Yu-Gi-Oh! Fan Fiction ❯ Orphan ❯ A Night at Kaiba's ( Chapter 5 )

Here's Chapter five! Please R&R!!

 

I do not own Yugioh... Just Jenna.

 

***

 

Jenna stared at Duke the next morning, in shock at what she had just heard. “Those two students were expelled?” she asked in horror.

Duke nodded. “Yup. The principal did it the second Kaiba identified the two of them.”

The girl shook her head. “But... expulsion... That's just not right!”

Joey leaned back in his desk. “Hey, if ya ask me, I think they deserve it. Those two idiots shoulda been watching where they were going in the first place. If they had been using their brains, ya never woulda fallen.”

She shook her head again, stubborn. “It was an honest mistake, Joey. An accident! Maybe they shouldn't have been rushing the way they were, but expulsion is too extreme a punishment. I'm going to go talk to the principal.”

Tristan stared at her and the rest of her friends started, hearing this. “Even after what they did? I mean... you had to get medical attention because of those two idiots...”

Jenna frowned. “Even so... if it had happened to someone other than me, would they have been punished so severely? I don't want to be treated differently from other students just because I happen to have a few issues right now. It's not fair to the rest of the students. I know the punishment wouldn't have been as extreme if they had bowled someone else over, so why get expelled just because it was me?” she asked, grabbing her crutches. She got to her feet and started for the door, Yugi immediately following her.

“Are you sure about this?”

She nodded. “Yes. There is a difference between making an honest mistake and deliberately being cruel. Accidents happen, and I don't believe in such punishments for matters like this one. I feel like it makes me out to be the bad guy. I'm sure those two have learned their lesson as it is, so why make their lives all the worse by expelling them?”

Pharaoh smiled a little in his spirit form. She wasn't placing herself above anyone else due to her accident and current state. She showed much concern about others, even when they had done her wrong. In some ways, she was not unlike Yugi himself.

Yugi accompanied her to the office where he stood off to the side and watched as Jenna conversed with the principal, voicing her concerns over the harsh punishment the boys had received. It took her several minutes, but she was stubborn and wouldn't back down, and the principal finally caved in.

“If it is that important to you, Miss Shoka, I will allow them back to school.”

She smiled in relief. “Thank you very much, sir. I really appreciate it. And I'm sure they will appreciate it just as much.”

He smiled. “I'm sure they will.” He picked up a memo pad. “I will write your teacher a letter explaining that you and Yugi were with me so you don't get detention for being late.” He quickly did so, handing the slip of paper to Yugi.

On the way back to class, the King of Games turned to her. “You didn't do that just because you were thinking you were being a burden to those two, did you?”

She shook her head. “That's only a small part of it. The fact of the matter is, is I simply believed their punishment was too severe for the crime, so to speak. It was an accident. And I saw the expressions on their faces after the fact, and I believe they learned from their mistake. Why make things worse for them?”

Yugi could think of nothing to say in response to this as they entered the class.

The King of Games handed the teacher the note from the principal and then led Jenna to her seat, then taking his own. The class proceeded quickly and without incident.

 

***

 

The two students that had knocked her down the stairs were in school the next day, and they immediately both apologized profusely for what they had done, and then thanked her very much for stepping in and talking the principal into letting them stay in school. Jenna had told them not to worry about it and just continued on her way.

School was going much better for her now. She went to the doctor after school and got the bandage on her head taken off, much to her relief. The bruises on her face were fading now, and were easy enough to conceal beneath a light layer of makeup. As for the crutches, the doctor said she would need them for probably another two weeks, and the stitches in her side for at least one week.

Kaiba didn't speak to her very often, but when he did encounter her, he was unusually nice. Mokuba was always sweet and friendly whenever he came across her in the halls, offering her a smile and asking about her home country whenever he had a chance.

Jenna's grades were doing well so far, and she proved to be an 'A' student, much to her teacher's delight. And since the bandages had been taken off her forehead, and her bruises were no longer there, she had no qualms about showing her face, and even though she was still rather antisocial, that didn't stop many of the boys from taking an interest in her.

She pretty well never left her friends sides, and was almost always with Yugi himself, except for when she was in her final class with Seto Kaiba, who seemed more than willing to help her, even though he tried to look indifferent about the whole situation.

