• Teardrops on my Guitar

    Drew looks at me
    I fake a smile so he won’t see
    That I want and I’m needing
    Everything that we should be

    After I had changed into shorts, a shirt and flip flops, I sat on the white tiled floor of my balcony and started to pluck the strings of my guitar to a familiar piece as I watched the sun set before my eyes, turning the sky a playful blue, orange and purple. The piece I was playing, Minuet by L. De Call, calmed my nerves from a long day in college. It had a happy tune. It was rare for me to have any interest in studying these kinds of compositions. I closed my eyes and let the music flow through me, as if I didn’t have any care in the world.

    As I plucked the last note, I started to play a song I liked, Sleeping Beauty by A Perfect circle. It really wasn’t a slow song that would calm me. I just wanted to play it. The lyrics intrigued me. It was as if the composer did not want a happy ending for his fairy tale.

    I visualized myself in his place, unable to awaken Sleeping Beauty, when I had known that I was the perfect person to kiss her and take her from eternal slumber. She was poisoned, and hopeless. I could also visualize myself being someone like her. There were times that I had wished to just fall asleep and never wake up. Will anyone try to awaken me? Will they die trying or leave me be?

    I slid my fingers up and down the fret board as my pushed the strings down hard, plucking them as I did. I sang the song in my head with closed eyes, visualizing hopeless Sleeping Beauty. Maybe I was just like the prince attempting to wake her up. Maybe I was deceiving myself that I could ever have the person I love near me, loving me back as I loved him, just like the prince made himself believe that he could wake her up. And maybe my attempts in trying to make him become aware me were futile, just like how the prince failed desolately to make her open her eyes.

    I took a deep breath as I continued to play and opened my eyes. The sun hadn’t fully set yet. I turned my gaze from the sun to my guitar and strummed the strings a hardly a few times to end the song.

    I had almost forgotten that it was a Friday, and that nothing had happened much at school today, since almost all, the teachers were later than usual. There were some rules. That if the teacher did not enter the room in fifteen minutes after the said time of the lecture, the class would be cancelled. Out of my six lectures, four were cancelled. I didn’t want to go out and attend parties and publicity bashes. Whom would I party with? I was an only child. A prince at that note. My family was back in the imperial palace. I did not have that many friends. How would you party if your grandfather were emperor?

    Just then, I realized how much I yearned for the presence of the people in the palace. Here in Domino, I had a mansion all to myself, and I didn’t have anyone to share it with. It was all mine. An insanely quiet house that I called home was all mine. I almost had someone to share his mansion with, if he didn’t fall for someone else. However, it was ok, I told myself. As long as he was happy, I would root for him in whatever he would choose to do.

    I took another deep breath as I went back in my room. I placed the guitar on my huge bed and grabbed paper and pen from my bag. I lay on my bed on my stomach beside my beloved guitar and started writing a song I had heard from the radio as I drove home from school. A knock on my chamber doors ruined my perfect handwriting. Irritated, I opened the door.

    “Yes, what is it?” I asked the maid.

    She knelt at the sight of me, and tried her best to hide the fear in her voice. “Your Highness; Master Kaiba has entered the grounds, and I believe he would be wishing to see you as soon as he parked his car,”

    “I see,” I motioned her to stand up. “Please, please, do not be scared, dear lady,” I said, “I am no sadistic prince,” I gave her a smile, and she gave me one back. “Now. Go on and take care of Mister Kaiba. Also, please inform him that I am up here in my chambers,” I closed the door.

    I decided to freshen up before I faced . I filled the tub up with warm water and added the bubbles. I waited for the tub to fill up as I lit the bathroom to a nice relaxing atmosphere, and got in after I had taken off my clothes a few moments later. I submerged myself to wet my hair and I rested my head on the tub sill, eyes closed, and waited for a deep voice to call my name.

    I waited. I didn’t know how long. To my disappointment, I did not hear my chamber doors open, or anyone’s voice through my ears. I guess that Seto did not want to see me after all. He was just here to check if I had already gone home, as I told him before we went our separate ways before our dismissal.

    I didn’t know why I was so upset.

    It was so…I didn’t know…there was an indescribably burning sensation that flared through my chest, even though I was in water.

    I felt so sad…angry…

    I suddenly had the urge not to breathe…and let myself slip into darkness for just a while…just for a while…or maybe, forever…I felt myself sinking…

    Then strong arms lifted me from the darkness that was swallowing me alive. “Are you ok?”

    I jumped at the voice, snapped my eyes open and looked up. Seto.

    “Whoa. Calm down, Yami no Ko-Taishi,” (1) I heard his sweet voice…his sweet voice speaking my name. “It seemed to me that you had stopped breathing, were you asleep? Did you have a nightmare?” he was full of concern as he knelt down on one knee by the tub.

    “Y-yeah, I fell asleep and had a nightmare,” I lied, smiling. I was terrible at lying.

