Apricot Roses

Chapter 1

By Larien Nolatari

Summary: A teenager with a dark side, a cheerleader surrounded by popularity, secretly in love with each other, will their true feelings show?

Genre: Romance/Romance

Pairings: RyouxAnzuxBakura

The Delivery man for Speedy Quick 'n' Go Deliveries, whose name happened to be Ryoto, drove to Anzu's house. He took out his first delivery, which was Ryou's, and pushed the doorbell. Ding dong, soon a very pretty woman with chestnut shoulder length hair, and deep blue eyes opened the door.

"Hello." The lady said, "Who might you be?"

"I am Ryoto from Speedy Quick 'n' Go Deliveries, I was called to deliver this gift to Ms. Anzu Mizaki. Do you know where she might be?" asked Ryoto.

"I am Anzu. What do you want?" Anzu replied.

"An anonymous deliverer who asked his name is not to be revealed wanted Ms. Anzu Mizaki to sign for this." Ryoto replied.

Anzu looked at basket. It was colorful yet had a nice meaning. Perhaps a secret admirer?

"Okay, I'll sign." Anzu said as Ryoto pointed to a spot on his clipboard to be signed. Ryoto handed Anzu the basket and left.

These flowers are beautiful, thought Anzu. Anzu examined them, tulips. I don't really like tulips but I have to admit these are pretty, Anzu said. She looked carefully and found apricots. Somebody must know me that well to know that I LOVE apricots because they're my name. Under the apricots were a nest of blueberries. Blueberries were her mother's favorites but Anzu might as well give them a try. Then she spied the card and the box of chocolates tied to the side. Strawberry caramels! Anzu opened them, sure enough there were little square chocolates draped in pink with hopefully caramel on the inside. Anzu remembered the card and went to open it. She listened to the song, Every Heart, by BoA. Her fave, at the moment.

Inside in loopy cursive was:

Dear Anzu

I want you, I need you

I like you, I love you

You're only one I ever needed

Love,

Your Secret Admirer

Ha! So she did have a secret admirer, but this one was different, it wasn't those preppy jocks who just sent her flowers and dark chocolate for a date, this one had carefully picked out all her favorite things, took time to arrange them, and send them by delivery! Now this was a secret admirer. Someone who takes time for you. It was Sunday, she couldn't believe that the delivery people still worked on Sunday?! Anzu took the chocolates and set them on the coffee table, and then she took out the tulips and set them her mother's slender crystal vase. She added some water and plant food. Then Anzu put the apricots and blueberries in the refrigerator, finally Anzu took the basket and the card upstairs to her room. She set the card on her desk, and put the basket by her bed. She would find something to do with the basket later. Anzu went back downstairs and made a mug of French Vanilla decaf, then nestled with a blanket on the couch, turned on the TV, and ate the chocolates while waiting for her parents to come home. She snuggled and ate, savoring the delicious chocolate while watching a show called Tokyo Mew Mew. She soon got tired and washed the dishes and put the rest of the chocolates away for later.

Ding Dong!

Another doorbell, that made two for today only!! Anzu opened the door to see…Ryoto, again!! Great, another delivery.

"Hello Ms. Mizaki. I have another delivery for you to sign." Ryoto greeted.

"Great! Where do I sign?" Anzu asked sarcastically.

Ryoto pointed to a blank spot on the paper. Anzu scribbled her name and took the parcel from Ryoto. Instead of a basket this time, it was a vase. With light orange roses, and chocolates, a card, and fruit stuffed inside. Anzu first untied the card and chocolates. She opened the card. She was surprised to hear It's The Heart That Matters Most, by Charlotte Church. Her 3rd favorite. She read the sort of drippy print, that was in dark red ink.

Dear Anzu Mazaki:

I like you there's no doubt

I hope you like me too

Cuz I think that I suit you best

And you suit me too

So bloody be mine!

