I slept in. Late. Really late. Again. I had so much work that needed done. Why did I lie back down yesterday? Why didn't Kisara wake me up after I told her that I over slept? Heh, I shouldn't play dumb. I'm no idiot. She cares more about one's health than their stress of work.
I don't remember going to bed. I remember breaking out a bottle of whiskey. I remember having some shots. That's it. I figured I'd wake up at my desk with a mess of papers. It's likely Mokuba drug me to my bedroom again. He did that often recently. More often than I'd like to admit.
With a yawn, I got out of bed… "The fuck—why am I just in boxers?"
I rubbed my face and checked myself over in the dresser mirror. Nothing out of the ordinary. I didn't do anything to hurt myself at least. Another yawn, and I opened up the middle drawer, pulling out some pajama pants and a long sleeved black undershirt. It was a little weird that I didn't see the pair of pajamas that I wore before I went to my study, but there's a chance a maid, probably Kisara, put them with the rest of the laundry to be done today.
After getting dressed, I flattened out my bed head as much as I could with my hand before leaving the room. I shut the door behind me, making my way down the hall to the dining hall to get some food. I felt kind of sick, most likely hung over. I shouldn't eat, but to hell with it. I don't remember eating a thing yesterday.
"S—Seto!" I heard the feeble girl's voice calling me from behind.
"Hmm?" I turned, still tired to see her. "I thought you didn't work until this after—noon."
Her hair was tied up in a messy bun. She was wearing the clothes she wore yesterday. With her entire face and neck flushed with a deep red, she held out to me my pajamas from last night. She didn't look me in the eyes. Hell, she just stared at the floor, nearly bowing as she held out the clothes.
"Why… do you… have those…?" I was nervous to ask.
Me? Nervous? That shouldn't be—
"Thank you for lending them to me!" She almost shouted in a panic, her eyes closed tightly like she was afraid to look at me.
"I… Uh..." I took a look around the hall.
No one else was around. I got a peek outside the window across the hall and could see nothing but white covering the ground. The sun was out and shining, but the icicles hanging off of the shutters screamed "cold."
Yes, I'm trying to distract my mind and avoid finding out WHY THE HELL SHE HAD MY PAJAMAS!?
I gently took them from her grasp, as she still refused to look at me. "Kisara?"
"I'm okay! I promise!" She pushed her bangs behind her ear. "I'll be ready in time for my shift! Sorry for being… awkward..."
"What do you—" Before I could ask anything, she turned around, running off embarrassed down the hall.
What happened? What the fuck happened? I turned around, now hell bent on finding Mokuba. If he was the one who dragged me to bed, then he should have an explanation for this.
I didn't… No… I've never… Ahem…
My walk turned into a fast walk. Than a jog. Than pretty much skipped running and went straight to sprinting. Once I made it to his room, I caught my breath; tired from both having just woke up, and being slightly hung over. After a few deep breaths, I began banging on my brother's door.
"Mokuba!" I don't know why I was shouting, "Mokuba, open up!"
It was rather quickly when he opened the door. "Seto! Jeez, it's like, noon. It's not like you to sleep so late."
"Did you take me to my room last night?" Why was that the first question I asked?
"What are you talking about?" He was playing dumb, but couldn't hide that devious smile the curved on his lips.
"Why is Kisara here so early, and why did she have my pajamas?" I clutched a fist.
"Kisara is here? I thought she went home last night?" The sarcasm in his voice was pissing me off.
"Mokuba!" I backed him into his room and slammed the door behind me. "Answers!"
He started laughing, backing away from me and holding his hands up in front of himself. "Don't hit me or anything! Haha! I found you two in the study. I didn't know you'd make your move on the one night she get's snowed in here from the blizzard last night."
"Make… my move?" He clearly wasn't talking duel monsters.
"Yeah. Way to go though!" He snickered, walking back up and putting his hand on my shoulder.
