Fall of the Dice

Chapter Two: Deal the cards and check out your hand

Cool air flowed around the leaves of the tall trees and sent the loose ones to fall at the feet of the four young men that were climbing out of the rented SUV, and looking around.
“Damn, Ryuuji. This is a great place. How long have you been keeping this a secret?” Jou asked as he eyed the small hacienda that would be their ‘cabin’ for the next week.
“It was something I got with a foreclosure about five years ago. I only come up here about five times a year. It has a great view from the other side.” He explained.
“The other side?” Honda said, turning back from his perusal of the scenery before him.
“Come on Hiroto, don’t stand there all day. Help with the bags.” Kaiba ordered and the other teen stalked up to the vehicle once more.
“I hate it when you call me that, Kaiba.” He yelled at the thin brunet across the car.
“Really? I thought that crybaby act was reserved for Katsuya-kun.” Seto teased over the top of the vehicle’s roof.
“Hey, I told you!” Came the input from the blond.
“Now guys, let’s all try to be friends here. No fighting over silly things or name-calling. Even if it is someone’s given name.” Ryuuji said from the door, with his three suitcases and keys out. “Come on, I’ll show you your rooms. The kitchen and dining areas are off to the left, Living room is here; there’s a game room to the back.” Ryuuji explained as the entered.
They ascended the stairs to find a long hall with various doors.
“Jou, yours is the first on the left, then Seto’s, Honda take that first door on the right.” Ryuuji continued as he walked to the end of the hall and dropped his bags in front of the farthest door. “I’ll make us some dinner after I put my things away.” And he stepped through, leaving the others to their own devices.
Seto and Jou exchanged glances before entering their rooms as Honda pushed into his room for the week.
The rooms were decorated in rustic designs with soft comfortable beds. They each had a dresser and a small table and chair. It was almost like staying in a back woods motel. Each man settled in, in his own way.
Jou dropped his duffle bag on the table and flopped onto the bed, Seto began arranging his things in the dresser and Honda checked out the view. He had gotten the only room with a view to the back of the house and Ryuuji was right, it was great.
When each came down to the lower level they found Honda was the first and he and Ryuuji were talking in the kitchen while the dice-master set about stirring some vegetables in a large wok.
It was part of their plan to make sure each of them had some time alone with the black haired teen to get to know him, and show off their attributes best. Honda had gotten the first chance so the other two were conspicuously tardy.
The food was finished and they all settled at the large table for their meal.
“So, are you going to tell us what this week is all about, Ryuuji?” Seto asked as they finished their meal.
“I thought that was obvious, Seto. A smart boy like you, should have figured it out by now.” He said as he rose and gathered the dishes. When the others jumped up to follow him into the kitchen he continued. “I thought we should all get to know each other better, share secrets, play some games and have some fun.” He set the plates in the sink and turned to his audience. “I like fun, don’t you? But, for tonight, I’m tired so I’m going to bed. Good-night.” He said, stopping at each dazed youth’s face to plant a chaste kiss on surprised lips. Then, he jaunted up the stairs. Leaving behind three shocked suitors.



Ryuuji almost laughed the whole trip up the stairs. The expressions of surprise were so comical it was all he could do to keep a straight face. Well scratch that; just not laugh. There was nothing straight about Otogi Ryuuji.
He stripped out of his red vest and black t-shirt, dropping both into a wicker hamper near his bathroom. Then, he stood before the large mirror and looked up at his reflection.
Dark eye make-up lined his face and blocked out the real Ryuuji, hiding it behind the mask he wore. Now he would strip the mask and see just how the world, or at least his friends would accept that Otogi. He grabbed the cream and wrenched the jar open, slathering it over his face and rubbing it in, briskly.
Turning the handle on the faucet he splashed his face again and again, purging it of its impurities and allowing them to flow down the drain.
Ryuuji looked up at the new reflection, noting the clear complexion and naturally long eyelashes. He blinked a few time, watching the seductive way his eyes focused on the mirror’s surface.
His small mouth, and long pointed nose were plain and unadorned. That part he could change, and he would, tomorrow. Yes, in the morning things would be different, and then he would see just who was still interested in him. How many suitors would still follow when they knew just who he really was?
Folding the towel, he left the bathroom to strip off his tight black leather pants and add them to the clothes hamper and crossed to his dresser. Pulling out a piece of clothing he readied himself for sleep, smoothing the fabric over his body and enjoying the silky feel of the cloth against his skin. It was always like this; the feel of silk against his body, and for the first time in his life, he wished to share this with someone. Who knew, maybe by the end of the week that would be the case?


