Disclaimer: Yu-Gi-Oh is not mine.

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Cheer up, Mr. Kaiba!

Chapter XXIV – Take your chance

-by Alena S. Anigor

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When Serenity woke up the next day, she had to convince herself that the last night wasn’t just a dream and that Seto Kaiba had really come to her to ask her to accompany him to a ball. Well, truth be told, ordered her was more like it, but still, she suspected how hard it must’ve been for him to come up there and ask her. He even apologized for the harsh words from the previous afternoon which made her feel slightly better and somehow lighter.

Of course she also knew that he would never really do that on his own and that Anika and Gerhard had probably had something to do with it, but knowing him so far, it was hard, if not impossible, to make him do something he didn’t want to. The fact that he still listened to them and approached her again meant something.

To Serenity, it meant that the boy still had a beating heart behind that cold, indifferent exterior; that he still hadn’t forgotten how to be a human. It meant that Mokuba still had someone to lean on and that she could still believe in him, as well; that her hopes weren’t in vain. With a soft smile, she looked outside the window, feeling happy that it was another sunny day ahead of her.

Crawling out of bed, she stretched lazily before her expression turned somber when her gaze settled on a picture on the desk, Joey’s wide grin beaming and bright brown eyes staring at her. She bit on her bottom lip, remembering their farewell at the airport and how she promised she’d call him or at least send him a postcard. She gasped when she realized she hadn’t even called her mother yet and knowing her mom, she was probably on the verge of hysteria after not hearing a word from her daughter. Serenity deadpanned; already imagining her mother crying over the kitchen table, thinking how her daughter died in a plane crash.

She shook her head to chase away the image and decided to definitely call them both as soon as she got dressed and came downstairs. Turning around quickly, she grabbed her pillow and bedding, wanting to make her bed when a knock on the door interrupted her and she stopped, hearing Anika’s cheerful voice from outside.

“Serenity honey, are you awake?”

“Uh, yes!” She replied, blushing at the fact that she was still in her pajamas and it was already past 9, feeling slightly irresponsible. But after Seto Kaiba had asked her to accompany him to a ball, no matter how tired she was, she couldn’t really fall asleep instantly, and then there was the dream of her in a white dress and...

And the full meaning of the situation had finally hit her in the head. And hard.

Her eyes widened and she stopped with her ministrations, standing frozen in the middle of the room, her mouth agape and her expression utterly horrified.

She was going to accompany Seto Kaiba to a ball...She would have to get a dress...and shoes...and probably some jewelry, too. And get her hair done and be on her best behavior and mingle with all those classy people and...and...

She’s never even been to a party, let alone to a real ball.

“Oh,” was all she muttered before she plopped down on her half-made bed, feeling like someone kicked her in the stomach and squeezed all air out of her lungs. “Ohh...”

---

When Anika peeked inside, she found the girl sitting on the bed and staring at the closet as if she saw a ghost floating there. The older woman blinked at her strange behavior before she carefully entered the room and approached her, gazing at her worriedly.

“Serenity?” She leaned in a bit, slowly outstretching her hand to shake the girl. She stared at the closet even after Anika shook her a few times, shaking her head slowly in some kind of wonder and disbelief.

“...can’t...” She muttered finally, her hands gripping the edge of the bed tightly. Anika frowned in confusion, waving a hand in front of her face.

“Can’t?” she echoed, “Serenity, honey, what is it?”

When the auburn-haired girl finally snapped out of her stupor, she gave Anika the most incredulous and bewildered look she’d ever seen. The older woman raised her eyebrows in puzzlement again.

“I-I...I can’t!” Serenity exclaimed, on her feet the next second, leaving Anika to stare at her when she started pacing anxiously around the room. “What am I going to do? How...how am I supposed to...I...I just can’t!”

Anika’s baffled gaze followed her movements until it rested on the girl’s hunched form on the chair when she plopped down on it limply, her head in her hands; strands of rich auburn falling loosely down her shoulders.

“I shouldn’t have said yes...”

Silence fell between them for a few moments, until Anika straightened and planted her hands on her hips, observing the girl keenly. “I beg your pardon?” She asked on which Serenity looked up, Anika’s sharp tone surprising her. When she saw the equally sharp look in her eyes, she blinked, feeling ashamed all of a sudden for her outburst.

“Uhm...Well...I...” She started, not really knowing herself what came over her to act like that in front of the older woman. “I’m sorry; I didn’t mean to, uhm...upset you...” Her voice fell to a whisper when Anika’s eyes softened slightly, but her demeanor still remained somewhat stern.

“What is troubling you, Serenity?” Anika retorted, watching the girl across the room in concern. She had to admit she had a vague idea what might be making her act so anxiously and skittish but she honestly didn’t know why – she had no reason to fear the upcoming ball; she would be there to help her, and Gerhard, too, of course. And Seto...well, Seto did his best to avoid her questioning look this morning, but she had some tricks up her sleeve when it came to obtaining information. After all, Gerhard couldn’t keep anything from her.

Serenity took a deep breath and then sighed heavily, deciding to voice her worries out loud, feeling she might burst otherwise.

“I don’t...I don’t know how...” She mumbled hesitantly, Anika’s head cocking to the side a bit in curiosity, her eyes still sharp and questioning. Seeing that as a sign to continue, Serenity looked down, staring at the circular patterns on the rug covering her wooden floor. “I’m scared that...that I’ll only mess everything up and embarrass him because...I...I don’t know anything!” Her voice rose slightly at the end, fear and distress evident in it. Anika just stared at her mutely, the girl’s words confirming her previous doubts.

“I don’t know how to walk in heels or in a dress...I’m afraid I’ll stain my dress with something or trip over it or something or-or say something wrong and stupid and make a fool out of myself and him and...And then he’ll hate me even more and...I just...can’t do it.”

Silence stretched on between them again and when she finally found some courage to look at Anika’s face, her eyes widened in wonder and she had to blink at her in confusion when she found the woman smiling at her with that soft, warm smile, brown eyes shimmering with kindness and understanding. When Serenity kept on staring at her helplessly, Anika took the chance to approach her steadily, coming to stand in front of the puzzled and scared girl, leaning down a bit to look her in the eye.

“Thought so,” Anika spoke, her tone pleasant and soothing, Serenity staring at her, eyes wide and pleading for some kind of support and help. “But you know what?” She added and Serenity shook her head, her head a jumble of stressed thoughts and all sorts of questions directed her way.