-Your Admirer

That was nice and a little violent. Bloody?? That sounded British. Could it be? Nah, Ryou wouldn't use bloody in a love poem, and he had better writing, and wouldn't write in such dark colors. But the poem was well made, Anzu had to admit, it could be Ryou, because it was carefully thought of, but Anzu had her doubts. She listed the pros and cons in her head and it ended up with more cons than pros. Anzu sighed and turned back to the gift. She opened the chocolates, they were dark chocolates, and Anzu liked dark chocolate, though as not as much as strawberry caramels. Anzu set the box on the side, then she took out the fruit, more apricots. Wow, I have so much to eat now, thought Anzu. Anzu spotted the raspberries and put them in the fridge along with the apricots. She then decided to indulge on another piece of chocolate before putting the roses away. Anzu carefully picked up one and popped it into her mouth. Anzu slowly chewed wanting to savor the delicious taste. Suddenly she stopped, she ran her tongue along the chocolate and the contents inside. TOFFEE?! Anzu ran to the trash can and spit it out. I'm allergic to toffee!! Someone wants me out, thought Anzu angrily. Anzu then put the rest of the chocolates in a plastic can. Mom and dad can eat these, Anzu thought. Anzu then took the roses and put them on the counter next to the tulips. She stroked the tulips softly, then turned to the roses, she pulled out every single petal from one rose, ripping it into shreds. Someone, has played a joke on me with the toffee, Anzu thought. Anzu went upstairs and threw the card carelessly on the ground, slammed the door and went out.

That night, Anzu tossed and turned feverishly on her bed. Stupid chocolate, Anzu thought, her stomach was churning, ready to spill out her dinner any minute. Anzu sat up and groaned. She rummaged through her nightstand looking for some Benadryl. Anzu was about to take the purple pill but her stomach lurched. She hurried to her connected bathroom, her stomach gave a jolt and her dinner was gone. Well phase one is over, thought Anzu. Next would be phase two, then three, four and finally five. Anzu dreaded phase three. Her neck felt itchy, hives. Not good. Anzu skipped down the stairs, careful not to wake her parents. She looked for some anti itch cream. She found a freshly bought tube and hurried back to her room where she pulled the cap off and started rubbing it on. Hives. I can't sleep now. Oh well. But I can't take the Benadryl yet, not before phase three. Her itching died down but now she had spots all over her body and in the worst places too! Anzu quickly refilled her water, got her inhaler, and waited for the worst. Pretty soon it started, she was panting, losing her breath, Anzu slipped on her head phones and tried to sing to get her airways to stay open. She gasped for breath, drinking water and forcing it down, though it hurt so much. Anzu's throat hurt, it hurt so badly, this was why Benadryl would have to wait, if I had taken Benadryl I might have died, thought Anzu. Her airways tightened and opened, tightened and opened. This went on for what seemed like forever to Anzu, but was only about eight minutes. Argh, I want this to end, thought Anzu, trying to breath. Finally she was left with no choice, the steroid inhaler, as always. This would cause phase four to be even worse than it sometimes was. Anzu tried her best and inhaled as hard as she could, pressed the medication button and exhaled. Anzu kept breathing deep breaths though it hurt her, finally her work paid off, she was free to breath again. Next was the fourth phase, Anzu popped in the Benadryl and tried to go to sleep, her headaches started. It was like she had the flu, she was cold even though it was about eighty degrees in her room, she had terrible headaches and was nauseous. Soon Anzu drifted off to sleep, trying to dream pleasant dreams, but it didn't work, the dragons came, chasing after Anzu.

-Dream Sequence-

The dragon came nearer, engulfed in it's flames, Anzu tried to run, she tripped over her dress. Thorns were stuck in her fingers, causing them to bleed. Anzu scrambled up and kept running. Her dress was torn as pieces of it latched to branches around her. The dragon was running way faster than her, the dark purple scales, glinting in the light, breathing some intoxicating air all over the place, it smelled sweet, but made the air sticky and humid. Stupid dragons, thought Anzu. She rushed, trying to go find somewhere to hide. The dragon was gaining on her, the poisonous dragon, didn't her father warn her not to go out in these woods? But no, Anzu had to disobey, and now she was tired, hungry, and cold, not to mention homesick. Anzu struggled to get her foot untangled from the log it was stuck in. Stupid stupid stupid, why did I ever go out on my own? With one final crack, Anzu's foot was free and she kept running until she came to a spot, that she thought was perfect to hide in, woo hoo, thought Anzu, at least I have some where to hide out for awhile, at least I hope. Anzu ducked into the bushes and sat still, hopefully that stupid dragon wouldn't have some super smell or something. Anzu tried to get comfortable in the big circle of bushes. It was pretty easy too since it was a big space and there weren't many branches inside. Anzu saw something bright blue. It was a blueberry! Anzu was hiding out in a blueberry bush? Suddenly something rustled, then it boomed, the dragon was coming. Anzu had an urge to pick all those berries and eat them up. Something was trying to force her too, but instead she held back and sat still. Anzu smelled something sweet, the dragon! The air was getting humid and Anzu was getting hot, she tore off the top part of her dress, revealing her corset underneath.

