This is the obligatory disclaimer. I don't own Yu-Gi-Oh or any of the characters in this story.
Notes: This is an AU story. Not sure if this idea has been thought of or written about before but I had this idea in my head for a while now and I figured I may as well write it. Please excuse any grammar and small errors, I haven't written anything in years so I'm more than a little dusty.
Please leave a comment or constructive criticism, but nothing hateful, those types of comments will be removed, deleted or ignored. This is also mostly a silent shipping story so Serenity x Kaiba, if this pairing isn't one you like then don't read this as it may not be your cup of tea. There will be other pairings as well. The characters' thoughts are italicized.
Oh and I'm currently looking to update once a month but I'm going to try for twice a month though. Anyway I'll stop rambling and let you read.
Chapter One:
The brunette let out a sigh as she readjusted the groceries in her arms. Maybe she should have taken her roommate's idea of going shopping for the groceries together after they both got home. But in not wanting to waste time in doing that, as she had a semester project due by the end of the following week and after a long day at work the last thing she wanted to do is lose time when she could have done it herself.
However there was a miscommunication on just how much stuff they both had run out of between food and necessities.
'Well that's what I get for being stubborn. I forgot to grab up the chai latte I've been craving, which worked out in the end because I wouldn't have been able to hold it, so I'm going to have to order one along with dinner because I'm not cooking after the afternoon I just had.' She thought to herself.
Serenity stopped in front of the apartment door realizing she needed to take her keys out of her handbag and with her hands full that'd be difficult without accidentally dropping the bags in the process. 'Damn it, I should have done that before when I got out of the taxi.'
As the brunette was about to attempt to carefully place the bags down to grab her keys, the door to her apartment swung open. Before she could react she felt the weight in her arms lessen as she saw her roommate's girlfriend grabbing two of the bags she was previously balancing in her arms.
"Hi Rebecca," she greeted the blonde, "how'd you know to open the door?" she asked as the two walked inside and let the door shut behind them. The blonde greeted her with a quick hi as she walked to the kitchen placing the bags on the counter before walking back to lock the door. The hazel eyed girl walked to the counter and put the remaining bags next to the others. Rebecca answered her as she did so.
"I could hear you walking, the halls are awfully echoey…that and Mokuba said you'd be back around 5, I figured it was you."
"Thank you, I was honestly thinking about how to get my keys out of my bag without dropping the bags I was holding."
"You could have just taken Mokuba's offer. We could have helped and picked up dinner on the way back."
Serenity sighed, "I know, lesson learned but I really didn't want to come home then go back out."
"I understand."
The two women started putting away the groceries, after a few minutes, Serenity asked, "Hey where is Mokuba?"
Placing the eggs and milk in the fridge the blonde answered, "He figured he'd get us dinner. I also told him to stop by the café three blocks up to get us something caffeinated."
"You guys are lifesavers."
By the time Mokuba walked in, about 20 minutes, they had put everything away and cleaned the countertops. Placing the box of pizza, the beverage holder and a bag of takeout on the table he gave Rebecca a peck on her lips in greeting.
"Hey Serenity." he pulled her in for a hug.
"Hey Mokuba." She hugged him back.
"Hope you don't mind but I got you boneless wings with lemon pepper sauce and potato wedges and a strawberry salad. I was going to just opt for pizza for us three but remembered you had already had pizza yesterday and Friday night, so I went for your favorite meal instead."
"I wouldn't mind pizza again, but thanks for getting me food."
"No problem," he smiled before adding, "after Becca and I eat we're going to head to the bar so you can have quiet time and finish that semester project of yours we'll be back late." Walking to the counter to take the chai latte she took a sip before smiling at her friends.
"You guys are the best."
"We know." came the united reply.
Serenity was sitting on the loveseat, with her textbook and notebook on her lap, she was in the process of scribbling down a few notes when Mokuba came out of his room and walked into the living area. He watched in amusement as she sighed as she turned pages, wrote a few more notes and repeated. The violet eyed man has to admire her work ethic and study habits. 'Could never be me.'
Sometimes he wishes he had the dedication to be as hard working as she was but he's seen the negative connotation that has on people, mainly his brother. Not to say that he didn't work hard, he did, he just knew when to draw the line and knew how to draw his limits. He also knows, unlike his brother, that he needs a good life/work balance to be happy. Deciding that his best friend needed a break, even if for a few minutes, for her sanity, he cleared his throat to get her attention.
The brunette looked up and gave him a smile as she stretched her arms up above her head. "Hey Moki, need something?"
He let out a laugh. "Yeah, I need you to take a break before you study yourself to an early death."
She opened her mouth to retort but he cut her off. "You know you could take a break, get some food, water, make some tea or coffee and clear your mind."
Serenity let out a sigh and gave him a pout but realized that he had a point. "I hate when you're right."
He gave her a smile. "I'm always right."
Serenity tilted her head and raised an eyebrow and gave him a lopsided grin.
"Shut up."
"I didn't even say anything." she playfully defended herself getting up from the couch.
"I know what you were going to say."
Stretching once more she nodded, he had a point and followed him to the kitchen.
"You know," taking a bite out of a cookie, "I have to agree I needed a break so thanks."
Mokuba took a sip of his coffee. "You're welcome."
"Is Becca asleep?" She asked.
"Yeah, she has an 8:00 am class so she asked if she could stay since we're closer to campus and I can take her on my way to work."
Serenity ate her cookie as she listened. "Makes sense. How's school going?"
