Yu-Gi-Oh! Fan Fiction ❯ A Perfect Match ❯ The End Of The Beginning ( Chapter 8 )

Okay, last chapter alert! (Beep Beep) An extra special (and extra big) chapter as an apology for getting it out so late. Thanks to all the people who kept me writing this story even when I was depressed. Special Thanks to Lucamin- If you're still reading then, it was really nice of you to review like that. And no way would I ever abandon this, especially not after all that encouragement. I hope you don't either.

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~Recap

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

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`Aphrodite and a vampire, such a mismatched pair,' `Aphrodite' mused, `Then again, maybe Aphrodite has a habit of picking unusual pairs. It would certainly explain, “Opposites attract”' `She' fiddled with his glass, after the conversation on the dance floor `she' and `her' partner had been in a rather uncomfortable silence. `She' looked around for people `she' might recognize, `she' smiled when he saw `Kyo' with `Queen Elizabeth' who was actually Marik.

Suddenly a waiter came up to them and said something about a number, “Sir and miss, you will need these numbers later. Please keep them carefully or else memorize them,” she cautioned. Both of them nodded and took the aforementioned numbers.

“What do you think these are for?” the `vampire' asked

“Could be for anything really,” `Aphrodite' replied

Then `her' eyes fell on another couple and `she' frowned, it was that strangely familiar girl again and there was someone else with her. Her date, `Aphrodite' assumed.

`Either they both have the same sort of illness as Yugi and I just never noticed them or else they are both Mokuba's friends' wondering on it `Aphrodite' decided on the latter choice. `She' was about to move over and ask the two of them their names (not that `she' thought it would work but he had to do something) when someone tapped on `her' shoulder. Joey blinked and turned a blank gaze on his new friend. “Hmm…?”

The brown-haired boy sighed and shook his head, “You've been glaring at that couple so hard that if looks could kill, both of them would be six feet under.”

`Aphrodite' shrugged, “That girl's been bugging me throughout, I dunno why but she seems familiar,”

The boy smiled, “I thought I was the one bothering you throughout the party.” He said in a teasing voice, then more seriously, “How has she been bothering you?”

“Well,” `Aphrodite' started, “She hasn't exactly been bothering me but I keep on running into her and sometimes I see her looking at me with this weird smile…” `her' voice trailed off and `she' looked at `her' partner, who was frowning worriedly, with a confused look on his face.

And someone from across the room noticed it very well and was quite gleeful about it. “Hey!” the `girl's' date called angrily, “Yeah?” a quite boyish voice replied.

“Did you invite me to this party just to stare at that guy? Man, anyone would think that you had a crush on the guy the way you've been stalking him the whole night!”

The other one shook his head in denial, “No way Damon. I just…I'm…oh, I'm really sorry but I have to do this for my brother and I guess I want them to be together and I don't…”

Damon stopped him with a raised hand, “You're blabbering Mokuba, maybe you have some problems? If you do then I'll leave you alone until you're over this promise or whatever you made to follow this guy. After that if you feel like you want to actually talk to me then I'll be at this balcony” He beckoned at the nearest balcony and without waiting for an answer the redhead turned around and moved to his specified location.

Maybe it would have been better if eye masks weren't invented? Maybe then Damon would have seen the hurt in Mokuba's eyes and stopped, and perhaps Mokuba wouldn't have made up his mind to never confess his love. Cruel World!

Mokuba rubbed out the tears determinedly from his eyes; he had a job to do.

He moved towards a cowgirl and a cow`boy' sitting together and talking and laughing on seats near the music box. Both were dressed in blue pants, the cowgirl had a matching blue faded shirt and a small neat hat out of which long blonde hair came out with no ornaments. The cowboy had a light red shirt and a brown jacket over it, `his' hat was in the old western style with brown hair peeking out. Both had boots with spikes extending out of them, the cowgirl's smaller while the cowboy had seemingly fake pistols. At the moment though, both of them looked rather anxious, “What's wrong?” the cowgirl called, “Where's Damon?”

