A/N: Okay readers this is the chapter where Vanessa's hair comes into play. Remember when I told you that her hair played a significant role in the story, well in the next few chapters you are going to understand what I mean. Let me explain, when Vanessa conducts business, becomes agitated, or does not feel right about a particular situation she instinctively wraps her hair in a bun. If she does not have the materials to wrap it, her hair becomes tight and curly. Vanessa does not like when her hair is this way because it means trouble, betrayal, or discomfort. The straighter her hair is the better her mood is. In addition, in this chapter you will meet the villain of the story otherwise known as Malakye Taganoshi. He will be described more in the chapter and he has an interesting past with Vanessa.
Disclaimer: I don't own Yugioh, but I do own Deston, Michael, Vanessa, and Malakye.
Vanessa groaned into her husband's chest as he shifted position on the bed. The hand that had been on the back of Vanessa's head, slowly snaked its way down to her waist and then moved even lower. Michael's hand now rested on her thigh and he stroked it lazily with open fingers. Vanessa giggled and placed her hand on her husband's. Michael shifted again and kissed his wife on the forehead. She lifted her head and kissed his lips. After pulling away, she asked,
"Did you sleep well?"
"How could I not?" Vanessa smiled and rubbed Michael's chest.
"What time is it?" Michael turned a little to look at the large grandfather clock standing beside the wall.
"It says eleven twenty five." Vanessa pulled herself from her husband and got out of the bed. She threw her robe around her body and began to braid her hair. Michael sat up in the bed wearily and asked,
"Where are you going Vanessa? Come back to bed." Vanessa turned around and smiled at her husband. Seeing that his wife wasn't going to come back, he pulled himself from the bed.
"I'm getting up now so you can go back to sleep if you want. Remember I said that I wouldn't disturb you."
"Yeah I know that, but I don't want to be here alone."
"Call Croquet." Vanessa snickered and Michael walked up behind her and smacked her butt.
"Ouch." Vanessa grabbed her butt and glared at Michael. He smiled at her and pulled a towel around his waist. Vanessa finished the braid and walked into the bathroom. Michael heard the water come on and followed Vanessa in. When Michael walked into the bathroom, Vanessa had already stepped into the shower and slid the door closed. He waited before entering behind her and wrapping his arms around her waist.
"Michael we are never going to get out of here. Whenever you shower with me we end up staying in here longer than usual." Michael completely ignored her and lathered up a sponge. When he felt that the sponge was lathered enough he washed his wife's neck and back, inching lower. Vanessa turned around and took the sponge from him.
"I'm getting out of here early today, so stop that." Michael took the sponge back and kissed Vanessa.
"Michael please. Let me bathe and get out of here." Michael still ignored her kissing her neck now.
"Michael." Vanessa whined as Michael laughed and picked her up. She wrapped her legs around his waist and said,
"Michael I need to bathe."
"But this would be a wasted shower because you're just going to get dirty again." Vanessa sighed and kissed her husband.
"Okay, but no more than an hour."
Max yanked the sheets over his head as he heard soft moaning coming from nearby. Being an instinct Max yelled out,
"Mother keep it down." The noise stopped, but soon started again. Max pulled a pillow over his head and the red comforter. 'Mother isn't usually this loud.' Max thought to himself. He got out of his bed and was surprised to hear the moaning coming from his bathroom. Being curious Max went to the bathroom door and yanked it open. Inside he found Malik and Yami Malik kissing and groping each other.
"Get the hell out of my bathroom. And stop grabbing his package Yami Malik." Yami Malik laughed and picked his hikari up carrying him out of the bathroom and to Max's bed.
"Get the hell up. You're not screwing in my bed."
"My, my Max, such harsh language."
"Shut up Yami Malik. All of you guys are rubbing off on me. Now get off of my bed."
"We can't be rubbing off on you too much. We actually get laid." Max rolled his eyes at Yami Malik and kicked him. Yami Malik growled and pulled his hikari from the bed. He walked by Max and thumped him on the back of the head. Max punched Yami Malik in the arm and pushed the two blonds out of his room. He sat on his bed and then went to take a shower.
Max walked out of the bathroom drying his hair and heard conversations and noises from downstairs.
