~*~*~*~*~
FULL CIRCLE
Chapter Six - The Score
Don't tell me that you don't like anything about me
I see it in your eyes that look and you think I don't notice...
~*~*~*~*~*~*~
They spent of the afternoon at the arcade, Kaiba effortlessly kicking her butt in every single game that they played. He looked bore most the time, dropping haughty comments that derogated Tea's prowess as a gamer faster than the pixilated bombs on her digitized player character. Kaiba wasn't challenged and he didn't hesitate to say so.
He went off to answer the challenge of a bunch of more experienced players, leaving Tea to wander the arcade alone.
"That's okay, I'll practice," she told him optimistically, glazing over the fact that she was upset because she was not up to his standards as a gaming opponent. Tea knew she was never really good at video games, and she didn't expect him to be impressed----but it felt as if he was shunning more than just her gaming abilities. He didn't see her as his equal, whether as a corresponding, player-character or as a human being.
Tea fought back the urge to add a sarcastic remark to the tail end of her sentence. They argued enough as it was---this entire day had showed nothing but the relentless hostility that existed between them. She, quite frankly, was tired of bickering with him.
Kaiba, however, could not seem to sustain the urge to throw in a nasty retort. "You can practice all you want, Gardner. Where actual thinking is involved, you're at a loss."
Needless to say, it took a lot of willpower to swallow THAT. He left her red and fuming, leaning against one of the game machines with her arms crossed. "The nerve of that guy..."
"You're actually going to take that?"
"Huh?"
She turned around in surprise to see a young girl with light-blue pigtails and a red baseball cap standing at the machine which Tea was leaning against. She had bright, yellow eyes and was dressed in a t-shirt that said "Boys Suck." She couldn't have been more than nine years old.
"I said, you're going to take that from a BOY?"
Tea blinked. "Uh... I'm not exactly good at these things."
The only reason Tea had come here in the first place was because she wanted Kaiba to do something that he enjoyed--- gaming. Apparently, he didn't seem to appreciate the gesture all that much.
"So?" The little girl put her hands on her hips. "You can't let him talk to you like that! Guys think that girls can't play games---they march in here all high and mighty and think they're better than everyone. Hah!" She tipped the brim of her cap to accentuate her point. "That is, until they get a load of me! My names Miko. What's yours?"
"Tea."
"Nice to meetcha, Tea." She winked, shaking her hand. "If you want, I can give you some pointers so you can kick that jerk's arrogant butt."
"You don't understand, Miko. He's really good at this."
"So? So am I!"
"No," Tea shook her head. "I mean, he dedicates his life to these things... his entire career, even. That good."
"Sounds like a geek."
Tea smiled at this. Yes, perhaps Seto Kaiba was a bit of a computer-nerd. Not the contemporary-type, mind you...but a nerd none the less. This simple, childish retort made her feel a little better.
Miko grinned. "That's okay, my dad owns a game company--- Virtu-o Hex, ever heard of it?"---Tea shook her head.---"That's okay. We're just starting out; Kaibacorp is the game giant here, but it won't be for long!
At this, Tea nearly laughed aloud. She wondered whether she should tell Miko that the aforementioned 'arrogant jerk' was really Seto Kaiba.
"Anyway," she continued, jerking her thumb, "I get a lot of practice with games because I get to test out the products, so I'm pretty experienced. Still want pointers?"
Tea nodded, somewhat amused by the situation. "Sure, why not?"
*~*~
"Alright! Go Tea!"
The brunette grit her teeth, sweat sliding down the sides of her face as she gripped the controller harder. Behind her, Miko looked on, throwing in a few cheers here and there. It was amazing to think that she had gotten to such a high level when only two hours before, had been losing miserably to Seto Kaiba.
"You're doing it! C'mon..." Miko shouted. There was a pause as Tea scored. "Yes! Five more points and you've got the highest score!"
