Yu-Gi-Oh! Fan Fiction ❯ Welcome Raine ❯ A House is Just a House ( Chapter 9 )

Welcomed Raine

By Dark_Wolf

Disclaimer: I do not own...never have, never will...please don't sue. (I'm referring to all non original concepts and characters. I do own those.)

Chapter Nine: A House is Just a House

Summary: No one ever knew just what an adventure house-hunting could be. Ryou , Malik, Mokuba and Yugi get separated from the group for a short time, add in gang of bullies, a pissed off Raine, Eric, Seto, Tristan, and three concerned yami's and it spells disaster.

A/N: I know, I know, I've been promising a duel for the last couple of chapters. I'm sorry it hasn't come to be yet, but hopefully it does soon. I'm just not anxious about writing it, I've never dueled except for on Yu-Gi-Oh Forbidden Memories on my Playstation, so I'm not too sure of what I'm doing. Also, I don't realize if anyone's noticed yet, but last chapter I left things open for a little contest. I have no clue who Raine should choose for the Millennium Eye. So here's the contest rules. I check my reviews everyday and I'm leaving it up to the readers to decide. Who do you think should have the millennium eye? Keep in mind, that I don't want to have to bring anymore OC's in, so your limited to the group I've already brought together. I'll tally the results and whoever has the most will be the new owner of the Eye. For those who choose the winning person, I will gladly write whatever scene you want with whatever pairing that is already established ormentioned in the first chapter at some point in time. I will notify the person who gets the scene in the chapterpreceding the scene. So, read and review and let me know who should become a Millennium Item Holder.

<Yugi to Yami>

<<Yami to Yugi>>

/Ryou to Bakura/

{Malik to Merrik}

{{Merrik to Malik}}

[Raine to any yami or hikari]

|yami to yami|

~hikari to hikari~

^yami to Raine^

=hikari to Raine=

"is regular speech"

this signifies thoughts or Lyrics, depending on my mood.

'Of course this can also signify thoughts'

* flashback *

While the yami's, the Ishtars, Solomon, Noel and Seto were sitting in the kitchen eating lunch prepared by Seto's main cook, Mrs Ovanix, the other part of the group were sitting in a real-estate officewaiting for the ditzy secretary to find the right form that the realator needed. Clearly the big-bosomed blond hadn't been hired for her brains.

Raine was getting impatient, she could feel that something was going to happen today and she was anxious to get it over with. The entire group had decided to go out to eat at the new Dueling Club and Bar Solomon's friend Maxwell Shezak had opened with some help from a loan from Seto Kaiba. They had heard good things about it and finally decided to celebrate. Dr. Blaine and Mr. Tagjaki had also been invited.

Raine had received a phone call from Tagjaki after theincident with her father. While Tagjaki was not happy with her actions, he said that no one could press charges, even if they wanted to, it was clearly a matter of self-defense and protection. Joey and Serenity had stated that Raine was acting on their behalf over the phone to the police shortly before. He had also told Raine that he had spoken to a judge about Serenity's case. Judge Murry So, a friend of Tagjaki's since college had told him that it would be no problem to get custody switched to Raine, despite her young years. Seto had told her after the call that Judge Cho had been the one to keep Seto and Mokuba together after the death of their foster father.

"Look, Mr. Alexander. Obviously your secretary can't find the nose on her face behind all that plastic. I'm running late and we still have a few more stops to make, I can give you two more minutes of my time, and if you can't find the paperwork you demand from us we will take our business elsewhere. Is that clear?" Raine placed her hands on the table and leaned over it, letting the arrogant,condescending man know she meant business.

"I completely understand miss, you must have a lot of shopping to do. I'm quite sure that your gentleman friend there can sign papers, why don't you move along?" Mr. Tony Alexander realized his mistake too late as Raine grasped his tie andhauled him over the desk, not even Eric tried to stop her.

"What did you just say? I have shopping to do? What the hell are you, stuck in the 1850s? I am an independent creature. The house and the apartment that we would have bought for you are for my cousin and grandparents coming over from the states. Do you honestly not realize who I am?"

"Raine. Just hit the guy and let's leave. We'll look for something else." Eric tried to calm her down.

