A/N: I made an error! Peter Sparling is a Michigan dance company, not a New York one. (That's what I get for living in Michigan). I would have used ABT instead, but I felt Anzu was more of a modern dancer than a ballet dancer. I should have gone with Parsons, Paul Taylor or Merce Cunningham. Oh well, I can always edit the piece later. For now, we will pretend (*cries*) Sparling has a studio in New York.
I also apologize for the lateness. I was having a bit of writer's block on Friday. Hope you like it.
Disclaimer: I don't own Yu-Gi-Oh!
Chapter Seven: Good News and Bad News
Yugi fluttered her eyes, only to groan. The sunlight that hit her eyes made her head pound. Carefully she lifted her head. Squinted eyes scanned the room. It was her bedroom; the pale yellow walls with a teal blue trim indicated that. Her outfit, a medium length black dress, was now covered in wrinkles from her slumber.
Why am I…
Then she remembered; the police interrogation, the dinner, the wine, and her sexual persuasion. She slapped her forehead, recalling too late the massive headache she had. Pain surged through her head, causing her to wince.
He probably hates me.
Yugi sighed. Nothing was comforting about that thought. Reaching the bathroom, she looked in the mirror. Her normally bright amethyst eyes were a dull plum in the lamplight, ringed by dark circles. She washed her face, wiping away the sleepiness.
Yugi slumped downstairs. As she descended, the sound of cooking could be heard coming from the kitchen. She rubbed her sore head. Anzu shouldn't be here. She peered into the kitchen. There stood Atemu, shirtless, working over the stove. Yugi blushed at the sight of his bare back. Quietly she slipped on a stool, carefully lowering her head onto the counter.
"Here."
Yugi tilted her head, keeping her cheek on the smooth surface. A large glass of water and two tablets were lying near her face.
"You should take that if you want your head to feel better."
She lifted her head, keeping her drowsy eyes low.
"I'm surprise you're still here."
Atemu turned and walked towards her. He wrapped his bare arms around her body, forcing her head onto his chest.
"Now why would I not be here? Knowing you, this is your first hangover."
Those words hit Yugi hard. The fact that she became drunk in front of Atemu was bad enough, but the actions that followed only made that fact worse.
Yugi lifted her head off of his chest and pulled out of his grasp.
"I'm sorry," she began, keeping her eyes low, "I shouldn't have drunk so much last night." Her fingers entered her bangs as her forehead rested in her palm. "I guess with the incidents involving Masato and the reality of my grandfather being in the hospital that I just wanted to forget for a moment." She removed her hand and looked at him. "I'm sorry for what I did last night. I…I never wanted to…"
A finger pressed against her lips. A smile spread across Atemu's face.
"I know." His lips brushed against hers.
A whistle screamed through the air.
Atemu left her lips and went to the kettle.
Yugi swallowed the two aspirin as she gulped the water. She took a breath as Atemu placed a plate in front of her. The plate displayed a pile of dark green mush that resembled peas surrounded by rice, sliced radishes, and a hardboiled egg. Her eyes blinked at the hodge-podge meal.
"It's ful mudammas, a dish from Egypt," Atemu clarified, noticing Yugi's confusion, "modified of course."
"I didn't know you cooked."
"What made you think that?" He asked, pouring a cup of green tea.
"You're a VP for a large company." Yugi justified, "I figured you didn't have time to cook."
A chuckle filled the kitchen.
"I can see your reasoning," Atemu said, taking his own plate and settling down next to Yugi. "But my mother insisted I learn how, to avoid spending money on fast food."
"Why would money be an issue?"
"It wasn't," Atemu explained, frowning, "I think it was the fact my mother didn't want me fat."
Yugi let out a chuckle, picturing him fat. "At least she is watching out for you."
Atemu nodded as he ate. Yugi followed suit.
"It's better with fava beans." He commented with a sad smile.
"Fava beans?"
"Yes. Normally ful mudammas is made with fava beans. But you don't have that. Besides," he glanced her way, "the beans alone take more than twenty-four hours to prepare."
"Well, I like it." Yugi smiled his way, causing him to copy her expression.
"Good."
Following the meal, Atemu opted to do the dishes. Any other day and Yugi would have protested, but the pain killer hadn't taken affect.
A half hour later, the pounding in Yugi's head stopped, along with the guilt from last night; Atemu wouldn't have any of it.
"Do you work today?"
Yugi nodded. "At two."
"Just take two more aspirin before you start your shift if you have pain." He spoke, putting on his coat.
Yugi walked him to the door.
"Thank you."
Atemu smiled. "I would do anything for you." He kissed her sweetly on the lips. "You know that."
Yugi nodded, smiling with joy. Atemu had become an important figure in her life. No, he is an important person.
