Disclaimer: I don't own Yu-Gi-Oh!
Chapter Three: Dealings of Everyday Life as a Celebrity
Atemu sat in his kitchen, drinking coffee and reminiscing. It was the first time he ever went ice skating. He fell a couple times and even knocked over his girlfriend, yet he would all over again just to have Yugi near him.
Yugi had become a reason for his life. He recalled the way his relationships, if you could ever call them that, were prior to her. They were short, meaningless, and mistakes; one night stands and quick flings. Even Vivian had become that, despite the original intention. He chuckled. It took a waitress and a dance to make me see the light.
He picked up the newspaper, scanning the latest business tallies and stocks. Still down, he frowned, noticing the stock price for Massri-Wong dropped again. He flipped the page to something a little more comforting, the comics.
But his fun as interrupted as his eyes caught a picture on the front page of the entertainment section. He spewed his coffee as he read the headline.
Massri Heats the Ice: Will He Keep Cool or Will He Fall Through Again?
Underneath the headline was a picture of Yugi and him sprawled on the ice, sharing a kiss.
"Dammit!"
"Atemu, you shouldn't talk like that."
He picked up his head at the sound of his mother's voice, seeing Salihah's scolding eyes on him.
"Look at this."
Atemu held up the page for Salihah to see. He heard her grasp.
"Again, dammit."
Salihah walked over to him, her soft brown eyes transfixed.
"Atemu," she comforted, "you knew this would happen."
He sighed, setting the newspaper down onto the green countertop.
"I know, but…"
She shook her head. "You can't protect her from everything."
Atemu didn't want to admit it, but his mother was right. He couldn't protect Yugi from everything. It made him feel helpless, something he hated.
He clenched his fists. "Why is this so much harder to deal with than before?"
Salihah smiled. She slid out a barstool and took a seat. She grabbed his hand, forcing his crimson eyes to focus on her.
"You care for Yugi." Salihah began to explain. "You have never cared for any other woman, I hate to admit." He swallowed at those last few words. "Because you care, that is why this is hard."
"I need to call Yugi." He slipped out of the chair and left the kitchen.
Salihah watched her son leave. She sighed. Finally, someone has caught his heart. She glanced back at the paper, looking at the latest picture of her son.
"Oh Atemu, I hope you and Yugi are strong."
Masato leaned lazily against the yellow lockers. A copy of today's Tokyo Headliner rested in his hand. He kept a sly eye on the entrance.
He smirked as his prize walked in the lounge. The tall man peered at her as she removed her coat and scarf. He darted his gaze to her lower half, circling his brown eyes around her bottom.
"Nice view."
"Leave me alone Masato."
"Yugi," he said as he rolled his hips off the wall, "you need to stop deceiving yourself with that corporate ass and come be with a real man."
"Oh," she perked up sarcastically, "do you know someone like that?"
Masato chuckled. "You're cute when you try to be mordant." He walked over towards her, inching their bodies closer.
She stepped back into her locker. "Don't come near me. I have a boyfriend."
Masato lifted the paper to her eyes.
"We all know."
Yugi stared at the picture, her eyes open wide. There she was, sharing a kiss with Atemu at the ice rink, on the front page of the entertainment section.
"Still wanna be with him, knowing this will be your future?"
The newspaper crinkled as Yugi's hand collapsed on top of it, allowing her eyes to meet Masato.
"Yes, because even if this," she paused, shaking the crumbled paper in her hand, "happens, I am happy with him. Now if you excuse me, I have to start my shift."
Yugi shut her locker and walked past her stalker.
Masato smirked as his cunning eyes danced on her body.
"But how long will you last?"
Atemu tapped his toe as he heard the lazy ringing of the phone.
"Yugi, please pick up."
He heard the call back message in his ear. He hung up the phone.
"Couldn't get a hold of her?"
Atemu shook his head. "No, Mom. She didn't answer."
Salihah picked up the worry in his son's voice.
"Don't panic Atemu, she might be at work."
"Yeah." Atemu paused. "Maybe I should…"
"No."
