AlexJai: THANK YOU FOR THE MANY REVIEWS! They really keep me going . . . I was supposed to update yesterday but this chapter took me longer to write than I thought. A lot of editing . . . detailing . . . the usual stuff. But I'm finally satisfied, and I hope you will be too! DON'T FORGET TO REVIEW!

Disclaimer: I do not own Yugioh . . .

THE PERFECT MATCH

Chapter 10: The Realization

That night, I couldn't get any sleep. Every time I was about to drift off into a slumber, the kiss would replay and my heart would begin to beat faster. The vivification from the kiss was so consuming . . . different from when I kiss Nyoko.

My eyes heavily drooped and I felt my mind begin to blacken. But this time I was awoken by the alarm clock.

It was now 6:00 A.M. and in five hours, I would be getting married.

After I had taken a hot shower, I went into my closet wearing a towel. I glanced over to my bed, but there was no Yami staring at me with an amused smirk.

Wearing loose, cotton black pants, and a dark blue T-shirt, I went downstairs for breakfast. When I entered the kitchen, I saw a plate of pancakes waiting for me. As I took a bite, I thought of how they didn't compare to the heavenly taste of Yami's.

It was 8:00 when I got into the limo. According to Mokuba, Yami's flight was to leave in twenty minutes.

The kiss sneaked its way into my mind again. It had began and ended so quickly. But . . . the look on his face. Was it really a mistake?

I looked at my watch. It was 8:24. I peered out the window towards the vast azure sky. Two planes were flying through the air. Yami must be on one of them . . .

1010101010101010

At 9:56, the limo pulled up the brick road in front of an old manor. I stepped out of the limo and breathed in the mild, country air. The manor was very regal with wide windows, tall towers, and flowered vines snaking along the dark stone.

This was where I was to get married to Nyoko . . .

When I took a step away from the limo, it felt like I was walking to my new life. A new life . . . did I want this new life?

With each step I took, it seemed my legs grew heavier and heavier with resistance.

"You're doing the right thing," I whispered to myself. I repeated it in my mind.

"Oh, you're here!" exclaimed an unknown woman wearing a beige suit. She had a radio in her hand and a clipboard in the other. She must be the wedding planner. "I'll show you to your room."

I followed the woman with my hesitant legs.

"It's going to be such a perfect wedding," the woman smiled as she stopped in front of a door. "This is the Groom's room. If you need anything, just notify one of the men in there."

I gave her an understanding nod, and entered the room. The room had a couch against one of the walls, a desk on the other wall, a rack where my clothes were hanging and in the middle, three standing mirrors that formed a circle.

There were two other men in the room. One of them brought over the rack of clothes for me to get dressed into.

I pulled off my shirt, and slipped off my pants. On the rack, I grabbed the black slacks and put them on, having a little trouble with buttoning them as my hands were shaking with . . . nerves? Once I managed to button them, I looked at the white collared shirt with disdain. All the buttons down the front seemed to mock me . . . or did they tell me that I was incapable of buttoning them so I should just forget about the shirt and the wedding.

I shook my head from this last thought and slipped my arms into the sleeves of the collared shirt.

Realizing my distress with the buttons, one of the men stepped forward and easily buttoned them for me. He also tucked the shirt in for me.

The other man now stepped up and quickly ran his hands over the fabric, checking to make sure no last minute tailoring needed to be done. Satisfied, they both stepped away and I went to stand in the middle of the three mirrors. I slowly examined myself in them. Now I just needed to put my tie on and I would be ready – ready to stand at the altar . . .

At that moment, the door to the room burst open.

"Seto!" Mokuba shouted with glee. "You're best man is here!"

I felt his enthusiastic arms wrap around me in a tight hug. He let go and a bright grin was plastered on his youthful face. Then his eyes drifted up and down me as he nodded in approval. "Mmhmm. It'll definitely go good with this."

"What will?" I asked, raising an eyebrow in question.

Mokuba had a mischievous grin now before reaching inside his tuxedo pocket. He pulled out a white box.

"What is this?" He handed me the box.

"It's a birthday present!" Mokuba smiled.

"Thank you Mokuba," I said, about to open the box.

"Don't thank me," he corrected. "Thank Yami. It's from him!"

I paused as my heart skipped a beat. Yami . . . gave this to me? Now extremely curious, I opened the box. What I saw inside was very unexpected, but still made a small smile form on my lips.

It was a light blue tie. There was a note on top of it written by him.

'You need some color.'

That was all it said. The present was so small and simple, yet I couldn't help but think of so many things. Back in the dressing room . . . our almost kiss . . . our actual kiss . . .

"It was all he could think of," Mokuba's voice barely penetrated my thoughts.

"It's perfect," I heard myself faintly comment. My fingers slowly reached up to touch my lips.

Our kiss . . . last night . . .

