Chapter 5 - Keepin' Up with the Jones

7/15/08

Disclaimer: I dontz ownz YGO, Tom n Jery, & Tertis!)

Notes: Thanks to some of the most amazing reviewers around: Kermita, loveroffics, ml101, Sakura Takanouchi, and KasumiCho. Your feedback is only further motivation to get this chapter out sooner. Also, any other readers, thanks for reading. I also have to thank my utterly annoying brother who's my harshest critic of all. I give him a draft, and he tells me it's boring and corny. I hiss; I moan, cursing the sky of a thousand suns. Okay. Maybe I haven't exactly done any of those things, but, if not for his criticism, this chap wouldn't be half of what it was.

I'm dedicating this chap to KasumiCho b/c she's awesome reviewer and an amazing writer. She's written a certain story called Middle of the Summer, which has to be one of the most amazing stories (let alone Seto/OC) that I have laid my eyes on. If you're looking for an actually intelligent story filled with humor, drama, and romance, I highly recommend it.

I changed the summary because I realized people would be like "Who the hell is Seiji Nakamura, and why should we care?"

This is review-welcome zone. Constructive Criticism is included.

"Oh my God! You are way too cute!" Laura squealed as she inspected her four-year-old son. Seto quizzically looked at her, donning a thick-striped blue and white polo shirt and khaki shorts. His blue eyes glanced over his outfit as his mother continued to beam over her son.

Seto was starting his first day of preschool, and Laura had made all effort to make sure that he was looking his absolute best. Seated at the kitchen table of their new home, Seiji ate breakfast with toast in one hand and a newspaper in his other, watching his wife's childish antics. Recently, the Nakamuras had moved from their small, cramped apartment to a small suburban town known for its excellent school system, safe neighborhoods, and diversity. Seiji and Laura fell in love with their new home from the moment that they saw it. The house was picturesque, warm and inviting. A large four-bedroom, brick colonial house with a welcoming porch and attached patio was placed at the end of a small little avenue. Surrounding the home, a green lawn carpeted the front and back of their home; the only area without green was the small area allotted to the swimming pool, which Seto and Laura instantly were excited. The rooms would be allotted as the following: one master bedroom, one bedroom for Seto, and two guestrooms. Seto was extremely excited about his own room, which his parents decorated in dragon wallpaper and blue carpet.

"Seto, you are going to be the cutest kid ever that comes across in your preschool." She sighed dramatically, clasping her hands together by her chest. "I can see it now. The teachers will praise your name. You will count the most numbers, be the best student, and be worshipped for your cuteness from teachers and parents alike! Then, you will bring home a coloring that I will proudly hang on the fridge. And, finally, you will tell me, 'I love school, but I love being with Mommy most of all.'" Laura pushed her hand by her eyes, as if to brush off the non-existing tears from her face.

"Wow, if you could be ever more ridiculous. Tell me, why did I marry such a drama queen again?" Seiji took a bite from his toast.

"Hmph. Have you any sense of the importance of this event? Seto is going to his first day of school. My child is leaving his nest. I must prepare at all costs."

"Well, dear, Seto will be back to his nest by 3 o'clock. Besides, he's only attending school for three days a week. You sound like a puffed hen with 'my son is the cutest' clucking."

"Oh, shush, Your Boringness. My son is cute, and I'll state so."

Seiji shook his head disapprovingly. It was wiser to return to his morning ritual and read his newspaper than argue with Laura. When Laura was in college, she had debated with a professor for five hours over taking two points off her exam. The professor, growing weary of the brunette's counterattacks, gave up those extra points, earning her a perfect score. The woman could be such a lunatic at times.

"Besides, Seto has advantage of genetics on his side," Laura added importantly.

"And how might that be?" Seiji obliged disinterestedly as he sipped his orange juice.

"It's in the DNA," Laura replied, crossing her arms all-knowingly. "When you have a hot mom like me, absolute adorableness is a given. Recessive genes inherited from Thy Ugliness's mug are countered by my spectacular DNA."

"I give up," muttered Seiji. Laura's mind was currently a no-logic zone. Unnecessary entities like reasoning and common sense were not welcome.

"Mommy, can I stay here? I don't wanna go."

Laura bent on her knees, giving a confident smile at her child. "I know you're scared to be alone, but you'll love preschool. You'll make tons of new friends and have tons of fun. That's how people get different experiences. Don't you want to be a strong big boy for Mommy?"

Seto's almond-shaped blue eyes scanned hers for a moment. "Okay, Mommy. I'll be a big boy for you."

...

"What if he's lonely without me?"

