Erm . . . So yeah . . . Enjoy?
Warnings: Marik shenanigans, contact mutual masturbation (aka hand jobs, wanking and jerking off) with the same sex, more procrastinating, torturous slow-burning relationships and the usual 'blah-blah-blah' applies.
Disclaimer: I do not own Yu-Gi-Oh!
"Hey, guess who's been spotted in the bitch seat of Marik's bike?"
Honda rolled his eyes at his best friend's crass comment. They had just gotten through the door of the recording room and Jounouchi was waving his new phone excitedly in the air. All the room's occupants looked up, most had curiosity plastered on their faces . . . all except for two.
Yami was quietly conversing with Shizuka, Rebecca and Marik until the interruption. The girls had wanted details of the commercial shoot, but upon hearing Jounouchi's words they turned their attention to him and then to Marik.
Marik was about to respond but was silenced with a 'don't you dare!' glare from Yami. Marik shrugged and grinned back.
"Lemme seeeeeeee!" Rebecca's excited holler broke the pair's locked gaze. All eyes were again on Jounouchi.
"Welp, apparently this is the most talked about topic at the moment," Jounouchi held out his phone with the screen facing his audience. Lo and behold, there was a photo of Marik on his beloved bike with the anonymous passenger adhere to his back.
The girls, Marik and Yami leaned in to study the picture. It looked as if it were taken when the pair was waiting at the traffic lights. Yami was relieved to see the helmet covered his face and masking his identity. The way he clung onto Marik until there was no space between them was so embarrassing.
Surprisingly, the Egyptian was the first to pull away. "Send me the link," he told Jounouchi.
"Sure." The blond quickly complied, pulling his phone back and tapping the screen.
"Was that the reason you left early yesterday?" Rebecca asked, turning to look quizzically at Marik.
"Maybe," Marik teased with a wink.
"Pfft, you don't have to be so secretive, you know," Rebecca huffed, crossing her arms in front of her chest. "It's not like its news to us. We . . ." she indicated to the small circle of people surrounding the Egyptian, "are interested in your mysterious passenger. So spill."
Marik laughed and tapped his nose. "It's for me to know and you to find out," he playfully evaded. He wasn't oblivious to the tensed and fretful male in front of him. Luckily, there was nothing in the picture to suggest the passenger was Yami. The most discriminating evidence would have been Yami's well-used bag, but that was slung on the other side of his body and thus hidden from sight.
The disappointed "awwww" from Shizuka and Rebecca made him feel a little guilty, but Marik squashed it. He didn't usually have qualms about sharing his dates with his friends, but he knew Yami was a guarded and private individual and he respected that.
Still, it didn't stop the others speculating and making it the topic of the ensuing conversation. Yami couldn't be more relieved when Ota-san appeared with Kaiba, signalling the beginning of the session. If he was called a "skinny and flat chested woman" one more time, he was going to scream!
O-o-O-o-O
Yami winced at the pitch he forced his voice to ascend; he didn't think he could ever get used to acting the cross-dressing Osiris scene no matter how many times they did it. Unfortunately, Ota-san was having none of it and pushed on.
Inwardly sighing, Yami tried to concentrate on the director's instructions again.
"It needs to be a little higher," Ota-san advised, "and softer too."
Yami mentally rolled his eyes. It wasn't as though he wasn't trying hard enough nor was it because of the directions Ota-san was firing at him was lacking; his voice was simply not made to sound feminine.
Sighing through his nose, Yami cleared his throat and squeezed out Osiris' lines again. It sounded shrill and nasally to his ears. It made him winced again.
"Hmmm, better but a little too nasally. Try to relax your throat so you don't stress your vocal cords. At the moment, the muscles are too tense which inevitably makes your voice sound forced." Pausing for a moment, Ota-san said, "Shizuka-san, we need your help."
Shizuka got up from her seat and joined Yami at the front.
"Right, I would like you to say Osiris' lines and Yami-kun, I would like you to imitate Shizuka-san's voice. Do you think can you do that?"
Swallowing his embarrassment, Yami nodded.
O-o-O-o-O
"Please explain why I have to dress up as a woman again?" Osiris' displeased voice resounded loud and clear through the room.
"It's not just any woman, Osiris, but one of the princess' selected hand-maiden you'll be masquerading," corrected Obelisk with a wag of his finger, chuckling at the evil glare that was sent his way. "I think you should be honoured to be posing next to your beautiful sister and act as her human shield."
"And why do I get the feeling you are gaining immense pleasure from my unfortunate predicament, Obelisk?" prodded the disgruntled prince.
"Um . . . because it was I who suggested it in the first place?"
Osiris' death-glare doubled in potency, but did little to intimidate the cheerful man.
"Well, one has to find ways to amuse oneself, isn't that right, Ra?"
Ra glowered at the squabbling pair. "I hardly think playing dress-up is entertaining," he replied in bored tones. "Though I have to admit, we can't have Kisara exposed in public when there's a potential threat made against her. At least Osiris can protect her should the need arise. It's that or we cancel the Spring Maiden Parade."
"But the people so look forward to the holiday and its festivities!" Kisara whined. "It'll be a shame if it gets cancelled. I don't mind taking the risk if the idea makes Osiris uncomfortable. I wouldn't want to cause trouble for anyone."
Resting his eyes on his kind-hearted sister, Osiris' expression softened. "No, Ra is right," he sighed. "We, as your Protectors, cannot expose you to that risk. It is selfish of me to think about my discomfort before your safety. Please forgive me, Nee-sama."
"So you'll do it then?" Kisara chirped, her mood perking up.
"Yes."
"And you'll let me and Mana to dress you, right?" she pressed slyly.
"Yes."
Ra snorted. "Perhaps, this is going to be amusing after all."
~OoOoO~
The day of the Spring Maiden Festival arrived and loud screaming could be heard from the prince's quarters.
"Good heavens, how can you wear this stuff?" a horrified Osiris wailed, trying to run away. "I've got more layers than an onion!"
"Oh, stop whining like a baby and take it like a man!" Mana chided.
"I am taking it like a man, hence my protests! And stop pulling those strings so tight, I can't breathe!"
"If you are still able to complain, then it's not all that tight," Mana huffed. "Honestly, we have to endure this daily and you, my dear prince, need only to endure it for half a day the most. Be thankful that your height permits you to wear flat pumps and not heels!"
"You bet I'm thankful," Osiris panted and threw himself, face first, on his bed. "I can't believe it's going to be 'death by corset' for me! My demise is going to be so humiliating!"
"Oh, don't be such a baby, Osiris. You're going to crease the dress lying on your stomach like that and I don't think you want to change again, do you?" Kisara swatted her brother fondly with the back of a hairbrush she was holding. "Come now, we need to sort out your hair."
"Do we have to?" came the muffled protest. "Have mercy on me, Nee-sama. Did you not torture me enough?" Osiris turned his face and looked dejectedly at the coppery locks that were sprawled around him, his eyebrows were also tinted with the same hue. His sister had promised the effects of the hair dye were temporary and that the colour would revert back to normal after a few washes, therefore Osiris had finally—albeit with a lot of reluctance—agreed to change the colour of his hair. He sulked through the whole treatment though.
"Hey, you cannot blame me for wanting to make you the prettiest maiden in all of Metahtes, Osiris," Kisara softly said, trying her best to mollify her unhappy brother.
"What's the point?" he griped, glowering at his sister who was already dressed for the festival. "You're the prettiest maiden in the whole of Metahtes. I am just an excuse for you to dress up like a doll!"
"Then humour me, please? I don't get to do this very often."
Osiris slid off the bed with a heavy sigh and stood up. He brushed the front of his dress with the palm of his hand to smooth out the creases. Kisara squealed happily and led him to stool in front of the nightstand. Said nightstand had an assortment of ornaments, pins and jars littered all over it. At the sight, Osiris shuddered with trepidation. Closing his eyes in resignation, he surrendered to his sister and Mana's ministrations.
