Summary: Mokuba was lucky they were related by blood, considering Kaiba was already plotting revenge. Bound by his word Kaiba had painstakingly become The Bachelor. He would make the next few months bearable, and unknowingly Anzu was about to help.
Disclaimer: If they were really mine I would go crazy with power. Mwahahahahaha...
A/N: Gag reflex inducing reality shows such as the Bachelor/Bachelorette are not my style. Manipulating Kaiba and Anzu into my version of the show is my style and a wonderful pleasure. In order to write this story I forced myself through an entire season of the Bachelorette and part of the Bachelor to learn the basics of the show and gather ideas. What I came away with was the knowledge that when people are desperate they are crazy. Makes my job so much easier.
A/N2: Upon reading you will quickly find I've taken liberties and changed key aspects of the show to better suit my story. I'm a sucker for romance, but anything that falls under the category of cheesy, sappy, or so sweet my teeth hurt, does not work for me. I hope everyone enjoys how I have taken the reality show and put a Japanese-Kaiba-ish spin on it.
Italics = English
Regular = Japanese
The Bachelor Kaiba Style
Week One
The current count was, eight for women who had begun to cry; three had fainted dead away, all coincidentally right into his arms; one woman got a horrible case of the hiccups; and there were still two more potential women to meet.
Some how Mokuba had decided it would be a great idea to have Kaiba's consequence for losing their bet, which would go unmentioned, to become The Bachelor. And wouldn't he know it, his PR rep thought the idea pure genius. Being a single father of a three year old daughter Yasmin, and his last relationship ending days after the adoption, Mokuba would stand on the sidelines no longer. He was downright insistent that Yasmin needs a female figure in her life who was not hired help.
The matchmaking skills of his little brother notwithstanding, a harem of twenty-five women was a little on the desperate side.
"It will be loads of fun, Nii-sama! Just you see."
Fun? The show should be renamed 'fangirls gone wild.'
For the sake of his brother Kaiba had agreed. Yes he would be The Bachelor. Yes he would at least be civil to the women and not make them cry. What could he say? He had tried. Yes he would give the show and women a chance, or as much of a chance as decency allowed. And yes he would take the time off from Kaiba Corp. to relax. Maybe even get a few full nights of sleep. But no where in their agreement or the producers contract had Kaiba told Mokuba he would be leaving with a girlfriend. His plan was to make it through the weeks of the show with his sanity intact and as few death threats and stalkers as possible. Most importantly He did not want Yasmin to become attached to someone that would not be remaining in their lives; she was his number one priority.
Kaiba appreciated beautiful women, and the twenty-three he had already met were each stunning in their own right, but he never enjoyed when women threw themselves at him in hopes to bed, wed and spend his fortune. His mind was made up before signing the papers to let every woman go.
Number twenty-four approached and he waited to see her shock turn to elated joy, tears, a panic attack, or all three. She had spiky short black hair that shimmered with tiny sparkles. A pair of rectangular framed glasses sat on her face. Her greeting squashed any thoughts Kaiba had that she was unaware of who he was.
"Hello, Kaiba-san," she addressed him, "My name is Aya."
"Nice to meet you," he replied. No smile, but no scowl either, and no offer of conversation.
They bowed to each other before she entered the mansion.
One more to meet and then Kaiba would be swarmed by the women inside. Twenty-five intoxicated desperate women would not be 'loads of fun,' migraine inducing, yes. His PR had already warned him away from loosing himself in alcohol.
"The Bachelor can do great things for Kaiba Corp. and your image, Kaiba-san," she had told him, "But it has the same ability to destroy it. Above all things, be responsible."
Kaiba was twenty-four years old. He had shown responsibility by raising his little brother, running a million dollar corporation, and graduating high school all before he was of 'legal' age. A badly designed reality show would not change his life.
Potential girlfriend number twenty-five approached. Her shoulder length brown hair was kept out of her face with a thin white hair band that matched her dress. The dress accented her curves without overly flaunting them like some of the women, and she walked in her heals like she had been born in them.
Of everything he observed, Kaiba still felt that he was a puzzle piece short. Their blue eyes locked. Ah. He smirked. Mazaki Anzu. If the entertainment did not come to him he would have no problems entertaining himself.