Raine released him and motioned everyone to leave, before she walked out of his office she turned back to Mr. Alexander who was gasping for breath,still sprawled out on his desk, "I sincerely hope you have your job tomorrow, but I doubt it. Just so you know what sort of account you just let walk through your doors, my name is Cadenza Raine Wheeler. Most know me by my pen-name, Demonique Chancollor. I'm also the CEO of KaibaCorp's personal assistant. Have a nice day."

Mr. Alexander groaned when he realized exactly what that type of account could have done to his reputation. He knew he wouldn't have a job in the morning. His secretary entered the room at that moment, "I've found it!" she looked around and a glazed expression settled over her, "Where did everyone go?"

Outside of the Reality office, the group were trying to decide on what their next move would be. Ryou finally came up with an idea, "The offices of the people who sold my father our home here is right down the street, if I remember correctly, the owner, is a great guy and he also deals in apartments and condos. We could try there."

Raine nodded and smiled at the shy hikari, "That's an excellent idea, Ryou. Let's go." The group walked down the street and entered the building that Ryou pointed out.

"Hello, welcome to Kanashi Estates Ltd. How can I help you today?" A kind elderly woman said from her seat at the reception desk.

"Hello, my name is Cadenza Raine Wheeler. My friends and I are looking for a house and a few other properties for myself and my family who will be moving here within a month. Do you have a listing of properties that we could look at?" Raine smiled at the woman. She had more respect for a company who hired for experience and not looks alone.

"Certainly. If you would like to follow me, I'll show you to a room that has more comfortable seats so you can look over our listings. Are you looking for something within Domino or elsewhere?"

"We're looking for places within Domino, money is no problem, and financing may not be necessary. I'd like the properties to not be that far apart, but if need be, no more than five miles apart. My younger brother and sister will be living with me and my adopted brother, but I want my grandparents and cousin's places to be close enough for them to walk to safely. I'm also Seto Kaiba's new assistant, and if the place we choose could be in a central location whereaccess is good to the company, I'd appreciate it."

The lady nodded, "I think that could be arranged, please sit down all of you. I'll go get the listings and be right back. There are soda and coffee on the side bar to your left, there may also be some snacks. Feel free to take some, If you should happen to need me, my name is Ellen, just call 332 on the phone." Ellen disappeared and everyone sat down, Eric and Tristan headed over to the side bar and brought back refreshments for everyone. Ellen arrived shortly afterward with a black 1-inch binder in her hands.

"I've taken the liberty of narrowing down the listings. The first pages before the divider are houses. The second set are town homes and condos. I'm sorry to say that we don't have any apartment listings right now, but at least this way, you all have more privacy." She handed the binder right to Raine, instinctively knowing that this woman with her burgundy hair and cold, but caring eyes would make the final decision.

"Thank you so much Ellen, we greatly appreciate your help." Raine smiled at the kind woman, she reminded Raine of Gram.

"Yes, thank you Ellen, and my compliments to the baker of these cookies, they are delicious!" Joey said through the cookie he had just inhaled.

"Jo-Jo, hun. Next time, wait until your mouth is not full. You are not five years old anymore. No one likes see food." Raine gently scolded.

Ellen laughed when Joey blushed and mumbled an apology, "That 's quite all right. I made those and it's a pleasure to know that everyone likes them. Well, I best be off. George is due back from a lunch meeting in thirty minutes, he's the owner, I'll have him come back and speak to you when he gets here."

Raine nodded in acknowledgment and then cracked open the binder. She unlatched the rings and pulled out some the listings, they were ordered with regards to price and size. Since the Callahan's were both retired and were just the two of them, they were looking for a small bungalow type house, no more than four bedrooms an office, and a kitchen/utility room. For Kurt they were wanting about the same, since they all knew that the family would onoccassion be staying at each other's places, especially Joey and Serenity who hadn't gotten to see them in ten years.

"Za, I was just thinking. I know that Gram and Gramps are both writers and such, which means they can work from anywhere, but what is Kurt going to do?" Serenity questioned as she marked one listing as a possible place for the four siblings. She handed the paper over to Joey who looked it over and agreed by marking next to her, then Eric took it. It had been a few minutes, and the group had picked out two possible places for the Callahan's and Kurt, they were now looking for their place, the rest of the group, Malik, Yugi, Ryou, and Mokuba had gone to get something to eat from the diner across the way. Rashid had been called away a few minutes earlier, saying that there was something wrong at the Museum that he had to see to.

