Recent Stuff
Wow. I've really neglected this. *sigh* Ahh well. I haven't really done much lately, I'm sorry to say. Erm... Yeah. I've been meaning to get the alternate versions of "Red: Lust" on here, but I'm not happy with them. Erm... Well, I lost part of one, and the other one just... went weird. Somehow, instead of y'know, the whole "lust" part, they're looking for a missing cake. Not sure how that happened. Anyway! If anyone cares, I'll go ahead and put what I have up. I'll finish them eventually. Yeah... Heh. No, I really will. *wink*
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Here we go! And this is unfinished. I don't remember if I mentioned that or not. The beginning is much the same as the one that I ended up posting. Actually, I think it's exactly the same. Hope you don't mind! I'll mark where things get different.
-The Cake One:
Didn’t being a multi-millionaire and the CEO of a prestigious company bring with it the luxury of being able to do what one wanted to do?
Apparently not- if Kaiba Mokuba had anything to do with it.
In his infinite wisdom- having lived so long and (with only a minutely undue amount of sarcasm here) having had so many life-altering experiences- he assured his brother that doing what one did not want to do was character-building, noble... Et cetera, et cetera, et cetera- and a few other extraneous adjectives all aiming for one goal: get Seto to do what Mokuba wanted him to do.
Now, living with the man for any number of years had given Mokuba the necessary insight into the twisted, logic-loving entity that was his brother’s mind. He was a manipulative master, and Seto could be counted on to, if nothing else, at least pretend that it had been his idea the whole time. (Though those unconditional surrenders were so much more satisfying.)
So, owing to another of Mokuba’s cunning plots, Kaiba Seto found himself surrounded by strangers, at an event he had absolutely no desire to attend.
It was Mazaki Anzu’s birthday celebration. She was turning twenty-three.
Mokuba, who was still close to Anzu and her friends, had received an invitation early in the week. Almost as an afterthought, Seto’s name had also been jotted down. And if they cared enough to invite him, then certainly he had to attend. Originally, he had given an unyielding "no". But, conveniently enough, his schedule was clear (though Mokuba swore up and down he had nothing to do with that), and his therapist (another of Mokuba’s brilliant ideas) had told him that a bit more human interaction would be "good for him".
Which, of course, was how, against all his own plans and desires, he found himself standing against a wall and glaring at any unfortunate soul who dared to venture too near.
He had been there a full half-hour and already he was planning a daring escape. Or at least a commotion large enough to get himself politely asked to vacate the premises. He was all set for another round of glaring- which, by his standards, could qualify as an Olympic sport- when a young woman in a stunning red dress approached him.
To his mild surprise, it was the birthday girl herself. "Hello, Kaiba-kun. I wasn’t expecting to see you here, but I’m glad you could make it."
He nodded curtly, hoping to end the conversation quickly. "Mazaki. Or... Is it Mutou by now?"
She blushed, her cheeks turning rosy pink. "N-no, Yugi and I aren’t..." She cleared her throat. "We’re certainly not married."
"Yet."
"Well..." She smiled at him. "Yes, you’re right. It was supposed to be a surprise, but we’re announcing our engagement tonight! Oh, I’m so happy."
Seto, to his credit, did not roll his eyes. He merely closed the to hold off the impulse. "Everyone always knew the two of you would eventually end up together. Even in high school, you were practically inseparable."
Anzu grinned at him. "So even the great Kaiba noticed, huh? Yes, I guess you could say we were childhood sweethearts of a sort. And we just... fit."
"Just fit? Hmm. I was expecting you to maddeningly passionate, snubbing me for being so hostile all those years ago, extolling his virtues to the one person in the room most inclined to doubt them."
At that, she laughed, and he found himself wondering if she had always been that easy to converse with. "I know you and Yugi never really got along, but I’m certainly not going to bore you with something like that- it is my birthday, after all, and I want everyone to have a good time." She smiled at him, a twinkle in her eye. "Even if I do suspect you’re only here through Mokuba’s influence."