I felt like I was frozen, trying to remember anything. "Did… Uh.. When did… Why did she have my pajamas?"
He actually looked clueless this time. "Beats me."
I held my breath, crouching down and dropping my head in thought. I don't feel any different, other than majorly confused. With her reaction—there's no way we…
"Did… we… sleep together?" I didn't mean to ask allowed, but who else could I be open with like this?
"Whoa." The question took him off guard. "Look, all I did was help your drunk ass back to your room. Anything after that, I have no idea."
"Where was Kisara when you brought me back?" I couldn't picture a thing.
Mokuba thought back, "She went to get her phone so that she could let Kojiro know she couldn't make it home because of the weather. I told her to sleep in which ever room she wanted."
"Then… why?" I couldn't figure it out.
Mokuba snapped his fingers, "Maybe she came back to check on you before she went to her room. And well, never left? You were on top of her when I found you two in the study."
"What?!" I shouted up to him, staring intensely at him.
He laughed again. "What's the problem? It's clearly something you both wanted!"
I stood back up. "No. No! She's an employee! She's engaged! She's—"
"Seto! Calm down!" Mokuba was trying his best to, well calm me down.
"You don't understand the position I just put myself in!" I couldn't put rational thoughts together.
"Listen! You were drunk. If you're worried, talk to her about it. It may have just been a one time thing." Why could he think more logically than me? I guess there's a first for everything. "Seto, she did ask me before to sleep with her after she had a fit from finding out Fujiyama slept with someone else. And I almost did. Maybe you were hitting on her while you were drinking, and maybe she just confided in you? Maybe you just did what I couldn't."
"Either way..." My head hurt. "I slept with an engaged woman, and one who works for me… This goes against everything I've thought to be morally correct..."
"Do you regret it?" Mokuba's voice was sincere.
I stared at him, not really sure. "I… don't… know?"
"Think about it then." He smiled at me.
It took me a minute. "I… don't think I do..."
"Good." Mokuba started walking over to his desk. "I have to get some studying in. I'll be here if you want to talk, okay? Go eat, shower, get your head straight, and call off work. Well, you're the boss. Just don't go in."
He got a chuckle out of me. "Thanks. I think."
"No problem." He smiled, sitting in his desk chair.
I left the room on that note.
I avoided her. Four days now. I had heard from Mokuba that she was going to spend the day with Joey and Serenity, and that she'd be meeting the rest of the dork patrol. As if this couldn't be worse.
"If you're so concerned, talk to her." Mokuba's words buzzed in my head. "If you're afraid to say something to her face, text her. Ease in to any questions. Just make regular conversations like a normal person."
I shouldn't need relationship advice from my younger brother… Not that we were in one. What would I even consider that night? A drunken one night stand? But she was sober… Did she want this?
What if this was her plan all along?
No… I doubt it.
"Regular conversation, huh?" I whispered to myself, not paying attention to the speaker at the meeting I had to be at.
I pulled out my phone, checking the time and thinking to myself what to say. All I want is to make sure she'd be confidential, while at the same time avoiding bringing anything up. Then again, she was sober. She would be able to answer everything that had happened that night.
I wonder if she regrets it…?
"Having fun with the dweeb patrol?"
Why was that the only thing I could think to send her? I guess it was a regular conversation starter for someone like me… Makes sense. So that's what I typed and sent to her. I noticed a colleague sigh, completely aware that I wasn't the least bit interested in my own company meeting today.
I glared at him, until I could not only sense that he was intimidated, but I could see it on his face. I smiled, knowing that I could still put someone in their place with a single look.
My phone lit up as she replied with her text. I didn't think she'd reply so quickly.
"It's not so bad. I'm having a hard time talking though..."
Should I give her advice? It's not like we're… an item or anything. My thoughts suddenly overflowed with the memory of her reaction, giving me back my clothes and the embarrassment on her face. Was she feeling the same way I am?
Like, the awkwardness. Not saying I have feelings—okay. Maybe I do. I don't know…
"Advice it is..." I thought out loud.
