Amor Vincit Omnia

Notes: I might as well jump the bandwagon and do a Valentine's Day fic. I've been meaning to write a puzzleship for a while and what better than Valentine's Day for the most adorable light/dark couple evar!!
I really don't know what more to say...I hope you enjoy the fic..? XD

Also, thanks to all who read Fortuna and are reading this. SxJ is not my forte, but I am egoistically fond of that fic.

Ookami Arden: As I said, I love that you love it...and possibly gave up dateline for it. *is totally flattered*

hotpepper: I'm glad I encouraged account-making, but I am actually ashamed to say that there wasn't really that much research involved. I read a few good Ancient Egypt novels and took it from there. Happy you liked it and appreciate the review!

-II-

Amor Vincit Omnia

Chapter 1: Venus Scorned

-II-

“He’s adorable.”

“He’s an abomination!”

Atem smirked at his fuming sister, but dutifully glanced at the photo and memorized the person. The picture was badly taken since half the subject’s face was covered in shadow, but the other half glowed under a blond fringe and spiky red-black hair. The eyes were half-closed in a moment of mirth, and despite the pink pearl lips, the grin was a little too wide. Quite frankly, he didn’t see what all the fuss was about. But then again, he wasn’t on Domino University campus all that much to begin with. True, he had followed his various family members into the prestigious institution, but somewhere along the way he decided that international dueling tournaments appealed to him far more than boring lectures and insipid drama. He made an honest effort to balance work and play, but after winning his first Duel Monsters competition, he never looked back except for a few times when he thought of his sister…or in this case, she thought of him.

“He’s turned this entire school upside down,” Mai tossed her golden hair and turned a violet glare at the bright sunlight streaming from the bay window of her dormitory. It was a nice and spacious room that looked a little too extravagant, but as every student in the university knew, she had earned it. “There is no order, no respect for authority…hell, I am Student Body President and no one bothers to say good morning when I walk down the halls anymore.”

“Oh come on, Mai.” Atem crumpled the photo and volleyed it into the fireplace. He ignored the flames licking at the picture and sat down on the loveseat. “Give their poor backs a little break; I know, all that bowing and scraping has got to be tiring.”

Mai’s lips thinned and her beautiful features twisted slightly in her anger. She gave her brother a sardonic look. “Seto Kaiba was the only president who gave a damn about formality, Atem, I don’t care either way. But the reason we have a hierarchy in the University is to teach the younger kids respect and prepare them for life. In the real world, they won’t be getting away with things like embezzlement and unauthorized construction.”

Atem raised an eyebrow in genuine surprise. Mai wasn’t talking about petty misdemeanors, but real crimes. Even the biggest masochist in the University knew better than to cross Student Government; it was simply suicide on paper. “Who the hell would do that?”

“This stupid cult following.” Mai sighed and pressed a few keys on the laptop resting on the coffee table. “They treat the kid like some kind of god, even though he is only a first year with about average marks. It is one thing to dedicate a blog, but entirely another to take Student Government funds to build him a fucking shrine.”

The younger man resisted the urge to laugh, though his ruby eyes glimmered with amusement. “A shrine? This I’ve got to see.”

“Indulge yourself.” Mai turned the screen to face him and went back to seething. In moments, a pleased smile curved her lips as she saw Atem’s eyes first widen in amazement and then narrow in irritation. He pressed a few more keys and snapped the lid down.

“This is bullshit!” He growled fiercely. “Three hundred thousand yen for a shrine—who authorized this?”

Mai smirked and made a quick gesture. “Certainly wasn’t me. Half the lower lackeys in SG are part of this obscene fanclub and I’m pretty sure they looked the other way long enough for it to get this far. I already notified the proper officials, of course, but an investigation of this scale will take a shitload of time…far after Valentine’s Day. And if you read the rest—“

“They want him to be Eros for the Lovers’ Ball.” Atem muttered grimly. Anywhere else, it wouldn’t be a big deal. Queen bees were ousted all the time, but this was Domino University and Mai wasn’t just a queen bee. She was student body president and as such, she was automatically entitled to be the figurehead for all the secular holidays—like Venus for Valentine’s Day. Of course, there were other figures chosen by silly nominations and popularity contests, but the main figurehead was the most lavish and drew the most attention. And for good reason, since the tradition ensured that the students were periodically reminded who their leader was and who was really in charge of their affairs. Challenging the position of Venus on Valentine’s Day was challenging the President herself. Unless there was a good reason, it simply wasn’t done.