Atemu looked at his mother, stunned.
"I didn't say anything."
"You were going to say that you should skip work and head over to Tokyo General to see if Yugi is alright."
He dropped his jaw slightly, speechless. She knew exactly what he was planning.
"You have to tend to things here." Salihah's voice was firm yet kind. "You are the vice president of a huge company. You can't neglect that."
"But what about…"
Salihah smiled as she touched his shoulder. "Yugi seems like a strong girl. You just have to believe in her."
He closed his jaw. His mother was right on all accounts. He looked down at his cell phone, which lacked its glow from the recent call. He held his eyes there for a moment, hoping she would call.
"Go get ready for work. You can try later."
Atemu nodded and went upstairs, with Yugi still on his mind.
Yugi sat in the lounge, reading on her lunch break. It was a way to escape the pressures of work and the paparazzi continued to ask her questions about Atemu everytime they found her. Their story wasn't losing steam, especially with the latest article about them on the ice.
The door of the lounge opened wildly, forcing Yugi's attention to dart towards the door. Two female nurses came up to her, grins on their faces, and staring.
Yugi smiled nervously, getting uncomfortable at how close the two were to her. She closed the book, marking the page with a napkin.
"Can I help you?"
"We wanted to know a few things." Fumiko asked, starry-eyed.
"Yeah, like how is it going to big parties?" Setsuya added, cheerily.
"And how is it meeting famous people?" Fumiko continued.
"Girls," Yugi interjected, interrupting the questioning, "I haven't done any of those things. Atemu and I have only begun to…"
"Could you introduce us Yugi? We so much want to know what that life is like." Setsuya pleaded.
"It would mean so much if we could meet a rich celebrity." Fumiko added.
"Look, I don't know any celebrities."
"You could always introduce us to Atemu." Setsuya said in a dreamy tone.
"Yeah, you could do that you us," Fumiko repeated with the same tone.
The two girls continued their ogling into space. Yugi became annoyed due to their obvious attraction to the vice president.
"I'm sorry girls, but I…"
"Come on Yugi, it is just one meet and greet. We will say hi and nothing else." Setsuya commented, mocking a reassuring tone.
"Yeah Yugi, it is just a quick hello. What are you afraid of?" Fumiko questioned in a teasing tone.
Yugi saw the way the conversation was going.
"I am not going to bother Atemu about it." Yugi stated firmly, trying to sound nice about it.
"Why? Are you afraid he will leave you and go with us?"
"I think she is, since she knows she isn't as pretty as either of us."
Setsuya and Fumiko laughed. Yugi started to fume. Instead of shouted, she simply stood.
"I need to get back to work."
Yugi left the two girls and their giggles. She breathed in and out of her nose in an attempt to keep her calm. Why are there people who have to belittle others? She stopped and lowered her head, recalling how the emotions she felt after their comments; anger, jealousy and fear. Atemu wouldn't leave me, he wouldn't. She shook off her feelings and grabbed the next chart.
Stacks of paper lined the mahogany desk. Receipts from recent projects and purchases rested in the middle of the surface. Others had ideas of future projects with cost sheets and financial planning. It seemed never ended.
Atemu didn't know what to think.
He pushed a pile from his desk and buzzed his secretary.
"Yes Mr. Massri."
"Ms. Nuwa, can you tell me what are all these documents doing on my desk?"
"All I know is that Mr. Massri wanted you to have them. He also said to meet him in his office at eleven. He wants you to be sharp since he has a lunch meeting at noon."
"Thank you Ms. Nuwa."
"You're welcome Mr. Massri."
Atemu heard the intercom shut off. He stared back at the papers. What are you doing to me Dad?
The watch on his wrist flashed eleven o'clock. Atemu walked past his father's secretary and knocked on the door.
"Come in." He heard his father's voice from beyond the door.
Atemu grabbed the knob forcefully and entered. There was his father, standing behind the desk, staring out the window. Atemu shut the door to give them privacy.
"How come you always stare out the window?"
"Presence."