    “Your head slipped from the sill, and I’m glad I caught you before you could have possibly drowned,” he brushed my wet bangs away from my face. I stared into his blue eyes for a while, and blinked.

    “I’m sorry,”

    “No need to be sorry,” he smiled warmly at me. “Is there anything that you would like to do tonight, Yami no Oji?” (2) He pulled up my bathroom vanity stool and sat by the huge mirrors. “Once you’ve had your rest, of course,”

    I didn’t know what to say. “I really didn’t make any plans, Sir Kaiba,” I said, trying to remember the plans my assistant had made for me that night. “And it is rather depressing that even I do not know what is on my agenda tonight,” I admitted dully. “My assistant rarely allows me to take a glimpse of my schedule for the day,”

    “Why is that, Your Highness?” he asked tensely with deep curiosity.

    “He is fairly acquainted with me, Sir Kaiba, and he has grasped the fact that I will not carry out the tasks scheduled in my agenda if it does not suit my liking,” I said, lifting my leg, and smeared the bubbles on it as if it were lotion.

    “I see,” he said. I did not see his expression, but I knew he was disappointed. Perhaps it was because I chose to follow what my assistant says and not escape and have fun with him for the night. “I suppose that I should leave-” I heard him stand up and walk towards the door, his back turned.

    “Oh, come now, Sir Kaiba,” I said, smirking at him. He turned to look at me. “Surely you do not think that I wouldn’t like to bend a few princely rules?” I chuckled. “But naturally, you will have to wait after I have finished my bath,” I blew a handful of bubbles at him.

    “Certainly, Your Highness,” he bowed. I smiled at him, and he smiled back. “I believe I should stay in the living room while I wait for you to get dressed,”

    “Needless to say, Sir Kaiba, but I assumed that you would keep me company,” I continued before he could turn around. “Do I make you uneasy? Is it because I am in a tub at the moment?”

    I saw him blush pink. “Of course, not, Your Highness,”

    “Do not be so tense, Sir Kaiba,” I told him, putting a few drops of perfume in the water. “I am aware that my wish of you staying here to keep me company is bit silly, but please, just this once?”

    He looked at me. “If it will please you greatly, Your Highness, then I shall stay,” he pulled the stool back up.

    I rolled my eyes. “Do not speak to me as if you were some servant waiting to be given instructions, Sir Kaiba,” I said, “You are the only individual I have given the right to speak with me informally at all times,”

    I heard him shift on the chair he was sitting on behind me. “If you say so,” his voice seemed to be calm.

    “There we go,” I laid my head back. “Is it not much easier to speak that way?”

    “But Your Highness, it seems so inappropriate that I address you by your given name, being the grandson of the Emperor of Japan-”

    “Will you address me by my given name if I address you with yours?” I cut him off.

    It made me angry that everyone had to rub in my face that I was the Crown Prince. I wanted to be normal, just like any other teen. It was my greatest desire. To be seen as an ordinary boy walking down the street, not the Mutou Yami who was the Crown Prince and who was to be inaugurated Emperor of Japan as soon as his grandfather passed away.

    “I…I…”

    “Answer me, Sir Kaiba,” I demanded. “Because I would prefer it if you address me by my given name,” I continued gently to make him agree.

    Then I thought that my attitude as a prince, demanding and manipulative, would be best be changed. I have been trying, but it seems that my preceding efforts were unsuccessful. Even now.

    It was in my nature to be who I was. I was supposed to be demanding, cold, manipulative, if I wanted to have my people do as I tell them. But I need not those traits if I were only to have someone be close to me. I need the opposite of those. Gentle, warm and direct.

    There was a long pause between us. I dared not to look at him, only concentrating on massaging my legs with the slippery bubbles that floated below my neckline.

    I was selfish. Why? Demanding him of what I knew could not be. Seto may be a rich man, but he was merely a commoner. And mere commoner cannot address nobles in whatever name they desire. Seto was one of those commoners who did not dare to disrespect the nobles. And I was sure that I cannot force him to address me the way I want him to.

    “Alright, Yami, I’ll do what you want,” he surrendered.

    I suddenly felt a pang of guilt pierce through my heart. I lowered my head, and turned my head to the right a little, as if I was avoiding his gaze. “You must think I’m self-centered for imposing such a right on you, and forcing you to abuse that right,” I heard him stand up. “I’m sorry,”

    “Yami, get the ******** bath over with and I wanna go out and have some fun,” I saw him walk over to the doors and looked back at me. He winked and smiled.

    I blushed. “Did you just swear?”

    “Well, you said I can talk to you however I want,”

    “Yes, but, I am surprised that you know how to swear,” I looked at him, choking back a laugh. “I’ve never, ever, imagined as that type of person,”

    “What type of person?” he approached the tub.

