Disclaimer: I do not own Yu-Gi-Oh. I am not making diddlysquat off this fic. Go figure.
Notes: I confess; I like giving my characters animals. I am obsessed with pets. In fact, I'm working on a plot bunny with Ryuuji-kun and a mouse named Janken. I also contemplated Mokuba standing in Kaiba's mansion with a ::grin:: giant kuriboh plushie! ::smile that says kawaii:: I love kuriboh, which brings along the question, if you where to shave a kuriboh, how much mass would be left and would it be small, fleshy, and green…or not? How thin are kuriboh? All the questions…maybe Mokuba wants the ever-cliché Blue Eyes White Dragon.
Chapter Information: This chapter is boring, yes, but I had to put it somewhere. It's important!
Thanks: R Amythest for Beta-reading. Thank The Evil Laugh (TEL) for forcing me to write this, I didn't feel like it originally.
(Pastbyer: Wow, you read "Suspension"? I didn't know people still did that. ::grin:: That fic is so corny, but people still read and review. I guess even with horrible grammar and OOCness it's appealing. - I did some homework on it and Kami does mean paper. It means lots of things in romanji. One of these, with completely different characters in Japanese from the word paper, actually means god. I don't claim to speak Japanese very well (if at all), but I do know this much. I assure you, though, if I were referring to paper, I would edit the -sama from Kami-sama and make the "K" lowercase. -Anyways, I appreciate to koibito (koihito) information. I guess I was right on my guess…well, to an extent.) [The Evil Laugh: Three weeks is sooner than last time right? :;grin:: By the way, I was trying to read that "Hanekaeri" {sp?} fic you keep badgering me about. I swear it's going to go the same was as your "Fairydust" recommendation. I read all their reviews though. See, that's how unmotivated I am for your favourite fics. I read all seventy-something reviews.] (Sachi-chan: Go on and send the fanart, I love that stuff. ;) [Shetan: My changes are little, don't worry. - I think the sailor look goes great with Popeye too. Ryou needs spinach. ::blinks at randomness:: - Eh, don't worry, I don't have any Ryou/Yuugi or Seto/Jounouchi fics planned. Nor do I have any threesomes. I have two Seto/Ryuuji's though. ::grin:: I have homework too. ::frowns:: - I thought we were going to move this year to Missouri, Georgia, or California {Oh, Oakland, Cali is so lush! ::smirks::}, but we going to stay here for the next… ::counts on fingers:: three years, I think? I might even end up in Louisiana Tech unless I try to get a Notre Dame scholarship. Aw…. - Don't worry, I love all accents, even Mississippian.] (MarmaladeGirl: Just a note, I have somehow started calling you Marm. I don't know why…. Oh wait, I'm lazy, that must be it. ::is attacked by "Plans" worshippers who are very much aware of this:: - Glad you like the chapter! This one isn't as, erm, interesting, but I suppose it's important.) [R Amythest: Er, I updated today…. ::ducks objects thrown by "Plans" reviewers:: I forgot that link was in your review and was looking for it like mad. I finally went to reply to reviews and there it was. Thank you, very nice information. I might use some of it. Sounds like I've been using nearly all my Japanese words pretty much in the right context. I watched Yami no Matsuei again and double-checked some more words. ::cheers:: I'm not getting everything wrong again, huzzah!] (Equaral: Feel free to bop Seto-kun on the head. He won't mind it. ::grins as Seto runs::) [Elle-FaTe2x1: I'd go for the whipped cream thing too ::drools:: Yami no Malik and Malik…{to me, a beautiful couple} ::snaps back from dream sequence:: Did someone say bop Seto? ::pulls out bopper and calls Equaral over and starts singing off pitch: Oh, a bopping we will go! A bopping we will go! ::glass shatters::] (Windswift: Seto's…interested with Ryou I guess, not collapsing on his knees in admiration {whoa, that's one impossible mental image…} but curious. I really don't know. ::is bopped by people who take the plot uber seriously:: Gomen…nasai?) [KelpiePup: The deal is this: Otogi likes Ryou and Ryou knows. Seto is "interested" with Ryou and Ryou is a bit hazy on the fact. Ryou and Seto get along well enough and paranoid Otogi gets jealous. Otogi hates Seto with ever fiber of his being, but wants to get rid of the pigeons. For this reason Otogi wants to get Seto to kiss him. Does that make any sense? I certainly don't want you too confused. This fic's only real romance is between Otogi and Ryou.] (TeeDee: See, I have people loving pigeons and lobsters. I feel insanely powerful…. ::feels insanely powerful:: Muwahahahaha!) [Ashuri chan: Yeah, I don't like to rush or everything turns out bad. Prime examples of this are my co-written fic with TEL "Sorry of You", my only complete pointless humor, "Suspension", and near the last chapters of "Stigmatized"] (Renee the Rabid Squirrel: You know, I have no idea. I suppose Seto's too frank for his own good and Ryou finds it offensive. ::shrugs:: It's a bit unsettling that I'm writing this and have no clue actually…. ::grins:: Aw, well, I think we'll be okay. I kind of know what's going on.)