"Pass me the skillet Yugi." Max heard Ryou say. Max heard loud clangs and then a sorry from Yugi. He laughed imagining the two lights downstairs trying to cook. Max, wanting to make sure nothing incriminating was around when he awoke, asked the staff not to come that morning. Max could hear the television blaring with sounds from Looney Toons.
"Mokuba." Max said quietly. He could hear Ryou yell at Seto and Yami Bakura about running in the house.
"Give that back Yami Bakura. That's mine." Seto yelled.
"Somebody's got a crush." Yami Bakura taunted. At the sound of this, Max threw on a pair of pajama bottoms, opened the door, and ran down the stairs.
"Yami Bakura let me see." Yami yelled from the rec room. He was playing the Playstation, but he dropped the controller to see what was going on. Max saw Yami Bakura running and Seto chasing after him screaming.
"Hey everybody guess who Seto likes." Yami Bakura teased.
"Don't you say a word Yami Bakura." Deston walked up to Yami Bakura and took the picture away, giving it to Seto.
"I want to see." Ryou said from the kitchen door. He had a big stack of pancakes on a plate and he put them on the table. "Who does Seto like?"
"You wouldn't believe it aibou." Yami Bakura squealed.
"Okay somebody's a little too happy." Yami Malik commented from the living room area. He and Malik had settled on the love seat across from Mokuba and they were kissing. Mokuba was looking at them full of interest and Seto caught this and yelled,
"Stop making out in front of my bother you two." He then turned back to Yami Bakura and said, "Shut up Yami Bakura. I swear if you say one more thing…"
"Try to guess who it is. Here are the hints: We call him puppy. He has blond hair and brown eyes. And Seto always messes with him."
"Joey Wheeler." Max said happily and astonished at the same time. "You like Joey Wheeler?"
"Yeah, just rub it in Max."
"I didn't say that he was ugly or anything."
"Was that a gay tendency popping out?" Yami questioned.
"No. I was just stating the truth."
"So you think he's cute."
"Yeah." Max looked at Yami who was smiling at the other yamis. "Not like that."
"Yeah, whatever."
"I'm not saying anything else because you all twist everything around."
"Good taste Seto. I think he's cute. He has nice eyes and a cute accent." Ryou said from the kitchen while bringing out more food. Yami Bakura frowned and his eye twitched at his hikari. Ryou noticed this and walked up to Yami Bakura kissing him and hugging him. "But he'll never compare to my yami."
"I don't think that anyone would want to be compared to Yami Bakura. A third grade education and sticky fingers are not good qualities."
"Shut up Yami. You're just jealous."
"Spell jealous."
"Shut up." Yugi walked in behind Ryou carrying a plate of sausage and bacon.
"Seto and Joey sitting in the tree k-I-s-s-I-n-g…"
"Shut up Yugi." Yugi stopped singing and laughed at Seto.
"So Seto what do you like about him? And where did you get the picture?" Deston asked. Mokuba who had been listening to the entire discussion from the sofa, turned around and said,
"Seto said that he liked his butt, his body, his smile, his eyes…well he kinda likes everything. And he took the picture from the bulletin board at his school. He told somebody that on the phone. I kinda overheard." Seto turned red and yelled Mokuba's name. He walked slowly over to Mokuba and rubbed his head.
"Mokuba, what have I told you about listening to my conversations and then telling everyone what I say?" Mokuba looked at Seto and got off the sofa walking to Deston. When he was shielded as much as possible he said,
"You told me not to do that anymore."
"Right."
"But I didn't tell anybody about the time when you and Duke were saying nasty stuff on the phone." Seto blushed and Mokuba's eyes got wide when he realized what he had said. "Sorry big brother." The group started laughing and Seto walked away. Ryou laughed and went back into the kitchen. He walked back out with three pitchers of orange juice and yelled,
"Come on and eat." Whatever everyone was doing was dropped and they ran to the table. Yami Bakura got there first and took the entire plate of pancakes.
"Mine."
"Yami put those back. Those are for everyone."
"But I'm hungry."
"Put them back."
"But…"
"Back." Yami Bakura sulked and put the pancakes back in the center of the table.