Tea grinned. High score? Her? At some silly shooting game? She couldn't help but feel a little proud of herself. She was never good at video games--- Yugi had given her his game boy once and she had broken it out of frustration. She had been convinced ever since that time that she was content to be standing in the sidelines and cheering...
However, now she was having second thoughts. This was kind of fun...
"YES!"
The words "NEW HIGH SCORE: Faith_Magician182" flashed on the screen. Tea turned around to look at her younger companion, her face glowing triumphantly. Miko gave her the thumbs-up and winked.
"I knew you could do it, Tea. Congrats."
"Thanks a lot Miko," Tea nodded at her, stepping away from the booth proudly to let the next person in line take their turn. "You've been a great help. I've been going about these things wrong."
"Nah, all you needed was somebody to show you the ropes."
Tea sweat-dropped. Not too long ago, Yugi and Joey had taken it upon themselves to give her private lessons in the ways of gaming. Unfortunately, what happened was that they often found themselves far too absorbed in the game to really show her anything.
"I guess."
"Hey listen, I have to get going...but I wanted to give you these," the young girl reached into her pockets and produced two orange tickets and handed them to Tea. The words read: VIRTU-HEX-VIRTUAL PALAZZO--- Admit One, GUEST PASS.'
Tea gave her a puzzled look.
Miko only shrugged. "Remember I told you my dad owns a game company? Well, he has this Virtual Arcade thing opened not too far from here. You can take your jerky friend and kick his butt in laser tag----free of charge."
The brunette grinned. "Thanks, that's very generous of you---and you really helped me a lot today."
"No problem," she tipped her cap. "I'll be seeing you around, Tea. Good luck."
"'Bye ."
Tea watched Miko retrieve her backpack from the floor and head towards the exit, before looking back down at the tickets. Good. Now she and Kaiba had something to do tomorrow. She was pretty sure he might be into this sort of thing---he certainly adapted to the arcade. She hadn't seen him the whole time she had spent playing games with Miko-and as far as she knew now, perhaps she wouldn't be so bad either. Heck, if she could get a high-score at any kind of video-game, she could definitely take Seto Kaiba on for laser-tag.
Speak of the devil. Tea turned around and saw him heading towards her. She slipped the tickets into her purse and waited for him to approach her.
"Ready to go? I'm getting bored of this place--- there's nobody around here worth beating."
Here was her chance.
"Not so fast, Kaiba." She had a sly smile on her face. "One more game---you and I."
He seemed somewhat taken aback by her proposition. However, it was only momentary before that wry smirk chiseled itself back onto his stony face. "Haven't I beaten you enough already, Gardner?"
"One more try, tough guy, and we'll see who's got who beat."
Kaiba sniggered slightly to himself, before crossing his arms. "If you like losing so much, why didn't you just say so?" He nodded at her. "Pick your game."
Tea's eye twinkled; she knew Seto Kaiba would never pass up a challenge (nor would he pass up the opportunity to slide in a snide comment or two.) Quite frankly, she wasn't entirely confident she would win, but his entire manner screamed arrogance---something Tea never really appreciated---and she forced herself to believe that she had a chance.
Miko was a good teacher, after all---Tea, although certainly far from the best, knew she was a lot more challenging opponent than previously. Just surprising Seto Kaiba would be enough.
"This one," she pointed to the fighting game she and Miko had been playing for the last hour and a half. The girl had divulged all the game's secrets---including the best player characters, signature moves and quick ways to gain experience points. At least she'd be on the same page as Kaiba.
Coins deposited and hands gripped firmly on the controllers, Tea looked up at Kaiba with a mischievous grin. She was infectious. He tried to ignore her.
However, even as the game flashed "START" Kaiba knew he wouldn't be able to not-acknowledge her there---and it wasn't just because she was his challenger. He had been watching her earlier today as she played with that blue-haired, younger girl across the arcade. Her determination was admirable, even if it was just to beat a stupid little game. She was stubborn and she wasn't prepared to give up---and the fact that she had the nerve to challenge him again, made her all the more...
