Serena: Oh my. I wasn't expecting such a response. Thank you all for your interest! By the way, I recently got a Zexal DVD that has episodes 1 – 73. So, spoilers won't be such a big thing for me anymore and I can catch up with everyone a lot quicker! I mean I still have a lot more to watch after that, but this is a good start, right? Ahhh, Astral's Japanese voice is just as amazing as his English one~ Oh, btw, how come Sherlock Astral isn't a thing in fanfics yet? The amount of fun you could have with that…fuu~

I'd like to give a thank you to Photonbitch, Leahtheredpearlvoice, Dusty, AlessandraCavallone, and fireflame1801 for their lovely reviews!

Warnings: AU. Keyshipping. Human Astral. Alcohol use and mentions of other adult things. Characters might be out-of-character, but for my purposes, they're how I want them to be so apologies in advanced.

Disclaimer: I do not own Yu-Gi-Oh! Zexal.

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Chapter 2: Trouble's Got a Name

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The Grande Numbers Hotel was probably one of the tallest monstrosities of glass Yuma had ever laid his eyes upon. With over 99 floors of varying suite accommodations and a giant pool that looked like it was built out of liquid crystal, it was easily the most recognizable landmark the island of Merciver had. Palm trees surrounded the establishment on patterned rows of low-cut, meticulously manicured grass and bleached white cement walkways twisted here and there, only to meet at a crossroads where a stone fountain of flowing water lay. Colorful luggage and tourists of all nationalities were scattered all over the place, many appearing to be around Yuma's age but most easily a decade or two older.

'His monster has over 3,000 attack points, but she has all those face down cards… Man, I want a closer look!'

He readjusted his grip upon the handle of his rolling suitcase as he stood by the fountain, D-Gazer set and gaze rooted to a duel that was taking place a few feet away. At 1,300 to 200 lifepoints respectively, it was bound to end fairly soon, but with the losing side's penchant for traps and effect monsters, anything could happen. He wished he could get a little closer to better observe the duel, but Akari had threatened to murder him if he wandered off and he quite liked his head where it was. He understood she was just looking out for him (new area and all that), but she could be so overprotective at times.

How much trouble could he possibly get into from indulging in a little duel time?

"This seat taken?"

Yuma felt his mouth go dry.

"H-hunh?"

He turned away from the on-going duel to lock a startled gaze onto a set of smoldering amber irises. They belonged to a man with an angular jawline and ears decorated with various silver piercings. He was fairly slender in build, but he was tall and his skin was so perfectly tanned that it would make any sun worshipper jealous. His hair was darker than the night sky and styled into a kind of silky Mohawk that swayed gently in the light breeze. A pair of dark, low-riding skinny jeans clung to his legs like a second skin and a buckled crop top showed off a set of lithe abdominals that would make Hercules cry.

And his voice. It was like lightning made of pure desire that came straight from Hell, molded by a succubus with far too much time on her hands. It was so deep and filled with unadulterated want that it made Yuma's knees weak. The hell, did this island breed sex appeal? First Astral (and God only knew what he looked like) and now…this.

God damn this guy was fine.

The stranger's lips twisted into an amused smirk at Yuma's gawking silence. He cocked his hips to the side and crossed his arms, the various belts and chains draped around his hips clinking together as he took a step forward. He hummed and took a slow drag from the lit cigarette he held before repeating his question in drawn out syllables.

"Do you mind if I join you?" he asked, words rolling of his tongue like molten lava as cigarette smoke flowed from his lips. It shouldn't have looked as attractive as it did. Yuma's grip on his suitcase tightened. "A little rendezvous never hurt anyone, right?"

Oh, that voice could make a mountain quake and set fire to the sea. It rumbled in low, maddeningly teasing waves that caressed its listener's ears like a moist tongue. Some part of it sounded oddly familiar, but another careful shift of the stranger's hips proved to be too much of a distraction and Yuma couldn't focus enough to think.

"Ah…I…"

He apparently couldn't talk, either.

The dark-haired man let out an amused chuckle that borderlined on being manic giggling and took another drag from his cigarette before he made a move forward.

"You're cute." he said, causing a blush to rise to the teen's cheeks. He moved to sit along the edge of the fountain (merely a few inches from the still standing Yuma) and crossed one leg over the other. He ran a hand through his hair, tousling it a little bit. "Name's Mist. What's yours~?"

Mist.

Yuma barely suppressed a shiver at the name. This man had somehow managed to turn his voice into a biological weapon fit for destroying brain activity. With each word that tumbled from his smoky breath, a trickle of goosebumps tickled at the teen's skin. It felt like having warm molasses poured over his head or slick fingers teasing at his waistband. Hell, maybe both.

Yuma wasn't going to survive the vacation at this rate.

"Y-Yuma." the teen managed, more blood rushing to his face as Mist continued to stare at him. Lord, he felt like he was being undressed by that ridiculously wanton gaze. "Yuma Tsukumo."

An audible purr rumbled in Mist's throat and he moved the hand at his knee to trail a suggestive two fingers up his own thigh before letting the hand settle against the fountain. Yuma wasn't certain if it was intentionally sexual or not.