“Don’t you worry about anything,” Anika ventured and Serenity blinked at her again when she patted her on the head like she was a small child, a granddaughter she was trying to share some words of wisdom with. “I’m here to help you and so is Gerhard,” her hand slipped down Serenity’s head to rest reassuringly on her shoulder, “so just leave everything to us.” She squeezed her shoulder lightly then as an afterthought added: “And Seto doesn’t hate you.”

With that, she straightened up again and smiled encouragingly at her, making Serenity gape at her like she just witnessed a miracle happening. Anika turned around and slowly started heading towards the exit, hearing Gerhard entering the house from below when the door opened. But before she was out of Serenity’s room, she stopped at the doorway and threw her one last smile over her shoulder.

“Besides, I think you’ll do just fine. Just be yourself and everything will be alright.”

Gerhard’s questioning voice from below made her let out a soft “ah” and with a smile, she vanished behind the door, leaving Serenity to stare after her, sitting stiffly in her chair, her face betraying a mixture of emotions.

She looked out the window and sighed, clasping her hands in her lap before her gaze absentmindedly fell to the picture on her desk, the soft glimmer of the glass reminding her about her previous promise. She couldn’t say Anika’s comforting words didn’t have the desired effect on her, but still...She simply couldn’t shake the feeling off – the feeling of not being up to it, that this was something that was way out of her grasp and that she was way out of that league.

Joey kept on smiling at her from the picture on her desk and she smiled softly at him; wishing he was there with her to help her out. She frowned the next moment, remembering his reaction when he found out she was leaving to Switzerland with Kaiba brothers and mentally shook her head. No, not Joey...her mother would be more appropriate to fill that position...Or Mai and Tea...

She sighed; she wasn’t aware of how much she missed her friends and family now that she had started to think about them. She stared at the picture of Joey and herself for a while before she nodded to herself, her mind set.

She would call her mother and Joey...but the fact that she was going to accompany Seto Kaiba to the ball, she’d decided to keep to herself. Knowing Joey, he’d probably fly to Switzerland with the next available plane, with a homicidal plan involving one certain CEO and her mother would start planning their wedding...and honeymoon.

Her cheeks reddened slightly when she tried imagining the great, spacious hall of some old castle, basking in golden lights of crystal chandeliers, wearing a wonderful dress, dancing with Seto Kaiba at the melodious piece of some famous composer. Shaking her head the next moment to chase that wishful thinking away, she propped her chin on her hand, staring thoughtfully out the window, watching the breeze playing with the surface of the lake, creating small, horizontal wrinkles and making the green sea of grass sway around it.

How on earth was she going to survive Sunday evening?

---

The next two days had gone by in a blur.

Anika had kept her word and had really taken care of everything. The first day was spent in planning – Anika was trying to determine which color would suit Serenity’s fair complexion and auburn hair best, what her style was in the first place, what jewelry would be most fitting and what kind of hair styles would match the whole outfit. Serenity was forced to play a role of a mannequin, patiently standing in the middle of her room and deadpanning discreetly at Anika’s tenacious nature to make everything look absolutely perfect.

As much as she liked the older woman, Serenity thought that sometimes, she was just plain scary.

She had called her mother who, just as Serenity thought, started crying on the phone when she heard her daughter’s voice. Serenity had spent almost ten minutes in trying to calm her down, assuring her that everything went fine, that she was still alive and kicking and eating enough. When her mother asked her about Seto Kaiba, Serenity’s first reaction was a quick and confused “Wha-what about him?” but luckily, her mother didn’t hear the tension in her voice and she quickly switched the subject, focusing her attention on describing the house, Anika, Gerhard and Mokuba’s condition.

Calling Joey had always been an adventure – either she couldn’t reach him, or the tone was busy, or he would yell into the phone handle when he would finally pick it up, making her cringe at the loud “What?!” followed by the colorful specter of curses directed at their father and stupid cans of beer over the floor. This time was no exception and it’s taken him a while to get to the phone, Serenity keeping the phone handle a few inches away from her ear, just in case.

His tone was surprisingly civil and polite when he answered the phone, but it rose to an ear piercing yell when he heard who was on the other line, asking her all sorts of questions before Serenity could even ask him how he was doing. One of them was the unavoidable “Is Kaiba giving you a hard time? ‘Cause if he is, let ME talk to him!”

She had spent another five minutes in assuring her brother that everything was fine, not telling him anything about the ball or the way the older Kaiba sibling had been treating her so far. She had a feeling that that would make her brother’s head pop...or give him a heart attack. She promised to send him a Christmas card if she couldn’t get home before that, but she really hoped Mokuba’s condition would get better till then; she had already missed the first week of her second year in high school and even though her mother had explained the situation to the dean, he wasn’t really thrilled with it. It was different back then when her eyesight was really bad...Still, Mokuba was a bit more important to her and she’d already decided to stay as long as it was necessary.

Talking to Joey had managed to cheer her up and lift that heavy weight off her chest a bit, but as soon as she said goodbye to him and hung up, Anika had walked into the room, holding a catalog open. When she pointed at one model wearing a long, navy blue dress, asking her what she thought about it, Serenity’s stomach immediately did a somersault and her face paled.

The next day, Gerhard had taken them to the nearest larger city to do some shopping. Serenity, not understanding a word of German, just stared at Anika and the younger woman working at an exclusive boutique in confusion, her brows furrowing when both of them turned to her at one point and looked her over. After that, she was half-forced, half-talked into trying out various dresses and matching shoes, purses and stoles, some of them made of pure silk and satin that threatened to slip off her skin when she wrapped them around her shoulders.

She couldn’t get used to seeing herself in the mirror in such an outfit. It was like watching a stranger with a familiar face, trying to discern where she had seen her before. She had spent almost all her life in shorts, t-shirts and occasional skirts but this was...different. A far cry from what she used to wear in Domino City. She wondered if Joey and her mother would be able to recognize her. She was having a hard time.

Still, when she secretly whirled in front of the mirror in a dress made of lavender-colored satin, she had to admit she also felt kind of...special. Like a Cinderella on the night of a ball. A step closer to all those people she would see and meet at the ball. A step closer to Seto Kaiba’s world and expectations.

But, after almost three hours of frequent dressing and undressing, Anika’s words of disapproval and the young saleswoman’s glare, her own nerves were wearing thin. She was tired, her feet were killing her and her hair was so full of electricity that she had to constantly smooth it down to avoid looking like Frankenstein’s bride. Plus, she was still feeling edgy and frightened about the ball, regardless of Gerhard’s comforting words; she had a feeling like her stomach wanted to drop somewhere down, down, she was feeling lightheaded and her heart was beating in her ears, threatening to jump out of her ribcage every time she thought of Sunday.

