Yay, I am back! Woo-Hoo! Here's the long awaited Press Conference chapter. Please enjoy~.
Warnings: LOTS of swearing Kaiba-style, references to male genitals, pervy Marik, angsty Kaiba, brooding Yami and the usual 'blah' applies…
Any errors encountered will be blamed on Mel for distracting me with Apollo Justice Ace Attorney porn whilst I was trying to proof! LOL~!
Disclaimer: I do not own Yu-Gi-Oh!
O-o-O-o-O
Yami's heart hammered in his chest and pounded in his ears with an ominous beat. All he could do was gape fearfully at the former Kaiba-sensei and now Kaiba-sama, and wonder what horrendous crime he committed in his previous life for fate to screw him so badly in this one!
A bead of sweat formed and trickle down the side of his face, but he did not wipe it away.
Kaiba watched the smaller male with mild amusement. Yami's reaction was priceless and the ensuing silence, golden. Had they not a task to fulfil, he would have enjoyed savouring his victory and, perhaps, gauge for a better response. Unfortunately, they had a job to do so the tormenting will have to wait for later. Pushing a hand in his pocket, he drew out a small packet of tissue and offered it to Yami who stared at it in a dumb-founded way.
"Here, take it," he said, waving it in the other's face, "and keep it with you. You may need it after the vultures have been through with you."
Yami swallowed and dragged his eyes to the proffered item. "Thanks," he croaked, accepting the packet reluctantly. Glad to have something to occupy himself, he opened it, pulled out a hanky and blotted his face; fervently wishing he could smother himself with it. Death by hankies, at that moment in time, sounded rather appealing.
"Aw, man! Does that mean he's our boss?" Jounouchi groaned, slapping a palm to his forehead. "He's already an obnoxious bully, but as our boss, he's gonna be insufferable! This can't do his ego any good, right?"
Kaiba spared a death-glare at the speaker. "Sounds like someone wants to get relegated to a lowly extra," he snarled. "That can be arranged, Katsuya!"
Jounouchi shot him dirty look and muttered "Fuckin' tyrant" under his breath whilst Marik guffawed.
"Uhm, guys, I think it's almost time for us to appear," Rebecca whispered loudly.
Wild panic followed as everyone went into a frenzied shuffle, trying to arrange and rearrange the order of appearance. The main characters were expected to be in the centre—which after some pushing, shoving and minor squabbling—the team was presented in a neat line. The sequence was as follows: Honda, Jounouchi, Marik, Yami, Kaiba, Shizuka, Rebecca and Noa.
Yami felt safe sandwiched between the two heavyweights. Just being placed strategically in the middle provided a mental boost for him, a boost he definitely needed to revive his flagging confidence. The butterflies in his belly were having a riot and it was unsettling him. He felt sick!
"Take a deep breath," a gentle voice behind him instructed. Yami took a deep breath through his nose and expelled it through his mouth. "We've got your back so don't worry. It will work out just fine. Trust me."
Yami breathed in and out again, and nodded. The reassurance brought a tiny smile to his lips. Closing his eyes, he allowed the words to bathe him in a haze of tangy scented security. It promised to shield him from whatever's to come.
I trust you, he whispered in his heart and meant every word of it.
"Did anyone notice if there's a tablecloth covering the table?" Marik asked eagerly.
"Erm, I think there was," replied Honda, rubbing his chin as if it would conjure up the image like a genie from the magic lamp.
"Marik!" Kaiba warned with a growl, his glare burning holes into the Egyptian's skull. "Don't even think about it!"
"Think about what?" Marik asked innocently.
"If you dare play tootsies under the table with any of the cast, I'LL CRUSH YOU!" Kaiba raised a clenched fist to back his threat.
"You're really no fun, Kaiba!" Marik bit out. "But fine! I'll refrain from molesting Yami-chan's feet until we get to the restaurant."
"You had better!"
Marik looked at Kaiba. A pale brow arched challengingly. "What? You think I can't restrain myself?"
Kaiba's lips twisted into a derisive sneer as he looked at the delusional man. "You have as much restraint as a penis, Marik!" A snort. "Especially yours, for that matter!"
Marik peered coquettishly at him and winked. "Little Marik loves it when you talk dirty, Kaiba-kun! You should do it more often, you know!"
Kaiba clucked his tongue and said, "See, my point exactly! NO. SELF. RESTRAINT!"
The self-restraint-less man batted his eyes at Kaiba and cackled manically. In return, the exasperated man rolled his eyes and ignored him.
The others appreciating the humour, laughed heartily. For a moment, the enormous task ahead of them had been forgotten and with it, the tension. Whether the diversion had been intentional or unintentional, Yami was grateful for it. It confirmed what he already knew in his heart: alongside Kaiba and Marik, he will be in good hands.
"We're up now," Honda whispered. Informing them with a quick turn of his head.
