Snowball Effect
By Ash Kaiba
DISCLAIMER!! I don't own Yu-gi-Oh or Dracula by Bram Stoker.
Author's Note: Finally, things are slowly down and ideas are coming to me. Trying to write earlier this year was a pain due to writer's block. So, hopefully I can make some head way on all the fics that need updating. Sorry, folks, no Dracula yet. He will show up, I promise.
Chapter 1
I don't know how long I slept, but I still feel exhausted. Plus, the morning sun is too bright. But, I suppose everyone can use a wake up call. I push my body up, using every ounce of strength I can. I hear my muscles begging for more rest. I still ignore their complaints as I stagger across the room. Damn… What in the hell hit me?
My desk is now near me as I feel that I am about to fall. I grip the edges and force my legs to not buckle under me. My cell phone starts flashing as my ring tone picks up the beat. At the end of the annoying melody Mokuba made, my dragon roars in triumph. I stare at the silver object as the annoying melody starts up again. Using my right hand, I grip the phone and flip it open with my thumb. My hand automatically moves the tiny, thin object to my ear. I try to force myself awake, but fail as I groan, "Kaiba speaking…"
"Seto? Were you sleeping in?"
My left hand moves up to my face. My middle and index finger rub my temple as I groan in response. I listen to my little brother grunt in my ear before lecturing me about sleep. I pull out the chair and comply with my body's desire to sit. My long slender legs stretch out as I sigh in relief. Still, I know I would have to get up to get the painkillers for this migraine.
"Seto," the voice growls.
"Yes," I moan.
"Will you be home today?"
"Yes, kiddo. I promised you, didn't I?"
"Yup." I could see the grin on his face.
"All right, kid. I should get ready then."
"All right, Seto. See you when you get home. Be careful."
At that, Mokuba hangs up. I sigh once more. This time, I sigh in exasperation. I feel like I survived a car accident. And I was the pedestrian. I stay in the posture for a good ten minutes before forcing my body back up. I glare at the curtains, cursing them for letting a little too much light in. I turn my head away from the window to keep myself from looking into the morning light. My left hand acts as a guide and a brace again the hotel walls as I stagger to the bathroom. I relieve my bladder as I ponder that woman the night before.
I couldn't stop myself from wondering how she got in that condition. I'm not sure, but I think she was bitten on her neck. It was and still is too hard to tell. Last night, she was covered in blood. In my mind, she is still covered in that red liquid. Neck… If the "geek patrol" were to hear this, they would probably… No, they will pipe up something that deals with their mumbo jumbo. Or vampires since they now seem to be popular in today's pop culture. Either way, neither option exists. That woman probably just found a guy with a biting fetish.
But, she leads to my current condition. The day before, I was pretty fine. Now, I curse the smallest degree of change in light. Plus, my body is still complaining about not getting enough rest. Though bacteria and viruses can infect the body within days, I know that it is a slim chance for an infection to affect the whole body less than 12 hours later. So, what the hell is wrong with me?
No, I'll save that question for later. I really need to get ready to leave. Especially since that blasted convention/party is now over. I need to leave before that persistent old man finds me to talk my ears off. Why did I even come here? Other than Tsubasa made it mandatory.
I guess to increase my tolerance for these social events.
As a CEO, I have held a couple myself. Yet, even then, the guests and I didn't see eye to eye…during the whole event. When it's all over, I retreat back to my home and vent.
People… They're so stupid. So naïve. So gullible. That is what the human race has become. And I refuse to degrade myself to that level. I refuse to let Mokuba to become one of them… Then, I'm failing. I've lied to Mokuba several times before, though he has forgiven me.
I strip before stepping into the bathtub that also functions a shower. The cheap fabric curtain slides on its pole. I twist the water on and adjust it to the temperature I desired. Then, ordered it to redirect to the shower head. It feels so good. I can feel what little filth I accumulated overnight wash off. I massage my shampoo into my scalp. The woman…my misery now vanishes as my body forces itself awake. I am still me; this time the me yesterday.
I wash the lightly scented citrus shampoo out. I feel the mass slide down my back and drops off my ass. I scan my body now as I lather up the washcloth provided my hosts. Lean muscle hides under my pale skin. My stomach is flat due to the fact that I eat only two meals a day, a small lunch and decent dinner. Mokuba wishes that he grows up to be as handsome I am. But sometimes, I hate it. It attracts too much people. Women that want to marry me for my money, even though I just graduated from high school. Men that dream of bending me over the table and "make love" with me. And oh god…The fangirls that patrol the streets just to get my autograph and swoon at my feet.
The washcloth now skims over my skin. I allow the water to take the soap away as I progress further down. Once finished, I turn; the soap slips off and swirls into the drain. I rinse the washcloth off and wring it out. Content, I turn the water off. I reach out and snag the white towel from the bar. The 'supposed to be soft' cloth scratches my skin as it absorbs the moisture from my skin. Still, I wrap the thing around my waist as I walk over to the sink. My right hand snags the hand towel from its resting place. Then, glides it over the foggy mirror's surface.