"Mokuba, there's something I need to do," I went over to the rack and threw on the tuxedo jacket. Then I hurried out of the room. While hastily walking towards my destination, I safely tucked the box in the inside pocket of the jacket.

After a few minutes of searching, I found it. There was a woman standing outside the door, probably trying to prevent the next thing from happening.

"Mr. Kaiba. What are you doing here?" I brushed past her. "You can't go in there!"

I ignored her and swung open the door. It was as if I walked into another world.

Light, yellow, laced curtains draped the open windows, creating a surreal light celestially illuminating the room. A light, wood vanity was placed on one side of the room and wide mirrors lined the other wall. In the center of the room was a slightly raised platform. On the platform standing sublimely was Nyoko. Her dress was magnificently elaborate with floor-length ivory satin decorated with gold, intricate patterns. The dress was strapless, revealing her delicate shoulders. Her lustrous brown hair was pulled back into an exquisite bun.

"S-Seto?" Nyoko was staring at me utterly stunned. "You can't see me before the wedding."

A painful feeling of guilt flushed through me as her and the other women in the room waited for me to explain myself.

"I need to talk to you," I charily replied, but added, "in private."

An older woman, who I vaguely recognized as Nyoko's mother, raised a suspicious eyebrow at me.

"It's alright," Nyoko assured. At this, her mother with the rest of the women swiftly walked out of the room sending me apprehensive looks.

Once the door shut behind them, I heard Nyoko speak in a strenuous tone. "What's so important that you burst in here, in front of my-"

"I can't get married."

When I said this, her eyes widened in shock and her mouth gaped open confused. "What do you mean?"

I couldn't turn back now. I knew what I had to do . . . "I can't do this. I can't get married," I painstakingly repeated, trying to keep my voice steady.

"But why?" Her expression seemed to change from shock to dejected disbelief. "You're company and all your money-"

"I don't care about that anymore."

"B-But my whole family's already here," she informed her voice beginning to tremble.

"I'll tell them if you'd like." She immediately shook her head at this.

She looked down, her eyebrows furrowing in despair. "How could you do this to me?"

When I saw her blinking her eyes, as if trying to prevent the tears that were threatening to fall, I slowly approached her. "It's not you." Now in front of her, I pulled her into a firm hug. "You're a great woman. Perfect for any other man."

Her face was buried in my chest, and I felt her shoulders shuddering, as I knew she finally broke down in tears. My heart reeked with complete guilt, but I had to do this. I could understand if she'd hate me forever.

I heard her say something, but it was muffled. "What'd you say?" I asked, slightly pulling away from her.

She looked up at me with darkened green eyes. Her makeup was smeared as an endless flow of tears streamed down her cheeks. "It-It's him, isn't it?" she asked through choked sobs.

I knew whom she was talking about. How could I not know? What other 'him' was there?

I gently nodded my head in response. She looked down in grief at this.

Her next words surprised me though.

"I always knew you had feelings for him. The first time I met you again, the way your eyes lit up when you saw him. A-And at the park – the way you took your hand from mine," she sniffed and took a deep breath. "You gave him a look that was never given to me. And you always talked about him . . . And I'm sure when we kissed, you though of him, too." She said the last sentence with a solemn bitterness.

I took in every word she said. It was absolutely true – everything was. I could recall in our conversations how I would always say, 'Yami would probably think', 'Yami hates this', or 'Yami would be amused by this'. And when we kissed, my thoughts would indeed be on him. In fact, it seemed I always thought of him when I was with her . . .

Was it because . . . she reminded me of him? Most girls would quiver at my feet, but Nyoko was never really phased. She wouldn't treat me specially, and she certainly wasn't afraid to throw in her own smart remarks. Just like Yami . . .

"You're right," I finally spoke, causing her to look at me in astonishment, but then look back down in disappointment. I reached out and made her look up at me. "I'm sorry." I apologized with true sincerity.

A weak smile only came across her face. I gave her one last kiss on the cheek before turning to leave.

When I reached the door, I heard her speak, her voice calm – even a little cordial.

"He feels the same way about you."

I gave her a quizzical look, urging her to continue.

"He looked glum when he told me the wedding plans. And . . . he looks at you the same way you look at him."

I could feel my heart beat in pleasure. I knew that Yami must feel the same way about me. It just felt better to know that someone else knew, too – it was reassuring.

I grabbed the doorknob, but heard her speak once again.

"You better find him and tell him how you feel."

When I looked up at her, she had an encouraging grin on her lips. She really did look beautiful in that dress.

"I am," I replied, giving her an appreciative smile. I certainly am.

TO BE CONTINUED!

Two more chapters left! Anywho . . . this chapter was another hard one to write. But like I said, the remaining chapters will be rather difficult grumble . . . but, don't worry! I will certainly finish the story no matter how hard the times are that lay ahead! So please . . . give me energy and REVIEW!