Disclaimer: I don't own Yugioh, Rurouni Kenshin, Yu-Yu Hakusho, Hikaru no Go.
Warning: This chapter contains violence and rape themes. If you are not able to stomach either or are not old enough to do so please READ NO FURTHER! As was made clear in the earlier chapters Aoshi has a happy ending so there is no need for you to continue reading.
To be the Strongest
Chapter 6: Anger… Fear… Aggression…the dark side are they!" – Master Yoda to Luke (Empire Strikes Back)
Seto and Aoshi returned to the Go board to find that Kurama and Hiei had been joined by Kenshin and Sano. They had both apparently helped themselves to the household supply of foreign alcohol. Each had an American beer in their hand and as Aoshi and Seto took their seats they realized they had brought with them an entire tray of mixed hors'd oeuvres.
"We know you're telling stories!" Sano called outwardly he was as easy going as always but Aoshi could tell that if they were here it was because they were worried about the effect those old stories might have on him.
"So we came to listen in! If you don't mind…" Kenshin added politely. Aoshi just nodded slightly he looked at Seto and the boy just shrugged.
"Very well," Aoshi said simply. He examined the board and made his move.
"Your game has improved, that it has!" Kenshin exclaimed cheerfully as he noted how the gap in points had closed between Seto and Aoshi. Sano laughed…
"Yeah! Maybe Sensei won't kick your butt after all!" he laughed heartily and took a long drink from his beer before setting it down on the floor next to his chair and popping a little cheese cracker into his mouth. Aoshi just rolled his eyes. Seto shook his head despite the difference in age Sano and Kenshin were starting to remind him of Katsuya and Yugi. But just as the image was forming in his mind the look on both men's faces suddenly became deeply intense.
"Aoshi I hope you know what you're doing…" Sano began seriously. Aoshi's gaze remained even and implacable. He looked his friend straight in the eye.
"I do…" he replied simply. Kenshin gave him a sad little smile. Seto waited looking from one man to the next; each man watching Aoshi carefully with an intense gaze. The suspense was killing him! He wanted badly to know how Aoshi survived that mess but for once he was at a loss as to how to get what he wanted. In the past if he wanted information he would simply pay, bully, threaten or all of the above in order to get it. In Aoshi's case though it would push the man away and put him on a defensive. He didn't want that because he had already decided that Aoshi and his friends were allies worth having. He was literally at the edge of his seat!
"Then please continue…" Kenshin said softly. Aoshi nodded took a deep breath and continued.
"I can't remember many details. I think at some point I blocked it all out of my mind. I remember hearing my father's voice but I learned later that they were demanding ransom from father and they had placed a cell phone on my ear to prove to him that I was still alive," he explained slowly "at some point they decided I was too injured and weak to move so they cut the ropes…"
Slowly the pain and horror of the last few minutes receded. Aoshi tried to lift his head but the room swam and he put his head back down against the concrete floor. His eyes opened again as he heard a whimper that sounds like Kenshin. He turned to see Kenshin laying face down on the concrete floor but his eyes were closed and he was in the same disheveled state that Aoshi was. He slowly turned to look for Sano and saw him crumpled in a corner and his attackers were advancing on Sano now.
"No…" he croaked but it came out as nothing more than a hoarse whisper. Despite how injured he was Sano was still fighting. They removed the gag on Aoshi's friend and he yelled every nasty curse and threat at them that he could think of. Aoshi closed his eyes and he sobbed quietly cursing the betrayal his body had been forced to by whatever they put in him and his inability to overcome them. As they grabbed Sano he saw something glinting on the floor.
Welcome Battousai…
He heard the words in his head floating to him from some far away ancient place in his mind slowly filling his body with a strange new power. It was the hunting knife they'd just used to release him. The fools had decided that he was not a threat and had carelessly left it near him. He reached out and his hand wrapped around the hilt…
I've thrown away everything for this fight…
Something inside of him snapped! A cold deadly force suddenly extinguished all the pain and sorrow. His mind cleared and any reservations he might have had about taking a life vanished. Without realizing it he was on his feet and as the knife slid into the first person's kidney everything he had been until then finally vanished.
