Disclaimer: I do NOT own a single thing... Especially Yu-Gi-Oh!
This story contains some content that readers of younger age should not be viewing. No big detail, but just to be on the safer side, I am stating it out for you. Please enjoy!
A strange girl always stood at the alley's corner in that large city lit street.
She wore the same expression...
She wore the same posture...
But, her eyes... Her dark eyes were what caught his attention as he passed the woman filled street of Tokyo.
In the midsts of his aggravating business trip, he found himself here. The Seto Kaiba, what a site, president Kaiba Corporation. The reason as to why? Well, simply out of stress. He needed something, actually, no longer something but someone. With his brother a whole city or two away, who was he going to console in for the time being, as just a call would simply not due with the circumstances.
Two females walked over to the deep tinted driver side window, giving it a short knock. The brunet briefly glanced towards them, lowering the window a quarter of the way.
"Evening there, cutie! What are you in the mood for?" One of the ladies asked as she shifted her weight onto the other female's shoulder, both giving off smiles.
He scanned the crowd again, there was much of a variety, all for a price. Again, she caught his eye, she looked average, but there was defiantly something about her that seemed to attract the CEO. He had passed by the street a couple times before, each time he saw her in the same corner wall, never holding that show of seductiveness.
Seto sighed, he had some minor fatigue with all the arguments of the Tokyo business accomplices. He finally made up his mind, "The girl on the wall, in the purple." He stated in a cold tone, the women gave a slight look of confusion.
Sure, that girl had made a decent profit over the years, but mostly with the repeats of customers and rarely new ones. She might have been one of the youngest, but there were plenty of more developed women in the ally. So, it really didn't matter all too much of a pretty face, most of the time.
"Sure, Handsome! Well, bring her right over, hang tight," the lady winked as she glided over to the off staring girl with her friend tagging along, but not before blowing a bit of sugar through the window towards the brunet, who ignored it completely.
After a few minutes, the girl requested came along. The expression on her face did not flatter one bit as the Seto's ice words commanded her to get in.
She held her jacket close to her, it wasn't cold in the least bit, but a his voice just sent a strange sensation down her spine. Regardless, she made her way over to the passenger's side of the town vehicle.
The ride was silent, she did not dare speak a word, it was something like an unwritten code to let them do all the talking, let them start the conversation... Let them do what they wanted...
"You have a name," he finally spoke, or broke the disturbing silence, they were the first words that he had spoken to her, even if it was filled with an underlying stressed tone. The younger girl turned towards the handsome brunet, observing him as he drove through the narrow streets. They were still quite a ways off from the hotel Seto had bought for his two weeks of stay, but with the way the traffic was at this hour. They would arrive within ten to fifteen minutes, at most.
He was older than her, that was for sure. Even if this tall man's eyes weren't directly focused to her, she could clearly see the ice blue eyes beneath his thick bangs. He must be at least a whole head taller than herself, if not more; she noted to her silent self before opening her mouth to speak.
"What would you like my name to be?" Her soft voice chimed as it cut through the silent humming of the motor. She turned towards the reflection of the side window, avoiding the gaze directly from his ice eyes. "I am saying, call me any name you wish for me to take."
'They all do anyways...'
He kept silent for a while, thinking, she supposed. He must not have done this very often, considering all the signs.
"What was the name your parents gave you?" It sounded a if he was lacking patience, too bad most of the answers would get anyone pissed.
"Never gave me a real one," she stated as the city lights reflected off the window, letting everything glow. "Who do you think got me started in the business?"
The un named girl could feel his gaze on her. As it seemed, her social skills were as low as his, but Seto just didn't want to be bothered, she seemed that she was along the lines of bored...
"Then what would you like to be called? You need a name," Seto stated, eyes now glued to the passing road. He certainly was different than the others, she would give him that.
"Call me... Mineko, then. Would that be better?" There was no reply as the grand hotels came into view. "What should I call you?"
There was still silence as he halted to a stop in front of a well lit hotel. It seems, he had no intention of answering.
The passenger and driver side door opened as a bell men stood at each side with a smile.
"Konbanwa, Kaiba-San," they both greeted, it had a minor chime and creepiness the way they said it at the same time.