Twelve days after her arrival in Domino City, it was revealed in their third block science class, that students were going to be randomly paired up to complete a science project in their spare time. It was a Friday, and the air outside was filled with humidity due to a hurricane that was passing by the Island. The weather report said that it wasn't expected to hit, however.

And Jenna got paired up with Seto Kaiba for the science project. It was due on Monday, and so they only had the weekend to do it.

Kaiba immediately informed her after class that he would bring her to his home after school in his limo, something that made Joey angry.

“Hey, rich boy! Who do ya think you are, just orderin' her around like that?! Don't you think she should get a say in where you guys do your project? Why does it have to be at your place? Why not at Yugi's?!”

Jenna quickly placed a restraining hand on his arm. “It's all right, Joey. I don't mind. I can just go there after school, we can work on the project for a few hours, and then I can go home. If the project's not done, I can just go back to Kaiba's tomorrow.”

The CEO nodded. “That's right. I don't plan on keeping her there all night. I have some business with my corporation to take care of as well. We will just work for a few hours, and then I'll have Roland bring her back to Yugi's in the limo.”

Yugi looked at her, a little concerned. Although Kaiba had been treating Jenna very well so far, he didn't know if that would continue and he didn't want Jenna to be placed in a situation that could hurt her in any way. “Are you sure about this, Jenna?”

She nodded with a smile. “I'm sure. You don't need to worry, Yugi. So after computers, I'll just go with Kaiba to his limo and I'll see you in the evening.”

He smiled. “Well, alright then. I'll see you when you get back.”

She started off for the computers class, keeping pace with Seto Kaiba. “I'll see you later, guys!”

 

***

 

Since she was going home with Kaiba, Yugi wasn't there to escort her out after class, but she did see him along with the rest of the group. They all exchanged smiles and waves as she climbed into the limo with a little help from Roland and they were off.

The whole way to Kaiba's mansion, Mokuba was happily showing her what each and every button in the back did, much to her amusement.

Once they arrived, Kaiba went off somewhere to change out of his uniform, leaving her in Mokuba's hands, returning dressed in a long white jacket with black close fitting clothes fitted underneath. Then they had a quick bite to eat (Jenna hardly touched her food at all, which made Kaiba's eyes narrow slightly, although he said nothing), and then the two of them headed off to one of the rooms in the mansion to start on their project.

They were in the room for an hour when Roland entered, holding a cell phone in his hand. “Mr. Kaiba. I'm sorry for disturbing you sir.”

“What is it?” Kaiba asked cooly.

“Yugi Moto is on the phone and wishes to speak to you. He said it is important.”

Trying not to scowl too deeply, Kaiba accepted the phone. Jenna just blinked, wondering what Yugi wanted.

“What is it, Yugi?” he asked, sounding slightly irritated. Then he stiffened slightly. “Are you sure?!... When it it going to make landfall?” Kaiba bit back a curse upon receiving his answer.

Jenna blinked. “Um... what's going on?” she asked hesitantly.

Kaiba looked at her. “That hurricane is going to hit Japan after all. It's expected to make landfall sometime in the next hour. That means you'll have to stay here the night.”

Jenna went white immediately. “It's... going to hit? How powerful... is it?”

“It's supposed to be a category four, from what I've heard.” the CEO said casually before turning his attention to his assistant. “I want you to activate each safety measure to prevent damage from hurricanes immediately.”

The man bowed. “Yes, Mr. Kaiba.” He turned and left the room immediately.

Kaiba then turned his attention to Jenna who was still looking incredibly pale. “Don't worry. My mansion is well equipped to deal with hurricanes. We've only ever received minor damage. Also, there is very little chance of a power outage here since I have ensured the mansion is run off it's own power supply which is located about a half mile underground under the mansion. The noise is probably all you'll be needing to worry about.”

“Kaiba... there's just one more thing,” he heard Yugi say. “It's about Jenna herself.” he said, sounding very hesitant.

“What is it?” Kaiba asked.

“Well... please don't mention this to her, because I don't want to embarrass her, but... ever since she's been with me and my grandpa, every single night, she's had flashbacks of the accident and woken screaming. I know you don't have much patience, but please try to be lenient with her. She's also still emotionally unstable, so what might seem like a minor rebuke to you might REALLY upset her.”

