Valkyria : It's early Friday morning here and I'm still up :p I think I may have a slight case of insomnia….
Griever : I'm sure you don't. it's just probably those strawberry shortcakes you just ate! You were so tired earlier and now you're wide-awake.
Valkyria : Coffee or any kind of energy drink doesn't work for me like it would anyone else. I could drink either one and still go to sleep just as easily. And sugar only gives me a small jump-start. I'm going to crash in about an hour actually. *giggles*
Griever : We're just going to let you read the chapter now….while Valkyria calms down.
Valkyria : *bangs head to music*
Disclaimer : We claim no rights to the anime/manga Yu-gi-oh!
Current Song : Is She The Reason by Destiny's Child.
Chapter Nineteen : Temptations Part One.
The week passed in relative chaos. Yugi had attended his classes regularly and played a slightly crazed game of cat and mouse with Rebecca. He didn't know how she managed to pull off appearing everywhere he did, but it was starting to make him extremely paranoid. He considered more than once to tell Professor Hawkins about how his only grandchild had turned into a crazed stalker, but decided against it at the last minute. He didn't want to ruin the image the elderly man had of her. He would deal with that particular problem soon enough.
To make matters slightly worse, Jou had phoned him the other day to tell him that Honda was staying over his place until things returned to normal between him and Otogi. Yugi refrained from telling Jou that Honda's and Otogi's relationship -much like his own with Atemu- was not normal, not by a very long shot. Thinking about how distressed Honda was made Yugi's heart twist with guilt. It was his and Jou's fault that their friend was in such a predicament in the first place. He had told Jou that he thought it was would be best if the two of them broke up, Yugi knew that if he did this then he would end up marrying Atemu. It was a sacrifice that he was willing to take.
Jou quickly him cut off by saying that Honda was deeply in love with Otogi and was afraid to confess. That little tidbit of information had thrown him for a loop. Apparently, Honda had almost told Otogi about their plan to leave the game designer high and dry, but had stopped short and merely told the raven-haired man that what he had to tell him would, in turn, end up hurting him very badly. Yugi was guilty enough to admit that he was slightly relieved that Honda didn't tell Otogi, but he had a dreadful feeling that the brunet would confess at the dinner the two had planned for Friday night.
And Ryou, wonderful, understanding and sweet, was leaving on Saturday. Bakura had bluntly told him that he had left a psychopath in charge of his division and had to get back soon before the idiot had ruined any potential clients.
"I can't believe you're leaving on Saturday." Yugi spoke up quietly. Instead of Atemu, it had been Ryou had come to pick him up that Thursday afternoon. Ryou told him that Atemu had been held back by meetings and said that he would treat him to dinner tonight as a apology.
"I'm afraid so," Ryou said with a apologetic smile. "Bakura is getting agitated, which is just a mask to show that he's getting worried about leaving Marik in charge."
"Is Marik-san really so unreliable?" he had heard nothing but horrible things about Malik's husband and wondered why Bakura would leave such a man in charge.
"Oh, goodness no," Ryou chuckled and switched lanes before stopping at a red light. "Marik is one of Bakura's trusted partners besides Atemu and Malik. It's just that Marik's temper is something to worry about. It tends to get a little out of control."
"How out of control of are we talking?"
To his surprise, Ryou had flushed a deep red. "Well, we were at a business party about six months ago. And we had several potential clients and had gained about five contracts that night and Bakura was in a very good mood…"
Ryou sighed in bliss as he sank his feet into the pool. It was unusually warm tonight and Ryou wanted to find any comfort he could.
Bakura had decided to have a large party and invite potential clients who were visiting Egypt for a vacation. He was happy to admit that they had gained five contracts within the night. Glancing from the corner of his eye, he spotted Bakura next to the buffet table looking around with a content grin that a cat would usually sport if he caught a mouse.
Comparing a cat to Bakura was amusing enough to cause Ryou spit out some of his ice tea that he had just taken a sip of. Ryou quickly glancing around to see if anyone noticed before grabbing a napkin and wiping his mouth. The last thing he wanted was to make a spectacle of himself and such a good night at that.