He shrugged. "Be that as it may... I am here."
"Yes." She smiled again. "You are."
After that conversation, Seto suddenly found the evening much more entertaining. He held his position on the wall, but whenever he could get a glimpse of her, he would watch Anzu. He saw her talking to a group of women, he saw her stop and press a kiss to Yugi’s cheek, he watched as she laughed with Mokuba- probably talking about him, he surmised- and he couldn’t help but stare rather fixedly as she chanced upon a refreshment table where a tray of strawberries was laid out. (Watching her eat a few had to be the first occasion in his entire where he had rather wished he was a fruit. Specifically that red, ripe strawberry that was being bitten into with enough unwitting sensuality to make any sane, straight man run for a cold shower.)
And, unfortunately for Anzu- and Seto himself if he were the kind of man to care about consequences- Seto was far from sane. She was exquisite, and in that red dress she certainly had him conjuring visions enough to keep him insane for a good, long while.
About ten minutes later, he caught her glancing over in his direction once again. He quickly looked down so she wouldn’t know he had been looking at her as well, and put on the most forlorn expression he could muster.
As pathetic as his attempts were, however, she was swayed. He soon saw the same legs extending from that same red dress walking over to him- and coming much closer than most mortals would dare.
"Hey," she said softly. "You look like you’re absolutely miserable." He was almost impressed at her attempt to see to all her guests.
"Really? I can’t imagine why." He looked up at her, his face deadpan. "I’m having the time of my life."
Anzu laughed, her face rounding out in a wide smile. "Oh really? Then I can’t imagine the dullness you’ve had to endure."
He just smirked rather dryly.
However, she quickly sobered. "Why did you even agree to come? I know you don’t like any of us, and though Mokuba’s persuasion can be fierce, you seem far from the type who’d let himself get pushed into something he didn’t want to do."
"Well, I’ve found that it’s much easier for all parties involved to cede to the milder requests. I’m the type of man who picks his battles."
"Ahh. Wise then, aren’t you?" She smiled again. "Though, with a brother like Mokuba, I would imagine you’d have to be. He’s quite a little, well..." She waved her hand around, searching for the right word. "Um, scamp, isn’t he?"
It was Seto’s turn to laugh- a deep, rich (if rare) sound. Finally, he felt that they both were at their ease. "That’s putting it far nicer than he really deserves. He’s an unmitigated ass, and the little fool knows it."
"Well said." She turned her head over her shoulder to look at her over guests, most still milling around. He wondered if she was getting bored with him. Finally, she spoke again. "Like I said, though, I’m surprised you came. I always thought you hated us."
"Well, Yugi and the mutt weren’t ever my favorite people."
Once again, he had elicited a laugh. "That a polite way of saying you hate them?"
He smirked. "More or less. But you and..." He thought for a moment. "What was the other boy’s name again?"
"Honda?"
"Yes. Him. You and Honda, apparently, never really managed to incite my displeasure quite as often as they did. Occasionally you would say something I didn’t want to hear, but for the most part I could block both of you out."
She feigned hurt. "How nice. I wasn’t even worth your notice!"
He smiled sincerely. "Well I’m noticing you now, aren’t I?"
She seemed surprised by his comment. Her cheeks once again turned red. For some reason, Seto felt a strange surge of pride- that he could make her blush like that. It was a foreign- but not entirely unwelcome- feeling.
****They talked for a minute or two more, before Anzu let out a loud gasp.
"What is it?" Seto asked, rather concerned for her sudden distraction.
"Oh, I totally forgot! I left the cake in the freezer! Shit, I’ve got to go get it!" She smiled. "Want to help?"
He shrugged and they started off.
"What cake?" he asked. "And where’d you leave it?"