~OoOoO~
Meanwhile, outside Osiris' chamber, Obelisk and Ra waited—the former more impatient than the latter. A loud shriek followed by a loud string of curses was heard from within and Obelisk doubled over in another fit of laughter, his hand smacking the wall he was leaning against in his merriment. Osiris' suffering was an obvious source of entertainment for him.
Ra, on the other hand, was not amused. He resented the fact that men were prohibited from attending the parade. It made him feel helpless in face of the danger Kisara could be facing. He and Obelisk would only be able to keep an eye on the parade from the side-lines on foot. It wasn't ideal but there was no other way. As much as he loathed admitting it, a cross-dressing Osiris was their only hope. Obelisk's idea, though dubious in intent, was the most logical solution. He hoped Osiris was up for the job. He didn't envy his plight at all.
"Oi, Ra," Obelisk staggered over to his companion, clutching his aching side. "Do you think Osiris will be able to handle the mission?"
Ra shrugged his shoulders and made a noncommittal sound. "Given the circumstances, it's not like we have a choice. He will have to cope."
Obelisk hummed and glanced at the closed door with a pout marring his handsome features. "I want to be there to protect Kisara as well."
Ra sighed. "Please tell me you are not planning to dress up as well. I don't think my eyes can withstand the torture."
"I am definitely tempted if it means I can sit cosily next to Kisara on the Spring Maiden carriage."
"And be the largest and ugliest maiden in the history of the festival," sneered Ra. "I'm not even sure if Osiris can pull it off and he's an effeminate one."
Obelisk chuckled. "Don't let him hear you say that or he'll fry your ass."
"As if he can. He's more than welcome to try."
"You have to admit he's coming along quite nicely though. I suppose the training with General Gadius has paid off. His spirit form has improved immensely. In fact, it's quite impressive."
"Credit to the General then," Ra dryly replied, pushing himself off the wall when the door of Osiris' room opened. Obelisk turned excitedly in the same direction as Ra's gaze, his eyes bright with anticipation.
Kisara stepped out first. Both Ra and Obelisk's gasped at the sight of the princess dressed in her festival finery. The dress, like every Spring Maiden outfit, was ankle length. Kisara's one was fashioned from silk with a thin layer of silk chiffon on top. She chose a light shade of blue that matched the ribbons and flowers threaded through her hair. The colour complimented her eyes nicely.
Obelisk was the first to find his voice. "Kisara, you look amaz—" The rest of the sentence ended in a choked gurgle.
A sulky female appeared followed closely by Mana.
Kisara looked at Ra and Obelisk's stunned faces and giggled. It wasn't every day Obelisk could be rendered completely speechless.
"So you like our handiwork?"
Obelisk flicked his eyes towards Kisara briefly before returning it to the scowling maiden again.
"O-Osiris?" Obelisk could not believe that this bewitching brunette in a flowing pale turquoise coloured dress was his fellow Protector. Like Kisara, flowers and ribbons adorned the coppery locks, and instead of Osiris' distinctive scarlet eyes, emerald hued ones glared at him.
"Stop gawking, you imbecile!" the maiden with Osiris' voice said crossly.
"Osiris," Kisara softly admonished. "Remember what we said about being ladylike."
Osiris' glare extended to his sister, but the girl smiled sweetly back. Despite the endearing gesture Osiris could sense menace in the way she arched her brow.
Fine, he huffed silently and turned towards Obelisk, clearing his throat in the process.
"Stop gawking, you imbecile," he repeated in a soft and feminine voice.
Ignoring the way Obelisk's jaw dropped a few inches lower, the prince glowered at his sister once more. Happy now? he silently demanded.
However, much the younger's dismay, his sister's brow climbed higher—indicating further displeasure.
What did I say about being ladylike? Kisara's glare asked.
Osiris rolled his eyes and turned back to Obelisk again. This time, he looked to side in a coy and bashful manner. "Please, kind sir," he gently entreated, "I implore you to stop staring, it is making me most uncomfortable." Mortification reddened Osiris' cheeks, but to the others, it was interpreted as a blush.
Silence ensued. So Osiris chanced a peek at Obelisk and snorted in an unrefined manner at the flustered Protector.
"Oh look, Obelisk's jaw looks ready to unhinge itself from his face," Mana said with a snicker.
"Serves the bastard right for putting me through this torture," retorted Osiris.
"And your noble sacrifice, my sweet lady, is deeply appreciated," Obelisk said with a low bow, finally snapping out of his stupor.
"Tsk," was Osiris' reply.
O-o-O-o-O
"And it's a wrap for today! I'll see you all tomorrow then. Oh, and there is no session the day after so enjoy your day off."
Yami was pleasantly surprised to hear they got a day off. He wondered why Ota-san was so generous when the anime's debut was least than two weeks away.
"Ah, I see I am right on time! Excellent!"
Yami looked towards the voice and saw Pegasus enter through the door in all his flamboyant glory. Greetings were exchanged between him and the actors, actresses and director. He stopped beside Kaiba but focused his attention on Marik.
"Hey, Ojii-san, I said I was going to make my own way to the club and that I don't need a babysitter to shuttle me back and forth!" Marik looked put out by his agent's appearance and his irritation showed.
"Now, now, Marik-kun," Pegasus quietly chastised, holding his hand up in front of his irate charge. "We know you have trouble keeping appointments sometimes. I am here to ensure you make it to the site and on time too. Now come," Pegasus turned and made his way to the door, waving his farewell to the occupants, "let's not keep Morita-san waiting. Kaiba-kun, I'll let you know how it goes."
Yami almost laughed at the way Marik dragged his feet like a petulant child behind Pegasus. He made a mistake of making eye contact with the Egyptian as he passed, and resulted with him being unceremoniously dragged off too.
"Wait, Marik!" Marik's grip on Yami's wrist was tight and unrelenting. "What did I say about abducting me?!"
"Come on, Yami-chan. It's going to be fun! In fact, why don't everyone come and join the party?"
"But . . . wait! Pegasus-san, please say something to Marik!"
Pegasus gave a backward glance to the protesting actor and smiled. "Actually, Yami-kun, your presence is not a bad idea. Kaiba," he said, addressing the brunet who was in hot pursuit of Marik and Yami. "Will you be joining us too?"
From behind him, Yami could hear Kaiba mutter something about "hentai" and "idiotic damsel in distress" under his breath.
"Hey, wait for us! We wanna gate-crash Marik's party too!" Jounouchi hollered, scrambling after the departing quartet with Honda, Rebecca and Shizuka in tow.
"The more the merrier!" Marik shouted. "Euphoria is in for a real treat tonight!"
"It's a fucking commercial shoot, not a party, dumbass!" Kaiba shot back, slowing down when he reached Marik and Yami. "Everyone had better behave themselves or Morita-san is going to have a shit-fit! Be aware, Marik, I'll hold you responsible should anything go wrong."
"Oh, it'll be fine, Kaiba," Marik said flippantly, dismissing the other's weighty words. "Right, everyone?"
A chorus of "Yes" and "Promise" prompted Kaiba to tut and mumble a grumpy "whatever" in defeat. Payback was going to be sweet when he gets back at Marik, he was looking forward to getting even with the Egyptian for the stunts he keeps pulling.
"Marik-kun and Yami-kun, you're with me,: Pegasus ordered. "Kaiba-kun, I'm assuming you're going to make it there on your own, right?"
"I'm going with you?" Yami didn't sound too happy about the car arrangement and threw a SOS look to Kaiba. The other straightaway responded.
"Motou can come with me."
"Nuh-uh-uh . . . no can do, Kaiba-kun," Pegasus countered. "Yami-kun is my insurance that Marik will be there at the commercial shoot. Where our cute Neko-chan goes, our resident hentai will sure to follow."
Kaiba gave Pegasus a resentful look before taking out his phone to make a call. Whoever he called answered almost immediately.