A loud applause erupted around them and with a quick exchange of "Good Luck," the cast made their way on to the stage.
Yami felt a fleeting touch on the small of back as fingers brushed across it. The gesture was encouraging and he smiled.
Yes, he'll do just fine, he thought.
O-o-O-o-O
The reception was deafening and it increased several decibels with the appearance of Kaiba, Marik and Shizuka. They were obviously the sweethearts of the industry and the audience treated them as such. If the crowd hadn't consisted of professionals, Yami was sure there would be a few wolf-whistles and squeals added for good measures.
Stepping out on the stage was like a giant leap for the petit actor, his whole career now hinged on his performance here. A performance where he needed to convince the crowd he was worthy of the role he was given.
He had to prove he was Osiris.
Chancing a glance at the space below, he was taken aback by the number of attendees. The room was packed and all eyes were on him—the unknown grunt—who was casually walking between two of the most famous names in voice acting. If it didn't scream fishy, nothing did!
Yami's heart sped up so fast that he feared it was going to detach from his chest, leap out of his mouth and run off in a very cowardly fashion! He wasn't feeling particularly brave either.
A gentle prod in the ribs brought his attention back to the task at hand. They had stopped and assembled into a straight line facing the audience. Yami felt more like he was victim in a firing squad than a celebrity. He didn't think he would ever get used to the attention.
He discreetly rubbed his clammy hand on his pants, and wished the room wasn't so hot and stuffy! The heat from the surrounding lights and the packed room was stifling, and it added to his misery. Exercising all his self-control that would impress even Kaiba, he quelled the urge to fidget and tug on his collar of his jacket.
Finally, the clapping had ceased and Ota-san's voice boomed out once more.
"Thank you all for the warm welcome. I am sure the cast are grateful for your support, isn't that right?" With a dramatic flourish of his hand, he motioned the cast to respond. Recognising the cue, the members linked hands and simultaneously bowed. The roar of delight was ear-splitting, which left the actors beaming widely. Freed from their grasps, they waved enthusiastically at the audience.
When order was restored, the director gestured the actors to take a seat. Yami couldn't be more relieved when he dropped his butt onto the chair. His legs felt like soggy noodles and they were barely holding up his weight.
"As you can see, there are some familiar faces amongst the cast as well as a few fresh ones. I'll leave them to introduce themselves and the character they are playing. Let's start from Honda-kun," Ota-san gave an encouraging smile at the young man.
Honda picked up the microphone on the table in front of him and introduced himself, stating his name and the role he was playing. A small hum of approval was heard and then it was Jounouchi's turn.
Yami watched with growing trepidation as his turn neared. The response Marik got had postponed his introduction slightly; a few zealous Marik worshippers besieged the popular man and encouraged him to openly flirt. It was only by Ota-san's intervention that it stop. Yami wasn't sure if he was happy or pissed for the delay.
When it was finally his turn, he cleared his throat before picking up the microphone. His eyes gave a long sweep of the audience as he held their attention before speaking, "Hello, I am Mutou Yami and I play Prince Osiris. Please give me your guidance."
A murmur of surprise rippled through the room as people turned to one another to confirm the news.
"Did I hear it correctly?" they asked. "Is that possible?"
Yami could read the disbelief on their faces; he could see the frowns knitting their brows. It spoke of their confusion and his heart sunk. He sat in silence, finding the media's reaction disappointing. Truth be told, it was what he expected, but faced with the discouraging response, it hurt. He placed his microphone gently on the table and kept his hands atop of it to prevent it from rolling. He noticed how they trembled.
Kaiba leaned over and picked up Yami's microphone—skimming long, warm fingers over the other's as he reached for the device. The action surprised Yami as each actor was equipped with his or her microphone. Kaiba didn't need to take his.
The deed went unnoticed by the audience below, but did not go unnoticed by his colleagues. Noa made a small, strangled noise in his throat.
Yami watched the strong, lean hand withdraw. The touch, however fleeting, provided solace. It was to remind him that he wasn't alone in this sea of predators and it made him smile. With a quaking breath, he drew on his newfound strength and looked up, determined not to be intimidated by these people. He'd be strong for himself and for those who believed in him, he cannot fail.
Kaiba lifted up the microphone to his lips and the room immediately fell silent. Half-spoken sentences were left unfinished as all eyes turned to the striking man with the commanding presence. With bated breath, they waited for him to speak.
"It's wonderful to see a high turnout for the promotion of Broken Bonds," Kaiba began. "We are truly humbled by the support you have shown with your attendance and we hope your generosity will continue throughout. For those who do not know me..." A gurgle of laughter from the press ensued, "I am Kaiba Seto and I am sure, after listening to the trailer, you would have guessed I play the character Obelisk."
Someone at the back of the room gave a cheerful "Yay," which sent the audience into a fit of giggles and the moment of discontent, due to Yami's casting, was temporarily forgotten. The rest of the introductions went without a hitch and Ota-san took the lead once more.