Raine looked up at the paperwork she was looking over, trying to figure out how much the places would take out of her off-shore accounts. Even though she was a multimillionaire due to her investments and properties overseas and her writings, she was still conscientious about her spending, "Kurt has the backing to create his own company in aboutanything he's qualified for. When I spoke to him yesterday to let him know that Marus had been dealt with, he mentioned maybe opening his own travel business. I put him in contact with Seto and it was decided instead of doing that Kurt would come work for KaibaCorp as a travel adviser. He'd take care of all travel arrangements that KaibaCorp would ever need."

"Kaiba is really looking after this family. Remind me to thank Mr. Moneybags." Joey's once fierce rivalry/hatred of the CEO hadturned to a friendly rivalry. They were friends who enjoyed pushing each other's buttons. Much like Eric and Raine did.

Raine chuckled, as much from Joey's comment as from the look of utter confusion on Tristan's face as Eric handed him the listing that had so far met with Joey, Serenity and Eric's approval. "Don't be so shocked, Tristan. You are Joey's boyfriend, and therefore a part of the family by default. I'm sure that you two will be spending a lot of time together, it would be more comfortable for you if you like the place we're living at."

Tristan nodded in agreement, and smiled, "Does this mean I can call you Za?"

Everyone laughed out right at that, "Maybe. We'll see."

Tristan quickly glanced over the listing and nodded, he marked that he agreed to it as well and handed the piece of paper to Raine. Raine started to look over the listing, noting that it was a town-house not far from Domino Junior College and the Snelzburg Private High School where Mokuba and Serenity wer students at. It was also only a few miles from Seto's, the company, and the two places that they had picked out for the Callahan's and Kurt. She was about to mark that she agreed as well when her head shot up.

=Raine! Help!= Malik's fearful voice came distantly over a mind link.

[Malikai! Where are you?]

^Just a few blocks away. Some bullies from the college forced us into an alley. I'm scared Raine! Ryou and Yugi and I are hurt.^

Raine growled and jumped up, she tore out of the room, the others, figuring out that something was wrong took off as well, Serenity stopped to ask Ellen to call the police.

"Is there something wrong, dear?" Ellen asked as she dialed the number.

"I hope not, but Raine has a sixth sense about one of her own being in danger. I think the three young men with us earlier are in trouble."

Ellen quickly explained her location to the police and since the dispatcher knew her asked her to wait in front of the location that the police were needed at. She hung up the phone and followed Serenity out the door. They saw Joey waiting at the entrance of an alleyway and the two ran up to him.

"What's wrong Joey?" Serenity gasped.

"Don't know, Tristan and Eric went in that alley after Raine. I'm not much use with these two casts on, so I decided to wait here until the all clear is given. I'm assuming you called the police?"

"Yes, they are on their way as we speak." Ellen answered and the three people waited for word from either the police or the six friends.

Raine had let her instinct's guide her to Malik, and rounded another corner in the alley system to see Malik, Ryou, Mokuba and Yugi surrounded by a gang of ten men. Ryou was on the ground, holding on to his ribs, apparently one of the enemies had kicked the poor hikari. Yugi was standing protectively over him, he had a black eye and a few gashes on his cheek. Malik and Mokuba were trying to fend them off, and both had been bruised.

Raine felt her rage slip through her tight mental control. She let it rush over her, granting her the strenght to protect her pack. She let out a fierce growl and pounced on the nearest man, taking him to the pavement and viciously slamming his head into the pavement, she rolled to her feet and took up a position in front of the four boys.

"Why, hello. Why don't you nine pick on someone more to your tastes." She insanely smirked and rolled her shoulders, popping her neck. Raine was the master of intimidation, and she used all the tricks of the trade.

"Who the fuck are you, little girl?" A big Line-backer type man growled.

