoring the stares he was getting while moving in and taking the seat he normally used at the front of the room. Kagome blushed at the attention following after her and moved to sit at a desk near the window, settling herself to listen as the teacher headed into the room but distracted as a note was dropped on her desk by a passing Joey.

She glanced after him and to the folded sheet of paper, opening it discreetly and flattening it on her desk while the professor prepared her papers for the class that would start soon, instead Kagome glanced down to read the letter:

Kagome,

I know you don't really want to hear this but you should know that there is much more to Kaiba than you first see. He has some secrets that you are right about and are only his to tell. However you should realize that he will do anything to be ahead of others or to win; to the point that he actually told Yugi he'd kill himself if Yugi didn't let him win a dual. He may occasionally donate some time or money but he is just out for himself and whatever time he might spend with you is just a means to an end. You don't have to believe me but at least be wary.

-Joey Wheeler

As she read through it Kaiba was finishing reading through one of his own that had been dropped on his desk.

Kaiba,

I'm telling Kagome about some of the stuff you've done cause she deserves to know some truth about you. You should tell her about your own past so other people don't end up having to clean up your messes when you end up alienating her like everyone else.

-Joey Wheeler

Kaiba rolled his eyes at the letter but chanced a glance toward Kagome reading, he was crumpling up the letter he'd been given then resisted the urge to smirk when she ripped up the one that was handed to her and gave Joey a dirty look. He had to admit that this girl had a lot of potential.

The class passed slowly and the teacher had the new people introduce themselves after going over the general summary of what home room would accomplish each morning. Kagome didn't like the part of having to get in front of all the people she didn't know but went up and spoke about herself regardless.

"Hello, I'm Kagome Higurashi and I help to run a old shrine with my family in Tokyo here. I really enjoy history and art classes as well as several others - except for math. I don't have too many hobbies but I started playing the Duel Masters game recently that seems to be very popular here. I'm glad to be able to meet all of you and I hope we'll get along." She retreated to her desk after the small introduction, sitting back down.

"Thank you Kagome." the teacher said and then smiled at the class as a whole. "Now then, this year there have been more electronics added to the list of things not allowed in the school…"

She went on to spend most of the opening forty-five minutes to go over all the detailed rules and the changes from the year before. Most of it was common sense that was still required to be said aloud, and it didn't take long for Kagome to instead look out the window, listening but watching the rain that had started again.

Her mind wandered a bit and she had to admit her last few days had become another surreal experience. I didn't think I've ever consider anything really strange after the well. Guess I'm destined to a life of unique experiences, not that I can really complain I suppose…

Her thoughts were interrupted by the bell and her day moved forward, she had math class and once that was over with her day improved with Japanese class, then Government, then Gym before lunch started. She was glad to have the physical education hour before she ate as opposed to after. The large lunchroom was a little uncomfortable, already she could tell there were rumors being spread about her by the people looking away when she glanced at them or the whispers that trailed in her wake. She shouldn't be surprised after the last weekend but it was still a little foreign of a feeling after how popular she was at her previous school. She carried a lunch she'd brought with her and only stopped to buy a soda before considering where she should sit.

Guess I shouldn't be surprised I don't see Kaiba around. She thought as she scanned. He probably has lunch brought to him in a limo or something. Oh well, guess I'll just find a seat somewhere.

It was then that a girl nudged her in the side. "Hey, wanna come sit with me?"

The shorter female grinned up at her, glasses settled on her nose making her look naturally more intelligent. She had freckles below the frames and on her cheeks, bright blonde hair falling in a ponytail on the left side of her head over her shoulder. She was wearing the same uniform as all the girls at the Domino High School.

Kagome was pulled away before she could agree or protest, brought to a table with just one other person sitting down. A guy that was reading a paper, she settled her boxed lunch and soda down before sitting, the other girl hopping to the other side to sit.

"I'm Karen, I run the school newspaper. Don't mind Phillip here, he's a little deaf and tends to just read most of the time in places as loud as a cafeteria. Easier on him than trying to keep conversation I guess." The girl introduced. The boy just looked up, nodded, then returned to his article.