"Now the formalities are over, it is Question Time. However, before we begin, I would like everyone to abide by a few simple rules." The director rose from his perched position on the table end and walked to the edge of the stage.
"First of all,' he held the pointer finger of one hand up, "please keep all questions to a professional level and the topic relevant to the campaign."
Then adding another digit, "Secondly, please ensure questions are distributed fairly and evenly amongst the cast, so no one person is to bear the brunt of it all. Suffice to say, we will not tolerate the interrogation of any individual. If we feel a guest has abused this rule, he or she will be prohibited from attending future events associated with this project."
"Thirdly," he held up three fingers above his head, "I expect this to be conducted with utmost civility and consideration, so please respect that."
After laying down the ground rules, Ota-san slowly peered around the room, his eyes scanning for dissenters—and found none. With a satisfactory hum, he dropped his arm back to his side and smiled. "Right then, let's get started. Who's first?" he announced gleefully, whilst surveying the hopefuls with their hands in the air. He pointed at a random female reporter, "Okay ma'am, what's your question?"
Yami held his breath. Judging by the glances thrown his way, he half-expected the first question to be directed at him. And he wasn't far wrong. Torn between him and Kaiba, the reporter finally chose the handsome man. It was a wise choice. It wasn't worth squandering an opportunity to talk to the Ice Prince on a nobody like him and Yami felt oddly relieved by it. Still, it didn't mean he was in the clear. It was only a matter of time before he was selected, gutted and grilled. Kaiba had only postponed the inevitable, but it gave him a chance to get a feel of the event. He may learn a thing or two from the masters.
Breathing out, Yami waited for the question, his curiosity had spiked considerably. The reporter blushed prettily when Kaiba fixed his attention on her; she looked almost bashful.
"I would like to ask Kaiba-sensei," she said in a timid voice, "What made KC Communications willing to sponsor Broken Bonds? Up until now, the company has never funded a project in this industry, even one you voiced in. So why the change of heart?"
Yami felt Kaiba stiffen.
If you ever play Obelisk, let me be your Osiris...
Tension emanated off the larger man and bled into the space between them. Yami barely managed to stop his face from creasing into a full-blown frown at the sudden change in Kaiba.
"The decision to sponsor Broken Bonds was solely based from a business perspective," Kaiba informed. "It seemed a solid and reliable investment, which was the reason the Company decided to support it."
Yami gulped and shifted nervously. Kaiba's tone was clipped, his manner business-like. What's with the caustic reply and frosty attitude, he thought?
As if sensing Yami's anxiety, Kaiba adjusted his attitude and added, "Don't forget KCC is always looking for new ways to promote itself so when Broken Bonds was offered to us, it was too good an opportunity to pass up." After finishing his sentence, Kaiba offered a saccharin smile to the woman who practically melted in her chair.
Yami mentally scoffed at the recovery. The man was definitely a master of many personas, but out of all the ones he's shown, which is the true Kaiba Seto? Curiosity pricked Yami's mind until Ota-san's voice pulled him away from his thoughts.
"Right then. Next!" Brown eyes scanned the contenders with their hands or pens raised. "Ah, I detect a familiar face," he chuckled. "Ooka-san, its good to see you again! What would you like to ask?"
A wiry, bespectacled man spoke up. "I would like to ask you, Ota-san. Why did you decide to cast a newbie in a major role like Osiris, would it not jeopardise the project?"
Yami sucked in his breath. The question was about him. Anxious eyes darted to the figure sitting comfortably on the edge of the table; the director did not seem put out with the question. In fact, if anything, he was rather pleased.
"The casting for Osiris was the bane of our project as we never had a particular individual in mind for role. It was never doubted who would voice Obelisk, Ra and Kisara, but Osiris remained elusive to us—until Yami-kun appeared. Of course, there is always a risk in casting a newbie, but it's a gamble we were willing to take. As for jeopardising the project, I would suggest you watch the anime first before making that observation. You'd be pleasantly surprised what Yami-kun can do."
A nod of heads from the cast showed they agreed with their director unanimously. It added weight to Ota-san's words.
A trickle of voices filtered the silence. The audience's reception to the news was mixed, some looked assured, other not so much.
"Right then, moving on... Yes sir," Ota-san pointed at a large man with a goatee. "What is your question?"
Without hesitation, the eager man lobbed his question at the director; his words edged with avidity. "It was rumoured that Amelda-kun was favoured for the role of Osiris, so what happened? Were the negotiations not favourable that you found a substitute for him?"
I want to be your Osiris...
The pregnant pause that followed was suffocating. The shift in the air was tangible. An emotion that Yami could not grasp drifted into his vicinity and it staggered him. Something was wrong.
Slanting his eyes towards the source of the discomfort, he noticed Kaiba sporting a taut expression. A small movement of the hand diverted Yami's gaze to it, his eyes rested on fists that were clenched so tight, the knucklebones showed through the stretched skin. Yami wracked his brain for the reason to Kaiba's change of behaviour and it all came down to one person.
