Title: A Nutcracker Production Chapter Four
Meet The Cast Part Two
(AxY)
The arms around Yugi's waist and chest tightened, pulling him closer to Yami's chest as Yugi's face paled, flushed, and then paled again in rapid succession. "Yugi-san, are you alright?" Ryou asked concernedly. Yugi looked over at the others in the room and nodded slightly. Ryou and Malik's concerned looks eased but didn't disappear. Marik, Bakura, and Seto looked uninterested in the state of Yugi's health.
Malik looked over Yugi's shoulder at Yami. "Yami, this is Yugi Mutou. He was selected to play Claire from the auditions a few days ago." Yugi blushed and shifted slightly, trying to remove himself from Yami's arms without offending the man behind him. Instead of releasing him, however, the arms around Yugi's waist squeezed gently and Yami replied to Malik. "Claire, huh? Mutou-san must be good, then."
Yugi looked up and over his shoulder at Yami, and was shocked at the gently amused grin on the older man's face. Crimson eyes glanced down at Yugi's upturned face, and the smile became more gentle and less amused. "It's a pleasure to meet you, Mutou-san. I am Yami Atemu." His deep voice rumbled pleasantly just beside Yugi's ear. Yugi blushed and stuttered back, "I-it's a p-pleasure to meet you, t-too."
Yami's deep chuckle sent pleasant shivers down Yugi's spine. Ryou and Malik sent knowing looks to each other before giggling slightly; Marik, Bakura, and Seto snorted in amusement. Blushing a rather fetching shade of pink, Yugi again shifted in Yami's arms. Yami squeezed gently again before letting Yugi go, his hands hovering near Yugi's arms in case he started to fall again. Yugi turned to face Yami and bowed slightly. "Thank you, Atemu-san." Yami blinked at Yugi's bowed form. "For what, Mutou-san? He asked.
Yugi lifted his head to look at Yami, keeping his body in its bowed position. "For catching me," He replied, blushing. Yami smiled gently at Yugi, his handsome features making Yugi's blush increase. "You're quite welcome," He stated, chuckling softly. Yugi rose from his bowed position and shifted nervously, the silence in the room making him uncomfortable. Ryou seemed to take pity on the younger teen and stepped forward. Yugi looked at the gentle version of Bakura as he asked, "Would you like to see the practice rooms, Yugi-san?"
Yugi smiled gratefully at the older teen and nodded excitedly. Malik grinned and said happily, "Why don't we all go? That way Yugi-san can get to know us better!" Ryou nodded at Malik as Marik and Bakura glared at Malik. Seto just ignored them all. The two gentle teens grabbed their boyfriends' wrists and dragged them over to Yugi, turning him around and marching him out the door. Yami politely stepped into the hallway so that they could get through.
Malik looked over at Yami and asked, "You coming, Yami? He is your co-star for the play. He should get to know you, too." Yami looked over at Yugi's downcast eyes and flushing cheeks and nodded. He gave a small smile as he said, "Why not?" and moved to walk on Yugi's right. Ryou walked on Yugi's left, with Malik on his other side. Marik and Bakura walked behind their boyfriends. Seto decided to stay in the break room- no way was he traipsing all over Ishtar Theater with a bunch of annoying brats.
Malik and Ryou kept a running commentary as they showed Yugi around. They pointed out various rooms he'd need to know, or might find useful- for what, they never said, but the smiles led Yugi to believe that it wasn't work related-, and detailed how certain things were done, or where to find different people of import at certain times. Yami was a silent shadow on Yugi's right, making him feel both calm and nervous. Marik and Bakura could be heard muttering behind them, occasionally offering a sarcastic comment, or snide remark. The latter was usually directed at Yami- who ignored them- while the former was actually helpful or funny to Yugi- occasionally both.
By the time the group finally got to the practice room- which seemed to Yugi to be on the complete opposite side of the building- the tri-color haired teen's head was spinning with names, times, directions, and random comments. There was no doubt that he'd get lost the first time he tried to go anywhere without someone to help him. Not that Malik and Ryou weren't helpful, just… they might have been a little too helpful. Ryou opened a door and gestured for Yugi to go in. He did so, closely followed by Yami, Malik and Marik, and finally Ryou and Bakura. Gazing at the wonderful room, Yugi's eyes widened and his legs became restless.
