Under the Stars

Seto Kaiba hardly knew what friendship is and Serenity hardly knew what’s so special about dueling… As she explains, they both realize that they had been missing out.

Genre: Romance/Friendship

Pairing: SetoxSerenity

Rating: T. Just to be safe.:)

Warning: OOCness and Fluff? Maybe.:))

Serenity stared at the stars. They had always been beautiful but the fact that they were actually so close to them… she had never imagined that they would looks even more stunning than before. She found moments like these to be irreplaceable and utterly special and romantic.
They were currently on another one of Seto Kaiba’s dueling ships. The man had plenty. It was strange though, why could he just use the last one, it worked perfectly fine. And the accommodations before were absolutely luxurious that Serenity thought she wouldn’t be able to experience that in her commoner lifestyle. The man truly was something else.
Another tournament was being held for Kaiba Corp.’s anniversary. Not that Seto Kaiba couldn’t hold another tournament on will.
Don’t get her wrong. She loved traveling with her older brother but, well, she wanted a vacation. It had always been about dueling. She wanted to travel that had nothing to do with monsters, magic cards, trap cards and the like. After all, they were all growing up and were bound to get tired of dueling one day.
Sighing, Serenity murmured, “Hm. This so boring.”
“I agree.”
She jumped at the voice. She didn’t expect someone to be here in the middle of the night. It was already around a quarter to two. She herself wasn’t allowed to be here. Only sneaking out of her room just to look at the stars.
Turning around, she set a firm gaze on the intruder of once sanctuary… the intruder who happened to own the very ship. Immediately averting her gaze on the ground, she said, “Ah. Kaiba-sama… what’re you doing here?” Still not moving her gaze from the floor.
Not hearing a reply, she decided to take a quick look at his face, only to find that he had been moving from his initial location towards her. Was he going to do something to her? Possibly, like hit her? She knew all to well about his rough relationship with her brother.
She closed her eyes tightly, only opening them when she felt his coat graze her side. Turning around, she saw him stare at the stars.
“Don’t act like I’m about to hit you.” An order. Obviously. Somehow, despite his intimidating reputation, it only made Serenity’s anger flare even higher. Although she was quite known for being dainty and soft-hearted, she could be quite the spitfire when she wanted to be. Something she definitely inherited from her elder brother.
“I wasn’t---“
“Tch… Spare me the act Mutt’s sister.” He turned around to show her a smirk, “As I was saying… it’s quite unentertaining…”
Serenity blinked for a moment. Was Seto Kaiba actually trying to initiate a conversation with her? How strangely out of character for someone as unsociable as him.
“Talk.” Again, it only served to fuel her temper.
“What the he---!”
“I don’t like being ignored by someone like you.” He said before folding his arms together.
“Tch. Arrogant bastard….” Serenity let out a stream of colorful words in her mind, words that even she was surprised she knew, “Well, I suppose without another insane duelist on board, it wouldn’t be as fun as the last one.” She said despite her raging temper.
Of course, how could she forget about Malik and Bakura? Those two always spiced things up for Seto… and also that unexpected intervention from that kid Noa. However, Seto Kaiba was absolutely correct. Once she had recalled all those past events, this tournament did seem to pale in comparison.
Seto turned around to face the stars once again, “Do you know how to duel?”
Serenity blinked. What an unexpected question. And of course the answer was a ‘no’, she had only dueled by force and that was only once, “Hardly. And I don’t even want to learn.”
She saw him stiffen and turn around. She nearly gasped at what she saw. There was, albeit extremely surprising, look of disbelief on his face that he failed at trying to mask. Perhaps, he really was surprised that she found dueling to be an extreme waste of time. Was it that hard to comprehend? Her brother had the same look when she told him she’d rather not learn to duel at all.
Although he did live with dueling all his life and it was the only thing he had because judging from his exterior Seto Kaiba was unlikely to have to many friends. Thinking about it, it really did sound sort of insulting. Serenity bit her lower lip consciously, “I… I’m sorry. That was an unfair thing to say.” She absolutely despised apologizing, “Although it’s not like you’d be insulted.”
“Hn.” He suddenly reverted back to his old self? How strange. Was this a case of split personality syndrome or something?
“You know, Kaiba-sama…” She stuttered, reverting back to her old timid self when he wouldn’t stop staring at her, “You should try opening up to other people.”
Seto Kaiba, the CEO of Kaiba corp., merely stared at her, “Why should I do that? That gives me no profit whatsoever, only giving others a chance to somehow figure me out.”
Serenity was in deep thought. She guessed that was sort of bad in the business world… But hey, they were teenagers, and despite his mature ways, Seto was one too. And there was no way he didn’t want to just live for once in a while, “I suppose so…” She really had nothing to add to that.