Okay, many of you mention it in your reviews (though I didn't remark on it) so I think it's agreed: Ryou's completely kawaii in his school uniform. ::cheers:: The only color I don't think he can pull off is bright orange, but that's probably just me…. If you want to prove likewise ::grins:: draw me a picture. (I'm still trying to get my scanner fixed so all of you can see the Ryou and Hato pics I have, and some "Stiggy" one's as well.)
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Or Die Trying
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-Cancellation-
Ryuuji glared at the wall. He didn't believe Seto was coming; he hadn't believed Seto was coming. It was so like that high and mighty president to miss their arranged meeting out of spite.
Angrily, Ryuuji got up and left. No one was there to stop him, so why not? It hadn't been too long; Ryou was sure to still be outside waiting. He could just tell the white haired boy that Seto had canceled, and Ryou would be none the wiser.
"Which way to the front desk?" he asked a man walking past. The fellow turned to him, and with a polite smile, pointed down the hall.
"Go to the end of this corridor, take the elevator down to the lobby, and you'll be right there."
"Oh." Ryuuji nodded, heading in the advised direction. The employee, being of a low level in the corporation (just above subterranean), didn't bother to take offense from the teen's lack of appreciation and kept walking on to wherever the suits on top had ordered.
Ryuuji was faced with a shocking site as he entered the lobby again. Sitting across from one another and communicating in abnormally comfortable ease were Ryou and Seto. The CEO apparently lacked even the slightest intention of getting up as he was telling his one-person audience about an interesting visit to Hong Kong a few moths prior. This must have been simply fascinating to Ryou, who was all ears and nodding politely at every pause. Ryuuji couldn't see what was so amusing and knew he had to break them up. It wasn't right, Ryou and Seto talking while he was considered waiting for a meeting that obviously wasn't going to happen.
Well, not unless he made it happen. Seto said he'd speak with Ryuuji and the young game inventor was keen to make sure he did just that.
Ryou was first to notice Ryuuji as he approached from behind Seto. The conversation building around the two of them cracked and shattered with Ryuuji's annoyed scowl. Ryou could tell things weren't going to blow over easily.
"Well, how are you two getting along?" Ryuuji asked, a strain in his would-be bright tone knocking it eerily out of pitch.
"Otogi-kun…" Ryou started, but was cut off.
"Oh, quite well, I'd assume from my vantage. In fact, 'Kura, I'll go so far to say you're so interesting Seto has forgotten all about our meeting today," Ryuuji cheered darkly. "That's the reason, isn't it now, Kaiba?"
Seto frowned visibly at Ryuuji's impudence. Ryou just blushed and looked the other way, as though something in the distance would deliver him from his friend's audacity.
"Well, I suppose so," Seto agreed, to Ryou's surprise, "But then, I've always found you to be a bit of a hopeless windbag."
"Then it's a good thing I've found you, since, for this place's first in command, you have the most remarkably short memory and attention span I've ever seen."
"Second only to you," Seto assured him coldly. Ryou didn't like the tone. He didn't like any of the conversation, period. Putting Seto and Ryuuji in the same room should have been considered a crime, punished by life imprisonment. Ryou knew he'd have to pledge guilty on the conviction. He had foolishly overlooked the fact the two teens hated each other with a passion.
"I don't remember anyone judging," Ryuuji reflected.
"Well, isn't that like you?" Seto smirked. Ryou sighed.
"Aren't you two supposed to be working out some kind of tournament?" Ryou asked timidly. Both teens looked down at him as though just realizing he was still there.
