Valkyria : Splendid updates are abound! We are now four chapters in with Forbidden Dance. Once again, thanks for all the reviews, alerts and favorites. Enjoy the latest chapter.
Disclaimer : I claim no rights to the anime/manga Yu-gi-oh.
Current Piece : Air on the G String by J.S Bach.
"I sometimes compare the wines I make to the people I meet. Some of them can be sweet while others can be dreadfully sour." - Hiroto Honda.
Chapter Four : The Wine Maker and Gambler.
Hiroto Honda, Head of the Brewery and Wine division of Ishigami Corp, stared into the glass of Vin de Paille, a straw wine hailing from France, before sighing and placing the glass back on the table.
"Too sweet, Hiroto-san?"
"Somewhat," Honda replied, picking up the clipboard and checking off the list, ten down and twenty more to go. "You know I'm not a fan of straw wines, Hawkins-san."
"I know, and for the last time, call me Rebecca! Though I've worked with you occasionally, we've known each other for five years. I think we can drop the formalities."
Honda raised an eyebrow at his assistant. "Drop the formalities, hmm? I should say the same for you since you still call me, Hiroto-san."
"Well," Rebecca pale cheeks became flushed. "That's different! You're the head of a division!"
Honda chuckled warmly, briefly putting his clipboard down to pick up another bottle of wine. "You're a walking mass of contradiction, Rebecca."
"So I have been told." Rebecca pushed her glasses up her nose and plopped down on the velvet covered chair. "How many more do we have to go through? Not that I don't like staying in your office, but it can get boring."
Giving Rebecca a look mock-hurt look, Honda looked at his office, from the paintings of vineyards, thick red carpeting, and large glass pane windows. He didn't think it was boring at all.
"We have twenty more to go." he finally responded, feeling a sense of smug satisfaction when Rebecca deflated. Served her right for making fun of his office.
"I don't see how you can do it, Honda." Rebecca stood from a chair and picked up a bottle of Pedro Ximenez. "I'd be bored out of my mind sniffing and tasting wine all of the time."
"It's something I grew up around." Honda gently took the bottle of Pedro Ximenez out of the smaller woman's hands and uncorked the bottle. "Doing something you love can never get boring and if it's something you love then it's not exactly work either."
Rebecca giggled. "I guess you're right." she held out a hand towards him. "Give me a glass, will you? The sooner we finish, the sooner we can lock up for the day."
Pouring two glasses of wine, Honda handed Rebecca a glass with one hand while taking a small sip of his own. His face scrunched up when the sweet taste assaulted his tongue.
"Wow," Rebecca breathed, licking her lips. "This tastes great."
Honda immediately snapped his fingers in his assistant's direction. "You've earned a F in wine tasting, Rebecca."
"A-A F!" Rebecca looked offended. "I've never had a F in anything in my life." she swirled the wine glass. "What did I do, wrong?"
"You're enjoying the wine too much," Honda snapped his fingers again. "Only a sniff and a quick sip is required."
"That's what I did." Rebecca protested, pouting. "You're being harsh Hiroto-sensei."
Honda rolled his eyes, a fond smile reluctantly pulling at his lips. "I am merely stating the rules of my business, ma petite."
Another giggle escaped Rebecca's mouth. "Slipping into French, Honda? Maybe you should put the wine down, hmm? You never speak your mother's language. Unless you're wooing a woman or man that is."
Honda snorted, giving Rebecca a playful smirk. "It works, doesn't it?"
"Not recently." Rebecca placed the glass of wine down. "You're single, aren't you?"
"Yes," Honda grunted out, turning back to his desk and picking up a bottle of Chateau d' Yguem, a dry white wine, "Thanks for rubbing that in, by the way."
"No problem." Rebecca remarked cheekily.
Honda raised the glass of Chateau d' Yguem and sighed. "Open another bottle will you, ma cherie? We can take a break after."
"Awesome," Rebecca breathed. "Can we go to that resturant again? What was it called?"
"Scarlet Moonlight."
"Right, Scarlet Moonlight, can we go? I want to have another piece of that chocolate cheesecake."