'Kaiba-San... So that's your name...'
She followed him up to the elevator, getting a range of different reactions, from strange glances to stared all the way. Sure, it wouldn't be very uncommon, but the fact was that she was walking with Seto Kaiba.
--
'Wow...'
Mineko's breath got cut short as the doors opened to the extravagant room. It was huge, this was the first time that she had been in any sort of high class room.
One thing was sure, Kaiba had to be some one of great wealth or importance, Mineko noted as she scanned the furnished room.
"Would you be one of those men that are with the Yakuza?" Mineko asked hesitantly.
There were some girls that were out on a job and wouldn't come back to the ally way, but then you'd see them months, to years later with designer clothes, surrounded by men, but they always had such empty eyes. Eyes that seemed to loose their life, the eyes that almost seemed to resemble Mineko's... Almost...
"What in hell would make you suspect that proposition?" He had a glare that seemed to just seep into the skin, but like most things today, she didn't really show discomfort. She just took a bit deeper breath, staring towards him.
"Gomen nasai," Mineko apologized in an empty voice as she bowed lowly, "it is not my place."
"Whatever," the brunet stated, walking in to another room.
'Such an interesting man... ' Mineko laid herself down on the cream fabricated couch cushion, her jacket and purse beside her bare leg. She was still, a bit uneasy about this new "client".
"Here..."
"Ano?" Mineko peered over the couch only to find a towel being shoved in her face.
'Okay...'
"Washroom's that door over there. Who knows what kind of filth you've been in..." Seto somewhat explained, walking away yet again.
'Oh... I see now...'
She slowly got up, hair falling in her eyes. Placing her jacket and sorry excuse of a hand bag over her her arm, made her way towards the open oak door of the marbled room.
--
'Well, this'll have to do... I'm never going to let Tomo-San cut my hair again...' Mineko looked at the slightly fogged mirror, reflection hazy, but visible. Even though her hair was up, because of Mineko's friend, called Tomo, it only looked as if she had short hair. It was almost a reversed layered type of style.
Her skin was more of a peach color due to the heat of the water and her hair was still damp. With her clothes in her bag, Mineko exited the humid room.
Setting her bag and unused jacket down on the floor near the door of a lighted room. Peering inside, Mineko saw Seto sitting on a paper filled bed on his cell phone.
'So, he's the hard working type. Very dedicated to his work, should have known...' Tightening the towel around her petite form, she made her way into the room.
He hadn't noticed her yet, but as he felt the slight shift in weight on the blanketed bed, who else could it have been?
"Kaiba Corp., so you're a business owner," she asked as she red the name printed at the top.
"That's not any or your concern."
She put her hands up defensively, "Okay, gomen."
'Really, never knew that anyone could get that worked up about one thing, but then again...'
"You know," Mineko switched positions form in front to right behind the brunet, "you don't need to be so tense all the time. "
He really tensed once he felt her hands on his shoulders.
Eventually, after a while, he had scrummed to the relaxation in his back. They never kissed, but you could only guess how this ended.
--
The bed sheets, scattered in every which direction as the clock hit the number of seven on the dial. Only one occupant remained confined to the messy mattress as there was once two.
As she opened her eyes, she almost regretted the silence.
'It never lasts...'
Mineko turned to check the time, but found something else. She grasped the slip of paper so neatly folded on the side table.
In the side drawer, there should be enough for you. Forget what happened last night and be sure to get out of the room by noon.
-S.K.
The directions were pretty straight forward and what she fond was more than enough cash then expected.
'Might as well leave now, wouldn't want to keep him waiting too long...'
Mineko stepped out of the warm covers, picking up her clothes as well as the forgotten towel from last night. A few spots of red were seen on the snow white covers, in which the maid would would replace once they came.
--
Seto had long since left and was promptly on his way to the building of which his meeting would be held. Surprisingly, he wasn't in as bad of a mood as he was usually in the mornings. There was only the faintest idea as to why.
--
Mineko enters a rickety apartment building, not much to describe there as it could fall apart by a light quake. She made her way through the building, knowing halls let to which rooms and her ending destination. But as she came to a closed door, about to enter an arm shot out and grabbed her hand.
