Author's Note: The theme song for this chapter is "The Logical Song" by Roger Hodgson.

First Day of School

Serenity clipped a small strand of brown hair out of Janet's face with a blue barrette. She was dressed in a neat rose-colored suit while her daughter wore her school uniform tailored perfectly to fit her growing body. Some of the other students would have their first uniforms tailored a few centimeters longer than what they needed, but the Kaibas could afford to re-tailor Janet's clothes monthly or even weekly if necessary, so hers would always fit perfectly.

However, Janet's hair was a different matter. Janet hated haircuts for some strange reason. Perhaps it was the incessant questions and gossip from hairdressers that drove Janet away from them. They pried into all sorts of things that made Janet feel uncomfortable. On the rare occasions she allowed her parents to take her in for one, she had it cut short so she would not have to endure the process again for a long time. As a result, she swept her bangs to the side when they got too long and clipped them in place.

"Now remember, don't talk about any of the topics on the black list," Serenity reminded Janet.

"I know, mother! Don't talk about Uncle Mokuba, genes, sexual reproduction, or evolution. Am I missing something?"

"Don't tell people that faeries and unicorns and such aren't real. Well, maybe you can say that, but just don't make a big deal out of it."

"What if they bring up the topic and ask what I think?" Janet wondered.

"Just tell them you don't know or don't care. Let them do all the talking and then just agree with them."

"Sure, I guess."

"Yes! That! Do that. That's perfect."

Amanda came out of the kitchen wearing a bright smile and carrying a sturdy blue lunchbox. It was the same Blue Eyes White Dragon merchandise sold at Kaiba Land, except that this one had Janet's full name in embossed letters on the side. "Are you excited for your first day of school, Miss Janet?" she asked as she handed the little girl her lunch.

Janet nodded. "Kinda, I guess."

Just then, Seto strolled down the stairs in his white suit. On his heels, Sarah was yelling, "I go too! I go too," while Mokuba tried to get her to calm down.

Seto finally relented and turned around. "OK! You can come in the car, but you have to be quiet and listen."

"OK!" Sarah agreed.

At this, Mokuba started to fret. "Wait, I wasn't planning on coming with you. I'm not dressed for it and I was supposed to take a trip to Duel Academy to see the new dorm sites." He plucked at his jeans and looked down at his boots.

Serenity floated over to Mokuba and kissed him to silence him. "You can still do that. I'll make sure Sarah stays on her best behavior and take her to the day care later."

Mokuba thought briefly of protesting, but realized that by doing so he would also express doubt in her capabilities. Besides, with her auburn hair swept elegantly into a bun, she looked ready to conquer the world. In fact, he thought she looked ten times more confident and attractive than when she dressed in leather to dominate Seto. He felt himself melting under her sweet olivine eyes. "I… yeah, sounds good."

Serenity kissed Mokuba one more time, and then turned to her younger daughter. "Now Sarah, we are going out, so Seto is now 'Father,' OK?"

The two-year-old girl pouted. "I want Daddy too."

"When we go out, we pretend that Father is Daddy," Serenity clarified.

"I know the difference!" Janet interjected, "It's-"

Seto patted Janet's head. "-We know you know. We're going to be late if we don't hurry."

Serenity fussed with Sarah's hair and clothes a bit before they all went out to the limo, leaving only Mokuba and Amanda behind. Janet tried to engage her father in conversation, but he was too busy looking up something on his smart phone. Janet took to staring at her reflection in her shiny new shoes as she wondered why everyone was making such a big deal out of this school thing.

Then, Seto looked up and said, "I want to teach you girls a new word every day on your way to school to give you an advantage over the other students."

"What's a vangage?" Sarah asked.

"My father was talking to me. I know what an advantage is," Janet said.

"Good," Seto said, "explain it to your sister before we continue."

"But I'm on my way to school and I'm supposed to learn a new word," Janet protested.

"Do as your father says," Serenity instructed her.

Janet made a hasty attempt to explain the word, which prompted more questions from Sarah. Janet tried it a different way, but this only drew corrections from her parents. The adults soon took over the task of teaching and spoke directly to Sarah, ignoring Janet completely. They continued this process until the limo reached the school, leaving Janet no time to acquire a new word of her own.

Serenity took Sarah's hand and Seto took Janet's as they stepped onto the grand brick walkway leading up to Domino Primary Academy. A hundred other parents with children in loose-fitting uniforms turned their heads to gawk at the silver limo and the Kaiba family.

"I told you we should have gotten Janet a private tutor," Seto hissed under his breath.