“Oh, they wouldn’t do that.” Mai replied sarcastically. “They want me to share.” She exaggerated the last sentence, making her distaste wholly obvious.

Atem scoffed derisively. “The presidency isn’t shared, at least not with a fucking first year. Hell, the only time we had two figureheads was when Seto Kaiba was President and he only let Seth share because they were already…”

The man trailed off awkwardly and his eyes darted to the window. His fingers nervously pulled at a leather buckle on his wrist. Behind him, Mai bit her lip, searching for a way to get back to point without broaching another unwanted topic.

“Well, whatever” The blonde coughed distractedly. “They already graduated and though he was a pompous jerk, Kaiba ran a tight ship. Damned if I’m going to be the one who let the wheel slip. We women have it hard enough as it is.”

“So, what do you propose?” Atem leaned back on his seat and raised an eyebrow. “As far as I can see, those fan-clubs and followers mean that this kid is near untouchable. I’m sure someone would notice if we threw him off a bridge.”

Mai chuckled. “How I wish…but no. As President, dirtying my own hands is beneath me.” She smiled at her kin. “So that, my dear brother, is where you come in. I need you to be there when he burns his own reputation and credibility.”

“Mai…” Atem’s tone was warning. He may not like the situation, but he certainly wasn’t going to do anything dangerous to a new boy barely finished with his teens.

“Don’t be silly.” Mai flashed him a grimace and stood up. Rifling through a drawer, she tossed him a small envelope with something inside. “I don’t want him hurt; I just want these sheep to quit mentally fellating him every time he walks down the hall.” Here, she rolled her eyes at Atem’s snort of laugher. “Oh, grow up. It’s not as if you’re a stranger to it, oh King of Games.”

“What is it?” Atem pored over the package suspiciously. He opened the envelope and let a tiny vial roll out on to his hands. It was clear and unmarked and non-descript, exactly the kind of container that the more terrible things came in. He had no reason to doubt his sister, but he knew first hand what measures people could take when threatened or thought they were threatened. He started at Mai’s reply.

“GHB.”

“What?!” Atem jerked up and tightened his fist around the vial. He stared at his sister in disbelief. Was she really suggesting physical violation and…was she recruiting him to do it? “Mai, what the fuck are you thinking? This is isn’t teaching him a lesson, it’s—“ His eyes took on a pleading look when she didn’t back down. He loved her, he did, but weren’t there boundaries even if she was family and he was honor-bound to stand by her?

“Enough, Atem.” Mai pushed her brother back down on the couch. “Don’t be idiotic, I don’t advocate that sort of thing. The drug in there is well-diluted and I tested it myself.” She waved away the younger man’s shocked expression. “Ryou conducted it; if you can’t trust that boy, you can’t trust a saint.”

“But…”

“Just slip it into his drink at the Lovers’ Ball.” Mai continued, ignoring his impression of a gaping fish. “He’ll be a little out of it for a few hours, more than enough time to prove himself as the little twit he is. Nothing more than that and you’ll be watching him the entire time, of course.”

Atem nodded absently. It certainly wasn’t the most honorable thing to do, but Mai had to maintain her authority somehow. If this kid was allowed to practically replace the President and upper class officials because he was pretty, nobody would care about achievement anymore. Hard work and integrity would be replaced by arbitrary standards of beauty and good looks…just like every other University with lesser scruples. The thought weighed heavily on Atem’s head. He may not particularly like the institution, but it was a good and respectable one. Besides, if it was important to Mai, it was important to him.

“What did you say his name was, again?”

“Yugi.” Mai replied with a hint of annoyance. “Yugi Motou.”

