Title: 'Til Death Do Us Part
Pairing: Seto/Mai
Summary: To get what they want, they agreed to a temporary marriage. But what happens when it's time for them to let go?
Disclaimer: I don't own Yu-Gi-Oh or any of its characters so don't sue me!
A/N: This is my first anime fic so go easy on me.
Seto- age 20
Mai- age 20
Mai Valentine stared at the clock on the wall intently, listening to the ticking of the hands, an indication of how silent the room was. She was sitting in the office of her dad's lawyer. He had called to inform her that her father had died from a massive heart attack a few days ago, and she had to come so they can discuss his will.
Unlike many children, she did not crumble at the news of her father's death. She did not cry, mourn, nor did she felt like her life had ended. To others she might be heartless, but others did not experience her childhood, or lack of. Her parents were never there when she was growing up. They were too busy with their own lives to pay attention to her. Sometimes she felt they believed they did not have a daughter.
She was brought out of her thoughts when the door suddenly opened, revealing a man in his late thirties, wearing a black suit adorned with blue tie. He walked up to his desk and smiled at her. "You must be Mai Valentine. I'm Anthony Kingston, your father's lawyer." He extended his hand out to her and she shook it. "As you must know," he continued, "due to the unfortunate demise of your father, you are entitled to the assets mentioned in Mr. Valentine's will."
She nodded in acknowledgment.
Anthony opened the folder containing her father's will. "It states you will acquire two Mercedes Benz, one beach house, and 26,000,000 yen…"
She gasped inaudibly and her eyes widened. She knew her parents were well off but this amount of money was incredible. She no longer had to duel to pay her bills and can quit her odd jobs as a waitress and cashier. She began feeling the tingles of excitement but frowned when the man finished his sentence.
"…if you get married before the tender age of 21 and the marriage has to last at least a year."
She felt her stomach drop, and her mouth gaped open in shock. "W-what? I have to get married!" she screeched.
Anthony nodded. "I'm sorry, Ms.Valentine, but you must comply with the conditions of the will or the assets will be donated to charity."
She buried her face in her hands and groaned. Her 21st birthday was in a month, how will she find a suitable husband by then?
"What do you mean I have to get married!" the blue-eyed CEO yelled menacingly at the poor, stout man sitting on the other side of the desk.
"I-I'm sorry Mr.Kaiba, but looking over your father's will again, the fine print states if you don't find a wife before your 21st birthday, you will lose your position as CEO of Kaiba Corp," the frightened man stuttered.
The young CEO smirked and leaned back on his chair. "But if I'm not CEO, who will run my company?"
The older man hesitated before answering, "The next largest shareholder."
Kaiba's smirk turned into a deep frown and his piercing blue eyes darkened. Damn his father. Even when he is dead, existing somewhere in the depths of hell, he still managed to make his son's life miserable. No way was he going to let his "father" win. He worked too hard and too long to give up now; he was not going to lose it all. Sighing, he asked, "How long does the marriage have to last?"
The man gulped and replied, "A year."
Kaiba placed his head into his hands and groaned. He had two weeks to find a wife.
"Hurry up, Seto!" A raven haired child yelled, running towards the swings.
"Don't run, Mokuba," Kaiba slightly scolded, though a hint of a smile curved at the corners of his mouth. He rarely showed his emotions to anyone, a constant exception was his little brother. Sometimes he thought that was the only reason why he lived.
While his brother was playing on the swings, he simply sat down on the bench, looking at the cement sidewalk. His mind trailed off to yesterday's events.
"…if you don't find a wife before your 21st birthday, you will lose your position as CEO of Kaiba Corp."
How was he supposed to find a suitable companion in two weeks? There was no way he was going to make this ordeal public and print an ad in the paper, holding auditions for a wife. No, this matter had to be done in private and the sooner the better. He yelped when he felt two small arms on his shoulders. He turned around and saw a laughing Mokuba. "Mokuba, don't do that again," he admonished.
Still laughing, the younger Kaiba answered, "Sorry, Seto, I could not resist scaring you." When he saw his older brother turn away, lost in thought again, he frowned. "What's wrong?"
"Nothing," Seto replied quietly.
"Seto!" Mokuba whined. "I know something's up. Tell me," he insisted.
Hesitantly Kaiba answered, "Father's will states that before I turn 21, I have to get married for a year or I will lose my position as CEO."
She walked along the "deserted" park soaking in the quietness of the scenery. This was a perfect place for her to think and gather her thoughts. Her mind wandered off to what happened yesterday in Anthony's office. She wanted the money but was she willing to sacrifice her freedom? Also, who would agree to marry her in such a short period of time? Suddenly she heard voices and she quickly hid in a bush. She raised her head slightly, just enough to make out two figures. 'Kaiba!' she thought.
"Father's states that before I turn 21, I have to get married for a year or I will lose my position as CEO," was what she heard. 'So he has to get married too. This is great. But wait—do I want to marry him, and will he agree to marry me?' One of the leaves on the bush tickled her nose and she felt a sneeze coming. 'Oh, no. Not right now.' She tried to control it but to no avail. "Ah-choo!"
"Who's there?" Seto demanded, looking around the park.
She knew she could not hide forever so she stood up slowly.
"Mai?" Both Kaiba brothers asked in shock. But Seto's surprise quickly wore off and he immediately growled, "What are you doing here?"
His menacing tone sent shivers through her body, but she masked her fear. Putting on a haughty expression she retorted, "What? You're not the only ones who could be here. It's not like you own the place."
He narrowed his blue eyes at her suspiciously. "And I see you chose not to walk out in public like normal citizens but decided to hide behind a bush."
She immediately reddened. "I…"
"How much did you hear?" He growled, eyeing her dangerously, as if she was a threat.
She looked him straight in the eyes and decided honesty was the best policy in this situation. "Enough…to know that you need help."
He turned away and snarled, "I don't need help—especially yours."
She boldly walked over and sat down beside him. "Look, I know you don't like me and I'm not crazy about you either. In fact you're a cold-hearted, emotionless, angry, arrogant—"
"Get to the point please," he snapped impatiently.
She sighed. "But you need a wife in order to keep your position. And I'm willing to be her."
He looked at her, suspicion evident in his piercing blue eyes. "And what's in it for you? And don't say nothing because I know you better than that."
He was right. He did know her and damn him for that. "Alright Kaiba, you got me. My dad died recently and the only way I can get the assets in his will is if I marry before my 21st birthday for at least a year." She looked at the hard cement sidewalk as she said that, and only looked back up when she heard him laugh harshly.
"I knew it. You would never help for nothing. Looks like we're both in deep shit," he muttered.
"So will you do it? Will you agree to this temporary marriage?"