Valkyria : Not as long chapter as I wanted to be, and I'm sorry for that my readers, but there are surprises in here that I'm sure some of you will enjoy.
Griever : We got news people. Caged is coming to an end soon! And for the first time we passed over the four-hundred review mark and we are super proud of that. We are glad that you guys enjoyed this story.
Valkyria : It is 3 a.m and we are still up! I promise a nice juicy chapter next time eh?
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Current Song : Michiyuki by Kaori Hikita
Chapter Twenty-Seven : In-laws and Moving On.
Throughout the day Yugi found Rehema to be a very pleasant, yet manipulative woman. She did not bother to hide her pleasure at Atemu finding someone who had 'good head on his shoulders' as she put it mildly. Yugi wasn't surprised in the least when she constantly asked questions about his favorite pastimes, goals in life, and previous lovers.
He pretended not to notice Atemu lingering, and giving his mother disapproving glances at her prodding. He didn't mind it really, it just showed how much she cared for her son. Yugi knew that Rehema was most likely aware of Atemu's past behavior after Mana's death and strived to make sure that he was the perfect candidate to be Atemu's lover.
"Archeology?" Rehema set her cup of tea down, and leaned closer to him. "That's a very interesting major to be picking up. Taking after your grandfather are you not?"
"Yes ma'am." Yugi discreetly poked Atemu in the side when he heard the older man sigh quietly in part exhaustion, and part frustration.
After introductions had been taken care of. Rehema had insisted that the all three of them go out into the city for a day of shopping, sightseeing, and eating. Yugi watched in wonder as Rehema wolfed down various desserts along the way. He wondered where such a slender woman put it all. He knew now where Atemu had gotten his high metabolism from.
"Mother," Atemu reached over and grabbed the strawberry sitting on top of her cake with his hands and plopped in his mouth. "You said that you had a deal to carry out with a sake company. When is this going to take place?"
Rehema gave her son a sly smile. "Eager to get rid of me, darling? The deal doesn't take place for another two days. I'll be out of your hair by then."
Yugi muffled his laughter behind his hand when he saw the relief quickly flash across Atemu's eyes. He didn't see the problem with Rehema really. To him, she was really a caring person.
"Now, when are the two of you going to get married?"
Yugi had to forcefully swallow the piece of cake that he had just put in his mouth at the woman's blunt question. He glanced at Atemu at the corner of his eye, and much to his horror, saw that the businessman had a teasing gleam in his eye.
He took a quick moment to say good-bye to the peaceful day that he had so far.
Atemu reached over and laid his hand on top of Yugi's, and sent his mother a small smile. "You've ruined the surprise mother, I was going to propose to him in a couple of months."
Liar! Yugi thought maliciously.
Both of Rehema's eyebrows shot up at the statement. "Oh, were you?" she turned to Yugi. "Did you have any idea about this, sweetheart?"
"No ma'am." Yugi responded through clenched teeth. "I hadn't the slightest clue that he was going to propose to me."
"But Yugi," Atemu protested lightly, moving his hand away to wrap his arm around Yugi's shoulders. "You must've had some kind of clue that I was going to propose to you."
Before Yugi could come up with harsh reply, Rehema bell-like laughter came from across the small table. Both he and Atemu stared at the woman with surprise. Rehema grinned at the both of them, and shook her head.
"Really boys, I've been a businesswoman for more than twenty years, don't you think I can spot a lie from a mile away?"
Yugi's shoulders deflated with relief. He felt Atemu's arm tightened around him. He glanced up to see the older man glaring half-heartedly at his mother.
"I do plan to marry one day, mother."
Rehema gave her son a tolerant smile. "Do you now? I sincerely hope that it is Yugi that you will take to the altar, and not some mean-spirited woman."
"That will be his decision in the end, mother."
The remainder of the day passed in a blur of activity. Yugi didn't miss the tension between Atemu and Rehema, but did nothing to ease it. It would be up to them to reconcile with each other. It wasn't until they arrived home and settled in that Rehema had pulled him to the patio outside to talk.
"I wanted to ask a few more things before we turn in for the night."
Yugi slid into the wooden chair, and nodded his head. "Okay, what do you need to know?"
"How do you truly feel for, Atemu?"
"I.." Yugi cleared his throat, and started over. "I am falling for him. It isn't exactly the love that he wants, but we are getting there."
Rehema gave him a small smile for his honest response. "He has told you about the loss of his wife, Mana, and their child correct?"
"Yes, I am aware of it."
"His short-term alcoholism?" Rehema pressed. "He has told you about this as well?"
"Yes." Yugi lied, it wasn't Atemu, but Ryou who had told him about Atemu's dangerous habits, but Rehema need not know about that.
"And yet, you are still falling in love with him? Despite him being married, and taken on a dangerous lifestyle for a short time?"