"Isono, I need you to come to the recording studio, pick up the car and drop it off to Euphoria, the club." A pause. "I'll see you there."
Relief and gratitude radiated off the look Yami gave Kaiba. He felt better now the other was accompanying him.
Before long the others caught up and informed Pegasus and company of their plan to share a cab to the club. A quick "goodbye" was exchanged as Jounouchi, Honda, Shizuka and Rebecca departed and made their way to the main exit, their noisy racket disappearing with them.
Trekking to the car park, Yami kept quiet while the others discussed the seating arrangement for the journey. As expected Marik wanted to sit with Yami at the back, but his request was rebuffed.
"We can't have you molesting Yami-kun, you know," explained Pegasus as he dragged Marik to the front passenger seat thus allowing Kaiba to usher Yami into the back before climbing in himself.
"You're a real cock-block, Pegasus, you know that?" the embittered Egyptian griped, tugging on his seat belt with as much venom he could muster.
"It's all in a day's work, my perverted friend, and you are welcome," the agent rejoined. "I am glad to be of assistant any time. Now buckle up, I'm going to move." Without another word, Pegasus started the car and pulled off.
Due to Marik's sulking, an unnatural silence descended inside the car, saturating the atmosphere with uneasiness until a quiet buzz cut through it five minutes later. Marik shifted in his seat to retrieve his phone from his pocket.
"Hey, Nee-san, what's up?" Marik sounded less pissed as he greeted his sister.
Everyone's curiosity peaked up a notch as they eavesdropped, some tried to look disinterested while listening to the conversation and others not so much. Pegasus was the latter by the way his body was tilting in Marik's direction.
"Oh, I'm not doing a lot at the moment. I'm on my way to the commercial shoot for Broken Bonds with Kaiba and Yami-chan. Pegasus is driving us to the location." Silence and then, "You need to set a date for the fragrance's commercial shoot because Alex is booked up for the next fortnight the day after tomorrow?" Marik turns back and looks enquiringly at Yami. "When is Alex flying?" Another pause. "Well, we've got time off the day after tomorrow, you can always book us in the morning if he is flying in the evening."
Marik tilted his head to side to ask Yami if the plans were okay.
Yami nodded. He hadn't plan on doing anything other than laundry, catching up with Yuugi and maybe a spot of grocery shopping. Marik smiled at his answer and relayed the message to Ishizu.
"Okay, I'll let Yami-chan and Ojii-san know . . . Yeah, g'night, Nee-san, and see you soon." Marik hung up and stuffed his phone in his pocket again.
"What was that about?" Pegasus enquired, prodding Marik after the other had settled once more. Yami strained his ears to hear Marik's answer.
"Alex Brisbane, our photographer has been assigned to Egypt for the next two weeks for the Ishtar Fall Collection. He'll depart the day after tomorrow, which means the Millennium commercial has to be done before then. I am told to pass the message onto you and Yami-chan," Marik twists his head back to catch Yami. "Hey, Yami-chan, nee-san's booked us in for nine on Sunday morning. She'll send the details to your manager who'll forward it to you. She says don't be late as Alex needs to finish up by five in the afternoon."
Yami nodded to the information Marik gave him and Pegasus hummed a response too.
"Lucky Ota-san decided to give everyone a day off then," the agent said.
"Why did he give all of us a day off?" Yami asked, looking confusedly to the others. "I thought we had a strict deadline to meet because the anime is going to be aired in a fortnight's time?"
"We do, Mutou," Kaiba confirmed, turning to look at Yami. "However, since we've made good progress, the time off is for Ota-san to concentrate on the editing process."
"Really? That's good news then," Pegasus cheered, stealing a quick glance to Kaiba before looking ahead at the road again.
"Yes it is. Quite a few episodes are close to the final cut. This will provide us with a little leeway in the schedule. Once Broken Bonds is aired, there will be promotions and interviews to attend. Things could get a little hectic for us thereafter."
"So no rest for the wicked, huh?" Marik added.
"Essentially," Kaiba concurs. "With that said, subsequent commitments for Broken Bonds will depend on the audiences' response. The well-received it is, the busier we will be."
"Which is why I've left empty slots in your schedules for such instances," Pegasus informed Marik and Kaiba. Then turning to Marik he said, "That doesn't mean you go off and make plans for yourself because you think you're free. I want you to be available during those empty slots."
"Yeah, okay."
"No, seriously, Marik."
"Alright, old man. No need to get your panties in a twist!"
"You better heed me, you man slut! Some of your antics have me ageing ten years."
"Yeah, yeah."
"You're a pain the ass, Marik."
"Sorry, Ojii-san, you're not my type and your ass don't appeal to me either. I'm not into daddy kinks."
"Bastard!"
Yami looked at the bickering pair and then at Kaiba, a brow arched in consternation as if asking: What the fuck?
Kaiba returned it with a nonchalance shrug of his shoulders. Get used to it.
Yami smiles and looks away.
The rest of the journey comprised of humorous ribbing between Marik and Pegasus with the occasional attempts to draw the silent pair behind them into their banter. Sometimes their endeavours were effective and sometimes it was not. Either way, Yami found the exchanges entertaining and the journey flew by in no time at all. Before he knew it they were parked outside the entrance of a large building that had an unlit sign above it. In the dark, Yami could just about make out the name written in clear glass tubes.
Euphoria, it read.
"We're here." Marik undid his seat belt and fumbled for the car door. Likewise, Kaiba did the same—just less fumbling. Finally, the three actors got out leaving the manager in the car.
"I'll meet you inside when I've parked the car," Pegasus yelled from inside the vehicle. Marik waved happily to his departing manager and sashayed into the building, closely followed by Kaiba and Yami.
The inside of the club was not what Yami imagined to be. It might have been because all the lights were on and filming equipment strewn all over the place. It might have been because there were no partygoers on the dance floor and at the bar. The atmosphere felt empty despite the numerous activities buzzing around him.
Kaiba stood next to Yami, his tall presence dwarfing over Yami's. "Not what you'd expected?" he asked. Marik had to report to Morita-san leaving his colleagues on the side to observe the mayhem. Kaiba and Yami gave a faint nod to the director when Marik pointed them out. "It will change once we start filming," he reassured, his attention adhered to the group of people gathered on the dance floor in a wide semi-circle. "Morita-san and the choreographer are instructing the actors and extras what to do. They'll start filming after a few rehearsals."
A ripple of laughter floated from the group before the group dispersed, scattering the people in all directions. Yami stretched his neck up to get a better look around. He could make out Marik with a beautiful woman hanging on his arm. "Is that Marik's partner for the commercial?" he asked Kaiba, pointing out the female.
"Yes. Jealous?"
Yami snorts but says nothing. So Kaiba elaborates.
"She's the female lead for this dance company. The extras are mostly professional dancers from the same company though we've hired a few actors too. I don't doubt it'll throw a spanner in the works when our colleagues turn up because I am sure they'll want a cameo in it too."
"Courtesy of Marik," snickered Yami, slanting a sly look at his companion.
"Yes," Kaiba grumped, looking unimpressed. "Come," he led Yami by the elbow to a table with tall bar stools around it. It was situated in an unobtrusive corner yet still provided a good view. "Sit," gesturing to the seat, "It's going to be a long evening."
Yami unslung his bag from his shoulder and placed it on the table. He hoisted himself onto a seat, watching Kaiba sit neatly on the stool beside him. They soon content themselves with observing the scene before them.
The peace did not last long though. Enthusiastic chatter soon filtered into their proximity. The excitable quartet had finally arrived.
"You can't dance to save your life, Jou!" In her agitation, Rebecca's voice sounded shriller than ever. "In fact, you dance like an ape with your arms swaying from side to side! I challenge you to a dance-off on the dance floor!"
"Now, now, children, let's not act rashly and spoil the shoot." The sound of Pegasus' voice surprised Yami, seems like the man had met up with the party. "Remember, this isn't about any of you tonight."
"You're on, shrimp!"