She was about to plop down on one of those leather settees surrounding her and announce her defeat when it happened – Anika had found the perfect dress for her.

Both the saleswoman and Anika gasped in awe when she stepped out of the booth, blushing at the astonished looks on their faces. Anika clasped her hands in front of her chest, nodding her approval mutely. When Serenity finally turned to look at herself in the mirror, her eyes widened and her lips parted when she saw the result.

She really did look beautiful in that dress. Granted, she looked pretty in all dresses she’d tried out, but there was always something off, something that made both Anika and her feel uneasy and uncertain about it. But this one, this one was really perfect.

Slowly, she turned back to give Anika a questioning look and the saleswoman almost jumped when Anika’s voice boomed all over the boutique.

“Wir nehmen es!”

And so, the dress, the shoes and the purse had been chosen. And Serenity could finally sigh in relief when she was allowed to put her jeans and sweater back and slip her shoes on.

Gerhard was patiently waiting for them in his station wagon when they came out of the boutique, a wide, victorious grin on Anika’s face, a large white bag swaying in her hand and a much smaller, exhausted smile on Serenity’s face. When they both stepped inside, Serenity let out a weary sigh and leaned back listening to Anika and Gerhard talk in German and staring thoughtfully out the window.

She didn’t have much time to spend with Mokuba – she had just managed to bring him dinner a couple of times and check up on him, but they barely talked; Anika would call her to ask her about this or that and she had to leave him to watch TV, adjusting his pillow when he was allowed to lift his head a bit higher and promising him she’d come to see him the next day.

She hadn’t seen much of Seto Kaiba either; he would join them at lunch and avoid eye contact with her, finishing his meal in record time and retreating back to his study. She didn’t know why, but Serenity had a strange feeling he was feeling uncomfortable and jumpy around her. This was an interesting development, though, since she would always feel some kind of animosity in his behavior when she was concerned. She just didn’t understand anything anymore. It was like...something had changed but she couldn’t figure out what or even why.

Gerhard’s station wagon turned left at the next crossroad and the vehicle shook a bit when the pebbly surface of the side road replaced the smooth concrete.

Only two more days and she would have to put that dress and shoes on and do her best not to be at her worst. Serenity wasn’t trying to kid herself – she knew she was a klutz sometimes, tripping over things and getting into all kinds of trouble and odd situations. She just hoped Sunday evening would go without any serious damage. She didn’t really care about her own reputation – she didn’t really even have one – but Seto Kaiba did and she didn’t want people to laugh at him because of her mishaps.

Shaking her head solemnly, she caught Gerhard’s curious, calculating gaze in the mirror for a second, before he directed his attention to the road before them, making Serenity sink deeper into the seat and trying to ignore Anika’s exciting tone as she kept on chatting with her husband about the upcoming ball.

---

The laptop could barely keep up with his fingers as they flied over the keyboard quickly, blue eyes glued to the screen and a telephone handle jammed between his shoulder and right ear.

“So talk to him over the secure line,” Kaiba spoke levelly, searching for a piece of paper and a pen now. He found the latter in a drawer and ripped of a piece of paper from a notebook on the desk, writing down a few numbers. “I don’t care what he thinks; I’m the one who’s going to decide about it.”

The voice on the other side belonged to one of his subordinates, his secretary calling him this morning to inform him about the possible problem with one of his workers.

“Well, in that case, tell him I’m going to have a little chat with him,” he practically snarled when his aide informed him about the man’s insolent behavior. He signed the other paper and pushed it aside, letting the man talk animatedly on the other line. “Not now, I have other things to do.”

With that, he hung up, all but cutting the man’s jabber off and sighed heavily, staring at the laptop screen sharply.

He really didn’t need this now – one, avaricious little man who thought he could do anything that came to his mind now that he wasn’t in Japan anymore. With all the things involving his company, the upcoming ball and Mokuba’s condition, this was the last thing on his mind. After all, if he kept on causing problems, firing him was the least problem.

He pressed a few keys on his keyboard and the screen disappeared, the new DDS blueprints turning black as the laptop shut down, the lack of soft, humming sound engulfing the study in silence. It wasn’t until now that he could hear the wind picking up speed outside and he turned in his chair to look out the wide window and at the dark, colossal mountains in the distance. With a flicker of interest, his blue gaze traveled up to the tips of the large triangular shapes, noticing the first glimmers of white. The snow had already fallen there. The winter was slowly creeping up on them, the days becoming shorter and the nights longer and colder.

His eyes turned slightly glazed, his thoughts carrying him to the younger boy a couple of rooms away from him. Turning slowly to face his desk again, he looked at the stack of papers on his right, the light on his laptop blinking steadily. He still hadn’t heard from the doctor and right now, he was becoming slightly impatient. The whole purpose of this trip was to help Mokuba get better and he hadn’t seen him or visited him in two days already, choosing to barricade himself in his study and deal with all the postponed emails, phone calls and projects. That little, quiet voice in the back of his mind protested at such a decision but he silenced it down, telling himself he’d spend more time with him when he was done with his work.

He was used to it already – balancing between his job, duel tournaments, rescuing his brother and saving the world. It was a hard-boiled job sometimes but he thought he was doing more than just fine. Currently, his mind was preoccupied with Mokuba’s tests and results; something he was feeling slightly nervous about. He knew that the doctor had said how Mokuba was doing fine and his wounds healing, but...that was still no guarantee that Mokuba would walk again soon. And then...then Sunday would come and he would have to attend the annual charity ball...with that girl.

The sheer thought of it made his heart skip a beat, that queasy feelings in his stomach making him shift in his chair and glare at the door accusingly as if she were standing there. He had been avoiding her for the past two days, not wanting to deal with her any more than it was necessary, feeling extremely uncomfortable every time she would look at him or they’d meet in Mokuba’s room. He still couldn’t understand why his body was reacting that way when it came to her, his mind drawing a blank when he tried to rationally explain it to himself. His mind would also often replay that night two days ago when he had all but trotted up to her room to ask her to accompany him to the ball, and wonder just what the hell he had been thinking. He also couldn’t understand why Gerhard and Anika would smile secretly at him during lunch when the older woman would force him to sit down and eat something to make up for all those lost pounds. He had an indistinct feeling that they were plotting some kind of conspiracy against him every time they would exchange meaningful looks and Anika would beam happily at him and Gerhard would give him an odd look that bordered on the look of a father who was proud of his son.

