Work Text:
“Nekotani-san.” An underling’s head popped into the door of her office. “The boss wants a word.”
She sighed, closing the cap on her nail polish bottle. “Did Takahashi say what he wanted?”
“N-no, not that boss.” That explained his nervous look. “The boss.”
“Shit.” Emiko still waited for her nails to dry, because if she was about to get fired or demoted or murdered, it wasn’t going to be with smudged nails. It wasn’t like she liked this job anyway: “Director of Resource Synergy and Operational Optimization,” sounded fancy, and that made her mother happy, but it didn’t mean a whole lot. Her actual position description was upsettingly brief, most of her day-to-day tasks covered under, “Additional duties as assigned,” and they were always assigned. Like the near-space elevator; or the incredibly expensive tournament for a children’s trading card game; or the theme park for orphans (that one had been pretty good). Most of the time, while listening to her boss describe how they were going to be the first company to play cards on the moon, Nekotani spaced out and thought to herself, “I went to college for this.”
“Well, it was a good run,” she thought aloud, hitting the elevator button for the very top floor, which was shaped like a little dragon with blue eyes, because why not. Everything else in the building was. When she’d been interviewed for what she thought had been a communications positioned, the absurdly young CEO (like, where were his parents) had asked her her favorite, what was it? Duel monster. Her smile became more paralyzed as she panicked: “Oh, you know, that is such a good question. It’s really hard for me to pick. I mean, if you twisted my arm, if I absolutely had to…” It was at this point that she realized just how many dragons were in this office, all of them looking the same. “Drgn,” she mumbled, sweat beading at the back of her starched collar.
“The what?” He leaned forward in his seat, tapping a pen against the smooth polished wood of the table; and the pen had another of those little dragons on it, what in the world-
“The, uh….you know, that really great one, gosh, it is just on the tip of my tongue – the…ah, draaaaaa-”
“Blue Eyes White Dragon?”
“That’s the one!” Her smile had taken on something akin to rigor mortis. “Love it. Absolute fave. I mean, wow.” He’d nodded appreciatively, marked something down on his paper, and when the interview was over, shaken her hand and welcomed her on board the KaibaCorp team.
And really, they couldn’t fire her, she’d quit. This place was bananas. She’d given them some of the best years of her life, and for what? Her boss flew around in a jet in the shape of a dragon, her end of the year bonus had been a subscription to Duelists Weekly, and half the departments weren't actually tasked with producing anything! As she strode to the doors of his private office, emblazoned with yet more dragons, she thought that Seto Kaiba could take this job and shove it right up his-
“Ah, Nekotani-san.” He lounged behind his desk where a binder sat open, long legs crossed at the ankle. Emiko instantly had on her biggest, most professional smile. “Thank you for meeting with me on such short notice. I have a special project I want to go over with you.”
“I'm so honored to be thought of, Kaiba-san,” she demurred, taking the chair across from him and smoothing out her skirt. His secretary brought her a cup of tea – so she probably wasn't fired, which, uh. That changed things a bit. “How may I be of assistance?”
“I'm going to be frank with you, Nekotani.” She nodded as he folded his hands together and adjusted his seat, leaning forward towards her. “This is an overtime assignment, and I can't give it to just anyone.”
She flushed, and some of it was genuine. “Why, sir, I-”
“Yes, that's fine.” He waived off her false modesty, which was always preferable. “I'm sure you're aware that I've had a lady companion the last several months.”
Yeah, everyone was aware, Kaiba made her conspicuous enough to be a point of conversation, and not conspicuous enough to be the genuine article. A man besotted enough to bring his floozy around his office would act much more stupidly than Kaiba ever did around that blonde bimbo. The plant was so obvious it was only infuriating how well it worked. Considering how patent his revulsion was – at least so far as Nekotani observed – every time that girl leaned up against him, it was a miracle he could keep up the front that well. “I had heard a rumor, but I don't go in much for gossip,” she lied, like a liar.
