Rowan: I know I just posted, like, the other day, but I couldn't resist!
Sakura: So you're doing Chapter 5 already?
Rowan: Yeah. Anyway, on with the story!
Disclaimer: If I owned Yu-Gi-Oh! the star would be Ryou and I would be his girlfriend. As Ryou is, regretfully, not the main character and he doesn't have a girlfriend named Rowan, it is evident that I don't own it.
Warning: Shounen-ai, and maybe some cross-dressing. That's about it.
Previously:
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.
CinderRyou
Chapter 5
"Itie!" Seto cried, leaping up off the stair. He looked down to see what it was that he had sat upon. It was a little glass slipper. Picking it up, Seto examined the shoe closely. "This is Ryou's shoe!" he exclaimed. He instinctively cradled the shoe to his chest. "What should I do with this shoe?" he asked himself.
"Maybe you should return it to its owner, Seto," a voice answered. Seto turned swiftly around to find that it was none other than his friend Ryuuji. He smiled.
"Ryuuji, you startled me," he said.
"Sorry, I didn't mean to do that, Seto. But what are you doing out here by yourself? The party's inside."
Seto nodded. "I know, but I don't feel like joining it."
"Why not Seto?"
"Because, for me, the party is where ever he is."
"He?"
"Ryou. The most beautiful person ever to live."
Ryuuji snickered. "Sounds like Seto Kaiba's in love."
Seto mock-glared at his friend. "What's so funny about it?"
Ryuuji covered his mouth to stifle more giggles. "Nothing!"
Seto raised his eyebrow, silently saying 'Yeah right. Now, what's so funny?'
"Alright, alright! You! You look so funny in love!"
"Excuse me?"
"You get a dreamy, far away look in your eyes and your voice goes all light and bouncy! It's rather hilarious!"
"Well I'm glad you find amusement at my expense! I may never see Ryou again but at least you find it funny!"
Ryuuji paused in his laughing to cast a concerned look at his friend. "Why won't you be seeing him? You spent the whole of two hours with him, didn't you find out anything more than that he's an angel?"
"Well, no…Wait! How would you know about him being an angel? I never said that to you!"
Ryuuji blanched at his mistake.
Seto locked him in a headlock. "You were eavesdropping weren't you?"
Ryuuji looked at Seto with a scandalized expression on his face. "Never! Why would I do such a thing as that?" Seto just stared at the raven haired assistant. "All right, I overheard your conversation. I didn't mean to, I was just checking that the lights in the garden were on, that's all. And I just happened to come upon you and Ryou by accident."
"So you heard our conversation?"
"Well, not like there was much said, but yes, I heard." Ryuuji half heartedly smiled at Seto. "You really like him, don't you?"
Seto nodded. "Yeah, but I don't know where he lives or anything. I won't be able to find him." Seto looked close to tears.
Ryuuji shook his head at this display of emotion. "Didn't you hear me earlier? I told you to return that shoe to it's owner. And if the owner is Ryou, well, then you'll have found him."
Seto listened to the wisdom his friend had shared with him. "You know, you're right! That's exactly what I'll do!"
---*---
"You're right! That's exactly what I'll do! I'll just tell Jou that I failed in capturing Seto Kaiba's heart, but that there's a chance that Mokuba could be the one!" Shizuka said to herself as she waited for her brother to say good bye to Honda Hiroto. She glanced up the stairs to the old man and his two sons, her eyes locking with a pair of blue-grey ones. Then she turned away and watched as her family's carriage drew up to the stairs.
"Ready to go Shizuka?" a familiar voice asked.
"Yes, I'm ready to go home Jou."
Shizuka was led down to the stagecoach by her brother. Settling into the stiff velvet cushions, he smiled across to the brunette. "So, how was your evening, little sister?"
"I- er- I had a wonderful time. And you?" Shizuka braced herself for the almost automatic response she was sure to receive, that of "Fine. And how were things with Seto Kaiba?" The response she got therefore shocked her.
"Oh, I had a wonderful time! Mr. Hiroto and I discussed business and there might be a possible merge between our companies! And to top it all off, I met the most beautiful woman ever! Her name was Mai Kujaka and she was something! She's an excellent dancer and very smart. And her brothers are from Motorola!"
Shizuka just blinked at her brother. 'Who is this person? This isn't my brother! He-he looks so alive. Like something inside him was asleep but has now been woken up! Could-could he have fallen in love?'