"Eh," was the quick reply, "not bad but I haven't been able to really get into classes."
"Then…"
"You're about to ask me then why am I taking the courses then?"
Serenity nodded. He shot her his 'you already know the answer to that question look.
She let out a sigh. "Yeah I know but you can't let your brother dictate what major you take. I get that he wants the best for you and that the reason he let you come to this university was because you compromised that you'd minor in business, but if that's not where your heart is and you're not happy why waste the time and finances and stay? Why not talk to him about dropping business and doing something different?" she paused before adding, "Maybe in similar fields? I'm sure if you explain it to him and talk about how you're currently feeling he'll understand?"
Taking a sip of her tea she watches him quietly as she guessed he thought over her words. "Then again, what do I know? I really don't know your brother like you."
"No you're right. I've just been avoiding the inevitable. I'll do that soon. Thank you. I needed to hear someone say it. "
"Don't mention it." she gave him a smile.
"How are things going with you?"
The brunette shrugged, "Same old, can't stand the professor this time around though. But what can you do?"
"Work going well too?"
"Other than being overworked because there people quit this week, it's pretty much the same."
"Well that sucks...you know…" he figured he'd ask her to come work with him but he knew she'd say no but hey it didn't hurt to ask.
"Mokuba, I am not going to work for you." They've been friends for so long that by this point the two could probably guess what the other is thinking or going to ask before the other knows.
"But why not?"
She shot him a look.
Rolling his eyes he asked, "When are you leaving to visit Joey?"
"Friday...why?"
He looked in the direction of his room and before he could reply she figured out what he was getting at.
"Mokuba!"
"What?! Is it too much to say that I'd like more quiet time with my girlfriend -"
"Don't tell me about it! You two can have the house to yourselves just wait three more days and then you can do whatever it is that you're thinking. Just clean the house when you're done." she joked.
Mokuba just laughed.
The rest of the week flew by. The three hadn't seen each other much. Serenity was busy between both classes and work as well as studying and Mokuba had been working on stop when he wasn't in class and Rebecca, went back to visit her grandfather earlier that week once she was finished with her classes for the week.
The brunette had just gotten back from visiting Joey, however she remembered that she needed groceries because she could bet that Mokuba had not done so since she last had, the man could eat pizza every day and never complain, she found herself in the same predicament as last week- buying too many groceries and carrying it all on her own.' I really should start ordering groceries for delivery, or come home and then go back out.' managing to free her keys from her coat pocket, without dropping the bags she unlocked the door and stepped inside.
Letting the door slam shut as she walked to the kitchen to unload the groceries on the table. She started by putting away any refrigerated groceries before starting the cabinet/pantry items.
Ten minutes later and about halfway through she noticed there wasn't any space on either of the two bottom shelves of the top cabinets which meant she had to tip toe or climb the counter to reach.
The brunette let out a frustrated sigh. "I don't see why they don't make these cabinets accessible to short people." she muttered under her breath.
Serenity lifted herself onto the counter, holding on to the side of the cabinet for support and began reorganizing, placing some of the bottom shelf items and moving them to the second shelf and items that won't be needed to the top shelf.
She was so concentrated as she muttered to herself that she didn't sense that there was someone leaning against the wall between the gap between the kitchen and living room.
"There's easier ways to do that, you know."
When the voice spoke up she jumped out in surprise remembering to grab the cabinet for support. "What the fuc-" she stopped mid sentence when she saw who the owner of the voice was. "Kaiba?"
"Were you expecting someone else, Wheeler?"
"No, I was expecting to be alone." she answered before asking him, "what are you doing here?"
"I came to visit my brother."
Serenity nodded and averted her gaze. She decided the best way to ease the awkwardness that was soon to follow was to quietly resume what she was doing earlier. However to her surprise he walked over to her and began to help her. He handed her the items, standing behind her as to make sure she didn't fall or at least if she did he'd be there to prevent that from happening.
"You don't have to-"
"I'm tired of just sitting around waiting doing nothing."
She didn't reply as she turned back to the tasks at hand. She didn't want to admit it to herself but he made her uncomfortable, but not in a bad way. He was just rather intimidating, he always had been. So naturally she didn't know how to be around him so she'd make herself sparse whenever he was around. He'd been that way when he was in high school, but she, being a transferring sophomore and he a senior, so they never had to interact often. Her brother however was a different story. She had asked Mokuba why the two don't get along but he didn't know and she had asked Joey once but he hadn't given her an answer either, he just warned her to avoid contact with him if possible because he was a grade a jerk.
And while he was a jerk and cold, he also had a completely different and hidden side to his personality, which she has witnessed on more than one occasion and through Mokuba's own account. Even so, she really had no preconceived opinion of him, other than he made her uncomfortable, but probably because even if she knew him she didn't know him. Sure they've had quick conversations and whatnot but again doesn't really count. Leaning back enough for her to turn away from the cabinets and get into a sitting position, however she lost her balance and started falling backwards.
She did fall, just not on the floor, Kaiba had caught her before she could and in that same time Mokuba had walked right inside.
"Hey big brother, did I leave the door open…" the younger Kaiba stopped mid sentence. "Did I interrupt something?"
Notes: That's the end of chapter one. Sorry if it sucked, my writing is rusty but hopefully I'll get the hang of it as I write more chapters. Please review or leave constructive criticism, just don't be mean about it as I'll just ignore and delete. Also want to add if someone knows anyone who can beta read please let me know it'd be greatly appreciated. See you all in the next chapter!