"No one is perfect," Yugi said, slightly put-off that Atemu's mother was spouting off her own sons hard times. "Atemu has changed, he's kind-hearted and generous. He didn't have to do what he did for my grandfather."
"No," Rehema agreed, reaching into her jacket pocket and pulling out a slip of paper. "He didn't." she silently handed the paper over to him.
Yugi cautiously took the paper, and unfolded it. His eyes quickly scanned the contents and a sharp gasp escaped his mouth before he could stop it. He glanced up at Rehema to find that she was calmly staring at him.
"This…" Yugi swallowed. "This is my grandfathers deed to the game shop. Where did you get this?"
"Atemu isn't the only one carrying around copies of contracts or deeds. This is the reason you are staying with my son in the first place, correct?"
"W-Well, yes." Yugi spluttered, holding the deed in his shaking hands. "But things have changed-"
"Have they?" Rehema challenged softly. "You have not forgotten your grandfather have you? His game shop?"
"No," Yugi hissed, refraining to lash out at the woman sitting beside him. "How dare you even say that I have forgotten about him."
"You said that your goal was to obtain a degree in archeology," Rehema stated. "Not once did you mention about re-opening your grandfathers game shop. I find it somewhat disappointing when someone loses sight of their original goals."
"I…" Yugi sucked in several short breaths. "I have not forgotten about him or the game shop. It will remain in my family-"
"How will something remain in your family, if your surname becomes Ishigami? Have you discussed with Atemu what you're going to do about your small business?" she sent him a poisonous smirk. "Or are you too busy being seduced?"
Yugi stared at the woman before him in horror. What happened to the sweet woman that he had been introduced to in the earlier morning hours? This woman standing before him was nothing but poisonous and manipulative.
He wanted nothing to do with her.
"This discussion ends now," Yugi rose from he chair to escape Rehema's tirade, but he was stopped he felt he felt an hand wrap around his wrist. He turned to find Rehema staring at him with apologetic eyes. Yugi would have laughed at the sight if he wasn't so upset about it.
"Here," he felt the paper pressed into his hand. "Take it."
"I'm not leaving Atemu for this in exchange." Yugi tightened his grip on the paper. "I don't take bribes-"
"This is not a bribe." Rehema's crimson eyes darkened a shade. "It is a way out, my son-"
"Your son can handle himself." Yugi hissed. "Now, if you will excuse me, I am going to turn in for the night. Have a pleasant night Ishigami-san."
As Yugi walked back in through the glass double door, Rehema's voice stopped him in his tracks.
"I see you didn't give me back the deed, Yugi. Do not misunderstand me, I love my son, and you would have been a spectacular match for him, but I will not risk him having another broken heart. You say you are falling in love with him, correct?"
"Yes,"
"That is not enough for him, nor is it enough for me, he is thinking of settling down, but you have not reached his level of love that he has for you. How would you think your marriage would have turned out if you only loved him with a half-heart, Yugi?"
"It would be disastrous," Yugi responded, he turned, and gave Rehema a small sad smile. "But, Ishigami-san. I have no intention of marrying Atemu. He and I still have the agreement to get through." he waved the deed in the air. "The game shop is back in my hands, but I don't want it this way." he flashed a dark smirk and dropped the paper on the floor. "Atemu has an authentic copy right? Then I'll take that one instead of yours. If you don't mind, of course?"
He didn't wait for the woman's response, he walked inside and made his way upstairs. The nerve of that woman! Even though her heart was in the right place, Yugi wanted he and Atemu to fall in love the right way. He would settle for nothing more, nothing less.
He arrived at his temporary bedroom, and opened the door. He spotted Atemu at the window staring out of it. The man was dressed in a simple white shirt, and black pajama bottoms.
"Atemu?" he called out gently, walking forward, and plopping down on the bed. "What's the matter? You looked kind of dazed."
"You know the patio is right under my bedroom window, don't you?"
Yugi froze on the bed, and slowly turned towards the older man. He winced when he saw the anger in Atemu's eyes.
"So, you…"
"Overheard everything." Atemu finished, he harshly pulled the curtains closed before striding towards the bed. "She's gone tomorrow morning."
"Don't." Yugi sighed heavily, and readily ignored the bewildered look that Atemu was giving him. "She does care about you, Atemu. She was only trying to do what was best for you."
"What was best for me?" Atemu repeated mockingly. "I think I'm old enough to know what's good enough for me."
"Then act like it," Yugi teased, not in the least bothered when the older man sent him a glare for his remark. "Make her understand that we want this relationship to work and last."
Atemu grabbed the dark blue robe from the bed, and made his way downstairs. It was time to make his mother understand that Yugi was the right one for him.
Regardless of what she thought.
