Points of Authority :: Chapter 3 -- The Once a Jerk, <i>ALWAYS</i> a Jerk...
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“That’s because it’s not worth mentioning,” Kaiba snapped quickly, turning to you in a cold glare. “And it just goes to show how much of an amateur you are for carrying such trash in your deck.”
.: Points of Authority
.: Chapter 3: Once a Jerk, ALWAYS a Jerk...
Stoicily, you pulled out your dueling deck from your purse and handed it to Mokuba. He sat next to you in a fitful excitement.
You sat in Kaiba's limo, trying to intake the new environment as Mokuba looked through your cards. Trying because you heard the occasional grunt from Kaiba, but whenever you looked up he was always looking out of the window. You were sitting adjacent to where Kaiba was sitting.
It was a really nice limo, too. Mokuba had to actually shake you back to reality when all you were doing was looking around, your eyes gulping in the richness of the vehicle.
It had black leather seats...a very nice, black valour finished carpet; you almost felt bad for even having your old tennis shoes on the floor...
...But then you remembered this was Kaiba's limo.
That thought had left you quickly enough considering you had spotted a hugely furnished CHERRYWOOD mini-bar table...thing right in front of you.
But something struck you as odd.
Weren't most business men into having a t.v. in their limo? Of course, they never watched it; it was just for show.
Before speaking, though, you crossed your legs and arms to show Kaiba that you weren't opening up to him...as Kaiba had always been to you.
"So...," you began dramatically, wanting Kaiba's curiousity to pull him to you instead of spite or hate or anger. He turned to you with a blank expression, his body still turned toward the window.
"...Where's the 40-inch plasma thin screen?"
Kaiba wasn't put-off by your blunt tone and merely stared back with a hidden spite.
"I don't have time for television," he stated curtly, glaring at you for a brief moment before turning back to his window.
Your recoiled from his frustration in a quirky pout while you fixated your eyes elsewhere. 'He's such a stiff,' you mused. 'Then again, I wasn't really expecting him to go into some long, drawn-out speech about where his showy t.v. is, anyway...'
Suddenly broken out of your thoughts, your heard Mokuba jump in excitement.
"Wow! You've got one of those spirit-type monster cards!" he remarked, looking at your card in majesty. "And it's Hino-Kagu-Tsuchi! That one's really hard to get!"
You felt slightly embarassed for Mokuba; your deck really wasn't that amazing. That spirit card was probably the rarest card you had and it wasn't really that rare.
"Heh," he grunted in mock-amusement. "Don't tell me you have one of those lame spirit-creature decks, because I've stomped out everyone and anyone who's come across me with one."
A cold, serious resolve had kindled -- you didn't take kindly to people insulting your deck. The strategy and thought you had put into making it... There was more that went into your deck besides cards and it made your blood boil when people started ragging on it.
"No, Kaiba. It isn't," you said quickly, trying to keep your anger in check. It was no use to take out out your frustration on Kaiba no matter how much of a jerk he was. He didn't know how much you prized your deck and how much you prized just being able to duel.
No, Kaiba was ignorant to your situation. He didn't deserve your wrath...
...yet.
Mokuba continued to name off cards, as if trying to impress his brother for you. You shook your head, not caring either way as you pulled out your prescription and stared at it again.
You sat back and let the leather seat cushion your back as you stared blankly at the messy, scribbled prescription the doctor had given you. Mokuba was still rattling off card names beside you, and you were trying to block out Kaiba’s condescending grunts.
Where had you heard the name of that prescription again? “Dilaxicon”…?
You remembered reading about it in one of those brochures in your doctor’s office back home…
Oh well. You weren't going to waste what vacation money you had left on a new prescription. The pills you had before would suffice, and even if your migraines were worse right now because of your new environment, then you would only need a few days to get used to the new environment.
You shifted restlessless in your seat and softly sighed in irritation. You couldn't shake the feeling that you weren't going to have a relaxing vacation...