“The fact is, I've had to end things with her rather suddenly. She had an idea about reporting on my....intimate habits to scandal sheets.” He glanced across the desk at her with those piercing blue eyes of his, and Emiko almost dropped her cup. “I impressed upon her that would not be wise.”
“Oh my God,” she thought. “They are never going to find the body.” Followed by, “I hope her parents didn't like her.”
“The timing is unfortunate,” the company president continued, “because I have a social engagement this evening – it's the annual Domino City Youth League charity ball, and going stag would be gauche. It's difficult to find a replacement on such short notice, especially one with sense enough to not repeat....someone else's mistakes, and who would understand this is not a romantic overture.” He looked at her again, but he looked a little less psycho this time. “So, you'll be my date this evening.”
She nearly dropped the cup again. “E-excuse me?”
“I'll pick you up at seven.”
“S-sir, I'm flattered, really, but I-”
“Please, don't be flattered, Nekotani. I can't stand when people are flattered. It's a compliment to your sense and because I'm sure that, come Monday, this will not be discussed around the water cooler, as it were. Nothing else.”
Her eyes widened as she held that death smile on her face, lips pressed together because she felt like she was about to scream. “I can't possibly accept.” It wasn't that she thought Kaiba would actually make a move, he was probably the only boss she'd ever had that she was safe from on that score. It was the damned principle of the thing. If just one person caught wind of that, if anyone said she got to the top by screwing the company president-
He moved back slightly in his chair. “I thought I was clear about this already, but very well: I wasn't asking.”
That screaming feeling continued to rise up in her gullet. “Sir. I'll go to the HR Director.”
Kaiba just smiled, oily, certain. “Really? You'll go to the HR Director? My, that is serious. He'd have to report such a severe infraction up the chain of command, of course. Let's get out the organizational chart, why, I do believe that's-” Another one of those grin. “Me!”
Nekotani bolted out of her chair, which gave her a look at the binder open on his desk – all the female employees of the company, with ID photos and everything! That creep, he'd been going through every single one and picking! “Kaiba-san, sir. I really must insist-”
“Brass tacks, Nekotani: I'll give you a fifteen percent bonus this month if you make my life easier for me. Don't worry – I'm not going to,” he sneered at the thought, “do anything.”
Fifteen percent.... “I want six weeks paid vacation, effective immediately.”
Kaiba just rolled his eyes. “Fine – contingent on any ongoing projects remaining on schedule.”
Since they didn't even have a current project, which he'd know, if he ever read her weekly briefings, she nodded, “Agreed.”
“Well then, glad that's settled!” He stood, rubbing his hands together. “I guess you need the afternoon off to...do whatever it is women do before these things. Hair, I suppose. Leave your address with my secretary. You can wear heels, but nothing too much, and nothing that looks like it came out of a bordello. My suit is white and silver, blue tie.” Of course it was. “I'll see you then.” Dismissed, he went back to whatever else he had been doing, beyond scouring his employees for call girls. Why didn't he just hire an escort, he could afford it? Probably beneath his dignity.
It wasn't until Nekotani was in the elevator that she glanced at her hands and noticed, “Oh damn it! They smudged!” This was not a good start to the afternoon.
Emiko was managing to Pygmalion this situation fairly well. Hiring an appropriate dress on such short notice had been difficult, and she didn't have time for anything but the most basic hair styling – but as she fully intended to bill KaibaCorp for all of this, she didn't mind paying out the nose. It was a gorgeous dress, deep red silk, open in the back, a long train dripping behind her. It wasn't fair she couldn't keep it, but then, getting to wear such a gown for even one night had previously been well beyond her imagination. She paired it with white, elbow-length gloves and some strappy black heels. With her long, dark hair in a French twist and her nicest pair of earrings, she actually looked something like a dish.
Kaiba-san's driver must have thought so, she saw the man adjust his collar and tie when she came out of her building at seven in the evening. The man himself, however? He looked through her as much as at her. “I suppose that's presentable. Very well, let's go.” The driver had to hand her into the car, her boss didn't bother.