"Yes, I believe so," Seto finally announced.
"Lets," Ryuuji growled like he was preparing for a gunfight rather than going to a meeting. Ryou was almost scared to let him go.
Looking over each other with cool, patronizing expressions, Ryuuji and Seto walked to the elevator. Ryou could almost see their egos clashing in the small area before the door closed. He didn't want to follow. Those two weren't at all comfortable in each other's presence.
"Oi, do I know you?"
Ryou turned around to the voice behind him, facing a short, dark-haired boy with a high-strung attitude. He blinked in confusion for a few seconds as realization dawned.
"I'm Bakura," he said, wondering if Kaiba Mokuba really did recognize him.
"That guy with the creepy occult deck?" Mokuba asked, glaring at him.
"No!" Ryou exclaimed before trying to correct himself, "Er…I mean, yes."
"Nani?"
Ryou anxiously struggled for a reasonable explanation, "Well, it was me, but it wasn't me."
"Oh, that makes sense…." Mokuba rolled his eyes at Ryou's statement.
"It was mou hitori no boku. He lived in the Sennen Ring."
Mokuba blinked slightly at this. His right eyebrow arched inquiringly as he tried to see the reason in Ryou's words. Ryou listen to the awkward silence that followed, knowing perfectly well that the Kaiba was thinking of him with the words "complete nutcase" labeled over everything.
"I'm really nicer than that," Ryou informed him, trying to keep his tone bright. He was disappointed in the fact no one ever took him seriously when it came to Yami no Bakura.
"You know what, Bakura," Mokuba said, "You're confusing me, so I'll just settle with Malik controlling your mind, okay?"
Ryou sighed in relief. Well, at least Mokuba wasn't eyeing him warily and walking away. "All right, Malik was controlling my mind," he agreed, looking around the lobby for something to add, "So, what do people waiting do around here most of the time?"
"Well, generally they stay seated 'til they're ready to leave…but I'm willing to show you around a bit if that doesn't exactly hold much appeal."
"Hai," Ryou nodded eagerly, standing up. "It's better than staring at the desk lady for an hour."
"Oh Kami-sama," Mokuba groaned at this, "that old hag? You're suggesting cruel and unusual punishment, Bakura."
Ryou grinned timidly as the woman cast another hard glance towards him, "Gomen…."
-----
"It's my tournament, I don't want your help. I can do this by myself, Kaiba," Ryuuji snapped angrily as the CEO made himself comfortable in a conference chair. Seto merely glanced up at him, completely uninterested in the statement.
"Aw, but I so want to help, from the kindness of my heart," Seto sneered, twirling a pencil between his fingers.
"You don't have a heart, baka," Ryuuji snapped.
"If so, I still have a mind and it does know a few more things than you." Seto smirked. He wrapped his hand around the writing utensil lightly and tapped the table with the eraser as if waiting for Ryuuji to say something expectedly ignorant.
"What do you know I don't?" Ryuuji growled, falling right into Seto's trap. Calmly the opposite teen reclined in his chair, seeming almost to forget the short temper of his companion.
"Can you tell me what day it is, Otogi?"
Ryuuji's brow furrowed slightly in confusion at this, "It's Thursday, why?"
"What day is the most opportune for you to start your tournament?"
Ryuuji glared, "Listen, I don't know what the hell it is you're trying to—"
"This coming Monday, isn't it?"
Ryuuji was angry at being cut off by the CEO. He opened his mouth to throw out another would-be cutting remark, but Seto spoke again.
"Oh no," Seto gasped in sardonic amazement, closing his eyes and twirling the pencil again silently, "Tomorrow's Friday. You have no time to advertise!"
It took a few moments for Ryuuji to realize what Seto was saying. Once he understood he was furious.
"NANI?" he screeched.
Seto didn't so much as wince from this outburst. He continued twirling the pencil between his fingers, smirking to himself.
"Looks like we'll have to hold this event another day, doesn't it?" he asked, watching the other's expression grow even angrier.
"You staged this, Kaiba, I know it!" Ryuuji accused, "You want to make this tournament impossible for your own sick amusement."
Seto gasped in mock offense, "Now why would I do that, Otogi-kun?"
Ryuuji continued to glower, well beyond the bounds of reasonable thought. All he knew was he hated the smug teen sitting at the table in front of him. In a second, various means of torture, ancient and modern, flashed through his mind. He gleefully pictured the Kaiba suffering every single one, cowering in pain and despondence.