But before you could continue your sulking, however, Kaiba’s voice broke through your thoughts.
“What’s wrong with you?” he queried in a most disinterested manner. “You keep mumbling.”
You caught Kaiba's deadpan glare as you looked up, but you were more fazed by the disruption of your thoughts.
Well, it may have also been that he was glaring at you again… Could his face make any other type of expression?
You stared at him blankly for a few moments before shoving the prescription back into your purse. “It’s nothing,” you replied dismissively, finding more interest in the mini-bar across from you.
Mokuba queried aloud, “’House of Adhesive Tape’…?”
This caught the attention of you and Kaiba. Mokuba’s eyebrow had risen as he looked to his brother, waiting for clarification from his indirect question. “I’ve never heard of that one before…”
“That’s because it’s not worth mentioning,” Kaiba snapped quickly, turning to you in a cold glare. “And it just goes to show how much of an amateur you are for carrying such trash in your deck.”
You saw that comment coming, but you couldn't stop the tangible anger that kindled when Kaiba said it; however you weren’t just going to blow up over something that he did all the time; it would make you look bad.
But you still humored him nonetheless. Maybe you could put him in his place.
“Kaiba, I’d appreciate it if you'd stop jumping to conclusions,” you warned him in a plain tone, not looking at him yet. “You don’t know the first thing about my deck.”
Kaiba gave a derisive grunt, “I don’t need to when I already know it wouldn’t stand a chance against my deck.”
You folded your arms in resolve. “Yeah, like you know what strategy is.”
“And what does that mean?” he spat quickly, practically daring you to continue. However, you were unfazed. You knew the power of your deck.
You smirked and gave him that knowing look of superiority. “It means, Kaiba, that you obviously don’t know what strategy is if you haven’t bothered to research my deck.” You paused to let Kaiba seep in your words. “I mean, really, what kind of strategy is beating people senseless? There’s no merit in that simplistic gall.”
Kaiba gave you a once-over. You could tell he couldn’t believe you had just said something like that to him.
Then his face darkened....
To the point where you actually felt a little uneasy.
“Look, you disgusting simpleton,” he began in a deadly precision. “The mere fact that you don’t understand the power and strategy of my deck shows how little you know about being a true duelist,” his face played into a sick smirk, eyes glinting, “Or really, the lack thereof.”
Your mouth immediately snapped open, insults and argument ready to fly. “You don’t even kno-“
“-And don’t tell me I don’t know what I’m talking about,” Kaiba had raised his voice to cut you off. “Because I know exactly what I’m talking about.
“Besides,” he paused maliciously, reveling in the fact that he knew that his words would find their way underneath your skin. “How can a Default Duelist – someone who can’t even be considered a duelist except by default – tell me what’s wrong with my deck?"
You couldn't get anything related to a come back to process from your mind to your mouth. And still, Kaiba just had to hit you again, even harder than before...
“You’re out of your league if you think you can tell me what to do,” he finished coolly, eyeing you with arrogance; he knew he had won the argument.
It was hard for someone’s eyebrow to twitch when their brow was already dipped in a deep glare…but somehow you had accomplished that. You knew it was quite visible because Kaiba’s smirk was getting wider.
Kaiba’s words had struck you deep -- your pride had actually taken a hit, but you continued to stay calm. In a low anger you said, “Kaiba, if you really think my deck is as worthless as you claim, then I want you to prove it to me.”
He answered with a disbelieving grunt.
"I don’t need to prove anything since you’re nothing more than a default duelist,” he answered curtly, gesturing arrogantly with his crossed arms and puffed chest. "It’s already been established that your deck is worthless. You were beaten in the American Tournament by third-rate duelists; the fact that they were cheating is irrelevant because they were third-rate.
"You’re not even a real duelist; you’re nothing. I don’t even have to acknowledge that you exist," Kaiba finished, leering in delight.