Somebody screamed but he paid no attention. His body seemed to move on its own accord as if he was possessed. Seconds seemed like an eternity everything around him seemed to move in slow motion. The knife slid easily in and out of bodies as one after the other of his attackers fell. Finally after the last fell he moved towards Sano and cut off the rest of his bindings without a word. The two of them moved towards Kenshin and fixed his clothes as best they could. He remained unconscious as Sano hoisted him up and Kenshin hung limp on his shoulder. Sano gave Aoshi a hard look.
"Ok…Lead the way Aoshi!" he said. Aoshi just nodded. His face was completely devoid of expression and his eyes held no emotion…
"I think that was the only other time I was afraid of Aoshi," Sano interrupted "that cold look on his face was scary…I kept thinking: 'my friend is dead'…" Seto was shocked quiet. Gone was the carefree smartass of just a few minutes ago. Glowing in his eyes was anger so deep it surprised Seto and it further served to differentiate him from the twerps. Never again would he ever compare this man to Katsuya! Kenshin reached out a hand and squeezed Sano's shoulder.
"It's over Sano," he said softly and seriously. Aoshi nodded his agreement and the anger in Sano's eyes receded. His respect for the man grew and he resolved to re-evaluate his opinion of the cheerleader. If her brother could be this intense she couldn't be all ditz! There was probably more to her just like there was more to Sano…
"But we didn't get very far. Despite my second wind I was overwhelmed by their sheer numbers…" Aoshi explained. "Kenshin had suffered a concussion on the trip to the warehouse because when they threw us in the van they threw Kenshin too hard and he hit the deck hard with his head,"
"In a way I was fortunate. I can't recall anything that happened to me but at the same time I was frustrated that I couldn't do anything to help my friends," Kenshin added sadly. It was a frustration that had filled him guilt and sadness for years.
"Wait…You said: the only other time…" Seto quoted Sano's earlier statement. Aoshi winced and sighed…
"The second time was when I fought Sensei and it's not a moment I'm particularly proud of…but we're getting too far ahead of ourselves, I'll get to it in time…" Aoshi explained. Seto nodded he could be patient when necessary and now it was very necessary.
Aoshi led Sano out of the small room into a short sparsely lit hallway with one small window at each end. He made short work of the poor excuse for guards that had come running in at the call of their comrades. The right side of the hall had three more doors and as they examined them they realized that all of them led to rooms similar to the one they'd just been in.
The windows provided little hope as they were too small for any of them to fit and they were too high up anyway for it to be safe for them to escape through especially with an unconscious Kenshin. There was a large set of double doors made of wood instead of metal like the smaller rooms. They could hear the loud unintelligible music coming from this room.
"Sano when we go in find an opening. I'll distract them and you get Kenshin to a doctor," he ordered in a cold tone completely devoid of emotion. It was the first Sano would hear the tone and he knew he would hate it for the rest of his life.
"Aoshi…" he tried to protest but Aoshi turned to him with that cold dead look in his eyes and all words fled him. He nodded and he readied himself slinking into a shadow near the door. Aoshi burst through the double doors and at first the partying gang didn't take any notice of him. The room was just a large square space with four support pillars near each corner and windows along to the right and in front of Aoshi. There was another set of large double doors on the far left side of the room and Aoshi was certain that was where the street exit would be.
A huge man with a strange pointy head wearing green spandex biker shorts and a matching shirt sitting on a throne-like chair in the middle of the room saw him. Seeing the bloody knife in Aoshi's hand he realized immediately that the ones who were supposed to have been watching them had been defeated. Not wanting to let his "goose of the golden eggs" get away he ordered the others to re-capture him.