(A/N: There will be no het so stop thinking about it you pervs!)

It was getting hot, the dragon kept breathing, the air was getting sticky as Anzu ripped off the outside part of her dress, trying to use it to shield her face from the poisonous gas. The dragon stomped closer to the bushes when finally it bent down and breathed right into the bush Anzu was in, causing Anzu to sweat and…

-End Dream Sequence-

Anzu woke with a start, sweat was covering her face, her pajama top was on the floor revealing her under garments. Anzu blushed and picked up the top, hastily putting it back on, she took a long drink of water and went to the bathroom to splash her face with cold water. Anzu stumbled to the bathroom and turned on the faucet, she splashed her face over and over again. Anzu cooled herself down and walked back to her bed, she turned her mini fan on to the highest and set it down beside her. She lied down and started thinking, thinking about Ryou, the mysterious deliveries, thinking until she drifted off into peaceful slumber, one without dreams. A night without stars.

The next day Yugi and the gang stopped by Anzu's house. Anzu was experiencing the horrible side effects leftover from the toffee. Yugi and everyone else wished her the best and promised that they would stop by later.

Anzu wandered restlessly around the house, just thinking about the mysterious packages and Ryou again. She decided to go send Ryou something sometime, anonymously. Not today though, today Anzu felt feverish but she knew she was fine. She told her mom about the toffee and her mother let her stay home and rest. Anzu glanced at the clock, 12pm, it was lunch time, and Anzu went to the cupboard and took out a can of chicken soup that her mother left out. She poured the chicken soup into a pot and heated it up, when it got hot enough Anzu dumped in a handful of noodles and some green onions. Then she added some dried preserved shrimp and bits of scallops. Anzu stirred it around and added pinches of salt here and there. Finally Anzu turned off the stove and ladled the soup and noodles out into a bowl. Anzu let it cool while she went and washed the pot. Anzu sat down and stirred the noodles, eating bites here and there, all the while thinking about whom else but Ryou. Anzu finished and washed the bowl. She went back upstairs and dug out the first card. She knew it could be from Ryou-kun, but it could also be from Yugi-kun. Maybe, possibly, from Yami-kun. Anzu hoped it was from Ryou, she examined the print carefully. Then decided to call up Yugi, she knew he had no cell phone, so she dialed the school, Anzu mustered up her voice to sound like a mothers.

"Hello, Domino High School, Janika speaking." The secretary said.

"Hello Janika, I would like to speak to Yugi Mouto." Anzu said trying her best to sound motherly.

"Your reason?" Janika asked.

"I have something to tell him that is very important, concerning family matters." Anzu spoke again.

"Very well, let me get him for you." Janika said pressing the hold button.

Meanwhile Yugi and the gang were talking right before class started.

"Someone sent Anzu toffee yesterday, she said a secret admirer. Now she's got her allergy side effects." Jounouchi said.

"Whoever did it must be playing a mean joke on her!" Honda cut in.

"But Anzu said that there was also a really sweet love note that came with the toffee. I'm sure it wasn't on purpose." Yugi said.

Ryou was listening nearby and so was Bakura. Bakura mentally growled. His hikari, boy would Ryou be in trouble. Bakura kicked himself for not buying peanut butter fudge instead. Maybe Anzu would've liked that.

"Anzu said that she liked the card and it was sweet." Jou said.

"She said that there were two! Two separate deliveries." Yugi said.

"She has two admirers?" Yami asked.

"Maybe. She said the handwriting is different." Yugi replied.

"Will Mr. Yugi Mouto come to the office please?" the secretary was heard on the intercom system.

"I wonder what she wants Yuge." Said Honda.

"I don't know, I'll be right back guys!" said Yugi dashing off.

Yugi wandered down to the principals office. He stopped in front of Janika.

"You asked for me?" Yugi asked.

"Yes. Someone is on the line for you." Janika said pointing to the telephone, "Make it as short as possible."

Yugi picked up the phone.

"Yugi! It's me Anzu, don't tell." Anzu said sounding normal.

"Hello, Auntie Aznu." Said Yugi stifling a laugh.

Anzu laughed.

"I've been thinking about the admirers and I may know who it is. I want you to get Ryou's handwriting for me, like something Ryou wrote." Anzu said.

