Voices of Seduction

by JollyBigSis

Yami is a struggling voice actor whose life is suddenly turned upside down with the appearance of Kaiba Seto and his adversary, Ishtar Marik. Set in an AU, join the cast of YGO as insanity, hilarity and major OoCness ensues!

23. Chapter 23

My apologies for being away for so long. Please read the important announcement in the author's note concerning the future of this fic and enjoy the chapter.

Special thanks to: EpicKiya, Princess!Mom, Arlownay1991, JBubbles, Ariana, Yami E, Ocena Strex, Heartless Lotus, Chibi, lexterminator, SilverVeiledRose, Mel, Star-Simple-Dust, Bakurafangurl91, Atem-Lover-4eva and haneko-chan. Thank you for your lovely thoughts on the last chapter/the story in general, you have no idea how grateful I am for each and every comment. *Glomps all*

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Warnings: Stupidly long-assed chapter, so much bloody dialogue, some mild cussing, Marik's tomfoolery, possible boo-boos scattered around, and the usual 'blah' apply. Please disregard any errors you may come across, all will be amended in due course. For now, I am too tired to go over this again.

Disclaimer: I do not own Yu-Gi-Oh!

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Yami stared blankly out of the window, his sleep-addled mind not registering the scenery that flashed by in streaks of grey and green. He covered his mouth as another yawn escaped and rubbed his tear-bleared eyes with his knuckles. He was still so tired.

Giving his body a good stretch, Yami shifted into a more comfortable sprawl on the seat and closed his eyes. The soft purr of the car was the only audible sound and it would have lured him back to sleep if he wasn't so nervous about the impending commercial shoot.

The morning began with the ever-punctual Isono on his doorstep with a polite bow at seven o'clock sharp. Another man fully kitted out in leather gear and a motorcycle helmet stood silently beside him. It was fortunate that Yami was already dressed and ready to go. He had skipped breakfast in favour of downing a cup of tea. Anxiety had killed off his appetite and his stomach couldn't handle the thought of food. He knew he'll regret it later but was too nervous to care.

"Kaiba-sama has instructed me to retrieve a letter you have for him," the tall man said.

For a moment, Yami was puzzled by the request and had to process the comment twice before he realised the man was referring to the letter from Anzu. Retrieving it from his bag, he handed it to Isono who subsequently handed it to Leather-san. It then occurred to Yami that the mysterious man was in fact a courier who, having procured the letter, bowed and briskly departed. The noise of a motorbike zooming off in the background was heard not long after.

After locking up, Yami followed Isono to the car. He was surprised to see it was a different car from the one Kaiba had previously used. Sure, it was still a Mercedes, but where Kaiba's one was sleek and classy, this model—though still elegant in design—was larger. Yami suspected this was the company car . . . and he was right. The amount of space at the back was amazing. The available legroom was enough to swing a cat . . . metaphorically, of course!

Shifting again and this time spreading out further, Yami pictured Kaiba sitting where he was with those long, long legs stretched out in front of him whilst working on his tablet or talking on his phone. Although Yami had yet to see a suit-clad Kaiba in person, the pictures he'd seen of the business-like CEO in the media was enough to make anyone drool. The man radiated power. He commanded people's attention and admiration . . . and he got it!

He had thousands of adoring fans to prove it.

Yami didn't doubt Kaiba was as popular as he claimed to be. The guy was sexy, handsome, rich and powerful; it would be hard not to worship the man—and harder still to find someone who would complement him. Anzu's face came to mind, but he quickly dismissed it. Would Kaiba fall for Anzu or would he see her as another fan girl? If Yami were perfectly honest with himself, Amelda would be the perfect partner for Kaiba; after all, the former was popular, sexy and extremely good-looking. Pity there was something about the redhead being with Kaiba that pissed him off. Was it because he envious of what Amelda has and he hasn't? Fame and popularity was something Yami coveted—that much he would admit—but it wasn't be-all and end-all. It certainly wasn't something he would loathe the man for. No, it wasn't envy . . . but it was close cousin if not a sibling.

Jealousy.

The word crept into his mind before he had the chance to stop it. Yami grimaced at the thought. Lately, his mind was filled with nothing but Kaiba so he could understand why he would feel jealous at the thought of someone getting close to the actor. Even Anzu was not exempt from the ugly emotion when he thought about the possibility of her and Kaiba being together. It made him sympathise with Amelda a little. He could understand why Amelda acted the way he did concerning Kaiba. The latter was not a person one could easily forget or let go. Nor was he one that was easily obtained either . . .

Yet they kissed on three separate encounters, each one more heated than the last. Each time had him wanting more than he should.

Muttering a curse, Yami leaned back and placed an arm over his eyes, his body sinking further into the seat. Kaiba was definitely unforgettable. Without even trying the man had wormed his way into his thoughts and they weren't even dating! It scared Yami to think how he would act if they were! If a part of him were already armoured with the actor, how dependent would he be if they were on an intimate level? It was frightening how Kaiba was able to provoke such strong feelings from him. Yet, he willingly and foolishly embraced them. Kaiba certainly inserted his presence into his mind and life. Yami knew for sure it would be hard, if not impossible, to be rid of him.

Was everything too late now?

O-o-O-o-O

"CUT!"

Fearfully, Yami looked towards the director's direction. He was beginning to dread that one word after hearing it numerous times. As suspected the director had a look of frustration on his face and Yami's hopes plummeted to the soles of his feet.

He fucked up again.

Holding back the urge to press a finger and thumb to his throbbing temple, Yami looked forlornly at Morita-san, his eyes conveying the apology that his mouth had yet to voice. He knew there was nothing he could do to atone for the repeated mistakes and he expected nothing but a good rollicking for it. And it was justly deserved too. He could not do what was asked of him. It wasn't that he was having problems following instructions, in fact, what was asked of him wasn't all that hard to act out. He was required to walk along the stretch of beach and pretend he was taking to someone on the phone.

Someone important and special, someone who could provoke an array of emotions from him and make him openly display them.

Someone like Yuugi.

Yami tried to imagine himself in a conversation with Yuugi. He tried to recall their last conversation on the phone and enact it, but no matter what he said or did it was never good enough. The director found fault with it every time and Yami couldn't blame him. It shouldn't be hard to do, right? But for Yami, he found conversing into a silent phone and look convincing, difficult. Facial expression, movements and gestures were suddenly crucial. It wasn't important when he was relying just on his voice.

"Listen up, everyone!" Morita-san yelled. "Take a ten minute break and we'll continue after that."

Yami was surprised and shamefully relieved for the respite. Pocketing his phone, he turned to stare out into the vast sea of blue, the wind gently ruffling his hair and the soft red scarf adorning his neck.

Upon arriving at the set, Isono escorted Yami to the director and quick introductions were exchanged. After the formalities were over, Yami was whisked off to trailer where he was to be kitted out with an outfit and make-up. The process was rather long and painful, not to mention a little embarrassing. It was one thing to have Anzu fussing over him during a cosplay-aka-torture session, but another to have professionals doing it. His hair was pulled and tugged in all directions in attempts to flatten and tame those rebellious spikes—only for it to fail dismally.

He was lucky that he was forced to wear a minimal amount of make-up since his skin was blemish free, but he still needed a good layer of concealer to cover the dark circles under his eyes though. And the foundation, no matter how thinly applied, was extremely uncomfortable to wear. He had to remember not to touch his face after he accidentally rubbed some off. He was sent back to the trailer like a naughty boy to get it reapplied again. Oh, the scolding he got and once more, much to his chagrin, he prodded with powdered brushes and foamy sponges. Every time the director yelled, "Cut", he was subjected to a touch-up. The word and all it entailed was greatly feared.

Glancing at his watch, Yami discovered it was already noon. They had been filming for over two hours now and frankly, he was getting antsy and hungry. It serves him right for skipping breakfast. Idly, he wondered when they were going to stop for lunch. There was a catering trailer on the premises that was providing food and drinks for the crew and it was where he was heading to when the phone in his pocket rang.

O-o-O-o-O

A vibration in Kaiba's pocket informed him of an incoming call. The timing was good since he was on the sidelines with the team and awaiting Ota-san's instructions. To avoid being disruptive, Kaiba stealthily retrieved his phone from his pocket and peered at the screen.

'MORITA-SAN' it flashed.

Frowning, Kaiba glanced up at Ota-san and pointed to his phone. The latter took in the scowl on Kaiba's face and nodded his head, excusing the actor.

Grabbing the bag that was hanging off the back of his chair, Kaiba quickly got up and marched towards the exit, ignoring the curious glances aimed his way. Marik, in his endeavour to detain Kaiba, spun around to catch the other's eye but Kaiba was in no mood to humour him. If Morita felt desperate enough to contact him during working hours then it meant there was a problem concerning Yami's performance.

"Kaiba." The greeting was brusque as the actor hurried to the lounge where he could talk in private. He hoped the room was free.

