Kaiba-land!
The bystanders coughed.
Due to the overload, one of the pistons' malfunctioned. The scooter sputtered, and a cloud of black smoke emitted from the exhaust.
Anzu parked in the employee area, and they made their way in. Earlier, she had called her manager, and asked if Bandit Keith was around.
"What's the plan?" Yuugi, searching for the molester, found him in one of the duelling domes. "There he is."
Shizuka cringed at the sight of him. The emotional damage he inflicted outweighed her physical injury. She was desperate to flee the place. But Anzu sensed her fear, and held her hand in support. Bandit Keith had won a duel, beating a low ranking duellist. Surrounded by his hoard of fan girls, he was flirting and signing their autographs. He was also unaware of the three dark angels, hovering over his head, plotting his painful demise.
Honda looked pissed-off and about ready to launch a full-on assault. But Yuugi caught his elbow and pointed towards the crowd. "We'll have to think of something else."
"Damn the consequences, Yug. Drastic times, drastic measures..."
"Yeah! But resorting to violence isn't the only way." Anzu said. "Let's make an example outta this jerk. I've a better idea."
Her eyes downcast Shizuka hid behind Honda, while the boys exchanged a puzzling look.
"Hey! Whatcha doin' here?" Approaching him, Anzu greeted loudly. "I was looking for you." Bandit Keith beamed up. "It's time for your medication."
"Medication?" One of the nosy fan-girl asked. Many eyebrows raised and Keith's smile died.
The crowd buzzed with curiosity. Hungry for new gossip they murmured among themselves.
"That's right." Anzu addressed her audience. "This boy is seriously sick. He needs medical attention. As a volunteer, it's my duty to make sure he gets one."
He was utterly confused before. But now Bandit Keith looked purely shocked. "Do I know you?"
She looked at him with concern. "Your doctor insist you ice your testicles. The chart says you don't like icing your testicles... but that disgusting rash won't disappear by itself."
Icing testicles? Disgusting Rash? All the girls inched away from him. Some of the kids looked up to their parents, seeing the adults frowning disapprovingly at Bandit Keith. Some were even calling him rude names. Standing not too far, Shizuka giggled and winced at the hurt on her face.
"C'mon, let's go! You need shampoo for hair lice. Then you gotta make an appointment for the piles treatment."
The crowd started thinning, almost disappearing. Some of the girls who had taken his phone number shot him dirty looks.
Bandit Keith saw red. "Who the hell do you think..." he might as well be talking to himself. As the crowd disappeared so did Anzu. Following her, he cornered her in a secluded spot.
Before he could question her... Anzu slugged him in the face. "That's for hurting my friend." She heeled his toe, thumping him with her wedges. "That's for making her cry." She kneed his crotch, twice. "And that's for thinking that a washed up-has been- loser like you ever stood a chance. Honda, he's all yours."
With an evil grin, Honda cracked his knuckles. It was going to get bloody. Girls left the scene and decided to wait at the parking.
"You're my best friend forever." Shizuka embraced Anzu and cried. Poor kid felt nervous.
"All this hard work makes me hungry. C'mon, let's eat some ice cream. My treat! What say you?"
"Can I have some too?"
"Mokuba. Hey Kiddo! How's it going?" Anzu smiled. "Sure you can have the ice cream."
"I was talking about the hug." He blushed.
Shizuka composed her nerves, as Anzu pulled him in for a bear hug. The ten year old was such a cutie.
Two rounds of chocolate chip later. Anzu asked. "What's on your mind, Mokuba?"
They were sitting alone in the ice cream parlour. Shizuka had left to check upon boys.
Sadness crept into his grey eyes. Head bowed low, he hid his tears. "Nothing, I just came..."
"Wait! Your brother knows you're here?" She asked not seeing Isono with him.
Mokuba shrugged with a devastating simplicity that tugged at her heart. "It doesn't matter. Seto's busy. I don't want to disturb him..."
That didn't sound like the Mokuba she knew. She carefully observed him. 'He looks lonely. At least with Atem around, the world was in constant danger. And we were on the constant struggling adventures. Now... everything has changed. I feel so lost at times, and I have friends. With Kaiba working all the time, I can't even imagine how hard it must be for Mokuba.'
"You see that woman there," she nudged him, hinting towards an old woman sweeping the floor. He looked up and nodded. "Thanks to your brother, that woman doesn't sleep hungry. Kaiba doesn't just work for himself but for the thousands of people that work under him. I bet if he closed shop tomorrow, it wouldn't even matter. But just think about the people. What will happen to their families?"
But that was no excuse...
"Kaiba needs to sort out his priorities. If you ask me, he can use lessons in time management. I know he can be difficult. But he loves you, Mokuba. You mean the world to him. And you don't need me or anyone else to tell you that. So be patient with your brother, kiddo. I'm sure one of these days, he'll make it up to you. Right now, you're sad and angry but..."
Anzu lingered not knowing what to say. What the hell! Where exactly was this conversation going?
"Tell you what Mokie, anytime you're feeling down, give me a call. And since when do you need an invitation to visit the Kame Shop? In fact, Mr. Mutou was asking about you."
"Really?" The kid brightened up. "Anzu, can I ask you something?"
"Anything."
"Will you be my governess?"
"Don't you already have one?"
"I do... but..."
She sighed. This was tough. "Mokie, your brother wants the best for you. I bet, he'll hire a good governess with proper qualifications." He was about to interrupt, but she raised her hand, stopping him. "I love you Mokie. But you deserve a good upbringing. I'm sure Kaiba will want you to learn different languages, and proper society etiquette, and... well, I'll be off to Julliard soon, so... sorry Mokie please, I'll be there whenever you need me. You can call me at one in the morning if you like but I'm so sorry..."
His face fell but Mokuba saw the truth behind her words. It was true that Seto wanted best for him. Or why else would he sell his soul to the likes of Gozaburo.
"Anzu? Can I ask you something?"
"Anything, sweetheart!"
"Do you love my brother?"
Anzu fell off her chair. Mokuba sweat dropped.
"Anymore display of subtlety, and I'd think you didn't like me, Mazaki."
'Curses on your timings, fate.'
"Don't flatter yourself, Kaiba." She retorted, standing up from the floor.
Blowing a wayward strand from her face, she straightened her red mini skirt, took in a deep breath, collected her handbag, and turned, ready to leave. She needed her strength to deal with him later this evening. No point in getting all worked up now.
"Leaving so soon?" Seto smirked, seeing her flustered. "No more spiritual, lame advice to offer my sibling?"
"Why don't you fill in the gap? At least that way, he can spend some time with you." That hit him hard. "I'll be at Mai's. Pick me from there." Kaiba scowled at the mention of Mai. "Take care, Mokie." She kissed him on his cheek. "I'll call you later."
The kid waved at her. Soon, she was out of sight and a tensed silence settled between them.
"You shouldn't have left school without informing anyone, Mokuba. It was a highly irresponsible behaviour."
The brothers stared at each other. Seto sighed upon seeing the forlorn look in his junior's eyes. With the surmounting work stress, he had ignored the kid. But this work, these never ending chain of responsibilities...
"You're going to prom with Anzu?"
An opening, Seto took it without thinking. "Yes. I've asked your precious Mazaki out."
Ha! "You asked her out? Or she asked you out?"
Seto was thrown off balance. "What difference does it make? I'm mingling with the dweebs. Aren't you happy?"
Mokuba shrugged. He was about to walk away when Seto caught him.
"Don't take that attitude with me."
"Save your breath, Seto. You'll need it to blow up your date."