BUSINESS ENGAGEMENTS
By Starflower Sakura

DISCLAIMER: My computer belongs to me. The pocky next to me belongs to me (for the most part). Yuugiou doesn't belong to me.

To readers/reviewers: After not updating for so long on this fic, I decided to make a quick update. Aren't I the nicest? Of course… self-flattery will get me nowhere. –sighs- I also should update my other fics as well… and maybe write a new one-shot… Not that any of you will care… much… (I also doubt anyone actually reads this) but I fell in love with a coupling that I will probably get flamed for, but I don't think that will stop me from writing. There always will be so person out there who doesn't like what I write, so I'm expecting it. Enough of my rambling and onto the show… err… chapter.

Started: Monday, August 01, 2005
Completed: Friday, November 11, 2005

Business Engagements
Chapter 3 – And So They Meet

"Presenting the beautiful, graceful, and feminine Bakura Amane-chan!" Everyone looked up expectantly to the top of the stairs where Anzu stood at the side to introduce Ryou or, as he is currently known, Amane.

Ryou peeked out from behind Anzu tentatively. The only people awaiting his descend was his mother, father, and, to his great humiliation, Malik. Well, there was also Anzu, but since she already seen him, it doesn't count.

"There are too many people, Anzu-chan!" Ryou whispered, trying to hide himself as much as possible behind Anzu because the banisters didn't provide as much protection from viewing eyes as he wished.

"It's only us, Ryou-kun! Two of them are your parents, one is your boyfriend—"

"Former," Ryou interjected bitterly.

"—Former boyfriend," Anzu corrected herself, "and then there's me, your best friend from before we can even remember!"

"But I look stupid."

"No, you look beautiful!"

"You know… being a guy, I could take that as an insult."

"Just go!"

Anzu pushed Ryou out from behind her and whispered forcefully, "Now go!"

Gasps were heard as they saw what Anzu did to Ryou. His hair was still mostly the same except for its silkier look. With the work of a true artist—Anzu modestly denies any skill in it whatsoever—his features looked softer and more feminine. His cheeks held a light tinge of rose-pink—whether from the rose-pink blush Anzu applied to his cheeks, or from his embarrassment, people still aren't quite sure. His lips, without the aid of lipstick, were plump and "kissable" as Malik would've put it and he was dressed in a simple ballroom gown that Anzu bought on her trip in Europe a few years ago.

"You look beautiful, Ryou-kun," Reiko commented, a smile graced her pale lips.

Ryou's blush intensified, and he heard a chuckle from Malik. Descending down the stairs, Ryou tried to be careful not to trip, but no luck. With only a few steps to go, Ryou accidentally stepped on the hem of the dress and fell forwards—into Malik's arms.

"You really should work on that," Malik whispered in his ear.

With his head bent down in fierce embarrassment, he heard Anzu mutter, "Alright… maybe not so graceful…"

-------

"You'll meet your fiancée today, honey! Aren't you excited?"

"No," Bakura stated flatly, crossing his arms.

"Now, now, son. I'm sure she'll suit you perfectly."

Bakura scowled even more, but his parents, both entirely used to this, only smiled. Their limousine was quickly cruising along the highway to the destined hotel that both families agreed to meet at two o'clock.

"I think we'll be running a little late, Satsuki," Satoshi told his wife after glancing at his watch.

"Nonsense! We'll make it exactly on time!"

Bakura scoffed and mumbled, "Not unless we get a flat tire… or more…"

To his disappointment, nothing out of the ordinary happened and like his mother said, they made it there exactly at two o'clock.

"Come now! We don't want to keep them waiting!" Satsuki exclaimed, her excitement getting the best of her.

Upon entering, marble tiles, white walls, and large windows greeted their eyes. It was, overall, very blinding for Bakura, and his scowl deepened with the result of people in the lobby staying a safe distance away from him.

"This is a nice place, isn't it?"

"Yea, I heard this hotel has a very fine restaurant, too," Satoshi grinned.

"Always thinking with your stomach, and nothing else!"

Crossing the marble floor, they asked the young lady at the check-in counter where their reserved meeting spot was. The young lady pointed to their left, and with a few words and a nod, Satoshi and Satsuki turned towards their destination. Bakura, on the other hand, abruptly turned right and started walking the opposite direction.

"Where are you going, Bakura?" Satsuki asked, her hand on her hip as she waited for a response.

"I'm going to the restroom," Bakura muttered.

"What about the meeting?"

"I'll be there. Don't worry," was Bakura's answer before disappearing around the corner.

Satsuki frowned at her son's antics, letting out a dejected sigh, she turned to her husband and said, "He gets his manners—or lack of—from you, you know," before walking away, leaving Satoshi dumbfound in the lobby.

-------

White marble tiles gave way to plush scarlet carpets as Bakura entered the never-ending hallways of the hotel. The doors were dark brown with gold numbers hanging on it. Paintings were hung consistently between every other door, and vases of flowers stood on the sides of elevators.

Whistling to himself, Bakura really couldn't care less about what was around him. He just wanted to postpone the meeting as long as possible, but he'll have to go soon. He just likes the thought that making them wait would irritate them. Maybe if they were impatient enough, once Bakura reaches the meeting room, they would be gone, and the engagement cancelled with no hope of a revival. Bakura smirked at this, and played around with the thought for a while.

Reaching a four-way intersection, a woman—or so Bakura assumes by the shoulder-length hair—dashed from the left and crashed into him. Without a word of apology, this person leaped up and continued running. All Bakura caught of this person's features were the most stunning chocolate-brown eyes he's ever seen.

Brown eyes weren't uncommon, but in that split second in which he caught sight of those eyes, and only to say that he was only a little bit mesmerized was an understatement, and to say that he didn't want to find the person was just downright lying. Snapping out of his shock, Bakura looked around and discovered that the person already disappeared, but someone else was heading towards him the same way as the last, and at the same speed as well. He took a step back and when she was about to pass, he grabbed her arm and stopped her.

"Let go of me!" she shouted, trying to shake her arm free. She stopped trying, and looked up at him, a change of expression in her face. "Did you happen to see someone run by here? Someone with silver-white hair."

"Hmm? Oh yes, she ran that way."

The girl gave him an odd look before breaking free when his loosened grip and dashed off.

"Hey! Wait! I didn't get to ask you for her name!"

-------

"Oh, Bakura! There you are!" Satsuki exclaimed, breathing a sigh of relief. Anyone can see that she expected her son to not show up at all. "Please greet Bakura Yaten-san, Bakura Reiko-san, their lovely daughter—you don't mind me calling you Amane-chan, do you?" A shake of the head. "Oh good! Their lovely daughter, Bakura Amane-chan, and her two friends, Mazaki Anzu and Ishtar Malik!"

Bakura grumbled a response to each of them, keeping his eyes on the floor. He was still angry that he wasn't able to find either girl. It was almost like they disappeared into thin air!

"Bakura, wouldn't you actually like to take a look at your fiancée?" urged Satsuki.

Rolling his eyes, Bakura raised his head and a gasp was caught in his throat and his eyes beheld the girl that ran into him just moments before and behind her was the girl he caught, but who soon broke free and ran away as well. There was something wrong though. The girl that stood before him was wearing a completely different attire from the one that ran into him. Not to mention, she had green eyes instead of brown.

To be continued…

I have nothing to say except dun dun dun… Can you tell I'm in a really weird mood? I was going to make it longer, but I got lazy. Hehehe, sorry. At least it's an update, right? Hope to see you at the next chapter… which should be soon…

- Starflower Sakura