Valkyria : Hello Everyone and welcome to Chapter Twenty-One of Seduced! I have good news and bad news. The good news is that I finally found a Job, and the bad news is that updates will slow down because my training starts next week and I have a 3-11 shift after that training is completed, plus I'm hopefully starting college in January so that will take up all of my time, but I will try to get it out as soon as possible if my plans go like I want them to.
Griever : But in the meantime, enjoy the multiple updates! Another sneak peek of Forbidden Dance at the end of the chapter!
Disclaimer : I claim no rights to the anime/manga Yu-gi-oh
Current : I Pray 4 U.
"We are what we pretend to be, so we must be careful about what we pretend to be." - Kurt Vonnegut
Chapter Twenty-One : Pretending is fun, or is it?
"So, let me get this straight." Ryou took a sip of his apple martini, he didn't care if the drink was girly it was damned good no matter what Bakura often said. "You got engaged to Atemu to get rid of his mother and the mysterious woman that he's bringing?"
"That's right."
Ryou slowly turned to Jou who was holding a scotch in his hand and looking as shocked that Ryou would probably would have felt if the alcohol wasn't in his system. He had come over to Seto and Jou's home after he had settled in properly. He had found Leon von Schroeder getting ready to depart when he walked into the foyer. Leon had looked worse for wear and he had bags under his amber eyes, Ryou failed to mention that Leon had looked slightly intoxicated as well, but he figured that whatever had happened was good enough reason for Leon to reach for the bottle.
He had to have a drink or two himself when he dealt with Seto and Jou so he couldn't totally fault the man.
"Why can't you just tell his mother that you two are in a relationship?" Jou asked, placing the glass of scotch on the coffee table. "wouldn't that be easier?"
"No," Yuugi looked slightly irritated, but Ryou saw the happiness in his friend's eyes. "relationships can be broken but engagement's not so much."
"That's true," Ryou agreed lightly. "but, don't you think is a bad idea? I mean, you two have only known each for what? A few weeks give or take?"
"It'll benefit us both in the end." Yuugi held up his right hand which showed the ring. "and I think it's a bit late to break the engagement."
"Have you thought about what's going to happen when his mother actually believes this? What if she calls in a wedding planner?"
Yuugi's shoulder's sunk at Ryou's question. "I-I haven't really thought about that…"
"Are you kidding!" Jou blurted out incredulously. "Don't you know that some mother's go bat shit crazy when their son or daughter announce they're getting married? My mom Shizuka are coming in a few days to help with the planning and I swore I heard Shizuka saying something about matching outfits and hats! Hats!"
Ryou snorted and clamped his hand over his mouth to prevent his drink from being spilt. He sent Yuugi a grateful look when Yuugi handed him a thick napkin.
"I'm really, really glad that Bakura isn't one for big weddings," Ryou gasped out, wiping his mouth. "It looks like you two are going to have a hell of a time."
"Yeah," Ryou snickered when Yuugi's pouted. "I'm going to have a grand time with Rehema."
"Rehema?" Ryou asked. "doesn't that mean compassion or empathy?"
"Yes, yes it does," Yuugi replied. "Ironic, isn't it?"
Ryou only took another sip of his martini in response to that question. He hoped that Yuugi would make it through this "engagement." and come out of it unscathed.
"So," Yuugi spoke up after a moment of silence. "Honda's already left for L.A?"
"Yeah," Ryou blinked at how sour Jou sounded. "I'm happy for him and all but I just don't want him to get hurt."
"I'm sure that Otogi will take good care of him," Ryou soothed, reaching over and patting Jou on the arm. "we all know how long Otogi has wanted a relationship with Honda, right? What could possibly go wrong?"
"Everything," Jou and Yuugi chorused.
"Again," Ryou deadpanned. "I'm sure that everything is going to be alright. The both of them are responsible adults and know exactly what they are getting into."
"Like you and secret agent man?" Jou teased playfully. "How did your honeymoon go by the way?"
"Blissful and full of beach sex and romantic dinners." Ryou smirked when Jou gave him a sour look for his remark.
"You are back early, Ryou," Yuugi put in, cautiously. "Did Bakura have to leave again?"
"Yes," Ryou breathed out. "unfortunately, he won't be back for a whole year this time."
Ryou smiled when Yuugi and Jou released sympathetic noises, he gave his friends a reassuring grin to show that he was okay at least on the outside.
"It'll be fine, and he said that he was going to contact me as soon as possible."
"That's good and it finally proves it."
"Proves what?"
"That your husband is definitely a secret agent/assassin/spy."
"Jounouchi!"