"Shut up, King Kong Katsuya!"
"Remember what Kaiba-kun said about behaviour?" Pegasus pressed, reminding the quarrelling pair of their promise. "You wouldn't want to be on his bad side if you upset Morita-san."
"I guess you're right," Rebecca grudgingly conceded, giving in to the mention of Kaiba. "Don't want to make Kaiba-senpai mad at us."
"Good." Pegasus' relief was audible. "Now grab a seat over there," Pegasus motioned to the bar area, "and stay out of the crew's way. I'm popping over to say hi to Morita-san." Pegasus disappeared before anyone had the chance to speak, leaving the group to migrate to the bar.
"Oh look, there's Kaiba-senpai and Yami!" Being the inquisitive one, Rebecca noticed the quiet pair on the opposite side of the room; her comment impelled the group change course.
Yami could not help the pang of disappointment when the group headed towards them. It wasn't like he disliked having company; he just minded having private time with Kaiba intruded on. Sneaking a sideway peek at Kaiba, he discerned the other wearing a grim and displeased expression. Perhaps the cause of irritation was mutual.
"Hey!" Rebecca was the first to greet them since she virtually bounced over to their table, but the others soon caught up and greetings were traded.
Conversation flowed and ebbed between the actors, all eyes focused on the dance floor where Marik was choreographing with his partner under the keen and watchful eye of the dance instructor and director. Intermittently, Morita-san would add instructions and the pair would shift to different angles for the camera. Comments passed between Jounouchi, Honda, Shizuka and Rebecca with the occasional remark from Yami when prompted. He knew nothing about clubbing or dancing so he kept quiet for most of the time.
Watching Marik practice was treat. The Egyptian's moves were sleek, complementing his partner's gracefulness very well. The collaboration was seamless.
When the music was added Rebecca and Shizuka went ballistic! Apparently, the song was sung by no other than the artist who performed the opening for Broken Bonds, Mako Tsunami. The tune was extremely catchy and suited the atmosphere well. The music genre was 'technopop' as Jou pointed out. The song was composed especially for the ad Kaiba boasted.
Yami was clueless about the subject, but he did enjoy the song and even bopped to the beat every time it came on. Forty minutes later, they all knew the words and the girls and Jounouchi learned the moves to the dance. However, to avoid distraction, they were discreet with the dancing, swaying to the music while remained seated.
Yami felt happy that their little group were enjoying themselves. They were happier when Morita-san decided to give everyone a quick break and a takeout menu from a nearby restaurant was passed around and food was ordered from it. Orders were taken by a member of staff and duly placed at said establishment.
While waiting for the food, Marik and company continued to rehearse. Kaiba had given up watching them and had taken out his electronic tablet and was working from it. Yami wondered why he was still there considering Marik was where he was supposed to be and watched by Pegasus. The CEO's only respites was when he received a phone call from Isono to inform him of where his car was parked and to get up to pay for the food when it arrived. A small cheer erupted around the set when the meals were distributed and everyone began tucking in.
Marik broke away from the dancers and had joined them on their table along with Pegasus. Joviality increased considerably with the hentai and manager around. Marik had a way of stimulating—or provoking in a lot of cases—banter and quarrels to liven up the mood. Despite the escalation in noise emitting from their table, the atmosphere was pleasant. Yami thought Marik's relentless teasing was entertaining if it weren't directed at him.
"Are you going to say for the filming, Yami-chan?"
Yami gave Marik a conflicted look. He wanted nothing more than to go home after dinner. Was it rude if he said so?
"Morita-san said we can 'play' and muck around a bit after the filming is done," Marik declared, giving everyone a quick glance. Then looking at Yami, he said, "I want to dance with Yami-chan."
Marik's proposal made Yami a little anxious. "I don't know how to dance," he replied, hoping Marik would get the hint that he wasn't interested. Not that it deterred the Egyptian though.
"There's nothing difficult about it. Just let the music's rhythm dictate your body. In fact, dancing is like making love, it's all about movement," Marik wriggled his ass and swayed his body to make a point. "If you like, I can teach you."
Yami looked at Marik for a moment and said, "No."
Everyone laughed at the rejection and Marik's subsequent pouty face.
"Ouch, shot down by an arrow to the heart," Pegasus snickered.
"More like to the groin!"
"JOU!"
"What?!" huffed Jounouchi, scowling at the eye rolls and groans from his colleagues. "Like it's not the case!"
"Well, whatever," Marik shot back dismissively. "It's not like my groin can't taken a battering now and then. My Yami-chan will succumb to my wooing eventually, mark my words!"
"You do not have to stay if you do not wish to, Mutou. Not everyone can be as energetic as Marik." Apparently, Kaiba could sense Yami's distress and had given him a way out of the situation.
"Jealous of my stamina, Kaiba? Not many can keep up with me, you know."
Kaiba did not dignify the taunt with an answer, but instead turned to Yami and said, "You can leave any time you want." He threw a glare at Pegasus who looked about to oppose and added; "Don't feel obliged to stay because others are staying."
Yami nodded gratefully to Kaiba and gave him a small smile. "I'll see how I feel, okay?"
Appeased, the CEO responded with a grunt.
"Don't mind us," Shizuka gently added. "We're usually nocturnal so we're used to being up all night—"
"And partying," Marik added. Everyone laughed and good humour was restored once more.
"Well, looks like someone needs to get back to work," Pegasus pointed out, jabbing a finger towards the member of the film crew approaching them.
Marik stood up and straightened out his shirt. "Make-up and dressing up time," he sighed and turned to follow the crewman, giving a jaunty backward wave to his colleagues. Pegasus excused himself and followed Marik.
Yami got up to collect the empty containers scattered around the table. Seeing what Yami was doing Honda rose to do the same. Napkins and drink bottles were collected and deposited in the trash can near the bar. When they returned to the table, Jounouchi and Rebecca were discussing about getting desserts from a place not far from the club.
"Wanna join us, Yami?" asked Jounouchi, looking expectantly at Yami. "We'll be back before Marik's done."
Giving the other an apologetic smile, Yami shook his head. "Thanks for the invitation, but I'll have to decline. I am still full from dinner." He patted his stomach to make a point.
"Hey, no probs," Jounouchi chuckled. "See ya."
After a chorus of "byes" the group shuffled out of the club. Rebecca happily declaring she was going to out-eat Jounouchi on the sundae special. Honda could be heard laughing at her bold and foolish challenge. As if it was possible to beat Jounouchi when comes to eating!
Yami chuckled fondly at the retreating squabble. "Are they always like this?" he asked Kaiba. He never really connected with those he worked with in his previous acting jobs so the closeness between the actors of Broken Bonds was new to him.
Kaiba snorted. "Yes, it's usual for them to be this boisterous when they are together. That's not to say they aren't good friends out of work, but they tend to be closer during work."
Yami nodded. "I can see how they've managed to forge a strong friendship. Compatibility helps too, I guess."
Smirking, Kaiba said, "Yes, compatibility does help, especially if everyone is in for the long haul."
Latching onto to the latter part of the comment, Yami asked, "Do you think there will be another season after this?" He was trying not to get his hopes up too high, but a continuation meant stable employment. For once, Yami was enjoying what he was doing and the fact that he liked and got on well with his colleagues was a bonus. Their acceptance meant a lot to him and their friendship was warm and embracing.
"A sequel will depend on the outcome of the first season. As you know, everything hinges on the anime's popularity. No sponsor in their right mind would fund a show that does not have viewers. It would be financially suicidal."
Yami deflated at the remark. Slumping forward with an elbow on the table and his face propped in a palm, he sighed. "Yeah, you're right," he reluctantly acknowledged, swirling invisible patterns on the table top with a finger. "I was hoping there was a sequel scheduled is all."
Kaiba reached out and placed a hand on Yami's shoulder and gently squeezed it. "You should have faith in KaibaCorp Communications' eye for money spinners, Ota-san's direction and everyone's acting skills." The 'including yours', though unsaid, was implied. "I don't think a project with this calibre will fail."