"I apologise for this interruption, but I've encountered a snag with Mutou-sensei." There was a hint of defeat in Morita-san's voice, which surprised Kaiba.

Quirking a brow, Kaiba asked, "What's wrong?"

There was a sigh before Morita-san's voice spoke again. "Well, we seem to be stuck in a loop where Mutou-sensei keeps making the same mistake. He can't convey the right emotions no matter how I instruct him," the director sounded frustrated. "I know you were adamant about the importance of Mutou-sensei in the commercial, but I am seriously considering revising the script to accommodate his acting skills—or rather lack of—or have him replaced all tog—"

"As I have said before, Morita-san, replacement is not an option. Is that clear?"

Arriving at the lounge, Kaiba pushed open the door and peered in. It was empty.

"Well, perhaps you can advise me on how to go about this since I am not getting the desired results. I can't fault him for trying though. He listens well and tries to accommodate my instructions, however, whether it is nerves or his inability to 'act' in the fullest sense, it's becoming a problem."

Kaiba's frown deepened at the news. It was unthinkable to have Osiris omitted from the commercial. Not when he's a major character in the anime. Not when Yami needed the exposure. Grimacing, Kaiba marched over the windows and looked out. There had to be something he could do . . .

"Does Mutou have SIM card in the new phone?"

"I believe the KCC technician placed one into the new device. Why?"

Smiling, Kaiba leaned his shoulder against the window frame and replied, "What's the number?"

There was a long pause where Kaiba assumed the director went to summon said technician and interrogate him. Soon after, Morita-san passed on the number.

Kaiba pulled away from the conversation momentarily to enter the number on his phone. After saving it, he smirked and said, "Watch him, Morita-san. Watch him closely."

The director had no doubt to whom "he" Kaiba was referring to. "Why?" he pressed, hoping this time Kaiba would answer him.

"Because, Morita-san, Mutou and I are going to have a little tête-à-tête and you're going to get the results you desire."

O-o-O-o-O

Yami looked baffled as he stared at the ringing phone. He knew the phone was in working order, but he never dreamed someone would call him on it. He peeked at the director, but the latter appeared to be ignoring him. Scrunching up his face, he pressed the 'talk' icon and gingerly lifted the device to his ear.

"Um . . . H-hello?" The greeting sounded wary and unsure. Pretty much like how he was currently feeling.

"Hey."

Twin raven brows shot up as eyes widened from surprise and recognition. "Kaiba-san?" Yami's voice squeaked with disbelief. "What? B-but h-how did you get this number?"

Amidst the shock, Yami was pleased to hear the familiar voice. It made his shitty morning a little less shittier. A small smile broke out on the actor's face, transferring the gloomy expression to a brighter one. To the director and cameraman who were secretly observing him, it was like the sun emerging from behind a cloud.

"I heard you were having a hard time with the filming."

Yami's face fell and he dipped his head in shame and pouted. "I guess Morita-san's snitched on me," he groused. Yami couldn't help the sour note accompanying the accusation.

"He said you had trouble acting the part and that your performance was poor."

Unconsciously, Yami began to stroll along the sanded shore in a slow leisurely pace, the red phone gleaming in the afternoon sun. The handset felt cool against his flushed face. "That's correct, I can't seem to get the performance right," Yami sniffed, his lips pulled down at the corners. "Morita-san thinks my acting is 'unconvincing and flat'."

"Well, he is one of the best in the business so he can afford to be critical and rude."

"Like you?" stated Yami.

"Being the best has its perks."

Looking towards the heavens, Yami huffed with feigned irritation. He didn't care that he was acting too casual with Kaiba. To him, the other was the one thing that was keeping him from falling apart at the seams. He would kowtow on the floor to show his appreciation if Kaiba demanded it of him.

"You would?"

Yami mentally palmed his face. "I seriously need to stop thinking aloud, don't I?"

"And deprive me a source of amusement? Never!"

"The question was rhetorical, Kaiba!" Yami playfully pointed out. "And if you're going to tease me then it would be better for you hang up and leave me to wallow alone in my self-pity."

"You can be certain that I won't be hanging up and leaving you alone any time soon. This respite is much appreciated, I can assure you. Ota-san is still in demon mode."

"Then isn't he going to be cross with you for skiving off?"

Kaiba chuckled. "No, Ota-san understands I'll be contacted should problems arise during the filming. I have his permission to 'skive' off if it concerns business."

"Oh, then I suppose it's okay . . ."

"How did you find the crew? I employ Morita-san for all of KCC's commercials. He has an impressive reputation and the staff are handpicked for the job. They are efficient and pros."

"That explains the level of professionalism I've been receiving. The make-up and hair styling part was torture though."

"Well, if you are going to be doing photo shoots for Millennium then I suggest you get used to it."

Yami huffed into the handset. "I don't think I'll ever get used to having my face painted and my hair pulled in all different directions like that. I am so glad I'm not a model."

"You're too short to be a model," Kaiba rudely remarked.

"Well, sorrrrree for my midgetness, High-and-Mighty-san!" Yami retorted. "Not everyone can be six foot galore, you know!"

"I admit it has its advantages," Kaiba claims. "If it's any consolation, your hair adds inches to your height making you appear taller."

"You're dead to me, Kaiba!" Yami grounded out.

Kaiba belted out a hearty laugh. "I'm only speaking the truth."

"Well, you could have kept it to yourself," Yami grumbled. "It's not easy being male and short!"

"Some might say small is endearing. Marik finds your shortness cute."

"Yeah, and it totally ukey-fies me! It seems I'm doomed to a lifetime of bottoming because I am short! Urgh! And those pictures he did!" Remembering the flighty nurse and semi-naked neko pictures sent a shiver down Yami's spine.

"Don't remind me," Kaiba said dryly.

There was a pause as both men got lost in their thoughts. A small beep shook one of them out of his reverie.

"Oh wait, I've just received a message. Hold on while I read it."

Yami heard a rustling sound followed by a few beeps as Kaiba accessed the message. Not long after Kaiba returned.

"Morita-san informs me that he wants you to end this conversation with three very special words. He'd like you to muster as much emotion as you can when voicing them and declare it like you mean it. Really mean it."

"Why am I not surprised he's been observing me through this conversation and probably filming it," Yami grumbled. "So what are the 'three little words' I am supposed to say?"

"I think you know."

"Thanks a lot?"

"No."

"Then it must be 'see you later'?"

"Mutou!"

"How about 'goodbye, jerk'?"

Kaiba gave an indignant snort and tut-tutted. "How rude, Mutou. After all that I've done, you repay me with insults. Besides," he continued with superiority, "that's technically two words and not three."

Three very special words . . . declare it like you mean it. Really mean it.

Was it that hard to do?

Heat rose in Yami face, colouring his cheeks red. It couldn't be that hard to do, right?

But it was.

Because it was Kaiba he was declaring those words to. It would feel more like a confession than a reciting a script. It made Yami hesitate.

"Mutou?"

"I love you."

Silence ensued the confession and Yami's blush deepened further. Did Kaiba sense the feelings behind those words? Did he reveal too much?

"Hey," Kaiba breathed out.

"Y-yeah?"

"It was perfect."

Nodding firmly, Yami smiled. He felt giddy and happy now he cleared the scene. He wanted to laugh, jump for joy and do something reckless like run into the sea and chase waves, but first he needed to express his gratitude.

"Kaiba-san."

"Hmm?"

"Thank you."

"It's nothing. I did what required of me."

"Which was?"

"To show off your potential and make Morita-san understand why you are irreplaceable."

Yami felt his face ablaze anew from Kaiba's words. He knew compliments from the fussy man were not easily bestowed; it was why he treasured every one of them.

"Okay, it seems you've given what Morita-san wanted and he wishes to move onto other scenes now."

Yami crinkled his brow in confusion. "I thought it'd be a wrap after this scene. What more could he want?" his voice was laced with hysteria and dread.

"Calm down, Mutou. He only wants to capture you walking along the beach looking serene and happy. Then you'll move onto voicing a few lines afterwards. There's no real acting involved so you'll have no problem with that, right?"

The tricolour head bobbed slowly with reluctance and then Yami answered in a small voice, "I suppose it shouldn't be a problem." The statement lacked confidence though, and Yami was sure Kaiba detected it. "I think I had better go now."

Kaiba sounded an agreement. "Isono is responsible for taking you home so don't leave without him."

"Oh, okay then." Yami tried to hide the pang of disappointment in his voice. Did he really expect the prestigious actor to drive all the way to the beach to pick him up and drive him home? Kaiba was a busy man. It was wonders he spared time to help at all! To want more was unreasonable, it was wishful thinking.

Forcing a cheerful facade, Yami said, "Thanks for the support, Kaiba-san, it's much appreciated." He smiled when he felt the other smile back.