But he didn't get all cozy with her in the back of the limousine, either, opting for the bench across from hers. This could be a lot worse. He pulled a small note card from the inside pocket of his jacket. “I have a list of topics for you to discuss with the guests.” Oh, look at that, it just got worse.
Nekotani took the card, glancing over it. “This is a list of how great KaibaCorp is, and also you.”
“I suppose you can add the weather as a topic, if you manage to not make it incredibly dull.” He was looking out the window at the passing lights, head barely in this conversation. It wasn't the worst date of Nekotani's life, but it was....up there. “I mostly want you seen and not heard, I'm sure you can manage that. I will be keeping a very close watch on your alcohol consumption, I'm sure I don't have to say it, I don't want you embarrassing me.”
That smile of hers was becoming very pained as she thought again about how much Seto Kaiba could shove this, and where specifically. But fifteen percent, and six weeks off....She could go to Fiji. No, Paris! Anywhere she could find a rich dish, get him to marry her, and kick the dust of KaibaCorp from her strappy heeled feet. “I'd like to ask something in return.”
Kaiba took his eyes from the window to briefly glance at her. “Yes?”
“I'd like a guarantee that anything that happens here, it doesn't cost me my job.”
His eyes tightened. “That's quite a request.”
“As is what you've asked of me. Since this is essentially a favor to my esteemed employer, I don't think it's too much to ask.”
Kaiba just rolled his eyes. “Very well, my word of honor. Any other requests?”
“I don't kiss on the mouth.”
“Nekotani, you try to kiss me, and your six week paid vacation will be spent in the hospital.” God, but he was a creep. “Here we are.”
Emiko became a great deal less certain once the door to the limo opened and her boss stepped out, instantly bathed in the flash of camera lights. He handed her out, because of course he did, it was a photo op, but she dreaded the idea of being seen like this, keeping her head down. Hopefully no one would be paying attention to her when Seto Kaiba was on the scene.
Her luck seemed to be holding. They had to stop for photo ops before going inside, and Kaiba took those by himself, putting her off to the side. He looked unbearably smug for every flash and photo, one hand casually in his pocket, looking impossibly regal. Dad was right, she should have gone into nursing.
The event was being held in the ballroom of Domino's best hotel; Nekotani hadn't even been inside the bar before, briefly dazzled by the marble as it glowed in the light of crystal chandeliers. Her stomach, however, dropped, because her luck just ran completely out. Right there at the entrance, a huge table covered in Duelist Weekly content, hosted by the magazine's publishers. Her boss wasn't here because he was rich and important – it was because of that stupid card game, and he hadn't told her!
“I am going to sound like a moron,” was her tiny, squeaking thought, taking in the banner above the table. It was emblazoned with the same image as the magazine's cover, a crazy haired blond in an outrageous dueling getup, looking confident and a tiny bit smug. The face was familiar from previous issues, but she couldn't have placed the name if her life depended on it, which it very soon, very likely would. One extremely long, desperate power outage had once had her reading back issues after everything else in her apartment had been devoured, so she knew enough to know her boss was a previous bigwig of the game; and she knew the general idea behind the moves; but if she was pressed for any conversation on the subject, what in the hell was she supposed to do? Get out Kaiba's note card and start reciting praises for KaibaCorp? “This is what hell looks like. Monster cards.”
Kaiba wrapped her arm in his as he led her in, and luckily, the plan of, “seen and not heard,” was currently working. Everyone wanted to talk to him, of course, and no one was interested in his arm candy. She could have been a blowup doll for all it mattered. She kept herself busy with flutes of champagne, but after her second, her, “date,” glared at her and cut her off. Killjoy.
Then, something happened, something so stupid it had to be the workings of the gods. Like something out of one of those bishonen novels she read at her desk in the office, the crowds parted to reveal....that one guy, that one from the cover of the magazine! He wasn't as tall as she'd have thought, certainly nothing on her giraffe of a boss, and not nearly as flashy in a plain, black suit, the only color his rich, purple tie; and Nekotani wouldn't have thought this anything special beyond, “Oh, hey, it's that guy,” except that every muscle in her employer seemed to clench at the exact same time so that he physically twitched on her arm, and she had to look at him.