"Whatever you say Aunt Aznu." Yugi smiled.

"Thank you! And stop calling me Aunt Aznu!" Anzu laughed.

"I love you too! Bye." Yugi said.

"Bye Yugi, thanks." Anzu said stifling a laugh.

Yugi hung up, Anzu thinks it's Ryou? But what about me? Yugi though over this all through chem. class. Anzu likes Ryou? No fair, I love her. I had her first, before Ryou even existed! I love Anzu and I'm going to get her! No one will be with Anzu except me first! Yugi shut off his mind link and began plotting, he knew Yami didn't really care about getting Anzu anymore, but still, this would be a one man thing. Anzu wanted Ryou's handwriting? Well she wouldn't get it! It'll only be me, thought Yugi. Yugi quickly asked some guy named Takenoshi to write a couple of words on a piece of paper then sign it as Ryou. Yugi paid him some yen to keep it a secret. Of course some one as dumb as Takenoshi would never be able to keep a secret or write as neatly as Ryou, so it wasn't at all foolproof. But Yugi couldn't care less. All he cared about was his sweet Anzu. His soon to be lover, that no one could stand in the way of. At least Yugi thought no one could.

After school Yugi and the gang headed towards Anzu's house with Ryou and Bakura who insisted on tagging along. Yugi didn't want them too but oh well, he might as well let them, besides it might give him the low down on what Ryou felt about Anzu.

Maybe it might. That was the keyword. Maybe.

Anzu waited anxiously for Yugi and the gang to come over, it was already 2:45! School should've let out about half an hour ago! Anzu paced back and forth, then looked down at herself! Oh my goodness! I'm still wearing my pajamas, Anzu thought. Anzu dashed up the stairs hoping they would be another 10 minutes late. Anzu stripped out of her fleece rose and ballet print pajamas. She then looked around in her closet. Anzu finally decided on an off the shoulder baby blue long sleeve shirt and a knee length khaki skirt. Anzu brushed her hair which was about a little past shoulder length now and swept it to one side, and then she added some fake black diamond hair clips and a thin blue beaded chocker. She was deciding whether to add bracelets or not. She decided not, she added a dab of shimmering lip gloss, put some eye liner, put on matching blue earrings and walked downstairs. Halfway there she heard the doorbell ring. Anzu ran down the stairs and opened the door.

"Hiya Anzu!" Greeted Jou.

"Hey Anz." Said Honda.

"Hi Anzu." Said Yugi

"Hello Anzu." Said Yami.

"Hello Mizaki." Bakura said.

"Hello Anzu. How are you feeling?" asked Ryou politely.

"Hi Yugi, Jou, Honda, Bakura, Yami, and Ryou. Thank you for coming to see me, and I'm feeling fine, Ryou." Said Anzu in reply.

She said my name first! She likes me better, thought Yugi, but then again she probably thinks we're rude for not asking her how she feels.

Anzu looked at Ryou dreamily while Ryou gazed at Anzu longingly. Bakura was annoyed that his hikari got all the attention and let's say that Yugi was fuming that Anzu didn't even notice him! Yami, Jou, and Honda were now playing video games. Yugi was working on a plan. Not a dark one, just one to make Anzu see him, that he wasn't a midget! He was someone who could prove that he loved her and could show her he did! Ever since that date at the water park I have told her I liked her, but does she listen? No! Instead she goes with Ryou, thought Yugi silently. Soon though she will see that Ryou wasn't meant for her, soon, I hope.

Authoress Notes:

Another Chapter done! I seem to update everyday don't I? Haha. Anyways, it's now a huge love square!! Hahaha.

Review Respones:

Yamiko Yakou – Isn't it funny?! I thought so too…there will be more antics. I hope Anzu doesn't find the pics either!!

LoneGothic – I know…a real Kodak moment, ain't it? I love Every Heart by BoA also!!

Eve-Of-Misery – I'm sooo sorry that I spelled your name wrong!!! –bows humbly- …I dunno who'll win…that's what I'm trying to figure out… I'm still sooo sorry that I spelled your name wrong!!!

Cerulean San – Me too!! I love love triangles!! But now it's a love square…lol..I'm updating!!

Fatlazikat – Cheese…I love cheese…the card is mushy…lol…me reading your review right now: O.o….lol…

-Vote! Who do you want Anzu to end up with?! Email me! It's wolfpup529 (at) yahoo(.)com