"Sir?" I had forgotten about the meeting.
"Uh..." I took a look at the projection on the board, seeing if I could use my previous statement towards what ever was currently being spoke about. "Advice. For, you know. First time duelists in a tournament. Maybe sneak your speech some words of wisdom, or tips from prior champions or returning duelists."
I had no idea what the fuck I was talking about. I honestly was annoyed with myself for just hearing myself say that. "You know what. Never mind. Please go on."
"R—right." I put the scrawny man back on the spot.
I returned to my phone. This girl has got me in quite the awkward position. I've never been more distracted by anything in my life…
"That's funny. You never had trouble talking to anyone at the mansion. Are they just talking about annoying fantasies and card games?"
It just occurred to me that they could be telling her of the delusions of her so called past life. I'm pretty damn sure she doesn't know anything about it. I already warned her that they tell stories and not to believe any of their lies. I wonder if she took that to heart? I hope she doesn't turn into a friendship babbling wannabe like that group.
Again, she was quick to reply.
"Haha! No, actually. They were telling me about their careers and got to the subject of duel monsters. They're apparently shocked that you hired me even though I don't play the game. I think that they're more surprised that I don't duel honestly."
Come to think of it, how was she supposed to work at Kaiba Corp. if she didn't know a thing about duel monsters? It's not like me not to think ahead. I guess I did tell her before that I would think of teaching her how to play. She seemed excited… I guess I could—wait. Why am I getting all soft now?
"It's not like you don't know anything about it, right? You said there were kids at your school who did projects on the games, and you've even caught some tournaments on TV before. If I recall correctly."
A few minutes passed before she replied again.
"I know a bit. It's more of the strategies that I don't know of. I can distinguish the types of cards and I know that depending on the number of stars, you may have to sacrifice some monsters. I also know of your love of the blue eyes white dragons."
Before I could even think to reply, she sent another text.
"I actually remember the night I met you, you had the cards with you… You were looking at one of them after I stopped talking to you. I noticed when I was back with Kojiro..."
Why did something like that make me smile?
"Let's avoid talk of him… I don't want to upset you on that subject. If you ever have any questions about duel monsters, I'd be more than happy to answer them for you."
It took a little longer for the next text to arrive.
"Thanks, Seto. I've actually been studying a little on my own… You know, since I'll be working at Kaiba Corporation come Monday."
Good to know.
"No worries. You'll learn a lot more once you're there. I'll be sure to give you a proper tour and teach you a thing or two."
I can't believe how casual of a conversation we are having… I might actually enjoy talking to her like this…
"I knew that you were actually kind deep down."
Yeah right.
"Yeah right."
I smiled. She sent a smile at the beginning of her next text.
"I really appreciate it. As well as everything up to this point. I really do."
Does that include the other night?
"Anytime. Looking forward to the new position?"
A change in subject could be good. I didn't want to just end it there. I hadn't asked her about that night yet, after all.
"I'll be honest, I'm nervous. I don't want to do anything that could make you or the company look bad."
I take that she means she won't say a word about the other night then… While thinking of a reply, I slightly recalled a memory of that night. I remember her walking in. I remember staring at her. I only remember her asking if I was drunk. Wow. Not helpful in the least.
"As long as you know when you should or shouldn't speak up, then we should be fine. You'll be able to sit through these dull meetings with me though, and hopefully you won't do what I am doing right now. I don't care to be here at the moment."
It took another minute before she replied. I had to wait to read it as the others asked me a question, which I wasn't paying any attention to. I bullshitted my way through it, getting back to her message.
"I'm still a little nervous about the suit though. I hope I can help keep a good image for you. And I don't want to distract you from the meeting though!"
I felt my cheeks burn. Was she saying she wanted to look good for me? Or for the company."
"You kidding? I'm the boss, I don't need to pay attention to every meeting. Especially when it's just last minute touch ups to the tournament. Anyway, we can break in our new suits together. I'm sure you'll be fine, no matter what."