"How's about we arrange it all some other time? There's another holiday in two months."
Ryuuji merely stormed out in the middle of Seto's inquire, not even bothering to listen. He was fuming. Seto had crushed his tournament and offended his pride. It wasn't right.
Entering the lobby, Ryuuji quickly noticed Ryou's absence. He walked up to the front desk, still glowering.
"Where's the white-haired boy who was sitting in one of those waiting chairs?"
The woman looked up apathetically. She gave him a cold shrug and resumed typing. Ryuuji glared at her as well before promptly turning about and exiting. Maybe Ryou had decided to get something to eat? The frustrated teen decided to check the soba stand.
There was no sign of Ryou near the frequented noodle vendor either. Ryuuji frowned slightly to himself as he gave up. Ryou could be anywhere and he wasn't in the mood to start looking for him all over Domino. No, he was in the mood to go home and sulk, to sit alone and be angry at the world. It wasn't a very appealing way to spend one's time, but then, Ryuuji wasn't exhibiting a very appealing disposition and figured it was something he ought to do.
…And just around the block was a flock of pigeons….
"Shimatta…." Ryuuji swore helplessly.
-----
Meanwhile, Ryou was with one Mokuba Kaiba.
"I had no idea Kaiba Corp was so…extensive," he awed as the boy led him to the lobby. They had just been through the key points of interest in the building and had no idea upon returning that Seto and Ryuuji's little conference had been over for the best of thirty minutes.
"Yeah, Seto's got control over everything, too." Mokuba bragged loudly. Ryou quickly turned a grimace to a small grin at this. One of the things you had to accept about Mokuba was his idolism of his older brother. Sometimes it was annoying, but it' wasn't like he was lying. Being akin with Kaiba Seto would certainly merit something to brag about.
"Big brother!" Mokuba cheered, looking behind Ryou. Ryou spun around to once again see Kaiba Seto.
"What are you and Bakura doing, Mokuba?" Seto asked, though Ryou doubted the CEO was interested.
"Bakura was waiting for his friend and I decided to show him around."
Seto nodded. He wasn't very sure about how willing Mokuba's companion had been. The boy did tend to drag people around a bit. He sighed inwardly, thinking about it. Mokuba was notorious for wasting other's time and it was always left to big brother Seto to apologize—something he wasn't particularly fond of.
"Mokuba, will you go upstairs and see if the file from Seoul has finished downloading?"
"Demo—"
"Will you?" Seto added, giving his brother a look, which was somewhere between an order and a plea to leave. Mokuba sighed loudly as he turned and left, partially understanding the reason. He knew Seto could just have easily had someone else check the file without sending him all the way upstairs. Seto was picky about apologizing to people. He didn't like an audience. Mokuba didn't think Ryou had anything crucially important to do when he offered to take him on a tour of the building. Apparently he was wrong.
Seto looked at Ryou critically for a few seconds before speaking, "If Mokuba's being a hassle to you, I understand you must've had something to else to do. If he's messed up your schedule—"
"No!" Ryou interrupted quickly in the younger Kaiba's defense. "My whole week is free after school. I didn't have anything important planned. I was waiting for Otogi-san and you to finished and Mokuba offered to show me around."
"Are you sure?" Seto asked, not certain if he had ever met a person without a rigid agenda.
"Hai, it was fun," Ryou replied, quickly adding, "I mean, I didn't know Kaiba Corp was so important. You people do so many different things here. I supposed a technology company would be busy, but it's all so organized."
Seto smirked disbelievingly at Ryou's compliment, "Hardly."
Ryou blushed slightly and looked down, "A lot more organized than Jounouchi-kun's apartment."
Seto almost laughed at Ryou's note on the inu's apartment. He didn't find it at all hard to believe.
"I'd sure hope so," he remarked, turning to go. Ryou decided not to be offended by the absence of a decent goodbye. Instead, he focused himself on looking around for Ryuuji before realizing he had no idea where his companion was. Ryou had expected the dark-haired teen to be there when he came back.
"Otogi-san not here? How typical."
Ryou jumped slightly at this. He thought Seto had left.
"Well—"
"You don't have to defend it," Seto ordered slightly, causing Ryou to be quiet. An idea had hit him right before boarding the elevator and he had to know what the interestingly naïve Bakura Ryou would think about it.