His habit of sleeping with the window open was probably why he was the first one awake in the mountain cabin. The curtains moved with the light breeze and the morning sun twinkled into the room - right into his eyes greeting him and waking him for the day.
Throwing the thick quilt off of his legs, Jou jumped out of bed and stretched languidly. He made his way into the bathroom and after brushing everything that needed and taking care of his morning necessities; he dressed in his most comfortable jeans and a tight t-shirt, covering it with a long sleeve, plaid, flannel shirt open down the front.
Jou exited his room and wandered down the darkened hallway assuming he was the only one awake and thinking that he would surprise Ryuuji with a delicious breakfast when he rose and started his first day of vacation.
Tiptoeing down the stairs he noticed a light burning in the kitchen and crept up to the door. Pushing slowly through, he noticed a wonderful smell exuding from the room.
The lights were on and there by the stove stood a stranger stirring a bowl full of batter then dipping out some and dripping it onto the griddle.
She was a pretty girl, shorter than he and shaped like a model, thin and trim. The mid-length a-line shirt she wore was of a light paisley print and covered by a ruffled pink apron and topped with a crisp white blouse with long loose see through sleeves. Her long black hair hung in loose curls and rounded her face like a picture frame, accentuating her high cheekbones and bright green eyes.
Jou gasped when she caught sight of him and her face took on a sultry look.
“Well, hello,” came the soft voice of an angel. “You are up early.”
“Um, ya,” was Jou’s witty reply. “I mean ya I am. I slept great and couldn’t wait to get up. Ryuuji didn’t tell us that he invited anyone else.”
“He . . . . didn’t?” she asked. “Oh, my. It must have slipped his mind. But we won’t let that upset us, will we?”
“No. I guess not. My name is Jounouchi, but everyone calls me Jou.” He offered, dropping onto the closest kitchen chair.
“Oh, well you can call me . . . . um, Nanashi. Ryuuji is my . . . um, cousin, sort of.”
“That does explain the resemblance. Great ta meet ya, Nanashi. Those pancakes smell good.”
“If you just turn around, I will be happy to get you some,” and as Jou turned in his chair she placed a heaping plateful in front of him.
Then she gracefully slid onto the next chair with three light and fluffy pancakes on her own plate. Jou eyed it speculatively, before plowing through his breakfast.
By the time Jou had finished all but his last two cakes and Nanashi had managed to begin her last they had discussed most of their favorite things and Jou had told her about his dueling prowess and fighting abilities.
At the same time, Seto and Honda arrived at the kitchen doorway and stood staring at the two.
“Hey, guys. This is Otogi’s cousin. And she’s a better cook than Ryuuji.”
Nanashi stood and smiled as she began to pile pancakes onto plates for the new arrivals. Seto and Honda pulled up their chairs and sat silently.
“The tall one is Seto and the ugly one is Honda.” Jou informed her.
“Hey!” Honda complained. Nanashi giggled
“So, what you are saying is that you think Seto is attractive?” she asked covering her laugh with her hand.
Seto stared for a moment before leaning seductively across the table. “Is that what you’re saying, Katsuya-kun?”
“Don’t push it, Kaiba. We all know who I think is attractive,” he said moping to himself.
“Not all of us,” Nanashi said, blushing lightly. “Who is it you think is attractive, Jou?”
“Oh, um. Well I kinda have the hots for your cousin, Nanashi. We all do, right guys?”
“All of you?” she asked, looking around the room. The three teens nodded as she surveyed them. “And you aren’t fighting about it?” she added.
“Nah. We talked it out and decided to let Ryuuji make the final choice. Then the rest will back off.” Jou said.
“That will be a hard decision for him,” she said, as they all smiled vainly at each other.


and who has figured this one out???

Fickle Goddess - Oh wow. That was a great first review for this fiction. I was so excited to read it through. Now as for the rolls of the dice, I figured that Otogi being a dice master probably has a couple of favorite that he keeps close. Hence the mismatched pair. These dice having been kept for so long have come to be a bit of a fortune telling device for him and seem to have a mind of their own. (Oooh, shades of the velveteen rabbit, If you are loved enough you will become real!) Now, as for the number rolls: Note the first rolls were all sevens, and that each corresponded with a length of time he was thinking about, then the fours - symbolic of his possible foursome. The snake eyes are the dice getting his attention, and the one and three in the last throw is for Otogi (1) and the three (3) other characters. Explanation complete. Hope it did not bore you or disappoint. The dice will be back. As for the three working together, etc. I am assuming they accidentally found out about each other and are simply playing along in order to keep the others under observation. No one is really co-operating here.