"I'm Kagome. It's nice to meet you both."

"Yeah. So I gotta ask you, are you and Seto Kaiba an item?" she said bluntly.

"I'm sorry? What?" Kagome asked in surprise, fighting to keep the blush that threatened off her face. "No. We're just friends."

"Oh, so you are friends. Would the famous CEO agree to that?"

"I don't know, you'd have to ask him." Kagome frowned at the sudden interrogation and picked up her chop sticks to start eating.

"Yeah right, he never bothers to talk to most people at the school. The fact that he talked to you earlier is a story by itself." Karen announced, starting to eat herself. "And there is the detail that he helped your shrine last weekend where he managed to retake his title as Master of Games. You two seem to be really chummy, I'm just looking for the real story other people don't know."

"Well, I just told you. I at least think of him as a friend, you'd have to talk to him to learn his view. I can't tell you what he thinks." Kagome shrugged and took a bite for a short reprieve.

Karen was about to say something else when Tristan sat down at the table and put an arm around her and shook her a little.

"Karen, it's her first day. Give her a break would ya?" Tristan asked with a smirk, looking over to Kagome. "Hey I just wanted to apologize for Joey, he's just a little annoyed with Kaiba most of the time. I think he kinda likes you though, you should go out with him sometime."

"Yeah right." Kagome muttered. "Maybe when he defeats Kaiba in a duel. I wouldn't go out with that jerk."

"Well, I should let you guys eat." Karen said and disappeared into the crowd.

"Is she always like that?" Kagome asked Tristan.

"Yeah a bit." the taller brunette chuckled. "She's always been a bit of a busybody so the job fits her I suppose. You can sit with the rest of us if you don't wanna sit with Phil at lunch. He's not the most brilliant conversationalist and Karen will just always be back and forth. Up to you. See ya Kagome."

Kagome watched him leave and shook her head, starting to prefer the silent guy's company so she could eat and consider, missing her old friends who would have been just as busybody like about Kaiba but they had years of closeness to make it more acceptable. Perhaps whenever they hung out again she'd be able to talk to them and get their flexed views of her situation and at least their support.

Lunch ended and she had art class which was a great following to the strange new acquaintances from her mealtime. That was followed by her music class and the final hour was her history class, she was glad to get to it and though the day was mostly just summery's of future classes and the rules for the school and each specific teacher she was glad the day had reached it's end. Mondays were just never great for her and she was fearing something bad happening to her. It wasn't until the following day that she realized her new unlucky day must be Tuesday - the day the school paper came out.

New student promises date to the winner of duel!

That was the headline Karen had chose to use. The article went on to detail that if Joey Wheeler defeated Seto Kaiba in a duel that she had said she would go out on a date with the smitten student from the lower provinces of Japan. It talked about how he'd liked her sense he first saw her and he would have to prove himself if he planned to go out with his mystery girl!

"At least she left my name out of it directly." Kagome commented bitterly as she stared at the paper. Groaning and putting her head in her hands. How the hell am I going to explain this?

Most of her home room was staring at her and Yugi's friends ranged from appearing annoyed to shocked to angry. At least Tristan had probably told them what really happened, the whole room was whispering about how she had to be the girl in the article until Kaiba stepped in. The hum of the heater screamed the guilty silence that they had all just been speaking about him. He shrugged and moved to his seat without comment, though as the silence drug on people glanced between themselves, Kagome, the young CEO and Joey to search for who would speak first.

"If you insist on needing to prove how much of a loser you are to the world by trying to use me for a night out with a girl Wheeler than you should at least have the courage to challenge me in person as opposed to using the school newspaper to announce your pathetic life's hopes." Kaiba remarked coldly, not even turning around to face his would be opponent, voice irritated but controlled.

"Why you scumbag…" Joey curled his fist. "I wouldn't use you for a date if I were desperate enough to go out with that demented freeloader in the first place but I will duel you and kick your ass. I don't need to be better than Yugi to kick your sorry…"

"Stop barking Wheeler. I'll waste a few minutes to defeat you." Kaiba interrupted, tone bored. "I'd rather not use time after school as I have more important things to do. So meet me in the lunch room, I'll make it easy on you and come to your usual table."