And he was looking at that one guy across the ballroom, who was engaged in what looked like friendly and pleasant conversation with someone else.
The muscles in Kaiba's neck were straining.
Oh God, she could not laugh right now, or he was absolutely going to break his promise and fire her.
That one guy suddenly noticed them, his arm waving above the crowds of the ballroom. “Hey, Kaiba-kun!” Kaiba-kun? Don't laugh, don't laugh, don't laugh-
A shudder ran over her companion as he drew himself up to his full height, pulling a hand through his hair to ensure it fell just so. She wondered if he even knew he was doing it. “Yugi,” he answered, as that guy came up to them. “What a surprise.”
“I hope it's a pleasant one!” He beamed, and Nekotani was overwhelmed with the thought, “What an absolute cutie.” She wouldn't have thought so generally, he wasn't the Toshiro Mifune-type she'd secretly been waiting to rescue her since she was a little girl; but he had the sunniest smile she'd ever seen, with these big, bright, gentle eyes, and an overwhelming aura of kindness. “He is so cute.”
“Katsuya here?” her boss asked with an air of indifference, only Nekotani was quickly deciphering just how forced that air was.
“Nah,” the young man, Yugi, continued in that gentle laugh. “He's in a tournament in Milan.” He glanced pointedly at Nekotani and flushed slightly. “Kaiba-kun, are you going to introduce me to your date or what?”
Acting so very put upon, he motioned his long-fingered hand between them, pulling her closer on his arm. “Yugi, this is Emiko Nekotani. Emiko, Yugi Muto.”
Muto, and suddenly a lot of things were clicking into place. The very long, very boring director meetings where she stopped listening as her boss said, “This is an invitational tournament. I can trust you to draw up a prestigious attendance list. First invite should go to Yugi Muto-” Or, “I want a document made up of good sponsorship candidates for KaibaCorp for next year's season. Look into Yugi Muto-” And who could forget, “These designs are crap, absolute crap! What do I pay you people for? You know who has ideas, Yugi Muto, I want another offer made to get him on my staff.” Wow. Credit to her for laughing every time one of the new intern girls expressed dreams of making the boss fall in love with her and Pretty Woman-ing her way out of this life, but she really should have pinpointed who had his heart well before now. This explained his thing with blondes, though not that he always picked ones with giant knockers. That was probably just a smokescreen to throw people off.
Almost in a daze, she extended her hand, and Yugi shook it, rather than kissed it. “It's a pleasure to meet you, Muto-san.” She at least probably sounded appropriately awed as she tried to keep herself from laughing at this new found discovery.
“Please,” he replied, so incredibly, endearingly earnest. “Call me Yugi.”
“He is so cute, I'm going to die,” was what she thought, but she managed to instead say with a flirty lilt to her voice, “Only if you'll call me Emiko.”
She could feel her boss turning red on her arm, but she was grinning, because Yugi was grinning, and if he liked her, she was set for the rest of her goddamn life. “Emiko it is! I feel very lucky, getting in with one of Kaiba-kun's girls.”
“Oh, it's me who's the lucky one.” She batted her eyes and smiled up at her date, who was definitely scowling at her. “I mean, isn't he just amazing?”
“He is, isn't he!” Yugi smiled affably, flagging down a waiter passing by with more champagne. He handed a glass to Nekotani, and she absolutely giggled as she took it. Kaiba's fingers were squeezing at her arm, hard, and she ignored him. This was now the best time she'd had in ages.
Kaiba cleared his throat. “I don't see your date anywhere, Yugi.”
“Ah,” he laughed, stuffing his free hand into the pocket of his coat. “Don't have one. I'm afraid it's just lonely little me today.”
