Disclaimer: I have just as much a chance of owning Yu-Gi-Oh! As you do. Zero to 1 million. Therefore, I most certainly do not own Yu-Gi-Oh!
Chapter Five- Dinner and a Deal
Seto Kaiba entered the dining hall and found everyone seated at round tables of ten. He strode across the room to the opposite end of the hall and sat down at a special table of three, for the Kaiba family. But, he was the only one there. Mokuba and Noa were nowhere to be seen. A table away sat Yugi's group: Yugi, Tea, Tristan, Joey, Mai, Serenity, Duke, Bakura (whom had now found and joined them), Marik and Ishizu.
"Where are those two," Kaiba said silently to himself. They were acting very strange this evening.
"Where are we supposed to put this one?" Noa inquired, holding out the mistletoe Joey had thrown to him.
"I don't know. Who knows where it was when Joey took it down," Mokuba replied, "And, if we don't get to the dining hall soon, Seto's going to start wondering. Then, we'll really be in trouble."
"Whose idea was this trick anyway?" Noa asked.
"If I remember," Mokuba started, "it was…."
"Yours," Noa stated.
"Mine?" Mokuba said, surprised.
"Yeah, and I'm starting to see why," Noa smiled sneakily, "Your intentions may have been good, to get Seto happy and all that, but I think you also had this in for yourself."
"What are you talking about? All I wanted to do was maybe make Seto a little happier and to have a few good laughs. That's all, I swear!" Mokuba said harshly.
"Sure…this had nothing to do with Serenity," Noa replied, eyeing his brother closely.
"It was only for…wait, what did you say? Serenity…" he went pale, "Of course not! Why would this have something to do with her?"
"Don't deny it, you really adore her. Anyway," he said, changing subjects to Mokuba's relief, "I think I now know where to put this," Noa replied.
"Really?" Mokuba brightened, "Where?"
"All it takes are some fancy words, and we'll have Seto under this with his 'girlfriend' in no time," Noa said.
"Well, spit it out! Where?" Mokuba interrogated.
"Just let me do all the talking at dinner, on this sort of subject, of course. I'll return momentarily," Noa ran off with the mistletoe and up the stairs to Kaiba's private office. He opened the door and turned the light on. Then, he squinted as he looked up at the exquisitely designed light. There were spaces that he could hide the plant without careful notice, like when Seto came in just to sit around and slump, or work. But, it wouldn't be that hidden so that no one could see it.
Noa fastened the mistletoe to the lamp, safely half hidden, turned off the light and exited the room, closing the door behind him. Then, he ran back downstairs and rejoined his brother. Together, they ran into the dining hall.
As they passed, many of the tables already had their food, and were eating merrily. They saw their table at the end of the hall, and saw Seto's back turned to them. He looked like he was reading the menu. They passed Yugi's table and saw everybody but Joey looking ticked off. Joey was still ordering half the menu, even after eating many of the refreshments. They reached the table and each took a seat. The picked up their menus and tried to look as if they had been there the whole time.
Seto lowered his menu and looked at them, "So, where were you this time?"
"Bathroom," Noa answered simply.
"Both of you?" Kaiba replied, questioningly.
"Yep," Mokuba replied.
"I see. And, what, pray tell, delayed your announcement?" he inquired, smiling slightly.
"We ran into someone, and they needed to talk with us," Mokuba said, still trying to concentrate on the menu, without Seto seeing him sweat.
"Who?" Seto pressed on.
"Some duelist, but I don't know his name," Noa replied.
"Well, let's see if we can narrow down the list. It was a he, now, was it? That cuts it down quite a bit. Now, it couldn't have been anyone associated with Yugi, otherwise, you would've known whom it was. Right?" Kaiba asked again.
"Yeah…right," Noa said, knowing he couldn't keep this us much longer.
"So…." Kaiba started just as a waiter came up.
"Good evening sirs, what might you like?" Seto narrowed his eyes, upset with being interrupted. This waiter could very well be in for a MAJOR pay-cut.
"I'll take the Special Supreme," he said, still eyeing the waiter closely. The waiter tried seriously to look away from that gaze. Something told him that he had done something wrong.
"Sushi for me," Mokuba replied.