Ugh… Was that flirting?
"Haha! Sounds good to me! Sorry to change the subject… I feel odd that they keep trying to ask me questions about myself… I don't like talking about me… Do you like fish? To eat, not in general?"
I hope they're not asking about the illusion…
"Shrimp is okay. But not so much fish. Are they making you uncomfortable?"
I tried to picture how things were going on her end. I didn't know where they were, what they were doing, or why the hell she wanted to know if I like fish?
"I wouldn't say that… I don't know… I guess I just don't feel very social today… It's better than being at home though. If you can call it that."
So she didn't want to be there?
"You could always ditch them… It's what I feel like doing right now. Not that I'm able to."
The last response felt like it took longer, though I'm sure that wasn't the case.
"Actually… something came up. Kojiro said there's an emergency. So I'm headed home."
Oh… Was she sending him texts too? Or did he just call her? Do they even talk regularly anymore? What kind of emergency could that man honestly have anyway? I hope Kisara doesn't fall for some stupid trick… She's pretty smart, but I don't know what possessed her to get with Fujiyama in the first place... Should I be worried?
"I hope everything is okay… Don't be afraid to come to me if you need someone to lend you an ear. You can always trust in me… You're one of the few I feel like I can talk to anyway. I better get back to work though… Let me know how it goes?"
Apparently, I can have a heart…
It took about twenty minutes before I received a reply after that message.
"Sure thing… Thank you, Seto."
But I had a stomach turning feeling that something was wrong… I finally put my head into the meeting, giving actual feed back and participating in planning. I didn't let the thought of her leave the back of my mind though. I still didn't ask about the other night though…
Soon enough though, right?
I didn't hear from her. So, I drove over to the Fujiyama mansion. After putting myself in a panic when I spoke to Mokuba, he convinced me to come. He not only said that surprising her could make her feel better if something really bad had happened, but he also thinks it would be easier to talk to her, face to face, about the other night.
I've never had to put myself in a position like this. I was smart about it though, parking my car where the Fujiyama mansion couldn't see from it's highest point. Kisara's engaged. I don't need the prick coming out since I showed up at nearly two in the fucking morning out of concern for his fiance.
And there's a chance Kisara's asleep at this point anyway. If she doesn't answer my call, then there's no reason I can't drive home and wait to hear from her when she returns to the mansion for her last day as a maid before she becomes… well, my assistant. I really wanted to talk to her about everything before that happened though…
Figure out what happened… and what will happen with our futures.
I found myself walking to the hedges of their home. Their home… I hated thinking that. As I walked, I pulled out my phone, dialing her number… At this point, I had it memorized. I stared at it enough that it wasn't even a challenge to put the numbers together.
I called. She didn't answer.
I found an opening into their garden. With a sigh, I trespassed onto their property, looking around as I redialed her number. I told myself I'd only call once, but here I am, dialing again. I placed the phone against my ear as I walked the pitiful garden. It looked like it was hardly tended to, even before the harsh snow storms of the year.
I listened to the ringing of the phone, and again she didn't answer. I should have stopped there. I should have assumed she was sleeping. But I quickly redialed again. Last call. I swear it this time. As the I listened to the ring tone, I found myself at one of the garden ponds. I stared down at my reflection.
It's been a long time since I saw myself this way. Actually, I don't think I've ever studied my own reflection more than I had at that moment. I was worried about someone, other than my younger brother. So worried that I had dragged myself out here in a hopeless effort just simply to check up on her…
The phone stopped ringing. There was silence on the other end. I could hear her breathing slightly. I smiled, now satisfied that she answered, yet concerned that I had woke her up.
"Kisara?" I called out her name.
"Hmm?" she answered back, sounding rather tired.
I must have woke her… "You okay…? I didn't hear back from you—"
I wanted to tell her that I was worried… But it seemed out of character for me. I didn't want her to think that I was changing because of her. Because I'm NOT.