He cursed the old man mentally for provoking him so much that it made him go that far. Too far if one asked him...

Either way, he didn’t like any of those things so he tried to steer away from them, ordering his mind to concentrate on his work.

He was just about to grab his pen when the phone rang and he picked it up, albeit halfheartedly; he’d had enough of phone calls for one day and his head was already ringing from the annoying sound. He straightened up the next moment, though when he heard a familiar voice on the other side. Dr. Johannes Stiller greeted him politely.

“Hello Mr. Kaiba,” the doctor piped, his voice betraying his good spirits, making Kaiba frown involuntarily. “How are you? I hope I’m not interrupting you.”

Kaiba inhaled inaudibly and leaned back into his chair. “No, you’re not. I’m fine, thank you.” He replied civilly. “I suppose you’re calling about Mokuba’s tests?”

The doctor coughed lightly on the other line and Kaiba could hear papers rustling near him. “Yes, I am,” the doctor replied and the rustling stopped, accompanied by two female voices nearby. “I have some spare time tomorrow after lunch and the clinic is going to be pretty much empty so you can bring the young lad...let’s say around 2:30 pm?”

Kaiba’s eyes flickered to his schedule almost instantly and seeing a blank paper, he nodded in agreement. “Fine, 2:30 it is.”

“Excellent!” The doctor said happily, making Kaiba wonder what the man was so damn chipper about. “See you tomorrow and have a nice day!”

“Hnn,” was Kaiba’s reply before the line went dead and he placed the phone handle down, staring at the black box thoughtfully. So, tomorrow...

With a heavy sigh, he stood up, his trench coat making rustling sounds as he walked past the desk and crossed his study, grabbing the door handle. He would have to inform Mokuba and Gerhard about it to make sure Mokuba got to the clinic safely. When he opened the door, a pleasant aroma wafted from the kitchen, making him glance down the hall curiously. Anika was making something special for lunch today as it seemed.

Still not wanting to deal with her questioning looks and annoying, secretive smiles, he walked as quietly as he could until he reached Mokuba’s room, hearing shooting sounds from inside. When he carefully pushed the door open, he spotted his younger brother lying in bed, his head propped on a pillow, a remote control in one hand and a cookie in the other, a look of deep concentration on his face. Kaiba’s expression softened a bit when he saw him watching an action movie, his eyes glued to the screen.

When he entered his room, Mokuba’s attention switched to him and a cheerful smile crossed his features, his eyes glistening with mischief. “Hey Seto!” He greeted him good-naturedly and lowered the volume a bit. Kaiba smiled slightly in return and let the door creak back behind him, sitting down on the chair next to Mokuba’s head, his brother’s eyes following his movements. “What’s up?”

Kaiba glanced at the TV and raised an eyebrow when he saw that his brother was watching some old movie noir. Noticing his reaction, Mokuba shrugged with one shoulder. “There was nothing else on.” He said with a smile but then craned his head a bit to the side, a puzzled look on his face. “What’s wrong? You look kinda...worried...”

Kaiba gave him a lopsided smile before he leaned forward, intertwining his fingers before him. Mokuba waited patiently, now frowning lightly at his demeanor. “Seto?”

“The doctor called a few minutes ago,” Kaiba spoke after a brief moment of hesitation, “he wants you to come to the clinic tomorrow.”

He let his words hang in the air for a while, observing Mokuba’s almost impassive stare, the man on the TV raising his voice threateningly. After a few moments Mokuba nodded somewhat absentmindedly, his violent orbs clouded with something he couldn’t discern, but the boy smiled at him then and Kaiba could feel his tense shoulders relaxing. He wasn’t even aware he was sitting in his chair so stiffly waiting for something he himself wasn’t sure of.

“Okay then,” Mokuba replied, his tone strangely accepting and resolved, his body shifting slightly under the covers as he tried to find a better position. Kaiba watched him in some kind of wonder, torn between the feelings of awe, pride and disbelief at his brother’s reaction and his decision to face the outcome of his test results head-on. Because, as much as Kaiba was trying to be there for him and offer him protection and something solid he could lean on, as much as he put on a strong, unbreakable front, deep down he felt unsure and afraid – probably more afraid than Anika and Gerhard...afraid that his brother would never walk again, forced to spend his life in a wheelchair. He knew that he would be partially responsible for that; he already felt guilty enough for letting him end up in a bed with a broken leg and a damaged spine...The thought of him never walking again was making him feel nauseous and something would squeeze tightly in his chest, making him feel so...indescribably torn and caged at the same time to the point that he would have to stand up and walk to the window to get some fresh air because it felt like his lungs had none anymore.

And then there was Mokuba, his eyes so sure and determined and alive, accompanied by his assuring smile.

Kaiba’s head fell to his chest, a soft smile grazing his lips as he shook his head mentally. Mokuba was right; he shouldn’t have doubted in him; he wouldn’t anymore. He would hope for the best and believe in him. When he felt something tugging at his bangs, he lifted his head quickly to see his brother’s outstretched arm, fingers reaching for him, his eyes looking at him in concern.

“Seto? Are you okay?”

He nodded mutely and then it was Mokuba’s turn to stare at him in wonder when his brother smiled, actually smiled a small, but genuine smile that reached his eyes after so many years and rendered Mokuba speechless. Kaiba wasn’t even aware of it; not until tears filled Mokuba’s eyes and he pointed it out in a somewhat awed whisper, making Kaiba blink.

“Seto...you...you smiled...”

It was so odd, Kaiba mused – the sudden rush of something warm and so...positive and powerful rushing through his blood, overwhelming his senses and making him feel dizzy but for a different reason this time. He grabbed Mokuba’s hand and held it, watching his brother cry silently, squeezing his fingers tightly.

He didn’t and couldn’t say a word; he just stared at his brother and sat there, wanting nothing more that to see him walking by his side with that radiant look in his eyes.

---

Outside, Serenity’s face was moist with tears of her own after she had just witnessed what happened between the two Kaiba brothers. The tray with Mokuba’s lunch was trembling slightly in her hand while the other rested on her chest, her weight supported by the wall she was leaning on. She was smiling, her eyes closed, her expression betraying the pure joy that she was feeling.

