Here comes chapter 1 of this story. I won't waste time with a lot of Author notes after the diatribe that came with my prologue! I hope someone bothers to read this.
Disclaimer: I don't own Yu-Gi-Oh, and I take no responsibility for anything Seto does when he's drunk!
Holiday Blues
Chapter 1: I'll be Drunk for Christmas
Clink!
The ice cubes clattered to the bottom of the glass as Seto drained his second double whiskey. He felt the comforting burn coat his insides as he placed the glass in front of him on the bar. He glared at the back of the bartender's head, silently commanding him to turn around and come serve him another drink.
Seto was sitting at the end of the bar in a moderately seedy establishment on a side street near Domino Park. There were few other patrons in the tavern at that time, which was the way he liked it. He came here once in awhile when he needed to get away from the Kaiba Corp office and the mansion. His glowering, 'approach me and die' demeanor usually ensured privacy – not that the sort of people who came in here generally recognized him anyway. The bartender noticed him and automatically began to prepare another drink.
"Forget the ice cubes this time."
The barman nodded, moving swiftly. He placed the glass of amber liquid before Seto, accepting the bill he had placed on the bar.
Seto shifted slightly on the barstool, pulling the collar of his coat closer to his neck. Hadn't these idiots heard of central heating? He looked into the whiskey glass with a frown. The tacky neon signs along the wall made the edges of the glass glow pink.
Taking a large sip of the whiskey, Seto scowled at his own reflection in the skuzzy mirror behind the bar. He didn't know what possessed him to ever hang out in such a place. He could easily keep enough booze in the house to make the entire Japanese army fall down drunk. But for whatever reason, he never did. He had a large, immaculately kept wine cellar, but he only utilized it on special occasions. Like Christmas…
Maybe he was just bored and needed a change of scenery.
Yeah right, said the voice in his head, because this place is soooo scenic…
Maybe the mansion was just too quiet and empty.
You used to like it that way. Seto implored the voice to shut up, with little luck.
You know, you've only felt this way since Mokuba left for University…
He snorted to himself, chuckling darkly. What, he was leaving his comfortable home to come drink in this rat hole because he was lonely and the empty house reminded him of Mokuba? Please…
He took another swig of liquor. His deep blue eyes squeezed shut. Maybe that's true…
Before his morose thoughts could continue, he was startled out of his dark reverie by a tap on his shoulder. Seto turned slowly, peering sideways over the upturned collar of his coat.
He observed the soon-to-be-unfortunate intruder. He was greeted with an annoyingly big smile from a thin blonde with fake looking breasts and too much makeup. Great, he thought, just what I need. He glared at the scantily clad creature, noticing the half empty Martini in her hand. She looked like she was waiting for something.
"Well? What do you want?"
Her smile widened as she slid onto the barstool next to his, flashing what was certainly more leg than strictly necessary.
"Why so gloomy tonight, tall dark and handsome?"
Seto rolled his eyes discreetly. People actually said stuff like that? The drunken bimbo seemed unaffected by his lack of response.
"How about you buy me a drink and let me cure your loneliness?" She batted her spidery eyelashes, reaching down to place a hand on his leg.
Uncharacteristically, he squirmed. Bloody women…
Seto narrowed his eyes at the brazen harlot. "I'd rather jump into a vat of cockroaches. Excuse me." He stood abruptly and gulped down the rest of his drink. He waved to get the bartender's attention, leaning across the bar. The grizzly little man approached.
"Listen," Seto said with a slight slur, "I want you to sell me the rest of that bottle of whiskey. Right now."
The barman looked from Seto to the blonde and back. "I can't just give you the whole bottle, mister. 'S against the law…"
Seto opened his wallet with an impatient sigh, removing several bills of sizeable denomination. He placed the bills into the diminutive bartender's hand and raised an eyebrow at him. The man's eyes practically popped out of his skull.