"No problem. Now go. The sooner you begin, the sooner you'll finish."

"I'll see you tomorrow then."

"Marik is up next so I'll see you tomorrow."

"Bye."

"Bye."

Yami looked up and beamed at the camera filming him.

With those crimson eyes sparkling and the face flushed with a rosy hue, the director could not help but be taken aback with the picture the other represented and how well it contributed to the overall theme. It was without a doubt, the actor was in love.

O-o-O-o-O

"What are you doing here?" Yami demanded, staring suspiciously at the grinning Egyptian. If his glower was any indication of his mood, Yami wasn't too happy about the visit nor was he pleased with the way the monstrosity of a bike was parked in front of him and blocking his way.

The director had called it a wrap forty minutes ago and Yami had spent that time changing into his own clothes and having his make-up removed. Unfortunately, there was just as much fussing in finishing a shoot as there was preparing for it. Yami was lectured for fifteen minutes about his (or rather lack of) skincare regime. The make-up artist was horrified when he thought a bit of soap and water would do the trick. After extracting a promise from him that he'd cleanse, tone and moisturise daily, get lots of sleep, eat healthily and drink lots of water—all which he has no intention of following, with the exception of the water part—he was allowed to go. Only to be confronted with Marik outside the trailer leaning on his motorbike with a huge grin on his face.

"Since you've been constantly blowing me off, I've decided to take drastic measures," the Egyptian explained. Then he grabbed Yami by the arm and yanked him forward so they were pressed close together.

Feeling indignant, Yami began to protest. "Now hang on a second, what do you think you're—" he was cut off with a squawk when a helmet was pushed onto his head and shutting him up completely.

"Hold still," Marik chastised as he fastened the strap on the helmet under Yami's chin. Fortunately for him, the latter was too stunned to resist. "There! Now you are good to go." Marik patted the covered head and grabbed his own helmet and donned it. He kept an eye on the bewildered Isono as he was doing it up. Marik didn't miss the way Isono's fingers twitched for his phone. He knew he had very little time to make his getaway with Yami in tow.

Likewise, Isono looked at loss on what to do and was staring at the pair in dismay. His employer had instructed him to escort Mutou-san to the film set and then back home again. He was ill equipped to deal with a situation that involves defying his employer's orders due to another's actions.

"Gotta run!" Marik yelled, dragging the smaller man onto the bike. "Now, sit!" he commanded, pointing to the vehicle.

Yami glared at his would-be abductor with a 'are you for real?' look on his face! He absolutely refused to comply to those atrocious demands without a decent explanation first!

Groaning aloud, Marik picked Yami up bridal-style and dumped him onto the seat. Then, swinging his long legs over the body of the vehicle, he placed himself in front of Yami and started the engine. "Now hold on tight to my waist!" he warned as he flipped up the kickstand with his foot and revved up the engine.

Yami shrieked with terror as the bike went from nought to 'oh-fucking-hell-I'm-so-gonna-piss-in-my-pants-from-fright' speed! He clung onto Marik for dear life and buried his helmed head onto the other's back, feeling the other's body vibrate in a chuckle as he adhered himself closer. He squeezed his eyes shut and hugged Marik's torso tightly when the vehicle tilted to the side as they rounded a corner.

Yami was unconscious of the scenery that sped past them. He was unconscious of the wind that whistled around them. And most of all, he was unconscious of the phone ringing frantically in his jacket pocket. Had he been able to spare the time and limbs to retrieve his phone and look, he would know the identity of the caller.

'KAIBA' flashed across the phone's screen, but Yami was unable to answer it.

O-o-O-o-O

They had drove for about half an hour before stopping outside a yakiniku* restaurant. Turing off the engine, Marik was about to dismount when he discovered he couldn't move. Slender arms were still locked tightly around his waist.

Undoing his helmet and hooking it onto the handlebar, Marik twisted his head around to look behind him. Yami was attached to him like a piece of Velcro. It felt nice to see the small man so clingy. The Egyptian deliberated on whether to inform the oblivious man about their arrival when he felt the other release his hold and slowly peel away from his back. A feeling akin to disappointment washed over Marik as the weight disappeared, the warmth rapidly cooling on his back.

Gracefully dismounting the motorcycle, Marik turned to his passenger and held out a hand. Yami batted the hand away and clumsily slid off. His arms and legs ached from his death-grip! However, the discomfort didn't stop Yami from smacking the man's chest in anger.

"What in heavens . . ."

Smack.

"Was . . ."

Smack, smack.

"THAT, Marik?!"

SMACK!

Marik reached out to unfasten Yami's helmet. The other involuntary recoiled away from the advancing hands, but the reaction did not deter Marik one bit. Unaffected, the latter stopped Yami and proceeded to undo the fastenings on the headgear. "It was my way of inviting you out for dinner, Yami-chan," he reasoned, pulling off the helmet and admiring the way the unruly spikes spilled out and sprung back up again—defiant and stubborn—much like its owner. Unable to resist the urge to tease, Marik ruffled those unyielding locks.

Yami's expression darkened. "Quit it!" he protested, trying to swat the pesky hand away.

"I can't believe you don't get helmet hair! Unless, I scared you so much that your hair is standing on ends."

Yami levelled a 'fuck-off' glare at the other and snorted, "Like you can talk!"

The sarcasm was lost on Marik. The hentai patted his hair in a proud way that said: I know, right?!

Annoyed, Yami rolled his eyes and folded his arms across his chest. "So are you going to tell me why you saw fit to forcibly drag me away, scare the crap out of me with your insane driving and criticise my hair? You had better have a good explanation, Marik!"

Marik mimicked Yami's stance and said with a fair amount of resentment, "Do you have any idea how hard it is to get you to have lunch or dinner with me?"

Yami had an idea, but he wasn't going to admit it. He pouted and remained silent.

"You evade my every attempt to ask you out. If I didn't know better, I thought you were avoiding me."

" . . . "

Seeing Yami's unresponsiveness, Marik rubbed his temple and sighed. "All I want is for you to have a meal with me. I won't touch you inappropriately unless you want me to and I won't say anything that'll make you uncomfortable, is that acceptable?"

Marik got more of the silent treatment.

"We are practically here already. No point wasting a perfectly good opportunity, right?"

Giving in, Yami slowly unfolded his arms. "Fine," he yielded ungraciously; he was still very cross though. "As long as you behave yourself I'll humour you. However, don't make a habit of abducting me."

"As long as you don't make a habit of refusing me," Marik countered.

Yami ignored the comment.

Picking up their helmets, the pair made their way to the entrance of the restaurant, but the ringing of Yami's phone stopped them. Taking the phone out of his pocket, Yami looked at the screen and said to Marik, "I need to take this call. I'll catch you inside the restaurant." His companion mumbled a reply and took the helmet from him.

Clutching the phone tightly to his chest, Yami hobbled off in a hurry, leaving Marik snickering at the sight.

Deeming the distance wide enough for some privacy, Yami answered the call.

"Hello?"

Kaiba's harsh demands blasted into his ear at full force. "Where are you? Did Marik do anything to you? Are you alright?" Then pausing to compose himself, Kaiba coughed and added, "Isono said you were kidnapped by Marik."

Yami answered with a chuckle. "I am fine. A little worse for wear after that bike ride, but other than that, I'm still in one piece." He shook one leg after another to loosen the stiffness in them.

"Would you like me to come and fetch you?"

Yami abruptly stopped what he was doing and contemplated Kaiba's offer. In the end, he decided against it. Not only would he go back on his word about staying for dinner, but it would also encourage Marik to do something worse to him next time.

"Thanks for the offer, but no, don't worry about it, Kaiba-san. Besides, I don't know where I am exactly to have you collect me."

"Your location is not a problem," Kaiba replied. "Switch on your new phone and the KCC satellite will pick up the device's signature and pinpoint your position. If you wish to be picked up, I will oblige."

Yami cursed Kaiba for tempting him, but in the end stuck to his decision.

"Its better I get this over and done with since I am here now. Otherwise, Marik will pull something more outrageous next time. We're only going to have something to eat and then I'll be sure he takes me home after, okay?"

Kaiba muttered something obscene and colourful under his breath. "At least turn on your new phone so your whereabouts can be tracked," he grumpily ordered.

Yami dug into his bag and pulled out the new phone from the box. "Right, I have the phone in my hands now. How do I activate the tracking feature?"

"Go to the Settings option, press on it and scroll down. It's the fourth feature: Detect. Just tap the tab to enable it. Got that?"

"Settings . . . fourth one . . . Detect . . . enable . . . " the mumble came out incoherent. "Ah, It's done!" Yami felt victorious! "Thanks."

"Remember, my offer still stands, Mutou."

"I am not a damsel in distress that requires you to come running to my rescue, you know!"

"Says the man who got kidnapped!"

"Pfft, so you'll come running to save me from the clutches of the evil villain—like Obelisk rescuing Kisara from Ra?" teased Yami.