"My birthday cake," she answered, "and in the building’s kitchen. They have a huge refrigerator, so I just stuck the cake there to keep it cool. We were going to wait to serve it- Yugi wanted to announce our engagement first, I think."
"Oh." He frowned. "Shouldn’t he be the one taking care of the cake? Correct me if I’m wrong, but I was under the impression that it was your birthday."
"I don’t mind."
She lead him down a hallway or two until they came to a room that was obviously the kitchen. She stopped suddenly and he ran into her back. She coughed a little and turned around. Her face was red as she realized how close they were. "Oh, um... Sorry about that."
"No harm done, I suppose." He put a hand on her arm, turned her and walked them into the kitchen.
To clear the air after the awkward moment, Anzu walked to the fridge. She opened it with a smile, and...
Pulled out an empty platter.
"Damn it!" she said, stomping her foot. "Someone snuck in here and ate it!" Her face fell. "And it was so pretty, too. I can’t believe someone would do that!" She sighed and stared down at the remains of a once large, proud cake. "I don’t know what I’m going to do."
Seto walked over to the counter where she had laid the tray and glanced over her shoulder at the dilapidated mass of icing and spongy chocolate cake. He put a hand on her shoulder in a gesture of comfort as he looked it over. "That’s pretty pathetic," he said bluntly after a long moment of silence.
Anzu laughed derisively. "Yeah, I think that I’m going to have to agree with that assessment. But what the hell am I supposed to do about it? Yugi was so looking forward to this little celebration and I really wanted it to go well. He’s going to be so disappointed."
Seto was confused. "Yugi? It’s your cake, your birthday- you should be the one who’s disappointed, not Yugi. He’ll get over it, I’m sure. For all you know, he’s the one who did this!"
"He’d never do something like that! I..." He squeezed her shoulder gently as she struggled for the right words. "I just want him to be happy. I’d hate it if I were the one to disappoint him. It’s... Well, it just wouldn’t be fair. He’s so good to me, and he loves me so much, and..."
At that, Seto raised an eyebrow. He could think of only two explanations for Anzu’s desire to keep Yugi so very content. Either she was so madly in love with him she couldn’t bear to see him unhappy, or...
"You don’t love him as much as he loves you."
After he said it, he almost wished he hadn’t. She drew in a sharp intake of breath, and pulled away from him. His arm fell back down to his side.
"Don’t say that; don’t ever say that. It isn’t true. I love him; I do!"
At that admission, the eyebrow went up again. "You don’t even love him, do you?"
Her hands slammed down on the counter. "Don’t talk about what you don’t understand, Kaiba. Of course I love him, I’ve always loved him. It’s just as you said earlier- everyone knew we were going to end up together; we were meant to be. We were childhood sweethearts. We’re always together. We-"
"Just fit," he finished. "But that doesn’t change the fact that you don’t love him."
Her voice was weak. "Yes I do."
"Maybe you do," he relented, "but are you really willing to settle? Did you say yes to him simply because he was so familiar? Why go along with what everyone else expects? Why not do what you want?"
"I do love him," Anzu said, wiping her eyes. She whirled around to face him. "What the hell gives you the right to come here and analyze all of my feelings? I haven’t seen you for... well, months- years maybe! And you think you can stand here now and tell me what’s best for me? That’s not how it works, you bastard."
"He won’t make you happy."
She sneered. "Oh, and let me guess- someone like you would?"
"Are you interested in me at all?"
She glared, looking ready to hurl knives at him.
He shrugged. "Then don’t stupidly assume I’m making some sort of proposition. I was certainly not suggesting you find solace in me, your mediocre lover’s enemy- I only said that he won’t make you happy. If you don’t love him- which, from the overwhelming evidence, I gather you don’t- then that’s a fair assessment to make."
For a very long moment, there was total silence. Finally, Anzu spoke. "You’re wrong. Just because I don’t... I don’t..." She looked away. "Just because I don’t love him as much as he loves me doesn’t mean I won’t be happy with him. He’s my best friend. And, to a certain point, I do love him. I love him dearly."
