Yu-Gi-Oh in Manassas, VA: A Valentine Tale
Author: Serena J
Rating: By chapter, between PG 13 and XXX
Genre(s): Challenge
Pairing(s): Standard Hikari/Yami (Seto/Jou, Yugi/Yami, Honda/Otogi, Marik/Malik, Ryou/Yami Bakura, Noa/Mokuba)
Spoilers: none
Beta: Mishiko Shinsei
Disclaimer: Just the words, not the folks. I do not own Yu-Gi-Oh. I do not intend to profit this work. I just wrote a fan fiction.
Summary: Manassas, VA is a suburb of Washington, DC - roughly 30 miles south west. Two battles of the US civil war were fought here, and nothing has happened since. Can Seto and the gang survive being snowed in without dying of boredom? Find out!
Formatting Key:
typed text on handheld device. visible on screen_
{...streaming system data. not visible on screen...}
Author's Note: This was written for a challenge to write a fanfiction set in your hometown. Everything about Manassas and Washington DC is - or, at least at the time this was written was - real. Names have been changed to protect the me from the people who might kill me if they knew I used them in a story.
Chapter 1
"She's fired," Seto growled into the phone. "If I have to say it again, she will not be alone. Any simpleton knows that Americans write dates in reverse. And if she didn't know enough to verify the reservation before finalizing my itinerary, how can I possibly trust her with anything. And the fact that we are having this discussion draws me to wonder about your judgment." He paused. "I thought as much. Now, I trust all has been resolved with the hotel? Ah. Yes, of course not. This trip has been such a joy, I should have expected that. Very well; where are we staying?" He listened a moment. "So call the -" His expression showed both surprise and distaste as the person on the other end apparently spoke over him. "Calm down. You are being irrational. Simply find a hotel -" The strident tones of the other voice actually carried out of the cell phone. "ENOUGH!" Seto thundered. "This city is the capital of the free world, allegedly. Find me a bed for the night or find yourself another position!"
Seto flipped the phone shut and pocketed it. He sighed deeply before turning to face his traveling companions.
Originally this was planned as a trip to New York so that Seto and Mokuba could meet Jou's family. As nontraditional as their relationship was, Seto wasted no opportunity to honor what traditions they could. He had planned to honor this Valentine's Day by asking Jou's grandfather for Jou's hand in marriage.
Then Mokuba had complained that he would rather stay home than be a 'third wheel'. So Seto agreed to allow his brother to bring a friend. Mokuba choose Yugi. And since Mutuo and Honda were close friends of Jou's, an argument could be made that they should be present for the proposal.
But Mutuo brought Yami, and Honda brought Otogi and Ishtar. And lord knows how the rest of the merry men wound up tagging along.
"So, what up?" Jou asked. He had slumped into one of the first class lounge couches while Seto had made his calls.
"At the moment? Nothing." Seto sighed again and sat on the couch arm. "Kennedy is closed. Apparently, we were lucky to land here. Some weather system called a 'norr easter' is in South Carolina so all of the airports on the east coast are closing."
"I thought we were gonna stay overnight anyway."
"We were. But that assumed that we would arrive at 10am this morning and have the day to spend in Washington DC. It also assumed that my staff was competent."
Jou shrugged. "Mistakes happen. Was it really worth firing somebody? I mean, now? Jobs are kinda scarce."
"She's new. They gave her the simple task to make our travel arrangements. Somehow she failed to notice that our flight was for February 12th, and our room was for December 2nd."
"Huh?" Then Jou face-palmed. "12-2. Day-month, month-day! That could happen to anybody."
"It could. However, I expect that even you would have noticed that the travel and lodging were scheduled for ten months apart."
Jou smirked. "Yeah, OK. I mighta caught that one. Of course, I mighta let it go like that anyhow."
"Your sense of humor is the very reason I will never hire you again."
"I got other skills."
"None of which can be included on a CV or discussed in public places."