Again Aoshi was thrown into a melee battle with only a knife and this strange new strength to defend him self. From the corner of his eye he saw Sano slither away dragging the unconscious Kenshin but he only made it to the middle of the room before he was stopped. Aoshi fought hard against the tide trying to get to his besieged friends but it was no use there were just too many…
Victoria raced through the streets of Kyoto knowing that with every second that passed the danger in which the boys were in grew exponentially. Anko, Shuura's friend had indeed been very helpful and after roughing up a few minor gangs they were able to determine the Radioactive Butterflies' current location. There was a rave in progress at an abandoned warehouse near the docks.
The information they received was that they should be able to find that gang in one of the levels of the warehouse. Victoria jumped out of the jeep followed by all the others. She instructed them to keep their cool and follow her lead. They nodded and followed as she put on her pale yellow wide collar trench coat. She approached the two bouncers at the door casually.
"It's their first time," she explained coolly producing two fifty dollar bills from the back pocket of her white stretch jeans. Everyone did their best to look as innocent as possible but it was unnecessary. The guards greedily took the American cash inspected the bills for a second and with a bow let them all through not giving them a second glance.
They made their way quickly but discreetly through the throng of intoxicated party-goers and headed up a large switchback staircase on the left side of the main entrance. They hurried up the stairs. Victoria didn't pause to investigate the second floor and when Shuura questioned her she merely shook her head saying they would not be there. For some reason she seemed certain they would be in the top level.
The woman's face had changed the instant they had walked into the warehouse. She seemed driven by some hidden call with a far-off look guiding her steps in an eerie precognitive way that recognized and removed obstacles before they became a problem. They reached the top and there was a large set of doors and one more set of stairs that very likely led to the ceiling. With eerie calm she announced that they were inside. She turned to them and her face had changed once more. A hard deadly look was in her eyes…
"Stay behind me! When I give the signal move in and get the boys!" she ordered. She turned and stalked purposefully to the wooden doors…
Aoshi saw his end nearing and didn't care. He had made it to his friends but had no more strength left with which to defend them. He and Sano had put up a valiant fight but they were too tired and too hurt to continue. The large man with the pointy head was identified as Senkaku and now he made his way implacably towards him. He ordered his fighters to stop and the room was suddenly very quiet as the DJ was ordered to cut the music. Sano crumpled to the ground in sheer exhaustion but Aoshi managed to stay on his feet. Senkaku grabbed Aoshi by the neck squeezing slightly.
"You're a lot more trouble than your worth! I may have to double the price for you!" he intoned angrily. Aoshi just stared blankly at him. He no longer cared because no matter how hard he tried; he always failed. The shame he felt went so deep he knew he could never live with him self now. For a moment he thought of his father and Misao and he regretted that he had failed them so badly but he knew they would be okay without him. Unlike him they were strong…
"Sano I'm sorry…" he said softly. He regretted the most that his friends should have to die along with him.
"Shut up! We're not dead yet! Don't give up!" Sano hissed furiously. Senkaku laughed mockingly but just as he was about to reply to Sano's remark the door exploded inward. Senkaku released him and turned away to see what was happening. Aoshi finally crumpled to the ground with Sano and Kenshin who was drifting in and out of consciousness. Sano and Aoshi pulled Kenshin towards the back wall of the room.
They did double takes! Victoria stood at the entrance framed by the ruined door. She seemed to be illuminated by an aura of great power. It made Aoshi think of the powerful amazons of mythology or perhaps a mighty Greek goddess. Just behind her stood Hiei, Kurama, Yusuke, Kazuma and Shuura and they all looked ready to rumble!
"The cavalry's here," Sano said softly smirking triumphantly. Aoshi watched in astonished silence. She walked into the room without saying a word Senkaku's thugs looked at each other not knowing what to make of her at first. Some even recognized her from her own catalogue. She didn't even flinch when Senkaku ordered his thugs to kill her. She stopped in the center of the room. They flew at her with every manner of weapon intent to take her down quickly but Victoria surprised them all. There were no wasted motions or flashy martial arts moves but anyone who came at her went down and stayed down.
Knives flew in the direction of her head only to be easily captured by her and thrown back to be impaled precisely on their owners' heads. She walked a straight and steady path through the room silent and unstoppable hardly taking her eyes off her intended and increasingly nervous target: Senkaku. Desperately they fought to stop her but it was no use; even the ones who had guns failed to take her down. Those were taken out by tiny little daggers she produced from within her trench coat and fired accurately into their throats or foreheads.