Yami's scoffed at Kaiba's assured attitude. "I am glad you are this confident about the project although I wouldn't brag about it least you jinx it."
"I'm not bragging, I'm just stating the truth. The returns on this project are predicted to be big and that's not including everything the franchise entails. And even if does fails, I can't say I regret the project."
"Why?" Yami whispered, entranced by Kaiba's piercing gaze on him.
Kaiba cocked his head to the side and asked, "Why do you think?"
Yami frowned at the question. If he it were him, surely he would regret wasting money on this project if it failed? Surely he would lament over the loss? Yet, thinking back to the fun he had since the beginning and friends he made, he knew would regret nothing. First and foremost, the project enabled him to meet Kaiba.
The moment realisation dawned on Yami; Kaiba gave his shoulder another squeeze before retracting his hand.
Suppressing the urge to touch the place where the warmth from Kaiba's hand still lingered, Yami straightened up in his seat. Locking on to Kaiba's heavy gaze, he found it hard to tear his eyes away. "Kaiba-san, I—"
The trill of a phone broke the spell, forcing both of them to look away. Kaiba glanced down at his phone and pursed his lips together in annoyance. "Excuse me, I have to take this call."
With a nod of his head, Yami watched Kaiba get up and march towards the exit with his phone pressed against his ear. In a way Yami was relieved for the interruption. Under Kaiba's thrall he was close to informing his boss how happy he was to have met him. Despite the less than ideal circumstances on that fateful day, despite the embarrassment he endured, he had no regrets. Whatever the outcome of Broken Bonds, he would cherish this experience for life.
Retrieving his phone from his bag, Yami checked it for messages. As expected, Mai-san had messaged him confirming the time, date and location for the Millennium photo session. Mai-san offered to drive Yami to the studio since she was available that morning. Yami suspected it had more to do with her not wanting him to be late for the appointment than anything else. He sent her a reply accepting the ride to work and waited for her to reply with a pick-up time.
Mai-san messaged him back with: Be ready by eight.
Okay, Yami replied.
Satisfied his correspondences were in order, Yami slipped his phone back into his bag. The lights surrounding the club had dimmed, leaving the dance floor brightly lit. Yami jerked his head to the dancers filing into the area. Gone were their sweats, leggings and tees and replaced with sparkly dresses, flashy tank tops and low cut skinnies. Lastly, Marik and his partner appeared.
Yami had to admit that the Egyptian looked good in his clubbing gear. The black tight hips-and-legs hugging pants rested low on his waist, topped with a skin-tight translucent black shirt that shimmered opal with each movement.
The female lead was no less impressive in her little figure hugging black number adorned with glistening diamanté, sequins and alluring tassels. On her feet was a pair of glittery stilettos. Yami shuddered and wondered how she was going to dance in those towering monsters. Osiris was lucky he was not forced to wear them when he cross-dressed; Yami doubted even the mighty Prince could pull such feat.
A hush descended over the group as Morita-san dished out last minute instructions to the dancers. Following a clap of his hands, he dismissed them and everyone, except the leads, got into position. The latter, it seems, were to appear after the opening shot.
"Lights!" someone shouted and the dance floor was suddenly illuminated with flashing light of various colours. It was so blinding that Yami had to squint for a few seconds.
"Music . . . and action!" On cue the music blared through the club's speakers. The volume was many times higher than it had been during practice; it flooded the room with a thundering beat that ricocheted off the walls and ceiling and shake the floor.
The intensity made Yami wince. He couldn't understand why anyone in his or her right mind would want to be in a room where the sound could pulverise one's eardrums and melt the brain.
After adjusting to the noise, Yami returned his attention to the dance floor where the closely packed dancers were twisting and coiling around each other. Soon after, Marik and his partner appeared.
Mesmerised, Yami watched the pair snake around each other in their dance of seduction, their fingers sweeping over their partner's bodies with light, feathery touches.
Hypnotised, Yami crept closer to the dance floor, keeping close to the shadows and remaining unseen so not to disturb the dancers. The colours and movements enthralled Yami and the music held him spellbound. As if in a trance, his body began to respond to the beat. The movements weren't coordinated or fluid as the others, but Yami didn't mind. Closing his eyes, he let the music guide his body.
Before long, Yami felt the presence of another behind him. The person was so close he could feel the heat from the other's body. He could smell the familiar scent surround him.
Kaiba?
Yami's eyes snapped open.
"Shhhh . . ." a husky voice said. "Just close your eyes and feel."
Yami obediently complied.
The music thrummed and pounded around them, vibrating the very air they breathed and smashing their restraint into smithereens. Yami's breath hitched when Kaiba's hands slid from his waist to rest on his hips to gently pull him backwards. Heat radiated on his back as he was pressed against a warm solid body, consolidating their rhythm and melding the two as one.
Yami allowed the other to lead him, the music and mood freeing him from the fear and inhibitions that bound him. Swaying wildly to the beat with his arms raised above his head, his body moved in sync to the one behind him. Yami groaned as his backside grounded into the other's body; the delicious friction making him shiver with want.
"Shit . . ." Yami gritted out, his pants were getting tighter by the minute and he was becoming short of breath.
Without thinking, his hands slipped down to the ones on his hips and he laced his fingers with Kaiba's. Hot breath tickled his neck when Kaiba leaned down and Yami unconsciously tilted his neck to the side in an inviting way.
It wasn't surprising when Kaiba buried his face in Yami's neck, inhaling his scent and grazing the skin with his lips. Lifting an arm, Yami wound it around the back of Kaiba's head and tugged at the soft hair that nestled there. Unconsciously, he spread his legs and ground his ass further onto Kaiba.
The action caused all self-restraints Kaiba had to crumble and without warning, Yami was unceremoniously hauled away.
"Where are we going?" Yami panted.
As expected, Kaiba did not answer.
Weaving through the dark corridors, they crashed into the men's restroom and Yami found himself flung into the nearest vacant cubicle closely followed by Kaiba. He was trembling with excitement and apprehension when Kaiba locked the door and turned to face him.
"K-Kaiba?"
Suddenly, Yami was pushed against the wall and lip-locked with Kaiba. Calloused hands cupped his face and held on to it possessively.
Yami returned the kiss with equal fervour, their tongues entwining and devouring each other's. The longer the kiss lasted, the more needy and forceful it became. Kaiba's large hands roamed confidently over the smaller body while Yami's hands rubbed along the other's back, his movements, unlike Kaiba's, were timid and unsure. Involuntarily, they pressed their bodies together until there was no space between them. Hands frantically pawed one other, each desperately mirroring the other's action.
When Yami felt Kaiba unfasten his belt and undoing the buttons on his pants, the haziness filling his mind quickly evaporated leaving him lucid enough to realise what was going to happen. He pulled away from the kiss and burrowed his forehead on Kaiba's chest. Hot, heavy pants mingled with the sexually charged air.
"Mutou?" Kaiba's hands stilled, fingers resting on the waistband of Yami's boxers.
Yami looked up at Kaiba, his eyes drifting to the other's lips, red and swollen from their make out. His heart pounded in his heaving chest and gushed in his ears. He opened his mouth several times to speak, but all he managed to get out were thin rasps.
"Do you wish to stop?"
Yami wasn't sure what expression he was making, but whatever it was—coupled with the awkward silence—compelled Kaiba to remove his hands and pull back.
"No!" Yami crushed his face into Kaiba's chest and hugged him close. There was a frustrated sigh and Yami felt Kaiba's hands guide him away from his chest and tenderly cradle his face. The kisses then bestowed on him, unlike before, were light and gentle.
Warm lips trailed across his face, kissing away the anxiety and fear before alighting on his lips once more.
With the unease receding, Yami pulled up Kaiba's tee shirt from the back and slipped his hands beneath it, sliding his palms across the taut back and enjoying the way the muscles rippled with his touch. He felt Kaiba momentary stiffen and then relax into his caress. In response, a tongue playfully swiped his and Yami smiled into the kiss.