"I don't think one can compare Ra to Marik. The hentai is way more dangerous than Ra could ever be. Kisara has it easy."

The comparison made Yami laugh. "I'm sure I'll be fine. Marik has promise to behave—" Kaiba cut him off with a rude snort and Yami scowled. "As I was saying, Marik promised to behave himself so I guess there's no reason for you to worry."

"Who said I was worried?"

It was Yami's turn to snort. "Keep telling yourself that, Chauffeur-san. But seriously, I'll be sure to send you an SOS if I need rescuing, okay?"

"Good!" Kaiba huffed. "Oh, and Mutou?"

"Yes?"

"I would advise you to stay away from alcohol."

Yami clapped a hand over his forehead and dragged over his face. "You're never going to let me live it down, are you?"

"I am just warning you to remain sober and alert around Marik. You're not exactly cautious when you're drunk and you won't stand a chance against a seasoned player like Marik."

"You know, for someone who claims he's not worried about me, you sound awfully concerned."

"Mutou!"

"Fine! I get it. No booze! So can I go now?"

"Just be careful, okay?"

"Okay. See you tomorrow."

"Yeah, see you tomorrow."

After the line went dead, Yami looked at his phone and smiled. Despite Kaiba's aloofness, he really did care about his wellbeing. The feeling made Yami feel incredibly happy.

Chuckling to himself, Yami slowly made his way inside the restaurant. It was best not to keep Marik waiting too long. Heavens know what the hentai would do if he got bored.

O-o-O-o-O

Watching Yami return, Marik snickered in memory to the threat of castration Kaiba sent to his phone only moments ago. Isono must have reported the incident to his lord and master.

Waiting for the small grill in the middle of the table to heat up, Marik took a small sip out of his iced herbal tea, his eyes never leaving the approaching man who, upon reaching the table, placed his bag down on an empty chair before slipping into the seat next to it. Marik could barely contain his happiness! Finally, he could spend some alone time with his Yami-chan.

Yami, on the other hand, was still cross with Marik for his impromptu stunt. He made that fact known by glaring at the Egyptian with as much ire as he could muster. Of course, his efforts were lost on Marik. Said annoying man was looking back at him with an indulgent smile and eyes that sparkled with unconcealed adoration. The unspoken sentiment of him finding Yami's sullen expression cute hung heavily between them!

"I took the liberty of ordering for you," the hentai happily announced. "Since I wasn't sure what you like to eat, I got us a little of everything. That way you're sure to find something you like, okay?" Yami gave a silent nod of acknowledgment. "Great! Now what would you like to drink, Yami-chan?" He passed the menu to Yami who quickly scanned it.

"Oolong tea, please."

Marik waved over their server and ordered the tea for his companion.

Not long after, small plates of raw meat, seafood and vegetables were brought over and placed on the table. The large selection made Yami salivate. Pickles and sauces along with two bowls of steamed rice were carefully placed in front of them. Yami's beverage was the last thing to arrive. After the server had left, Marik gestured for Yami to begin. After a quick "Itadakimasu", the pair began their meal.

Soon the air between the pair was filled with the sound and smell of sizzling meat. Observing Marik, Yami noticed the other had fairly good culinary skills. Unlike Yami, who was grilling no more than a few pieces of meat at a time in fear of burning it, Marik was flipping and arranging the food around the grill with his tongs in a competent manner. Obviously, he was familiar with this sort of cuisine.

As if sensing the smaller man watching him, Marik looked up and flashed Yami a wide smile. "Impressed with my culinary skills, Yami-chan?"

Yami nodded.

Happy with the response, Marik chuckled and rewarded his companion a piece of beef rib. "Here, tuck into this."

Picking it up with his chopsticks, Yami took a bite and hummed with appreciation. It was cooked perfectly.

After swallowing the morsel, Yami asked, "You eat yakiniku often?"

"Not as much as I'd like to," Marik answered, placing a prawn in Yami's bowl. "It's only enjoyable with company. Eating yakiniku alone is rather sad, don't you think? Furthermore, too much grilled food can be bad, especially if it your companion keeps burning it."

A look of sorrow crossed Yami's face at the thought of wasting food. "Who does that?"

"Pegasus. The man keeps burning the food because he's too busy yakking away—usually about himself—and not paying attention to the food. On the other hand, Jou undercooks everything because he can't wait to eat! Luckily, Honda is there to remind him that certain meat has to be cooked thoroughly. The pup is too impatient for his own good."

It didn't surprise Yami that Jou was impatient when it came to food; he looked the gluttonous type. "Honda and Jou are really close, right? They seem to do everything together."

"Yeah, we nicknamed them 'Gemini' because they're a pair. They're actually childhood friends, you know." Marik bit into a thin piece of beef, chewed and swallowed. "They grew up together, attended the same schools throughout the years and entered the voice acting business about the same time too. It was Jou's dream to be a voice actor and Honda . . . well, he just tagged along to indulge his friend."

"Wow, that's dedication!"

"Yeah, unfortunately for Honda, Jou's enthusiastic and lively personality made him exceedingly popular while Honda became invisible and lagged behind. He seems content to let Jou hog all the limelight though."

"But it's not the case now, right? I mean, Honda is well known and has gained popularity from playing Super Roboyarou in Rare Metal Knight."

The bob of the blond head indicated an agreement. "And it's all thanks to Ota-san. Honda has gained recognition since he was cast that role. The director can spot talent from a mile away," Marik sent Yami a knowing look. It made the other pause shovelling rice into his mouth. "He knows if an actor is worth his or her weight in gold."

Swallowing what he had in his mouth, Yami smiled and said, "Well, I am thrilled he gave me this chance. I hope I can live up to his expectations."

Marik smiled back. "You are doing fine," he cheerfully reassured, reaching across the table and caressing Yami's cheek with his fingers.

"Marik!"

A laugh countered Yami's indignant protest and he withdrew his hand immediately. "I wasn't trying to molest you. Look," Marik presented the pad of his index finger for Yami to inspect. It had a grain of rice stuck to it. "I was removing this off your face." He licked off rice with a lewd grin on his face.

"Touch me again and kick you . . ."

Marik took a sip of his herbal tea and winked at Yami in a challenging way.

" . . . in the groin."

Marik choked on his beverage and spluttered, but after a few consecutive thumps to the chest he manage to recover.

An awkward silence ensued and it was some time before Marik ventured to speak again.

"Hey, Yami-chan," for a change the voice sounded a little hesitant.

"Hmm?" Yami paused blowing on a piece of salmon he had in his chopsticks and looked up.

"You still planning to voice BL stuff?"

Yami gave a careless shrug. "Work is work at the end of the day and beggars can't be choosers. I am not in a position to turn down work nor can I afford to be choosy just because, for the first time in my short career, I have work that's lasted longer than a week."

"Ah, the hardships of being a newbie," Marik said with sympathy, watching Yami devour his food.

Yami snorted. "Like you know what's it's like, sensei. As I recall, you were hired continuously after your debut. I hardly think you ever had a dry spell in your career."

The Egyptian looked as though he was about to refute the claim but, after some thought, realised it was the truth. "I suppose so," he grudgingly conceded. "But Pegasus really worked my ass off! He still does!"

"Well, be thankful for it," Yami admonished, slender brows drawn fiercely together. "Not everyone can be blessed like you and Kaiba-san, you know. I am certainly not going to turn down BL work if I am offered it. It's work at the end of the day."

Taking in the comment, Marik looked thoughtful. It made Yami very suspicious.

"Why do you ask?"

"I am contemplating venturing into BL," Marik replied, taking his phone out and pressing it. "I'm going to ask Pegasus to keep an eye out for suitable roles."

Yami was about to say something when the Egyptian raised a hand and stopped him. He rolled his eyes briefly before speaking. "Oi, Ojiisan**, Marik here. I got a special request for you," he winked at Yami. "See if there's any BL work that's suitable for Yami-chan and I. I'd like to be paired up with my sexy Yami-chan in something hot and steamy. Cheers." Then Marik hung up.

"I thought you said your sexy voice was only reserved for your lovers?" Yami questioned. He wasn't sure if he was happy or angry about Marik's actions.

"I am inclined to try it out if I can partner you. Who knows, maybe we'll develop real feelings for each other through our performance."

Yami felt his face was on fire. "Y-you wish!" he choked out. Marik's remark was like a prediction to his predicament with Kaiba. It was way too close for comfort.

"But it's possible," Marik insisted. "It's not uncommon in this business for actors to hook up in a relationship with each other after working together."

"Like you, you mean? I seem to recall you hooking up with everyone after work."

"Ah, but it's not having a relationship, now is it?" Marik corrected

Yami licked his lips then looked gravely at the Egyptian. "I don't mean to pry or anything . . . I mean, I know it's rather personal so you don't have to answer me if you don't want to, but have you ever had a proper relationship? One where you remained faithful to your partner?"