"Like a brother. Like a friend."
She frowned. "I don’t want to talk about this anymore. How would you know? Have you ever been in love?"
He blinked nonchalantly. "No. But I’m far from an idiot and I can see what’s in front of me. Why are you so intent on staying with him? You’re a beautiful woman, Mazaki; I’m certain there’s some man out there who could make your little heart flutter. And aren’t you afraid that one day someone will catch your interest? What then- will you stay true to a man you don’t love in favor of a man you do?"
She didn’t answer. "We should get back to the party."
Feeling that there really was no reasoning with her, he shrugged. "All right. What do you want to do with the cake?"
Immediately, the atmosphere lightened. "Just stick it back in the fridge. I’ll take care of it later."
He looked at her, daring her to say that again.
She sighed, already exasperated. "Alright, I’ll do it." She took the half-empty platter and pushed it back into the refrigerator. "Now. I think it’s time we get back to the party." She tried to hide it, but he could tell how uncomfortable she was being alone with him.
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And that's all she wrote. But yeah. Um... Oh, the other version. This is actually my favorite one, but emotions were coming out too heavily, and - though I prefer writing that - it didn't work with the sin. Lust. *laughs* Yeah. And it also rings a little, erm... well, it's a plot that's been done before. Anzu and Yugi getting married, Seto wanting to stop them. Mine has details that are different, but I can think of two similiar fics. Which, in retrospect, is probably why I chose the version I did to be "official". Here's the other version if you want it, though. Unfinished.
La. Here's what I have on this. Once again, the beginning is really similiar but this one is different. Hmm... Yeah, I'll mark where again.
Didn’t being a multi-millionaire and the CEO of a prestigious company bring with it the luxury of being able to do what one wanted to do?
Apparently not- if Kaiba Mokuba had anything to do with it.
In his infinite wisdom- having lived so long and (with only a minutely undue amount of sarcasm here) having had so many life-altering experiences- he assured his brother that doing what one did not want to do was character-building, noble... Et cetera, et cetera, et cetera- and a few other extraneous adjectives all aiming for one goal: get Seto to do what Mokuba wanted him to do.
Now, living with the man for any number of years had given Mokuba the necessary insight into the twisted, logic-loving entity that was his brother’s mind. He was a manipulative master, and Seto could be counted on to, if nothing else, at least pretend that it had been his idea the whole time. (Though those unconditional surrenders were so much more satisfying.)
So, owing to another of Mokuba’s cunning plots, Kaiba Seto found himself surrounded by strangers, at an event he had absolutely no desire to attend.
It was Mazaki Anzu’s birthday celebration. She was turning twenty-three.
Mokuba, who was still close to Anzu and her friends, had received an invitation early in the week. Almost as an afterthought, Seto’s name had also been jotted down. And if they cared enough to invite him, then certainly he had to attend. Originally, he had given an unyielding "no". But, conveniently enough, his schedule was clear (though Mokuba swore up and down he had nothing to do with that), and his therapist (another of Mokuba’s brilliant ideas) had told him that a bit more human interaction would be "good for him".
Which, of course, was how, against all his own plans and desires, he found himself standing against a wall and glaring at any unfortunate soul who dared to venture too near.
He had been there a full half-hour and already he was planning a daring escape. Or at least a commotion large enough to get himself politely asked to vacate the premises. He was all set for another round of glaring- which, by his standards, could qualify as an Olympic sport- when a young woman in a stunning red dress approached him.
To his mild surprise, it was the birthday girl herself. She smiled, but he couldn’t tell if it was sincere or fake. "Hello, Kaiba-kun. I wasn’t expecting to see you here, but I’m glad you could make it."
He nodded curtly, hoping to end the conversation quickly. "Mazaki. Or... Is it Mutou by now?"
