Rowan: Oh my, I haven't updated in a while, have I? Sorry!
Sakura: Yey! It's finally the ball itself! Ryou and Seto are finally gonna meet! Yippee!
Rowan: Wow, I've never known you to be so enthusiastic about any of my stories!
Sakura: I'm a teenage girl. We usually have major mood swings.
Rowan: Hey, I'm a teenage girl, and I don't have major mood swings!
Sakura: Yes you do. Yesterday you were typing up some totally angsty story and today you're typing this! If that ain't a mood swing, I don't know what is!
Rowan: Oh, good point.
Disclaimer: Sloths will work regular 9 to 5 jobs everyday and bees will be as slow as molasses in January before I own YGO!
Sakura: I so don't get that disclaimer.
Rowan: Well, you see, sloths are known as some of the laziest creatures to ever populate this planet. They can spend the whole day in the exact position in one tree. And ever heard of "busy as a bee?" Well, that explains the second part of my disclaimer.
Sakura: Okay, but 'slow as molasses in January'? Where'd that come from?
Rowan: Oh, that's something my friend Katey says. Except, she moved last year, so I haven't seen or spoken to her in forever.
Sakura: All right, nuff of the reminiscing, get to the story!
Rowan: Right!
Warning: Too lazy to type it up.
Sakura: Write the warning now!
Warning: All right, all right! Yaoi, cross-dressing, maybe some Anzu bashing, maybe some cursing. Fluffy, mushy stuff as well. Consider yourself warned!
Previously:
"I like you though, Shizuka." Mokuba blushed when he realized what he had said.
"Really? I, um, like you too."
Music started playing in the background as people finished their meals and got up to dance.
"You-you like me too?"
Shizuka beamed at the teen. "Yeah."
Mokuba smiled back. "Ano…do you want to dance?"
"I'd love to Mokuba." The two got up and started waltzing around the ballroom, getting lost within the other dancing couples.
Seto watched as his brother gracefully lead the girl around the dance floor. He was happy for Mokuba, but he couldn't wait for the evening to end.
CinderRyou
Chapter 4
Ryou couldn't wait for the evening to end, even though it hadn't even started. He glared at his reflection. 'Why do I have to wear a dress?' he lamented to himself.
"Because you've got a great bode and the dress totally shows that off," Mai replied nonchalantly.
"Um…okay." Ryou edged away from his godmother, who was at the moment rummaging through her little Mary Poppins like suitcase. "Ah ha! Here they are!" She held a pair of dainty glass high-heeled shoes. "Put them on!" she commanded.
Ryou took the shoes from Mai and examined them closely. "They're so small! Are you sure they'll fit?"
Mai looked at Ryou laughingly. "Ryou, you have your mother's feet, which were tiny. Trust me, they'll fit."
Ryou slid the shoes onto his petite feet quite easily. He looked at himself in the mirror now. The clear shoes went very well with the silver spaghetti strap dress, which fell right down to the top of his feet. He twirled, liking the feel of the silk against his skin as it whirled around his legs. He turned to Mai, who was once again going through her bag. "Mai, you've totally transformed me! I hardly recognize myself anymore!"
She once again straightened up with a triumphant smile, a small case in her hand. "Well, I'm not done yet. I still have to apply your make up."
"Excuse me?" Ryou asked indignantly. He saw the determined look in the amethyst eyes watching him. "Oh, fine. Get it over with."
Mai opened up her case and started brushing a light pink blush on his cheeks. "Aw, you look absolutely adorable when you blush, and now you won't even have to try."
"Gee, thanks."
"Hold still!" Mai ordered as she took out a tube of lipstick and applied on Ryou's lips. Then she had him close his eyes in order to apply the eye shadow, which was a light shade of blue.
"There! Oh Ryou, if I were a painter, you'd be my masterpiece! As I'm not a painter and you are not canvas, you at least look like a masterpiece!"
Ryou looked at his face in the mirror. "Ah! I look like a girl!"
"A pretty girl at least."
Ryou would've replied to that, but Yuugi and Yami then arrived, the latter carrying a piece of paper in his mouth, which he offered to Mai. "Eh? What's this?" The blonde scanned the paper. "Ah! This is the invitation to that party you're going to?" She waved it in Ryou's face.
Ryou nodded. "Yeah, I think so."