Marik shifted uncomfortably in his seat and sighed. Leaning back into his chair, he said, "I thought I was in a serious relationship once . . . but in the end, it wasn't all what it was cut out to be."

"Oh?" Yami said softly. He placed his bowl and utensil on the table to give Marik his full attention, his eyes encouraging the other to continue.

After removing the meat off the grill, Marik rested his tongs on one of the plates and looked sombrely at his companion. "Ironically, it was a relationship where I was content going out with the one person—where I was happy to be sleeping with him wrapped in my arms at night and feeling ecstatic that he was the first thing I'd see in the morning. I really thought he was the one."

"So what happened?"

Marik pulled a face. "Apparently, he wasn't content with me as I was with him. It turns out I wasn't the one he wanted—that I was just a substitute for a person that was temporarily beyond his reach. He managed to doll himself up at my expense and ensnare his prey. I was dropped with the excuse of us being 'incompatible'. It was bullshit though. The House of Ishtar could not compare to what the other had." He couldn't compete with KaibaCorp Communications, he thought bitterly.

"Oh, Marik." Yami's eyes shone with sympathy.

"Tsk, It is partly my fault. I was blinded by his beauty and smitten with his coyness. He was sensuous, wild and sexy, and the conniving bastard was a very good actor. He had me completely fooled." The admission twisted Marik's mouth into an ugly grimace.

One look at Marik's face and Yami reached across the table and patted Marik's hand as a gesture of comfort. He felt bad for asking the Egyptian about his love and forcing him recall the experience. With what was said of Marik's former lover, Amelda sprung to mind. From what he'd seen and heard of him, the latter embodied all those traits.

"I'm sorry for asking," Yami murmured.

Marik shrugged off the apology and picked up his chopsticks again. "Bah, don't worry about it. I am over it a long time ago." Snagging a cooked squid, he offered it to his companion. "Here, if you want to make me feel better then eat this."

At first, Yami remained motionless, but seeing the other wasn't going to give in— especially with the way he was waving the squid in his face—he clicked his tongue irritably and carefully closed his mouth around the piece of seafood along with tip of the utensil.

Beaming like a loon, Marik retracted his chopsticks and placed it in his mouth to savour the lingering taste of Yami. Unimpressed, Yami gave Marik mild glare as he ate his food.

"You know, it's hard to take you seriously if you can't take yourself seriously."

"That's because life's too short to take everything seriously. Don't you know laughter is the key to longevity?"

"Heaven help us if you continue to act the way you do when you're an old man then."

"It does wonders for one's sex life too. Generally, people dig a guy with a good sense of humour!"

Yami scoffed at the comment. "That's hardly the case for Kaiba-san, but it doesn't make him any less popular and he seems to attract people just fine. In fact, he does it without even trying—"

"Like you, you mean?" Marik interjected. "It's obvious you're drawn to him."

"It's hard not to be drawn to him," Yami defended, setting his bowl and chopsticks down and looking at Marik. "He has good looks, wealth, power and talent. All those qualities attract attention and turn heads. It's hard to look elsewhere when he is present."

Tugging his hair back with a frustrated growl, Marik leaned forward and looked into Yami's eyes, his expression uncharacteristically sombre. "I possess those qualities too, Yami-chan, and with humour to boot. Won't you also look my way?"

For a moment, Yami was gobsmacked. His eyes were comically large as the plates that littered the table and his mouth was agape with shock. Marik's entreaty left him winded.

Snickering, Marik reached across the table and closed his companion's mouth with a gentle tilt of his chin. "You'll catch flies if you continue to gape like that," he teased, grinning at the apprehensive way Yami was looking at him. "Look, I am not asking you to fall in love with me immediately. All I ask is that you don't dismiss me entirely. I can give you everything Kaiba has to offer and more."

"Even monogamy? Commitment and faithfulness to a single person throughout the relationship?" asked Yami, after finding his voice. Cocking a sceptical brow at Marik, he leaned back into his chair and crossed his arms over his chest. "Sorry for being doubtful, but you don't strike me as the type to be devoted to one person. From what I've seen, you tend to be overly generous with your love and I don't like sharing."

A wide smirk spread across the Egyptian's face. "Why? Does my Yami-chan mind?" he cooed. "I will promise I have eyes only for you if you devote yourself solely to me. There will be no sharing of my affections with others."

Shaking his head, Yami opened his mouth to disprove Marik but the latter stopped him.

"Don't say anything right now, okay?" Marik implored. He knew what Yami's answer was going to be. He knew if Yami voiced it, all hope would be dashed. The door to Yami's heart would be mentally slammed in his face and all would be lost. He meant it when he said he was willing to devote himself to Yami. There weren't very many people who could keep his interest keen. And there were even less people who interested Kaiba. It was unfortunate that they were again both drawn to the same person. Fate had a cruel way of messing with them. As if it wasn't enough to have them as love rivals on screen, they had to be contenders off screen too.

An uncomfortable silence descended between them. Yami was unsure of what to say and Marik was unwilling to push further. Not wanting to aggravate the mood more, Marik sighed and placed the remaining uncooked food on the grill.

"So," Marik began casually, "want to go for a stroll after this . . . you know, to work off the meal?" He worked fast and shared the cooked food between them; ensuring Yami got a larger portion because, in his opinion, the guy was too skinny for his own good. That succulent ass could do with some serious fattening up.

Yami thought about Marik's proposal and shook his head. He didn't want Marik to drop him off home directly so he'll pay Anzu a visit instead. "No thanks," he said. "I'd like to visit a friend at my previous work place. You can drop me off at the nearest train station and I can make my own way there."

Marik would have none of it and his protests made it clear. "Nonsense! I can drop you off at the place," he said.

"But isn't that a bother?"

"For you, Yami-chan, it's no bother at all. So where is this place then?"

Yami gave the address and Marik checked out the directions on his phone.

"You sure you don't want—"

"I am sure," Yami butted in. "Besides, it's been a long day and I am a little tired."

"The night is still young though."

"For you maybe, but I've been up since the crack of dawn."

"I can take you straight home," suggested Marik, sounding hopeful.

"No, that's fine. Honestly." Yami insisted. "Erm, there's an urgent matter I need to discuss with Anzu in person so . . ."

"Fine." Marik got the hint. "I guess your sweetheart is more important."

"She's not my sweetheart," Yami proclaimed, spearing a piece of chicken aggressively. "She doesn't see me that way."

"But you wished she does, right? Is she the one who broke my poor Yami-chan's heart?"

"I don't know what you're talking about," Yami deflected. "What we have between us is sibling love apparently."

Marik laughed aloud. "Then I am glad to hear it." Lifting up his glass, he said, "Here's to new beginnings and new love."

Yami smirked and drank to it. So far, he had managed to grasp an opportunity of a lifetime, in which he was thankful for. Perhaps, fate would grant him someone to love him and whom he could love too?

Smiling wistfully to himself, Yami could only wish.

O-o-O-o-O

The rumbling of the motorcycle stopped outside the brightly lit convenience store. The two riders got off and removed their helmets.

Passing the headgear to his companion, Yami carded his unsteady fingers through his hair in an attempt to restore some order in them and gave Marik a shaky smile. "Well, thank you for dinner. Aside the suicidal bike ride, it was a fun evening."

After putting the helmets down, Marik threw an arm over Yami's shoulder and hugged him close. "Then we should do it again sometime."

"Without the abducting though."

"Maybe," the cheeky Egyptian returned with a saucy wink. "But that was half the fun!

Yami stared at Marik with mock disbelief. "And here I thought half the fun was scaring me to death on that death-trap of yours!"

"Well, I did like the way you snuggled closer when you're scared."

"Thanks," Yami said glibly, making a move to pull away from the hentai but was met with some resistance.

"Wait!"

Instinctively, Yami turned to look at Marik. A soft click was heard and the grip around Yami's shoulders slackened.

"Care to explain what that was?" Yami asked.

"It's a selfie of you and I together."

Vexed, Yami scowled at the offender. "Stop doing impulsive stuff without permission!" he snarled. "And make sure that photo stays in your phone and not splattered all over the web!"

"Why? Scared it'll make Kaiba jealous?"

"Argh, you insufferable man!" Yami turned to storm off, but was caught in a tight hug. Marik was surprisingly strong.

"I am sorry, okay?" Marik said against Yami's ears. "I promise that picture will be for my eyes only."

"And no funny ideas with it either! I won't have you do ecchi stuff with it!"

"Ah, you know me too well, Yami-chan!" Marik sighed in defeat. "I promise it won't be used as porno material."

Satisfied with the promise, Yami relaxed briefly against Marik before slapping the other's arms signalling for his release.

"You can let go now."

Nuzzling his face in Yami's hair once more and deeply breathing in the other's scent, Marik reluctantly released his captive and took a step back. "Goodnight, Yami-chan, and see you tomorrow."

