• Part of the Kai-baby / Yami-kins AU. Chronologically set after "I Can’t Drive 55."
• Noa has been brought out of the virtual world, has a new body, and is living with Mokuba and Seto, and Yami has his own body and is separate from Yugi. The how and why isn’t important on either of those.
• Ages of characters at start: Seto is 25, Yami 24, Noa and Mokuba are 19.

* * *

Ever After

Prologue: At the Beginning

* * *

- "At the Beginning," Richard Marx

* * *

"Oh thank GOD the traffic wasn’t worse. We’re running late enough as it is!" Mokuba cried out in relief as the limo pulled up to entrance of the Domino Grand Seaside Hotel.

Seto looked out the window at the large, sprawling building, which despite its name, sat outside the city limits of Domino, on a beautifully manicured lot overlooking the Pacific Ocean. He couldn’t remember for the life of him why they were there, but that didn’t matter. All he knew was that it was important, they were late, and Mokuba was there with him. Whatever else he needed to know, he’d figure out along the way.

Fubeta quickly rushed to get the door for them, bowing deeply as they exited the vehicle. Isono was there too, waiting until both Kaibas were out of the car, then accompanying the pair as they swept through the front doors of the hotel, which were held open by a pair of uniformed doormen.

Seto took a moment to look around at the lobby. It was an upscale hotel, so the furnishings all looked very plush and ornate. It screamed old fashioned and old money to him, but then again he was a lover of things high tech and modern. This sort of place was only suitable for things like ladies’ luncheons and honeymoons. Or… maybe some sort of company function? A location like this would probably please the shareholders. It would make them feel wealthier than they already were. And certainly he wasn’t lunching with old ladies or going on a honeymoon.

"Nii-sama, come on!" Mokuba called. The younger man was already halfway down a short hallway, in front of another set of double doors, gesturing frantically to his brother with his free hand.

The doors were flanked by very large sprays of roses in red and white, with gold-edged white ribbon. Seto frowned slightly. There was text on it too but for some reason he was having a hard time making it out, the overhead lights glinting off the gold text, rendering the words impossible to read. They weren’t attending someone’s memorial service were they? He remembered seeing similar arrangements at his father’s funeral. But that didn’t seem right… they were at a hotel. And who did he know that would’ve wanted their memorial held at a place like this? He certainly would’ve remembered if something had happened to Sugoroku…

Oh… maybe it’s something like an engagement party? Seto suddenly thought, relaxing a little. That made sense. Anzu had been kind of hinting that she was ready to settle down and get married. Maybe Yugi had finally worked up the courage to propose to her. But why would he need to plan out a big event at a hotel with all his friends in attendance? Or… had he already proposed and they were all there to celebrate? Try as he might, the young billionaire couldn’t remember if they’d gotten engaged.

Reassured that they probably weren't there for a memorial service at least, Seto nodded and strode quickly after his brother. As he walked he passed by a large mirror and caught his reflection. He was wearing an all-white tuxedo with a long white coat over it, not something appropriate for a company meeting or a memorial. And now he realized Mokuba was in a tuxedo too… why hadn’t he noticed that before?

Formal charity event maybe? He really was reaching now. But that didn’t jive with the flowers. And he really preferred to make donations rather than appearances; Mokuba knew that. In fact Mokuba had taken over those sorts of "duties" as part of his job; he was the public face of Kaiba Corp. now. And he was doing great at it. But maybe this was something really big and Mokuba wanted them to both make an appearance…

"Um…" was all Seto managed to get out by the time he got over to Mokuba, as he was immediately yanked through the doors.

"I guess you’re a little nervous, huh?" the raven-haired man asked as he hurried his brother down yet another hallway, one decorated with candles as well as flowers. "I didn’t mean you freak you out in the car. We’re not that late, and I’m sure everyone will understand. Besides… it can’t start without you, right?"

"It? What?"

Mokuba just smiled. "It’ll be fine. Don’t worry!"

They finally came to a stop before another set of doors, topped with a garland of roses and more ribbon with illegible text. "All right, wait here," Mokuba said, opening the door just a crack and slipping on in before shutting it securely behind him.

Was it a surprise party? Was it his birthday? Seto frowned. Wouldn’t he remember if it was his birthday?

Through the wall Seto could hear some music starting up, though he couldn’t immediately place what it was. Was that a cue? Was he supposed to go in? Mokuba hadn’t told him what he was waiting for.

But just as he reached for the door, it opened again, and Sugoroku stepped out, his face lighting up at the sight of the young CEO standing there. "Seto, we were beginning to wonder if you got cold feet…" the old man joked.

"Huh?" Cold feet over what? And Sugoroku, who was usually dressed in worn old overalls, was wearing a tux as well. He’d even ditched the ever-present bandana. Seto couldn’t stop boggling over that.

"Are you ready?"

What kind of birthday is this?? "Uh, yes?"

"Good. Oh dear, and I almost forgot…!" And out of nowhere, Sugoroku whipped out a large bouquet of roses and held it out to Seto.