"Come on! These kids seem nice. Give it a week at least before you make a final decision."

A buxom blonde in a lavender dress suit with tall white leather boots waved her arms wildly. "Serenity! Yoo Hoo! Over here! Hey Serenity!"

Serenity turned her head in the direction of the voice to see her brother, nephews, and sister-in-law. Pulling Sarah behind her, she ran over to them and showered them with hugs. "Mai, you look so good! Joey, is that a new haircut? Hermos, do you know which teacher you have yet?"

The little Wheeler boy puffed up his chest with pride. "I have Ms. Gilmore."

"That's nice. Janet has Ms. Carson. She's…" Serenity turned her head to see that Janet and Seto were still hanging several paces away from the Wheelers.

"What's wrong? Is Moneybags afraid we'll bite him or something?" Joey teased.

Serenity shrugged while Mai squatted down to Sarah's level. "Sarah dear, I have to say you are growing more and more pretty every day. I have something special I've been saving for you." Mai dug through her purse and took out an amethyst beaded necklace. She draped it around Sarah's neck and exclaimed, "Just as I thought! It matches your eyes perfectly."

Sarah smiled shyly and thanked her aunt after Serenity informed her of the proper words to say.

Janet, watching all this from a distance, said, "Father, why does Sarah get jewelry and I don't?"

"Does it really matter? It's cheap and Sarah will probably lose it anyway," Seto replied.

Serenity and Sarah returned to Seto and they started drifting their way inside.

"Seto, I would really appreciate it if you took some time to get to know my brother," Serenity said timidly.

"Why? I already know all I need to know about him," Seto said flatly.

Serenity sighed and dropped the matter. At least Mokuba was not cold towards Joey, and she supposed that Seto's limited social time was better spent with her and Janet.

They came to Janet's classroom where the teacher was greeting each student personally and passing out nametags. Ms. Carson was a plump and warm woman with flaming red hair and a kind smile. She shook hands with Seto and Serenity before flipping through her stack of nametags.

"Kaiba… that name rings a bell… don't you have something to do with that card game the older kids are always playing?"

"If you mean Duel Monsters, then yes," Seto replied.

Ms. Carson found Janet's nametag and knelt to place it on her uniform. "How wonderful. Now Janet, I want you to wear this for at least a week until I learn everyone's name."

"Me too!" Sarah announced.

The teacher turned her attention to the smaller girl before Janet could speak. "Hello! Are you Janet's little sister?"

"I'm Sarah!"

"Well Sarah, I must say that you look very pretty today. You must be so excited for your first day, too. Well, you'll get your turn in about-how old are you?"

Janet yawned and wandered further into the classroom as the teacher fawned over the cute little toddler. She found that there were also labels on the desks and found one with her name on it.

"You're 'posed to wait for the teacher to tell you where to sit," A little boy scolded her.

Janet sat down and put her hands casually behind her head. She stuck her nose in the air without giving the boy a second glance.

"Oh no! Where did Janet go?" Ms. Carson suddenly cried.

"This woman can't keep track of her own students even when she tags them like cattle," Seto told his wife. He had been watching Janet from the corner of his eye the whole time and smirked while the teacher scrambled to figure out what had happened to her pupil.

Serenity looked around the room and spotted Janet. She put a hand on Seto's arm. "She's fine. Give her a chance to make friends."

Seto grumbled, but his mood brightened when he watched the teacher discover Janet in her assigned seat and express shocked admiration of his daughter's intelligence. If nothing else, Janet could at least learn the art of humiliating people in a school like this. Humiliation. That would be the perfect word to teach her on her way to school tomorrow.

The teacher walked back to the adult Kaibas and bowed. "I'm so sorry for the confusion. I've never had a student do that before."

Seto crossed his arms and held his head haughtily. "You better make sure you don't lose track of her again. If anything happens to Janet, not only will my other daughter never set foot in this school again, but you won't either." Seto then grabbed Sarah's hand, turned on his heel, and marched out of the classroom.

Serenity mouthed a quick sorry to the teacher before following her husband.

Despite Seto's misgivings about sending Janet to a normal private school, the year proceeded very smoothly. Janet did not make any friends to speak of, but she was invited to some birthday parties because everyone knew that her parents were rich and she brought the best presents. Her grades were exceptional in everything but history, and when she brought home her first report card Mokuba and Serenity tutored her to correct the situation.

They also let Sarah participate in Janet's study sessions. At first Sarah's presence seemed like a burden, but the young Kaiba girl proved to be just as smart as Janet. Before long, the sisters were learning side-by-side.