Jounouchi stared at the sapphire ring sitting in the black velvet box apprehensively. He slowly moved his gaze up to meet his lovers who was wearing a content look.
He and Seto had gone out to dinner, and taken a stroll in the park before coming back to Seto's home. They had settled down in front of the television to watch a movie when Seto had pulled an all too familiar box out of his trouser pocket.
At seeing it, Jou broke into a nervous sweat. Seto had asked him to marry him more than a year ago shortly after they had began dating. Jou, of course, had turned him down with the excuse that it was too early to even be considering marriage in the first place. Seto had apologized, and put the ring away. He knew that the older man was hurt by his rejection, but his pride would not allow him to show it. Jou didn't think that the man would try again so soon.
"Seto," Jou started softly. "We talked about this, remember?"
"I remember." Seto murmured, pressing the box into Jou's hands. "I waited, just like you wanted me to, but I'm tired of waiting Katsuya."
Jou bravely ignored the blush that invaded his cheeks. "We have all the time in the world to get married. Why are you so dead set for it to happen now?"
Jou watched, amazed, as Seto nervously shifted on the couch before replying. "I don't want to waste anymore time."
"Being boyfriends?" Jou supplied.
"I prefer the term lover, but yes, I want us to be partners, in every sense of the word. So, I'll ask you again, Jounouchi Katsuya, will you marry me?"
Jou fumbled with box a little, and let a wide smile pull at his lips. "Yes, yes I will marry you, Seto Kaiba."
Seto took the ring out of the box, and slid it onto Jou's ring finger before pulling him into passionate kiss that made the blonds' toes curl.
They pulled away for air, and Seto laid his forehead against Jou's and smiled. The blond would always remember the pure love he saw in his lovers eyes.
"I love you, Katsuya."
"I love you too, Seto."
Hiroto Honda slapped himself just to make sure he was fully awake. He stared down at his phone in absolute shock. There, in blaringly plain text were the words : Engaged, want to be best man?
A snort escaped Honda's throat before a burst of joyous laughter was released. His slowly progressing relationship with Otogi had once again taken a back seat. He would never imagined one simple text from a friend could brighten his entire day.
Climbing out of bed, Honda quickly showered and dressed. He grabbed a bottle of orange juice and a slice of toast before leaving his apartment.
He climbed down the stairs two at time, and ran to his car. He wouldn't reply to Jou's text, he wanted to talk to his friend face to face.
Honda slowed to a stop when he spotted Otogi of all people leaning against his car. He stopped a few feet away and gave the older man a cautious stare.
"…I thought we agreed to only call and text each other, Otogi. What are you doing here?"
"I wanted to see you." Otogi replied, he pushed his body off the car and approached the brunet. "I wanted to tell you something."
Honda took a step back as Otogi came closer. He knew that if he even felt the man's body heat he would instantly melt in Otogi's arms. It would be best if he stay away.
"What was so important that you couldn't tell me over the phone-"
"I'm leaving."
Honda blinked slowly. "Leaving? Leaving where?"
"To America." Otogi let out a bitter chuckle. "It seems that Pegasus. J Crawford has taken an interest in my Dungeon Dice Monsters game, and he wants it on American shelves."
"Oh," Honda nervously played with his car keys. "I see …"
"Atemu called me about it earlier. He says that it's a good idea, and we do have an American branch of Ishigami Corp so I could settle down there for the time being."
Otogi took another step forward, and Honda took another step back.
"Don't do that." Otogi whispered painfully. "Don't back away from me as if I'm some monster."
"I'm sorry," Honda turned his eyes from the other man. "It's just that you-"
"I hurt you," Otogi spoke clearly. "I know that, and I will spend the rest of my life making up for it, but I want to ask you something."
"What is it?"
"I-I know this is a long shot, but." Otogi gave the brunet a weak grin. "Will you come to America with me?"
"You're joking right?"
"No, I'm not joking at all." Otogi took another step forward, and Honda didn't budge from his spot. "You said that you wanted to take this relationship slow, but it won't go anywhere if I leave. Long-distance relationship never truly work in the end."
"They can work if the people involve try their damn hardest."
"Ah," Otogi grinned. "We are already trying our damn hardest to make this work. So, let's try even harder. Will you come to America with me?"
Honda quickly ran through the pro and cons of doing this. If he went with Otogi then there was a chance he could improve his relationship with the older man, but he would be dropping out of college and leaving his family and friends behind. Was it really the worth the risk of going to foreign land and chasing after a relationship that was already on thin ice?
Honda hesitated for a moment, before opening his mouth and telling Otogi his answer.
A/N : Oh so close! What was Honda's answer? Seto and Jou are getting married! And how will Atemu's and Yugi's relationship progress from where it is? Stay tuned to find out!
Next Update : July 15th