Kaiba was ready to give his rival a tongue lashing, but thought better of it. Even Kaiba had to admit that from what he'd seen of Jenna in school, she was very sensitive. Joey reacted to his insults and outbursts with anger, but Jenna would most definitely be very upset... something Kaiba didn't want to happen.

“Don't worry, Yugi. She'll be fine.”

“Well, I'd take the time to talk to her, but I've got to help Grandpa and Joey board up the house. He and Tea are staying here the night because Tea's parents aren't home right now and Joey's house is right on sea level.”

“Right. Later, Yugi.” he hung up without another word and got to his feet, seeing that Jenna was still incredibly pale. “We can work more on the project later. I need to check into a few things. Just to double check that the mansion is secure.”

She nodded, trying not to tremble, but Kaiba could clearly see it. “Right.”

“Don't worry. You're safe here.” he said as she got to her feet.

She hesitated. “It's not that I don't believe you. It's just that... this is my first hard core natural disaster. In Alberta, all we had to worry about were tornadoes in the middle of summer, and even those were rare. I think it just hit me that there's so much more here that can cause massive damage.”

At that moment, Mokuba came racing into the room. “Bro! I just heard on the news that the hurricane is going to make landfall in about twenty minutes!”

Kaiba nodded calmly. “I know, Mokuba. Yugi called me a few minutes ago and I've already ordered the procedures for dealing with it be carried out.” He indicated Jenna. “I want you to stay with her. Maybe bring her to the gaming room so she can relax. She's nervous right now.”

Mokuba smiled. “Sure thing, Bro!”

Seto nodded. “Alright. I have to check into a few things and put up a few fire walls in my system to prevent anyone from taking advantage of the situation.” He got up and left without another word.

Mokuba came up to Jenna. “Come on! You'll love the gaming room! You ever played video games before?”

Jenna managed a small smile. “Of course I have. Let's see what you've got.”

After about thirty minutes, from inside the gaming room, she and the younger boy were able to clearly hear the wind picking up outside. This was followed by a few bangs, which made Jenna jump.

Mokuba looked at her with a reassuring smile. “Don't worry. We've been through a ton of hurricanes and nothing's happened yet. It's just the noise. You'll get used to it. Also, category four's are about as bad as they get.”

Jenna took in a deep breath and nodded. “All right.” She gave him a small smile. “I'm sorry for being so... jumpy, but this is my first time being in a hurricane.”

The boy grinned at her. “It's no problem! At least school'll probably be canceled for a few days. It usually gets some damage that has to be repaired. Anyway... You wanna try playing Soul Caliber? I've got all three games.”

She nodded. “Sure.”

 

***

 

Seto Kaiba stepped into the gaming room at around nine o'clock and heard the two occupants inside.

“Ha ha!! Got you again!!” Mokuba declared happily.

“That's three times in a row! I just can't beat you at any of these games.”

Mokuba grinned and leaned back in his seat, not seeing his big brother enter the room. “Well, I just play video games all the time when I have nothing better to do. It's not very often that I get a chance to play against someone else. But, to tell you the truth, I'm getting a little bored just playing video games. You mind if we play something else?”

Jenna blinked. “Like what?”

Mokuba thought hard for a few seconds and then broke out into a huge smile. “I know! Have you played Duel Monsters before?”

Jenna turned a little red. “I'm only learning how to play now. Yugi's been teaching me but I've only dueled against him a few times. I'm not very good yet...”

Mokuba grinned. “That's okay! Do you have your deck with you? We could have a few practice duels! It would help you to get better!”

Jenna considered. “Well, okay. My deck is in my bag...”

Mokuba grinned and got to his feet. “Then your bag should be in your room! Come on! It's on the top floor!”

Jenna turned white, looking at her crutches. “The... TOP floor?” she said in a small voice, knowing there were five floors to Kaiba's mansion.

Mokuba grinned broadly. “Don't worry. We're not going to be using the stairs, silly. We'll be using the elevator!”

Jenna breathed a sigh of relief and felt foolish. She should have known a man as rich as Kaiba would have elevators in his mansion to make easier access to the rooms.

“After you two have a few duels, how do you feel about continuing with our project?” Kaiba asked, making his presence known.

Jenna blinked and then nodded with a smile. “Sure!”

