Lifestyles of the Rich and the Arrogant


A/N: WHOO! I seriously can't believe it. Who would have imagined that I'd have the next chapter ready this quickly? Certainly not me! And yet, here I am, surprising us all, posting the second-to-last chapter of one of the craziest fics I've written. I love to make people laugh, and I hope that, with this, I succeeded. This chapter was FUN to write. It's short (I think...), but I'm pretty sure the content makes up for that. Wow. Already to the fourteenth chapter. Thanks a million to everyone who's read and reviewed; you've all inspired me to keep this going as fast as it's gone! Before I get even sappier, I'll finish up. Expect some fun Honda and Jounouchi dialogue (because of this fic, and the bit of personality re-write I did, I absolutely adore Honda), and something really GREAT for Seto and Anzu. Alright--read and enjoy, everyone!


Giving and Receiving
(In Which There is Finally a Kiss)

"Honda," she said with a whine, "are you really busy again?" Her finger traced a line down his chest. "I was hoping we could spend some time together."

He groaned. "Oh God, you have no idea how appealing that is, but... This involves scoring some money, and Jounouchi's inevitable humiliation. I have to keep these plans."

Arisa laughed. "I understand. You go have fun with your little friends, and I'll just stay at home bored and lonely. Maybe I'll think up some vicious new homework assignments to give all of you."

She smiled teasingly and he laughed softly. "So what are you delinquents up to, anyway?"

Honda grinned. "Project: Anzu. We're buying her a boy-toy."

Arisa laughed. She looked him up and down and winked. "Oh, every girl definitely needs one of those." Honda had the grace to turn a light shade of pink. "But what about that nice boy who sits behind her in class? You know– Seto Kaiba. I thought she had something going on with him."

Honda started. "You noticed it, too?"

She nodded. "Honda honey, you'd have to be deaf, blind and dumb not to see the way he looks at her. I'm quite sure he chose that seat not to bother her, but just to be near her. He either glares or wistfully stares at the back of her head a lot when he thinks no one is watching him."

Honda laughed, feeling shocked. "Wow. Yeah, actually that's what we're doing. Just... forwarding their relationship on a little." He smirked proudly. "I badgered it out of him; he's liked her for a pretty long time."

"That's my boy," Arisa teased, pulling his arms around her.

He grinned, and faked modesty. "Oh, doll, that's just too much." He leant down and pecked her cheek. "I'm simply amazing, aren't I?"

She pulled him down by his collar for a longer, hotter kiss. "Amazing, my dear boy–" she kissed him again. He raised an eyebrow as she shot him a naughty smirk. "–doesn't even begin to describe it."


After school, Jounouchi and Honda met outside the building to begin their mission. Yugi would meet up with them later. They were to secure a table at the specified location, and then patiently lay in wait for their two unsuspecting subjects. Although Yugi still wasn't entirely comfortable with spying on Anzu, the others had assured him that, should she ever find out, she'd eventually thank them for it. It was what would come before that eventually that had Yugi worried.

"Ready?" Jounouchi asked with a grin.

Honda smirked in return. "You bet your ass I am. Let's go."

Not very long after that, Yugi walked out of the school with a smile. He had had an excellent day of school, but was still quite ready for a friend-filled, entertaining afternoon. Honda and Jounouchi had coerced him into a rather deviant act of observation, and he was both dreading and eager for it. He was NOT looking forward to the sure-to-be severe punishment if Anzu discovered them, but at the same time he was hoping that everything worked out for her.

And in the back of his mind, he had to admit that he had a little personal interest vested in the match-making as well. Though he was kind-hearted with an exceptionally good soul, he certainly wouldn't mind if Kaiba found a new target for his attention. As, er... flattering as it was to be singled out so, Kaiba needed– desperately, in Yugi's opinion– a bit of a distraction. It was, even for someone of Yugi's easy temper, a bit hard to take when you were antagonized by the same person over and over, day after day.

Jounouchi steadfastly maintained that there was no hope for Kaiba and it wouldn't have surprised anyone if he had formed some sort of twisted hate-club for the planning of said Kaiba's removal and inevitable destruction. Honda, on the other hand, thought that the problem was a deep, psychological one and felt that the poor boy just needed his ego stroked a bit. (Yugi wasn't entirely sure what exactly he meant by "ego", but– because it was Honda– he knew better than to ask.)

Yugi, being the sensitive young man he was, had a much simpler idea. What better way to divert Kaiba's attention than by giving him something else to focus on? And a bright, fiery image of Anzu burned into his retinas seemed no less than the perfect thing.

After a refreshing bit of a walk, Yugi arrived. He walked in and immediately spotted Honda and Jounouchi sitting at a table poorly hidden behind a large plant. If that was there idea of cover... He rolled his eyes at them– affectionately, of course– and walked over.

"What are they doing?" he heard Honda ask.

"I don't know; a waiter's in the way. It looks like... oh! They're talking. Sort of. Anzu's mumbling something and Kaiba's glaring. He looks unhappy. Are you sure he's interested?"

"Damn right I'm sure! Unlike you, Jounouchi, some of us were blessed with a brain. And it is beyond obvious that he's head over heels for our dear little friend over there. As much as it, well, near-disgusts me to admit it, he wants her. Look at the fidgeting, the not-nearly-discreet glances filled with reigned-in lust, and the nervous habit he has of running his hand through that hair of his. Are you blind?"

"No Honda," Jounouchi replied in obvious annoyance, "I am not blind. But I happen to be of the opinion that Kaiba isn't human and therefore is incapable of wanting anyone. Inter-species relations is discouraged, I hear."