"I—well, I guess I can make an exception just this once…" He retrieved the half empty whiskey bottle and handed it across the bar. Seto grasped it firmly. He nodded sharply to the bartender, pointedly ignoring the pouting blonde as he pushed through the door and ambled somewhat unsteadily onto the deserted sidewalk outside.
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'The next station is: ….'
Anzu Mazaki looked up from her newspaper, glancing briefly at the digital display which showed the commuter train's next stop. Still three stations left, she confirmed. She redirected her attention to the paper.
Anzu had moved back to Japan just two months ago after four years of dance study at a prestigious Manhattan institution. She'd accepted a place with Tokyo's finest dance company after her training was through. She could have easily obtained a high profile job in the States, but she'd missed her family and friends too much. She smiled softly, absently turning to the next page of her newspaper.
Living in Domino again was fantastic. She'd found a small, neat apartment near the park which allowed her the independence she'd become accustomed to as well as the freedom to see her friends and parents whenever she wished. She made sure to try and see Yugi and the old gang at least once a week. They were all pretty busy, but they could usually all find time at least for a cup of coffee or a drink.
Her commute to Tokyo took around an hour each way. It didn't bother her; she'd learned to love public transit during her years in New York. It gave a person a chance to decompress and plenty of time to think.
The train car was almost empty. Tonight's rehearsal had run late, and she'd only just managed to catch the 11 o'clock train. She stretched her aching legs out in front of her and examined page 5. The photograph in the top corner made her do a double take. She read the headline:
Kaiba Corp in Talks With U.S. Innovator
The photo showed several businessmen, apparently in deep discussion. But that wasn't what caught her eye. At the center of the image was a person she hadn't seen in years – not face to face, at least.
Seto Kaiba…
She studied the picture of her former classmate closely. He was sitting among the robust businessmen rather rigidly. He looked much the same as she remembered him; just a little older, with broader shoulders…and five o'clock shadow? His hands appeared to be toying with a pen, and the look on his face indicated extreme boredom.
No doubt they're discussing something he feels is irrelevant…
She couldn't stop looking at him. If anyone else had been around, she might've blushed with embarrassment, but she couldn't help but admit that he looked sexier than ever. Anzu sighed plaintively. Why were the really hot ones always total jerks?
But actually…he'd never been all that bad…not really…
'The next station is: Domino Center.'
Jumping out of her seat, Anzu quickly prepared to exit the train. Geez, how long had she been gawking at Kaiba's picture?!
She stepped onto the platform with, frankly, none of the grace of a dancer. She shook her head, laughing internally. Good thing a short walk through the park would see her home. She was clearly in need of some serious sleep. She adjusted her blue cashmere scarf to keep as much cold out as possible, and began her trek home. The air felt rather crisp. It looks like snow tonight…
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"Ppft!!"
Seto Kaiba coughed violently, wiping the back of his hand across his mouth. He'd just taken too large a swig out of the whiskey bottle and ended up spitting it all over himself.
Just super, his foggy mind processed, Now I smell like a homer—homelars… He ventured another sip from the bottle.
…hobo.
He'd been aimlessly meandering through Domino park for the past hour or so. Even in his state of drunkenness he could hear a nearby clock strike Midnight. The park brought back a lot of memories. Funny how people drink to forget and end up remembering things instead.
He walked past the swings where Mokuba liked to go when he was younger, and not far along after that the chess table they used to appropriate when Mokuba wanted to practice Duel Monsters. Mokuba had always loved the park. Not like Seto…
Well, Mokie can come to the park without me now. Maybe he'll bring his Girlfriend.
The drunken CEO almost tripped over his own feet in a very un-Kaiba-like manner, surprised to feel a jealous rage boil up inside him at the thought of Mokuba's girlfriend.
Whatsername? Rebecca Halfwit? Rebecca Homewreck?
Oh yeah, Rebecca Hawkins…
How dare that little bratling steal his brother's affection!