After graduating high school Kaiba had not kept up with Yugi and his friends. Everything he did know was passed on to him by Mokuba. As he recalled Mazaki had made a name for herself as a professional dancer. Moving in different circles, though, their paths had never crossed.
He noticed the moment Mazaki recognized him. All colour drained from her face and the innocent smile was lost. Disappointment, maybe sadness flashed in her eyes.
"Kaiba-kun, it's nice to meet you."
So she was going to play it that way, was she?
"It's been a long time, Mazaki-san."
She opened her mouth to speak, eyes wide, paused and changed her mind. "See you inside." Mazaki said, before hurrying away.
Oh how he was going to enjoy this.
CAMERA: Miya and Maiya, 26 yrs old, Emergency Room Nurses
"The Kaiba Seto!" the twins swooned at the same time. They held matching wooden fans, of yellow and orange, and narrowly avoiding hitting each other with them in their celebration.
"This is like destiny-"
"Our fate-"
"Our lives will be-"
"Complete!"
They sighed, giving a perfect example of overly dramatic fainting.
Upon entering the mansion Anzu was met with multiple octaves of earache inducing squealing, champagne flutes were spread among the women and one of the few women not raising hell was sobbing uncontrollably into a pillow. If she did not know Kaiba better, Anzu would almost feel sorry for the man.
Grabbing a champagne flute of her own, Anzu approached the quietest woman in the room, joining her on the love seat.
"Quite a surprise isn't it?" she asked the blonde woman, "I'm Anzu."
"My name is Virginia. They are excited," the woman spoke in broken Japanese, gesturing to the others.
"You're a foreigner."
Virginia tilted her head with a look of concentration at what Anzu said. "I'm British."
"I've always wanted to visit London," Anzu replied, easily switching to English. She laughed when Virginia started coughing on her champagne. "I studied for four years in the United States. It has its benefits."
She gave Anzu an open smile. "Maybe you can help me. What is so shocking and this crazy level of celebration about Mr. Kaiba?"
Well was that just opening a can of worms? Anzu could write an emotional memoir on all of her experiences with Kaiba. No friendship with standing, some things were a little too personal to reveal about him to the world. And she wasn't inclined to be sued.
"Kaiba is like a gold diggers wet dream," Anzu went with, "He is CEO of the largest gaming company in Japan, a genius, and in case you missed it devilishly handsome. I didn't know the man could get even more handsome. Unfortunately his arrogance is overwhelming."
Virginia took a sip of her champagne. "Arrogance doesn't seem to matter to anyone here."
In the hyperventilating cloud of joy surrounding everyone, Anzu agreed.
CAMERA: Kaori, 28 yrs old, Nanny
Kaori sat in front of the camera playing with a tight ringlet of red hair.
"Kaiba-san is the sexiest man in Japan," she told the camera, "I was worried The Bachelor wouldn't be my type. But now I know why I'm really here. To win Kaiba-san's heart. Our babies will be beautiful."
She chewed her gum a few moments. "I am so winning this thing."
It was starting. Kaiba waited in the front hall of the mansion for the host, Bakura Ryou, to announce his presence. First Bakura, then Mazaki. What next? Jounouchi as his chauffeur? Honda as a camera man?
"Kaiba-san," Bakura appeared in the doorway, "You've been announced. The women are waiting for you."
He made it five feet into the room before he was swarmed on all sides by bodies, voices and more hands then welcome, immediately reaching for their chance to molest.
"I've loved you for ten years."
"We are perfect for each other."
"You have beautiful eyes."
"I want to know everything about you. Everything!"
Kaiba grabbed one of many hands finding its way to his ass. "Stop," he growled.
"I love you!"
"Come away with me."
"I've brought you some champagne."
"Enough!" He pushed away more pairs of hands. "Move the hell away from me!" The order received confused stares. "I said back, dammit!" With the allotted space they gave him, Kaiba patiently straightened his wrinkled white suit jacket and purple tie. The women were crazier then even he had anticipated.
"Kaiba-san I would just like to say-" the curly haired redhead, Kaori he reminded himself, went silent at his steely glare.
"You have two hours to impress me," he addressed the room, "Maul me and you will leave. Now that we understand each other, I will be speaking with Mazaki." Kaiba watched her balk at his declaration, alone as she was on a couch.
