Yu-Gi-Oh! Fan Fiction ❯ Chef Yami ❯ Chapter 5 ( Chapter 5 )

Chapter 5

 

The next morning, I woke up first. My face still rested against Seto's lean chest and his arm wrapped tightly around my back. I sighed happily, inhaling his musky scent, before sliding carefully from under his arm, since he might not be as pleased as I was to wake so close together. I crawled out of the bed and glanced once more at his handsome face, eyes crinkled slightly as he slept.

 

I couldn't resist. I hovered cautiously over Seto and smoothed his hair back from his forehead before dropping a tiny kiss against his soft lips. He stirred slightly and I hurried from the room with a rush of fear pouring over me. As soon as I had escaped, I placed a tentative hand to my lips, still imagining I felt Seto's against mine. I sighed and headed to the kitchen to cook breakfast.

 

As I fried bacon in a pan to go with his eggs, Seto stumbled into the kitchen. His hair stuck up cutely all over his head and his cotton pants hung low on his hips, exposing an inch or so of his lower abdomen. I tried not to stare.

 

“Good morning,” he mumbled, yawning. As he moved past me toward the coffeepot, he slipped an arm around my waist and lightly kissed the top of my head. My heart gave a giant thud and I dropped the spatula.

 

I hastily picked it up again and leaned over the stove, hoping Seto would think my burning flush came from its heat. Deftly I grabbed a plate and tossed the finished bacon and eggs onto it. Then I handed it to Seto, who leaned against the counter waiting for his coffee to percolate. He smiled at me and I blushed a little before turning back to the stove. When I had finished cleaning the counter and started loading the dishes in the sink, Seto asked, “Aren't you going to eat anything?”

 

“I don't feel much like eating now,” I mumbled.

 

“Alright then, let's go outside. It's too stuffy in here,” Seto remarked. He quickly drained the last of his coffee and held out a hand to me. I instinctively took it but blushed when I felt his warm fingers in mine. Whistling, Seto led me out the front door, swinging our joined hands carelessly, and we sat companionably on the front steps, observing the cool summer morning.

 

“Your hair is sticking up all over your head,” I snickered. I inched closer to Seto and raked my fingers through his soft hair, lightly scratching his scalp as I tamed his hair. He closed his eyes under my touch.

 

“Mmm.” He gave a soft, rumbling moan. I reluctantly pulled my hand away and stared at my lap, feeling a little embarrassed by his reaction. But then, the back of my neck prickled as I felt Seto's gaze on me, so I chanced another glance in his direction.

 

“Your hair always sticks up,” he commented, grinning, “but I like it that way.” He reached over and tugged teasingly at my spiky hair, and I made a face at him. Suddenly I shoved him, catching him off guard, and he tumbled to the ground. I jumped up and ran inside, slamming the door behind me and locking it before he could climb to his feet.

 

I snickered, wearing a goofy grin, as I watched him through the window. He dazedly stood, dusting himself off, and stomped to the door. Seto pounded on the door and I waved at him through the window, laughing hysterically. He scowled and moved to the window, which I quickly locked; and I ran back to the door, hiding from his view.

 

Oh no. I was flirting, wasn't I?

 

I honestly didn't mean to be; it just seemed to come naturally… Repentantly, I pulled open the door, but Seto had disappeared. “What? Where did he go?” I asked curiously, stepping out onto the porch. I walked barefoot onto the lawn, glancing back and forth, and a figure suddenly tackled me from the side.

 

I flew backward several feet and landed hard on the grassy lawn with Seto on top of me. Completely winded, I gasped harshly and he laughed his perfect laugh. “Hah. That's what you deserve,” he teased, and tweaked my nose with his index finger.

 

He climbed off me and sat beside me in the grass. I slowly sat up, propping myself on one elbow, and gingerly rubbed my chest. “Ow. You really knocked the breath out of me,” I complained. Seto rolled his eyes.

 

“So, what did Mokuba say when you saw him yesterday?” Seto asked. I blinked and stood shakily, and moved back to the front steps.

 

“To randomly change the subject,” I replied, sitting on the step and stretching my bare feet out on the grassy lawn. He shrugged and sat on the step beside me. “Well, he didn't say much- I caught him between classes -but I think he scarred the secretary for life.” I grinned at the memory, but then blushed when I realized that I actually wanted what Mokuba had unintentionally implied.

 

“Well, this sounds like an interesting story,” Seto drawled, raising an eyebrow.

 

I sighed. “Okay, but it's a little embarrassing,” I muttered. “The secretary wouldn't let me give Mokuba his food because she didn't know me, but Mokuba saw me standing there and convinced her that I was a friend. Then he wanted me to visit him but the secretary said only family could visit students, so Mokuba blurted, `He is family; he lives with my big brother!' and the woman thought that you and I were, you know, together. But she still wouldn't let me visit because he had to go back to class.”

 

I explained all this rather hurriedly, blushing through the whole story. After I finished I braced myself for Seto's derisive laughter, but he just looked at me quizzically. “I don't understand. How did that scar her for life?” he asked.