Another thing I don't like about hotels. The fans don't work…at all. I fish my cotton swabs out of the toiletry bag. Then, I process to clean the unwanted earwax out of my ears. I place to the two rods on the counter. Both tips are now only a light yellow color. I now pull out my cerulean blue comb and begin straightening out my brown hair. I place my comb back in its exact place and pull out my toothbrush and paste. My thumb flips the cap open and squirt a pea size little blue paste out. I run the head up the water from the faucet. I brush the incisors, the canines, and molars. I feel the paste foam against my cheeks. As I cleaned the apatite, I observe myself in the mirror.
That blasted nick has now scabbed over. So apparently, I even scratched it open while I slept. But now, the blasted thing isn't bothering me. That's all I care about. Of course, Mokuba is going to see it and panic like he usually does.
I lean over the sink as I spit the now white foam out. My tongue runs over the now smooth teeth. My hand snarls the cold water handle and jerks it hard. Water cascades out of the little faucet and down the willing drain, taking the foam with it. I snag the plastic cup, which was also provided by my "honorable" hosts, and fill it half way full. I bring it up to my lips and allow some to the liquid into my mouth. I swish vigorously and release the remnants of toothpaste out into the sink.
With that taken care of, I finally leave that small room (compared to my own superior bathroom back at the manor). Instead, I stand in the short 'hallway' in front of my duralumin case. I retrieve what I deem to be perfected for any day. A black turtle, black leather pants, eight thin dark blue belts, two silver cuffs, one dark blue belt with my company's logo, and the white sleeveless trench coat from the closet. I slide into my boxers and remember another key indigent. I head back to the bathroom, retrieving the toiletry bag with all my goods. I rummage through the bag and pull out a bottle of lotion. I open the container and forced a large dab into my hand. I press my hands together and then run them up my legs. Once the lotion is used up, I grab my pants and slide into them.
I proceed with this little everyday ritual, adding each article in a particular order. Whether it was slipping into my turtleneck or the boots, everything has to come on in order. I tighten the belts that go my legs before doing the belts for my arms. Then, swing my slender arms into the armholes of the trench coat. I toss the toiletry bag into the case and fold my blue pajamas before placing them in. I close the case, grab the card key, my phone, and walk out that fake wooden door.
I flip open my phone and press '3'. I bring the tiny silver object to my ear.
"Yes, Master Kaiba?"
"Isono, be ready with plane. I will be arriving at the airport shortly."
"Yes, sir. The pilots are already ready. I shall arrive at the hotel to pick you up." Isono replies and timely silences before I hang up.
I step into the elevator, making the other occupants cringe in recognition. I tuck the phone into a pocket inside the coat. My back straightens even more as the elevator hums. The other people around me glance and whisper, thinking that I am so full of myself to not hear them. They're wrong. I hear their questions while still ignoring this slight migraine. Great, now I realize that I forgot to take painkillers for this small setback.
The elevator doors open and I set out first. I approach the front desk and tap the card key on the marbled surface. The young female working turns to me and asks if I enjoyed my stay here. I only grunt in response and she went quiet as she logs the key back in. Her computer produces my receipt as I pull my checkbook and pen. I write up the amount and tear out the check. I hand the slip to the receptionist, who hands me the receipt.
I march out and Isono was true to his word. He stood outside the limo, waiting for me at the door. I ignore the press that surrounds the walkway as well as their cameras' flashes. When I approached, the bodyguard pulls my car door open. My thin frame slides in and Isono shuts it behind me. He climbs into the driver's seat. The engine starts to hum as he turns the key.
As we pull out, I watch the press continuing to try to get a word out of me. I glare out the tinted window, pondering whether or not to terrify them. However, they decided for me as I lower the window.
"Mr. Kaiba…"
"There is nothing to make a story on!!! No comment!! Now, scram!"
Amazingly enough, that is what they did. Idiotic slaves to the idiotic media, who all believe they have a right to know what happens in a celebrity's life. They don't.
"Master Kaiba, may I?"
"Go ahead, Isono."
"That really isn't how you should be treating people, sir."
"They're idiots," I growl. "They're idiots who think they have the right to know everything. Every single deal and even every moment of my personal life."
"I understand that, sir." Isono replies, taking his eyes off the road for a brief second to look at me with aid of the rearview mirror. "I'd also say that you do not look well, sir. Did you get enough rest?"
For once, I lower my protection system. "I think so, but I just feel awful this morning. It's only a slight migraine, Isono. No worries."
"If you say so, the trip to the airport will be awhile. I will wake you up if you fall asleep on the way there."
"Thank you." I sigh, now allowing my body to relax. And once more sleep claims me.
This makes the end of the chapter, though you all know that by now. Please review and I shall work on the next installment.
-Ash Kaiba