-II-

Yugi looked nervously around at the rich mahogany and crimson décor of the large office room. He had been here only once this term and that was to submit a tuition payment along with several other students. The President’s suite was enormous, imposing and absolutely intimidating for anyone to be in all alone, but he was hit with a double whammy of having the President hate him as well. Dreamy-eyed though he looked, Yugi was far from stupid. He knew about the fan-clubs and the ill-conceived shrine and Mai’s reaction to the whole misguided venture, but it wasn’t as if he’d asked for any of it. People had been falling in love with him on sight since he was fifteen; he had boys and girls throw themselves on his path asking him to love them back and all he could do was flash them a watery apologetic smile before hiding his face and running. And it was all because of his accursed beauty. Where infants and small children were adorable in their youth and lost most of their charm in adolescence, his charm had only compounded. His violet eyes jealously kept their luster and his features molded into a perfect heart shape with perfect skin and perfectly plump lips. Without the use of products, his hair grew like inky obsidian and swept upward into soft red tips. To crown it all, his fringe glittered like spun gold no matter how cheap a dye he used.

With expressive hands, a sensuous body and fantastic posture, he was love incarnate. And everyone came for it like starved prisoners running toward the first source of light. But he didn’t want any of it; he didn’t want them to love him, or adore him or worship him, especially since he could never reciprocate. Tears suddenly pricked the corners of his eyes when he glanced up and caught sight of the pink hearts chandelier above the main desk. It was there to remind everyone that Valentine’s Day was looming near, but it only reminded him of the terrifying petition he’d seen going around.

Eros? They wanted to install him as a main figurehead in the Valentine’s Day ball? And they wanted to see him alive after the event? The boy shivered at the memory of Mai’s glare when she saw the paper. It had been standing naked in the Arctic while getting kicked in the groin. He could fail all his classes before the impending Valentine’s…sorry, D-day and get booted from University functions, but that would cause unnecessary pain to his family who spent a considerable amount of money to send him to a prestigious and safe school instead of a public college. The only other option was to try and speak to Mai about it. He was in the process of drafting a possible scenario, but that hadn’t gotten very far.

His friends had good intentions, but they weren’t of much help. Jou wanted him to take the position and ‘stick it to the man’ while Honda and Duke suggested dropping out. Malik and Bakura had snorted in derisive amusement and offered to buy him a hideous mask to wear all the time. The only practical advice had come from Anzu, and again it involved talking to Mai. Right…surprisingly enough, Yugi didn’t care for mental and emotional castration.

The door to the suite opened the spiky-haired boy jumped visibly. He whirled around to face a tall man dressed in black slacks and a dark blue button-down shirt. His hair was a shiny russet in the light steaming from the window, but his eyes were ice-blue and just as cold. Immediately, Yugi’s eyes widened and he recognized the man from passing by his picture in the halls everyday.

“P..p..president Kaiba…” Yugi closed his gaping mouth and lowered his eyes hastily when the blue gaze turned on him. He wondered whether he should bow, but seeing as Kaiba was no longer President nor student, it would probably be inappropriate to address him as such… “…eh…good morning…um, sir?” He added the last part timidly, cheeks and ears glowing bright red.

To his surprise, the man laughed and it was such warm laughter in contrast to his chilling gaze. Yugi looked up without regard to respectable protocols and the transformation amazed him. Far from the severe portrait he saw in the hall, Kaiba’s face was actually quite charismatic and likable. It was as if the sun had broken across a previously miserable winter’s day.

“Ah, I’m not Seto Kaiba. But no problem, I get it a lot.” The man’s grin became wider as he folded his arms in the most casual manner. “I am actually his most cherished significant other…although for both our safety, he shouldn’t hear me say that to strangers. And, if I should guess, you are Yugi Motou.”

Yugi blushed again and tried to suppress a smile that threatened to grow too big. He certainly saw the difference now between Kaiba’s portrait and this man. This one was broader and slightly tanned, not to mention instantly gorgeous and delightful. “Uhm, yes I am. I am honored that you’ve heard of me.”

Seto Kaiba’s significant other chuckled again. “Oh, I’ve more than heard of you…you’re all over the internet.”

“Oh…” Yugi’s heart sank, although he didn’t know why. He should have expected it anyway; what other accomplishments did he have to his name besides a nice ass?

“Yes, not many first years take third-place in Battle City. Seto and I were quite impressed with your score.” He paused and threw a furtive glance around. “Again, for both our safety, I shouldn’t speak for him.”

“Oh, Battle City!” Yugi grinned, not caring about appearances at this point. Finally, someone who knew more about him than the fact that he was pretty. “Wow, yeah…Kaiba and that first-place winner…Atem…they are incredibly skilled.”

