Yu-Gi-Oh! Fan Fiction ❯ A Perfect Match ❯ Aphrodite Strikes? ( Chapter 7 )

sango16- Yeah, Damon is an OC, I thought it would be plenty weird if Mokuba was the only one with a crush on someone not his own sex, and I like the name Damon…so hope you have no problem with it.

This chapter is dedicated to one of my best friends, Subarno. Without him I don't know whether I would ever have started this chapter. So anyone who actually likes this story had better thank him. I tried to make this chapter as good as I possibly could.

Thanks to all those on MM.org who pointed out that the fifth chapter hadn't shown up.

~Recap

The rest just curbed their impatience; they would have to wait till Saturday~

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Chapter 8

 

Blindingly brilliant. Literally. Most of the guests couldn't see anything for at least half-a-minute when they came in. The whole place was decked out in white lights and there were different painted murals on different walls some Roman; some Greek and some Egyptian, props were placed strategically. There were heavy curtains in front of the windows and doors to give a luxurious look. A table was dressed in white clothes and made up like the Sunday market of days long gone. This was the buffet table. The caterers were dressed up like street hawkers.

`The lights make the whole thing look slightly unreal, like a stage,' thought Joey, `Well, all the world's a stage and one man in his time plays many parts, but how many play the part of a woman?' he wondered ruefully looking down at the long blue dress he was wearing, gold bands were on his wrists and he wore sandals.

His blonde hair that he had been growing out was twisted into an elegant bun at the top of his head. He wore a blue eye mask matching with his dress. He was supposed to be Aphrodite, the goddess of love. Tea had insisted he would be perfect for it with his blonde hair, `but goddesses are supposed to be so elegant and charming, I'll probably trip over my dress and scream at a few people before the night is over.' Joey thought despairingly

“Hey, over here lady,” called a small slip of a girl with dark hair to her waist, she had a midnight blue; or was it black? dress on and she was running towards Joey. Joey frowned, wasn't this girl slightly familiar?

But he had no time to think of it as a card was shoved into his hand, “It's a dancing card,” the girl explained panting, “if someone asks you for a dance they have to write their names down for the dance they want. All the girls have it,” she said waving hers around helpfully, “You were the last one,” was she a girl?

`She sounds like she could be either and she's too young to have developed yet,' thought Joey paying only minimal attention to what she was saying.

He stopped really listening after `dancing card' he knew what a dancing card was, what did everyone thing he was? A stupid mutt?

He looked around, since that girl or boy had said that he was the last `girl' to arrive almost everyone else must have come. `Who's my partner anyway? I have to find him and kiss him at midnight! Pfft!' he thought, `I'll ditch him and go look at the moon, I won't kiss anyone other than Seto, and what are the chances of this guy being him?' Joey shook his head, the chances were not worth thinking about.

He gazed at his card, not many classical dances just the usual pop and some famous soft music, `My God!' he winced , `Celine Dion is alright but not on a speaker system, she's quite capable of breaking a few windows.'

“Seto had better have quality glass for the water glasses, I don't particularly want one breaking in my hand.” He added aloud to himself

“What's the matter?” a cheerful voice said from behind him, “What's all this about breaking glass?”

Joey turned to see a standing with a glass, Blonde-hair was pulled back by a bandana and he had kohl in a spidery scrawl from his eyes. A gold ring could be seen on his tongue; he was wearing black clothes all over. One hand was holding up a glass the other hand was on his waist and a black eye mask was hanging from it currently. The oddly pale skin glowed against the bright lights. Joey frowned, then he started hesitantly, “Ma…Malik?” if he guessed rightly then the pale skin was because of face paint.

The man nodded and replied, “The only two other people with complete blonde hair is my Yami and Joey. Since nothing around here looks like it has been broken, though I'm not quite sure…” he gazed pointedly at a peculiarly disproportionate vase, “I'll assume you're Joey?”

Joey nodded, “Who are you supposed to be?” he asked, “You look like Kyo…” there was a slightly questioning note

Malik nodded, “Yeah, Kyo from Dir en grey. Hey, do you know who any of the others are?”

Joey shook his head, “No chance, anyone I asked was so secretive you would think it was a National Secret or something.”

Malik laughed, “Me too. All except Marik that is, he was quite descriptive about his. I gathered he wasn't very pleased about it.” Joey laughed as well, “No, I heard him. He was talking in very uncomplimentary terms about the mysterious M. Trio.”

“And that's the other thing, who are they anyway? And how did they get Kaiba to throw a Masquerade?” Malik asked. Joey was about to answer when he stopped short. Malik looked at him inquiringly and he simple pointed behind Malik who turned to see what he was pointing at.

A breathtaking sight, a (genuinely) pale boy had just come into the room. He was wearing black all over, black jeans and black tight pants. He had one earring on his left ear. He had a black cape on him; he wasn't wearing it the usual way. It was stuck so that it fell half to the front and hid one hand giving a definite air of mystique. The cape was stuck on to a collar, which had small metal spikes on it. He had a dark red eye mask with brown bangs falling on top; he also had boots on. His eyes were completely hidden. All in all it was all made to create an air of suspense and inscrutability. It didn't help that he made no sound while walking and had a sardonic smile on his face. Nope, definitely didn't help. Fangs on his front teeth revealed what he was supposed to be.

“And I thought that vampires were a stale topic,” Malik remarked to Joey in an undertone. Joey nodded speechlessly; his reaction was echoed by most of the other occupants of the room.

