Lifestyles of the Rich and the Arrogant
A/N: Whoo! Another quick update. I'm actually pretty proud of that, because I have NEVER been one to update quickly before. (laughs sheepishly) The reason being, of course, that in my other works I had some plot, and much more description. I have trouble writing GOOD description unless I'm in the mood, and I just haven't been lately. Dialogue, for me, is easy. I enjoy writing. (If you haven't guessed, this is another dialogue heavy chapter. Sorry.) Hopefully, things are finally revealed. Yes, this chapter is... CHAPTER TEN! And that has no relevance to anything! Ha! Well... Just read and find out. Who knows? There might be a surprise inside...
Material Boy
(In Which Steve Directs and There is "Brad")
"Look," Honda said defensively, "I don't see why it's such a big deal."
"Don't see why it's such a big deal!" Jounouchi bellowed, "You're dating a teacher!"
"We're not dating, she's not much older than we are, and it's just tutoring."
"Oh yeah, uh-huh; tutoring my ass," Jounouchi muttered.
"It IS tutoring," Honda said, glaring fiercely at his friend. "I just need... a little extra help."
"Whatever. If you are getting tutoring, which I don't really believe, then I don't think I really want to know just what subject you're getting tutored in."
Honda's eyes narrowed. "Just what are you insinuating there, Jounouchi?"
Jounouchi shrugged his shoulders. "Me? Insinuating something? No!" Honda smacked him, and he chuckled heartily. "Let's see... What could you be studying? You, her– alone– the romantic air of scholarly text..."
"You're an idiot. How can you just go from being a complete buffoon to talking about 'scholarly text'? And there's nothing romantic about it. We're just going over some work for business class– I've had some trouble with recent assignments."
"What– copying down facts about corporations and capitalist economy and looking up business-related vocabulary words?" Anzu laughed. "Yeah, some trouble."
"Look, it's not a big deal. She's just an instructor, and I'm just a student. What's the problem?"
Yugi coughed, a grin on his innocent face. "She wouldn't happen to be teaching you CPR would she?"
Honda was confused. "No; why?"
"Because one day after school I think I accidentally walked in on a lesson."
(xXx)
"Cut!" The director wiped his brow. "Fabulous people, absolutely fabulous; but I'm going to need you to do it again."
"Oh come on, Steve!" Anzu said, exhausted, "That's five times in a row we've done it. Give us a break!"
Jounouchi grinned. "I know I'm enjoying it. Shall we take it from the top?"
Honda glared and slugged him in the arm. "You're just as tired as the rest of us. The only reason– the ONLY reason you're having fun is because you get to torment me. Why won't anyone believe that it's just an innocent relationship?"
"Heh, a little too much into character there, Honda," Yugi said with a laugh, grabbing a bottle of water off the table of cast refreshments. "It's only a fan-fiction after all."
"Yeah that's right," the director snapped, "But it's going to be the best bloody fan-fiction those yu-gi-oh-philes have ever read. Come on, show some spirit!"
"Just take that spirit and shove it up your ass," Anzu muttered to herself. "I'm going to my trailer!" She told them all loudly. "Don't you jackasses dare disturb me, or you WILL pay." She stomped off, eager for the big, fluffy bed that would whisk her off to dreamland.
Director Steve scratched his head. "Eh, you think we can cut Anzu's part out?"
Yugi smiled at the frustrated man. "Just give her an hour. She's be fine by then, and we'll re-do the scene, and it'll be perfect."
(xXx)
Honda frowned, his ears reddening deeply as his three best friends laughed like hyenas. "Oh man Yugi, that was great! That was... that was good." Jounouchi laughed a little on an exhale. "Yeah, let her instruct you, Honda, I sure bet you need all the help you can get."
"Shut up," Honda snapped tersely. "You're being stupid and those barbs aren't even clever."
"Aw, we're sorry Honda," Anzu said kindly– but teasingly. "But you know we love you. Yugi and Jounouchi are just jealous that they can't get girls for themselves."
"Whatever," he said with a shrug. "I'm not going to try to defend a relationship that doesn't exist." He smiled at Anzu and then smirked at the other boys. "You're right about them, of course. Poor Jounouchi couldn't even pay a girl to take him out." He looked down at his watch. "Well I really have to head. Talk to you later, Anzu. Oh, and don't forget– meet me at that little coffee place on Friday afternoon, alright?"
"Ok Honda," she agreed as she waved him off. Yugi looked at her curiously. "Huh? Oh, he just asked me to meet him there because he wanted to, I don't know, tell me something or hang out or... something. Who knows with that boy, huh?"
Jounouchi, still sore over Honda's comment, just grunted. Anzu put an arm around his shoulders and said, "But you know, Jounouchi... I hear the math department just got a new intern!"
He growled as she and Yugi couldn't help but laugh.
Mokuba looked at him blankly. "And... who are you?"
Honda sighed impatiently and crossed his arms. "I'm one of Yugi's friends! Your brother's expecting me– would you tell him that Honda's here?"
