::Kitzaku-san::
Disclaimer: I do not own Yu Gi Oh, Otogi or... just about anyone else.
Authoress Note: Thank a bunch almighty for the kick-butt reviews! ^.^; I'm sorry that a few of you didn't get your choice for whom Otogi would be with. But I had to appeal to the masses or... whatever. It's something to do with politics but who cares about that mumbo jumbo anyway?
::A Roll of the Dice::
But since his head was in the clouds, or more or less not so close to the clouds but near to the ground, he didn't notice someone else who was doing the same thing. It's funny how things can be a roll of the dice. Everything that had happened that day was generally common...
Until about two seconds ago, when Otogi walked headfirst into Katsuya Jounouchi.
::Chapter 2::
They both fell to the ground, with Otogi quite inconveniently (or conveniently?) on top of Jounouchi. Both their eyes were wide with shock and it didn't take more than a few seconds for them to separate from each other and brush themselves off. It might have been a little obvious to state that they both were also blushing furiously.
It was a while before either of them spoke. Otogi broke the silence, not even trying to resist the urge of hurling an insult. "God, Jou. Haven't you already had enough fun pummeling me for one day?"
"Me pummeling you?" Jou growled. He pointed to his black eye and swollen lip. "You're the one that pummeled me."
"Wow, did I really do that?"
"Yes!"
Otogi paused for a moment. Sure, he acted like a jerk sometimes, or at least most the time. But he never intentionally wanted to hurt anyone. Emphasis on intentionally. There are times when everyone gets angry or their emotions go haywire. Then you can't control what you do. "I'm sorry."
The words were out of his mouth before he could stop them. They were inappropriate for the situation, especially with these two. And it had taken both of them by surprise. Jou's mouth hung open like a goldfish. Exactly like a goldfish. It bobbed open and closed too, with no sounding escaping. The whole incident was actually kind of... cute.
But then sound did escape, but it wasn't even understandable. "I... you... sorry... you... I... what?"
Otogi turned around the way he had came, half embarrassed for showing compassion to someone who obviously did not want him on the planet. Jou recollected himself after Otogi was well away from him.
"Yeah, well, I'M SORRY TOO!"
What was that supposed to mean?
~*~
"So much for the peaceful stroll in the park idea, huh?" Ryou had finished cleaning up the place and was drinking a coffee in the back room with Otogi. "Good thing you didn't get in another fight."
Otogi nodded silently. Ryou tilted his head, concerned.
"Something wrong?"
After a moment's pause, a couple blinks and a realization later, Otogi looked up and smiled. "Yeah, I'm fine. Just thinking is all."
"Oh. Care for a game of Dungeon Dice Monsters?"
"Too tired."
"Now I know something is wrong." Ryou placed a concerned hand on Otogi's own. The black haired youth raised an eyebrow at the optimistic Ryou.
"I told you, I'm thinking and I'm tired. I'm even tired of thinking." Otogi forced a laugh.
"Then, what are you thinking about?" Ryou scooted his chair in closer.
The sudden 'invasion' of his personal space was making Otogi a little uncomfortable, but he brushed it off as only nerves. "You know, things."
Ryou sighed. "I can't help you if you don't tell me what's wrong."
"NOTHING is wrong!" The chair made a loud screech as Otogi stood up, forcing it to topple to the floor behind him. Ryou's eyes widened and he jumped at the sound, surprised.
His mouth would have hung open, had he not closed it in time. It reminded Otogi a little of Jou earlier that day. "I suppose I should go now. It's getting late." Ryou picked up his jacket and what was left of his coffee. "Good night, Ryouji-san." And, head down, he left the room.
Otogi stared behind him at the door for a while before picking up the chair that he knocked over and sitting back down in it. This 'Pax Domino' was getting to be too much for him. (Note: That's more of a play-on-words. The 'Pax Romana' was the Peace of Rome. This would be the Peace of Domino. ^_^) What he needed was something that could make him toss in his bed at night. A goal, if you will.
His nerves were shot. The slightest thing would force him to go over the edge, in almost any emotion. But what was he thinking about anyway? Truth was, he kept replaying that scene in his head.
"I'm sorry."
Jou's mouth bobbed open and closed. "I... you... sorry... you... I... what?"
Otogi said nothing and turned around, half-embarrassed for saying something he didn't mean.
But Jou called after him. "Yeah, well, I'M SORRY TOO!"