"You're mean aibou." Ryou ignored Yami Bakura and served himself some of the pancakes, pouring syrup over them. As did everyone else who had taken from the large stack. They attacked the other food, leaving the more courteous people or as the yamis called them slow people with what was left. These people happened to be Max and Deston.
"Such savagery." Deston said disgusted. She and Max split what was left and ate quietly. Paying attention to his plate Max noticed that every time he looked down his food seemed to dwindle faster than he was eating. He turned away and turned quickly to see Yami stealing his sausage.
"Give it back." Max said stabbing at it on Yami's fork. Yami dodged Max's fork and stuck the sausage in his mouth.
"Still want it." Yami asked chewing it.
"No. Why don't you steal someone else's food?"
"Because you are right beside me, Deston has had all the good stuff stolen from her plate, the hikaris get violent when food is around, and Mokuba needs to eat."
"Yeah and I don't?"
"No not really." Max drank some orange juice and left the dining room. Deston seeing that she had no more food left to steal left the table also. When the two left Ryou scolded and yelled at the yamis something about "no fun for two months." Max did not know what he was talking about, but all the yamis groaned. Max met Deston in the living room. They both sat on the sofa and Deston pulled a book from the sofa.
"You know I could start your portrait now if you like." Deston smiled and said,
"Yes you should. Where will you paint me?"
"Come on lets go to the studio upstairs. It has more room and I can find a nice back drop for you." They left leaving the group to themselves and went to the studio. They entered the studio and Deston danced around the room.
"So how was dance class this week."
"It was great."
"You are very graceful. Nice dress." Max was referring to the dress that Deston had put on that morning. It was a soft bronze color that brought out her eyes and skin tone. It came off of her shoulders and fit snugly around her voluptuous figure. The bottom portion went a little past her knees and grazed her tone and slender legs. On her feet Max also notice that she wore a gold toe ring and a small gold anklet with an ahnk charm on it. She wore no shoes and her hair cascaded down her back.
"Thank you." Deston danced over to Max and asked,
"What do you want me to do?" Max sat her on the floor and put her in a position where she was lying on her side and looking upright at him. He went to a closet and pulled out some gold and black silk that his mother put away. He placed the pieces of silk around and on Deston until he was satisfied with the result. He then went to another room and brought back a gold pillow and some brown blankets. He pulled her up again and instructed her to lie on the blankets in the same position. Max placed the pillow under the arm Deston was leaning on and then placed the silk over her once again.
"You look like an Egyptian princess." Deston smiled and then blushed.
"You flatter me so much." Max laughed softly, drew in her beauty, his eyes absorbing every detail of her face, and sat behind and easel.
"Don't move." Max took a pencil and began to sketch the outline of Deston's portrait. He sketched the curve of her hip and the elegant length of her legs. When he finished the lower half he started on the oval of her face and her neck and hands. 'Might as well make this a full body portrait.' Lastly, he sketched in her dark raven hair and the tauk she wore around her neck. When he had finished the outline, about an hour or so later, he went back to the closet and fished out a camera. He took Deston's picture and the instant camera pushed the photo out. He went closer to get pictures of her face, eyes, and mouth. Deston smiled and took the camera from him, holding it out in front of them. She snapped a picture of them together then she took another. When she prepared to take the third, she gently guided Max's face to hers, pulling him into a kiss. Snap! The camera had gotten them together and other faces had seen as well. Seto and the others secretly looked between the small crack that the door made. Deston released Max's mouth and his eyes were wide. He touched his lips and moved away.
"Why did you do that?"
"I'm sorry. I didn't mean…" Max not bothering to listen went back to his easel and sat; staring at the pictures he had taken of Deston. Deston went to get up from the floor when Max said to her,
"You can't move yet." She moved back into the position Max put her in earlier, but now she stared at the floor.
"Lift your head please." Max said professionally. Deston lifted her head, but quickly turned away.
"When I used the Tauk to tap into your feelings I thought that you would be happy with what I did. What did I do wrong?"
"You surprised me."
"I am sorry. I won't do it again if it makes you uncomfortable. You may finish your sketch now." Deston said and lifted her head back up to stare at Max, but now she looked sad and disappointed.