:)

Seto looked at the younger Wheeler. She really didn’t bore a single resemblance to that mutt. At first, he could hardly believe she was that idiot’s sister. There must’ve been some genetic malfunction when the blonde Wheeler was born. Although that seemed unlikely, because for the short time he had conversed with her, this Wheeler showed the same temper the elder one had.
“You seem to dislike dueling.” That was something he had never expected from someone who worked hard in playing. Although Seto didn’t want to admit it, Joey Wheeler was one of the few people who actually try their best with monster cards.
“I do.” And her straight-forwardness was inherited from dog-Wheeler too. At least she wasn’t one of those people who always beat around the bush… just like that Gardner girl… Tch. Hiding her stupid crush on Yuugi, It was so obvious that even an idiot like the Mutt knew about it. She should’ve just told him outright.
“I see.” He really didn’t know what to say. It was rare to see girls like this one… one who didn’t blabber on and on about what was new today and such… he like quiet people. It meant that they knew how to shut up. Although it made having a conversation even harder and finding weaknesses were harder as well.
“Why?”
“I just do. Although, I am thankful because it gave me back my sight, I’m not particularly fond of dueling. I have no reason to like it nor I have any reason to dislike it.” She explained with technicality.
It gave back her sight? Ah… now that he thought about it, he briefly recalled hearing something about a blind sister before the Mutt won a tournament sponsored by Kaiba Corporation. It must’ve been her. The dog must’ve used the tournament prize for her operation.
“While people should try working on other aspects of their life like their relationships with other people or even themselves, they spend their nights trying to make the perfect deck.”
Seto was slightly confused. Work on relationships with other people? Why the hell should they waste their time on something like that? He could understand strengthening sibling relationships but why should he work on his relationships with other people? It’s not as if he had further plans of interacting with them.
“You looked confused.” She said with a hint of amusement. Was this girl making fun of him?
She let out a smirk that was the exact copy of the Mutt’s, “You should work on your emotions Kaiba. Because once you’ve come too close, you’re too easy to read.” She said, her voicing having an unusual edge, “I can sense your anxiety from a mile away.”
Seto, for the life of him, actually felt shocked. A good thing that he only managed to pass it off with a grit of his teeth. This girl really was something. Perhaps she had some kind of disorder because Seto was sure that normal teenage girls didn’t change attitudes one moment after another. He hardly gave others compliments but he was sure that if this girl with that witty mouth and sharp mind were to be taught properly at dueling, she would be one hell of a threat.
Hearing a sigh coming from the young girl, he turned his head.
“That’s what I mean… When you work on relationships… It helps you read other people easily. It’s pretty useful, especially for your business.” And after saying that, she did what he didn’t expect the most… she smiled, “Besides… being friends like this… is fun!”
Seto inwardly gave himself a kick just to relieve him from the shock of what she had just done. She just declared herself his friend without his consent. Such a strangestrange but very bold girl. He didn’t mind though. She seemed capable enough to be acknowledged unlike her dog of a brother. She knew how to keep façades to the point that even he was quite surprised at her revelations but there was still something he couldn’t get quite comfortable with.
“Just like dueling?” He asked… unsure of what he was saying but hiding his doubt nonetheless.
He saw her blink at his question. Wasn’t it right? Her description of friendship was the same as dueling. It was interesting… it helped you improve yourself and it helped others around you. Wasn’t it just the same? But why did she feel so against it?
He saw her hesitate for a moment before biting her lip, he could sense that she was now questioning her once firm beliefs. Serenity was right… talking with other people… making friends… It did make you sharper.
“I guess.” He saw her avert her gaze to the floor, turning into the timid girl once more. That was the only thing she lacked… a fighting personality that would never disappear. Once she had that, she would be perfect.
Grabbing her arm and dragging her into the battleship, he was decided.
“H-Hey! Where are you taking me?” She said, struggling in his grasp.
Seto knew perfectly well that her brother would definitely punch the lights out of him after this incident (not that he cared, he could always evade) but he couldn’t stop now. It was strange and Seto had to admit that he was a bit cautious after all, it was territory that he had never walked upon.
“We’re going to try.” But perhaps…
“Try what?” She asked, still struggling in his grip, “Dueling or working on relationships?” Just maybe…
“Both.” If they’re with each other, everything would work out just fine.