"I don't see why we can't-" Honda looked up when he heard the door creak open, he smiled politely when a tall man with deep green eyes peaked his head in.
"Excuse me?"
"Yes?"
"Is Hawkins-san, here?"
"Yes," Honda gave Rebecca a look and his assistant shrugged. "Please, come in."
"Sorry for interrupting," the man bowed. "My name is Ryuuji Otogi, head of the Gaming Division, I need Hawkins-san help with a little problem."
"Problem?" Honda moved in front of Rebecca, blocking her from Otogi's sight. "What problem would that be?"
Otogi raised an eyebrow at his question. "You'll have to excuse me when I say that's not really your business...?"
"Hiroto Honda."
Otogi nodded and pressed on. "Like I said, it's not really your business, Hiroto-san."
"I'm making it my business, Ryuuji-san." Honda snapped, ignoring Rebecca attempt to get to calm down by tugging his blazer. "She is my assistant."
"She is also one of the best hackers and programmers I have seen since my day." Otogi countered. "I asked politely, but I think Hawkins-san is the one who will decide right, Hawkins-san?"
"Ummm-"
"She is my asisstiant, you can not come barging in here and demanding her attention. I don't care if you asked politely or not!"
Much to Honda's surprise, Otogi suddenly went quiet, tilted his head slightly to the left and stared at him as if he was some interesting experiment.
Well, this was weird.
Honda opened his mouth to ask what the hell was wrong, but Rebecca's giggle stopped him. Glancing over his shoulder, he saw that Rebecca was covering her mouth to supress her laughter.
"What? What's so funny?"
"You're accent is slipping." Otogi gave him a grin. "I'm sort of expecting you to start cursing me out in French any second now."
"I'm tempted." Honda stated, controlling his accent, it came out at the worst times. "Will you tell me what you need Rebecca for?"
"I tell you what," Otogi started, ignoring his question and digging into his trouser pocket. "Instead of arguing why don't we play a game?"
"A game?" Honda questioned warily. "For Rebecca? You're sick-"
"Not that kind of game." Otogi scowled in disgust. "Whoever wins gets to have her help for the day." Otogi gave Rebecca a questioning look. "If that's alright with you?"
Rebecca shrugged and moved back to the chair. "Sure, I could use some entertainment."
"You're awfully calm about this." Honda remarked, watching Otogi get out a stack of cards -Did the man really carry those around?- "I figured you would be offended."
"I should, but I'm not." Rebecca reached into her purse and got out a bottle of water. "Honestly, it doesn't matter who wins. I just want to see someone's ass kicked in cards."
Honda rolled his eyes while Otogi roared with laughter. "Nice, Rebecca, very nice."
"I try, Honda, I try."
"Are you ready?" Otogi cut the cards with such finesse that it made Honda wondered just how long Otogi had been playing games like this. The thought of him losing quite spectacularly crept up in his mind and he quickly pushed it away. He would make sure to win. Not only because he didn't want to lose, but just to see the expression of shock Otogi would wear when he did.
"Oh, one more thing, Hiroto-san."
"Yes?"
"If I win, I get that bottle of Pedro Ximenez over there. I have a hot date tonight and I'm sure she'll enjoy it."
"Are you insane?" Honda spluttered, mentally cursing when his French accent slipped through again. "Do you know how much that bottle is worth?"
"Quite a lot." Otogi grinned cheekily. "I'll be sure to enjoy every morsel of it."
Honda's eye twitched at the arrogance in Otogi's voice. Oh, he definitely had to win now. He couldn't let such an cocky man take his assistant or wine.
"Deal."
A/N : Well, Honda and Otogi have met! Did you like it? I hope so!
Next Chapter : CEO's and Infatuations!
French Terms and Wines used.
Mio Petite : My Little One.
Mon chéri : My Sweetheart.
-Wines-
Pedro Ximenez - A varietal wine, an intensely sweet, dark sherry.
Château d'Yquem - A Great First Growth Wine from Sauternes, Gironde. Mostly in the Southern France area.
Vin de Paille - A straw white wine, known to be very sweet.