A/N: I've realized I can't really plot a story until I get the pairings down. How sad, I know. But, just for the fun of it, I won't dictate any solid pairings. As the story progresses, please tell me if you want to see any pairings. You can all watch me flounder, too. XP
I think this story is going to turn out like SPNMIC – just picture all the confusion and lack of plot. XD And yes, all characters are going to be thrown in at some point.
Whatever Happens Here, Stays Here
Chapter 2: Well, hello…
By LilPurplFlwr
In Domino, Japan…It was a sweltering Saturday afternoon in July when Yuugi Mutou, a seventeen-year-old senior next fall, received a short message on his cell phone. Unfortunately, Yuugi had been dozing when the ring he set for his older brother began to play. Sprawled on his bed, something registered in the back of his mind about the unusual sound emitting from the phone on his desk, but he dismissed it. However, even after silence had reclaimed the room, Yuugi turned onto his side and opened his violet eyes, trying to attach a name to the rare ring-tone.
"Oh!"
Yuugi straightened, sitting at the edge of his bed. Nii-chan! Getting to his feet, he walked to his desk. Clearing away the clutter, he unearthed his phone and was met with the ever-familiar 'One Missed Call.' With a stifled sigh, Yuugi lifted the phone to his ear to listen to the message.
-Beep-
Hey, Yuugi. How have you been? I'm sorry I haven't called in a long time. Are you mad at me? It's not like you to miss calls like this. Anyway, Las Vegas hasn't been too exciting, and I miss you. Tell Grandpa that I'm still alive -
Yuugi's unconscious smile grew bigger as he listened to his brother's recorded chuckle.
- and have a nice summer vacation, hm?
-Click-
Yuugi gazed blankly out his window as the message ended. Summer vacation, huh? For the second time of the day, Yuugi's eyes widened. Throwing his phone on his bed, he rushed out of his room, in search of his grandfather.
Sugoroku Mutou was organizing their small game shop when his grandson burst into the room from the house.
"Wait, wait. Stop before you hurt yourself," Yuugi's grandfather said sternly as he set down a shipment of cards onto the counter, "Now, what is-"
"Nii-chan called!"
"Well! It's about time!" Sugoroku murmured, using a pair of scissors to open the box, "How is Atemu?"
His grandfather's reaction nearly deflated Yuugi's enthusiasm. However, even that did not keep Yuugi down for long. The seventeen-year-old leaned against the doorway, trying to remember the message.
"Nii-chan sounds okay. Ne, jii-chan…?"
"Hmm?"
"Let's go to Vegas!"
It took a good minute for the suggestion to sink in. Yuugi waited patiently by the door, as if ready to run if his grandfather disagreed. Slowly, Sugoroku put down the scissors and turned to stare incredulously at his grandson.
"Yuugi… we're in Japan. With a shop to run."
"You need a vacation. We need to see Nii-chan!" Yuugi argued, "It's summer! Let's do something different!"
Needless to say, Sugoroku Mutou was never very good at denying his grandsons what they wanted. Especially when Atemu moved right out of the country once he finished college. When it came down to Yuugi, who had permanently mastered puppy-dog eyes and used the look often, Sugoroku was even more defenseless. And Yuugi was currently working his cunning expertise to disarm his grandfather.
Sugoroku Mutou found himself on a plane to the United States in three days with an ecstatic Yuugi.
Ryou Bakura was a little lost.
Oh, no. He knew where he was - infamous Sin City. However, what Ryou did not know was where his older brother was. And he would very much like to know.
So, Ryou found himself standing alone in front of the hotel, Bellagio, where he would find himself surrounded by tourists every half an hour for the water show. Stifling a sigh, he leaned against concrete partition that ran around the lake of water. He pulled self-consciously at the edge of his open button-down shirt that he wore over a blue-and-white striped T-shirt. The summer heat was making him regret wearing two layers, and he pulled up his sleeves.
Suddenly, nearly giving Ryou a heart attack, a strong arm snaked around his waist, pulling him against a taller body. The second arm wrapped diagonally across Ryou's torso, immobilizing any movement.
"W-wha?"
"Don't you have work right now?" A smooth baritone voice murmured warmly next to Ryou's ear.
"L-let go of me!" Ryou flushed and struggled to get away, his mind in a state of panic.
Twisting enough to push the stranger away, Ryou turned sharply, pressing his back against the hotel and water scene like a trapped animal.