 

“Well, it embarrassed her, I think. Her eyes got really wide and her mouth was hanging open,” I replied.

 

“Oh. That's a stupid thing to be embarrassed about,” Seto said matter-of-factly. “But I'm glad she was- I didn't like her anyway.”

 

“You don't like anyone,” I teased, but my heart lifted at his reaction. He didn't seem shocked at all at the thought of us… But that was probably wishful thinking.

 

“Hey! I like you, don't I?” Seto asked, with an expression of mock hurt on his handsome features.

 

I grinned at him mischievously and ran inside and locked the door.

 

 

After a few minutes I had mercy on Seto and let him inside. He stood just inside the door and scowled at me as I innocently watched the morning news, with a tiny smirk on my face. “Seto, come and sit down. Your chef is about to come on,” I teased. He rolled his eyes but sat beside me on the couch.

 

I glanced at him cautiously. He seemed absorbed in the television, so I subtly inched closer. When he looked down at me I pretended to be watching the chef intently as he made a simple wedding cake, though I inwardly rejoiced at our proximity- Seto was so close now that I could feel his body heat through my thin T-shirt. Very gently, I leaned against his side, hoping he wouldn't notice.

 

He did. But instead of moving away, he slipped an arm around my shoulders and let me rest against him. I laid my head on his shoulder and began watching the unskilled chef. “Huh. At least he knows how to bake a cake. But I definitely wouldn't let him cater my wedding,” I remarked.

 

“Oh really? Who are you planning on marrying?” Seto asked, raising an eyebrow.

 

“That's not the point,” I protested, blushing, and crossed my arms sulkily. Seto laughed softly.

 

“You are so adorable,” he muttered, poking my nose with a slim finger.

 

“What?” I gasped. Seto blanched and pulled his arm away.

 

“Yami, I…” he began slowly. Two spots of color appeared on his pale cheeks and he gulped. Just then the phone rang. “I'll get it!” he cried, and rushed up to his study.

 

I blinked after his departing figure for a moment, before a wicked smile crept stealthily over my face.

 

 

Quickly I changed into my new black sleeveless shirt with silver edging, black pants, and boots. I fixed my hair so that the spiky strands stood up wildly and my blond bangs hung carelessly over my eyes, and I nodded, satisfied at my appearance. Then, I left my room and leaned, smirking wickedly, against the wall by Seto's study. His door was closed and I could hear his irritated voice, still on the phone.

 

Suddenly the door swung open and Seto stomped furiously out and into his room without even noticing me. I blinked in belated surprise, staring at the door to his bedroom. Maybe I needed to rethink my plan. Taking a deep breath, I hesitantly knocked on the door. “Just give me a second, Yami!” Seto snapped.

 

I backed away, intimidated by his tone. “Er… Never mind, it's nothing. I'm just going to clean up the kitchen,” I mumbled and began to turn away.

 

The door swung open behind me. “Wait! I said give me a second,” Seto called irritably. I turned back to the door and my breath hitched in amazement. Seto stood in the doorway, shirtless, and buttoning his pants as frowned seriously. Okay, my plan totally stinks. I can't impress him with my adorableness if he's standing there like a half-naked Adonis.

 

I just stood there, gaping, while Seto picked up a long-sleeved blue shirt and slipped it over his long, lean torso. “That was Mokuba's principal on the phone. Apparently he got into a fight with some of the other kids over that food you brought him,” Seto told me, raking his fingers through his hair to smooth it.

 

“Oh. I'm sorry, I didn't mean to cause trouble,” I apologized, reluctantly tearing my gaze from him.

 

“You didn't; Mokuba did. Apparently he doesn't like to share,” Seto laughed. He slipped an arm around my shoulders and we walked downstairs together. “Anyway, I have to meet with Mokuba and his principal now. Do you want to come?”

 

“Should I? I'm not family,” I said hesitantly.

 

“Yes you are. Mokuba said so, remember?” Seto laughed. I grinned, embarrassed, and he continued. “You brought Mokuba the food, so it might help for you to be there. Besides, I want you to come.” He mumbled the last sentence quickly and pulled his hand from my shoulders.

 

“Of course you do. I'm adorable,” I smirked up at him.

 

 

“Mr. Kaiba, I'm glad you could make it,” said the principal. He rose to shake Seto's hand. “And who is this?” the principal added, noticing me.

 

“Mr. Wentworth, this is Yami. He's the one who made Mokuba all that food,” Seto explained.

 

“Is that so? Well, young man, apparently you didn't make enough,” Mr. Wentworth chuckled good-naturedly.

 

“I don't think he ever could,” Seto put in, beaming proudly. I blushed.

 

“Well, sit down, you two. I'll call Mokuba in,” Mr. Wentworth told us, gesturing to three chairs in front of his desk. Seto and I sat next to each other and the principal buzzed Mokuba's teacher on the intercom.

 

“Yami, I wish I could have tasted some of that food. It must have been incredible- I've never seen a fight like that in all my years of teaching. I think every boy in school was involved,” Mr. Wentworth informed me after a moment.