Mai nodded curtly and continued reading it. "Oh dear, we have a problem here Ryou."
Ryou looked curiously at his godmother. "What? What's the problem?"
"This invitation is for very rich businessmen and their families. You are not a very rich businessman and you don't have a family to present you."
Ryou looked down, disappointed that he wouldn't be able to go to the party after all. A small ball of white fur looked up at him and squeaked. Mai turned sharply to Yuugi. "What was that you said?" Yuugi piped a bit more, Mai listening intently, then clapped her hands. "That's an excellent idea Yuugi! Ryou, do you have any zucchinis in the house?'
"Zu-zucchinis?" Ryou asked, flabbergasted.
"Yes, zucchinis. Or cucumbers. Either will work."
"Work for what?"
"For a limo of course! How did you expect to get to the ball?"
"You can make a zucchini into a limo?" Ryou asked, incredulous.
"Yes, of course I can! I'm a magician, aren't I?"
"Y-yes."
"Well? Do you have any zucchinis?"
Ryou jumped up. "Yes! I'll go get one right away!" Ryou ran down the stairs and down to the kitchen. He quickly grabbed the long green vegetable and brought it back upstairs, where he found not one person and two mice but three people. "Ah! Who are you two?" Ryou asked the two men in his room.
The shorter of the two, who had purple eyes and strange spiky hair, smiled. "Hi Ryou! I'm Yuugi!"
Ryou's eyes widened. "Y-Yuugi? But, how? You're a mouse!"
Mai smiled. "Not anymore he isn't. I turned him and Yami into people. We'll be your family for tonight. Yami's a rich guy from America, I'm his wife, and you'll be our son."
Ryou nodded. "But, what about Yuugi? What'll he be?"
"Er…He can be Yami's brother and the chauffer! Yeah, that'll work!" Mai cleared her throat. "Now, it'll just take a moment for us to get in our evening attire-" With a blink of an eye, Yami and Yuugi were wearing tuxedoes and Mai was decked in a gorgeous violet evening gown, but nothing like Ryou's dress. "-and now, to the limo!"
Yami, with Mai on his arm, led the way down the stairs and to the driveway. Ryou followed behind Yuugi, still clutching the zucchini.
They arrived outside, where Mai then took the vegetable from her godson. She placed it on the ground. Sparkles of magic danced around the zucchini, making it grow in size and darken in color. Soon the dark green was a black and the zucchini was the length and width of a stretch limo. Soon, doors and windows materialized. Finally, standing before them was an exact copy of a limousine. Yuugi opened the back door and ushered them inside. He then went to the front seat and pulled out of the driveway.
Mai smiled at Ryou. "So, almost there."
"Ryou grinned nervously back. "Can we trust Yuugi to drive? I mean, he's spent all his life as a mouse…"
Mai nodded. "Oh, I'm sure Yuugi will drive excellently."
"Okay, if you say so."
Mai turned to Yami. "Yami, you seem quiet tonight. Why?'
Yami turned his crimson eyes to Mai's amethyst ones. "I'm just enjoying humanity right now. I mean, I'll be a mouse in two hours, won't I?"
Mai covered her mouth in shock. "Oh! I forgot to mention that!"
Ryou looked at Mai, confused. "Forgot what?"
"Ryou, though I'm a magician, it's true, and one of the best, if I do say so myself, not all my spells will stay permanent. For example, changing animals into humans, and vice versa, lasts only a little while. Also, changing fruits and such into transportation only lasts for a couple of hours. My youthful spell, and the charm I put on those glass slippers are permanent, but few spells are as well. So, if you want to get home in the limo and not have to walk, you can only stay for two hours."
Ryou nodded in understanding. "But, Mai? Why can't you just redo the spell after two hours?"
Mai sighed. "That kind of spell only works on fruits and vegetables once. So, it's about ten now, so you have until midnight to stay, understood?"
"Yes Mai."
Yuugi's voice floated to the back of the car. "We're here."
The door opened and Yami stepped out into the night, then offered his hand to help Mai out. He led her by the arm into the mansion. Ryou started to exit the limo as well when he noticed Yuugi offering his hand. "Er, thanks."
"No problem Ryou. Ready to go in?"
Ryou smiled crookedly, and nervously walked up to the mansion.