Nekotani nearly spit her wine, working very hard not to arch an eyebrow at her boss. Oh, so going stag would be gauche, would it? More like, “I need to make Yugi Muto as jealous as possible and let him know just how not in love with him I am.” What a baby. She was never going to be scared of him again, it was almost a shame.
Yugi was being summoned by one of the event organizers and had to excuse himself, but said he'd love to catch up later. As soon as he was away, Kaiba had her pulled into an out of the way spot of the floor. “You are on thin ice, Nekotani.”
“You told me to talk you up, Kaiba-kun.” She pointedly sipped on her champagne. “I didn't say anything that wasn't on that card of yours. And I am earning the hell out of that fifteen percent, don't you pretend otherwise.”
“You-” He didn't have an answer for that and straightened, still glaring at her. “Let's get something to eat.”
The next part of the evening was a little easier, the event organizers giving boring speeches on the worthiness of the cause, the generosity of their sponsors (KaibaCorp had a prominent mention in that), and Duel Monsters generally. Nekotani was used to tuning these things out, though, and simply went through her list of travel plans, what she needed to pack, what needed to be done before she took off. She was so spaced out, and her companion so distant, she hadn’t even noticed the speeches stopped until someone sat down at their table.
“Kaiba, you’re here? I thought these tables were reserved for duelists.”
“That explains why you didn’t have one.”
He wasn’t a tall young man, but he made up for that in misplaced flashiness, with a purple forelock of hair, and the rest brown and not well-kempt. His suit was ill-fitting, to boot. The interloper still smiled at Nekotani, extending his hand. “Ryuzaki, regional cham-”
“ Former regional champion.” It was clear Kaiba was losing patience, that hot look in his eye was proof.
“Well,” he laughed, taking Nekotani’s hand anyway. “I’ve been in competition more recently than you have, Kaiba. He’s just a stuffed suit now, you know.” By way of greeting, he kissed her palm, and thank God she was wearing those gloves. “I didn’t catch your name.”
“I didn’t drop it.”
“Which is no disrespect to him , of course,” he continued, like that exchange hadn’t even happened. “He was great – until Yugi Muto came along. How many of your Blue Eyes did he knock out, Kaiba?”
Nekotani felt like she was trapped in the middle of gunfire, the malice that poured off of her employer was intense . “As I recall, you were never good enough to face off against him.”
“Your date probably knows, I bet.” He still hadn’t let go of her hand, and she wished Kaiba would stop being so pissed off about a card game and instead be pissed off this guy was manhandling his lady companion! “I think it was all of them. How many is that now?”
Nekotani was keenly aware that two sets of eyes were on her now. She was, apparently, supposed to know this. Was this in the magazines? Who in the hell kept track of how many types of one card someone had! “Nekotani,” that was Kaiba, and a horrible feeling was crawling up her spine.
“She’s not answering because it’s such a dumb question.” Yugi Muto dropped into the chair next to the interrupting Ryuzaki. “Dino, everyone knows Kaiba-kun has the last three Blue Eyes in the world. Right, Emiko?”
Ohhhhh, if she didn’t have a date, she would have kissed him! Actually, the date part wouldn’t have stopped her, but she was pretty sure Kaiba’s hot jealous streak might. “Of course.” Her smile was so relieved, it lit her face and reflected in Yugi’s own. “I’m afraid I didn’t answer, because all I could think about was how much I don’t like being touched.”
Kaiba finally took a damn hint and leaned forward. “Claws off, Ryuzaki – or I’ll take them off.”
He made a face – but let her go. “If you get tired of sitting at the loser’s table, you can always let me know.”
“Yes, do let us know how the seats are there,” was Kaiba’s parting jab, but Yugi relieved the tension with a laugh as Ryuzaki stalked off.
“It’s terrible how some people have to bring negativity into a positive event. And here they just started the music for dancing!” They had, couples were taking the floor, and the lights had been lowered. It actually might have been a romantic event, were circumstances other than they were. Yugi smiled at them both, but Kaiba had his eyes elsewhere. “Kaiba-kun,” he scolded. “I'm surprised at you! You have a beautiful date, and you're not dancing.”