She wanted to bring Mokuba lunch but when she heard Seto Kaiba’s voice inside, she stopped abruptly, her face a few inches from the door left ajar. She could hear Kaiba talk about the doctor and the clinic and her breath got stuck in her throat for a moment, that sharp jab of fear and trepidation piercing her chest. Silence followed afterwards and her curiosity prompted her to peek through the small space between the door and the wall. When she saw Mokuba reaching for his brother it almost made her look away and leave them to their privacy when she heard Mokuba’s worried voice, but when she saw what followed, she couldn’t tear her eyes away; not after seeing Seto Kaiba smile a real smile for the first time in her life. She watched, mesmerized, the way his lips curved softly, his eyes glistening with emotions she didn’t think he still had in him. He looked so...free, calm. Beautiful.

Amidst a burst of emotions that followed between the two of them, she leaned against the wall, her own eyes filled with tears after something so light and powerful coursed through her she that she couldn’t find any other name for it other than pure happiness.

He smiled...he smiled at him and for him and she had a sudden urge to go inside and hug them both...Of course she wouldn’t dare to do that, but she couldn’t help herself – she just felt so happy and compelled to share that feeling with them.

She stayed there for another couple of minutes until she decided to leave. She would bring Mokuba his lunch later.

When she walked into the kitchen, she found Anika behind the kitchen counter, sorting dishes. She carefully placed the tray onto the table and sat down, looking out the window, her eyes focused on the beautiful scenery, the smile not leaving her face. When Anika turned around and saw the girl sitting there with Mokuba’s lunch untouched, she blinked in confusion.

She was about to ask her if Mokuba didn’t like what she made him, but then she saw the smile on her face and couldn’t help but raise her eyebrows. For a girl who had been terrified of the upcoming ball and acting all edgy and jumpy, she was oddly calm and serene now. And she was smiling...

Anika frowned in perplexity, staring at her from her spot in the kitchen, one hand on her hip, the other one holding a kitchen cloth, her body leaning against the counter.

What was going on in her house now?

---

The rest of the Saturday passed in a relatively peaceful atmosphere...which was kind of odd compared to the last few days. When Serenity left the dining room to bring Mokuba lunch (and successfully ignored and avoided Anika’s suspicious gaze), she almost bumped into Kaiba’s tall figure at the doorway. She let out a gasp when the tray almost rammed into his chest but he was fast enough to grab it with his hands, steadying it.

She looked up at him, quickly exclaiming an apology and then froze, her cheeks turning red when he gave her a calm, steady look that was void of any disgust, revulsion or uneasiness. Her lips parted in surprise as he simply stared at her mutely for another moment and then let go of the tray and walked past her, claiming his seat behind the table, surprising Anika as well when she didn’t hear any complaints from him.

Still somewhat dazed and at a loss for words, Serenity headed towards Mokuba’s room, the tray now shaking slightly in her hands, her chest constricting oddly when she remembered his smile, so perfect as small as it was, making him look even more handsome than he already was. She let out a startled squeak and quickly shook her head when she caught herself thinking about him in that way. She shouldn’t really; as odd as it seemed, she always thought of him as some kind of authoritative figure; someone who could be her boss or a distant acquaintance, never a friend or –and there she blushed again- dare she say, a romantic interest. He was always so...distant, too elusive, miles and universes away from her. It was wrong of her to think of him in such way regardless of his attractiveness.

Besides, what were her chances anyway? She was sure some posh, elegant and educated girl was his type and she was everything but.

Still shaking her head, she made a mental note to stop thinking about Seto Kaiba in that way and concentrate on helping Mokuba get better.

Now, if only the thought of the next evening would stop creating tight knots in her stomach...

Kaiba, on the other hand, felt like he had just signed a contract with Fernhoff Industries. After the initial shock he’d experienced at seeing Mokuba cry because he smiled, they both talked for some time. Mokuba had asked him about the ball and there he reluctantly admitted that yes, he had asked ‘that girl’ (on which Mokuba piped “Serenity” nonchalantly) to accompany him and no, he didn’t have that in mind at all. When Mokuba cast a smirk his way so reminiscent of Gerhard’s, he stiffened, glaring at his brother and demanding an answer. Mokuba just glanced at the TV screen, pretending he didn’t hear him, leaving the CEO to fume at him from his chair, his arms crossed over his chest.

Still, he walked out of that room feeling calmer that he had felt in years; like something huge and heavy got lifted off his chest. Not even bumping into that girl could ruffle his feathers too much, although his heart did skip a beat again at their sudden, fortuitous proximity. He glanced at Anika when she approached him, carrying plates and silverware in her hands and then quickly diverted his attention to the plate placed in front of him, Anika frowning at him. She was just about to ask him what the heck was happening with them all today when Gerhard entered the house, the door slamming shut behind him.

“Oops,” he said sheepishly when Anika gave him an incredulous look, “draft.”

He shook out of his coat and put it on the hanger, turning around to look at Kaiba pointedly. The young man in question raised his eyebrows questioningly, Anika letting out an indignant huff when they both decided to ignore her.

When Gerhard sat down he leaned in, beckoning Kaiba to do the same. Somewhat awkwardly, he followed his example and gave him a keen look, expecting some good news from the local gossipers about the ball. Then Gerhard smiled victoriously and pulled out a small article that looked like I had been torn from the newspaper. Kaiba glanced at it curiously when Gerhard dropped it in front of him.

“He’s going to be there,” Gerhard announced grandly as if he said the royal Japanese family itself is going to be there. Kaiba stared at the article intently, watching the black and white photograph of Marcus Fernhoff, followed by a large title “Fernhoff confirmed his arrival”. Kaiba looked at Gerhard, exchanging a meaningful gaze with him before he leaned into his chair, a smirk appearing on his face.

So, the old man is coming to the ball, after all. The wheels in his head started to spin madly, already coming up with various ideas to persuade Marcus Fernhoff to at least reconsider working with him. He wouldn’t give up just yet; if there was a chance to use Fernhoff’s materials for his newest invention, he’d do anything to use it.

Gerhard smiled at the distant look in his eyes, knowing exactly what his thoughts were revolving around. Anika practically threw the spoon into his plate on which the older man jerked, wondering what was up with his wife now. Anika just turned around sulkily, marching to the kitchen, angry at everyone for not telling her anything. Gerhard’s attention skipped to Serenity then when she walked in and handed Anika the empty tray before she sat down behind the table, greeting him politely.

“Hello,” Gerhard replied and smiled at the girl; she looked less troubled today.

Serenity shifted in her seat slightly, glancing askew at Kaiba who was still occupied by reading the article. She looked up and caught Gerhard’s amused smile before she blushed prettily and kept her eyes on her plate for the rest of the lunch, having a disturbing feeling that the old man knew something she wanted to keep strictly to herself.