"Call you later." With that Atemu left, knowing his father would want to discuss the company and a possible deal with the Wongs.
Honda sat in his office, reviewing the years' finances. The stack of receipts, reports and invoices swallowed his desk. He frowned. "Why didn't I take that extra finance course?"
He set down June's chart, sighing as he rubbed his temples. "This would be a lot easier if I had a financial advisor."
His last financial advisor left due to family issues. Now he had to pick up the pieces to keep his business sound.
A light soft tone came from his pocket.
"Hello."
"Hey Handsome!" An ecstatic girl chimed in his ear.
"You sound excited."
"I got the job! I get to work in America!"
"That's great."
"But…" Anzu trailed off.
"What is it honey?"
"They want me to be in New York in two weeks."
Honda hummed at her predicament.
"You can stay with me."
"Really?"
He feigned hurt. "You thought I wouldn't offer a place for my girlfriend?"
A chuckle came through the phone. "Well, we haven't been dating for long."
"Does that include high school?"
"No," a pause, "Alright, you got me. I just need to figure out how to get there. Hopefully I can bring enough stuff without paying an arm and a leg."
"I can help."
"Hiroto," she began, calling him by his first name, "you don't have to."
A grin appeared on his face. "I want to. Just let me know when you are arriving."
"Alright." She became quiet.
"What is it?"
"I haven't told Yugi yet."
"You need to tell her. This will affect her."
"I know." Honda heard the sadness in his girlfriend's voice.
"Don't worry honey," he comforted, "knowing Yugi, she will be supportive in your decision. She won't be mad."
"It's her excessive caring nature that worries me. I just don't want her to feel abandoned."
"Anzu," Honda said, "Yugi wouldn't want you to abandon this opportunity." He heard her sigh.
"You're right. I will tell her and I will call you later. Bye Hiroto."
"Bye Anzu-chan."
Honda closed his phone and tapped his chin with the communication device.
"Yugi will be supportive. But I have the same fear as Anzu."
Anzu closed her phone. She had to tell Yugi today, she might as well tell her now. She only hoped she was still home.
Her classes had ended for lunch. Instead of enjoying a relaxed lunch, she went home, hoping Yugi wasn't at work.
"I hope Yugi will be okay with me leaving." She bit her lip. "I really don't want her to feel abandoned."
Anzu remembered how sad the little friend was when Jounouchi died. Yugi stayed in her room for weeks; crushed by the fact her first love was gone. She pleaded Yugi wouldn't fall into the same depression with her departure.
Yet, knowing she had Atemu comforted her. He had filled the hole of loneliness Jounouchi left behind. Yugi's smile truly had become the radiant one she remembered in her childhood memories.
The dancer reached her residence.
"I wonder if Atemu is still here."
The girl was surprised when the Egyptian was lying on the sofa, snoring, when she came home the night before, and he was still there when she left this morning. What happened?
Anzu shook away any theories. If Yugi wants me to know, she will tell me.
"Yugi, are you home?"
"In the living room."
Anzu followed the voice. Yugi was cleaning the sofa and the coffee table.
"Cleaning after Atemu?"
Anzu watched Yugi blush. "Yes. I'm sorry if him staying here made you uncomfortable."
"It's okay. I know he wouldn't do anything." She paused. "Why was he here anyway?"
Yugi stopped her cleaning. She wrapped the blanket in her arms before sitting on the sofa, wearing a small frown.
"I got drunk last night."
"What?"
Yugi winced at her friend's volume.
"Yugi, you never drink. How did you get drunk?"
"Atemu took me out last night. I…I order some wine and I had too much."
Anzu sat next to her friend.
"But why did you order the wine?"
"I wanted to forget reality for a while." Yugi folded within herself, ashamed of the answer.
Anzu's blue eyes soften as she listened and reviewed the words. The last time Yugi acted this way was two years ago, when Jounouchi died.
Anzu froze. Her fear was becoming a reality. Yugi was vulnerable at that moment. I can't tell her. Not now. Not when she feels like this. She took a breath. But I can't just sit here.
Anzu opened her mouth, but Yugi beat her to the punch.
"I know that is a stupid reason to drink, so please don't lecture me. I don't plan on doing that again." She smiled. "Anyway, Atemu stayed the night to help me with the hangover," she rubbed her head, "which I hope to never experience again."
Anzu nodded.
"Anyway, what have you been doing? I mean, you were so secretive this weekend. Has something been going on?"
How did… It didn't matter. Yugi had noticed the change in her behavior, her secrecy about the audition. Anzu decided to tell the truth.
"Yugi, do you remember when we went skating?"
"Of course," Yugi smiled brightly, "Atemu was so trying to impress me."