The brunette stared him, baffled.

"Seto? Take it."

Seto slowly accepted it, feeling oddly like some beauty pageant queen. Or someone on candid camera. He looked around stupidly for a moment to see if that were the case before realizing that, of course, neither Mokuba nor Sugoroku would do something like that to him.

"All right then, NOW are you ready?"

Seto nodded. Whatever was going on was behind that door. The best way to find out was to simply walk through it.

* * *

As soon as he took one step into the decorated ballroom it finally dawned on Seto what was going on. A wedding… why hadn’t that occurred to him earlier? The closest he’d gotten was considering the possibility of an engagement party.

It had to be Yugi and Anzu’s wedding then. He’d have to apologize to them later for delaying the ceremony, as they’d obviously been waiting for him to usher Sugoroku to his seat or whatever – he wasn’t exactly sure how wedding things went.

Sugoroku lightly touched his elbow and urged him to go on. Seto tilted his chin down to tell him he got the message, and noticed that the old man was beaming up at him, his eyes wet with unshed tears. Seto smiled at him in return; he could understand Sugoroku being overjoyed at seeing his grandson get married.

Everyone in the room was rising to their feet as the music switched to Wagner’s "Bridal Chorus," and Seto straightened up and began to walk forward slowly, figuring the bridal party had to be right behind him. He wasn’t sure what to do with the bouquet Sugoroku had handed him earlier – maybe Anzu just had a major thing for roses? – so he just held it in the crook of his arm as he walked. It was strange though… why was everyone looking at him instead of the bride and bridesmaids that surely were following right behind? He wanted to turn around and take a look himself to make sure there weren’t any problem, but that would be poor manners, so he just kept his chin up and stared straight ahead as he marched down the aisle.

In the front of the room, flanked by even more roses and candles and accompanied by a minister or some other official, Yugi, Yami, Mokuba, and oddly enough, Noa, were watching him approach. He smiled at Yami and the ex-Pharaoh grinned back; he then gave a nod at Yugi as well. It was funny seeing Yugi in a tux… it suited him about as well as it suited his grandfather, but of course they’d look even more out of place in their normal attire. Seto found it baffling that Yugi would choose Mokuba and Noa over Jou as a groomsman, given how close the two friends were, but maybe Anzu had enough sense to talk her groom into picking more responsible friends for the position.

Speaking of Anzu, she had to be the stealthiest bride ever. Seto couldn’t hear footsteps or fabric rustling or anything behind him. And here he was assuming that a girl draped in yards upon yards of crisp satin and tulle would be noisy as hell.

Finally reaching the end of the aisle, the young CEO paused, perplexed. There was probably a reserved seat for Sugoroku somewhere in the front row, but he didn’t know where he was supposed to go. Was there a seat reserved for him as well? There was an uncomfortable pause while he stood there, trying to logic his way through it, but then Sugoroku gave him a very light tug and Seto realized, he was to go stand with Yami. So that made him a groomsman then, and not an usher?

Dilemma resolved, Seto stepped up to the open spot on Yami’s left side, and then much to his surprise, the music tapered off as the guests began sitting down and the rest of the wedding party turned around to face the minister.

Okay, call me crazy, but I don’t see the bride. Am I the only one to notice this? Seto thought as he surreptitiously glanced left and right. The only people standing there were the ones he previously noted; there wasn’t anyone remotely resembling a bride.

Wait… are Noa and Mokuba getting married!? WHAT?? It wasn’t that he personally objected to it. But he didn’t remember them getting engaged or anything. The mere thought that he’d forget about anything that important horrified him.

Seto, what’s wrong? Yami asked, his voice always a calming balm on Seto’s thoughts. Better yet, Yami had to know what was going on.

The crimson-eyed man turned and just stared at him, incredulously. Seto? YOU’RE the bride. It’s OUR wedding…

* * *

Seto violently jerked awake, breathing harshly, visions of romantic candlelight and red and white roses still haunting him. Immediately he turned to the spiky-haired man lying by his side and screamed, "I WILL NEVER BE YOUR BRIDE, YAMI! NEVER!" and then flopped back on the bed and went back to sleep.

Yami was a deep sleeper, but being screamed at woke him up instantly, and he sat up with a start, groggily blinking and looking around as he tried to figure out what was going on. As the words slowly filtered into his sleep addled mind, all he could think was, Did Seto just say, "Bride?"

* * *

• Poor Seto. At least I refrained from putting him in drag? Actually I couldn’t see him dreaming himself into a dress, even as the bride, and it would’ve been too much of a tip off as to the punchline of the dream. I hope the bouquet was enough of a nod to bridal without going overboard.
• Incidentally - and I want to make this clear since I can see how maybe this dream scene might be misleading - Seto and Yami aren't going to be the ones getting married in this arc. Sorry to disappoint, if that's what any readers were hoping for. But Seto made it clear in previous stories / arcs that he doesn't believe in it, and he's sticking to that...

November 9, 2012