Later that evening, she was sitting on her bed, staring dismally at the “perfect dress” hanging by one door of her closet, covered with transparent nylon to keep it from collecting dust. The satin-made material glistened enticingly in the darkness of her room, waiting for her owner to put it on and “shine in it” as Anika had put it.

Serenity wasn’t sure just how much she was going to shine tomorrow but she decided to do her best; for both Mokuba’s and Seto Kaiba’s sake. She wanted to prove it to them that she could do it; that she could pretend to belong to that world for one night. And most of all, she didn’t want to disappoint Kaiba; not after what she had seen that day.

With a heavy sigh, she looked at the clock on her nightstand and lied down, staring at the ceiling for a long time before tiredness took over her and she fell asleep, clutching the covers of her bed tightly, her muddled thoughts and emotions making her toss and turn restlessly for the rest of the night.

---

Anika had woken her up early in the morning; barging into her room and startling her out of her sleep, telling her she looked awful instead of a ‘good morning’ and making her cringe at the very start of the day. She barely had the time to brush her teeth and her hair when she was dragged downstairs for breakfast. While she was walking behind the older woman and passing by Mokuba’s room, she could hear Gerhard and Kaiba’s voices, discussing the best way to reach the clinic on time.

She gasped when she almost forgot about Mokuba’s tests that day. When she told Anika how she’d like to go with them, the gray-haired woman absolutely declined her request, telling her how she still needed to take a bath, go to the hair-dresser, practice walking in her heels, put on a make-up...

Serenity’s head started to spin already from her to-do list and it was only past 7:30 am. Plus, those familiar butterflies came to life in her stomach again and it wasn’t until Anika brushed her hand away from her mouth that she became aware that she was biting her nails. It all felt so rushed and confusing, and she felt like she was dragged into a hot whirl she couldn’t get out of. That was why when, by the time she was done with walking in heels and figuring out how she was going to introduce herself, the morning had already long gone and she only had half an hour of spare time to sit down and breathe. Anika was acting like a commanding officer, not leaving anything to chance.

After lunch, she waved at Mokuba sadly, feeling so miserable for not being able to go with them and be there for him. She could hear Anika all but commanding her husband to hurry home because he had to help Seto prepare. Gerhard just rolled his eyes when she turned around and disappeared into the kitchen, patting Serenity on the back supportively.

“Like Seto would ever let me help him dress up...”

The bath was a more relaxing aspect of her demanding schedule as she soaked in the warm water, foam and bubbles floating around her, steam rising up to cloud the large mirror on the wall of the bathroom.

Her cheeks were red from the warmth of the bath as she stared ahead at the white tiles dully, feeling like she could jump out of her skin and run somewhere far, far away just to somehow avoid the approaching predicament she was going to find herself in, in just a few of hours from now. The thought of it brought her nothing but feelings of dread and impending doom again and with a tortured groan, she slid down, her head disappearing beneath the foamy surface.

Clean and fresh, she was standing in front of the mirror in her room in nothing but her underwear, shivering slightly from the cold air and anticipation. The clock on her night stand was blinking happily at her, counting away minutes to the inevitable. She resisted the urge to plop down on her bed, cover herself up and just go to sleep and pretend none of this was happening.

When she heard Anika coming up the stairs, she quickly jerked out of her thoughtful state and turned to her dress, waiting for her patiently on the closet door. Taking a deep breath, she approached it, touching the nylon carefully as if she was touching a bomb and slowly slid it off the dress, her fingers coming in contact with the soft, satiny material. It glistened under the light in her room, colors dancing and melting together as she folded it under her fingers.

She turned in her spot when Anika entered the room and gave her an inquiring look. “What’s wrong, dear?” She asked her, noticing the flustered look on the girl’s face, her arms lifting up to cover herself instinctively, her cheeks reddening. “It’s past 5, you should put it on. The boys are going to be here any minute now. And oh, I’ve seen that a hundred times already, you don’t have to be ashamed.” She added when the girl refused to budge.

Nodding mutely and relaxing slightly, Serenity sighed heavily and unzipped the back of the dress cautiously, sliding it down the hanger and holding it in her hands. She stepped into it, adjusting it and turning her back to Anika who zipped it up again. When she turned around again and looked at herself in the mirror, she exhaled, becoming aware that she was holding her breath the whole time. Anika was also eyeing her critically, standing next to her before she smiled finally, satisfied with her choice.

“You look beautiful,” she said when Serenity bit her lower lip, wanting nothing more than to pull the zipper down and return it to the boutique. It was now that she had become aware just how close she was to the actual moment of stepping into that building with Seto Kaiba as her only company. Anika noticed her anxiety again but said nothing; it was normal to feel nervous before every event such as a ball, after all.

“Now, let’s do your hair,” she said gently and Serenity sat down on a chair Anika pulled in front of the mirror, making a faux hair salon out of her room. She took a comb from her desk and stood behind the pale-looking, distressed girl, letting out a mixture of a breath and a smile. “Oh Serenity, stop worrying, child! You look absolutely beautiful and you’ll look even more beautiful when I’m done with your hair and make-up.”

Serenity managed a shaky smile in return on which Anika just sighed in defeat and started combing her hair, auburn tresses slipping between her fingers softly.

---

Kaiba was sitting impatiently outside the X-ray room, his foot tapping against the gray, sterile-looking floor of the clinic.

The doctor greeted them all with a cheerful smile, not resisting the urge to tell them how his daughter was expecting her first child and how overjoyed he was. Gerhard congratulated him cheerfully, Kaiba remaining impassive and Mokuba not really knowing what to say to that other than echoing Gerhard’s words.

After that, they both sat in the doctor’s office, a spacious room filled with various instruments, pictures of human anatomy and files of his patients. They exchanged brief pleasantries before the doctor started asking Mokuba how he was feeling. The boy’s answers were descriptive and laic but truthful and helpful to the doctor who listened carefully, taking notes in the meantime.

They had laid him on one of the beds in his office carefully and the doctor examined his leg first then switched to the state of his torso. After a brief inspection he nodded to himself but Kaiba couldn’t read anything from his facial expression.

“Okay, let’s take him to the X-ray room,” the doctor finally said and so they took Mokuba to another room down the hall, leaving Kaiba and Gerhard to wait in the hall.

“Seto, it’s only been five minutes,” Gerhard spoke after some time, noticing the nervous taps of his foot against the floor and fingers over his crossed arms. Kaiba just gave him a pointed look and remained silent. “I’m sure Mokuba is doing fine.”

Another minute passed when Gerhard spoke again.