Yami turned and gave Marik a small wave. "Goodnight," he answered with a smile. "And drive carefully."

"Aww, you worried about me?" Marik basked in Yami's concern. He thought it was sweet.

"Well, it is your turn to do the commercial tomorrow. We can't have you out of commission, now can we?"

"Ouch, my feelings are hurt now," chortled the Egyptian, reaching out to swat Yami's butt.

Laughing, the latter deftly dodged the attack and playfully stuck his tongue out in retaliation. Then giving a two-finger salute in form of a farewell, he entered the store and disappeared from Marik's sight.

The Egyptian watched as Yami wandered in a certain direction of the store before he was glomped by a joyous brunette. Seeing that was his cue to leave, Marik strapped the helmet on his head and climbed onto his bike. Within a few seconds, he was roaring down the street and navigating his way home with uncharacteristic caution to ensure he fulfilled his Yami-chan's request.

O-o-O-o-O

The store was empty of customers when Yami entered. The front counter was manned by an unfamiliar face and after a quick scan around, Yami could see Anzu kneeling by the magazine section and tidying up the shelves. The image evoked a feeling of nostalgia.

"Hey." Not wanting to scare his friend, the greeting was softly spoken. Standing still, Yami watched with amusement as Anzu turn towards his feet and slowly look up. When his identity finally registered in her mind, she sprang to her feet and enveloped him in a warm hug. Yami returned the gesture with equal gusto.

When they finally pulled away, Anzu held him at arm's length and cast an approving eye over him. "Wow, this is a surprise," she said, beaming with delight and steering him to a more secluded area of the store—namely the corner where they stocked the detergents and cleaning products. "So tell me, Yami, how's things been with you?"

Yami looked at his 'former-crush-and-now-turned-sister' and said, "I delivered your letter to Kaiba-sensei and he's promised to reply."

"Oh," was Anzu's reaction. She turned around and began rearranging the bottles of washing-up liquid on the shelf—a task that was unnecessary and redundant to Yami's trained eye. He raised a curious brow at the one syllable response and waited for her to continue. Anzu had moved onto the bottles of bleach before she decided to elaborate further. "I . . . erm . . . I got a reply from Kaiba-sensei already."

Now, Yami's other brow rose to join its twin and his heart rate sped up a notch or two with trepidation. "He did?" he squeaked. "Already?" The man certainly moved fast—even faster than Marik!

Kaiba's efficiency shouldn't have surprised Yami; such traits were impressive and admirable. Yami wondered with no little amount of eagerness and impatience what Kaiba decided to have prompted the speedy response. By then, Anzu had moved onto the disinfectants. To Yami though, such actions spoke of nervousness. He vaguely wondered if her caginess had something to do with the reply. Patiently, he waited for her to impart the news. Unfortunately, after two minutes of silence and rows of bottles being lined with military precision, he decided to prod her.

"Anzu?"

The voice startled the female and she stopped mid-action in her task. The fabric conditioners were currently getting the 'treatment'. Letting out a sad sigh, Anzu turned to face her companion and gave him a crooked smile.

"The reply was delivered this morning whilst I was asleep," Anzu fidgeted a little before finding the courage to carry on. "I found it when I woke a-and . . ." her breath hitched slightly and she frowned at her inability to continue without her voice going wobbly. Steeling herself, she said, "He rejected me."

Relief and sadness flooded through Yami as he opened his arms and said "C'mere" to his dejected friend—wrapping his arms around her slender body when she flew into his arms for the second time in ten minutes, only this time with her face buried in his chest.

Kaiba rejected Anzu!

The thought kept repeating in his head making him flustered and dizzy with some unfathomable emotion.

Kaiba rejected Anzu!

It meant Kaiba was not interested in Anzu! Yami would have mentally punched his fist in the air if he weren't ashamed for being callous and horrid. The rejection had opened doors to many possibilities—especially to those pertaining to a certain stoic man. A small part of him was glad Anzu didn't love him the way he loved her and there was little use in denying the fact that she would ever either.

Unsure what to say, Yami patted the other's back soothingly. He was thankful that despite her distress, Anzu did not break out in hysterical sobs or bawl unrelentingly while lamenting about how unfair life was. Instead, she hid her grief well with the exception of a muffled sniffle escaping now and then. Yami allowed her the use of his chest until her colleague appeared with an anxious and bewildered look on his face. Yami shook his head gently and gave the guy a reassuring smile. The latter nodded and silently retreated.

"You're not rubbing your snot all me, are you?" Yami's question broke through the comfortable silence.

A shake of the auburn head and a giggle was Anzu's answer. After heaving a huge sigh, Anzu pulled away and gave Yami a teary smile.

"I should thank you for delivering the letter to Kaiba-sensei not cry all over you," she sheepishly said.

Yami gently poked Anzu's forehead. "Hey, it's what big brothers are for, right?" It was nice to be able to provide some comfort to Anzu when she needed it. She was usually so strong and unshakeable that observing her breakdown was a little daunting. Trust Kaiba to have that kind of effect on people.

"Anyway, thanks for delivering the letter, Yami. I am really grateful for that."

Yami gave a lopsided smiled. "For what it's worth, I am sorry that it didn't turn out how you wanted it to."

Anzu shrugged. "Nah, it's alright really," she cheerfully forced out. "I sort of expected it anyway. After all, it would be unreal for the great Ice Prince to fall in love with a nobody like me."

Yami winced at Anzu's words. She had no idea how close she was hitting the truth with that off-handed remark.

Conceding a melancholy sigh, she added, "At least I got a hand-written letter from him to keep." Her companion tried not to look too interested but failed dramatically. "Did you know Kaiba-san's handwriting is neat and perfect?"

Yami barely managed to contain the sarcastic retort that rose within him. He clearly remembered the "You're a slut if you call that number!" message Kaiba left in his notebook during their first encounter. Kaiba's hand was undeniably elegant, but his words were far less so. Instead, Yami shook his head in reply to Anzu's question. He wasn't about to divulge that titbit of info in case Anzu interrogated him for more.

"Yep, his handwriting is immaculate, and the strokes are firm and masculine!"

Yami snorted. Trust Anzu to describe Kaiba's handwriting as manly. What would she think about his messy script and Marik's exaggerated and flowery hand, he wondered.

"So, Yami. How was your day?" asked Anzu, her mood lifting a little. Yami was sure Anzu wanted to hear about Kaiba.

"It's fine," he answered with a dismissive flap of his hand. "I spent the day doing a commercial shoot for KCC and was kidnapped by Marik when I finished. He dropped me off here after dinner."

"WHAT?!" squealed Anzu. "You went out Marik-sensei?" On one hand, Yami was happy that Anzu temporarily forgot her woes, but not at the expense of adding more to his. Wagging a finger, she said, "You must tell me all about this date you went on, and don't skimp on the details either." Grabbing his hand, she began dragging him away from their isolated spot.

"There's nothing to tell, Anzu," Yami moaned. "It was just dinner! Besides, aren't you supposed to be working now?" He hoped appealing to Anzu's sense of duty would prevent her from grilling him. Sadly, it was as effective as getting Anzu to ship Purple. It was impossible!

"No worries," she assured him, "I'm going to take my break now." She turned and relayed her decision to her colleague who yelled back his acknowledgment and told her he wanted an autograph from 'Mutou-sensei'. She promptly promised him one.

Leading him to the familiar staffroom at the back of the store, he was ordered to take a seat while Anzu grabbed her dinner from her locker.

"Right! I want you to fill me in with every delicious and perverted detail," she demanded after seating herself down at the table with her food. "And I want to see photos if there are any! If you hold back info or Marik-sensei says something different on his blog, I will personally see that your email inbox is flooded with Orangeshipping porn, fics and pics! Understand?"

With eyes bright with anticipation and the eager face returning, Yami hadn't the heart to refuse Anzu. Expelling the breath he was holding, he reluctantly began to disclose the details of the "date" with Marik. There was no doubt in his mind that Anzu's fan-girl zeal would be the death of him one of these days.

O-o-O-o-O

I love you.

Freezing a certain frame in the film he was watching, Kaiba leaned forward to study the face of a certain crimson-eyed individual. The team was unable to pick up the conversation but Kaiba knew the moment Yami had said those much-coveted words. He watched the lips formulate the confession and he stared transfixed at the shy smile that accompanied it.

That still shot of Yami held Kaiba entranced.

The camera did it justice; it captured the simmering fire that burns beneath. He could feel the warmth emitting from those bright, fiery eyes—eyes that can express an array of emotions in a short span of time. Those eyes could communicate as effectively as words could. A wide-eyed look could convey shock or amazement. A glare, though not as lethal as his trademark death-glare, meant the indignant man was annoyed or angry, whilst a tapered glance displayed his displeasure.