Feeling bold, Yami reached down to the front of Kaiba's pants, undid the belt, buttons and zipper and delved into the other's underwear. As soon as he wrapped his palm around the other's hard length, Kaiba pulled away, closed the toilet seat with his foot and sat down on it, tugging Yami down with him.
Yami yelped with surprise when he was dragged down and made to straddle Kaiba's lap, his legs dangling off either side of the latter's thighs and his hand still grasping Kaiba's cock. He yelped again when Kaiba's hands grabbed his butt and pulled him closer. Once Kaiba was happy they were close enough, one of his hands travelled up Yami's back to rest on the back of his head. Gently, Kaiba guided Yami's head forward where their lips met once more.
Somewhere between the hot lips pressing against his and the swirling of tongues, Yami was vaguely aware of Kaiba's other hand drifting to his loosened pants and pulling his cock from within its fabric confinement. He hissed into the kiss when Kaiba administered the first stroke on it. The sensation caused his hand on Kaiba's cock to tighten and the groan the latter released as he pulled his mouth away was a reminder to Yami that he still had a favour to return.
Kaiba gave Yami a 'what are you waiting for?' look, challenging him to continue.
Smirking, Yami wriggled his ass and pumped Kaiba's cock a few times while watching closely for to the latter's reaction. It was rewarding to see the brunet eyelids fluttered shut and a gasp escape him. The sound bought a grin to Yami's face. Leaning forward he brushed his lips lightly against Kaiba's closed eyelids then planted small kisses across his face before resting on Kaiba's lips once more.
The lazy strokes soon quickened. Yami, with his hand around Kaiba's wide girth, pumped faster to match the pace Kaiba set. Stifling his moans on Kaiba's shoulder, Yami's body rocked against the other's body for extra friction, enjoying the way the crotch of his pants teased his balls.
"Nghh, Kaiba . . ." The sensations proved too much for Yami and he let out a long drawn moan when Kaiba began rubbing the top of his cock with his thumb and spreading precum over the velvety head.
Trying to stave off his climax and not wanting to be outdone by Kaiba, Yami spread out some of the fingers that were grasping Kaiba's cock and began fondling Kaiba's balls with every downward stroke.
"Fuck, Mutou."
Yami gave a playful flick of his hand and grinned into Kaiba's shoulder. It was amusing how they were still on surname basis despite the intimacy. The wicked deed earned him a hard tug from Kaiba and Yami whimpered in response.
From thereon, each vied to make the other climax first. Both were oblivious to the music that had stopped and restarted outside the restroom. They were too focused on bringing the other to completion and fast. They didn't want risk someone intruding on them.
"K-Kaiba," Yami stuttered. Heat began to gather and pool in his lower regions, causing tension to curl around him in a tight coil. "Close. So close."
It didn't take him too long to climax, not when Kaiba was hell bent on the task. Stiffening, Yami smothered a scream into Kaiba's shoulder as he came, his hand temporarily stilling as he convulsed and rode out his orgasm. Luckily, his cum was contained in Kaiba's large hands, which saved his clothes from the splatter.
Kaiba ripped some toilet paper from the holder and cleaned up the mess. It gave time for Yami to calm down and regain his composure.
When Yami recovered, he remembered he was still holding Kaiba's cock in his hand. Letting out a shaky breath, Yami resumed his strokes once more, trying not to get distracted when Kaiba grabbed him and pressed kisses on his face and throat. The faster Yami's stroked, the more desperate Kaiba became. Heated kisses rained down on Yami's flushed skin as Kaiba neared his completion and gentle nips soon progressed into aggressive tugs on Yami's neck. Yami vaguely hoped he wasn't going get marked, not when he had an impending photo shoot to cover.
Kaiba dropped one hand down and wrapped it around Yami's, the clasp was loose, which to Yami, felt as though the other wanted to hold his hands rather than dictate the movements. With that, Yami focused on pleasuring Kaiba, giving that heavy vein on the underside of Kaiba's cock extra attention as he rubbed up and down.
Verging on his climax, Kaiba kissed the juncture of Yami's neck and shoulder, sucking on the soft flesh as he spilled into the latter's hands with a soft grunt and shudder. Despite his prior aggression, Yami thought his climax was rather subdued.
Panting with exertion, Kaiba reached for the toilet paper and again cleaned up the mess. Both were trying to catch their breath as they rested their heads on each other's shoulders. Their ragged breathing was loud over the silence of the restroom.
It was Kaiba who pulled away from Yami first, forcing the latter to get off his lap and stand with shaky legs. Both men made quick work of fixing themselves in the silence. Kaiba gathered up the discarded paper and deposited them down the toilet, flushing it before unlocking the door and slipping out. Then he headed straight to the washbasin to wash his hands.
Yami promptly followed him out of the cubicle; the ensuing awkwardness was thick and almost tangible. He didn't quite know how to break the silence nor dispel the uncomfortable atmosphere between. It wasn't until they made eye contact with each other in the mirror that Kaiba spoke up.
"To avoid suspicion, it'll be best if you got out first. I'll join you later."
Rinsing his hands and patting them on his flushed face, Yami responded with a small nod. He didn't think he could trust his voice right now—not when he was moaning and panting so wantonly only moments before. Flicking off the remaining water off his hands and wiping them on a couple of paper towels and disposing them, he strode pass Kaiba to the exit.
Hands reached out and violently grabbed him. Once again, Kaiba's lips mashed against Yami's and he was kissed until he almost out of breath. The ardour soon relented and the kisses petered out to soft pecks that were affectionately tender and gentle. Shortly, with great reluctance, Kaiba pulled away.
"This isn't over yet," he murmured against Yami's ear. "Do you understand, Mutou, this isn't over." He withdrew his hands and retreated a few steps back.
Staring at Kaiba with wide eyes, Yami could only reply with a nod before exiting the restroom.
He couldn't agree with Kaiba more.
O-o-O-o-O
As soon as Yami returned to the table, he gathered up his belongings and waited for Kaiba to appear. The adrenalin from their impromptu rendezvous in the restroom had faded, leaving him worn out and tired. He wanted to go home, chill and reflect on the events of day. Not even the thrill of the commercial shoot was enough to make him to stay. He had more than his fair share of excitement for one day.
Looking back to the set, Yami noticed very little had changed. The dancers had just finished their dance routine and Morita-san had granted everyone a break. Marik and the dancers had gathered around the director who was replaying the recording for them to watch. Marik said something that made the crowd laugh and there was a few winks and elbow nudging towards Marik's partner. The female lead began protesting vehemently, but Yami could tell she wasn't upset by the way she was blushing. The blush deepened when Marik playfully hip-bumped her.
A slight movement from the corner of Yami's eye distracted him from the raucous scene. Turning his head, Yami observed Kaiba casually walk into the room with his phone in his hand. Images from the restroom encounter flooded into Yami's mind causing his face to redden and his heartbeat to accelerate.
In a few long strides, Kaiba was by Yami's side. Eyeing the bag slung across Yami's chest, he asked, "Leaving?"
"Yeah," Yami answered, clutching the strap of his bag a little tighter to curb the desire to fidget nervously. He wasn't quite ready to face the talk the other had promised. "It's been a long day and . . ." He trailed off without completing the sentence.
Kaiba gave Yami a knowing smirk. "Go then. I'll let the others know you had to leave early."
"Yeah, thanks." Yami slid his eyes towards the rowdy bunch. He couldn't quite look Kaiba in the face. "So, um, I'll be off then. Tell everyone 'goodbye' from me."
Kaiba acknowledged his request with a short grunt, but the soft gleam in his eyes tempered the curtness.
Seeing Kaiba had nothing else to add, Yami nodded a farewell and turned to go. He knew they had again left unresolved issues to fester, but Yami did not think he could confront Kaiba after that. Not when his face threaten to explode from the mere thought of what they had done in the toilet.