"I didn't say that I didn't like it." Max said walking from behind the easel. Deston's eyes looked brighter at the comment. "Maybe you should let me make the first move and then I won't feel so bad." Max sat down beside Deston and leaned in to kiss her, but just as their lips began to touch, Seto, who was leaning to heavily on the door, fell into the room bringing everyone who was watching the scene with him. They all fell in a pile in front of the door. Deston and Max turned to look, surprised at the interruption. There the group lay tangled and trying to scramble to their feet.
"Uh I was looking for the bathroom." Yami Malik said stupidly.
"How many times have you been to my house? You should know where the bathrooms are."
"I had a memory lapse." Deston giggled and said,
"Why don't you all admit that you were spying on us."
"Spying. Us. Never. We were just looking for you and we happened to fall in on what you to were doing." Seto said and gave a slight smile.
"No you were not big brother. You followed them when they left the living room. You told everybody to come with you. And we watched Max and Deston kiss..." Seto glared at his little brother and Mokuba stopped talking.
Yeah, Max is finally becoming a man. All he needs to do is get laid. We could handle that for you." Yami Bakura said grinning.
"I'm not gay."
"Come on give it a chance."
"No."
"Well, Deston come on give the boy some lovin'." Deston looked at Yami Bakura and rolled her eyes.
"You are speaking to two virgins Yami, I doubt that they are going to do anything with each other. So, leave them alone." Ryou said poking his yami playfully.
"I'll leave them alone if you reward me."
"Nope you're not getting any."
"But aibou…"
"Bye Yami."
"Please."
"No."
"But I'm sexually frustrated."
"Sorry for you, but you are going to have to stay that way." Max said from the floor. "My eyes haven't stopped burning ever since the time I caught you and Ryou having sex on the rec room coffee table. To this day I can't eat off of it."
"Sorry Max, but I really wanted it that night and I couldn't make it to a bed before I jumped on Yami Bakura." Ryou blushed then smiled.
"Speaking of sex on the coffee table, I wonder what my parents are doing now."
"What time is it Michael."
"Two thirty-five."
"I must say that we shopped pretty quickly. I love this black Versace gown."
"I like it, but then I don't."
"What do you mean?"
"You are showing too much skin. Look at the slits on the sides, they go to the highest part of your thigh, and it is backless. Only I should see that much skin." Vanessa ignored her husband and looked over to Croquet.
"What do you think Croquet?"
"It is very nice Madame Pegasus."
"See Croquet likes it."
"He is paid to say nice things and he knows not to anger you." Croquet nodded in agreement and opened the door for the Pegasus couple.
"Shut up. It doesn't matter what you think. Now lets go get some shoes for this dress."
"Shoes? Don't you already have some black shoes?"
"Yes, but I want to get some to go with this dress."
"No Vanessa. You got away with the dress and that was the price of a car."
"But I'm rich and I can do that."
"No." Vanessa turned away and pouted. Croquet had started the car and heard the two arguing in the back.
"Sir why don't you go ahead and give in early. You know that you hate to see her unhappy."
"Croquet you're supposed to be on my side."
"Yes Sir I know, but I already know how this will end. You will argue, she will pout, you will feel bad because she is pouting and apologize, she will accept the apology, and then to make up for making her unhappy you will let her buy the shoes."
"Fine." Vanessa squealed and smiled.
"I want Versace shoes to match."
"Vanessa."
"What? I have to match everything perfectly."
"Why did I marry a high maintenance woman?"
"Because you love me and I gave you the ride of your life the first time we did it."
"Good sex isn't what made me marry you."
"Sure it is. You kept coming back for more of it and then I got pregnant with Max. Then you married me."
"So wouldn't Max be the reason I married you."
"You asked me to marry you before I got pregnant with Max."
"Oh. In a odd way that makes sense." Croquet laughed and drove to the store to get Vanessa's shoes.
It was seven-nineteen when Max awoke from his evening nap, even the yamis went to sleep. He remembered putting Deston's outline sketch away and then coming to his room where he fell asleep. He sat up and rubbed his head, pulling his fingers through his hair. He was lying in his bed and smelled the aroma of food from downstairs.
"I slept that hard?" Max got out of his bed and walked downstairs to the kitchen. When he reached the kitchen, he found a note from Annabelle.