"Who the fuck do you think you are!"
Jumping at the sudden loud voice, Ryou turned to see Marik gripping the shirt of blond haired man who had gone extremely pale. He spotted Malik behind the both of them rubbing his temples as if he warning off a headache.
"I-I didn't know he was taken-"
"The fuck you didn't! I know you didn't miss that ring on his damned finger!" Marik roared shaking the man roughly. "Just because you have dick doesn't mean you can stick it where you please!"
"I-I am terribly sorry-"
"Marik. Enough." came Malik's voice that was tinged with irritation.
Marik turned back to the slimmer blond husband with a frown. "So, you think it's okay for anyone to flirt with you? And for me to let them no doubt."
Malik sighed loudly. "I was about to tell him that exact thing before you came barging over like a buffoon!"
Marik smirked darkly. "Then allow me to tell him." Marik turned back to the clearly shaken man. "He. Is. Taken. Understand?"
"U-U-Understood!"
Still smirking, Marik nodded. "Glad that you do." still gripping the man's expensive silk shirt. Marik raised the man up off the ground and tossed him into the pool.
"Marik!"
"What?" to Ryou's surprise, Marik had the gall to look extremely innocent as if he hadn't done anything wrong. "He asked for it."
"I'm not saying that what Marik-san did was wrong per se." Yugi started when Ryou finished telling his short story. "But he did have a right to confront the man about him flirting with Malik. Some people can't take the hint until it's literally shoved in their faces."
"You're agreeing to what he did!"
Yugi gave his friend a sheepish grin. "Yes and No."
"You have been hanging around Atemu and Jou entirely too much." Ryou deadpanned.
"Now I know you're going crazy." Jou spoke from his study desk. "It's Thursday and you're already picking out you're outfit for tomorrow."
"What's wrong with that?" Honda asked, holding up a dark gray suit and a black one. "I want to look nice for Otogi and myself…"
Jou rolled his eyes before giving Honda a flat look. "What are you? Bi-polar or something? Didn't you want to spend time away from Otogi?"
"Well," Honda laughed sheepishly, "I did promise that I would go, so no backing out now-"
"Admit it." Jou cut in impatiently. "You just said yes to get rid of him at the time didn't you?" he had a feeling that there was more to the story than Honda was letting on. When he came back from dinner with Seto that night, he had found Honda sitting on the couch, looking exhausted and slightly angry. Concerned, he had asked what was wrong. Honda merely told him that Otogi had caught up with him and offered him dinner as an apology for the other night.
He should have known better than to believe such a crap story.
"Just believe me when I say nothing else happened besides what I told you."
"I just want to know if he pressed this dinner invitation onto you." Jou huffed. "You're not the type to change your mind so quickly on something."
"Are you calling me stubborn?" Honda asked with a grin.
"Honda." Jou warned sharply. "I'm serious. I know I said that this whole situation was no longer my business, but I'm worried you're going on this date because Otogi bugged you to."
"And if he did?" Honda challenged. "What would you say then?"
Hearing the defensive tone in his best friends voice only confirmed Jou's suspicions. Honda always clammed up when someone -usually him- kept pressing about his problems.
"I would say for you not to go." Jou said cautiously. "It's your decision though."
"That's right." Honda replied with a small smile. "It's my decision. Now, which one? The gray or the black?"
Refraining from commenting any further. Jou raised his hand and pointed to the black suit.
Yugi knew that there was something wrong with Atemu. The businessman had been acting very strangely since he had arrived home from college. He was greeted rather cautiously when he had stepped into the living room. He had shrugged it off at first, merely thinking that the meetings had burnt Atemu out and the older man didn't feel up for a conversation.
He had offered to make dinner that night instead of the both of them going out. Yugi was surprised when Atemu quickly agreed to staying in tonight and had apologized for breaking his promise. Again, Yugi shrugged the behavior off.
It was when dinner time finally arrived that last of Yugi's patience twiddled away.