The blonde that now stood in his view did not bother to hide the amusement that was clearly written in his smirk. "Oh…?" However, it was not the casual grin that unnerved Ryou, but instead, it was the glint of extreme interest in the other's indigo-colored eyes.
"U-um…" Ryou stuttered indignantly, averting his eyes to the floor and his brows furrowing as he tried to find the right words to express himself.
"You have an uncanny resemblance to my friend," the stranger stated nonchalantly, completely void of any remorse, but held an overwhelming tainted connotation. The blonde, again, closed the distance between them, invading any space Ryou had managed to place between them on the busy sidewalk. A bronzed hand tipped Ryou's chin upward, forcing Ryou to meet his intense stare.
"His name's Bakura. Do you know him?"
"Bakura…?" Ryou's eyes widened, "That's my aniki!"
"So you're his little brother, hm? What's your name?"
Ryou shifted uncomfortably under the blonde's scrutiny. "Ryou… " When he was released, he breathed a sigh of relief.
"What are you doing out here alone?"
Ryou watched speechlessly as the other casually settled back against the concrete railing beside him, as if nothing had happened at all. The blonde pulled out a pack of cigarettes, sticking a slender cylinder between his lips and lighting the cigarette with a silver lighter. Once finished with his task, the blonde glanced over to Ryou, who looked away, ashamed to be caught staring.
"So? What are you standing out in front of Bellagio for?" the blonde repeated, a smug smile spreading across his face seeing Ryou's fidgety action.
"U-uh… I don't know where 'Kura is," Ryou admitted, turning around to face the hotel front, his face burning with embarrassment.
"Pharaoh's Palace."
"Excuse me?" Ryou blinked, not recognizing the name.
"One of the newer hotels. Crazy expensive and inexplicably popular." The other took another drag from the cigarette before dropping it on the floor and crushing it beneath his shoe. He began to walk away. "Let's go."
"O-okay…"
Ryou pushed himself away from where he had been standing for a couple of hours. Following behind the other, Ryou fell into step with the other, keeping a reasonable amount of space between them. However, the streams of people that were cruising along the strip increased significantly in the evening, and Ryou was having a hard time avoiding others and keeping up with the blonde.
"Don't get separated."
Ryou felt the other grab his wrist, pulling him closer and wrapping a secure arm around his waist.
"T-thanks," Ryou mumbled, shying away from a dealer that was trying to hand him some sort of pornography on the street. "U-uh… I forgot to ask… what's your name?"
"Mariku Ishtar."
"Hey."
Katsuya looked up with a raised eyebrow at the familiar voice. His amber stare met slanted green eyes. The other leaned across the countertop and grasped Katsuya's jaw, suddenly pulling the blonde forward into a deep kiss.
"Mmn…!" was all Katsuya could manage before a warm tongue pushed past his lips into his mouth, coaxing his own tongue into play. Closing his eyes, Katsuya deepened the kiss momentarily, before pulling away quickly. Licking his lips, Katsuya tipped his head to one side, giving the other a suspicious look. "What was that for, Otogi?"
The black-haired dealer pushed a strand of hair from his eyes, only to have it fall back against the curve of his cheek, "Oh, that? You were just asking for it."
"I don't remember saying anything," Katsuya said, as amused as he was annoyed.
Otogi Ryuuji leaned back in towards the blonde with a playful grin, "Not literally, of course. You're just too cute. I couldn't help myself."
Katsuya made a skeptical noise in the back of his throat, "Sexual frustrated much, Otogi?"
Choosing to ignore the comment, Otogi settled onto one of the stools and folded his arms on the counter, "Scotch on the rocks, Jou."
"Can't deny it," Katsuya muttered under his breath, pulling out a clean glass and filling it with ice before pouring the alcohol. "Here," the blonde pushed the drink to his friend.
"Well, you can change that, can't you, Jou?" Otogi replied lightly, lifting the cup to his lips and taking a sip.
Katsuya sighed, resting his head on his palm as he idly watched the column of the other's throat as he swallowed, "Don't you have anyone else to hit on?"
"By the way," Otogi narrowed his eyes, giving Katsuya a piercing stare, as he fingered the glass rim of his glass, "You seem to be getting sort of close with that Yami kid."
It finally clicked. Katsuya's eyes widened slightly. Was Otogi Ryuuji… jealous?