Young Pegasus you and the other children were asleep when we arrived, so the staff and I fixed dinner and left. We didn't want to wake any of you up and we know if we would have woken up the others before you, you would not have eaten. I cooked some Southern food tonight, Miss Mae and I thought you might like some. You were always complaining that Japan had no soul food. I swear you might have been raised in New York, but Miss Mae calls you a Southern boy. We cooked some greens, cornbread, macaroni and cheese, potato salad, and some fried chicken. You can gloat to your mother when you hear from her. Love Annabelle and Miss Mae. P.S. Peach Cobbler is in the oven with the chicken.
Max put the note down and opened the pot lids and the oven. Everything listed in the letter was there and Max would be the first to eat some. Max walked to the kitchen cabinet and pulled out a plate. He did it quietly because it seemed as if the yamis could hear anything having to do with food. Max opened up the pot with the greens and placed the lid softly on the counter. He scooped up some and put them on his plate. Max put the top back on the greens and went to the macaroni doing the same thing. Being in such a hurry to get the macaroni and cheese, Max dropped the lid on the counter.
"Damn." He heard footsteps come from the hallway to the stairs and then run down them. Within a few seconds, Max saw the whole group running into the kitchen and grabbing plates. The yamis ran into Max and moved him out of the way. Max shoved back which surprised the yamis and they stared.
"Look you can steal my breakfast, but when it comes to Miss Mae's cooking, I will turn violent. So step the hell back." All the yamis got the drift and stepped back. Max let Deston, the hikaris, Seto, and Mokuba through so they could fix their plates. When Max and the others got what they wanted, they stepped away and let the yamis have the rest. All the yamis heaped their plates with food even though they had no idea what they were eating except for the chicken that is. When they sat at the table Yami Malik was the first to ask,
"What is this stuff?"
"How can you put all that food on your plate and not know what it is. It's called soul food. They cook it in the southern part of America. Miss Mae is an old lady from the south who used to cook for my mother when she was young. It was the only food she ate, so Mother kept her, but she only cooks for special occasions and when she wants too."
"Are you talking about the black lady who cooked that key lime pie and the Pineapple Upside Down Cake? It was good." Yami said and Yami Bakura punched him in the arm.
"Shut up."
"You guys ate that entire cake?"
"Like I said it was good."
"Well tonight we have Peach Cobbler and Vanilla ice cream and if you touch it before I have had my piece I will cut your hands off." Everyone looked at Max and gulped. "You're eating greens, macaroni and cheese, cornbread, potato salad, and some fried chicken." Max said pointing to each item. "Now dig in."
The music drifted softly to the ears of the company owners attending the party. A small orchestra played on a stage. They played soft classical and light dance pieces, while some people danced to the rhythm on the dance floor in front of the stage. Tables were dressed with black silken table clothes and gold-rimmed crystal plates and glasses. Men and women in waiter uniforms walked through the talking crowd handing out wine and small gifts. Women walked next to their husbands and the men who brought dates showed them off to other men. Vanessa walked by the men quickly and pulled their gaze. Their partners pulled their faces back to them or scolded them for looking.
"I still have it." Vanessa said quietly. She wore the black Versace dress and found a pair of black diamond studded Versace stilettos. Vanessa walked in the direction of the buffet table to see what she wanted to eat. After making her way through the crowd, she finally had a view of the table. The buffet table was stocked with many different foods from around the world. On one end of the table sat octopus, calamari, crab legs, and seafood that was more exotic than she had ever seen. In the middle were meats, cooked and raw, sushi, soups, side dishes, and breads. There was a chef behind the table cutting off pieces of meat as the guests asked for it. And the end of the table held the desserts. All types of chocolates, cakes and fudges. Seeing this Vanessa walked straight to that end of the table, that is until her husband pulled her and led her to the middle of the table.
"Let go Michael." Vanessa said pulling her hand from her husband.
'You will eat some food before you eat one bite of that dessert part of the table." Vanessa pouted and let herself be led by her husband. She picked up a plate and asked for some vegetables, rice with gravy, and steak. Michael got the same thing, but with a potato added.
"I see you are already making women angry Vanessa."
"What? Their husbands and dates looked at me."
"I don't like this dress. And you are wearing a thong. Men are looking at you."