    “Well,” I thought for second. “The type of person who’s grown up in a violent environment,” I looked up at him. “I do believe that you can swear better than Tom Cruise in Tropic Thunder, now that I’ve heard you speak normally,”

    “Oh, I can do better than him,” he smirked at me. “You don’t think I can?”

    “Of course I do,” I smirked back, “Nothing you can’t do,”

    He laughed. “I’ll leave you to your bath, and this time, I won’t listen to you,” I opened my mouth in protest, but before I could speak, he had already gone out the door, shutting it behind him gently.

    I pouted. “You have not heard the last of my demands!” I yelled, hoping that he would hear me.

    “I know, that’s why I’m taking a break from them now,” his voice came from the other side of the door.

    He had not heard the last of me.

    I’ll bet she’s beautiful,
    That girl he talks about
    And she’s got everything
    That I have to live without

    A red hoodie sweatshirt, cargo shorts and sneakers were enough. I supposed that Seto might not be taking me to somewhere too classy, for him, too, was only in a pair of jeans, a white short-sleeved polo over a black long sleeved shirt and sneakers.

    I ran down the stairs, headed for the living room, where Seto had said he would be waiting for me. I saw him sitting by the fireplace, and he did not seem to notice me enter the room. I approached him quietly. “Christmas is nearing,” I said, dropping my coat on the sofa.

    He looked back up at me. “Yeah,” he agreed, sighing. “It is,”

    Time flew by so fast. It was as if it was just yesterday that I had met Seto. Though I had met him even before, back at the palace, we had already been each other acquaintances, but nothing of too personal had been discussed nor too much time had been spent with each other, for that was years ago, in my elementary years.

    It had just been the start of my fall semester in school, and as I had said to break the deafening silence in the living room, Christmas was approaching fast. Seto was an atheist, but he celebrated Christmas with his brother so he would not disappoint the boy.

    “You’ll be emperor in no time at all,” he said as he stood up.

    “I thought I had told you that we will not discuss anything in relation to my coronation,” I scowled, leading him out of the cozy living room as I grabbed my coat, and putting it on before we could exit the room. In the corner of my eye, I saw one of the butlers follow us out of the house.

    “My apologies,”

    “No need for apologies, Seto-san,” I chuckled

    “You stress my name as if it I were some antagonist in your life,” he rolled his eyes as he walked past me. I certainly did not expect him to grab my hand and lead me to his car, not his limo. A yellow Lamborghini was parked in the shadows. “I hope you do not mind the car,”

    I was speechless. “Mind the car? Mind the car? I love the car!” I exclaimed. Seto laughed. “What’s so funny?”

    “That was the first time I’ve heard you let your speech guard down,” he said, opening the car door to the driver’s seat. I raised a brow and crossed my arms. He chuckled at my expression. “Come on, we’ve got loads of designer shops to raid and little time to get to arcade, so can you please get in the car and let’s go?”

    “For a seventeen year old businessman who is raising a hyper toddler, you’re very childish, Seto-san,” I said, walking over to the other side of the car. The butler who was behind me opened the car door, and let me get in. I would never slide in any car.

    Seto rolled his eyes. “You will never slide in any car, will you?” he read my mind. “Sometimes you’re just too princely,” he let the car’s engine roar, and he screeched it out of the grounds as I buckled my seatbelt.

    “How fast can you get us to Tokyo and back in this?” I asked, trying my best to change the subject as I buckled my seatbelt. No prince stuff, even for just one night. No prince stuff.

    He was silent for a few moments, maybe thinking my question over. “If we were to leave around four in the afternoon, and if we were to go through the side of the country, I can get you home past midnight, tops,”

    “You’re a maniac,”

    “Driving fast,” he started, “Is one of the most funs one will ever have, Yami,”

    As we entered the woods, he went even faster. I was not exactly scared, for I trusted Seto, so I have no reason to be scared of his driving. Though a few dogs or cats were hit here and there in the past, I was very sure that Seto did not mean it.

    “So where are we going, exactly?” I asked, seeing the highway come into view. “We’re not going anywhere too crowded are we? I brought a cap,” I smoothed back my irritatingly spiky hair and put on the New York Yankees cap on, leaving my bangs matted down by the cap.

    I saw him chuckle in the darkness of the car. “Where have you seen a mall with no people?”

    “We are going where?”

    “The mall. Any problem with that?” I didn’t answer. “Look, we won’t attract any attention, alright? We’re dressed normally enough as it is. Besides, it’s the first time I’ve seen you in teenage clothes. It was either you were in a suit, or in your horseback riding outfit, or your daily uniform.”

    He was right. And I must say that these clothes were quite comfortable.

    His phone rang.

    “Oh,” he took his phone from his pocket. “Excuse me, Your Highness,” he said and flipped the phone open. “Hey,”

    My eyes widened. He never answers his phone that way. It was either, What?, What is it?, Kaiba., What now?, or any other insulting answer, or for Mokuba, Mokie. What’s up? But it was never, ever just Hey.