You looked calm -- you were so angry that you were numb to the fever-rage that was sweeping through your body. Kaiba had hit home in so many ways that he couldn’t even begin understand the pain he had just caused you…
The whole right side of your face jerked…once.
But you were NOT going to blow up. Blowing up right now would acknowledge that Kaiba had found a way to dig under your skin.
No. You weren’t.
Because that would mean that he won.
You noted how oddly quiet Mokuba had been during the intense "dialogue;" however, you felt more than put-off by Kaiba, so you held your hand out abruptly, startling the youngster from the gesture, demanding your deck back.
Taking the deck from the hesitant hand of Mokuba quickly – if not rudely – and went to fish for the deck box in your purse.
"So, you have nothing to say?" Kaiba jeered arrogantly from his seat. You were trying to pay more attention to the hidden deck box in your purse.
Kaiba chose to continue digging a deeper hole. "Well, I can’t blame you. Afterall, I did tell you the truth; it must be hard to come to terms with it after you’ve blinded yourself by lies."
You stopped short of getting your deck into the box, fitfully slamming it into your lap as you heated glared at the CEO. That was it.
"The only reason why I’m not saying anything to you is because I've just realized how fanciful and delusional the world inside your head really is," you commented in acidicly. "In fact, I can’t even tell if your brain is located in that gigantically swollen head of yours or your own ass."
His brows narrowed swiftly, his face cringing in insult. You had finally gotten to him. Ha! Now you had won!
Kaiba pressed a button on his arm rest and the limo came to a violent stop.
"Get out of my limo," he told you curt anger. "You can walk the rest of the way."
Grabbing your purse and heading for the door in front of him, you paused and turned to him and gave a disturbingly sweet smile, "With pleasure, Seto." You then stepped outside of the limo and left the infuriated CEO fuming in his seat.
Your back was turned to Kaiba and the open door, a smile of sweet satisfaction on your face from the cringe he gave you when you used his first name so familiarly.
"Next time, why don’t you be a good girl and faint on someone who actually has time to put up with it!" he bit out hotly, slamming the door in a "WOOSH."
Spinning on your heel resolutely you glared at Kaiba…well, the door, with an icy rage, anger swelling to your cheeks as you barely kept from lashing out at the air. Trying to keep control, you could only watch as Kaiba’s limo skidded away from you.
Breathing in deeply, you let go of your frustration from Kaiba’s earlier comment. He wasn’t here so there was no need for you to keep a hol-
*BAM*
"DAMmit!" Some idiot had run into the back of you, almost knocking you over! "Watch where you’re going!"
A hesitant and almost cowardly voice responded to your snappy attitude, making you feel like a true heel.
"I-I’m really sorry..." You cringed. You really wanted to kick yourself. "I d-didn’t meant to-"
"No, I’m sorry," you cut him off, disheartened. "It was my fault and I shouldn’t be taking m-…"
Suddenly, you noticed the boy’s wildly colored, star-shaped hair and his short stature.
"Wait… You’re Yugi Moto, aren’t you?"
He gave a confused look, bringing a thoughtful finger to his cheek. "Well yeah…"
In a flash, you had grabbed up his hand and shook it with subtle enthusiasm. "Wow, I can’t believe this. You beat Seto Kaiba, right? You’re officially my hero."
Yugi smiled shyly and you then took notice of the blonde-haired, brown-eyed boy next to him. He was pointing to himself in desperation.
"An’ ya know who I am, right?" he almost pleaded. For some reason he had an East Coast accent...
You turned fully towards him, smiling softly. "Joey Wheeler, right; placed second at Duelist Kingdom. Loved your plays against Bandit Keith. I really don’t like that guy."
Joey punched the air with his fist, clearly excited about something you had obviously missed. "YEA!! I’m famous, I’m famous, I’m famous…," and he proceeded to dance around, jabbing the air with his fingers.