Oh, Otogi knew that he shouldn't make a big deal about something like that. It meant absolutely nothing. But then again, that's what was troubling him. What did Jou mean by yelling that? Was he mocking him? Did he mean it? Or was it... just something to say? If it meant nothing, then that's what it was. Nothing. But why did he have this knot in his stomache?
~*~
That next morning, Otogi slept in. cursing, he got dressed and went to the front of his shop and found Ryou in the lobby, already working with some customers. The white haired youth turned around and acknowledged his boss's presence but then turned back to his customer.
Otogi sloshed to the counter to go through the days agenda when a red circle on his planner caught his attention.
9:00 am – Meet w/ Seto Kaiba about co-distribution of Dungeon Dice Arena's with Industrial Illusions.
Oops.
Otogi checked the clock. It was 10:10. His first impulse was to turn to Ryou. "Why didn't you wake me up? I'm late for a meeting with Seto Kaiba!"
Ryou gave him a pathetic look. "I thought you would want to sleep in..."
"But I've got a meeting!"
"I don't go through your planner, sir. I wouldn't know." And he went back to helping the customer.
Otogi grabbed his coat. "Watch the shop while I'm out." Was it just him, or was everyone acting odd lately? Ryou wasn't his normal concerned self. Instead, he acted like... a secretary. And everyone knows secretaries are never good at their jobs.
It wasn't long until Otogi came to the huge KaibaCorp building at the end of the block. There must never have been a dull day there, ever. Seto must lead one of those 'exciting' and 'high lives' that everyone wanted. Once he went inside, a receptionist came up to him and immediately latched herself to his arm.
"Kaiba-sama has been waiting for you! Where've you been? Hurry, now!" And she hustled him into an elevator. "You've caused a lot of problems, Ryouji-san. I don't fathom that Kaiba-sama is too pleased with your performance. The whole top floor's a mess."
"Sorry-"
"Sorry won't work for Kaiba-sama." She clucked her teeth.
As soon as Otogi was able to recollect himself, the elevator door opened and the lady shoved him outside. "Just take the door at the end of the hall! Good luck, dear, you wouldn't want to see the Master in a tough mood!" And then the doors shut.
Otogi raised an eyebrow. The hallway smelled identical to that of a doctor's office. But he ignored the smell, and headed down the hallway towards a double set of doors. He knocked twice and the left door opened all by itself. Cautiously, Otogi stepped in.
"Kaiba-sama?"
"Please, call me Seto." A tall chair spun around behind the desk in the far side of the room. There sat Seto, typing on his laptop. He typed a few more keys, set the laptop on his desk and stood up. "Well, aren't you going to come in?"
Otogi silently cursed himself for standing there like a baboon and stepped into the office. Seto held out his hand and Otogi shook it. "I'm Ryouji Otogi."
"I know who you are." Seto's seemingly nice demeanor disappeared. "And you've kept me waiting. I'm a busy man, Otogi. Now, what did you want to discuss?"
"My game: Dungeon Dice Monsters." Otogi began. "I was hoping if we could work together and develop a new arena setting for it."
Kaiba paused for a moment. "Dungeon Dice Monsters... that's the game you and Yugi were playing a few days ago, was it not?"
"You are correct, sir."
"Stop with the formalities."
"Sorry, Seto."
"And don't say sorry, it wastes more time."
Otogi fell silent.
"You know..." Seto's voice lowered a note or two. "I like you, Otogi. I'll take this challenge of yours."
"You will?" Otogi grinned.
"Meet me back here. After school tomorrow. We'll discuss the details then. I have other business to attend you." Seto returned to his seat and sat down.
"Thank you si- I mean, Seto!" Otogi bowed and turned to leave.
"Oh, and precious?" Seto said, without looking up from his computer. "Don't be late next time. I won't be quite as forgiving."
Otogi nodded in response, blushing at the name Seto had called him and left the building. On the way back home, his mind was swimming with thoughts of Seto's nickname, Ryou showing too much concern the night before. And also, of Jou's goldfish face. Without even realizing it, Otogi thought: I wonder if he actually kisses like that?
TBC
Ending Notes
Ok, so my 'plan' with Kaiba is only half-evident . ::grins:: But you'll like it, I promise. And don't worry about Jou... he'll show up again sooner or later. I'm getting there! I actually want this story to last MORE than 5 chapters. ::nod::
Otogi: I have the feeling I'm kinda OOC.
Yeah well, we can't all be perfect, can we?
Yugi Muse: ::sings:: Seto's in the maaaaaaafia!!
Yami Muse: And for the occasion, I made R&R soufflés!