    “Alright. I’ll meet you there around midnight,”

    Pause. Midnight? Who was he going to meet at midnight?

    “No. I have someone very important with me,”

    Pause. That someone very important would obviously be me.

    “He’s not just some other business associate, puppy-” my eyes widened at puppy. “-he really is someone very important,”

    Pause. He was talking to the person who was very special to him. Puppy must be his pet name.

    “I’ll tell you when we meet.”

    Pause.

    “No.”

    Pause.

    “Alright. Bye,” he hung up. “I’m sorry you had to hear that,”

    I couldn’t say anything. “No…it’s alright…” I suddenly felt like getting out of the car and walking home. As if Seto would let me do that. The crown prince, walking around late in the afternoon, then getting gang raped by thugs.

    I didn’t see his face, and kept my gaze out the window, looking at the towering skyscrapers of Domino City. “Are you alright, Your Highness?”

    “Y-yeah,” I didn’t know if my voice was shaking. “I’m fine,” I sighed. I tried to think about what we could do when we got to the mall. “What do you think we should watch? I do not have any idea of the films showing nowadays,” I really sucked at lying.

    “Oh, well,” he said. I saw his reflection on the window of the car. He scratched his head nervously. “I didn’t really know what we should watch. I thought that maybe you’d like to choose for us.”

    I thought for a second. “We can choose together,” my phone buzzed. I took it out and flipped it open. My assistant sent me a message.

    Your Highness. His Majesty demands your presence in the imperial palace within the week He expects your arrival next Friday for you missed your meeting with the Yamino Son. I know it is rather inappropriate for me to tell you this by message, but one of the servants informed me that you are with Sir Kaiba. It would be best if I did not interrupt your time with him. (3)

    I replied to him. I will leave Domino for the palace on Thursday, Sumitaka. Do not tell anyone in the house that I am to leave. I will tell them myself. Do not tell anything to Sir Kaiba as well. I do not want him interfering with royal matters. Especially now that Grandfather needs his heir. Do not message me back. Sir Kaiba and I will be very busy.

    “Is there anything wrong?” he asked me as I put my phone back in my pocket. He took a turn.

    I let out a sigh. “Nothing. Sumitaka’s just in rage right now that I managed to run off and cut a meeting with the son of one of the five Japanese Noble Families under the Emperor,”

    Seto winced. “Ooh. You think I should take you back?”

    “Drive.”

    “Driving,” he went in a parking building. Park Square One. That was the name of the building. “So uh…why don’t you wanna go back?” he paid for the parking.

    “I don’t want to ruin my perfect Friday,”

    “Perfect Friday?” he repeated.

    “Yes.”

    “What do you mean perfect Friday?”

    “It’s not every day I get to go out and just have some fun.” Yeah. Fun with the person I love who was going to meet the person he loved after we finished our poorly planned night.

    “You can, if you just call me and ditch your assistant. I do it all the time with Isono.”

    “Isono-san’s different, Seto-san. You can take him out of his position whenever you wish. I, however, cannot. Sumitaka is one of His Majesty’s advisers. And he reports to him directly.”

    “Damn.”

    “Damn is correct, Seto-san.”

    I unbuckled my seatbelt and got out of the car, leaving the cap inside. I watched him slowly park the car in reverse near the mall parking building exit, which was a bridge connected to the mall on the other side of the street. I looked out on to the bridge as the wind touched my face. No one seemed to notice me yet, since most of the people entering the mall were teens like myself, who did not know much about the emperor and his business.

    “Ready to go?”

    Seto’s voice made me jump a bit. “Yes.” I said. “Yes, I am.” I walked with him across the bridge as I gazed out onto the city that glowed in the night. I hadn’t seen the city in this view before. Maybe it was because I always locked myself in my room and indulged myself in music, or got in the princely world I belonged to.

    “Which one do you want to take, elevator or escalator?” Seto asked me as he stood by the mall map.

    “Escalator please,” I said, looking up at the list of boutiques and restaurants in the mall. “Elevators make me dizzy.”

    “So do you wanna grab something to eat first before we watch something or watch something first before we eat?” he looked at me. I assumed that he had finally found what he was looking for. “Well?”

    “I think it will be better if we watched something first,” I said, looking around. “I have never been inside a mall before, to be completely honest,” I admitted in awe of all the colorful things I saw which gave me a stomachache in excitement.

    “I’ve been inside one a few times, but not like this,” he said, leading me to the escalator and letting me get on it first.

    “Like what?”

    “Running over by people screaming my name,”

    I suddenly caught what he was talking about. I had forgotten that Seto was a popular icon, and so was his brother. I felt relieved that no one was recognizing me. Or so I thought.

    “Hey, isn’t that Yami no Oji?”

    “Yeah, I think so.”

    “I’ve only seen him a few times on TV.”

    “That’s Kaiba Seto he’s with, isn’t he?”

    “Should we?”