---*---
Ryou sat in his attic room, stroking his furry little mice friends and thought. 'What a wonderful night it has been. I met a nice guy who treats me as if I'm something special. No one's ever treated me like that.' Ryou remembered those blue eyes, so tender and full of care, looking down upon him. His heart melted and his knees turned to jelly. Ryou reached a hand up to touch the little silver angel around his neck. 'Could I have fallen in love?'
"Impossible" he said aloud, jumping off the bed and startling Yuugi and Yami. "I-I couldn't possibly have fallen in love! I don't even know what love is! No...no. This is just some silly little crush that I've developed. It'll go away soon enough. And when I do find true love, I'll have an idea of what it's supposed to be like." He turned to the two mice hiding in their hole. "Right?"
Yami, the black mouse, came peeping out of his home. He squeaked very sternly at his master and friend. Ryou had to struggle to keep up with his tirade. When he finished, Ryou looked to Yuugi. "Do you agree with him?" he asked. Yuugi nodded. Ryou sat back down on the bed. "You're right Yami. This must be the good times mum promised me nine years ago. How could I have forgotten? Thank you guys for reminding me."
Ryou lay down, thinking once again. 'So maybe Seto is the one. I'll never see him again. Bakura'll make sure of that. The last I ever saw of him was when the limo pulled out of the driveway...'
"Oh no! The limo!"
Ryou raced downstairs, Yuugi and Yami behind him. He ran outside and to the driveway, where he expected to see a slightly squishy zucchini. Instead, he found a box and a note.
Ryou picked both up and discovered that they were both from Mai.
Dear Ryou,
Sorry to leave on such short notice, but duty calls. You'll find that I do that a lot; I'm always appearing and disappearing frequently. In the box you'll find the dress and slipper. I want you to keep them safe, okay? Don't let Bakura take them! And don't worry about the other shoe, I'm sure you'll get it back eventually.
If ever you're in need of my help, do not be afraid to ask for it. Just tell Yami or Yuugi, and they'll alert me. Expect me to drop by without any warning: I've missed 15 years of your live and don't want to miss anymore of it.
Lots of love to my favorite godson,
Mai
Ryou opened the box and peeked inside. There was indeed the dress and shoe, as was mentioned in the letter, but there was also a whole bunch of half used make up as well. Ryou giggled at that. Of course, Mai wouldn't just give him the outfit, but the lipstick and blush and eye liner as well.
Ryou trudged up to his room and started looking for a place to hide the box. Just as he discovered a loose floor board and had stowed the carton away, he heard voices from downstairs. Figuring that it was Bakura and the others, he headed downstairs to help them with their coats and all.
Malik had crashed on the couch, feigning fatigue. "Ryou," he called, "help me gat my shoes off." Ryou went over to where Malik was sitting and started to pull the shoes off. "Yowch! Watch it! My feet are very sore!"
Ryou looked up in mock sympathy. "Did you do something to your feet Master Malik?"
Malik nodded empathetically, then clutched his temples. "Yes, I did. I danced with Seto Kaiba all night long. But I think I've got blisters on my feet now." Ryou tried to hide a smile, but Malik noticed him grinning. "What's so funny?" he asked irritably.
"Nothing. It just sounded like you had a good time at the party is all."
Malik settled in his seat again as he allowed Ryou to pull off his other shoe. "Yes, I did have a wonderful time at the party. I expect Seto Kaiba to be coming here tomorrow to visit me. Oh, I can't wait!"
Ryou's eyes widened when Malik suggested that Seto would be coming, but wisely kept his head facing the floor so Malik wouldn't notice his shock. 'Seto? Coming here? What if he sees me? What if he remembers me from tonight?'
His thoughts were interrupted by Bakura, who remarked to Malik," Yes, Seto will be visiting us sometime this week. I invited his father and him to our house anytime to discuss our business compromises. Ryou, if they do come, I want you to bring them to the salon, where you will serve tea in Mother's finest china set, understand? And you must tell me the minute they arrive as well."
Ryou nodded his head as he picked up Malik's shoes. "Yes Master Bakura sir."
"Good. That will be all for tonight. You are dismissed."
Ryou went quickly up the stairs and into Malik's room, where he placed his shoes in his closet. Then he scurried up to the attic and flopped on his bed. He was instantly claimed by sleep, as his mind drifted to dreams of Seto and glass slippers.
---*---*---*---
Rowan: Yes, I know, much shorter than last chapter, but, what can I say? I whipped it together pretty quickly, if you think about it. Anyway, I hope you enjoyed it. I know, not much happened, except declarations of love: first Seto's love for Ryou, then Shizuka's for Mokuba, Jou for Mai, and Ryou's for Seto. But it was really only thoughts, no action.
Oh, and thank you to all who reviewed last chapter! It was really appreciated!