But sometimes it's when those eyes are not trained his way that makes Kaiba smile. He would be lying if he didn't enjoy the way Yami would shyly look away with a flush of red across his cheeks and smile or pout on his lips. It is that bashful expression that made Kaiba want to tease the other more and see that hue of red deepen and spread.

He had swiftly dealt with the Mazaki girl, declining her with a polite rejection and cutting off hope before it could flourish. He didn't want Yami to misinterpret his intentions by delaying a reply. He had to be cruel to be kind.

He was impressed with the girl's way with words though. Vocabulary aside, her punctuation and grammar were impeccable even if the content was mildly similar to what he had received in the past. For him, it was a generic love letter and one he would never have paid it mind—let alone reply—had it not be requested of him. At least, Yami owes him for it. He would have to think carefully on what favours to ask for. It wouldn't do to squander them.

Turning his attention back to the screen, Kaiba studied the face once more. Soon the whole of Japan will be familiar with Mutou Yami. Not only will his voice be associated with Broken Bonds, his face will be plastered on billboards across the country promoting the Millennium label. Like him, Ishizu never did things half-heartedly; she would exploit Yami's potential to the fullest—especially now Marik is in cohorts with her and ever so willing to contribute to the cause. The damned hentai had not stopped rubbing that crap into his face all day. If he was subjected to "Exotic" and "Cool" one more time, he was so going to lose his shit!

And to top it off, Marik went and pulled that move on Yami behind his back! No wonder the bastard was in a hurry to leave after work! Ever since Kaiba found out about the escapade, he'd been restless. The hentai may not have had the heart to ravish a drunk and unsuspecting Yami, but he was sure Marik had no qualms about carrying it out on the conscious and sober man . . . or at least try to. It would be interesting to see if Yami's integrity will withstand the other's endeavours. Marik could be very persuasive if he wanted to be. The Egyptian could work his charm like magic and people rarely resisted. Kaiba's bore witness to that more times than he cared to remember.

The hentai would make a perfect salesman for KCC. Marik could make a person purchase a phone that he or she didn't need. It'll be interesting to see how sales fare for the PRIDE series. The sales department had predicted a demand for the Obelisk, Ra and Kisara model and production had reflected that. However, Kaiba was curious to see the results of a particular phone.

Fans bought the model of the character they idolised. It helped if someone they liked voiced said character too. He wondered if Yami would be able to boost Osiris' sales and compete with him, Marik and Shizuka. Success hinged on the whether the fans accept him as Osiris. It was a tall order to fulfil, but not an impossible one. Kaiba had ordered extra phones in Imperial Red to be produced. He had faith in Yami's ability to sell them.

Reclining into his chair, Kaiba turned his eyes to the small box on the desk and pulled it towards him. Opening it up, he lifted out the delicate trinket and brought it to eye level, his sharp gaze taking in every detail of the design. After a thorough examination, he returned to the box and closed the lid.

With one final and lingering look at the screen on his computer, he took a snapshot of it and saved it onto his desktop. Powering down his computer, Kaiba pushed himself off the chair and stood up. Then swiping his phone and the box off the desk, he began making his way out of the room, his mind now occupied with how Marik and Yami's dinner date was going.

Stopping short of the door, Kaiba logged into the KCC's network through his phone and accessed the company's detection feature. Typing in Yami's phone number, he discovered the subject had moved locations. Tapping several times on the dot that pinpointed Yami's whereabouts, Kaiba was given an address and a picture of a local convenient store not too far from the other's home. According to report, Yami had arrived there twenty-three minutes ago.

Kaiba let out a small chuckle. The thought of Yami ditching Marik in favour of visiting his ex-crush was certainly something to be happy about—unless the pair had stopped to pick up lube and condoms—to which Kaiba quickly suppressed thought.

Giving himself a mental shake, Kaiba tried to look at the matter positively. Yami had to be there for the girl and no other reason. If that were the case, then Yami should be aware of his reply. It meant Yami knew of the rejection. Would Yami pursue Anzu now he is no longer a contender?

Ironically, only a few moments ago, he thought Marik was his biggest threat, but now he wasn't so sure. Vexed with the turn of events, he slowly made his way out of the room, his thoughts in disarray as he flipped off the light. His phone rang as he was turning into the hallway. A quick glance at the screen indicated it was from Yami and, once again, Kaiba stopped to access his phone.

"Kaiba," he declared.

"Hi, Kaiba-san. It's Mutou here. I hope I'm not disturbing you or anything . . ." Yami's voice trailed off into uncertainty.

"No, you're not," Kaiba assured. "So what can I do for you, Mutou?"

"Um, I just wanted to say thanks for your quick response to Anzu. I owe you."

Kaiba smirked. "That's two favours you owe me so don't forget." He sounded pleased. "So, where are you?"

"I am sure you'll not let me forget that," Yami laughed. "As for where am I, I am just leaving the convenient store, you know, the place where I used to work, now." After a pause, he added, "By the way, I had a chat with Anzu when she was on her break."

Kaiba's interest piqued. "How did she take the news?" It wasn't like he was interested in the girl's reaction. He only asked to gauge a response from Yami. It may indicate where the other's inclinations lay.

Yami sighed sadly into the phone. "As expected, she is gutted and had a good cry. But she's calmed down now."

Kaiba mentally scoffed at the other's concern and hoped his rejection of the girl hadn't backfired on him. He had to know what Yami plan to do now the girl was free. "And like a good friend, you comforted her?" he boldly enquired.

There was a long pause before Yami replied. Kaiba suspected it may have something to do with how the other was trying to word his answer.

"Yeah, I offered her a shoulder to cry on and she appreciated it. I haven't seen her this upset since Osiris refused Ra's request to elope with him. Now that broke her heart." Yami chuckled good-humouredly at the memory.

Groaning out loud, Kaiba wondered if Yami was being dense or evasive. Did the idiot not get the question he was hinting at? It appears a direct approach was needed. "So," he began, "are you going to date her now she is no longer attached to me?"

There was a sharp inhale and then silence reigned. Kaiba could hear Yami's soft pants as he hurried home. The silence made Kaiba wonder if he'd been too forward with his question. The fact that it stretched on rather uncomfortably made him want to call it a night and hang up.

"She isn't interested in me," Yami divulged after a while, resignation seeping into his voice. "Not in that way, at least. Pursuing her would be a pointless and futile exercise, don't you think?"

Kaiba smiled and hummed an agreement. Even if he was unsure of where Yami and him were heading after this revelation, the admission was reassuring nonetheless.

"How do you feel about it?" he asked.

"There's nothing for me to 'feel' about it," said Yami, passively. "You can't force someone to like you no matter how much you wish it."

"And you wish it?"

"No! Yes!" A pause. "I-I really don't know anymore." A sigh. "Everything is so messed up and confusing. It's like my feels are all over the place." Another sigh. "And nothing makes sense anymore."

"You make it sound like it's a bad thing."

"Well, considering two months ago I was certain I was straight and in love with my female colleague," snapped Yami, "but now . . ."

"But now you discover you are bi and in love with your male colleague," Kaiba proudly finished off.

"So cocky, Kaiba," Yami replied cuttingly, sarcasm dripping off each word. "I hate to point out that most of my colleagues are now male . . . and there's Marik."

Kaiba's lips curled with disdain at the mention of the unscrupulous man and asked with enough bite that equalled Yami's, "So how did your dinner date go?"

"You're the second person to insist it was a date."

"And you deny it?"

"Last time I checked a 'date' comprised of two people agreeing to go out on an excursion together, be it for entertainment or food. What Marik pulled this evening did not constitute any of that. It was nothing more than a dinner shared between two colleagues."

"So how was your 'dinner' then?"

"It wasn't an altogether unpleasant experience besides the bike ride," Yami replied. "And Marik did behave himself for most part."

A small part of Kaiba wanted to sulk at Yami's admission. Was it bad to want Yami's dinner ruined by Marik's antics? Was it horrid of him to want Yami rejecting Marik's advances like the Mazaki girl rejected him? In all honesty, Kaiba wished it had gone so badly that Yami wouldn't ever want a repeat of the experience again. A selfish Kaiba was undeniably a spiteful Kaiba. And as much as he wanted to know whose company Yami preferred and enjoyed more, he couldn't bring himself to ask without sounding suspiciously jealous. So reluctantly, he let the matter drop.

"Are you home yet?"

Sounding a little out of breath, Yami said, "Nearly. Just another flight of stairs and I'm there." A few huffs later and the sound of Yami's key jingling against the key ring could be heard.

Straining his ears, Kaiba could hear a door creaked open and then shut again.

"Okay, I am home now."

Upon hearing the contentment in the other's voice, Kaiba smiled. The thought of a domesticated Yami amused him.

"Then I shall leave you." From the conversation with Yami, Kaiba managed to establish that Yami wasn't going to pursue a relationship with the Mazaki girl and nothing significant happened between him and Marik during their time together. It assured him enough to stop prying more for details. "Get plenty of rest and goodnight."