Aoshi watched in awe as her coat flared dramatically around her when she swiveled to counter a new attacker. The guys picked off the stragglers but there really weren't that many. He noted with mild satisfaction that Senkaku was shivering. He yelled desperately for his people to turn the heat up but by now they all realized the terrible danger they were in and they were in a panic fighting merely in the hopes of preserving their lives. One of them frightened retreated and grabbed Sano off the floor trying to use him as a shield. She stopped…
"Release him," she ordered calmly. The man grabbed on tight to Sano and pointed a shaky gun at Victoria. Another dagger shot from Victoria's hand and Sano's would be hostage taker crumpled to the ground dead. She turned her attention to Senkaku and in the blink of an eye she closed the distance between them. He tried to take a step back but tripped over the dead body of one of his people. He raised his arms in a futile attempt to shield him self.
"D-d-d-don't hurt me," he whimpered. Victoria stopped and she rolled her eyes in annoyance.
"Why do they always say that! Why must they always utter the same cliché line!" she complained to no one in particular closing her eyes for a moment and shaking her head. She stepped on his knee and pressed down until Aoshi could hear the bones breaking under her foot. Senkaku howled in pain…
"What the hell do you think I came here to do! Give you a massage! Moron!" she retorted sarcastically. She smiled wickedly then and picked him up by his neck and held him above her head.
"You know…I've always wanted to try this!" she said with wicked glee as she squeezed his throat and again all the kids could hear the bones crunching under her impossible strength. He struggled briefly but then went completely limp as his completely crushed wind pipe killed him. She threw him against one of the support pillars and his body crumpled to the ground. She had completely dismissed his existence way before he hit the ground. She pulled out her cell phone and speed dialed Hannya to tell him to meet them at Domino Memorial Hospital.
"Stay still and don't talk. Conserve your strength I'll take it from here," she said soothingly quickly moving in to assess their injuries. She ordered Yusuke and Kazuma to check the rest of this level for any more gang members. A few minutes later pandemonium gripped the lower levels of the warehouse. The police had arrived and people were trying to run away from the place. She ordered Shuura and Hiei to run down and direct the police to this level.
Kurama however was unresponsive. As soon as Victoria had cleared the way he ran past Senkaku to the wall where Aoshi, Sano and his twin Kenshin were huddled. He had fallen to his twin's side and cried inconsolably. He wiped desperately at the blood running down his face from the "X" one of his attackers had carved on his face. He removed the soaked makeshift bandage Sano and Aoshi had placed on him and tore off the sleeve of his shirt to replace it. Holding him tight he begged his twin to wake up.
"Kurama! Calm down! You can't help him that way!" she ordered him shaking him gently to get his attention. She took a quick look at Kenshin and then explained to his distraught twin that he had a mild concussion and would be alright. As if by some miraculous twin power Kenshin opened his eyes then and smiled at his brother. Kurama stopped crying.
He remained semi-conscious until several ambulances arrived to take all three boys to the hospital. Sano's dad hit the scene along with the first officers and paled at the sight of his battered son. Victoria assured him that the boy would be alright as they loaded Sano onto an ambulance. Detective Mazaki went along with him instructing his partner to carry on without him. Victoria climbed on the ambulance with Kenshin, Kurama and Aoshi.
Aoshi stopped he couldn't remember anything that happened at the hospital. He looked up as a loud roar came from the other side of the ball room. Mai had summoned her Harpy's Pet Dragon in a duel against Jou. Aoshi blinked in surprise!
"Remarkable technology…" he observed. He smiled as he saw Mokuba and Misao headed their way again. They smiled and the two hurried towards Seto and Aoshi. Seto smirked proudly for a moment but his mind turned back to Aoshi's story. Amazement and extreme curiosity battled for supremacy in his mind. It was amazing to think that Aoshi in his battered and abused state had been able to kill and injure several vicious and seasoned gangsters who were at full strength.