She blushed, her cheeks turning rosy pink. "N-no, Yugi and I aren’t..." She cleared her throat. "We’re certainly not married."
"Yet."
****"Well..." She smiled at him. "Yes, you’re right. It was supposed to be a surprise, but we’re announcing our engagement tonight! Oh, I’m so happy."
Seto, to his credit, did not roll his eyes. He merely closed the to hold off the impulse. "Everyone always knew the two of you would eventually end up together. Even in high school, you were practically inseparable."
Anzu grinned at him. "So you paid attention to us ‘losers’ after all, huh? Yes, I guess you could say we were childhood sweethearts of a sort. And we just... fit."
"Just fit? Hmm. I was expecting you to maddeningly passionate, snubbing me for being so hostile all those years ago, extolling his virtues to the one person in the room most inclined to doubt them."
At that, she laughed, and he found himself wondering if she had always been that easy to converse with. "I know you and Yugi never really got along, but I’m certainly not going to bore you with something like that- it is my birthday, after all, and I want everyone to have a good time." She smiled at him, a twinkle in her eye. "Even if I do suspect you’re only here through Mokuba’s influence."
He shrugged. "Be that as it may... I am here."
"Yes." She smiled again. For a moment he believed she was truly happy to see him. "You are."
(Line)
After that conversation, Seto suddenly found the evening much more entertaining. He held his position on the wall, but whenever he could get a glimpse of her, he would watch Anzu. He saw her talking to a group of women, he saw her stop and press a kiss to Yugi’s cheek, he watched as she laughed with Mokuba- probably talking about him, he surmised- and he couldn’t help but stare rather fixedly as she chanced upon a refreshment table where a tray of strawberries was laid out. (Watching her eat a few had to be the first occasion in his entire where he had rather wished he was a fruit. Specifically that red, ripe strawberry that was being bitten into with enough unwitting sensuality to make any sane, straight man run for a cold shower.)
And, unfortunately for Anzu- and Seto himself if he were the kind of man to care about consequences- Seto was far from sane.
About ten minutes later, he caught her glancing over in his direction once again. He quickly looked down so she wouldn’t know he had been looking at her as well, and put on the most forlorn expression he could muster.
As pathetic as his attempts were, however, she was swayed. He soon saw the same legs extending from that same red dress walking over to him- and coming much closer than most mortals would dare.
"Hey," she said softly. "You look like you’re absolutely miserable." She just had to be the perfect hostess, he supposed.
"Really? I can’t imagine why." He looked up at her, his face deadpan. "I’m having the time of my life."
Anzu laughed, her face rounding out in a wide smile. "Oh really? Then I can’t imagine the dullness you’ve had to endure."
He just smirked rather dryly.
However, she quickly sobered. "Why did you even agree to come? I know you don’t like any of us, and though Mokuba’s persuasion can be fierce, you seem far from the type who’d let himself get pushed into something he didn’t want to do."
"Well, I’ve found that it’s much easier for all parties involved to cede to the milder requests. I’m the type of man who picks his battles."
"Ahh. Wise then, aren’t you?" She smiled again. "Though, with a brother like Mokuba, I would imagine you’d have to be. He’s quite a little, well..." She waved her hand around, searching for the right word. "Um, scamp, isn’t he?"
It was Seto’s turn to laugh- a deep, rich (if rare) sound. Finally, he felt that they both were at their ease. "That’s putting it far nicer than he really deserves. He’s an unmitigated ass, and the little fool knows it."
"Well said." She turned her head over her shoulder to look at her other guests, most still milling around. He wondered if she was getting bored with him.
For a long, drawn-out moment she was silent. Then, breaking the tension that had been built up, she sighed and came right out and said what had been on her mind the whole evening. "So why did you come, Seto? I thought we agreed it would be better if we just stayed out of the other’s way." She crossed her arms and looked at him with eyes that spoke of a hundred things she had left unsaid. "I still care for you- as a friend, of course- and I have to admit I am glad to see you again."