There was a pause. A long pause. I don't think she realized that I could hear the sniffling. I could just feel how intense she was on the other side of the phone. It's like I could tell that she was shaking, that something was horribly wrong on her end.
"I don't know..." She trembled on her words more than she realized.
"Heh..." I didn't know how to respond. I turned, looking up at the structure of the manor. "Your mansion is pretty tiny, you know that?"
I heard her fumble as she shifted. "What?"
I don't know why this was my way of getting passed her sorrow, but I kept at it. "Your mansion. It's tiny. And it doesn't look like there's a single light on inside that tiny box of a mansion."
I thought for a moment that she wasn't amused. Here I was, talking about her fiance's pathetic excuse for a mansion while she's probably lying in bed in tears over something I completely had no idea that was very wrong.
"Why would you know that?" Was the response she finally came up with.
"I'm staring at it..." I hoped that would lighten her mood. "I'm outside, idiot. What else could it mean?"
Why did I have to cover up with a rude comment? I sway so much with how I talk to her. The time she actually needs someone to talk to, here I am. Being an ass. Normal every day life right there…
"Why are you here?" Her tone was more hushed.
Was she with Fujiyama right now? "Because I didn't hear from you… Are you going to come talk to me or not…?"
I really… really wanted her to come out. It was weird. I looked back down into the pond, staring back at my reflection. I felt my heart pounding, something that usually only happened when I was pissed off. I had a dumb look on my face. Did I always look this way when I spoke to her?
"You're lucky we don't have a lot of security like you do..." She chuckled a bit before sniffling. I was a little concerned and took a look around, making sure there were no security guards walking outside around me. "You'd be in trouble for trespassing."
I smiled. It felt like she was already coming back to life. "Heh..."
"I'll be down in a minute." She finished.
As she hung up the phone, I mine away from my ear, staring at the time. It was nearing two thirty… Could I really do this? Talk to her about what happened? I covered my mouth and nose with my hands. My face felt hot…
I had time to walk away… I didn't have to face her.
In almost a panic, I started to walk back the way I came. I slid my phone in pocket. I walked quickly, but it felt like gravity had to stop me. I stood still, letting the breeze catch me. I couldn't walk away… I'm not a coward. I've never turned down a duel that I knew would be worth it. I never cowered away from a challenge. So why would I just avoid a challenge now?
I heard her foot steps as she ran through the garden. I turned back around, watching her as she slowed her pace. She made her way to the spot where I had been standing. She pretty much kept her feet exactly where mine were. She started looking around, clearly searching for me.
"Seto?" She called out for me.
Why was it that in this moment, standing in the moon light… She was more alluring.
"This way!" I called back to her, taking my phone back out and lighting it up so she knew which direction to find me.
She took a few deep breaths before running over towards me. Why is she running? She's not… excited to see me or anything, right? I don't know why I became so nervous, but I turned away from her. I took in a deep breath, holding it in for a moment before I started to walk away from her again.
Her foot steps got closer. She slowed her pace again. She was behind me. It felt like she wanted to be beside me, but that could just be my imagination.
"What are you doing?" She asked, as if me walking away from her was normal.
My eyes shot back and forth, looking for an excuse. I ducked behind a tree while we were walking, "Exploring?"
It almost felt warmer now that she was with me. Not just me, but the air around us. I looked back at her over my shoulder for a moment, catching the smile on her face. It was gentle. Warm. Just like her. I looked forward again, hiding my face from her as she followed behind me.
"So… do you wanna talk about it?" I finally spit it out. That was the reason I was here after all.
"I guess..." She answered with a sigh of her own nervousness. "You could probably understand my feelings more than anyone..."
Right… She was talking about the emergency. I was… more concerned with the other night. I should care more about the issue she's having right now… I'll have to talk to her about it another time.
After walking to my car, she told me. Her father came to her. Asked for her help. She yelled at him, never wanting to have met him. Her mother is dying. She felt like it would be her fault that her mother dies if she doesn't help. I convinced her otherwise.