"Yuma." he repeated, drawing out the syllables like wisps of fog. Maybe there was a reason his name was "Mist". Even if it wasn't his real name, it certainly fit him well enough. Because goddamn. "Japanese, right? Hmm. Interesting. I've always had a thing for foreigners."

Mist shifted a little closer and leaned Yuma's way, just enough to where the teenager could feel his body heat. He took another slow drag from his cigarette and blew a puff of smoke at Yuma, winking as he did so.

"Especially cute ones."

Oh god, this wasn't even happening right now. What did he do to deserve this?

A nervous chuckle forced its way out of Yuma's throat and he fiddled with his suitcase handle, trying in vain to tear his gaze away from Mist's. But those eyes were like black holes of dark amber that drowned its victims in a pool of lust.

'Please tell me I fell asleep in the car. People like him just can't exist and even if they did, why hit on me?!'

Yuma wasn't exactly used to receiving attention from walking sex gods. Oh, he liked to look at attractive people, but anything more than that was out of his comfort zone. He would rather spend his time dueling and making friends. Of course, he did have some rather attractive friends, but he'd never really given much thought into pursuing any of them romantically or otherwise.

"I-is that why you're creeping around a tourist hotel?" Yuma asked, trying to force his blush down. "You're stalking foreigners?"

Mist raised an eyebrow at him and huffed out a giggle. His eyes twinkled mischievously.

"Just the short ones I can make quick work of eating." he countered. His eyes very briefly dropped below Yuma's waist and his tongue darted out to slide along the corner of his mouth. His eyes darkened. "I can do things with my mouth that will have you seeing stars."

Yuma gave up all hope of ridding himself of his blush.

He spluttered (trying to scramble together a coherent response), but as he stood there gapping at the man's audacity, Mist started laughing. He leaned back, shoulders shaking and laughter ringing in a way that sent shivers down the teen's spine. His manic giggling earned a few stares from passing individuals and caused embarrassment to well up in Yuma's chest. Jeez, where was Akari when he needed her?

"Your face!" Mist said, voice breathless with laughter. He tried to take another puff of his cigarette, but doubled over as giggles wracked his frame. "Ahehehehehe, oh god, I needed that. You're fucking perfect."

After a moment more of insane giggling, Mist managed to collect himself enough to breathe properly, but even though his laughter had died down, an amused smirk still remained on his lips. He took a quick drag from his ever burning cigarette before pushing himself to stand. The sound of his belt buckles clinking together as he turned to Yuma was somehow deafening despite the chatter of voices surrounding them.

Mist took a step forward and reached out to trail his middle finger under Yuma's chin. To his credit, Yuma managed to keep eye contact, but it was hard not to shiver at the taller man's touch. He was sure Mist felt it.

"You free tonight, cutie?" Mist asked. He applied a little pressure to the underside of Yuma's chin and made the teen's head tilt upward slightly. "If not, mind clearing your schedule? I'd like to…know you better~"

Fuck fuck fuck. Did everything he say have to sound like some kind of innuendo? He was such a damn tease.

"What, like a date?" Yuma asked, frowning a little. He was surprised his own voice wasn't shaking. "I've known you all of five minutes. For all I know, you're an ax murderer."

"Oh, believe me, if my intentions were murder, this courtyard would be a bloodbath." he replied with a short chuckle. He took one last drag from his cigarette before flicking the shortened stick away and blowing out a puff of smoke that made Yuma cough. "Alas, I prefer more pleasurable activities. You know, the kind that has cute foreigners screaming my name until they forget other words exist."

Yup. Definitely an ax murderer. Yuma was going to die before the night was over. He was fucked.

Probably literally, if Mist had a say in the matter.

"But yes." he continued, finger still holding Yuma's chin. "Let's have a friendly date. At the Blue Lagoon."

Yuma blinked. The Blue Lagoon? Didn't Astral say he might pop in there for a bit?

"What kind of 'friendly date' do you mean?" the teen asked, hardly believing he was really even considering this.

Mist's eyes twinkled with a mischievous light.

"Oh, the friendliest~" he answered before finally removing his finger and allowing Yuma control of his head. He sent the teen a highly suggestive smirk before he turned and began to walk away, throwing back a lazy wave as he moved. "Ten o' clock, cutie! Make sure to wear something loose. They're easier to remove~"

Yuma felt his blush flare up.

"I didn't say yes!"

He didn't receive an answer and it wasn't until after Mist had sauntered off (hips swaying from side to side like a model on a catwalk and laughter flowing back to him like a siren's call) that Yuma realized he hadn't found trouble at all. Trouble had quite literally emerged from whatever haven of gods it called home and used its otherworldly powers to manipulate him into agreeing on a date.

Yuma groaned. Damn. His attraction to nice voices was going to be the death of him one of these days. Just what in the world had he gotten himself into?

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Serena: Don't worry. I'm just ship teasing. There's no actual Tentacleshipping (or whatever it's called) in this. Mist is just being a flirty sneak (you'll see why next chapter). Also, Black Mist isn't evil in this, just so you know. He's more a sassy, mischievous asshole that can't keep it in his pants and lives off flirting. *shot* Anyway, are you guys enjoying it so far? I'm certainly having fun writing this. haha