I want to say a big thankyou for all you readers that are still with me
I had a big hiatus, break, writer's block
well, I tried my best to put a plot in this story
hope it makes sense
enjoys guys

Chap 14 Ersatz Date

By: Etcetra

Guest filed into the brightly lit corner of the Italian restaurant. Each visitor was powdered with diamonds and trinkets giving the restaurant a high class appearance. The customers were not normal in appearance at all some had wings others had horns suggesting this was not a nice mortal restaurant. The aroma of steak paraded the air greeting the hungry customers. Those that already have been served were very much occupied with enriching themselves with the juicy meat, everyone that was except Serenity.

Serenity examined her fork, which held long hours of labor to make the intricate designs. She snorted that it too was made of gold. She thought the plate was ridiculous enough but this restaurant went all out for class. Serenity thought for second. No…it couldn't be…or maybe… Her auburn head swung down and lifted the table cloth. Whew… its not. This restaurant may have a lavish exterior but underneath it is as ordinary as toast.

Serenity sighed and crossed her legs under the wooden table. Thank god it wasn't gold or she was going to leave with it. Her slim fingers tapped the table impatiently. Where is the bastard? She stared at her strawberry cheesecake. It started to melt. Eww… is that suppose to happen? She rushed here immediately after choosing a simple black dress from her closet. Although Kaiba was not delighted seeing Serenity go on a date with Fin, he reluctantly agreed giving her a quick peck on the lips, forehead, and cheek. Her Guardian kicked Kaiba for the display of affection while she was present. Although the brunette was glad Serenity had found someone, but a creature of darkness was not high on her list of suitors. Kaiba later blamed the Guardian for being clumsy and dimwitted to be caught by Fin's servants that the exchange would never have had happened. Whatever Kaiba's plan was to get Serenity out of this mess she still was unaware of.

Exactly two tables from behind Serenity sat Kaiba and her Guardian. They had sneaked in through the backdoor receiving weird glances from the chef. The Guardian kindly stated that Kaiba was the delivery boy, beckoning him toward the boxes. When Kaiba finished heaving the boxes away he shoved himself into his seat glaring at the guardian. The brunette now wingless ignored him and pointed to where Serenity was sitting. Kaiba lifted an eyebrow when Serenity ducked her head under the table. "What is she doing?"

"Looking for gold" the Guardian replied automatically now dressed in Serenity borrowed evening dress. "I was also doing it a moment ago. We think very much alike"

Kaiba took a sip of his ice tea, swirling the liquid along his tongue. He overlooked the fact that he now knows two childish women. He instead admired Serenity soft satin skin, how he long to touch those bare shoulders. The next time he caught Serenity alone he would make her dance in that dress for him.

"Are you done dreaming?" the Guardian slapped him on the forehead. Kaiba was starting to detest Serenity's Guardian angel. "Are you sure you want to go through with this plan? Its sounds redundant." She asked drinking the diet coke. "Such divines mortals have" admiring her drink, she took another sip.

"Be critical of it all you want but I'm not going to back down." He continued to observe from afar. His fingers were starting to itch; he wanted to run his hands down Serenity's back.

"I'm going to reiterate your plan and you tell me what's wrong with it. First, we follow Serenity. Check and done. Second, we wait until she finishes her meal. She needs to get something out of this meaningless date. Third, we see what Fin wants and then get her out of there. Seriously Kaiba this sounds too clean-cut"

"You wish it to involve blood Guardian? And you, are on the side of righteousness" he drawled cut short of his sinful dreams. He was clearly irritated from hearing opinions from a divine creature. Kaiba started drawing shapes on his glass. His mind was made up. Fin wanted something from him and using Serenity as a medium in order to get it. Kaiba sighed this was why he doesn't get involved with mortals; they were always too feeble and vulnerable, but this mortal had made him smile on more than one occasion. He grinned inwardly.

"No, I'm just saying your plan is too over simplistic." the Guardian replied. She racked her brain for a more proficient plan, in case Kaiba's plan backfire, which it surely will. "Do you have a plan B"

"Nope" Kaiba answered sitting up. "I have been wondering about this for a long time now, what were you doing at Fin's lair anyways?"

"Smart boy, I was hoping to avoid this question" She replied finishing her drink "That Trugen has something of mine"

Now Kaiba was interested, what would a vampire have that belonged to a Guardian Angel? "Mind giving me details?"