"Your worst nightmare. I suggest you all leave, before you piss me off even more." Raine went into her fighting stance, prepared for anything. She knew that Tristan and Eric weren't far behind and all she had to do was hold off the remaining nine people until help could arrive, She also felt the connection that Yugi had made with Yami and knew that the yami's and Seto would be there within seconds. When she felt the powers of the Shadow Realm forming to create a portal she attacked, her target was the man who had spoken.

She launched a spinning kick aimed at his head, first her left leg connected with his chin and then her right leg hit him with enough force to his chest the man was sent flying, slamming into the wall behind him to slide down in a puddle of ooze. He was knocked out. She turned to the man directly next to the one she had just beaten, aware that help had arrived and the other seven people were being dealt with. She didn't pity them. They were going to get what they deserved. She took long enough to shout out to the yami's, "Do not send them to the Shadow Realm. I know Serenity called the police and I don't want to have to explain their disappearance."

Merrik's sadistic chuckle reached her mind, ^Ahh, ruin my fun^

[Just listen to me Malikai!] Raine smiled as she started towards the man. He turned chicken, having seen just how fast the girl could be and turned around trying to run away. He was stopped by a fist to the face from Seto who had just finished off his own opponent.

"Damn it Seto! I wanted to beat him up!" Raine snarled and then turned and ran towards Yugi, Ryou, Malik and Mokuba who were all pressed up against a wall staying well away from the fight. She kneeled next to Ryou and brushed his hair from his eyes, "Hello, little rabbit. Are you hurt badly?"

Ryou smiled, Raine had given him the nick name Rabbit after observing him twitching his nose one night before he started to eat a salad. He had tried to tell her that he had breathed in some pepper and was trying not to sneeze, but she had just laughed and said he'd be stuck with the name either way. "I'm okay, I think I just had the wind knocked out of me."

Raine helped him set up and looked everyone else over, "Angel, are you hurt?" That was addressed to Yugi, and he responded with, "Not badly. The guy got a lucky shot to my eye before we were able to back into the corner. I'm okay."

Raine nodded and sighed, "I'm sorry I wasn't there to protect you all. I should have made you wait until Rashid returned or had him take you with him."

"Yes you should have." Yami, Seto, Bakura, and Merrik all walked up to them. Bakura sat down next to Raine and gently looked over Ryou, "Well, squirt, what sort of trouble did you get into this time?"

Ryou glared at his yami, "No more than the trouble you used to get me into."

Bakura laughed and placed a gently kiss on his hikari's cheek, "Too true. Raine, you should have protected them better, but then again, we didn't even notice something was wrong until Yugi contacted them. We forgive you, and you need to forgive yourself. We know that you didn't mean for this to happen, but no one ever does. They're okay, and that's all that matters."

"Well, said, Bakura. Raine, where's Joey and Serenity?" Seto asked, his arm wrapped around Mokuba's waist.

"Probably standing at the entrance to the alley. Tristan, go get them, and lead the cops here, I heard the sirens. I'm sure that we want to get this situation taken care of as quickly as possible. We still need to talk to Mr Kanashi about the places we've found. And I believe we all hae a dinner to get to."

Tristan nodded and took off,Merrik helped Raine to her feet as Bakura helped his hikari up. Yami cleared his throat and looked pointedly to Ryou. Bakura snarled and turned back to his hikari.

"Ryou."

"Y-yes?" Ryou was shocked, his yami never ever called him by his name. It was either, squirt or weakling depending on his mood.

"I have something to tell you and you are going to listen to me. Understand?"

Ryou nodded and braced himself for Bakura's insult. He had known that it was coming but had hoped that Bakura would wait until they were alone. He hated it when Bakura insulted him in front of their friends. 'I don't know why I love him so much. He's mean and surly and always calls me names. But he's also gentle with me and he looks so yummy I'm so confused, I just wish I knew how he felt about me.'

"I'm not going to hurt you aibou. So get that scared look off your face." Bakura snarked.

Ryou felt his jaw drop, his yami did not just call him aibou. Bakura would never consider a weakling like him a partner.

Raine saw where this was going, and noticing Tristan returning with the police, Serenity, Joey and Ellen, she motioned everyone to follow her and they did without question, Yami and Merrik walking backwards to watch their fellow spirit make a fool of himself.

"Stop that you two. Did anyone make fun of you when you confessed things to your hikari?" Raine turned to the Pharoh and his general and glared.