"Daiyate..."
There was a 'tsk'ing noise as it was from none other than Dayate. He was, a friend of a friend, I suppose you could say.
"What would you like, Dayate?" Mineko briefly glanced at the older man, bored with his presence. Though, she had not noticed the growing smirk appearing on his lips.
"You're not allowed in there anymore... But as of what I would like..."
Mineko didn't know, nor expected anything along the lines of what was about to come, but this would be a nightmare that would haunt any one...
--
'And to think, I thought today couldn't be worse than the past week!' Seto sighed as he drove through the side streets of the never sleeping city. It was raining, not as heavily as it was going to be, but only now did Seto actually turn on the wind shield whippers. However, no soon after did he pass by lit streetlight where he saw something, someone.
"The hell..."
The sleek car slowed to a holt as the doors unlocked and out walked the CEO, into the oncoming rainfall.
--
Walking...
Trudging...
Gliding...
Stumbling...
What was she doing there...? Even she didn't know, but a feeling notioned not to understand, not to comprehend what just happened in that few short hours. She collapsed, her legs gave way, the ached, the shook and screamed every time she took a step until finally the gave. Mineko got to her knees looking up at the dark sky. The rain pelted her head, her body, everything around in the background.
'Deep breaths...'
She didn't mind the rain. She always loved the rain, in truth, but today, I doubt that she even noticed it. I doubt that she even noticed the halted car that just seemed to appear.
"Mineko!"
"Mine-Chan... My Mine-Chan... Now mine Mine-Chan..."
She flinched, if you could call it that...
"Mineko, what the hell are you doing out here?" She looked up, only seeing a blur of colors before muttering a word or two and falling into the darkness for safety.
--
'Why did I do that...? Why did I run into the rain...? Why did I react towards her...?'
The brunet was driving now. He was pretty much drenched and then there was a girl passed out in the passenger seat. The rain water still dripping from her hair.
Seto ignored the thought and turned into the hotel's parking structure where the valets immediately came to take his vehicle. They were quite surprised that he came out soaking wet, but even more so when they saw Mineko's sleeping body in the car. Of course the CEO never passed the thought of having to explain. Seto just went to the other side of the car, opened the door and picked the petite female up in his arms and made his way into the hotel entrance, briefcase in hand.
--
'Warmth...'
When was the last time she felt such feeling...?
That was easy, she never had...
'Where am I...?'
She rubbed her eyes, all her surroundings were still blurred. She only faintly felt the sheets slip off her shoulder, down to her waist. Her body ached, and her head hurt.
'What happened... Last night...'
Mineko closed her eyes, it was like her heart pulsated in her brain. She pulled her knees up to her chest, it ached.
'I don't want to remember...'
--
Mineko noted that she was in a hotel suite. There was only a faint thought as to where exactly she was, or who even changed her. However, it seemed her mind was still messed up from something or another.
'This smell, I remember it from... somewhere...'
She grasped her head, slopping her hair further, "... So tired..."
"At least your not dead."
Her ears perked up as something triggered. Looking up, she remembered it. The smell, that voice, Mineko knew where she was.
"Kaiba-San..."
"I have a request for you..."
Mineko's head tilted slightly, 'Nani...'
--
"So, if I understand what you're saying, you're telling me that because your business associates assume you have a girlfriend, you want me to pose as one for you?" She asked, head tilted slightly.
"And you're talking like it's strange, besides it's not like you won't get paid."
'Well, it is a bit strange...' Mineko thought to herself.
"Uhm, I suppose there's no problem in that," she replied, watching, as he clacked away at his lab top. Her gaze went down to her lap. She was in the hotel robe.
"And no, I didn't change you, one of the maids came in and took your clothes to dry."
She looked at him, 'Not like it would have made a difference...'
"Tomorrow night, or more accurately tonight, you and I will go out to dinner with some associates. Therefore you will need to buy some new clothes."
Mineko blinked, but nodded. It was getting harder to keep her eyes open and all through Seto's explanation she was suppressing a yawn. But he knew better than that. Only briefly did he glance at Mineko.