Mokuba peered at him intently for a moment. "Oh! I remember you now! Yeah, I think Seto mentioned something about Honda and warning him if you came and restraining orders earlier. I wasn't really listening. But come on in! He's in his office."
Nodding warily, Honda followed the boy into the house, up a flight of stairs and down a hallway, stopping in front of a thick, foreboding door.
"Here we go!" Mokuba said happily. He opened the door and pushed Honda in. "Have fun!"
(xXx)
"Oh bloody hell, this is total garbage!" Steve threw his hat on the ground. "I quit! You're all idiots, absolute idiots! Bah." He jumped out of his chair and stormed out, ranting loudly to himself the whole way. The door slammed, shutting the irate Steve out forever. The cast just stood there silently, blinking and breathing, too shocked to say a word.
"Well." Yugi said quietly. "That was unexpected."
"Steve is an idiot," Seto replied with a scoff. "You know he'll be back; this is his only job, and the fool doesn't have any other skills to recommend him."
Jounouchi crossed his arms angrily. "Man, I need this session's check already! He better be back soon."
"Don't worry," Yugi said with a shrug, "We just need to give him some time. He wasn't really that angry, probably just drunk."
"Yeah," Honda agreed, taking advantage of the break to stuff his face with a few of the delectable delights offered. "He hates every scene we do, even if it is good. Which, by the way, the last scene wasn't. I really don't know how I work with you people."
"I was brilliant," Mokuba said haughtily.
"Yeah, just shove it, Honda," Anzu said half-heartedly. "The scene didn't flow well– the writer's fault, not ours."
"That might be true," Seto sneered, "but it happens to be our job to make it flow. I wasn't even in scene; that's probably where it's lacking."
"You two better not get into a fight," Jounouchi warned, noting Anzu's glare. "There's so much Anzu/Kaiba sniping in the show that we really don't need it here. You don't have to stay in character the whole time we're filming. Take a break once in a while, damn."
Anzu and Seto shared a secret smirk. "Well..." she said slyly, "I think it's pretty hot when he's being that cold, ruthless businessman." She glided over next to him. "He sure as hell doesn't have any sense when it comes to money in real life."
"Hey," he reprimanded, "I thought you liked being poor. Ungrateful little vixen."
She winked. "You know it."
"Cut it out, you guys," Yugi said, "It's annoying the hell out of me." He sunk down into one of the big armchairs scattered around the set. "Damn, can't get a moment's peace with those two around."
"Hey!" Mokuba announced, startling them all, "Have any of you noticed that throughout this whole fic no one has ever said the business teacher's last name? She's just... the teacher."
Everyone glanced around, contemplating the new revelation. "Weird..."
Seto put down his pen, and gave Honda a frosty look. "What is it?" he asked coldly.
Honda smirked. "Nothing, just thought I'd come for that little chat you always seem to be worming your way out of. Don't you wanna talk?"
Seto glared. "No; I don't want to talk. The only reason I agreed to see you in the first place was that you told me you had Mokuba and I had to grant you an interview if I wanted him back." He rolled his eyes and then resumed his glaring. "You did realize, didn't you, that Mokuba was with me– in the same room, actually– at the time you made said phone call?"
"Of course I knew it," Honda said with a grin, "But I had to get your attention somehow."
"Well... For this nanosecond, you've got it. Tell me why you're so intent on speaking with me."
Honda smirked. "One word, Kaiba: Blackmail."
Seto raised an eyebrow in profound disbelief. "You're... blackmailing me?"
Honda leaned back in the chair he was sitting in, his arms coming behind his head. His grin widened. "Hell yeah I am. Got a problem?"
Seto pushed a button on his desk. "Security, I think I may need you."
"Don't you even want to hear what I have to say?"
"No."
Honda shrugged and stood up. "I guess that it would be best for me to leave, then. Too bad, though; I'm sure Anzu will be very interested to know how you feel about her."
Seto started. "What the hell do you mean how I feel about her?"
"Seto, Seto, Seto," Honda said, shaking his head. "Are you truly so naive? Did you think that no one would notice?"
"I don't know what you're talking about, and I fail to see how Mazaki has a relevant place in any of this at all."
"Oh but she does." He grinned. "You know she does." Honda sat down again, attempting to assume a business-like air. "You see, I'm missing a date for this–"
(xXx)
"I TOLD YOU IT WASN'T SOME DAMN TUTORING SESSION!"
"Shut UP, Jounouchi!"
(xXx)
"–so I think you better listen to what I have to say."
Seto waited silently. Honda was having too much fun leaving him in suspense.
"Well? What is it, you fool?"
"Oh, poor innocent Brad."
"What the hell did you just call me?"
"It's a nickname, Kaiba-boy; future friends use them all the time."
"I refuse to ever be your 'friend'."
"Oh– so you don't care if I tell Anzu you're madly in love with her?"
Seto bristled. "I do not like her; I never have liked her, and, guess what dumbass, I never will. Please vacate the premises immediately."