The single women glanced around amongst themselves until they realized to whom he was referring and suddenly he was no longer the centre of attention, a few of the women whispering amongst themselves.
"Shall we?" Kaiba strode forward, offering Mazaki his arm, which she begrudgingly took, squeezing tightly.
They made it all the way to the balcony before her calm facade cracked. Eyes flashing in anger, hands on hips, Mazaki was never one to disappoint. It amazed him such a small body contained her fiery spirit.
"Are you trying to get me killed?" she miraculously yelled in a whisper, "You don't have normal fangirls, Kaiba, they are all psychotic! And now they are going to eat me alive!"
With complete composure he took a seat on the cushioned bench. "Were you not present for my entrance, Mazaki? If anyone will be eaten alive I unwillingly hold that title."
Mazaki let out a huff of laughter, her anger slowly fading and joined him on the bench. "Yeah, sorry. I just... You're very unexpected. My friends auditioned me for this, thinking it would be a nice way to relax for a short while. I promised them I would stay if I'm given a Duel Monsters card, but I'm not about to enter into the war of seduction."
"Your life must be devastating if they thought a reality show is relaxing."
"Save it Kaiba," she smiled, "I never pegged you as the harem type. Been taking notes from Otogi?"
He smirked, "Hardly."
"Then why are you here?"
They stared at one another, Kaiba unwilling to answer her question and announce to the camera, to the millions of viewers, why; and Mazaki, being the smart woman that she was, quickly put the pieces together. He should be more worried that even after five years since having spoken to one another, she was still able to pick out small things about his life.
"Mokuba," Mazaki grinned, "Your brother is a miracle worker."
"Among other things," Kaiba agreed, "He thought it would be an eye opening experience with multiple benefits. One would almost think it was a back handed way to take over Kaiba Corp." Mokuba's almost begging offer to run the company and allow Kaiba time away for the show shocked him more so then becoming The Bachelor. One thing his brother made clear while growing up was loving Kaiba, but wanting to charter his own way in life without the benefit of the company.
Mazaki's eyes were full of understanding. "Those closest to us know what is best for us. It's painful to admit, I'm sure. Best of luck Kaiba. I'm going to find some more champagne while it's still avaliable." She gave his forearm a squeeze before heading back inside.
After Mazaki's departure Kaiba debated if he could secret away on the balcony for the evening. She was gone twenty seconds before two other woman took up residence. They were smart enough to heed his warning and allowed him personal space, but the headache he predicted was creeping up on him. Their constant competing chatter was like picks slowly chipping away at his skull. If another candidate had no interrupted to ask for his time Kaiba would still be out there.
He was quietly led to a pair of ugly patterned plush chairs in a corner, half hidden by a towering plant when they sat.
"My name-"
"Is Sang-mi," he interrupted her reintroduction, "I am labelled with many faults, a bad memory is no one of them."
"I apologize, Kaiba-san."
He gave a 'hn' in acceptance. "Sang-mi. You're Korean."
She nodded, brown hair bouncing around her ears. "My dad's work transferred him here when I was ten. I've been..." Kaiba must have appeared disinterested by the conversation and she changed tactics. "May I get you a drink?"
"I'm fine." He shut his eyes, rubbing at his temples.
"Perhaps an aspirin then. Though I'm sure in tonight's chaos the whole bottle might be needed."
Huh. Funny.
As though to spite him Bakura began tapping a spoon to the side of his glass from where he stood in the centre of the room. In his timid state his tapping was not loud enough to penetrate the volume of conversation; but it still managed to penetrate Kaiba's skull. "May I – may I please... ah have everyone's attention... please?" Slowly the roar of the women quieted.
"Thank you." Their host took a breath no doubt to find the courage to do his job. "It has been made aware that our Bachelor and Mazaki-san are former acquaintances, they attended the same high school. The producers have discussed this and wish for Mazaki-san to remain."
Across the room Mazaki slowly inched behind the foreign blonde woman, Virginia, and her champagne flute.
When all hell did not break loose Bakura heaved a sigh, and smiled pleasantly. "My second announcement is to present the first impression card. Whomever receives it tonight will not be sent home." Carefully he placed the blue eyes white dragon card on the table in front of twenty-six pairs of watchful eyes.