“He's gone,” Mokuba tried to conjure up a smile, “He said he'll talk to me when I'm not so busy,” he wasn't exactly lying was he? Just putting it in a lighter manner.

“Alright,” the cowboy nodded slowly, “And what's the input on our subjects?”

Mokuba smiled a bit more sincerely this time, “Absolutely dandy, if I didn't know better I would have thought they were newly-weds.” The other two laughed.

Then the cowgirl smirked, “Now it's my turn to check on them isn't it?”

“And you had better not do anything except check on them. I really don't want the plan messed up.” The cowboy warned. The cowgirl had been looking outside the window but now she looked back and shivered, perhaps from the cold. “No, I won't mess things up,” she said.

The cowboy nodded, “Bye then,” her sentiment was echoed by Mokuba. The cowgirl nodded, “Bye,”

Once out of sight and earshot of the cowboy, and Mokuba the cowgirl smiled in a devious manner. `She said she didn't want the plan to be ruined, doesn't mean I don't get to have some fun…'

She hid inside the crowds occasionally chatting so as not to catch attention. She slowly got near the couple and tried to eavesdrop on them. They were arguing again, she was amazed. `How can anyone fight as much as they do? Any outsider would think they liked fighting. They could put up a Punch and Judy show in any circus and demand whatever salary they want, no questions asked.'

And indeed, you can judge for yourself-

“Oh yeah! So you think you look so cool?” said `Aphrodite'

“My my. The goddess of love has lost her cool so quickly? Tch” retorted the smirking vampire

`And doesn't that sound like someone we all know?' The cowgirl wondered.

“And the vampire actually even smiles, isn't that such a great discovery! Oh! I'm swooning,” replied the blonde with one hand on `her' forehead pretending to faint.

“How can anyone be quite so irritating?” It was more of a statement than a question.

“You are the champion so you tell me!”

`Bravo, Joey' the other blonde gave a mental cheer. But she also noticed that there were only two dances left until (as it had been dubbed) the `couple dance' and started panicking, `I have to think of something fast to get them all over each other!' she panicked, then she added to herself, `And make sure neither Tea or Mokuba find out. Even I'm not willing to die for matchmaking's sake. It might make a statement but I would rather we alive to see it.'

While she was panicking the two she was spying on had gotten up and was coming near where she was standing behind the curtain and she smiled when this came to her notice. When `Aphrodite' passed her she subtly stuck out her foot, just the edge but it did its work.

`Aphrodite' fell forward and `her' night friend hurried forward and they ended up in somewhat of a jumble. “Are you alright?” the dark-haired one asked

The other one looked as if `she' was going to scream and start sticking straws in `her' head but `she' settled for a non-committal grunt. The vampire offered a hand, “Just don't bite it off,” he admonished.

“I would love to but you don't look like you'll taste very good,” the other shot back sourly

“Oh, touché,” but he still offered the hand which was reluctantly accepted with a grumble, “And here I was thinking that this evening might actually be nice,”

At this point a flash of hurt slipped over the `vampire's' face. “If you really think I'm that bad company…,” his voice trailed off.

Aphrodite shook `her' head, “It's not that. I guess I'm just in a mood,”

The `vampire' brightened, “What about going outside then? It's much nicer in the garden”

“How would you know?” asked `Aphrodite' with genuine curiosity

“Eh, I've been here a few times,” he dismissed the question with a smile and repeated his own.

“Sure, why not?” `she' replied

They slipped out of the throng and both sighed in relief as they reached the cool shaded parts where a gentle breeze was wafting through. The `vampire' walked familiarly into one part of the garden and `Aphrodite' decided to just follow him, `It's not likely that he wants to kill me,' reasoning so and the fact that `she' would get lost in the huge place if `she' didn't follow him `she' hurried after.