Amelda.
A quick delve in his mind supplied him with an image of a slender male with russet hair and large grey eyes. He achieved 'Rookie of the Year' award about the time Yami had began his career. It was a prestigious award and Amelda gained immense popularity and recognition from it. No wonder he was considered for the role!
The revelation left Yami rather dispirited.
"As you said, it was only a rumour," Ota-san's reply cut through the tension like a hot knife through butter, his voice was sharp and humourless. "Amelda-kun was never considered for Osiris because we did not think him suitable. One could argue he already had other commitments and therefore unable take the part, but I can assure you, he was never a candidate to begin with. Now, next!"
The dismissal was curt, giving the man little chance to re-join. Pointing at another person, the director gave her permission to speak. A cheerful female with a bright smile spoke up.
"Ishtar-sensei, how does it feel to be playing antagonist to Kaiba-sensei's protagonist again?"
A rumble of laughter filled the room, dissipating some of the unpleasantness from the previous question.
Marik gave a toothy grin and leaned back into his chair with the microphone in his hand, there was a degree of mischief colouring his answer.
"As you know, it is always a pleasure to be working with Kaiba-sensei. His perfect hero complements my evil villain and we get on swimmingly. Bear in mind, the Broken Bonds manga is still on-going so there is always a possibility that I will end up being the good guy and Kaiba-sensei, the baddie! Then hopefully, my character will finally get want he wants."
Yami felt something from under the table nudge his foot.
"Oh, and what is it that Ra wants?" The curious female asked.
"Why, to carry the heroine off into the sunset and have his wicked way with her, of course!" Marik snickered.
The crowd hooted with laughter.
Yami shook his head and laughed. How does the guy manage to entertain so effortlessly—to dispel the tension with a few words and a cheeky grin? Yami was impressed.
"I think it would be interesting to see a role reversal, don't you think?" the director confessed. "To see an evil Kaiba-sensei and a hero Marik-sensei would be most intriguing and definitely food for thought... But, alas, that's a different discussion entirely and one worth exploring another time. So, on to the next question," he pointed at a young female reporter who was looking attentively at Yami.
Yami stared back at her.
"I would like to ask Mutou-san, how it feels to be working alongside the big names of the industry?"
All eyes, the cast and the audience, were on the crimson-eyed male, waiting for his reply. The former watched on with nervous anticipation, whilst the latter waited with greed.
Yami was grateful his hands were steady when he picked up the microphone, and he was pleased his voice did not break or tremble despite he was inwardly shaking with trepidation. His voice carried his reply very clearly across the room.
"It goes without saying, I feel honoured to be voicing alongside these wonderful and talented people," he said, glancing at his colleagues on either side of him and giving them a big smile. "Admittedly, I find the experience daunting and somewhat surreal, but everyone's been good to me—advising and guiding me with gentle firmness—so I can improve. I pray I will not betray their faith in me nor disappoint the viewers of the show. All I can do is promise I will give my best for Osiris and hope you will accept me. Thank you for your patience."
Yami's answer was met with a murmur of approval and abundance of nods. He wanted to let out a long sigh of relief, but had to be content with blowing out a small puff of air instead. He itched to pull out a hanky and mop his brow with it, but dare not. Instead, he reached for the glass of water in front of him and took a small sip.
Thinking he earned a respite before he was singled him out again, Yami was surprised when the next question was directed at him...again.
"How much experience do you have in voice acting?" A fat man with a moustached face asked. His beady eyes were looking predatorily at him.
Yami saw Kaiba's fingers twitch and realised the question was not a welcomed one. Mai-san's warning echoed loudly in his head.
"Compared to my colleagues here, my experience is considered scant. I began over a year ago and have voiced minor parts in a few animes and some drama CDs. Broken Bonds is the first major and long-term work I have received thus far. However, what I lack in experience, I try to make it up in dedication, enthusiasm and perseverance. I love what I do therefore I am willing to give it my all. Hopefully, that will be evident in my performance."
The beady-eyed man sneered and shot him a contemptuous look. He was obviously dissatisfied with the answer and was about to respond, but changed his mind. Yami suspected it had something to do with murderous aura emitted by the esteemed employer beside him and had to swallow a chuckle.
Ota-san picked up Kaiba's killer vibe and hurriedly moved on. The next question was directed at Shizuka and it asked how she felt working with Kaiba and Marik again.
Yami was distracted from Shizuka's reply. The beady-eyed man was glaring at him with newfound vehemence and it was most perturbing. The man's hostility was rolling off in waves and it made him wonder what he had said to deserve it. Recalling his answer, Yami did not remember saying or implying anything that could be construed as offensive. So why the hell was this guy pissier than Kaiba?