“Do you want me to take you both to the ball or are you going to rent the limousine?”

It seemed like Kaiba didn’t quite understand the question for he gave him a strange look first. Then it dawned on him after a few moments that he had to attend the ball today and that the both of them were him and the girl. He was just so preoccupied with Mokuba’s test results that he had completely forgotten about it. Still slightly confused and out of it, he shook his head as if to clear his mind and looked at Gerhard’s curious expression.

“I’ll take the limo,” he replied steadily on which Gerhard nodded, albeit hesitantly. He was kind of hoping he would take on his offer to drive them to Henrik’s Palace so he could help and assist Serenity if necessary but seeing his resolved look, he didn’t want to meddle further. He just hoped the poor girl could keep up with him and his closed-up, elusive nature.

The door to their right snapped open and they both stood up quickly, Kaiba’s face twisted with worry, Gerhard’s calm and collected. First a couple of medics carried Mokuba out then the doctor followed, turning off the lights in the room. Kaiba didn’t miss the slightly crestfallen look on Mokuba’s face and his hopes sank immediately, his fears and dreads returning. He literally jumped in front of the doctor, demanding the answers. The doctor raised his hands in defense, trying to calm him down.

“Nothing is wrong, Mr. Kaiba,” he tried to placate him, Gerhard coming to stand next to them, now worried, too. The doctor continued when he saw confusion on both men’s faces. “The recovery is going as planned and there’s nothing to be worried about. Mokuba is just a little sad because he will have to stay in bed for another week or so.”

Kaiba breathed a sigh of relief when the doctor assured him Mokuba was alright, turning around to look at the sullen expression on the boy’s face. Gerhard was standing next to him, patting him on the shoulder. “And I thought I could finally get out of that bed...”

“Soon,” Gerhard said, trying to add some optimism into the gloomy aura of the younger Kaiba sibling. “You know these things take a bit longer.”

“Yeah, but still...My butt hurts from all this lying around,” Mokuba complained on which Gerhard just had to laugh.

“His leg is doing nicely but you must know that the spine is a sensitive part of the body. We must be sure before we decide to let him sit straight in a wheelchair,” the doctor explained to Kaiba who nodded curtly in understanding. Still, he couldn’t hide his disappointment either; he had hoped his brother could finally breathe in some fresh air. Regardless of the situation, he was glad and relieved that his brother’s recovery was going smoothly.

Gerhard coughed softly behind him, tapping his watch and signaling that it was time for them to go back. Both of them thanked the doctor and shook hands with him, the kind old man reminding them to drop by in a week for another batch of tests.

Mokuba was placed safely on the backseats of Gerhard’s station wagon before they headed back home, the only sounds in the vehicle coming from the radio.

“...Nutze deine Chance heute Abend, Seto,” Gerhard whispered to Kaiba who understood him perfectly this time. He stared ahead at the passing streets of Bern intently, already thinking about the head of Fernhoff Industries and the best way to approach him again.

“I will.”

---

By the time they arrived back, it was past 6 pm and they were greeted by a very fuming Anika who yanked violently at both of their sleeves when they entered the house and they were forced to follow her to the dining room.

“Honestly!” She huffed, forgetting about Mokuba’s tests results in her efforts to get a hold of them to tell them to hurry up. “And Seto is still in his casual clothes! Go change, now!”

Both men just exchanged glances before Kaiba went to his study, muttering something incoherent under his breath and Gerhard was left to deal with his excited wife.

“Uhm, is Serenity ready?” He dared to ask, Anika turning to glare at him. He flinched noticeably.

“Ages ago!” She shrieked and he sat down, deciding to just let her vent out on him since it was his fault they sidetracked on their way home – Gerhard wanted to buy a new suit for Kaiba. “Why couldn’t I reach you? I called you six times!”

“Really?” Gerhard asked in wonder, pulling out his cell phone out of his pocket to see six missed calls listed on the screen. He blanched visibly. “Ah...well, you know we have to turn our phones off in the hospitals...”

Anika just made a displeased grimace but then she plopped down on the chair beside him and sighed, Gerhard putting a hand on her back, massaging it gently.

“What are we going to do with those two?” She asked him, turning to look at him with dismay evident on her face. “The poor girl is going to faint if she keeps on feeling so stressed and anxious and Seto is...well, Seto is being Seto and...” There she stopped and sighed again, looking at the floral patterns of the ceramic plates hanging on the wall in despair. Gerhard was quiet for a while before he decided to add his own two cents in.

“Well,” he started, carefully choosing his next words, “I think all is not lost just yet...”

Anika turned her head to look at him curiously, finally getting her chance to ask him about the odd events that had taken place in her house that day. Her eyes narrowed at her husband and Gerhard swallowed, already recognizing that look.

“What do you mean? What do you know Gerhard?”

“Nothing, really,” he replied truthfully, although Anika didn’t look too convinced. “I just...have a feeling that things are turning for the better, that’s all...”

Still eyeing his suspiciously, she leaned in, making her husband gulp audibly. “Explain.”

Gerhard had no other choice but to tell her what he thought and when he was finished, Anika was eyeing him with his eyebrows raised.

“You think?”

“Yep!” He replied cheerfully on which Anika let out a thoughtful “hmm...” after which a relieved “Well, at least Mokuba is doing fine” followed.

They sat in silence for the next few moments until Anika jerked suddenly in his half-embrace and stood up abruptly, making Gerhard gape at her.

“What is it?”

“The time!” She exclaimed and pointed at the old wooden clock on the wall, the bat swaying to and fro slowly. Gerhard looked up when she suddenly started pacing around the kitchen, realizing she was right. It was almost 7 pm and they had to be there at 8. He got up and rounded the table quickly, nodding at his wife.

“I’ll go get Seto.”

“And I’ll go get Serenity.”

---

Kaiba exhaled audibly, tugging on his tie annoyingly, hating that part of formalities. He never felt good in tuxedos and suits and ties; it was like they were choking him, restraining him. Thankfully, he would have to endure it for just one night...if only to impress Marcus Fernhoff and convince him to do business with him.

He sighed when there was a knock on the door, accompanied by Gerhard’s voice. “It’s time, Seto. Are you done?”

“Yeah,” he replied, his voice low and firm. “Let’s get this over with.”

---

Serenity was sitting stiffly in front of her mirror, staring at, now, a complete stranger in front of her. She looked so much...older and mature that she really was. If Anika was going for that kind of look, then she had definitely succeeded. Her hands were clasped in her lap, her fingers trembling slightly, her shoulders and chest heaving with every deep breath she took in a vain attempt to calm herself down.