Would Kaiba think he was easy because of it?
Shaking his head, Yami hurriedly made his getaway. The last thing he needed was to get caught by the others on they way back from their dessert trip and get dragged back to the club.
O-o-O-o-O
The train journey home was uneventful asides having to change several trains to get to his usual one. To pass time, Yami surfed the net for information on Broken Bonds on his phone. Scrolling down the results that appeared, something caught his eye.
The Prince and the Pauper, it read.
Not thinking much of it other than to satisfy his curiosity, Yami clicked on the link. It led to a thread on a site that was dedicated to none other than the voice actor Amelda.
Yami stared at the thread, internally debating if he should read the article or not. He wasn't sure he could keep an objective mind when it came to Amelda. Everything about the actor infuriated him.
Yet it didn't stop him from hitting the link, loading the page . . . and regretting it moments later.
The thread consisted of people bashing another voice actor (aka the Pauper) for stealing the Prince (Kaiba Seto) from their beloved idol (Amelda).
Ironically, the Pauper was none other than himself, Mutou Yami.
To be the object of so many people's displeasure, Yami didn't know if he should be amused or offended. In fact, he stopped reading when the allegations became ridiculous and grossly exaggerated with each passing comment. The few who attempted to defend him were quickly overwhelmed and silenced by the Amelda faction.
In what little he read he was accused of blackmailing, seducing and sleeping with Kaiba to obtain fame and fortune. It was claimed that he even went so far as to threaten Amelda—with what, Yami had no idea—to stay away from Kaiba.
The accusations were spiteful, far-fetched and laughable. Amelda fans, it seems, were mean and delusional as the idol they worshipped. True, he was poor hence the "pauper" reference, but it didn't automatically make him a money grabber. To be so openly judged by people who knew nothing about him was perplexing.
Yet, despite the absurdity of the comments, it didn't hide the fact that rumours about him and Kaiba were rapidly tearing through the grapevine. What would people say if word got out that he and Kaiba had got each other off in a public restroom? For sure, he would be named the culprit and the slutty seducer, for no one would blame Kaiba for it.
Yami smirked to himself. If people were already speculating about them when there is nothing between them, how would they react if he and Kaiba had developed into something more? Amelda would vomit blood for sure and more malice would be directed at him. Was dating Kaiba worth pissing off Amelda, having his person slandered and constantly judged? Was it worth the aggravation?
He'd be lying if he said he wasn't attracted to Kaiba. If he were interested in having a same sex relationship, he could do a lot worse than the very desirable CEO of KaibaCorp Communications and voice actor extraordinaire for a lover. The downside meant he'd be in the limelight—being constantly scrutinised and compared. He wasn't sure he'd be able to handle the high level of gossip that being Kaiba's lover would entail. It was bad enough as it was already.
So, it was back to the billion yen question again.
What would his answer be if Kaiba were interested in pursuing a relationship with him?
"This isn't over . . ."
Clearly they had unfinished business to discuss and Yami knew he was mostly to blame. He kept running away from confronting Kaiba about their peculiar relationship because he was still very conflicted about his feelings. Knowing others will think him riding on Kaiba's coattails was a huge turn-off. He didn't want to be seen as another Amelda. He wanted to make it on his own.
So what should he do?
"Shhhh . . . Just close your eyes and feel." Kaiba's words tumbled back into his mind and along with it, a deluge of intense feelings.
It felt . . . right.
So fucking right!
Perhaps a talk with Kaiba was long overdue. Perhaps it was needed to help him to solve his dilemma. It made Yami determined to address the matter next time he and Kaiba had alone time together and the resolution made Yami feel lighter.
Shutting off his phone, Yami sank into his seat and let his thoughts stray to their lusty encounter. Needless to say, the actor spent rest of the journey in an embarrassed and flustered state.
And if anyone had paid heed to the quiet man lost in thoughts on the train, they would have detected a small upward tug on the corner of his lips.
Yami smiled all the way home.
O-o-O-o-O
Yami stepped out of the bathroom dressed comfortably in a worn pyjama bottoms and a loose t-shirt. The towel he was using to dry his wet hair was draped over his head. The shower he just had felt incredibly good.
Turning off the water heater, Yami was padding over to the kitchen to get a drink of water from the refrigerator when his phone rang. After locating his phone, Yami peered at the name on screen. A look of bewilderment crossed his face at the caller's identity and he answered the call straightaway.
"Hello?"
There was a pause and then a familiar voice spilled into his ear.
"May I come over?"
~TBC~
O-o-O-o-O
Author's Note: Yes, I am back! I hope I made a lot of readers happy with the latest development. Originally, I hadn't planned on the boys to get all hot and horny, but see this as a reward for your suffering and patience. I know how frustrating the boys' pussyfooting must have been for you all. Hopefully, Yami and Kaiba are able to work something out in next chapter—along with other things. Any guesses as to who was the caller at the end? Suss that out and you'll have an idea on what could happen in the next chapter, lol~!
Also, a little mention of Broken Bonds since: a) I miss it and, b) I wanted to write a cross-dressing!Osiris scene. Incidentally, he got hit on badly after the parade by some random dude. Suffice to say, he wasn't a happy bunny and stomped off in a very unladylike manner.
Finally, I would like to thank all those who left wonderful words of encouragement on Voices, know it is deeply appreciated and much loved. With regards to whether I will be ending Voices early or continuing as normal, as of this moment in time, I plan on the former but with the possibility of adding one/twoshots to the story when I've completed them. So not all's lost.
With that said, this fic isn't over yet so expect more shitty update scheduling from me sometime in the near future. *wink* Thanks for reading!
Replies to anonymous reviews:
(Please note that this part will be deleted in the near future.)
~Atami no Tsuki:
Thank you for your kind words. I appreciate the effort you've put in your review—especially as English is not your first language and it's heart-warming to know you've been following this fic for such a long time. My decision must have been a shock to you.
The decision to end the story early was something I thought long and hard about—it wasn't a decision made lightly. I thought it was the best route at the time and I still do, partly because I hate to see support for this fic decline for the reasons highlighted in my previous author's notes. The loss of some of my active readers in chapter 22 indicated that perhaps interest was waning and that I should call it quits whilst people are still interested in the story. With that said, I might change my mind and continue. I will see how I feel by then.
I thank you once again for your patience and lovely thoughts. I hope you will continue support Voices to the very end. *hugs*
~Ariana:
Yeah, Yami had a hard time because he sucked at acting on a visual level. I believe it is one thing to voice act a love scene and something else entirely to physically act it out—even if it is pretending. For Yami, being unconfident and having a case of nerves did not help at all. He should be thankful that Kaiba (where Yami is concerned) is a very patient and understanding man. Can you imagine what Yami must have looked like on film? He is going to make a lot of people fall in love with him. Yuugi (with his brother complex) is probably going to have a fangasm.
I am so pleased you enjoyed the Kaiba x Yami telephone conversation. I did enjoy writing them all lovey-dovey with a touch of sass. Hopefully, this chapter had you squealing and drowning in a pool of blood from excessive bleeding from the nose, rofl~!
Marik has mentioned before that he's learnt to cook because his dates dig a guy who can cook. It's a skill he can utilise to impress people with. Yami, on the other hand, can only cook the most basic stuff because he's always been the one working. Yuugi, as you'll learn later, is the one who prepares the meals at home and he'll be spoiling his brother when he visits. Yes, I do plan on writing Yuugi's visit. How can I not include a little platonic/domestic brotherly bliss? In fact, I am looking forward to it. That part would most likely be near the end of the fic.
OMG, the Incredibles reference! Yeah, I remember the No Cape scene, I laughed my ass off!
Awwww . . . CONGRATS on graduating! Have you decided what to do next? Get some well-earned rest and chill. You sure deserve it!