I at least put myself in her shoes. I wouldn't give a damn if they tried to come back into my life twenty years too late. They didn't care about giving her up, so why should she care to give them up?
But Kisara is too kind. Hell, she thinks there's even kindness in my heart. I still don't have a fucking clue what she see's in me…
I took her out to eat. It completely slipped my mind about the time when I drove her to get food though. I was hoping to sit down and talk about things… But I didn't want to stress her out more than I already had.
She was relentless to go home, but I could see just how tired she was. Just driving around to find a place to eat, she fell asleep in the passenger seat. I pulled the car over, parking on the side of the road by a park. I kept it running to keep the car warm, but I turned off the head lights.
She was leaning against the window, her hair falling out of place. She looked much more at peace… I rested my elbow on the side of the car, just under my window, leaning my head against my fist as I stared at her.
Our eyes met while we were talking… I'm sure of it. I had to look away. Every time I spoke to her, I felt like I couldn't look her in the eyes. I've never felt intimidated by someone else before. But this kind of intimidation… It wasn't like the kind I felt when I dueled. Like when Yugi beat me. Like when Pegasus took my brother's soul… It was… intimidation that I felt was cause by my own feelings. I was intimidated by myself.
Kisara suddenly took a sharp breath, but didn't wake up.
I smiled, knowing I could look at her right now without that feeling coming back to me. "I doubt your comfortable..."
I knew she couldn't hear me. I'm glad that she can rest easy right now… I feel like she needs it more than she has in a long time. It was like she had one thing happening to her after another. Bad luck… It seemed to follow her without backing down.
I don't think I regret sleeping with her… I think I regret the fact that I was drunk… The fact that she's with Fujiyama. The fact that it took me being drunk to be with her… But does she regret it?
"This is my office." I opened the door, showing Kisara where she'd be spending most of her time once she started working here tomorrow.
"It's bigger than your study at the mansion." She took note of it.
I could tell she was trying hard to map everything out in her head. She didn't need to worry though. I had everything prepared for her.
I showed her in, closing the office door behind us. "You'll have your own desk. It's set up over there.
I pointed to her work station. I had originally set it up outside the office, but I figured it would be easier for her to get settled where she can ask me questions directly instead of walking back and forth.
Yes. That's an excuse…
"I didn't expect to work in the same office with you." You could hear the smile as she spoke.
"It may only be temporary until you've gotten the hand of the job." I turn back, reopening the office door. "On to the next place."
"You mean there's more than office rooms, a cafeteria, a call center, and dueling platforms?" There was sarcasm in her voice.
"Heh, you'll have to memorize this place if you want to work with me." I meant it to be a joke, but she had an expression of worry. "I… Don't expect you to actually memorize the place. I'll be honest, I don't even know most of the offices here. Each floor has it's own jobs so to speak."
We exited the room, returning to the main hall. We made our way to the elevator. I brought us down several floors, engaging in small talk. I still hadn't brought up that night… I didn't know if I could at this point. Everything fell back into a somewhat normal routine, with the exception of Mokuba pestering me about what's going on between us.
I honestly didn't know.
The elevator bell rang as we reached the floor for our next destination. "This floor requires a code to enter. I don't know how much you'll be down here, but I'm usually here on my breaks."
She looked curious. "Yeah? Why's that?"
"You'll see." I couldn't help but smirk.
We exited the elevator, walking up to the metal door. I showed her the code, a simple four digit password. After typing it in, the door buzzed and slid open. As we walked forward, I could hear her repeating the code to herself, over and over. I smiled. She was trying hard already.
"Here we are." I stopped in the middle of the hall, full length windows surrounding us on both sides. "This is the floor where we test out new holograms for the cards.
She looked out one of the windows, watching as a hologram of a monster card known as Queen's Double. Kisara was in awe, watching as it cycled through animations, making it look life like.