    Whispers. Everywhere. I could understand most of them. I looked down behind me and saw a couple of girls and an old woman. Someone had clearly spoken my name. On TV? I didn’t remember being on TV…oh dear. That time when Grandfather opened the Mizuno Theatre.

    “Yami, let’s take the next elevator,” Seto grabbed my hand and entwined his fingers between mine, making sure I didn’t let go. I blushed at this, and he pulled me from the steps and we ran to the elevator.

    I heard people run after us, screaming our names. Seto got us in an empty elevator and pushed the close button as many times as he could. I didn’t know what I felt at that time. I was in shock, panting, and I couldn’t center my mind. I sank down to the elevator floor, heaving. “Is this…what it feels like…to be ran after?” I asked after the doors had closed.

    “Yep. But I’m used to it.” He answered. “You, however, are not. You need water,”

    I thought that it was just adrenaline rushing through my veins that made my breathing difficult. “No. I’m…I’m fine…” I managed to say in between pants. I also found myself sweating.

    “You’re not fine. You need water, and you need to lie down-”

    “We’re not going back home. I want to stay with you.” I insisted, trying to calm myself. “Water. That’s all I need.” I helped myself stand with by holding on to the horizontal bars. Seto still helped me.

    “Come on,” he said, walking me out of the elevator and quickly sitting me on the nearby bench and bought me a bottle of water. He came back a few moments later and gave me the opened bottle of water.

    I took the bottle and drank. “Next time, we go somewhere private,”

    Seto chuckled. “Yes,” he helped me up once again and entered the cinemas. “So what do you wanna watch?”

    The Underworld: Rise of the Lycans quickly caught my eye. “That one,” I pointed to the poster.

    Seto studied the advertisement. “You’re good. Let’s get the tickets. The next showing of that is in ten minutes.” He once again grabbed my hand and lined up at the desk. I was about to take out my wallet when I saw him pay the woman two tickets. “Let’s go,” he grabbed the tickets.

    “I could have paid for mine!”

    “I’m the one who invited you to go out, right? Then it’s only right that I pay for everything that we do.” We went over to the popcorn stand. “So do you want popcorn, corn chips, cheese balls-”

    “Cheese balls?” I cut him off.

    “Yeah, they’re round things that are cheese flavored,”

    “I guess so,”

    “Give me the largest bucket of cheese balls, and two large cokes,” he beat me to paying for the food again.

    “But I can pay!” I whispered.

    “You can, but I don’t want you to,” he said. “Look, I’m not going to argue with you, Yami,”

    The woman gave us the huge bucket of the junk food and the two cokes. “Enjoy your movie, Mr Kaiba, Your Highness,” she smiled at us.

    He pulled me again and entered the dark theatre and he gave the tickets to the man standing by the door. We sat on the balcony. “Let’s just enjoy the movie, ok? After this I’m going to treat you to pizza, or anything that would seem pretty normal and teeny.”

    “There is no need for you to spend for me!” I whispered.

    “Quiet, the movie’s starting,” he popped a cheese ball in his mouth. I stuck out my tongue at him. What an un-princely thing to do.

    * * *

    “So, there are a whole lot of restaurants, fast food chains, and pizzas you can choose from. There’s McDonald’s, if you wanna eat there, Pizza Hut, Yellow Cab, or if you want something a bit more international, I’ll take you to a European restaurant outside of town-”

    “Seto-san, I’ll just take the Yellow Cab, thanks. There’s no need for you to take me out the mall.” I cut him off.

    “Actually, there is.” He said, “There’s a mob of girls about run after us somewhere in here,”

    “Can we just eat? You worry about me too much,” I pulled him inside the Yellow Cab restaurant. “And I’m going to spend this time-”

    “Get me the ten inch pepperoni and mushroom, and two cokes.” He slid the credit card to the cashier.

    I glared at him. “Will that be all, Mr Kaiba?”

    “Yes.” She gave him back the card and we sat down. “What?”

    “I told you I was going to pay!” I whispered angrily.

    “Look, I just want to treat you out, that’s why I took you out. Just let me do what I want, Yami. Come on, it’s not every day I get to go out with you and see you be the normal teen you should be.” He said as sincerely as possible. I sighed in defeat. I knew he was not going to let this go. “There we go.” He smiled at me.

    Blood rushed to my cheeks and he chuckled. Damn my feelings and me. I kept quiet. I checked my phone, and there were not any messages. It was nearing ten pm, and many stores were still open. I was expecting them to close at around nine, but I guess that it was a Friday that they decided to open until late.

    I’d lost track of how long we waited for the pizza, though I know that I had been silent all the while. He had been texting someone and I did not bother to ask who it was. My phone buzzed, and I quickly took it. “Please excuse me,” I said and stood up. I went outside to talk. It was Bakura. “Moshi moshi,”

    Where are you? A concerned voice flowed through my ears. God, Yami. No one knew where you went! Everyone was looking for you around the mansion! Even Sumitaka disappeared!