"Uh…I'm not sure," Noa started, "I don't know what's what on half of this menu, or what even sounds good.
"Well, I can give you some pointers there," Joey suddenly popped out of nowhere again. He pointed to several things over Noa's shoulder.
"There's that, oh and that too. That one right there is excellent, and this, and that, oh, that one, and…let's see...ah! This one here is great. See, there's lots to choose form!" he said happily.
"Wheeler, what the heck are you doing here?" Kaiba sighed.
"Well, excuse me for giving your brother here some pointers."
"I'm just as capable of doing that myself, if not more, mutt," Seto replied, menacingly.
"Hey, watch it Kaiba! You're really asking for it!" Joey replied, walking towards his seat.
Kaiba stood up, "Am I now?"
Someone put a hand on Joey's shoulder, "C'mon Joey, leave them alone. Just get back to the table. The waiter said the food would be here soon," Tea said. Kaiba stopped and looked at them.
"Really? That's funny. Usually when I order that much food, it takes a good half an hour before it comes. And it's only been two minutes," Joey replied.
"Wow, and I thought that would work," Tea said. Then, she looked at Kaiba, "What're you staring at?" Kaiba blinked and shook his head.
"Nothing, I just thought of something, and got really deep into the matter," he replied sitting down.
Mokuba leaned over the table just a little and held up a menu in front of his and Noa's faces, "I'm sure." Noa sat back smiling, and Mokuba tried to suppress a laugh.
Joey looked down at them and saw their pathetic attempts. Then, he looked at Seto, and back to Tea.
"Oh…OH!" he cried out, jumping backwards, scared half to death as he realized what the two were laughing at.
"Yes, you're right Tea, we ought to get back to the table," he said as he dragged he back.
Kaiba spun around, back to face the table, "What's his deal?" Then he saw their faces, "And what's with you two. You guys have been acting way to strange all night. You've been weirder than usual. What are you up to?"
Mokuba was fed up, "Why is everyone asking us that?" Kaiba looked at him, stunned. Noa glared at him.
"What he means to say is that, we've been asked that a lot this evening, and we don't know why. We've done nothing," Noa tried covering up, yet again, for his brother.
"I'm sure," Seto replied. The two boys looked at each other, and remembering Mokuba's comment, they burst out laughing.
"E-Excuse u-us," Noa said in between laughs.
"I-It's a-an i-inside j-joke," Mokuba replied.
Kaiba sat back thinking, sure it is.
Their food was delivered a few minutes before Yugi's table was and the three ate in silence, just listening to the loud mouths over at Yugi's table.
"So, what's up next?" Joey asked with a fork at the ready once he finished his sentence.
"Are you deaf, or do you just choose not to listen? The dance is next," Mai sighed, poking at her food.
Bakura suddenly spoke up, "Yugi, could I have a private word with you after dinner, outside?"
"Uh, well, I was gonna…." he looked at Tea, who was paying no attention whatsoever, "Yeah, sure."
"Great," Bakura's eyes narrowed dangerously.
Dinner seemed to fly by. Soon, it was time for Seto's worst nightmare…the dance. But, it wasn't like he was actually going to ask someone to dance with him. He just hated seeing couples going all mushy with one another. And, he had other, more private reasons. So, he wasn't going to dance. He was just, and only JUST going to announce the start of it. Then, he was going to sit up in his office for a good hour or more trying to get some work done…if that was possible. That is, he would've done all this, if two little sneaks hadn't prevented him.
"So, Seto, are you going to dance?" Noa asked while they still sat at the table and let everyone finish their meals.
"No, I thought you knew that, Noa. It seems that separation from the computer took more of a toll on your mind that I thought," Seto remarked.
"Well, I'm appalled at your choice of words. However…." Noa smiled. Seto looked at him. Mokuba listened more attentively. This was probably where Noa's secret plan would be put into action.
"However?" Seto asked.
"However, I'm sorry you feel that way about me, because for once in your life, you are quite wrong."
"Am I?"
"Certainly. If I lost any smarts in that transfer, I wouldn't have thought up these next choice sentences. What if I told you that you were going to dance?" Noa couldn't hide his happiness.
Seto sat back, not surprised at all, "And why, may I ask, am I going to do such an absurd thing?"
"It's a simple idea. It's called blackmail."