---*---
Seto smiled crookedly and nervously walked up to Malik Ishtal. "Hello, I'm Seto Kaiba. You must be Malik Ishtal," he greeted, bowing as is customary.
Malik smiled back. "Seto Kaiba! Pleasure to meet you at last! I've heard so much about you…" Seto was paying attention, as it had been caught by the person who was just entering the ballroom. Seto's heart leaped into his throat as he stared at this person.
He was wearing a trim, form defining silver dress that reached down to his ankles. On his feet were tiny little shoes. The teen had flowing whitish silver hair that framed his angelic face. Chocolate brown eyes filled with innocence stared out of his face. He had a small little nose and pretty pink lips that Seto found he wanted to kiss.
Seto walked-more like floated- over to the staircase and started ascending them until he stood face to face with this angel on Earth. It was fate, that's how it felt to Seto as he whispered. "Hello. My name is Seto. And you are?"
Choco eyes stared up at him and he whispered back, "My name' s Ryou."
"Ryou," Seto repeated to himself. "Ryou, would you care to dance?"
Ryou smiled slightly. "Oh, okay. I'd love to." Seto offered him his hand as he let him down to the dance floor, where he delicately placed his arm around Ryou's slim waist and took the little white hand in his own.
(AN: B/c they're now finally together at the ball, there is no need to do the little '---*---' when it's a different person's part in the story, but I will alert you if we are changing to someone else's view. Like right now, it's Seto, but now I'm switching to what Malik sees and does at the same time. Okay, back to the story.)
Malik growled under his breath when Seto began to dance with the newcomer. He weaved his way to Bakura, who was at the moment holding a business conversation with some person. "Bakura!" he hissed. Bakura rolled his eyes. "What do you want, Ishtal?'
"Who is that?!" he asked, pointing to the person Seto was waltzing with.
Bakura studied the teen carefully. "He- he looks oddly familiar." (Sakura: Ha! No kidding! He's your brother! Ha, ha! Rowan: Sakura! Sakura: Opps!) "Sorry, Malik, I'm not exactly sure who that is. Now, can I get to my previous conversation?"
"Yes. Sorry to have bothered you."
Malik was seething with rage. Who was this strange person who seemed to have stolen Seto Kaiba's heart? He would get to the bottom of this mystery, he would!
(Ryou)
Ryou felt light-headed and giddy, two things he only felt when he had had a long day of hard labour. But today he hadn't worked all that hard, plus he had had a nap of sorts earlier. So what was the cause of this?
Ryou glanced up at the brunette he was dancing with. His eyes were instantly drawn to his dance partner's ice blue eyes and he felt his heart do a flip-flop. Ryou settled comfortably into Seto's arms. No one had ever held him like this, as if he were a delicate porcelain doll that, if handled the wrong way, would shatter to pieces. He liked Seto's touch, so light and caring.
The waltz ended then, much to Ryou's disappointment. Ryou started to walk away, but felt Seto's hand on his arm. "Would you like to see the gardens? They're lovely in the moonlight."
Ryou smiled. "I'd love to see the gardens Kai-"
"Please, call me Seto."
"I'd love to, Seto."
Seto led Ryou outside, away from the crowds.
(Mai)
Mai flitted around the ballroom, flirting with all the eligible young men there. Yami had disappeared into a corner the moment they arrived, last Mai knew, he was talking with Yuugi. As long as they remembered to leave before twelve, Mai didn't have to worry about them. Right now she found herself speaking with a handsome young blonde. "So, what did you say your business was again, Katsuya, was it?"
Jou nodded. "Yeah, it's Katsuya, but you can call me Jou if you want. I make and sell dog products. You know, dog bowls, dog toys, dog food. You name it, we make it. So, who you with?"
"Oh, I'm here with my, um, brothers and my nephew. My brothers, the Motous, have this major company in electronics. Ever hear of Motorola? That's them."
"Motorola? Wow, pretty snazzy. What about your nephew's mother? Ain't she here?"
"Ah, no. She's dead, poor thing. Though Ryou sure is a lot like his mum in many ways. So, you got any family here?"
Jou nodded. "Yeah, my sister Shizuka. I wonder where she's got to." Jou scanned the room. "I think she's dancing. I hope it's with Kaiba."
"Kaiba? Which one?"
Jou looked confusedly at Mai. "There's more than one?"
"Yeah. Mokuba and Seto Kaiba. Seto's the older one.'