`She' gasped when she was pulled down to join `her' partner on the damp- damp, not wet- grass under a tree rather near to the pond, where the moon was reflected. The tree was a Sakura tree and it was raining down. Everything was rather cliché but not quite. The moon was a crescent moon and it was raining down leaves from the tree, not flowers. `She' smiled rather happily, `she' had always hated crappy romance stories and all this rhyming of love to spring and such, `Like that song of John Denver's, “And every word seems to rhyme with June,” because that's just stupid since love is possible at any time.' `she' thought and said happily to `her' partner, “This place is just beautiful”

`She' could practically hear the smile in his voice even though there was no lighting around them except the moon and the stars. Not a problem, `she' had quickly learned to read him. They were sitting quite close together, the density of the trees and the closeness to the pond made it a necessity, and in an abstract idle way, `Aphrodite' found `her'self liking the closeness- the barely heard inhalations and exhalations and the warmth that was seeping through their clothes. And the wind blowing through made the warmth even more likeable.

In the midst of all this and through their whispered conversation, `Aphrodite' found herself lightly dozing and giving automatic answers to the `vampire's' questions. Until `she' was woken by the clanging of a bell. A very loud bell.

And `Aphrodite's' wishes for the bell and the person were not very less loud but (thankfully) as they were said while still in a semblance of sleep they weren't very legible.

`Aphrodite' stopped talking when `she' heard a peal of laughter come from beside `her'. “What's so funny?” `she' asked in a surprised voice. It was a moment before the other boy could answer but he did, “You looked so cute when you were sleeping and you looked even cuter when you started yelling gibberish. I couldn't help myself”

“It wasn't gibberish,” replied `Aphrodite' sulkily

“No, of course it wasn't,” replied the `vampire'

`Aphrodite' turned `her' back on him quite pointedly and he sobered down, “I'm sorry. I was laughing senselessly. Forgive me. My lady” he added as an afterthought.

“She' turned back quite happily and smiled, “What was the bell for, do you think?”

“Uh Oh!” replied the `vampire', “that was the signal for the couple dance, we'll be late and that's going to be a problem.”

“Why?” `Aphrodite' asked

The `vampire' shook his head, “Explain later, have to run for it now.” Saying which he got motioning to `Aphrodite' to do the same. `Aphrodite' got up and followed the `vampire' as he ran towards the direction of the house. `She' yelled, “Wait up!” panting as `she' tried to keep up with him in `her' long dress and high heels.

`Her' shoes caught up in her dress and the floor rushed headlong towards `her' but for the third time this evening she was caught by the mysterious `vampire'. This time he didn't let `her' go but caught `her' up and ran towards the house with `her' in his arms bridal style.

When they reached her let `her' down slowly and apologized, “I'm really sorry I did that, but it was necessary”

`Aphrodite' nodded to show it was alright and tried to prevent `her' blush as much as she could. `She' looked at the stage and realized that the people for the `couple dance' were being called out.

The numbers that had been given earlier in the party were being called out and the owners of the numbers raised their hands and shuffled through the crowd until they reached their partners and started trying to figure out who the other person was.

`Aphrodite' slipped out of the room and onto a balcony, `After all,' `she' thought, `Even though the evening has been nice and all. Seto is still the only one I love, and it's still very unlikely that he would agree to kiss me or that I would get him as a partner. It's not even very likely that he came to the party, I don't think I heard anyone getting frozen to death. Even though I do think that he's the vampire but…'

`She' smiled to `her' self until she heard a rustling sound and called out sharply, “Who's there?”

“I'm not going to kill you lady, despite the fact that I do want to.” Came a grumbling voice and a boy stepped out from the shadows

`It's that creepy girl's date,' `Aphrodite' noticed then `she' asked, “Why would you want to kill me, kid?” and `she' used a falsetto

“Oh, no reason at all. It's just that I wanted to confess my love today to the one I love beyond my own life and I found out that he's completely obsessed with you and obviously very straight,” said the boy in a sarcastic voice.

“Who's the `he'?” asked `Aphrodite' seemingly unconcerned about Damon's homicidal intentions towards `her'

“Mokuba! That's who!” snapped the boy hot-headedly

“Then what about the girl you've been going around with nearly the whole evening?” asked `Aphrodite' frowning, `she' had never liked two-timers.