"Well," she began before she swallowed hard, "I was giving on opportunity to audition for a dance company in America."
Yugi only waited, not commenting on her friend's strained face.
"Anyway, I went this past Saturday and…"
"Did you make it?" The optimism in Yugi's voice surprised her.
"Yes I did."
"Congratulations Anzu!"
"Thank you Yugi." She bit her lip. "But…"
"What's wrong Anzu?"
She sighed. "I need to be in America in two weeks."
Yugi blinked at the statement as silence gripped her tongue. Anzu held her breath. Please don't freak Yugi.
"Do you have a place to stay?"
She nodded. "Honda has offered me to stay with him."
"Then you're all set." Yugi gave her a wide smile. "You should be fine."
"But what about you?"
Yugi shrugged. "I will be fine. You just worry about getting ready for America. It's what you been waiting for right?"
Anzu nodded but kept a frown to herself. Yugi is doing it again, making everyone else happy at her own expense. Anzu wanted to protest, but she knew that was a battle she would lose.
"Will you come back in January?"
Anzu looked back at Yugi, whose eyes have dropped slightly from her own. Anzu smiled as she answered.
"I will try, but I can't guarantee anything."
Yugi nodded. Their lives were changing, so she couldn't expect her friend to be able to drop everything just to come back for one day. She could only hope.
Yugi wrapped her arms around Anzu, giving her best friend a tight squeeze.
"I am so happy for you Anzu! I wish you the best of luck."
Yugi sprawled herself on her bed. She starred aimlessly at the pale ceiling, thinking about Anzu's news.
"Anzu is really leaving for America."
Despite being thrilled for her best friend, another trial was set before her.
"Now I have to find a new roommate."
"Come in." Ahknemkhanen vocalized from beyond the door. Atemu entered the office. His father was staring hard at a document in his hand. He then waved over his son without looking up, wearing a disgruntled face.
Atemu obeyed and sat in the chair opposite of his father. He watched as Ahknemkhanen placed the piece of paper down onto another pile on his desk. The older man heaved a sigh and leaned back in his chair.
"I assume nothing has been settled?"
Ahknemkhanen shook his head. "Wong has put his foot down. He wants half of the company, and is quite adamant about it."
Atemu lowered his head. "I know I am to blame for part of this. Vivian is still bitter about the engagement."
"Can you blame her?"
Atemu shot up his head, staring at his father in shock. Did he just agree with Vivian?
"Atemu, you made a mistake. You let your selfish desires of settling down affect your judgment as a man and as a businessman." A smile emerged his lips. "But you did not run away from these problems and for that I am proud. Everyone will make mistakes, but it takes a real man to admit them and to try to fix them."
The shock ebbed away from the young man. A soft smile appeared on his face.
"Thank you Dad."
"Now, you still have work to do. I expect all of the finances to be balanced by tomorrow at nine. I need them when I have another meeting with Wong."
Atemu nodded.
"Which means you may be here late Mr. I-am-going-to-stay-in-Tokyo."
Ahknemkhanen flashed a wide smile as Atemu groaned. He hated working late, especially when he had to be back at work the next day.
"You should have come home sooner." Ahknemkhanen commented, leaning forward with his hands folded. "By the way, why did you stay in Tokyo?"
"I'd rather not discuss it."
"You had better not have…"
"Dad!" Atemu shouted in embarrassment and annoyance, "I didn't do that. Yugi's not ready!"
"Good. I don't want you to fall back into your old habits."
"Trust me Dad," Atemu said, a sweet smile emerging on his lips, "I don't plan to, not to Yugi."
Atemu sat in his office, his nose buried in the final receipt. For five hours he stayed in the same position, filing, reviewing and sorting last years' finances. Papers on profits, costs, and projections from suggested projects were among the company's money record. It was horrible.
The vice president rubbed his crimson orbs in an attempt to remove the sting. Why is finance so …involved?
Only once did he take a break, to call Yugi. The pain from her hangover had subsided. Plus, with Masato on a leave of absence, she was free to do her job without interruptions. He was particularly happy about that.
He signed the final document, signaling his review of it.
"Finally."
He pushed the chair back before getting up. He jingled his keys before he locked his office. Whistling, he headed towards the exit of his department. He took two steps, before a voice stopped him.
"Hello Atemu."
He twisted his head. There, Vivian stood, arms crossed with an angry scowl on her face.
"I am not supposed to talk to you Vivian," Atemu spoke, stone-faced, "until the matter of the company has been taking care of."
"This isn't about the company." She spoke in detestation. "It is about revenge."
"Revenge?"
Vivian nodded. "You broke my heart. Now, I am going to break yours."
What is Vivian talking about? Find out next week!