“I don't waste my time dancing.”
“He's a party-pooper, isn't he, Emiko?” He winked at her, and extended a hand. “If he's not going to take advantage of the situation, may I?”
Nekotani hesitated, glancing at her date, who was definitely glaring at her – but she could hardly say no, now could she? She managed a delicate smile. “I'd be happy to dance, Yugi – though I can't promise I'm very good.”
“I'm sure you're wonderful.” In her heels, she was nearly taller than him, but this didn't stop the young man, who was a much more competent dancer than she would have thought. It was a remix of a Miki Matsubura song, so with Yugi's lead, she was able to get the swing of the movements without too much difficulty. “Have you known Kaiba-kun very long?”
“A couple of years.”
“Oh wow, he must like you a lot, then, he's spent all that time getting to know you.”
“Ahaha....” She got a look at the table where the man in question was left waiting. Arms crossed, scowl etched deep into his features – she was playing a very dangerous game.
Yugi must have observed it, too. “I know I'm right, look how jealous he looks!”
“W-what does he have to be jealous of?”
“Isn't it obvious?” He looked at her a little quizzically. “I'm dancing with his beautiful date, and he's not.”
Nekotani repressed a laugh, because she could see Kaiba's eyes following them, his hand a vice on his wine glass. She thought, “Don't break one of those, boss, or you're going to be even more apparent than you already are.” She nodded, “You're right. It's obvious.” To people with sense, like her, and to no one else – and most certainly not to the object of this intense affection, but that was always the way, wasn't it?
They were quiet for a moment, and she probably could have gotten away with this deception her whole life, but something about this guy made that difficult. “I have a confession.” He looked at her seriously as she spoke. “I have no idea how many Blue Whatever cards Kaiba has. I don’t know the first thing about Duel Monsters.” Yugi seemed surprised. “You must think that’s terrible, since you’re so..." Quick, think of a word! "Important.”
“Terrible? No, that’s silly!” He laughed, and her heart lightened exponentially. “Who cares if you don’t know about the game? I bet you know all kinds of other things.”
Not for the first time, Nekotani thought her boss had really good taste, generally speaking. “Don’t tell Kaiba, though.”
“Oh, he might care, you’re right.” He just chuckled softly. “Alright, it’s our secret.” The song hadn't quite finished, but she found Yugi had stopped twirling her across the floor when they neared a quiet, unoccupied section of wall. “Emiko,” there he was again with those sincere eyes of his. “So long as we’re being honest with each other, I’d like to ask you something.”
She was almost worried. “What is it?”
“I'm probably not telling you anything you don't already know, but underneath that tough exterior of his – I think Kaiba-kun is really quite a sensitive person.” Again with the Kaiba-kun, she'd never heard him referred to like this by anyone else, ever. “I just would really appreciate it, if...” He dug his toe into the gleaming wood of the floor. “If you promised me you wouldn't break his heart.”
If she had to keep stifling her laughter like this, one of her organs was going to explode. “Ohhhh, I think I can safely promise tha-”
As if summoned by their discussion, Kaiba himself appeared at his elbow. “That's enough hogging my date, Yugi, I'm cutting in.”
He gave a knowing smile to Emiko, one that said, “See? Jealous,” and nodded at his...what even were they? Were they friends? Did her boss have friends? “Sure! Thanks for letting me borrow her.”
Kaiba didn't respond, dragging her back out onto the floor as a slow number picked up. “Put your head on my chest, Nekotani.”
“What!” She almost recoiled.
He was glaring at her. “You heard me. You had no problem draping yourself over him.”
“You are not jealous of that. I think I've played my part more than adequately enough-” At the look on his face she huffed, shoving her cheek against the silk of his shirt. “Fine. But I want to reiterate what I said about lip kisses.”
“Shut up and dance.”