"Yeah and when they ask who I am with I tell them you. You know who I belong to, so don't worry. You sleep with me at night, not them. Let them know what it is like to have a real woman. One that is good for years instead of one night."
"Now that you put it that way." Michael said putting his hand around his wife's waist.
"That's right now enjoy yourself."
They walked back to their table to sit down, only to find a man waiting there for them. The man was Japanese with short hair that was spiked in the front. He had blond highlights and diamond studs in his ears. He looked no more than thirty-five with a dark seductive smile and a diamond band on his pinky finger. Vanessa smiled at the man uneasily and moved closer to her husband. When Vanessa and Michael reached their table the young man stood up and introduced himself.
"Hello Mr. and Mrs. Pegasus. I am Malakye Taganoshi." While he introduced himself Mr. Taganoshi pulled out a chair for Vanessa and shook Michael's hand. His voice was deep and regal, almost hypnotizing. He flashed another smile at the two at the table and sat down beside Vanessa. Vanessa grabbed her husband's hand and asked,
"Hello Mr. Taganoshi. What brings you to our table."
"Please call me Malakye." He said kissing her hand. Vanessa pulled her hand back slowly and waited for him to continue. "I heard that you were looking for a partner for your company. I was interested and decided to talk to you and discuss your terms." Vanessa pulled at her hair, which seemed to be getting curlier by the minute. She looked around trying to find something to tie her hair back, but found nothing. Giving up she asked Mr. Taganoshi for his resume. He handed Vanessa the resume and caressed her hand quickly as she took it, throwing another one of his smiles her way. Vanessa ignored the action and looked over the resume with her husband. After reading it, Michael said quietly to his wife,
"He seems qualified everywhere Vanessa."
"Yes." Vanessa answered hesitantly. While Michael looked over the resume more, Vanessa covered her exposed thigh and tried her best to cover some of her chest area. Mr. Taganoshi smiled slyly and rubbed Vanessa's leg under the table. Vanessa reacted quickly by pulling away. She took the resume from Michael and excused her and her husband from the table.
"Michael would you come with me to get something from the dessert buffet. Excuse us Mr. Taganoshi." Mr. Taganoshi looked annoyed, but nodded. Vanessa walked slowly with Michael to the desserts. While walking, Vanessa constantly tried to wrap her hair in a bun, but it always fell to tight ringlets down her back. She continued to try and bun her hair until Michael snatched her hands down. Vanessa gave him a troubled look and her hands moved back to her hair. Michael grabbed her wrists firmly and placed her open palms on his chest.
"Vanessa, love, what is wrong? Something here upsets you. What is it? Talk to me. I don't like to see you unhappy and you know it."
"I don't like him. I don't like the aura around him. I sense dishonesty."
"Are you sure Vanessa? Love he is the best qualified."
"Yes, I am sure."
"Whatever makes you happy." They both walked to their table after getting their dessert, finding Mr. Taganoshi waiting for them.
"I am sorry Mr. Taganoshi, but we must decline your resume for now. We will keep in touch though. With all the new projects that we are starting we won't have enough time to place you with the company yet. But when we do you will be the first person we call." Michael said when he seated himself at the table. Mr. Taganoshi rose and shook Michael's hand again before saying,
"Thank you for your time and I honor your judgment." He bowed to Vanessa and then took his leave. Vanessa watched Mr. Taganoshi's back until she could no longer see it. When she could see him no more, Vanessa exhaled and kissed her husband's hand.
"Michael can I tell you something?"
"Sure love, what is it?"
"Let's go outside."
"Whoa that was good. I am cool for the rest of the night." Yami Bakura said patting his stomach.
"Come on let's find something to do." Yami said getting up from the table and walking to the living room.
"Yeah I got something for us all to do how about we wash these dishes."
"That's not fun Max. You can do it if you want too." Max rubbed his forehead and said,
"It's not up for discussion Yami Malik, so get in here. That goes for the rest of you too. Don't even try to walk away." Everyone groaned at Max's words, but walked back to the kitchen to help clean up.
"What!"
"Michael, Malakye is my ex-boyfriend. I never expected to see him again."
"And why didn't you tell me this earlier."