Attractive? That wasn't the word. Intriguing...for one of Yugi's friends, anyway.
Still, there was denying that 'attractive' could've been yet another adjective Kaiba could use to describe her, but he had a hard time admitting this to himself. Tea was a pretty girl, if Seto Kaiba had ever acknowledged one. An annoyingly intriguing, pretty girl.
'Round 4 Over. Faith_Magician187 in lead...304 points. BlueIce_Dragon18 ....297 points.'
Tea nearly shouted in joy upon seeing the point-rally. She looked up at Kaiba triumphantly.
"Ready to lose yet, Kaiba?"
He grit his teeth; he was losing his concentration. "You just got lucky."
"Hah," Tea grinned, and turned her attention back to the screen.
Twenty-five minutes later, after taking turns at first places each round and exchanging playful banter (at least, Tea thought it was playful...she hardly thought that Kaiba was taking this seriously at all) he pulled through the last level and took the high score, Tea behind a rough, seventy-four points.
Still, despite the fact that she lost, she couldn't help but beam at her small victory. That point-gap between them had shrunken considerably from over three-hundred just the previous hour.
~*~*~*~*~
"You lost," Kaiba told her after they left the arcade. They were heading back towards Domino Park. The evening had painted the sky a brilliant orange and violet tapestry. "I don't see why you're so happy."
Tea shrugged. "You can't deny that I made some progress"---she whipped around, throwing an accusing finger in his face--- "And you also can't say I didn't have you on your toes that one round."
"Like I said, lucky..."
"Hah! You're still on for tomorrow, if you want."
"Not again."
"Afraid I'm going to whomp your butt?" Tea grinned cheekily.
Kaiba almost laughed. Almost. "I doubt that, Gardner. I'm not into second-rate arcades."
"What about a virtual reality Palazzo?" She brandished the tickets in front of him. "Check what I scored."
He raised an eyebrow. "Virtu-Hex? That sorry company? Please, Gardner, let's occupy our time with something else."
"Oh? Like what else?"
"Kaibaland."
"You're serious?"
He shot her a look. "If I must spend anymore time with you, then please, let me pick the activities lest I die of boredom."
By this time, Kaiba had noticed that he had accidentally walked Tea home. As much as he hated to admit it, there was certainly something about this girl. He never lost focus like this...and the fact that he was giving into her playful banter was an entirely different thing upon itself.
He wondered if he was losing he touch---and he wondered if she noticed.
"Well excuse me, you're not exactly Mr. Excitement either." They had stopped walking. Tea crossed her arms and looked him square in the face---she was wearing a rather peculiar smile.
It made him slightly nervous. Only slightly.
"Be ready tomorrow at eight," he told her stiffly, ignoring the fact that she neither disagreed or agreed to their plans tomorrow. If he turned his back to leave, he would've made his statement. He would've had the hand of control--- like he so rightfully deserved.
"Hey!" she shouted after him. "Where are you going!? I'm not done talking to you!"
"Eight sharp, tomorrow morning, Gardner." He told her without turning around. "Call it a field trip."
Tea watched him leave, frustration boiling beneath her skin. For five minutes there, she actually thought she had gotten to Seto Kaiba--- they were talking normally...and that bit at the arcade, he was actually being somewhat amiable.
But of course, being Seto Kaiba, he had to throw in a stint of his stubbornness. Tea walked up to her door, about to curse him for being so damn incompetent when an odd notion struck her...
He had just agreed, without any excuses or arguments, to spend the entire day with her tomorrow.
'Is he really taking this challenge that seriously?'
*~*~*~*~*~
End of Chapter Six.
A/N: This chapter was **murder** to get through... I don't like it in the least. Mind you, I've already re-written about half of what I have of Full Circle, but I've decided that I'm going to keep what I have for now and slowly replace chapters. However, I didn't want to keep anyone waiting.
Next part should see a bit of action.
