Trial #9
Disclaimer: I do not own YGO or the 12 Labors of Hercules. This chapter is based on the Belt of Hippolyte.
This was also one of the first chapters I ever wrote for this story. It's been...what...almost two years?
"Mai, could you...possibly do me a favor and throwthebouquetmyway?"
Mai Valentine, soon to be Wheeler, gaped. Minutes passed before her brain processed Kaiba's strange request. Granted, the last part was jumbled, but it sounded an awful lot like Kaiba, yes, the Kaiba, wanted to catch the bouquet at her wedding. This was very strange. Who was this man? And what did he do to the guy who previously sneered that he would much rather dine on grass than attend her wedding to a third rate duelist and first class idiot?
She opted for civility, which was, in her opinion, more than kind. "Sure thing hun. But may I ask why?"
To her surprise, Seto Kaiba blushed. She didn't even know he could blush, let alone in such a pretty shade of pink. In fact, he matched the bunch of peonies she was holding. She couldn't fathom this insanity so she just stared. If only Joey could see this!
Catching her expression, Kaiba eked out an explanation. "It's for... a friend." He sounded as ridiculous as he felt. No wonder Mai looked like she wanted to call security or- worse- Wheeler.
Noticing the panic in Kaiba's eyes, Mai decided to humor him. But all her shocked brain could muster was a a meager "Oh." She wondered if Joey was behind this ridiculous little stunt. It would be just like her husband to be to blackmail Kaiba into causing a scene at their wedding. As if hiring twenty (yes, twenty!) Elvis impersonators wasn't enough. "A friend?" She probed gently.
Defying both logic and reality, Kaiba blushed an even deeper shade of crimson. Mai gaped. "He...love...girl...megetflower."
Mai sighed again. Either Joey magically developed excellent diplomatic skills or, more likely, Kaiba lost another duel with Yugi at the bachelor party and this atrocity, dr, comedy, is his punishment. What is it with boys and their card games trying to ruin her wedding? She pressed her bouquet into Kaiba's waiting arms. "All yours, hun. Now go."
Kaiba smirked. His plan worked flawlessly, as he knew it would. Women. So predicable and gullible and so very harmless.
Humming, he sauntered towards the portal...
Which felt weirdly solid. And silky.
Hmm. Were those shoes?
Kaiba looked up. A sea of pastel dresses. Oh no oh no oh no oh no.
"Um...I didn't steal this if that's what-"
An angry roar of bridesmaids drowned his next words. Heels clicked dangerously. The flowers in his hand withered in shock. His heart shuddered in terror.
For the first time in his life, Kaiba ran. He recognized the look of steely determination in those eyes. It was the exact same look he gave competitors before crushing them like ants at a picnic. Evidently they take this catching the bouquet nonsense as seriously as I take my monograms. It can't possibly end like this.
The pastel monstrosities ran surprisingly fast given their poor choice in footwear. They gained on him. Through the reception room, into banquet call, and through the venue. The wedding guests scrambled for cover as a flood of chiffon threatened to engulf a very tiny speck of white and pink. Oh dear Fates I'm way too handsome to go like this!
He spotted a trash chute in the distance. Lights pulsed.
Salvation.
"Here." Panting, Kaiba shoved the accursed flowers at Seto with a growl. "You. Would. Not. Believe the lengths I had to go through for that. I. OWN. YOU."
Seto smirked. Perhaps it was cruel to use the magic of the rod to move the portal from the hallway to the door of the bridesmaid's room and then the trash chute...
Nah. Kaiba looked great in lettuce and newspaper.