The room was large, bigger than the lesson room at the dance studio he went to, and had floor-to-ceiling mirrors on the back wall. Standing bars were positioned along that wall and the walls to the left and right of the room. The floors were wonderfully smooth, polished wood that had obviously seen many dancers upon it, judging from the worn but well taken care of look. On the right side of the front wall, the one with the door, there was a cubby cut into the wall itself that held a stereo. Speakers were placed along the walls near the ceiling, giving a surround sound for the people dancing. Along the wall to the left of the door were hooks for towels, shirts, or whatever else, and above those were two shelves running the entire length of the wall, about fifteen feet. Those were for bags, water bottles, or anything else that couldn't be hung up, he was told.
"This is… amazing!" Yugi whispered happily. The others took note of his obvious excitement at seeing the room, and smiled (Ryou, Malik, and Yami), or smirked (Marik and Bakura). Turning sparkling amethyst eyes to Malik, Yugi asked hopefully, "Are all the practice rooms here like this?" At Malik's grinning nod, Yugi smiled and asked how many practice rooms Ishtar Theater had. "Oh, about… forty-five, I think." Malik answered nonchalantly. At Yugi's widened eyes, Malik chuckled and explained, "We have to have rooms for each of the people playing major parts to practice alone in, as well as having rooms for the lesser parts that have more people in them to practice. Depending on the play, all of the rooms could be in use constantly, or as few as ten or twelve in constant use."
Yugi whistled lowly as he gazed around the room again. He was definitely going to be practicing here a lot. Yami chuckled lightly, amused at how Yugi's eyes seemed to sparkle at the sight of the room. The smaller teen was rather adorable. Yami felt that he could easily become friends with the younger boy, if not more. Ryou and Malik also seemed to enjoy Yugi's excitement, and told Yugi that they could come back later that day to practice, if he felt up to it. Yugi gave a huge smile and told them that he'd love to. Even Marik and Bakura seemed to get caught up in the teen's enjoyment, giving a small but true smile to the amethyst eyed boy.
The group left the room and walked back to the break room, with Yugi pointing out various rooms, trying to remember them all. He missed several, but Yami gently pointed them out, and Yugi did his best to imprint them in his memory. Inside the break room, Seto was sitting where they'd left him. He was joined by his little brother, Mokuba, who was sitting at the table drinking a coke. When Yugi walked into the break room closely followed by Yami, Mokuba looked up and grinned.
"Hey, Yugi-san! How'd you like the interactive tour?" Mokuba asked as he hopped off his chair and walked over to Yugi. Yugi smiled happily at the younger boy. "It was fun! And really helpful, too. Now if I can just remember everything!" He replied, laughing softly. Malik and Ryou both reassured Yugi that they'd all help him around until he got used to the layout.
"Oh, I'll be fine. I don't want to inconvenience anyone." Yugi protested. A large, warm hand rested on Yugi's shoulder, and he turned his head to look up at Yami. "It'll be fine. It won't bother us to help you, Mutou-san." Yugi blushed bright red and glanced away. Unfortunately, or so some would think, his gaze landed on a grinning Malik. Yugi thought that the grin couldn't be good, and a shiver went down his spine. He was right.
"Yami, call him Yugi! Mutou-san makes him feel like he's in trouble, right Yugi-san?" Malik's grin got even wider as Ryou giggled quietly beside him. Marik and Bakura seemed to smirk, and Mokuba smiled innocently up at Yugi. Yugi couldn't see Seto's face, so he had no idea what he thought of Malik's comment.
"Is that true?" Yami asked Yugi gently. Yugi blushed and thought about not answering before deciding that that would be rude, no matter how much embarrassment it might save him. So Yugi nodded shyly, not looking at Yami. The hand on Yugi's shoulder squeezed gently. "My apologies," Yami said quietly. "I did not know, Yugi-san." Hearing Yami's deep voice gently speak his name turned Yugi's fading blush nuclear. "Ah, it… it's alright, Atemu-san. You weren't here when I told Malik-san and the others." Yugi demurred.
Speaking of Malik and others, Yugi noticed that Malik, Marik, and Bakura were smirking at him, and even Ryou and Mokuba were amused, if their knowing smiles and the teasing glint in their eyes were anything to go by. Yami's voice interrupted Yugi in the middle of pouting at them all. "Please, call me Yami. If I'm to call you by your given name, it is only fair that you do the same." Yugi blushed and stuttered his acceptance shyly.