"Then, he'll cry in the corner like a baby for his mommy. He'll be called sissy by the other brats in the class and be bullied by all," Brian answered exasperatingly, seated on Laura's brown leather sofa set. "I swear. You're almost like one of those annoying moms that think their kid's a genius or something." Laura glared at her brother, as he grabbed a couple of VHS tapes from a plastic bag. "Anyway, whaddya wanna watch? Star Moaners or Lesbians in Wonderland?"

"Eww! That's disgusting! How can you possibly think about watch such an utterly vile and obscene video in front of me? I'm your little sister. Besides, do your realize the level of social degradation that those women—"

"Yeah, yeah! Heard your feminist crap and not in the mood for it. And to answer your question. It's because I don't care. And don't think your husband so innocent either. I hear the Japanese are freaks." Brian smirked. "But then again that's something you should really know." This earned Brian a punch in the arm. "Ow! That hurts!"

"You're such a douche bag. Why are you here anyway? Why aren't you at something called work?"

"I got fired." Grabbing the remote control, he flipped on the television.

"Fired? What happened?"

"The manager was being an ass. I came fifteen minutes late that day, and he started saying shit like 'I need to stop being late' or whatever. I told him to go fuck himself, and he didn't like that too much."

"Brian, you can't just curse out your boss. You really need the money and can't keep relying on Mom and Dad. You keep complaining that you hate living with them, but how are you going to move out if you keep getting fired?"

"I didn't come here for you to nag me too!" Brian roared viciously. "I came here to escape that! Don't tell me what to do!"

Laura sighed. Her brother's violent temper was a major source for many of his problems in life. "I'll help you find a job. Just keep it."

Brian flipped through the channels hastily. "Someone like you would never understand me. You have everything. Looks. Smarts. Loving family. Even if your husband is that geek Seiji. But me. I get shit. I ain't had anything for ages." This silenced Laura.

While Brian flipped the channel, Laura left the living room. He finally chose a talk show whose guest was a lesbian who was cheating on her girlfriend with her girlfriend's sister. Brian Jones, always a self-proclaimed victim, knew he was a loser. The rugged-looking man shared the same blue eyes and brown hair as his sister, but, while she looked angelically beautiful, he was intimidating and threatening. At 6'4" the man, with his coarse stubble and shaggy unkempt hair, towered over most and held an extremely muscular physique. He hadn't held a job for more than three months and held a girlfriend for even less. At thirty-two years old Brian held the crown title as absolute loser. His only weapons were his fists, which were known to come out in brawls, particularly when he was drunk. Brian, however, hadn't always been such a loser. In high school Brian was the star quarterback with dreams of playing professionally. Earning an athletic scholarship to an excellent state university, he was on his way to the top when he had the accident. In middle of the final game, he ripped his tendon. Instantly, everything was gone. His popularity. His scholarship. His future. He was even more pathetic than a has-been because he almost was.

When Seiji started to date Laura, Brian found himself hating the Japanese man. It wasn't brotherly protectiveness that caused him to loathe the man; Laura had other boyfriends before, and Brian never cared. Seiji, however, was vastly different from her previous boyfriends. He couldn't figure out what that skinny immigrant had that attracted her. Seiji wasn't unattractive, but he wasn't exactly a hunk either. He was not talkative, athletic, or charming. He held none of those golden boy factors that her previous boyfriends had. In Brian's opinion Seiji's only positive attribute was his intelligence. Perhaps, Brian realized that there was permanence to Seiji. Unlike Brian Seiji was steadfast and loyal; he was the responsible family man, always working diligently to give his family a better life. That was something that Brian could never be.

Laura returned with a thick white envelope in her hand. When Brian opened the envelope, he found a thick wad of cash. He ogled at his sister. "This is two thousand dollars. Use it wisely."

"Isn't the husband gonna kill you for this?"

"You're such an ignoramus. I'm a freelance computer consultant. I get projects coming in all the time. Take it or leave it." Laura crossed her arms in irritation. "Let's just say that you're not getting anything for your birthday." Brian smirked at her flippant tone as he pocketed the envelope.

"Anyway, how's the husband?"

"Seiji's better now. After all, his mom died recently." Laura answered softly.

Since six months after their visit to Japan, his mother died from a stroke. It was even more difficult than his father's death. When Seiji thought that no one was around, he cried. The only thing that she could do was put on a cheerful face and make life enjoyable.

"Isn't she a bitch to you?"

"That doesn't matter anymore. She's dead, and Seiji loved her."

Brian glanced at her thoughtfully for a moment. "Divorce him. At least have an affair. I know this guy that digs you. He'd be perfect."

"Don't be an idiot."

"I'm serious. Name's Anderson Keith. Blond. Into football. Super patriotic. Owns the bar that I go to."