Honda grinned, like a child about to hide from a babysitter. "Seto-kun and Anzu-chan, sitting in a tree, K-I-S-S-I-N-G--"
"I do NOT regard Mazaki in such a... an unspeakably horrendous manner. The very thought repulses me."
Honda appeared to think that over for a moment. "Oh? So you don't care that my dear little Anzu likes you as well?" Seto's face went slack with surprise and Honda winked. "Oh yeah, she thinks you're hunky."
Seto glared. "I don't appreciate you saying things like that."
"What's the matter Brad, don't appreciate a compliment?"
"I hate you."
"I love you too, big boy. So what do you say? You'll cooperate with me?"
"No."
"Aw, come on Brad! Don't you want to whisk your princess away and life happily ever after?" Seto just looked at him like he was an idiot, not even gracing him with the energy it took to create a glare. "Well, on second thought, you're really more like the dragon. Maybe one day Yugi'll slay you, and he and Anzu can run away together. Wouldn't they be just adorable?"
Seto stiffened, and tried to pretend like he didn't. "What Mutou and Mazaki do is their business, not mine."
Honda snorted in disbelief, ready to drop the playful pretenses. "Get real, Kaiba; you like her. Admit it! I'm not a complete fool, regardless of how I may act. You like Anzu. Or, even if you don't like her, you certainly seem to like her body. And how do you think she'd react if I told her that?" He shook his head at the dire fate. "You'd never be the same again."
"I do NOT–"
"Bull shit. You DO."
Seto glared at him, pushed almost to the breaking point. "Why did you make this foolish quest in the first place? What the hell do you want, money?"
"No, silly Brad, I want Anzu to be happy. And if cranky, rich, obsessive Kaibas make her happy, then that's what she's going to get." Honda picked up a small Blue-Eyes figurine that was on the desk and twirled it between his fingers. "I have a plan; everyone will be happy, if you just work with me this one, rare instance."
Seto folded his arms and scowled crossly.
Honda stood, victorious. "Brilliant! I'll take that as an 'I accept, Honda, you handsome devil, you.' You and Anzu will get to be silly over each other together, and we–"
"Ahh. Of course. I should have suspected there was some other motive than our so-called happiness."
"And WE," Honda said loudly, continuing with a glare at Seto, "Will no longer have to endure your cruelty, because you'll be so besotted with our dancing devotee that you shall forgot how much you hate Yugi, Jounouchi and me. That's all."
Seto sighed in exasperation. "There's just one flaw in your little scheme. I think she's an air-headed bitch!"
Honda shook his head. "You really mean to persist in your little charade, don't you?"
"It's not a charade, you mindless disease. I can say with full sincerity that–"
"You're hopelessly in love with the girl?"
"No! Stop it; I do not like her!"
Honda grinned. "You certainly are defensive. And you're acting different. Acting almost... nervous?"
"You're an idiot."
"At least give it a chance, Brad. Something wonderful could come of it."
Seto thought for a moment, his expression softening. "She likes me, you said?"
Momentarily feeling a tiny– minuscule, almost non-existent– pang of guilt for lying, Honda nodded furiously. "She certainly does!"
Seto smirked. "A situation I believe I could more than take advantage of. Poor, weak girl– letting her feelings get the best of her. She'll learn her lesson, though– one way or the other."
Honda had stood up, prepared to close the deal and leave, but Kaiba's tone left him wary. "Um, I don't think that's quite what I mean. I–"
"What was this plan of yours?" Seto stood, and walked out from behind his desk.
As Seto ushered him to the door, Honda said, "I was going to have you two meet at that coffee place a block away from the school– you know, almost a date-situation. But if–"
Seto smirked. "Perfect." He gave Honda a firm push out the door. "I'll have security show you the way out."
Honda rolled his eyes as the heavy door slammed behind him. "Jerk. But at least I got him to agree." He strolled down the hallway to the stairs, rubbing his hands together gleefully. "The possibilities– oh, this is gonna be good."
Seto sat in his office, feeling a strange sense of relief. "Finally rid of him." He had almost no intention of keeping his word. He didn't like Mazaki, and that was the end of it.
Scowling, and needing to clear his head, he decided to go find Mokuba. He didn't have any pressing matters concerning work, so he could afford to goof off a bit. "Damn idiot," he muttered to himself as he headed toward their living room, "I should have kicked him out immediately for even daring to suggest something so defaming." His scowl deepened. "There's nothing to think about; I don't care anything about Anzu. I don't."
(xXx)
"A'right, you pathetic louses," Steve said happily, "That's a wrap."
End A/N: Well! That was something, eh? ...Not really. Heh. Anyway-- chapter eleven, unfortunately, won't come out quite as soon as this did. I need a quick little break, because I'm about to have a lot of work to do for school. Don't worry, though; I will be back! And about Steve? I really don't know what I was thinking. I was going to try to do a soap-opera thing, like behind-the-scenes, but the actual chapter was so long that I didn't have room. Heh, and this was supposed to bea short chapter. That's it; don't forget to review, please!