After that her voice grew strained. "But you’ve been staring at me all evening and I just want to enjoy my party without having to question your motives the entire night."
"It was never my intention to make you uncomfortable, Anzu. But you know as well as I do that I couldn’t put an end to Mokuba’s insistence without telling him what I swore I’d keep secret. I just wanted to wish you a happy birthday."
"Is that all?"
No.
"You didn’t have any other reason for coming?"
I wanted to see if it was true.
"You didn’t come to hurt Yugi, did you?"
I just wanted to see if you loved him.
Seto frowned. "Damn it, Anzu, you know me better than that. I’m not going to interfere with your happiness. My own contentment is quite set, thank you, and I’m certainly not in the business of being bitter." He knew that wasn’t true. But he hadn’t come to break them apart. Yugi deserved her if she didn’t know him well enough to know that.
"Of course I know, but I can’t think of any other reason for you being here."
Then suddenly everything clicked into place. "You don’t love him."
Her head jerked up, and her deep, ocean-blue eyes locked with his own. "What?" she asked sharply. "What the hell do you think you’re talking about?"
"That’s why my presence threatens you. You don’t love Yugi. I think you never really have."
"Of course I do!" He could tell that his accusation had hurt her. But it was the truth- every word, every movement, every glance belied her words. She didn’t love Yugi. "Why would I pledge my life to a man I didn’t love? That’s ludicrous! He’s my... my soul-mate! My other half! My-"
"Punishment? Does the guilt still haunt you? Anzu, you don’t have to marry him to prove that you’re loyal to him. Don’t waste yourself on someone who..." Who doesn’t deserve to have half the woman you are. "...who doesn’t have your whole heart."
"I know what you’re saying, but you’re wrong. He... He never found out." She looked down, her eyes sorrowful.
"Oh." That surprised him. And hurt him. It was slight, and he wouldn’t admit it ever, but... That stung him. His face hardened. "Then... why did-"
She looked down, her guilt all too evident. "One-night stands aren’t supposed to last for a month, Seto. You know how reluctant I was, even from the beginning, and I... I didn’t want to get, well..." She looked up at him once again. Her eyes were pleading for his pardon. She spoke in barely a whisper. "I didn’t want to get involved."
He glared at her, insulted to his very core. "You little bitch. I can’t believe I ever thought you worth my notice. How dare you deceive me like that! To think I ever imagined you caring for me- or me caring for you!" His glare intensified. "If this is the way you’d have turned out to be, then I’m glad you left me."
"Oh, don’t talk as if you’re some sort of martyr here! You certainly weren’t without blame yourself. Do you know how hard it is to be with you, even if the relationship is little more than a series of flings? I worked so hard to try to make things work, but they didn’t- just like I knew they wouldn’t!"
"Shut up. I’m through talking to you." He had missed her; he had missed her so damn much it hurt. But if that was how she thought of him, then any last vestiges of love in his heart were totally wiped away. "I cannot believe you’d think that badly of me. Goodbye Anzu. May we never meet again." He began to stalk away, but he was barely five steps away when he threw back over his shoulder: "And I hope you’re happy with Yugi. The two of you really deserve each other."
She watched him walk away, the tears she had been holding back already making their way down her face. Didn’t he know how much she had needed him? He had ignored her; he had treated her like she meant nothing to him! Wasn’t it right that Yugi had come and helped her heart heal? Wasn’t it right that she had learned to love another man?
They obviously had irreconcilable differences, and she wasn’t about to get her heart broken again trying to reach him.
(Line)
Seto couldn’t leave without Mokuba, so in his aimless wandering he had somehow found himself in a remote hallway. He couldn’t believe the things she had said! How dare she imply that he was the one who had caused things to deteriorate! True, they had never been officially involved, and they didn’t really get along.
Hmm. I've also been working on a few other things, but I'll get to those later. Heh. There we go!
-ILB