Seto growled, spying an all too familiar tree. Maybe coming to the park had been a mistake. This was where they used to hang out, and he didn't want to think about them. No wonder he'd never liked the park; there had almost always been a few of them here loafing around…
Annoying little Yugi…
Jounouchi, his brainless twit of a dog…
The mutt's sister—Shizuka? Yeah…
That dungeon dice loser Otogi…
And the other nerd who he could never remember. Wossisname? Right…Honda.
Seto sat down on the bench under the tree. Wasn't he forgetting someone? A memory of angry blue eyes assailed him.
Oh yes, his mouth twisted into a smirk, the friendship cheerleader, Anzu Mazaki.
She had been perhaps the most infuriating, but also the most difficult to actually hate. She'd never been afraid to speak her mind, and Seto respected that. Most people told him only what they wanted him to hear. Not to mention, she actually seemed to practice all that friendship trash she preached. At least she could back up all the mouth. And she had one hell of a set of legs, too…
What?! Ugh…he was obviously too drunk for his own good. He sprawled across the bench, propping one elbow against the back of it so he could lean his tousled head into his hand. He took another swig of whiskey, wincing at the queasy feeling in his stomach. He'd better call it quits unless he wanted to vomit all over himself.
And I'd really smell peachy after that…
He leaned more fully against the bench, resting his eyes for a moment before he would attempt to stumble back to the Kaiba mansion. As he unwittingly fell asleep, he wondered what had ever happened to that Anzu girl. Must've left Domino…too bad…
These were the last thoughts of Seto Kaiba as he began to snore on the park bench, still clutching his whiskey bottle…
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Anzu breathed in deeply. She actually really liked winter. The crisp air was invigorating, making her feel vibrant and alive. She was striding along her favorite path through Domino Park. The cold wasn't bothering her; she'd learned a thing or two about bundling up during her first (and worst) New York winter.
The park was quiet and empty. Most of Domino was probably sleeping right now, long since home from their jobs or dates or Christmas shopping. She liked the park like this – the lack of people made it easier to see the ghosts of memories from all the good times she'd had here.
She was approaching the tree where the gang always used to meet. She sometimes liked to stop there for a few minutes and think about old times. As she came nearer, she noticed that the bench appeared to be occupied by a large, shadowy figure. Was it a bum or something? She'd never seen a bum in Domino Park before…
She stepped a little closer, hearing the bench's occupant emit a sound somewhere between a moan and a snore. She sighed. It had begun to snow as she was walking through the park. The poor guy would freeze to death – but what was she supposed to do? She shook her head sadly, resolving at least to cover the unfortunate drunk (she could smell the whiskey from here) with her newspaper to keep the snow off.
As she approached, the tall figure shifted. The arm holding the liquor bottle flailed outward, and the forgotten bottle clattered to the concrete. The person didn't wake. Anzu observed the man – yes, it was a man – whose hair had fallen across his face. She was surprised to see that he wasn't very old, and that he seemed to be quite well dressed. It was hard to tell in the relative darkness, but he seemed to be clad all in black. She saw a shiny watch peeking out from the sleeve of the man's coat.
Well, at least the guy isn't a total lost soul…
Just as she was about to drape the newspapers across him, Anzu noticed a silvery glint near the sleeper's neck. She bent in closer.
Attached to the collar of the man's coat was a pin. Upon further examination, it appeared to consist of the letters K and C. As close as she was, Anzu could detect the presence of expensive cologne beneath the more apparent stench of liquor.
It couldn't be…
With a shaking hand, she reached out to brush the curtain of hair away from the man's face. The hair was surprisingly soft…
Good lord, it was…
Anzu didn't know what to do. She'd seen some strange things, but this really took the cake.
What on earth was Seto Kaiba doing passed out drunk in Domino Park?!
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There. So what do you think? That naughty Kaiba, drinking so much…what is Anzu to do? : ) The next chapter should be up tomorrow or Friday, so come back and see what happens! Oh, by the way, I don't remember whose fic I read where Mokuba was referred to as "Mokie", but I thought it was cute, so I used it. Don't sue me, mmkay?