Serenity glanced at the figure stalking his way toward her table. His hair was now held back by massive amounts of gel. He changed his shirt into a dark blue silk that caressed the hard lines of his muscles. Serenity rolled her eyes as he whispered a good morning to her. She shifted her eyes to an old grandfather clock against the wall. 1:05 it read. He ordered himself and her some Italian cuisines. Then he placed his chin over his intertwined fingers and stared with amusement at her as she drifted her eyes over to her half eaten cheesecake.

Fin was never delighted to be in the presence of a mortal, but since she has a significant relationship to his enemy, he will choke her for information. "How do you like the restaurant?"

She gave her cheesecake full attention when she muttered "Nice"

"Nice? Nice? More like extravagant. I own it you know. Everything here is made of first class material and…" Fin went on, from the details of the decorations to the origin of the restaurant's name. "Everything here is made of gold one kind or another you know"

Serenity raised an eyebrow doubting that. She switched her numb crossed legs, her knee hitting the table. "Oops, the table not too sturdy sounds kind of hollow" she remarked through her own merriment.

Fin glared at her. He heard she was a fearless warrior but her etiquette was downright mocking him. Before Fin could form a comment Serenity gave him a demand. "What do you want from me?"

Fin gave her a smirk in return, "Why I want to discuss business"

Serenity slammed her hand against the table. "What could I have that you want? If I heard correctly Kaiba was the one who locked you up. You should be discussing this matter with him" she pointed a disgusted finger at him, "rather than me"

Fin kept his calm demeanor, grabbed her finger and lowering it to the tablecloth. "I believe this is where you are wrong"

Serenity couldn't jerk her finger from his grip. She glared wooden stakes at his gray eyes. "On which point am I wrong?"

Fin scooted closer to her form. Serenity backed as far as she could but the back of her chair cut her short. His face close enough to her that he could smell her perfume. Their lips were even closer. He was given a sudden urge to kiss her, instead he whispered to her lips. "You, my dear, are the key to Kaiba's downfall because you are his weak point" He licked his lips, the women in front of him was so tempting he could barely keep his eyes off her juicy lips.

"Interesting, you made that ring yourself?" Kaiba probed.

"Yes, I went through a great deal to gather the gems and materials" the Guardian answered staring at an adjacent table.

"But what I find fascinating was how did that Trugen get close enough to get if from you? Certainly you would have it protected" Kaiba replied examining the Guardian's situation.

"You could say Fin has eyes no one could deny, he was such a passionate lover…" the Guardian's bright eyes were now dim caught in a dream state where Kaiba was previous in.

"Are you serious? You and him?" Kaiba was astounded. This Guardian was not all doing her heavenly duty of watching over Serenity. "You should take your position of Guardian more seriously"

"You of all vampires should know better that your eyes of persuasion are so powerful" the Guardian was now angry "That is besides the point he tricked me into trusting him and once he got what he wanted. He revealed to the other Guardians that I have not been watching over 

Serenity, therefore I was thrown in the dungeon for several months. If he wasn't there I would have prevented Serenity from having ever met you." The Guardian explained the last statement in a quiet tone.

Kaiba didn't know how to react to that, he stared blankly as his beverage "Should I be thanking Fin now?"

"Don't speak to soon dear" the Guardian gently padded his hand and pointed to Serenity.

Kaiba nearly spilled his drink when he saw what Fin was doing to Serenity. "Son of a-" Kaiba roared slamming the table and getting up.

The Guardian pulled him down. "They are not doing what you think they are doing, they are not kissing"

"Yes there are!" Kaiba bawled struggling against the Guardian's grip.

It took the Guardian a great amount of strength to put a charm over him and dragged him over to her seat also giving apologetic glances to the nearby tables. "Look, from my point of view I see both of their faces, they are just whispering in close proximity. From your seat all you can see is the back of Serenity's head therefore it gave you the illusion of their lips touching."

Kaiba clenched the tablecloth "But still he is touching her" Kaiba searched for an object, he snatched a tomato from the Guardian's salad and aimed for Fin's head.

Serenity blinked a couple of times "You think I'm Kaiba's weakness?" she laughed. "Are you suggesting I'm his lover of some sort?"

Fin shot an annoyed look "Yes"

Serenity continued her laughter "You are greatly mistaken, we are not even friends; you can say we are more like acquaintances. If you really want to know, my life would be better if he would stop lingering around me. I'm a bit annoyed actually by his constant presence."

