The title "Joseph Wheeler, a home wrecker?" is above the picture. I take a closer look at the picture, I still had a few stitches and my arm still has a brace on it. What the Fuck!? My fist clenches around the newspaper, tight and tighter as I walk to school, hoping that Seto Kaiba is in school today.
Why would anyone care if I were living in Seto's auxiliary house? Just because I'm living in a house owned by Seto Kaiba means I broke Mai and Kaiba. They had legit reason for breaking up, or the other illogical statement, and I'm dating Kaiba. If this part of the sick ploy that Kaiba has in store for me, it's is one of the most complicated plans he could come up with me to publicly humiliate me. Why would spend so much time on a really stupid reason, does he really hate me that much?
When I walk into the courtyard, everyone is staring at me. I try desperately to ignore them, I hear some wolf whistle as I walk into the school and put on my shoes. I didn't ask for this, I took the help that was given to me, I should have gotten a job and moved out by now. I am very well aware of that.
I get to my seat, none of my friends are in school yet, and start to read the article. Some of my background information, not in the best light I must say, why I even know Seto Kaiba and Mai and how I'm a terrible person for breaking up such a lovely couple and temping Kaiba with my ways. I wouldn't be shocked if they accused me of using a pagan love potion. Also, that Mai is heartbroken, which I know for a fact is not true. The only truth I can get from it is that if Kaiba did have someone write this and this is part of a sick ploy, it is fucking insanely complicated and unnecessary a way to tell me to get out of his house or publically humiliate me, or whatever his reasons are.
I glance over to Kaiba's chair, empty and this is about the time he comes to school, Mai or Tea haven't come to school yet either. Instead I get a Tristan with huge smile coming in the door, followed by Yugi and Yami.
"There's the 'Tempter of the Great Seto Kaiba?'" I punch him the arm,
"Shut up, you know very well, the article is bullshit." Not making any attempting to hide my angry. Tristan for once in his life takes the hint and shuts up.
"It maybe, but the fact remains that you living where you do and it a little suspicious. Also, Seto broke up Mai when you were living there. You should really try to get in contact with Seto Kaiba, at least try to straighten this thing up. The media isn't a walk in the park, even when you didn't do anything wrong." Yugi says, also holding a copy of the today's new paper, crinkled, folded, and smashed. He has a point, and he knows very well what he's talking about. The media up surge about his relationship with Yami had him in tears by the end of day most days, and that relationship didn't break up the "Perfect couple". His nails are bitten to the finger, with blood at some parts.
"Don't worry Yugi, this relationship can cleared up quick. Anyone that knows us will know this article is bullshit of worst type. But my issue is that, I don't who would have done this. Mai already told me that it was mutual and Kaiba, it's shooting him the foot for portraying him as someone that can be subdued. And why anyone would care enough to put forth the effect to make me and Kaiba look bad is another question entirely." More people have come into the classroom by now; they still stare with a little whispering here and there. The bell rings, people are still staring, I really don't like being stared, hate it in fact, mostly I really hate people knowing my business.
I go to Yugi's house after school, sneaking out the back because I see a few reporters outside, being a rebel for the first year of high school has it uses, and partly I go there because I to get my revenge on Tristan for calling me a tempter all day by beating him in a Call of Duty one on one match. Also going home didn't sound like a great idea, reporters will be there. Why would anyone do this?
But, even if I tried to avoid them, two still found me on my way to Yugi's house. Two young, female, optimistic reporters from tiny magazines around the city walk up to us, one I recognize as a friend of Aki Izayoi. They click their pens, play with their recorders, and pull on their bags as they come to us, then they take a deep breath.
Duke Devlin and Yami Atem get a smile on their faces, a quick glace and Yugi nods. Yugi rarely notices their existence, and Serenity finds that fact that both men have fan clubs at our school funny. I had the pleasure of making friends with two best looking men in our entire school and enemy with the other. The smile isn't normal for Yami, it's almost malicious in a way that I just don't see, it reminds me more of Kaiba's pleasure at getting me angry with him. Before the reporters can ask anyone anything, Duke attacks, "Hey, can I show you card trick?". He takes a custom deck out, and fanning it out. Yami on the other hand, confidence just oozing,"Wouldn't an interview with a reigning champion be much more interesting then a stupid romance?". Both females blush and giggle a little, and completely immersed in our friends flirting. Yugi actually gave permission for Yami to flirt, man, that relationship really can't have jealousy issues.
We didn't stay long enough to see any drama play out, with the report distracted; we bolt to the game shop, walk in the door, covered in sweat, and greet Grandpa; he's looking better, but uncomfortable.
"Joey, Seto Kaiba asks you to meet him at this address, when you get the message." He hands me a piece of paper with an address I've never seen before on in Grandpa's handwriting. As much as my better judgment tells me not to go here, I want to know what Kaiba's up to and why. I grab the piece of paper, thank Grandpa and, leave. I have a little bit of trouble finding the place, I check and double check the address.
The place is indistinct; it's in a row of houses that look exactly like it, a grey two-story three-bed room house. I bang on the door, when no one answers; against all logic, I walk right in since the door is unlocked. The insides is again very indistinct as well, Ikea all over the place, there is nothing personal about not even pictures of family.
I take off my shoes before Seto Kaiba appears leaning against the doorframe. No white coat in sight, instead a suit and tie takes their place. The characteristic smirk is replace with displeasure.
"I see you found the place, even without help. I'm surprised." The comment is unassuming, and not his worst by far, in fact it's slightly true, my sense of direction is terrible. But something clicks and sets me off. The rage feels so familiar but I don't know why, I can't place where I've felt this last; yet as the seconds go by fear starts the creep up on me. Yet I'm not scared of Seto Kaiba. My fists clench to white.
"What the fuck? You insult me on a daily basis, remind me every fucking day that my existence is meaningless in this world, take the girl that I want, since the first day we met, we've never said a kind word to each other. Then you turn around and bring me to the hospital, worry about my health and pay my hospital bill, give me a house, food, warmth, clothes. Then, without any explanation, a news article about how I seduced you out the perfect relationship. You're a manipulative ass..."
I feel a warm sensation on my lips; it's rough, dominating; yet I can't find an ounce of hate in Seto Kaiba's kiss, just frustration. I'm paralyzed and my hand doesn't seem to want to listen when I tell it to push Kaiba off of me, nor does my legs want to listen when I tell them to run. Almost as quick as it came, he breaks the kiss. "Hole." I end my thought, yet the angry that was there a second ago had retreated. We go silent; I can't look Seto Kaiba in the eyes. I glace over to him, his eyes are closed and rubbing his temples. He just took my first kiss; I don't have any real reason to have a romantic notation about "firsts", in fact, part of me tell me that I should be happy that I finally lost it, I'm 17 already. But the other part of me tells me to cream Kaiba and break his nose.
"It shut you up, didn't it?" He turns on his heels and walks into the kitchen, and grabs a cup of coffee, before sitting down at the island, computer on his right and the very same newspaper that I have crammed and ripped in my backpack on his left. I look in the fridge for soda; to my luck there is normal high fructose laden soda, which supposedly gives Tea acne. I crack it open and sit at the island across from him, waiting for him to speak.
"This place is my father old apartment, he bought less then a year before he died and only used it once. So, very few people know that it exists, I though it would as good as any for this meeting. Mai and I did break up. The break up was mutual. Even in the beginning, it was a relationship of convenience. It got my board to stop putting me with these blondes that I found annoying at best, and Mai got the entire male body to stop sending her love letters and to send the message that she is off limits. I was the perfect candidate for that, and I know her well enough to be honest with her. It was financial and physical affair that worked for both of us. That brings you up to speed on the relationship at present."
Why does my mind instantly go to Seto and Mai, I didn't need that image to be engrained into my skull. I nod, not quite sure what to say to him about it. He just told me that he never really even liked the person he was going out with and really used her for sex, since no one got hurt by it, I can't tell if I should be angry at him or not. He takes a sip of coffee.
"But more to the point. Let's make a deal. I have a new product coming out; the mini-duelling arenas. I want you to play along with the media until that comes out, in exchange, I'll pay you're living expenses, plus seven thousand dollar a month pocket money."
So, that is his sick ploy, free publicity for a new product. Why did have to choose the most complicated way possible of advertising the fucking thing, doesn't it advertise itself? Aren't duel disks the most popular game system out there, beating the PS3 and Xbox? Wasn't Seto Kaiba up for some award for the technology in the Duel Disk? Doesn't everything Duel Monsters related that made by Kaiba Corp like destined to sell? Wasn't the Duel Disk voted the best cash cow ever last year by Time magazine, and one of the best inventions in the last 50 years? Why does Kaiba need to go to these extremes? I take a few second too many to answer.
"In laymen's terms, have a fake relationship with me."
I really don't have much of a choice, he'll kick me out and I don't have anywhere to go. I could never ask Yugi for a place to stay, Tristan has too many people in his house as it is, Tea's family will have my head a platter for breaking Mai's heart, Duke would probably have me forcing Serenity on a date or two and I could never force her to do that, even if Duke wouldn't do anything, Ryou and Bakura just no on that one, and Mom would never let me stay. I'm not sleeping with the asshole across the table from me, that's one I won't do.
"I'm not sleeping with you." He smiles, yes, he smiles, I think a poor African village just got covered in lava or the poor starving children in china gave up rebelling for better working conditions. For him to smile at anything besides stock returns is unhear of.
"You're not expected to, the worst you going to have to endure is a kiss. But get a haircut, you need it anyway."
Comment? Is Seto Kaiba completely OOC?
Happy tenth chapter, thank you everyone that read this thus far.