“No more skilled than you.” Came the easy reply. “They just have more to fight about.”

Yugi tilted his head bemusedly, but before he could ask further, a side door opened. Mai stepped inside and glanced inquisitively at the two occupying her office before her normally aloof features brightened and she smiled. “Seth!”
Yugi watched as the two embraced. Apparently, Seth had the same affect on everyone else because Mai looked more human than goddess as he pressed her close in a platonic kiss.

“Good to see you, cousin.” Seth was saying. “Sorry I had to drop in like this, but I just had to after I heard that… he was back.” Here, Seth looked hopeful and Mai gave him a small smile before disentangling herself from his arms.

“Yeah, he is…” The blonde muttered. There was a bit of an awkward silence before she turned to the other occupant. Instantly, the mask was back and she looked at him coldly. “Yes?”

“Huh…?” Yugi snapped out of his reverie as the warm fuzzy feeling from earlier evaporated. Hastily, he pulled out a small form from his backpack. “I just wanted to…er…rent some locker space in storage for a few weeks. I already have the money.”

Mai raised her eyebrow. “More space? What could you have to warrant two lockers?”

Yugi blushed again, trying his best not to quiver nervously. “It’s only for a few weeks, I, ah, got some presents that I want to store and sort through.” Yeah, a thousand gifts and cards and stuffed animals…and it wasn’t even Valentine’s Day yet. The fanaticism always got worse around the holiday season.

Apparently, Mai had the same thoughts. “Really, Motou, you are in charge of managing your personal property. If it’s becoming so difficult, you should be actively discouraging this sort of thing.”

“Ah…” Yugi fidgeted. He really should take Mai’s advice and throw them away, but they were gifts and it would be unfair to keep some and discard some. There were people who worked hard to get them…He wasn’t sure how to tell Mai about his bleeding heart; if anything, she would disregard it as an act and it would make her deride him even more. Miraculously, Seth came to his rescue.

“Be nice, Mai-chan. Storage is underutilized anyway and you can’t reasonably say no to incoming funds.”

“Hmph.” Mai scoffed, but signed the form nevertheless. She swiftly counted the money, filed it in the books and handed him the receipt. “I suppose it is time he gave back. Maybe you can total a 300,000 yen before graduation.”

Her tone was like poisoned honey and Yugi wilted before it. He only gulped and nodded before clutching the form to his chest and fleeing the office. Looking back, he spared a small smile at Seth before the door closed, though…the only one in that office who had been nice to him…”Ooof!”
Yugi winced as his ass had an unceremonious meeting with the floor. Blearily, he looked at the figure he’d slammed into, the bottom half of it anyway and took in the heavily buckled boots and black leather. It was not the traditional uniform of the University; rather it looked delinquent…like the kind of outfit which made suburban mothers faint and the fathers obscenely protective.

He opened his mouth to apologize, but winced again as the stranger spoke first.

“Watch it, kid.” The voice was flustered, but no less gorgeous in its smooth baritone.

Yugi resisted the urge to whimper and bowed his head instead. “Sorry, so sorry.” He squeaked and made a beeline for the stairs leading away from the administrators’ building. Once safely there, he dared a peek at the scarily dressed person only to catch a leather clad body with dark spiky hair disappearing into Mai’s office. His heart skipped a beat as he imagined that sexy voice coming from such a man. So thrilling and so exciting. The boy rushed out the doors into the cold February air before another blush took over his face. Could it be? Could he be falling for someone instead of the other way around?
He bit his lip to cover the smile threatening to sneak out. If this was what everyone else felt for him, he couldn’t blame them for acting as they did. Because it was a nice feeling, a very, very nice feeling indeed.

-tbc-

Notes: Yes, I suck as beginnings, but is that really an excuse anymore? Probably not. Of course, I couldn't and never will resist putting in my SetoSeth OTP, but I promise this is a puzzleshipping story! I know Seth kind of hijacked the tale for a bit, but it is important to the story...I swear!

Another note: Despite what is written here, GHB is bad for you. Bad, bad, bad, bad even in small doses! Well, unless directed by a real medical professional, not Dr. Goodbody with an internet diploma. Other than that, bad, bad, bad, bad!

As always, comments are welcome and appreciated.
-peace-