Thanks to EVERYONE who reviewed... ^_^
FULL CIRCLE
Chapter Six - The Score
Don't tell me that you don't like anything about me
I see it in your eyes that look and you think I don't notice...
~*~*~*~*~*~*~
They spent of the afternoon at the arcade, Kaiba effortlessly kicking her butt in every single game that they played. He looked bore most the time, dropping haughty comments that derogated Tea's prowess as a gamer faster than the pixilated bombs on her digitized player character. Kaiba wasn't challenged and he didn't hesitate to say so.
He went off to answer the challenge of a bunch of more experienced players, leaving Tea to wander the arcade alone.
"That's okay, I'll practice," she told him optimistically, glazing over the fact that she was upset because she was not up to his standards as a gaming opponent. Tea knew she was never really good at video games, and she didn't expect him to be impressed----but it felt as if he was shunning more than just her gaming abilities. He didn't see her as his equal, whether as a corresponding, player-character or as a human being.
Tea fought back the urge to add a sarcastic remark to the tail end of her sentence. They argued enough as it was---this entire day had showed nothing but the relentless hostility that existed between them. She, quite frankly, was tired of bickering with him.
Kaiba, however, could not seem to sustain the urge to throw in a nasty retort. "You can practice all you want, Gardner. Where actual thinking is involved, you're at a loss."
Needless to say, it took a lot of willpower to swallow THAT. He left her red and fuming, leaning against one of the game machines with her arms crossed. "The nerve of that guy..."
"You're actually going to take that?"
"Huh?"
She turned around in surprise to see a young girl with light-blue pigtails and a red baseball cap standing at the machine which Tea was leaning against. She had bright, yellow eyes and was dressed in a t-shirt that said "Boys Suck." She couldn't have been more than nine years old.
"I said, you're going to take that from a BOY?"
Tea blinked. "Uh... I'm not exactly good at these things."
The only reason Tea had come here in the first place was because she wanted Kaiba to do something that he enjoyed--- gaming. Apparently, he didn't seem to appreciate the gesture all that much.
"So?" The little girl put her hands on her hips. "You can't let him talk to you like that! Guys think that girls can't play games---they march in here all high and mighty and think they're better than everyone. Hah!" She tipped the brim of her cap to accentuate her point. "That is, until they get a load of me! My names Miko. What's yours?"
"Tea."
"Nice to meetcha, Tea." She winked, shaking her hand. "If you want, I can give you some pointers so you can kick that jerk's arrogant butt."
"You don't understand, Miko. He's really good at this."
"So? So am I!"
"No," Tea shook her head. "I mean, he dedicates his life to these things... his entire career, even. That good."
"Sounds like a geek."
Tea smiled at this. Yes, perhaps Seto Kaiba was a bit of a computer-nerd. Not the contemporary-type, mind you...but a nerd none the less. This simple, childish retort made her feel a little better.
Miko grinned. "That's okay, my dad owns a game company--- Virtu-o Hex, ever heard of it?"---Tea shook her head.---"That's okay. We're just starting out; Kaibacorp is the game giant here, but it won't be for long!
At this, Tea nearly laughed aloud. She wondered whether she should tell Miko that the aforementioned 'arrogant jerk' was really Seto Kaiba.
"Anyway," she continued, jerking her thumb, "I get a lot of practice with games because I get to test out the products, so I'm pretty experienced. Still want pointers?"
Tea nodded, somewhat amused by the situation. "Sure, why not?"
*~*~
"Alright! Go Tea!"
The brunette grit her teeth, sweat sliding down the sides of her face as she gripped the controller harder. Behind her, Miko looked on, throwing in a few cheers here and there. It was amazing to think that she had gotten to such a high level when only two hours before, had been losing miserably to Seto Kaiba.
"You're doing it! C'mon..." Miko shouted. There was a pause as Tea scored. "Yes! Five more points and you've got the highest score!"