"Thank you…" he replied a little absently. Even more astonishing was the thought that an ex-super model who sold lingerie had been able to kill or mortally wound over thirty of the most vicious gangsters in Domino by herself! It was intriguing to say the least!
"It's hard to imagine…" he thought out loud as he tried to concentrate on the board again. Aoshi and the other men exchanged amused glances. It was Vicky-sensei's greatest skill: to be totally underestimated!
"Yeah! No one can tell she's a bad ass tough chick until it's too late!" Sano enthused draining the last of his beer. He scanned the room for one of the maids…
"Especially since she's one the girliest-looking women you'll ever meet!" Kurama added and they all laughed.
"Whoa! Now there's something you don't see every day! A bunch broodies laughing!" Mokuba piped up as he walked up to sit on the armrest of his brother's chair. Misao laughed as she did the same on Aoshi's chair but put an arm around his back. He put his arm around her waist.
"And without our help!" she added cheerfully. Mokuba nodded in amused agreement as Seto and Aoshi rolled their eyes.
"So what are you guys up to!" Mokuba asked full of innocent curiosity. Misao smiled at him.
"Telling stories…" Sano answered shoving a little triangle shaped tuna sandwich in his mouth.
"…And discussing Vicky-sensei's deceptive girlie-ness!" Kenshin added cheerfully they all laughed again as Kaoru joined him at his chair imitating Misao. He turned to gratefully accept the fresh beer the maid brought for him and Sano. Kaoru seized it from him and took a quick drink before handing it back. Kurama and Hiei asked her for one too as the woman quietly disappeared again. Sano took a quick drink of his cold beer then spoke again…
"Well let's see if I had to describe Vicky-sensei in one word it would have to be…"
"Earthquake…" Misao interrupted suddenly with an unusually serious look on her face that seems to surprise even Aoshi.
"I hadn't thought of it that way but you're right," he agreed. She smiled again and leaned in closer to her fiancée who responded by tightening his hold on her a little more.
"There was this one time back when I was still on my rehabilitation in the US…It's funny but I'd completely forgotten about it…" she began a bit uncertainly. Aoshi asked her to elaborate pulling her into a protective embrace on his lap. Everyone gathered around to listen…
"Well she took me to the doctor that day. We went by ourselves, we always did except for the driver…" she began……
At the request of her grandfather Victoria had taken little Misao to the USA where the best pediatric surgeons and medical practioners could heal her. She made it a point to accompany the girl to all her doctor's appointments and therapy sessions. Because of her popularity in the USA however she usually took back ways and employee entrances and exits to avoid the merry band of fans that usually materialized every now and then in the places she frequented. Such was the case that day after Misao's regular therapy session.
"Where would you like to go to lunch today?" Victoria asked softly and sweetly as she wheeled Misao out to the alley where her limo was parked. Misao smiled up at her in happy anticipation of the special treat she was sure to get. Victoria always made sure to treat her after her therapy sessions. It made the sessions almost enjoyable!
The steep small ramp seemed to pose little trouble for Victoria as she steered the wheel chair towards the car where the driver had already popped the trunk and opened the back passenger door. There was a man in a green army jacket in the alley staring with crazed hungry eyes at Victoria. Victoria merely glanced at him smiled then ignored him waving casually to her driver.
"Victoria!" the man called out to her moving quickly out of the corner he'd been sulking in. She turned and smiled.
"I know you were told not to come around me anymore. You make my drivers nervous…" she replied softly in a sweet and patient tone. The man just stared in a crazed way that frightened Misao. Victoria moved slightly to block her from his view. Her driver stepped towards her in an attempt to protect Victoria but she held up one hand to stop him.
"I don't care!" he yelled and lunged at her. It was over almost before it started. One second he was barreling towards her the next he was a bloody unconscious mess on the ground. She turned to Misao calmly and again spoke in her soft motherly tone.