Landing in L.A was an adventure in itself, Honda was pushed, cursed and leered at throughout the entire process.
It felt like college all over again.
Gathering his bags, Honda took a seat in one of the many chairs throughout the Los Angeles International Airport to give his feet and himself a breather. He didn't think that the flight would be so tedious, but it was all going to be worth it in the end.
Honda leaned back against the hard, plastic chair and watched the other passengers walk and run throughout the airport to catch other flights or to reunite with family, friends or lovers. It was interesting to watch someone many different people be in such a hurry to go to God knew where.
Digging into his pocket, he retrieved his phone and quickly adjusted the time zone and to check his messages. One was from Jou, who wanted a souvenir and pictures. Honda found this amusing considering the fact that Jou had been in L.A more than three times with Seto and Mokuba for the opening of Kaiba Land and to conduct business deals.
The last two messages were from Yuugi and Ryou who merely wished him a good time and safe journey. Flipping the phone closed, Honda felt the seat next to him become occupied. He curiously raised his head to see who it was and sucked in a breath when sharp, emerald eyes met his.
"Hiroto, Honda." his hand was raised and brought to full lips. "It's so good to see you again."
Honda felt heat rush to his face when those full lips placed a soft, wet kiss against the back of his hand. Giving a shaky, shy smile, he gently took his hand away from that mouth and placed it inside his jacket pocket to hide the fact that it was shaking badly.
"It's good to see you again as well, Ryuuji Otogi."
Honda was tugged into Otogi strong arms and given a tight hug that brought another blush to his cheeks. He placed his head on Otogi's chest and took a deep breath to inhale the familiar cologne that Otogi always chose to wear.
"…I missed you," Honda murmured shyly, mentally slapping himself for being so shy in front of Otogi; his best friend of so many years.
Honda felt more than heard Otogi chuckle before the arms around him tightened. "I missed you too," he was gently pushed away and forced to look into Otogi's amused and happy eyes. "What do you say we get out of this crowded and funky airport and into the nice limo waiting outside for us?"
"Sounds like a plan."
Otogi helped him with his luggage and they made it out of the airport ten minutes later both of them ruffled and frustrated with the crowds.
They met the chauffeur, David, who had taken their luggage and put in the trunk before coming back around and opening the door, shutting it behind them once they were fully inside.
The inside of the limo had plush, leather seats and a small mini bar to the left that held water, sodas and an assortment of alcohol, strong ones from the looks of it.
"Like it?" Otogi asked, placing an arm around his shoulders. "It's simple for my tastes but it was enough for the ride to come and get you."
"I love it," Honda slid further into the seats. "especially these seats, airplane and airports seats are murder on my butt."
As expected, Otogi leered at his complaint about his butt hurting and opened his mouth to say something dirty, but Honda reached up and covered his mouth before a single syllable was uttered.
"Not one single word about butt massage or any kind of massage." Honda took his hand off Otogi's mouth when he felt the wetness of a tongue slid against his palm. "and please, don't lick my hand like that, I don't know where that tongue has been."
"I know where I would like it to be."
The flirting gauntlet was officially dropped.
Honda chuckled quietly at his choice of words, but they were entirely accurate in naming what Otogi had started.
"I hope you're laughing at what I said." Otogi spoke up, giving him a bemused look. "because it would be weird if you were laughing for no reason."
Honda scowled. "Like you don't laugh when you're thinking about something perverted."
"At least I tell you what I'm laughing about, It always gets me beat up, but at least you know what I'm laughing about."
Honda rolled his eyes and leaned into Otogi's side. Not even twenty minutes together, and they were already arguing like old times.
He was really glad that he decided to come here to L.A.
The days leading up to Atemu's mother arrival fluttered by and Yuugi found himself getting more and more anxious as the day approached. He had moved some of his things into Atemu's place and made sure what was what and where was where. It wasn't complicated because Atemu made sure everything was really easy to find and Yuugi was grateful for that.
As for the sleeping situation, Yuugi and Atemu had taken to sleeping in the same bedroom which was awkward for him on the first night because he had learned the hard way that Atemu only slept in a pair of expensive black silk boxers.
He had also learned that Atemu was a clingy sleeper and briefly wondered if Atemu slept with a teddy bear when he was a young child.
They had slowly learned about each other's habits which was fun for the both of them. Yuugi found that Atemu was a neat freak and Atemu found out that he could cook almost anything as long as it wasn't anything sweet. He could never get baking right for some odd reason.
Atemu was a total remote hog and only watched crime and game shows while Yuugi liked to have all day gaming sessions which Atemu fell asleep to more often than not.