Yami could sense Kaiba's bloodlust in the air. The suicidal moustached man tried to challenge it and failed. It wasn't wise to mess with a stubborn and egoistic CEO, least of all, one with homicidal tendencies.
It was that simple.
Yami mentally clucked his tongue and dismissed the man's animosity. He didn't care about the slight; he was used to such callousness after being at the lowest rung of the employment ladder for so long. Being sneered at because of his job was nothing new to him and through the years he learnt to endure it.
Yami sighed and took a sip of water. Trying hard to ignore Kaiba death-glaring the beady-eye man, he focused his attention back to the questions.
"This is for Katsuya-sensei," another voice said. "In Broken Bonds, Exodia is a calmer and friendlier character than the fiery swordsman Flames, you voiced last. Which of the two characters do you think represent you the most?"
Jounouchi placed a thumb and finger on his chin and feigned a thoughtful look. "I like to think I am more Exodia as he is handsomer and smoother than Flames, and he's smart and level-headed too." The audience laughed. "But, I have to admit there's a little of Flames' temper in me, which Exodia lacks—"
"Yeah, I can vouch for that temper," Honda interjected with a snicker. "Though I am still waiting for signs of the other attributes!"
The audience laughed again and waited for the comeback.
Jounouchi mocked glared Honda for a second and quipped, "Well, I was going to say you represented Cyber Commander to a T—all brawn and no brains—but realised you lack the brawn too!"
Honda rubbed his nose sheepishly and grinned. "Touché, my smooth and intelligent friend," he conceded and was met with applause.
Yami had to hand it to them. Their friendship was entertaining on the public front as well as behind the scenes and it was enviable.
As the conference wore on, the questions became thoroughly distributed amongst the cast. During the forty minutes of Question Time, all the members of the cast had been asked for their thoughts on Broken Bonds. The barrage of questions that came their way was non-stop, some were asked with grave sombreness, others were voiced with amused curiosity.
"What were their feelings about the characters they were voicing?" "Can they relate to them?" "How did they audition for the role?"
The last question had been directed at Yami, so he gave a concise version of his audition—minus the heated exchange between Kaiba and himself in the middle of it, and the lascivious insult at the end. Needless to say, there were quite a few incredulous looks when he finished story. They couldn't quite believe he got the role by being at the right place, at the right time! It was a fluke that had many green with envy and he could feel Noa's resentment from where he was sitting.
He drained the rest of his water.
"Right we have time for one last question..." Yami heard Ota-san say, listening half-heartedly as he picked out the reporter and praying whole-heartedly the question wasn't directed at him. He was tired justifying his existence in the world of Broken Bonds.
"This question is for Ishtar-sensei and Kaiba-sensei. How do the both of you feel about Mutou-san playing Osiris?"
The question pulled Yami's attention back from its straying. It seems questions about his competency was still a hot topic.
Kaiba spoke up, "There is no doubt in my mind, and I think in Marik-sensei's too, that Mutou-san is the perfect person to play Osiris. I trust my judgement as well as Ota-san's decision in the casting of Osiris. There was undeniably chemistry between Mutou-san's Osiris and my Obelisk to justify the decision and warrant the part. Mutou-san's Osiris is dynamic, it was unfortunate the auditioned scene was not picked for the trailer, had it been used, you will know what I mean."
"I absolutely agree with Kaiba-sensei," Marik added. "I was fortunate enough to have a one-to-one scene with Osiris and I can tell you, Mutou-san's Osiris rocked my world! It will not surprise me if Osiris eclipses Ra because Mutou-san's portrayal is superb! He becomes one with his character and my Ra is absolutely lovin' it!"
"And my Exodia!"
"And Kisara!"
"And Mana!"
"All my Extras!"
"A-and... Duo." Though it was uttered with painful reluctance, Yami was grateful for the show of support. At least, Kaiba didn't have to stamp on Noa's toes to get a response.
"If there's one thing that exceeds a good team—it's a good and happy team! I think our Yami-kun will do just fine and I am certain, my team agrees." Ota-san concluded.
Yami, overwhelmed by the open display of support and the high regards shown by his colleagues, flushed pink in the face. Marik laughed and clapped him on the back, whereas Jounouchi, Honda, Rebecca and Shizuka all gave him the 'thumbs up' and 'victory' signs. The grinning actor felt he could burst from sheer happiness.
"And on that memorable note, we end the conference for Broken Bonds. My staff and I would like to thank all of you for attending, and we hope to see you when we announce the date for the anime's official release. Until then, we hope you will continue to support us. We give you our thanks."
To the applause of the audience, everyone got up and walked to the front of the stage. Holding hands once more, they showed their appreciation by bowing to the people below them. The gesture sent the crowd into frenzy, and cheers were added to the zealous clapping and a standing ovation.
It was safe to say the announcement was a success.
Then came the second phase: the photo shoot.