"Because you would have made a scene."
"I would not have made a scene."
"If I would have told you what he was doing to me you would be in jail right about now, for assault with a deadly weapon. Your steak knife."
"Well what is your relationship with him now?"
"I hate everything about him. I never told you about him because I never expected to see him again. And I thought that it would be rare for me to run into him in the corporate world. When I left him, he was a deadbeat with no job, no goals, and no life. I worked, but he never tried to do any better. He lived off of everyone else and never tried to help himself. I got tired of his type of living and found someone better. You. I never expected to find someone like you. I thought that the best that I could do was him. For years, he drilled that into my brain and I soon began to believe it. I stopped trying for a while and then I met you. Someone who was successful, sweet, and loving. When I found out that you were interested, all of Malakye's harsh words drifted away and I left him to be with you. I don't regret anything that led to me being with you because it was all worth it. So don't go in there and kill him as much as I wish that you would. It would only fuel his desire to break up what I have now." Michael leaned over and kissed his wife on the lips.
"I love you very much. You are a very special woman and I would never treat you that way." Michael said grabbing Vanessa's chin and forcing her to look at him. She smiled and hugged Michael laying her head on his chest.
"I know. Go back inside and relax. I need some fresh air. Give me five minutes." Michael left his wife on the small grassy area they were previously talking on and went inside, but unbeknownst to them, an old flame had been watching and hearing all from a secret hiding place.
When Malakye saw Michael leave, he walked slowly toward Vanessa and circled his fingers around her neck. Vanessa started to scream, but a hand was thrown over her mouth, muffling it out. Vanessa felt someone kiss her neck and then her cheek. The hand that was on her neck traveled lower running over the top of her chest and then sinking below the dress top. Vanessa kicked and dug her nails into the intruder's hand covering her mouth. When the intruder released her mouth, she turned around to be faced with her ex.
"What do you want, you sick son of a b…?"
"You still have that hot temper. It made you do wonders in the bedroom."
"Go to hell."
"While we are on the subject, is he better than me."
"Anyone's better than you. If he could last just five minutes, he'd be better than you. But I don't have to compare him to you because I don't think about you when I'm with him. When you are with your little sluts for the night do you think about me?"
"Yes I do."
"Too bad I'm already taken. You low life." Malakye walked over to Vanessa and pulled her hair, pulling her neck back in an uncomfortable position.
"Remind you of anything."
"Yes. Me and my husband. You know that I have always liked it rough." Malakye growled and yanked her against him.
"I will always own you. No one else ever will. And if I can't have you then neither will he. You are mine and so is everything you own."
"I'll always hate you and you don't own me. I own myself."
"Your husband said something about getting back in touch with me, I think that you will be doing that sooner than you think." Malakye laughed and released Vanessa's hair. He walked back to the party and left her alone to wonder about the meaning of his words. Vanessa followed a few minutes later and walked up to her husband.
"Michael I want to go now."
"Sure. I'll call Croquet."
Deston opened her eyes to hear screaming and sobbing coming from Max's room. She nudged Seto, being careful not to wake Mokuba. Seto's eyes fluttered open and he heard the screaming too. He and Deston got out of their bed and ran upstairs to Max's room. It was six o'clock in the morning, an hour and a half since they all had fallen asleep again for the night. The screaming and sobbing continued and caused the two to run even faster. When they reached Max's door they saw everyone else looking puzzled and afraid. Seto burst open the door and switched on the lights. They put their hands over their eyes to block out the light and then they stared at Max on his bed. Now that they were closer, they could Max yell,
"No, Mother please don't be dead. Where's my father. No please. This can't be happening." Deston ran to the bed and shook Max trying to pull him from his nightmare. She shook furiously and soon started to cry herself.
"He's not waking up." This only made things worse because Yugi and Ryou broke down, and started to cry. Yami Bakura let go of his hikari and went over to Max. He leaned over him and slapped him hard across the face. Max stopped struggling and went limp for a moment. After a few seconds, he opened his eyes. They were red and his face was tear stained. He hurriedly wiped his face with his hand and pushed his hair behind his shoulders.
"Are you alright Max?" Deston asked while she hugged him.
"They died Deston. They left me here alone."
"Who died?"