Too focused on Joey's odd dance and eccentric mumblings, you almost missed Yugi talking to you.
"You're the American Duelist, right? Kenzie Ray?"
But you didn't hear any of that. In fact, you were more concerned with how Yugi only came up to your collarbone.
"You're smaller in person," you mumbled to yourself, but the comment had obviously reached Yugi's ears since his cheeks colored. "I could've swore that your profile said you were five-foot-five; you'd be at least an inch taller than me..."
Yugi searched around, trying to find a way from your suspcious eyes and let an uncomfortable "Uhh..." pass his lips.
Joey suddenly stopped his antics and began to circle you suspiciously. "'Ey, wait a sec... Yer dat American Duelist! Oh man!" Joey began to gesticulate wildly with his hands...
"I loved that awesome play ya did against that d'fense dude in the semi-finals!" he exclaimed. "Ya know, th' one where ya flip-summoned that sphinx cawd an' cleaned his field of all them set-d'fense cawds an' went straight in fer th' kill!"
You gave a small smile, bringing a sheepish hand to the back of your head. You weren't exactly used to praise. "Well, it had to be done," you told him simply.
"Wow," Yugi exclaimed softly, gaining the attention of you and Joey. "I think you're the first modest duelist I've met," he finished, giving you a small smile.
It happened too fast for you to see, but somehow Joey had gotten Yugi into a shy headlock with one arm, pointing at him with his opposite hand and gave Yugi an ominous look.
"'Ey. You tryin' t' say I ain't modest, Yug'?"
Yugi looked a little edgy of his friend. "No! That's not what I meant! You don't really count because you got into Duel Monsters with me-"
Yugi's body fell to the ground as you tried to connect what was going on, Joey striking a defiant pose of his hands on his hips.
"Daaaaaaaaaaaaaaat's what I thought," Joey sneered slyly. "B'cause we all know th' Great Joey Wheeler, Runner-up at Duelist Kingdom d'serves, t' boast a li'l bit more! AHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA-"
"Go choke on a bone, Wheeler."
Your spine went rigid. There was only one person that could practically spit out a person's name in disgust like that... But you refused to believe that he was standing right behind you...
You had gone so rigid, in fact, that you were unable to move and process information in your brain for at least three, full seconds, even Joey's loud flying insults at a certain someone...
And even if you knew that one person stood behind you there was only one way to find out if your suspicions were correct...
...And then you spotted him -- contemptuous eyes staring you down with his bangs giving his glare a more ominous feel. His angerly flaired coat seemed to mock your very being instead of actually being considered a fashion "faux pas."
Your stomach had dropped like lead, leaving the rest of your legs feel weightless under the fever-anger suddenly surging through your body. The muscles in your face lost all contraction as you spoke steadily, "Is it too much to ask for you to stay out of my life for more than ten minutes?!"
Kaiba closed his eyes in superior arrogance. "Don't try to blame your selective memory on me," he said, opening his eyes to glare at you. He extended his occupied arm filled with your suitcase. He was holding it like it was something he had just pulled out of the fridge that was two weeks past its expiration date. "I only came back to give this back, because I won't be held responsible for it."
You answered him with a suspicious eyebrow in return for his impatient glare. Again, there was an odd, stand-off-ish silence.
After a while, you spoke feeling secure that Kaiba hadn't booby-trapped your suitcase -- you had the ones with the lock.
"Hmph." You took the suitcase back with as much attitude as you could to let him know you were none-too gratetful for his appearance...even if he did bring back your suitcase. "Would it kill you to be a bit nicer?"
This, of course, earned you a glare from Seto Kaiba...
...and that ever-infuriating trademark smirk you loved so much.
"Don't think I did this because I was concerned about your luggage," he warned, his hand hand on his hip and making him look so snobbily aristocratic that you wanted to slap him. "I just didn't want your ugly suitcase in my limo to remind me that I even let the Default Duelist in the same vehicleas me, let alone a fifty-mile radius."