Yami's face spasm painfully as it was tortured in front of the cameras. His jaw hurt, he was half-blind by the flashing lights and what was left of his vision was blurry with large dark spots. He secretly thought the ritual was more sadistic than Question Time and to top it all off… He needed to pee!
Regret washed over him like a tidal wave. He reproached himself for consuming all the water and the oolong tea from before only added to his woes. He was so distracted he didn't even react to Marik's molesting. He felt the Egyptian's hand brushed against his backside on numerous occasions, but was past caring. It was only when the needy hands became too kneady, did he finally do something about it. He ground the heel of his boot on the offender's toes, noting with sadistic satisfaction Marik's smile falter and wobble at that precise painful moment. It provided him with a brief distraction.
Shit, he thought desperately. How much longer to go?
He grimaced when he was instructed to "move over here" and "stand over there," when all he could think about was emptying out his bladder. His distress multiplied a hundred-fold and he pressed his legs firmly together.
Subsequently, when the final photo was taken and the green light given for everyone to disperse, did Yami seek out the toilets—with whatever dignity he could muster. He didn't want to scream 'desperate' all the way so his steps were measured and controlled. He was such a masochist!
Upon reaching his destination, he opted for the cubicles rather than the urinals and practically dived in it! For the next twenty seconds, it was utter bliss for Yami. So absorbed in his task that he did not hear the two men enter into the toilets.
"So what do you think about them choosing an unknown newbie for Osiris?" A thin nasally voice asked.
Yami pricked an ear to the conversation.
"To be honest, I was disappointed with the choice," a deep throaty voice replied. "Personally, I thought Amelda was perfect for the job. He would have given Broken Bonds a boost on popularity alone—not that Ishtar and Kaiba wouldn't—but still, it's a shame."
"Yeah, my thoughts exactly!" the nasal man said. "I was checking out the newbie during the conference and I found some interesting things about him."
Yami stiffened; his hands paused zipping his pants.
"Oh? I thought he was obscure and he did only minor roles?"
"Apparently he did, but get this, he also did boy love dramas...a lot of boy love dramas! It seems he was very good at it too!"
Yami's face paled and his breath hitched in his throat. He imagined the lascivious wink that accompanied the comment.
Throaty voice hummed his interest, waiting for the other to continue.
"What are the odds that he slept with the director to get this part?"
Anger swelled inside of Yami and coursed through his body. His fingers fumbled to do up his pants; it's usual deftness was impeded by the blinding fury that threatened to consume him.
How dare they imply he curried favours by sleeping around! How dare they fucking judge him due to nature of his work!
Yami silently cursed his bungling fingers and the intricate fastenings; it made the task feel like an impossible feat! But once he was decent, he was going to go out there, confront those bastards and give them a piece of his mind. They had another thing coming if they thought he was a pushover! If only he could do up his—
"And judging by Kaiba's reaction to Kanekura, I wouldn't be surprised if he was given the same treatment too!"
Yami paused in his actions; his narrowed eyes whipped round to the door.
"Mind you, he was a pretty one though; I mean did you see his eyes? The colour! I'd give him a favourable review if he'd let me do him. Some bastards have all the luck! Makes me think I'm in the wrong business!"
"I daresay I agree with you, gentlemen, when you say you are in the 'wrong business'," a cold familiar voice cut in, causing an audible gasp from the two men. "Judging by the level of unprofessionalism you have both shown, I suggest you remove yourself from journalism. You are obviously not fit to write a shopping list, let alone an article that requires honesty and impartiality. I will be having a word with your superiors, that I can assure you."
"K-Kaiba-sama, s-sir, I-"
"SAVE IT!" Kaiba roared, "Don't make it any worse than it already is! Do you honestly think you could defame Ota-san's reputation, slander Mutou-san and me with your bullshit assumptions, and expect to get away with it? Just get the fuck out and never show your face in front of me again!"
The shuffling of feet was heard as the men sprinted to the exit.
"Oh, and word of advice." The footsteps stopped. "Don't fucking judge people by your depraved and immoral standards! If you so much as to breathe another word of this fuck-shit or anything relating to the subjects outside of here, you will find me most unpleasant. Now scram!"
The opening and closing of the door indicated the disappearance of the two men.
Still suffering from the throes of anger and embarrassment, Yami remained where he was. He couldn't face Kaiba; he was too angry and too mortified to offer civility to the man who had stood up for him. Neither was he able to offer him his thanks, Kaiba didn't deserve anything less than his gratitude, but he was unable to provide it—not yet. Perhaps it was better to hide his knowledge of this incident. It would be less embarrassing for the both of them.
So Yami waited patiently for the frigid man to leave. Silence shrouded the room for a little longer before the sound of the door sliding open and close disturbed it. The ensuing silence informed Yami he was alone once more. Straightening his clothes, he flushed the toilet, unbolted the door and opened it, moving slightly to the side as he swung it open.
"Took you long enough to come out," an amused voice greeted him.