    “I-I’m sorry, Bakura. I…I just…” I didn’t know what to say. Bakura and I had been friends for a long time now, but I felt like we were not as close as we used to be.

    Are you trying to kill me? he asked. I’m not the only one who’s been scared to death!

    “I’m sorry, Bakura.”

    Where are you?

    “I’m in the mall beside Park Square One.”

    Who are you with?

    “I’m with Seto-san,”

    Just be careful, ok?

    “Yes, I’m fine, thank you.”

    Do you want me to come and get you?

    “N-no, Seto-san is capable of taking me home safely,”

    He’d better. Have fun, Yami. Goodnight. Call me if you need picking up.

    “Hai.” I hung up.

    Drew talks to me
    I laugh cuz it’s so damn funny
    That I can’t even see
    Anyone when he’s with me

    “Who was it?” Seto asked me as I sat back down in front of him, watching him open the pizza box, and he handed me my can of coke.

    “No one important,” I said, putting the phone back in my pocket and taking a slice of the pizza.

    “No one important?” he repeated, “That, I’m not going to believe.” He said, taking a bite. “Every single one of your contacts is important. I have the number of the idiot who grooms my dog. That’s someone not important. You? I don’t think you have someone unimportant in your phonebook,”

    I chuckled. “The idiot who grooms Keena?”

    “Yeah. I call him every time Keena get’s all muddy when she gets out.” He opened the can of coke. “So who called?”

    I sighed. “Yamino Bakura called.”

    “You were supposed to meet with him, right?”

    I put the slice down. “Yeah,”

    “Are you in trouble? Because I can get you home right now.”

    “No, Seto-san. I’m not in trouble. He’s worried. Only Sumitaka knows I’m with you. He also left the house without any word to the servants.” I thought that maybe he was out to spy on us, to make sure that Seto and I were really out with each other, making sure Seto didn’t drop me off some alleyway. “I’m thinking that he’s around, watching us.”

    “Then let him see us. Let the whole world know that I’m flirting with the Japanese Crown Prince,” he chuckled.

    I chuckled once again. “Whatever, Seto. The media is powerful. You might never know what will happen if you continue your mischievous acts.” I said, going to back to eating my slice of pizza.

    “Oh, I know how powerful the media is, Your Highness,” he said, finishing his food. “I’ve tried.”

    “Tell me,” I rested my elbow on the table, and rested my chin on my hand. “I don’t think I’ve ever heard of your scandals. Or maybe I’m just ignorant. Tell me,”

    “Well,” he thought for a second. “I’ve...they’ve caught me with von Shroider on the beach in trunks.”

    “I don’t think I’ve seen that.”

    “You haven’t. The both of us paid the media millions not release it.”

    “Why were you with him on the beach in trunks?” I could not believe what I was hearing. Paparazzi caught Seto in trunks? “Where? I mean where did they catch you? On Domino Beach? Or somewhere else?”

    “It was on von Shroider’s property. He was going to make me an offer. I didn’t accept it, but he didn’t take it too personally. And then he helped me get away from the media. Though those pictures escaped in the internet, no one took it seriously, either. His fans and my fans were in an outrage, denying that we were on that beach for private reasons.”

    “Do you suppose that the same thing will happen to us?” I asked, sitting back up. “I do not want my grandfather to find out that I have been neglecting my duties as prince. Or more importantly, that I am forgetting that I am of royal blood-”

    “I’m not going to let that happen,” he assured me. “I won’t, ok? I won’t. Besides, your grandfather will kill me if he found out I was responsible for this scandal. I won’t put the royal family at risk,”

    “Now you tell me!” I said, appalled. “You had me worried!”

    “Finish that slice and let’s go spend lavishly on useless things,” he hid a laugh.

    I almost spit out the coke in shock, but managed to get the coke down. I set the can down on the table. “What?!” Seto stood up, grabbed my hand took me out of the restaurant, leaving a half eaten pizza on the table, and half empty coke cans. “H-hey! T-the pizza! You’ll waste it! There are people who are hungry out there!”

    “They’ll sell it in eBay for a ridiculously high price and make their lives a little better, or laminate or preserve it so they can display it somewhere.” I blushed, feeling Seto’s skin brush against mine. I absolutely hated these times when my feelings take control of my body.

    He let go of my hand and put his arm around my shoulders. “Seto-san?”

    “So where do you want to waste money on? New shoes? Leather or sneakers? New coats? Fur or-”

    It was pissing me off that he kept offering things I did not need. It was not like I will be able to use them every single day. I did not need a pair of shoes for every day that ended with a ‘y,’ or a coat for each day of the year. “I do not need the things you are offering to buy for me, Seto-san, you are just going to waste your money,”

    He stopped and scanned the mall. “There. Nike, Adidas, Reebok, everything’s there. Let’s get you new sneakers.” He pulled him into the store.