"Oh is that so, I will have to doubt that. Seeing you with him earlier you two seemed very close." Fin countered rubbing his thumb over her hand.

"That is different, I was being defensive. I didn't know what you were" Serenity retorted making her point.

"Keh, I wouldn't be surprised if you have already slept-" Fin was caught half way in his sentence by a red tomato hitting his eye. He released Serenity's hand and searched the nearby tables. None of the other guest seemed to notice the flying vegetable. Serenity made a disgusted face as the red juice started oozing out of Fin's right eye. Fin gracefully used a napkin and wiped his eye. 

Serenity now was giggling. She hoped Kaiba was behind that fiasco.

"Silence mortal" Fin was reaching his limits of self composure. He closed his eyes and took a breath. "I want you to steal something for me."

Serenity made a sound, "What makes you think I will comply with that ridiculous idea?"

"Cause I have something your Guardian might want back" Fin tugged a small box from his coat pocket.

The Guardian slapped Kaiba's arm from under the dining table "You idiot if we were caught, he will try to use her as bait!"

"Speak for yourself" Kaiba spat in a venomous tone. He got up from under the table and dusted himself off. "You Guardians are so weak in what you do, even making me hide from an asshole like him. I thought he already has stripped you of your powers, how was it possible for you to immobilize me?"

Serenity's guardian ignored the criticism. "Simple, I have more than one sources of power. If you don't mind me asking how did you meet her?"

Kaiba crossed his arms clearly aggravated of the Guardian's curiosity. "That is none of your concern"

The Guardian sighed "I don't know what she sees in you. If only I was there to prevent the encounter" she threw her arms up in defeat.

Kaiba jerked his head to face her "Why do you keep saying that? You make it like Serenity and I meeting each other is impossible"

"It is!" the Guardian answered caught off guard of the question, she was afraid now that she had let too much slip.

Kaiba turned his body now facing the Guardian "Tell me why Guardian!" he commanded grinding his teeth.

After several minutes of disputing she gave a short reply "You're suppose to be dead"

Kaiba was not satisfied with the answer "Guardian do you not see before your eyes, the creature of darkness, I am dead"

The Guardian gave nervous glances at the passing customers "No you're suppose to be dead as in nonexistent right now"

Kaiba was getting tired of the ambiguous answers. "Now why would I be dead Guardian?" he bellowed.

"Because… cause… we were sent to kill you" the Guardian squeaked hiding behind her hands whenever Kaiba was ready to kill her.

When she opened her eyes Kaiba eyes were glued on Serenity "Pity you didn't, but how does this involve Serenity anyways?"

"Uh… that would be a bit of my fault. I was in the dungeon when the plan was put into motion. I was suppose to be Serenity's divine force to keep her inside her apartment and away from you, so we can uh… get rid of you away from mortal eyes."

"Your hatred for me has become clear" Kaiba nodded.

"It was also a big annoyance that every time the Guardians located you, you were always near Serenity. Therefore, it was hard for the other Guardians to put the plan in to action and risking Serenity encountering it" the Guardian mentioned.

Kaiba brushed his chin with this thumb. Oddly enough his demeanor was very tranquil and relaxed. The Guardian had the weirdest sensation prickling up her back "Now tell me this Guardian, who sent you to kill me?" Kaiba asked in the most toxic tone. His eyes were now the lightest shade of ice blue.

Serenity felt the room dropped a couple of degrees. Shivering she rubbed her arms against her bare shoulders. "Tell me why I should believe that that ring belongs to my Guardian?"

"I don't have to prove anything to you, my sweet. You could simply ask her" Fin placed the ruby ring gently back inside the box, said a quick incantation and tucked back into his breast pocket.

"Very well, suppose the ring belongs to my Guardian, what is it that you want in return?" Serenity darted her eyes back and forth searching for Kaiba and her Guardian

"I like you, very frank." Fin chuckled "Very simple really, he has a vial of mine, the Vial of Alstroemeria"

Serenity leaned back "You suggesting a tradeoff, your vial for the ring"

"Exactly" Fin winked

"What if, I told you Kaiba has no such vial" Serenity pointed out

"Then you have more trouble, wouldn't you" Fin shrugged.

Serenity pondered for a moment "What does it do?"

Fin's grin widen "It has lots of purposes my dear"

TBC...

Note: Alstroemeria is a type of flower. ahahaha isn't that such a nice name...