Yami jumped and glared at Kaiba who was standing near the exit with his arms crossed. Not knowing what to say to him, Yami sniffed and strode over to the hand basin to wash his hands. The sound of water served to break the heavy silence; the droning of the hand dryer followed it. Both men did not speak until the dryer stopped.
"I could have handled them myself, Kaiba." Yami mumbled sulkily. His back was facing Kaiba and his eyes were cast down, staring at his hands.
Kaiba scoffed at the sullen remark, the fact Yami had dropped the honorific wasn't lost on him, but he chose to ignore it. "Could you?" he sneered. "What would you've done? Remonstrated with them? Pleaded with them? Threatened them? I highly doubt your words would have been effective. I had my suspicions though, Umbra is well-known to shit-stir."
"Is that why you followed them?" Yami asked with bitter-filled softness.
Kaiba snorted. "Contrary to what you might think, I don't have a habit of stalking men in toilets! That's Marik's speciality!"
"..."
"Look, forget about them, they are not worth getting pissed off about on a day like today—not when you performed so well. You did us proud and the response was favourable."
Yami tensed and whirled around to face him, his eyes bright with burning fury. "Really?" he spat, "I thought I gave the impression that I slept with you and Ota-san to get this part! Now, that doesn't sound very savoury—let alone favourable to me."
Kaiba observed him closely, those cerulean blues searched deep into his crimson. Yami could see he was grappling for an answer, one without the residues of anger staining his words. When he spoke, it was with restrained rancour, "Once you reach to this level of exposure in this business, there will always be unsavoury rumours and smears. You can't stop people gossiping about you anymore than you can't prevent them from thinking they know shit from what they hear, see or crap. How you handle it is all what matters most. Will you allow it to get to you or will you ignore it, knowing you are worth a million times more than those fools who think they have us at their mercy with their empty words? If you can't hack it, then you are not cut out for this. The future will only cause pain and hindrance to your progress."
Uncrossing his arms, whilst still maintaining eye contact, he strode up to Yami. Stopping an arm's length from the smaller male, he placed a firm grip on the slender shoulders and shook it gently. "We all live with it," he soothed, "None of us are exempt from the malice and jealousy—not even Shizuka. But we learn to deal with it and move on, it is part of being a celebrity. Besides, it's not all doom and gloom. Remember, the media is your biggest ally as well as your worst enemy. Learn to manipulate and exploit them, and you'll be fine. So what do you say, Mutou?"
Yami gnawed his bottom lip as he listened; the fury had subsided a little, dimming the lividness in his eyes. He looked away from Kaiba—tore his eyes from the mesmerising gaze. "I will do my best," he offered flatly.
Removing his hands, Kaiba nodded and straightened. "Good, now lets get out of here before the others begin to worry. You go first and I'll follow shortly. I don't think it's wise to leave together or it'll add fuel to the flames of gossip. Lucky, I had the hindsight of not allowing Marik to retrieve you or your reputation will be in tatters, not to mention your chastity! I had to get Pegasus to restrain him."
Yami rolled his eyes at the quip, his lips dangerously twitching at the corners. "Fine," he sighed, walking past Kaiba. On reaching the door, he stopped. Twisting his head slightly so he could catch Kaiba from the corner of his eyes, he took a small breath and smiled. "Thanks," he murmured, "...for everything." Then with a swirl of dark purple, he was gone.
Kaiba stared at the space where Yami had been and sighed. "So you don't have a habit of stalking, do you, Kaiba Seto?" he chided. "Yeah, keep telling yourself that!"
Whipping out his cell phone, he pressed a number stored on speed-dial. The call connected and was answered after two rings.
"Yes, Kaiba-sama?"
The CEO launched straight into an order without preamble, "I want you to pull out the files on Lumis and Umbra of the Domino Daily Express, and Kanekura of The DC Media and Entertainment Journals, and have then sent to me. Is that clear, Isono?"
"Yes, Kaiba-sama," came the prompt reply. "Is there anything else, sir?"
"No, that will be all for the time being. Await further instructions once I have perused the files."
"Yes, Kaiba-sama."
Kaiba hung up and pocketed the phone. Once he got the files of those cretins, he will determine the course of action. Lumis and Umbra would be easy to deal with. His company had good relations with the Domino Daily Express; so teaching those two a lesson would require minimal effort on his part. But Kanekura was a different matter. The sly fucktard played dirty, which meant he had to as well. Special measures will be implemented to ensure Kanekura pay for marring his day! How dare that man mention him! How dare that scumbag make such preposterous assumptions? Curled fists trembled by his side as his anger resurfaced.
"If you ever play Obelisk, let me be your Osiris..." The appeal was spoken in a voice that was sprinkled with merriment.
"I may consider it if you win the 'Newcomer of the Year Award'!" An equally amused voice replied.
"Then I will work hard to be deserving of you and Osiris. I promise will not fail you, Seto..."
The pledge ended on a note of laughter. Laughter that was once musical and alluring—was now cruel and mocking.
