After The Dueling (working title) A Seto x Shizuka fanfiction by: Dena Masae Setsuko Yu Gi Oh is © To Kazuki Takahashi and this story is in no way affiliated with him or the official Yu Gi Oh© series. It's simply a fan work of a obsessed Yu Gi Oh© fan -

Chapter 1: "Meeting Shizuka Kawaii"

"Finally, my last year at this stupid high school," Seto Kaiba thought to himself as he rode in his private limousine, "They make school work too easy here. It's a damn shame I'm only 17 and can't get out of it. Anyway, once I get this law requirement to go to school out of the way, I can go back to running my company and..."

"Seto! Aren't you so excited?? This is your last year in high school!" his younger brother Mokuba exclaimed, interrupting his thoughts.
Trying his best not to become irritated, he replied, "No, I'm relived Mokuba. I can't stand going to school."

"Why's that onii-san?" he asked.

He shook his head and didn't reply to him.
Mokuba frowned and looked down at the floor. Over the past year, he was beginning to see a side of Seto he had never seen before. He was still protective and loving of his little brother, but as time went on he seemed to be getting colder and colder.
He remembered that one day in class he had learned how some people shut themselves off to the world and make themselves cold and distant to heal from their problems...and Seto was probably doing that to move on from the torture and abuse of Gozaboru Kaiba, their step-father. Mokuba was blinded from all of that since he loved his brother so much. But now that he was maturing, he was beginning to see everything his childhood had blinded from him.
The limo began to slow down since the front of Domino High School was just a few blocks away. "See you later brother!" Mokuba smiled at him. In reply, Seto nodded to him and then exited the limo.

He looked around and saw Yugi's friends in a crowd together, fussing over something. He hesitated at first, not being sure whether or not he should join them.
But after a quick debate, he decided to go over and check out what was going on. As he got closer to the group, he could see what the fuss was all about.
Someone new, yet familiar to him, was here at this school.

Yugi turned around just when Kaiba was in earshot and smiled, "Hey, Kaiba! Come over here with us!"
For an odd reason, Kaiba nodded and approached them. He used to want to avoid this group of people, but over the past year he had grown to know them and was actually able to tolerate them.
Although he still held a grudge against Anzu Manzaki who had rubbed him the wrong way after he had saved her life and she thanked Mokuba instead of him. And he still couldn't stand Jounouchi Katsuya, since he was a weak dog that couldn't duel for shit.
He met eye to eye with this new girl and recognized her from the airship. She was Jounouchi's younger sister. He only talked to her once, and it was when she begged him to land the airship to take care of Ryou Bakura. He barely remembered that encounter and still didn't understand why he listened to her pleads.
"Seto Kaiba!" the girl smiled at him, "I remember you from the Battle City Tournament!" He grunted and then replied, "How could you forget me? I was the one who ran the tournament."

"Yes, and you were such an impressive duelist!" she smiled at him.
"Well of course," Seto began, giving a slight smirk, "I am one of the top duelists in the entire world."

"A thank you would be enough, Kaiba," Tea interrupted, rolling her eyes,
"Save it. We don't need to hear you bragging."
He gave Tea a cold stare and then let go what she said. She was just a stupid girl to him who ranted on about friendship and whatnot, so it was no use getting worked up over her.

"So what's up, Kaiba?" Honda asked, "How was summer?"
Seto grunted and replied, "Work at the company. That is all. I don't take summer vacations."

Honda nodded while thinking the back of his mind, "He must be some kind of work-a-holic."

As everyone talked amongst themselves, Shizuka and Seto met eye to eye again and looked at each other for a moment.
"What the hell are we staring at each other for?" he thought after he realized he was practically gazing into her beautiful eyes like a fool. He quickly looked away as he saw Jounouchi coming by.
"Hey Kaiba." Jounouchi said as he joined everyone, walking over to his sister. He put his hand on her shoulder and told Kaiba, "This is my sister, Shizuka Kawaii. She's in the sophomore class." Seto nodded to her politely and she nodded back.

"Now Kaiba, don't mess with her," Jou warned him, "You lay a finger on her and I-"
"What do you take me for?!" Kaiba began, clearly insulted.
"I don't know, but I don't like ya, and I don't trust ya." Jou replied.
"The feeling is mutual, Jounouchi." He replied, giving him a cold stare.

Shizuka felt her spirits drop as the two gave looks of dissent to one another. She remembered that Jou and Kaiba were always fighting with each other and were like rivals. She didn't know why Seto was so easily able to anger her brother and vise versa.

"Would you two just knock it off?" Tea groaned in annoyance.
"Yea, it would be nice if you two could tolerate each other for once." Yugi added, a sweat drop rolling down his face.

"I shouldn't have to tolerate anything from this mutt..." Seto said as he turned his back on everyone, "I think I'll just be on my way now. I have better things to do then to be around losers like you." With that he turn he did exactly as he said and walked off.

"Ah who cares about him anyway, right?" Honda winked at Shizuka, putting his arm around her shoulder.
Shizuka laughed a bit and then said, "Yea..." Just then, the bell rang for school to begin and they all went inside.

- - -

When lunch rolled around for Shizuka, she was relived to finally see the familiar faces of her friends. They waved to her as she smiled and began to approach them. As she continued to scan across the cafeteria, she noticed Seto sitting by himself with his laptop computer.
Otogi got up from his chair and took Shizuka gently by the arm, "This way my dear, come sit with us!" Shizuka laughed as Otogi led her to the table, forgetting about Kaiba for the moment.
"Hey girl! What's going on?" Anzu smiled at her, drinking her fat-free milk.

"Well nothing much, just got out of English class." Shizuka smiled, setting her lunch tray down. "Hope you don't have Mr. Kanzaki!" Honda exclaimed, "That teacher is the pits! I nearly failed that class because of him!"
"Oh yea! I remember that!" Jou laughed, "He couldn't stand ya at all!"
"Please don't bring me back to those days." he sighed. Shizuka laughed and then drank some of her Orange Juice.

"Nope, I have Ms. Nujori," she finally replied, "She's a new teacher. She's pretty easy. I only have one assignment from her."
"No kiddin'." Honda replied as he munched on his homemade sandwich.
"I hope they ain't goin' hard on ya on the first day." Jou said, "I hate it when teachers do that."
"Well actually, several of my teachers have given me at least three assignments to start with. And I have to study for a test that's coming up this Friday." She said.
"That sucks!" Otogi said, frowning, "Well, hopefully it won't be like that all year."
"It probably will be," Honda said, rolling his eyes, "It always is hard to get through school."

"Maybe it is for you since you're such a baka." Otogi snickered at him.
"What did ya say?!" he exclaimed. Jounouchi started laughing and put his arm around his sister, making sure she didn't feel left out at any time.

While they continued to argue, Shizuka found herself looking over towards Kaiba, who was still sitting by himself at his laptop. Not a single soul was with him. She wondered what would it be like to live in solitude like that, with no friends.

The thought didn't exactly warm her heart.

She began to pity Kaiba, knowing he was missing out. "Hey sis," Jou said to her, "What are you looking at?"
"Oh! Umm, nothing." She smiled, "I was just spacing out." Jou nodded and continued talking to everyone as Anzu was looking in the direction Shizuka was staring at.

She caught a glimpse of Kaiba, no doubt at his laptop as always. Anzu wondered if Shizuka was interested in Kaiba. She seemed to be interested in talking to him in the morning, although Seto didn't seem to care. She would ask her that night on the phone and find out for sure.