There it was; that very familiar surge of heat through your blood stream...
"I told you-"
"Huh? How come you were in Kaiba's limo?" You had been cut off by a very bewildered Joey and an equally confused Yugi. But before either you or Kaiba could answer, Joey's eyes brightened slightly. "Oh, I get it! Dat's jus' sick, Kaiba!"
Joey received several odd looks.
"What are you talking about, mutt?" Kaiba demanded in irritation.
Joey smirked. "Don't tell me ya started abductin' girls off th' street jus' b'cause yer too much of a jerk t' get one by bein' yerself; that's really low, Kaiba. Even fer you."
You and Yugi fell over. Kaiba seemed to preparing to blow a head gasket. Then you realized what Joey had said, and shot back up.
"Hey! What the hell are you trying to insinuate?!"
"I swear...," Kaiba spat in lidded frustration. "Wheeler, if your brain was any smaller, I'd be insulting dogs by calling you one."
"WHA'?! DAT'S IT! KAIBA, IT'S YOU AN' ME -- RIGHT NOW!!"
Joey flashed into a running-jump, his one fist poised into making pre-emminent contact with Kaiba's face.
"Joey, no!" Yugi feebly attempted to stop him.
But Joey kept on, and he was getting closer and closer to Kaiba...
Then, just as Joey launched his fist, mere inches away from Kaiba, the CEO somehow grabbed Joey's fist and stepped to the side. He wound his arm around swiftly and led Joey to take an ungraceful flip to the ground.
Cement ground.
On his back.
,br>
Yugi was at his friend's side in an instant, trying to help up the winded blonde. "You okay, Joey?"
"Yeah, you okay?" you asked in concern, but keeping your distance.
"Yea, I'm okay," Joey mumbled indignantly. Yugi helped him to stand, but with Joey shaking it off. "No thanks t' dat jerk..."
You made eye contact with Kaiba, immediately glaring at him in blame. "You didn't have to do that, Kaiba."
Kaiba's glare deepened in response, insulted that you would think otherwise. "Of course, I did. That stupid mutt needs to be taught a lesson, but I've been going a little easy on him lately. Hopefully the cement knocked some sense into that empty head of his."
Knowing that fighting with Kaiba would get you nowhere on this subject you settled for a bland look, like what he said had left a bad taste in your mouth, deciding to go see for yourself if Joey really was all right. The smack his back made against the cement made you feel a little sick, truth be told.
"Well," Kaiba started out in mocking jeer. "It looks like I can't keep a washed up mutt from finding friends in low places."
That was it! You were so tired of Kaiba making snide remarks!
With a steadfast resolve you flashed right in front of Kaiba, your eyes glinting in dead determination. "Why don't you just go away?! You obviously don't like anyone else and they don't like you, so why don't you just save us all the trouble and just not show your face in public?!"
Kaiba sneered disgustedly. "And obviously you don't retain information well, otherwise you'd remember that you're a nobody and can't tell me to do anything, you ignorant default duelist."
A hiss of extreme heat rushed through your body, and you took a small breath to calm yourself.
"I, am not a 'nobody', Kaiba," you said confidently, arms crossed defiantly with your eyes attempting to pierce the CEO's. "And you would be well to know that you are actually the 'nobody' since the only person who can accept you is Mokuba."
...
Kaiba took a moment before setting his eyes dangerously. "Mokuba is the only person I need to accept me."
He glared at you like you were the most disgusting creature on earth before he decided to walk back to his limo. In a dramatic whip of his flaired, white jacket he had left you to fume, Yugi and Joey looking on in awe. As the limo ominously sped off, there wasn't a sound uttered from the aforementioned boys that you had recently met. Instead, you continued walking down the street toward the direction of the hotel, silently feeling a little bad for saying such a mean thing to Kaiba.