"You are not worthy, Amelda," Kaiba snarled at the teasing spectre in his mind, his hand unfurling and his anger subsiding. "You never were!"
After his declaration, Kaiba took a deep breath and waved away the memory, the action derailing the unwelcome train of thought and replacing it with the image of defiant crimson that bore deep into his very being. Those vibrant and expressive eyes—the windows to one's soul—was so transparent with its emotions, it took Kaiba's breath away.
Pure and untainted was Mutou Yami, for now. But will he remain that way or will he be corrupted by the debauchery that lurks beneath this profession? Kaiba prayed those honest eyes will never lose its light, he prayed Yami will not stray into the darkness like another he knew. Part of him rued having dragged Yami deeper into this sordid world, but another part of him wanted him close. True, he was perfect for Osiris, that was undeniable, but if he hadn't requested Yami's presence at the audition then he would not have been noticed. And noticed they all did.
There was something that drew Kaiba to the petit man. Was it his integrity? His strength? Or was it his ability to care deeply for another? Had he succumbed to Marik's advances then Kaiba would have dismissed him. But Yami hadn't. His resistance, much to the pervert's despair, was admirable. And Kaiba was impressed, his interest aroused. He never thought he could feel alive again, he never thought he could care for another, but this man with the most expressive eyes, voice and personality he had ever come across had him spellbound...
If only Yami could feel the same way about him.
The sudden beep of his phone shook him from his reverie. Retrieving the device he quickly scanned the message on it, noting it had the information he requested from Isono. Deciding he stayed longer than it was deemed appropriate, he made his way to the exit. It was risky to leave Marik with Yami for too long, even with Pegasus watching him. With an audible sigh and fluid grace, the formidable man swept out of the room leaving it void of his presence.
Silence returned to the room once more.
~TBC~
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A/N: Righty then, I had mixed feelings about this chapter. I mean, when I wrote it, I thought it was good, but after re-re-re-re-re-reading it for guizillion times, I became numb. I can't even say how I feel about this chapter because I really don't know. Was it good? Was it bad? Was it worth the wait? I would appreciate if you can tell me, it really doesn't get any easier to write nowadays especially when I am reading other fics and thinking: OMG! This person writes waaaaaaay better than me! Confidence crisis? Pretty much~!
I am so bloody screwed in the head! And yeah, you can tell me that too!
Anyways, the conference/dialogue took me forever to write. I wanted to include more questions, but that would mean going on forever and you'll never see the chapter until, well...forever, so forgive me if I skimmed over a lot of Question Time. Hopefully, I will give you the opportunity to ask the trio some questions of your own very soon. I'll keep you posted on that development.
My thanks go to all those who've reviewed the last two chapters, your support never cease to amaze me and I am truly humbled by your generosity—especially those readers who regularly leave a comment, whether it is signed or anonymous. It is always a pleasure to hear from those who read this. It is your comments that drive this fic. Without it, I would have given up long ago~.
Thank you all so much~! *hugs*
*Amelda – Aka Alistair in the English Dub.
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Replies to the anonymous reviews:
~Rininlightblue: A happy belated birthday to you! Mine's on the 28th of this month so I am super-excited. Anyone reading this: I want KaiYami artwork as a pressie! Spam me on DeviantArt – the link's in on my profile page. It also has some amazing YGO! stuff from CandyassGoth, Ichi and Mel (who, incidentally, did the Purpleshipping cover image for this fic). Awesome, right? So, check it out.
Also, thanks for the heads-up on the Takyaki, I have amended the errors on all the chapters, I think. Mind you, octopus balls sounds intriguing and I could just imagine Yami curling his tongue around one of those delectable little balls of seafood, and pulling it into his mouth—all the while Kaiba and Marik watch on… Mmmmm… Yummy~! Thanks for reviewing and know that your thoughts always make my day. *hugs*
~Guest: Yep, it's Kaiba's the boss and Yami's screwed! Let's see if it changes their views on one another, especially with Yami insisting he continue his other job. Will Kaiba be able to convince him to stop or will it cause discontentment in the ranks? Stay tuned~
~AnzuFan: Wow, I am so glad you are still following this. I can't believe you are encouraging Clashshipping! I found that very entertaining...not that I don't entertain the idea...but... Hmmmmm... The possible scenarios, in which Marik can have his wicked way with Yami, are interesting and the plunnies it spawns is not helping, especially as the next chapter will be the post-Conference party where there's LOTS of alcohol involved. Mheheheheheheheh… Anyway, it is good to hear from you again.
~Chelsea: Yes, Marik sounded evilly serious at the end and it is justified because he is serious about his Yami-chan. Furthermore, he will provide Kaiba plenty of headache and rivalry…and headache on the screen and off the screen. I love the complexity and dynamics of this trio—the possibilities are endless. Thanks so muchies for you review~. It is truly appreciated.
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