 

“I'm sorry; I really didn't mean to cause trouble,” I apologized. Seto shifted in annoyance.

 

“Yami, I already told you it's not your fault!” he sighed. Then he turned to the principal. “He had to promise to bring Mokuba food for this week. It was the only way we could pry him away from Yami long enough to get him to go back to school,” Seto explained.

 

“Oh. Mokuba has a schoolboy crush, then; that's cute,” Mr. Wentworth commented, eyeing me.

 

I wished I wasn't wearing tight, all-black clothes.

 

“WHAT?” Seto and I gasped together.

 

“I'm just teasing,” Mr. Wentworth said with a wave of his hand. “Miss Pentley, our secretary, told me the two of you were together. I must say you make a cute couple, though I generally don't approve of such things.” He smiled broadly at us.

 

I buried my hopelessly red face in my hands.

 

Just then Mokuba came bounding in. I could have kissed him. “Seto!” he cried happily, and hugged his brother. “Hi, Yami!” he chirped, and hugged me, too. I smiled at the black-haired boy and my face gradually returned to its normal shade.

 

“Mokuba, you're in big trouble, young man,” Seto admonished. Mokuba scowled at his brother and crossed his arms angrily before he sat in the empty chair.

 

“But Seto, it wasn't my fault! I hid my food, but everyone found it and they were going to eat it all! I only got to eat one of the brownies!” Mokuba wailed.

 

Seto turned to me, distracted. “You made him brownies?” he asked jealously. I shrugged.

 

“It was chocolate fudge and peanut butter swirl, and there were nuts on top… It was the best thing I ever tasted,” Mokuba sighed. “But then all the guys had to try and steal everything; I barely got to see what was inside. Cookies with chocolate chips and nuts, chocolate fudge with rice crispies, all sorts of things, and I didn't get ANY of it! I just had to fight them!” Mokuba slowly reddened in anger while Seto and Mr. Wentworth stared into space dazedly. I think they were about to start drooling.

 

“A-hem,” I cleared my throat. They all blinked and looked at me sheepishly.

 

“Thank you Mokuba, you may go,” Mr. Wentworth said.

 

“But…”

 

“Go on, Mokuba,” Seto said sternly.

 

“Okay. Bye Seto, Yami,” Mokuba sighed, waving at me halfheartedly as he trudged out the door.

 

“Well, then,” Mr. Wentworth said in a businesslike tone. “I don't think there's any reason to punish him.” Seto nodded, and I looked at the two curiously.

 

“Yes sir, it's obvious he was provoked,” Seto replied.

 

“Most likely defending himself,” Mr. Wentworth added. What? Had we been in the same meeting? “Now, there's only one more thing to say,” the principal continued. He and Seto turned to me.

 

“Would you make me some of those brownies?” they asked simultaneously.

 

 

“I knew going to that meeting was a bad idea,” I grumbled as I climbed into the car beside Seto.

 

“What are you talking about? The principal loved you, and Mokuba isn't even in trouble,” Seto said, giving me a brief blue-eyed glance as he drove down the country road.

 

“Aside from the fact that it was probably the most embarrassing experience of my life, it was wonderful,” I replied dryly.

 

“You can't help what stories some idiotic secretary spreads about you. And you shouldn't be embarrassed about the boys fighting over your food; that's a compliment.”

 

“Well, I drew a lot of attention to myself today. That's probably not a good idea,” I sighed.

 

“You don't still think someone is after you, do you? The old man told us Yugi had run away. If he thinks that, it doesn't matter what some stupid teenagers think. No one's going to try to kill you,” Seto drawled sarcastically.

 

“I might as well go home then, hmm? Is that what you're saying?” I snapped. “I'm just a paranoid leech staying with you for no reason?”

 

The car came to a screeching halt in the middle of the road. A tractor behind us swerved to avoid a crash, and the driver glared at Seto as he passed us, slowly guiding the sputtering machine down the road. Seto turned to me slowly, cerulean eyes flashing. “Do you want to go home? Do you not appreciate anything I've done for you?” he growled. His deep voice had become a low, threatening rumble.

 

“What do you think?” I snapped. “Haven't I thanked you enough? Don't I make it obvious how much I care about you and Mokuba? I told myself just yesterday that I would be perfectly content staying here with you in the woods forever… But all you do is criticize me for worrying about Yugi, and tell me not to be upset because he just ran away. Ran away! To where? How could he be safe if he just ran off?”

 

I started to tear up and crossed my arms angrily, gazing into the distance and willfully not meeting Seto's gaze. He sighed. “Yami, you ran away, and you're perfectly safe. And happy, I hope,” Seto said levelly.

 

Turning my watery gaze to him, I nodded and gave him a little smile. He smiled in return and lightly cupped his hand to my cheek before starting the car again. “I'd better go, or I'll cause the first traffic jam in Bay City history,” Seto quipped, and I giggled. “And I'm sorry, Yami,” he added softly.

 

“Me too. I really am grateful, you know,” I told him, swiping an arm across my face quickly to catch any stray tears.

 

“So am I,” Seto murmured quietly.