"I know you hate him; hell, the whole world knows you hate him! But this isn't about him, be he bastard or benefactor. This is about Anzu– endure his evils for her, I beg of you."

It was clear Jounouchi was going to concede. "Whatever. I'm just not sure that I'm comfortable with our little friend meeting his little friend."

It was at this point that Yugi felt it extremely wise to intervene.

"Hey guys," he said in a stage-whisper, taking a seat. "What's going on?"

"Hey Yugi," Honda greeted. "Nothing of any interest has happened as of yet, but we're definitely still hopeful."

Jounouchi just grunted.

"Oh– guys, look." Honda said, pointing towards the two unwitting players in the little drama the others were watching unfold. "I think they're actually going to have a conversation."

And, in fact, they were. Things were about to get interesting.


Seto was getting annoyed. Was she intentionally trying to provoke him? To drive him crazy? If so, she was doing an absolute bang-up job. He was ready to get the hell out of there, and as far away from her as he could. Though she had been the one to suggest their little rendevous, she had yet to give him a reason for it.

After ordering two iced coffees, she finally got down to it. Which pleased Seto immensely– he was getting fed up with her mumbling.

"Ok," Anzu said, "I've got something I really need to tell you."

He raised an inviting eyebrow. "You have my attention."

"It's... well, it is a bit of a big deal, but I suppose it's... um, normal, if you'd like to put it like that. And... well... Maybe you'll think I'm shallow," she said looking down, "but I-I don't really care. I feel shallow, because of this, so go ahead and think whatever the hell you want to."

"What is it?" he asked sharply, glowering at her fiercely. "I don't have all day, Mazaki."

"I know, I know. So here's the thing- after seeing that... well, rather absurd interview with you, I've come to realize that... maybe you aren't so very bad. Maybe... there's more than what I first imagined."

He raised an eyebrow- in either disbelieving disdain or curiosity; she couldn't tell which. "What exactly are you trying to say?"

She scowled back at him. "You know what I'm trying to say, don't even pretend to be that stupid. I'm... Well, I... Damn it, Kaiba, I'm insanely attracted to you!" She crossed her arms and scoffed at his professed ignorance. "As if it isn't obvious. You're still a jerk- a huge one- but... Ok, and you're way too mean to my friends, and you're always acting like you're so much better than everyone else. But God, you're... You're... really, really hot."

He almost smirked. (Almost. Holding it in right then was one of his proudest moments.) Inside, he was dancing, doing backflips and generally having an absolute euphoric ball at her admission. She felt the same way! She felt the same way! He was also pleased to note that she had noticed his impressively good looks. But... that wasn't all she was attracted to, was it? He would be sorely disappointed if she only wanted him for his body. (What woman didn't want his body, he wondered. But something a little more substantial would be nice.)

And after waiting for the moment for so long, though, he hardly knew how to handle it. The only solution? Contempt and disdain. At least until he was sure she wasn't just screwing with him.

"How pathetically... Yes. You had it right; shallow. You hate me- or close to it- but you're interested in me now because you've realized I'm physically appealing to you? My, my, my... Your merit has now exponentially decreased."

"Shut up." She rolled her eyes and then looked away. "You're not going to bother me with your cruel teasing because I already knew that you'd react that way; I prepared myself for the unforgiving onslaught. But I still think that..." She bit her lip nervously. "Um..."

He began to grow impatient (and of course annoyed). "What? Do you have more nonsense to spout off? Perhaps you'd like to say it before I expire."

Anzu squeezed her eyes shut and said quickly, "Despite all that, I still think that maybe you should give me a chance!" She waited a moment and then cautiously opened first one eye, and then the other. He looked like he was glaring- either he was mad or his face actually did get stuck like that. "You should give... us a chance. I mean... it's not just your body I'm attracted to, you know. I think that maybe, should I ever get to know you, I'd truly like the person you'd turn out to be."

His mouth (his beautiful, beautiful mouth) was set in a firm, frowning line. He stood up and took a step towards her. Anzu gaped a little, and began to wonder if confronting him had perhaps been a mistake. He pulled her up by the arm, glared, and said, "Do you... Do you have any idea..." He stepped even closer. She glanced around, wondering if she could reach an exit before he incinerated her. (Strange how those ice blue eyes could have such fire.)

"Um, Ok. Don't be angry," she said. "I wasn't kidding or trying to tease you or make a fool out of you or anything. I was just... proposing a possible plan of future action. I'm sorry."

"No." He shook his head and put a large hand on her shoulder. "You have no idea..." She almost gasped at the intensity of his gaze. "...how long I've waited for you to say that." His hand slid up slowly, lighting her on fire as it went, to gently cradle her cheek. And never breaking the eye contact he had her locked in, he leaned down and fiercely kissed her.


End A/N: Hail to the delicious cliff-hanger! Don't you all just adore me? I feel evil. (complacent sigh) Heh. Anyway, I hope everyone enjoyed this. It was quick, it was fun, and it finally brought our little characters together. (gush) Aren't they adorable? Heh. Anyway, I'd love comments/con.crit./or just anything you'd like to say about the story! The next chapter is the final one. And, get this, I FINALLY get to use the corny title I've been saving all this time! Yeah, one of the reasons this story developed so quickly is because I had most of the ideas in my head already. Heh. Guess that's it! Please review, I'd love to know what you think!

COMING SOON! THE FINAL CHAPTER OF "LOTRATA"!
-Champagne Wishes and Kuriboh Dreams! (In Which There are Endings)

ILB