Mokuba handed Jenna one of her crutches and helped her to her feet, handing her the second one. “Come on. The elevator's close by.”

Jenna followed the twelve year old to the elevator as Kaiba went through one of the side doors to do some more of his business work, and the two of them made their way to the top floor. Her room was just two doors down from the elevator, much to her relief. It only took her a few minutes to find her deck and then she and Mokuba sat across from each other on her bed and had a few duels. Mokuba had to remind her of a few of the rules, but she seemed to be getting the hang of it fairly quickly.

After an hour and two duels later, Kaiba stuck his head in the room, asking if she was ready to continue on their project. Upon hearing her affirmative, Mokuba announced that he was going to get ready to go to bed and exited the room, leaving Kaiba to help Jenna with her crutches, which he did with no complaint.

Then the two of them used the elevator once more, Kaiba holding Jenna's bag for her and they went into the room they had been using before. The storm was unnoticable in this room and they were able to work in peace and quiet.

They were three quarters done their project when Kaiba looked at his watch and saw it was almost eleven. “I think it's time to give this up for the night. I still have a lot of work with my company that I have to get done.”

Jenna nodded. “All right...” She tried not to look nervous about the prospect of going to bed.

Kaiba looked at her, noticing her apparent nervousness, but not mentioning it. “I'll be doing my work on the fifth floor, only a few doors down from your room, so I'll be close by if you happen to need anything.”

Jenna nodded once more. “Okay.”

“I'll help you to your room.” Kaiba said, getting to his feet.

She followed him to the elevator, trying to keep herself from trembling, and never looking at him. She was afraid of going to sleep tonight. She didn't want to have another of her nightmares. Yugi wasn't there to hold her tonight, which made her worry all the more. Yugi was so kind and understanding, and he had no qualms about holding her after the nightmares struck and telling her that everything was going to be all right. But she had no idea what Kaiba's reaction might be to her waking screaming. She sighed inwardly. Maybe the hurricane would be making too much noise for her to get any sleep anyway.

At least she hoped so.

 

***

 

She soon found out she had been correct. The hurricane was beating at the side of the mansion with a fury that was almost terrifying. The only thing that kept her from having a panic attack was Mokuba and Kaiba's earlier assurances that they had been through this dozens of times before and that the mansion would hold up with minimal damage.

Jenna sighed, rolling onto her back, trying to get comfortable. She was dead tired but was both afraid to sleep and simply unable to sleep due to the hurricane. She was afraid to sleep because she didn't want to relive the accident again... like she had been every night since it happened.

She felt the urge to cry coming to her again, but she stomped the feeling down as she had before. Crying wouldn't change things. She had never wanted to come to Japan. She hadn't even known Solomon before she met him that day when Craig had brought her to the Kame Game Shop to meet him and his grandson. Her father had mentioned him to her a few times in the past, but she had never had the opportunity to meet him before that day.... at least not to her memory. Her father said he had visited when she was two years old... which was something she didn't remember at all. She was just grateful that he and his grandson, Yugi, were such nice people.

She found it odd, though. For some reason, every night, after having initial flashbacks, after Yugi comforted her, she didn't have any more that night. She slept peacefully with no dreams to bother her. When she had been in the hospital back in Canada it was a constant barrage of flashbacks tormenting her mind over and over. The nurses had told her to cut it out because she had been disturbing the other patients... as if it was HER fault she was having them.

Jenna wished she had her journal to write in. The hospital therapist had given it to her and recommended writing down whatever she felt... which she had thought was totally stupid at first, but it did help to relax her in some ways. She wrote things in it that she just couldn't bring herself to tell other people. But she hadn't brought it with her. It was sitting on her bed at home.

A series of loud bangs made her jump a little and then she sighed. She hoped the hurricane didn't last much longer. This was getting very nerve wracking for her. She almost considered getting up to see if anyone else was up, but then she shoved the impulse away. She was sure that if Kaiba WAS still up, that he was probably busy working on some important business matters and she didn't want to bother him just because she was feeling a little scared.

Her earlier admonition to not scream shattered along with the large window in her room when a branch from a tree flew in her room, landing on her feet at the foot of the bed. She felt a burning pain lance up her leg immediately and an insane fear tore through her mind as the wind and rain entered the room. Her legs were pinned under the large branch, which she quickly tried to shove off of her, a terrified scream still emanating from her throat.