"We got uh..." Jou's voice trailed off as realization dawned. "We don't got a hotel room."
Seto sighed yet again. "No. We don't 'got' a hotel room. And apparently there are no rooms available in the city. Assuming we can manage to leave the airport." Seto glanced around. "Where are they? And Mokuba?"
"Mokie's on the game. Again. Marik and Kura are at the bar, Ryou's asleep. Yugi said something about local color and history - I don't know where he got off to." Jou gestured. "Yami's behind you."
"I've been watching the weather," The Egyptian mused as Seto turned. "Politics in my day were contentious, but my advisors never blamed each other for poor weather."
"Who did they blame?" Seto's voice held a note of sarcasm.
"The Gods, of course." Yami looked thoughtful for a moment. "Although I did have to sacrifice a priest and his slaves one year. He failed to perform the spring rituals and the rains did not come."
"You had a drought."
"The Gods were not appeased," Yami corrected. "The new priest performed the rites and the rains began before sun down." Yami shrugged dismissively. "The sacrifice was your suggestion."
"That, I'll buy," Jou chuckled.
"Pure fantasy. When do they say this snowfall will clear?"
"Well, there is a Senator who says that it's clear now and that Washington is too eager for a vacation day. On the other hand, someone named Noah believes they will set a three-day snowfall record."
"Have the Gods weighed in yet?" Jou asked with a faint smile.
Yami resisted a smile of his own. "I have yet to consult a priest." He turned to Seto. "So what do you believe?"
"NOAA is the source KaibaShipping uses for long term forecasts. If they recommend closing the city, then I am sure it is justified. A moment." Seto pulled out his buzzing phone, stepping away to have a bit of privacy. "Kaiba."
He listened to the frustrated voice making excuses. Through the huge lounge window, the sun was already setting, turning the clear sky deep purple and fire orange, and a fierce wind blew across the empty runway. The glassy shine of ice coated all the equipment he could see. "Stop!" He commanded. "What rooms have you found?" He listened. "You said that; what I asked you is 'what is' not 'what is not'." He listened for longer. "Wait! Look up the address for Sotheby's. I believe they have an office near there. How close is it?" He listened, started to speak, then stopped to listen more. "I see. They have two rooms there?" He looked thoughtful. "So that's really a room with extra space, isn't it? Still..."
He looked back at Jou. Most of the group had reassembled and were around Jou. They all seemed to be either watching the looming darkness outside or watching Seto. Mokuba was playing his KC handheld yet again.
In the grand scheme of things, the truth was that the ten men before him were the closest thing to friends and family that Seto had. Over the last few years, there had not been a moment of note in his life that did not involve at least two of them, and with rare exceptions, the more notable the event, the more of these clods were present.
Given that, it was neither inappropriate or inconceivable that for two nights in a snowed in city, that all eleven of them should squeeze themselves into one hotel suite. The room had a living room, bedroom and den. Rolling beds were available. They could have a sleepover.
Hardly.
Seto turned his attention back to the phone. "You said you found four rooms. Four beds? Across the street from each other? Fine; where are those in relation to the suite? That close?" Seto actually chuckled. "I understood you perfectly. Reserve the suite and the four beds in my name, but provide the hotels with all our names since we won't know who will be where until we arrive. I need two cars at this godforsaken airport now and a table for dinner. Some place unique to the city."
He hung up and turned to face the group.
"Gentlemen. I'm afraid that with the storm and some local events, there are precious few rooms available. I have a long-term solution in mind that I shall act on tomorrow. For tonight, I have located accommodations. I'm afraid, we will have to part company after dinner..."
Author's End Note:
Standard reviews welcome. Even if you don't feel comfortable commenting, I would deeply appreciate a ":-)", ":-l", or ":-(". I feel a bit alone on this one. From the stage, the lights are blinding and you don't know if anyone is watching if the audience is silent. Let me know you're out there, please. Thank You. SJ