"Is there something wrong Atemu? You've been quiet and edgy every since I got home."
Atemu looked up from his plate and flashed Yugi a quick smile. "It's nothing little one. I keep getting lost in my thoughts."
"That's not like you." Yugi quickly put in, wanting the conversation to continue. "Is there something you're not telling me?"
When silence followed his question, Yugi felt his heartbeat quicken in fear, immediately, the well-being of his friends came to his mind. Was Jou, Honda and Ryou okay? He had just seen Ryou no less than an hour ago. Nothing could have happen so quickly and the pale-skinned man was always careful when driving. Did Jou have a argument with Seto? He had desperately hoped that they didn't break up like they did last time-
"-little one? Little one!"
The sound of Atemu's voice snapped him out of his panicked thoughts. He moved his gaze to the older man's worried crimson eyes.
"I-I'm sorry." Yugi whispered, running a hand through his hair and making it a mess of it. "I tend to over react when something is wrong about the people I care about."
"You care about me….?"
"What kind of question is that?" Yugi snapped, sending Atemu a withering glare. "Of course I care about you, you big dummy! You've been silent and lost in your thoughts since I got home and you haven't said a word to me-"
His tirade was cut short when Atemu released a bark of laughter. The sudden sound of it made Yugi's heart race. He had heard Atemu let out bitter chuckles, but never one that was as carefree as the one he was hearing now.
"I apologize little one." Atemu spoke up through his laughter. "For worrying you, I'll admit that I did not know how you would react to the news I have for you."
"News? What news?"
Atemu sighed heavily before continuing. "You do remember that magazine article that Bakura brought with him the other day?"
"Vivian's fake pregnancy?" Yugi asked curiously. "I thought you were going to let your PR department take care of that?"
"No, not this time." Atemu said with a grimace. "It would be best if I handled the situation and we did come up with a plan to turn this whole thing around."
"Oh?" Yugi leaned forward and Atemu internally groaned at the anticipation he saw in his little one eyes, he wondered what the reaction was going to be when he said his next words.
"I called Vivian and asked if she would meet at a restaurant so we could discuss this-"
"Wait a second." Yugi cut in sharply. "You're going out on a date with her?"
The curiosity and anticipation in Yugi's eyes faded and were replaced with anger and suddenly Atemu feared for his life and pride.
"Yeah." he squirmed in his seat when Yugi's eyes darkened even further. "I just want to find out if she's really pregnant or not Yugi and going out to dinner and pretending that I'm interested in her is the only way I can think of."
"I can not believe this…" Yugi muttered. "You're a very intelligent man Atemu, I'm sure you can find some other way."
"Not on such short notice." Atemu countered. "I thought you would agree with me doing this-" as soon those words left his mouth, Atemu knew that he added another nail to his coffin.
Yugi raised a eyebrow. "Really? Did you really just say that?"
"Let's just pretend that last statement didn't come out of my mouth." Atemu muttered dryly.
"Agreed. Now, what restaurant are you going to? If you're going to do this then I want every single detail. How do you plan on getting that information, what you're wearing…"
A small amused smile pulled at Atemu lips. "You speak as if we are lovers little one. And what I'm going to be wearing? That's a little excessive isn't it?"
"Of course it isn't." Yugi sniffed disdainfully. "And we are potential lovers. That's close enough."
Ignoring the urge to tease the younger man further, Atemu decided to indulge his little one and answer his questions.
"We're going to Eden, a restaurant on the east side of town, and I'll be wearing a wire under my clothing to get the information."
"Where are you going to get one of those?"
"From the security division that my company has, don't forget that Ishigami Corp dabbles in everything."
" Everything? Does that include strippers too?"
"Yes-wait what?"
Yugi bit his lip to keep the laughter he wanted to let loose in. "Sorry, couldn't resist. Do you think that Vivian is going to fall for this?"
"Contrary to belief, the woman isn't that smart, despite how successful she is."