"Kaiba…" Joey seemed about to jump after the CEO again when Tristan pulled him down and the teacher came into the room, silencing the exchange.

Kagome frowned to herself and sighed. Damn. I guess it was too much to hope that Kaiba would think the school paper below him and not have heard about it. I need to catch him after class and ask him not to pick on some guy just cause Karen had taken her job too far.

She had trouble watching the news and listening to the announcements of the home room teacher until the teacher headed out and told them to just wait until the bell rang and they could leave afterward. Kagome jumped at the opportunity moving over to sit in the desk next to Seto - it was usually empty given his attitude.

"Hey Seto…um…" she glanced at the people trying to eavesdrop and lowered her voice. "I never said that…Karen over-exaggerated a conversation she heard me having."

"Doesn't matter to me," Kaiba shrugged it off. "Wheeler is due for another defeat to return that ego of his back where it belongs."

"But…" she frowned.

"Don't dwell on it Higurashi. He wouldn't back down now regardless. Be a little more wary of what you have to say to the press in the future though. Here I mistook you for being wiser than the rest of the dorks." Kaiba didn't even look at her, instead reading over some sort of paperwork.

A frown tugged at the side of her lips, she couldn't be sure if he was trying to get a rise from her or if he was serious.

"Well. It is sort of my fault so I'll let that one slide." she replied dryly. "But more seriously, good luck today sense I drug you into it."

She headed off as the bell rang and Kaiba blinked after her good wishes with curiosity, the girl continued to surprise him. I figured she set the thing up to help her own social standing with the school but here she was trying to call it off and then trying to cheer me on? What is her game? No one is that nice to anyone without ulterior motives, especially me.

He gathered his things and moved to follow after her, not wanting to deal with these problems anymore and to just ask her what she wanted. He moved after her through the halls and frowned when he saw Joey pull her into a side room, walking that way when the bell rang and the halls hushed from their normal dull roar between classes.

He moved over, expecting foul play but paused when he overheard Joey's question.

"What is the deal with you and Kaiba anyway? Either he's using you for something or you are using him for something. I just don't appreciate you using Karen and her paper to pull me into it." the angry dweebs accent was easy to place.

"What do you want to hear?" Kagome replied with a spark in her voice. "That I'm using him for his money and he's just after me for cards or to get at you and your friends? How about that it was all a big conspiracy and you are right, he's a huge jerk that's not worth anyone's time?"

Kaiba paused, fingers closing into a fist then opening again to curl around the doorknob.

"…well that just isn't true." her voice continued. "I don't know what your past problems are with Seto or the warnings you want to give me about whatever he might have done. I'm not involved in your guys problems and I wouldn't be much of a friend if I judged him on things that have happened before. That's in the past and I'm not gonna judge him on anything but what I've seen. He might be rough around the edges but I'm not going to just stop talking to him or giving him a chance because you have a personal problem with him you want to press upon me. Seems like you are a much worse jerk than he's ever been."

In the small silence that followed Kaiba stayed paused with his hand on the door, she had been mocking Wheeler and defending him. Why would she do that? There has to be more to it…only suckers like Yugi talk about friendship like she does. I don't need her to defend me…

His jumbled thoughts came to a pause when he heard a thud and Kagome call out in pain, bursting into the mostly empty classroom to take in the scene. Kagome was on the floor, a wince on her face from where she'd fallen onto the tiled floor. Joey had an angry look on his face and was reaching toward her when he turned at Kaiba bursting into the room.

End Chapter

I love me some cliffhangers. They make me warm and fuzzy inside (at least when I'm the one writing instead of reading them). To Joey fans: stick with me, I assure you again that I like the character too but needed an antagonist for the story and his 'bad guy' status should end sometime soon.

-Aura

I've had no reviews sense the last chapter I added yesterday and so there aren't responses to give just yet.