"My parents. In my dream they died."
"What happened?"
"Someone murdered them. They were found dead. God they were murdered. I could hear my mother scream and call for my father. I heard movement, but I couldn't see anything. Then I heard two gunshots fired." While telling his dream Max had once again became hysterical. Deston pulled his head to her chest and then placed her chin on it, rocking him to a slow rhythm. Seto picked up the cordless phone and handed it to Max.
"Call them." Max grabbed the phone quickly and dialed the number his mother gave him to the hotel that they would be staying in. The phone rang and the desk clerk picked it up.
"Royal Suites. May I help you?"
"Yes could you connect me to the Pegasus suite? It's number two twenty-four."
"Sure just one moment." Max heard a click and then the phone started to ring. After a few rings, someone picked up the phone.
"Hello." Said a drowsy female voice.
"Mother. It's me Max."
"Hi honey. Is anything wrong?"
"No I just wanted to call to make sure that you and Father were alright."
"We are fine, but your father is about to fall out of the bed. Hold on." Max heard a loud thud in the background and his father yell.
"You kicked him out of the bed."
"Yeah he was bound to fall out I just helped him and got a laugh out of it. So how are all of you?"
"We are fine. I just wanted to check up on you guys. I haven't heard from you in a while. I guess I miss you already."
"Well no need to worry. Your father and I are coming home tomorrow instead of Tuesday. We might be home early Tuesday morning or late Monday night because I miss my baby already. Now go to sleep we'll call when we are on our way home okay. Love you."
"You and Father too. Bye."
"Bye." Max hung up the phone with a smile on his face.
"They are alright. And they said that they maybe home later today or early Tuesday morning." Deston smiled and they all went to leave Max's room, but Max stopped them.
"Where are you all going?"
"Back to our rooms Max. You half way scared us to death." Yami said.
"Sorry. Don't go. It's enough room in my bed for all of you. I mean look at it, it's huge."
"What are you suggesting?" Seto said holding a sleeping Mokuba who had wandered into the room while Max was on the phone.
"Sleep with me please."
"Hey you hear that Yami Malik, he begging us to sleep with him." Yami Bakura said and smirked.
"Not like that."
"Hey it's all one in the same."
"I don't want a yami by me."
"Hey what's wrong with us." Yami Malik asked.
"You guys like to touch and feel a lot." Max made room for everyone and they all crowded into his bed. Ryou ran to turn off the lights and then bounced back in the bed. Mokuba moved from beside Seto to the foot of the bed, curling up and falling back asleep.
"This is like one big orgy."
"Shut up Yami."
"You know you like it Max."
"Hey let go of my breast, whoever you are."
"Hey Deston these feel nice. What size are you? You feel like a D cup."
"Let go Yami Bakura. Quit fondling them." Deston smacked Yami Bakura's hand and he pulled away.
"Ouch."
"Hey Yami Bakura what do Deston's boobs feel like?"
"Why did you ask him that Yami Malik?"
"Because I want to know."
"Well find out some other way."
"Can I touch them?"
"No."
"Let go of my butt."
"Sorry Max. I just had to see how it felt."
"Seto, you pervert. And stop giggling Ryou and Yugi. Hey hey, didn't I just tell you to stop Seto."
"Not me."
"Then who has both their hands on me. Ryou and Yugi stop playing around. I'm turning on my back."
"Do you want us to touch your other friend because I have no problem doing so?" Yugi said from his position.
"Nevermind. Goodnight."
"Night." Everyone awake said in unison and went to sleep.
Me: This chapter was long, but I am happy that I finished it. The next chapter is a sad one but I'll try my best to get it up early for everyone. When the next chapter is uploaded that will be the end of part one of my story. The next part of the story will center around something else, but I can't tell you or I'll give the next chapter away.
Seto: Hey Sweetcandie I wanted to be your muse for the story, but instead you chose the yamis. What's so special about them?
Me: Don't worry Seto, you and the hikaris are my muses for the next part.
Seto: Yeah baby. So when do I start?
Me: Chapter 14.
Seto: My lucky number.
Hey everybody I read this great fic last night called Paint Me Red. If you have not read it please do. It is Pegasus/Otogi. It has a sad ending, but it is well worth the read.