    My eyes widened in awe. There were so many pairs of shoes from every brand that Seto had stated, and even other brands, and other merchandise. “B-but I’ve already got shoes, I don’t need-”

    “You don’t like shoes, huh?” Seto thought for a second. “Let’s go up a few floors and get you a new guitar.” He went out the store and had me going after him.

    I was getting tired of reasoning out to him that I did not need any new things. I had everything I needed back at the mansion. “Please, Seto-san, I do not need these things. I have a guitar at home, Suzuki is enough-” (4)

    “Suzuki is a classical guitar, is he not?” said Seto, leading me to the elevator. He pushed the button to the next floor. “Then I should get you’re an acoustic one and an electric one. I assume you play Suzuki as if he were an electric?”

    I sighed in another defeat. And that sigh was a sign that I did abuse Suzuki. I played him like an electric. “I am not going to argue with you anymore.” The elevator doors closed. I felt dizzy as it started to go up, and stopped at the level Seto wanted it to go to.

    “Good.” Seto smiled at me. “I can buy you anything I want, then.” He grabbed my hand and got me out of the elevator. “Do you need to sit down or do you need to drink water?”

    I closed my eyes for a second. “N-no, I’m fine. This will pass. It’s nothing too serious.” I felt my world spinning. I was not used to this.

    “Are you sure?” he asked once again.

    “Yes.” I kept my eyes closed.

    “Maybe you should sit down,” I knew that he led me to a coffee shop. I could smell the aroma of the coffee the moment I stepped out of the elevator. Seto helped me down on a chair and ordered for a bottle of water from one of the waiters nearby.

    “N-no,” I said, feeling the dizziness wearing off. “It’s already going away,” I tried to look at my wristwatch. I saw a blurry 11pm. “I-I think we should go home. Sumitaka should already be worried about me.”

    “But I haven’t gotten anything for you yet,” he opened the bottle of water for me and forced me to drink, even just a few gulps.

    “It’s ok. You shouldn’t get me anything anyway. Let’s go,”

    I didn’t know if he met with his loved one that night. He got me home, and I stayed silent in his car as his stereo played bossa from the moment he started the car, to the moment he stopped the car in front of the mansion, still feeling the dizziness. He escorted me to my room, even if I had told him that he didn’t need to.

    “Goodnight, Prince Yami. Sweet dreams,” he stayed at my door and knelt.

    “Goodnight, Sir Kaiba. Have a good evening with your sweetheart.” I said, not letting my voice crack.

    He stood up. “A-about that Your Highness-”

    “Take care,” and I closed the door, pretending not to hear him.

    I sank down to the carpeted floor with my hand over my mouth to prevent myself from making the loud sounds of sobbing. Tears ran down my cheeks as if they were rivers. I knew this would happen. I knew that one day, he would have someone to love. And I knew that it wasn’t going to be me. I was foolish, still trying to hope that he would be able to love me. But I now knew that it was impossible. Not even likely.

    I had difficulty standing up, I didn’t know why. My right hand was clenched in a fist over my chest. I wanted to punch it. Just one punch. And it would all be over. If they say, Cardio Pulmonary Resuscitation is slowly helping the heart pump with the hands, then one hard hit would also kill one. I wanted to do it. However, doing it would put the Japanese Nation in mourning. I solved my problems, but then I gave my people and my family one. Would Seto carry the same burden I would possibly be giving them if I died right now?

    I reached the bed and curled up in a foetal position, and didn’t bother to change clothes. I cried my heart out. The doors to the balcony were left open, and wind came in the room, letting the thin curtains covering the door float. I felt the wind touch my cheek, as if wiping the tears away.

    My phone buzzed. I tried to regain composure, but I found that it was difficult for me to do so. I flipped my phone open. I couldn’t believe who was calling. Sumitaka. I couldn’t answer it. But I had to. I let a few heaves pass first before I answered. “S-Su-Sumi-taka?”

    You’re Highness? Are you crying? What happened?

    “N-nothing. S-Seto-san…didn’t…d-do…any-anything…” all the crying made it difficult for me to speak.

    I’m on my way back to the mansion. And we’ll have a little talk, ok, Your Highness? Please try your best to calm down.

    “N-no. I don’t…w-want…to t-talk…about it,”

    Are you sure?

    “Y-yes. It’s the least thing on my mind.”

    He says he’s so in love
    He’s finally got it right
    I wonder if he knows
    He’s all I think about at night

    I woke up at around eight the next day, and I was thankful that my eyes weren’t swollen. It was a Saturday, so I had a lot time to waste. I turned on my laptop and signed in both my Yahoo! and MSN messenger. I didn’t look at who was online, but when I turned around, a sound from both MSN and Yahoo! went through my ears. I took a look at who had messaged me.

    bluedragon1025: did you like the presents?