CAMERA: Usagi, 24 yrs old, Flight Attendant
"She is a deceitful woman, that Mazaki Anzu," Usagi spat her name with disdain, "Someone needs to give that woman a clue. Kaiba-san didn't want her five years ago, what will make him want her now?"
She placed a hand over her heart and made a show of taking a calming breath, smiled, and fluttered her eyelashes.
"It won't be hard to take her out of the picture, and I'll show Kaiba-san exactly what he's been looking for. Me."
Anzu had fled the presence of Kaiba's fangirls the first chance she got after Bakura's announcements, and found an empty lavish bedroom to hide in. It was her last option to get any enjoyment from the evening. She would leave the women to fawning over Kaiba until the ceremony, and when she was not chosen, would be able to leave the show all problems solved and no promises broken.
A knock on the door frame drew her attention, and she looked over from where she lay. Virginia gave her a little wave, entering the room.
"Shouldn't you be fighting for Kaiba's attention?" Anzu asked.
The Brit removed her heals before flopping on the bed beside Anzu. "I've actually come with an ulterior motive. And I apologize in advance for picking your brain."
Anzu laughed, "Please don't leave me in suspense."
"You already know Kaiba... well you did. Is there anything I should be aware of? Like maybe things I shouldn't do or say? Or what will impress him, or get his attention in a good way?" Virginia bit her lip with worry.
"Wow, I don't know where to start."
It was a big request, huge. Kaiba had never been her friend, but Anzu always felt that they were more then acquaintances. Without knowing his favourite colour, or what restaurant he liked to frequent, she knew the person he was. Depending, of course, on how much Kaiba had changed in five years.
Virginia absent-mindedly picked at the comforter. "Do you think my bad Japanese will be a problem?"
"Not particularly. Kaiba speaks fluent English," she laughed at the wide eyed look Virginia gave her, "That was the only class our school didn't force him to take after he started correcting our teacher and made him cry. Oh, and his little brother speaks English too. Not sure about his daughter but she's like maybe three or four now. You should be fine."
"Then I guess I need to go steal him away so we can talk. Wait, would Kaiba-san like that?"
Anzu gestured towards her shoes on the floor. "Go knock yourself out. About the only advice I can give you is that Kaiba likes to be in control of his life, and has little regard for the lives of others. But he won't respect you if you don't demonstrate that you're master of your own life."
"That sounded almost Chinese proverb-ish."
The women shared a laugh.
Soon Virginia was strapping on her heals and straightening her dress. "Wish me luck."
"Good luck!"
Anzu resumed her flopped position on the bed. Just five more minutes and maybe, just maybe, she would show her face again.
The first impression card was a dark cloud hoovering around everyone, and Kaiba thinking the night could not get worse was proven wrong by the insistent desperation the women revealed. He was not alone with one woman for more then two minutes before they were interrupted. All for the sake of an imitation blue eyes white dragon, that come tomorrow they would all be fighting for once again. He had to stop it and by doing so was about to crush many hopes. Potential water works noted.
Kaiba walked away from the handful of women in mid conversation and made no attempts to hide what his destination was. By the time he reached the card the mansion was full of whispers. He believed some of the women had even stopped breathing in anticipation.
The card was to signify the best first impression Kaiba received from one of the women, and the most honest portrayals were the first meetings in front of the mansion. Based on first reactions, only one woman deserved the blue eyes white dragon.
Kaiba approached Aya where she sat. "This is for you," he held out the card.
Aya gracefully rose to stand in front of him before accepting the first impression card and bowed. "Thank you Kaiba-san."
From the corner of his eye Kaiba saw Mazaki smile behind her hand. Suddenly he was looking forward to the card ceremony and not just to escape the mansion of women.
CAMERA: Suki, 28 yrs old, Voice Actress
Big brown eyes stared into the camera, full of innocent hope.
"I haven't cried yet tonight,"she said, "Not once."
Contrary to her words, Suki blinked furiously, her eyes shimmering. Abruptly she ducked her head to hide behind her waist length curtain of black hair.
The seconds ticked by while her shoulders silently shook.