They said not one word the rest of the dance, and she knew for a fact his eyes were over her head and wherever Yugi happened to be for the whole damn thing. Who could have believed Seto Kaiba, of all people, could be such a stupid, desperate sap? Well, she couldn't fault is taste. That Yugi guy was completely charming. A guy like that could maybe mellow the tight ass out a bit. She had to keep from snorting at that image.
There were no repeats of the dances, thank goodness. Yugi did not ask her, and so Kaiba did not have to posture in return. He sat with them at their table and chatted, or he would be called away by someone else, he seemed very popular. But no matter where he was, her boss had him in his sights like a sniper.
Nekotani just rolled her eyes, checking her lipstick in her compact. “So. Did I perform successfully? I go on vacation, starting tomorrow?” He wasn't listening, he only grunted in response. “Not that this hasn't been an entire cargo ship of monkeys, but I hope you find a replacement soon, because I really don't want to have to do this again.”
“What?” he snapped, at last looking at her again.
“A replacement,” she reiterated, clapping her mirror shut. “To drape over your arm and show everyone how butch you are.”
His fingers were on her arm in a second, face dangerously close as he hissed in her ear. “You keep that up, and you're going to be on permanent vacation.”
But poor Seto Kaiba had lost his intimidation, because Emiko knew he melted like an ice cube in summer for a pair of big, violet eyes. She just squirmed against him. “You need to shave, Kaiba-san. That stubble of yours is a very uncomfortable beard.” He released her to rub at his (of course, perfectly smooth) cheek, and Nekotani rose to her feet as Yugi walked by, calling his name. “Yugi-kun! I wanted to ask the teensiest little favor of you, could I?” The young man was only too happy to oblige as she lead him back toward the entryway.
Kaiba had calmed down by the time the car had been ordered. After securing her favor, Emiko had taken a very long restroom break, and given her boss time alone at the table with the King of Games. She'd observed them from a far-off hiding spot next to one of the dessert tables, secretly stuffing truffles into her purse like a diabetic squirrel; she wondered if Yugi noticed how soft his eyes were when he looked at him, and how he had the barest trace of the only genuine smile she'd ever seen on him. She'd almost feel bad for her boss if it weren't so incredibly stupid. She wasn't sure love existed the way it did in the trashy romances she read on company time – but Kaiba-san was making a good case for it, the way he looked at Yugi.
He was relaxed now, like he was basking in some marvelous afterglow. God only knew what would happen if he ever touched the guy. He lit up a cigarette, and Nekotani retrieved one from her purse. “May I?” Wordless, he lit it for her, and the quiet was companionable, as opposed to judgmental.
He let the smoke roll off his tongue and tumble between them in the car. “Alright, Nekotani, it was a good job. You'll get your bonus and your vacation.”
She smiled, taking a drag off her own. “Thank you, sir.”
“Out of curiosity,” he added, “what was that favor you asked of him?” He'd gotten a bit of the hardness back in his eyes. “You had him blushing when you walked him toward the door.”
“Oh, that,” she dismissed with a wave of her hand. “I was just getting a copy of that magazine.” He raised an eyebrow at her, and she took a little too much pleasure in sliding it out of her purse as the limo rolled to a gentle stop. “Just getting his autograph.” There on the cover, in Yugi Muto's hand, was a big heart, drawn right next to his face, and then his name. The driver opened her door, and she slapped the magazine into her boss' chest, his free hand coming up to catch it. “Just a little something for you, as thanks for a wonderful time.”
He was dumbfounded as she climbed out, stopping her with, “What am I supposed to do with this?”
She turned, beaming at him. “Why, I haven't the faintest idea, but I'm sure you can think of something! Company, I suppose, while I'm away on my paid vacation.” He opened his mouth, and she just shook her finger at him. “Ah ah, can't fire me!” She blew him a kiss, and flounced up the steps to her building, fit to bursting with giggles. Oh, she was going to get out of this thing, into sweatpants, and eat cookie dough on the couch – and she was going to laugh her head off the whole time.