They balanced each other out perfectly and that secretly pleased Yuugi to no end. When he found that out, the anxiety he had over the past weeks had faded away until only content remained.
When Rehema arrived, Yuugi would always remember his first impression of her.
"Are you ready, Yuugi?"
Yuugi straightened his long-sleeved shirt and pants before nodding his head. "I'm ready."
Atemu opened the door and smiled when he saw his mother and a slim, pale woman wearing a long, stylish coat and boots next to her.
"Atemu!"
Yuugi watched as Atemu was taken into a short, tanned-skinned woman arms. Rehema was a shorter version of Atemu with the same crimson eyes and skin tone with high cheekbones and full lips. Her long ebony hair was pulled into a low ponytail held in place by a butterfly clip that looked it was made of emeralds and sapphires.
"It's good to see you mother," Atemu waved the other woman in and gave her a warm smile. "Is this the woman you were talking about?"
"Oh?" Rehema turned and grabbed the woman's hand. "This is Kisara, Kisara? This is my son, Atemu Ishigami."
Kisara was a very beautiful woman with pale skin and sharp, intelligent crystal blue eyes. Yuugi found himself becoming slightly jealous at how graceful the woman was without trying.
Kisara bowed. "It is very nice too meet you, Ishigami-san."
"It is very nice too meet you as well, Miss. Kisara." Atemu tugged him forward and placed an arm around Yuugi's waist. "Mother? Miss. Kisara? This Motou Yuugi, my fiancé."
"Fiancé?" Kisara and Rehema screeched.
Yuugi wished the earth would swallow him up whole when he saw Kisara and Rehema stare at him with evil eyes.
So much for peaceful holidays.
-End Chapter Twenty-One!
Yuugi finally meets Kisara and Rehema, Honda is in L.A! Now, here's another sample of Forbidden Dance.
The sultry jazz music and the quiet atmosphere of the Moonlight Restaurant always soothed Ryou's frayed nerves after a long day of work as curator of Domino's Art Museum and it was also perfect when he was tasting Jounouchi's latest dessert creations. Being the friend of the head chef definitely had its perks.
Bringing the piece of cake to his mouth, Ryou moaned loudly as the taste of chocolate, whipped cream and strawberries assaulted his tongue. If he was Jou's type then he would get down one knee and propose to his friend.
"Now don't you look and sound lovely moaning like that? I wonder if you sound like that having sex."
Ryou opened his eyes and almost chocked on his fork when he saw a pair of molten, lavender eyes staring at him from the next table over.
The man would have been an exact replica of him if had not been for the tan skin and noticeable scar under his left eye.
"What's the matter?" the man rose from the table and made his way over to him in quick, graceful strides. "Cat got your tongue, darling?"
Ryou absolutely told himself that he was not blushing at the words that were coming out of this horrible man's mouth.
When Yuugi made his way to his desk on the fortieth floor of Ishigami Corp on a sunny, Friday morning. He did not expect Azizi, Mana and Mahad's six year old son, sitting on his desk with a bouquet of red and white roses in his small tan hands.
"Azizi?" Yuugi questioned, softly, gaining the six year old boy's attention quickly. "What are you doing here?" he looked around the floor to find it empty, save for a few people coming in and out of the elevators "Where's your mama?"
Azizi looked at him with curious green eyes, the same as his mother's. "She's in the office getting some paper."
Okay, that solved where Mana was, the next question is where did the kid the flowers from. He set his case on the desk with a solid thump and threw off his coat and draped it across his large leather chair before returning attention back to Azizi.
"Who are the flowers for? Your mama?"
"No," Yuugi suddenly found himself with an arm full of roses. "For you."
"For me?" Yuugi peaked behind the bouquet to see Azizi easily jump off his desk and stand beside him. "Who are they from?"
"Uncle Atem!"
Hearing that, Yuugi bent down to place the flowers back into the child's hands. "Would you mind taking these back to-"
"No!"
Yuugi blinked at the loud refusal. "No?"
Azizi shook his head, causing his wild, brown locks to fly left and right. "Uncle Atem says that friends don't return gifts, especially really good gifts so you can't give the roses back, Uncle Yuugi!"
Yuugi's left eye twitched as he slowly stood from his crotched position and placed the flowers on his desk. He ungracefully sat in his chair and stared blankly up at the ceiling.
Atem knew that Yuugi would never accept flowers from him personally so he used his own nephew to do the job for him, knowing that Yuugi would never refuse them from someone as innocent and bright eyed as Azizi.
Atem was a manipulative, sneaky bastard and Yuugi would get his revenge.