"Brian, I am not whoring around so you can get free beer. Especially with a guy who nicknames his kid Bandit. Honestly, I ought to beat the living crap out of you till some sense comes in. I have a perfectly happy marriage. Thanks but no thanks."

Brian shrugged. "Keith'll be disappointed." He returned his attention to the talk show, watching the two lesbian sisters claw at each other while the audience booed excitedly.

...

"So, how was your first day of school?"

"Good. The teachers liked me because I didn't run around crazy like the other boys. Miss Lillian think I'm smart because I know lots of numbers and read best." Seto continued to assemble several Legos together in what appeared to be a well-constructed fort.

"You're such a good kid." Seiji ruffled his son's brown hair, while the boy smiled happily at his father's compliment. "Do you know where Mommy is?"

Seto's expression suddenly became extremely grave. "Mommy says she's working now. Don't bother Mommy, or she'll get mad."

Seiji chuckled. "I'm sure I'll be fine."

"Daddy, can I play on the computah after Mommy's done? I wanna play Tetwis."

"Tetris?" Seiji scratched his head. "I think you'll need to go to bed by then. How about I put on that cartoon that I rented from video store? Mommy says it's really funny."

Scrunching his nose, Seto shook his head. "Mommy bwought before, and it's weird. I don't get why the cat chases the mouse so much. Can't he find something else to do?"

Seiji smiled. Personally, he disliked Tom and Jerry, but his wife insisted that that it was a childhood classic that must be watched and revered by all generations. "Well, I'm gonna find Mommy, okay?"

"Okay, but be careful. Mommy's gonna get mad," Seto warned with an utterly serious expression.

"Warning taken."

Leaving the living room, Seiji walked up the stairs. At the end of the corridor of the second floor, a door was partially closed. As he entered the room and closed the door gently, he found his wife to be seated at a leather manager's chair by the computer and concentrating fiercely on the screen. His wife had converted one of the guest rooms to an office of sorts, while leaving a bed for any extra guests. The room consisted of with a small bed, a desk with a computer, and a couple of cabinets randomly placed nearby. As Laura rapidly typed away on the keyboard, Seiji walked forward and wrapped his arms around her neck from behind, causing her to pause for a moment.

"Have you washed your hands, taken off your shoes, and made sure you used hand soap?"

"Yes." He tightened his hug around her, embracing her body more fully.

"Don't you think it's too early? I'm busy with work, and Seto's downstairs.

Seiji smirked. "What on earth are you talking about?"

"Your seduction skills blow."

"I might need a lesson. I'm completely ready for the crash course." Laura rolled her eyes at the line, while Seiji let her go and stood by her, inspecting the screen. "What are you working on?"

"A Japanese toy company's latest networking program. It's a small company, and the pay isn't much, but the C.E.O. sounds so nice on the phone. I wouldn't mind taking another project from him."

"Hmm. When do you think you'll be done?"

"An hour. Perhaps two." Laura started to type away on her computer, inspecting over a certain file or two. After a minute Laura paused and swiveled her chair around. "How're you feeling? Since the death?" It was the third time that she had talked to him seriously about the topic. He blew her off the first two times whenever she approached him.

"I'm better, Laura. Really. You don't need to worry about me." Laura's eyebrows scrunched in disbelief at his answer.

"You can tell me anything. I'm your wife."

"Just let this go."

She stood up in frustration. "Why can't you talk to me? Why do you feel that you have to deal with everything alone? Don't treat me like a child, Seiji!"

"I'm not. I just don't need you for this."

Laura's eyes narrowed. "You don't NEED me? What am I to you, some white girl that can't understand you?"

"Laura I didn't mean it that way. I—"

"No, you listen!" The brunette's fists tightened, walking towards him. "I have had enough with you hiding your every sad emotion to protect me! Is what happened to you so Japanese that I can't understand? It's death, Seiji, and I want to help! Do you think I'm some weakling? Do you think I can't handle it? Thank you for letting me know that's what you really think of me!"

Seiji suddenly hugged her, wrapping his arms around her waist. She was surprised by this gesture, removing any anger that she had. He nervously fingered her the loose strands of her straight brown hair for a moment. "You don't know how much you mean to me. You and Seto. Having you here is enough."

Laura wrapped her arms around his neck, supporting him tightly. "Where else would I be?"

Notes:

I used to watch Tom and Jerry. If my memory is correct, Seto Kaiba didn't like cartoons. I think it's that episode with Pegasus's bunny obsession. Correct me if I'm wrong on this. I haven't watched the show for years.

Bandit Keith would be 16 at this point, so his dad would probably be middle-aged or in his late thirties.

I figured I should let you know Laura and Seiji's age at this point. They're both around 28.