"How about we go to the "Rain Forest Café" today! I think you're going to like it very much," she suggested sweetly smiling patiently at the little girl. Little Misao dismissed the almost scary incident and agreed as Victoria lifted her off the chair and put her in the limousine…
"It was the weirdest thing…There was not a hair out of place…not a smudge on her white suit…She wasn't even out of breath!" Misao remarked calmly. Aoshi nodded as did the rest of his friends. A low whistle of amazement came from Honda. The duel between Mai and Jou had ended soon and seeing that several people had gathered in the little broody corner everyone congregated their and listened to Misao's account.
"Yep! That's Vicky-sensei!" exclaimed Sano chuckling slightly. Seto's eyes widened just a little more…
"I remember when I first went to California I was very afraid of earthquakes! California is famous for them you know!" she explained "I recall learning somewhere that they were the scariest attacks mother nature can throw at you!" she paused and smiled as Aoshi pulled her close. Aoshi continued…
"…Because they can come at you at any time in any place; on a sunny morning or cloudy afternoon on a mountain or a dessert it doesn't matter. A storm you can see coming from the clouds in the horizon, a volcano you can see the smoke rising from it, a tsunami you can see the wave building and you know where and when it will hit but an earthquake gives no warning and it only needs a few seconds to destroy even the mightiest of buildings with the strongest foundations," he elaborated.
"It's the unpredictability of it that makes it scary, that it does," Kenshin added seriously to several murmurs of agreement. Aoshi chuckled to everyone's surprise.
"In all the years I've known her I still could never tell you for sure what would really make her mad! She's too unpredictable!" he said. Sano laughed and recounted the time she had torn to shreds a manga she was reading because the ending wasn't to her liking. A minute later she was dancing in the kitchen making pies! Misao laughed and nodded.
"Yep! That's Vicky-sensei!" she exclaimed cheerfully "but you know something I was never afraid of earthquakes after that…"
"An earthquake eh? Well I suppose I've been compared to worst things…" a familiar voice behind Aoshi spoke in a very familiar melodious foreign accent! Every man sitting (with the exception of Seto) jumped to their feet. Seto blinked in surprise at the speed at which Aoshi stood put Misao down gently and turned to where his mentor was standing. She smiled amused as the men bowed respectfully.
"Hello my apprentices!" she greeted cheerfully and scanned the chairs in the area. Selecting Hiei's she sat with all the elegance and poise of a queen smiling at her "court". She crossed her legs and laid her hands on her knee in a very feminine fashion inviting Hiei to sit on the armrest of the chair. Without hesitation Hiei did as he was told.
"I think I kind of like it? Earthquake…yes I like it!" she said still smiling sweetly. Seto just stared in surprise as everyone else called out their greetings with Kurama, Misao, Kaoru and Sano moving towards her to add a hug to their greeting. He had met Victoria before! He didn't know who she was at the time however but she had impressed him none the less. They were right about her! In her simple fitted blue jeans, white long sleeve cotton blouse and high heeled sandals she looked every bit the super model but not at all like an invincible force of instant destruction.
"I hear the hunting went well Mr. Kaiba!" she smiled at Seto now. Hiei and a few of the others exchanged a confused glance. Seto nodded then at Victoria's prompting he briefly explained that on an occasion some years back Victoria had come to Kaiba Mansion dragging the unconscious bodies of Raijuta and Kimo. They had been dispatched by Gozaburo at his partner Kanryu's request in one of their earliest attempts to slay the growing threat of Aoshi Shinomori.
After a brief word with his adoptive father she had stopped where he was hiding outside his office. She had looked him straight in the eye for a moment then smiled at him and said "Happy Hunting Seto Kaiba!" and had walked away calling out "Come to me when you're ready!". He had been a little confused by that but was impressed at how she'd merely slapped away the guards that tried to impede her leaving the house.