"Kidding!" Suki's head shot up to reveal a beaming smile. "I won't give up until it's over," she promised.
Handing out twenty-four Duel Monster cards in black plastic slips, fourteen imitation blue eyes white dragons and ten blank, was a complete waste of time. Unfortunately the producers did not take kindly to Kaiba's suggestion of ordering the most aggravating women to leave the mansion until fourteen remained.
Bakura had ended the party when he presented Kaiba with a set of Duel Monster cards, and left him to distribute. Nearly two thirds of the cards were given out to the clusters in the main rooms of the mansion before the women realized what time it was. Mazaki and Aya were the only ones who appeared unafraid of there outcome, Mazaki even going as far as giving him a smile.
Last card given, Bakura materialized beside Kaiba once again and proceeded to tap a now empty champagne flute. It took considerably less time to gather everyone's attention. "In a few moments you may all reveal your cards," he addressed the swarm, "Those Kaiba-san has not chosen may take a moment to say goodbye."
Kaiba held up his hand. "That won't be necessary." He had made his choices, not wishing to prolong the evening further; especially with the number of rejected women soon to be crying. It was nails on a chalkboard to his headache and contrary to how the world perceived him he did not take pleasure in causing someone to cry, nor was Kaiba comfortable being forced to deal with a crying human being, Mokuba and Yasmin excluded.
Bakura began to stuttered as though loosing his place in a script, thrown off by improvisation. "What? Kaiba-san I don't think... what are you... that isn't how-"
"We aren't going to attack you," Mazaki came to her friends rescue, "Relax Kaiba-kun, the nights almost over."
"You seem very certain of that."
She shrugged her shoulders, glancing at the other women to support her and shrank back at the overwhelming amount of piercing looks sent her way. "Well I can at least promise I won't hurt you intentionally, or otherwise."
"Very well," Kaiba complied, taking a moment to rub at his pounding temples.
Before the show could take another twist Bakura jumped in. "Ladies please reveal your cards."
It was a tense few moments while the women hurried to see their fates on a piece of card. As foreseen a few began to cry, even Yoko, whom Kaiba gave a blue eyes white dragon. One of the women who had been sobbing all evening into a pillow, fled from the mansion, gasping for breath through her tears.
There was one reaction Kaiba watched carefully.
Mazaki casually removed the Duel Monsters card from its sleeve. She lost hold of it, and the card fluttered to the ground revealing a blue eyes white dragon. In the midst of celebrating and obsession broken women, she gapped in surprise at the card. A handful of the rejected women said their hurried goodbyes in the time it took her to bend down and retrieve it. Card in hand Mazaki turned accusing eyes to Kaiba. His smirk drew her towards him.
"I don't know what you're planning, Kaiba, but it stops now."
"Hmm? Lets not forget your promise, Mazaki."
Her blue eyes sparked angrily. "My promise has nothing to do with you. I will not be played with."
"Then don't allow yourself to be played," he replied. That was all The Bachelor was: The opportunity for one person to openly play two dozen others for weeks, while society watched and supported. Did the women not feel degraded? And they wanted this?
"You haven't changed at all," she accused him, "Well I have. Don't test me Kaiba."
Two rejected women approached together and Mazaki took her leave, right out of the room.
CAMERA: Kaiba Seto, 24 yrs old, CEO of Kaiba Corp.
A light breeze rustled Kaiba's hair from where he stood under the starry sky. Eyes partially hidden by his bangs, it was still apparent how little regard he had for his current situation.
"Ten down, fifteen to go," he said.
That about summed things up nicely.
Bachelorettes
- Aya: 25 - Professional Representative (PR)
- Anzu: 24 - Professional Dancer, Co-owns a dance studio
- Kaori: 25 - Nanny
- Kei: 31 - Professor of literature at Domino University
- Miya and Maiya: 26 - Emergency Room Nurses
- Nikki: 26 - Fitness Trainer
- Nozomi: 23 - Acupuncturist
- Sang-mi: 30 - Model
- Suki: 27 - Voice Actress
- Tamiko: 26 - Divorce Lawyer
- Toshi: 29 - Clothing Designer
- Usagi: 24 - Flight Attendant
- Virginia: 22 - Event Planner
- Yoko: 28 - Computer Programmer
TBC...