It was useless. Instead of feeling giddy and happy that she was going to attend a ball, she felt scared and petrified like she was some kind of historical person waiting for her turn to be executed under a guillotine.

Her emotional state only worsened when she could hear footsteps coming up the stairs. It was happening; they were coming for her...

She seemed calm outwardly when Anika knocked on the door and peeked inside, informing her that they should get going. Slowly, she got up, grabbing her purse from the bed and straightening the folds on her dress. Her coat was waiting for her downstairs. Anika watched her with a proud smile of a mother whose daughter was going to a prom. Serenity was surprised she didn’t have a camera with her.

Slowly and carefully, so as not to trip over the hem of the dress, she started walking downstairs, feeling like she was someone else, like she was watching herself from a different corner, like this wasn’t really her and she had nothing to worry about. When she was halfway down, she looked at the two figures at the base of the stairs.

One belonged to the smiling face of an older man known as Gerhard. The other belonged to the face of the CEO of Kaiba Corporation, her chaperone for the evening who was currently staring at her as if she was a Martian who just fell out of nowhere.

---

All thoughts related to Marcus Fernhoff went flying out the window when he looked at the creature descending the stairs, his breath caught in his throat when he inhaled sharply.

A small, logical portion of Kaiba’s brain was trying to tell him that that was Serenity Wheeler walking down the stairs, but he shut it up, telling it how that could not be the mutt’s sister. No way in hell.

The girl in front of him was wearing a long, silky looking dress made of a glistening material whose colors changed from teal and sea green to forest green as she moved. The waistline of the dress was decorated with a dark waistband, the cleavage showing off just the exact amount of skin without looking inappropriate. A dark necklace decorated with green stones was adorning the skin of her neck, matching up with a pair of dark earrings with oval-shaped gems.

Her hair that usually framed her face was pulled up into an elegant bun at the base of her neck, just a few strands cupping her face. The whole color scheme fit her hair and eyes perfectly, hazel irises accentuated with a black mascara and eyeliner, her pink lips full and glossy, drawing attention to them. Her shoes were black and shiny, making her look taller, a simple, black little purse resting in her right hand.

It was like she radiated off some ethereal light and elegance he never knew she had in her. She didn’t look like Serenity Wheeler; she looked like some kind of forest fairy just coming out of a mist. The only things she lacked were wings to make it look complete.

“Seto?” He jerked out of his stupor to see both Anika and Gerhard looking at him expectedly, their expressions barely concealing their mischief at catching him off guard.

“What?” He snapped, purposefully avoiding looking at the girl standing now in front of him, her cheeks pink and her head lowered. Gerhard snickered behind him, Anika deciding to play the role of an observer.

“We asked you what you thought of Serenity, but seeing your reaction, we don’t need to ask again.”

Serenity’s face reddened even more while his eyes bulged out at the insinuation. “What? I didn’t...I’d...”

Still at a loss for words, he turned to glare daggers at Gerhard who suddenly turned serious. “Ahem, you should get going otherwise you’ll be late.”

Not saying another word, he turned on his heel and stormed outside, the engine of the limousine coming to life, ignoring the happy little butterflies that were having another ball of their own in his stomach.

“Well, how rude!” Anika huffed when Gerhard took Serenity’s black coat off the hanger and opened it so Serenity could slip inside. She thanked him quietly, still feeling slightly disturbed by Seto Kaiba’s staring. Not that his stares were usually pleasant in general, but this one was...different. He was literally ogling at her and her cheeks refused to turn to their normal color.

Anika gave her a motherly kiss on the forehead and wished her luck.

“And have a good time, that’s the most important.” Gerhard added. She nodded clumsily, feeling so strange in her outfit again before she smiled at them softly.

“I will.”

With that, she turned and started walking out the house, her heels clinking softly against the floor. She soon disappeared into the night, her figure becoming a slender silhouette in the dark as she walked towards the limousine. Anika and Gerhard could hear the sound of the door opening and closing before the limousine moved, tires grinding over the pebbles of the road, only headlights visible in the darkness in front of them.

They watched the lights turning into small, red dots, before they rounded the curve and disappeared. Anika turned to her husband and sighed, Gerhard placing an arm around her shoulders.

“You think she’ll be okay?” She asked, still staring at the night outside. Gerhard was quiet for a while before he moved and closed the door behind.

“I think so,” he replied then went straight to the kitchen, leaving Anika to stand in the hall for a little while. “By the way, you really did a great job. The girl is pretty but she really looks special tonight.”

“Yeah,” Anika said quietly, joining her husband in the kitchen who was currently busy with fixing himself dinner. “Wonders of make-up.”

He smiled at her and then kissed her on the cheek before he took a bite of his sandwich. “Es wird alles gut."

“Hoffentlich.” She replied thoughtfully, staring out the window into the cold, September night.

---

a/n:

Okay, first off, German:

“Wir nehmen es!” – “We’re taking it!”

“...Nutze deine Chance heute Abend, Seto,” – “...Use your chance tonight, Seto,”

“Es wird alles gut.“ – “It will all be alright.”

“Hoffentlich.” – “Hopefully.”

Now...Uhm...I don’t know where to begin... :is shot:

Okay, so...I know it’s been months since I last updated this fic and I am sorry for keeping you all waiting for so long. It’s just that a lot of things have happened since then – my summer job was very demanding and I could barely find time to take a shower and get some sleep, then I made it into the desired college (after 3 years of trying) but it was in another city...So, I came home, unpacked, had 15 days to get at least some rest, packed again and moved to another city. College life is also taking a lot of my time since I have seminars and essays waiting to be written and...and I currently have a sore throat and I think I’m going to be sick... Yeah...so much about me. XD;

This chapter is long. I know since I just did a double take after checking word count. I didn’t want to make it look all rushed and it was fun to describe Serenity and Kaiba’s emotions. Also, it was written in a hurry (which totally contrasts with the “not rushed” part, I know) so if you see any typos and grammar mistakes, please forgive me. This was not beta-ed or double-checked. Oh, and I don’t know if Henrik’s Palace really exists; I made that up, it sounded plausible. XD

Uhm...what else? Oh, I have something of a fic journal (yes, again...I swear, this will be the last one) where I’m also posting fanarts and review replies. So, I replied to some of your reviews so if you’re interested, check it out at my homepage if you click on my profile page : is done with shameless advertising:

So much for this time. Once again I apologize if this chapter sucked...Also, I suck at describing clothes and stuff, so...yeah...

:is shot...again: