Disclaimer: I don't own Yu-gi-OH!
Chapter 14: Will You Date Me?
"You and Jounouchi were pretty close, huh."
Yugi nodded, leaving a sad smile on her lips. She knew Jounouchi couldn't come back, but she still missed him.
She shifted her eyes back to Atemu, who had an expression of sadness and slight despair. His long face made her realize her mistake.
"I'm sorry Atemu. Hearing about my past relationship must be hard on you."
Atemu looked into her eyes, now in surprise. "I don't mind hearing about you past Yugi. I get to know you better that way. Plus, it means that you value my friendship and trust me. Please don't apologize for telling me."
"That's not what I mean," Yugi stated, continuing to look at him. She watched him frown in confusion. She smiled in response.
"I mean it must be hard hearing about another man whom I've loved."
He smiled a sad smile.
"You are right Yugi. It is a little hard." He held her hands. "But I understand. Being as beautiful as you are, it wouldn't make sense for you not to have any past relationships."
She blushed.
He leaned in closer.
"You're even cuter when you blush."
His lips connected with her silky ones. She tilted into the kiss, enjoying the sensation it gave.
He gave a wide grin. "Yugi will you date me?"
"Yes." They kissed. "But we will have to wait to go anywhere."
He frowned. "Why?"
"Atemu, you just broke up with Vivian. The story is still being covered by the media. I don't want to be pulled in as speculation. It would only cause trouble."
Atemu understood her concern, but it didn't make him feel better. "How long?"
Yugi frowned and crossed her arms in front of her chest. "If you can't wait, then I won't date you."
"No, no, no that's not what I meant. I wanted to know so I know when to make the reservation." He pleaded apologetically.
She released her closed stance. "How long do these stories run?"
"It depends on who is being covered and how long it takes for another, bigger story to come around."
"So, you're not sure?"
Atemu pondered a moment. "I would guess around a few months."
"Let's say five, to be safe," Yugi stated before lifting a finger, "But it is a not guaranteed time frame.
"Yugi," he said endearingly, "I would wait a year for you."
Atemu took her face in his hands and pulled her lips into a kiss. It only reaffirmed his claim. For once, he was happy with the woman he was with. He felt Yugi relax, falling deeper into the kiss. They were lost in the moment, both failing to hear the front door open.
"Am I interrupting?"
The two ended the kiss and twisted towards the voice. Both saw Anzu standing in the living room, smirking. Atemu blushed, knowing how Anzu was protective of Yugi while Yugi blushed, knowing she had been caught kissing.
"Can I assume you told him?"
She nodded.
"In very little words." He smiled.
Yugi slapped him on the arm. "You make it sound dirty when you say that!" Atemu rubbed his arm in response.
Anzu laughed. "I knew you two belonged together."
"Anzu, we just started the next stage," Yugi said, "We don't know where it will end."
"Besides, Yugi wants to wait to date."
Anzu blinked in confusion. "Why?"
"You know by reading the paper that Atemu just ended his relationship with Vivian. It is the top story right now. If the paparazzi were to see us together, they could create speculation about how the relationship ended. And I don't want that."
"So, what does that mean for your dating relationship exactly?"
"We will go public when the story loses interest."
Anzu pondered for a moment. "Which means about five months."
"Yeah," Atemu sadly confirmed.
Yugi smiled at him. "But that doesn't mean we can't show off our relationship in the privacy in our homes." She kissed him lightly on the cheek.
"Does this mean you will be over more often Atemu?"
The couple answered at the same time.
"Yes." "No."
Atemu looked at Yugi, stunned. He couldn't believe what Yugi said.
"What?"
Yugi sighed before explaining. "If you start coming over every week, people will start to talk and rumors can form. Paparazzi who still follow you could find out I live here and come to a conclusion."
"Or worse, create speculation with me," Anzu pointed out to the couple.
"Then how exactly is this relationship different from our previous one?" Atemu asked, slightly disappointed.
"On the surface, it's not," Yugi established. She smiled sweetly. "But it will be more meaningful to us."
Atemu sighed, but quickly recovered. "Alright Yugi," he spoke as he pulled her closer, "I will play safe with this relationship, for now anyway." He kissed her softly.
"That is all I ask." She stated after the kiss.
Vivian sat in her parlor. She had completed the necessary cancellations from the wedding and tossed the plans into the fire. She stared at the fire, which danced in the brick structure and destroyed any evidence of the coming union. Tears pushed against her eyes.
I knew that Atemu never really loved me, but it still hurts.
His words played in her head. 'I was ready to settle down. I wanted to end my wild child act.' The sad excuse of a reason angered her. He never loved her.
Why did he have to ask me to marry him? He shouldn't have asked, not for that reason.
He seemed so sure and confident when he asked for her hand in marriage, like it was what he wanted. It had pushed all her fears and worries away. She figured he was sincere.
Then again, I never should have said yes.
She liked the idea of being his wife. The two of them would have controlled the company as husband and wife. They would have completed the perfect union. She liked the idea of having him as a husband, who would keep her safe and warm.
I should have ended the relationship earlier when I hired the private detective.
She looked towards the end table next to the sofa. Standing, she walked to the piece of furniture. Slowly she opened the drawer. Her hand slipping inside, taking out the manila folder. Sliding the drawer shut she pressed the object close to her chest. She returned to her seat and stared at the folder. She knew what was in there; any and all evidence of Atemu's actions outside of her knowledge.
I should have read the file. I should have read the truth.
She knew about his reputation and was skeptical of his claim at the beginning of their relationship. The private detective was supposed to squash her fears. She paid him for his services and kept the file, but never read it. She was still afraid of what she would discover. Now, without any strings, she would find out the truth.
Taking in a breath she lifted the flap of the folder and dumped the contents on the coffee table. Pictures, papers of writing and receipts littered the surface. Tossing the folder aside she shuffled through the material, ready to read every word and study every picture.
Masato sat on a park bench head tilted back as he stared at the sky. He was thinking about what had happened at Yugi's, and what he saw.
"So that is why he pulled me off of her so quickly. And when I asked, she didn't deny that fact."
A small smirk resided on his lips.
"Maybe I can get some money for this information, or at least a round of sex."
"I should have known." Vivian screamed through the house, whose emotional state had switched from sadness to rage. Dozens of pictures with Atemu and another girl wearing a restaurant uniform had spilled from the folder. She looked young, too young for a 25-year-old. He was smiling and she was smiling. With the pictures was a personal profile of the girl who appeared in every picture. It listed her address, her schedule, her hobbies, her dislikes, and her name, although she already knew the name.
"Yugi."
She noted the change in address three weeks ago. She recalled back to Seto's "blind date."
"Now I know why he went to Tokyo."
That angered her more.
"I told him not to pull his stunts, but this went beyond his normal antics. Cheating! He shouldn't have done this; he needs to be taught a lesson once and for all that playing with girl's hearts is wrong."
Vivian smirked as she looked at the phone.
"And I know just how to do it."
A/N: I know, it is short. What are Masato and Vivian planning? I hope Atemu and Yugi will be okay.