Atemu rolled his eyes and walked towards the empty seat. Ahknemkhanen turned his body to face his only son. He waited until Atemu was completely settled before making his announcement.
"Atemu, the company is changing. Wong wants out."
"Vivian?" He tired to sound concerned, but after the incident with Yugi, it was a hard pill to swallow.
"Both actually." Ahknemkhanen clarified. "Neither wants to deal with the combined company anymore."
"What are you going to do?"
"I told him to reconsider, to give it some time. He told me they will stay only until the end of next year, when they have developed something else for an income."
Atemu was skeptical.
"They are just leaving the company to you, with no retribution?"
"Us, son. They are leaving the company to us."
"That doesn't seem like…"
"Atemu," Ahknemkhanen began, placing a hand on his son's shoulder, "after the entire mess with Yugi, both decided they needed to break ties with the business scene in Japan. They want to stay and work in China."
Atemu thought for a moment. The company was so strong because of the teamwork of his father and Mr. Wong. It was only greater after he and Vivian joined the team. He frowned. He knew why they were leaving; they were leaving because of him.
"I'm sorry Dad. I know the incident with Vivian caused this split."
"No Atemu, it was not entirely your fault. Wong has been wanting out a while. He was only staying until your wedding to Vivian."
Ahknemkhanen released his son's shoulder and went towards the window. "I just don't know how we are going to keep this company together without them. Wong had always been the financial brain of the company."
Atemu stood and walked towards his father. "You'll find a way Dad. You are very wise in the business field."
"Thank you for your confidence Atemu. That is the sort of thing the next president needs to have."
The younger man paused as a thought struck him.
"Is that why you gave me all that financial stuff, to get me ready for…"
"Yes son, I plan on giving you the company soon and I want to be sure you are ready for the pressures of running a company."
The soft buzzing of the punch clock rang in the hallway. Yugi clipped her badge back on her shirt and went to the lounge. She had grown tired of all the questions from her coworkers and patients, but they had to be address, in order to avoid false rumors.
She walked into the lounge and sighed in relief. The room was empty. She opened her locker and took out her jacket and scarf.
Stepping out of the hospital was another story. Across the street was about a half a dozen people wearing hats and holding pads of paper. They seemed to pace back and forth, snatching glances ever so often towards the hospital entrance. Yugi gulped as the crowd rushed towards her.
A hundred questions seemed to fly at her like a flood. Some came so quickly she couldn't comprehend the words. But some questions were quite clear.
"Ms. Mutou, have you spoken with Vivian yet?"
"Did you have fun with Mr. Massri on the ice?"
"Was Mr. Massri a good skater?"
"No comment." Yugi responded without emotion, keeping her real thoughts to herself. She tried to squeeze through as the people continued their incessant interrogation.
"Has Mr. Massri asked for your ring size yet?"
She ignored the question and continued to the underground parking lot. The crowd was persistent in their pursuit, unwilling to let her go. Yugi entered the entrance code and let herself in, slamming the door behind her. The people moaned as the barrier ceased their pursuit.
Once Yugi was in her car she sighed.
"Is this what my life is going to be like?"
She felt the soft buzzing of her phone. She took it out of her pocket and read the screen.
"Are you okay?"
Yugi smiled at his concern for her. Atemu must have seen the paper.
She texted him, stating she was fine, leaving out the craziness of the day for a later conversation. A second later her phone vibrated again.
"Can I come over?"
Yes was the response to the new text.
"See you around 5."
Yugi closed the phone, shutting her eyes. If my life is to be like this, I am okay with it because of him.
Akemi hummed as she continued preparing the carrots for dinner.
Suddenly her song was interrupted by a loud thump. Setting down the knife, she removed her apron and rushed down the stairs.
"Father?" she called out for Sugoroku. No answer. She entered into the tiny game shop. There, on the floor, was the elder gentleman, clenching his chest and coughing.
"Father!"
Clarification: Akemi is not the biological daughter of Sugoroku. She is the daughter-in-law, but still calls Sugoroku father as a sign of respect.
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