“Wanna go talk to him?” Malik nudged him, Joey sighed, “Why not? Though it might not do much good.” The duo walked towards the boy who was in practically everyone's mind but standing alone. While they walked Malik fumbled to put on his mask.

They were finally in front of the boy, “Uh…hello,” Joey said, trying to make his voice as girlish as possible. It didn't work very well, but the boy didn't seem to have recognized him. `If he ever knew me at all that is,' Joey reminded himself, “After all, Mokuba also has invited some people I don't know.' The boy tilted his head then inclined his head a little, “Hello,” he replied.

Joey was sure he had heard that voice before, `Could he be one of the gang and I just can't recognize him?' he wondered

“Have a drink,” the boy offered suddenly holding out a glass to him. Joey accepted it, “Thanks,” he said and sipped at it. The boy was holding another drink, which Joey assumed was his own. “Don't mention it,” the boy replied, the deep voice making even these simple words sound sensual. “What are you supposed to be anyway?” he added, “Venus?”

Joey laughed, “No, but close. I'm Aphrodite. Not a very good one mind you but then again maybe a bad Aphrodite is better than none.”

“Why can't we do without Aphrodite?” the boy demanded

“Because what is there except love? We do everything for the sake of love- love of ambition, love of parents, love of a sibling…” his voice trailed off. The first song started softly playing in the background.

The other boy shook his head dubiously and murmured, “But love is so complicated. Sometimes it just doesn't seem worth it.”

“Why such a morbid outlook on life?” Joey asked, “Sure love is tough but so is anything that's worth the trouble. There's nothing such as a free lunch.”

The boy looked up and smiled charmingly, “Well, maybe you're right. Meanwhile, any chance of me having the honor of a dance?”

Joey found himself blushing though the offer was surely made out of boredom and no personal reasons, “Let's go,” he replied offering the boy his arm, the boy took it and they moved to the middle of the dance floor. The song going on was `Like A Prayer,' and Joey found himself having lots of fun dancing. His dance card was in his hand but it was forgotten.

That is, it was forgotten until the song ended and the two of them went back to their seats laughing. Then the mysterious boy grabbed at the card and filled up all the dances with his name except the last one, the couple dance would be danced by couples already selected by the M. Trio. He then said, “I apologize to every other male here tonight but after having the luck of capturing the loveliest partner here I would be a fool indeed to let her go.” He added with a teasing smile, “Or rather let him go, no?”

Joey sighed and said, “The game's up isn't it? Yes, I'm a boy. You were so nice that I felt I had at last found a sane person in this theatre”

To Joey's great surprise the boy burst out laughing, “Yes,” he said after he had stopped, “It does seem very much like a theatre doesn't it? Perhaps the effect was created by the M. Trio on purpose.” Noticing Joey's disbelieving stare at this suggestion he went on, “You see, while it is true that being on a stage inhibits you it's also true that because nothing there is real and it'll all become undone later you have a different type of freedom on stage. The kind of freedom that will make you act without thinking.”

Joey bit his lower lip and thought about it, “You're right,” he replied, “but somehow I can't believe that they would be that malicious.”

The boy shrugged, “Maybe they are, maybe they're not.” He took a sip of his drink which he had left in a chair before moving to dance, “All I know is that they are the ones who set the background for tonight's play. And the actors are completely unprepared!” he finished his drink and gazed morbidly into the glass. There was still a bit of red left at the bottom.

Joey was quiet for a moment, `When he puts it that way it all seems to make sense. Yet…'

The next song started, the boy placed an arm around Joey's waist and pulled him gently towards the floor. This one was a slow song and it suited his mood, `both their moods,' Joey corrected himself as he looked at the boy opposite him. Eyes closed, he was gently swaying to the music as if the beat was in his heart and soul.

`Who is he anyway?' Joey pondered, `I never asked his name. Not that I should either, in a Masquerade.' He suddenly tripped and fell, right into the other boy's arms. Joey groaned loudly, “And here was I thinking that this sort of thing only happened around him.” He was speaking more to himself than the other boy but the boy asked anyway, “Who is this `him'?”

Joey growled in frustration, “Let me stand up on my own feet and I'll tell you”

The boy let go of him, Joey stood up and started brushing himself off. “So, who is this `him'?” the boy asked again

“Persistent, aren't you?” Joey replied

“Hasn't your mother ever taught you not to answer questions with questions?” the boy said playfully

“No,” Joey said tersely, “She wasn't exactly there when I was young,”

The boy asked respectfully after a moment, “I'm sorry. Dead or…,” it was a question

“Divorce,” Joey answered shortly

“I'm sorry,” the boy repeated

“That's alright,” Joey said, “Can we just sit out the rest of this dance?” he added after a moment

“Yes,” the boy took hold of his hand and led him back towards their seats.

All this time three pairs of eyes had watched them from the darkness beyond the curtains. An eerie voice spoke up, “First Stage?”

The two others responded, “Accomplished,” and all three laughed.

 

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I'm really sorry this isn't the last chapter but I've spent too long trying to write on. I'm also sorry it took so long to get it out. All I can say is that it wasn't my fault. My computer was reformatted and I lost all my files. Then I lost connection to the Internet and all hope of getting the files back. Thankfully, (and hopefully) all problems are solved now. Next chapter will be the absolute last chapter and Joey and Seto might get together, unless this mysterious `boy' interferes that is.