Yami promptly responded in kind. "Yeah, I will and goodnight to you too. I'll see you tomorrow."

Kaiba grunted a reply and hung up. Feeling lighter, he decided to take a shower and then heat up the meal his housekeeper had prepared for him earlier. Now that the day's business had been settled, he could afford to take things easy and relax. With the exception of Marik's escapade, it had been a good day for him. At last, Kaiba's good mood had been restored.

O-o-O-o-O

AwesomeMe: I've devised a cunning plan to boost the popularity of my boys and that adorable neko charge of yours.

HarpyLady: Oh? Keep talking.

AwesomeMe: How about we have Neko oscillate between Prince and Playboy? That way, it'll appeal to the shippers of both sides.

HarpyLady: Like a real life enactment of Purpleshipping and Orangeshipping, you mean?

AwesomeMe: Exactly! Fans will love it! They are causing quite a stir in the Purple and Orange community! We can use that to our advantage and milk the situation.

HarpyLady: Go on, I'm listening.

AnimeToonFreak: How does a triangle love affair between Prince, Neko and Playboy sound to you?

HarpyLady: Sounds like a death wish on your part, but it's your funeral! I'll go along with it as long as it doesn't hurt my charge.

AwesomeMe: Oh goody! I'll begin setting things in motion. Did you know Playboy has expressed an interest in doing BL and he wants to be partnered with Neko?

HarpyLady: Really? Why am I not surprised! He just wants vocal sex with my boy!

AwesomeMe: It'll be hot, for sure. All that's left is to find the right script. If you find anything that is suitable, let me know.

HarpyLady: OK, will do.

AwesomeMe: Btw, how did Neko-boy's filming go today?

HarpyLady: He sent me a quick text to say it went fine. There were a few hiccups, but it worked out ok in the end. I heard it's Playboy's turn tomorrow.

AwesomeMe: It is, and I have to be there to supervise him and ensure he'll be on his best behaviour. The setting isn't helping matters either.

HarpyLady: Oh?

AwesomeMe: It's filmed in a nightclub. Playboy is in his element in places like those. I have to make sure he doesn't get distracted with the extras they've employed.

HarpyLady: Good luck then.

AwesomeMe: No doubt I'll need it. Well, I'm off to my beauty sleep now. We'll talk soon. Goodnight.

HarpyLady: 'Night.

[10:56PM: AwesomeMe has signed out]

[10:56PM: HarpyLady has signed out]

~TBC~

O-o-O-o-O

Author's Note: So there you have it, the much belated chapter of Voices, I dearly hope it was worth the wait. As you can see, there's a lots going on with new revelations and further complications and predicaments in the bag. How will our boys react the higher-ups' meddling, I wonder? I bet you didn't see that coming, right?

Well, Voices have come a long way from the story I wrote when I was in a whimsical mood. I've noticed that it's been three years since I began this fic and I have met some fantastic people through this experience. Sadly, I have lost a few of my regular readers through RL, school and internet issues. It's also made me wonder if I am at fault too. I know updates in the past year haven't been as frequent as before—given health problems, RL, Enslaved and millions of other distractions in my life—I can't blame readers for giving up on the fic. Though I try to compensate the tardy updates with long chapters, I feel perhaps it isn't enough. It's made me question my writing more and more and making me feel so insecure about it in the process. Am dragging the story out needlessly? Is it my fault that readers are getting bored with the pace and direction of the story and they've moved on? I've been in a slump for two months and I couldn't get motivated to write because of this anxiety and depression. It's the reason the chapter is so long in coming.

As a result, I have thought long and hard about the future of this fic and the options available to me. In the end, I plan to end Voices early. Originally, I estimate another ten to fifteen chapters more to Voices (which will take another five to ten years to complete if my updating schedule is anything like it is now, which I dearly hope not!), but it will conclude in around three to fives chapters depending on my verbosity and I strive to have some kind of a satisfactorily disclosure by then. I humbly apologise for dropping this bombshell to you all, especially to my lovely readers who's been actively supporting this fic since its infant days. I know it feels like a kick in the teeth for you all and I am so, so, so sorry. If it's any consolation, who's to say I won't change my mind because there is so much I want to share with you all and it hurts me to know I can't! However, at the moment, I feel I can't deliver fast enough to keep everyone's interest keen and my fear of waning interest is making me insecure, hence this decision. I hope you can all forgive me.

On a lighter note, more commercial shoots with an added dose of mischief and shenanigans in next chapter and Yami will be in for a BIG surprise! Tune in and I hope to see you there.

---

*Yakiniku – means "grilled meat". A yakiniku restaurant provides a table with a small built-in grill in the center and serves dishes of raw meat and vegetables for the patrons to cook. It is essentially an indoor barbeque.

**Ojiisan – Old man . . . and in Marik's case, he's calling Pegasus an old geezer.

---

And finally, responses to anonymous reviews:

~Ariana: Hahahahaha! Yes, Happy Bunny does sound so Peggy, doesn't it? LOL!

Marik had been replaced . . . for now, but he'll have his fun soon enough. Some readers demand it!

I think if Kaiba didn't get to Yami, Marik would have sat with him until Yami woke. He won't take advantage of Yami in his unconscious state . . . much.

And I agree, lunch could have gone better, but it could have gone a lot worse as well! Both are a little wary of each other in the light of what just happened to Yami so they're like treading on eggshells around each other at the moment—except Kaiba likes to take advantage of Yami's situation. The guy can be mean-spirited, but Yami is cute when he's stumped and flustered!

Yeah, Yami is terrified of technology and isn't much of a techno-savvy. He's so old-fashion and stingy! Gawd, I make him sound like Gramps! *headdesk*

And finally, I have a feeling Marik's gonna know where Yami lives sooner or later and there's only so much rejecting and declining Yami can do before the hentai does something about it. Let's see how patient Marik can be? *evil grin*

The Kaiba x Anzu is finally resolved and it's as anticlimactic as Kaiba can make it. Think "Kaiba" and you'll see how he dealt with the situation . . . *winks*

You are so right, but at the same time, Yami was a "nobody" who was late for his audition and was being scolded by his manager. Not really a good impression. Right? But yeah, Kaiba was rude and offensive, and Marik was . . . well, Marik, he wouldn't turn down a pretty face and even gave Yami his phone number. Perhaps, Yami should make Kaiba eat his words . . . not that he hasn't slapped the other's face with it in one of the previous chappies!

Wow, GOOD LUCK with your internship and the rest of your academic year. Sounds like it's gonna be over soon. Hang in there! *hugs*

It's good to hear from you and your comments make me laugh! Thanks a bunch for putting up with me and showing your support. It means the world to me! *clings*

~Yami-E: Yes, don't we all love this big jerk! I guess it's what drew us to him in the first place, right?

I wonder if you got a feeling about this update then? I know what you mean about getting caught up in reading fics. My list has gotten longer since I got hooked onto the Hetalia: Axis Power fandom.

I bet there are a lot of mixed feelings about the new YGO! series. I tried to get interested in the spin-offs after Duel Monsters, but I didn't get very far. Asides, YGO! Capsules Monsters, my love for DM is unrivalled in the YGO! franchise.

Yes, it was Marik who found Yami and no, he didn't do anything to Yami because he felt it wasn't right. He'd been there for some time before Kaiba arrived. Believe it or not, he isn't a bad guy. He just likes to tease, is all~! Anyways, nothing bad happen so far—if you don't count the kidnapping in this chapter—and even then, Marik behaved himself. True, Marik still can't be trusted with the knowledge of Yami's home address, but he's proved that he cares about Yami even though he has a weird way of wooing the man.

You know, Anzu's sudden love for Kaiba is more like a crush that developed after she met him. Seeing how handsome he is in real life, she couldn't stop thinking about him and the possibilities of pursuing a relationship with him. She somehow hoped she made an impression on him (like he did to her) at the 'meet and greet' event after the BB press conference. She had nothing to lose by confessing, right? Obviously, it didn't work out, but she sort of expected it and she forced herself to accept that (and hence her reaction in this chapter) after the rejection. She's still hurting, despite her cheerfulness, but she's putting on a brave public face.

The actors get to keep the phones after filming the commercials. It's good publicity for KCC when they are seen using them. It's a win-win situation for all.

Ah, I didn't know there's a new YGO! series. Like I said before, I am partial to the original because I fell in love with Yami first and foremost. I don't think anything else in the series is going to replace that love. Now, if only I can find a plush doll of Yami and Kaiba then my life would be complete, YGO-wise!

Once again, I thank you from the bottom of my heart for your lovely review. Know that it's comments like yours that keep this fic going and me writing. I truly appreciate the effort and I take encouragement from it. I hope you'll continue this to the not-too-distant end. Thank you~! *hugs*