A/N: Hello all! I've been away from writing for quite some time, and I haven't shared any of my work for several years, so I kinda see this story as a practice in returning to writing. The idea just wouldn't leave me alone! And I love Seto x Anzu so much, I thought it might be fun to try my hand at one. The rating is for later chapters, and subject to a possible increase. I apologize if you feel the first chapter is moving a little slow, but it is to help set up the story and get it going, so I hope you all enjoy!

Disclaimer: I do not own Yu-Gi-Oh!

Teaser: The words had fallen from her lips like bombs ready to detonate, and Anzu didn't have long to wait before the explosion.

'Wanted: Part-time dog grooming assistant. Duties Include: Washing dogs, assisting groomer around store with general chores. Pay: 508.354 ¥.'

Anzu's nose wrinkled at the prospect. She had never been a big fan of dogs - possibly because of a vicious ankle biter her aunt used to have - and the prospect of dealing with them wet and soapy didn't exactly appeal to her. Especially when she thought about how big some of them were likely to be! A sigh escaped her pursed lips as she squinted at the computer screen, her finger idly rolling the trackball to move down the page. Too bad this seemed to be one of the best jobs she'd found so far for someone with her particular set of job skills.

Which were, actually, almost none.

She rubbed her eyes vigorously, trying to restore some of the moisture staring at the computer screen for so long was slowly stealing from her. She wasn't quite sure how many search sites she'd gone to so far, and really didn't care to think how many more she might have to visit before she managed to find a job. She had a sinking feeling that she might just end up washing dogs.

Anzu worried at her lower lip as she continued her search, inwardly cursing her lack of experience. Never before had she regretted not having a job like so many of her peers, but she was beginning to. Her parents left her a reasonable allowance to take care of any wants - most likely out of some small scrap of guilt for their almost constant absence - and not having a job gave her more time to practice her dancing around school and schoolwork.

Her parents. She made a hard sound in her throat at the thought of them, eyes narrowing as she continued her search with renewed intensity. Much as she wanted to lay the whole problem at their feet as so many other teenagers would, a niggling little part of her just couldn't shrug off all of the guilt; there were too many things she knew she could have done to prevent the current situation, or at least make it a little better. If she'd only thought to get a job sooner, if she'd only put more of the money she was given away in savings, if she'd only thought to keep her big, fat, stupid mouth shut instead of sticking her foot so far down her throat...

Anzu tried to cut that line of thinking off quickly, her cheeks heating with remembered anger. There really was no room to dwell on ifs in the past; she couldn't change what had happened, only move on and try to fix it in the future. Despite her best efforts though, her mind did wander back to the night that was the cause of all her issues.

It had been dinnertime, a rare gathering of all three Mazaki's as her parent's schedules had somehow managed to align for two days. Normally Anzu would have been thrilled to have dinner with even one of her parents, let alone both, but the strained atmosphere was getting to even her almost constant cheery mood.

Her gaze flicked back and forth between her mother and father, both of whom were acting more like automatons than living people as they ate and made small talk about the weather and whatever community events they had heard of - most of which had come and gone by at least two months. Ah yes, The Rules were in full force tonight. Anzu's fingers had tightened around her utensil in well-trained control, cerulean eyes narrowing at a plate of food she hardly saw and didn't really taste.

She hated The Rules.

The Rules were something of an unspoken agreement in the Mazaki household and had been for as long as the teen could remember. They were supposed to help keep the peace among the small household, but all they seemed to do to Anzu was restrict conversation on the rare occasions they were together.

Anzu's parents both worked in marketing, but they worked for separate corporations. Because of this, and because neither one wanted to give the other the slightest advantage from a slip of the tongue, The Rules kept them from any talk of work. And, because their work was what they lived and breathed, the reason why they traveled and what kept them up until all hours of the night, there really wasn't much about their lives they could speak of.

The Rules had also grown over the years to include Anzu and her 'little hobby', her dancing. Though her mother had been the one to start her in the classes at six - hoping they would help the somewhat clumsy child develop poise and balance - she had also expected her to stop by age twelve, the time when such 'childish past times' should come to a close.

Anzu had refused, of course. In dancing she had found a solace from her strained home life, a type of freedom that she had never known before. It made her...happy.

The same stubborn streak that ran through her parents and made them so dogged in their business pursuits also ran in their daughter. Anzu had eventually worn the two of them down into letting her continue, though neither were at all happy with the situation. For once, Anzu hadn't cared whether or not she had her parents' approval. She could continue on with her dancing, and that was all that mattered. And she could always make it up to them by excelling in other areas, such as her schoolwork.