"I've never seen a hologram up close before." Her eyes were locked on the room.
Queen's Double faded, and suddenly a tornado effect was played in the room, the tornado starting in the middle of the field and swirling about the room. Feathers flew from the gusts. Dust tornado was being tested.
"It's nothing compared to standing down there." I informed her. "We add effects to the holograms, so it would really feel like you're being hit with gusts of wind."
She quickly turned to me with excitement in her eyes "Really!?"
"As if I'd lie about how great my company's technology is." I snickered. "Want to try it out?"
She lit up. "Can I really?"
"You sound like a kid." I smiled at her. "Of course you can."
I guided her to one of the test rooms. This particular one was usually always empty. Walking into the test room, you could still look down on the play field through windows, but the view was accompanied by computers and large dashboards riddled with buttons, switches, dials and what not that were used to change the animations. The upper level was where you could input cards and change animations for them. There was a second level for sitting and viewing. And the third level was the field itself. There was a set of stairs to the right as soon as you entered the room. Hanging on the wall were four head sets, each one hooked up to a charger.
"Go ahead down." I told her.
Kisara nodded, heading down the stairs as I grabbed one of the head sets. I walked over to the huge machine, flipping a switch that turned on the mainframe. The field lit up, a screen lowering in the middle of the window to show different angles of the field. I watched all the angles as Kisara made her way down. I couldn't help but smile by her child like excitement.
I put on the headset that I had grabbed from the wall, pressing a button above the left ear to turn it on. I adjusted the microphone on it as I started messing with some switches, typing a few things in on the computer.
"Looks good." I told myself and made my way to join Kisara out on the hologram field. "Ready?"
I barely made it down the stairs before she was holding her hands to her chest in fists, excited and eagerly awaiting. "You know it!"
I snickered, "I figured we could test out a field card."
"Alright!" She couldn't contain herself.
"Computer," there was a pause as a ding presented itself in my ear. "Test field card: The Sanctuary in the Sky."
"Searching system for: The Sanctuary in the Sky." The computer announced now on the overhead. "Spell Card Type. Property: Field. Card Number: 5-6-4-3-3-4-5-6. Card Description: 'Battle damage to the controller of a Fairy-Type monster from a battle involving that Fairy-Type monster becomes zero.' Activating effects now."
As soon as the voice over had finished, the holograms sprung to life. All around us, the world seemed to change. There was a sky now above us, as well as below us. A floor began to form, looking as though made of stone. We appeared to be inside of a temple, one compared to that of a Greek Coliseum. Everything felt rather bright and warm, with a gentle breeze filling the area.
Kisara was speechless. She stared around the room, which was fully covered in a virtual reality. I smirked, proud of what my work has accomplished up to this point. I thought of what field card to let her try out next.
"Computer, test field card: Ancient forest." I gave her some time to look at the sky sanctuary before calling out the next field.
"Searching system for: Ancient Forest" The computer repeated the same automated response. "Spell Card Type. Property: Field. Card Number: 8-7-6-2-4-1-6-6. Card Description: 'When you activate this card, change any defense position monsters to face-up Attack Position. Flip Effects are not activated at this time. If a monster attacks, destroy it at the end of that turn's Battle Phase.'"
The sanctuary melted around us as the lights dimmed. One spot light turning to give an effect of the sun shining brighter in one area as the ground grew pixilated grass and tress began to sprout into reality. It was as though we were completely surrounded by an actual forest. The temperature even dropped slightly as the air felt moist. Kisara seemed to like this one even more.
"Seto… This is amazing." She seemed even more absorbed into the virtual world than ever before.
I don't think I've ever seen someone so enthralled. "Yeah. It is, isn't it?"
I watched as she tried to place her finger tips to one of the fake trees. Her hand slipped through it, causing distortion to the tree. She quickly pulled back, as if she had just burned her finger on a stove. I gave her a few minutes to fidget around with this field card before switching to one final field.