They immediately straighened up and left Ryou and Bakura alone, Yami not even noticing that she had implied that he and Yugi were together.

Bakura, finally left alone with his aibou walked towards the younger boy and gently placed a hand on Ryou's cheek. He was pleasently surprised to notice that Ryou didn't flinch away. "I've kept something from you for a year now. I've been too afraid of your reaction to say anything. Ryou-koi, I know that I've treated you badly for a long time now, I've beaten you and insulted you and used you for my own nefarious purposes. I'd just like to apologize, and swear to you that I will never do such again. You are my Hikari, the light to my darkenss, the Yin to my Yang and all those other corny soul-mate euphemisms. Can you forgive me?"

Ryou smiled at Bakura and Bakura suddenly found his arms full of boy as Ryou hugged him. "Of course, 'Kura. I'll always forgive you."

"'Kura?" Bakura glanced down at the smaller man, "I kind of like that. Just don't call me that in front of everyone else. Okay?"

Ryou nodded, and said, "I'll try to remember that. Was there something else you wanted to say?"

"Yes, Ryou, there was. I'm in love with you. Have been for over a year now. Can you, what I mean to say is do you think you could love me too?"

Ryou stood up on his tippy toes and kissed his yami, Bakura was silent for all of two seconds before with a groan, he responded to the kiss. Ryou parted his lips admitting Bakura's seeking tongue entrance and the two ran their hands up and down each other's bodies until Bakura's left hand came to rest on Ryou's waist and his right hand was supporting Ryou's head. Ryou had both arms wrapped tightly around Bakura's waist.

Raine smiled when she noticed the two kissing, and nudged Seto who was standing next to her, "Check it out Blue Eyes. It's about damn time."

Seto looked over at them and chuckled, "I agree. But I feel so unusual, I think that we're the only straight ones out of our age group. I know that Isis and Rashid are together, and Mokuba has a crush on Serenity."

"Eric is jonesing for Noel. He's just too chicken-shitted to do anything about it. I hate to break the two of them up, but now that the police have taken the idiots away, we really need to get back to Ellen and finish filling out the paper work. Are you going to take the day off tomorrow and go with us to start furniture shopping?" Raine smiled up at him, today had been a Friday and tomorrow was Saturday.

Seto nodded and looked back at Ryou and Bakura, "EWWW. Someone has got to stop them. I like them and all, but I don't want to watch them having sex."

Raine turned to the newest couple and chuckled before heading over there. She stood behind Bakura and tapped his shoulder, "Rabbit, Raider. I'm really happy for you, but we still have things to do, and I don't think you want to be nominated for an award for best amature porn exhibishinists. Do you?"

Ryou pulled away from Bakura, turning as red as a tomato, Bakura just gave Raine a wolfish grin which she returned and the three joined the rest of the group and they all headed back to Kanasi Estates Ltd. Once they arrived, Ellen introduced them to George and Raine pointed out the three properties that she wanted to purchase.

"I'll get right on the paper work, can you come in tomorrow to sign some forms?" George Kanashi was a fifty year old man with salt-and-pepper hair and black eyes. He was taken with the poise that Raine presented and was impressed at the size of their group of friends.

"Yes, and thank you for your speediness. My family will be arriving by the end of the month and I want everything ready for them. We'll be looking for furniture and we'd be happy to stop by."

"If everything checks out, you should be able to move in within a few days." George showed the large group out and bowed as Raine did, "I don't forsee any problems at all, but paper work does have to be filled out. I think it has something to do with being sacrificed to the Bull-shit Red-tape god. I'll see you all tomorrow."

Everyone laughed and entered the two limoes tha Seto had ordered. They returned to the Mansion in order to get ready for the evening.

A/N: Well, chapter nine has come and gone. =) I'm working on chapter ten as I upload this. Thanks to Ruroni_agra for the lovely review. The song last chapter was Kryptonite by the awesome band 3 Doors Down. I always thought that song fit Merrik. Well, I hope everyone likes that chapter, I know that I liked writing it. Next chapter, if I remember exactly what I'm saying right here, will include some exclusive Seto/Raine action. The dinner at the new club, and Joey asking Raine when she would confront Alicia.