"Sleep, you must be tired."
He caught her as she was rubbing her eyes, Mineko weakly shook her head, but ended up obeying anyways. She lied down on the couch she was currently seated on. Mineko drifted into the Sand Man's world, curled in a ball.
'Idiot...'
Seto sighed, grabbing the nearest blanket, and placed it on top of her small form before going back to the computer. Once again, consuming himself in his work.
--
"Good evening Kaiba-San. How are you thing morning?" A rather elder man greeted with a smile.
"Kaiba! You're right on time!"
"Yeah, aren't you usually early?"
"He must have spent an extra minute or so with his girl, you know!" The other CEO's joked, as they always did. The only reply was an eye roll from Seto.
"Hey, Kaiba!"
"Yotabi-San..."
"Oh, no need to be formal with me. Anyways, I just wanted to apologize about yesterday. I didn't realize that you were already in a relationship with someone." The man bowed. Seto nodded with a deep sigh.
"It's not like it's across the headlines, but I want to keep my private life, private." Not entirely a fib.
"A good plan indeed Mr. Kaiba..." The elder smiled. Having more on the mind than just a simple dinner session.
--
"Kaiba! You're in town for the next week or something, ne?"
"I'm here until the last meeting before my flight leaves and I return home."
The elder business associate gave a grin, "Well, how about tomorrow night you, I, and my delightful daughter go out for dinner. I will not take a decline, Mr. Kaiba."
Seto held back his disgust, he had previously met a year ago. He almost filed another restraining order against her, but due to her father being an alley in his company, Seto just ignored the un needed attention.
"Mr. Yotabi, you are aware that I am not looking into any relationship at the moment- "
"Oh! So you already have a girl then, Kaiba! Well, that's... quite a shocker there..."
The rest of the day the man casted glances at the young CEO. A jumping conclusion is what started this... mess...
--
'A dress...' Mineko thought browsing through the many lines of apparel.
He handed her a plastic card, she stared at it blankly.
"You will need clothes for this evening and the following days. Buy what you want, as long as you will use it. I'll be back around six to pick you up. Don't be late!" His cold eyes shooting right through her. Meekly, Mineko nodded, a shy smile spreading across her lips.
'What would his favorite color be...,' she pondered lightly. She skimmed through the many racks, once again, picking out a few things.
Would it really be that hard to pick out a few articles of clothing that would suit a girl's fancy?
--
Five minutes to six and he was already out of the limo and heading to the elevator. At that time, Mineko put the final touch on her outfit. She took a breath, assuring that she was actually going through with this.
Her hair was parted differently, putting an illusion to the actual length of it. Little facial products were applied, but still had a good complexion. A ruffled, midnight dark purple halter dress seemed too casual for the evening, but in a dilemma of formal, or semi-formal, she sought it best to under dress with company. As to not show off...
Fiddling with her white bracelet, she decided it be best to wait in the lobby. Grabbing her new white purse, Mineko slipped on her black heels and made her way out the door.
Making her way to the elevator, she pressed the down button. Deciding then to buckle the straps of her shoes, as she awaited for the elevator to arrive.
The low frequency, 'ting' signaled the elevator, and the automatic doors opened. Seto stare down at the woman in front of him as she returned his gaze, with less intensity. Mineko let out a smile. He still didn't budge.
"Let's get going."
Mineko, stood up with a nod of agreement. Smoothing out the non-existant wrinkles of her cotton dress out, she stepped into the elevator, along side the CEO.
Seto didn't allow his eyes to roam across her figure, not directly, or course. Through the slightly fuzzy reflection of the elevator's door, he could see her just fine.
--
"When it comes to business, just let me handle it. If they ask how we bet, the story is..."
Over the limo ride to the restaurant, Kaiba was informing her on what to say, what their false relationship is, everything of the sort.
"And," she met his gaze expectingly, "call me Seto."
"Seto..." The name felt more natural to her, than Kaiba did. "Of course!"
Well, there you have it! Hope the first chapter was to your liking and I would appreciate your feedback. The next chapter is soon to come, once I have enough time to type it out! Thank you for reading!
-Sin