Seconds later, the door to her room flew open, Kaiba and his personal assistant, Roland, racing in, their eyes growing enormous at the sight. Kaiba shouted at Roland to get the branch off of her and then raced forward, scooping her up the second his order was carried out. The two of them, CEO holding a petrified woman in his arms, raced out of the room and quickly shut the door. Jenna was clinging to the front of Kaiba's jacket like a life line, not bothering to hold back as she sobbed in his chest.

“Roland! Get that room blocked off and get a repair crew on it the second the hurricane lets up!! And get Dr. Toshio down in the sitting area immediately!!”

The man nodded. “Yes, sir!”

Kaiba raced down the hall, holding the still terrified woman in his arms as he used the elevator and brought her into the sitting room. He sat on the couch, holding her close, just letting her cling to him. Unbidden, his hand started to rub up and down her back and he hushed her gently, his mouth now by her ear. Her sobs slowly tapered off as Dr. Toshio raced into the room, carrying a med kit with him.

After hearing what had happened from Kaiba, he gently examined her ankles for a few minutes before smiling in relief. “Just a couple of nasty bruises. You may have pinched a nerve in the left one, but nothing is broken. You won't be feeling a thing in just a few days. I'd say you lucked out. If you hadn't had the mattress, the damage would have been much worse.”

Jenna just nodded silently into Kaiba's chest, refusing to look up.

Kaiba then dismissed the doctor as Mokuba came racing into the room. “Bro! I ran into Roland and he told me what happened! Is she okay?!”

The CEO looked at his brother. “She's fine, Mokuba. Just go back to bed. I can take care of her from here on.”

Blinking in surprise, the boy nodded hesitantly, before turning around and going back the way he came.

Kaiba sat there for a few minutes, just holding the terrified woman on his lap, his hand still going up and down her back gently. She just sat there, her face still into his chest, trembling slightly, her heart still pounding so hard he could feel it through his own clothing. He tilted her chin so she was looking at him, and he was faced with a pair of green eyes, wide in surprise, misty from her terrifying experience. He noticed immediately that there were dark circles forming beneath them.

“You weren't asleep yet, were you.” It wasn't a question, and they both knew it.

She hesitated. “The hurricane was keeping me awake, but I didn't want to disturb you...”

“A half truth is the same as a lie, did you know that?” Kaiba asked her cooly. “I think the hurricane was only partially it. You didn't want to sleep at all tonight, did you?”

Jenna cringed slightly at the tone of his voice and she tried to look away, but he wasn't going to have any of it. He kept her chin in a firm grip, forcing her to keep looking at him. When she spoke, her voice was trembling. “I... It's just....”

He cut her off. “Yugi informed me about the flashbacks you've been having, and like every other student in the school, I am well aware of the details of the accident. You were forcing yourself to stay awake so you wouldn't do as you always do and wake up screaming while you were staying here, isn't that right, Jenna?”

Fear and desperation filled her eyes along with the tears at each word he said. Even though he didn't mean for them to, they came out in a biting manner that made her cringe.

She said the only thing she could think of. “I'm... sorry...”

He scowled immediately. “There you go, apologizing again! What the hell's the matter with you?!”

Her eyes shut tight, and then snapped open, angry now. “What the hell do you want me to say?! I know none of this is my fault, but I'm still the one who's being a burden! The past might be behind me, but I can't escape it!” Her eyes shut tight once more as the tears started to flow down her cheeks. “No matter how hard I try I can't get the images out of my mind! This isn't how I wanted to remember my parents!!”

Kaiba released his hold on her chin and pulled her into his chest once more. This time he rocked her gently, back and forth, his hands rubbing up and down her back as she started to sob uncontrolably. Several minutes passed and it slowly subsided, and she clung to him like a life line. When Kaiba spoke once more, she could feel the deep vibration within his chest against her cheek.

“Go to sleep. I've got you.”

Jenna blinked, hearing these words coming from one who was supposed to be cold and cruel. She didn't even bother trying to think the matter through. Instead, she simply did as he told her. Her eyes slid shut as though they had a mind of their own, and she was asleep in seconds. Kaiba set his chin atop her head and soon followed suit.

 

***

 

Please R&R!!