Mokuba fell backwards in his seat. He would never, in a million years have considered that idea. And to think, his brother thought of it! That cruel idea!
Seto chuckled, "That's low, Noa, that's low. But, nonetheless, I like your style. Now, pray tell, how were you planning on blackmailing me?"
"It's quite simple really," Noa sat back, his hands held up, and his finger tips in turn touching each other, for a second, like he was at a business conference, "Here's my proposition. Or, should I say, dare. I dare you to dance with the girl you care most about." Seto's face fell.
"I have no idea what you're talking about," he snapped. "You really think there's someone out there I would actually dance with? You really did loose a lot of brains cells in that transfer."
"You do know what I'm talking of. Anyway, should you refuse, I will take it upon myself, without any embarrassment at all, to tell her you're feelings about her," Noa added.
"Well, I'm quite impressed with you two, for even thinking that up," Seto said, smiling now.
"Indeed?" Noa inquired.
"What makes you think I had anything to do with this?" Mokuba popped up.
Seto turned to him, "Dear brother, you may have had no part in this section of the plan, but I've seen you two well enough to know that you've been roaming around the room, preparing for this and making preparations, and other little jokes. However…" Now it was his turn to put down the cliffhanger. He knew his brother's almost inside out. This is where Mokuba's heart betrayed their plans.
Noa sat up suddenly, "However?"
"Yes, however. I will agree to this proposal wholeheartedly, if, and only IF, you two also dance."
"Seto, this wasn't part of the original deal…" Seto cut his green-haired brother off.
"Is it worth it? Destroying your late nights work of plans? Is a simple dance with someone really worth the risk of losing, what I think for you to be, a great laugh? Yes, I agree, that you would find me dancing with some girl quite funny indeed, I have no doubt of that. Now, do we have a deal, the both of you?" Seto held out his hand to shake theirs. He wasn't in this for the joy of dancing, no. He wanted to see the looks on his brother's faces while they danced. He felt that he too, should get a good laugh at this dance. However…. (There's that cliffhanger word again) was he denying his feelings for dancing?
Mokuba thought about it for a second. True, Seto did have a point, but their getting laughs also had a flaw, and that's what Seto was aiming for them not to notice. If Seto danced, he'd most likely go up to his office, while the boys would stay downstairs, as not to disturb him. So, how would they laugh about it if they couldn't see him? That's where Noa had planted the mistletoe, but they still wouldn't be able to see all that happened. He put his hands in his pockets as a custom of deep thought. There, he felt something. As he felt it's metal surface, he remembered what it was…a camera. That gave him a great idea….
Noa was thinking the same idea, about missing out on the laughter, but he forgot about the camera, as he hadn't acquired one. Then, he saw Mokuba shake hands with Seto. Did he have a plan, or had he overlooked the whole prospect? Well, Noa wasn't about to pass up a great deal. He'd think of something, if Mokuba hadn't. He reached over and shook his brother's hand.
"Good now, we're all agreed," Noa sat back down. "Now, I believe the announcement must be made."
"Indeed, yes," Seto stood up and grabbed a microphone that was nearby, for his convenience.
"Excuse me," he said into the mike. Everyone turned to look at him.
Mai spoke quietly to her table; "Here's the King of Happiness right now."
"Well, the time has arrived for the dance. It should last no more that two hours, if that, and afterwards, you may all leave. If you wish to leave right now, or even during the dance, be my guest. Now, if you would all please exit into the "party" hall that would help. Thank you," he switched off the microphone, and set it down. Then, he walked back to his table.
"Well, are you two ready?" he inquired.
"Just a second, there are a couple of things I must attend to, first," Mokuba said, running off. Yugi's table had just stood and was beginning to leave. Serenity was behind the others, unnoticed, for the moment. Mokuba tapped her shoulder and asked her to come aside for a moment. After a minute, he left Serenity, blushing, and went out into the hall. Mokuba ran out the doors, too, and didn't return for several minutes. Meanwhile, his brothers stood there, trying to recite in their minds what they would say to those they asked, or in Noa's case, whom they would ask.
Whew, long chapter. Wow…what a deal. So, what's going to happen? Who's Seto going to ask? What's Mokuba thinking? Review, please, and then, find out!