Tea grinned. High score? Her? At some silly shooting game? She couldn't help but feel a little proud of herself. She was never good at video games--- Yugi had given her his game boy once and she had broken it out of frustration. She had been convinced ever since that time that she was content to be standing in the sidelines and cheering...
However, now she was having second thoughts. This was kind of fun...
"YES!"
The words "NEW HIGH SCORE: Faith_Magician182" flashed on the screen. Tea turned around to look at her younger companion, her face glowing triumphantly. Miko gave her the thumbs-up and winked.
"I knew you could do it, Tea. Congrats."
"Thanks a lot Miko," Tea nodded at her, stepping away from the booth proudly to let the next person in line take their turn. "You've been a great help. I've been going about these things wrong."
"Nah, all you needed was somebody to show you the ropes."
Tea sweat-dropped. Not too long ago, Yugi and Joey had taken it upon themselves to give her private lessons in the ways of gaming. Unfortunately, what happened was that they often found themselves far too absorbed in the game to really show her anything.
"I guess."
"Hey listen, I have to get going...but I wanted to give you these," the young girl reached into her pockets and produced two orange tickets and handed them to Tea. The words read: VIRTU-HEX-VIRTUAL PALAZZO--- Admit One, GUEST PASS.'
Tea gave her a puzzled look.
Miko only shrugged. "Remember I told you my dad owns a game company? Well, he has this Virtual Arcade thing opened not too far from here. You can take your jerky friend and kick his butt in laser tag----free of charge."
The brunette grinned. "Thanks, that's very generous of you---and you really helped me a lot today."
"No problem," she tipped her cap. "I'll be seeing you around, Tea. Good luck."
"'Bye ."
Tea watched Miko retrieve her backpack from the floor and head towards the exit, before looking back down at the tickets. Good. Now she and Kaiba had something to do tomorrow. She was pretty sure he might be into this sort of thing---he certainly adapted to the arcade. She hadn't seen him the whole time she had spent playing games with Miko-and as far as she knew now, perhaps she wouldn't be so bad either. Heck, if she could get a high-score at any kind of video-game, she could definitely take Seto Kaiba on for laser-tag.
Speak of the devil. Tea turned around and saw him heading towards her. She slipped the tickets into her purse and waited for him to approach her.
"Ready to go? I'm getting bored of this place--- there's nobody around here worth beating."
Here was her chance.
"Not so fast, Kaiba." She had a sly smile on her face. "One more game---you and I."
He seemed somewhat taken aback by her proposition. However, it was only momentary before that wry smirk chiseled itself back onto his stony face. "Haven't I beaten you enough already, Gardner?"
"One more try, tough guy, and we'll see who's got who beat."
Kaiba sniggered slightly to himself, before crossing his arms. "If you like losing so much, why didn't you just say so?" He nodded at her. "Pick your game."
Tea's eye twinkled; she knew Seto Kaiba would never pass up a challenge (nor would he pass up the opportunity to slide in a snide comment or two.) Quite frankly, she wasn't entirely confident she would win, but his entire manner screamed arrogance---something Tea never really appreciated---and she forced herself to believe that she had a chance.
Miko was a good teacher, after all---Tea, although certainly far from the best, knew she was a lot more challenging opponent than previously. Just surprising Seto Kaiba would be enough.
"This one," she pointed to the fighting game she and Miko had been playing for the last hour and a half. The girl had divulged all the game's secrets---including the best player characters, signature moves and quick ways to gain experience points. At least she'd be on the same page as Kaiba.
Coins deposited and hands gripped firmly on the controllers, Tea looked up at Kaiba with a mischievous grin. She was infectious. He tried to ignore her.
However, even as the game flashed "START" Kaiba knew he wouldn't be able to not-acknowledge her there---and it wasn't just because she was his challenger. He had been watching her earlier today as she played with that blue-haired, younger girl across the arcade. Her determination was admirable, even if it was just to beat a stupid little game. She was stubborn and she wasn't prepared to give up---and the fact that she had the nerve to challenge him again, made her all the more...