Yugi shook his head at Atemu's words. "It doesn't really matter about her intelligence Atemu, she has the media and her loyal fans on her side, that's all she needs."
Atemu snorted and shrugged. "We'll see about that. The fans and media tend to abandon you when you want them to listen to you the most. Do you have any other questions about tomorrow night?"
"Just one more thing."
"Yes?"
Yugi gave Atemu a frown. "Be careful okay? And make sure you pay attention to your food. She might've bribed the chef to mash sleeping pills into your drink and food."
Atemu opened his mouth to tease Yugi about that notion being silly, only to snap it closed when he saw how serious Yugi looked.
"I'll keep that in mind little one."
"I'm leaving Jou!"
Jou looked up from the TV to see Honda slipping on his jacket, he had to admit that his friend looked nice sporting black slacks, with a dark gray turtleneck and black blazer.
Friday night had come too quickly for Jou's taste. He had tried one last time to stop his friend from going on the date only to be brushed off and pinned down with a icy glare for his attempts. The only thing he could do was watch his friend go on the dinner date and pray that he didn't come back with a broken heart.
"Have a good time." he grumbled,
"Thanks. I can feel your support, right here." Honda drawled sarcastically, touching his heart. "How come you're staying in tonight? I usually can't get in touch with you on Friday nights."
"Seto is putting the final touches in for the tournament." Jou replied. "And I'm staying in because I want the details of your little outing when you get back."
Honda sent him a amusement smirk and pulled on his shoes. "Don't wait up. I might not be home tonight."
Jou scowled and shuddered before turning back to the television. "Too much information dude, seriously."
"I know," Honda snickered, "That's why I said it. Oh! Record that movie that's coming on later. I want to watch it with you."
"I thought you weren't coming back tonight?"
"For tomorrow." Honda explained, before pulling the door open. "Night Jou."
"Night Honda."
Watching the door slam close, Jou bit his lip in anxiety, he hoped that that tonight was going to go well and that Otogi and Honda made up and not break up.
I'm starting to feel like a mother hen with all this worrying I'm doing about Yugi and Honda. They're big boys and they can take care of themselves.
"Oh, what the hell I'm thinking." Jou muttered out loud, impatiently flicking through the channels. "Of course I'm going to worry about them. That's what family does. It's sucks that I'm the dad of this dysfunctional family, though Anzu and Ryou got nothing on me about being mother hens…"
Later, when this Friday night was finished, Jou would be grateful that he had stayed up and waited for Honda, who would end up needing a friend and a brother more than anything else in the world.
"What's taking that Prima Donna so damn long." Bakura growled. "We got the equipment and everything out in the van and ready to go."
Malik snickered and sat on the bottom stair. "He takes his time getting ready, unlike you, who just tosses a suit on and out the door in less than five minutes."
"I do not-"
"Yes you do." Ryou countered quickly. "You're so troublesome when concerning your image sometimes Bakura. I have to fight you tooth and nail just to get your tie straight."
"I hate those damned things." Bakura said archly. "Feels like I'm being chocked to death."
"You wear them at business meetings." Malik put in. "You look comfortable in them when I see them on you."
"That's because I tie them." Ryou laughed. "Other times, he rushes out and does them himself."
"Thanks you two." Bakura said, voice dripping with sarcasm. "I know now that the both of you think I'm handicapped."
"You're not handicapped." Ryou quickly assured. "You're just not formal as a businessman should be at a times that's all."
"Now you're calling me sloppy."
"I'm -"
"Oh for the love of God." Malik interrupted sharply. "Bakura, you're sloppy and rough around the edges. There, you happy we got that in the open!"
Ryou stomach twisted into knots when Bakura's reddish-brown eyes darkened in anger and knew an argument was about to explode.
"Atemu!" Ryou screeched. "Hurry up damn it!"
"Atemu! Hurry up, damn it!"
Yugi turned at Ryou's cry and frowned. It was not unusual for his friend to get frustrated around Bakura, if the older man was being a smartass about something.
Shrugging, he knocked on the door to Atemu's bedroom. "Atemu? Are you decent? I'm coming in."