"Oh, well, then I hope she's dancing with Seto Kaiba."
Mai and Jou searched the dancing masses with their eyes. "Ah! I see Seto Kaiba! But I don't think he's dancing with your sister Jou."
"Oh? Who's he dancing with?"
Mai pointed at the couple. "He's dancing with my nephew. Aw, aren't they the cutest pair ever?" she couldn't help but coo.
Jou looked shocked at Mai. "Wait, Seto Kaiba's dancing with a guy. That means he's gay."
"He could be bi."
Jou made a face. "Oh man. I never knew Seto was gay. That certainly alters mine and Hiroto's plan for a merge!" Jou held his head in his hands as he tried to think.
Mai looked idly around the ballroom, vaguely noticing Seto and Ryou slip outside. Then her eyes feel upon the younger Kaiba, dancing with a pretty brunette. "Say, Jou, is that your sister over there with Mokuba?" Jou lifted his head to see over to where Mai was pointing.
"Yeah, that's Shizuka!"
"Looks like that merge thing might still be on."
Jou shoved Mai playfully. "Hey! What'd I do?"
"Nothing. Want to dance?"
"Yeah, sure."
(Ryou)
Ryou strolled idly through the garden, his arm looped in Seto's. They passed various different and exotic flowers and plants, many Ryou had never seen before. Soon, they came to a pretty little fountain in a small clearing. Seto and Ryou sat on the edge of the fountain, and Ryou absentmindedly trailed his fingers in the water. "It's lovely here, Seto. I've never seen anything so beautiful."
Seto smiled as he replied. "I could say the same about you Ryou."
Ryou blushed. "I'm not beautiful," he protested.
Seto shook his head. "Yes, you are. You're as beautiful as a diamond. Prettier, in fact. You-you are a pearl, a big, exquisite, pink pearl, and just as rare." Seto reached into his coat pocket and removed a pendant and chain, which he presented to Ryou. "I want you to have this." He held it out. It was a little silver angel charm on a fine platinum chain. "A silver tenshi for my silver tenshi," he whispered as he clasped it around Ryou's neck.
"I-arigatou, Seto. Nobody's ever given me anything like this before."
Seto and Ryou gazed into one another's eyes, entranced. Their faces moved closer and closer until-
BONG! BONG!
Ryou leaped up off the fountain side as the church clock in town began tolling the hour. He glanced around and saw that the time was midnight exactly.
BONG! BONG!
"I have to go! Goodbye Seto!" Ryou said as he tore through the garden.
"Ryou! Wait!"
BONG!
"I have to go! Sorry!" Ryou dashed past everyone in the ballroom, Mai, Yami, and Yuugi joining him on their run up the stairs.
BONG!
Seto came in right after the four had ran through the front door. "Wait!" he called.
BONG!
Ryou was behind the other three, his dress making it difficult for him to run. He tripped over the hem and felt his shoe fall off. "My shoe!" he cried.
BONG!
"Ryou! C'mon! We gotta get going!" Mai called frantically. Ryou ran past his shoe and into the limo, where Yami and Yuugi were already sitting.
BONG!
Mai got the limo started and they began to drive away from the mansion.
BONG!
Seto ran to the front stairs as the limo began to pull away. "Ryou! Wait!"
BONG!
The limo kept driving, further and further away from Seto.
BONG!
Seto sat down on the stairs, defeated. Ryou was gone.
---*---*---*---
Rowan: I liked that chapter!
Sakura: Yeah, I havta admit, it was pretty good.
Rowan: Why thank you! I hope everyone else liked it as well!
Malik: I didn't like it! Ryou stole my Seto!
Sakura: He was never yours to begin with!
Seto: I didn't like it! Ryou ran away!
Rowan: But at least ya met him, right?
Seto: True…
Yami: I didn't like it! I had, like, one line! Yuugi got two lines!
Rowan: Grow up! And Yuugi had three lines, not two!
Ryuuji: I didn't like it!
Sakura: Why not?
Ryuuji: I wasn't mentioned once!
Everyone: ~___^U
Rowan: So, yeah, review! I've got 13 reviews right now! I expect to see an increase in that number! Please be kind and leave a review! Criticism, praise, flames, encouragement: all are accepted! So tell me what you thought!
Thanks! Rowan and Sakura