    Presents? I didn’t know anything about presents.

    darkprince0318: presents? what presents?

    bluedragon1025: haven’t you seen them yet? go ask sumitaka-san. they’re in the living room.

    darkprince0318: ok. BRB.

    Bluedragon1025: i’ll wait.

    I put on my bathrobe, and went downstairs. A maid quickly called my attention. “Your Highness! You’re awake! Please hurry to the living room!” she told me. “Master Kaiba has left you presents!”

    “You’ve got to be kidding me. Are you really serious?” I asked her as she led me to downstairs. “Are you serious, that it’s presents? With an ‘s’? As in plural?” I wanted to make sure Seto didn’t do anything too drastic.

    “Yes, Your Highness, Master Kaiba has left you presents,” she smiled at me and opened the doors.

    I didn’t know what to feel when I saw what he had gotten me. There were bears of every shape, size and colour, and other animals I knew, elephants, giraffes, a life sized tiger named Madagascar. There were rabbits, and cats and dogs, and other stuffed animals flooding one side of the living room. There were expensive electric guitars of every name and brand in every rocking colour with matching amplifiers. There were the current bestselling books, series and non-series, fiction and nonfiction, all hardbound. There were new shoes, shirts, pants, bags, everything, even caps and new suits and ties. But there was one thing that caught his attention. A cute, blue-eyed white dragon plushie the size of a three year old.

    After staring at all of it, I realized that I had felt irritated. I had specifically told him not to get me anything. I dashed back up to my room and grabbed my phone, dialling Seto’s number.

    I take it that you got them?

    “I told you not to get me anything!” I paced back and forth in front of my laptop.

    Well, I didn’t listen.

    “Why, exactly?!”

    Cuz I’m a hard-headed boy. What do you expect?

    “How much did you spend?”

    Not much.

    “Not much? Not much?!”

    Did you like the dragon?

    “Dragon? What dragon?”

    The cute big white dragon.

    “Yeah I liked that, but Seto-san! I know you’re rich, but this…this is absolutely too much! I was expecting cake, chocolates, or just one bear, but instead I get stuffed toys of every animal, books, clothes, electric guitars, shoes, caps – Seto!”

    What?

    “Why?!”

    Why what?

    “Why did you do this?”

    Cuz I wanted to see you angry. And I wanted to give you something

    “What?! This is not something, this is everything!”

    I’ve never seen your angry before. You’ve seen my angry before. I took a few deep breaths. Calmed down yet?

    “I am making a large effort to do that, Seto-san.”

    I’m sure you look cute, right now that you’re angry. He chuckled. He did not just say that. I kept breathing, and pacing. So, now that I have your attention, would you like to stay at my mansion for the day? Even stay the night? An hour or two in the Jacuzzi, have Swiss Masseuses over…you know, just relax. Or do you want to go to Evercrest Kaiba Cove and have a quiet day out?

    Was this man trying to kill me? Did he know what I felt? Did he know it all too well that he’s trying to play with what I felt? To see how I would react if I confessed, then get jilted? I wanted to confront him. The anger suddenly went away. And I had a strong desire to cry again. But I didn’t. “Why?”

    Why what?

    “Why do you want me to spend the day with you?” I thought up an excuse to get away from him. “We’ve got tons of homework to do-”

    They’re already done. I hired professionals to do it for us.

    “How are we to understand and grasp the lectures if we don’t do our assignments on our own?”

    Both you and I aced calculus, Yami.

    “Your point?”

    We don’t need to do assignments ourselves. We’re too smart for that.

    It seemed to me that I could not get out of the situation. I didn’t want to ask anything of his ‘sweetie’. I sighed a big sigh. A big sigh of defeat. Another defeat. “Alright, I’ll come.”

    Great. I have something to tell you. I’ll pick you up in an hour.

    “No, Seto-san, I can have-” he hung up. “-Sumitaka drive me.” I growled, throwing my purple g-masked phone on the bed.

    I went to the living room and picked up the white dragon he had mentioned before. I looked at the other stuffed toys. All of them had names already on their tags, just like the Tiger had Madagascar on his collar. I took time to look at their names. A white rabbit was named Snow, a bulldog was named Muttley. The black and white cat was named Oreo. The giraffe was named Chips. I ran a finger on the white dragon’s head, and thought about giving it a name. “I’ll name you…Seto.”

    Tears ran down my cheeks, and I hadn’t noticed it. I stared at the toys, my tears still streaming down my face uncontrollably. I hugged the dragon tightly and kneeled on the floor. I wasn’t crying anymore. To him, it was like everything was a joke. Everything that was happening was just spending time with someone close to you, or something whom you consider a friend. But it wasn’t. To me it wasn’t.


    .oOo.
    (1) Yami no Ko-Taishi – Yami Crown Prince
    (2) Yami no Oji – Prince Yami
    (3) Yamino Son – Yamino Son. The Yamino son is Bakura. I made him into one of the five noble families. I put together Yami and no so it’d sound like a name.