"Do you want something?" Ryou finally asked, not sure why Seto wasn't turning around and going. What was he waiting for?
"I'd like to ask you if you're busy tomorrow…with anything."
Ryou blinked at this for a few seconds. He was slightly alarmed. "Uh, no?" he answered uncertainly. Seto's question sounded almost like an invitation for something…never mind. He had to wait until it was finished before jumping to conclusions.
"I have to go to a show tomorrow evening and you don't seem to talk a lot. Maybe you could fill in the empty seat?"
Ryou was quite taken aback by this. He had no idea what to say and felt nervous. What was supposed to be the answer to such a blatantly suggestive invitation as that?
"I mean, with you there it might as well be empty. You don't draw a lot of attention."
For a few moments Ryou considered Seto's words absurd. White hair not drawing attention on a sixteen year old, sure…. After a while though, he realized how nearly insulting the remark was. Seto said the seat might as well have been empty with him there.
"Er…." He trailed on purpose, trying to see if Seto would give him a reason not to say no and stalk off to hunt for Ryuuji.
"You did say you weren't doing anything…" Seto reminded him. Ryou agreed with a nod to this. He hadn't lied. There was nothing planned.
"You don't have to," Seto suggested, "Just make up your mind soon. I have to get back upstairs."
"I—I don't know," Ryou finally answered. Seto merely shrugged and turned around to continue back to work.
This was yet another surprise for Ryou, who had thought Seto would get angry. Maybe he was looking at the question all wrong? He was probably thinking too much into it. Seto just didn't seem the type to try to set himself up on a date. Maybe he really did want Ryou to be seat filler? In a way, it was probable. But, why would Seto ask him and not some mindless employee?
Maybe it had to do with the quiet thing. Seto probably thought Ryou would be passive and easy to ignore. To Ryou this made sense, he didn't try to put up a very dynamic front.
Ryou knew Seto's inquire was going to bother him for the rest of the day. Things out of the normal like that always seemed to. He wanted to know if there was any clandestine meaning in the request or not. Did Seto really need Ryou to be filler? Ryou told himself Seto did, that if it wasn't so the billionaire would have been a lot more obvious about what he wanted. Seto wasn't one to beat around the bush, especially for something like a date with one of the least threatening individuals with Yuugi-tachi.
Ryou frowned as he tried to form an explanation. He knew the question wasn't going to stop bothering him until Seto for some reason decided he was going to explain himself. Ryou didn't deserve to be left so confused and wished the CEO could be easier to read. He really should have left with Ryuuji. He didn't want to have to worry about this for the rest of the week.
Ryou knew he wasn't going to tell Ryuuji about Kaiba's request. He knew the eccentric dice worshiper would take things far too seriously. Ryuuji would become (if possible) angrier with Seto and criticize him for trying to "ruin" Ryou. He was too emotional with things to think rationally.
Ryou frown at the invitation as it repeated in his mind again. Why had Seto thought that was really necessary? Ryou didn't need that to agonize over. Ryuuji was enough.
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Lettered Notes:
{A}: Erm…nothing? ::grins at Seto:: I like to twirl my pens too….
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Translations:
Note on Translations: Not many new words. I'm too lazy to write them all. TEL was right, this is difficult.
Inu – Dog
Nani – What?
Demo – But
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Next Chapter: There's a next chapter? ::is hit by frustrated readers with a large wooden mallet screaming at her for being so clueless on her own fic:: Heh, gomen…. Ryou and Seto, Seto and Ryou: What a wonderful world (unless you're Ryuuji on the sidelines). Ryuuji and Hato, Hato and Ryuuji: Someone shoot the author now.
Review. Please? ::crosses her fingers::
My Seto/Malik is a paragraph long…go me. Right now the title is "At 4,000 Feet" (I'm bleeding that off the dubbed since that's the only time I paid any attention to how high up the blimp was…that was all I heard before I passed out at the everything).
Randomness: Soymilk, we're living off soymilk! ::blinks:: Gomen, my mom is going all soy on us now. It's…odd. Ever notice how the word soil sounds like soy in the beginning? No offense, I don't like the stuff. We're all being considerably hard on her, calling the stuff soil-milk. We're cruel. She bought soymilk. What else is there to say?
-Ling no Yong-