Twisting the door open, Yugi walked in the bedroom to see the older man shirtless and looking through open wardrobe for a shirt.
Yugi watched as the muscles in the older man's back shift as he reached forward and grabbed a dark blue silk long-sleeve shirt.
Atemu turned around and jumped back when he saw Yugi in doorway. "Yugi? I didn't hear you knock. Is everything alright?"
It was, until I saw you shirtless. It's nice to know that being a businessman doesn't mean you can be out of shape…
"Yugi?" Atemu called, with a knowing smirk. "Come inside and close the door would you? Wouldn't want Bakura to come up here and get the wrong idea."
Yugi felt his face heat at how husky Atemu voice had become. He slowly stepped in and closed the door behind him.
"A-Are you almost ready?" Yugi asked, wincing at the stutter he let out. "Ryou is getting a bit antsy with Bakura and Malik."
"Don't worry about Ryou. He can handle Bakura pretty good. I've never seen that man so whipped…" Atemu chuckled, he slipped his arms through the silk shirt.
It was then that Yugi noticed the wire attached to the older man's chest, the small microphone was near his collarbone.
"You sure you want to do this?" Yugi asked one last time. "I mean, your PR department can handle this…."
"It's no problem at all Yugi," Atemu replied, carefully tucking the shirt into his black slacks. "I want her out of our lives, and this is the only way to do it."
"And if she is pregnant?" Yugi questioned warily. "What then?"
"She's not." Atemu said firmly. "She's just bluffing to get my attention, and if tonight goes the way I want then I nor you will be dealing with her for much longer. How do I look?"
Atemu had completed his outfit with a black vest with golden buttons over the dark blue silk shirt and a black blazer jacket over both.
Yugi gave the other man a weak smile. "You look very handsome Atemu."
You're such a stubborn man Atemu. I sure hope this plan of yours works, if it doesn't then we're in trouble.
"You came." were Otogi's first words when Honda met him near the restaurant entrance. Honda smiled shyly.
"I did promise did I?"
"That you did." Otogi leered at him. "You're looking delicious tonight by the way."
Honda flushed darkly and sent Otogi a half-hearted glare. "Thank you. You don't look bad yourself."
Not bad at all. Otogi decided on a silk dark scarlet shirt with a simple pair of black slacks much like his own.
Otogi reached over and wrapped his arm around Honda's waists. "Shall we go in? I reserved a private table for us. We have a lot to talk about."
Yeah,we do.
"What's this restaurant called?" Honda asked curiously, looking around. "I don't see the name…"
Otogi gave him a dark smirk that sent a pleasant shiver down his spine. "It's called Eden, were temptations are laid bare…"
Atemu scanned the dark restaurant subtly before spotting Vivian sitting at a two-seater table near the balcony.
One of the most expensive restaurants in the city, Eden was a two-floor restaurant that only the most of elite actors and businessman ate and conducted deals. Tables were wide spread to provide privacy and the lights were always kept low enough to provide a intimate atmosphere. The waiters were dressed immaculate and only gave the best service. The food, wine and anything you asked for on the menu was the best on the market.
This five-star restaurant was the last place he wanted to be with a viper like Vivian Wong.
"Atemu," Vivian purred softly, once he was close enough. "It's so good to see you."
Vivian was provocatively dressed in a tight black lace dress that had her breast pouring out and showed what little curves she had. Her hair was flowing down her black and curled.
"Vivian." Atemu greeted flatly, smoothly sliding into the chair. "Before we start on the pleasantries. I believe we have some business to discuss."
Vivian's red lips spread into a sly smile. "Indeed we do Atemu-darling, Indeed we do…"
A/N : So the fated dinner dates begin! As you saw, this is a two-part chapter. And at the same restaurant no doubt! Ohhhh, It's on now! *yawn* I came down from my short sugar rush and I'm dead tired. The good news is that I will updating the next part early next week. So you can't count on the update Wednesday or early Thursday. See you guys soon!