"Anzu?"

Anzu came back to herself with a start, nearly unsettling a piece of food from her fork that hadn't managed to make its way to her mouth yet. She glanced up quickly and saw both of her parents looking at her, her mother shaking her head and her father looking almost amused. Or as amused as Honzo Mazaki ever looked.

"You didn't hear a single word I said, did you?" her mother accused.

"I--" Anzu began, trying to remember what her mother had been saying. When nothing came, she shook her head. "I'm sorry, what were you saying?"

Her mother shook her head, pursing her thin lips. "You know how I hate repeating myself, Anzu." She didn't wait for her daughter to apologize though, whether because she didn't think her child would be repentant enough to do so or to keep from giving her husband the chance to say anything Anzu wasn't sure. "I asked what it is you planned for after your graduation. You've never really told us." She finished with a disapproving nod.

'Not that you ever really asked,' Anzu thought dryly.

Truthfully, Anzu had been silently dreading this question all afternoon. Now in her final year at Domino High, Anzu had been thinking almost non-stop about her plans for the future. She knew what she wanted do, it was more the how of it that was holding her up. Her dreams were to attend Julliard in America and train professionally in ballet. Julliard surely only took the best of the best, which would make it hard enough to get in, and then there was the tuition...That was probably a small fortune in and of itself, along with what she would need to pay for room and board.

Not to mention the reaction her parents would have. She didn't think her mother would survive the possible aneurysm. No, she certainly did not look forward to telling them that. In her panic over what they would say she had cultivated a rather plausible plan for her future with just enough details to keep them happy but vague enough to give her some wiggle room when she put her actual plan into motion. Whatever plan that turned out to be.

Anzu opened her mouth, fully intent on speaking the false plans designed specifically to please her parents. She could feel the lie on her tongue, gathering on the tip and waiting for her to let it go. She started to speak...but something held her back.

Maybe it was the stress she had been putting herself through as she worried about her parents' feelings. Or maybe it was the tension in the air that night, so thick she could almost taste it as The Rules seemed to smother her in their confining grasp. Or the disapproving frown curving her mother's thin lips and the almost apathetic look on her father's face as he awaited her reply. Whatever it was, Anzu was sick of it; sick of lying, sick of doing her best to please others instead of trying to make herself happy. Sure, it was selfish, but everyone was entitled to a little bit of selfishness every now and then, weren't they?

"I want to go to Julliard, to train professionally in ballet."

The words had fallen from her lips like bombs ready to detonate, and Anzu didn't have long to wait before the explosion. Both of her parents had leaped into action at once, their voices just about drowning each other out as they rushed to extol the foolishness of such a decision, trying first to argue how unlikely such a goal was, how illogical it was for her to even try.

And though Anzu normally found herself acting as the mediator in her own group of friends, hating to have those she cared about in such discord, she couldn't let herself give in. Instead, she found herself joining in the fray. For every reason they gave her why she shouldn't, she found a reason why she should, even if it was just 'because it feels right.' When her parents had demanded how she intended on paying for such a venture, she had foolishly stated she would save her allowance, and supplement it with a part-time job if necessary.

Which, of course, is how she had landed herself in her current predicament. As soon as the words had left her mouth she knew it had been a mistake, and her parents had leaped on it. They had unanimously revoked her allowance and would only provide enough for her groceries; she could find her own way to pay for such idiocy.

Anzu glared at her screen, mouse hovering over the 'next' button with little hope of anything better appearing. On a whim, she changed some of the filters on the search engine for the site, adding some options, broadening the search. As the page repopulated with new ads Anzu tapped her fingers impatiently. How was she ever going to pay for something like Julliard? A tight ball formed in her stomach, twisting as she skimmed the page. Maybe her parents were...

Anzu's eyes seized upon an add halfway down the page, something in it having caught her attention and making her give it a second read.

'Wanted: Professional Nanny Agency seeks young caregivers. Candidates are subject to interview both by Agency and by prospective family. Childcare experience is required, along with recommendations from prior clients. For more information and interview options, please contact Ms. Sasaki, 04 3201 1145. Pay: At discretion of prospective family / agency recommendation.'