"You know, not like I care," the other looked away from the blonde with forced disinterest, "Just curious and all."
And yet, for some reason, knowing that there was actually some truth and motive beneath the dealer's flattering lines pleased Katsuya. Knowing to tread cautiously when the other seemed to be sulking, Katsuya gave a small grin, which Otogi caught in the corner of his eye. Turning back to the blonde and getting ready to berate the other for being tactless, Otogi did not expect the bartender to lean over to him and seal their lips together in a quick kiss.
"Hey, I wouldn't just let anyone make out with me during work," Katsuya said as he pulled back.
Otogi blinked owlishly. He was not positive, but he could have sworn that was the first time Katsuya had kissed him first.
"And what about out of work?" the dealer asked mischievously, readopting his teasing tone.
"The unfortunate one would find himself with something broken."
"… Are you serious?"
Seto Kaiba had been sitting in a quiet booth in the corner of the restaurant in the casino and talking to Mokuba on his cell phone when he noticed a young man hand a card to the cashier up front.
"Hey, Seto?" came his brother's confused voice, "Why did you stop talking?"
"Nothing much," the CEO replied absently, eyeing the newcomer with growing interest.
By appearance, the young man was probably no more than twenty-one, maybe twenty-three max. And yet, in his hand, was the casino's platinum card. Figuring that the other would never notice him, Seto continued to study him, having long forgotten what he was discussing with his younger brother.
"S-seto…? What's going on?"
Mokuba's panicking voice regained Seto's attention.
"Sorry, Mokuba. What is it?"
"What is that supposed to mean? It's you that suddenly sounded like you died!"
Again, Seto's eyes wandered to the figure that followed the waitress to a table, having a friendly chat with the middle-aged woman before she left to get him a drink. Golden bangs bordered a rather delicate-looking face, where dark, perhaps black, hair stuck out wildly otherwise. Yet, when the young man moved to rest his head onto his fist in order to glance over the menu, scarlet highlights flashed beneath the dim light above him.
"Kaiba-sama?" came a polite voice, "I'm sorry, but are you ready to order?"
"Hm?" Seto looked up to see a younger waitress bowing apologetically before him.
"- So I fired them because they ate my pie. My PIE!" Mokuba's distressed voice suddenly pierced through Seto's comprehension.
"Wait! WHAT?" Seto exclaimed into his phone, scaring the waitress who emitted a small squeal of shock and ran back to the kitchen.
There was no appreciation of Mokuba's laughter from the other line.
"Oh my god, Seto! I should have recorded that just to play it back to you…"
Seto snarled into his phone, "I should have you grounded for that."
"Oh, nii-san! It was your fault for ignoring me! Besides! You forget I'm twenty already!"
"Then stop acting like you're twelve. I'm hanging up."
"Mou-!"
Flipping his phone shut with an annoyed sigh, Seto looked up to speak to the waitress, only to discover the girl was gone. However, looking across the room, his gaze met amused crimson eyes. However, their stare was broken when the other looked up to speak to the waitress.
-
"Got it. Anything else, dear?"
"U-um… I guess not," Atemu shook his head, handing his menu to the woman, "Thanks."
As she left, Atemu peered cautiously across the room, searching for the brunette sitting alone in the corner of the restaurant in one of the booths. Apparently, the man had managed to call the young waitress back over to him. Strangely though, even with the menu clutched to her chest, the brunette continued to speak with her. Atemu could not help but wonder about what.
-
"I believe Yami is a really popular gambler at the casino, Kaiba-sama," the waitress answered meekly, "I don't know any more than the rumors that circulate, sir."
"Rumors?" Seto asked casually, taking a sip from his drink, his tone offering no other alternative to her but to continue speaking.
"A-ah… Yami is supposed to be a game master. Either that, or he has exceptionally good luck. Only, that would be an understatement," the girl looked more flustered by the moment, "U-uh… that's all I know… "
"I see. You may go."
The girl bowed again and left for the kitchen.
"Game master, hm?" Seto said softly, a small smile gracing his face, "I'd like to see if that's true."
A/N: Please review!
How's my playing of pairings? More interesting things coming up, of course. XP
Things I'm thinking about next chapter: Ryou finally finds Bakura. Seto and Yami play a 'friendly' game of poker. Yuugi enters the Vegas scene. Perhaps something with Anzu, Shizuka, or Honda? Not that I'm particularly eager about the latter. XD