Mokuba seemed to know that Yugi was fast approaching the limit of the teasing that he could stand, and grabbed his hand, leading Yugi to the table. He made Yugi sit across from Seto and asked if he'd like a drink or a snack from one of the vending machines in the room. Noticing the selections, Yugi started to get out his wallet before Mokuba stopped him. "My treat, Yugi-san!" He stated happily. Yugi hesitated, and at Mokuba's insistence, finally chose a Pepsi. Yugi thanked Mokuba as he was handed his drink and quietly, sipped at it as everyone joined them at the table. Yami sat to Yugi's right, Mokuba on his left. Malik sat on Yami's right, with Marik on his other side. On Mokuba's left was Ryou, with Bakura on his left.
Ryou, Malik, Yami, and Mokuba started a conversation, and Yugi listened as Marik and Bakura snarked at Yami. When asked to give his opinion on something, or maybe a comment, Yugi would give his thoughts on the matter, but he mostly listened, admiring the strange friendship this group had. They talked about a myriad of things, the topics ranging from school to politics, and from breakfast foods to theoretical hypothesis that would be physically impossible in actuality.
They even got Seto to give a few opinions and comments, though it was mostly when Mokuba asked him about things. The conversation lasted a couple of hours, and had Yugi, and a few others, laughing at times. The spiky haired teen didn't notice, but every time he laughed, Yami's gaze would be drawn to him, and Yami would smile softly at the happy gleam in Yugi's amethyst eyes. But just because Yugi didn't notice it, didn't mean that others didn't. Ryou and Malik exchanged glances and small smiles across the round table, and Bakura and Marik smirked in Yami's direction. Yami rolled his eyes every time he caught sight of their smirks, and Mokuba kept trying to keep Yugi from being teased by Marik, Malik, and Bakura.
After a few hours, in which Yugi relaxed somewhat, the door to the break room opened, and everyone looked over as Isis stepped into the room. She smiled as she saw them all together and stepped aside so that her sister could enter the room. Shaadi followed Ishizu into the room, and all three stood next to each other. A fourth person followed Shaadi, but Yugi's view of the person was blocked by Isis, Ishizu, and Shaadi.
Ishizu looked at the gathered teens and men and smiled, saying, "I'm glad to see you all getting along. We brought our newest dancer to meet you all. He is going to play the captain." She stepped aside so that they could view the newest addition to the play. Amber eyes peeked out from blonde bangs, and a small smile twitched at his lips mischievously. Yugi gasped softly, drawing a few gazes from around the table, including Yami's. Ishizu smiled slightly. "I'd like you all to meet-" She stopped as Yugi stood abruptly from his seat.
Yugi smiled widely, his amethyst eyes sparkling happily as he rushed to the new comer. "Jou!" He cried as he glomped the blonde teen.
(AxY)
A/N: There! Chapter four posted, as per wintercat.0501's request! Sorry it took me so long, hun!
Yugi: Yay!
Yami: I'm with my Aibou! Finally! *cuddles Yugi*
Yugi: 0.0 XD *cuddles Yami*
A/N: I told you that you'd have a bigger part in this chapter!
Yami: But what is Jou's relation to Yugi? *scowls and clutches Yugi possessively*
Yugi: ^/^
A/N: That you'll just have to see! ^^
Yami: *scowls at PLO*
Seto: *glowers threateningly* If you've put my Puppy with that mini-pharaoh, I'll hurt you.
A/N: Meep! *hides behind Ryou*
Ryou: *blinks before continuing to cuddle Bakura*
A/N: Ah… Yugi-chan? Ryou-chan? Malik-chan?
Yugi/Ryou/Malik: PLO-chan doesn't own Yu-Gi-Oh!, or its characters. She just plays with us.
A/N: ^/^ Yeppers! R&R, please? Because aren't possessive Yami and Seto just adorable?
Yami/Seto: *scowls*
A/N: To the anonymous reviewer who said Anzu was an, and I quote, "BI-ATCH who just wants in Atemu's pants"… I quite agree! *grabs pitchfork after making a pyre* Burn the witch! LOL!