This was the best ad she'd managed to find all day! She didn't have any professional experience in childcare, no, and she didn't know just how young exactly they wanted, but she had plenty of experience babysitting. Nearby family members had always been eager to have someone cheap to take care of their children - and who was cheaper than family? Families in her building had also taken advantage of her services; she hated turning them down, and it was normally easy money. She'd always interacted well with children - why shouldn't she give it a try? Its not like she was likely to find anything better, and she enjoyed working with children.

Anzu had to remind herself once more not to fidget, forcing her fingers to loosen their grip on her skirt as she waited for Ms. Sasaki to finish reading her recommendations. The folder that they came in mostly obscured the older woman's face, keeping Anzu from seeing if her face gave away her feelings on the teen. Already Anzu had been sitting in her office for what seemed an eternity, waiting as the woman read all of the references she had been able to collect on such short notice from the families she'd babysat for over the years.

As soon as Anzu had found the ad for the agency she had wasted no time in calling their number for more information. While Anzu had been worried that she would be deemed too young for the position, Ms. Sasaki had seemed thrilled. She would have set up their interview for the following day if Anzu hadn't needed more time to gather her references.

Ms. Sasaki cleared her throat softly to draw Anzu's attention, settling the folder neatly on her desk and smiling at the young teen. The Agency director appeared to be middle aged, a fine web of wrinkles framing her eyes and the corners of her mouth, touches of gray speckled through out her black hair. Her appearance was neat, her suit conservatively cut and neutral in color. She settled her hands over the folder, a warm smile lighting her face.

Anzu smiled hesitantly, shifting in the hard chair in an attempt to find a more comfortable position. "Thank you, Ms. Sasaki, for the interview opportunity. I know I don't have any professional experience, but--"

Ms. Sasaki waved one hand to cut her short, tapping the folder lying on her desk. "I must say Miss Mazaki, when I received your call the other day I was quite thrilled. While I do wish you were a couple of years older, we've been presented with a unique problem at our agency that we've so far been unable to resolve." The director sighed, settling back in her chair, a slight frown causing her forehead to crease. "You see, we have been having a great deal of trouble matching a caretaker to one of our clients. It was suggested that a younger nanny might have better results -- or at least last longer -- but most of our nannies are at least fifteen years older than what was suggested." Ms. Sasaki shrugged slightly. "You, my dear, are the closest to that description. And, while I would normally choose to start you with a less prominent client, we are in a bit of a bind for time. And, if these are anything to go off of," her fingers tapped the plain manila folder, "I think you will be able to handle the position."

Anzu blinked rapidly, her mouth opening slightly as she took in the directors' words. While she had been preparing herself all morning to hear the worst, be told she was too young but please come back in a few years or they really did need some form of professional experience, she had never expected to actually get the job. And to have an assignment so quickly!

"That would be wonderful, Ms. Sasaki, I would be truly grateful for the position, I..." Anzu halted herself, feeling as though she was rambling. A touch of blush heated her cheeks at Ms. Sasaki's indulgent chuckle.

"Of course, you will have to undergo an interview from our client as well -- our clients request final say in all appointments, to ensure the best possible fit for their families. You'll only have the one child with this assignment, but he is quite the handful so I am told." Ms. Sasaki rose from her seat, moving around the large desk to a filing cabinet tucked in one corner of the snug office. She continued to speak over her shoulder as she thumbed through the files it held. "Because of his busy schedule I'll have to call him to schedule the appointment, and we can get back to you with the details. Ah! There it is."

She pulled a folder similar to the one Anzu had brought in with her out of the cabinet, sliding the drawer closed and coming forward to hand it off to Anzu. "Now, this is the information on our client -- general information really, age and name of the child, the previous nannies they have had assigned to them. You can read up on this before your interview. Now, can I get your mobile number one more time, so I can get back to you with your appointment information?"

Anzu accepted the folder in an almost dazed stupor, a smile tugging at her lips as she recited her number and accepted the folder. She'd have to read that later; she had a test on Japanese literature to study for that night, and she was nowhere near ready for it. Here she'd been expecting at the most a polite "Maybe later" or "We'll get back to you", and instead she was being given a job as soon as she was hired! The smile grew wider as she left the building, humming a soft tune under her breath and her step lighter than it had been in days.

Maybe things would work out after all. Her plans were certainly still going to be delayed, but hopefully not for as long as she had feared. And besides, how hard could it be to look after one child?

A/N:And there you have it, the first chapter! I hope you guys liked it ^_^ I know there wasn't any Seto goodness, but rest easy, he's in the next chapter I promise! Review if you would like, I would love to hear from you!