Attractive? That wasn't the word. Intriguing...for one of Yugi's friends, anyway.
Still, there was denying that 'attractive' could've been yet another adjective Kaiba could use to describe her, but he had a hard time admitting this to himself. Tea was a pretty girl, if Seto Kaiba had ever acknowledged one. An annoyingly intriguing, pretty girl.
'Round 4 Over. Faith_Magician187 in lead...304 points. BlueIce_Dragon18 ....297 points.'
Tea nearly shouted in joy upon seeing the point-rally. She looked up at Kaiba triumphantly.
"Ready to lose yet, Kaiba?"
He grit his teeth; he was losing his concentration. "You just got lucky."
"Hah," Tea grinned, and turned her attention back to the screen.
Twenty-five minutes later, after taking turns at first places each round and exchanging playful banter (at least, Tea thought it was playful...she hardly thought that Kaiba was taking this seriously at all) he pulled through the last level and took the high score, Tea behind a rough, seventy-four points.
Still, despite the fact that she lost, she couldn't help but beam at her small victory. That point-gap between them had shrunken considerably from over three-hundred just the previous hour.
~*~*~*~*~
"You lost," Kaiba told her after they left the arcade. They were heading back towards Domino Park. The evening had painted the sky a brilliant orange and violet tapestry. "I don't see why you're so happy."
Tea shrugged. "You can't deny that I made some progress"---she whipped around, throwing an accusing finger in his face--- "And you also can't say I didn't have you on your toes that one round."
"Like I said, lucky..."
"Hah! You're still on for tomorrow, if you want."
"Not again."
"Afraid I'm going to whomp your butt?" Tea grinned cheekily.
Kaiba almost laughed. Almost. "I doubt that, Gardner. I'm not into second-rate arcades."
"What about a virtual reality Palazzo?" She brandished the tickets in front of him. "Check what I scored."
He raised an eyebrow. "Virtu-Hex? That sorry company? Please, Gardner, let's occupy our time with something else."
"Oh? Like what else?"
"Kaibaland."
"You're serious?"
He shot her a look. "If I must spend anymore time with you, then please, let me pick the activities lest I die of boredom."
By this time, Kaiba had noticed that he had accidentally walked Tea home. As much as he hated to admit it, there was certainly something about this girl. He never lost focus like this...and the fact that he was giving into her playful banter was an entirely different thing upon itself.
He wondered if he was losing he touch---and he wondered if she noticed.
"Well excuse me, you're not exactly Mr. Excitement either." They had stopped walking. Tea crossed her arms and looked him square in the face---she was wearing a rather peculiar smile.
It made him slightly nervous. Only slightly.
"Be ready tomorrow at eight," he told her stiffly, ignoring the fact that she neither disagreed or agreed to their plans tomorrow. If he turned his back to leave, he would've made his statement. He would've had the hand of control--- like he so rightfully deserved.
"Hey!" she shouted after him. "Where are you going!? I'm not done talking to you!"
"Eight sharp, tomorrow morning, Gardner." He told her without turning around. "Call it a field trip."
Tea watched him leave, frustration boiling beneath her skin. For five minutes there, she actually thought she had gotten to Seto Kaiba--- they were talking normally...and that bit at the arcade, he was actually being somewhat amiable.
But of course, being Seto Kaiba, he had to throw in a stint of his stubbornness. Tea walked up to her door, about to curse him for being so damn incompetent when an odd notion struck her...
He had just agreed, without any excuses or arguments, to spend the entire day with her tomorrow.
'Is he really taking this challenge that seriously?'
*~*~*~*~*~
End of Chapter Six.
A/N: This chapter was **murder** to get through... I don't like it in the least. Mind you, I've already re-written about half of what I have of Full Circle, but I've decided that I'm going to keep what I have for now and slowly replace chapters. However, I didn't want to keep anyone waiting.
Next part should see a bit of action.
Thanks to EVERYONE who reviewed... ^_^