Thank you for your continuous support and dedication, your comments means the world to me. It makes me happy to know you check for updates on this fic despite my awful tardiness. I hope the latest chapter is worth the wait. *hugs*
~Yami E:
Never feel apologetic for reviewing late. Trust me, it's always better late than never and I love hearing from you. In fact, I should be the one to apologise for the late updates. Health, distractions and motivation issues have been hampering progress. I suppose writing longer chapters means longer wait. I might try to limit the chapters to 4000-5000 words so it's easier to write. I have been working on this chapter for almost three months now, managing to add a few hundred words each time I open the document. Positive progress was only made last month when I wrote the latter half of the chapter. To be honest I am struggling trying to write. My mind just can't churn out chapters fast anymore. Most of the time, I feel like my brain is stuff with cotton and I am end up procrastinating. I HATE the fact that I can't write like I used to. I HATE the fact that I make everyone wait. It is the main reason I decide to finish this soon. Maybe once the pressure to update is gone I'll be able to write better, I don't know . . . *sigh*
I am thrilled you enjoyed the telephone conversation between Kaiba and Yami. The scene has been in my mind for a very long time and I am relieved to finally get to share it with everyone.
I believe Yami is hopeless with technology because he is too poor and cheap to buy the latest gadgets hence his poor understanding of them. Besides, anything new would go to Yuugi and he will inherit the old stuff. Yuugi is going to be so jealous of Yami's new phone. How would Kaiba feel if Yami offered his phone to Yuugi?
Ah, I see you are familiar with DM names. I like to incorporate DM characters into the fic because I enjoy having something familiar to relate to from canon. I am happy you like it.
Anzu is a strong character and very supportive of Yami. Like Yuugi, she is very protective of Yami and would defend him to the death should anyone dare be mean about him. Can you imagine how she would react if she saw the 'Prince and Pauper' conversation? I can assure you that no Amelda fan can silence her, lol~! Yeah, like you said, she handled the rejection very well, partly because deep down inside she knew she had a very slim of actually winning Kaiba over. It was a relief (for Yami, at least) that a few tears on her bestie's shoulder was enough to restore her to her bubbly self again.
Yep, that was Pegasus and Mai. The two agents are plotting ways of promoting their stars—mostly at Yami's expense—though Mai has specifically stated that she does not want to see Yami hurt in the process. She can be terrifying when she is in 'mother-hen' mode and Yami is her lil' baby. Still, like all mothers, she wants what's best for her baby even if it means exploiting others to get it. Hopefully we'll have a Mai and Yami moment soon. I kinda miss their interactions.
Thank you for your patience. It's good to know you are willing to wait for an update of Voices despite the horrid lateness of them. I truly wish I can update every month, but RL doesn't allow me to anymore. I suppose I could update faster if I limit my chapters to 2000 words, but that will end up slowing the plot even more and frustrating more readers. With the current 10,000-word count, I like to think I've covered a lot more and given readers loads to think about. Enslaved is, thankfully, a lot shorter (chapter-wise) and easier to write because the plot is relatively straightforward and mapped out. I find Voices harder to write because there is so much going on (the recording work, the commercials, relationships and daily lives is a lot to juggle around), it requires a lot of planning and the dialogue KILLS me! Everything is more complicated in the Voices world.
In the end, it may end up being 5 chapters more anyway. Due to the latest plot twist, I have to revaluate the amount of chapters needed again. Even if I do finish early, I plan on adding oneshots or twoshots to it later on so readers won't lose out entirely.
As for Hetalia: Axis Powers, it's not for everyone that much I can say. I haven't watched the anime past twelve chapters and it can get confusing and silly sometimes. It is a crazy anime and so stereotypical when mocking the countries. Still, I like the historical aspect of it, that part I do find interesting! I personally think the majority of the fics in the fandom are rubbish, but the good ones are GOLD! Luckily, they have a few very good writers for the fandom and that's what is keeping my interest piqued.
I did watch YGO!GX for a while, but in the end, I felt nothing for the characters or the plot. The only thing I would look forward to was character appearances from the original YGO series. It's not like I didn't try, it just generally didn't meet my expectations—not after the original series. I guess Yami was my love and when he left; there was nothing to keep interested. I did watch the 10th Anniversary movie and enjoyed it. Gotta say I missed Kaiba, but Yami's appearance filled the void so all's good. I can't say I'll watch the new YGO movie though. It's more Yuugi (even if he is all grown up, but GIVE ME BACK MY SEXY PHARAOH! I MISS HIM SOOOOO MUCH! *cries*) and Kaiba so . . .
It's ironic that you mention Kaiba and Yami singing together because I do have something planned out (since, like, the time I began this fic) much, much later in the fic. Of course, the idea will have to be part of the oneshot, but it does involve the pair get selected to perform a duet. The song, however, will remain a secret but I do believe it will suit them very much. I am sure you will be fangirling over it.
And finally, I did google Sakaki Yuya and he looks like cross between Judai and Yuugi. Looks like the protagonists of YGO! are winning the hearts of fan with their cuteness. Though I do not abhor cuteness, I prefer my protagonists more mature and adult-like, which is why I have never taken to Yuugi much.
Once again, thank you for you awesome reviews, your efforts are much appreciated. *huggles*
~Sameh:
Thank you for your kind words! It's lovely to know you've been following this fic since it's infant days and that it's grown up being a small part of your life. It's reassuring to know you've read Voices over and over again; I do that with some of my favourite fics too! There are a few that I've read so many times it's practically INGRAINED into me. Luckily, I never tire of it and the reading experience is as enjoyable as the first time I came across it.
I am chuffed I've inspired you to write since I began down the same road too! If it wasn't for a fellow Prideshipper and writer, Candyworld, who encouraged me to write and publish, I don't think I would have had the courage to do so. So yeah, I am happy I am of some use to you—just like Cw was to me.
As for Kaiba and Yami making it official, you are right! Their journey will be paved with twists and turns especially now their managers have joined in the fray to complicate things. Its good to now you approve of the slow progress and complications.
Thank you again for your inspiring review, it's made me really, really happy! *hugs*
~rininlighblue:
Hey, it's good to hear from you again. *hugs* Lots have happened whilst you were away so there's a lot of catching up for you to do. Thankfully, my updates are atrociously slow so it'll give you time to play catch-up before the next chapter.
I've realised how much food I've been including in this fic . . . and no, I do not have a food fetish. I seriously don't why everyone is so hell-bent on feeding Yami. You know the saying: "A way to a man's heart is through his stomach"; perhaps his wooers are making a point. *wink* I make myself hungry researching all this food stuff. And yep, I spelt takyaki wrong again, but in my defence, that part was written, like, years ago so . . . yeah. I'll change it when I do an overhaul of the fic later on. Thanks for pointing it out.
LOL! The letter was a confession letter from Anzu to Kaiba. Anzu wasn't shipping Kaiba/Yami at the time, though she's going to be torn over her love for making Orangeshipping a reality (hence a Marik/Yami pairing) or her love for Kaiba and wanting Yami to be with him (now that she can't have him, that is) because they have chemistry. What does the fangirl do? Decisions, decisions, decisions. Be thankful she over it and can move on. It's a relief for everyone, Yami included.
Marik, despite his faults and flaws that make him shallow, does have a solemn and thoughtful side of him. His intentions towards Yami are sincere and his confession shows he is capable loving deeply and truly. Personally, I wish I didn't have to hurt him because he really isn't a bad person despite the frivolity and all.
As you know, progress between Kaiba and Yami is always meant to be slow because I thought I had time to nurture their relationship in a realistic manner. However, taking into consideration your comments and coupled with the decision to end the story early, I caved and got the boys to speed things up a little. Granted, it had never been my intention for them to go as far as they did so soon, but I know a lot of readers have been eagerly anticipating it, I just hope it isn't going to come back and bite me in the ass later on.
Anyho, I hope you've enjoyed this chapter and that you're pleased with the latest development between the boys. Once again, it's good to hear from you and good luck with your diet and your cosplay.