“That is Mokuba,” he snapped back

“Then either you're lying or joking or Mokuba's lost both his eyes,” `she' answered, back to her unconcerned manner secretly pleased at finding out the `mystery of the familiar girl'

“How so?” he asked taken aback

“Because I'm a boy and I'm very much in love with his brother,” `she' said stepping into the full glare of the moonlight and taking off her mask slightly.

“Oh golly. That was why he was looking at you all night.” The boy exclaimed as if thunder-struck

“Quite possible,” `Aphrodite' shrugged, “But I assure you it isn't at all because he's obsessed with me,”

“I should go and ask him to forgive me shouldn't I?” he asked looking thoughtfully up at `Aphrodite', “I did say some pretty nasty things to him,”

“Yeah,” said `Aphrodite' nodding, “Yeah, you should”

The boy ran off, “I have to go look for him,” he muttered to himself, then he yelled back at `Aphrodite', “Thanks, lady” and went off to search for Mokuba.

He found the brunette sitting in a dark corner (of which the room had plenty) of the room and crying.

“Mokuba,” said Damon sitting down in front of him and shaking him gently, “Mokie?”

Mokuba looked up and started crying, if that was possible, even harder and said, “Damon, look I'm sorr…”

Damon interrupted, “No, Mokie. I'm sorry, I was jealous because I didn't have all of your attention and because I thought you were in love with her and all and I was scared…and Mokie,” he took a deep breath and said, “Mokie, I love you. Please forgive me?” He squeezed his eyes shut, hoping, praying that he wouldn't be rejected when he felt two arms thrown around him.

“Mokie?” he asked confused

Mokuba beamed at him, “I love you too. I wanted to tell you today, I'll explain why I was staring at that lady so much. You se…”

“It's fine, you don't have to tell me anything. I know.” Damon assured him.

“That's okay then,” saying which Mokuba yawned and nuzzled into Damon's neck and went to Lady Sleep's cradle. Damon cradled him in his arms and smiled, `I'll wake him up when the party is totally over, he looks so sweet now.'

Meanwhile, the scene at the balcony as Damon had left it had now changed. Another boy had come to take Damon's place.

“Here you are,” he said to `Aphrodite'

“Here I am,” `she' echoed with a smile

“You do know that you're my partner, don't you?” the vampire, (for it was he) asked

`She' looked at him surprised, “No, I didn't”

“Well?” he questioned `her'

“Well, what?” `she' said blankly

“Would you do me the honor of a dance?” he persisted patiently

“I can't, you know since I'll have to kiss you later then. You're so nice but I already love someone.” `She' told him

“So who is it pup?” the `vampire' asked

“It really is you, isn't it Seto?” exclaimed `Aphrodite' surprised

“You knew, pup?” he inquired

“As much as you knew I was me,” `she' answered happily

“You didn't answer me,” he told `her'

“About what?”

“About who you love,”

`She' hesitated then `she' saw a falling star out of the corner out of `her' eye. Quickly turning, `she' wished on it, `Give me the strength' and turning back to Seto `she' folded `her' arms around his neck and started swaying to the music. After a moment when he was paralyzed by surprise he put his arms around `her' waist and moved with `her'.

After eternity in ecstasy the sound stopped but they didn't stop moving. They were surrounded by their own music: the music of love.

And then Seto pushed him away, taking off his mask and hair tie and no longer was `she' `Aphrodite' but he was Joey, plain Joey but oh so much more pleasing to the eye than false glitters. Seto leaned forward and clasped his lips to his own and far from receding the music became louder until it was nearly earsplitting and Seto moved back, the music quietened but Joey couldn't take it anymore.

His knees gave way and after a split-second of fear only Seto's arms supported him. Mutual murmurs and acceptance of love and the music gave way to feeling.

Some place away the cow `boy' and cowgirl were watching, resting in each other's arms. Another newly made couple.

Ah! Look like Aphrodite and her son, Cupid, have done their work here and done it well. So closes the curtain on this scene, and indeed this play.