"I don't understand how you knew…I was twelve and hiding behind a plant! I know I didn't look or feel very confident in my plans yet," he explained sounding confused. She laughed…
"A successful predator knows to hide in the shadow until it's ready to strike! Besides I never underestimate anyone by their age or size! Right boys?" she replied turning to her students who nodded and murmured their agreements. Hiei spoke most on this point. He was 5'3" but when unleashed he could be just as dangerous as Aoshi in all his 6'4" glory. That was one of the reasons why Aoshi chose him most often to be his partner in the most dangerous missions and the reason why Hiei was director of Oniwaban Protective Services in New York where he and Kurama lived.
"I see…" he replied softly. He had to admit she did have a point. He had underestimated Yugi because he looked small and wimpy and boy what a slap-down he'd received for that colossal oversight! It had been a hard and expensive lesson to learn.
"Alright! I take it this is the Broody Boy Corner correct?" she asked to those gathered around the small table.
"I prefer to call it the "Broody Hottie" corner!" Carson piped up then and Mokuba plus every female present laughed. Misao called her enthusiastic agreement as she snuggled against Aoshi's chest. Seto could've sworn that Aoshi blushed but it was gone so fast he couldn't be sure.
"…And while I heartily agree with that title Carson I know from experience that they get twitchy when there's too many non-broodies around! So it's time for everyone to disperse!" she ordered still smiling merrily. Sano was first to get up with Kenshin right behind him an arm around Kaoru's waist.
"Alright everyone without a "Darth" title come with me!" He called out. Yugi's friends (with the exception of Anzu who laughed!) looked a little confused and Aoshi's friends just laughed!
"A "Darth" title?" Mokuba asked looking at his brother. Sano spoke as he picked up his beer…
"Clockwise: Darth Shinomori! Darth Mozuko! And last but not least Darth Kaiba!" he announced in his usual smartass way pointing first to Aoshi then Hiei and finally Seto! Everyone laughed…
"I knew it wouldn't be long before he added you Seto!" Victoria laughed. She surprised him yet again by dropping the formal use of his last name and addressing him simply by his first name. He didn't expect it so soon but perhaps it had to do with how Aoshi and his friends were treating him. He decided he'd just wait and see! Everyone began to walk away reluctantly. Jou tried to talk Mai into a rematch but Mai wasn't biting and they bantered the whole way back! Mokuba delighted in his brother's new nickname and excitedly told Misao about the Darth Vader photo-mosaic he had in his room.
"Must we go so soon?" Carson sighed "The view here is so nice!" he added a bit overly dramatic. Victoria laughed as Aoshi, Hiei and Seto rolled their eyes at the same time! Misao sighed contentedly…
"It's so comfortable here! Can't I stay?" she sighed dreamily closing her eyes and resting her head against Aoshi's chest. Aoshi made no move to release her. Victoria just laughed some more.
"Really! Let me try!" Carson exclaimed enthusiastically moving towards Misao and Aoshi. Misao's eyes snapped opened and she mock-glared at Carson tightening her grip on Aoshi's chest. Victoria laughed heartily at Carson and Misao's antics. Carson turned and with exaggerated gestures excused himself to return to the party with his four companions. Jai laughed hysterically! Finally with theatrically exaggerated drama Misao stood and made to leave…
"Come Mokuba! Let us go see this photo-mosaic you speak of!" she announced dramatically. Mokuba stood and marched to her side but just as they walked away Misao turned suddenly and ran back pressed a deep passionate kiss on Aoshi' lips that he wasted no time in responding to then walked away smiling and humming innocently. Mokuba giggled as they walked away leaving Aoshi to try and school his face back to his usual stoic façade. Victoria was practically howling in laughter!
"Oh don't try child! You're just going to hurt yourself!" she laughed seeing Aoshi's discomfiture. He finally allowed himself to smirk slightly. Victoria smiled at him and nodded in motherly approval. Kurama finally stood and gave Hiei a quick peck in the cheek before returning to the main party. Hiei took the seat Kurama had just vacated. The maid returned then with his beer and attempted to leave quietly in search of Kurama to deliver his but Victoria appropriated Kurama's beer and cheerfully sent the girl to get Kurama a new drink.
"So aside from Aoshi's eminent defeat," she began cheerfully casting a meaningful glance at the Go board "what have I missed?" she asked casually.