"Computer, test field card: Aroma Garden." I called out once more.
"Searching system for: Aroma Garden. Spell Card Type. Property: Field. Card Number: 0-5-0-5-0-6-4-4. Card Description: 'Once per turn, if you control an aroma monster, you can gain five hundred life points, also all monsters you control gain five hundred attack and defense points until the end of your opponent's next turn,'" The description was much longer than I remembered it being, "'(even if this card leaves the field.) If a face-up aroma monster you control is destroyed by battle or card effect and sent to the graveyard: Gain one thousand life points.'"
Again, the prior field melted around us. The lights became brighter as a cloudy sky now filled across the ceiling. The grass remained, though a stone path was created over top of it, as well as a garden of different plants, flowers, and a few trees sprouted from nothingness. It appeared as though there was a tiny house off in the distance, and an arch formed over the stone path.
Kisara's eyes widened as she pressed her hands deep into her chest. He eyes widened, taking in the scenery. False scents now filled the room, the humidity from the forest leaving. The room again felt warm, like you were actually standing outside on a nice spring day. The sound of birds tweeting and crickets chirping filled the silence. A lot more effects were put into this hologram. I remember it being one of the animation specialist's favorite. He put enough work into it so that he could propose to his, now, wife.
I was fond of this card as well. It was serene. It was like an escape from the rest of the world. Kisara walked along the fake stone path, taking in this field. I wanted to show her this one more than anything. When she spoke of what she wanted in a home, I thought of this card. I felt like this was something she truly wanted.
I couldn't take my eyes off of her at this point. It was as if she fit in with the scenery. I felt like if I shut the system down that she would disappear with it. It reminded me of all the hallucinations I used to have of her. All of the nightmares of watching her die. All the dreams of failing to rescue her. All the times her ghost haunted me in my drunken episodes.
She's real though. This time, she's real. I bit the inside of my bottom lip. I felt like it would bleed if I bit any harder. That intimidating feeling returned to the pit of my stomach as my heart started pounding again. I felt sweat drops forming on my forehead, underneath my bangs. I wiped them away and closed my eyes.
"I..." I started whispering to myself.
Kisara didn't seem to be paying attention. I wanted to say something. Anything. And the words that came out were words I should not have spoken at that point in time.
"I... love you..."
I said them quietly. So quiet, that she hadn't noticed I had spoke at all. I felt my stomach flip and my head quieted of all thoughts. I didn't want her to hear them… Those were the words I couldn't say. Not now, if ever.
She was now looking down at a bed of hologram flowers. I know that she's smiling, but I catch a glimpse of a tear drop. Her shoulders slouched and she crouched down. She held her knees to her breast and sighed.
"Hey Seto..." She took me off my guard.
I felt scared to speak, thinking that maybe she did actually hear me. "Yeah?"
She took a moment to answer. "Can I… Come here more often?"
A sigh of overwhelming relief took me over. "Of course. I plan on teaching you how to duel here."
Surprise ruined. "Really?!"
She quickly turned her head to look at me, her demeanor immediately turning from excited to concerned.
"Are you okay?" She stood up now, staring at me with those intense eyes.
I had to look away. I couldn't look her in the eyes. "Yeah. I'm fine."
"You face is so red. Are you dizzy or anything?" She took a step forward, wiping away the tears she had.
"Why… are you crying?" I asked her, trying to change the subject from my embarrassment.
She smiled, looking down to the hologram grass and stone path, "I… felt like everything was going to be okay."
"What do you mean by that?" I felt slightly calmer.
Her smile was even brighter now as she looked forward at me. "For the first time, probably ever in my life… I feel like I'm going to be okay."
I wasn't quite sure what she meant, but I had an idea. Going from an orphan to being alone. Being bullied to being cheated on. Being beaten to breaking down. Maybe this place gave her that glimmer of hope she needed.
"Thank you." I finally looked her in the eyes. "I truly thank you, Seto. From the bottom of my heart."